Search

Although the nonmonotonic variation in the diffusion coefficients of alcohol and water with changing alcohol concentrations in aqueous solutions has been reported for many years, the underlying physical mechanisms remain unclear. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the molecular diffusion mechanisms in aqueous methanol solutions. Our findings reveal that the molecular diffusion is co-influenced by hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic ends of methanol molecules. A stronger hydrogen bond (HB) network and a higher concentration of hydrophobic ends of methanol molecules both enhance molecular correlations, thereby slowing molecular diffusion in the solution. As methanol concentration increases, the HB network weakens, facilitating molecular diffusion. However, the increased concentration of hydrophobic ends counteracts this effect. Consequently, the diffusion coefficients of water and methanol molecules exhibit nonmonotonic changes. Previous studies have only focused on the role of HB networks. For the first time, we have identified the impact of the hydrophobic ends of alcohol on molecular diffusion in aqueous alcohol solutions. Our research contributes to a better understanding and manipulation of the properties of aqueous alcohol solutions and even liquids with complex compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 using aqueous solvents is plagued by slow kinetics and interfacial barriers that limit effectiveness in combating climate change. Functionalizing air/aqueous surfaces with charged amphiphiles shows promise in accelerating DAC; however, insight into these interfaces and how they evolve in time remains poorly understood. Specifically, competitive ion interactions between DAC reagents and reaction products feedback onto the interfacial structure, thereby modulating interfacial chemical composition and overall function. In this work, we probe the role of glycine amino acid anions (Gly−), an effective CO2 capture reagent, that promotes the organization of cationic oligomers at air/aqueous interfaces. These surfaces are probed with vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings demonstrate that the competition for surface sites between Gly− and captured carbonaceous anions (HCO3−, CO32−, carbamates) drives changes in surface hydration, which in turn tunes oligomer ordering. This phenomenon is related to a hierarchical ordering of anions at the surface that are electrostatically attracted to the surface and their ability to compete for interfacial water. These results point to new ways to tune interfaces for DAC via stratification of ions based on relative surface propensities and specific ion effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making on chatter-free machining parameters is essential for process planning since chatter significantly affects production quality and efficiency. Stability lobe diagram (SLD) is commonly used for selecting chatter-free machining parameters, but its analytical prediction often has poor accuracy and experiment-based prediction is time-consuming. This paper proposes a multi-fidelity (MF) surrogate model and transfer learning-based method to improve the milling stability analysis. Firstly, an analytical stability model is constructed to predict low-fidelity (LF) SLDs for key combinations of radial cutting width (ae) and feed rate per tooth (ft). A few spindle speeds (ns) are selected from each key LF SLD to detect high-fidelity (HF) stability limits (aplim) through milling experiments. Subsequently, sufficient LF and limited HF combinations of ns, ae, ft, and aplim are taken to construct additive scaling function-based MF stability models. Predicted MF combinations of ns, ae, ft, and aplim are combined with limited HF combinations to construct more accurate stability models through transfer learning. Then, a neural network is ultimately trained to predict aplim values for arbitrary combinations of ns, ae, and ft. A detailed experimental validation indicates that the proposed method can provide more accurate lobe boundaries for machining parameters selection by introducing fewer experimental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the high‐speed video observations obtained at the Tall‐Object Lightning Observatory in Guangzhou (TOLOG), the attachment processes of three lightning flashes seem to belong to the connections between "the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip" which had never been reported before were investigated. The leader connection processes of these flashes were examined in detail, and a mechanism behind connecting behavior between the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip was discussed. Observation shows that negative leaders usually have abundant branches. Although some may extinguish, they still maintain a certain conductivity. When the positive leader tip comes close to the lateral surface of the negative leader (usually a few tens of meters), the previously disappeared short branch can be reactivated. It is easier for the positive leader tip to connect the tips of these branches (whether they have been extinguished or not). Plain Language Summary: In the lightning attachment process, the leader connecting behavior is an interesting topic. In the attachment process of a negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash, the "Tip to Tip (negative leader tip to positive leader tip)" and "Tip to the lateral surface (negative leader tip to the lateral surface of positive leader)" connection types have been widely observed, and researchers have carried out a series of studies and discussions on the characteristics and the physical mechanisms of the leader connecting behavior. However, is there an opposite polarity connection type, like "the lateral surface and tip (the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip)" connecting behavior? In this study, the attachment processes of three lightning flashes that seem to belong to the connections between "the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip" were analyzed. The leader connection processes of these flashes were examined in detail. The results allow one to see the details of leader connecting behavior needed for improving our understanding of lightning attachment process mechanisms. Key Points: For the connection between negative and positive leaders, no convincing "lateral surface and tip" type is observedPositive leader tip is easier to connect to the tip of negative leader branch, whether it has been extinguished or notA short gap of a few tens of meters is required for the reactivation of short leader branch on the lateral surface of the negative leader [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lithium–oxygen battery based on the formation of lithium oxide (Li2O) can theoretically achieve a high energy density through a four-electron reaction. This is more challenging to accomplish than the one- and two-electron reactions that produce lithium superoxide (LiO2) and lithium peroxide (Li2O2), respectively. A stable cathode with a sufficient supply of electrons and Li cations to form Li2O must be developed to achieve a four-electron reaction for a lithium–oxygen battery. Herein, by utilizing a composite 3D-printed cathode composed of a g-C3N4/TiO2 (gCNTO) heterostructure nanoparticle with high porosity and high conductivity, we were able to provide ample space and numerous active/catalytic sites during the reaction process. Our findings indicate that Li2O is the product of the photo-assisted lithium–oxygen battery. Under illumination, the battery can be rechargeable for over 1000 hours at 0.05 mA cm−2 with a small polarization gap. The photocathode delivers an ultra-high discharge capacity of 29.7 mA h cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2, resulting in a specific energy of approximately 515.12 W h kg−1cell. The performance is superior to the battery with Li2O2 as a discharge product in the dark. This study paves the way for the rapid development of high-energy-density photo-assisted Li–O2 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we propose a structured-illumination lensless digital holographic microscopy (SI-LDHM). SI-LDHM illuminates a sample with 24 structured illuminations (8 orientations × 3 phase shifts) and records the defocused interferogram formed by two copies of object waves along the ±1st diffraction orders of each SI. The reconstructed object waves under different illumination orientations are respectively propagated to the sample plane along the +1st diffraction order and then averaged, thus yielding a clean image without the artifact of twin images. Experimental results demonstrated that thanks to the multi-oriented SI strategy, the twin image in SI-LDHM is sevenfold reduced compared to conventional DHM, while the spatial resolution is 1.15 times higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present exponential wave integrator Fourier pseudospectral (EWI‐FP) methods and establish their error estimates of the fully discrete schemes for the Dirac equation in the massless and nonrelativistic regime. This regime involves a small dimensionless parameter where 0<ε≤1$$ 0<\varepsilon \le 1 $$, and ε$$ \varepsilon $$ is inversely proportional to the speed of light. The solution exhibits highly oscillatory behavior in time and rapid wave propagation in space in this regime. Specifically, the time oscillations have a wavelength of O(ε)$$ O\left(\varepsilon \right) $$, while the spatial oscillations have a wavelength of O(1)$$ O(1) $$, with a wave speed of O(ε−1)$$ O\left({\varepsilon}^{-1}\right) $$. We employ (symmetric) exponential wave integrators for temporal derivatives and Fourier spectral discretization for spatial derivatives. We rigorously derive the error bounds which explicitly depend on the mesh size h$$ h $$, the time step τ$$ \tau $$ and the small dimensionless parameter ε$$ \varepsilon $$. The error estimates for the EWI‐FP methods demonstrate that their meshing strategy requirement (ε$$ \varepsilon $$‐scalability) necessitates setting h=O(1)$$ h=O(1) $$ and τ=O(ε)$$ \tau =O\left(\varepsilon \right) $$ when 0<ε≪1$$ 0<\varepsilon \ll 1 $$. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to validate the error bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing and most widespread diseases worldwide. Approximately 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes. In 2019, there were about 463 million diabetic patients worldwide. Inhibiting the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase activity is an effective strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Currently, various anti-diabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and identified. This review summarizes the preparation methods, structure-effect relationships, molecular binding sites, and effectiveness validation of DPP-IV and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides in cellular and animal models. The analysis of peptides shows that the DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, containing 2-8 amino acids and having proline, leucine, and valine at their N-terminal and C-terminal, are the highly active peptides. The more active α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides contain 2-9 amino acids and have valine, isoleucine, and proline at the N-terminal and proline, alanine, and serine at the C-terminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance computing (HPC) has become a strategic resource that drives innovation and economic growth. In addition, it is important to educate a workforce with advanced computational skills to maintain economic competitiveness. In this project, we studied 133 domestic and international university HPC centers to understand the status of HPC. Diverse operating models have been identified and analyzed. To explore the need for and challenges associated with HPC within Wisconsin, faculty and students within the University of Wisconsin System and personnel in local industries were surveyed; in addition, we engaged in conversations with university leaders and officials from government agencies. A strong need for HPC resources has been identified, as well as several serious challenges. A state-wide initiative, the Wisconsin Big Data Alliance, which requires legislative support, is recommended as the platform to foster public–private partnerships, drive scientific and technological innovations, and promote workforce development, leading to an efficient usage of computing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we propose a structured-illumination lensless digital holographic microscopy (SI-LDHM). SI-LDHM illuminates a sample with 24 structured illuminations (8 orientations χ 3 phase shifts) and records the defocused interferogram formed by two copies of object waves along the ±1st diffraction orders of each SI. The reconstructed object waves under different illumination orientations are respectively propagated to the sample plane along the +1st diffraction order and then averaged, thus yielding a clean image without the artifact of twin images. Experimental results demonstrated that thanks to the multi-oriented SI strategy, the twin image in SI-LDHM is sevenfold reduced compared to conventional DHM, while the spatial resolution is 1.15 times higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root of Paeonia lactiflora pall. is a significant component of traditional Chinese medicine, with terpenoids and their glycosides, such as paeoniflorins, serving as key active ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and analgesic properties. By generating a transcriptome and functionally characterizing 32 terpene synthases (TPSs) from P. lactiflora, we successfully constructed 24 pESC-Trp-PlTPS expression vectors. Through expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae engineered strains, we identified four mono-TPSs and five sesqui-TPSs that produce 18 compounds, including eight monoterpenes and ten sesquiterpenes in vitro. This includes a bifunctional enzyme (PlTPS22). Additionally, PlTPS21 was characterized as a pinene synthase with α-pinene as its main product. The expression pattern of PlTPS21 aligns closely with the accumulation patterns of paeoniflorins and α-pinene in the plant, suggesting that PlTPS21 is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of paeoniflorin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning systems have been used extensively in several fields in recent years, but deep neural network (DNN) can also make incorrect decisions and lead to significant losses. Testing tasks based on DNN systems often require annotation of test data to obtain oracle information. However, collecting and annotating large amounts of disparate data from application scenarios is very expensive and time consuming. Thus, we propose DeepSense, an effective neural network test prioritization technique, to select more test inputs that reveal neural network faults as early as possible in the unlabeled test dataset. DeepSense considers the full range of model fault detection capabilities, including faults near the boundary and near the centroid of class. To be specific, we first designed multiple mutation features and extracted them from the neural network model and input samples based on different mutation operators. Then, the sample embedding features are extracted to construct an undirected weighted graph, and a random walk is performed to calculate the distance similarity and manifold similarity, and then spatial nearest neighbor features are designed and extracted. Finally, MLP is used to combine multiple mutation features and spatial nearest neighbor features to predict the input sample fault revealing ability and set priorities accordingly. We evaluate DeepSense on four popular image datasets, and results show that DeepSense significantly outperforms existing test input prioritization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The effect of varicella emergency vaccination (EV) has not been fully evaluated. (2) Methods: This was a cohort study. Participants were categorized into five groups based on their immune status: unvaccinated group, first dose as EV group, one dose no EV group, second dose as EV group, and two doses no EV group. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to examine the association between the EV measures and the varicella incidence rate in this outbreak. (3) Results: Demographic characteristics, vaccination details, and disease onset information were 100% (918/918) collected. The crude attack rate was 44% (11/25), 8% (3/36), 11% (24/215), 3% (6/176), and 2% (8/466) among the unvaccinated group, first dose as EV group, one dose no EV group, second dose as EV group and two doses no EV group, respectively. Compared to the unvaccinated group and the one dose no EV group, the first dose varicella vaccine as EV and the second dose as EV demonstrated an incremental effectiveness of 90% (95% CI 65–97%) and 79% (95% CI 47–92%), respectively. (4) Conclusions: Both the first dose and the second dose as EV contributed to reducing the incidence rates of varicella and offered incremental vaccine effectiveness in an outbreak setting. Our study underscores the importance and benefits of initiating emergency varicella vaccination early to reduce the disease incidence rate in an elementary school setting where there was no complete coverage of the two doses of varicella vaccine and an outbreak occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of gallstones is high in Qinghai Province. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of gallstones remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we collected urine samples from 30 patients with gallstones and 30 healthy controls. The urine samples were analysed using multi-omics platforms. Proteomics analysis was conducted using data-independent acquisition, whereas metabolomics analysis was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Results: Among the patients with gallstones, we identified 49 down-regulated and 185 up-regulated differentially expressed proteins as well as 195 up-regulated and 189 down-regulated differentially expressed metabolites. Six pathways were significantly enriched: glycosaminoglycan degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, histidine metabolism, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, drug metabolism–other enzymes, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Notably, 10 differentially expressed proteins and metabolites showed excellent predictive performance and were selected as potential biomarkers. Conclusion: The findings of our metabolomics and proteomics analyses provide new insights into novel biomarkers for patients with cholelithiasis in high-altitude areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local phase transition in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) by lithium intercalation enables the fabrication of high‐quality contact interfaces in two‐dimensional (2D) electronic devices. However, controlling the intercalation of lithium is hitherto challenging in vertically stacked van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) due to the random diffusion of lithium ions in the hetero‐interface, which hinders their application for contact engineering of 2D vdWHs devices. Herein, a strategy to restrict the lithium intercalation pathway in vdWHs is developed by using surface‐permeation assisted intercalation while sealing all edges, based on which a high‐performance edge‐contact MoS2 vdWHs floating‐gate transistor is demonstrated. Our method avoids intercalation from edges that are prone to be random but intentionally promotes lithium intercalation from the top surface. The derived MoS2 floating‐gate transistor exhibits improved interface quality and significantly reduced subthreshold swing (SS) from >600 to 100 mV dec–1. In addition, ultrafast program/erase performance together with well‐distinguished 32 memory states are demonstrated, making it a promising candidate for low‐power artificial synapses. The study on controlling the lithium intercalation pathways in 2D vdWHs offers a viable route toward high‐performance 2D electronics for memory and neuromorphic computing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, involves angiogenesis as a key pathogenic mechanism. Ginsenoside Rg3, derived from the traditional Chinese herb ginseng, is recognized for its anti-angiogenic properties but is limited by low oral bioavailability. This necessitates the development of an alternative delivery system to improve its therapeutic effectiveness. Methods: Pluronic F-127 (F127) and Pluronic F-68 (F68) were used to construct Rg3-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel Gel-Rg3. Meanwhile, a series of physicochemical properties were determined. Then the safety and pharmacological activity of Gel-Rg3 were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and colitis mouse model, in order to initially validate the potential of Gel-Rg3 for the treatment of IBD. Results: We engineered a rectally administrable, thermosensitive Gel-Rg3 hydrogel using F127 and F68, which forms at body temperature, enhancing Rg3's intestinal retention and slowly releasing the drug. In vitro, Gel-Rg3 demonstrated superior anti-angiogenic activity by inhibiting HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. It also proved safer and better suited for IBD's delicate intestinal environment than unformulated Rg3. In vivo assessments confirmed increased intestinal adhesion and anti-angiogenic efficacy. Conclusions: The Gel-Rg3 hydrogel shows promise for IBD therapy by effectively inhibiting angiogenesis via rectal delivery, overcoming Rg3's bioavailability limitations with improved safety and efficacy. This study provides new inspiration and data support for the design of treatment strategies for IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial secretome represents a comprehensive catalog of proteins released extracellularly that have multiple important roles in virulence and intercellular communication. This study aimed to characterize the secretome of an environmental isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa S-8 by analyzing trypsin-digested culture supernatant proteins using nano-LC–MS/MS tool. Using a combined approach of bioinformatics and mass spectrometry, 1088 proteins in the secretome were analyzed by PREDLIPO, SecretomeP 2.0, SignalP 4.1, and PSORTb tool for their subcellular localization and further categorization of secretome proteins according to signal peptides. Using the gene ontology tool, secretome proteins were categorized into different functional categories. KEGG pathway analysis identified the secreted proteins into different metabolic functional pathways. Moreover, our LC–MS/MS data revealed the secretion of various CAZymes into the extracellular milieu, which suggests its strong biotechnological applications to breakdown complex carbohydrate polymers. The identified immunodominant epitopes from the secretome of P. aeruginosa showed the characteristic of being non-allergenic, highly antigenic, nontoxic, and having a low risk of triggering autoimmune responses, which highlights their potential as successful vaccine targets. Overall, the identification of secreted proteins of P. aeruginosa could be important for both diagnostic purposes and the development of an effective candidate vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive energy demands associated with solvent regeneration and CO2 release in current direct air capture (DAC) technologies makes their deployment at the massive scales (GtCO2/year) required to positively impact the climate economically unfeasible. This challenge underscores the critical need to develop new DAC processes with significantly reduced energy costs. Recently, we developed a new approach to photochemically drive efficient release of CO2 through an intermolecular proton transfer reaction by exploiting the unique properties of an indazole metastable‐state photoacid (mPAH), opening a new avenue towards energy efficient on‐demand CO2 release and solvent regeneration using abundant solar energy instead of heat. In this Concept Article, we will describe the principle of our photochemically‐driven CO2 release approach for solvent‐based DAC systems, discuss the essential prerequisites and conditions to realize this cyclable CO2 release chemistry under ambient conditions. We outline the key findings of our approach, discuss the latest developments from other research laboratories, detail approaches used to monitor DAC systems in situ, and highlight experimental procedures for validating its feasibility. We conclude with a summary and outlook into the immediate challenges that must be addressed in order to fully exploit this novel photochemically‐driven approach to DAC solvent regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of secondary metabolites that possess diverse pharmaceutical properties and are exclusively accumulated in specific plant genera. The Pictet–Spengler condensation, catalyzed by norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), represents a key enzymatic reaction in the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs. While NCS genes have been identified in several plant families such as Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae, and Ranunculaceae, no NCS genes have been reported in Menispermaceae, which is another genus known to accumulate BIAs. Here, NCSs were isolated and functionally characterized from the Menispermaceae family plant Stephania tetrandra. In vitro enzyme assay identified two functional StNCSs which could catalyze the formation of (S)‐norcoclaurine. These functionally characterized genes were then integrated into engineered yeast to enable the production of norcoclaurine. Phylogenetic analysis of the NCS enzymes revealed that the StNCSs predominantly clustered into two clades. The functional StNCSs clustered with known NCSs, highlighting the presence of a specific NCS catalytic domain. This study not only provides additional genetic components for the synthetic biology‐based production of BIAs in yeast but also contributes to the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and structure–function relationship of NCS genes involved in the origin and production of BIAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty 3-acyloxymaltol/ethyl maltol derivatives (7a-j and 8a-j) were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anti-oomycete activity against Phytophthora capsici, respectively. Among all of twenty derivatives, more than half of the compounds 7f, 7h, 8a-h and 8j had anti-oomycete activity higher than the positive control zoxamide (EC50 = 22.23 mg/L), and the EC50 values of 18.66, 20.32, 12.80, 16.18, 10.59, 14.98, 16.80, 10.36, 15.32, 12.64, and 13.59 mg/L, respectively. Especially, compounds 8c and 8f exhibited the best anti-oomycete activity against P. capsici with EC50 values of 10.59 and 10.36 mg/L, respectively. Overall, hydroxyl group of maltol/ethyl maltol is important active modification site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the significant annual increase in market demand for biopesticides, the industrial production demand for predatory mites, which hold the largest market share among biopesticides, has also been rising. To achieve efficient and low-energy consumption control of predatory mite breeding environmental parameters, accurate estimation of breeding environmental parameters is necessary. This paper collects and pre-processes hourly time series data on temperature and humidity from industrial breeding environments. Time series prediction models such as SVR, LSTM, GRU, and LSTNet are applied to model and predict the historical data of the breeding environment. Experiments validate that the LSTNet model is more suitable for such environmental modeling. To further improve prediction accuracy, the training data for the LSTNet model is enhanced using hierarchical clustering of time series features. After augmentation, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the temperature prediction decreased by 27.3%, and the RMSE of the humidity prediction decreased by 32.8%, significantly improving the accuracy of the multistep predictions and providing substantial industrial application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To estimate vaccine effectiveness(VE) against COVID-19-related hospitalization for inactivated vaccines during the Omicron BF.7-predominant epidemic wave in Beijing, China. Methods: We recruited a cohort in Beijing on 17 and 18 December 2022, collected status of vaccination and COVID-19-related hospitalization since 1 November 2022 and prospectively followed until 9 January 2023. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate the VE. Results: 16(1.15%) COVID-19-related hospitalizations were reported in 1391 unvaccinated participants; 7(0.25%) in 2765 participants with two doses, resulting in a VE of 70.89%(95% confidence interval[CI] 26.25 to 87.73); 32(0.27%) in 11,846 participants with three doses, with a VE of 65.25%(95% CI 32.24 to 81.83). The VE of three doses remained above 64% at 1 year or more since the last dose. Elderly people aged ≥ 60 years had the highest hospitalization incidence(0.66%), VE for two doses was 74.11%(95%CI: − 18.42 to 94.34) and VE for three doses was 80.98%(95%CI:52.83 to 92.33). We estimated that vaccination had averted 65,007(95%CI: 12,817 to 97,757) COVID-19-related hospitalizations among people aged ≥ 60 years during the BF.7-predominant period in Beijing. Conclusion: Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were effective against COVID-19-related hospitalization, especially for the elderly population who have increased risk of severe disease owing to SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD) as a novel clinical conception was modified on the basis of idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH). This study aimed to compare the clinical, biochemical histological features and prognosis between the diagnostic criteria for PSVD and that of INCPH. Methods: A total of 65 patients who underwent liver biopsies were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical, pathological and prognosis date were reviewed and screened according to the latest diagnostic criteria of PSVD and INCPH. Results: A total of 65 patients were diagnosed with PSVD, of which 31 (47.69%) also fulfilled INCPH criteria. Specific histological and specific clinical portal hypertension (PH) signs were found in 34 (52.31%) and 30 (46.15%) of the patients, respectively. PSVD patients showed higher LSM levels (11.45 (6.38, 18.08) vs. 7.90 (6.70, 13.00), p = 0.039) than the INCPH patients. INCPH patients had a higher cumulative incidence of liver-related complications than the PSVD patients (86.95% vs. 35.71%, log-rank p < 0.001). Conclusion: Novel PSVD criteria facilitate early diagnosis. PSVD patients with other liver diseases may have higher LSM values. Disease progression and survival outcomes are correlated with PH in PSVD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensory birth deficit worldwide, with causative variants in more than 150 genes. However, the etiological contribution and clinical manifestations of X-linked inheritance in HL remain unclear within the Chinese HL population. In this study, we focused on X-linked hereditary HL and aimed to assess its contribution to hereditary HL and identify the genotype–phenotype relationship. Methods: We performed a molecular epidemiological investigation of X-linked hereditary HL based on next-generation sequencing and third-generation sequencing in 3646 unrelated patients with HL. We also discussed the clinical features associated with X-linked non-syndromic HL-related genes based on a review of the literature. Results: We obtained a diagnostic rate of 52.72% (1922/3646) among our patients; the aggregate contribution of HL caused by genes on the X chromosome in this cohort was ~ 1.14% (22/1922), and POU3F4 variants caused ~ 59% (13/22) of these cases. We found that X-linked HL was congenital or began during childhood in all cases, with representative audiological profiles or typical cochlear malformations in certain genes. Genotypic and phenotypic analyses showed that causative variants in PRPS1 and AIFM1 were mainly of the missense type, suggesting that phenotypic variability was correlated with the different effects that the replaced residues exert on structure and function. Variations in SMPX causing truncation of the protein product were associated with DFNX4, which resulted in typical audiological profiles before and after the age of 10 years, whereas nontruncated proteins typically led to distal myopathy. No phenotypic differences were identified in patients carrying POU3F4 or COL4A6 variants. Conclusions: Our work constitutes a preliminary evaluation of the molecular contribution of X-linked genes in heritable HL (~ 1.14%). The 15 novel variants reported here expand the mutational spectrum of these genes. Analysis of the genotype–phenotype relationship is valuable for X-linked HL precise diagnostics and genetic counseling. Elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms and audiological profiles of HL can also guide choices regarding treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charge and energy transfers among Mn2+ ions determine the excited‐state dynamics in Mn2+‐based phosphors, which modulate the luminescence properties in various applications. However, in crystals with dense Mn2+ ions, luminescence is often quenched by antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent Mn2+ ions or electron‐phonon interactions, which lead to energy transfer to the defect states. Here, the modulation of photoluminescence by Mn–Mn magnetic ordering in a 2D layered hybrid perovskite (CH3NH3)2MnCl4 is reported. Specifically, antiferromagnetic ordering and spin flopping reduce the bright optical transitions from coupled Mn2+ ions, whereas ferromagnetic ordering enhances the transitions. This magnetic effect competes with electron‐phonon interactions and determines the temperature‐ and magnetic‐field‐dependent photoluminescence, especially at low temperatures. This study not only enriches the understanding of the fundamental magneto‐optical properties of Mn2+‐based perovskites but also provides new insights into the development of high‐performance lead‐free light‐emitting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with fit ligands and metals can be integrated into electrochemical biosensors for the detection of various biomolecules. In this study, we have synthesized novel magnetic MOF composites as electrocatalysts and constructed a novel biosensor for electrochemical detection of dopamine. The composites named Fe3O4@ZIF-8@AuNPs–COOH are synthesized through layer-by-layer assembly. They exhibit excellent stability and cooperative catalytic activity. In addition, green recycling is readily achieved through magnetizing/demagnetizing the electrode. The large specific surface area and ordered porous structures of the magnetic MOFs ensure good dispersion of gold nanoparticles, while the carboxyl group efficiently shields other redox-active interfering substances. The proposed electrochemical biosensor accomplishes the sensitive detection of dopamine in human serums and living cells. This study broadens the application of MOFs in electrochemical biosensing, validates the feasibility of biosensors for in vivo analysis, and provides new insights into green sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse pregnancy outcomes, including recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), are strongly correlated with water-soluble vitamins, but how to predict RSA occurrence using them remains unsatisfactory. This study aims to investigate the possibility of predicting RSA based on the baseline levels of water-soluble vitamins tested by ultra-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 918 pregnant women was consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study. According to the miscarriage numbers, they were divided into normal first pregnancy (NFP, n = 608), once spontaneous abortion (OSA, n = 167), and continuous spontaneous abortion (CSA, n = 143) groups. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model was employed to establish a risk model for predicting RSA. The RSA occurrence was 6.54% in overall pregnant women, with a prevalence of 12.57% in the OSA group and 27.27% in the CSA group. Significant differences were observed in baseline deficiencies of vitamin B3, B5, B6, and B9 among NFP, OSA, and CSA groups (χ2 = 12.191 ~ 37.561, all P < 0.001). Among these vitamins, B9 (HR = 0.89 and 0.88, all P < 0.001) and B6 (HR = 0.83 and 0.78, all P < 0.05) were identified as independent factors in both the OSA and CSA groups; whereas B5 was identified as an additional independent factor only in the CSA group (HR = 0.93, P = 0.005). The Cox proportional-hazards model established using these three vitamins exhibited poor or satisfactory predictive performance in the OSA (Sen = 95.2%, Spe = 39.0%) and CSA (Sen = 92.3%, Spe = 60.6%) groups, respectively. However, B5, B6, and B9 compensatory levels were not associated with RSA occurrence (all P > 0.05). Our study presents a highly sensitive model based on mass spectrometry assay of baseline levels in B vitamins to predict the RSA occurrence as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐induced oxidative DNA damages have been considered the main cause of mutations in genes, which are highly related to carcinogenesis and tumour progression. Extracellular vesicles play an important role in cancer metastasis. However, the precise role of DNA oxidative damage in extracellular vesicles (EVs)‐mediated cancer cell migration and invasion remains unclear. Here, we reveal that ROS‐mediated DNA oxidative damage signalling promotes tumour metastasis through increasing EVs release. Mechanistically, 8‐oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) recognises and binds to its substrate 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine (8‐oxoG), recruiting NF‐κB to the synaptotagmin 7 (SYT7) promoter and thereby triggering SYT7 transcription. The upregulation of SYT7 expression leads to increased release of E‐cadherin‐loaded EVs, which depletes intracellular E‐cadherin, thereby inducing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, Th5487, the inhibitor of DNA binding activity of OGG1, blocks the recognition and transmission of oxidative signals, alleviates SYT7 expression and suppresses EVs release, thereby preventing tumour progression in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our study illuminates the significance of 8‐oxoG/OGG1/SYT7 axis‐driven EVs release in oxidative stress‐induced tumour metastasis. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of cancer progression and offer potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of composite binders with high-volume steel slag (SS), granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and desulfurization gypsum (DG) were systematically investigated. The results show that the synergistic effects of high volume (40–60%) of SS with GBFS and less than 15% of DG could perform adequate setting time, higher strength, well volume stability and soundness as well as dense microstructure. The higher compressive strengths exceeding 70 MPa at 28 days and up to 80 MPa at 90 days could be obtained for composite pastes with high-volume SS, which exhibit tight relationships with [CaO]·[SO3]/[Al2O3]·[SiO2] and [CaO]·[Al2O3]/[SO3]2 molar ratios. More (15–19%) AFt and less (about 1%) portlandite produced during the hydration of composite binders. C–S–H gels and calcite crystals were formed. The composite binder possesses lower energy consumption, high carbon reduction and low cost compared with Portland cement in favor of the low-carbon cementitious material production and effective utilization of SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Cross-Modal Hashing (DCMH) has garnered significant attention in the field of cross-modal retrieval due to its advantages such as high computational efficiency and small storage space. However, existing DCMH methods still face certain limitations: (1) they neglect the correlation between labels, while label features exhibit high sparsity; (2) they lack fine-grained semantic alignment; (3) they fail to effectively address data imbalance. In order to tackle these issues, this paper introduces a framework named Semantic-Alignment Transformer and Adversary Hashing for Cross-modal Retrieval (SATAH). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt at the Semantic-Alignment Transformer algorithm. Specifically, this paper first designs a label learning network that utilizes a crafted transformer module to extract label information, guiding adversarial learning and hash function learning accordingly. Subsequently, a Balanced Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (BCGAN) is constructed, marking the first instance of adversarial training guided by label information. Furthermore, a Weighted Semi-Hard Cosine Triplet Constraint is proposed to better ensure high-ranking similarity relationships among all items. Lastly, considering the correlation between labels, a semantic-alignment constraint is introduced to handle label correlation from a fine-grained perspective, capturing similarity on a global scale more effectively. Extensive experiments are conducted on multiple representative cross-modal datasets. In experiments with 64-bit hash code length, SATAH achieves average mAP values of 84.75%, 68.87%, and 68.73% on MIR Flickr, NUS-WIDE, and MS COCO datasets, respectively, outperforming state-of-the-art methods. The code is available at https://github.com/Daydaylight/SATAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prepare anion exchange membrane (AEM) with high conductivity and high stability, 1,6-dibromohexane was used as crosslinking agent, and cross-linked poly (biphenyl-piperidine) AEM (PBP-Pip-x% membrane, x represents crosslinking degree and the values of x are 5, 10 and 15, respectively) with different crosslinking degrees were prepared by casting method. The structures and morphologies of PBP-Pip-x% membranes were characterized by 1H NMR and AFM, respectively, and the properties of PBP-Pip-x% membranes were studied by using uncross-linked poly (biphenyl-piperidine) AEM (PBP-Pip membrane) as the control group. The results show that PBP-Pip-15% membrane has better microphase separation structure, and its conductivity (99.14 mS/cm) is significantly higher than that of the PBP-Pip membrane (49.89 mS/cm). PBP-Pip-15% membrane shows good alkali stability, and after soaking in 1 mol/L KOH solution at 80 for 300 h, the conductivity of PBP-Pip-15% membrane is 37.50 mS/cm and the conductivity retention rate is 79.73%. Under the set up conditions (temperature of 80, 1 mol/L KOH solution and cell voltage of 2.0 V), the current density of PBP-Pip-15% membrane is 0.5 A/cm2, and the stability of PBP-Pip-15% membrane does not change significantly within 100 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the efficacy and safety of colistin sulfate in treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) and to analyze potential factors impacting its effectiveness. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of CRO-infected patients from June 2020 to June 2023 were analyzed, divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and compared for clinical outcomes and adverse reactions. Multifactorial logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used to identify influencing factors. Results: The study included 226 patients, with 124 in the effective treatment group and 102 in the ineffective group. A total of 293 CRO strains were cultured. The clinical efficacy rate of colistin sulfate was 54.87%, the microbiological efficacy rate 46.46%, and the hospital mortality rate 20.80%, with nephrotoxicity observed in 11.50% of patients. Multifactorial analysis identified APACHE II scores and vasoactive drug use as independent predictors of ineffective treatment, while treatment duration and albumin levels predicted effective treatment. ROC analysis indicated that albumin levels > 34 g/L, APACHE II scores < 13, and treatment duration > 10 days correlated with better clinical efficacy. Conclusion: Colistin sulfate is both safe and effective in clinical settings. Factors such as treatment duration, albumin levels, APACHE II scores, and vasoactive drug use independently affect its clinical efficacy, providing valuable guidance for its informed clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by poor response to all therapeutic modalities and dismal prognosis. The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in various solid cancers is of crucial prognostic significance, highlighting the intricate interplay between the tumor microenvironment and immune cells aggregation. However, the extent to which TLSs and immune status affect PDAC prognosis remains incompletely understood. Here, we sought to unveil the unique properties of TLSs in PDAC by leveraging both single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, culminating in a risk model that predicts clinical outcomes. We used TLS scores based on a 12-gene (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL8, CCL18, CCL19, CCL21, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCL13) and 9-gene (PTGDS, RBP5, EIF1AY, CETP, SKAP1, LAT, CCR6, CD1D, and CD79B) signature, respectively, and examined their distribution in cell clusters of single-cell data from PDAC samples. The markers involved in these clusters were selected to develop a prognostic model using The Cancer Genome Atlas Program database as the training cohort and Gene Expression Omnibus database as the validation cohort. Further, we compared the immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, and enriched and differentially expressed genes between the high- and low-risk groups in our model. Therefore, we established a risk model that has significant implications for the prognostic assessment of PADC patients with remarkable differences in immune infiltration and chemosensitivity between the low- and high-risk groups. This paradigm established by TLS-related cell marker genes provides a prognostic prediction and a panel of novel therapeutic targets for exploring potential immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems fueled the emergence of memristor-based artificial synapses, however, conventional silicon-based devices restricted their usage in the wearable field because of their difficulty in bending. To tackle the above challenge, a vertically structured flexible memristor with aluminum-based hydroquinone organic–inorganic hybrid film and Al2O3 as the functional layer, ITO and Pt as the bottom and top electrodes, and PET as the substrate has been developed utilizing molecular/atomic layer deposition to achieve a tradeoff between the resistive transition properties and the flexibility of memristors. The obtained devices combine stable resistive switching behavior and flexibility, showing high switching ratio of 103, better retention (up to 105 s) and endurance properties (up to 104 cycles), and robustness at radius of curvature of 4.5 mm after 104 bending cycles. Furthermore, the presence of multilevel resistive states in these devices ensures that the memristor can emulate synaptic properties such as paired-pulse facilitation, transition from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity, long-term potentiation and depression, and spike-time-dependent plasticity. The resistive switching mechanism and the role of the bending state on the electrical performance of the device are explored. The fully connected artificial neural network based on the memristor can achieve a recognition accuracy of 90.2% for handwritten digits after training and learning. Flexible memristor will bring feasible advances to the integration of neuromorphic computing and wearable functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, leading to symmetrical muscle weakness and atrophy. Description of two novel SMN1 mutations (patient1: c.683T > A, p.Leu228Ter; patient2: c.347 T > C, p.Ile116 Thr). We reported two patients with SMN1 mutations with the clinical features, and provided a literature review of the previously reported 22 cases. Two SMA patients showed progressive proximal lower limb weakness and milder clinical symptom. In a total of 22 cases, the most commonly observed SMN1 gene alteration was missense mutation (55%), followed by splicing defect (27%), nonsense (9%) and frameshift (9%). We discuss the possible decisive role of these intragenic mutations in the phenotypic results, which enriched the SMN 1 fine mutation database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The progression of tumours is related to abnormal phospholipid metabolism. This study is anticipated to present a fresh perspective for disease therapy targets of hepatocarcinoma caused by hepatitis B virus in the future by screening feature genes related to phospholipid metabolism. Methods: This study analysed GSE121248 to pinpoint differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By examining the overlap between the metabolism-related genes and DEGs, the research focused on the genes involved in phospholipid metabolism. To find feature genes, functional enrichment studies were carried out and a network diagram was proposed. These findings were validated via data base of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Further analyses included immune infiltration studies and metabolomics. Finally, the relationships between differentially abundant metabolites and feature genes were confirmed by molecular docking, providing a thorough comprehension of the molecular mechanisms. Results: The seven genes with the highest degree of connection (PTGS2, IGF1, SPP1, BCHE, NR1I2, NAMPT, and FABP1) were identified as feature genes. In the TCGA database, the seven feature genes also had certain diagnostic efficiency. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that feature genes regulate the infiltration of various immune cells. Metabolomics successfully identified the different metabolites of the phospholipid metabolism pathway between patients and normal individuals. The docking study indicated that different metabolites may play essential roles in causing disease by targeting feature genes. Conclusions: In this study, for the first time, it reveals the possible involvement of genes linked to phospholipid metabolism-related genes using bioinformatics analysis. Identifying genes and probable therapeutic targets could provide clues for the further treatment of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are supposed to be promising electrode materials for supercapacitors for the excellent porosity, variable pore size, and structural variety. Bi-metal MOFs have higher electrochemical performances compared to the corresponding single-metal MOFs as various metal ions could provide an increased number of electron transfer paths and active sites. Nevertheless, inferior stability and unsatisfactory electroconductivity of bi-metal MOFs greatly restrict further applications. In this work, using graphite nanosheets (GNS) as supports, Ni/Co-MOFs were loaded on the GNS by in situ growth to fabricate Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS nanohybrids via a one-pot solvothermal method. GNS as carbon materials have good electroconductivity and stability. Ni/Co-MOFs loaded on the GNS by in situ growth could avoid Ni/Co-MOFs aggregation and improve the dispersity, increasing the specific surface area and exposing more redox active sites, resulting in improvement of the electrochemical performances. The electrochemical performances of Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS were optimized by altering the molar ratio of Co(NO3)2·6H2O to Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and the condition of the reaction. According to the research findings, the Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS nanohybrid had a higher specific capacity which was 1080.0 C g−1 at 1 A g−1. Active carbon (AC) serving as the negative electrode and Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS as the positive electrode, Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS//AC asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled. The energy density of Ni/Co-MOFs/GNS//AC ASC was 28.7 Wh kg−1 and the power density was 849.9 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explores a nuanced understanding of tiger parenting by moving beyond cultural essentialist perspectives and an East (Chinese)-versus-West binary framework. Design/Approach/Methods: The study draws on data from 80 parents in Hong Kong SAR, an example of a culturally-hybrid East Asian metropolis. We applied maximum variation sampling to recruit participants with diverse school choices encompassing different education levels, occupations, social classes, and ethnicities. We used semi-structured interviews to investigate parental beliefs, practices, and understandings of tiger parenting. Findings: The findings suggest that tiger parenting is a cross-class and cross-culture phenomenon that would be more fruitfully analyzed by considering parental mindsets, educational structures, peer pressure, generational influences, cultural roots, class preferences, and global aspirations. We posit that tiger parenting and similar parenting practices are increasingly necessitated by fiercely competitive education systems, and becoming globalized across ethnic groups and social class spectrums. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the discussion on tiger parenting by highlighting previously understudied factors underpinning the concept. We argue that our analytical approach avoids the previous narrow and cultural essentialist understanding of tiger parenting, and advances the theoretical cogency of the concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of telitacicept in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who tested positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies or muscle‐specific kinase antibodies and were receiving standard‐of‐care therapy. Methods: Patients meeting the eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to receive telitacicept subcutaneously once a week for 24 weeks in addition to standard‐of‐care treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change in the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score from baseline to week 24. Secondary efficacy endpoints included mean change in QMG score from baseline to week 12 and gMG clinical absolute score from baseline to week 24. Additionally, safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics were assessed. Results: Twenty‐nine of the 41 patients screened were randomly selected and enrolled. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) reduction in QMG score from baseline to week 24 was 7.7 (± 5.34) and 9.6 (± 4.29) in the 160 mg and 240 mg groups, respectively. At week 12, mean reductions in QMG scores for these two groups were 5.8 (± 5.85) and 9.5 (± 5.03), respectively, indicating rapid clinical improvement. Safety analysis revealed no adverse events leading to discontinuation or mortalities. All patients showed consistent reductions in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG and IgM levels throughout the study. Conclusion: Telitacicept demonstrated safety, good tolerability and reduced clinical severity throughout the study period. Further validation of the clinical efficacy of telitacicept in gMG will be conducted in an upcoming phase 3 clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SR-SIM) is one of the important techniques that are most suitable for live-cell imaging. The reconstructed SR-SIM images are noisy once the raw images are recorded with low-light exposure. Here, we propose a new network (entitled the ND-SIM network) to denoise the SR images reconstructed using frequency-domain algorithms (FDAs). We demonstrate that ND-SIM can yield artifact-free SR images using raw images with an average photon count down to 20 per pixel while achieving comparable resolution to the ground truth (GT) obtained with high-light exposure. We can envisage that the ND-SIM will be widely applied for the long-term, super-resolution live-cell imaging of various bioprocesses in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hot compressed water (HCW), also known as subcritical water (SCW), refers to high‐temperature compressed water in a special physical and chemical state. It is an emerging technology for natural product extraction. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from the Maillard reaction between l‐ascorbic acid (ASA) and l‐cysteine (Cys) have attracted significant interest in the flavor and fragrance industry. This study aimed to explore the formation mechanism of VOCs from ASA and Cys and examine the effects of reaction parameters such as temperature, time, and pH in HCW. RESULTS: The identified VOCs were predominantly thiophene derivatives, polysulfides, and pyrazine derivatives in HCW. The findings indicated that thiophene derivatives were formed under various pH conditions, with polysulfide formation favored under acidic conditions and pyrazine derivative formation preferred under weak alkaline conditions, specifically at pH 8.0. CONCLUSION: The Maillard reaction between ASA and Cys mainly produced thiophene derivatives, polysulfides, and pyrazine derivatives in HCW. The generation mechanism was significantly dependent on the surrounding pH conditions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between short-term ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure and blood lipids is inconsistent across populations. This study aimed to investigate the modifying effects of fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels on the associations between short-term AAP exposure and blood lipids in 110,637 male participants from Beijing, China. The results showed that FBG modified the association between short-term AAP exposure and blood lipids, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In the hyperglycemia group, a 10-μg/m3 increase in particles with diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particles with diameters ≤ 10 μm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), or a 1-mg/m3 increase in carbon monoxide (CO) was associated with a 0.454%, 0.305%, 1.507%, 0.872%, or 3.961% increase in LDL-C, respectively. In the nonhyperglycemic group, short-term increases in air pollutants were even associated with small decreases in LDL-C. The findings demonstrate that lipids in hyperglycemic individuals are more vulnerable to short-term AAP exposure than those in normal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Acupuncture & Tuina Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives The characterization of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) mutations has transformed the classification of endometrial endometrioid carcinomas (EECs), highlighting the need for efficient identification methods. This study aims to examine the relationship between distinct morphologic features—namely, squamous morules and squamous differentiation (SD), as well as β-catenin expression—and the POLE mutation status in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods Our study included 35 POLE-mutated (POLE mut) EC cases and 395 non-POLE mut EEC cases. Results Notably, we observed no presence of morules in POLE mut cases, while SD was identified in 20% of instances. Conversely, morules and SD were identified in 12.7% and 26.1% of non-POLE mut EC cases, respectively, with morules consistently linked to a POLE wild-type status. The nuclear β-catenin expression is typically absent in tumors with wild-type POLE (wt-POLE) status. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the presence of either morules or nuclear β-catenin expression in EEC could practically rule out the presence of POLE mutations. These morphologic and immunohistochemical features can be used as preliminary screening tools for POLE mutations, offering significant savings in time and resources and potentially enhancing clinical decision-making and patient management strategies. However, further validation in larger, multi-institutional studies is required to fully understand the implications of these findings on clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aporphine alkaloids have diverse pharmacological activities; however, our understanding of their biosynthesis is relatively limited. Previous studies have classified aporphine alkaloids into two categories based on the configuration and number of substituents of the D‐ring and have proposed preliminary biosynthetic pathways for each category. In this study, we identified two specific cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP80G6 and CYP80Q5) with distinct activities toward (S)‐configured and (R)‐configured substrates from the herbaceous perennial vine Stephania tetrandra, shedding light on the biosynthetic mechanisms and stereochemical features of these two aporphine alkaloid categories. Additionally, we characterized two CYP719C enzymes (CYP719C3 and CYP719C4) that catalyzed the formation of the methylenedioxy bridge, an essential pharmacophoric group, on the A‐ and D‐rings, respectively, of aporphine alkaloids. Leveraging the functional characterization of these crucial cytochrome P450 enzymes, we reconstructed the biosynthetic pathways for the two types of aporphine alkaloids in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for the de novo production of compounds such as (R)‐glaziovine, (S)‐glaziovine, and magnoflorine. This study provides key insight into the biosynthesis of aporphine alkaloids and lays a foundation for producing these valuable compounds through synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]