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Conductive hydrogels have been widely used in wearable electronics due to their flexible, conductive and adjustable properties. With ever-growing demand for sustainable and biocompatible sensing materials, biopolymer-based hydrogels have drawn significant attention. Among them, starch-based hydrogels have a great potential for wearable electronics. However, it remains challenging to develop multifunctional starch-based hydrogels with high stretchability, good conductivity, excellent durability and high sensitivity. Herein, amylopectin and ionic liquid were introduced into a hydrophobic association hydrogel to endow it with versatility. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of amylopectin and ionic liquid, the hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical properties (the elongation of 2540 % with a Young's modulus of 12.0 kPa and a toughness of 1.3 MJ·m -3 ), self-recovery, good electrical properties (a conductivity of 1.8 S·m -1 and electrical self-healing), high sensitivity (gauge factor up to 26.85) and excellent durability (5850 cycles). The above properties of the hydrogel were closely correlated to its internal structure from hydrophobic association, H-bonding and electrostatic interaction, and can be regulated by changing the component contents. A wireless wearable sensor based on the hydrogel realized accurate and stable monitoring of joint motions and expression changes. This work demonstrates a kind of promising biopolymer-based materials as candidates for high-performance flexible wearable sensors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hyperlipidemia, an elevated level of cholesterol and/or triglycerides, has become a major public health problem worldwide. Although drugs intervention is effective in treating hyperlipidemia, most of them have adverse side effects. Peptides from natural plants with high anti-hyperlipidemic activity and a strong safety profile have emerged as promising candidates to prevent and ameliorate hyperlipidemia. This review summarizes the recent advances in plant-derived anti-hyperlipidemic peptides in terms of their sources, production, purification, identification, and activity evaluation. The focus is extended to their potential anti-hyperlipidemic mechanisms and structure-function relationships. Bioactive peptides derived from various plant sources, especially peptides containing hydrophobic and/or acidic amino acids, have shown remarkable effects in hyperlipidemic treatment. Their anti-hyperlipidemic effects are mediated by various mechanisms, including regulation of cholesterol metabolism and triglyceride metabolism, inhibition of inflammation-related metabolic syndrome, and modulation of the gut microbiota. Further evaluation of the stability, bioavailability, and clinical efficacy of these peptides is recommended., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Aryl nitriles are highly versatile and useful compounds. A palladium-catalyzed cyanation of diaryl sulfoxides using bench-stable Zn(CN) 2 as the cyanating reagent has been developed. The reaction proceeded well using Pd(OAc) 2 as the catalyst with the inexpensive ligand PCy 3 in the presence of t -BuONa. The method has a broad scope of substrates and is scalable. The regioselective cyanation of unsymmetrical diaryl sulfoxides was observed at the side of electron-deficient and more steric hindered aryl groups.

The development of highly efficient and selective ozonation catalysts is crucial for enhancing the treatment of nitrogen-containing wastewater. In this study, a Co/Mg(OH) 2 nano-hexagonal sheets ozonation catalyst was prepared by one-pot hydrothermal method, and the structural characteristics of this catalyst were comprehensively analyzed. The O Sur /O ratio of this catalyst was 41.06 %. Under the optimal conditions (22 ℃, initial pH of 9.0, ozone dosage of 1.2 mg/L, catalyst dosage of 1.0 g/L, initial NH 3 -N concentration of 10.00 mg/L), NH 3 -N and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiencies of 90.26 % and 63.44 % were respectively obtained, and the removal process exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics. Moreover, at 4 ℃, the NH 3 -N and TN removal efficiencies reached 95.49 ± 1.14 % and 65.61 ± 1.13 %. In a co-degradation process for the removal of both N and C, the ammonia and most organic compounds competed for active substances, but both pollutants were effectively removed. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were the main active substance involved in NH 3 removal. However, the massive loss of Mg 2+ experienced after three cycles reduced the NH 3 -N and TN removal efficiencies to 31.83 % and 6.55 %, respectively. Finally, the electron transfer generated by the variable-valence Co ion was determined to promote the selectivity of the reaction toward gaseous N products. These findings offer promising avenues for the development of more energy-efficient and effective nitrogen removal processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is associated with large-scale brain network dysfunction. This study aims to investigate how anti-seizure medication (ASM) treatment alters resting-state functional networks in JME patients through resting-state EEG microstate analysis., Methods: Ninety-six subjects participated in this study: 24 healthy controls (HC), 29 newly diagnosed JME patients who had not started ASMs therapy (JME-NM), and 43 JME patients on ASMs treatment with effective seizure control (JME-M). EEG data were collected for 10 min while participants were awake and resting with their eyes closed, using a standard 19-channel recording system. EEG topographies were categorized into four microstate classes (A, B, C, D), and parameters such as mean duration, occurrence rate, time coverage, and transition probabilities between microstates were computed and compared among the three groups. Advanced statistical methods were employed to ensure the robustness and validity of the findings., Results: Significant alterations in EEG microstate characteristics were observed in untreated JME patients (JME-NM) compared to both healthy controls and treated patients. Microstate B had a markedly reduced mean duration in the JME-NM group, while microstate A displayed an increased occurrence rate and greater time coverage. Transition probabilities between specific microstates, such as from A to C, A to D, and B to C, were also significantly different in the JME-NM group. The normalization of these parameters in the JME-M group suggests that ASMs effectively stabilize altered brain networks, potentially mitigating the pathophysiological disruptions associated with JME., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ASMs effectively normalize disruptions in sensory-motor and visual networks in JME patients. EEG microstate analysis provides a dynamic view of brain network alterations and offers potential as a biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of JME, as well as for evaluating treatment response. These findings advance our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying JME., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no commercial or financial relationships that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest related to this study., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Understanding the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the deep ocean is crucial for elucidating the biogeochemical cycle of organic carbon under anthropogenic influences. In this study, surface sediments were collected from the deep sea of the Eastern Indian Ocean (water depth: 2161-4545 m) and analyzed for 29 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including parent PAHs and their alkylated derivatives, as well as source biomarkers. The target SVOCs (∑ 29 SVOCs: 23.0-183 ng/g, ∑ 16 PAHs: 11.3-93.3 ng/g) were mainly from pyrogenic sources, namely coal combustion, traffic emissions, and wood burning. The contributions from wood burning and coal combustion exhibited distinct trends with increasing total organic carbon contents, suggesting different dominant biogeochemical behaviors. Major fractions of PAHs from wood burning can be biodegraded or photodegraded, leading to a depletion-dominated fate in the water column. Conversely, PAHs from coal combustion showed an accumulation-dominated fate via their sedimentation due to their persistence and hydrophobicity. This study highlights the distinct biogeochemical fates of PAHs from biomass or fossil fuel combustion in deep oceans and has implications for the marine cycle of refractory organic carbon under anthropogenic impacts.

Introduction: Single-injection pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block with ropivacaine provides clear analgesic effects in preoperative pain management for hip fractures. However, it suffers from insufficient duration, failing to meet the needs of most patients. This single-center, randomized controlled, observer-blinded trial utilizes a novel combination of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) single-injection PENG block to examine its efficacy, duration, and safety in preoperative analgesia for hip fractures, aiming to develop a new preoperative analgesic protocol., Methods: Sixty-six patients with hip fractures received ultrasound-guided single-injection PENG block with LB or ropivacaine after admission. The primary outcome was the static and dynamic pain scores measured at 48 h post-block. Pain scores at 12, 24, 36, 60, and 72 h post-block, rescue analgesia rate, time to first opioid, additional morphine consumption, and adverse events were assessed as the secondary outcomes., Results: LB versus ropivacaine group at 48 h post-block, with a median interquartile range (IQR) of 2 (1.0-2.0) versus 3 (2.0-3.0) at static pain score and 2 (1.75-3.0) versus 4 (4.0-5.0) at dynamic pain score. LB group had lower dynamic and static pain scores at other observation points except for the static pain score at 72 h, lower pain intensity [sum of pain intensity difference (SPID) 0-24, SPID 0-48 and SPID 0-72 ], longer time to first opioid, lower additional morphine consumption, and lower incidence of nausea and vomiting. No significant inter-group differences were detected in other secondary outcomes., Conclusions: For preoperative analgesia of hip fractures, LB single-injection PENG block had a similar analgesic intensity and safety as ropivacaine but provided a longer duration of analgesia, reaching 48 h and even extending beyond 60 h, which reduced opioid consumption and extended time to the first opioid., Trial Registration: The protocol was registered in  www.chictr.org.cn  under the identifier ChiCTR2300072939., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interest: Haobin Peng, Jiajun Wen, Manli Chen, Zhengyuan Xia, Ying Jiang, Kaiqi Xie, Weitao Huang, Bangsheng Cui, Peixing Li, Yiwen Zhang and Xianping Wu have no conflict of interest to declare. Ethical Approval: This trial adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki principles. The Medical Ethics Committee of Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China approved this study (approval number: KY-2023035), and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was registered with the Clinical Trial Center in China (URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=199250 ; identification number: ChiCTR2300072939; date of registration: June 28, 2023)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As a promising therapeutic approach, immunotherapy is being extensively investigated in cervical cancer. Although immunotherapy has been validated to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in clinical trials, the overall response rate for cervical cancer remains inadequate, necessitating further improvement. Interleukin (IL)-37, an emerging immunomodulator, exhibits antitumour potentials by inhibiting tumour progression and regulating tumour-associated macrophage recognition. We found a significant downregulation of IL-37 expression in cervical cancer, correlated with a poor prognosis. Moreover, the upregulation of IL-37 expression exhibited a suppressive effect on various tumorigenic processes, suppressing the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and angiogenesis of tumour cells. We also found that the upregulation of IL-37 suppressed cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) expression in tumour cells via suppression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression and phosphorylation, thereby enhancing macrophage recognition and phagocytosis to tumour cells, ultimately reducing immune evasion. Overall, our study highlighted the crucial role of IL-37 in antitumour efficacy and downregulating the expression of CD47 in tumour cells to reduce immune evasion, suggesting the potential of IL-37 as a prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer and offering innovative therapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Carcinogenesis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Starch and lipids, as two important biomacromolecules in nature, can interact with each other to form a unique complex system during processing, leading to the change of the structural and functional characteristics of starch. The complex formed though the biomacromolecules interaction is a new kind of modified starch named as "lipid-modified starch". At present, the lipids-modified starch has attracted much researchers' attention and become a hotspot topic in food field. This review systematically discusses the different prepared methods (solvent and thermomechanical method) of lipids-modified starch, influence factors of starch-lipids complexation, action mechanism of lipids on starch, as well as the structure, physicochemical properties, digestibility, and applications of lipid-modified starch in recent development. The key findings are summarized as follows: (i) Starch complexed with fatty acids to form V-type inclusion complex, while other lipids (oils and triacylglycerol) are not due to the large spatial structure; (ii) The formation of V-type inclusion complex changed the molecular and crystalline structure, and increased melting temperature and enthalpy of starch, which could be characterized by different analytical technique, such as X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry; (iii) The properties of starch and lipids, and experimental conditions are key factors in determining the formation of starch-lipid complexes; (iv) Starch-lipids starch can be used as quality improver, fat substitute, resistant starch, carriers of bioactive ingredients in food processing. Finally, the existing problems about the research on lipids-modified starch are discussed to provide new perspectives for the development of this innovative modified starch., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethylbenzene (EB)-induced hepatotoxic effects has been indicated as oxidative damage and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in vivo in our previous study, yet the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of the mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway in EB-induced hepatoxic effects in vitro. Normal human hepatocytes (L02 cells) were exposed to different concentrations of ethylbenzene (0-10 mM) for 24 h. In vitro, we found that EB treatment decreased the viability of L02 cells, via inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairments, excessive apoptosis and autophagy. These were accompanied by the inactivation of the mTOR-p70S6K signaling cascade, as manifested by the decreased levels of related molecules Atg family proteins and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These findings were further confirmed by mTOR inhibitor treatment and immunofluorescence analysis. Jointly, our results indicate that EB induces hepatoxic effects by triggering mitochondrial impairments and excess apoptosis and autophagy in L02 cells via suppressing the mTOR-p70S6K signaling, and oxidative stress affects the passive up-regulation of HO-1., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Heterogeneous iron-based catalysts have drawn increasing attention in the advanced oxidation of persulfates due to their abundance in nature, the lack of secondary pollution to the environment, and their low cost over the last a few years. In this paper, the latest progress in the research on the activation of persulfate by heterogeneous iron-based catalysts is reviewed from two aspects, in terms of synthesized catalysts (Fe 0 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , FeOOH) and natural iron ore catalysts (pyrite, magnetite, hematite, siderite, goethite, ferrohydrite, ilmenite and lepidocrocite) focusing on efforts made to improve the performance of catalysts. The advantages and disadvantages of the synthesized catalysts and natural iron ore were summarized. Particular interests were paid to the activation mechanisms in the catalyst/PS/pollutant system for removal of organic pollutants. Future research challenges in the context of field application were also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Competing Interests: F. Zhang conceived the concept of transendoscopic enteral tubing and devices related to it. Q. Wen, B. Cui, and Y. Yu declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is the main pathogen causing hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children and occasionally associated with neurological diseases such as aseptic meningitis, brainstem encephalitis (BE) and acute flaccid paralysis. We report here that cellular pseudokinase tribbles 3 (TRIB3) facilitates the infection of EV-A71 via dual mechanisms. In one hand, TRIB3 maintains the metabolic stability of scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2), the bona fide receptor of EV-A71, to enhance the infectious entry and spreading of the virus. On the other hand, TRIB3 facilitates the replication of EV-A71 RNA in a SCARB2-independent manner. The critical role of TRIB3 in EV-A71 infection and pathogenesis was further demonstrated in vivo in mice. In comparison to wild-type C57BL/6 mice, EV-A71 infection in TRIB3 knockdown mice ( Trib3 +/- ) resulted in significantly lower viral loads in muscular tissues and reduced lethality and severity of clinical scores and tissue pathology. In addition, TRIB3 also promoted the replication of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) in vitro . In conclusion, our results suggest that TRIB3 is one of key host cellular proteins required for the infection and pathogenesis of EV-A71 and some other human enteroviruses and may thus be a potential therapeutic target for combating the infection of those viruses.

Realizing the full potential of organoids and assembloids to model neural development and disease will require improved methods for long-term, minimally invasive recording of electrical activity. Current technologies, such as patch clamp, penetrating microelectrodes, planar electrode arrays and substrate-attached flexible electrodes, do not allow chronic recording of organoids in suspension, which is necessary to preserve architecture. Inspired by kirigami art, we developed flexible electronics that transition from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional basket-like configuration with either spiral or honeycomb patterns to accommodate the long-term culture of organoids in suspension. Here we show that this platform, named kirigami electronics (KiriE), integrates with and enables chronic recording of cortical organoids for up to 120 days while preserving their morphology, cytoarchitecture and cell composition. We demonstrate integration of KiriE with optogenetic and pharmacological manipulation and modeling phenotypes related to a genetic disease. Moreover, KiriE can capture corticostriatal connectivity in assembloids following optogenetic stimulation. Thus, KiriE will enable investigation of disease and activity patterns underlying nervous system assembly., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Stanford University holds the patent for the generation of cortical organoids/spheroids (US11279914B2, listing S.P.P. as an inventor). Stanford University has filed a patent application that covers the devices, systems and methods of KiriE (S22-514 63/435,939, listing B.C., S.P.P., X.Y. and C.F. as inventors). The other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, where neuroinflammation significantly influences its pathophysiology by driving the disease's pathological cascade. As a pro-inflammatory regulator, miR-125b-5p contributes to AD progression, though its precise role and mechanisms remain unclear., Objective: We aims to identify mRNAs significantly regulated by pro-inflammatory miR-125b-5p in AD and uncover key neuroinflammatory pathways., Methods: Target mRNAs regulated by miR-125b-5p were predicted using online databases and analyzed with two mRNA datasets to identify differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs). Enrichment analysis was conducted to explore their biological functions and pathways. The significance of DEmRNAs expression in AD-related inflammatory pathways was verified by the Wilcoxon test, predictive accuracy was assessed via area under the curves (AUCs), and novel mRNAs were identified through positive control analysis., Results: A total of 613 miR-125b-5p target mRNAs were identified, and 44 DEmRNAs were detected to be regulated by miR-125b-5p in two datasets. The 44 target DEmRNAs associated with AD include three key pathways: insulin signaling ( EXOC7 , FLOT2 , MKNK2 ), phosphatidylinositol signaling ( IP6K1 , MTMR3 ), and phospholipase D signaling ( CYTH1 , GAB2 ). Correlation analysis indicated strong correlations among 7 mRNAs, all showing significant differential expression, with AUCs above 0.5, confirming their predictive value. Three mRNAs ( EXOC7 , IP6K1 , CYTH1 ) were identified as novel AD-related genes. MiR-125b-5p binding sites in the 3'-UTRs of these 7 mRNAs suggest their potential roles in AD-related inflammation and signaling pathways., Conclusions: This study investigates the pro-inflammatory miR-125b-5p's role in the pathological processes of AD, highlighting its regulation of key target mRNAs and critical pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Identifying DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) is important for prognosis risk stratification in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), but there is a notable absence of cost-effective and non-invasive preoperative assessment techniques. The study explored the co-reactivity pattern of glucose metabolism and blood perfusion in EC based on hybrid [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG) PET/dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI to provide an imaging biomarker for identifying MMRd., Methods: Patients with a history of postmenopausal bleeding and initially diagnosed with EC on ultrasound were recruited to perform a PET/DCE-MRI scan. Glucose metabolism parameters were calculated on PET, and blood perfusion parameters were calculated semi-automatically by the DCE-Tofts pharmacokinetic model. The MMRd of early-stage EC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The synchronous variation of PET and DCE-MRI parameters was compared between the MMRd and mismatch repair proficiency (MMRp). The association between PET/DCE-MRI and MMRd was analyzed by logistic regression to establish the digital biomarker for predicting MMRd. Receiver operating characteristic curve, decision curve analysis, and the net reclassification index (NRI) were used to evaluate the value of the digital biomarker in identifying MMRd., Results: Eighty-six early-stage EC cases (58.92 ± 10.13 years old, 34 MMRd) were enrolled. The max/mean standardized uptake value (SUV max /SUV mean ), metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, transfer constant (K trans ), and efflux rate (K ep ) were higher in MMRd than those in MMRp (P < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.002, 0.004, < 0.001, and 0.005, respectively). The correlations between glucose metabolism and blood perfusion were different between the MMRd and MMRp subgroups. SUV max was correlated with K ep (r = 0.36) in the MMRd. SUV mean (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, P = 0.006) and K trans (OR = 1.90, P = 0.021) were independent risk factors for MMRd. And the digital biomarker that combined SUV mean and K trans outperformed in identifying MMRd in early-stage EC more than DCE-MRI (AUC: 0.83 vs. 0.78, NRI = 13%)., Conclusion: A potential digital biomarker based on [ 18 F]FDG PET/DCE-MRI can identify MMRd for prognosis risk stratification in early-stage EC., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Xuanwu hospital ethics committee (protocol code: Xuanwu hospital [2019]030) approved the study and written patients’ informed consent was obtained in all cases according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Intrinsically stretchable organic electrochemical transistors (IS-OECTs), utilizing organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) as their channel materials, have drawn great attention recently because of their potential to enable seamless integration between bioelectronic devices and living systems. However, the fabrication of IS-OECTs presents challenges due to the limited availability of OMIEC materials that possess the desired combination of mechanical and electrical properties. In this work, 1) we report the first successful fabrication of a vertical intrinsically stretchable OECT (VIS-OECT), achieved by using elastoadhesive electrodes; 2) we experimentally proved that vertical architecture can push the strain limit of an IS-OECT from 20% to 50%; and 3) the above finding introduces an unconventional design concept: the strain limit of an IS-OECT can surpass the intrinsic stretchability of the constituent OMIECs by employing vertical structure., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Quantifying drought tolerance in crops is critical for agriculture management under environmental change, and drought response traits in grape vine have long been the focus of viticultural research. Turgor loss point (π tlp ) is gaining attention as an indicator of drought tolerance in plants, though estimating π tlp often requires the construction and analysis of pressure-volume (P-V) curves which are very time consuming. While P-V curves remain a valuable tool for assessing π tlp and related traits, there is considerable interest in developing high-throughput methods for rapidly estimating π tlp , especially in the context of crop screening. We tested the ability of a dewpoint hygrometer to quantify variation in π tlp across and within 12 clones of grape vine (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera) and one wild relative (Vitis riparia), and compared these results to those derived from P-V curves. At the leaf-level, methodology explained only 4-5% of the variation in π tlp while clone/species identity accounted for 39% of the variation, indicating that both methods are sensitive to detecting intraspecific π tlp variation in grape vine. Also at the leaf level, π tlp measured using a dewpoint hygrometer approximated π tlp values (r 2  = 0.254) and conserved π tlp rankings from P-V curves (Spearman's ρ = 0.459). While the leaf-level datasets differed statistically from one another (paired t-test p = 0.01), average difference in π tlp for a given pair of leaves was small (0.1 ± 0.2 MPa (s.d.)). At the species/clone level, estimates of π tlp measured by the two methods were also statistically correlated (r 2  = 0.304), did not deviate statistically from a 1:1 relationship, and conserved π tlp rankings across clones (Spearman's ρ = 0.692). The dewpoint hygrometer (taking ∼ 10-15 min on average per measurement) captures fine-scale intraspecific variation in π tlp , with results that approximate those from P-V curves (taking 2-3 h on average per measurement). The dewpoint hygrometer represents a viable method for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in π tlp , and potentially greatly increasing replication when estimating this drought tolerance trait in grape vine and other crops., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethics approvals were not applicable for this research. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to assess the effects of different ratios of water and glycerol on the physicochemical properties of starch-based straws (SBS) and explore their plasticising mechanism. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the V-type complex formation was influenced by adjusting the ratio of glycerol and water. The extruded samples exhibited lower water content (4.72-7.65 %) than those of native starch (12.39 %). The change in hydrogen bond interactions among water, starch and glycerol was the main reason for the difference in the performance. The glass transition temperature (T g ') ranged from -6.2 to -9.1 °C for the SBS with glycerol, while the T g ' values was -2.7 °C for the native starch. The sample with 15 % glycerol and 5 % water showed the highest maximum decomposition temperature (323.91 °C) and contact angle (72.07°) among all of the analysed SBS. The E b values of glycerol-containing samples (136.13-308.13 N/cm) were lower than that of the water-containing samples (291.26-356.53 N/cm)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The intestine, as a crucial organ of the human body, has remained enigmatic despite the remarkable advancements in modern medical technology. Over the past decades, the invention of endoscopic technology has made the noninvasive intervention of the intestine a reality, expanding diagnostic and therapeutic options for diseases. However, due to the single-treatment feature of endoscopic procedures, continuous or repeated medication administration, sampling, and decompression drainage within the intestine have yet to be fulfilled. These limitations persisted until the invention of colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET) in 2014, which realized repeated fecal microbiota transplantation, medication administration, and decompression drainage for the treatment of colon perforation and intestinal obstruction, as well as in situ dynamic sampling. These breakthroughs have not gone unnoticed, gaining global attention and recommendations from guidelines and consensuses. TET has emerged as a novel microbial research tool that offers new paradigms for human microbiome research. This review aims to update the research progress based on TET., (© The Author(s), 2024.)

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) play a pivotal role in modulating ubiquitination homeostasis, with UCHL3 being an archetypal cysteine DUB intricately involved in a myriad of physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, developing small molecule inhibitors targeting Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) is of great significance. This protocol aims to establish a process for virtual screening and in vitro validation of small molecule inhibitors of cysteine DUB represented by UCHL3. Firstly, potential inhibitors of UCHL3 are virtually screened using molecular docking technology, and the interaction between drugs and protein targets is visualized. Subsequently, the effectiveness of the screened drug, Danshensu, is verified through in vitro activity inhibition assays. Ubiquitin-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Ub-AMC) and hemagglutinin-ubiquitin-vinyl sulfone (HA-Ub-VS) are used as probes for in vitro activity testing, as they can competitively bind to DUB with small molecule inhibitors to assess the activity of UCHL3. The results indicate that Danshensu has a good binding affinity with UCHL3 in molecular docking, and it can competitively inhibit the activity of UCHL3 with HA-Ub-VS. These findings provide important references for further research and development of therapeutic drugs targeting UCHL3.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP) have been documented in relation to clinical manifestations of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Nevertheless, the findings across studies present inconsistencies. The present meta-analysis endeavors to elucidate the nexus between genetic variations in TOLLIP and the onset and prognosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD), with the overarching aim of providing insight into the pathophysiological underpinnings of ILD., Method: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. The OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched., Results: Fourteen studies with a total of 4821 cases and 9765 controls were examined. The final TOLLIP variants to be included in this meta-analysis were rs5743890, rs111521887, and rs3750920. There were significantly fewer TOLLIP rs5743890 minor allele C carriers among individuals with interstitial lung disease (ILD) than among those without this condition (11.42% vs. 18.92%). Conversely, patients with ILD exhibited higher frequencies of rs111521887 minor allele G carriers (28.92% vs. 22.44%) and rs3750920 minor allele T carriers (40.06% vs. 34.00%). A potential association between rs5743890&#95;C and a reduced incidence of ILD was plausible (p = 0.04, OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.99). Furthermore, a stratified analysis revealed that rs5743890&#95;C was significantly associated with a decreased risk of IPF (p = 0.004, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44-0.86). There was a significant correlation between susceptibility to ILD and rs111521887 G (p < 0.00001, OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.33-1.65) and rs3750920 T (p < 0.00001, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.26-1.44). The survival of IPF patients was correlated with the TOLLIP rs5743890 SNP, and patients with the rs5743890&#95;C genotype had worse survival (p = 0.02, HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.07-2.36)., Conclusion: This study showed that rs5743890&#95;C was associated with a lower incidence of ILD and a worse survival rate in patients with IPF. Rs111521887&#95;G and rs3750920&#95;T were found to be associated with an elevated risk of ILD incidence, while no significant association was observed with ILD prognosis. Furthermore, studies are warranted to validate our results and assess the effects of TOLLIP genetic variants on ILD., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study does not involve ethics, as it is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Consent for publication: All the authors have agreed to be listed and have read and approved the manuscript for publication. Competing interests: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The ability to lubricate and resist wear at temperatures above 600 °C in an oxidative environment remains a significant challenge for metals due to their high-temperature softening, oxidation, and rapid degradation of traditional solid lubricants. Herein, we demonstrate that high-temperature lubricity can be achieved with coefficients of friction (COF) as low as 0.10-0.32 at 600-900 °C by tailoring surface oxidation in additively-manufactured Inconel superalloy. By integrating high-temperature tribological testing, advanced materials characterization, and computations, we show that the formation of spinel-based oxide layers on superalloy promotes sustained self-lubrication due to their lower shear strength and more negative formation and cohesive energy compared to other surface oxides. A reversible phase transformation between the cubic and tetragonal/monoclinic spinel was driven by stress and temperature during high temperature wear. To span Ni- and Cr-based ternary oxide compositional spaces for which little high-temperature COF data exist, we develop a computational design method to predict the lubricity of oxides, incorporating thermodynamics and density functional theory computations. Our finding demonstrates that spinel oxide can exhibit low COF values at temperatures much higher than conventional solid lubricants with 2D layered or Magnéli structures, suggesting a promising design strategy for self-lubricating high-temperature alloys., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

2,3-Diethyl-5-methylpyrazine (DEMP) is recognized for its unique nutty scent but faces limitations due to rapid evaporation. The primary objective of this study was to explore the effect of incorporating DEMP with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and chitosan (CS) as wall material on the microstructure and thermal release behavior, antibacterial, and antioxidant characteristics. Initially, the microcapsules preparation process underwent optimization with embedding rate of 78.03 % through response surface by ultrasonic technique. The characterization of microcapsules was confirmed through SEM, FT-IR and TEM, with the majority exhibiting smooth and shell core structures that overlapped. Through sustained release kinetics analysis, the release of microcapsules under 80 °C, 50 °C and room temperature was more in line with the first-order kinetic and Avrami kinetic equation. The heat release kinetics analysis yielded a well-matched linear fitting curve. Additionally, microcapsules effectively suppressed the growth of S. aureus and E. coli germs, and demonstrated strong antioxidant properties, compared with DEMP. Adding 10 mg microcapsules to the Heat Not Burning (HNB) cigarette, the sensory quality was significantly improved. This discovery has the potential to pave a new route for the encapsulation of fragrance molecules, and expanding their multifunctional usages for enhancing the flavor of cigarettes and food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and manuscript is approved by all authors to be published., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

It has been reported that proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) can effectively degrade intracellular oncogenic proteins, providing an ideal strategy for cancer treatment. ARV825, a bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4)-PROTAC, has demonstrated the capacity to enhance the antitumor effect of the classic chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel (DTX). However, there are three major challenges to the broader in vivo application of ARV825: poor solubility, poor permeability, and off-target effects. Additionally, the efficient co-delivery of ARV825 and DTX to tumor tissues for a synergistic therapeutic effect remains unresolved. In this study, liposomes were utilized as co-delivery vehicles for ARV825 and DTX to effectively address these issues. The well-established liposomes significantly improved the solubility of both ARV825 and DTX while maintaining a sustained release profile in blood-mimetic conditions. The co-loaded liposomes accumulated in tumor tissues via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. After internalization, ARV825 effectively degraded intracellular BRD4 proteins and downregulated the expression of both Bcl-2 and PD-L1 proteins, thereby increasing tumor cell apoptosis and enhancing the tumor immune response. This, in turn, augmented the antitumor effect of DTX in vivo without undesired side effects. In conclusion, BRD4-PROTAC may serve as a promising synergistic agent alongside the conventional chemotherapeutic agent DTX, with liposomes functioning as effective co-delivery vehicles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Endometrial cancer (EC), a growing malignancy among women, underscores an urgent need for early detection and intervention, critical for enhancing patient outcomes and survival rates. Traditional diagnostic approaches, including ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hysteroscopy, and histopathology, have been essential in establishing robust diagnostic and prognostic frameworks for EC. These methods offer detailed insights into tumor morphology, vital for clinical decision-making. However, their analysis relies heavily on the expertise of radiologists and pathologists, a process that is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also prone to human error. The emergence of deep learning (DL) in computer vision has significantly transformed medical image analysis, presenting substantial potential for EC diagnosis. DL models, capable of autonomously learning and extracting complex features from imaging and histopathological data, have demonstrated remarkable accuracy in discriminating EC and stratifying patient prognoses. This review comprehensively examines and synthesizes the current literature on DL-based imaging techniques for EC diagnosis and management. It also aims to identify challenges faced by DL in this context and to explore avenues for its future development. Through these detailed analyses, our objective is to inform future research directions and promote the integration of DL into EC diagnostic and treatment strategies, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of clinical practice., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Surimi products are favored by domestic and foreign consumers due to their distinctive gelatinous texture, rich nutrition, and convenient consumption. Gel properties are key evaluation indicators for the quality of surimi products, which was mainly determined by the gel-forming ability of the myofibrillar protein (MP). In recent years, the surimi processing industry has faced challenges in product quality that limits the further development, and how to effectively improve the gel properties of surimi products has become one of the key scientific problems to be solved in surimi processing industry. A viable strategy for improving the product quality involves combining surimi with exogenous additives, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids, to enhance the gel-forming ability of MP. At present, there is limited literature review to systematically investigate the role of these exogenous additives in interacting with MPs in surimi gel system and their effect on the gel properties of heat-induced surimi. Therefore, in this review, we systematically discussed the formation mechanism and influencing factors of surimi gel, the interactions of exogenous biomolecules (proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids) with surimi protein, as well as their effects on the gel properties of surimi product. The aim of this review was to help us with a better understanding for the intrinsic action mechanisms of complex surimi system and provide some theoretical guidance for the improvement of gel quality and development of surimi products., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) genes are critical molecular markers in determining treatment options and predicting the prognosis of adult-type diffuse gliomas. Objectives : this study aimed to investigate whether multimodal MRI enables the differentiation of genotypes in adult-type diffuse gliomas. Methods : a total of 116 adult-type diffuse glioma patients (61 males, 51.5 (37, 62) years old) who underwent multimodal MRI before surgery were retrospectively analysed. Multimodal MRI included conventional MRI, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Conventional visual features, N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/Creatine (Cr), Choline (Cho)/Cr, Cho/NAA, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and diffusion histogram parameters were extracted on the whole tumour. Multimodal MRI parameters of IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype gliomas were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t -test, or Pearson chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to select the MRI parameters to predict IDH-mutant gliomas. Furthermore, multimodal MRI parameters were selected to establish models for predicting MGMT methylation in the IDH-wildtype gliomas. The performance of models was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristics curve. Results : a total of 56 patients with IDH-mutant gliomas and 60 patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastomas (GBM) (37 with methylated MGMT and 17 with unmethylated MGMT) were diagnosed by 2021 WHO classification criteria. The enhancement degree (OR = 4.298, p < 0.001), necrosis/cyst (OR = 5.381, p = 0.011), NAA/Cr (OR = 0.497, p = 0.037), FA-Skewness (OR = 0.497, p = 0.033), MD-Skewness (OR = 1.849, p = 0.035), FA mean (OR = 1.924, p = 0.049) were independent factors for the multimodal combined prediction model in predicting IDH-mutant gliomas. The combined modal based on conventional MRI, 1 H-MRS, DTI parameters, and histogram performed best in predicting IDH-wildtype status (AUC = 0.890). However, only NAA/Cr (OR = 0.17, p = 0.043) and FA (OR = 0.38, p = 0.015) were associated with MGMT methylated in IDH-wildtype GBM. The combination of NAA/Cr and FA-Median is more accurate for predicting MGMT methylation levels than using these elements alone (AUC, 0.847 vs. 0.695/0.684). Conclusions : multimodal MRI based on conventional MRI, 1 H-MRS, and DTI can provide compound imaging markers for stratified individual diagnosis of IDH mutant and MGMT promoter methylation in adult-type diffuse gliomas.

Frequent occurrence of trace antibiotics in reclaimed water is concerning, which inevitably causes aquifer contamination in the case of managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Global governments have formulated strict reclaimed water standards to ensure the safety of water reuse. Recent studies have found that improved antibiotics removal is intimately associated with high ammonia-oxidizing activity. However, the role of NH 4 + -N in the removal of residual antibiotics of reclaimed water during MAR remains unknown. NH 4 + -N removal and the effects of ammonia oxidation on antibiotics biodegradation in the aquifer are the most significant facts for solving the above collision. In this work, the effects of NH 4 + -N (0, 1 and 5 mg/L) in a model refractory antibiotic (oxacillin (OXA), 100 μg/L) attenuation were deciphered by employing three individual simulated MAR columns, which so called N0, N1 and N5. The results showed that 5 mg/L NH 4 + -N in influent upregulated the abundance of amo genes by 28.9 %-68.0 % in N5. And the enriched functional genes encoding key degradation enzymes enhanced the OXA removal by 18.7 % and alleviated the oxidative stress caused by antibiotics. Subsequently, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile gene elements (MGEs) and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs) abundance were all significantly decreased. Moreover, the intimate association between ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOM) and candidate OXA degraders based on microbial network analysis further supported the significance of AOM on OXA biodegradation. This study provides comprehensive evidence that appropriate amounts of NH 4 + -N are beneficial in antibiotics and antibiotic resistance risk reduction, providing compelling insights for refine NH 4 + -N recharge limitation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wastewater effluent is the main contributor of psychiatric pharmaceuticals (PPs) pollution in surface waters. However, little is known about its spatial evolution dynamics in effluent-dominated rivers. Herein, 10 representative PPs, including 6 chiral pharmaceuticals and 4 achiral pharmaceuticals, were explored in the Beiyun River, a typical wastewater effluent-dominated river, to explore their occurrence, in-stream attenuation and enantioselective fractionation behaviors at a watershed scale. Among the target substances, 8 and 9 drugs were detected in surface water and sediment samples with the ΣPPs concentrations ranging from 78.4 to 260.1 ng/L and 4.8 to 43.4 ng/g dw in surface water and sediments, respectively. Along the mainstream of the Beiyun River, only several PPs detected in surface water, e.g., citalopram, O-demethylvenlafaxine, and fluoxetine, exhibited in-stream attenuation behaviors when reaching rural area, while all PPs detected in sediments displayed in-stream attenuation behavior. Four chiral PPs detected in surface water exhibited an enantioselective attenuation phenomenon, while in sediments, only citalopram displayed an enantioselective fractionation behavior. The differences in the in-stream attenuation and enantioselective environmental behavior of individual PPs caused complex contaminant evolution along the stream reach. This work provides enantiomeric profiles of chiral pollutants for evaluating their in-stream attenuation processes, which would facilitate better understanding of the changing contaminant exposure conditions in complex natural environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Herein, a signal stable molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical (MIP-PEC) sensing platform was designed to sensitively detect Escherichia coli by incorporating polythiophene film with Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz heterojunction. Attributed to the formation of a staggered type II heterostructure between KZ3TTz and Cu: ZIF-8 semiconductors, the Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz heterojunction exhibited stable and significant cathode PEC response. Impressively, selective MIP film was grown on the surface of Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz/GCE by electro-polymerization of 2,2-Dimethyl-5-(3-thienyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (DTDD) in the presence of E. coli. After removing E. coli, more electrons were transferred to the electrolyte solution through the imprinting cavity on the MIP film, which was eliminated by O 2 in the electrolyte, causing further enhancement of the cathode PEC response. On the contrary, when the imprinted cavity was filled with E. coli, the cathodic PEC response gradually decreased due to steric hindrance effect. The sensor showed excellent linearity in the range of 10 1 to 10 8  CFU/mL with a detection limit of 4.09 CFU/mL (S/N = 3). This strategy offered a novel approach for pathogenic bacteria detection in food safety and environmental monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the fundamental properties, solubility, mechanical properties, barrier performance, and microstructural features of films composed of corn starch and glycerol. Changes in the microstructure were analyzed to understand how they relate to the physical and chemical properties of these films. Specifically, we found that increasing the gelatinization time decreased the film thickness, solubility, water vapor permeability, and maximum degradation temperature and increased the water content. A gradual increase in the water contact angle of the corn starch-glycerol films was observed with increasing gelatinization time. This trend is likely due to the disruptive effect of gelatinization on the crystalline and amorphous structures inherent in corn starch, resulting in reduced film crystallinity, degree of order (DO) and degree of double helix (DD)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microbial electrolysis cell-assisted anaerobic digestion represents a promising approach for enhancing methanogenesis. This study investigated the impact of varying energy levels followed by long-term open circuit on biogas recovery from food waste. The results demonstrated that a mild voltage of 0.4 V resulted in 61.7% increase in methane yield, with a methane composition reaching 78.89% vol and a remarkable reduction in digestion time by 8 days. Additionally, the facilitated effects remained after prolonged periods of open-circuit. In-depth study revealed that energization significantly enhanced organic hydrolysis, redox proteins secretion and sludge electro-activity. Microbial communities showed that the ever-present energization enriched the hydrolytic bacterium and electrophiles. Subsequent investigations also revealed the upgradation of enzyme-encoding genes associated with hydrolysis and the synthesis of flavin and its homologs (i.e. ribE, ssuE and nfrA2). These findings collectively demonstrated the enduring benefits of energization were linked to the enhanced hydrolysis and regulated mediator-mediated electron transfer pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Patients with Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are at a higher risk of thyroid disorders than the general population. This retrospective analysis of 202 patients with pSS was conducted to uncover risk factors associated with thyroid involvement and to create a predictive model for this condition., Methods: We analyzed 202 patients with pSS from Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, with 105 cases of thyroid involvement and 97 without. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator method was used to identify key variables for our risk model. These variables were then subjected to multivariate logistic regression to develop the model. The accuracy of the model was assessed through the C-index, receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis, with internal validation via bootstrapping., Results: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HCRP), pulmonary disease, pharyngeal dryness, forgetfulness, night sweats, hyperuricemia, nasal dryness, anxiety, Ro52, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were incorporated into the nomogram. The model showed robust discrimination and calibration abilities. Decision curve analysis indicated the clinical utility of our nomogram in intervening on the probability thresholds of thyroid disease., Conclusion: By integrating HCRP, pulmonary disease, pharyngeal dryness, forgetfulness, night sweats, hyperuricemia, nasal dryness, anxiety, Ro52, and AST, our thyroid risk nomogram can predict the risk of thyroid involvement in patients with pSS, aiding in more informed treatment strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Du, Ren, Mei, Jiang, Liu, Zhang and Cui.)

The prevalence of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders has emerged as one of the most significant health threats worldwide. The visceral adipose tissue regulatory T cells (VAT Treg) play an essential role in maintaining homeostasis and preventing obesity mainly by secreting Interleikin-10 (IL-10) and Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β). However, the mechanism that regulates VAT Treg quantity and function remains unclear. Here we elucidate the pivotal role of IL-27 signaling in sustaining the accumulation of VAT Treg cells, thereby conferring protection against obesity. We found that mice with the deficiency of IL-27 receptor Wsx1 gained more body weight and VAT weight than their wild-type littermates when fed both a normal-fat diet (NFD) and a high-fat diet (HFD). Notably, the population of VAT Treg cells was reduced in Wsx1 knockout (KO) mice, regardless of whether they were fed a normal-fat diet (NFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). Correspondingly, the expression levels of the transcription factors FOXP3 and PPAR-γ, essential for VAT Treg function, were also diminished in Wsx1 KO mice. Taken together, our findings indicate that IL-27 signaling plays a protective role in obesity by supporting the maintenance and accumulation of VAT Treg cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To explore the causal relationship between ferroptosis-related gene heat shock protein A5 (HSPA5) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design was employed to evaluate the causal relationships among HSPA5, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and liver cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with HSPA5, HCC and Tregs were selected as instrumental variables through publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases. MR analysis was used to assess the direct effect of HSPA5 on HCC, followed by two-step MR to analyze the potential mediating role of Tregs. Reverse MR analysis was conducted with liver cancer as the exposure and HSPA5 as the outcome. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was the primary method for testing causal associations in all MR analyses. Robustness of the results was confirmed through MR Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode methods. Heterogeneity of instrumental variables was evaluated using Cochrane's Q statistic, while pleiotropy was tested by MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO, with leave-one-out sensitivity analysis performed for robustness. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) were utilized to verify the expression levels of HSPA5 in liver cancer tissues and its correlation with Tregs to reveal the interaction mechanisms between HSPA5 and Tregs in HCC progression and their relationship with patient prognosis., Results: MR analysis showed a positive correlation between elevated HSPA5 expression and liver cancer risk (all P <0.01), while reverse MR analysis found no statistically significant association between liver cancer and HSPA5 ( P >0.05). HSPA5 expression was significantly correlated with Tregs function (all P <0.05), and the enrichment of Tregs in the liver cancer microenvironment was positively associated with liver cancer progression (all P <0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that Tregs accounted for 5.00% and 7.45% of the mediation effect between HSPA5 and liver cancer. TCGA and HPA database analysis revealed that both HSPA5 mRNA and protein expression levels were higher in liver cancer tissues compared to normal tissues, and high HSPA5 expression was significantly associated with poor patient prognosis. Immune infiltration analysis confirmed a significant positive correlation between HSPA5 and Tregs, with high Tregs infiltration closely related to HCC progression., Conclusions: Elevated HSPA5 expression is significantly associated with HCC development and poor prognosis. HSPA5 may promote HCC progression by regulating the function of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment.

New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-5 (NDM-5)-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is characterized by high virulence, high morbidity, and mortality, and the detection rate in children has increased in recent years. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new therapeutic targets and strategies. Non-coding small RNA (sRNA)-mediated RNA-based therapies offer a new direction for the treatment of bacterial infections, especially resistant bacteria. This study first analyzed the transcriptional expression profiles of NDM-5-producing CRKP and Carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (CSKP) isolates from the clinic by RNA-seq. A total of 4,623 genes were obtained, of which 307 genes were differentially expressed in NDM-5-producing CRKP, and these differentially expressed genes are mainly related to metabolism. Then, by analyzing the length and secondary structure of genes that could not match the reference gene and non-redundant protein database, we obtained 268 sRNAs, of which 13 sRNAs were differentially expressed in NDM-5-producing CRKP. After the expression level of differentially expressed sRNA was verified by RT-PCR to be consistent with that of RNA-seq, we chose sRNA207 as our research target. By knockdown of sRNA207 and smf-1 (the predicted target mRNA of sRNA207) in the strain, we found that increased expression of sRNA207 promoted biofilm formation by stabilizing expression of smf -1, which in turn affected the resistance of NDM-5-producing CRKP to carbapenems. This provides a new approach to treat CRKP infection., Importance: sRNAs form a regulatory network that regulates bacterial virulence, drug resistance, and other functions by targeting mRNAs. However, sRNA expression profile and function of NDM-5-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) are still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the sRNA expression profiles of NDM-5-producing CRKP obtained from clinical by referring to the methods of previous articles. A total of 268 candidates sRNAs were obtained, of which 248 were newly discovered. More importantly, 13 sRNAs were differentially expressed in NDM-5-producing CRKP compared with CSKP. We knocked down sRNA207 in NDM-5-producing CRKP to validate its effect on smf -1, biofilm, and resistance of strains. We also confirmed the role of smf -1 in biofilm formation and drug resistance of NDM-5-producing CRKP by constructing smf -1-knockdown strain. The results suggest that smf -1 is the target gene of sRNA207. Increased expression of sRNA207 in NDM-5-producing CRKP stabilizes smf -1 expression, which in turn affects the resistance of the strains through biofilm formation.

To investigate the effect of the through-bond coupling strength on the symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) dynamics and mechanism, three 9,10-bis((4-hexylphenyl)ethynyl)anthracene dimers with varying distances, viz., a single-bond linked dimer (0-dimer), a phenylene linked dimer (1-dimer) and a para-biphenylene linked dimer (2-dimer), were synthesized and studied systematically using steady-state and transient spectroscopy. Steady-state absorption spectra revealed that the electronic coupling strength decreased gradually with the increase of the inter-chromophore distance, and the transition of S 0 →S 1 includes the dark charge transfer (CT) excitation. fs-TA spectra demonstrated that SB-CS could be conducted in both weakly and highly polar solvents for 0-dimer, but the SB-CS dynamics has a significant difference. In weakly polar solvents, SB-CS only produces the partial CT (PCT) state, but it could generate the CT state via the PCT state in highly polar solvent. In comparison, SB-CS is only proceeded in highly polar solvents in 1-dimer and 2-dimer to produce the CT state directly. These results demonstrate that the SB-CS dynamics is strongly dependent on the inter-chromophore electronic coupling, and the relatively strong electronic coupling is crucial for the occurrence of SB-CS in weakly polar environment that is commonly presented in photoelectric devices., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The PaveDistress dataset contains high-resolution images of road surface distresses, including cracks, repairs, potholes, and background images without defects. The data were collected using a specialized pavement inspection vehicle along the S315 highway in China. The vehicle was equipped with a Basler raL2048-80km line scan camera and infrared laser-assisted lighting, capturing images at 1mm intervals with a resolution of 3854 × 2065 pixels. The images were taken every 2 meters across various lighting conditions, including daylight, dusk, and in challenging environments such as tunnels and cloudy weather. The dataset is organized into distinct categories, covering transverse cracks, longitudinal cracks, map cracks, and more, enabling detailed categorization of pavement distresses. Each image represents a real-world road coverage area of 3.9m × 2.1m, allowing for accurate measurements of defect dimensions. This dataset supports the development of deep learning models for non-destructive detection of road defects, providing valuable resources for civil engineering research and practical applications in road maintenance systems. The dataset can be reused for tasks such as image classification, object detection, and segmentation, enabling researchers to create advanced machine learning models for road distress detection and assessment. By providing high-quality, diverse images, the PaveDistress dataset offers significant potential for research in automated pavement condition monitoring and management systems., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: none declared.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is susceptible to various abiotic stresses, such as salt, cold, and drought. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the relevant genes that enhance tolerance to these stresses. In this study, we identified a gene, OsNCED4 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 4), which regulates tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. OsNCED4 encodes a chloroplast-localized abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthetic enzyme. The expression of OsNCED4 gene was significantly induced by 150 mM NaCl and cold stress. Disruption of OsNCED4 by CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis resulted in significant sensitivity to NaCl and cold stress. The salt and cold sensitivity of osnced4 mutant was due to the reduction of ABA content and the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under stress. Moreover, OsNCED4 also regulates drought stress tolerance of rice seedlings. Taken together, these results indicate that OsNCED4 is a new regulator for multiple abiotic stress tolerance in rice, and provided a potential target gene for enhancing multiple stress tolerance in the future., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance (USMR) has emerged as a promising candidate for magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) technology. However, the realization of high signal-to-noise output signal in USMR devices has remained a challenge, primarily due to the limited USMR effect at room temperature. In this study, we report a large USMR effect in FeNi/Pt/Bi₂Se₃ trilayers through interfacial engineering with Pt to optimize the spin current transmission efficiency and electron-magnon scattering. Our devices exhibit a USMR value that is an order of magnitude higher than previously reported systems, reaching 30.6 ppm/MA/cm² at room temperature. First-principles calculations and experimental observations suggest that the Pt layer not only preserves the spin-momentum locked topological surface states in Bi₂Se₃ at the Fermi-level but also generates additional Rashba surface states within the Pt itself to enhance the effective SOT efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two-terminal USMR-MRAM devices show robust output performance with 2 nd harmonic resistance variation around 0.11 Ω/mA. Remarkably, the performance of these devices further improves at elevated temperatures, highlighting their potential for reliable operation in a wide range of environmental conditions. Our findings pave the way for future advancements in high-performance, energy-efficient spintronic memory devices., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. This study aimed to examine the clinical benefits of new systemic therapies derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2002 to 2023 based on the magnitude of clinical benefit scale developed by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO-MCBS)., Methods: We searched PubMed for Phase 3 RCTs on systemic therapy for SCLC published between January 2002 and December 2023. Therapeutic benefit was graded from 5 to 1 according to the ESMO-MCBS framework, with a score of 4 or 5 representing a meaningful clinical benefit. The statistical power of the trial design was also assessed using ESMO-MCBS., Results: Sixty-four RCTs with 23 683 participants were eligible for inclusion. The number of RCTs related to molecular targeted therapy or immunotherapy has increased over the years. Among the 62 RCTs for which statistical power could be evaluated, 38 (61.3%) were designed to identify an effect size that would meet the ESMO-MCBS benefit threshold and were less likely to investigate second- or subsequent-line treatment (15.8% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.004), have noninferiority design (0% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.002) and set PFS (0% vs. 16.7%) or response rate (0% vs. 16.7%) as the only primary endpoint (p = 0.002). The ESMO-MCBS framework was applied in 29 RCTs reporting positive results, and only 8 (27.6%) met the threshold for a clinical benefit. The RCTs designed to detect differences that would meet the thresholds were more likely to demonstrate meaningful clinical benefit (87.5% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.099)., Conclusion: Most positive SCLC-RCTs did not meet the ESMO-MCBS threshold for meaningful clinical benefits. Strict power calculations should be adopted in the design of future RCTs., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Clinical Respiratory Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The main stream of the Tarim River is a crucial part of China's ecological security strategy within the "two screens and three belts" framework, serving the "northern sand control belt" and the ecological civilization corridor. Evaluating and understanding desertification dynamics and driving factors is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promoting ecological civilization. This study, based on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, quantified the desertification process of the Tarim River's main stream from 1990 to 2020 using Landsat series satellite imagery from Google Earth Engine. Additionally, we employed panel data models to analyze the driving roles of climate change, socio-economic factors, and policies in desertification.Results indicate that between 1990 and 2020, desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River initially intensified, with 15% of the area experiencing desertification between 1990 and 2000. However, this trend was subsequently reversed, with only 0.6% of the area undergoing desertification over the 30-year period. Extensive economic development (-37.2%) and population growth (-48.7%) were the predominant factors exacerbating desertification in the initial period (1990-2000), whereas positive policies (55.3%) were the key to reversing desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River over the past 30 years.We also explored whether policies necessarily play a positive role in combating and preventing desertification. Based on this, we suggest actively engaging in interdisciplinary research and linking research outcomes with practical situations to formulate scientifically sound policies and measures for desertification prevention and control., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To achieve starch straws with high strength and large toughness, the effects of annealing time on structural and functional performances of mung bean starch straws were studied. The results revealed that with increasing annealing time from 0to 60 min, the ratios of 1047 cm -1 /1022 cm -1 in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy decreased from 1.37 to 1.20, and the relative crystallinities decreased from 12.09% to 11.01%. The relative crystallinity increased to 13.28% when annealing time increased to 120 min. The maximum bending force increased from 10.93 to 104.24 N, and modulus of elasticity enhanced from 0.93 to 62.68 N/mm when annealing time increased from 0 to 120 min. Starch straws annealed for 120 min had the lowest water absorption (94.61%), while starch straws annealed for 60 min had the highest water absorption (127.38%). This outcome not only lay a theoretical foundation for preparing biodegradable starch straws with excellent performance, but also apply for beverages, food container, food packaging films, and so on, strongly promoting starch industrial transformation and development., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM) play a crucial role in governing calcium regulation and lipid homeostasis. Despite their significance, the factors regulating their spatial distribution on the PM remain elusive. Inspired by observations in cardiomyocytes, where ER-PM contact sites concentrate on tubular PM invaginations known as transverse tubules, we hypothesize that PM curvature plays a role in ER-PM contact formation. Through precise control of PM invaginations, we show that PM curvatures locally induce the formation of ER-PM contacts in cardiomyocytes. Intriguingly, the junctophilin family of ER-PM tethering proteins, specifically expressed in excitable cells, is the key player in this process, whereas the ubiquitously expressed extended synaptotagmin-2 does not show a preference for PM curvature. At the mechanistic level, we find that the low-complexity region (LCR) and membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) motifs of junctophilins can bind independently to the PM, but both the LCR and MORN motifs are required for targeting PM curvatures. By examining the junctophilin interactome, we identify a family of curvature-sensing proteins-Eps15 homology domain-containing proteins-that interact with the MORN&#95;LCR motifs and facilitate the preferential tethering of junctophilins to curved PM. These findings highlight the pivotal role of PM curvature in the formation of ER-PM contacts in cardiomyocytes and unveil a mechanism for the spatial regulation of ER-PM contacts through PM curvature modulation., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Polysaccharides and various secondary metabolites are the major bioactive ingredients in Bletilla striata tubers and their biosynthesis and accumulation are influenced by light intensity. However, the mechanisms underlying shading effects remain largely unknown. In the present study, we used a combined analysis of the physiology, metabolome, and transcriptome to investigate the physiological activities and bioactive component accumulation of B. striata under different shading treatments (S0, S50, S70, and S90). The dry weight of shoots and tubers, net photosynthetic rate, and polysaccharide content were highest in S50 and lowest in S90. The content of precursors (sucrose, Glucose-6P, and Mannose-6P) for polysaccharide synthesis significantly increased in S50. However, the expression levels of genes involved in starch biosynthesis decreased in S50. Several structural genes involved in secondary metabolism, including cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), chalcone synthase (CHS), and 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS), showed decreased expression in S50. However, the shading effect on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids) was inconsistent. Our study provides the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of shading on the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and secondary metabolites in B. striata and offers a theoretical basis for the artificial cultivation and industrial production of bioactive ingredients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare no conflict interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gelatinizing high-amylose maize starch (HAMSt) requires high temperatures to allow complexation with lipids, making it a challenging process. An octenylsuccinylation method was examined as a part of a strategy to decrease the gelatinization temperature of HAMSt, thereby promoting the complexation between HAMSt and myristic acid (MAc). Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modification of HAMSt reduces the onset gelatinization temperature of HAMSt from 71.63 °C to 66.97 °C. Moreover, as the OSA concentration increased from 2 % to 11 %, the degree of substitution and molecular weights of the esterified HAMSt gradually increased from 0.0069 to 0.0184 and from 0.97 × 10 6 to 1.17 × 10 6  g/mol, respectively. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that the octenyl-succinate groups were grafted onto the HAMSt chains. The formation of HAMSt-MAc complexes improved the thermal stability of OSA-treated HAMSt (peak temperature increased by 0.11 °C-13.95 °C). Moreover, the diffraction intensity of the V-type peak of the 11 % sample was greater than that of other samples. Finally, the anti-retrogradation ability was in the order of OSA-HAMSt-MAc complexes > HAMSt-MAc complexes > HAMSt. Overall, our results indicate that octenylsuccinylation can be an effective strategy to promote the formation of OSA-HAMSt-MAc complexes and delay starch retrogradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Curdlan, a natural polysaccharide, exhibits emulsion-stabilizing and viscosity-modifying properties. However, when employed solely in the aqueous phase, curdlan's adhesive nature impedes droplet dispersion, resulting in a gel-like structure with limited applicability. This investigation formulated a biphasic stabilized oil-in-water emulsion by supplementing the oil phase with beeswax and the aqueous phase with curdlan and soy protein isolate (SPI). The addition of SPI transformed the structural characteristics from a gel-like to a mayonnaise-like structure. Maximal electrostatic repulsion was observed at an internal phase volume fraction of 30%, effectively precluding droplet aggregation owing to the absolute zeta potentials surpassing 40 mV. The emulsions displayed shear-thinning rheological behavior, with a higher storage modulus than the loss modulus, indicative of favorable elastic properties. Molecular docking revealed the predominant role of polar amino acids in facilitating hydrogen bond formation. This study provides a template for developing emulsions with biphasic stability and desirable dispersibility., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)