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We aimed to investigate whether early clinical indicators were associated with eventual disease severity, and to develop a predictive model for severe asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP). Seventy-five acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cases with AAP admitted to Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 2013 to August 2023 were divided into non-severe (n = 44) and severe (n = 31) groups based on Atlanta diagnostic and AAP grading criteria. We compared essential information, asparaginase(ASP) dosage form, cumulative dose, clinical characteristics and laboratory tests between the groups. Statistically significant indicators were analysed with multifactorial logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for severe AAP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the early predictive value of age, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen (FIB) levels. In the early stages of AAP onset, significant differences in age, CRP, platelet count, red blood cell distribution width, albumin, calcium, FIB, and D-dimer levels were found between the non-severe and severe AAP groups (p < 0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression identified age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.204, p = 0.035), CRP (OR = 1.334, p = 0.003), and FIB (OR = 0.85, p = 0.008) as independent predictors of severe AAP. ROC analysis showed an area under the curves (AUC) for age was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.557-0.805), CRP was 0.766 (95% CI: 0.653-0.880), FIB was 0.735 (95% CI: 0.612-0.857). Optimal cut-off values for age, CRP, and FIB were 9.46 years, 48.5 mg/L and 1.265 g/L respectively. The combined AUC was 0.916 (95% CI: 0.845-0.986), with 0.903 sensitivity and 0.818 specificity, outperforming individual predictors (p < 0.05). Age, CRP, and FIB levels are good early predictors of severe AAP, and their combination significantly improves predictive accuracy., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Neuronal cell ferroptosis following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a crucial factor contributing to the poor prognosis of ICH patients. The objective of this investigation was to investigate the molecular mechanism of IL-1β-induced mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (IL-1β-Exo) in mitigating ICH injury., Methods: Exo and IL-1β-Exo were obtained and identified. Hemin was used to induce an ICH model, and an ICH mouse model was established using Collagenase. Exo and IL-1β-Exo interventions were conducted to study their impact and molecular mechanisms on neuronal ferroptosis in ICH., Results: Vesicular structure Exo and IL-1β-Exo, with an average particle size of 141.7 ± 38.8 nm and 138.8 ± 37.5 nm, respectively, showed high expression of CD63, CD9 and CD81 could be taken up by SH-SY5Y cells. These Exos reversed Hemin-induced abnormalities in neuronal cells, including elevated iron, Fe 2+ , ROS, MDA, 4-HNE, and decreased SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, FTH1 levels, and cell vitality. The RNA content of IL-1β-Exo was linked to its ability to reduce iron accumulation. There was an interaction between HSPA5 and GPX4. Exo and IL-1β-Exo reversed Hemin-induced downregulation of HSPA5 and GPX4 expression. Overexpression and knockdown of HSPA5 respectively potentiate or counteract the impacts of Exo and IL-1β-Exo. IL-1β-Exo was more effective than Exo. These findings were further validated in ICH mice. Moreover, both Exo and IL-1β-Exo reduced the modified neurological severity score and brain water content, as well as alleviated pathological damage in ICH mice., Conclusion: IL-1β-Exo inhibited neuronal ferroptosis in ICH through the HSPA5/GPX4 axis., 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.)

The inverse design of tailored organic molecules for specific optoelectronic devices of high complexity holds an enormous potential but has not yet been realized. Current models rely on large data sets that generally do not exist for specialized research fields. We demonstrate a closed-loop workflow that combines high-throughput synthesis of organic semiconductors to create large datasets and Bayesian optimization to discover new hole-transporting materials with tailored properties for solar cell applications. The predictive models were based on molecular descriptors that allowed us to link the structure of these materials to their performance. A series of high-performance molecules were identified from minimal suggestions and achieved up to 26.2% (certified 25.9%) power conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus lenvatinib with a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor compared with TACE plus lenvatinib and TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the hepatic vein and/or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (HVTT and IVCTT)., Methods: Data on HCC accompanied by HVTT and IVCTT from June 2015 to August 2022 were analyzed in this single-center retrospective study. Drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) or conventional TACE (cTACE) was used. The primary study outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to determine the predictive factors for OS and PFS. A subgroup analysis was conducted., Results: Overall, 214 patients were enrolled. Among them, 60 received triple therapy consisting of TACE, lenvatinib, and PD-1 inhibitors (TACE + L + P), 72 received dual therapy consisting of TACE and lenvatinib (TACE + L), and 82 received TACE alone. The TACE + L + P group (16.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.8-19.5 months) had a significantly longer median OS compared with the TACE + L group (11.2; 95% CI: 10.0-12.3 months) (P = 0.001) and the TACE group (8.3; 95% CI: 7.7-8.5 months) (P < 0.001); the TACE + L + P group (12.3; 95% CI: 10.9-13.7 months) had a significantly longer median PFS compared with the TACE + L group (8.5; 95% CI: 7.7-9.2 months) (P < 0.001) and the TACE group (6.2; 95% CI: 5.8 ~ 6.3 months) (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that treatment strategy was a significant factor for OS and PFS. Skin rash was more common in the triple therapy group and might be attributed to PD-1 ligand inhibitor therapy (33.33% vs. 16.66%, P = 0.026)., Conclusions: Triple therapy consisting of TACE plus lenvatinib with a PD-1 inhibitor showed promising efficacy for advanced HCC patients with HVTT and IVCTT, with manageable safety profiles., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: All of the authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval: This retrospective study followed the guidelines set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Ethics Committee at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital in Fuzhou, China. A waiver of informed consent was granted by Fujian Medical University Union Hospital due to the anonymous and retrospective nature of the study. Consent for Publication: Not applicable. No information or images in this manuscript can lead to the identification of study participants., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).)

The organs of a plant species vary in cell structure, metabolism and defence responses. However, the mechanisms that enable a single pathogen to colonise different plant organs remain unclear. Here we compared the transcriptome of the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora sojae during infection of roots versus leaves of soybeans. We found differences in the transcript levels of hundreds of pathogenicity-related genes, particularly genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, secreted (effector) proteins, oxidoreductase-related proteins and transporters. To identify the key regulator for root-specific infection, we knocked out root-specific transcription factors (TFs) and found the mutants of PsBZPc29, which encodes a member of an oomycete-specific class of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TFs, displayed reduced virulence on soybean roots but not on leaves. More than 60% of the root-specific genes showed reduced expression in the mutants during root infection. The results suggest that transcriptional regulation underlies the organ-specific infection by P. sojae, and that a bZIP TF plays a key role in root-specific transcriptional regulation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Plant Pathology published by British Society for Plant Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

African antelope diversity is a globally unique vestige of a much richer world-wide Pleistocene megafauna. Despite this, the evolutionary processes leading to the prolific radiation of African antelopes are not well understood. Here, we sequenced 145 whole genomes from both subspecies of the waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), an African antelope believed to be in the process of speciation. We investigated genetic structure and population divergence and found evidence of a mid-Pleistocene separation on either side of the eastern Great Rift Valley, consistent with vicariance caused by a rain shadow along the so-called "Kingdon's Line." However, we also found pervasive evidence of both recent and widespread historical gene flow across the Rift Valley barrier. By inferring the genome-wide landscape of variation among subspecies, we found 14 genomic regions of elevated differentiation, including a locus that may be related to each subspecies' distinctive coat pigmentation pattern. We investigated these regions as candidate speciation islands. However, we observed no significant reduction in gene flow in these regions, nor any indications of selection against hybrids. Altogether, these results suggest a pattern whereby climatically driven vicariance is the most important process driving the African antelope radiation and suggest that reproductive isolation may not set in until very late in the divergence process. This has a significant impact on taxonomic inference, as many taxa will be in a gray area of ambiguous systematic status, possibly explaining why it has been hard to achieve consensus regarding the species status of many African antelopes. Our analyses demonstrate how population genetics based on low-depth whole genome sequencing can provide new insights that can help resolve how far lineages have gone along the path to speciation., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.)

Engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as important therapeutics for gene and cell therapy. To achieve clinically desired therapy, technologies for EV engineering have high demands on the efficacy in producing EVs and their qualities, which, however, remain challenging to conventional routes due to their limited control on therapeutic payload delivery, EV secretion, and extracellular microenvironments. Here, we report a nanoplatform (denoted as PURE) that enables efficient electro-transfection while stimulating cells to produce high-quality EVs carrying functional RNAs. PURE further employs an ammonium removal zone to maintain the physiological conditions of the extracellular microenvironment and an EV uptake zone that efficiently (87.1%) captures EVs in situ with porous hydrogels. The platform achieved about a 12-fold higher yield of engineered EVs and a 146-fold abundance of desired therapeutics compared to those naturally secreted from cells. The PURE-engineered miR-130a-EVs were validated for effectively upregulating the mTOR signaling pathway in both in vitro and in vivo. Their therapeutic capability was then verified by enhancing the in vitro activation of primordial follicles. In vivo applications further highlighted the therapeutic effects of miR-130a-EVs in restoring ovary function in aged mice. The PURE platform represents a strategy for the clinical translation of EV-mediated therapy.

Aims: To investigate the effects of Nrf2 agonist tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)-stimulated neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation (NSC(TBHQ)) on neuronal damage and cognitive deficits in an AD model and its underlying principles., Methods: BHQ-treated NSCs were examined with or without Aβ1-42 to investigate the effects of TBHQ on the proliferation and differentiation functions. The mitophagy inhibitor Cyclosporine A (CSA) was used to explore the regulation of mitophagy by TBHQ. The no-, ethanol-, and TBHQ-treated NSCs were transplanted into the bilateral hippocampal region of model mice to explore the effects of NSC(TBHQ) on neuronal, cognitive, and mitochondrial functional impairments in mice., Results: TBHQ reversed the Aβ1-42-caused inhibition on NSC proliferation and differentiation, as well as on levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and mitochondrial fusion-associated proteins. TBHQ alleviated the Aβ1-42-induced increase in apoptosis, mitochondrial damage, mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS), and mitochondrial fission-related proteins. TBHQ activated the Parkin, Beclin, LC3II/I, and COXIV expression, while inhibiting the p62 expression. CSA reversed the effects of TBHQ on NSC proliferation and differentiation. After NSC(TBHQ) transplantation, it not only further extended the dwell time in the target quadrant and shorten the time and distance for finding the hidden platform, but also further decreased the Aβ and p-Tau/Tau levels, while increasing the expression of NeuN. The effects of NSC(TBHQ) transplantation on mitochondrial function were consistent with the in vitro experiments., Conclusions: The study shows that NSC(TBHQ) intensifies the beneficial impact of NSCs transplantation on cognitive impairment and neuronal damage in AD models, likely due to TBHQ's role in promoting NSCs growth and differentiation via mitophagy, thus laying a theoretical foundation for improving NSCs transplantation for AD., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To guarantee the secure functioning of the complete power system and minimize the risks associated with oil-filled transformers during their operation, it is greatly important to carry out gas sensing studies of dissolved gases in transformer research. Through the utilization of first-principles density functional theory calculations, the adsorption energy, electronic characteristics, and recuperation duration of ZrS 2 modified with Sc and Ti were examined. The results show that compared to those of the initial ZrS 2 material, the doping of TM atoms Sc and Ti significantly improved the adsorption properties of the material, and the adsorption of CO and C 2 H 4 showed chemisorption. The adsorption capacity for gases decrease in the following order: C 2 H 4 > CO > H 2 . The calculated recovery times indicate that Sc-ZrS 2 and Ti-ZrS 2 were ideal carbon monoxide sensing materials under the specific conditions. The results of this work can establish a fundamental rationale for the use of ZrS 2 in sensing the conditions of oil-immersed transformers.

Although stroke is a frequent cause of permanent disability, our ability to promote stroke recovery is limited. Here, we design a small-molecule stroke recovery promoting agent that works by dissociating γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter 1 (GAT-1) from syntaxin1A (Synt1A), a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein. Stroke induces an increase in GAT-1-Synt1A interaction in the subacute phase, a critical period for functional recovery. Uncoupling GAT-1-Synt1A reverses stroke-induced GAT-1 dysfunction and cortical excitability decline and enhances synaptic GABAergic inhibition and consequently cortical oscillations and network plasticity by facilitating the assembly of the SNARE complex at the synapse. Based on the molecular mechanism of GAT-1 binding to Synt1A, we design GAT-1-Synt1A blockers. Among them, ZLQ-3 exhibits the greatest potency. Intranasal use of ZLQ-3-1, a glycosylation product of ZLQ-3, substantially lessens impairments of sensorimotor and cognitive functions in rodent models. This compound, or its analogs, may serve as a promoting agent for stroke recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests D.-Y.Z., Y.-H.L., Y.-J.Q., and T.-Y.L. are inventors on the following PCT on ZLQ series compounds application: filed on 15/08/2024, application no. PCT/CN2024/112442. Y.-H.L., Y.-J.Q., and T.-Y.L. are inventors on the following Chinese patent on ZLQ series compounds application: publication no. CN117384253A., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is an inflammatory disease characterized by a significant increase in eosinophils. EGE itself is rare, and cases with clinical manifestations of hemorrhagic ascites are even rarer, which undoubtedly increases the risk of misdiagnosis. Given this, this study reports a rare case of pediatric EGE presenting with paroxysmal abdominal pain without apparent cause, accompanied by acute tonsillitis and mesenteric lymphadenitis, suggesting a possible intestinal infection. Following diagnostic evaluations, including abdominal ultrasound, abdominal computed tomography (CT), ascites sediment smear, bone marrow aspirate smear, and gastroscopic pathology, the child was diagnosed with EGE. Initial intravenous treatment with Ceftriaxone Sodium (Rocephin) didn't alleviate abdominal pain, and ascites gradually increased. After confirming EGE, the patient was given oral anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic treatment with Singulair and cetirizine tablets, as well as anti-inflammatory treatment with prednisone tablets. This case report will provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of EGE., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2024.)

Technological breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence and sensors make human-robot collaboration a reality. Robots with highly reliable, specialised skills gain informal status in collaborative teams, but factors such as unstructured work environments and task requirements make robot error inevitable. So how do status differences of errant robots affect the desire for contact, and do team characteristics also have an impact? This paper describes an intergroup experiment using the Experimental Vignette Method (EVM), based on the Expectation Violation Theory, 214 subjects were invited to test the following hypotheses: (1) Errant robot status has an influence on employees' desire for contact and support for robotics research through negative emotions; (2) Team interdependence is a boundary condition for the effect of errant robot status on negative emotions. This paper contributes to the literature on employee reactions to robot errors in human-robot collaboration and provides suggestions for robot status design.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of lumbar segmental stabilization exercise (LSSE) in managing spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis., Summary of Background Data: Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are spinal disorders associated with lumbar segmental instability. LSSE has shown positive effects in treating these conditions; however, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are lacking., Materials and Methods: A systematic search adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including studies from the inception of the databases used up to January 2024, was conducted. Disability improvement and pain intensity change were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively, standardized using Hedges g . Eligible articles underwent independent scrutiny by two authors, who also performed data extraction and quality assessment. Data pooling was accomplished using a random-effects model., Results: In total, five randomized controlled trials comprising 198 participants were included, revealing a trend effect toward disability improvement in the LSSE group (Hedges g =-0.598, 95% CI: -1.211 to 0.016, P =0.056, I2 =75.447%). When the LSSE was administered as a single treatment, disability improvement became significant (Hedge g =-1.325, 95% CI: -2.598 to -0.053, P =0.041, I2 =80.020%). No significant effect of LSSE on pain reduction was observed (Hedges g =-0.496, 95% CI: -1.082 to 0.090, P =0.097, I2 =73.935%)., Conclusions: In summary, our meta-analysis suggests that LSSE can potentially improve disability, especially when used as a single treatment. LSSE appears more beneficial in reducing disability than alleviating pain. Future research on different patient groups is needed to understand comprehensively LSSE's effects on other musculoskeletal disorders., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hole transport materials (HTMs) are essential for improving the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we have designed and synthesized a novel organic small molecule HTM, cor-(DPA) 5 , characterized by a bowl-shaped core with symmetric five diphenylamine groups. Compared to already-known HTMs, the bowl-shaped and relatively compact structure of cor-(DPA) 5 facilitates intermolecular π-π interactions, promotes film formations, and enhances charge transport. Consequently, the cor-[DPA(2)] 5 HTM exhibits high charge mobility, exceptional hydrophobicity, and a significantly elevated glass transition temperature. Superior to previously reported HTMs such as spiro-OMeTAD and cor-OMePTPA, our newly synthesized cor-(DPA) 5 HTM is free from any ionic dopants. As a result, the dopant-free cor-[DPA(2)] 5 -based PSC demonstrates an impressive efficiency of 24.01 %, and exhibits outstanding operational stability. It retains 96 % after continuous exposure to 1 sun irradiation for 800 hours under MPP (maximum power point) tracking in ambient air. These findings present a structurally compact novel HTM and exemplify a new approach to the molecular design of HTM for the development of stable and effective PSCs., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the influence of core muscle training on throwing ball velocity among overhead throwing athletes., Design: A literature search was performed from inception to July 2023 for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of core muscle training on overhead throwing ball velocity. The primary outcome was the change in standing throwing ball velocity. The secondary outcome focused on the enhancement of step/jump throwing ball velocity., Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were included, revealing a significant improvement in standing throwing ball velocity in the group undergoing core muscle training (Hedges' g = 0.701, 95% confidence interval = 0.339 to 1.063, P < 0.001). Longer treatment duration and a higher frequency of core muscle training sessions per week contributed to improved standing throwing ball velocity. However, core muscle training did not show significant benefits for step (Hedge's g = 0.463, 95% confidence interval = -0.058 to 0.985, P = 0.082) and jump throwing ball velocity (Hedges' g = 0.550, 95% confidence interval = -0.051 to 1.152, P = 0.073)., Conclusions: Core muscle training significantly enhanced standing ball throwing velocity. However, its effect on step/jump throwing ball velocity was less certain. Further research is needed to explore the impact of core muscle training (especially its long-term effects) on throwing ball velocity., Competing Interests: Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Large skin wounds, with extensive surface area and deep vertical full-thickness involvement, can pose significant challenges in clinical settings. Traditional routes for repairing skin wounds encompass three hallmarks: 1) scab formation for hemostasis; 2) proliferation and migration of epidermal cells for wound closure; 3) proliferation, migration, and functionalization of fibroblasts and endothelial cells for dermal remodeling. However, this route face remarkable challenges to healing large wounds, usually leading to disordered structures and loss of functions in the regenerated skin, due to limited control on the transition among the three stages. In this work, an implantable bioelectronics is developed that enables the synchronization of the three stages, offering accelerated and high-quality healing of large skin wounds. The system efficiently electro-transfect local cells near the wounds, forcing cellular proliferation, while providing a 3D porous environments for synchronized migration of epidermal and dermal cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the system achieved synchronous progression of multiple layers within the wounds, leading to the reconstruction of a complete skin structure similar to healthy skin, which presents a new avenue for the clinical translation of large wound healing., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

T-cell/transmembrane immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing (TIM) protein family has attracted particular attention because of their broad immune functions and the response to viral infections. TIM-1, a member of the TIM family, has been demonstrated to play an important role in viral infections. However, its roles during fish nodavirus infection still remained largely unknown. In this study, a homolog of TIM-1 from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) (EcTIM-1) was identified, and characterized. EcTIM-1 encoded a 217-amino acids protein, containing one Immunoglobulin domain. Homology analysis showed that EcTIM-1 shared 98.62 % and 42.99 % identity to giant grouper (E. lanceolatus) and human (Homo sapiens). Quantitative Real-time PCR analyses indicated that EcTIM-1 was expressed in all examined tissues, with higher expression in liver, spleen, skin, and heart, and was significantly up-regulated in response to red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) infection. EcTIM-1 was distributed in the cytoplasm, and partly co-localized with Golgi apparatus and lysosomes in vitro. The ectopic expression of EcTIM-1 promoted RGNNV replication by increasing the level of viral genes transcription and protein synthesis. Besides, overexpression of EcTIM-1 decreased the luciferase activity of type I interferon (IFN1), interferon stimulated response elements (ISRE) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) promoters, as well as the transcription of pro-inflammatory factors and interferon related genes. EcTIM-1 significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of IFN1, ISRE and NF-κB promoters evoked by Epinephelus coioides melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (EcMDA5), mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (EcMAVS), stimulator of IFN genes (EcSTING) or TANK-binding kinase 1 (EcTBK1). Collectively, EcTIM-1 negatively regulated interferon and inflammatory response to promote RGNNV infection. These results provide a basis for a better understanding of the innate immune response of TIM-1 in fish., 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 development of high-performance organic photovoltaic materials is of crucial importance for the commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, two structurally simple donor-π-conjugated linker-acceptor (D-π-A)-configured small-molecule donors with methyl-substituted triphenylamine as D unit, 1,1-dicyanomethylene-3-indanone as A unit, and thiophene or furan as π-conjugated linker, named DTICPT and DTICPF, are developed. DTICPT and DTICPF are facilely prepared via a two-step synthetic process with simple procedures. DTICPF with a furan π-conjugated linker exhibits stronger and broader optical absorption, deeper highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, and better charge transport, compared to its thiophene analog DTICPT. As a result, vacuum-deposited OSCs based on DTICPF: C 70 show an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.36% (certified 9.15%) with short-circuit current density (J sc ) up to 17.49 mA cm -2 (certified 17.56 mA cm -2 ), which is the highest J sc reported so far for vacuum-deposited OSCs. Besides, devices based on DTICPT: C 70 and DTICPF: C 70 exhibit excellent long-term stability under different aging conditions. This work offers important insights into the rational design of D-π-A configured small-molecule donors for high efficient and stable vacuum-deposited OSCs., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Multifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have broad application prospects; However, realization of such kinds of materials remain difficulties because it requires the materials to have not only unique electronic properties, but multiple active centers to deal with different reactions. Here, employing density functional theory (DFT) computations, it is demonstrated that by decorating the Janus-type 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) of TaSSe with the single atoms, the materials can achieve multifunctionality to catalyze the ORR/OER/HER/HOR. Out of sixteen catalytic systems, Pt-V S (i.e., Pt atom embedded in the sulfur vacancy), Pd-V Se , and Pt-V Se @TaSSe are promising multifunctional catalysts with superior stability. Among them, the Pt-V S @TaSSe catalyst exhibits the highest activity with theoretical overpotentials η ORR = 0.40 V, η OER = 0.39 V, and η HER/HOR = 0.07 V, respectively, better than the traditional Pt (111), IrO 2 (110). The interplays between the catalyst and the reaction intermediate over the course of the reaction are then systematically investigated. Generally, this study presents a viable approach for the design and development of advanced multifunctional electrocatalysts. It enriches the application of Janus, a new 2D material, in electrochemical energy storage and conversion technology., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Development of affordable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) represents a central task for advancing electrochemical systems such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. This study reported the ORR and HER performance of a set of single cluster catalysts (SCCs) with atomically dispersed 3d/4d/5d transition metal cluster (TM 3 ) embedded in a two-dimensional (2D) defective CrSe 2 substrate. Distinguishing from the conventional SCCs with positive charge active center, the unique electronegativity discrepancy between the metal clusters and the substrate renders the active center controllable charge states from negative to positive. Our investigations indicate that the TM 3 cluster helps tuning the adsorption performance of the intermediates, and therefore enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of the SCCs. Among all the candidates, we demonstrated that the less reported elements of Ir and Ag exhibit the best performance of HER and ORR with low overpotentials of -0.059 and 0.61 V, respectively. Our work provides a prototype to rationally regulate the charge states of catalysts, which could potentially contribute to the development of new kinds of catalysts and serve as a valuable theoretical reference for the experimental rationalization of SCCs., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is challenging to treat due to its high metastatic rate. Recent strategies have focused on combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with other treatments. The aim of the present study was to conduct a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of different ICI treatments for CRC. A literature search for RCTs was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and Web of Science databases, covering the period from the inception of each database until April 2024. A total of 12 RCTs involving 2,050 participants were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The network meta-analysis employed the MetaInsight tool to assess multiple endpoints. The criteria for study selection were based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Studies framework as follows: i) Population, patients with CRC; ii) intervention, studies using ICI to treat CRC; iii) comparison, active comparators, including placebo; iv) outcome, overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate and adverse events; and v) study design, RCTs. The results of the analysis revealed that programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors significantly improved overall survival time [mean difference (MD), 2.28 months; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44 to 4.11], while programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors exhibited a superior progression-free survival time (MD, 4.79 months; 95% CI, 3.18 to 6.40) compared with active comparators. However, none of the ICI treatments had significant differences in odds ratios for the objective response rate and adverse events compared with active comparators. These findings indicate that treatment with PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors improved the overall survival time and delayed disease progression in patients with CRC. These findings offer valuable insights for future research aimed at improving CRC patient outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Tzang et al.)

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the primary pathogen causing community-acquired pneumonia in children, accounting for approximately 10%-40% of cases. It can lead to various extrapulmonary complications, including acute pancreatitis, which has been reported in approximately 30 cases to date. Here, we report a 4-year-old girl who presented with fever, cough, and elevated levels of M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies, followed by the onset of abdominal pain, elevated lipase, and elevated blood and urine amylase. Abdominal CT implied diffuse inflammation of the pancreas. Serum inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon-gamma, were elevated. After excluding other causes, it was determined that M. pneumoniae infection was the cause of her acute pancreatitis. She was treated with macrolides and glucocorticoids and ultimately made a full recovery. Therefore, acute pancreatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with M. pneumoniae infection who present with abdominal pain. Inflammatory cytokines may play a role in mediating pancreatic damage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Sun, Wang, Lin, Shao, Zhan and Tang.)

The preparation processes of iron-based organic framework(FeMOF) MIL-100(Fe) and MIL-101(Fe) with two different ligands were optimized and screened, and the optimized FeMOF was loaded with piperlongumine(PL) to enhance the biocompatibility and antitumor efficacy of PL. The MIL-100(Fe) and MIL-101(Fe) were prepared by solvent thermal method using the optimized reaction solvent. With particle size, polymer dispersity index(PDI), and yield as indexes, the optimal preparation processes of the two were obtained by using the definitive screening design(DSD) experiment and establishing a mathematical model, combined with the Derringer expectation function. After characterization, the best FeMOF was selected to load PL by solvent diffusion method, and the process of loading PL was optimized by a single factor combined with an orthogonal experiment. The CCK-8 method was used to preliminarily evaluate the biological safety of blank FeMOF and the antitumor effect of the drug-loaded nano preparations. The experimental results showed that the optimal preparation process of MIL-100(Fe) was as follows: temperature at 127.8 ℃, reaction time of 14.796 h, total solvent volume of 11.157 mL, and feed ratio of 1.365. The particle size of obtained MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles was(108.84±2.79)nm; PDI was 0.100±0.023, and yield was 36.93%±0.79%. The optimal preparation process of MIL-101(Fe) was as follows: temperature at 128.1 ℃, reaction time of 6 h, total solvent volume of 10.005 mL, and feed ratio of 0.500. The particle size of obtained MIL-101(Fe) nanoparticles was(254.04±22.03)nm; PDI was 0.289±0.052, and yield was 44.95%±0.45%. The optimal loading process of MIL-100(Fe) loaded with PL was as follows: the feed ratio of MIL-100(Fe) to PL was 1∶2; the concentration of PL solution was 7 mg·mL~(-1), and the ratio of DMF to water was 1∶5. The drug loading capacity of obtained MIL-100(Fe)/PL nanoparticles was 68.86%±1.82%; MIL-100(Fe) was nontoxic to HepG2 cells at a dose of 0-120 μg·mL~(-1), and the half-inhibitory concentration(IC&#95;(50)) of free PL for 24 h treatment of HepG2 cells was 1.542 μg·mL~(-1). The IC&#95;(50) value of MIL-100(Fe)/PL was 1.092 μg·mL~(-1)(measured by PL). In this study, the optimal synthesis process of MIL-100(Fe) and MIL-101(Fe) was optimized by innovatively using the DSD to construct a mathematical model combined with the Derringer expectation function. The optimized preparation process of MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles and the PL loading process were stable and feasible. The size and shape of MIL-100(Fe) particles were uniform, and the crystal shape was good, with a high drug loading capacity, which could significantly enhance the antitumor effect of PL. This study provides a new method for the optimization of the nano preparation process and lays a foundation for the further development and research of antitumor nano preparations of PL.

Purpose: The formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) concentration method is commonly used in routine clinical practice to detect parasite eggs in feces. This procedure involves extraction of oil with the organic solvent ethyl acetate (EA), which reduces fecal sediment and provides a cleaner background for microscopic analysis. However, clinically, some sediment failed to float after EA treatment., Methods: Hexane, commonly used in the food oil extraction from oilseeds did not float the feces. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that neither the amount of the oil nor the classes of the oil determined was differed whether hexane or EA was used to float the feces. Oil red, Bodipy and Calcofluor staining showed that the unabsorbed oil droplets in the fecal sediment were trapped within the leaf structure. HCl or acetic acid was added to see if the acid residue could dissolve the cellulose of the leaf to promote the bulk float., Results: Our result showed that the fecal bulk contained the loosened mesophyll cell wall. The addition of acid residues improved fecal bulk float. The proximity of cellulose fiber to EA, but not hexane, may enhance the efficacy of oil extraction from cellulose., Conclusion: This is the first report that the interaction of cellulose with ethyl acetate in fecal solution has an effect on bulk float. This study improves the understanding of fecal bulk flotation and may assist in the visualization of parasite eggs in clinical practice with non-floating fecal samples in the FEA concentration method., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The intestinal retention and persistence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are strain-specific and affected by the bacterial surface components. However, the contribution of surface adhesins of LAB to intestinal adhesion and colonization remains unclear. In the present study, seven gene knockout mutants (genes related to surface adhesin synthesis) of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei S -NB were derived based on the Cre- lox -based recombination system. Results showed that the capsule layer appeared thinner in the cell wall of S -NBΔ7576, S -NBΔ dlt , and S -NBΔ srtA mutants when compared with the wild-type (WT) S -NB. The effects of S-NB &#95;7576 ( wzd and wze genes, responsible for capsular polysaccharide synthesis) and S-NB &#95; srtA (sortase A) mutation on the hydrophobicity, surface charge, and adhesion ability seem to vary strongly among seven mutant strains. In vivo colonization experiments showed a decrease in the colonization numbers of S -NBΔ7576 and S -NBΔ srtA in both the ileal and colon lumen from 2 to 8 days when compared with those of the WT S -NB. In conclusion, the synthesis of capsular polysaccharides and the transport of surface proteins are closely related to the adhesion ability and intestinal colonization of L. paracasei S -NB.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the foremost cause of mortality globally. Taurine, an amino acid, holds promise for cardiovascular health through mechanisms such as calcium regulation, blood pressure reduction, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite these potential benefits, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the quantitative effects of taurine on hemodynamic parameters and cardiac function grading, which are indicative of overall cardiovascular health and performance., Methods: We conducted an electronic search across multiple databases, including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from their inception to January 2, 2024. Our analysis focused on key cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification. Meta-regression was applied to explore dose-dependent relationships based on the total taurine dose administered during the treatment period. A subgroup analysis, stratified according to the baseline disease status of patients, was also conducted., Results: The analysis included a pooled sample of 808 participants from 20 randomized controlled trials. Taurine demonstrated a significant reduction in HR (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -3.579 bpm, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -6.044 to -1.114, p = 0.004), SBP (WMD = -3.999 mm Hg, 95% CI = -7.293 to -0.706, p = 0.017), DBP (WMD: -1.435 mm Hg, 95% CI: -2.484 to -0.386, p = 0.007), NYHA (WMD: -0.403, 95% CI: -0.522 to -0.283, p < 0.001), and a significant increase in LVEF (WMD: 4.981%, 95% CI: 1.556 to 8.407, p = 0.004). Meta-regression indicated a dose-dependent reduction in HR (coefficient = -0.0150 per g, p = 0.333), SBP (coefficient = -0.0239 per g, p = 0.113), DBP (coefficient = -0.0089 per g, p = 0.110), and NYHA (coefficient = -0.0016 per g, p = 0.111), and a positive correlation with LVEF (coefficient = 0.0285 per g, p = 0.308). No significant adverse effects were observed compared to controls. In subgroup analysis, taurine significantly improved HR in heart failure patients and healthy individuals. Taurine significantly reduced SBP in healthy individuals, heart failure patients, and those with other diseases, while significantly lowered DBP in hypertensive patients It notably increased LVEF in heart failure patients and improved NYHA functional class in both heart failure patients and those with other diseases., Conclusions: Taurine showed noteworthy effects in preventing hypertension and enhancing cardiac function. Individuals prone to CVDs may find it advantageous to include taurine in their daily regimen., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Canonical biocontrol bacteria were considered to inhibit pathogenic bacteria mainly by secreting antibiotic metabolites or enzymes. Recent studies revealed that some biocontrol bacteria can inhibit pathogenic bacteria through contact-dependent killing (CDK) mediated by contact-dependent secretion systems. The CDK was independent of antibiotic metabolites and often ignored in normal biocontrol activity assay., Results: In this study, we aimed to use a pathogen enrichment strategy to isolate non-canonical bacteria with CDK ability. Rhizosphere soil samples from Chinese cabbage showing soft rot symptom were collected and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), the pathogen of cabbage soft rot, were added into these samples to enrich bacteria which attached on Pcc cells. By co-culture with Pcc, four bacteria strains (named as PcE1, PcE8, PcE12 and PcE13) showing antibacterial activity were isolated from Chinese cabbage rhizosphere. These four bacteria strains showed CDK abilities to different pathogenic bacteria of horticultural plants. Among them, PcE1 was identified as Chryseobacterium cucumeris. Genome sequencing showed that PcE1 genome encoded a type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster. By heterologous expression, four predicted T6SS effectors of PcE1 showed antibacterial activity to Escherichia coli., Conclusion: Overall, this study isolated four bacteria strains with CDK activity to various horticultural plant pathogens, and revealed possible involvement of T6SS of Chryseobacterium cucumeris in antibacterial activity. These results provide valuable insight for potential application of CDK activity in biocontrol bacteria. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Endosomes are characterized by the presence of various phosphoinositides that are essential for defining the membrane properties. However, the interplay between endosomal phosphoinositides metabolism and innate immunity is yet to be fully understood. Here, our findings highlight the evolutionary continuity of RAB-10/Rab10's involvement in regulating innate immunity. Upon infection of C. elegans with P. aeruginosa, an increase in RAB-10 activity was observed in the intestine. Conversely, when RAB-10 was absent, the intestinal diacylglycerols (DAGs) decreased, and the animal's response to the pathogen was impaired. Further research revealed that UNC-16/JIP3 acts as an RAB-10 effector, facilitating the recruitment of phospholipase EGL-8 to endosomes. This leads to a decrease in endosomal PI(4,5)P2 and an elevation of DAGs, as well as the activation of the PMK-1/p38 MAPK innate immune pathway. It is noteworthy that the dimerization of UNC-16 is a prerequisite for its interaction with RAB-10(GTP) and the recruitment of EGL-8. Moreover, we ascertained that the rise in RAB-10 activity, due to infection, was attributed to the augmented expression of LET-413/Erbin, and the nuclear receptor NHR-25/NR5A1/2 was determined to be indispensable for this increase. Hence, this study illuminates the significance of endosomal PI(4,5)P2 catabolism in boosting innate immunity, and outlines an NHR-25-mediated mechanism for pathogen detection in intestinal epithelia., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Higher Education Press.)

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a neurovascular disease with recently increasing incidence. Aseptic inflammatory responses play an important role in the pathology of CVT. Recent studies report that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are major triggers of thrombosis and inflammation in stroke, but their effect on brain injury in CVT requires further validation. In this study, two CVT animal models were used to simulate superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and cortical vein thrombosis. The effects of brain tissue infiltration of NETs and the molecular mechanisms associated with NET formation were deeply explored in combination with proteomics, histology, and serology. The results showed that the cortical vein thrombosis model could be combined with more severe blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and showed more severe cerebral hemorrhage. Decreased Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression promotes high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acetylation, causing increased cytosolic translocation and extracellular release, and HMGB1 can promote NET formation and recruitment. In addition, corticocerebral accumulation of NETs contributes to BBB damage. This establishes a vicious cycle between BBB damage and NET accumulation. SIRT1 mediated-HMGB1 deacetylation may play a critical role in attenuating BBB damage following CVT. This study employed a combined validation using models of venous sinus thrombosis and cortical vein thrombosis to investigate the deacetylation role of SIRT1, aiming to offer new insights into the pathological mechanisms of brain injury following CVT., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

With the wide application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in different fields, safety accidents occur frequently. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the thermal runaway gas for an early warning. In this article, the adsorption properties of the characteristic gases of LIBs thermal runaway gases are studied by density functional theory (DFT). The adsorption structure of TM (Co/Rh/Ir)-decorated HfS 2 (TM@HfS 2 ) is established, and its adsorption properties for C 2 H 4 , CH 4 , and CO are studied. The adsorption energy, charge transfer, band, DOS, charge difference density, work function, and recovery time are discussed in detail. The results show that Ir@HfS 2 has the strongest adsorption performance for C 2 H 4 and CO, so C 2 H 4 and CO can be stably adsorbed on the surface of the Ir@HfS 2 monolayer. The adsorption energy of CH 4 on Co@HfS 2 is stronger than those of Rh@HfS 2 and Ir@HfS 2 , but the adsorption energy is still very small. By applying biaxial strain to Co@HfS 2 , we found that the adsorption energy increases with the increase in negative strain. This study provides a theoretical basis for the regulation of the adsorption properties of HfS 2 by different transition metals.

Cadmium (Cd) is a leading environmental issue worldwide. The current study was conducted to investigate Cd tolerance of 10 commercial white clover (Trifolium repens) cultivars during seed germination and to further explore differences in lipid remodelling, glycometabolism, and the conversion of lipids into sugars contributing to Cd tolerance in the early phase of seedling establishment as well as the accumulation of Cd in seedlings and mature plants. The results show that Cd stress significantly reduced seed germination of 10 cultivars. Compared to Cd-sensitive Sulky, Cd-tolerant Pixie accelerated amylolysis to produce more glucose, fructose, and sucrose by maintaining higher amylase and sucrase activities under Cd stress. Pixie maintained higher contents of various lipids, higher DGDG/MGDG ratio, and lower unsaturation levels of lipids, which could be beneficial to membrane stability and integrity as well as signal transduction in cells after being subjected to Cd stress. In addition, Pixie upregulated expression levels of key genes (TrACX1, TrACX4, TrSDP6, and TrPCK1) involved in the conversion of lipids into sugars for early seedling establishment under Cd stress. These findings indicate that lipid remodelling, enhanced glycometabolism, and accelerated conversion of lipids into sugars are important adaptive strategies for white clover seed germination and subsequent seedling establishment under Cd stress. In addition, Pixie not only accumulated more Cd in seedlings and mature plants than Sulky but also had significantly better growth and phytoremediation efficiency under Cd stress. Pixie could be used as a suitable and critical germplasm for the rehabilitation and re-establishment of Cd-contaminated areas., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common etiologies of knee pain and might be relieved with lumbopelvic manipulation (LPM). This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of LPM on pain reduction in patients with PFPS. Electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of LPM on PFPS. The primary outcome was the change in visual analog or numeric rating scale scores assessing pain. Ten studies comprising 346 participants were included. Significant pain reduction was noted in the LPM group (Hedges' g = -0.706, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.197 to -0.214, p = 0.005, I2 = 79.624%) compared with the control group. Moreover, pain relief was more pronounced when LPM was combined with other physical therapies (Hedges' g = -0.701, 95% CI = -1.386 to -0.017, p = 0.045, I2 = 73.537%). No adverse events were reported during the LPM. The LPM appears to be a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for pain reduction in patients with PFPS. Clinicians should consider adding LPM to other physical therapies (e.g., quadriceps muscle strengthening) during the management of these patients.

Main Conclusion: γ-Aminobutyric acid alleviates acid-aluminum toxicity to roots associated with enhanced antioxidant metabolism as well as accumulation and transportation of citric and malic acids. Aluminum (Al) toxicity has become the main limiting factor for crop growth and development in acidic soils and is further being aggravated worldwide due to continuous industrial pollution. The current study was designed to examine effects of GABA priming on alleviating acid-Al toxicity in terms of root growth, antioxidant defense, citrate and malate metabolisms, and extensive metabolites remodeling in roots under acidic conditions. Thirty-seven-day-old creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) plants were used as test materials. Roots priming with or without 0.5 mM GABA for 3 days were cultivated in standard nutrient solution for 15 days as control or subjected to nutrient solution containing 5 mM AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O for 15 days as acid-Al stress treatment. Roots were sampled for determinations of root characteristics, physiological and biochemical parameters, and metabolomics. GABA priming significantly alleviated acid-Al-induced root growth inhibition and oxidative damage, despite it promoted the accumulation of Al in roots. Analysis of metabolomics showed that GABA priming significantly increased accumulations of organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and other metabolites in roots under acid-Al stress. In addition, GABA priming also significantly up-regulated key genes related to accumulation and transportation of malic and citric acids in roots under acid-Al stress. GABA-regulated metabolites participated in tricarboxylic acid cycle, GABA shunt, antioxidant defense system, and lipid metabolism, which played positive roles in reactive oxygen species scavenging, energy conversion, osmotic adjustment, and Al ion chelation in roots., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Fullerene-chromophore dyads have attracted a great deal of research interest because these complexes can be potentially designed as nanoscale artificial photosynthetic centers, in which the chromophore and fullerene function as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. The basic operation of this dyad-type artificial reaction center is photoinduced electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor. The fullerene and chromophore are usually covalently linked so that sufficient electronic coupling between these two moieties can facilitate the electron transfer. However, other deactivation pathways for the chromophore excited state, such as energy transfer to the fullerene, may reduce the quantum yield of the photoinduced electron transfer. Here, a series of C60-perylene dyads is exploited to interrogate the effect of the linkage on deactivation mechanisms of the chromophore excited state. For the C60-perylene dyads with a single or double bond bridge, we find that the decay of the singlet state of the chromophore is dominated by the electron transfer, and the corresponding time constant is determined to be 45 ps. On the other hand, for the dyad with a triple bond bridge, the singlet state of the chromophore is quickly quenched through energy transfer to fullerene, and the time constant is as short as 7.9 ps. Our finding suggests that the bond order of the bridge in the fullerene-chromophore dyads can be utilized to control the deactivation pathways of the excited state., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Objective: The prevalence of depression in children with severe bronchial asthma is a significant concern due to its potential effects on illness burden and quality of life. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the relationship between depression and severe bronchial asthma in children, focusing on the impact of alexithymia and somatic symptoms., Methods: The study includes a total of 186 children aged 6-14 years diagnosed with severe bronchial asthma between 2008 and 2022 in our institute. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items (TAS-20). Somatization symptoms were measured using the children's somatization inventory (CSI). The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate depression. Spearman correlation analysis was used to describe the correlation between alexithymia, somatization symptoms, and depression., Results: Children with bronchial asthma are found to have a significantly higher prevalence of depression, estimated to be around 16.67%. Approximately 98.92% of children exhibit varying degrees of somatic symptoms. Approximately 3.23% of children have alexithymia. The Spearman correlation analysis revealed that somatic symptoms and alexithymia were positive correlated with the depression. The correlation coefficients were 0.986 and 0.981 ( P < .01), respectively. moreover, according to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, somatization symptoms and alexithymia significantly affects depression in children with severe bronchitis asthma ( P < .01)., Conclusion: These findings suggest that children with severe bronchial asthma experience a higher prevalence of depression, impacting their overall quality of life. In addition, the presence of somatic symptoms is prevalent among these children, further contributing to the burden on their quality of life. Moreover, somatization symptoms and alexithymia have been identified as a significant factor positive affecting depression in this population. Addressing these factors in clinical interventions may be beneficial for improving the overall well-being in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 authors.)

Phytophthora pathogens possess hundreds of effector genes that exhibit diverse expression patterns during infection, yet how the expression of effector genes is precisely regulated remains largely elusive. Previous studies have identified a few potential conserved transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in the promoters of Phytophthora effector genes. Here, we report a MYB-related protein, PsMyb37, in Phytophthora sojae, the major causal agent of root and stem rot in soybean. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that PsMyb37 binds to the TACATGTA motif, the most prevalent TFBS in effector gene promoters. The knockout mutant of PsMyb37 exhibited significantly reduced virulence on soybean and was more sensitive to oxidative stress. Consistently, transcriptome analysis showed that numerous effector genes associated with suppressing plant immunity or scavenging reactive oxygen species were down-regulated in the PsMyb37 knockout mutant during infection compared to the wild-type P. sojae. Several promoters of effector genes were confirmed to drive the expression of luciferase in a reporter assay. These results demonstrate that a MYB-related transcription factor contributes to the expression of effector genes in P. sojae., (© 2024 The Authors. Molecular Plant Pathology published by British Society for Plant Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Disease prevalence and mean phenotype values differ between many populations, including Inuit and Europeans. Whether these differences are partly explained by genetic differences or solely due to differences in environmental exposures is still unknown, because estimates of the genetic contribution to these means, which we will here refer to as mean genotypic values, are easily confounded, and because studies across genetically diverse populations are lacking., Methods: Leveraging the unique genetic properties of the small, admixed and historically isolated Greenlandic population, we estimated the differences in mean genotypic value between Inuit and European genetic ancestry using an admixed sibling design. Analyses were performed across 26 metabolic phenotypes, in 1474 admixed sibling pairs present in a cohort of 5996 Greenlanders., Results: After FDR correction for multiple testing, we found significantly lower mean genotypic values in Inuit genetic ancestry compared to European genetic ancestry for body weight (effect size per percentage of Inuit genetic ancestry (se), -0.51 (0.16) kg/%), body mass index (-0.20 (0.06) kg/m 2 /%), fat percentage (-0.38 (0.13) %/%), waist circumference (-0.42 (0.16) cm/%), hip circumference (-0.38 (0.11) cm/%) and fasting serum insulin levels (-1.07 (0.51) pmol/l/%). The direction of the effects was consistent with the observed mean phenotype differences between Inuit and European genetic ancestry. No difference in mean genotypic value was observed for height, markers of glucose homeostasis, or circulating lipid levels., Conclusions: We show that mean genotypic values for some metabolic phenotypes differ between two human populations using a method not easily confounded by possible differences in environmental exposures. Our study illustrates the importance of performing genetic studies in diverse populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of interconnected risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Taurine has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for MetS. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine supplementation on MetS-related parameters., Methods: We conducted electronic searches through databases like Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov, encompassing publications up to December 1, 2023. Our analysis focused on established MetS diagnostic criteria, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Meta-regression explored potential dose-dependent relationships based on the total taurine dose administered during the treatment period. We also assessed secondary outcomes like body composition, lipid profile, and glycemic control., Results: Our analysis included 1024 participants from 25 RCTs. The daily dosage of taurine in the studies ranged from 0.5 g/day to 6 g/day, with follow-up periods varying between 5 and 365 days. Compared to control groups, taurine supplementation demonstrated statistically significant reductions in SBP (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -3.999 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -7.293 to -0.706, p = 0.017), DBP (WMD = -1.509 mmHg, 95% CI = -2.479 to -0.539, p = 0.002), FBG (WMD: -5.882 mg/dL, 95% CI: -10.747 to -1.018, p = 0.018), TG (WMD: -18.315 mg/dL, 95% CI: -25.628 to -11.002, p < 0.001), but not in HDL-C (WMD: 0.644 mg/dl, 95% CI: -0.244 to 1.532, p = 0.155). Meta-regression analysis revealed a dose-dependent reduction in DBP (coefficient = -0.0108 mmHg per g, p = 0.0297) and FBG (coefficient = -0.0445 mg/dL per g, p = 0.0273). No significant adverse effects were observed compared to the control group., Conclusion: Taurine supplementation exhibits positive effects on multiple MetS-related factors, making it a potential dietary addition for individuals at risk of or already experiencing MetS. Future research may explore dose-optimization strategies and potential long-term benefits of taurine for MetS management., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis is critically involved in treating several diseases; For example, Ang-(1-7) improves inflammatory response and neurological function after traumatic brain injury and inhibits post-inflammatory hypothermia. However, its function in traumatic brain injury (TBI) combined with seawater immersion hypothermia remains unclear. Here, we used a mice model of hypothermic TBI and a BV2 cell model of hypothermic inflammation to investigate whether the Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis is involved in ameliorating hypothermic TBI. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR, western blotting assay, and immunofluorescence assay were performed to confirm microglia polarization and cytokine regulation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Nissl staining, and immunohistochemical assay were conducted to assess the extent of hypothermic TBI-induced damage and the ameliorative effect of Ang-(1-7) in mice. An open field experiment and neurological function scoring with two approaches were used to assess the degree of recovery and prognosis in mice. After hypothermic TBI establishment in BV2 cells, the Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis induced phenotypic transformation of microglia from M1 to M2, inhibited IL-6 and IL-1β release, and upregulated IL-4 and IL-10 levels. After hypothermic TBI development in mice, intraperitoneally administered Ang-(1-7) attenuated histological damage and promoted neurological recovery. These findings suggest that hypothermia exacerbates TBI-induced damage and that the Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis can ameliorate hypothermic TBI and directly affect prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Ye et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Previous studies have indicated the neuroprotective effect of olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSCs) on brain injury. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) models were established in rats by injecting autologous blood. SENP1 expression was enhanced in neurons but decreased in astrocytes compared to that in OM-MSCs. Overexpression of SENP1 promoted the proliferation and neuronal differentiation, while inhibiting the astrocytic differentiation of OM-MSCs. Conversely, its knockdown had the opposite effect. Moreover, OM-MSCs reduced neurological dysfunction in rats after ICH, and the neuroprotective effect of OM-MSCs could be further enhanced by SENP1 overexpression. In addition, SENP1 promoted mitophagy, which might be related to SENP1-mediated OPTN deSUMOylation. Furthermore, SENP1 promoted neuronal differentiation of OM-MSCs through mitophagy mediated by OPTN. Similar to SENP1, OPTN transfection further enhanced the remission effect of OM-MSC on ICH rats. SENP1 promoted neuronal differentiation of OM-MSCs through OPTN-mediated mitophagy to improve neurological deficits in ICH rats., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Determining the exact type of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutation in lung cancer has become important. We found that not all ex20ins mutations reported by cobas EGFR test v2 could be validated by Sanger sequencing even using surgical specimens with high tumor contents. This study aimed to validate the ex20ins results reported by the cobas test and to determine whether there were clinicopathological factors associated with aberrant cobas ex20ins report. In total, 123 cobas-reported cases with ex20ins were retrospectively collected and validated by Sanger sequencing and Idylla assay. Clinicopathological features between ex20ins cobas+/Sanger+ group (n = 71) and cobas+/Sanger- group (n = 52) were compared. The Idylla assay detected ex20ins in 82.6% of cobas+/Sanger+ cases but only in 4.9% of cobas+/Sanger- cases. The cobas+/Sanger- group was significantly associated with higher tumor contents, poorly differentiated patterns, tumor necrosis, and a lower internal control cycle threshold value reported by the Idylla which suggesting the presence of increased EGFR gene copy numbers. EGFR fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed the majority of cobas+/Sanger- group had EGFR high copy number gain (16%) or amplification (76%) according to the Colorado criteria. Among cases reported to have concomitant classic EGFR and ex20ins mutations by the cobas, the classic EGFR mutations were all detected by Sanger sequencing and Idylla, while the ex20ins mutations were undetected by Sanger sequencing (0%) or rarely reported by Idylla assay (3%). FISH revealed high EGFR copy number gain (17.9%) and amplification (79.5%) in cases reported having concomitant classic EGFR and ex20ins mutations by the cobas. This study demonstrated an unusually high frequency of EGFR amplification in cases with aberrant cobas ex20ins report which could not be validated by Sanger sequencing or Idylla assay. Ex20ins reported by the cobas test should be validated using other methods especially those reported having concomitant ex20ins and classic EGFR mutations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Environmental temperature affects the composition, structure, and function of the gut microbial communities in host animals. To elucidate the role of gut microbiota in thermal adaptation, we designed a 2 species × 3 temperatures experiment, whereby we acclimated adult males of two agamid lizard species (warm-climate Leiolepis reevesii and cold-climate Phrynocephalus przewalskii ) to 20, 28, and 36°C for 2 weeks and then collected their fecal and small-intestinal samples to analyze and compare the microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology. The fecal microbiota displayed more pronounced interspecific differences in microbial community than the small-intestinal microbiota in the two species occurring in thermally different regions. The response of fecal and small-intestinal microbiota to temperature increase or decrease differed between the two species, with more bacterial taxa affected by acclimation temperature in L. reevesii than in P. przewalskii. Both species, the warm-climate species in particular, could cope with temperature change by adjusting the relative abundance of functional categories associated with metabolism and environmental information processing. Functional genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism were enhanced in P. przewalskii , suggesting the contribution of the fecal microbiota to cold-climate adaptation in P. przewalskii . Taken together, our results validate the two hypotheses tested, of which one suggests that the gut microbiota should help lizards adapt to thermal environments in which they live, and the other suggests that microbial communities should be thermally more sensitive in warm-climate lizards than in cold-climate lizards., Competing Interests: The authors declare that 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 Zhu, Chen, Du, Lin, Qu, Lin and Ji.)

The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a keystone species in savanna ecosystems from southern to eastern Africa, and is well known for its spectacular migrations and locally extreme abundance. In contrast, the black wildebeest (C. gnou) is endemic to southern Africa, barely escaped extinction in the 1900s and is feared to be in danger of genetic swamping from the blue wildebeest. Despite the ecological importance of the wildebeest, there is a lack of understanding of how its unique migratory ecology has affected its gene flow, genetic structure and phylogeography. Here, we analyze whole genomes from 121 blue and 22 black wildebeest across the genus' range. We find discrete genetic structure consistent with the morphologically defined subspecies. Unexpectedly, our analyses reveal no signs of recent interspecific admixture, but rather a late Pleistocene introgression of black wildebeest into the southern blue wildebeest populations. Finally, we find that migratory blue wildebeest populations exhibit a combination of long-range panmixia, higher genetic diversity and lower inbreeding levels compared to neighboring populations whose migration has recently been disrupted. These findings provide crucial insights into the evolutionary history of the wildebeest, and tangible genetic evidence for the negative effects of anthropogenic activities on highly migratory ungulates., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Strong genetic structure has prompted discussion regarding giraffe taxonomy, 1 , 2 , 3 including a suggestion to split the giraffe into four species: Northern (Giraffa c. camelopardalis), Reticulated (G. c. reticulata), Masai (G. c. tippelskirchi), and Southern giraffes (G. c. giraffa). 4 , 5 , 6 However, their evolutionary history is not yet fully resolved, as previous studies used a simple bifurcating model and did not explore the presence or extent of gene flow between lineages. We therefore inferred a model that incorporates various evolutionary processes to assess the drivers of contemporary giraffe diversity. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 90 wild giraffes from 29 localities across their current distribution. The most basal divergence was dated to 280 kya. Genetic differentiation, F ST , among major lineages ranged between 0.28 and 0.62, and we found significant levels of ancient gene flow between them. In particular, several analyses suggested that the Reticulated lineage evolved through admixture, with almost equal contribution from the Northern lineage and an ancestral lineage related to Masai and Southern giraffes. These new results highlight a scenario of strong differentiation despite gene flow, providing further context for the interpretation of giraffe diversity and the process of speciation in general. They also illustrate that conservation measures need to target various lineages and sublineages and that separate management strategies are needed to conserve giraffe diversity effectively. Given local extinctions and recent dramatic declines in many giraffe populations, this improved understanding of giraffe evolutionary history is relevant for conservation interventions, including reintroductions and reinforcements of existing populations., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Piperlongumine(PL), a natural alkaloid extracted from Piperis Longi Fructus, has attracted much attention in recent years because of its strong anti-tumor activity, little toxicity to normal cells, and excellent sensitizing effect combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which endow PL with unique advantages as an anti-tumor drug. However, similar to other alkaloids, PL has low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To improve the application of PL in the clinical treatment of tumors, researchers have constructed various nano-drug delivery systems to increase the efficiency of PL delivery. This paper reviewed the physicochemical properties, anti-tumor mechanism, combined therapies, and nano-drug delivery systems of PL in recent years. The review aimed to provide a reference for further research on the anti-tumor effect and nano-drug delivery system of PL. Moreover, this review is expected to provide a reference for the development and application of PL in the anti-tumor therapies.

The monotypic genus Cheliceroides Żabka, 1985 is revalidated based on both molecular sequence data (ultra-conserved elements and protein coding genes of mitochondrial genomes) and morphological evidence. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Cheliceroides is not closely related to Colopsus Simon, 1902, not even in the same tribe, and a comparative morphological study also demonstrates significant differences in the genital structures (i.e. in the shape of embolus, and with or without pocket on epigynum) of the two genera. Therefore, we remove Cheliceroides from the synonymy of Colopsus , and its generic status is revalidated., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Long Lin, Zhiyong Yang, Junxia Zhang.)

Multiple physiology-pertinent transmembrane proteins reach the cell surface via the Golgi-bypassing unconventional protein secretion (UcPS) pathway. By employing C. elegans-polarized intestine epithelia, we recently have revealed that the small GTPase RAB-8/Rab8 serves as an important player in the process. Nonetheless, its function and the relevant UcPS itinerary remain poorly understood. Here, we show that deregulated RAB-8 activity resulted in impaired apical UcPS, which increased sensitivity to infection and environmental stress. We also identified the SNARE VTI-1/Vti1a/b as a new RAB-8-interacting factor involved in the apical UcPS. Besides, RAB-11/Rab11 was capable of recruiting RABI-8/Rabin8 to reduce the guanine nucleotide exchange activity of SMGL-1/GEF toward RAB-8, indicating the necessity of a finely tuned RAB-8/RAB-11 network. Populations of RAB-8- and RAB-11-positive endosomal structures containing the apical UcPS cargo moved toward the apical side. In the absence of RAB-11 or its effectors, the cargo was retained in RAB-8- and RAB-11-positive endosomes, respectively, suggesting that these endosomes are utilized as intermediate carriers for the UcPS., (© 2023 Li et al.)

Background: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is a promising nonpharmacological intervention for CNP, however, its effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PNE in treating CNP., Methods: Electronic databases from inception to February 2023 were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of PNE on CNP. The primary outcome was the change in pain intensity, and the secondary outcome was improvement in kinesiophobia, standardized using Hedges' g. Two authors independently scrutinized eligible articles, extracted data and assessed quality; a random-effects model was employed for data pooling., Results: In total, seven RCTs comprising 479 participants were included and demonstrated that PNE significantly reduced pain intensity (Hedges' g = -0.730, 95% CI = -1.340 to -0.119, p = 0.019, I 2  = 89.288%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the adult group experienced significant pain reduction after PNE, whereas the adolescent group did not. PNE also reduced kinesiophobia which was evaluated in four of seven RCTs (Hedges' g = -0.444, 95% CI = -0.735 to -0.154, p = 0.003, I 2  = 36.822%). The meta-regression analysis indicated that an increased intervention duration contributed to greater pain reduction. No adverse events were reported following PNE or the control treatment., Conclusions: PNE effectively reduced pain intensity and kinesiophobia in patients with CNP. A longer PNE time leads to greater pain reduction and is more effective in adults than in adolescents. Further studies are required to examine the long-term effects on CNP management., Significance: This is the first meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of treating chronic neck pain with pain neuroscience education. Pain neuroscience education is successful in reducing pain and decreasing kinesiophobia in the chronic neck pain population. Longer treatment time leads to greater pain reduction., (© 2023 European Pain Federation - EFIC ®.)

Nitrogen fixation using electrochemical methods on the surface of single-atom catalysts (SACs) provides a highly feasible strategy for green and low-energy-consumption ammonia (NH 3 ) production. Herein, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we explored in detail the potential of monolayer BC 3 N 2 SACs supported with 3d transition metal (TM) atoms (TM@BC 3 N 2 ) to facilitate nitrogen reduction. The results revealed that the TM@BC 3 N 2 systems exhibited remarkable catalytic activity in the nitrogen-reduction reaction (NRR). The fine NRR activity was related to the just-right bonding/antibonding orbital interactions between the 2π* of N 2 and the d orbitals of the TM ions. The nitrogen-adsorption configurations were found to have different activation mechanisms. In addition, the effects of convectively formed convex nitrogen defects (V N ) on the interaction between N 2 and V N -TM@BC 3 N 2 and the NRR process of V N -TM@BC 3 N 2 were studied, and it was found that V N could fine-tune the reaction efficiency of the eNRR because after N atom dissociation to form V N , the interaction of TM-C 3 was enhanced, and the activation of nitrogen and adsorption of NH 3 by the TM-active centers were weakened. The present study can be used as a motivation for further experimental and theoretical research of 2D monolayers as NRR electrocatalysts.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of biliary stenting implantation with iodine-125 seed strand (SI) followed by hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) plus lenvatinib (Len) with programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor for patients diagnosed with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) and malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ)., Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, the data of ECC patients with MOJ from March 2015 to January 2023 was assessed. Using probability score matching (PSM), the selection bias of patients was reduced. Primary study outcomes included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The OS and PFS were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test., Results: A total of 104 patients were enrolled finally, including 52 patients treated with interventional therapy (SI+HAIC) plus Len with PD-1 inhibitor (SI+HAIC+Len+P group) and 52 patients treated with interventional therapy (SI+HAIC) plus lenvatinib (SI+HAIC+Len group). 26 pairs of patients were matched after PSM analysis. After PSM analysis, the median OS and PFS in the SI+HAIC+Len+P group were significantly longer compared to those in the SI+HAIC+Len group (OS:16.6 vs. 12.3 months, P = 0.001; PFS:12.6 vs 8.5 months, P = 0.004). The DCR was significantly different between groups ( P = 0.039), while ORR not ( P = 0.548). The addition of PD-1 inhibitor was generally well tolerated without treatment-associated mortality., Conclusion: Interventional therapy (SI+HAIC) plus Len with PD-1 inhibitor was effective for ECC patients accompanied by MOJ with a manageable safety profile., Competing Interests: The authors declare that 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 Lin, Ke, Chen, Yang, Huang and Wu.)