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Speckles are ubiquitous phenomena associated with multi‐spatial‐mode optics, which may reduce detection efficiency and induce modal noise if the photoresponse of the detector is polarization‐dependent. Thus far, they limit the performance of superconducting nanowire single‐photon detectors (SNSPDs) coupled with multimode optical fibers (MMF). To solve this problem, here, it is shown that SNSPDs patterned into the fractal geometry is insensitive to speckles and generates minimal modal noise that would otherwise be induced by the polarization‐dependent local device efficiency of the meander and spiral SNSPDs. Using this advantageous property of the fractal SNSPDs, 78±2%$78 \pm 2\%$ system detection efficiency at the wavelength of 1530 nm and 42‐ps timing jitter is demonstrated when we couple a fractal SNSPD with 50‐micrometer‐core, step‐index MMF. This work not only demonstrates a scheme to achieving high system detection efficiency for MMF‐coupled SNSPDs that can be used in many applications, but also provides insight on how engineered nanostructures of photodetectors can reduce modal noise when detecting light from multiple spatial modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) demonstrates considerable heterogeneity in the manifestation of clinical symptoms and disease progression. Recently, six clinical milestones have been proposed to evaluate disease severity in PD. However, the identification of PD progression subtypes based on these milestone events has not yet been performed. Methods: Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify subtypes of PD progression based on the timing of the first occurrence of six milestones within a 6-year follow-up period in Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database. Results: The study cohort consisted of 354 early PD patients, of whom 42.9% experienced at least one milestone within six years. LCA identified two distinct subtypes of PD progression: slow progression (83%) and rapid progression (17%). The total number of milestones over six years was significantly higher in the rapid progression subtype compared to the slow progression subtype (median: 3.00 vs. 0.00, p < 0.001). At baseline, the rapid progression subtype, compared to the slow progression subtype, was characterized by an older age at onset and more severe motor and non-motor symptoms. On biomarkers, the rapid progression subtype demonstrated elevated CSF p-tau and serum NFL, but decreased mean striatal DAT uptake. Five clinical variables (age, SDMT score, MDS-UPDRS I score, MDS-UPDRS II + III scores, and RBD) were selected to construct the predictive model. The original predictive model achieved an AUC of 0.82. In internal validation using bootstrap resampling, the model achieved an AUC of 0.82, with a 95%CI ranging from 0.76 to 0.87. The model's performance was acceptable regarding both calibration and clinical utility. Conclusion: Approximately 17% of early PD patients exhibited the rapid progression subtype, characterized by the occurrence of more and earlier-onset milestones. The nomogram predictive model, incorporating five baseline clinical variables (age, SDMT score, MDS-UPDRS I score, MDS-UPDRS II + III scores, RBD), serves as a valuable tool for prognostic counseling and patient selection in PD clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Among motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), little is known about whether the characteristics and collision features involving drivers with epilepsy differ from those involving drivers without any history of epilepsy. We assessed MVC features and the effect of epilepsy diagnosis on the risk of severe crash‐related injuries among drivers. Methods: A total of 33 174 MVC events among people with epilepsy (PWE) and 663 480 MVC events of age‐ and sex‐matched non‐PWE (1:20) were selected. Crash‐related features that involved drivers with and without epilepsy were compared, including driver eligibility, medical history of comorbidities and medications, road and environmental conditions, and accident causes. Cox and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the risks of fatality and severe injury among drivers with and without epilepsy. Results: PWE involved in MVCs were more likely to have lower socioeconomic status, comorbidities, scooter drivers without a qualified driver's license, driving under the influence of alcohol, and be involved in single‐vehicle accidents than non‐PWE. Drivers with epilepsy also had a higher risk of fatality within 30 days of MVC, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–1.57) and a higher risk of hospital admission within 3 days after MVC (aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.29–1.38) compared to that of non‐PWE. Significance: The characteristics of MVCs of drivers with epilepsy were distinct from those of non‐affected drivers. And higher fatality and injury rates were observed among drivers with epilepsy, which should be considered in further policymaking regarding safe driving of PWE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is integral in slowing pulmonary fibrosis progression in chronic fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) often limits its use, leading to treatment discontinuation, typically within 3–12 months. Discontinuation adversely affects patient outcomes. The study investigated whether aggressive ADR management can prolong nintedanib therapy and improve patient outcomes. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study enrolled Taiwanese patients with chronic fibrotic ILD who were treated with nintedanib from January 2016 to December 2022 in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were categorized into those who discontinued treatment within 180 days and those continuing beyond. Management of ADRs was identified through concurrent prescriptions for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or hepatic dysfunction. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, pulmonary function tests, and instances of acute exacerbation were analyzed. Results: The study enrolled 94 patients, with 71 (75.5%) experiencing ADRs. Among these, 41 (43.6%) discontinued nintedanib within 180 days. The administration of medications for managing nausea/vomiting [17 (41.5%) versus 36 (67.9%), p = 0.0103] and diarrhea [12 (29.3%) versus 33 (62.3%), p = 0.0015] was less frequent in the discontinued group compared with the continued group. Additionally, a higher incidence of acute exacerbation was observed in the discontinued group (34.1% versus 20.8%, p = 0.016). Conclusion: Aggressive management of ADRs may enhance patient tolerance to nintedanib, potentially prolonging treatment duration and improving outcomes in chronic fibrotic ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state quantum emitters coupled to integrated photonic nanostructures are quintessential for exploring fundamental phenomena in cavity quantum electrodynamics and are used in a wide range of photonic quantum technologies. One of the most exciting prospects for integrated photonics is the potential for massive production of miniaturized devices on a single chip. However, the efficiency and reproducibility of light–matter coupling are hindered by the spectral and spatial mismatch between the single solid-state quantum emitters and the optical modes supported by the photonic nanostructures. Here we develop a platform and method for hyperspectral imaging of solid-state quantum emitters to address this long-standing issue. Spatially distributed and spectrally broadened InAs quantum dots are embedded in a GaAs/AlGaAs one-dimensional (1D) planar cavity that consists of two distributed Bragg reflectors acting as mirrors. By exploiting the extended mode of the dispersive 1D cavity and the way it shapes the out-of-plane emission from the quantum dots, we extract the spatial position and emission wavelength of each dot from a single wide-field photoluminescence image, with a spatial and spectral accuracy down to 15 nm and 0.4 nm, respectively. We then fabricate quantum light sources by etching the 1D confined planar cavity into 3D confined micropillars. Extension of this technique using an open planar cavity can be exploited for a variety of compact quantum photonic devices with expanded functionalities for large-scale integration. Our technology is particularly appealing for quantum photonic applications that involve the spatial and spectral characterization of a large number of solid-state quantum emitters. The position and emission wavelengths of single quantum dots embedded in a one-dimensional planar cavity can be simultaneously determined from a single photoluminescence image with 15 nm spatial accuracy and subnanometric spectral accuracy in the near-infrared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of Environmental (E), Social (S), and Governance (G) activities on the cost efficiency of commercial banks in Western Europe in 2010–2020. The stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) method was employed to investigate the impact of E, S, G, and bank characteristic variables on cost efficiency. The findings reveal that commercial banks can improve their cost efficiency by conducting E, S, and G activities. Banks that implemented these practices tended to have relatively better cost efficiency than those that did not. Overall, the results of this study are consistent with the stakeholder hypothesis and present the first evidence of the interplay between cost efficiency and ESG activities in the banking industry in Western Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-Stokes polarimetric imaging light detection and ranging (LiDAR) provides rich information about distance, materials, texture, surface orientations, and profiles of objects, and it is an important remote-sensing technology. One major challenge to reach a long distance is to efficiently collect and detect the echo photons, as for long-range LiDAR, echo photons may become sparse. Here, we demonstrate a full-Stokes polarimetric imaging LiDAR, working at the eye-safe, telecommunication wavelength of 1560 nm, that can reach a range of 4 km. The key enabling technology is a four-channel system with multimode-fiber-coupled, large-area fractal superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. Furthermore, we also explore faster imaging (e.g., pixel-dwell time of 1 ms) of the objects at a shorter distance, approximately 1 km. Our demonstration has significantly extended the working range of full-Stokes polarimetric imaging LiDAR and represents an important step toward practical systems that may enable many applications in remote sensing and the detection and recognition of targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: MIL-88C (Fe) with varying aspect ratios as a precursor was synthesized by regulating oil bath conditions, followed by one-step thermal decomposition to obtain carbon-coated iron-based composites. High-efficiency microwave absorption properties were achieved with RLmin value of -67.4 dB (2.13 mm) and wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.52 GHz (1.90 mm) under the low filler loading. A symmetric gradient honeycomb structure was constructed utilizing the high-frequency structure simulator, achieving an EAB of 14.6 GHz and a RLmin of -59.0 dB. The impedance matching of absorbers is a vital factor affecting their microwave absorption (MA) properties. In this work, we controllably synthesized Material of Institute Lavoisier 88C (MIL-88C) with varying aspect ratios (AR) as a precursor by regulating oil bath conditions, followed by one-step thermal decomposition to obtain carbon-coated iron-based composites. Modifying the precursor MIL-88C (Fe) preparation conditions, such as the molar ratio between metal ions and organic ligands (M/O), oil bath temperature, and oil bath time, influenced the phases, graphitization degree, and AR of the derivatives, enabling low filler loading, achieving well-matched impedance, and ensuring outstanding MA properties. The MOF-derivatives 2 (MD2)/polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF), MD3/PVDF, and MD4/PVDF absorbers all exhibited excellent MA properties with optimal filler loadings below 20 wt% and as low as 5 wt%. The MD2/PVDF (5 wt%) achieved a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.52 GHz (1.90 mm). The MD3/PVDF (10 wt%) possessed a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of − 67.4 at 12.56 GHz (2.13 mm). A symmetric gradient honeycomb structure (SGHS) was constructed utilizing the high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS) to further extend the EAB, achieving an EAB of 14.6 GHz and a RLmin of − 59.0 dB. This research offers a viable inspiration to creating structures or materials with high-efficiency MA properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the success of PD-1 blockade in recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), its effect for locoregionally advanced NPC (LANPC) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of adding PD-1 blockade to the current standard treatment (gemcitabine and cisplatin IC plus cisplatin CCRT ) for LANPC patients. Methods: From January 2020 to November 2022, 347 patients with non-metastatic high-risk LANPC (stage III-IVA, excluding T3-4N0) were included. Of the 347 patients, 268 patients were treated with standard treatment (IC-CCRT), and 79 received PD-1 blockade plus IC-CCRT (PD-1 group). For the PD-1 group, PD-1 blockade was given intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 9 cycles (3 induction and 6 adjuvant). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) (i.e. freedom from local/regional/distant failure or death). The propensity score matching (PSM) with the ratio of 1:2 was performed to control confounding factors. Results: After PSM analysis, 150 patients receiving standard treatment and 75 patients receiving additional PD-1 blockade remained in the current analysis. After three cycles of IC, the PD-1 group had significantly higher rates of complete response (defined as disappearance of all target lesions; 24% vs. 9%; P = 0.006) and complete biological response (defined as undetectable cell-free Epstein-Barr virus DNA, cfEBV DNA; 79% vs. 65%; P = 0.046) than that in the standard group. And the incidence of grade 3–4 toxicity during IC was 47% in the PD-1 group and 41% in the standard group, with no significant difference (P = 0.396). During follow-up period, additional PD-1 blockade to standard treatment improved 3-year DFS from 84 to 95%, with marginal statistical significance (HR, 0.28; 95%CI, 0.06-1.19; P = 0.064). Conclusion: Additiaonl PD-1 blockade to gemcitabine and cisplatin IC and adjuvant treatment results in significant improvement in tumor regression, cfEBV DNA clearance, superior DFS, and comparable toxicity profiles in high-risk LANPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holographic optical elements (HOEs) based on polymer composites have become a research hot spot in recent years for augmented reality (AR) due to the significant improvement of optical performance, dynamic range, ease of processing and high yield rate. Nevertheless, it remains a formidable challenge to obtain a large field of view (FOV) and brightness due to the limited refractive index modulation. Herein, we report an effective method to tackle the challenge by doping an epoxy liquid crystal termed E6M, which enables a large refractive index modulation of 0.050 @ 633 nm and low haze of 5.0% at a doping concentration of 5 wt%. This achievement may be ascribed to the improved molecular ordering of liquid crystals within the holographic polymer composites. The high refractive index modulation can endow transmission-type holographic polymer composites with a high diffraction efficiency of 96.2% at a small thickness of 5 µm, which would promise the design of thin and lightweight AR devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the tachyonic instability of Kerr–Newman (KN) black hole with a rotation parameter a in the Einstein–Chern–Simons-scalar theory coupled with a quadratic massive scalar field. This instability analysis corresponds to exploring the onset of spontaneous scalarization for KN black holes. First, we find no a-bound for α < 0 case by considering (1 + 1)-dimensional analytical method. A direct numerical method is adopted to explore (2 + 1)-dimensional time evolution of a massive scalar perturbation with positive and negative α to obtain threshold curves numerically. We obtain threshold curves α th (a) of tachyonic instability for positive α without any a-bounds. We expect to find the same threshold curves α th (a) of tachyonic instability for negative α without any a-bound because its linearized scalar theory is invariant under the transformation of α → - α and θ → - θ. In addition, it is found that the scalar mass term suppresses tachyonic instability of KN black holes, while the black hole charge promotes the instability (disregarding the contribution of the charge to the existence conditions M 2 - Q 2 ≥ a 2) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma is considered the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Although traditional treatments have not achieved satisfactory outcomes, recently, targeted therapies for glioma have shown promising efficacy. However, due to the single-target nature of targeted therapy, traditional targeted therapies are ineffective; thus, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Methods: The gene expression data for glioma patients were derived from the GEO (GSE4290, GSE50161), TCGA and CGGA databases. Next, the upregulated genes obtained from the above databases were cross-analyzed, finally, 10 overlapping genes (BIRC5, FOXM1, EZH2, CDK1, KIF11, KIF4A, NDC80, PBK, RRM2, and TOP2A) were ultimately screened and only KIF4A expression has the strongest correlation with clinical characteristics in glioma patients. Futher, the TCGA and CGGA database were utilized to explore the correlation of KIF4A expression with glioma prognosis. Then, qRT-PCR and Western blot was used to detect the KIF4A mRNA and protein expression level in glioma cells, respectively. And WZ-3146, the small molecule inhibitor targeting KIF4A, were screened by Cmap analysis. Subsequently, the effect of KIF4A knockdown or WZ-3146 treatment on glioma was measured by the MTT, EdU, Colony formation assay and Transwell assay. Ultimately, GSEA enrichment analysis was performed to find that the apoptotic pathway could be regulated by KIF4A in glioma, in addition, the effect of WZ-3146 on glioma apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results: In the present study, we confirmed that KIF4A is abnormally overexpressed in glioma. In addition, KIF4A overexpression is a key indicator of glioma prognosis; moreover, suppressing KIF4A expression can inhibit glioma progression. We also discovered that WZ-3146, a small molecule inhibitor of KIF4A, can induce apoptosis in glioma cells and exhibit antiglioma effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, these observations demonstrated that targeting KIF4A can inhibit glioma progression. With further research, WZ-3146, a small molecule inhibitor of KIF4A, could be combined with other molecular targeted drugs to cooperatively inhibit glioma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing the relationship between the mating system (i.e., the outcrossing/inbreeding degree) and the fitness of seeds in tree species under wild conditions is essential for understanding the ecological adaptability and evolutionary stability of the species. This study collected open-pollinated seeds from seven wild populations of Pinus yunnanensis var. tenuifolia that exhibited fragmentation in the Nanpan–Hongshui River basin, an ecologically fragile area in China. The seeds and sprouts (germinated seeds) from 20 families were genotyped (24 seeds and 24 sprouts per family) using twelve microsatellite loci to reveal the genetic diversity, mating status, and effect of inbreeding on the three seed quality indicators (thousand-seed weight, germination rate, and germination potential). The three seed quality indicators differed significantly between families (p < 0.001). Higher values of genetic diversity (except the observed heterozygosity) were observed in the sprout group than those in the seed group. Families from different populations showed a notable genetic differentiation (Φst = 0.12), and a large part of families from the common populations had a high degree of coancestry, which signified that the current habitat fragmentation is limiting gene flow between populations. High levels of outcrossing rates (tm) were observed in both the seed group (tm = 0.974) and the sprout group (tm = 0.978), indicating that a low proportion of seeds were self-fertilized. Although there was a slightly higher single outcrossing rate (ts = 0.888) and a lower proportion of biparental inbreeding (tm − ts = 0.077) in sprouts compared to the seeds (ts = 0.871, tm − ts = 0.091), indicating that a part of inbred seeds were purged during the germination stage, curve fitting between the outcrossing rate and seed quality indicators showed that a certain degree of biparental inbreeding (ts between 0.89 and 0.91 and tm − ts between 0.09 and 0.11) did have a positive effect on seed germination ability. This highlights that excessive inbreeding or outbreeding seems to be unfavorable to seed viability. The peculiar relationship between seed viability and the mating system in P. yunnanensis var. tenuifolia was likely an evolutionary consequence of a trade-off between the nature of mixed mating and its specific ecological niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring a consistently reliable power supply is paramount in power systems. Researchers are engaged in the pursuit of categorizing transmission line failures to design countermeasures for mitigating the associated financial losses. Our study employs a machine learning-based methodology, specifically the Conformer Convolution-Augmented Transformer model, to classify transmission line fault types. This model processes time series input data directly, eliminating the need for expert feature extraction. The training and validation datasets are generated through simulations conducted on a two-terminal transmission line, while testing is conducted on historical data consisting of 108 events that occurred in the Taiwan power system. Due to the limited availability of historical data, they are utilized solely for inference purposes. Our simulations are meticulously designed to encompass potential faults based on an analysis of historical data. A significant aspect of our investigation focuses on the impact of the sampling rate on input data, establishing that a rate of four samples per cycle is sufficient. This suggests that, for our specific classification tasks, relying on lower frequency data might be adequate, thereby challenging the conventional emphasis on high-frequency analysis. Eventually, our methodology achieves a validation accuracy of 100%, although the testing accuracy is lower at 88.88%. The discrepancy in testing accuracy can be attributed to the limited information and the small number of historical events, which pose challenges in bridging the gap between simulated data and real-world measurements. Furthermore, we benchmarked our method against the ELM model proposed in 2023, demonstrating significant improvements in testing accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between the steroid use patterns and the risk of AEs in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 2691 newly diagnosed adults with ITP between 2011 and 2018 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, and the date of first steroid use was defined as the index date. Post‐index steroid use was calculated on a 90‐day basis as a time‐dependent variable and categorized by the average prednisolone‐equivalent daily dose (<10 mg vs. ≥10 mg) and intensity (medication possession ratio <80% vs. ≥80%). Patients were followed up for 1 year from the index date for acute AE events, while chronic AEs were assessed until death, or end of 2019. Compared to patients with low‐dose+low‐intensity steroid use, those with high‐dose+high‐intensity steroid use were associated with a higher risk of acute AE (adjusted incident rate ratio [aIRR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–1.78, p < 0.01) and chronic AE (aIRR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.47, p < 0.01). Metabolic/endocrine and ophthalmologic disorders demonstrated the strongest correlation with a high dose and intensity. The joint effect of steroid dose and intensity was observed in patients with ITP, and the findings suggest that steroids should be used carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of steam-flaked corn on the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of beef cattle, 40 Simmental crossbred beef cattle with a body weight of (224.05±14.56) kg were randomly divided into four groups with five replicates per group and two beef cattle per replicate. Crushed corn was added to the diet of the control group, and 33%, 66%, and 100% steam-flaked corn were used to replace the crushed corn in test group I ~ group III, respectively. The pre-feeding period lasted for seven days, and the formal test period lasted for 120 days. The results showed that the final weight of the group II and group III increased by 6.27% (P<0.05) and 10.64% (P<0.01) compared to the control group, respectively. The total weight gain of the group I ~ group III increased by 7.56% (P<0.05), 21.29% (P<0.01), and 33.45% (P<0.01) compared to the control group, respectively. The live weight before slaughter of the group I ~ group III increased by 2.64% (P<0.05), 6.59% (P<0.01), and 10.25% P<0.01) compared to the control group, respectively. The feed to gain ratio of the group II and group III was extremely lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). The carcass weight and net meat weight of the group II and group III were extremely higher than those of the control group (P<0.01). The content of crude protein in beef in the group II and group III was extremely higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The crude fat content in the group III was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The pH45 min value and water loss rate of the group III were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The aquaculture benefits of experimental group I ~ group III were increased by 15.36%, 48.04%, and 77.98% compared to the control group, respectively. The study indicates that replacing common crushed corn with steam-flaked corn can improve the growth performance and slaughter performance of Simmental crossbred beef cattle, improve the quality of beef, and improve the economic benefit of beef cattle breeding. Replacing the common crushed corn with 100% steam-flaked corn in the diet has a better effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial genotoxins damage host cells by targeting their chromosomal DNA. In the present study, we demonstrate that a genotoxin of Salmonella Typhi, typhoid toxin, triggers the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) by damaging mitochondrial DNA. The actions of typhoid toxin disrupt mitochondrial DNA integrity, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbance of redox homeostasis. Consequently, it facilitates the release of damaged mitochondrial DNA into the cytosol, activating type I interferon via the cGAS-STING pathway. We also reveal that the GCN2-mediated integrated stress response plays a role in the upregulation of inflammatory components depending on the STING signaling axis. These SASP factors can propagate the senescence effect on T cells, leading to senescence in these cells. These findings provide insights into how a bacterial genotoxin targets mitochondria to trigger a proinflammatory SASP, highlighting a potential therapeutic target for an anti-toxin intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung transplantation is one of the most common treatment options for patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the choice between single and double lung transplantation for these patients remains a matter of debate. Therefore, we performed a systematic search of medical databases for studies on single lung transplantation, double lung transplantation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: The rate ratio and hazard ratio of survival were analyzed. The meta-analysis included 15 case–control and retrospective registry studies. Results: The rate ratios of the 3-year survival (0.937 and P = 0.041) and 5-year survival (0.775 and P = 0.000) were lower for single lung transplantation than for double lung transplantation. However, the hazard ratio did not differ significantly between the two. Conclusions: Double lung transplantation was found to provide better benefits than single lung transplantation in terms of the long-term survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in lung transplant recipients can be lethal owing to the use of immunosuppressants. Antiviral agents may be administered to these patients. Co-packaged nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is a new agent currently being used in combination. Case presentation: In this report, we present a case of a 64-year-old woman, a lung transplant recipient, who experienced hyponatremia and showed a high serum tacrolimus concentration following the administration of the co-packaged nirmatrelvir-ritonavir combination. Conclusion: Although the nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and tacrolimus combination is not contraindicated, other treatment strategies should be considered first, if available, and the dose of tacrolimus should be reduced when using the nirmatrelvir-ritonavir combination. In cases where combination therapy is necessary, serum tacrolimus levels should be closely monitored in lung transplant recipients. Documentation of more such reports is important to identify drug interactions between nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and other agents, with the aim of preventing severe adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu/SAPO-34 zeolite serves as an efficient active component for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in flue gas by ammonia. Despite its commendable high-temperature hydrothermal stability, the application of Cu/SAPO-34 zeolite is limited due to low-temperature hydrothermal deactivation issues in the steam environment. In this paper, we provide a systematic review on the denitration mechanism, low-temperature hydrothermal deactivation mechanism, factors influencing its low-temperature hydrothermal stability, and the corresponding improvement measures of Cu/SAPO-34 zeolite. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of different methods are analyzed to offer valuable insights for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel composite of g‐C3N4 and silver nanoparticles(g‐C3N4@Ag) with enhanced bifunctional catalytic activity through chemical etching is reported. A kind of g‐C3N4@Ag composite by one‐pot route, then treated the product with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solution for a certain time is first synthesized. The property and morphology of the g‐C3N4@Ag composite changed greatly after the treatment. Compared with the pristine g‐C3N4@Ag composite, the NaBH4‐etching endowed g‐C3N4@Ag composite (RACN) with smoother two‐dimensional plane structure, as well as an extension of the conjugate system which originating from the stronger chemical connection between the Ag nanoparticles and g‐C3N4. Furthermore, research results indicated that the RACN showed superior broad‐spectrum catalytic performance for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds, and the catalytic efficiency of the RACN is enhanced dozens of times by the treatment. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of the RACN is also greatly improved. This discovery provides an efficient and facile method toward the enhancement of catalytic activity of semiconductor and metal nanoparticle composites by chemical etching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign migration flows have important stock market consequences. Foreign-born resident networks within U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are associated with excess return comovement between locally headquartered stocks and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) from countries with ties to the MSA through the network of foreign-born residents. This comovement is hardly due to correlated fundamentals and at least partially driven by correlated trading within members of a common investor base consisting of foreign-born residents. Our evidence has implications for both investors and foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) seeking to reap benefits from cross-listings and is consistent with the notion that foreign-born residents exhibit both local bias and home (country) bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to prepare a solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SMEDDS) of cinnamaldehyde (CA) by spray drying technique to improve the oral bioavailability of CA. The preparation of CA S-SMEDDS with maltodextrin as the solid carrier, a core-wall material mass ratio of 1:1, a solid content of 20% (w/v), an inlet air temperature of 150 °C, an injection speed of 5.2 mL/min, and an atomization pressure of 0.1 MPa was determined by using the encapsulation rate as the index of investigation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the possibility of CA being encapsulated in S-SMEDDS in an amorphous form. The in-vitro release showed that the total amount of CA released by S-SMEDDS was approximately 1.3 times higher than that of the CA suspension. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the relative oral bioavailability of CA S-SMEDDS was also increased to 1.6-fold compared to CA suspension. Additionally, we explored the mechanism of CA uptake and transport of lipid-soluble drugs CA by S-SMEDDS in a Caco-2/HT29 cell co-culture system for the first time. The results showed that CA S-SMEDDS uptake on the co-culture model was mainly an energy-dependent endocytosis mechanism, including lattice protein-mediated endocytosis and vesicle-mediated endocytosis. Transport experiments showed that CA S-SMEDDS significantly increased the permeability of CA in this model. These findings suggested that CA S-SMEDDS is an effective oral solid dosage form for increasing the oral bioavailability of lipid-soluble drug CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is the primary method that can measure the levels of metabolites in the brain in vivo. To achieve its potential in clinical usage, the reliability of the measurement requires further articulation. Although there are many studies that investigate the reliability of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), comparatively few studies have investigated the reliability of other brain metabolites, such as glutamate (Glu), N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), phosphocreatine (PCr), or myo‐inositol (mI), which all play a significant role in brain development and functions. In addition, previous studies which predominately used only two measurements (two data points) failed to provide the details of the time effect (e.g., time‐of‐day) on MRS measurement within subjects. Therefore, in this study, MRS data located in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were repeatedly recorded across 1 year leading to at least 25 sessions for each subject with the aim of exploring the variability of other metabolites by using the index coefficient of variability (CV); the smaller the CV, the more reliable the measurements. We found that the metabolites of NAA, tNAA, and tCr showed the smallest CVs (between 1.43% and 4.90%), and the metabolites of Glu, Glx, mI, and tCho showed modest CVs (between 4.26% and 7.89%). Furthermore, we found that the concentration reference of the ratio to water results in smaller CVs compared to the ratio to tCr. In addition, we did not find any time‐of‐day effect on the MRS measurements. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that the MRS measurement is reasonably reliable in quantifying the levels of metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The W-type entangled states are very useful in quantum computing and quantum communication. Many works have been devoted to preparing non-hybrid W states (i.e., all qubits with the same encoding) in various physical systems. On the other hand, hybrid W entangled states are key ingredients for hybrid quantum computing and quantum communication. In this work, we propose to create a hybrid W entangled state of three photonic qubits each with a different encoding. The hybrid W state is prepared by employing three microwave cavities coupled to a superconducting flux qutrit (i.e., a three-level quantum system). This proposal requires only a single qutrit to couple the three cavities, thus the system architecture is greatly simplified. Since there is no need of making any measurement, the W state is created deterministically. As an example, our numerical simulation demonstrates that within current experimental technology, the proposed hybrid W state can be created with a high fidelity. This proposal is universal and can be applied to create the proposed hybrid W state, by using three microwave or optical cavities coupled to a three-level natural or artificial atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precisely acquiring the timing information of individual X-ray photons is important in both fundamental research and practical applications. The timing precision of commonly used X-ray single-photon detectors remains in the range of one hundred picoseconds to microseconds. In this work, we report on high-timing-precision detection of single X-ray photons through the fast transition to the normal state from the superconductive state of superconducting nanowires. We successfully demonstrate a free-running X-ray single-photon detector with a timing resolution of 20.1 ps made of 100-nm-thick niobium nitride film with an active area of 50  μ m by 50  μ m. By using a repeated differential timing measurement on two adjacent X-ray single-photon detectors, we demonstrate a precision of 0.87 ps in the arrival-time difference of X-ray photon measurements. Therefore, our work significantly enhances the timing precision in X-ray photon counting, opening a new niche for ultrafast X-ray photonics and many associated applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon sub-bandgap photodetectors can detect light at the infrared telecommunication wavelengths but with relatively weak photo-response. In this work, we demonstrate the enhancement of sub-bandgap photodetection in silicon by helium-ion implantation, without affecting the transparency that is an important beneficial feature of this type of photodetectors. With an implantation dose of 1 × 1013 ions/cm2, the minimal detectable optical power can be improved from − 33.2 to − 63.1 dBm, or, by 29.9 dB, at the wavelength of 1550 nm, and the photo-response at the same optical power (− 10 dBm) can be enhanced by approximately 18.8 dB. Our work provides a method for strategically modifying the intrinsic trade-off between transparency and strong photo-responses of this type of photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial titled "Variability and reproducibility of brain imaging" that discusses the reliability and reproducibility of brain imaging results. The editorial aims to explore the factors that influence these results and provide practical perspectives to enhance them. It highlights four articles that address different aspects of this topic, including brain age, resting-state fMRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and 2D and 4D flow MRI measurement of intracranial blood flow. The authors emphasize the importance of acknowledging the problems in neuroimaging studies and adopting best practices to improve the robustness and reliability of the results. Additionally, the document provides a list of references from various scientific articles related to neuroscience and neuroimaging. [Extracted from the article]

Aromatic azo compounds have -N=N- double bonds as well as a larger π electron conjugation system, which endows aromatic azo compounds with wide applications in the fields of functional materials. The properties of aromatic azo compounds are closely related to the substituents on their aromatic rings. However, traditional synthesis methods, such as the coupling of diazo salts, have a significant limitation with respect to the structural design of aromatic azo compounds. Therefore, many scientists have devoted their efforts to developing new synthetic methods. Moreover, recent advances in the synthesis of aromatic azo compounds have led to improvements in the design and preparation of light-response materials at the molecular level. This review summarizes the important synthetic progress of aromatic azo compounds in recent years, with an emphasis on the pioneering contribution of functional nanomaterials to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversification of effector function, driven by a co-evolutionary arms race, enables pathogens to establish compatible interactions with hosts. Structurally conserved plant pathogenesis-related PR-1 and PR-1-like (PR-1L) proteins are involved in plant defense and fungal virulence, respectively. It is unclear how fungal PR-1L counters plant defense. Here, we show that Ustilago maydis UmPR-1La and yeast ScPRY1, with conserved phenolic resistance functions, are Ser/Thr-rich region mediated cell-surface localization proteins. However, UmPR-1La has gained specialized activity in sensing phenolics and eliciting hyphal-like formation to guide fungal growth in plants. Additionally, U. maydis hijacks maize cathepsin B-like 3 (CatB3) to release functional CAPE-like peptides by cleaving UmPR-1La's conserved CNYD motif, subverting plant CAPE-primed immunity and promoting fungal virulence. Surprisingly, CatB3 avoids cleavage of plant PR-1s, despite the presence of the same conserved CNYD motif. Our work highlights that UmPR-1La has acquired additional dual roles to suppress plant defense and sustain the infection process of fungal pathogens. Plant PR-1 proteins participate in defense responses against pathogens. Here, the authors show that PR-1-like proteins from the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis are important for virulence by detecting plant-derived phenolics and modulating plant PR-1-mediated defenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swallowing difficulties often occur in older adult patients during acute hospitalization, leading to reduced nutritional intake, increased frailty, and various psychosocial challenges. This randomized controlled study aimed to assess the effects of two interventions, thickeners and swallowing exercises, on the spiritual well-being, physical activity, and happiness of older adult patients with swallowing difficulties during acute hospitalization from October 2019 to August 2020. Sample size calculation was performed using a conservative estimate approach, resulting in an estimate-required sample size of 42 participants. The sampling method was a random cluster sampling approach, with three ward rooms assigned to the thickeners group, swallowing exercises group and control group, respectively. Seventy-two participants were assigned to the intervention groups (thickeners or swallowing exercises) or the control group using a 1:1:1 stratified random assignment. Data were collected before and after the intervention, and matched samples were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, and generalized estimating equations for statistical analysis. Both intervention groups showed significant improvements in spiritual well-being (p < 0.001), physical activity (p < 0.001), and happiness (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. However, there were no significant differences between the intervention groups. Our findings suggest that interventions involving thickeners and swallowing exercises have positive effects on the spiritual well-being, physical activity, and happiness of older adult patients with swallowing difficulties during acute hospitalization and emphasize the importance of implementing these interventions to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life of this vulnerable patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron transport layers (ETLs) are crucial for achieving efficient and stable planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Reports on versatile inorganic ETLs using a simple film fabrication method and applicability for both low‐cost planar regular and inverted PSCs with excellent efficiencies (>22%) and high stability are very limited. Herein, we employ a novel inorganic ZnSe as ETL for both regular and inverted PSCs to improve the efficiency and stability using a simple thermal evaporation method. The TiO2‐ZnSe‐FAPbI3 heterojunction could be formed, resulting in an improved charge collection and a decreased carrier recombination further proved through theoretical calculations. The optimized regular PSCs based on TiO2/ZnSe have achieved 23.25% efficiency with negligible hysteresis. In addition, the ZnSe ETL can also effectively replace the unstable bathocuproine (BCP) in inverted PSCs. Consequently, the ZnSe‐based inverted device realizes a champion efficiency of 22.54%. Moreover, the regular device comprising the TiO2/ZnSe layers retains 92% of its initial PCE after 10:00 h under 1 Sun continuous illumination and the inverted device comprising the C60/ZnSe layers maintains over 85% of its initial PCE at 85 °C for 10:00 h. This highlights one of the best results among universal ETLs in both regular and inverted perovskite photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical Spark Discharge Method (ESDM), a chemical pollution-free preparation method used for the preparation of nano-Ag colloids, does not require additional surfactants or other chemical dispersants. In this study, ESDM and a developed micro-electrical discharge machining (m-EDM) with real-time monitoring capability were used to prepare nano-Ag colloids. The m-EDM enabled the identification of hardware defects such as Vgap instability, fluctuating potential, insufficient output current, and unfavorable discharge success rate. The design of hardware circuits based on these problems stabilized Vgap and enhanced discharge success rate. Furthermore, the five proportional-integral-derivative (PID) adjustment methods (CLASSIC PID, Pessen Integrals Rule, with less overshooting, without overshooting, and Tyreus–Luyben tuning formula) reduced the probability of short circuits and improved overall discharge efficiency. Finally, deionized water was verified to contain nano-Ag particles through ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and Zetasizer. By combining ESDM with m-EDM based on the Z-N CLASSIC PID, a nano-Ag colloid was obtained with a discharge success rate of 50.54%, a particle size of 7.482 nm, a zeta potential of 39.7 mV, and an absorbance of 0.145. The nanoparticle characteristics were also analyzed through transmission electron microscopy, and particle is in circle shape and nano size. This confirmed that the nanoparticles conformed to nano characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, metasurfaces based on phase-change materials (PCMs) have attracted increasing attention due to the dramatic optical properties contrast between amorphous and crystalline states. The chalcogenide PCMs can be reversibly switched by electrical or optical pulses, offering tunability and reconfigurability for the metasurfaces. In this Perspective, the latest achievements and ongoing development in reconfigurable metasurfaces based on chalcogenide PCMs are presented, including the applications in nonlinear optics, anapole control, beam steering, perfect absorbers, and polaritons. This Perspective ends with perspectives for the growing demands of PCMs based on metasurfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Mesocotyl length (ML) is a crucial factor in determining the establishment and yield of rice planted through dry direct seeding, a practice that is increasingly popular in rice production worldwide. ML is determined by the endogenous and external environments, and inherits as a complex trait. To date, only a few genes have been cloned, and the mechanisms underlying mesocotyl elongation remain largely unknown. Here, through a genome‐wide association study using sequenced germplasm, we reveal that natural allelic variations in a mitochondrial transcription termination factor, OsML1, predominantly determined the natural variation of ML in rice. Natural variants in the coding regions of OsML1 resulted in five major haplotypes with a clear differentiation between subspecies and subpopulations in cultivated rice. The much‐reduced genetic diversity of cultivated rice compared to the common wild rice suggested that OsML1 underwent selection during domestication. Transgenic experiments and molecular analysis demonstrated that OsML1 contributes to ML by influencing cell elongation primarily determined by H2O2 homeostasis. Overexpression of OsML1 promoted mesocotyl elongation and thus improved the emergence rate under deep direct seeding. Taken together, our results suggested that OsML1 is a key positive regulator of ML, and is useful in developing varieties for deep direct seeding by conventional and transgenic approaches. Significance Statement: Mesocotyl elongation (ML) is important for seedling emergence under dry direct seeding in rice. Here, we report the identification and functional validation of a gene, OsML1 (LOC_Os07g24090.1), which contributes greatly to the natural variation of ML, has been under selection during domestication and breeding, and functions mainly by affecting cell elongation via H2O2 homeostasis and the expression of expansin genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal hyaluronic acid (HA) metabolism is a major factor in tumor progression, and the metabolic regulation of HA mainly includes HA biosynthesis and catabolism. In glioma, abnormal HA biosynthesis is intimately involved in glioma malignant biological properties and the formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment; however, the role of abnormal HA catabolism in glioma remains unclear. Methods: HA catabolism is dependent on hyaluronidase. In TCGA and GEPIA databases, we found that among the 6 human hyaluronidases (HYAL1, HYAL2, HYAL3, HYAL4, HYALP1, SPAM1), only HYAL2 expression was highest in glioma. Next, TCGA and CGGA database were further used to explore the correlation of HYAL2 expression with glioma prognosis. Then, the mRNA expression and protein level of HYAL2 was determined by qRT-PCR, Western blot and Immunohistochemical staining in glioma cells and glioma tissues, respectively. The MTT, EdU and Colony formation assay were used to measure the effect of HYAL2 knockdown on glioma. The GSEA enrichment analysis was performed to explore the potential pathway regulated by HYAL2 in glioma, in addition, the HYAL2-regulated signaling pathways were detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Finally, small molecule compounds targeting HYAL2 in glioma were screened by Cmap analysis. Results: In the present study, we confirmed that Hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) is abnormally overexpressed in glioma. Moreover, we found that HYAL2 overexpression is associated with multiple glioma clinical traits and acts as a key indicator for glioma prognosis. Targeting HYAL2 could inhibit glioma progression by inducing glioma cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Conclusion: Collectively, these observations suggest that HYAL2 overexpression could promote glioma progression. Thus, treatments that disrupt HA catabolism by altering HYAL2 expression may serve as effective strategies for glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homotopy analysis method (HAM) is a useful method to derive analytical approximate solutions of black holes in modified gravity theories. In this paper, we study the Einstein–Weyl gravity coupled with Maxwell field and obtain analytical approximation solutions for charged black holes by using the HAM. It is found that the analytical approximate solutions are sufficiently accurate in the entire spacetime outside the black hole's event horizon and also consistent with numerical ones for charged black holes in the Einstein–Maxwell–Weyl gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aims to investigate influences of different acylations (acetyl, propionyl and butyryl) with different degrees of substitution (DS) on physicochemical properties and digestion characteristics of Arenga pinnata starches (APS). The presence of acyl protons was confirmed by 1H NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy of acylated APS. The viscosities, swelling power, thermal properties and crystallinity of acylated APS were lower than APS, but these characteristics tended to increase with the increase of DS. Acylation could effectively regulate the digestibility of starch granules. The content of resistant starch in acylated APS increased from 66.58% to 80.92%. With the DS increasing, acylation strengthened the rearrangement and aggregation behaviour of APS molecular chains, making the crystal structure and double helix structure of amylopectin crystal region more orderly, which might lead to changes in the pasting properties and digestibility. It was possible to evaluate the effectiveness of low‐substituted acylated APS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, some edible insects have been processed into a complex of insect and fungus, such as Antherea pernyi and Samsoniella hepiali. Until now, the dynamics of the nutritional changes due to this infection were unclear. This study reveals the dynamic changes in nutritional components of Antherea pernyi pupa after infection with Samsoniella hepiali at post-infection time points of 0 d, 10 d, 20 d, and 30 d. The dynamic analysis of the components at different post-infection times showed that the content of polysaccharides and cordycepin increased with time while the content of fats and chitin decreased. The content of proteins showed a trend of decreasing at the beginning and then increasing. The essential amino acids (EAAs) decreased at the beginning and then increased, and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) changed similarly. The essential amino acid index showed a slight continuous decrease. Although the crude fat decreased dramatically due to the infection, from a value of 30.75% to 7.2%, the infection of S. hepiali produced five new fatty acids (14-methyl-pentadecanoic acid, docosanoic acid, succinic acid, arachidonic acid, and myristic acid) while the content of the seven fatty acids was greatly reduced after infection. Therefore, after being infected by S. hepiali and combined with it, the nutritional profile of A pernyi pupa was changed significantly and there were different characteristics at different infection stages. The above findings provide scientifically fundamental data to understand the nutritional value of the insect–fungus complex as human food and animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence, consequences, and predictors of serious chemotherapy‐induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients with NPC between 2013 and 2015. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model and propensity score matching were used to estimate the effect of serious CIT on overall survival. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the predictors of serious CIT. Results and Conclusion: The incidence of serious CIT was 5.21% in patients with NPC. Patients who experienced serious thrombocytopenia had a worse long‐term prognosis, while the difference in short‐term survival rate was slight. Chemotherapy regimens of gemcitabine and platinum, 5‐fluorouracil and platinum, taxane and platinum, serum potassium ion concentration, serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, platelet count, red blood cell count, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were predictors of serious CIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is closely associated with cancer progression. The study aimed to establish a prognostic model to predict distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), based on lipidomics. Methods: The plasma lipid profiles of 179 patients with locoregionally advanced NPC (LANPC) were measured and quantified using widely targeted quantitative lipidomics. Then, patients were randomly split into the training (125 patients, 69.8%) and validation (54 patients, 30.2%) sets. To identify distant metastasis-associated lipids, univariate Cox regression was applied to the training set (P < 0.05). A deep survival method called DeepSurv was employed to develop a proposed model based on significant lipid species (P < 0.01) and clinical biomarkers to predict DMFS. Concordance index and receiver operating curve analyses were performed to assess model effectiveness. The study also explored the potential role of lipid alterations in the prognosis of NPC. Results: Forty lipids were recognized as distant metastasis-associated (P < 0.05) by univariate Cox regression. The concordance indices of the proposed model were 0.764 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.682–0.846) and 0.760 (95% CI, 0.649–0.871) in the training and validation sets, respectively. High-risk patients had poorer 5-year DMFS compared with low-risk patients (Hazard ratio, 26.18; 95% CI, 3.52–194.80; P < 0.0001). Moreover, the six lipids were significantly correlated with immunity- and inflammation-associated biomarkers and were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. Conclusions: Widely targeted quantitative lipidomics reveals plasma lipid predictors for LANPC, the prognostic model based on that demonstrated superior performance in predicting metastasis in LANPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phosphonates are the main components in the global phosphorus redox cycle. Little is known about phosphonate metabolism in freshwater ecosystems, although rapid consumption of phosphonates has been observed frequently. Cyanobacteria are often the dominant primary producers in freshwaters; yet, only a few strains of cyanobacteria encode phosphonate-degrading (C-P lyase) gene clusters. The phycosphere is defined as the microenvironment in which extensive phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria interactions occur. It has been demonstrated that phytoplankton may recruit phycospheric bacteria based on their own needs. Therefore, the establishment of a phycospheric community rich in phosphonate-degrading-bacteria likely facilitates cyanobacterial proliferation, especially in waters with scarce phosphorus. We characterized the distribution of heterotrophic phosphonate-degrading bacteria in field Microcystis bloom samples and in laboratory cyanobacteria "phycospheres" by qPCR and metagenomic analyses. The role of phosphonate-degrading phycospheric bacteria in cyanobacterial proliferation was determined through coculturing of heterotrophic bacteria with an axenic Microcystis aeruginosa strain and by metatranscriptomic analysis using field Microcystis aggregate samples. Results: Abundant bacteria that carry C-P lyase clusters were identified in plankton samples from freshwater Lakes Dianchi and Taihu during Microcystis bloom periods. Metagenomic analysis of 162 non-axenic laboratory strains of cyanobacteria (consortia cultures containing heterotrophic bacteria) showed that 20% (128/647) of high-quality bins from eighty of these consortia encode intact C-P lyase clusters, with an abundance ranging up to nearly 13%. Phycospheric bacterial phosphonate catabolism genes were expressed continually across bloom seasons, as demonstrated through metatranscriptomic analysis using sixteen field Microcystis aggregate samples. Coculturing experiments revealed that although Microcystis cultures did not catabolize methylphosphonate when axenic, they demonstrated sustained growth when cocultured with phosphonate-utilizing phycospheric bacteria in medium containing methylphosphonate as the sole source of phosphorus. Conclusions: The recruitment of heterotrophic phosphonate-degrading phycospheric bacteria by cyanobacteria is a hedge against phosphorus scarcity by facilitating phosphonate availability. Cyanobacterial consortia are likely primary contributors to aquatic phosphonate mineralization, thereby facilitating sustained cyanobacterial growth, and even bloom maintenance, in phosphate-deficient waters. CDjGUzfe77vQSL5wxbu5DE Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]