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Abstract Microtubule-based vesicle trafficking usually relies upon kinesin and dynein motors and few reports describe microtubule polymerisation driving directional vesicle trafficking. Here we show that Arabidopsis END BINDING1b (EB1b), a microtubule plus-end binding protein, directly interacts with SYP121, a SNARE protein that mediates the trafficking of the K+ channel KAT1 and its distribution to the plasma membrane (PM) in Arabidopsis guard cells. Knockout of AtEB1b and its homologous proteins results in a modest but significant change in the distribution of KAT1 and SYP121 in guard cells and consequently delays light-induced stomatal opening. Live-cell imaging reveals that a portion of SYP121-associated endomembrane compartments co-localise with AtEB1b at the growing ends of microtubules, trafficking along with the growth of microtubules for targeting to the PM. Our study reveals a mechanism of vesicle trafficking driven by microtubule growth, which is involved in the redistribution of PM proteins to modulate guard cell movement.

Huajiao water (HW) has a wide range of applications in the new food service industry. However, few process and flavor studies have been conducted on HW. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of boiling process on HW flavor as well as the mechanisms by which important aroma compounds affect the flavor. The results showed that HW-20 min had better flavor quality and typical flavor of Huajiao. Boiling time mainly affected the content of terpenoid, which subsequently affected the overall flavor of HW. Compared to dried Huajiao (DH), HW had significantly lower volatile compounds. Limonene and linalool were abundant volatile compounds in DH and HW. Finally, the potential degradation pathways of limonene and linalool were summarized based on model experiments and isotopic tracer techniques, respectively. This study provided a feasible solution for the investigation of the transformation pathway and the flavor regulation of HW in industry.

The South China Sea contains many coral reefs, and there is a lot of discussion about the best way to dispose of them. Finding ways to use these materials effectively in marine engineering could help address the shortage of natural aggregates in coastal engineering. One potential solution is using coral concrete, which offers cost-effective and enhanced properties. A type of coral fiber concrete using sea sand is created by combining coral rock, sea sand, seawater, PVA fiber, and PP fiber. The findings indicate that by utilizing the optimal ratio of the two fibers (3 kg PVA + 1 kg PP and 2 kg PVA + 2 kg PP), the cubic and axial compressive strength of the new concrete can be increased by 10 % and 20 %, respectively compared to ordinary coral concrete. Furthermore, incorporating these fibers can also reduce axial displacement, resulting in an elastic modulus that is 30–50 % higher than non-fiber variants while enhancing axial toughness. Finally, this study examines stress-strain curves at three different stages through analysis of macroscopic and microscopic failure mechanisms. It was found that there exists a correlation exceeding 0.9 between two mathematical models and measured stress-strain curves from this study. The effective use of composite plastic fiber significantly enhances concrete material performance while providing valuable data support for marine economic facilities construction.

In this study, a fixed-bed biofilm membrane bioreactor was used to assess denitrification and carbon removal performance, membrane fouling, composition, and the dynamics of microbial communities across 10 salinity levels. As salinity levels increased (from 0 to 30 g/L), the removal efficiency of total nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand decreased from 98 and 86% in Phase I to 25 and 45% in Phase X, respectively. Beyond a salinity level of 10 g/L, membrane fouling accelerated considerably. The analysis of fouling resistance distribution suggested that soluble microbial products (SMPs) were the primary cause of this phenomenon. The irregularity in microbial community succession reflected the varying adaptability of different bacteria to different salinity levels. The relative abundance of Sulfuritalea, Lentimircobium, Thauera, and Pseudomonas increased from 20.2 to 47.7% as the experiments progressed. Extracellular polymeric substances-related analysis suggested that Azospirillum plays a positive role in preserving the structural integrity of the biofilm carrier. The SMP-related analysis showed a positive correlation between Lentimircobium, Thauera, Pseudomonas, and the SMP content. These results suggested that these three bacterial genera significantly promoted the release of SMP under salt stress, which in turn led to severe membrane fouling. HIGHLIGHTS Fixed-bed biofilm membrane bioreactor maintains good performance at low-salinity levels.; Soluble microbial products are the major cause for fixed-bed biofilm membrane bioreactor membrane fouling.; Azospirillum has a positive effect on carrier biofilms.; Lentimicrobium, Pseudomonas, and Thauera are highly correlated with soluble microbial product concentration.;

Two-dimensional (2D) nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) films have attracted considerable attention as promising metal-free electrochemical catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Thermal evaporation is a versatile thin film deposition technique. However, the conventional thermal evaporation techniques present challenges in producing nitrogen-rich NG thin films because of the difficulties of a controllable manner for doping graphene with N atoms. To address this, we designed a vacuum thermal evaporation system for the large-scale preparation of 2D NG thin films. Using poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) as a nitrogen and carbon precursor, we deposited nitrogen-rich NG thin films with a size of 50 × 50 mm2 and controllable thickness within the range of 0.5–1.5 nm. The 2D NG samples exhibited a uniform thin film structure with moderate defects. The nitrogen-rich ABPBI precursor and defects, as well as the beneficial morphology and structure, endowed the optimal catalyst (2D NG-900) with a comparable ORR activity and superior stability compared with the commercial Pt/C (20 wt%) catalyst. This paper proposes a feasible strategy for fabricating 2D NG films as effective metal-free catalysts for the ORR.

Carrots as a representative type of delicious and healthy vegetables has become increasingly popular due to its unique flavors and nutritional value. Vast amount of research has been completed on chemical composition and aroma profile of fresh carrot. However, the knowledge of fresh carrot is only scattered. Therefore, a more comprehensive review to fresh carrot is requisite to be reported. This review first describes the botany of carrots; then, the chemical ingredients and their various functions are discussed. The volatile constituents and the effects of terpenoids on aroma profiles of fresh carrot are also discussed. Finally, sources of variation in the formation and development of carrot aroma through heat processing and dehydration are analyzed. This information will further help researchers to solve the problem of insufficient aroma of carrot products and standardize for each type of carrot through improving the production process.

Abstract Despite having significant applications in the construction of controlled delivery systems with high anti-interference capability, to our knowledge dual-controlled molecular release has not yet been achieved based on small molecular/supramolecular entities. Herein, we report a dual-controlled release system based on coordination cages, for which releasing the guest from the cage demands synchronously altering the coordinative metal cations and the solvent. The cages, Hg 5 L 2 and Ag 5 L 2 , are constructed via coordination-driven self-assembly of a corannulene-based ligand. While Hg 5 L 2 shows a solvent-independent guest encapsulation in all the studied solvents, Ag 5 L 2 is able to encapsulate the guests in only some of the solvents, such as acetone-d6, but will liberate the encapsulated guests in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane-d2. Hg 5 L 2 and Ag 5 L 2 are interconvertible. Thus, the release of guests from Hg 5 L 2 in acetone-d6 can be achieved, but requires two separate operations, including metal substitutions and a change of the solvent. Dual-controlled systems as such could be useful in complicated molecular release process to avoid those undesired stimulus-responses.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of β-cell dysfunction on IVF outcomes in women with PCOS.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study includes 1,212 women with PCOS undergoing their first IVF cycle between September 2010 and December 2019. Beta-cell dysfunction was measured by homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) index.ResultsIn quartiles of HOMA-β, the incidence of miscarriage dramatically increased from 10.2% (Q1) to 31.1% (Q4) (Pfor trend

IntroductionPeriodontal disease (PD) presents a substantial global health challenge, encompassing conditions from reversible gingivitis to irreversible periodontitis, often culminating in tooth loss. The gut-oral axis has recently emerged as a focal point, with potential gut microbiota dysbiosis exacerbating PD.MethodsIn this study, we employed a double-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomized (MR) approach to investigate the causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and periodontal disease (PD) and bleeding gum (BG) development, while exploring the interplay between periodontal health and the gut microenvironment. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with two cohorts, totalling 346,731 (PD and control) and 461,113 (BG and control) participants, along with data from 14,306 participants’ intestinal flora GWAS, encompassing 148 traits (31 families and 117 genera). Three MR methods were used to assess causality, with the in-verse-variance-weighted (IVW) measure as the primary outcome. Cochrane’s Q test, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO global tests were used to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method was used to test the stability of the MR results. An F-statistic greater than 10 was accepted for instrument exposure association.Results and conclusionSpecifically, Eubacterium xylanophilum and Lachnoclostridium were associated with reduced gum bleeding risk, whereas Anaerotruncus, Eisenbergiella, and Phascolarctobacterium were linked to reduced PD risk. Conversely, Fusicatenibacter was associated with an elevated risk of PD. No significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected. In conclusion, our MR analysis pinpointed specific gut flora with causal connections to PD, offering potential avenues for oral health interventions.

Pork is widely consumed and appreciated by consumers across the world, and there are various methods of cooking pork. This study aimed to summarize the effects of different heat transfer media on pork flavor and the sources of flavor compounds. The cooking methods are classified based on the heat transfer media used, which include water and steam (e.g. steaming, boiling, and stewing), heat source or hot air (e.g. baking and smoking), oil (e.g. pan-frying, stir-frying, and deep frying), and other cooking technologies. The objective is to provide a reference for researchers studying pork cooking methods and flavor components.

Sustainability, that, stands on three pillars, social, economic, and environmental, and the idea or concept of “sustainable development” binds them together to uplift the spirit of development. China appears as an emerging global development partner in the late 1980s for sharing the development with sustainable development. After World War II, the world community sought global peace and security, freedom, socio-economic development, and environmental protection to reconstruct a new world. China responded to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, realizing the importance of nature and the environment worldwide. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) promote the Agenda 2030 of Sustainable Development. The country also emphasizes on global green governance, such as south-south environmental cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Therefore, this paper discusses the presence of China in global platforms, focusing on Carbon Dioxide (CO2) reduction policies, promoting renewable energy generation (REG), endeavoring for marine sustainability, green finance, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation, referring China’s ecological civilization (EC) construction as an example.

With the pace of global sustainable development, China has improved significantly in tackling environmental problems such as carbon emissions, climate change, air, water, and soil pollution, and wildlife extinction. Our study shows that despite China’s economic policy reform, several issues persist, including inequality between society and region, depletion and waste of resources, and damage to the natural environment. The study observed that China shuts low-level oil and coal-based power plants to prevent air pollution, promote a zero-carbon world, and reduce carbon intensity to 18.8%. The country also increased forest coverage by nearly 23.4%, declared five national parks in 2021, cleaned 98% of polluted water bodies, and improved the air quality in many big cities. A country like China has shown deep concern for environmental sustainability and has formulated many policies, laws, and regulations to prevent and conserve the environment and biodiversity and ensure sustainable economic development. This study argues that the Chinese concept of ecological civilization construction adheres to global sustainable development as both pursuits of achieving sustainable conservation of natural resources and improving the livelihoods of the people. Therefore, this paper reviews China’s policies toward ecological civilization (EC), which aim to create a beautiful China by 2035 on the outline of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The present study also addresses the issues the Chinese government faces while implementing environmental sustainability.

Electrolytes, function as an ion conducting membrane between battery electrodes, are essential for rechargeable batteries. Here, the authors report high-entropy liquid electrolytes and reveal substantial impact of the increasing entropy on lithium-ion solvation structures for highly reversible lithium batteries.

In this short communication, we review the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) law of India from the 1994 to 2020 amendments. Our study shows that the EIA system of India is undergoing a transitional period. In the 1994 EIA Notification, public hearings are included that ensure the voice of the general people in decision-making for sustainable development. A reverse scenario has been seen in the EIA Notification of 2006 and 2020, respectively, where public participation is almost overlooked, and the high interests of the proponents are taken into consideration. Issues like post-facto clearance and limiting public consultations regarding the proposed projects are the biggest obstacles in EIA Notification 2020. Our study also reveals that although the recent amendment quickens obtaining the Environmental Clearance (EC), it brings forth other problems like corruption, lack of transparency, false and fabricated data, poor monitoring etc that hinder the way of effective EIA system in India.

BackgroundOpioids have been used as pain relievers for thousands of years. However, they may also cause undesirable side effects. We therefore performed this study to compare the effect of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) versus opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) on postoperative pain and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA)-related events.MethodsThis is a single center randomized clinical trial that was recruited patients aged from 18 to 70 years who received video-assisted lung surgery between October 2021 and February 2022. Participants were 1:1 randomly assigned to OFA or OSA. Patients in the OFA group received propofol, rocuronium, esmolol, lidocaine, and magnesium sulfate intravenously with epidural ropivacaine. Patients in the OSA group received propofol, rocuronium, remifentanil, and sufentanil intravenously with epidural hydromorphone and ropivacaine.ResultsA total number of 124 patients were randomly allocated to the OFA or OSA group. In the OFA group, the severity of pain during coughs on the first postoperative days (PODs; VAS score 1.88 ± 0.88 vs. 2.16 ± 1.1, p = 0.044) was significantly lower than that in the OSA group. The total ratio of PCEA-related adverse events in the OFA group [11 (19.6%) vs. 26 (47.3%), p = 0.003] was significantly lower than in the OSA group.ConclusionOFA in patients who received video-assisted lung surgery led to lower severity of acute postoperative motion-induced pain and fewer PCEA-related adverse events on the first POD than in the patients in the OSA group.Clinical trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT05063396).

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils is a major abiotic stress that negatively impacts plant growth and development. The toxic effects of Al manifest primarily in the root system, leading to inhibited root elongation and functionality, which impairs the above-ground organs of the plant. Recent research has greatly improved our understanding of the applications of small molecule compounds in alleviating Al toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the role of boron (B), silicon (Si), and their combination in alleviating Al toxicity in soybeans. The results revealed that the combined application significantly improved the biomass and length of soybean roots exposed to Al toxicity compared to B and Si treatments alone. Our results also indicated that Al toxicity causes programmed cell death (PCD) in soybean roots, while B, Si, and their combination all alleviated the PCD induced by Al toxicity. The oxidative damage induced by Al toxicity was noticeably alleviated, as evidenced by lower MAD and H2O2 accumulation in the soybean roots treated with the B and Si combination. Moreover, B, Si, and combined B and Si significantly enhanced plant antioxidant systems by up-regulating antioxidant enzymes including CAT, POD, APX, and SOD. Overall, supplementation with B, Si, and their combination was found to alleviate oxidative damage and reduce PCD caused by Al toxicity, which may be one of the mechanisms by which they alleviate root growth inhibition due to Al toxicity. Our results suggest that supplementation with B, Si, and their combination may be an effective strategy to improve soybean growth and productivity against Al toxicity.

Abstract Background The incidence and mortality of aortic dissection (AD) are increasing. In pathological studies, macrophages, T lymphocytes and dendritic cells were found in the tunica media of the aorta. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene polymorphisms are associated with a high incidence of hypertension in Asian populations. However, there is no clear evidence of the relationship between ALDH2 and aortic dissection in Asians. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of aortic dissection in different ALDH2 genotypes and explore changes in the vasculature. Materials and methods Three-week-old male mice were administered freshly prepared β-aminopropionitrile solution dissolved in drinking water (1 g/kg/d) for 28 days to induce TAD. An animal ultrasound imaging system was used to observe the formation of arterial dissection and changes in cardiac function. Subsequently, mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation. The aortas were fixed for HE staining and EVG staining to observe aortic elastic fiber tears and pseudoluma formation under a microscope. Results Knockout of ALDH2 mitigated β-aminopropionitrile-induced TAD formation in animal studies. Ultrasound results showed that ALDH2 knockout reduced the degree of ascending aortic widening and the incidence of aortic dissection rupture. Pathological sections of multiple aortic segments showed that the protective effect of ALDH2 knockout was observed in not only the ascending aorta but also the aortic arch and descending aorta. The expression levels of genes related to NK CD56bright cells, Th17 cells, T cells and T helper cells were decreased in ALDH2 knockout mice treated with β-aminopropionitrile for 28 days. Conclusion ALDH2 knockout protects against aortic dissection by altering the inflammatory response and immune response and protecting elastic fibers.

Abstract Background Increasing evidence indicates that the immune microenvironment plays a key role in the genesis and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to establish an immune-related gene (IRG) signature and determine its clinical prognostic value in patients with CRC. Methods The RNA sequencing and associated clinical data of CRC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We then screened for differentially expressed IRGs by intersecting with IRGs obtained from the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal. Functional enrichment analyses were carried out to determine the potential biological functions and pathways of the IRGs. We also explored the specific molecular mechanisms of the IRGs by constructing regulatory networks. Prognostic IRGs were obtained by LASSO regression analysis, and subsequently, gene models were constructed in the TCGA dataset to confirm the predictive capacity of these IRGs. Finally, we used the TIMER tool to assess the immune properties of prognostic IRGs and correlate them with immune cells. Results We identified 409 differentially expressed IRGs in patients with CRC. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses suggested that these differentially expressed IRGs were significantly related to 102 cancer signalling pathways and various biological functions. Based on the prediction and interaction results, we obtained 59 TF–IRG, 48 miRNA–IRG, and 214 drug–IRG interaction networks for CRC. Four prognostic genes (POMC, TNFRSF19, FGF2, and SCG2) were developed by integrating 47 survival-related IRGs and 42 characteristic CRC genes. The results of gene model showed that patients in the low risk group had better survival outcomes compared to those in the high risk group. The expression of POMC, TNFRSF19, FGF2, and SCG2 was significantly correlated with immune cells. Conclusion This study identified some valid IRGs, and these findings can provide strong evidence for precision immunotherapy in patients with CRC.

ObjectivesPost-stroke depression (PSD) is a common and serious psychiatric complication which hinders functional recovery and social participation of stroke patients. Stroke is characterized by dynamic changes in metabolism and hemodynamics, however, there is still a lack of metabolism-associated effective and reliable diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for PSD. Our study was dedicated to the discovery of metabolism related diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for PSD.MethodsExpression profiles of GSE140275, GSE122709, and GSE180470 were obtained from GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in GSE140275 and GSE122709. Functional enrichment analysis was performed for DEGs in GSE140275. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was constructed in GSE122709 to identify key module genes. Moreover, correlation analysis was performed to obtain metabolism related genes. Interaction analysis of key module genes, metabolism related genes, and DEGs in GSE122709 was performed to obtain candidate hub genes. Two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest, were used to identify signature genes. Expression of signature genes was validated in GSE140275, GSE122709, and GSE180470. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied on signature genes. Based on signature genes, a nomogram model was constructed in our PSD cohort (27 PSD patients vs. 54 controls). ROC curves were performed for the estimation of its diagnostic value. Finally, correlation analysis between expression of signature genes and several clinical traits was performed.ResultsFunctional enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in GSE140275 enriched in metabolism pathway. A total of 8,188 metabolism associated genes were identified by correlation analysis. WGCNA analysis was constructed to obtain 3,471 key module genes. A total of 557 candidate hub genes were identified by interaction analysis. Furthermore, two signature genes (SDHD and FERMT3) were selected using LASSO and random forest analysis. GSEA analysis found that two signature genes had major roles in depression. Subsequently, PSD cohort was collected for constructing a PSD diagnosis. Nomogram model showed good reliability and validity. AUC values of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of SDHD and FERMT3 were 0.896 and 0.964. ROC curves showed that two signature genes played a significant role in diagnosis of PSD. Correlation analysis found that SDHD (r = 0.653, P < 0.001) and FERM3 (r = 0.728, P < 0.001) were positively related to the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item (HAMD) score.ConclusionA total of 557 metabolism associated candidate hub genes were obtained by interaction with DEGs in GSE122709, key modules genes, and metabolism related genes. Based on machine learning algorithms, two signature genes (SDHD and FERMT3) were identified, they were proved to be valuable therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers for PSD. Early diagnosis and prevention of PSD were made possible by our findings.

Although a number of studies have examined the effects of abusive supervision variability, which refers to leaders engaging in differential abuse toward different subordinates within the team on work-related outcomes, scant research has investigated whether and how abusive supervision variability affects non-work outcomes. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the current study explores how abusive supervision variability affects work–family conflict through psychological detachment, as well as the moderating role of optimism. Results based on a survey of 260 employees from nine companies show that abusive supervision variability is significantly and positively related to work–family conflict. Psychological detachment mediates the effect of abusive supervision variability on work–family conflict. Optimism moderates the relationship between abusive supervision variability and psychological detachment and the indirect effects of abusive supervision variability on work–family conflict through psychological detachment. This study extends the literature on the effects of abusive supervision variability and provides several important practical implications.

The energy content increase is of paramount importance for the development of future Li-based batteries. Here, the authors propose a gel polymer electrolyte in combination with a positive electrode comprising of a Li-rich oxide active material and graphite to produce a high-energy Li metal cell.

This research paper explores using marine shells as coarse aggregates in producing seawater sea sand UHPC-CA. The study examined factors such as coarse aggregates (granite, oyster shell, and cone shell), fine aggregates (sea sand and river sand), fiber types, and content. The research findings indicate that different coarse aggregates and fibers influence the flow performance of UHPC-SCA. The study identified the cone shell as the best coarse shell aggregate and 1.5% steel fiber as the optimal fiber and inclusion amount. The compressive strength of this combination reached 106 MPa, which is comparable to the granite stone UHPC-CA of the same particle size.

It is well−established that plants are sessile and photoautotrophic organisms that rely on light throughout their entire life cycle. Light quality (spectral composition) is especially important as it provides energy for photosynthesis and influences signaling pathways that regulate plant development in the complex process of photomorphogenesis. During previous years, significant progress has been made in light quality’s physiological and biochemical effects on crops. However, understanding how light quality modulates plant growth and development remains a complex challenge. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of light quality in regulating the early development of plants, encompassing processes such as seed germination, seedling de−etiolation, and seedling establishment. These insights can be harnessed to improve production planning and crop quality by producing high−quality seedlings in plant factories and improving the theoretical framework for modern agriculture.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading malignant tumor in terms of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its pathogenesis involves multiple factors, including environment, lifestyle, and genetics. Continuing evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs), as a novel non-coding RNA, constitute an important genetic variable in the pathogenesis of CRC. These circRNAs with covalently closed-loop structures exist objectively in organisms. They not only have the biological functions of regulating the expression of target genes, changing the activity of proteins, and translating proteins, but also play a key role in the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of tumor cells. CRC is one of the most common cancers in which circRNAs are involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance, and circRNAs have been demonstrated to function through crosstalk with multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, this review summarizes the biological and carcinogenic functions of circRNAs and their related PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Notch, JAK/STAT, Hippo/YAP, WNT/β-catenin, and VEGF signaling pathways in CRC. We further explore the clinical value of circRNAs and important signaling proteins in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of CRC.

Heart failure (HF), a global health issue characterized by structural or functional cardiac dysfunction, which was found to be associated with the gut microbiome recently. Although multiple studies suggested that the gut microbiome may have an impact on the development of cardiovascular diseases, the underlying mechanism of the gut microbiome in HF remains unclear. The study of metabolites from gut microbiota influenced by dietary nutrition uptake suggested that gut microbiota may affect the process of HF. However, on the basis of the microbiota’s complicated roles and their interactions with metabolites, studies of microbial metabolites in HF had rarely been described so far. In this review, we focused on dietary nutrition-related factors that were involved in the development and progression of HF, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bile acids (BAs), to summarize their advances and several potential targets in HF. From a therapeutic standpoint, we discussed microbial metabolites as a potential strategy and their applications in HF as well.

The bioavailability of nitrogen constrains primary productivity, and ecosystem stoichiometry implies stimulation of N2 fixation in association with carbon sequestration in hotspots such as paddy soils. In this study, we show that N2 fixation was triggered by methane oxidation and the methanotrophs serve as microbial engines driving the turnover of carbon and nitrogen in rice roots. 15N2-stable isotope probing showed that N2-fixing activity was stimulated 160-fold by CH4 oxidation from 0.27 to 43.3 μmol N g–1 dry weight root biomass, and approximately 42.5% of the fixed N existed in the form of 15N-NH4+ through microbial mineralization. Nitrate amendment almost completely abolished N2 fixation. Ecophysiology flux measurement indicated that methane oxidation-induced N2 fixation contributed only 1.9% of total nitrogen, whereas methanotrophy-primed mineralization accounted for 21.7% of total nitrogen to facilitate root carbon turnover. DNA-based stable isotope probing further indicated that gammaproteobacterial Methylomonas-like methanotrophs dominated N2 fixation in CH4-consuming roots, whereas nitrate addition resulted in the shift of the active population to alphaproteobacterial Methylocystis-like methanotrophs. Co-occurring pattern analysis of active microbial community further suggested that a number of keystone taxa could have played a major role in nitrogen acquisition through root decomposition and N2 fixation to facilitate nutrient cycling while maintaining soil productivity. This study thus highlights the importance of root-associated methanotrophs as both biofilters of greenhouse gas methane and microbial engines of bioavailable nitrogen for rice growth.

The low heat transfer and high energy storage performance of phase change material (PCM) will improve the thermal performance of the PCM-glazed units. However, decreasing the heat transfer results in uneven thermal load on the surface of the PCM-glazed units, which is an important cause of thermal stress in such units, because the glass in glazed units is a fragile material, and then large thermal stress can result in cracks and possible fallout of the glazed units. To study the thermal stress distribution of PCM-glazed units, a method combined numerical simulation and experimental analysis was conducted. First, the heat transfer performance and thermal stress distribution of PCM-glazed units with PCM thicknesses between 3 and 11 mm were experimentally investigated. Results showed that the thermal performance of a glazed unit was improved by adding PCM, and the variation of thermal strain on its surface with a PCM-layer thickness of 7 mm was the smallest in five test facilities. Then, the thermal stress was numerically investigated regarding the PCM height and the aspect ratio of the PCM-glazed unit. The higher the PCM height, the greater the maximum strain. An aspect ratio of PCM-glazed units of 1.5 was recommended.

BackgroundPrimary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is characterized by a lack of specificity and poor prognosis. Further understanding of the tumor heterogeneity and molecular phenotype of PCNSL is of great significance for improving the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.MethodsTo explore the distinct phenotypic states of PCNSL, transcriptome-wide single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on 34,851 PCNSL cells from patients. The cell types, heterogeneity, and gene subset enrichment of PCNSL were identified. A comparison of the PCNSL cells with 21,250 normal human fetal brain (nHFB) cells was further analyzed to reveal the differences between PCNSL and normal sample.ResultsSix cell populations were mainly identified in the PCNSL tissue, including four types of immune cells—B cell, T cell, macrophage and dendritic cell—and two types of stromal cells: oligodendrocyte and meningeal cell. There are significant cellular interactions between B cells and several other cells. Three subpopulations of B cells indicating diffident functions were identified, as well as a small number of plasma cells. Different subtypes of T cells and dendritic cells also showed significant heterogeneity. It should be noted that, compared with normal, the gene expression and immune function of macrophages in PCNSL were significantly downregulated, which may be another important feature of PCNSL in addition to B cell lesions and may be a potential target for PCNSL therapy.

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been increasingly revealed to be desirable biomarkers for some tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combined with our previous microarray screening results, we aimed to determine the hsa_circ_0028502 and hsa_circ_0076251 expression features in HCC, analyze the relationship between their expression level and clinical and pathological characteristics, and investigate their diagnostic and prognostic values. Our data demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0028502 and hsa_circ_0076251 levels were considerably lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent paracancerous tissues (P

Neuronal Kv7/KCNQ channels are voltage-gated potassium channels composed of Kv7.2/KCNQ2 and Kv7.3/KCNQ3 subunits. Enriched at the axonal membrane, they potently suppress neuronal excitability. De novo and inherited dominant mutations in Kv7.2 cause early onset epileptic encephalopathy characterized by drug resistant seizures and profound psychomotor delay. However, their precise pathogenic mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated selected epileptic encephalopathy causing mutations in calmodulin (CaM)-binding helices A and B of Kv7.2. We discovered that R333W, K526N, and R532W mutations located peripheral to CaM contact sites decreased axonal surface expression of heteromeric channels although only R333W mutation reduced CaM binding to Kv7.2. These mutations also altered gating modulation by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), revealing novel PIP2 binding residues. While these mutations disrupted Kv7 function to suppress excitability, hyperexcitability was observed in neurons expressing Kv7.2-R532W that displayed severe impairment in voltage-dependent activation. The M518 V mutation at the CaM contact site in helix B caused most defects in Kv7 channels by severely reducing their CaM binding, K+ currents, and axonal surface expression. Interestingly, the M518 V mutation induced ubiquitination and accelerated proteasome-dependent degradation of Kv7.2, whereas the presence of Kv7.3 blocked this degradation. Furthermore, expression of Kv7.2-M518V increased neuronal death. Together, our results demonstrate that epileptic encephalopathy mutations in helices A and B of Kv7.2 cause abnormal Kv7 expression and function by disrupting Kv7.2 binding to CaM and/or modulation by PIP2. We propose that such multiple Kv7 channel defects could exert more severe impacts on neuronal excitability and health, and thus serve as pathogenic mechanisms underlying Kcnq2 epileptic encephalopathy.

The role of conductive carbon additive on the electrode/electrolyte interface formation mechanism was examined in the low-potential (3.0–0 V) and high-potential (3.0–4.7 V) regions. Here the most commonly used conductive carbon Super P was used to prepared electrode with polyvinylidene fluoride binder without any active material. The dynamic process of interface formation was observed with in situ Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. The electronically insulating electrode/electrolyte passivation layer with areal heterogeneity was formed after cycles in both potential regions. The low-potential interface layer is mainly composed of inorganic compounds covering the conductive carbon surface; While the electrode after high-potential sweep tends to lose its original carbon structure and has more organic species formed on its surface.

Background. Nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth (NGO) is a multifactorial pathogenesis with increased extracellular matrix including collagen and glycans, inflammatory cytokines, and phenotype changes of fibroblasts. However, the molecular etiology of NGO is not well understood. The objective of this study is to investigate the key genes in the pathogenesis of NGO. Methods. In this study, we examined the proliferation and migration abilities of fibroblasts derived from patients with chronic periodontitis, nifedipine nonresponder gingival overgrowth, gingival overgrowth caused by nifedipine, and healthy normal gingiva. We conducted RNA-Seq on these four groups of fibroblasts and analysed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results. Fibroblasts derived from NGO patients had higher proliferation and migration abilities than those of the other groups. Protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated that TGFB2, ITGA8, ITGA11, FGF5, PLA2G4D, PLA2G2F, PTGS1, CSF1, LPAR1, CCL3, and NKX3-1 are involved in the development of NGO. These factors are related to the arachidonic acid metabolism and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Conclusion. Transcriptional gene expression analysis identified a number of DEGs that might be functionally related to gingival overgrowth induced by nifedipine. Our study provides important information on the molecular mechanism underlying nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors are growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, exerting their roles in embryogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and development of breast cancer. Recent genetic studies have identified some subtypes of fibroblast growth factor receptors as strong genetic loci associated with breast cancer. In this article, we review the recent epidemiological findings and experiment results of fibroblast growth factor receptors in breast cancer. First, we summarized the structure and physiological function of fibroblast growth factor receptors in humans. Then, we discussed the common genetic variations in fibroblast growth factor receptors that affect breast cancer risk. In addition, we also introduced the potential roles of each fibroblast growth factor receptors isoform in breast cancer. Finally, we explored the potential therapeutics targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors for breast cancer. Based on the biological mechanisms of fibroblast growth factor receptors leading to the pathogenesis in breast cancer, targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors may provide new opportunities for breast cancer therapeutic strategies.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline. Pathologic accumulation of soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers impairs synaptic plasticity and causes epileptic seizures, both of which contribute to cognitive dysfunction in AD. However, whether seizures could regulate Aβ-induced synaptic weakening remains unclear. Here we show that a single episode of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) increased protein expression of membrane-associated STriatal-Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP61) and decreased tyrosine-phosphorylation of its substrates N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2B and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the rat hippocampus at 2 days following a single ECS. Interestingly, a significant decrease in ERK1/2 expression and an increase in APP and Aβ levels were observed at 3-4 days following a single ECS when STEP61 level returned to the baseline. Given that pathologic levels of Aβ increase STEP61 activity and STEP61-mediated dephosphorylation of GluN2B and ERK1/2 leads to NMDAR internalization and ERK1/2 inactivation, we propose that upregulation of STEP61 and downregulation of GluN2B and ERK1/2 phosphorylation mediate compensatory weakening of synaptic strength in response to acute enhancement of hippocampal network activity, whereas delayed decrease in ERK1/2 expression and increase in APP and Aβ expression may contribute to the maintenance of this synaptic weakening.

Along with the increasing proportion of urban public transportation trip, pedestrian flow in transportation hub areas increased. For effectively improving the emergency handling ability of related management apartments and preventing the incident of pedestrian congestion, this paper studied the method of pedestrian flow forecast in Beijing transportation hub areas. Firstly, 34 typical sidewalks in Beijing transportation hub areas were surveyed to obtain 2200 valid data. Secondly, correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between pedestrian flow and its influential factors. 11 significant influential factors were extracted. Thirdly, forecasting model was established with modular neural network. The surveyed pedestrian flow sample was fuzzy clustered according to the regional land use where the transportation hub existed. Then, membership function based on the distance measure was constructed. Through fuzzy discrimination, online selection for the subnetwork of the information can be achieved. Consequently, the self-adaptation of the neural network on information processing was improved. Finally, this paper tested the pedestrian flow sample of a transportation hub in Beijing. It was concluded that the accuracy of pedestrian flow forecasting model using modular neural network was higher than other neural network models. There was also improvement in the adaptability to environment.

The highway slope failures are triggered by the rainfall, namely, to create the disaster. However, forecasting the failure of highway slop is difficult because of nonlinear time dependency and seasonal effects, which affect the slope displacements. Starting from the artificial neural networks (ANNs) since the mid-1990s, an effective means is suggested to judge the stability of slope by forecasting the slope displacement in the future based on the monitoring data. In order to solve the problem of forecasting the highway slope displacement, a displacement time series forecasting model of cohesionless soil highway slope is given firstly, and then modular neural network (MNN) is used to train it. With the randomness of rainfall information, the membership function based on distance measurement is constructed; after that, a fuzzy discrimination method to sample data is adopted to realize online subnets selection to improve the self-adapting ability of artificial neural networks (ANNs). The experiment on the sample data of Beijing city’s highway slope demonstrates that this model is superior to others in accuracy and adaptability.

The traffic signs transfer trip information to drivers through vectors like words, graphs and numbers. Traffic sign with excessive information often makes the drivers have no time to read and understand, leading to risky driving. It is still a problem of how to clarify the relationship between traffic sign recognition and risky driving behavior. This paper presents a study that is reflective of such an effort. Twenty volunteers participated in the dynamic visual recognition experiment in driving simulator, and the data of several key indicators are obtained, including visual cognition time, vehicle acceleration and the offset distance from middle lane, etc. Correlations between each indicator above are discussed in terms of risky driving. Research findings directly show that drivers' behavior changes a lot during their traffic sign recognition.

Here, we have synthesized six dihydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquids for phase behavior studies at low temperature via crystallographic methods, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Phase varieties are observed depending on the direction and strength of hydrogen bonding. Our studies also show that the ILs could be potentially excellent phasechange thermal storage materials with nearly no change of the phase transition enthalpy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male in his 60s developed a pruritic, maculopapular rash on his torso and arms, sparing his palms and soles. He tested positive for ANA and an initial skin biopsy identified “bullous lupus,” supporting the diagnosis of a connective tissue disease. Additional symptoms included headaches, facial nerve palsy and hearing loss, which partially responded to oral corticosteroids. He subsequently developed a steroid-dependent left eye scotoma, neuroretinitis and optic nerve papillitis. Mycophenolate mofetil was added but an attempted oral steroid taper led to a worsening rash, progressive retinitis and papillitis. Neurosyphilis was confirmed by serum positive rapid plasma reagin test, reactive treponema pallidum antibodies, positive cerebrospinal fluid venereal disease research laboratory and positive spirochete immunostain of skin biopsy of lesional (rash) tissue. Treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone resolved his rash and visual symptoms. It is important to consider syphilis as a mimicker of connective tissue diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First, epoxidized soybean oil polyol (ESOP) with high hydroxyl value and moderate viscosity was prepared by the ring-opening reaction of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). Second, the triphenylmethane-4,4′,4″-triisocyanate (TTI)/ESOP adhesives were prepared by mixing the ESOP with the TTI for the purpose of chemically modifying the TTI. The results of FT-IR and SEM showed the -NCO groups in the TTI reacted with the -OH groups in the ESOP to form a cross-linked structure. In addition, the effects of the isocyanate index, R[n(-NCO)/n(-OH)], i.e., the molar ratio between the isocyanate groups (-NCO) and hydroxyl groups (-OH), on the curing properties, adhesion properties, water resistance, and thermal stability of the TTI adhesives were investigated by means of a digital viscometer, bonding tensile shear strength test, contact angle test, and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The results showed that at R = 1.25, the TTI/ESOP adhesives had the best overall performance; the viscosity of the TTI increased to 3190 mPa s after this modification, and the curing time significantly shortened, from 8 to 2.5 h, the solid content substantially increased, from 23.1% to 56% and the tensile shear strength of the metal–metal samples held together by the adhesives increased from 0.37 to 2.78 MPa. Compared with the TTI, the contact angle between the cured adhesive layer increased from 85.5° for TTI to 93.8° for the TTI/ESOP, and the thermal stability was also enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]