Search

BackgroundUterine carcinosarcoma (UCS), or malignant mixed Müllerian tumor, is a cancer that include both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components, resembling endometrial carcinoma. A 55-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Gross examination of the specimen revealed brittle tissue in the fundus and the left wall of the endometrium. Postoperative pathology revealed a mixture of well-differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma. The patient was never given birth, which may be relevant to the diagnosis. Literature review suggests that being nulliparous may be a significant risk factor for developing uterine carcinosarcoma.Case descriptionIn December 2023, a 55-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Hysteroscopic surgery was performed, and the postoperative pathology showed endometrial cancer accompanied by ossified tissue with necrosis. The immunohistochemical results indicated positive Estrogen receptors (ER), positive Progesterone receptors (PR), ki67 positivity at 70%, negative PTEN, mutated positive p53, focal positive Pax-8, positive SATB2, positive Cytokeratin 7 (CK7), positive EMA and positive Vimentin (Vim). The patient was diagnosed with Uterine carcinosarcoma. On December 18, 2023, the patient underwent partial vaginal resection, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and a sub-extensive laparoscopic hysterectomy. Postoperatively, the patients received radiotherapy and four cycles of chemotherapy in the DC regimen. As of July 2024, laboratory and impact test results showed no tumor recurrence. The patient’s disease-free survival (DFS) was seven months.ConclusionThe rate of childless in patients with uterine carcinosarcoma is at a high level.

Developing a self-elastic sponge integrating active and passive hemostatic mechanisms for the effective management of uncontrolled coagulopathic hemorrhage remains a challenge. We here developed a chitosan-based sponge by integrating freeze-drying, chemical decoration of alkyl chains and phosphate groups, and physical loading of thrombin. The sponge exhibited high mechanical strength, self-elasticity, and rapid shape recovery. The sponge facilitated blood cell adhesion, aggregation, and activation through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, as well as accelerated blood clotting. The sponge exhibited higher efficacy than commercial gauze and gelatin sponge in managing uncontrolled hemorrhage from heparinized rat tail amputation, liver superficial injury, and liver perforating wound models. In addition, the sponge exhibited favorable biodegradability and biocompatibility. These findings revealed that the developed sponge holds great potential as a novel hemostat for effectively managing uncontrolled coagulopathic hemorrhage from superficial and perforating wounds.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic utility of multimodal ultrasound for fetal bowel dilatation (FBD) in different parts of the bowel and to examine its prognostic potential in FBD. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 86 fetuses with a dilated bowel identified via ultrasound in a 10-month postnatal follow-up. Both two- and three dimensional (2D and 3D, respectively) ultrasound volume imaging were used to characterize dilation across different bowel sections. The optimal intestinal diameter cut-off values for pathological bowel dilatation were determined and a predictive model for neonatal surgery was developed. Results: The 86 cases of dilatation were distributed as follows: duodenal (n = 36); jejunum/ileum (n = 35); and colonic (n = 15). Duodenal dilatations presented the earliest during pregnancy compared to the other 2 groups (24.4 versus [vs.] 29 vs. 33.7 weeks respectively; p

Error in Figure [...]

Li-In alloys are widely used as reference materials in the research field of solid-state lithium-based batteries. Here, the authors report and discuss the instability of Li-In electrodes towards sulfide solid electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries.

Maize kernel growth is sensitive to heat stress, which is predicted to result in yield loss. However, the response of maize to short-term heat stress during different kernel-growth stages is still not clear. A 3-year field experiment, included two heat-stress treatments (LSH, lag-stage heat stress; FSH, effective-filling-stage heat stress), was conducted in 2019–2021. The results showed that LSH and FSH significantly reduced the grain yield by 8.7–14.9% and 11.6–17.6%, respectively, compared with the control (CK). LSH mainly reduced the kernel number per ear, and FSH mainly reduced the kernel weight. Heat stress reduced the SPAD and chlorophyll content during the effective-filling stage, but not in the lag stage. Photosynthesis was obviously reduced under heat stress during both stages; however, the photosynthesis rate during the lag stage was higher than during the effective-filling stage. The decreased amplitude of dry matter under LSH was higher than under FSH during the heating period. However, there was no difference between the CK and LSH samples in terms of dry-matter accumulation from the end of heat stress to harvest, which was significantly reduced under FSH. Additionally, decreased starch-synthesis-related enzyme activity, i.e., adenosine diphos-phoglucose pyrophosphprylase, contributed to the kernel number and kernel weight loss in LSH and FSH, respectively. The kernel-growth rate (per ear) was lowered, but the growth duration was not shortened in this study. Consequently, LSH mainly reduced the photosynthesis rate (Pn), resulting in kernel abortion and yield penalty. FSH mainly reduced the Pn and chlorophyll content, which reduced the kernel weight, and increased yield loss.

Tin dioxide (SnO2) with multiple electron transport is considered as a potential substitute for graphite due to these advantages of natural abundance, environmental friendliness, and high theoretical capacity. However, the ineluctable volume change and structural crushing limit its practical application. Hence, SnO2 is coated by an N-doped graphite layer to form the flexible composite anode (SnO2@NG), which can provide a conductive network, increase the electronic conductivity, and effectively mitigate the irreversible volume expansion/contraction during the circulation process. Furthermore, the SnO2@NG anode shows a high specific capacity and stable cycle performance in lithium-ion batteries (677.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) and sodium-ion batteries (169.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles). This excellent electrochemical performance illustrates that SnO2@NG has broad application prospects for high-performance energy storage systems.

The beach-bar sand reservoir of the Sha 4 Member of the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Sag is the main oil-bearing formation in this area. In recent years, its proven reserves have been getting lower and lower, and the poor petrophysical properties of the reservoir have made water injection development difficult. In turn, it results in a rapid decline in elastic development productivity and low oil recovery. In this study, the experimental evaluation and numerical simulation research on the adaptability of CO2 flooding in beach-bar sand reservoirs are carried out on the basis of fully investigating the successful examples of CO2 flooding conducted by the previous. According to the geological characteristics of the reservoir in the CL area of the Dongying Sag, the reasonable reservoir engineering parameters and surface injection procedures for the CO2 flooding have been formulated. Experiments show that after the completion of water flooding, the recovery factor of the CO2 continuous flooding is 85.64%. It proves that the recovery factor of the CO2 flooding is higher than that of the water flooding. Field tests have shown that CO2 molecules in beach-bar sand reservoirs behave in a supercritical state underground, which is easier to being injected into the reservoir than water. In addition, the displacement distance of the CO2 is obviously larger than that of the water injection development. The gas-oil ratio variation of different flooding types is different, and CO2 flooding can effectively increase the formation energy, and improve the oil recovery and economic benefits of this type of reservoir.

Abstract Background During anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, different methods of harvesting hamstring tendon may lead to different degrees of injury to the inferior patellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN). Most of recent studies in the literature suggest that the classic oblique incision (COI) can reduce the incidence of IPBSN injury. We proposed a modified oblique incision (MOI) and compared it with the COI in terms of the resulting levels of injury and sensory loss and the clinical outcome. Methods Patients with ACL injury admitted to our hospital from April 2015 to July 2019 were randomly selected and included in our study. Thirty patients underwent the COI to harvest hamstring tendons, and the other 32 patients underwent the MOI. The pin prick test was performed to detect the sensation loss at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after the operation. Digital photos of the region of hypoesthesia area were taken, and then, a computer software (Adobe Photoshop CS6, 13.0.1) was used to calculate the area of the hypoesthesia. The length of the incision and knee joint functional score were also recorded. Results At the final follow-up, the incidence of IPBSN injury in COI and MOI were 33.3% and 9.4%, and the areas of paresthesia were 26.4±2.4 cm2 and 9.8±3.4 cm2 respectively. There was no significant difference in the incision length or knee functional score between the two groups. Conclusion The MOI can significantly reduce the risk of injury to the IPBSN, reduce the area of hypoesthesia, and lead to high subjective satisfaction. Therefore, compared with the COI, the MOI is a better method of harvesting hamstring tendons in ACL reconstruction.

In the critical situation of energy shortage and environmental problems, Si has been regarded as one of the most potential anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries as a result of the relatively low delithiation potential and the eminent specific capacity. However, a Si anode is subjected to the huge volume expansion–contraction in the charging–discharging process, which can touch off pulverization of the bulk particles and worsens the cycle life. Herein, to reduce the volume change and improve the electrochemical performance, a novel Si@SiOx/C anode with a core–shell structure is designed by spray and pyrolysis methods. The SiOx/C shell not only ensures the structure stability and proves the high electrical conductivity but also prevents the penetration of electrolytes, so as to avoid the repetitive decomposition of electrolytes on the surface of Si particle. As expected, Si@SiOx/C anode maintains the excellent discharge capacity of 1,333 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Even if the current density reaches up to 2,000 mA g−1, the capacity can still be maintained at 1,173 mAh g−1. This work paves an effective way to develop Si-based anodes for high-energy density lithium-ion batteries.

The crustal structure in Myanmar can provide valuable information for the eastern margin of the ongoing Indo-Eurasian collision system. We successively performed H–k stacking of the receiver function and joint inversion of the receiver function and surface wave dispersion to invert the crustal thickness (H), shear wave velocity (VS), and the VP/VS ratio (k) beneath nine permanent seismic stations in Myanmar. H was found to increase from 26 ​km in the south and east of the study area to 51 ​km in the north and west, and the VP/VS ratio was complex and high. Striking differences in the crust were observed for different tectonic areas. In the Indo-Burma Range, the thick crust (H ​∼ ​51 ​km) and lower velocities may be related to the accretionary wedge from the Indian Plate. In the Central Myanmar Basin, the thin crust (H ​= ​26.9–35.5 ​km) and complex VP/VS ratio and VS suggest extensional tectonics. In the Eastern Shan Plateau, the relatively thick crust and normal VP/VS ratio are consistent with its location along the western edge of the rigid Sunda Block.

Due to the rapid development of bendable electronic products, it is urgent to prepare flexible anode materials with excellent properties, which play a key role in flexible lithium-ion batteries. Although carbon fibers are excellent candidates for preparing flexible anode materials, the low discharge specific capacity prevents their further application. In this paper, a hierarchical porous and silicon (Si)/nitrogen (N) co-doped carbon nanofiber anode was successfully prepared, in which Si doping can improve specific capacity, N doping can improve conductivity, and a fabricated hierarchical porous structure can increase the reactive sites, improve the ion transport rate, and enable the electrolyte to penetrate the inner part of carbon nanofibers to improve the electrolyte/electrode contacting area during the charging–discharging processes. The hierarchical porous and Si/N co-doped carbon nanofiber anode does not require a binder, and is flexible and foldable. Moreover, it exhibits an ultrahigh initial reversible capacity of 1737.2 mAh g−1, stable cycle ability and excellent rate of performance. This work provides a new avenue to develop flexible carbon nanofiber anode materials for lithium-ion batteries with high performance.

We report on 2 different types of left pulmonary artery sling (LPAS), types IA and IIB, diagnosed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We suggest that fetal MRI is an effective tool for accurately diagnosing LPAS and helping guide its perinatal management. Fetal MRI is relatively unaffected by the conditions that limit visualization by echocardiography. When prenatal ultrasound detects either a possible anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery or a tracheobronchial anomaly, fetal MRI may provide additional information to confirm the LPAS diagnosis and classify its type. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of prenatally diagnosed LPAS by fetal MRI.

Remote sensing is a non-contact, long-distance detection technology. The reflection characteristics of a seismic wave can be used to detect remote and non-contact targets. Based on the reflection characteristics of a seismic wave, the underground structure in Tengchong Volcanic Area is explored. In order to further study the deep structure and magmatic activity of the crust in the volcanic area, we carried out a one-year mobile seismic observation. In this paper, nine broadband seismic stations were set up in the Tengchong Volcanic Area, and 3350 receiver function waveforms were collected. The crustal thickness, average wave velocity ratio, and Poisson’s ratio below these stations were calculated by the receiver function method, and the velocity structure near the Moho below these stations was evaluated. Combined with topographic data from SRTM3 (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 3), this study reveals the dynamic relationship among crustal structure, crustal magmatism, and regional tectonic movement. Mantle upwelling plays an important role on the Moho uplift in the northern Tengchong Volcanic Area, and there are interconnected intracrustal magma chambers in the upper platform. The evaluation results of the Moho transition zone also indicate that the Dayingjiang fault is closely related to the tectonic activity of the Tengchong Volcanic fault.

A very simple optical tunable device, which can realize multiple functions of frequency selection, reflection and slow light, is presented at the investigation. The proposed device is constructed by a periodic grating-like structure. There are two dielectrics (graphene and silicon) in a period of the equivalent grating. The incident light will strongly resonate with the graphene of electrostatic doping, forming an evanescent wave propagating along the surface of graphene, and this phenomenon is the surface plasmon. Under constructive interference of the polaritons, a unique plasmonic induced transparency phenomenon will be achieved. The induced transparency produced by this device can be well theoretically fitted by the bright and dark mode of optical equivalent cavity which can be called coupled mode theory. This theory can well analyze the influence of various modes and various losses between the function of this device. The device can use gate voltages for electrostatic doping in order to change the graphene carrier concentration and tune the optical performance of the device. Moreover, the length of the device in y -direction is will be much larger than the length of single cycle, providing some basis for realizing the fast tunable function and laying a foundation for the integration. Through a simulation and calculation, we can find that the group index and group delay of this device are as high as 515 and 0.257 picoseconds (ps) respectively, so it can provide a good construction idea for the slow light device. The proposed grating-like metamaterial structure can provide certain simulation and theoretical help for the optical tunable reflectors, absorbers, and slow light devices.

A magnetic field sensor with a new concentrating-conducting magnetic flux structure (CCMFS) is proposed in this paper, using a silicon-on insulator (SOI) Hall element fabricated by complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology as a magnetic sensitive unit. By fixing the CCMFS above the Hall element packaged on a printed circuit board (PCB) based on inner-connect wire bonding technology, a non-magnetized package can subsequently be obtained. To analyze the inner magnetic field vector distribution of the CCMFS, a simulation model was built based on a finite element software, where the CCMFS was processed using Ni-Fe alloys material by a low speed wire-cut electric discharge technology. The test results showed that the measurement of magnetic fields along a sensitive and a non-sensitive axis can be achieved when VDD = 5.0 V at room temperature, with magnetic sensitivities of 122 mV/T and 132 mV/T in a testing range from −30 mT to 30 mT, respectively. This study makes it possible to not only realize the detection of magnetic field, but also to significantly improve the sensitivity of the sensor along a non-sensitive axis.

NNK, formally known as 4-(methyl nitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanoe, is a potent chemical carcinogen prevalent in cigarette smoke and is a key contributor to the development of human lung adenocarcinomas. On the other hand, autophagy plays a complex role in cancer development, acting as a ''double-edged sword'' whose impact varies depending on the cancer type and stage. Despite this, the relationship between autophagy and NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis remains largely unexplored. Our current study uncovers a marked reduction in p62 protein expression in both lung adenocarcinomas and lung tissues of mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Interestingly, this reduction appears to be contingent upon the activity of extrahepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450), revealing that NNK metabolic activation by CYP450 enzyme escalates its potential to induce p62 downregulation. Further mechanistic investigations reveal that NNK suppresses autophagy by accelerating the degradation of p62 mRNA, thereby promoting the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells. This degradation process is facilitated by the hypermethylation of the Human antigen R (HuR) promoter, resulting in the transcriptional repression of HuR - a key regulator responsible for stabilizing p62 mRNA through direct binding. This hypermethylation is triggered by the activation of ribosomal protein S6, which is influenced by NNK exposure and subsequently amplifies the translation of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3a). These findings provide crucial insights into the nature of p62 in both the development and potential treatment of tobacco-related lung cancer.

Abstract Starch and seed storage protein (SSP) composition profoundly impact wheat grain yield and quality. To unveil regulatory mechanisms governing their biosynthesis, transcriptome, and epigenome profiling is conducted across key endosperm developmental stages, revealing that chromatin accessibility, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 collectively regulate SSP and starch genes with varying impact. Population transcriptome and phenotype analyses highlight accessible promoter regions’ crucial role as a genetic variation resource, influencing grain yield and quality in a core collection of wheat accessions. Integration of time‐serial RNA‐seq and ATAC‐seq enables the construction of a hierarchical transcriptional regulatory network governing starch and SSP biosynthesis, identifying 42 high‐confidence novel candidates. These candidates exhibit overlap with genetic regions associated with grain size and quality traits, and their functional significance is validated through expression‐phenotype association analysis among wheat accessions and loss‐of‐function mutants. Functional analysis of wheat abscisic acid insensitive 3‐A1 (TaABI3‐A1) with genome editing knock‐out lines demonstrates its role in promoting SSP accumulation while repressing starch biosynthesis through transcriptional regulation. Excellent TaABI3‐A1Hap1 with enhanced grain weight is selected during the breeding process in China, linked to altered expression levels. This study unveils key regulators, advancing understanding of SSP and starch biosynthesis regulation and contributing to breeding enhancement.

Accurate short-term power load forecasting is the key to determining the grid company’s dispatch plan and system operation mode. Aiming at the problem of low prediction accuracy due to the difficulty in selecting hyperparameters of BiLSTM, a hybrid parallel Harris hawk optimization algorithm (DE-IHHO) is proposed to choose the optimal hyperparameters of BiLSTM to improve the prediction accuracy of the model. In this paper, several load forecasting models are tested and BiLSTM with better performance is chosen as the baseline model. Aiming to solve the problem of the complex selection of hyperparameters for BiLSTM, the Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO) algorithm is used to obtain better hyperparameter combinations and improve prediction accuracy. To further explore the optimal hyperparameter combinations of BiLSTM, running in parallel with differential evolutionary algorithm (DE) to enhance the search diversity, adopting chaotic dyadic learning strategy and mutation operation strategy to improve the global search capability of HHO, and finally smoothing the optimal solution to reduce the influence of abnormal solutions. The results show that the convergence speed and optimization ability of DE-IHHO are significantly improved, and the BiLSTM optimized in this way improves considerably in all three metrics of MAE, MAPE, and RMSE, proving this prediction model’s effectiveness.

Abstract Background Low-level viremia (LLV) has been identified as a potential precursor to virologic failure (VF), yet its clinical implications, particularly within the context of Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs)-based regimens, remain insufficiently explored. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between LLV and VF within ART-naïve patients on INSTIs-based regimens in China. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with ART-naïve patients aged ≥ 18 years at Beijing Ditan Hospital, under the Chinese National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program (NFATP). The LLV was defined as a viral load (VL) ranging from 50 to 199 copies/mL after six months of ART initiation, and VF as a VL ≥ 200 copies/mL. Sensitive analyses were also performed, defining LLV as 50–999 copies/mL and VF as exceeding 1000 copies/mL. Multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve, and Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with LLV and VF events. Results The study involved 830 ART-naïve patients, comprising 600 in the INSTIs group and 230 in the protease inhibitors (PIs) group. LLV events were observed in 10.4% of patients on PIs-based regimens and and 3.2% on INSTIs-based regimens (P

Routine maintenance of fruit trees generates a substantial quantity of pruning waste each year. This waste is potential feedstock for producing energy, materials, and other products. The feasibility of making biochar from the waste via pyrolysis was evaluated. The effects of seven tree species, different pruning sites, and temperature on the pyrolysis process, and the physicochemical properties of the biochar were studied. Pyrolysis of different tree species at 500 °C yielded 27.5 to 33.3% biochar, with a high calorific value (approximately 30 MJ/kg), low ash content (approximately 4%), and capturing up to 60% of the carbon element present. Simultaneously, when the temperature was increased from 400 to 700 °C, the yield of biochar decreased from 35.8% to 24.3%, but the properties improved with the higher heating value rising from 29.2 to 31.3 MJ/kg and the iodine value from 234 to 252 mg/g. The biochar has a good pore structure with a specific surface area of 237 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.175 cm3/g, and average pore size of 2.96 nm. In general, biochar from the pyrolysis of fruitwood pruning waste generated here could be an ideal feedstock to produce high-value-added products, such as solid fuels, activated carbon, and electrode materials.

ABSTRACT Introduction Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Observational studies have shown a bidirectional association between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or chronic rhinitis (CR), but it is not clear whether this association is causal.This study was to investigate the causality between GER and CRS or CR using bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.Using pooled data from large genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), genetic loci independently associated with GER, CRS and CR in populations of European and American ancestry were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to analyse the random effects model of MR, and the odds ratio (OR) was used as the evaluation index to explore the bidirectional causality between GER and CRS or CR. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) outliers were detected using MR‐pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outliers (MR‐PRESSO). The MR–Egger intercept test examined the horizontal pleiotropy of SNPs. The “leave‐one‐out” sensitivity analysis examined whether MR results were affected by a single SNP.The main results of IVW showed that GER increased the risk of CRS (OR = 1.3795, 95% CI = 1.188–1.603, p < 0.0500) and CR (OR = 1.3941, 95% CI = 1.1671–1.6652, p < 0.0500). The obtained SNPs as IVs for GER, CRS and CR had no significant horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity or bias. Regarding the reverse directions, no notable associations could be found.This MR analysis revealed that genetically predicted GER had a causal effect on an increased risk of CRS or CR, but not vice versa. These results have great implications for the management of CRS (especially for refractory CRS) or CR in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser combined with halometasone cream in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE). Methods A prospective, single-center, parallel-group, open-label randomized trial including 67 patients with moderate-to-severe CHE was carried out. Patients were randomly assigned to group A (n = 33, fractional CO2 laser once every 4 weeks 1–2 times and halometasone cream twice daily for 8 weeks) or group B (n = 34, halometasone cream alone twice daily for 8 weeks). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving treatment success at week 12 in each group. Secondary endpoints included differences between groups in the change of hand eczema severity index (HECSI), patient global assessment (PaGA), dermatology life quality index (DLQI), and quality of life in hand eczema questionnaire (QOLHEQ) from baseline to week 12. Relapse rate and adverse effects were also recorded. Results A total of 29 patients in each group completed the trial. At week 12, the treatment success rate was 62.1% (18/29) in group A and 27.6% (8/29) in group B (p = 0.009). At week 12, HECSI, PaGA, DLQI, and QOLHEQ all decreased compared with baseline in both groups (p

Abstract Intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the most important indexes in neurosurgery. It is essential for doctors to determine the numeric value and changes of ICP, whether before or after an operation. Although external ventricular drainage (EVD) is the gold standard for monitoring ICP, more and more novel monitoring methods are being applied clinically. Invasive wired ICP monitoring is still the most commonly used in practice. Meanwhile, with the rise and development of various novel technologies, non-invasive types and invasive wireless types are gradually being used clinically or in the testing phase, as a complimentary approach of ICP management. By choosing appropriate monitoring methods, clinical neurosurgeons are able to obtain ICP values safely and effectively under particular conditions. This article introduces diverse monitoring methods and compares the advantages and disadvantages of different monitoring methods. Moreover, this review may enable clinical neurosurgeons to have a broader view of ICP monitoring.

BackgroundAntiretroviral Therapy (ART) in children remains challenging due to resource-constrained settings. We conducted a 13-year, prospective, multicenter cohort study on the effectiveness and safety of LPV/r-based regimens in ART-naive and ART-experienced children.MethodsFrom January 2008 to May 2021, children living with HIV-1 were recruited with LPV/r-based regimens from 8 clinical research sites in 6 provinces in China. Effectiveness outcomes were virologic failure (defined as at least two consecutive measurements of VL > 200 copies/mL after 6 months of ART) and immune response (defined as CD4% recovered to more than 25% after 12 months of treatment). The safety outcomes were treatment-related grade 2–4 adverse events and abnormal laboratory test results.ResultsA total of 345 ART-naïve children and 113 ART-experienced children were included in this cohort study. The median follow-up time was 7.3 (IQR 5.5–10.5) years. The incidence density of virologic failure was 4.1 (95% CI 3.3–4.9) per 100 person-years in ART-naïve children and 5.0 (95% CI 3.5–6.5) per 100 person-years in ART-experienced children. Kaplan Meyer (KM) curve analysis showed children with ART experience were at a higher risk of virologic failure (p 5 days of LPV intake (aHR = 1.889, 1.004–3.554); The risk factor of virologic failure in ART-experienced children was missed dose times >5 days (aHR = 2.689, 1.299–5.604) and mother as caregivers for ART administration (aHR = 0.475, 0.238–0.948). However, during long-term treatment, viral suppression rates between ART-naïve and ART-experienced children remained similar. No significant differences were observed in the immune response, treatment-related grade 2–4 events, and abnormal laboratory test results between ART-naïve children and ART-experienced children.ConclusionOur research underscores that with consistent, long-term treatment of LPV/r-based regimens, ART-experienced children can achieve therapeutic outcomes comparable to ART-naïve children. It provides crucial insights on LPV/r-based regimens in pediatric HIV treatment, especially in resource-limited settings where high-cost Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTs) are inaccessible. This evidence-based understanding provides an essential addition to the global therapeutic strategies for pediatric HIV treatment.

Abstract Background Plant and animal embryogenesis have conserved and distinct features. Cell fate transitions occur during embryogenesis in both plants and animals. The epigenomic processes regulating plant embryogenesis remain largely elusive. Results Here, we elucidate chromatin and transcriptomic dynamics during embryogenesis of the most cultivated crop, hexaploid wheat. Time-series analysis reveals stage-specific and proximal–distal distinct chromatin accessibility and dynamics concordant with transcriptome changes. Following fertilization, the remodeling kinetics of H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 differ from that in mammals, highlighting considerable species-specific epigenomic dynamics during zygotic genome activation. Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated H3K27me3 deposition is important for embryo establishment. Later H3K27ac, H3K27me3, and chromatin accessibility undergo dramatic remodeling to establish a permissive chromatin environment facilitating the access of transcription factors to cis-elements for fate patterning. Embryonic maturation is characterized by increasing H3K27me3 and decreasing chromatin accessibility, which likely participates in restricting totipotency while preventing extensive organogenesis. Finally, epigenomic signatures are correlated with biased expression among homeolog triads and divergent expression after polyploidization, revealing an epigenomic contributor to subgenome diversification in an allohexaploid genome. Conclusions Collectively, we present an invaluable resource for comparative and mechanistic analysis of the epigenomic regulation of crop embryogenesis.

For the paper, experimental studies were performed on the damage of the Ge- and Si-based flat window by lasers out-of-band. The experimental results showed that lasers out-of-band can cause film damage and substrate damage to Ge and Si windows. The high-energy laser damage window mechanism mainly manifested as thermal effects. The composite laser damage thresholds for the substrate were an Si window of 21.6 J/cm2 and a Ge window of 3 J/cm2. Compared with continuous laser and long pulse laser experimental results, it was found that the use of long pulse-continuous composite constitution could effectively reduce the damage threshold. Compared to the long-pulse laser, the composite laser could achieve similar damage effects with a smaller energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed flexible circuits are essential in flexible systems for real-time information analysis and wireless communication. Here, flexible circuits are reported with a 281 ps stage delay based on scaled carbon nanotube thin film transistors.

Acquired radioresistance is a challenge for the cure of glioblastoma. Here, the authors show that radioresistant glioblastoma boosts mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation that fuels cell proliferation and induces immunosuppression via CD47 mediated anti-phagocytosis. Inhibition of FAO by etomoxir combined with anti-CD47 antibodies sensitizes glioblastoma to radiotherapy.

Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in clinical practice. Most adult diffuse gliomas have poor efficacy after standard treatment, especially glioblastoma. With the in-depth understanding of brain immune microenvironment, immunotherapy as a new treatment has attracted much attention. In this study, through analyzing a large number of glioma cohorts, we reported that TSPAN7, a member of the tetraspanin family, decreased in high-grade gliomas and low expression was associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. Meanwhile, the expression pattern of TSPAN7 was verified in glioma clinical samples and glioma cell lines by qPCR, Western Blotting and immunofluorescence. In addition, functional enrichment analysis showed that cell proliferation, EMT, angiogenesis, DNA repair and MAPK signaling pathways were activated in the TSPAN7 lower expression subgroup. Lentiviral plasmids were used to overexpress TSPAN7 in U87 and LN229 glioma cell lines to explore the anti-tumor role of TSPAN7 in glioma. Moreover, by analyzing the relationship between TSPAN7 expression and immune cell infiltration in multiple datasets, we found that TSPAN7 was significantly negatively correlated with the immune infiltration of tumor-related macrophages, especially M2-type macrophages. Further analysis of immune checkpoints showed that, the expression level of TSPAN7 was negatively correlated with the expression of PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4. Using an independent anti-PD-1 immunotherapy cohorts of GBM, we demonstrated that TSPAN7 expression may had a synergistic effect with PD-L1 on the response to immunotherapy. Based on the above findings, we speculate that TSPAN7 can serve as a biomarker for prognosis and a potential immunotherapy target in glioma patients.

BackgroundThe efficacy of topical minoxidil (MX) alone on female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is limited. Combination therapy based on topical MX is currently expected to provide better outcomes.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess whether the combined therapies including MX plus oral spironolactone (SPT) and MX plus microneedling (MN) have advantages in efficacy and safety over topical MX alone on mild-to-moderate FPHL with normal hormone levels in the blood and regular menstrual cycle.MethodsA prospective, single-center, parallel-group, evaluator blinded, randomized trial including 120 non-menopause women with proven FPHL (Sinclair class II-III) was performed in China. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups, namely, the MX group (5% topical MX alone, once daily), the MX + SPT group (MX plus SPT 80–100 mg daily), and the MX+MN group (MX plus MN every 2 weeks, 12 sessions). The change from the baseline to week 24 was assessed in hair growth (hair density and diameter under dermoscope), scalp tissue structure (epidermal thickness, dermis thickness, and average hair follicle diameter under ultrasound biomicroscopy), physician's global assessment (using a 7-point global-assessment scale and Sinclair's stage change), patient evaluation (Women's Androgenetic Alopecia Quality of Life Questionnaire and Sinclair's hair-shedding score) and side effects.ResultsIn total, 115 participants completed the trial. At week 24, the hair density increased most in MX + MN group and increased least in MX group (p < 0.001 for MX + MN group vs. MX + SPT group; p = 0.009 for MX + SPT group vs. MX group). The hair shaft diameter significantly increased in all groups (p < 0.001, respectively), but there were no significant differences among the three groups (p = 0.905). The epidermal thickness and average hair follicle diameter only increased in MX + MN group. Dermis thickness increased in all groups, but there were no significant differences among the three groups. Both physician's and patient assessments showed improvement in all three groups. Scalp pruritus was the most common side effect. The MX + SPT group had the most reported adverse effects.LimitationsThe main limitations of this study are the relatively small sample size, the exclusion of severe FPHL patients, and the potential bias from unblinded treatments among the 3 groups.ConclusionTopical MX combined with MN is a better choice than either MX plus oral SPT or MX alone for the treatment of mild-to-moderate FPHL patients.

BackgroundFighting skin aging signs is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and microneedling (MN) have been applied for anti-aging. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of MN and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (hUC-MSCs-CM) in skin brightness and rejuvenation.MethodsThirty volunteers with facial skin aging were recruited for the randomized, controlled split-face study. The left and right sides of the face were randomly applied with saline via MN or hUC-MSCs-CM via MN. Five sessions were performed for each volunteer at 2-week intervals. Two dermatologists evaluated the clinical improvement, in terms of skin brightness and texture. A satisfaction score based on a self-evaluation questionnaire was recorded at 2 weeks after the last treatment. The objective evaluation was recorded before the first treatment, and at 2 weeks after the last treatment.ResultsTwenty-eight volunteers with a mean (SD) age of 41 (6.54) years old completed the trial. The investigator’s assessment for skin brightness and texture, and the self-satisfaction score revealed statistically better effects in hUC-MSCs-CM -plus-MN group than in MN alone (MN saline) group. No severe side effects were reported during the whole study period. Compared to MN alone group, the objective assessment revealed significant improvements in skin brightness (reduced melanin index, ultraviolet spots, and brown spots) and skin texture (reduced wrinkles and pores, and increased skin elasticity) in hUC-MSCs-CM-plus-MN group, while there were no obvious differences in skin hydration, trans-epidermal water loss, and the erythema index.ConclusionThe combination of hUC-MSCs-CM and MN exhibite anti-aging efficacy, and this could be used for facial rejuvenation in the future.

Abstract Background Invasive sphenoid sinus aspergillosis is a rare but life-threatening condition usually found in immunocompromised patients. When involving cavernous sinus and surrounding structures, patients are frequently misdiagnosed with a neoplasm or sellar abscess. Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial to patients’ outcomes. The objective of this study is to review cases of invasive sphenoid sinus aspergillosis to describe disease manifestations, imaging features, treatment, and outcome. Case presentation We describe four patients with invasive sphenoid sinus aspergillosis misdiagnosed as sellar tumors preoperatively. The mass was completely removed in three patients and partially removed in one patient microscopically. Pathological examinations confirmed Aspergillus in all cases. All four patients received anti-fungal agents postoperatively. There was no recurrence at the time of each patient’s follow-up date. One patient with complete resection was lost to follow-up while the other three patients’ neurologic function improved. Additionally, we performed a systematic review regarding invasive sphenoid sinus aspergillosis of existing English literature. Conclusion With regard to clinical symptoms, headache, vision impairment, and ophthalmoplegia were observed in over half of the patients in the literature. A sellar mass with bone destruction on CT and involvement of cavernous sinus is highly suggestive of invasive fungal sphenoid sinusitis. Immediate surgical removal of the lesion is recommended for invasive sphenoid sinus aspergillosis to preserve nerve function and increase the likelihood of survival.

BackgroundGerm cell tumors (GCTs) are neoplasms derived from reproductive cells, mostly occurring in children and adolescents at 10 to 19 years of age. Intracranial GCTs are classified histologically into germinomas and non-germinomatous germ cell tumors. Germinomas of the basal ganglia are difficult to distinguish based on symptoms or routine MRI images from gliomas, even for experienced neurosurgeons or radiologists. Meanwhile, intracranial germinoma has a lower incidence rate than glioma in children and adults. Therefore, we established a model based on pre-trained ResNet18 with transfer learning to better identify germinomas of the basal ganglia.MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled 73 patients diagnosed with germinoma or glioma of the basal ganglia. Brain lesions were manually segmented based on both T1C and T2 FLAIR sequences. The T1C sequence was used to build the tumor classification model. A 2D convolutional architecture and transfer learning were implemented. ResNet18 from ImageNet was retrained on the MRI images of our cohort. Class activation mapping was applied for the model visualization.ResultsThe model was trained using five-fold cross-validation, achieving a mean AUC of 0.88. By analyzing the class activation map, we found that the model’s attention was focused on the peri-tumoral edema region of gliomas and tumor bulk for germinomas, indicating that differences in these regions may help discriminate these tumors.ConclusionsThis study showed that the T1C-based transfer learning model could accurately distinguish germinomas from gliomas of the basal ganglia preoperatively.

Mannosidase Alpha Class 2B Member 1 (MAN2B1) gene encodes lysosomal alpha-d-mannosidase involved in the ordered degradation of N-linked glycoproteins. Alteration in MAN2B1 has been proved to be accountable for several diseases. However, the relationship between MAN2B1 and glioma malignancy remains unclear. In this study, RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas datasets were analyzed to explore the correlation between MAN2B1 and clinicopathological features, prognosis, and somatic mutations in gliomas. We found that MAN2B1 was elevated in glioma and was correlated with malignant clinical and molecular features. Upregulated expression of MAN2B1 is prognostic for poor outcomes in glioma patients. Different frequencies of somatic mutations were found in gliomas between high and low MAN2B1 expression. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry staining from glioma patient samples and cell lines were used to validate bioinformatic findings. Functional enrichment analysis showed that MAN2B1 was involved in immune and inflammation processes. Moreover, MAN2B1 expression was strongly correlated with M2 macrophages and weakly correlated with M1 macrophages. Further analysis confirmed that MAN2B1 was closely associated with the markers of M2 macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages. Taken together, MAN2B1 is a potential prognostic biomarker in glioma and associates with immune infiltration.

Introduction: Lichen planus/lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome is rarely seen in the clinic and has the characteristic clinical manifestations, histopathology, and immunopathology of lichen planus (LP) and lupus erythematosus (LE). This is the first reported case of bullous lichen planus (BLP)/systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap syndrome with hair loss as the first symptom.Case Presentation: A 48-year-old female presented with alopecia for half a year, and skin lesions accompanied by itching on her face, trunk, and limbs for 3 months. She had a history suggestive of photosensitivity. Laboratory tests and histopathology were performed for diagnosis. Histopathologic features of the upper arm and back of the hand were consistent with BLP, whereas the scalp lesion indicated LE. Laboratory examination indicated positive for antinuclear antibody (ANA) (1:160), leukopenia, increased urinary protein, decreased C3/C4, and normal BP180. The patient was given glucocorticoid combined with acitretin and immunosuppressive therapy after a definite diagnosis of BLP/SLE overlap syndrome. The lesions of the patient disappeared and some hair had regrown during the two years of follow-up.Conclusion: This is the first reported case of BLP/SLE overlap syndrome which responded well to glucocorticoids, retinoids, and immunosuppressive drugs. Multiple biopsies from characteristic lesions will guide doctors to avoid misdiagnoses and delayed treatment.

Background: Melasma is an acquired pigmentation disorder with challenges in treatment because of its refractory nature and high risk of recurrence.Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and side effects of 14 common therapies for melasma using a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA).Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched till December 2020 using the melasma area and severity index as a therapeutic index. A total of 59 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria and were selected.Results: The ranking of relative efficacy compared with placebo in descending order was Q-switched Nd:Yag 1,064-nm laser (QSND), intense pulsed light, ablative fractional laser (AFL), triple combined cream (TCC), topical vitamin C, oral tranexamic acid (oTA), peeling, azelaic acid, microneedles (MNs), topical tranexamic acid (tTA), tretinoin, picosecond laser, hydroquinone (HQ), and non-AFL. Moreover, QSND was more effective than HQ and tTA against melasma. The ranking of percentage (%) of side effects in ascending order for each of 14 therapies with more than 80 participants was tretinoin (10.1%), oTA (17.6%), HQ (18.2%), AFL (20.0%), QSND (21.5%), TCC (25.7%), tTA (36.75%), peeling (38.0%), and MN (52.3%). Taking both efficacy and safety into consideration, TCC was found to be the most favorable selection among the topical drugs for melasma. QSND and AFL were still the best ways to treat melasma among photoelectric devices. oTA as system administration was a promising way recommended for melasma. Among 31 studies, 87% (27/31) studies showed that the efficacy of combination therapies is superior to that of single therapy. The quality of evidence in this study was generally high because of nearly 50% of split-face RCTs.Conclusions: Based on the published studies, this NMA indicated that QSND, AFL, TCC, and oTA would be the preferred ways to treat melasma for dermatologists. However, more attention should be paid to the efficacy and safety simultaneously during the clinical application. Most of the results were in line with those of the previous studies, but a large number of RCTs should be included for validation or update.Systematic Review Registration: identifier: CRD42021239203.

In this paper, an innovative bionic system will be presented. This system can be used to generate bio-inspired electromagnetic fields (BIEFM) by mimicking natural Earth magnetic fields, the frequencies, strengths and waveforms of body organs and cellular pulsations. The preliminary tests have been carried out to investigate the influences of BIEFM on the ATP levels of people to prove the interactions between BIEMF and the cellular level's bio-processing activities. This system has been applied for the health enhancement of humans and pets etc. A number of case studies will be present to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. The case study experimental results have shown that this innovative bio-inspired system works efficiently and effectively in enhancing human and animal health. It has been proven that this bio-inspired system can be effectively applied to many areas such as (1) human health enhancement and illness treatment, (2) pet health enhancement, and (3) reduction or elimination of 'jet lag'.

Linearized inversion algorithms are the main techniques in seismic imaging that apply the single-scattering (Bom) approximation to the scattered field, and therefore, have difficulty handling the strong perturbation of model parameters and nonlinear multiple-scattering effects. To theoretically overcome these drawbacks in the linearization of the inverse scattering problem, we have developed an approach to deal with nonlinear double-scattering inversion. We first used an integral equation formulation associated with the scattered field consisting of single and double scattering in an acoustic earth model based on the second-order Bom approximation, and we found that the approximation of the scattered field can be naturally related to the generalized Radon transform (GRT). We then adopted the inverse GRT to obtain the corresponding quadratic approximate inversion solution. Our inversion scheme can appropriately handle the first-order transmission effects from double scattering in a local area, which gives a significant amplitude correction for the inversion results and ultimately results in a more accurate image with true amplitude. We conducted numerical experiments that showed the conventional single-scattering inversion was good in amplitude only for perturbation up to 10% of the background medium, but our approach can work for up to 40% or more. Test results indicated that our inversion scheme can effectively relax the requirement of the weak perturbation of the model parameter in the Bom approximation and can deal with the complex model directly. The computational complexity of our new scheme is almost the same as conventional linear scattering inversion processing. Therefore, the cost of our approach is at a similar level to that of linear scattering inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Exposure to cold weather is associated with infaust cardiovascular responses, including myocardial infarction and arrhythmias. However, the exact mechanisms of these adverse changes in the myocardium under cold stress are unknown. This study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of cardiac injury induced by cold stress in mice. Methods The mice were randomly divided into three groups, normal control (no handling), 1-week cold stress and 2-week cold stress. We observed physiological changes of the mice and morphological changes of myocardium tissues, and we measured the changes of 3′-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal, the expression levels of superoxide dismutase-1, superoxide dismutase-2, Bax, Bad, Bcl-2, Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) in myocardium by western blot. Besides, we detected mRNA of superoxide dismutase-1, superoxide dismutase-2, Bax, Bad, Bcl-2, Nrf2 and Keap1 by real-time PCR. One-way analysis of variance, followed by LSD-t test, was used to compare each variable for differences among the groups. Results Echocardiography analyses demonstrated left ventricle dysfunction in the groups receiving cold stress. Histological analyses witnessed inflammation, vacuolar and eosinophilic degeneration occurred in left ventricle tissues. Western blotting results showed increased 3′-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal and decreased antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-1 and superoxide dismutase-2) in the myocardium. Expression of Nrf2 and Keap1 followed a downward trend under cold exposure, as indicated by western blotting and real-time PCR. Expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 also showed the same trend. In contrast, expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad followed an upward trend under cold exposure. The results of real-time PCR were consistent with those of western blotting. Conclusions These findings were very significant, showing that cold exposure induced cardiac injury by inhibiting the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway.

Background: Germ-line transformation of insects is now a widely used method for analyzing gene function and for the development of genetically modified strains suitable for pest control programs. The most widely used transposable element for the germ-line transformation of insects is piggyBac. The site of integration of the transgene can influence gene expression due to the effects of nearby transcription enhancers or silent heterochromatic regions. Position effects can be minimized by flanking a transgene with insulator elements. The scs/scs' and gypsy insulators from Drosophila melanogaster as well as the chicken β-globin HS4 insulator function in both Drosophila and mammalian cells. Results: To minimize position effects we have created a set of piggyBac transformation vectors that contain either the scs/scs', gypsy or chicken β-globin HS4 insulators. The vectors contain either fluorescent protein or eye color marker genes and have been successfully used for germ-line transformation of Drosophila melanogaster. A set of the scs/scs' vectors contains the coral reef fluorescent protein marker genes AmCyan, ZsGreen and DsRed that have not been optimized for translation in human cells. These marker genes are controlled by a combined GMR-3xP3 enhancer/promoter that gives particularly strong expression in the eyes. This is also the first report of the use of the ZsGreen and AmCyan reef fluorescent proteins as transformation markers in insects. Conclusion: The insulated piggyBac vectors should protect transgenes against position effects and thus facilitate fine control of gene expression in a wide spectrum of insect species. These vectors may also be used for transgenesis in other invertebrate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Patterning micro-structures on highly hydrophobic surface by photolithography is usually inevitable for fabricating devices based on electrowetting effects. The key challenges for such photolithography processes are how to coat photoresist uniformly and maintain the hydrophobicity of the highly hydrophobic surface, which are usually two contradict aspects. Moreover, the patterned microstructure must adhere to the highly hydrophobic surface excellently, which is critical for device application. However, a simple and robust fabrication process that fulfills all the above requirements was seldom reported. In this paper, we developed a sacrificial layer photolithography strategy on highly hydrophobic surface. Photoresist is easily coated uniformly all over the substrate by introducing a sacrificial layer between the photoresist and the highly hydrophobic surface. The hydrophobicity of the exposed hydrophobic surface was maintained and the adhesion of the microstructures to the substrate is excellent. An electrowetting display sample was demonstrated by this fabrication strategy, which showed dynamic image displaying with response time less than 40 ms. The strategy is applicable to both rigid and flexible substrate and manufacturing compatible. We believe our developed photolithography process is important for research and development of devices based on electrowetting effect.

A facile synthetic route of rivaroxaban has been developed. Using commercially available (R)-epichlorohydrin and bromobenzene as the starting materials, rivaroxaban was obtained in 39% overall yield using a Goldberg coupling as the key step. The synthetic route represents a convenient procedure for the production of rivaroxaban.

The electronic properties of conventional semiconductor are usually controlled by doping, which introduces carriers into the semiconductor but also distortion and scattering centers to the otherwise perfect lattice, leading to increased scattering and power consumption that becomes the limiting factors for the ultimate performance of the next generation electronic devices. Among new materials that have been considered as potential replacing channel materials for silicon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively studied and shown to have all the remarkable electronic properties that an ideal electronic material should have, but controlled doping in CNTs has been proved to be challenging. In this article we will review a doping-free approach for constructing nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices and integrated circuits. This technique relies on a unique property of CNTs, i.e. high quality ohmic contacts can be made to both the conduction band and valence band of a semiconducting CNT. High performance nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices have been fabricated using CNTs with this method and performance approach to that of quantum limit. In principle high performance electronic devices and optoelectronic devices can be integrated on the same carbon nanotube with the same footing, and this opens new possibilities for electronics beyond the Moore law in the future.

B(sister) genes have been identified as the closest relatives of class B floral homeotic genes. Previous studies have shown that B(sister) genes from eudicots are involved in cell differentiation during ovule and seed development. However, the complete function of B(sister) genes in eudicots is masked by redundancy with other genes and little is known about the function of B(sister) genes in monocots, and about the evolution of B(sister) gene functions. Here we characterize OsMADS29, one of three MADS-box B(sister) genes in rice. Our analyses show that OsMADS29 is expressed in female reproductive organs including the ovule, ovule vasculature, and the whole seed except for the outer layer cells of the pericarp. Knock-down of OsMADS29 by double-stranded RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) results in shriveled and/or aborted seeds. Histological analyses of the abnormal seeds at 7 days after pollination (DAP) indicate that the symplastic continuity, including the ovular vascular trace and the nucellar projection, which is the nutrient source for the filial tissue at early development stages, is affected. Moreover, degeneration of all the maternal tissues in the transgenic seeds, including the pericarp, ovular vascular trace, integuments, nucellar epidermis and nucellar projection, is blocked as compared to control plants. Our results suggest that OsMADS29 has important functions in seed development of rice by regulating cell degeneration of maternal tissues. Our findings provide important insights into the ancestral function of B(sister) genes.