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Researching ultrafast dynamics and creating coherent light sources will both benefit significantly from the establishment of polarization control in high-order harmonic generation (HHG). By employing the time-dependent density functional theory method, we investigate HHG of carbonyl sulfide molecules using a combination of a linear polarized infrared (IR) laser and a weaker orthogonal Terahertz (THz) field. Our findings show that by adjusting the amplitude of the THz field, the movement scale of electrons in the THz direction can be tuned, thereby one can control the harmonic intensity in the IR laser direction. This method allows for the creation of near-circularly polarized attosecond pulses. Furthermore, the ellipticity of the attosecond pulse may be changed by modifying the carrier-envelope phase of the IR laser pulse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anion exchange membrane (AEM) suffered from poor mechanical properties and low ionic conductivity in fuel cells. Herein, a series of novel block fluorene‐contained poly(arylene ether ketone)s backbones are synthesized by a tandem one‐pot process and then grafted with alkyl chains to form comb‐shaped structure for preparing AEMs. The one‐pot synthesis of block copolymer avoids the multiple purifications of oligomers. The membranes' structure–property relationship is studied by changing the ratios of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. The designed comb‐shaped structures grafted on fluorene‐containing block backbones can widen the space between chains and form clear microphase separation patterns, as determined by atomic force microscope (AFM) and small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS). Hence, resulting AEMs have a high ionic conductivity (117.4 mS cm−1, 80°C). Meanwhile, they also present low swelling rate (SR) from 12.76% to 18.51% at 30°C, 16.84% to 24.36% at 60°C, and 18.33% to 25.81% at 80°C. In addition, excellent mechanical properties, that is, an elongation at break of 29.63% and a tensile strength of 28.72 MPa, are achieved and showed the promise of as‐fabricated AEMs in fuel cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), a prevalent kind of cancerous tumor in female reproductive system that has a dismal prognosis in women worldwide. Given the very limited studies of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) in UCEC. Our purpose was to construct a prognostic profile based on CRLs and explore its assess prognostic value in UCEC victims and its correlation with the immunological microenvironment.Methods: 554 UCEC tumor samples and 23 normal samples' RNA-seq statistics and clinical details were compiled from data in the TCGA database. CRLs were obtained using Pearson correlation analysis. Using LASSO Cox regression, multivariate Cox regression, and univariate Cox regression analysis, six CRLs are confirmed to develop a risk prediction model at last.We identified two main molecular subtypes and observed that multilayer CRLs modifications were related to patient clinicopathological features, prognosis, and tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration characteristics, and then we verified the prognostic hallmark of UCEC and examined its immunological landscape.Finally, using qRT-PCR, model hub genes' expression patterns were confirmed. Results: A unique CRL signature was established by the combination of six differently expressed CRLs that were highly linked with the prognosis of UCEC patients. According to their CRLs signatures, the patients were divided into two groups: the low-risk and the high-risk groups. Compared to individuals at high risk, patients at low risk had higher survival rates (p < 0.001). Additionally, Cox regression reveals that the profiles of lncRNAs linked to cuproptosis may independently predict prognosis in UCEC patients. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year risks' respective receiver operating characteristics (ROC) exhibited AUC values of 0.778, 0.810, and 0.854. Likewise, the signature could predict survival in different groups based on factors like stage, age, and grade, among others. Further investigation revealed differences between the different risk score groups in terms of drug sensitivity,immune cell infiltration,tumor mutation burden (TMB) score and microsatellite instability (MSI) score. Compared to the group of high risk, the low-risk group had greater rates of TMB and MSI. Results from qRT-PCR revealed that in UCEC vs normal tissues, AC026202.2, NRAV, AC079466.2, and AC090617.5 were upregulated,while LINC01545 and AL450384.1 were downregulated. Conclusions: Our research clarified the relationship between CRLs signature and the immunological profile and prognosis of UCEC.This signature will establish the framework for future investigations into the endometrial cancer CRLs mechanism as well as the exploitation of new diagnostic tools and new therapeutic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA virus polymerases carry out multiple functions necessary for successful genome replication and transcription. A key tool for molecular studies of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) is a 'minigenome' or 'minireplicon' assay, in which viral RdRps are reconstituted in cells in the absence of full virus infection. Typically, plasmids expressing the viral polymerase protein(s) and other co-factors are co-transfected, along with a plasmid expressing an RNA encoding a fluorescent or luminescent reporter gene flanked by viral untranslated regions containing cis-acting elements required for viral RdRp recognition. This reconstitutes the viral transcription/replication machinery and allows the viral RdRp activity to be measured as a correlate of the reporter protein signal. Here, we report on the development of a 'first-generation' plasmid-based minigenome assay for species A rotavirus using a firefly luciferase reporter gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Previous observational studies have suggested that gut microbiota might be associated with vitiligo. However, owing to the limitations in observational studies of reverse causality and confounders, it remains unclear that whether and how the causal relationships exist. The results suggested that pylum.Bacteroidetes, family.BacteroidalesS24.7, genus.LachnospiraceaeND3007, genus.Marvinbryantia are protective factors for vitiligo. Conversely, family.Lachnospiraceae, order.Burkholderiales, genus.Adlercreutzia, genus.Catenibacterium and genus.Lachnospira are risk factors for vitiligo. In addition, the causative connection between dietary factors and the gut microbiota associated with vitiligo was also investigated. The results revealed that 'alcohol intake versus 10 years pervious' results in a reduction in the abundance of genus.Lachnospiraceae ND3007 and family.BacteroidalesS24.7, bread intake leads to a reduction of genus.Marvinbryantia, 'average weekly red wine intake' is linked to a decrease in the abundance of order.Burkholderiales, tea intake is associated with an augmentation in the abundance of genus.Catenibacterium, salad/raw vegetable intake elevates the abundance of order.Burkholderiales. In summary, this Mendelian randomization study substantiates potential causal effects of gut microbiota on vitiligo. Modulating the gut microbiota through regulating dietary composition may be a novel strategy for preventing vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A strong association was previously established between body mass index (BMI) and female reproductive system tumors; however, the causal relationship is unclear. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to further explore this association. Methods: Genetic information for BMI was retrieved from a published genome-wide association study involving 339,224 participants. Genetic associations with five common female reproductive system tumors were obtained from the FinnGen, UK Biobank studies, and other large consortia. Results: Genetic predisposition towards BMI exhibits a significant association with multiple tumors of the female reproductive system. Specifically, for every 1-unit increase in BMI log-transformed odds ratio (OR). The OR fluctuations overall for patients with breast cancer ranged from 0.661 to 0.996 (95% confidence interval [CI],0.544-1.000, P < 0.05). When stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status, the OR for patients with ER (+) breast cancer ranged from 0.782 to 0.844 (95% CI, 0.616-0.994, P < 0.05) and that for those with ER (-) breast cancer ranged from 0.663 to 0.789 (95% CI, 0.498-0.991, P < 0.05). Additionally, ORs were as follows for cancer types: 1.577–1.908 (95% CI, 1.049-2.371, P < 0.05) for endometrial carcinoma; 1.216–1.303 (95% CI, 1.021-1.591, P < 0.05) for high-grade serous ovarian cancer; 1.217 (95% CI, 1.034-1.432, P < 0.05) for low-grade malignant serous ovarian cancer; and 1.502 (95% CI, 1.112-2.029, P < 0.05) for endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. Furthermore, our findings indicated that genetic predisposition towards BMI did not exhibit a causal association with uterine fibroids, cervical precancerous lesions, or cervical cancer itself. Conclusion: A genetic association was established between a high BMI and high risk of developing multiple tumors of the female reproductive system and their associated subtypes. This underscores the significance of taking measures to prevent reproductive system tumors in women who have a high BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing impairment is considered to be related to the damage of hair cells or synaptic terminals, which will cause varying degrees of hearing loss. Numerous studies have shown that cochlear implants can balance this damage. The human ear receives external acoustic signals mostly under complex conditions, and its biophysical mechanisms have important significance for reference in the design of cochlear implants. However, the relevant biophysical mechanisms have not yet been fully determined. Using the characteristics of special acoustoelectric conversion in piezoelectric ceramics, this paper integrates them into the traditional FitzHugh–Nagumo neuron circuit and proposes a comprehensive model with coupled auditory neurons. The model comprehensively considers the effects of synaptic coupling between neurons, information transmission delay, external noise stimulation, and internal chaotic current stimulation on the synchronization of membrane potential signals of two auditory neurons. The experimental results show that coupling strength, delay size, noise intensity, and chaotic current intensity all have a certain regulatory effect on synchronization stability. In particular, when auditory neurons are in a chaotic state, their impact on synchronization stability is sensitive. Numerical results provide a reference for exploring the biophysical mechanisms of auditory neurons. At the same time, we are committed to providing assistance in using sensors to monitor signals and repair hearing impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrapulse fractional CO2 laser is effective for acne atrophic scars. Whether this effectiveness is affected by sleep quality remains unclear. Aiming to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and postoperative effectiveness, a retrospective clinical study was conducted, enrolling 83 patients with atrophic acne scar. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire at 3 months after the end of the first treatment. The ECCA (échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné) scale was used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness before and at 3 months after treatment. The patients were divided into a mild to moderate improvement group and a good to excellent improvement group, based on whether they achieved a 50% ECCA improvement rate. PSQI score was higher in the mild and moderate improvement group than in the good to excellent improvement group (7.6 ± 4.5 vs 3.8 ± 1.7, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that both PSQI score (odds ratio = 0.6 [95% CI = 0.5–0.8], p < 0.001) and scar type were correlated with postfractional CO2 laser effectiveness. Pearson correlation analysis suggested that PSQI score was negatively correlated with ECCA decline score (r = −0.6139, p < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that PSQI score (area under the curve = 0.759) and scar type (area under the curve = 0.737) were all closely correlated with postoperative effectiveness, without statistical difference between their accuracies (p = 0.647). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that both PSQI score and scar type correlated with postoperative effectiveness. Our results demonstrated that sleep quality correlates with the postoperative effectiveness of ultrapulse fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is considered to be multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its development. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread in the environment, originating from sources such as cigarette smoke, exhaust emissions, grilled foods, smoked foods and urban air. Researchs have established a link between PAHs exposure and autoimmune disorders; however, specific effects of PAHs on psoriasis remain underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between PAHs exposure and susceptibility to psoriasis. We analysed eight monohydroxy PAHs (1‐Hydroxynaphthalene (1‐NAP), 2‐Hydroxynaphthalene (2‐NAP), 3‐Hydroxyfluorene (3‐FLU), 2‐Hydroxyfluorene (2‐FLU), 1‐Hydroxyphenanthrene (1‐PHE), 1‐Hydroxypyrene (1‐PYR), 2‐Hydroxyphenanthrene (2‐PHE) and 3‐Hydroxyphenanthrene (3‐PHE)) in 5996 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We employed multivariate logistic regression, trend analysis, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to investigate the relationship between PAHs exposure and psoriasis risk. Multivariate logistic regression and trend analysis revealed that monohydroxy PAHs, including 2‐NAP, 3‐FLU, 2‐FLU and the mixture of 2‐PHE and 3‐PHE, are associated with an increased risk of psoriasis. Additionally, WQS regression showed a significant positive correlation between combined exposure to monohydroxy PAHs and psoriasis risk, with the mixture of 2‐PHE and 3‐PHE (47.3%) being the most influential factor. RCS regression further corroborated these findings. Specifically, 2‐FLU can increase the expression of psoriasis‐related inflammatory factors in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, PAHs exposure increases the risk of developing psoriasis. Efforts to reduce PAHs levels in the environment and minimise exposure are crucial for public health strategies aimed at preventing psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedles, an emerging medical tool, have attracted significant attention for their superior ability to puncture the skin noninvasively and painlessly, facilitating tasks such as physiological monitoring, disease diagnosis, and transdermal drug delivery. However, if microneedles are used alone, the efficiency of drug delivery or physiological substance extraction is still not very efficient. In recent years, the rapid development of microelectronic microneedle (eMN) devices, integrating microneedle technology with microelectronics, has solidified the foundation of MN-based percutaneous disease diagnosis and treatment platforms. However, comprehensive review reports on this topic remain scarce. This paper systematically reviews the research progress in the manufacture, processing and biomedical applications of eMN devices. Initially, we present an overview of the materials used in eMNs, including MN-fabrication materials and substrate materials that enhance electrical conductivity. Subsequently, we delve into the various eMN preparation techniques, including micromolding, etching, laser cutting, and 3D printing, along with suitable power sources such as batteries adaptable to diverse materials. Additionally, we elaborate on the mechanism of action of these eMN devices, including ionophoresis, electroporation, thermal stimulation, and ultrasound. Finally, we summarize the application progress of some typical eMN devices in drug delivery and physiological monitoring. By perusing this article, readers can gain valuable insights into the design of eMN medical devices, thereby catalyzing the advancement of intelligent and personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐dose 5‐aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT) has been used to cope with skin photoaging, and is thought to involve DNA damage repair responses. However, it is still unknown how low‐dose ALA‐PDT regulates DNA damage repair to curb skin photoaging. We established a photoaging model using human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and rat skin. RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HDFs before and after low‐dose ALA‐PDT treatment, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) staining was employed to assess skin aging‐related manifestations and Western blotting to evaluate the expression of associated proteins. A comet assay was used to detect cellular DNA damage, while immunofluorescence to examine the expression of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxo‐dG) in cells and skin tissues. In both in vivo and in vitro models, low‐dose ALA‐PDT alleviated the manifestations of ultraviolet B (UVB)‐induced skin photoaging. Low‐dose ALA‐PDT significantly reduced DNA damage in photoaged HDFs. Furthermore, low‐dose ALA‐PDT accelerated the clearance of the photoproduct 8‐oxo‐dG in photoaged HDFs and superficial dermis of photoaged rat skin. RNA‐seq analysis suggested that low‐dose ALA‐PDT upregulated the expression of key genes in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Further functional validation showed that inhibition on BER expression by using UPF1069 significantly suppressed SA‐β‐gal activity, G2/M phase ratio, expression of aging‐associated proteins P16, P21, P53, and MUTYH proteins, as well as clearance of the photoproduct 8‐oxo‐dG in photoaged HDFs. Low‐dose ALA‐PDT exerts anti‐photoaging effects by activating the BER signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE) is the only objective, standardized metric to evaluate whether a medical student possessing the professional knowledge and skills necessary to work as a physician. However, the overall pass rate of NMLE in our hospital in 2021 was much lower than that of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, which was required to be further improved. Methods: To find the reasons for the unsatisfactory performance in 2021, the quality improvement team (QIT) organized regular face-to-face meetings for in-depth discussion and questionnaire, and analyzed the data by "Plato analysis" and "Brainstorming method". After finding out the reasons, the "Plan-Do-Check-Action" (PDCA) cycle was continued to identify and solve problems, which included the formulation and implementation of specific training plans by creating the "Gantt charts", the check of effects, and continuous improvements from 2021 to 2022. Detailed information about the performance of students in 2021 and 2022, and the attendance, assessment, evaluation and suggestions from our hospital were provided by the relevant departments, and the pass rate-associated data was collected online. Results: After the PDCA plan, the pass rate of NMLE in our hospital increased by 10.89% from 80.15% in 2021 to 91.04% in 2022 (P = 0.0109), with the pass rate of skill examination from 95.59% in 2021 to 99.25% in 2022 (P = 0.0581) and theoretical examination from 84.5% in 2021 to 93.13% in 2022 (P = 0.027). Additionally, the mean scores of all examinees increased with the theoretical examination score increasing from 377.0 ± 98.76 in 2021 to 407.6 ± 71.94 in 2022 (P = 0.004). Conclusions: Our results showed a success application of the PDCA plan in our hospital which improved the pass rate of the NMLE in 2022, and the PDCA plan may provide a practical framework for future medical education and further improve the pass rate of NMLE in the next year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying-free preparation of coated magnetic particles has been proven to significantly improve the comprehensive performance and preparation efficiency of magnetorheological (MR) fluid. Due to the magnetic separation technique in the drying-free process, the residual anhydrous ethanol and silicone oil form a Pickering emulsion, whose influence on the properties of MR fluid is ignored in existing mechanical models. In this study, in order to improve the application accuracy of MR fluid and provide methods for further improvement of MR fluid performance, with consideration of the influence of the Pickering emulsion caused by the drying-free process, the tight simple cubic (TSC) structure model and the body-centered cubic (BCC) structure model of MR fluid were proposed based on the mechanism of chain formation of MR fluid and the magnetic dipole theory. To reflect the coexistence and transformation mechanism of these two structures, a distribution probability function was introduced and a hybrid spatial structure model comprised of both TSC and BCC structures was established. The validity and accuracy of the models were verified by the comparison with the experimental data. The proposed hybrid spatial structure micromechanical model considers the influence of Pickering emulsion on the microstructure of MR fluid and can accurately describe the properties of MR fluid prepared by the drying-free process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microneedles are tiny needles, typically ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers in length, used in various medical procedures and treatments. The tested medical device named "CELLADEEP Patch" a dissolvable microneedle therapy system (MTS), made of hyaluronic acid and collagen. And the iontophoresis technique is also applied in the system. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the "CELLADEEP Patch" in skin improvement. Methods: Ex vivo human‐derived skin tissue models were used in this study and they were divided into three different groups, namely, the Untreated Group, the Negative Control Group, and the Test Group respectively. The Untreated Group received no treatment measures, the Negative Control Group was exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) irradiation, and the Test Group was exposed to UVB irradiation and treated with "CELLADEEP Patch". Skin moisture content, transdermal water loss, and skin elasticity were evaluated by three clinical devices. Additionally, histological staining and related mRNA expression levels were also analyzed. Results: The results of skin moisture content, transdermal water loss, and skin elasticity evaluation consistently illustrated that the application of "CELLADEEP Patch" led to remarkable skin improvement. And the analysis of histological staining images also confirmed the effectiveness of the "CELLADEEP Patch", especially for increasing collagen density. Moreover, the upregulation of Collagen type 1 a (COL1A1) and hyaluronan synthase 3 mRNA expression and the decrease of Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP‐1) and Interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β) mRNA expression reflected its wrinkle improvement, moisturizing and anti‐inflammation function. Conclusion: "CELLADEPP Patch", the MTS combined with the iontophoresis technique, exhibits its effectiveness in moisturizing, skin elasticity improvement, and anti‐inflammatory function when applied to ex vivo human‐derived skin tissue models in experiments. The study has contributed to the understanding of the "CELLADEPP Patch" and laid the foundation for subsequent animal experiments and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, scalp tissues from Korean adults between 20 and 80 without skin disease were used. Scalp tissues were processed, and hair follicles were isolated and cultured with different treatments (including Bioscalp, Ultra Exo Booster, and Ultra S Line Plus) from Ultra V company. Over 12 days, observations and measurements of hair follicle characteristics were recorded at intervals (Days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12). The study assessed the impact of these substances on hair follicle growth and morphology. Bioscalp, combined with Ultra Exo Booster and Ultra S Line Plus, showed significant hair elongation in ex vivo. Preservation of hair bulb diameter was observed, indicating potential for sustained hair growth by exosome‐based products. The hair growth cycle analysis suggested a lower transition to the catagen stage in test products from Ultra V compared to non‐treated groups. The research findings indicated that the tested formulations, especially the combination of Bioscalp, Ultra Exo Booster, and Ultra S Line Plus, demonstrated significant effectiveness in promoting hair growth, maintaining the integrity of the hair bulb, and reducing the transition to the catagen stage. The study suggests promising alternative treatments for hair loss, illustrating results that were as good as those of the conventional testing product groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes, yet its influence on offspring growth remains unclear. Our study dynamically tracks growth rates in children from ICP and healthy mothers and investigates the link between maternal liver function and developmental abnormalities in offspring. Method: Our case‒control study involved 97 women with ICP and 152 with uncomplicated pregnancies nested in a cohort of their offspring, including 50 from the ICP group and 87 from the uncomplicated pregnancy group. We collected pediatric growth and development data, with a maximum follow-up duration of 36 months. Stratified analyses of children's height, weight, and head circumference were conducted, and Spearman's rank correlation was applied to examine the relationships between maternal serological markers and pediatric growth metrics. Result: Maternal liver and renal functions, along with serum lipid profiles, significantly differed between the ICP and normal groups. In the ICP group, the offspring showed elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), direct bilirubin (DBIT), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (APOB) levels. Notably, the length-for-age z score (LAZ), weight-for-age z score (WAZ), and head circumference-for-age z score (HCZ) were lower in ICP offspring compared with those from normal pregnancies within the 1- to 12-month age range (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in LAZ, weight-for-length z score (WLZ), BMI-for-age z score (BAZ), or HCZ were observed between groups in the 13- to 36-month age range. Maternal maximum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bile acids (TBA) levels during pregnancy were inversely correlated with LAZ and WAZ in the first year. Furthermore, offspring of mothers with ICP exhibited a greater incidence of stunting (24% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.004) and abnormal HCZ (14% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.034). Conclusions: Growth disparities in offspring of ICP-affected pregnancies were most significant within the 1- to 12-month age range. During this period, maximum maternal LDH and TBA levels were negatively correlated with LAZ and WAZ values of offspring. The observation of similar growth rates between ICP and control group offspring from 13 to 36 months suggested catch-up growth in the ICP group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratinocytes, located in the outermost layer of human skin, are pivotal cells to resist environmental damage. Cellular autophagy plays a critical role in eliminating damaged organelles and maintaining skin cell homeostasis. Low‐dose 5‐Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT) has been demonstrated to enhance skin's antistress ability; however, the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy in keratinocytes remain unclear. In this study, we treated immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with low‐dose ALA‐PDT (0.5 mmol/L, 3 J/cm2). Through RNA‐sequencing analysis, we identified that low‐dose ALA‐PDT modulated autophagy‐related pathways in keratinocytes and pinpointed Unc‐51‐like kinase 1 (ULK1) as a key gene involved. Western blot results revealed that low‐dose ALA‐PDT treatment upregulated the expression of autophagy‐related proteins Beclin‐1 and LC3‐II/LC3‐I ratio. Notably, low‐dose ALA‐PDT regulated autophagy by inducing an appropriate level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), transiently reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreasing adenosine triphosphate production; all these processes functioned on the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ULK1 pathway to activate autophagy. Finally, we simulated external environmental damage using ultraviolet B (UVB) at a dose of 60 mJ/cm2 and observed that low‐dose ALA‐PDT mitigated UVB‐induced cell apoptosis; however, this protective effect was reversed when using the autophagy inhibitor 3‐methyladenine. Overall, these findings highlight how low‐dose ALA‐PDT enhances antistress ability in HaCaT cells through controlling ROS generation and activating the AMPK/ULK1 pathway to arouse cellular autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy with high mortality and morbidity rates. Although the significant efficacy of immunotherapy is well established, it is only beneficial for a limited number of individuals with CRC. Methods: Differentially expressed immune-related genes (DE-IRGs) were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and ImmPort databases. A prognostic signature comprising DE-IRGs was developed using univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A nomogram integrating the independent prognostic factors was also developed. CIBERSORT was used to assess immune cell infiltration (ICI). Furthermore, wound-healing, colony formation, migration, and invasion assays were performed to study the involvement of ACTG1 in CRC. Results: A signature including six DE-IRGs was developed. The overall survival (OS) rate was accurately estimated for TCGA and GSE38832 cohorts. The risk score (RS) of the signature was an independent factor for OS. Moreover, a nomogram encompassing age, RS, and pathological T stage accurately predicted the long-term OS probability of individuals with CRC. The high-risk group had an elevated proportion of patients treated with ICIs, including native B cells, relative to the low-risk group. Additionally, ACTG1 expression was upregulated, which supported the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CRC cells. Conclusions: An immune-related prognostic signature was developed for predicting OS and for determining the immune status of individuals with CRC. The present study provides new insights into accurate immunotherapy for individuals with CRC. Moreover, ACTG1 may serve as a new immune biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circβ-catenin, our first reported circRNA, has been reported to mediate tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, its biological functions and underlying mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unknown. Methods: The qRT-PCR examination was used to detect the expression of circβ-catenin, miR-197-3p, and CTNND1 in cells and human tissues. Western blot was conducted to detect the protein expression levels. The biological function of circβ-catenin was verified by MTT, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. The in vivo effects of circβ-catenin were verified by nude mice xenograft and metastasis models. The regulatory network of circβ-catenin/miR-197-3p/CTNND1 was confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assays. Results: In the present study, circβ-catenin was found to promote CRC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circβ-catenin served as miRNA decoy to directly bind to miR-197-3p, then antagonized the repression of the target gene CTNND1, and eventually promoted the malignant phenotype of CRC. More interestingly, the inverted repeated Alu pairs termed AluJb1/2 and AluY facilitated the biogenesis of circβ-catenin, which could be partially reversed by EIF4A3 binding to Alu element AluJb2. Conclusions: Our findings illustrated a novel mechanism of circβ-catenin in modulating CRC tumorigenesis and metastasis, which provides a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuproptosis, a newly discovered cell death pathway, has shown great potential in cancer treatment. Herein, near‐infrared (NIR) light‐driven nanomotors (CuSiO3@Au‐Pd NMs) are designed for cuproptosis‐assisted synergistic therapy with autonomous mobility and improved cellular uptake and tumor penetration. Specifically, the released Cu2+ ions from CuSiO3@Au‐Pd NMs can induce the Fenton‐like reaction, leading to the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH), accompanied by the depletion of glutathione within the MCF‐7 cells. Additionally, the designed CuSiO3@Au‐Pd NMs also exhibit excellent photothermal effects, which can further promote the production of ·OH, resulting in intensified oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. Moreover, the enhanced tumor permeation efficiency and cellular uptake of CuSiO3@Au‐Pd NMs via autonomous movement under self‐thermophoretic forces are proved using 2D cellular experiments and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids. The resultant intracellular accumulation of Cu2+ can induce the oligomerization of lipoylated proteins, leading to cuproptosis, along with the mitochondrial dysfunction pathway. More importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments show that CuSiO3@Au‐Pd NMs could penetrate deeply into tumors and exhibit great anticancer efficacy through multimodal therapeutic methods. These findings manifest promising potentials of NIR‐powered Cu‐based NMs with high maneuverability for future smart and synergistic cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroup: Currently, aromatherapy is being increasingly utilized in clinical practice, particularly in managing the side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. However, it remains to be established whether aromatherapy can effectively alleviate these symptoms. Objective: To investigate the effects of aromatherapy on the physical and mental health of patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods: Seven databases were researched from inception until September 29, 2023, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, China Biology Medicine disc and VIP Chinese Medical Journal Database. Review Manager version 5.3 was utilized for data analysis. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2 was employed to evaluate the quality of the literature included in the study. Evidence quality rating was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach through the GRADEpro GDT online tool. Results: Nineteen studies involving 1,541 patients were included. Aromatherapy can alleviate nausea [relative risk (RR)=0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53 to 0.78, P<0.05, I2=46%; standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.86, 95% CI: −1.21 to −0.51, P<0.05, I2=64%] and vomiting (RR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.69, P<0.05, I2=35%; SMD=−1.28, 95% CI: −1.52 to −1.03, P<0.05, I2=92%), improve sleep disorders [mean difference (MD)=−3.39, 95% CI: −3.95 to −2.84, P<0.05, I2=0%], relieve pain (SMD=−1.58, 95% CI: −1.96 to −1.21, P<0.05, I2=0%), mitigate fatigue (SMD=−1.28, 95% CI: −2.44 to −0.11, P<0.05, I2=93%) and enhance quality of life (SMD=0.50, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.79, P<0.05, I2=0%) in cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but it may not have a significant effect on anxiety. The risk of bias was high in the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2, and no studies were considered to be of high grade according to the GRADE system. Conclusions: Aromatherapy is an efficacious, safe and economic adjunctive therapy for cancer patients, which can mend the physical symptoms and mental health of cancer patients. However, more high-quality studies are needed to verify it. (PROSPERO registration No. CRD42023390171) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the experiment was to screen beneficial strains with antibacterial effects from the natural environment and study their growth characteristics. In the experiment, 12 strains of Bacillus were screened with E. coli as indicator bacteria, and six strains of Bacillus with antibacterial activity were screened and identified. Then, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as indicator bacteria to screen the antibacterial peptide extracts of Bacillus, and hemolytic comparison, drug sensitivity determination, and growth characteristics of the screened strains were studied. The results showed that Bacillus G02 and J12, which had strong antibacterial activity, were identified as Bacillus siamensis. The extracts of two strains of Bacillus had the ability of secreting surface activity, and the ability of secreting surface activity was equal. The sensitivity of two strains of Bacillus to 16 drugs was above medium sensitivity. The extracts of two strains of Bacillus had the ability of secreting surface activity, and the ability of secreting surface activity was equal. The sensitivity of two strains of Bacillus to 16 drugs was above medium sensitivity. The two strains entered the logarithmic growth phase at 6 h, the pH value was maintained between 5 and 8, and the antimicrobial activity reached its peak at 22 h. Studies have shown that Bacillus has the ability to produce a variety of active peptides, and has a certain inhibitory effect on common pathogenic bacteria, which is a potential substitute for traditional antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Eucommiae has been used to treat bone fracture for hundreds of years, which exerts a significant improvement in fracture healing. Aucubin, a derivative isolated from Cortex Eucommiae, has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and antioxidative potential. In the present study, our aim was to explore its function in bone regeneration and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods. The effects of Aucubin on osteoblast and osteoclast were examined in mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. Moreover, the lncRNA H19 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were detected by qPCR examination, western blotting, and luciferase activity assays. Using the femur fracture mice model, the in vivo effect of Aucubin on bone formation was monitored by X-ray, micro-CT, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry staining. Results. In the present study, Aucubin was found to significantly promote osteogenic differentiation in vitro and stimulated bone formation in vivo. Regarding to the underlying mechanism, H19 was found to be obviously upregulated by Aucubin in MSCs and thus induced the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, H19 knockdown partially reversed the Aucubin-induced osteogenic differentiation and successfully suppressed the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We therefore suggested that Aucubin induced the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling through promoting H19 expression. Conclusion. Our results demonstrated that Aucubin promoted osteogenesis in vitro and facilitated fracture healing in vivo through the H19-Wnt/β-catenin regulatory axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an inelastic neutron scattering system was developed for element analysis in limestone with a D–T neutron generator and a 3*3 inch LaBr3 detector. Six sets of simulated limestone samples were prepared by proportionally mixing high-purity CaCO3, SiO2, and MgO powders and measured in situ with Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) facility. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) technique is used for noise reduction and filtering of the original gamma energy spectrum. The energy window method was used for quantitative analysis. The minimum detection limits for Ca, Si, and Mg in the samples were determined to be 0.019%, 0.021%, and 0.026%, respectively. The linear relationship between elemental content and the gamma-ray counts has been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel-based alloys have great application value in aerospace, biomedical industry, chemical industry, and other fields. However, nickel-based alloys are known to be difficult to process, which will generate a lot of heat and friction during processing, which limits the application range of nickel-based alloys. Therefore, a large amount of cutting fluid needs to be used during processing, and the cutting fluid will cause harm to human health and the environment. In order to solve these problems, scholars proposed to use the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) to replace the conventional flood cooling lubrication technique. Recently, many papers have proposed to use MQL for lubrication /cooling in the processing of nickel-based alloys. However, few studies have approached this topic comprehensively. To bridge this gap, this study conducts a comprehensive literature review of the progress made in the processing of nickel-based alloys using various MQL methods. It should be noted that these studies are divided into four categories: vegetable oil-based MQL, cryogenic cooling-based MQL, solid lubricant-based MQL, and electrostatic atomization-based MQL. It is crucial to compare the advantages of these cooling and lubricating technologies in machining nickel-based alloys, analyze their experimental results, and assess their impact on machining quality and tool wear. This review reveals that compared to traditional MQL, vegetable oil-based MQL is more energy-saving and environmentally friendly, resulting in approximately 30% improvement in surface quality and a 50% reduction in tool wear. The addition of solid lubricants to vegetable oil further enhances its lubrication performance. Cryogenic cooling-based MQL enables the attainment of finer grains and smaller sawtooth chips. Electrostatic atomization MQL, by altering the atomization process of traditional MQL, produces more uniform droplets, leading to a 42.4% reduction in tool wear and a 47% improvement in machined surface quality. The purpose of this paper is to help researchers identify existing gaps and to enable MQL to improve the processing quality and application range of nickel-based alloys. Finally, the present technical challenges and future research directions are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well‐designed architecture is presented here to construct high‐performance anion exchange membranes (AEMs). A series of quaternized fluorene‐containing block poly(arylene ether sulfone ketone)s (QFPESK‐m‐n) is synthesized as the main chains, and grafted with comb‐shaped C8 long alkyl chains for the AEMs. By varying the hydrophilic segment' length, there has been a significant change in the microstructure as well as phase separation morphology of the membranes, as confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Hence the as‐prepared AEMs with moderate ion exchange capacities (IECs) show enhanced hydroxide conductivities in the range of 28.8―94.7 mS⋅cm−1 from 30 to 80°C. Furthermore, based on the block backbones and hydrophobic comb‐shaped alkyl chains, the AEMs show low‐level swelling ratios of 4.3% to 9.2% at 30°C and from 6.2% to 13.2% at 80°C, and superior ratios of conductivity to swelling. In addition, the QFPESK‐m‐n AEMs also depict acceptable mechanical properties, good thermal stability and an optimizable alkaline stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze factors influencing the service experience of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination and psychological status of patients admitted to a hospital and propose targeted solutions, and optimize the examination process and nursing by analyzing the MRI examination experience and psychological effect on patients. Methods: The MRI examination rooms of two tertiary general hospitals in Haikou City were sampled at random, and 206 patients who met the study criteria were surveyed on site. Results: (1) The item with the lowest mean score for patient examination services was whether earplugs were provided to the patient during the examination (B8 = 0.47). (2) Environmental logistics experience (16.83 ± 3.036) received the lowest score among the three service experience dimensions. (3) The average anxiety score of the patients was 5.38. (4) There was a positive correlation between the examination experience and the examination service experience of the patients. (5) Patients with higher monthly income had decreased anxiety (coefficient = -2.334), and MRI examination of the extremities relieved the anxiety (coefficient = -4.782). Conclusion: The environmental logistics factors, poor service attitude, examination site, and income were the most significant factors affecting the MRI examination experience and psychological status of patients, which can be improved by providing information, enhancing the waiting environment, providing targeted patient education, and evaluating the experience immediately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of NaAlO2 concentration in electrolytic solutions on micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings, focusing on their surface quality enhancement and corrosion resistance improvement. The surface morphology and microstructure of these coatings were assessed using scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties, such as hardness and wear resistance of MAO coatings, were tested. The hardness of the 6 g/L group was 411.2 HV. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy examinations showed that MgAl2O4, CaMgP2O7, and MgSiO4 were the phases in the MAO coating. Antibacterial assessments were performed to evaluate the influence of NaAlO2 concentration, and the antibacterial rate of the 6 g/L group reached 97.08%. The hydrophilicity of the coatings was determined using water contact angle measurements, wherein the water contact angle of the 6 g/L was the lowest, at 58.25°. Corrosion resistance was evaluated with an electrochemical workstation. The findings revealed that the MAO coatings prepared with a NaAlO2 concentration of 6 g/L exhibited superior uniformity with fewer defects, enhanced corrosion resistance, and increased adhesive strength compared to other concentration groups. The 6 g/L NaAlO2 concentration MAO coating demonstrated the highest fitting coating resistance R3 (8.14 × 104 Ω∙cm2), signifying better corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Cell Therapy: A Safe and Efficacious Therapeutic Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease in APP+PS1 Mice" published in PLoS ONE. The correction states that there was an error in Figure 9 of the article, where panel A was mistakenly duplicated in panel F. The corrected version of Figure 9 is provided, showing the correct image in panel F. The underlying data supporting other results in the article are no longer available. Additionally, a reference in the article is incomplete and the correct reference is provided. The authors apologize for the errors in the published article. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) is extremely common in individuals with sepsis, significantly associated with poor outcomes. This study attempted to develop an interpretable and generalizable machine learning (ML) model for early predicting the risk of 28-day death in patients with SIC. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we extracted SIC patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III), MIMIC-IV, and eICU-CRD database according to Toshiaki Iba's scale. And the overlapping in the MIMIC-IV was excluded for this study. Afterward, only the MIMIC-III cohort was randomly divided into the training set, and the internal validation set according to the ratio of 7:3, while the MIMIC-IV and eICU-CRD databases were considered the external validation sets. The predictive factors for 28-day mortality of SIC patients were determined using recursive feature elimination combined with tenfold cross-validation (RFECV). Then, we constructed models using ML algorithms. Multiple metrics were used for evaluation of performance of the models, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under the precision recall curve (AUPRC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, recall, and F1 score. Finally, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP), Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) were employed to provide a reasonable interpretation for the prediction results. Results: A total of 3280, 2798, and 1668 SIC patients were screened from MIMIC-III, MIMIC-IV, and eICU-CRD databases, respectively. Seventeen features were selected to construct ML prediction models. XGBoost had the best performance in predicting the 28-day mortality of SIC patients, with AUC of 0.828, 0.913 and 0.923, the AUPRC of 0.807, 0.796 and 0.921, the accuracy of 0.785, 0.885 and 0.891, the F1 scores were 0.63, 0.69 and 0.70 in MIMIC-III (internal validation set), MIMIC-IV, and eICU-CRD databases. The importance ranking and SHAP analyses showed that initial SOFA score, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and age were the top three critical features in the XGBoost model. Conclusions: We developed an optimal and explainable ML model to predict the risk of 28-day death of SIC patients 28-day death risk. Compared with conventional scoring systems, the XGBoost model performed better. The model established will have the potential to improve the level of clinical practice for SIC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) on the risk of Preterm Birth (PTB) and Low Birth Weight (LBW), and explore the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the severity of NVP. Methods: A prospective study was conducted. Participants' experience of NVP prior to 12 gestational weeks were evaluated by a Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scale. 11 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) loci located in growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and leucine-rich repeat containing 25 (LRRC25) gene of chr19p13.11 and intergenic region of chr4q12 were genotyped, which were implicated as genetic risk factors for NVP. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the effect of NVP in the first trimester on the risk of PTB and LBW, and genetic polymorphisms on the risk of NVP. Results: Among 413 pregnant women, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was 85.5% (n = 353) in the first trimester, including 38.7% (n = 160) mild vomiting, 42.6% (n = 176) moderate vomiting and 4.1% (n = 17) severe vomiting. 33 were PTB, 20 were LBW. Compared with pregnant women without NVP, women with mild, moderate or severe NVP in the first trimester were not associated with the risk of PTB and LBW. Besides, the polymorphisms of 11 SNPs loci were not associated with the risk of NVP. Conclusions: Our study indicated that symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester were not significantly associated with PTB and LBW, and there were also no associations between GDF15 and LRRC25 polymorphisms and NVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing a small baseline subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) and hotspot analysis, this study identified 81 potential landslides in a 768.7 km2 area of Xiaojin county, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Subsequent time-series deformation analysis revealed that these potential landslides are in the secondary creep stage. The newly identified landslides were compared to a landslide inventory (LI), established through field surveying, in terms of causative factors, including altitude, slope, relief amplitude, distance to river, distance to road, and slope curvature. From the comparison, the InSAR technique showed the following advantages: (1) it identified 25 potential landslides at high altitudes (>3415 m) in addition to the low-altitude landslides identified through the field survey. (2) It obtained approximately 37.5% and 70% increases in the number of potential landslides in the slope angle ranges of 20°–30° and 30°–40°, respectively. (3) It revealed significant increases in potential landslides in every relief amplitude bin, especially in the range from 58 m to 92 m. (4) It can highlight key geological factors controlling landslides, i.e., the stratigraphic occurrence and key joints as the InSAR technique is a powerful tool for identifying landslides in all dip directions. (5) It reveals the dominant failure modes, such as sliding along the soil–rock interface and/or interfaces formed by complicated combinations of discontinuities. This work presents the significant potential of InSAR techniques in gaining deeper knowledge on landslide development in alpine forest regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Enhancing afterglow electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is significant to promote its further application. Here we find that the afterglow ECL of nitrogen-deficient graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4−x) nanosheets is modulable by environmental pH, and reaches the maximum at pH 9.0. The modulation mechanism is investigated by coupling the electrochemical and optical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) comprises a group of disorders characterized by recurrent bouts of systemic inflammation related to overactivation of inflammasome. So far, neither large cases of the correlation between genotype and phenotype nor treatment strategies have been clearly stated in China. Here, we studied the clinical and genetic characteristics and their correlation from 30 CAPS patients in China. We identified the pathogenesis for novel mutations by activating NLRP3 inflammasome for peripheral cells with ATP plus LPS, compared characteristics with other case series, and analyzed treatment outcomes of these patients. The patients harbored 19 substitutions in NLRP3, and 8 of them were novel mutations. Among these novel mutations, percentages of severe musculoskeletal, ophthalmologic, and neurological symptoms were higher compared with other case serials. The correlation of phenotypes and their variants seemed different in our cases, such as T350M, S333G/I/R, and F311V (somatic mosaicism). Ten patients received Canakinumab treatment, which proved effective at alleviating musculoskeletal, neurological, auditory, visual manifestations, fever, and rash for 10-20 months follow-up. Patients treated with prednisolone or prednisolone plus thalidomide or methotrexate, tocilizumab, TNF inhibiting agents, and sirolimus achieved only partial remission. Importantly, we firstly identified somatic mosaicism mutation of F311V, which was severe. Our study extended the spectrum of genotype and phenotype and characteristics of their correlations and provided detailed responses to different treatment strategies. These data provide guidance for future diagnosis and management for CAPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational design of dielectric–magnetic integrated nanomaterials for meeting impedance matching has been a significant challenge in the field of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. Here, novel zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) derivative-based carbon materials with a rational structure derived from ZIF-L(Zn)/ZIF-L(Co) are prepared to enhance the EMW absorption performance by simple mixing and pyrolysis. Tuning the molar ratio of ZIF-L(Zn) and ZIF-L(Co) can effectively alter the magnetic loss of the CoZnO/C@BCN composite. The metal particles embedded in the boron nitride nanotubes (BCNs) after ZIF-L(Zn) and ZIF-L(Co) pyrolysis reduce the dielectric coefficient, promote effective dispersion of metal particles, and regulate impedance matching. As a result, the CoZnO/C@BCN composite displays excellent EMW absorption with a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −54.9 dB at 6.5 GHz, as well as an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.2 GHz (from 12.72 GHz to 17.92 GHz) with an equal absorber thickness of 1.9 mm. The CoZnO/C@BCNs achieve an excellent EMW absorption capacity, which is attributed to the multiple loss mechanisms and outstanding impedance matching. The results provide new insight into MOF-based carbon absorbers with light weight and high performance, which demonstrate significant potential in the treatment of EMW absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety of leafy greens is an emerging public health issue as they can harbor opportunistic human pathogens (OHPs) and expose OHPs to consumers. Protists are an integral part of phyllosphere microbial ecosystems. However, our understanding of protist-pathogen associations in the phyllosphere and their consequences on public health remains poor. Here, we examined phyllosphere protists, human pathogen marker genes (HPMGs), and protist endosymbionts from four species of leafy greens from major supermarkets in Xiamen, China. Our results showed that Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the dominant human pathogens in the vegetable phyllosphere. The distribution of HPMGs and protistan communities differed between vegetable species, of which Chinese chive possessed the most diverse protists and highest abundance of HPMGs. HPMGs abundance positively correlated with the diversity and relative abundance of phagotrophic protists. Whole genome sequencing further uncovered that most isolated phyllosphere protists harbored multiple OHPs which carried antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and metal resistance genes and had the potential to HGT. Colpoda were identified as key phagotrophic protists which positively linked to OHPs and carried diverse resistance and virulence potential endosymbiont OHPs including Pseudomonas nitroreducens, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. We highlight that phyllosphere protists contribute to the transmission of resistant OHPs through internalization and thus pose risks to the food safety of leafy greens and human health. Our study provides insights into the protist-OHP interactions in the phyllosphere, which will help in food safety surveillance and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Anlotinib is a multitarget anti-angiogenic drug that combined with temozolomide (TMZ) can effectively prolongs the overall survival (OS) of recurrent malignant glioma(rMG),but some patients do not respond to anlotinib combined with TMZ. These patients were associated with a worse prognosis and lack effective identification methods. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate patients who may have good response to anlotinb in combination with TMZ from those who are not, in order to provide personalized targeted therapies. Methods: Fifty three rMG patients (42 in training cohort and 11 in testing cohort) receiving anlotinib combined with TMZ were enrolled. A total of 3668 radiomics features were extracted from the recurrent MRI images. Radiomics features are reduced and filtered by hypothesis testing and Least Absolute Shrinkage And Selection (LASSO) regression. Eight machine learning models construct the radiomics model, and then screen out the optimal model. The performance of the model was assessed by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness with validation. Results: Fifty three patients with rMG were enrolled in our study. Thirty four patients displayed effective treatment response, showed a higher survival benefits than non-response group, the median progression-free survival(PFS) was 8.53 months versus 5.33 months (p = 0.06) and the median OS was 19.9 months and 7.33 months (p = 0.029), respectively. Three radiomics features were incorporated into the model construction as final variables after LASSO regression analysis. In testing cohort, Logistic Regression (LR) model has the best performance with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.93 compared with other models, which can effectively predict the response of rMG patients to anlotinib in combination with TMZ. The calibration curve confirmed the agreement between the observed actual and prediction probability. Within the reasonable threshold probability range (0.38–0.88), the radiomics model shows good clinical utility. Conclusions: The above-described radiomics model performed well, which can serve as a clinical tool for individualized prediction of the response to anlotinb combined with TMZ in rMG patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glutamatergic dysfunction has been implicated in sensory integration deficits in schizophrenia, yet how glutamatergic function contributes to behavioural impairments and neural activities of sensory integration remains unknown. Methods: Fifty schizophrenia patients and 43 healthy controls completed behavioural assessments for sensory integration and underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for measuring the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) glutamate levels. The correlation between glutamate levels and behavioural sensory integration deficits was examined in each group. A subsample of 20 pairs of patients and controls further completed an audiovisual sensory integration functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task. Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) activation and task-dependent functional connectivity (FC) were assessed based on fMRI data. Full factorial analyses were performed to examine the Group-by-Glutamate Level interaction effects on fMRI measurements (group differences in correlation between glutamate levels and fMRI measurements) and the correlation between glutamate levels and fMRI measurements within each group. Results: We found that schizophrenia patients exhibited impaired sensory integration which was positively correlated with ACC glutamate levels. Multimodal analyses showed significantly Group-by-Glutamate Level interaction effects on BOLD activation as well as task-dependent FC in a 'cortico-subcortical-cortical' network (including medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, ACC, middle cingulate gyrus, thalamus and caudate) with positive correlations in patients and negative in controls. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ACC glutamate influences neural activities in a large-scale network during sensory integration, but the effects have opposite directionality between schizophrenia patients and healthy people. This implicates the crucial role of glutamatergic system in sensory integration processing in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bond between a steel reinforcement/rod and glulam plays a crucial role in the resistance and deformation capacity of timbers joints. Existing studies provide different bond–slip models for reinforcements and rods with different anchorage lengths, in which the relationship between local bond stress and global bond behaviour cannot not be established. This study presents a unified analytical method for predicting the bond–slip behaviour of ribbed bars and threaded rods along the grain using a local bond–slip model of reinforcement at the elastic and post-yield stages. In the analytical method, equilibrium, compatibility, and constitutive models for reinforcement and rods are considered. The method is verified using test data of rebars and rods with different anchorage lengths. Comparisons between the experimental and calculated results suggest that the analytical method yields reasonably good predictions of the load–slip relationship and failure mode. Furthermore, the embedment lengths required for yield and the ultimate strengths of the reinforcement and rods along the grain are determined by assuming uniform bond stress distributions over the elastic and post-yield steel segment. The average bond stress over the entire anchorage length is calculated and compared with existing equations. Design recommendations for anchorage lengths are proposed for ribbed bars and threaded rods glued in glulam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children under five are the vulnerable population most at risk of being infected with Plasmodium parasites, especially in the Sahel region. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), has proven to be a highly effective intervention to prevent malaria. Given more deaths reported during the COVID-19 pandemic than in previous years due to the disruptions to essential medical services, it is, therefore, necessary to seek a more coordinated and integrated approach to increasing the pace, coverage and resilience of SMC. Towards this end, fully leverage the resources of major players in the global fight against malaria, such as China could accelerate the SMC process in Africa. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase for research articles and the Institutional Repository for Information Sharing of WHO for reports on SMC. We used gap analysis to investigate the challenges and gaps of SMC since COVID-19. Through the above methods to explore China's prospective contribution to SMC. Results: A total of 68 research articles and reports were found. Through gap analysis, we found that despite the delays in the SMC campaign, 11.8 million children received SMC in 2020. However, there remained some challenges: (1) a shortage of fully covered monthly courses; (2) lack of adherence to the second and third doses of amodiaquine; (3) four courses of SMC are not sufficient to cover the entire malaria transmission season in areas where the peak transmission lasts longer; (4) additional interventions are needed to consolidate SMC efforts. China was certified malaria-free by WHO in 2021, and its experience and expertise in malaria elimination can be shared with high-burden countries. With the potential to join the multilateral cooperation in SMC, including the supply of quality-assured health commodities, know-how transfer and experience sharing, China is expected to contribute to the ongoing scale-up of SMC. Conclusions: A combination of necessary preventive and curative activities may prove beneficial both for targeted populations and for health system strengthening in the long run. More actions are entailed to promote the partnership and China can be one of the main contributors with various roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel silver(I) phenanthroline derivative complexes (P‐235 and P‐239) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, HPLC‐MS, and 1HNMR. The cytotoxicity of two complexes exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐231) cell line (IC50 = 0.48 ± 0.01 and 0.12 ± 0.01 μM) and less toxicity than cisplatin by MTT assays. Furthermore, anticancer mechanistic studies showed that P‐235 and P‐239 induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest to inhibit the growth of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that MDA‐MB‐231 cells could be significantly induced to undergo apoptosis by P‐235 and P‐239. And P‐235‐ and P‐239‐induced apoptosis was linked with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Further study revealed that P‐235 and P‐239 cause mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and destroy mitochondrial membrane potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis, a common gynecological condition, can cause symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, infertility, and abnormal bleeding, which can negatively affect a woman's quality of life. In the current study, the pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis are unknown, but this study suggests that endometriosis is associated with dysregulation of the autoimmune system. This study identify hub genes involved in the prevalence, identification and diagnostic value of endometriosis and autoimmune diseases, and explore the central genes and immune infiltrates, the diagnosis of endometriosis provides a new sight of thinking about diagnosis and treatment.Methods and Results: The relevant datasets for endometriosis GSE141549, GSE7305 and autoimmune disease-related genes (AIDGs) were downloaded from online database. Using the "limma" package and WGCNA to screen out the autoimmune disease related genes and endometriosis related genes, the autoimmune disease gene-related differential genes (AID-DEGs) progressive GO, KEGG enrichment analysis, and then using the protein interaction network and Cytoscape software to select hub genes (CXCL12, PECAM1, NGF, CTGF, WNT5A), using the "pROC" package to analyze the hub genes for the diagnostic value of endometriosis. The difference in the importance of hub genes for the diagnosis of endometriosis was analyzed by machine learning random forest, and the combined diagnostic value of hub genes was analyzed by using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. The eutopic (EU) and ectopic endometrium (EC) immune microenvironment of endometriosis was evaluated using CIBERSORT, the correlation of hub genes to the immune microenvironment was analyzed.Conclusion: The hub genes associated with AIDGs are differentially expressed in EC and EU of endometriosis and possess important value for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The hub genes have a very important impact on the immune microenvironment of endometriosis, which is important for exploring the connection between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases and provides a new insight for the subsequent study of immunotherapy and diagnosis of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and wearable biosensors have received tremendous attention over the past decade owing to their great potential applications in the field of health and medicine. Wearable biosensors serve as an ideal platform for real-time and continuous health monitoring, which exhibit unique properties such as self-powered, lightweight, low cost, high flexibility, detection convenience, and great conformability. This review introduces the recent research progress in wearable biosensors. First of all, the biological fluids often detected by wearable biosensors are proposed. Then, the existing micro-nanofabrication technologies and basic characteristics of wearable biosensors are summarized. Then, their application manners and information processing are also highlighted in the paper. Massive cutting-edge research examples are introduced such as wearable physiological pressure sensors, wearable sweat sensors, and wearable self-powered biosensors. As a significant content, the detection mechanism of these sensors was detailed with examples to help readers understand this area. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are proposed to push this research area forward and expand practical applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]