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Distributed point source method (DPSM) has been gradually applied to the field of nondestructive testing (NDT). As a semi-analytical modelling technique, DPSM is extremely powerful and straightforward for solving various engineering problems, such as ultrasonic fields and electromagnetic field. In this paper, the technique is extended to model the eddy current field including sweep frequency measurement and scanning defect. The configuration of eddy current sensors consists of excitation coil and solid-state magnetic field measurement sensors such as Hall device and giant magnetoresistive sensor. Besides that, the wave propagation has been described and magnetic field created by eddy current has been calculated. The results obtained by DPSM is compared with that calculated by finite element method (FEM) in terms of accuracy and computation time, which indicates DPSM can improve calculation speed while ensuring calculation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new alkaloid named aspergilalkaloid A (1) with pyridoindole hydroxymethyl piperazine dione structure along with six known compounds 2-7 were isolated from deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. HDN20-1401. The structure including absolute configuration was elucidated by extensive NMR analyses, HRESIMS, ECD calculation, and theoretical NMR calculation with DP4+ analysis. All isolated compounds were tested for antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Aspergilalkaloid A (1) showed inhibitive activity against Bacillus cereus with MIC value of 12.5 μM and weak activity against MRCNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Expression level of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) is abnormally high in breast cancer, and HDAC5 synergically promotes proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells by cross-talking with LSD1. In this study, the effects of sulforaphane (SFN) on invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of mouse breast cancer 4T1 cells were evaluated, and the role of HDAC5 in the treatment with SFN was observed. Methods: The effects of SFN on proliferation of 4T1 cells was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The cytotoxicity of SFN was detected by lactate dehydrogenase release assay. 4T1 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-flag-HDAC5 plasmid, and the single cell clone was obtained by G418 screening. Then the monoclonal cell lines with stable high expression of HDAC5 were detected and identified using Western blot. The effects of HDAC5 overexpression and SFN treatment on the migration and invasion of 4T1 cells were analyzed with scratch test and transwell method. The effects of SFN on expressions of EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in 4T1 cells were tested using Western blot. The effect of SFN treatment on proliferation and metastasis in xenograft tumor model of 4T1 cells in vivo and the relationship between SFN and HDAC5 expression were observed in BALB/c mice. The Ki-67 proliferative index in xenograft tumor and lung metastatic tumor tissues was detected using immunohistochemical analysis. The heart, liver and kidney tissues of tumor-bearing mice were taken and detected using H-E staining, therefore to evaluate the toxic effects of SFN on tumor-bearing mice. Results: SFN inhibited the proliferation (P

Macrophages play a pivotal role in the immunological cascade activated in response to biomedical implants, which predetermine acceptance or rejection of implants by the host via pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory polarisation states. The role of chemical signals in macrophage polarisation is well‐established, but how physical cues regulate macrophage function that may play a fundamental role in implant‐bone interface, remains poorly understood. Here we find that bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM) cultured on polyacrylamide gels of varying stiffness exhibit different polarisation states. BMDM are 'primed' to a pro‐inflammatory M1 phenotype on stiff substrates, while to an anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype on soft and medium stiffness substrates. It is further observed that matrix stiffening increases Piezo1 expression, as well as leads to subsequent activation of the mechanotransduction signalling effector YAP, thus favouring M1 polarisation whilst suppressing M2 polarisation. Moreover, upon treatment with YAP inhibitor, we successfully induce macrophage re‐polarisation to the M2 state within the implant site microenvironment, which in turn promotes implant osseointegration. Collectively, our present study thus characterises the critical role of the Piezo1‐YAP signalling axis in macrophage mechanosensing and stiffness‐mediated macrophage polarisation and provides cues for the design of immuno‐modulatory biomaterials that can regulate the macrophage phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Do singleton children conceived by ART have a higher asthma risk than naturally conceived (NC) singletons? SUMMARY ANSWER The asthma risk was similar for ART-conceived singletons and NC singletons, and there were no clear differences between the various types of ART. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Whether ART increases asthma risk in offspring is questionable. The evidence is inconsistent and limited by ethnicity, geographic distribution, inadequate confounder adjustment, unsatisfactory control groups, and specific methods of ART. Furthermore, the mediating effects of obstetric and neonatal outcomes on the association between ART and asthma remain unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This observational, single-centre study was conducted at a reproductive centre of an affiliated university hospital between September 2009 and April 2023. A total of 3227 singletons aged 3–6 years conceived by IVF versus ICSI or fresh versus frozen embryo transfer were retrospectively enrolled, and a total of 1206 NC singletons of the same age were subsequently recruited. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Asthma was defined as a self-reported physician diagnosis or wheezing in the past 12 months. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine associations between asthma in offspring and ART use, adjusting for parental characteristics (age, education level, occupation type, BMI, asthma), smoking exposure, residence type, child sex, child age, and year of follow-up. Mediating effects were explored using longitudinal mediation structural equation modelling. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Asthma was reported for 51 (4.2%) of the 1206 NC singletons (median [interquartile range] age 5 [4–5] years; 48.1% females) and 169 (5.2%) of the 3227 ART-conceived singletons (5 [5–5] years; 47.6% females). We found that risks of childhood asthma in singletons conceived by ART were, overall, similar to those of NC singletons before (odds ratio [OR], 1.25 [95% CI, 0.92–1.74]; P  =   0.170) and after adjustment (adjusted OR [aOR], 0.66 [95% CI, 0.44–1.03]; P  =   0.126). The results were similar in multiple sensitivity analyses, and there were no clear differences in asthma risks according to the method of ART. Mediation analysis revealed a significant positive indirect effect of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (standard path coefficient, b  = 0.025, P  <   0.05) and a negative indirect effect of breastfeeding (b  = –0.012, P  <   0.05) on the association between ART and asthma in singleton offspring. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited to singletons only and cannot be generalized. The study is also limited by its retrospective observational single-centre nature and sample size. Mediation analyses were exploratory. Therefore, the findings need to be interpreted with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS These findings can help infertile couples undergoing ART be reassured about the risk of childhood asthma in singleton offspring. Breastfeeding is recommended as a potentially feasible intervention to reduce the asthma risks in ART-conceived children who are at increased potential risk of asthma, such as those with NICU admissions. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (2021C03100), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFC2700603), and the Program for Key Subjects of Zhejiang Province in Medicine and Hygiene to Y. Z. the Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation (No. LQ22H040006) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.82101759) to M.T. and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82201860) to J.Y. The authors declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR2300069906. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]