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The central-to-axial chirality conversion represents a fascinating class of chemical processes consisting of the destruction of stereogenic centers and the simultaneous installation of axial chiral elements, which provides efficient methods for the preparation of axially chiral compounds. However, developing catalytic asymmetric approaches for constructing these central chirality precursors and the efficient central-to-axial chirality conversion remains a challenge due to the requirement of aromatization or elimination process. In this work, we have developed an unprecedented enantioselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation with unactivated-ketone carbonyls from which a chiral tertiary alcohol was generated with high efficiency and excellent enantioselectivity. In addition, the central-to-axial chirality conversion strategy has been successfully applied to the synthesis of enantioenriched biaryls via a less-explored carbocation-initiated rearrangement and aromatization under the promotion of Lewis acid. This methodology provided a straightforward and sustainable access to a broad range of biaryl-2-carboxylic acid and in excellent yields (up to 92%) and excellent central-to-axial chirality conversion (up to 99% conversion percentage). This work could be a great model for developing new methods for synthesizing axially chiral biaryls and a general protocol for the rearrangement and aromatization of carbocations for further functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS), a key enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway. AIP is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by low penetrance and a highly heterogenous clinical presentation. The estimated prevalence of AIP is 5-10 cases per 100,000 persons, with acute attacks manifesting in less than 1% of the at-risk population. This low frequency of attacks suggests significant roles for oligogenic inheritance and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. In recent years, identification of several modifier genes has advanced our understanding of the factors influencing AIP penetrance and disease severity. This review summarizes these factors including the impact of specific HMBS mutations, oligogenic inheritance, mitochondrial DNA copy number, age, sex, the influence of sex hormones, and the role of environmental factors. Further studies into the etiology of AIP disease penetrance should inform pathogenesis, potentially allowing for the development of more precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the crucial issues of how asymptomatic individuals and population movements influence the spread of epidemics. Specifically, a discrete-time networked Susceptible-Asymptomatic-Infected-Recovered (SAIR) model that integrates population flow is introduced to investigate the dynamics of epidemic transmission among individuals. In contrast to existing data-driven system identification approaches that identify the network structure or system parameters separately, a joint estimation framework is developed in this study. The joint framework incorporates historical measurements and enables the simultaneous estimation of transmission topology and epidemic factors. The use of the joint estimation scheme reduces the estimation error. The stability of equilibria and convergence behaviors of proposed dynamics are then analyzed. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the proposed model to population movements is evaluated in terms of the basic reproduction number. This article also rigorously investigates the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions via distributively controlling population flow in curbing virus transmission. It is found that the population flow control strategy reduces the number of infections during the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to a combination of reportedly unique morphological characters and an unlocatable type specimen, Marchantiopsis stoloniscyphula has been regarded as an enigmatic species in Marchantiaceae since its description, and all subsequent taxonomic treatments of this species were made without examination of the type. We located the original material of M. stoloniscyphula which was included as an admixture within the holotype of Wiesnerella fasciaria deposited in IFP. Our morphological examination found that M. stoloniscyphula and W. fasciaria are conspecific with Marchantia papillata subsp. grossibarba and Sandea japonica, respectively. The nomenclature of Marchantiopsis and M. stoloniscyphula are discussed. Lectotypes for M. stoloniscyphula and W. fasciaria are also designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide used for managing the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, which serves as vector of phytopathogens causing citrus greening. However, development of resistance to neonicotinoids among populations of D. citri has coincided with occasional control failures in the field. The objectives of this research were to (1) survey current levels of imidacloprid resistance in Florida citrus; (2) compare feeding behavior between imidacloprid‐resistant and susceptible D. citri using electrical penetration graph recordings, and (3) investigate the possible amplification of insecticide hormoligosis associated with resistance. Field surveys confirmed that the susceptibility of D. citri populations to imidacloprid has decreased in commercial Florida citrus groves compared with a laboratory‐susceptible population. Following 12 generations of selection, resistance to imidacloprid increased by 438 fold compared with the susceptible strain. Imidacloprid‐susceptible D. citri feeding on citrus exhibited significantly more bouts associated with intercellular pathway (C), phloem penetration (D), phloem salivation (E1), and nonprobing (Np) activities than imidacloprid‐resistant counterparts. However, there were no differences observed in the frequency or duration of phloem ingestion or xylem feeding between susceptible and resistant D. citri. There was no statistical difference in fecundity between resistant and susceptible strains. However, the fecundity of imidacloprid‐susceptible female D. citri treated with a sublethal concentration of imidacloprid (LC25) increased significantly compared with controls, while such hormoligosis was less pronounced among imidacloprid‐resistant psyllids. Our results suggest that imidacloprid‐resistant psyllids may cease feeding sooner than susceptible counterparts following sublethal exposure to this insecticide, indicative of a behavioral resistance mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, ezetimibe (EZM) has been suggested to be a potent Nrf2 activator that is important for preventing oxidative stress. Interestingly, we found that its metabolite ezetimibe ketone (EZM‐K) also has antioxidant effects. Thus, we investigated the role of EZM‐K in preventing renal ischemia‒reperfusion injury (RIRI). Cultured NRK‐52E cells were subjected to simulated IR with or without EZM‐K. Rats were used to simulate in vivo experiments. EZM‐K alleviated H2O2‐induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated Nrf2 and HO‐1 levels in NRK‐52E cells. A HO‐1 and a Nrf2 inhibitor reversed the protective effects of EZM‐K. In the rat RIRI model, pretreatment with EZM‐K activated the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway, suppressed tubular injury and inflammation, and improved renal function. EZM‐K significantly prevented renal injury caused by ischemia‒reperfusion via the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling axis both in vivo and in vitro. The other metabolite of EZM, ezetimibe glucuronide (EZM‐G) had no protective effects against ROS in RIRI. EZM‐G also had no antioxidant effects and could not activate Nrf2/HO‐1 signal pathway. Our findings also indicated the therapeutic potential of EZM‐K in preventing RIRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This research delved into the role of gluten fractions on digestion, physical properties and structure of wheat starch (WS)–lauric acid (LA) system under non‐alkaline/alkaline conditions. Results showed that gluten fractions decreased the digestion of WS with LA and gliadin had greater effect on the digestion of WS with LA under non‐alkaline/alkaline conditions than glutenin. Specifically, gliadin increased RS content of WS with LA by 70.99% and 84.89%, respectively, under non‐alkaline and alkaline conditions. The diminished in WS digestion caused by gluten fractions and LA ascribed to the decrease in swelling power and leaching of starch. Rapid viscosity analyser (RVA) demonstrated that gluten fractions were conducive to WS–LA and/or WS–LA–protein complexes formation and gliadin was more helpful to these complexes' formation than glutenin under non‐alkaline conditions. Additionally, gliadin had greater effect on the stability and short‐range ordered structure of WS with LA than glutenin. Addition of gliadin resulted in 6.79% and 13.33% of increase in short‐range orderliness compared with WS–LA system under non‐alkaline and alkaline conditions, respectively. Furthermore, gluten fractions had greater influence on the digestion of WS with LA under alkaline conditions than non‐alkaline conditions ascribed to the formation of WS–LA and/or WS–LA–protein complexes with low swelling power and high ordered structure under alkaline conditions. This study provided crucial information on the design of starchy foods with low digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicocelectomy was considered to be beneficial to patients with varicocele-related infertility. However, there are only a few researchers who have explored the relationship between better timing and postoperative semen improvement in patients. Methods: We conducted this meta-analysis by enrolling published prospective studies to find out the best waiting time after varicocelectomy to wait for better improvement of semen quality. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies. The included studies were then analyzed comprehensively using STATA software and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Our comprehensive analysis showed that after varicocelectomy, follow-up results within 3 months or longer showed a significant improvement in semen parameters compared to the preoperative period. Notably, no further improvement in semen parameters was observed when the follow-up period reached six months or longer (semen volume: WMD: − 0.07 (− 0.29, 0.16); sperm concentration: WMD: − 1.33 (− 2.33, − 4.99); sperm motility: WMD: 2.31 (− 0.55, 5.18); sperm morphology: WMD: 1.29 (− 0.66, 3.24); sperm total motile count: WMD: 3.95 (− 6.28, 14.19)). Conclusions: Three months after varicocelectomy may be the optimal time for semen parameters compared to six months or even longer, which means it is also the preferable time for conception. However, more well-designed prospective studies are needed in the future to validate our conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, transition-metal-catalyzed direct amination of aryl halides with ammonia has attracted significant attention from chemists because of its broad substrate scope, good functional group compatibility, and high reaction selectivity. Herein, recent examples of transition-metal-catalyzed syntheses of aniline derivatives starting from aryl halides are reviewed. 1 Introduction 2 Heat-Driven Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Electrophiles 2.1 Palladium-Catalyzed Amination 2.2 Copper-Catalyzed Amination 2.3 Nickel-Catalyzed Amination 3 Light-Driven Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Electrophiles 4 Conclusion and Outlook [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic single crystals with near‐infrared (NIR) emission demonstrate their excellent optical communications from well photonic confinement and low optical waveguide loss, which are considered as competitive candidates toward advanced optoelectronics. However, the increasingly diverse and sophisticated application demands result in the complicated design of NIR devices, which is hardly realized solely by the intrinsic properties of individual crystals. Herein, a programmable assembly strategy is presented to fabricate organic heterostructures. Triphenylene (TP), pyrene (Py) and 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) are primary selected to prepared organic cocrystals with narrow band gap and near‐infrared emission. Importantly, the charge‐transfer alloy with tunable emission from 700 nm to 850 nm and branched heterostructures with multichannel characteristics are prepared from these organic cocrystals by following the growth kinetics process at molecular level and lattice matching principle at structural level, respectively. Theses prepared heterostructures exhibit optical logic operation capabilities, which can serve as optical modulators. This work provides new insights into the manufacturing of organic NIR heterostructures applied in advanced optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed numerical simulations to explore the impact of varying ice nucleation processes on the microphysics and electrification within thunderstorm clouds. A two-dimensional cumulus model, incorporating both noninductive and inductive charge separation schemes, was utilized. The findings revealed that the freezing nucleation mechanism significantly influenced the microphysical development, electrification, and charge structure of thunderstorms. Homogeneous freezing generated a large quantity of small ice crystals near the cloud tops, which were primarily responsible for the development of positive charge regions through a non-inductive charging process. Conversely, heterogeneous freezing resulted in larger ice crystals, enhancing graupel formation and leading to a more rapid and intense charge separation rate of around -15°C. Ice crystals formed heterogeneously and charged negatively during the development stage, resulting in an inverted dipole charge structure. When both immersion and homogeneous freezing processes were considered, the competition between these two distinct freezing processes resulted in reduced cloud water content and weaker electrification. Under conditions of low cloud water content at lower storm levels, graupel particles were negatively charged through non-inductive charging, causing the charge structure to quickly revert to a normal dipole structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The educational burden from extracurricular tutoring class has become a pressing social issue in China. This study used data from the China family panel studies (CFPS) in 2014, 2016, and 2018 to empirically analyze the impact of Internet usage on children's participation in extracurricular tutoring class. There are many factors that influence parents' decisions to enroll their children in extracurricular tutoring class. These factors include family income status, the level of importance parents place on their children's education, the marginal returns on educational investment, academic pressure, etc. However, in today's digitalized society, the widespread use of the internet will also become an important influencing factor in parents' decisions regarding educational investment. The study finds that, parents by using the Internet significantly increase the probability of enrolling their children in extracurricular tutoring class. Through mechanism regression analysis, it is concluded that internet usage has a positive influence on parents enrolling their children in extracurricular tutoring class by increasing the frequency of social interaction and raising parents' educational expectations for their children. Based on the empirical results, the following policy suggestions were proposed: 1. Schools should establish a more comprehensive after-school education service system to improve the engagement of students in compulsory education; 2. The government can enhance the accessibility and optimization of educational resources by increasing investment in education, improving the quality of in-school education, and optimizing the management and supervision of extracurricular tutoring class. This ensures that students can access high-quality educational services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For cesarean delivery (CD), the 90% effective dosage (ED90) of oxytocin for a first bolus has been established. It is not yet known how much oxytocin to inject into obese women undergoing elective discectomy to keep their uterine tone (UT) appropriate. We hypothesized that patients who are overweight need a greater dose of oxytocin infusion; thus, we aimed to determine how the dose-response curve for oxytocin infusion changes following an initial 1 international unit (IU) bolus in obese women undergoing elective CD. Methods: One hundred parturients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m² were randomly assigned to receive an infusion rate of 14, 18, 22, or 26 IU/h of oxytocin. When the uterine palpation is as hard as touching the forehead or tip of the nose, it is considered sufficient UT according to the criteria used by obstetricians. The median effective dose (ED50) and ED90 values were determined using probit analysis. Results: We found the ED50 and ED90 values for the infusion dose of oxytocin were around 11.0 IU/h and 19.1 IU/h, respectively. Each group had a different number of parturients who needed rescued oxytocin: 14 IU/h for six, 18 IU/h for three, one for 22 IU/h, and none for 26 IU/h. The correlation between the frequency of rescued oxytocin administration and the amount of oxytocin infusion needed to avoid uterine atony was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The present research showed that the most effective dosage of oxytocin infusion for obese parturients undergoing elective CD is 19.1 IU/h, following an initial loading dose of 1 IU. Patients with obesity should receive a greater dosage of prophylactic oxytocin, and further studies comparing patients with and without obesity (with higher BMI) are required. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj= 159951, identifier ChiCTR2200059582. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral α-substituted secondary alcohols with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99 : 1 dr, 98% ee). Mechanistic experiments suggest that the reaction proceeds via a Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the C＝O bond in concert with a base-promoted allylic alcohol isomerization, and the final stereoselectivities were controlled by a DKR process during the asymmetric hydrogenation of the ketone intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological regime is considered to be the major factor that affects the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi in wetlands. We aimed to investigate the responses of AM fungal community to different hydrological gradients. Illumina Miseq sequencing technology was used to study the AM fungal community structure in roots and rhizosphere soils of Phragmites australis in different moisture areas (dry area, alternating wet and dry area, and flooded area) in Mengjin Yellow River wetland. The rhizosphere soils and roots hosted different AM fungal communities. In roots, the AM fungal colonization and Chao1 richness in dry area were significantly higher than that in alternating wet and dry area and flooded area, but the community composition did not vary clearly under different water conditions. In rhizosphere soils, the Chao1 richness of AM fungi in flooded area was significantly higher than that in alternating wet and dry area and dry area, and the AM fungal community structure obviously differed across different areas. The redundancy analyses indicated that changes in the AM fungal community in soils were associated with altered soil properties, and the abundance of the dominant genus Glomus was mostly positively correlated with alkali‐hydrolyzable nitrogen in soils. This study helps us to understand the responses of AM fungal community to hydrological gradients in wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome of faba bean was first published in 2023. To promote future molecular breeding studies, we improved the quality of the faba genome based on high-density genetic maps and the Illumina and Pacbio RNA-seq datasets. Two high-density genetic maps were used to conduct the scaffold ordering and orientation of faba bean, culminating in an increased length (i.e., 14.28 Mbp) of chromosomes and a decrease in the number of scaffolds by 45. In gene model mining and optimisation, the PacBio and Illumina RNA-seq datasets from 37 samples allowed for the identification and correction 121,606 transcripts, and the data facilitated a prediction of 15,640 alternative splicing events, 2,148 lncRNAs, and 1,752 fusion transcripts, thus allowing for a clearer understanding of the gene structures underlying the faba genome. Moreover, a total of 38,850 new genes including 56,188 transcripts were identified compared with the reference genome. Finally, the genetic data of the reference genome was integrated and a comprehensive and complete faba bean transcriptome sequence of 103,267 transcripts derived from 54,753 uni-genes was formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the liver is a rare primary malignancy of the liver. The identification of lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma is very limited as there are currently very few reports of such cases. Although previous studies have reported the lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma pathologic features, few studies have revealed the clinic features, imaging characteristics, and clinical course and outcomes. This study was analyzed from multiple aspects such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathological characteristics, aiming to improve the comprehensive understanding of this rare subtype of disease. Case Presentation: A 43-year-old female with a history of hepatitis B for over 20 years presented with a lesion found in the right lobe of her liver. After discussion by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), malignant tumors cannot be excluded based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and MRI. Thus, we decided to perform surgery for the patient. Postoperative pathology confirmed lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. After 3 months of follow-up, the patient was still alive and no recurrence was observed. Conclusion: The purpose of this article is to describe a rare case of lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and analyze its contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced MRI features, which will be helpful for physicians in diagnosing this disease. From the perspective of CEUS, the wedge-shaped highly enhanced area around the lesion in the arterial phase appears to be inflammatory but looks malignant based on the extremely fast washout. The lesion showed a low signal on T1WI, a high signal on T2WI and DWI, and an abnormal perfusion shadow can be seen behind the lesion. In particular, this subtype of cholangiocarcinoma has a good prognosis, the clinician should improve the recognition of the disease to strive for early diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accompanied by the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the coexistence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and NAFLD has increased. In the context of CHB, there is limited understanding of the factors that influence the development of NASH. We enrolled CHB combined NAFLD patients who had liver biopsy and divided them to NASH vs. non-NASH groups. A whole transcriptome chip was used to examine the expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNA in biopsied liver tissues. The function analysis of HIGD1A were performed. We knocked down or overexpressed HIGD1A in HepG2.2.15 cells by transient transfection of siRNA-HIGD1A or pcDNA-HIGD1A. In vivo investigations were conducted using hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice. In 65 patients with CHB and NAFLD, 28 were patients with NASH, and 37 were those without NASH. After screening 582 differentially expressed mRNAs, GO analysis revealed differentially expressed mRNAs acting on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which influenced redox enzyme activity. KEGG analysis also shown that they were involved in the NAFLD signaling pathway. The function analysis revealed that HIGD1A was associated with the mitochondrion. Then, both in vivo and in vitro CHB model, HIGD1A was significantly higher in the NASH group than in the non-NASH group. HIGD1A knockdown impaired mitochondrial transmembrane potential and induced cell apoptosis in HepG2.2.15 cells added oleic acid and palmitate. On the contrary, hepatic HIGD1A overexpression ameliorated free fatty acids-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. Furthermore, HIGD1A reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by increasing glutathione (GSH) expression, but Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) pathway was not involved. Both in vivo and in vitro CHB model, an upward trend of HIGD1A was observed in the NASH-related inflammatory response. HIGDIA played a protective role in cells against oxidative stress. Our data suggested that HIGD1A may be a positive regulator of NASH within the CHB context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc cushions intraarticular stress during mandibular movements. While mechanical overloading is related to cartilage degeneration, the pathogenesis of TMJ disc degeneration is unclear. Here, we determined the regulatory role of mechanoinductive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) in mechanical overload‐induced TMJ disc degeneration. Methods: We explored the effect of mechanical overload on the TMJ discs in a rat occlusal interference model in vivo, and by applying sustained compressive force in vitro. TRPV4 inhibition was delivered by small interfering RNA or GSK2193874; TRPV4 activation was delivered by GSK1016790A. The protective effect of TRPV4 inhibition was validated in the rat occlusal interference model. Results: Occlusal interference induced TMJ disc degeneration with enhanced extracellular matrix degradation in vivo and mechanical overload promoted inflammatory responses in the TMJ disc cells via Ca2+ influx with significantly upregulated TRPV4. TRPV4 inhibition reversed mechanical overload‐induced inflammatory responses; TRPV4 activation simulated mechanical overload‐induced inflammatory responses. Moreover, TRPV4 inhibition alleviated TMJ disc degeneration in the rat occlusal interference model. Conclusion: Our findings suggest TRPV4 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of mechanical overload‐induced TMJ disc degeneration and may be a promising target for the treatment of degenerative changes of the TMJ disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological regime is considered to be the major factor that affects the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi in wetlands. We aimed to investigate the responses of AM fungal community to different hydrological gradients. Illumina Miseq sequencing technology was used to study the AM fungal community structure in roots and rhizosphere soils of Phragmites australis in different moisture areas (dry area, alternating wet and dry area, and flooded area) in Mengjin Yellow River wetland. The rhizosphere soils and roots hosted different AM fungal communities. In roots, the AM fungal colonization and Chao1 richness in dry area were significantly higher than that in alternating wet and dry area and flooded area, but the community composition did not vary clearly under different water conditions. In rhizosphere soils, the Chao1 richness of AM fungi in flooded area was significantly higher than that in alternating wet and dry area and dry area, and the AM fungal community structure obviously differed across different areas. The redundancy analyses indicated that changes in the AM fungal community in soils were associated with altered soil properties, and the abundance of the dominant genus Glomus was mostly positively correlated with alkali‐hydrolyzable nitrogen in soils. This study helps us to understand the responses of AM fungal community to hydrological gradients in wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a prominent pathogen responsible for both hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections. Among its arsenal of virulence factors, Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) is closely associated with severe diseases such as profound skin infections and necrotizing pneumonia. Patients infected with pvl-positive S. aureus often exhibit more severe symptoms and carry a substantially higher mortality risk. Therefore, it is crucial to promptly and accurately detect pvl-positive S. aureus before initiating protective measures and providing effective antibacterial treatment. Methods: In this study, we propose a precise identification and highly sensitive detection method for pvl-positive S. aureus based on recombinase-assisted amplification and the CRISPR-ERASE strip which we previously developed. Results: The results revealed that this method achieved a detection limit of 1 copy/mL for pvl-positive plasmids within 1 hour. The method successfully identified all 25 pvl-positive and 51 pvl-negative strains among the tested 76 isolated S. aureus samples, demonstrating its concordance with qPCR. Discussion: These results show that the CRISPR-ERASE detection method for pvl-positive S. aureus has the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity, this method combines the characteristics of recombinase-assisted amplification at room temperature and the advantages of ERASE test strip visualization, which can greatly reduce the dependence on professional laboratories. It is more suitable for on-site detection than PCR and qPCR, thereby providing important value for rapid on-site detection of pvl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of reducing treatment by 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-dihydropyrazine (TM-DHP) additives on band bending in the perovskite surface near poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole-selective contacts in tin-based-perovskite solar cells. We took electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy measurements of PEDOT:PSS/tin perovskite stacks in the dark and under one-sun illumination. The findings indicate that downward band bending is formed in the tin perovskite layer near the PEDOT:PSS layer. This downward bending is not favorable in terms of surface passivation and hole selectivity. On the other hand, upward band bending occurs in stacks including tin perovskite layers with TM-DHP additives, indicating that TM-DHP prevents oxidation of tin perovskite, thus unfavorable downward band bending. ESR measurements of PEDOT:PSS/tin perovskite stacks without TM-DHP under illumination suggest reduction in the number of polarons caused by electron transport from perovskite layers toward PEDOT:PSS, which is driven by the unfavorable downward band bending. However, such electron transport toward PEDOT:PSS is prevented in PEDOT:PSS/tin perovskite stacks with TM-DHP. These findings, which demonstrate TM-DHP effects on interface band bending, are important for realizing highly efficient and stable tin perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angular ligands are a class of important linkers to design and construct new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, solvothermal reaction of 4,4′-(4H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diyl)dibenzoic acid (TZDB), a triazole-inserted dicarboxylate, acetate, and Cu(NO3)2·3H2O afforded a copper(II)-organic framework of Cu-TZDB. Structural analysis shows that Cu-TZDB displays an unusual (4,6)-c topological network concomitant with the generation of metalloligand [Cu(TZDB)(H2O)2] in situ. Due to its bi-channel cavities replete with triazolate, coordinated water and methyl groups, Cu-TZDB exhibits CO2 selective adsorption over N2 and CH4, which was not only predicted by ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST), but also verified by dynamic column breakthrough tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to identify the risk factors for postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) by evaluating the outcomes from preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and intraoperative anesthetic interventions. Patients and Methods: Data used in the study were obtained from the Aged Patient Perioperative Longitudinal Evaluation–Multidisciplinary Trial (APPLE-MDT) cohort recruited from the Department of Orthopedics in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between March, 2019 and June, 2022. All patients accepted preoperative CGA by the multidisciplinary team using 13 common scales across 15 domains reflecting the multi-organ functions. The variables included demographic data, scales in CGA, comorbidities, laboratory tests and intraoperative anesthetic data. Cognitive function was assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale within 48 hours after admission and after surgery. Dropping of ≥ 1 point between the preoperative and postoperative scale was defined as POCD. Results: We enrolled 119 patients. The median age was 80.00 years [IQR, 77.00, 82.00] and 68 patients (57.1%) were female. Forty-two patients (35.3%) developed POCD. Three cognitive domains including calculation (P = 0.046), recall (P = 0.047) and attention (P = 0.007) were significantly worsened after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that disability of instrumental activity of daily living, incidence rate of postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) ≥ 4.2%, STOP-Bang scale score, Caprini risk scale score and Sufentanil for maintenance of anesthesia were different between the POCD and non-POCD patients. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, PRF ≥ 4.2% (odds ratio [OR] = 2.343; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.028– 5.551; P = 0.046) and Sufentanil for maintenance of anesthesia (OR = 0.260; 95% CI: 0.057– 0.859; P = 0.044) was independently associated with POCD as risk and protective factors, respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that POCD is frequent among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, in which decline of calculation, recall and attention was predominant. Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessments are important to identify the high-risk individuals of POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Metabolic reprogramming is a novel hallmark and therapeutic target of cancer. Our study aimed to establish fatty acid metabolism-associated scores based on gene signature and investigated its effects on immunotherapy in colon cancer. Methods: Gene expression and clinical information were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify a gene signature by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering and Cox regression analysis. Subsequently, we constructed the fatty acid metabolism score (FA-score) model by principal component analysis (PCA) and explored its relativity of prognosis and the response to immunotherapy in colon cancer. Finally, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was introduced and in vitro study was performed for verification. Results: The FA-score-high group had a higher level of fatty acid metabolism and was associated with worse patient overall survival. Significantly, FA-score correlated closely with the biomarkers of immunotherapy, and the FA-score-high group had a poorer therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ACSL5 may be a critical metabolic regulatory target. Conclusions: Our study provided a comprehensive analysis of the heterogeneity of fatty acid metabolism in colon cancer. We highlighted the potential clinical utility of fatty acid metabolism-related genes to be biomarkers of colon cancer prognosis and targets to improve the effect of immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of gaseous CO in Pd-catalyzed carbonylative quinolone synthesis presents challenges related to safety and precise pressure control. In response, a streamlined non-gaseous synthesis of 4-quinolone compounds has been developed. This study introduces a tunable CO-releasing system utilizing Fe(CO)5 activated by a dual-base system of piperazine and triethylamine. This alternative liquid CO resource facilitates the palladium-catalyzed carbonylative C-C coupling and subsequent intramolecular cyclization. By tuning the tandem kinetics of carbonylation and cyclization, this non-gaseous method achieves the successful synthesis of 22 distinct 4-quinolones with excellent yields. This is achieved through the three-component condensation of sub-stoichiometric amounts of Fe(CO)5 with 2-iodoaniline and terminal alkynes. Operando mechanistic studies have revealed a novel CO transfer mechanism that facilitates homogeneous carbonylative cyclization, distinguishing this method from traditional techniques. In addition to addressing safety concerns, this approach also provides precise control over selectivity, with significant implications for pharmaceutical research and the efficient synthesis of pharmaceutical and bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic heterostructures (OHTs) with the desired geometry organization on micro/nanoscale have undergone rapid progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. However, it is a significant challenge to elucidate the epitaxial-growth process for various OHTs composed of organic units with a lattice mismatching ratio of > 3%, which is unimaginable for inorganic heterostructures. Herein, we have demonstrated a vivid visualization of the morphology evolution of epitaxial-growth based on a doped interfacial-layer, which facilitates the comprehensive understanding of the hierarchical self-assembly of core-shell OHT with precise spatial configuration. Significantly, the barcoded OHT with periodic shells obviously illustrate the shell epitaxial-growth from tips to center parts along the seeded rods for forming the core-shell OHT. Furthermore, the diameter, length, and number of periodic shells were modulated by finely tuning the stoichiometric ratio, crystalline time, and temperature, respectively. This epitaxial-growth process could be generalized to organic systems with facile chemical/structural compatibility for forming the desired OHTs.Organic heterostructures with controlled geometry on the micro and nanoscale are important in nanotechnology, but epitaxial growth processes with high lattice mismatching are challenging to achieve. Here, the authors report a visualisation process for morphology evolution on epitaxial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheap, stable and easy‐to‐handle Werner ammine salts have been known for more than a century; but they have been rarely used in organic synthesis. Herein, we report that the Werner hexammine complex [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2 can be used as both a nitrogen and a catalytic nickel source that allow for the efficient amination of aryl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of bipyridine ligand under the irradiation of 390–395 nm light without the need of any additional catalysts. More than 80 aryl chlorides, including more than 20 drug molecules, were aminated, demonstrating the practicality and generality of this method in synthetic chemistry. A slow NH3 release mechanism is in operation, obviating the problem of catalyst poisoning. Still interestingly, we show that the Werner salt can be easily recovered and reused, solving the problem of difficult recovery of transition metal nickel catalysts. The protocol thus provides an efficient new strategy for the synthesis of primary aryl amines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheap, stable and easy‐to‐handle Werner ammine salts have been known for more than a century; but they have been rarely used in organic synthesis. Herein, we report that the Werner hexammine complex [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2 can be used as both a nitrogen and a catalytic nickel source that allow for the efficient amination of aryl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of bipyridine ligand under the irradiation of 390–395 nm light without the need of any additional catalysts. More than 80 aryl chlorides, including more than 20 drug molecules, were aminated, demonstrating the practicality and generality of this method in synthetic chemistry. A slow NH3 release mechanism is in operation, obviating the problem of catalyst poisoning. Still interestingly, we show that the Werner salt can be easily recovered and reused, solving the problem of difficult recovery of transition metal nickel catalysts. The protocol thus provides an efficient new strategy for the synthesis of primary aryl amines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive manifestation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the growing knowledge of NASH and HCC, the association between the two conditions remains to be fully explored. Bioinformatics has emerged as a valuable approach for identifying disease-specific feature genes, enabling advancements in disease prediction, prevention, and personalized treatment strategies. Materials and methods: In this study, we utilized CellChat, copy number karyotyping of aneuploid tumors (CopyKAT), consensus Non-negative Matrix factorization (cNMF), Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Gene set variation analysis (GSVA), Monocle, spatial co-localization, single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), Slingshot, and the Scissor algorithm to analyze the cellular and immune landscape of NASH and HCC. Through the Scissor algorithm, we identified three cell types correlating with disease phenotypic features and subsequently developed a novel clinical prediction model using univariate, LASSO, and multifactor Cox regression. Results: Our results revealed that macrophages are a significant pathological factor in the development of NASH and HCC and that the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in cellular crosstalk at the molecular level. We deduced three prognostic genes (YBX1, MED8, and KPNA2), demonstrating a strong diagnostic capability in both NASH and HCC. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the pathological mechanisms shared between NASH and HCC, providing valuable insights for the development of novel clinical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To counter the harmful impacts of agricultural chemicals on the environment and human health, there is an increasing demand for safe, eco-friendly, and potent plant-based biopesticides. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of ginger essential oil and selected volatile compounds (linalool, eugenol, citral, and cinnamaldehyde [CA]) against Fusarium oxysporum FOX-1. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the mycelium growth inhibition method. The compound CA exhibited the most potent antifungal effect against F. oxysporum FOX-1 and was selected for further investigation. After treatment with CA at 1/2 MIC or MIC, the spore germination of F. oxysporum FOX-1 was significantly inhibited at 12 h. Furthermore, microscopic observation revealed that CA treatment resulted in the morphological degradation of F. oxysporum FOX-1. CA destroyed the cell membrane integrity of F. oxysporum FOX-1, increasing the relative conductivity and the leakage of intracellular protein, nucleic acids, and malondialdehyde, affecting the integrity and metabolism of the cell membrane. The effects were positively related to CA concentration. Additionally, in vivo experiments with rhizome sections showed that CA significantly reduced the pathogenicity of F. oxysporum FOX-1. Overall, these findings provide evidence for the potential of using ginger essential oil components as fungicides, offering a basis for future research to develop robust and eco-friendly plant-derived fungicides that serve as a sustainable means to reduce fungus-driven agricultural losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In past decades, organic crystals have presented considerable potential in the field of optoelectronics due to their rich tunable physical and chemical properties and excellent optoelectronic characteristics. White‐light emission, as a special application, has received widespread attention and has been applied in various fields, generating significant interest in the scientific community. By preparing white light‐emitting organic crystals, a series of applications for future white‐light sources can be realized. This article reviews the research progress on the molecular design and synthesis, preparation, and application of white light‐emitting organic crystals in recent years. We hope that this review will help to understand and facilitate the development of white light‐emitting organic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

o explore the impact of rainfall patterns on the waterlogging resilience of urban rainwater systems based on the MIKE FLOOD platform, this paper conducts a study by using the bridge partition in the starting area of converting the new and old kinetic energy in Jinan. The waterlogging process scenarios are derived for 7 return periods, 3 rainfall durations, and 3 rainfall peak coefficients of the design rainfall. The system's waterlogging resilience is quantified by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on the amount, area, and average depth of waterlogging. The results show that the peak water accumulation and peak water accumulation area both increase with the increase in the return period and rainfall duration, and the average water accumulation depth fluctuates greatly. The system performance mainly fluctuates twice. The first fluctuation is caused by changes in rainfall intensity and the shallow depths cause the second in most of the depressions in the study area. As the return period increases, the system s waterlogging resilience decreases, and the difference in rainfall corresponding to the extreme value of waterlogging resilience caused by the unit rainfall peak coefficient increases. Overall, the more centered the rainfall peak and the longer the rainfall duration, the lower the system s waterlogging resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plays an important role in chondrogenesis, this study is performed to dissect the correlated factors of inhibiting chondrogenesis by ATRA in rat embryonic hind limb bud mesenchymal cells (rEHBMCs), and investigate the underlying mechanisms. In this study, the proliferation of rEHBMCs was tested by CCK8 assays. Cartilage formation was assessed by Alcian blue staining, HE staining and immunohistochemistry. RT-PCR and western blotting were performed to examine the effects of ATRA on cartilage-specific molecules, SOX9 and COL2A1, and the expression of Notch1 genes and Hes-1 of the Notch signaling pathway in rEHBMCs. It was found that the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes were delayed in limb cartilage of ATRA-treated embryos in utero. ATRA markedly inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of rEHBMCs, as well as reduced the cartilage nodules formation of rEHBMCs in vitro. Furthermore, ATRA decreased the mRNA levels of SOX9 and COL2A1, but contrary on Notch1 and Hes-1. Consistently, ATRA increased Notch1 protein expression but had reverse effect on SOX9 and COL2A1. Moreover, compared to rEHBMCs treated with ATRA alone, DAPT, the Notch inhibitor, reversed the downregulated expression of SOX9 and COL2A1, and increased chondrocyte differentiation. In conclusion, ATRA reduced chondrogenesis of rEHBMCs by downregulating SOX9 and COL2A1 via the Notch1-Hes-1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]