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The vacancy effect in quantum spin liquid (QSL) has been extensively studied. A finite density of random vacancies in the Kitaev model can lead to a pileup of low-energy density of states (DOS), which is generally experimentally determined by a scaling behavior of thermodynamic or magnetization quantities. Here, we report detailed muon spin relaxation (μSR) results of H3LiIr2O6, a Kitaev QSL candidate with vacancies. The absence of magnetic order is confirmed down to 80 mK, and the spin fluctuations are found to be persistent at low temperatures. Intriguingly, the time-field scaling law of longitudinal-field (LF)-μSR polarization is observed down to 0.1 K. This indicates a dynamical scaling, whose critical exponent of 0.46 is excellently consistent with the scaling behavior of specific heat and magnetization data. All the observations point to the finite DOS with the form N (E) ∼ E − ν , which is expected for the Kitaev QSL in the presence of vacancies. Our μSR study provides a dynamical fingerprint of the power-law low-energy DOS and introduces a crucial new insight into the vacancy effect in QSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to Pyropia haitanensis, a species of seaweed cultured in southern China, Pyropia suborbiculata exhibits stronger high-temperature resistance but its round shape is unsuitable for commercial culture. To address this, researchers have isolated several long-type mutants and strains from wild-type strain of P. suborbiculata using artificial mutagenesis. However, their growth rates are still relatively slow. In this study, the blades of a long-type strain (PS-5) were irradiated with 60Co-γ rays to determine the optimal mutagenic dose of 1200 Gy. Subsequently, a new strain with fast growth, PS-M4, was selected from its progeny based on growth rate. After 60 days of culture at 23 ℃, the average length and wet weight of PS-M4 blades were 76.3 cm and 1.3 g, respectively, which were 58.2% and 38.9% higher than those of PS-5. Both PS-M4 and PS-5 maintained normal cellular morphology without any dead cells after being cultured for 30 days at 23 ℃ followed by 30 days at 30 ℃, while the traditional cultivated strain (Ph-WT10) of P. haitanensis showed more cell pigment dispersion and death. After 14 days of culture at 30 ℃, the survival rates of conchospore germlings of PS-M4 and PS-5 were 70.6% and 66.5%, respectively, with no significant difference between them, but 133.8% and 120.2% higher than that of Ph-WT10. At this time, over 80% of the conchospore germlings of both PS-M4 and PS-5 contained more than 9 cells, while all the conchospore germlings of Ph-WT10 had only 1-4 cells. After 45 days of culture at 23 ℃, the contents of chlorophyll a and total phycobiliprotein of PS-M4 blades were 6.6 and 61.7 mg g-1, respectively, which were 12.3% and 14.9% higher than those of PS-5. The average thickness of PS-M4 was 30.5 μm, which was 16.6% thinner than that of PS-5. In terms of total released conchospores over 10 consecutive days, PS-M4 reached up to 293.6×104 per shell, which was 3.3 times that of PS-5. In summary, the new strain PS-M4 of P. suborbiculata has shown significant improvements in blades growth, quality, and released conchospores, while its conchospore germlings and blades exhibited superior high-temperature resistance compared to traditional cultivated strain of P. haitanensis, making it a promising candidate for commercial cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolted connection is one of the most widely used connection forms in various mechanical structures. However, the discretization of preload during tightening will be aggravated by the presence of geometric error caused by manufacturing. In this work, the geometric error transmitted by all parts of the bolted joint is equated to the existence of a certain wedge angle between the nut and the bearing surface of the connected part, that is, the nut and the bearing surface are in non-parallel contact. A torque-preload mathematical equation is theoretically established to account for non-parallel contact. On this basis, the relation between torque and preload deviation is considered to analyze the formation mechanism of preload deviation according to non-parallel contact. Subsequently, the influence of non-parallel contact on tightening performance was quantitatively analyzed by experiments and finite element. The analysis results showed that the tightening process under non-parallel contact can be divided into two stages: nonlinear increase stage and linear increase stage. Among them, the deviation mainly appears in the first stage. Tightening performance analysis herein is helpful to reduce the influence of geometric error on the preload control and further improve its reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threaded fasteners are one of the most commonly used connection methods for mechanical structures. Its primary function is to generate appropriate clamping forces and fasten the connected parts. An inappropriate preload can cause loosening, fatigue fracture, and other problems. This will affect the safety and reliability of mechanical equipment. The precise control of the preload has become a critical issue in mechanical assembly processes. Over the past few decades, various tightening measures and methods have been proposed to address this issue. However, many problems continue to exist with practical applications that have not been reviewed comprehensively and systematically. First, various control methods were summarized systematically, and their advantages and disadvantages in engineering applications were analyzed. Torque control is the most widely used tightening method owing to its simple operation and low cost. Therefore, the research on the torque control method was summarized systematically from three aspects: the torque–preload correlation formula, effective friction radius, and friction characteristics during tightening. In addition, the special circumstances that may increase preload uncertainty were discussed. Finally, based on a summary of the current research status, the prospects for future research were discussed. This study would aid researchers in extensively understanding the problems in preload control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PBX1 is a transcription factor that can promote the occurrence of various tumors and play a reg-ulatory role in tumor growth, metastasis, invasion, and drug resistance. Furthermore, a variant generated by fusion of E2A and PBX1, E2A-PBX1, has been found in 25% of patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Thus, PBX1 is a potential therapeutic target for many cancers. Here, we describe the structure of PBX1 and E2A-PBX1 as well as the molecular mecha-nisms whereby these proteins promote tumorigenesis to provide future research directions for developing new treatments. We show that PBX1 and E2A-PBX1 induce the development of highly malignant and difficult-to-treat solid and blood tumors. The development of specific drugs against their targets may be a good therapeutic strategy for PBX1-related cancers. Furthermore, we strongly recommend E2A-PBX1 as one of the genes for prenatal screening to reduce the incidence of childhood hematological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blade length, which is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes, is a key trait determining the yield in Pyropia haitanensis. However, there are few studies on the identification of candidate genes associated with it. In this study, the double haploid (DH) strains from the hybrid offspring of P. haitanensis were used to construct two DNA pools from extremely long-length and short-length strains, respectively. Using bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq), three candidate regions associated with the blade length were identified on the genome, all of which were located on chromosome 1. These regions contain a total of 625 genes. One extremely long-length strain and one extremely short-length strain were selected respectively, and their 35-day blades were used for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). It was found that the genes related to carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and carbon metabolism were up-regulated in long blades, and 145 genes were differentially expressed in the candidate regions. Subsequently, eight candidate genes were screened using strict criteria (delta SNP-index ≥ 0.9), which encode WD40-repeat containing protein, major facilitator superfamily, LPXTG-anchored surface-anchored adhesin, RmlC-like cupin superfamily, EMP24_GP25L and three unknown functional proteins, respectively. Further SNP molecular marker verification showed that the success rate of selection of these 8 genes for blade length was greater than 90%. In addition, among the differentially expressed genes within the candidate regions, the expression levels of growth-related genes (PKCI and ABC transporters) were significantly different between 5 extremely long-length and 5 extremely short-length strains. In summary, this study identified 10 potential candidate genes associated with the blade length of P. haitanensis, thereby providing valuable insights for future advancements in precise molecular breeding and expedited development of high-yield varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional climate is affected by a wide variety of aerosols which modify through their radiative effects the precipitation distribution. In this article, the effects of aerosols, mainly dust aerosols on diurnal cycle of precipitation amount, frequency and intensity are investigated over central Africa by using the latest version of the Abdu Salam ICTP regional climate model coupled with the Community Land Model 4.5 as land surface scheme. Two sets of experiments have been conducted (one with aerosols interaction with dynamics and thermodynamics processes and another without this interaction) for a 10-year study period (2002–2011) and the Fourier transformation is used to study the 24-h cycle. In order to clearly understand spatial differences in RegCM experiments over central Africa, three subregions have been considered according to their land cover and climate characteristics. Our results indicate that the pattern of simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) is well represented particularly northward of the study region compared to AOD from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) even if some differences in terms of magnitude are reported. The aerosols' effects on diurnal cycle are generally not similar to those found in the amplitude and phase. The result pointed out that over the Sahelian region, atmospheric aerosol in general and dust in particular always induced a positive effect on diurnal cycle (increase the magnitude of the cycle) of precipitation intensities and in precipitation amount and precipitation frequency as well. But, the change is opposite in terms of amplitude and peak time over some subregions. It appears that the forcing of aerosols in solar radiation as well as in latent heat flux leads to the changes in the amplitude of the precipitation amount during the DJF and JAS seasons particularly during daytime. The changes in amplitude of the precipitation frequency are not consistent even if the corresponding phase always tends to increase by up to 5 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of field application, the archeospores released from Pyropia yezoensis blades are of great significance for increasing the number of seedlings on the cultivation nets, prolonging the harvest period, and improving yield and quality. To select a new strain of P. yezoensis with fast growth, good quality, high-temperature resistance, and a suitable quantity of archeospores released, an intraspecific hybridization was carried out between the improved strain (A-18) with almost no archeospores released and Py-26W' strain with a large quantity of archeospores released. A new strain S-15 was then isolated from the offspring. From 15 days of age, the total number of archeospores released from S-15 per blade for 21 consecutive days was 1353, while that from A-18 was only 6 (P < 0.05). After being cultured for 60 days, the mean length of the S-15 blades was 156.8 cm, which is 1.2 times longer than that of the A-18 blades. When blades aged 30 days (cultured at 18 ℃) were further cultured at 25 ℃ for another 30 days, both A-18 and S-15 showed a slow increase in blade length, but the Fv/Fm value of A-18 blades decreased by 13.0% (P < 0.01), while that of S-15 remained steady. After being cultured at 18 ℃ for 45 days, the contents of chlorophyll a and total phycobiliprotein were 9.8 and 68.1 mg/g in S-15, which were 23.3% (P < 0.05) and 17.3% (P > 0.05) higher than those of A-18, respectively. In summary, S-15 was characterized by fast growth, high phycobiliprotein content, high-temperature resistance, and a suitable quantity of archeospores released, which is expected to be applied in production and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The research on plant leaf morphology is of great significance for understanding the development and evolution of plant organ morphology. As a relict plant, the G. biloba leaf morphology typically exhibits bifoliate and peltate forms. However, throughout its long evolutionary history, Ginkgo leaves have undergone diverse changes. Methods: This study focuses on the distinct "trumpet" leaves and normal fan-shaped leaves of G. biloba for analysis of their phenotypes, photosynthetic activity, anatomical observations, as well as transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Results: The results showed that trumpet-shaped G. biloba leaves have fewer cells, significant morphological differences between dorsal and abaxial epidermal cells, leading to a significantly lower net photosynthetic rate. Additionally, this study found that endogenous plant hormones such as GA, auxin, and JA as well as metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolic acids play roles in the formation of trumpet-shaped G. biloba leaves. Moreover, the experiments revealed the regulatory mechanisms of various key biological processes and gene expressions in the trumpet-shaped leaves of G. biloba. Discussion: Differences in the dorsal and abdominal cells of G. biloba leaves can cause the leaf to curl, thus reducing the overall photosynthetic efficiency of the leaves. However, the morphology of plant leaves is determined during the primordia leaf stage. In the early stages of leaf development, the shoot apical meristem (SAM) determines the developmental morphology of dicotyledonous plant leaves. This process involves the activity of multiple gene families and small RNAs. The establishment of leaf morphology is complexly regulated by various endogenous hormones, including the effect of auxin on cell walls. Additionally, changes in intracellular ion concentrations, such as fluctuations in Ca2+ concentration, also affect cell wall rigidity, thereby influencing leaf growth morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silicosis is an irreversible fibrotic disease of the lung caused by chronic exposure to silica dust, which manifests as infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pulmonary diffuse fibrosis. As the disease progresses, lung function further deteriorates, leading to poorer quality of life of patients. Currently, few effective drugs are available for the treatment of silicosis. Bicyclol (BIC) is a compound widely employed to treat chronic viral hepatitis and drug-induced liver injury. While recent studies have demonstrated anti-fibrosis effects of BIC on multiple organs, including liver, lung, and kidney, its therapeutic benefit against silicosis remains unclear. In this study, we established a rat model of silicosis, with the aim of evaluating the potential therapeutic effects of BIC. Methods: We constructed a silicotic rat model and administered BIC after injury. The FlexiVent instrument with a forced oscillation system was used to detect the pulmonary function of rats. HE and Masson staining were used to assess the effect of BIC on silica-induced rats. Macrophages-inflammatory model of RAW264.7 cells, fibroblast-myofibroblast transition (FMT) model of NIH-3T3 cells, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model of TC-1 cells were established in vitro. And the levels of inflammatory mediators and fibrosis-related proteins were evaluated in vivo and in vitro after BIC treatment by Western Blot analysis, RT-PCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry experiments. Results: BIC significantly improved static compliance of lung and expiratory and inspiratory capacity of silica-induced rats. Moreover, BIC reduced number of inflammatory cells and cytokines as well as collagen deposition in lungs, leading to delayed fibrosis progression in the silicosis rat model. Further exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that BIC suppressed the activation, polarization, and apoptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages induced by SiO2. Additionally, BIC inhibited SiO2-mediated secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 in macrophages. BIC inhibited FMT of NIH-3T3 as well as EMT of TC-1 in the in vitro silicosis model, resulting in reduced proliferation and migration capability of NIH-3T3 cells. Further investigation of the cytokines secreted by macrophages revealed suppression of both FMT and EMT by BIC through targeting of TGF-β1. Notably, BIC blocked the activation of JAK2/STAT3 in NIH-3T3 cells required for FMT while preventing both phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of SMAD2/3 in TC-1 cells necessary for the EMT process. Conclusion: The collective data suggest that BIC prevents both FMT and EMT processes, in turn, reducing aberrant collagen deposition. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that BIC ameliorates inflammatory cytokine secretion, in particular, TGF-β1, and consequently inhibits FMT and EMT via TGF-β1 canonical and non-canonical pathways, ultimately resulting in reduction of aberrant collagen deposition and slower progression of silicosis, supporting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Road cracks significantly shorten the service life of roads. Manual detection methods are inefficient and costly. The YOLOv5 model has made some progress in road crack detection. However, issues arise when deployed on edge computing devices. The main problem is that edge computing devices are directly connected to sensors. This results in the collection of noisy, poorquality data. This problem adds computational burden to the model, potentially impacting its accuracy. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel road crack detection algorithm named EMG-YOLO. Methods: First, an Efficient Decoupled Header is introduced in YOLOv5 to optimize the head structure. This approach separates the classification task from the localization task. Each task can then focus on learning its most relevant features. This significantly reduces the model's computational resources and time. It also achieves faster convergence rates. Second, the IOU loss function in the model is upgraded to the MPDIOU loss function. This function works by minimizing the top-left and bottom-right point distances between the predicted bounding box and the actual labeled bounding box. The MPDIOU loss function addresses the complex computation and high computational burden of the current YOLOv5 model. Finally, the GCC3 module replaces the traditional convolution. It performs global context modeling with the input feature map to obtain global context information. This enhances the model's detection capabilities on edge computing devices. Results: Experimental results show that the improved model has better performance in all parameter indicators compared to current mainstream algorithms. The EMG-YOLO model improves the accuracy of the YOLOv5 model by 2.7%. The mAP (0.5) and mAP (0.9) are improved by 2.9% and 0.9%, respectively. The new algorithm also outperforms the YOLOv5 model in complex environments on edge computing devices. Discussion: The EMG-YOLO algorithm proposed in this paper effectively addresses the issues of poor data quality and high computational burden on edge computing devices. This is achieved through optimizing the model head structure, upgrading the loss function, and introducing global context modeling. Experimental results demonstrate significant improvements in both accuracy and efficiency, especially in complex environments. Future research can further optimize this algorithm and explore more lightweight and efficient object detection models for edge computing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregabalin is a medication primarily used in the treatment of neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders, owing to its gabapentinoid properties. Pregabalin monotherapy faces limitations due to its variable efficacy and dose-dependent adverse reactions. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the potentiation of pregabalin's analgesic effects by dexborneol, a neuroprotective bicyclic monoterpenoid compound. We performed animal experiments where pain models were induced using two methods: peripheral nerve injury, involving axotomy and ligation of the tibial and common peroneal nerves, and incisional pain through a longitudinal incision in the hind paw, while employing a multifaceted methodology that integrates behavioral pharmacology, molecular biology, neuromorphology, and lipidomics to delve into the mechanisms behind this potentiation. Dexborneol was found to enhance pregabalin's efficacy by promoting its transportation to the central nervous system, disrupting self-amplifying vicious cycles via the reduction of HMGB1 and ATP release, and exerting significant anti-oxidative effects through modulation of central lipid metabolism. This combination therapy not only boosted pregabalin's analgesic property but also notably decreased its side effects. Moreover, this therapeutic cocktail exceeded basic pain relief, effectively reducing neuroinflammation and glial cell activation—key factors contributing to persistent and chronic pain. This study paves the way for more tolerable and effective analgesic options, highlighting the potential of dexborneol as an adjuvant to pregabalin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus peels are rich in flavonoids, and some valuable flavonoids with health benefits, such as polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), are found almost exclusively in citrus peels. While the peels usually regarded as by-product, leading to source waste. As a traditional method, drying is helpful to increase added-value of peels which can be used as medicine. However, the variations in variety and quantity of flavonoids during drying processes of citrus peel remain unknown. In this study, Guanxi honey pomelo peel investigated the effect of different drying methods on flavonoids content in citrus peels. Five drying techniques, namely, freeze-drying (FD) and hot air drying (HAD) at 30 °C, 50 °C, 70 °C and 90 °C were used employed for drying the pomelo peels and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis identified 39 flavonoids changes in flavonoids across samples. FD proved to better preserve most glycosidic flavonoids. Flavonoid aglycones could be better preserved in samples of HAD at 30 ℃, 50 ℃ HAD and 90 ℃ HAD. Specifically, HAD at 30 ℃ and 50 ℃ HAD is beneficial for obtaining more valued polymethoxyflavones such as 5-hydroxy-6,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,8,4′-tetramethoxyflavone and 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone. The 90℃ HAD resulted in the highest content of naringenin and 5,7,8,4′-tetramethoxyflavanone. This study demonstrated the transformation characteristics of flavonoids in pomelo peel under varying drying conditions, providing benefits for comprehensive utilization of pomelo peel in extracting valued-added flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pitting corrosion tendency of the as-extruded AA6063 alloy was investigated in this study through immersion corrosion and electrochemical corrosion tests at various aging temperatures. The morphologies of the corroded samples were characterized using OM, WLI, SEM, and TEM. The corrosion resistance of as-extruded alloys with various heat treatments was assessed using an electrochemical workstation and SECM. The surface potential at various positions on the alloy surface was measured using KPFM. The results indicate that as the aging temperature increases, the corrosion mode of the alloy shifts primarily from subcritical pitting corrosion to pitting corrosion. This shift eventually leads to the formation of stable pitting corrosion, and the alloy's pitting corrosion resistance gradually decreases. Surface potentials vary among different types of second-phase particles, with Mg2Si measuring 1.57 V and β-AlFeSi measuring 2.14 V. The existence of a potential difference between the matrix and the second-phase particles leads to the formation of both crystalline and cathodic pits. As the temperature increases, the number of active sites for pitting corrosion also increases. Longitudinal expansion of the pits takes place along densely packed (100) planes, forming a semi-cubic stepped crystal structure. Lateral expansion of pits occurs parallel to the <001>Al direction, demonstrating filamentous corrosion expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study published in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology has discovered the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of camptothecin, a commonly used anticancer drug. The researchers used chemoproteomics to identify the enzyme, OpCYP716E111, in the camptothecin-producing plant Ophiorrhiza pumila. They found that expressing OpCYP716E111 in Nicotiana benthamiana and yeast led to the production of strictosamide epoxide 2, a precursor to camptothecin. This discovery lays the foundation for synthetic biological synthesis of camptothecin and highlights the potential of chemoproteomics for discovering enzymes involved in natural product biosynthesis. [Extracted from the article]

The Bolted joint loosening is challenging to describe with an accurate mathematical model. Therefore, a prediction model of bolted joint loosening was proposed based on a deep learning network. Firstly, the loosening experiments of the bolted joint were carried out with an orthogonal test. And the nonlinear and uncertain characteristics of bolted joint loosening process were further analyzed. Furthermore, a prediction model of bolted joint loosening based on a deep learning network was established. The proposed model was trained and verified using the experimental data. The results showed that compared with the traditional mathematical and regression models, the model could not only obtain the change of the mean value of preload but also describe the confidence interval of the change of preload in the sense of probability synchronously. The experiment data and prediction data are in good agreement, which can be used to validate the rationality of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning methods have been recognized as rapid methods for satellite-based aerosol retrievals but have not been widely applied in geostationary satellites. In this study, we developed a wide and deep learning model to retrieve the aerosol optical depth (AOD) using Himawari-8. Compared to traditional deep learning methods, we embedded a "wide" modeling component and tested the proposed model across China using independent training (2016–2018) and test (2019) datasets. The results showed that the "wide" model improves the accuracy and enhances model interpretability. The estimates exhibited better accuracy (R2 = 0.81, root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) = 0.19, and within the estimated error (EE) = 63%) than those of the deep-only models (R2 = 0.78, RMSE = 0.21, within the EE = 58%). In comparison with extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and Himawari-8 V2.1 AOD products, there were also significant improvements. In addition to higher accuracy, the interpretability of the proposed model was superior to that of the deep-only model. Compared with other seasons, higher contributions of spring to the AOD concentrations were interpreted. Based on the application of the wide and deep learning model, the near-real-time variation of the AOD over China could be captured with an ultrafine temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inaccurate Forrest classification may significantly affect clinical outcomes, especially in high risk patients. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a real-time deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) system to assess the Forrest classification of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB). Methods A training dataset (3868 endoscopic images) and an internal validation dataset (834 images) were retrospectively collected from the 900th Hospital, Fuzhou, China. In addition, 521 images collected from four other hospitals were used for external validation. Finally, 46 endoscopic videos were prospectively collected to assess the real-time diagnostic performance of the DCNN system, whose diagnostic performance was also prospectively compared with that of three senior and three junior endoscopists. Results The DCNN system had a satisfactory diagnostic performance in the assessment of Forrest classification, with an accuracy of 91.2% (95%CI 89.5%–92.6%) and a macro-average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 in the validation dataset. Moreover, the DCNN system could judge suspicious regions automatically using Forrest classification in real-time videos, with an accuracy of 92.0% (95%CI 80.8%–97.8%). The DCNN system showed more accurate and stable diagnostic performance than endoscopists in the prospective clinical comparison test. This system helped to slightly improve the diagnostic performance of senior endoscopists and considerably enhance that of junior endoscopists. Conclusion The DCNN system for the assessment of the Forrest classification of PUB showed satisfactory diagnostic performance, which was slightly superior to that of senior endoscopists. It could therefore effectively assist junior endoscopists in making such diagnoses during gastroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Quorumsensing (QS) research stands as a pivotal andmultifaceted domain within microbiology, holding profound implications across various scientific disciplines. This bibliometric analysis seeks to offer an extensive overview of QS research, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. It aims to elucidate the hotspots, trends, and the evolving dynamics within this research domain. Methods: We conducted an exhaustive review of the literature, employing meticulous data curation from the Science Citation Index Extension (SCI-E) within the Web of Science (WOS) database. Subsequently, our survey delves into evolving publication trends, the constellation of influential authors and institutions, key journals shaping the discourse, global collaborative networks, and thematic hotspots that define the QS research field. Results: The findings demonstrate a consistent and growing interest in QS research throughout the years, encompassing a substantial dataset of 4,849 analyzed articles. Journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology have emerged as significant contributor to the QS literature, highlighting the increasing recognition of QS's importance across various research fields. Influential research in the realm of QS often centers on microbial communication, biofilm formation, and the development of QS inhibitors. Notably, leading countries engaged in QS research include the United States, China, and India. Moreover, the analysis identifies research focal points spanning diverse domains, including pharmacological properties, genetics and metabolic pathways, as well as physiological and signal transduction mechanisms, reafirming the multidisciplinary character of QS research. Conclusion: This bibliometric exploration provides a panoramic overview of the current state of QS research. The data portrays a consistent trend of expansion and advancement within this domain, signaling numerous prospects for forthcoming research and development. Scholars and stakeholders engaged in the QS field can harness these findings to navigate the evolving terrain with precision and speed, thereby enhancing our comprehension and utilization of QS in various scientific and clinical domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicosis is a chronic illness marked by diffuse fibrosis in lung tissue resulting from continuous exposure to SiO2-rich dust in the workplace. The onset and progression of silicosis is a complicated and poorly understood pathological process involving numerous cells and molecules. However, silicosis poses a severe threat to public health in developing countries, where it is the most prevalent occupational disease. There is convincing evidence supporting that innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as their cytokines, play a significant role in the development of silicosis. In this review, we describe the roles of immune cells and cytokines in silicosis, and summarize current knowledge on several important inflammatory signaling pathways associated with the disease, aiming to provide novel targets and strategies for the treatment of silicosis-related inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of forest plantations is a natural based solution to the global‐scale mitigation of climate change; however, the role of carbon sequestration remains poorly understood, and this is hampered by a lack of detailed distribution on the global forest plantations. For the first time, we generated a global spatial distribution for forest plantations (GSDFP) during 2015 at a spatial resolution of 250 m using hierarchical extraction based on a machine learning algorithm taking time series of MODIS and ALOS PALSAR imagery as the source data, and finally estimates the biomass carbon stored in forest plantations. The resultant map was validated using reference samples visually interpreted, as well as reference samples collected from previous studies, and inter‐compared with statistical forest plantation area and regional forest plantation maps, and the GSDFP was found to accurately represent the spatial distribution of forest plantations around the globe. Globally, forest plantations account for 7.35% (360.22 × 104 km2) of the global forest area and are estimated to contribute 4.60% (12.85 Pg C) of global forest biomass carbon. The forest plantation map and biomass carbon stock estimates will assist forest management and provide a benchmark for the estimation of the forest plantation carbon sink. Plain Language Summary: In recent decades, global reforestation and afforestation practices have aroused wide concern in the effectiveness of climate change mitigation. However, the lack of spatial explicit data on forest plantations is the vital limitation with respect to the corresponding biomass carbon stock estimates. In this study, we generated the global spatial distribution of forest plantations at a spatial resolution of 250 m, and further estimated the biomass carbon stock in forest plantations. We found that forest plantations contributed less biomass carbon stock to forests than their corresponding area. Our results can provide crucial scientific information for decisions on forest management and climate change mitigation. Key Points: A global distribution of forest plantations was created using machine learning, and the biomass carbon stock in forest plantations was estimatedThe proportion of plantation area in the forest (360.22 × 104 km2, 7.35%) is higher than that of biomass carbon stocks (12.85 Pg C, 4.60%)The forest plantations map and biomass carbon stock estimates will be beneficial for natural based solutions for climate mitigation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the adsorption performance of wetland fillers is of great significance for enhancing pollutant removal in constructed wetlands. Currently, limited by complex preparation processes and high costs, large numbers of high adsorption fillers studied in lab are difficult to be applied in practical engineering. In this study, a newly low-cost and efficient phosphorus removal composite wetland filler (CFB) is prepared by using industrial and agriculture waste (steel slag and oyster shells) and natural ore (volcanic rock) as raw materials. The results show that phosphorus removal efficiency was largely enhanced by synergistic effects of steel slag, oyster shells, and volcanic rock, and it was mainly influenced by the proportion of each component of CFB. Based on the fitting of the classical isothermal equation, the adsorption capacity of CFB is 18.339 mg/g. The adsorption of phosphorus by CFB is endothermic and spontaneous, and there are heterogeneous surfaces and multi-layer adsorption processes, as well as pH value and temperature, are free from the influence on CFB phosphorus removal. During the practical wastewater application experiments, the phosphorus removal rate of the CFB-filled constructed wetland apparatus (CW-A) can reach 94.89% and is free from the influence on the removal of other pollutants (COD, TN, and NH3-N) by the system. Overall, the prepared CFB is of excellent decontamination effect, an extremely simple preparation process, low cost, and sound practical engineering application potential, providing new ideas and approaches for enhancing the phosphorus removal capacity and waste resource utilization of constructed wetland systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is a potentially reversible syndrome characterized by complex symptoms, difficulty in diagnosis and a lack of detailed clinical description, and it is difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this study was to design a method for measuring the actual amount of hydrocephalus in patients with INPH and to evaluate INPH. Methods: All subjects underwent a 3D T1-weighted MRI. Statistical parametric mapping 12 was used for preprocessing images, statistical analysis, and voxelbased morphometric gray matter (GM) volume, white matter (WM) volume, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume analysis. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the groups were compared using a t-test for continuous variables and a chi-square test for categorical variables. Pearson's correlation analysis and Bonferroni's statistic-corrected one-way ANOVA were used to determine the relationship among demographic variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of the callosal angle (CA), WM ratio, and CSF ratio in distinguishing probable INPH from AD. Results: The study included 42 patients with INPH, 32 patients with AD, and 24 healthy control subjects (HCs). There were no differences among the three groups in basic characteristics except for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). There was a correlation between the intracranial CSF ratio and CA. The WM ratio and CSF ratio in patients with INPH and AD were statistically different. Furthermore, the combination of CA, WM ratio, and CSF ratio had a greater differential diagnostic value between INPH and AD patients than CA alone. Conclusion: INPH can be accurately assessed by measuring intracranial CSF ratio, and the addition of WM ratio and CSF ratio significantly improved the differential diagnostic value of probable INPH from AD compared to CA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical implications of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in cancer therapy remain largely elusive. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of ecDNA amplification spectra and their association with clinical and molecular features in multiple cohorts comprising over 13,000 pan-cancer patients. Using our developed computational framework, GCAP, and validating it with multifaceted approaches, we reveal a consistent pan-cancer pattern of mutual exclusivity between ecDNA amplification and microsatellite instability (MSI). In addition, we establish the role of ecDNA amplification as a risk factor and refine genomic subtypes in a cohort from 1015 colorectal cancer patients. Importantly, our investigation incorporates data from four clinical trials focused on anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, demonstrating the pivotal role of ecDNA amplification as a biomarker for guiding checkpoint blockade immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer. This finding represents clinical evidence linking ecDNA amplification to the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions. Overall, our study provides a proof-of-concept of identifying ecDNA amplification from cancer whole-exome sequencing (WES) data, highlighting the potential of ecDNA amplification as a valuable biomarker for facilitating personalized cancer treatment. 'Extrachromosomal DNA has been previously linked to tumour progression and heterogeneity, but its potential as a cancer biomarker has not been fully explored. Here, the authors develop a computational framework to refine genomic subtypes and predict response to immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus species have been shown to alleviate gut inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the effect of different lactobacilli components on gut inflammation has not been well studied. This study aims to identify the differences in the effect and mechanisms of different forms and components of Limosilactobacillus mucosae (LM) treatment in the alleviation of gut inflammation using a colitis mouse model that is induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Seventy-two C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups: control, DSS, live LM+DSS (LM+DSS), heat-killed LM+DSS (HKLM+DSS), LM cell-free supernatant + DSS (LMCS+DSS), and MRS medium + DSS (MRS+DSS). The mice were treated with different forms and components of LM for two weeks before DSS treatment. After that, the mice were sacrificed for an assessment of their levels of inflammatory cytokines, serotonin (5-HT) receptors (HTRs), and tryptophan metabolites. The results showed that, compared to other treatments, LMCS was more effective (p < 0.05) in the alleviation of DSS-induced body weight loss and led to an increase in the disease activity index score. All three forms and components of LM increased (p < 0.05) the levels of indole-3-acetic acid but reduced (p < 0.05) the levels of 5-HT in the colon. HKLM or LMCS reduced (p < 0.05) the percentages of CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells but increased (p < 0.05) the percentages of CD3+CD4+ T helper cells in the spleen. LM or HKLM increased (p < 0.05) abundances of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the spleen. The LM and LMCS treatments reduced (p < 0.05) the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Il6 and Il17a. The mice in the HKLM+DSS group had higher (p < 0.05) mRNA levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Il10, the cell differentiation and proliferation markers Lgr5 and Ki67, the 5-HT degradation enzyme Maoa, and HTRs (Htr1a, Htr2a, and Htr2b) in the colon. All three forms and components of LM reduced the phosphorylation of STAT3. The above findings can help to optimize the functionality of probiotics and develop new dietary strategies that aid in the maintenance of a healthy gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-gyroscopes based on the Coriolis principle are widely employed in inertial navigation, motion control, and vibration analysis applications. Conventional micro-gyroscopes often exhibit limitations, including elevated noise levels and suboptimal performance metrics. Conversely, the advent of cavity optomechanical system technology heralds an innovative approach to micro-gyroscope development. This method enhances the device's capabilities, offering elevated sensitivity, augmented precision, and superior resolution. This paper presents our main contributions which include a novel dual-frame optomechanical gyroscope, a unique photonic crystal cavity design, and advanced numerical simulation and optimization methods. The proposed design utilizes an optical cavity formed between dual oscillating frames, whereby input rotation induces a measurable phase shift via optomechanical coupling. Actuation of the frames is achieved electrostatically via an interdigitated comb-drive design. Through theoretical modeling based on cavity optomechanics and finite element simulation, the operating principle and performance parameters are evaluated in detail. The results indicate an expected angular rate sensitivity of 22.8 mV/°/s and an angle random walk of 7.1 × 10−5 °/h1/2, representing superior precision to existing micro-electromechanical systems gyroscopes of comparable scale. Detailed analysis of the optomechanical transduction mechanism suggests this dual-frame approach could enable angular vibration detection with resolution exceeding state-of-the-art solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To select a new strain of Neoporphyra haitanensis with thin blades and high-temperature resistance, an intraspecific hybridization of a cultivated strain (WT-bo, ♂) and improved strain (HR-5, ♀) in N. haitanensis was carried out, and then a new strain qF-15 was isolated from the offspring based on heat stress and characteristics analysis. After being cultured for 40 days, the mean thickness of the blades was 22.3 μm in qF-15, which was 9.7% and 8.3% lower than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively; the total phycobiliprotein content was 122.9 mg/g in qF-15, which was 41.6% and 5.9% higher than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. After being cultured for 45 days, the mean length of the blades was 70.4 cm in qF-15, which was 2.6- and 1.6-fold of that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. After being cultured for 7 days at 30 °C, the survival rate of conchospore germlings was 25.9% in qF-15, which was 439.6% and 223.8% higher than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. The blades were cultured for 25 days at 23 °C and then cultured for another 20 days at 30 °C. Plenty of cells died in the blades of WT-bo, while only a little of cells died in the blades of HR-5 and qF-15. After the conchocelis-inoculated shells experienced the process of high temperature and shrunk of light, the time for the emergence of a lot of conchosporangial branch was about 20 days for the three strains. In summary, qF-15 was characterized by thin blades, high-temperature resistance of conchospore germlings and blades, fast growth, high phycobiliprotein content, and fast differentiation rate of conchocelis-inoculated shell, and it is expected to be applied in production and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After undergoing microarc oxidation, titanium alloys exhibit significantly enhanced biocompatibility, making them a subject of extensive research in the field of biomedical applications. In this study, a two-step microarc oxidation method was used to prepare a film layer with both macro-micro-nano tertiary structures on β-type titanium alloy Ti-3Zr-2Sn-3Mo-25Nb (TLM), using a phosphate-nitrate mixed electrolyte for the first step of microarc oxidation and a borate body electrolyte for the second step of microarc oxidation. The effects of NaOH concentration, microarc oxidation voltage, and time on the size and distribution of macropores prepared by microarc oxidation in the first step were investigated by SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy, XRD, and metallurgical microscopy. The wettability of the prepared three-level structured film and its ability to induce hydroxyapatite deposition were evaluated through contact angle testing and simulated body fluid immersion experiments. The overall research findings indicate that the two-step microarc oxidation process yielded macropores with diameters ranging from 200 to 400 μm, along with micro-nanostructures measuring 2–15 μm and 10–100 nm. The increase in the NaOH concentration in the electrolyte decreased the size of the macropores. The increase in the microarc oxidation time increased the size of macropores; the voltage affected the distribution and number of macropores. The prepared macro-micro-nano tertiary structured membrane layers have excellent wettability and the ability to induce hydroxyapatite precipitation, indicating that they possess good biocompatibility. This study provides a reference for the medical development of alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis may play a critical role in the development of lupus nephritis (LN). However, the specific characteristics of the gut microbiota in individuals with LN have not been fully clarified. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched for clinical and animal studies related to the relationship between LN and gut microbiota from inception until October 1, 2023. A semiquantitative analysis was used to assess the changes in gut microbial profiles. Results: A total of 15 clinical studies were selected for analysis, which included 138 LN patients, 441 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, and 1526 healthy controls (HCs). Five different types of LN mouse models were included in 5 animal studies. The alpha diversity was decreased in LN patients compared to HCs. A significant decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio is considered a hallmark of pathological conditions. Specifically, alterations in the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, genera Streptococcus and Lactobacillus, and species Ruminococcus gnavus and Lactobacillus reuteri may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of LN. Remarkably, the gut taxonomic chain Bacteroidetes-Bacteroides-Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was enriched in LN patients, which could be a crucial characteristic of LN patients. The increased level of interleukin-6, imbalance of regulatory T cells and T helper 17 cells, and decreased level of the intestinal tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1 also might be related to the pathogenesis of LN. Conclusions: Specific changes in the abundance of gut microbiota such as decreased F/B ratio, and the level of inflammatory indicators, and markers of intestinal barrier dysfunction may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of LN. These factors could be effective diagnostic and potential therapeutic targets for LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequent occurrence of dry and hot (DH) days in South China in summer has a negative impact on social development and human health. This study explored the variation characteristics of DH days and the possible reasons for this knotty problem. The findings revealed a notable increase in the number of DH days across most stations, indicating a significant upward trend. Additionally, DH events were observed to occur frequently. The number of DH days increased during 1970–1990, decreased from 1991 to 1997, and stayed stable after 1997. The key climate factors affecting the interannual variability of the number of DH days were the Indian Ocean Basin warming (IOBW) in spring and the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM). Compared with the negative phase of IOBW, in the positive phase of IOBW, 500 hPa and 850 hPa geopotential height enhanced, the West Pacific subtropical high strengthened and extended abnormally to the west, more solar radiation reached the surface, surface outgoing longwave radiation increased, and there was an anomalous anticyclone in eastern South China. The atmospheric circulation characteristics of the positive and negative phases of ESAM were opposite to those of IOBW, and the abnormal circulation of the positive (negative) phases of ESAM was unfavorable (favorable) for the increase in the number of DH days. A long-term prediction model for the number of summer DH days was established using multiple linear regression, incorporating the key climate factors. The correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted number of DH days was 0.65, and the root-mean-square error was 2.8. In addition, independent forecasts for 2019 showed a deviation of just 1 day. The results of the independent recovery test confirmed the stability of the model, providing evidence that climatic factors did have an impact on DH days in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-gyroscopes using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and micro-opto-electro-mechanical system (MOEMS) are the new-generation and recently well-developed gyroscopes produced by the combinations of the traditional gyroscope technology and MEMS/MOEMS technologies. According to the working principle and used materials, the newly-reported micro-gyroscopes in recent years include the silicon-based micromechanical vibratory gyroscope, hemispherical resonant gyroscope, piezoelectric vibratory gyroscope, suspended rotor gyroscope, microfluidic gyroscope, optical gyroscope, and atomic gyroscope. According to different sensitive structures, the silicon-based micromechanical vibratory gyroscope can also be divided into double frame type, tuning fork type, vibrating ring type, and nested ring type. For those micro-gyroscopes, in recent years, many emerging techniques are proposed and developed to enhance different aspects of performances, such as the sensitivity, angle random walk (ARW), bias instability (BI), and bandwidth. Therefore, this paper will firstly review the main performances and applications of those newly-developed MEMS/MOEMS gyroscopes, then comprehensively summarize and analyze the latest research progress of the micro-gyroscopes mentioned above, and finally discuss the future development trends of MEMS/MOEMS gyroscopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) produce dramatic tumor shrinkage and durable responses in many advanced malignancies, but their use is limited by the development of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) that occur in up to 60% of patients and often affect endocrine organs. Concern for more severe IRAEs in patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), has led to the exclusion of such individuals from clinical trials of ICI therapy. As a result, little is known about the safety and efficacy of ICI in this population. Here, we report safety and treatments outcomes in ICItreated patients with preexisting T1DM. Methods: This retrospective case-controlled study evaluated adult patients with T1DM who received ICI therapy for solid malignancies from 2015 to 2021 at four academic medical centers. Patients with prior ICI therapy, bone marrow transplantation, or pregnancy were excluded. We collected data on demographics, cancer diagnosis and treatment, IRAE incidence and severity, and diabetes management. Controls were matched 2:1 by age, sex, cancer diagnosis, and ICI therapy class. Results: Of 12,142 cancer patients treated with ICI therapy, we identified 11 with a preexisting confirmed diagnosis of T1DM prior to starting ICI therapy. Mean age was 50.6 years, 63.6% were women, and most received anti-PD1/PDL1 monotherapy (10/11) compared with combination therapy (1/11). Grade 3/4 IRAEs were seen in 3/11 subjects with preexisting T1DM and were hepatitis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis. All three cases had interruption of ICI therapy and administration of adjunct therapies, including steroids, IVIG, or mycophenolate mofetil with resolution of the IRAE. The odds of all-grade IRAEs and of severe IRAEs were comparable between cases and controls matched for age, sex, cancer type, and ICI therapy [OR 0.83 (95% CI 0.2-3.56), p = 0.81, and OR 1.69 (0.31-9.36), p = 0.55, respectively]. Overall survival was not different between patients with T1DM and controls (p = 0.54). No patients had hospitalizations for diabetes-related complications during therapy. Discussion: These data suggest that ICI monotherapy can successfully be used in patients with preexisting T1DM, with IRAE rates comparablewith individuals without preexisting T1DM. Larger, prospective studies of these potentially life-saving ICI therapies that include patients with preexisting autoimmunity are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with liver metastases usually obtain less benefit from immunotherapy, and the underlying mechanisms remain understudied. Here, we identify that fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1), secreted from cancer cells and hepatocytes, facilitates the progression of CRC in an intraportal injection model by reducing the infiltration of T cells. Mechanistically, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) activate NF-ĸB by secreting TNFα/IL-1β in the liver microenvironment and transcriptionally upregulate OTU deubiquitinase 1 (OTUD1) expression, which enhances FGL1 stability via deubiquitination. Disrupting the TAM-OTUD1-FGL1 axis inhibits metastatic tumor progression and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Clinically, high plasma FGL1 levels predict poor outcomes and reduced ICB therapy benefits. Benzethonium chloride, an FDA-approved antiseptics, curbs FGL1 secretion, thereby inhibiting liver metastatic tumor growth. Overall, this study uncovers the critical roles and posttranslational regulatory mechanism of FGL1 in promoting metastatic tumor progression, highlighting the TAM-OTUD1-FGL1 axis as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. The suppressive immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis remains to be explored. Here, the authors find tumor-associated macrophages in the liver microenvironment induces elevated secretion of FGL1 from cancer cells and hepatocytes which promotes CRC metastasis by suppressing the infiltration of T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive utilization of agro-industrial residues poses a persistent global challenge. Microbial fermentation is an efficient way to convert agro-industrial residues into valuable products. Trichoderma reesei is a traditional cellulase and other protein producer using agro-industrial residues as substrates. The potential of T. reesei as a chassis to produce small natural products remains untapped. Here, we successfully employed T. reesei to efficiently synthesize different terpene types. To optimize the chassis for metabolite synthesis, we deleted major (hemi-)cellulase genes along with the global regulator Lae1 to improve the efficiency of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and overexpressed the constitutively activated transcriptional factor XYR1A824V in MC3 (a uridine auxotrophic strain derived from T. reesei Rut-C30) to alleviate glucose repression. Through glucose, lactose, and corn steep as substrates, the production of ophiobolin F using the modified chassis was increased to 1187.06 mg L−1 in shake flask fermentation and up to 3072.45 mg L−1 under fed-batch fermentation. We further demonstrated the versatility of the Δlae1::xyr1/MC3-Δ10 chassis by successfully producing other fungal and plant terpenes. Collectively, our results demonstrated the potential of the Reducing Outflow and Broadened Upstream Substrate Type (ROBUST) T. reesei chassis for efficient terpene production utilizing agro-industrial residues, with important implications for terpene biosynthesis and sustainable biofabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary cardiac myxofibrosarcoma is a rare form of cardiac malignant tumors. MFS usually involves the left atrium and presents as a unicentric or multicentric tumor mass. We reported on a 37-year-old female who presented with chest tightness and dyspnea for a month, dry cough, and occasionally having blood streak sputum for half a month. Echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography and cardiac positron emission tomography revealed multiple tumors in the heart. The right ventricle and right pulmonary artery were involved, with occlusion of the right pulmonary artery. Cardiac tumors were surgically resected and were consistent with low-grade MFS. No recurrence or metastasis occurred at 20 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is a potentially reversible syndrome characterized by complex symptoms, difficulty in diagnosis and a lack of detailed clinical description, and it is difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this study was to design a method for measuring the actual amount of hydrocephalus in patients with INPH and to evaluate INPH. Methods: All subjects underwent a 3D T1-weighted MRI. Statistical parametric mapping 12 was used for preprocessing images, statistical analysis, and voxelbased morphometric gray matter (GM) volume, white matter (WM) volume, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume analysis. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the groups were compared using a t-test for continuous variables and a chi-square test for categorical variables. Pearson's correlation analysis and Bonferroni's statistic-corrected one-way ANOVA were used to determine the relationship among demographic variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of the callosal angle (CA), WM ratio, and CSF ratio in distinguishing probable INPH from AD. Results: The study included 42 patients with INPH, 32 patients with AD, and 24 healthy control subjects (HCs). There were no differences among the three groups in basic characteristics except for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). There was a correlation between the intracranial CSF ratio and CA. The WM ratio and CSF ratio in patients with INPH and AD were statistically different. Furthermore, the combination of CA, WM ratio, and CSF ratio had a greater differential diagnostic value between INPH and AD patients than CA alone. Conclusion: INPH can be accurately assessed by measuring intracranial CSF ratio, and the addition of WM ratio and CSF ratio significantly improved the differential diagnostic value of probable INPH from AD compared to CA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐density magnetic memories are essential components for spintronics, quantum computing, and energy‐efficient electronics. Miniaturization of magnetic storage units requires reduced dimensionality and magnetic domain stability at the nanoscale. However, inducing magnetic order and selectively tuning spin‐orbital coupling at specific locations is challenging. Here, an unprecedented approach is demonstrated to construct switchable magnetic nanoislands in a nonmagnetic matrix based on cobaltite homostructures. The magnetic and electronic states are laterally modified by epitaxial strain, which is regionally controlled by freestanding membranes. Tensile‐strained cobaltite layers exhibit ferromagnetic properties, while compressively strained cobaltite layers exhibit a small magnetic response to applied fields. The minimum size of magnetic nanoislands reaches ≈35 nm in diameter, suggesting the highest possible areal density can reach upto ≈400 Gbit/in2. This methodology provides an ideal platform for precisely controlled read/write schemes and enables scalable and patterned memories on silicon and flexible supports for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predictive biomarkers for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) immunotherapy are lacking, and immunotherapy resistance remains to be addressed. The role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in ESCC immune escape and immunotherapy resistance remains to be elucidated. Methods: The tumour‐associated macrophage‐upregulated lncRNAs and the exosomal lncRNAs highly expressed in ESCC immunotherapy nonresponders were identified by lncRNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction assays. CRISPR‐Cas9 was used to explore the functional roles of the lncRNA. RNA pull‐down, MS2‐tagged RNA affinity purification (MS2‐TRAP) and RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) were performed to identify lncRNA‐associated proteins and related mechanisms. In vivo, the humanized PBMC (hu‐PBMC) mouse model was established to assess the therapeutic responses of specific lncRNA inhibitors and their combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). Single‐cell sequencing, flow cytometry, and multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry were used to analyze immune cells infiltrating the tumour microenvironment. Results: We identified a lncRNA that is involved in tumour immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance. High LINC02096 (RIME) expression in plasma exosomes correlates with a reduced response to PD‐1 mAb treatment and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, RIME binds to mixed lineage leukaemia protein‐1 (MLL1) and prevents ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 2 (ASB2)‐mediated MLL1 ubiquitination, improving the stability of MLL1. RIME‐MLL1 increases H3K4me3 levels in the promoter regions of programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO‐1), constitutively increasing the expression of PD‐L1/IDO‐1 in tumour cells and inhibiting CD8+ T cells infiltration and activation. RIME depletion in huPBMC‐NOG mice significantly represses tumour development and improves the effectiveness of PD‐1 mAb treatment by activating T‐cell‐mediated antitumour immunity. Conclusions: This study reveals that the RIME‐MLL1‐H3K4me3 axis plays a critical role in tumour immunosuppression. Moreover, RIME appears to be a potential prognostic biomarker for immunotherapy and developing drugs that target RIME may be a new therapeutic strategy that overcomes immunotherapy resistance and benefits patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the implementation of state-of-the-art "Industry 4.0" methods and tools, of a holistic ship design optimization and of modular production methods, as well as of advanced battery technologies in the development of an innovative, fully electrical, fast zero-emission catamaran for waterborne urban transport. The design of a fast cata-maran passenger ferry prototype (Medstraum), planned for operation as a waterborne shuttle in the Stavanger/Norway area, and of a replicator for operation at the Thames River/London are elaborated, including on land infrastructural issues that are necessary for their operation. The presented research is in the frame of the H2020 funded project "TrAM--Transport: Advanced and Modular" (www.tramproject.eu). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are potent hepatotoxins that can cause liver damage. Hyperoside (Hyp), a natural flavonoid, can be extracted from medicinal plants. Hyp displays hepatoprotective activity in various liver diseases. However, the potential effect and mechanism of action of Hyp in ameliorating PA-induced liver injury remain obscure. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of Hyp against PA-induced hepatotoxicity and its underlying mechanism. We established an in vitro model of PAs in mouse primary hepatocytes and developed a mouse model of acute PA toxicity to investigate the protective effect of Hyp. We found that Hyp notably attenuated PA-induced hepatotoxicity. RNA-sequencing showed that the beneficial effect of Hyp against PA-induced hepatotoxicity was associated with the transcription factor EB (TFEB)-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1-α (PGC1α) pathway. Our results confirmed that both the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and mitochondrial biogenesis were induced by Hyp through TFEB nuclear translocation in PA-induced liver injury. Furthermore, we demonstrated that activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) by MHY 1485 decreased TFEB nuclear translocation and abrogated the protective effect of Hyp against PA-induced liver injury in mice. In contrast, inhibition of mTORC1 activity increased the level of TFEB and reduced hepatotoxicity induced by PAs in mouse livers. Likewise, Hyp-induced TFEB activation was validated in vitro. In conclusion, Hyp can activate the TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway and mitochondrial biogenesis through inhibition of mTORC1 activity, alleviating the liver injury induced by PAs, thus suggesting the potential value of Hyp in the treatment of PA-induced hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]