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The dynamic interplay between pathogens and host immune system determines the outcome of fungal infections. This study investigates the role of Ubp5 in modulating host defenses during Cryptococcus neoformans H99 infections. Ubp5 deletion significantly reduces both pulmonary invasion and extrapulmonary dissemination, resulting in prolonged survival and decreased fungal burdens in mice. Attenuated virulence is closely associated with enhanced host immune responses, rather than diminished pathogen fitness alone. Histopathological and leukocyte analyses revealed a shift towards protective adaptive immune responses in ubp5Δ-infected lungs, characterized by lymphocyte-dominated inflammatory infiltration and an increased Th1/Th17 cytokine response. Under host-associated conditions, ubp5Δ mutants exhibited morphological changes, including distorted shapes and cell wall heterogeneity, alongside defects in key virulence factors such as the polysaccharide capsule and melanin. These changes likely promote exposure of immunostimulatory cell wall components, enhancing host immunity. Additionally, Ubp5 deletion resulted in a significant reduction in intracellular ribosomal particles in C. neoformans, which likely impairs protein synthesis, contributing to reduced growth and pathogenic fitness in vivo. These findings underscore the pivotal role of Ubp5 in maintaining cryptococcal virulence and suggest that targeting Ubp5 could enhance host immunity against cryptococcosis by promoting protective immune responses and limiting fungal dissemination.

Rubus swinhoei Hance is an important plant owing to its medicinal root and edible fruit, and extensively distributed in China. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of R. swinhoei. The chloroplast genome was 156,335 bp in size with the overall GC content of 37.15%, having a circular and quadripartite structure, which contained a large single-copy (LSC) and a small single-copy (SSC) regions of 85,897 bp and 18,858 bp separated by a pair of 25,790 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. The complete chloroplast genome comprised 131 unique genes of which 86 and 37 were protein-coding genes and tRNA genes, respectively, and also eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. swinhoei was closely related to R. kawakamii. The genome information reported in this paper will be beneficial for further investigation on the evolution of this species.

Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive accumulation of abnormal proteins, including amyloid plaques and intracellular tau tangles, primarily within the brain. Lysosomes, crucial intracellular organelles responsible for protein degradation, play a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Some studies have suggested a link between the dysregulation of the lysosomal system and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Restoring the normal physiological function of lysosomes hold the potential to reduce the pathological burden and improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, the efficacy of drugs in treating Alzheimer’s disease is limited, with major challenges in drug delivery efficiency and targeting. Recently, nanomaterials have gained widespread use in Alzheimer’s disease drug research owing to their favorable physical and chemical properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in using nanomaterials (polymeric nanomaterials, nanoemulsions, and carbon-based nanomaterials) to enhance lysosomal function in treating Alzheimer’s disease. This review also explores new concepts and potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease through the integration of nanomaterials and modulation of lysosomal function. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the potential of nanomaterials in modulating lysosomal function to improve the pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease. The application of nanotechnology to the development of Alzheimer’s disease drugs brings new ideas and approaches for future treatment of this disease.

Background: To analyze the correlation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), leptin receptor (LEPR), and tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) with endometrial receptivity (ER) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)induced infertility to provide clinical evidence for future diagnosis and treatment of PCOS-induced infertility. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 109 study subjects admitted to The Second Hospital Affiliated of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2020 to August 2023, including 42 patients with PCOS-induced infertility (research group), 35 nonpregnant patients with simple PCOS (control group), and 32 nonpregnant healthy women (normal group). GLUT4, LEPR, and TNF-a levels in the peripheral blood were detected in all participants, and their diagnostic value for PCOS in healthy women and PCOS-induced infertility in PCOS patients was analyzed. In addition, the endometrial thickness and endometrial blood flow pulsation index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of patients in the research group were measured. Furthermore, the correlation of GLUT4, LEPR, and TNF-a with ER was discussed. Results: GLUT4 was lower in the research group compared with the control and normal groups, while LEPR and TNFa were higher (P

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the effects of short-acting cycloplegic agents, tropicamide and compound tropicamide, on ocular biological parameters and choroid thickness. Methods In this study, seventy pediatric subjects aged 6 to 13 years were randomly assigned to two groups: the tropicamide group and compound tropicamide group. Ocular biological parameters and choroidal thickness (CT) and subfoveal choroid thickness (SFCT) were measured in both groups and were retested 40 min after drug administration. The tropicamide eye drops were administered into the conjunctival sac every 5 min with 1 drop, for a total of 4 doses. Compound tropicamide was administered in the same way as tropicamide. Ocular biological parameters included refraction (spherical equivalent, SE), intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and white to white (WTW). The CT is the regional inferior choroidal thickness of nine sectors centered on the macular fovea and automatically generated using an ETDRS grid. And the SFCT is the choroidal thickness at the subfoveal point of the macular region. Results After application of tropicamide and compound tropicamide to induce the ciliary muscle paralysis, SE, AL, and LT decreased, while ACD, CCT, and WTW increased compared to baseline(all P values 0.05). The CT in the nasal quadrant before and after ciliary paralysis was significantly thinner than other areas, the CT in the temporal quadrant was significantly thicker than others, and the CT in the inner quadrant was higher than the CT in the outer quadrant. In the tropicamide group: CT was significantly increased in the remaining quadrants except the inner inferior(I) and outer superior(S) quadrants (p 0.05). Additionally, AL and SFCT were negatively correlated. Conclusions Some ocular biological parameters were altered after application of short-acting cycloplegic agent tropicamide and compound tropicamide to paralyze the ciliary muscle. Compared with compound tropicamide, tropicamide eye drops can reduce axial length while increasing choroid thickness.

Abstract Silicon-based all-solid-state batteries offer high energy density and safety but face significant application challenges due to the requirement of high external pressure. In this study, a Li21Si5/Si–Li21Si5 double-layered anode is developed for all-solid-state batteries operating free from external pressure. Under the cold-pressed sintering of Li21Si5 alloys, the anode forms a top layer (Li21Si5 layer) with mixed ionic/electronic conduction and a bottom layer (Si–Li21Si5 layer) containing a three-dimensional continuous conductive network. The resultant uniform electric field at the anode|SSE interface eliminates the need for high external pressure and simultaneously enables a twofold enhancement of the lithium-ion flux at the anode interface. Such an efficient ionic/electronic transport system also facilitates the uniform release of cycling expansion stresses from the Si particles and stabilizes bulk-phase and interfacial structure of anode. Consequently, the Li21Si5/Si–Li21Si5 anode exhibited a critical current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 45 °C with a capacity of 10 mAh cm−2. And the Li21Si5/Si–Li21Si5|Li6PS5Cl|Li3InCl6|LCO cell achieve an high initial Coulombic efficiency of (97 ± 0.7)% with areal capacity of 2.8 mAh cm−2 at 0.25 mA cm−2, as well as a low expansion rate of 14.5% after 1000 cycles at 2.5 mA cm−2.

Abstract Background The advancements in second-/third-generation sequencing technologies, alongside computational innovations, have significantly enhanced our understanding of the genomic structure of Y-chromosomes and their unique phylogenetic characteristics. These researches, despite the challenges posed by the lack of population-scale genomic databases, have the potential to revolutionize our approach to high-resolution, population-specific Y-chromosome panels and databases for anthropological and forensic applications. Objectives This study aimed to develop the highest-resolution Y-targeted sequencing panel, utilizing time-stamped, core phylogenetic informative mutations identified from high-coverage sequences in the YanHuang cohort. This panel is intended to provide a new tool for forensic complex pedigree search and paternal biogeographical ancestry inference, as well as explore the general patterns of the fine-scale paternal evolutionary history of ethnolinguistically diverse Chinese populations. Results The sequencing performance of the East Asian-specific Y-chromosomal panel, including 2999-core SNP variants, was found to be robust and reliable. The YHSeqY3000 panel was designed to capture the genetic diversity of Chinese paternal lineages from 3500 years ago, identifying 408 terminal lineages in 2097 individuals across 41 genetically and geographically distinct populations. We identified a fine-scale paternal substructure that was correlating with ancient population migrations and expansions. New evidence was provided for extensive gene flow events between minority ethnic groups and Han Chinese people, based on the integrative Chinese Paternal Genomic Diversity Database. Conclusions This work successfully integrated Y-chromosome-related basic genomic science with forensic and anthropological translational applications, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensively characterizing Y-chromosome genomic diversity from genomically under-representative populations. This is particularly important in the second phase of our population-specific medical or anthropological genomic cohorts, where dense sampling strategies are employed.

Abstract In the low-carbon economy, the fresh industry constitutes an “impossible triangle” in products, prices and services. Therefore, based on the idea of cost–benefit, a comprehensive vehicle routing problem optimization model with the objective function of minimizing the cost of unit satisfied customer is presented. Then, a hybrid algorithm called local search genetic algorithm (LSGA) is proposed, which amalgamates the destroy-repair operator with GA algorithm. Extensive numerical experiments verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of freshness-keeping cost, carbon price and customer satisfaction weights were conducted. The experimental results show that appropriate freshness-keeping effort can reduce total costs and improve customer satisfaction. Increasing carbon price within a certain range can effectively reduce carbon emissions, and there is a trade-off relationship between carbon emissions and customer satisfaction. The results of considering both time satisfaction and freshness satisfaction are better than considering time satisfaction alone.

Motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) hold significant promise for upper limb rehabilitation in stroke patients. However, traditional MI paradigm primarily involves various limbs and fails to effectively address unilateral upper limb rehabilitation needs. In addition, compared to decoding MI-EEG signals from different limbs, decoding MI-EEG signals from same limb faces more challenges. We introduced a novel tri-class fine motor imagery (FMI) paradigm and collected electroencephalogram (EEG) data from 20 healthy subjects for decoding research. Furthermore, we proposed a frequency band attention-based temporal convolutional network (FBATCNet) for MI-EEG decoding. First, an innovative use of the channel attention mechanism adaptively assigned weights to segmented EEG frequency bands, improving the frequency resolution of MI-EEG signals. Subsequently, convolutional block further integrated frequency-domain features and extracted spatial features. Finally, a temporal convolution block was utilized to capture advanced temporal features. The proposed model achieved accuracy of 84.73% on BCI Competition IV-2a (Dataset 1) and 66.06% on the private FMI dataset (Dataset 2). In the classification of subject dependent, the FBATCNet is better than the baseline methods mentioned in this paper. These results confirm that the FBATCNet is feasible and offer fresh insights for designing and applying FMI-BCI.

Abstract Background 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and physical activity (PA) are linked and both are associated with changes in mortality. We examined the association of 25(OH)D and PA with all-cause or cause-specific mortality risk in stroke survivors. Methods The analysis included 677 stroke survivors from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2008 to 2017–2018. Independent and joint associations of 25(OH)D, PA and mortality among stroke survivors were analyzed using weighted Cox regression. Results We identified 133 all-cause deaths [major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), 34; non-MACE, 79] with a median follow-up of 5.8 years (interquartile, 2.8–8.9 years). In a range of adjusted models, high 25(OH)D was observed with lower all-cause mortality compared to low 25(OH)D (HR, 0.376; 95% CI, 0.233–0.607) and non-MACE (HR, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.143–0.490) mortality was consistently associated. At the same time, compared with no PA, PA was associated with a lower all-cause (HR, 0.280; 95%CI, 0.107–0.733) and non-MACE (HR, 0.266; 95%CI, 0.087–0.810) was associated with a lower risk of death. In addition, pooled analyses showed that stroke survivors with high 25(OH)D and PA had the lowest risk of all-cause death (HR, 0.132; 95%CI, 0.038–0.460) and non-MACE (HR, 0.092; 95%CI, 0.023–0.363), there is an additive interaction between 25(OH)D and PA in non-MACE. Conclusion In conclusion, this study found that combining high 25(OH)D levels and PA showed an enhanced protective effect which demonstrated a synergistic effect between them in reducing mortality among stroke survivors. These findings provide new ideas and possibilities for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, offering a reference for development of clinical practice guidelines in the future.

Abstract Middle-aged obesity, characterized by excessive fat accumulation and systemic energy imbalance, often precedes various health complications. Recent research has unveiled a surprising link between DNA damage response and energy metabolism. Here, we explore the role of Eepd1, a DNA repair enzyme, in regulating adipose tissue function and obesity onset. Eepd1 is primarily expressed in adipose tissue, where its downregulation or deletion accelerates obesity development. We show that Eepd1 ablation hinders PKA activation, thereby inhibiting lipolysis and thermogenesis in adipose tissue. Notably, cold exposure enhances Eepd1’s myristoylation, facilitating its anchorage to adipocyte membranes and subsequent activation of PKA, while a mutation at the myristoylation site of Eepd1 disrupts this process. Moreover, individuals with obesity exhibit reduced Eepd1 expression. Pharmacological restoration of Eepd1 with Retigabine dihydrochloride effectively mitigates obesity. This study reveals Eepd1’s unexpected role in promoting adipose lipolysis and thermogenesis, underscoring its potential as a promising therapeutic target to combat obesity.

Abstract Modular polyketide synthases (mPKSs) are multidomain enzymes in bacteria that synthesize a variety of pharmaceutically important compounds. mPKS genes are usually longer than 10 kb and organized in operons. To understand the transcriptional and translational characteristics of these large genes, here we split the 13-kb busA gene, encoding a 456-kDa three-module PKS for butenyl-spinosyn biosynthesis, into three smaller separately translated genes encoding one PKS module in an operon. Expression of the native and split busA genes in Streptomyces albus reveals that the majority ( >93%) of PKS mRNAs are truncated, resulting in a greater abundance of and a higher synthesis rate for the proteins encoded by genes closer to the operon promoter. Splitting the large busA gene rescues translation of truncated mRNAs into functional PKS subunits, and increases the biosynthetic efficiency of butenyl-spinosyn PKS by 13-fold. The truncated mRNA translation rescue strategy will facilitate engineering of multi-domain proteins to enhance their functions.

Abstract The Yangtze River-Dongting Lake link has gotten a lot of attention as a because of the Three Gorges Project. However, the hydrological dynamic process and future direction of the river-lake interaction in the context of sediment reduction are yet unknown. Based on Dongting Lake Basin runoff and sediment data from 1961 to 2020, as well as field monitoring data of turbidity and flow velocity from Yichang to Chenglingji section of the Yangtze River, this paper examines the runoff and sediment variation law and hydrological dynamic process of Chenglingji, the only outlet connecting Dongting Lake to the Yangtze River, and reveals the development trend of the river-lake relationship. After absorbing high-concentration material from Dongting Lake, Chenglingji’s turbidity and energy per unit water body alter dramatically. When the high-speed flow from the mainstream of the Yangtze River and the gentle flow of Dongting Lake pass through the “deep trough” of Chenglingji, the two streams of high and low flow velocity intersect and decelerate to dissipate energy, and the flow structure becomes more complicated. Dongting Lake has experienced three stages: deposition (1961–2007) -erosion (2008–2017) -deposition (2018–2020). The river-lake relationship will tend to a new dynamic equilibrium state in the future.

Abstract Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart grids has revolutionized the energy sector, enabling real-time data collection and efficient energy distribution. However, this integration also introduces significant security challenges, particularly data encryption. Traditional encryption algorithms used in IoT are vulnerable to various attacks, and the advent of quantum computing exacerbates these vulnerabilities. To address the above challenges, this paper proposes a novel encryption mechanism, the Quantum-Resistant Hybrid Encryption for IoT (QRHE-IoT), designed to enhance the security of communications in IoT-enabled smart grids. QRHE-IoT combines the strengths of symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms and incorporates quantum-resistant algorithms to provide robust security. This paper explains the QRHE-IoT mechanism, its theoretical basis, and how it addresses the security challenges in smart grid communications. It also presents the results of tests conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of QRHE-IoT in a simulated smart grid environment. The proposed QRHE-IoT mechanism presents a promising solution to these challenges, offering robust security for smart grid communications in the face of emerging threats, including quantum computing.

Abstract XPR1 is the sole protein known to transport inorganic phosphate (Pi) out of cells, a function conserved across species from yeast to mammals. Human XPR1 variants lead to cerebral calcium-phosphate deposition and primary familial brain calcification (PFBC), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of human XPR1 in both its Pi-unbound and various Pi-bound states. XPR1 features 10 transmembrane α-helices forming an ion channel-like structure, with multiple Pi recognition sites along the channel. Pathogenic mutations in two arginine residues, which line the translocation channel, disrupt Pi transport. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that Pi ion undergoes a stepwise transition through the sequential recognition sites during the transport process. Together with functional analyses, our results suggest that this sequential arrangement allows XPR1 to facilitate Pi ion passage via a “relay” process, and they establish a framework for the interpretation of disease-related mutations and for the development of future therapeutics.

To address the evolving demands of intelligent networks, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has emerged as a focal area of research. This encompasses innovative signal design, radar-based and communication hardware integration, and other vital directions. In particular, Linear Frequency Modulated (LFM) signals have shown considerable promise in contactless health monitoring applications. This paper presents an integrated radar system design leveraging Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) LFM signals, emphasizing the dual capabilities of communication and sensing. Compared to traditional radar signals, the proposed design enhances information transmission without sacrificing sensing performance. Initially, we developed an OFDM-LFM-MP signal by utilizing M-sequences with strong auto-correlation properties for coding communication data. Subsequently, we conduct MATLAB simulations to evaluate the sensing efficacy of the OFDM-LFM-MP signal in detecting heartbeats and respiration alongside its communication performance. Theoretical analyses and simulation outcomes demonstrate that the proposed radar-based integration design significantly improves the detection of heartbeat and respiration while effectively transmitting high-rate information at a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) exceeding $20~dB$ .

In semi-supervised object detection (SSOD), the methods based on dense pseudo-labeling bypass complex post-processing while maintaining competitive performance compared to the methods based on sparse pseudo-labeling. However, there are still relatively few researches focused on the dense pseudo-labeling paradigm. In this work, we first experimentally point out the shortcomings of current dense pseudo-labeling methods: 1) Low-quality sampling: the fixed threshold strategies can result in numerous false negatives and false positives. 2) Inconsistency between classification scores and localization quality: classification scores cannot represent localization quality, resulting in poor quality of predicted bounding boxes for sampled positive samples. 3) Suboptimal training approach: current training methods only utilize its knowledge from the perspective of final dense pseudo-labels, failing to fully exploit the teacher model. To address these issues, we propose a method called Dense-Label Refinement and Cross Optimization (DRCO) based on dense pseudo-labels. Specifically, to tackle the issue of low-quality sampling, we introduce the Adaptive Sampling Approach (ASA), which achieves high-quality sampling at the image level and dynamic sampling ratios without introducing any additional hyperparameters. For the inconsistency between classification scores and localization quality, Comprehensive FRS (cFRS) is proposed to jointly optimize the classification and localization branches more efficiently, thereby obtaining a more comprehensive score. Finally, for the suboptimal training approach, we introduce Cross Prediction Optimization (CPO). CPO efficiently leverages the knowledge of the teacher model through a Cross-Head operation, thereby achieving more effective teacher-student interaction. DRCO achieves 27.31% mAP with only 1% COCO labeled data, which is approximately 1.24% mAP higher than the previous state-of-the-art. Based on MS COCO and PASCAL VOC benchmarks, further comprehensive experiments demonstrate that our method alleviates the aforementioned shortcomings and achieves competitive performance.

Abstract Aim and objectives To construct a set of scientific and feasible nursing management protocols for early fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients that can be used to guide clinical practice and enhance the treatment efficacy in these patients. Background Fluid resuscitation is a key means of early treatment for AP patients and has become a clinical consensus. Nurses are important practitioners of fluid resuscitation, and there is a lack of specific enforceable nursing management programs. Methods Through literature research, on-site research, semi-structured interviews, and other preliminary preparations of the first draft of the nursing management program for early fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis, the Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of correspondence with medical and nursing experts, and then statistically analyzed. Results Fifteen and 14 questionnaires were distributed in two rounds, respectively, and 15 and 14 questionnaires were recovered, respectively. The positive coefficient of experts was 100%, the authority coefficient was 0.970 and 0.975, respectively; the coefficient of variation coefficient was 0.05–0.21 and 0.00–0.20, respectively; the expert coordination coefficients of all levels of indices in this study are 0.166–0.335 and 0.189–0.364, respectively. The P values of the first, second, and third level indices are

Abstract Background Faced with a shortage of nurses in China, the factors affecting the stability of the nursing workforce require urgent attention. The workplace deviance behavior of nurses is considered an important behavior in clinical practice, which will bring negative effects and affect the development of nurse team. However, no research has been done to examine the associations among workplace deviance behavior of nurses, practice environment and job burnout. Thus, this study aimed to determine the influence of practice environment on nurses’ workplace deviance behavior and confirm the mediating role of job burnout. Methods This study was designed as a multicentre cross-sectional study, and recruited 598 nurses in China to complete a survey of the general information questionnaire, Scale of Workplace Deviance Behavior of Nurses, Practice Environment Scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey. The model was examined using descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and the PROCESS Macro in SPSS 26.0. Results The results of the correlation analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between the practice environment and work deviance behavior of nurses, as well as a negative relationship between job burnout and these two factors. Moreover, the relationship between practice environment and work deviance behavior among nurses was partially mediated by job burnout. Conclusion A healthy practice environment and a decrease in job burnout could directly lower the work deviant behavior of nurses. Hospital managers must actively endeavor to improve the practice environment for nurses by fostering a just, fair, and supportive practice environment and by keeping lines of communication open and strong with the nursing staff. Furthermore, managers can also reduce nurses’ work deviance behavior by lower their job burnout.

Abstract Edge detection is one of the most essential research hotspots in computer vision and has a wide variety of applications, such as image segmentation, target detection, and other high-level image processing technologies. However, efficient edge detection is difficult in a resource-constrained environment, especially edge-computing hardware. Here, we report a low-power edge detection hardware system based on HfO2-based ferroelectric field-effect transistor, which is one of the most potential non-volatile memories for energy-efficient computing. Different from the conventional edge detectors requiring sophisticated hardware for the complex operation such as convolution and gradient, the proposed edge detector is analogue-to-digital converter free and loaded into a multi-bit content addressable memory, which only needs one 4 × 4 ferroelectric field-effect transistor NAND array. The experimental results show that the proposed hardware system is able to achieve efficient image edge detection at low power consumption (~10 fJ/per operation), realizing no-accuracy-loss, low-power and analogue-to-digital-converter-free hardware system, providing a feasible solution for edge computing.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microcatheter-assisted 360-degree trabeculotomy combined with trabeculectomy (MATT-Trab) for treating refractory glaucoma. METHODS: Patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent MATT-Trab were retrospectively examined. Efficacy indicators for research statistics included the intraocular pressure (IOP) level, degree of decrease, changes in medication dosage, and success rate. Safety indicators included the best-corrected visual acuity and incidence of complications. RESULTS: This study comprised 31 patients, including 11 males and 20 females, with ages ranging from 8mo to 67y (mean age: 29.40±22.10y). The average postoperative IOP at 1d, 1wk, 1mo, 3mo, 6mo, 1y, and the last follow-up was significantly lower than the average preoperative IOP (31.33±9.24 mm Hg, P

Introduction: Arsenic has been ranked as the most hazardous substance by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Environmental arsenic exposure-evoked health risks have become a vital public health concern worldwide owing to the widespread existence of arsenic. Multi-omics is a revolutionary technique to data analysis providing an integrated view of bioinformation for comprehensively and systematically understanding the elaborate mechanism of diseases. Objectives: This study aimed at uncovering the potential contribution of liver-microbiota-gut axis in chronic inorganic arsenic exposure-triggered biotoxicity in chickens based on multi-omics technologies. Methods: Forty Hy-Line W-80 laying hens were chronically exposed to sodium arsenite with a dose-dependent manner (administered with drinking water containing 10, 20, or 30 mg/L arsenic, respectively) for 42 d, followed by transcriptomics, serum non-targeted metabolome, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing accordingly. Results: Arsenic intervention induced a serious of chicken liver dysfunction, especially severe liver fibrosis, simultaneously altered ileal microbiota populations, impaired chicken intestinal barrier, further drove enterogenous lipopolysaccharides translocation via portal vein circulation aggravating liver damage. Furtherly, the injured liver disturbed bile acids (BAs) homoeostasis through strongly up-regulating the BAs synthesis key rate-limiting enzyme CYP7A1, inducing excessive serum total BAs accumulation, accompanied by the massive synthesis of primary BA—chenodeoxycholic acid. Moreover, the concentrations of secondary BAs—ursodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were markedly repressed, which might involve in the repressed dehydroxylation of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae families. Abnormal BAs metabolism in turn promoted intestinal injury, ultimately perpetuating pernicious circle in chickens. Notably, obvious depletion in the abundance of four profitable microbiota, Christensenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Faecalibacterium, were correlated tightly with this hepato-intestinal circulation process in chickens exposed to arsenic. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that chronic inorganic arsenic exposure evokes liver-microbiota-gut axis disruption in chickens and establishes a scientific basis for evaluating health risk induced by environmental pollutant arsenic.

Surface reflectance varies with changes in solar and viewing angles, exhibiting distinct anisotropic reflectance characteristics, which can be characterized using the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). Normalizing reflectance from various directions to a common solar-viewing geometry can eliminate the effects of reflectance anisotropy, thereby enhancing the accuracy of surface parameter retrieval from reflectance data. In previous studies, the reflectance angular normalization typically relies on prior knowledge extracted from coarse-resolution BRDF products. In this study, we developed a universal BRDF archetype database and explored the applicability of each BRDF archetype across various solar and viewing angles. The results indicate that the following: 1) The 3 × 3 universal BRDF archetype database is sufficient to represent the surface anisotropy of different spectral bands. 2) The optimal BRDF archetype in the lookup table (LUT) undergoes notable variations under different solar and viewing geometries, and specific prior BRDF knowledge is applicable only to certain solar and viewing geometries. 3) Validations based on simulated MODerate resolution imaging spectroradiometer reflectance suggests that in the red and near-infrared (NIR) bands, when the observation zenith angle is 60°, the percentages of directions with the root mean square error (RMSE) values below 0.05 and 0.06 constitute 82.74% and 75.70% of the entire viewing hemisphere, respectively. And validations based on polarization and directionality of the Earth's reflectance observations indicate that after normalization with the BRDF archetype LUT, the RMSE decreases from 0.0291 to 0.0249. The BRDF archetype LUT is applicable to the vast majority of solar and viewing geometries, even for the large solar zenith angles. Additionally, the LUT demonstrates good noise resistance and high applicability in observations at different scales, particularly in the NIR band. This study provides a new approach for reflectance angular normalization, offering the potential to provide a more reliable data foundation for future scientific research and practical applications.

Abstract Introduction In clinical practice, the dose of bivalirudin may not be fully applicable to the Chinese population. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of a reduced dose (80% of the recommended dose) of bivalirudin without post-procedure infusion for 3–4 h in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This was a single-center, retrospective study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria were divided into reduced-dose and recommended-dose groups for analysis. Confounders were corrected using propensity score matching. The incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACE), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2–5 bleeding events were observed 30 days postoperatively. Results In total, 1,590 patients (795 per group) were obtained after propensity score matching. The results after propensity score matching were as follows: The activated clotting time (ACT) after 5 min in the reduced-dose group was 349.37 ± 47.59 s, which was statistically lower than that in the recommended-dose group, 353.12 ± 44.98 s (P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in the proportion of ACT values of ≥ 250 s after 5 min between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in NACE, MACE, and BARC type 2–5 bleeding events between the two groups (5.0% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.638; 0.0% vs. 0.1%, P = 1.000; 0.3% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.687). There were no statistically significant differences in cumulative NACE and cumulative bleeding events between the two groups at 30 days (P = 0.635 and P = 0.716, respectively). Conclusion In patients with UA and NSTEMI undergoing elective PCI, 80% of the recommended dose of bivalirudin without post-procedure infusion can be used for anticoagulation without increasing the risk of thrombosis and bleeding.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the value of the inflammatory prognostic score (IPS) system for predicting the risk of all-cause major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and cardiac-related MACEs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Overall, 1384 patients with ACS who underwent PCI between January 2016 and December 2018 were consecutively enrolled. Demographic characteristics and related laboratory results for 11 inflammatory markers were collected. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-COX regression, Kaplan– Meier, restricted cubic spline (RCS), receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), time-dependent ROC, and Cox hazard proportional regression were applied to explore the values of individual and IPS parameters. Results Based on the LASSO analysis, albumin (ALB) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were included in the construction of the IPS system. A higher IPS was associated with a significantly worse long-term prognosis in the Kaplan–Meier analysis (log-rank p

Abstract Background Stigma has been identified as a significant factor impacting the health of lung cancer patients. However, the relationship between stigma, medical coping modes, and quality of life (QoL) has not been thoroughly examined. Objective This study aimed to explore the associations between stigma, medical coping modes, and QoL in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. Methods A total of 304 surgical patients participated in an online survey, which included sociodemographic data, the Lung Cancer Stigma Scale, the Medical Coping Modes Scale, and the Quality of Life Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0, and structural equation models were constructed using AMOS 24.0. The Bootstrap method was employed to test the mediating hypotheses. Results The mean QoL score was 150.53 ± 15.54, showing significant associations with medical coping modes and stigma. Stigma was negatively correlated with QoL (r = -0.668, p

Abstract Background Delayed gastric emptying of liquids may heighten the risk of aspiration reflux in elderly individuals. To investigate the gastric emptying of an oral supplement containing 5% dextrose solutions before sedation for gastroscopy. Patients and methods A total of 100 elderly patients who were scheduled for elective gastroscopy were randomly assigned to two groups: the NPO(nil per os ) group and the dextrose solution ingestion group, which ingested a 5% dextrose solution (5 ml/kg) two hours before the procedure. The primary outcome measure was the gastric volume (GV) suctioned and measured during the gastroscopic examination. Secondary outcome measures included GV per weight (GV/kg), post-discharge blood glucose levels, patient discomfort assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), clarity of gastric mucosal visualization during gastroscopy, and the incidence of adverse events. Additionally, linear regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing gastric volume. Results There were no significant differences in gastric volume (GV) (P=0.258) and GV per weight (GV/W) (P=0.137) between the NPO group and the dextrose solution group. However,the NPO group had higher discomfort scores on the Visual Analog Scale compared to the dextrose solution group, with a statistically significant difference(P

Abstract Background Blake’s pouch cyst (BPC) is a midline cystic anomaly of the posterior fossa. BPC has been shown to have a risk of aneuploidy prenatally. Copy number variation (CNV) and/or genetic syndromes have been reported in a few prenatal/postnatal cases with BPC. The purpose of this study is to determine the additional value of CNV analysis for prenatal diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of BPC. Methods We reviewed the sonographic findings and genetic results of BPC diagnosed within 6 years at our center. Patients were classified into the isolated and non-isolated groups based on the prenatal and postnatal imaging. We analyzed the chromosomal abnormalities by conventional karyotype analysis combined with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or CNV sequencing (CNV-seq). Results We recruited 467 low-risk fetuses as the control group to establish normal references of vermian area and brainstem-vermis (BV) angle. Prenatal/postnatal MRI or neonatal neurosonography was used as diagnostic criteria. 34 patients were diagnosed as BPC, including 21 (61.8%) patients with non-isolated and 13 (38.2%) with isolated. Twenty-two patients underwent CMA/CNV-seq, among them 14 patients were performed both CMA/CNV-seq and karyotype analysis. Seven (7/22, 31.8%) patients with BPC had chromosomal abnormalities, including 3 (3/22, 13.6%) patients with chromosomal aneuploidy - trisomy 21, 18 and 13, and 4 (4/22, 18.2%) patients had pathogenic CNVs located at 3p, 9p, Xp/Xq and 7p. Anomalies in fetal heart (35.3%), central nervous system (CNS) (26.5%) and limb (14.7%) were the three top anomalies accompanying BPC. Conclusions CNV analysis could provide some additional information for prenatal diagnosis and prognosis counseling for patients with non-isolated BPC. And, it adds less value for patients with isolated BPC, however, isolated BPC can be a soft marker for aneuploidy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of miR-4531/CX3CL1 signaling pathway on the vascular injury in preeclampsia, and to search possible targets for early diagnosis and prevention of preeclampsia. MethodsPlacental tissue samples were obtained from 10 patients with late-onset preeclampsia and 10 normal pregnant women in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Minhang Hospital, Fudan University from October 2021 to December 2022. The levels of miR-4531 and CX3CL1 were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Cell transfection was performed by lipofectamine 2000 in vitro. The binding relationship between miR-4531 and CX3CL1 was determined by luciferase reporter assay. The apoptosis of neutrophils, the migration, repair, colony formation and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) release of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected. ResultsMiR-4531 was significantly downregulated, and CX3CL1 was upregulated in placental tissues of preeclampsia patients (P＜0.05). Luciferase report assay confirmed the direct binding relationship between miR-4531 and CX3CL1. Upregulation of miR-4531significantly promoted the migration, proliferation, repair, and inhibited cfDNA release of HUVECs and neutrophils apoptosis in medium under hypoxic condition (P＜0.05). However, downregulation of miR-4531 obviously inhibited the proliferation, migration, repair, and enhanced cfDNA release of HUVECs and neutrophils apoptosis in medium under hypoxic condition (P＜0.05). ConclusionsThe miR-4531is downregulated in placental tissues of preeclampsia parients and is a potential therapeutic target for preeclampsia. It might cause endothelial damage and an abnormal hypercoagulable state under hypoxic condition by targeting and regulating the CX3CL1 pathway.

Abstract In this study, based on the results of molecular analysis of SSU rRNA and rbcL sequences, we propose the descriptions of two new families in the order Cymbellales. Molecular data demonstrates that diatoms of the genus Encyonema constitute an independent monophyletic clade, which represents a new family described herein – Encyonemataceae fam. nov. Another family introduced in this article, with regards to molecular data, is Witkowskiaceae fam. nov. In our research, it is comprised of three closely related genera – Geissleria, Paraplaconeis and Witkowskia. The results of performed molecular investigation are supported by morphological analysis. Morphological diagnoses of the new families are based on a combination of features: type of valve symmetry, raphe structure, presence and position of stigmata or stigmoids, number and location of apical pore fields and morphology of chloroplast. In addition, we discuss the phylogeny of selected genera of the order Cymbellales. Based on their morphology, 3 and 5 genera are assigned with provisionary position in Encyonemataceae fam. nov. and Witkowskiaceae fam. nov., respectively.

Abstract Background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly fatal malignancy, the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical factor affecting SCLC progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are crucial components of TME, yet their role in SCLC and the underlying mechanisms during their interaction with SCLC cells remain to be determined. Methods Microenvironmental cell components were estimated using transcriptome data from SCLC tissue available in public databases, analyzed with bioinformatic algorithms. A co-culture system comprising MRC5 fibroblasts and SCLC cell lines was constructed. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on co-cultured and separately cultured MRC5 and H196 cells to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched signaling pathways. Glycolysis and STING signaling in SCLC cells were assessed using glucose uptake assays, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining of SCLC tissue arrays quantified α-SMA, HLA-DRA and CD8 expression. Results Non-neuroendocrine (non-NE) SCLC-derived CAFs exhibited more abundance and DEGs than NE SCLC-derived CAFs did, which interact with non-NE SCLC cells can induce the enrichment of glycolysis-related genes, increasement of glucose uptake, upregulation of glycolytic signaling proteins in non-NE SCLC cells and accumulation of lactate in the extracellular environment, confirming CAF-mediated glycolysis promotion. Additionally, glycolysis-induced ATP production activated STING signaling in non-NE SCLC cells, which upregulated T cell chemo-attractants. However, CAF abundance did not correlate with CD8 + T cell numbers in SCLC tissues. Additionally, non-NE SCLC cell-educated CAFs exhibited features of antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs), as indicated by the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Co-localization of HLA-DRA and α-SMA signals in SCLC tissues confirmed apCAF presence. The apCAFs and CD8 + T cells were co-located in the SCLC stroma, and there was a positive correlation between CAFs and regulatory T cell (Treg) abundance. Conclusion Our findings suggest that crosstalk between CAFs and non-NE SCLC cells promotes glycolysis in non-NE SCLC cells, thereby increase T cell chemo-attractant expression via activating STING signaling. On the other hand, it promotes the presence of apCAFs, which probably contributes to CD8 + T cell trapping and Treg differentiation. This study emphasizes the pro-tumor function of CAFs in SCLC by promoting glycolysis and impairing T cell function, providing direction for the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting CAF in SCLC.

Abstract Background Stroke is the main cause of death and disability. Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most severe complications of stroke, which lacks effective biomarkers for its early detection. Objective This study evaluated the significance of lncRNA SIX3OS1 in acute stroke and PSCI aiming to identify a novel biomarker. Patients and methods The study enrolled 138 patients with acute stroke and 80 healthy individuals. By comparing the serum SIX3OS1 in acute stroke and healthy individuals, the significance of SIX3OS1 in diagnosing acute stroke, assessing disease severity, and predicting the risk of PSCI was revealed. Results Significant upregulation of SIX3OS1 in acute stroke was observed, which discriminated patients with acute stroke from healthy individuals and indicated severe disease conditions of patients. There were 72 acute stroke patients who had PSCI accounting for 52.17% that showed a higher serum SIX3OS1 level than post-stroke cognitive normal patients. The increasing serum SIX3OS1 level was also identified as a risk factor for PSCI and could distinguish PSCI patients. Additionally, SIX3OS1 showed a negative correlation with the MoCA score of PSCI patients. Conclusion Serum SIX3OS1 level can be considered a biomarker for screening acute stroke and a predictor for PSCI.

Abstract The Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has attracted significant attention due to its convenience and high sensitivity. However, the variations of eDNA across diverse environments and biological species remain complex. Therefore, a detailed exploration of the release patterns of eDNA for specific species under different environments is crucial for the scientific utilization of eDNA detection techniques. This study conducted an experiment involving the aquaculture of Acanthopagrus schlegelii to explore the release and degradation mechanisms of eDNA. It also analyzed the influence of salinity and biomass on the concentration of eDNA in water. Through model simulations, the variation patterns of A. schlegelii eDNA were revealed. The study achieved three key findings: (1) The research on the release and degradation mechanisms of A. schlegelii eDNA indicated that the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) effectively fits the variation patterns of eDNA concentration. The peak concentration of eDNA released by A. schlegelii was observed at 42 h, and the degradation process exhibited two stages: rapid and slow degradation, with a negative correlation between eDNA concentration and time. (2) By investigating the relationship between the concentration of A. schlegelii eDNA and biomass, it was demonstrated that Linear Models (LM) effectively captured this relationship, indicating a correlation between eDNA concentration and biomass. (3) The detection of A. schlegelii eDNA concentration under different salinity conditions revealed that the GAM model better reflected the relationship between eDNA and salinity, exhibiting a negative correlation. As salinity increased, the concentration of eDNA decreased. This study lays a foundation for future assessments of the A. schlegelii biomass in natural waters using eDNA quantitative detection techniques, and provides relevant references for quantitative eDNA detection techniques in other marine fish species.

Abstract Background Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) relies on the remodeling of periodontal tissues, including the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone. Collagen remodeling plays a crucial role during this process, allowing for the necessary changes in the PDL’s structure and function. Endo180, an urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein, is a transmembrane receptor regulated collagen remodeling. This study aims to investigate whether and how Endo180 participates in collagen remodeling within the PDL during OTM. Materials and methods A mechanical force-induced OTM rat model was established using a closed coiled spring to mesially move the right maxillary first molar. The distance of OTM was examined by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The collagen remodeling within the PDL was assessed using atomic force microscope (AFM), Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. Protein expressions of Endo180, collagen I (COL I) and collagen III (COL III) were analyzed via immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, the mRNA expressions of Endo180, COL I, and COL III in force-induced PDL cells were examined by RT-qPCR in vitro. To further illustrate the role of Endo180 in regulating COL I and COL III expressions, Endo180 siRNA (siEndo) was applied to force-stimulated PDL cells. Results Force application increased OTM distance and disrupted collagen fiber organization, with a greater decrease in collagen elastic modulus on the mesial side than on the distal side of the PDL. After 7 days of force application, Endo180 and COL III expressions significantly increased in PDL tissues, while COL I expression decreased in PDL tissues. Compressive force loading in vitro upregulated the mRNA expressions of Endo180 and COL III, but downregulated COL I mRNA expression. Notably, Endo180 knockdown using siRNA suppressed force-induced COL III expression while restoring the downregulated COL I expression under compressive force stimuli. Conclusion Force-induced Endo180 expression modulates collagen remodeling in PDL during OTM by upregulating COL III and downregulating COL I. This collagen reorganization facilitates efficient tooth movement, highlighting Endo180 as a potential therapeutic target to optimize orthodontic treatment outcomes.

Abstract Mobile edge computing (MEC) has risen as an effective approach to support ubiquitous and prosperous mobile applications. Due to the strict delay requirements and the increasingly complex application environments, the computation efficiency and security have become the bottleneck that restricts the MEC system. Here, a blockchain‐enabled task offloading scheme is proposed, where the sensitive computation tasks of user terminals (UTs) can be offloaded to a blockchain‐assisted base station (BS). The MEC‐assisted BS helps UTs compute tasks while the blockchain consensus protocol ensures the security of the task offloading and computing process. To manage the allocation of computing resources between task offloading and blockchain consensus, the task offloading and resource allocation are formulated as a joint optimization problem. The aim of the problem is to minimize the energy consumption of UTs while guaranteeing the delay requirement. By transforming the original problem into a Markov decision process, a collective reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed to solve the problem in an online fashion. In the simulations, the convergence and the performance of the proposed scheme are evaluated. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the scheme.

Abstract Aims Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is frequently detected via echocardiography in individuals with Fabry disease (FD), sometimes leading to confusion with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) of other aetiologies. Considering this diagnosis challenge, FD should be included in the list of differential diagnosis for patients presenting with LVH. To address this concern, we conducted a prospective screening study in China, using dried blood spot (DBS) testing, to evaluate patients with unexplained LVH. Methods Our study was designed as a nationwide, multicentre prospective investigation. A total of 1015 patients from 55 different centres who were diagnosed with LVH by echocardiography were screened in the study from September 2022 to December 2023. Demographic information, biochemistry data, echocardiography parameters and clinical observations were meticulously collected from all participants. The DBS method was used to assess α‐galactosidase A (α‐Gal A) activity in males and both α‐Gal A and globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso‐Gb3) levels in females. Results The final screening population included 906 patients (589 males, 65%) with LVH, characterized by a mean maximal myocardial thickness of 14.8 ± 4.6 mm and an average age of 56.9 ± 17.2 years. In total, 43 patients (38 males, 5 females) exhibited low α‐Gal A activity measurement (1.1 ng/mL). Among these patients, eight individuals (7 males and 1 female) were genetically confirmed to harbour pathogenic GLA mutations, resulting in a total prevalence of 0.88%. Compared with patients without FD, patients with FD tended to have proteinuria (75% vs. 21.2%, P = 0.001), family history of HCM (37.5% vs. 2.3%, P T) and c.547+3A>G, were deemed potentially pathogenic. Subsequent familial validation post‐diagnosis identified an additional 14 confirmed cases. Conclusions This pioneering screening study for FD among Chinese patients with unexplained LVH using DBS measurement, revealed an FD detection rate of 0.88%. Our findings confirmed that the combined measurement of lyso‐Gb3 and α‐Gal A activity is beneficial for primary screening of FD in patients with LVH. Given the availability of efficacious therapies and the value of cascade screening in extended families, early detection of FD in LVH patients is clinically important.

Abstract Objective This study aims to analyze factors associated with the missed diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL+) in patients initially diagnosed with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) through colposcopic biopsy and to develop a predictive model for assessing the risk of missed HSIL+. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 505 patients who underwent loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP) following an LSIL diagnosis by colposcopic biopsy. Logistic regression was used to identify demographic and pathological parameters associated with missed diagnoses of HSIL+. Additionally, several machine learning methods were employed to construct and assess the performance of the risk prediction models. Results The overall rate of missed diagnoses for HSIL+ was 15.2%. Independent risk factors identified were HPV16/18 infection (OR 2.071; 95% CI 1.039–4.127; p = 0.039), TCT ≥ ASC-H (OR 4.147; 95% CI 1.392–12.355; p = 0.011), TZ3 (OR 1.966; 95% CI 1.003–3.853; p = 0.049) and Colposcopic impression G2 (OR 3.627; 95% CI 1.350–9.743; p = 0.011). Among the models tested, the Decision Tree algorithm demonstrated superior performance with an accuracy of 94.7%, sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity of 96.9%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.936 in the validation set. Conclusion Key independent risk factors for the missed diagnosis of HSIL in patients with LSIL include HPV16/18 infection, TCT ≥ ASC-H, TZ3, and colposcopic impression G2. The Decision Tree model offers a cost-effective, reliable, and clinically valuable tool for accurately predicting the risk of missed diagnosis of HSIL+, facilitating early intervention and management.

Abstract Background Viola diffusa is used in the formulation of various Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), including antiviral, antimicrobial, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory drugs, due to its richness in flavonoids and triterpenoids. The biosynthesis of these compounds is largely mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are primarily located in the membranes of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Results This study presents the complete assembly of the mitogenome and plastome of Viola diffusa. The circular mitogenome spans 474,721 bp with a GC content of 44.17% and encodes 36 unique protein-coding genes, 21 tRNA, and 3 rRNA. Except for the RSCU values of 1 observed for the start codon (AUG) and tryptophan (UGG), the mitochondrial protein-coding genes exhibited a codon usage bias, with most estimates deviating from 1, similar to patterns observed in closely related species. Analysis of repetitive sequences in the mitogenome demonstrated potential homologous recombination mediated by these repeats. Sequence transfer analysis revealed 24 homologous sequences shared between the mitogenome and plastome, including nine full-length genes. Collinearity was observed among Viola diffusa species within the other members of Malpighiales order, indicated by the presence of homologous fragments. The length and arrangement of collinear blocks varied, and the mitogenome exhibited a high frequency of gene rearrangement. Conclusions We present the first complete assembly of the mitogenome and plastome of Viola diffusa, highlighting its implications for pharmacological, evolutionary, and taxonomic studies. Our research underscores the multifaceted importance of comprehensive mitogenome analysis.

Abstract Background As two of the most impactful abiotic stresses, salt and drought strongly affect tomato growth and development, especially at the seedling stage. However, dissection of the genetic basis underlying salt/drought tolerance at seedling stage in tomato remains limited in scope. Results Here, we reported an analysis of major quantitative trait locus (QTL) and potential causal genetic variations in seedling stage salt/drought tolerance in recombinant inbred lines (n = 201) of S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum parents by whole genome resequencing. A total of 5 QTLs on chromosome 1, 3, 5, 7 and 12 for salt tolerance (ST) and 15 QTLs on chromosome 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12 for drought tolerance (DT) were identified by linkage mapping. The proportion of phenotypic variation explained (PVE%) by these QTLs ranged from 4.91 to 15.86. Two major QTLs qST7 and qDT1-3 were detected in both two years, for which two candidate genes (methionine sulfoxide reductase SlMSRB1 and brassinosteroid insensitive 1-like receptor SlBRL1) and the potential functional variations were further analyzed. Taking advantage of the tomato population resequencing data, the frequency changes of the potential favorable QTL allele for seedling stage ST/DT during tomato breeding were explored. Conclusions These results will be beneficial for the exploration of salt/drought tolerance genes at seedling stages, laying a foundation for marker-assisted breeding for seedling stage salt/drought tolerance.

Abstract Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a global public health challenge. We aimed to investigate the utility of combining the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) as biomarkers for rapid MDR-TB screening. Data were collected from 2,620 TB patients in Zibo city from 2018 to 2021. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the associations and diagnostic performance of CMI and SIRI with MDR-TB. The prevalence of MDR-TB was 5.0% in new TB patients and 20.5% in recurrent TB patients. Both CMI and SIRI were significantly associated with MDR-TB in all models (P

P2X receptors (P2X1–7) are non-selective cation channels involved in many physiological activities such as synaptic transmission, immunological modulation, and cardiovascular function. These receptors share a conserved mechanism to sense extracellular ATP. TNP-ATP is an ATP derivative acting as a nonselective competitive P2X antagonist. Understanding how it occupies the orthosteric site in the absence of agonism may help reveal the key allostery during P2X gating. However, TNP-ATP/P2X complexes (TNP-ATP/human P2X3 (hP2X3) and TNP-ATP/chicken P2X7 (ckP2X7)) with distinct conformations and different mechanisms of action have been proposed. Whether these represent species and subtype variations or experimental differences remains unclear. Here, we show that a common mechanism of TNP-ATP recognition exists for the P2X family members by combining enhanced conformation sampling, engineered disulfide bond analysis, and covalent occupancy. In this model, the polar triphosphate moiety of TNP-ATP interacts with the orthosteric site, while its TNP-moiety is deeply embedded in the head and dorsal fin (DF) interface, creating a restrictive allostery in these two domains that results in a partly enlarged yet ion-impermeable pore. Similar results were obtained from multiple P2X subtypes of different species, including ckP2X7, hP2X3, rat P2X2 (rP2X2), and human P2X1 (hP2X1). Thus, TNP-ATP uses a common mechanism for P2X recognition and modulation by restricting the movements of the head and DF domains which are essential for P2X activation. This knowledge is applicable to the development of new P2X inhibitors.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of microwave drying (MD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), freeze drying (FD), vacuum drying (VD), hot air drying (HAD), and sun drying (SD) on the quality attributes of freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots. The quality characteristics including physical properties, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activities of dried beetroots were evaluated. The results showed that the freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots obtained using FD displayed the lowest shrinkage rate, hardness, and total color difference (ΔE), and the highest rehydration ratio of 6.49. FD, MD, and MVD resulted in porous structures of freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots. The highest betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenolic and total flavonoids contents were found in freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots prepared by MVD. Meanwhile, the largest FRAP value and ABTS free radical scavenging ability of freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots were obtained by MVD. These findings suggested that MVD is a more favorable method for drying freeze-thaw pretreated beetroots.

Objective Leg problems including lameness and tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) are one of the most important factors affecting health and animal welfare in meat-type poultry, which are considerably impacted by dietary vitamin regimens. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin levels on growth performance and tibia quality in 14-d-old meat ducks. Methods One-d-old Cherry Valley meat-type male ducks were allocated to two vitamin regimens for 14 d, which was formulated according to the recommendation of the National Research Council (NRC, 1994) or China Agricultural Industry Standards (NY/T 2122-2012). Each group included 8 replicates with 16 birds per replicate. Results There was no significant difference in the growth performance of ducks, whereas dietary NY/T vitamin supplementation decreased leg abnormalities as compared to the NRC group, along with similar tibia length, perimeter, and the relative weight of tibia. The tibia from the birds that received the NY/T vitamin diet exhibited markedly higher (p 0.05). Conclusion NY/T vitamin diet improved tibia quality and subsequently decreased leg abnormalities in 14-d-old ducks, which was probably linked with the promoted bone formation.

Abstracts: Introduction: Metabolic disturbances are major contributors to the onset and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which includes a histological spectrum ranging from single steatosis (SS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study aimed to identify serum metabolites and lipids enriched in different histological stages of NAFLD and to explore metabolites/lipids as non-invasive biomarkers in risk prediction of NAFLD and NASH in obese Chinese. Methods: Serum samples and liver biopsies were obtained from 250 NAFLD subjects. Untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiling were performed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Significantly altered metabolites and lipids were identified by MaAsLin2. Pathway enrichment was conducted with MetaboAnalyst and LIPEA. WGCNA was implemented to construct the co-expression network. Logistic regression models were developed to classify different histological stages of NAFLD. Results: A total of 263 metabolites and 550 lipid species were detected in serum samples. Differential analysis and pathway enrichment analysis revealed the progressive patterns in metabolic mechanisms during the transition from normal liver to SS and to NASH, including N-palmitoyltaurine, tridecylic acid, and branched-chain amino acid signaling pathways. The co-expression network showed a distinct correlation between different triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine species with disease severity. Multiple models classifying NAFLD versus normal liver and NASH versus SS identified important metabolic features associated with significant improvement in disease prediction compared to conventional clinical parameters. Conclusion: Different histological stages of NAFLD are enriched with distinct sets of metabolites, lipids, and metabolic pathways. Integrated algorithms highlight the important metabolic and lipidomic features for diagnosis and staging of NAFLD in obese individuals.

Diabetes mellitus has surged in prevalence, emerging as a prominent epidemic and assuming a foremost position among prevalent medical disorders. Diabetes constitutes a pivotal risk element for cardiovascular maladies, with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) standing out as a substantial complication encountered by individuals with diabetes. Apoptosis represents a physiological phenomenon observed throughout the aging and developmental stages, giving rise to the programmed cell death, which is implicated in DCM. Non-coding RNAs assume significant functions in modulation of gene expression. Their deviant expression of ncRNAs is implicated in overseeing diverse cellular attributes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and has been postulated to play a role in the progression of DCM. Notably, ncRNAs and the process of apoptosis can mutually influence and cooperate in shaping the destiny of human cardiac tissues. Therefore, the exploration of the interplay between apoptosis and non-coding RNAs holds paramount importance in the formulation of efficacious therapeutic and preventive approaches for managing DCM. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the apoptotic signaling pathways relevant to DCM and subsequently delve into the reciprocal regulation between apoptosis and ncRNAs in DCM. These insights contribute to an enhanced comprehension of DCM and the development of therapeutic strategies.

Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare aggressive malignancy with rapid progress and poor prognosis. Here we report 1 patient with cardiac angiosarcoma with lung metastasis, which presented as multiple halo signs and ground glass opacities. The patient underwent computed tomography (CT) guided lung biopsy and postoperative tissue histology confirmed the diagnosis of angiosarcoma. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) identified the main tumor in the right atrium. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) excluded intraabdominal lesions. The patient was given chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel, cardiac radiation therapy and remained follow-up. Considering the rapid disease progression and poor prognosis, the present case report is intended to provide diagnostic insight into cardiac angiosarcoma with lung metastasis, especially with lung CT scans of multiple halo signs and ground glass opacities.

Mineral resources are an important material basis for the development of human society and have become a topic of global concern in the 21st century. This paper adopts the method of bibliometric analysis to summarise the research progress of global remote sensing in the field of mineral exploration from 2000 to 2022 and gives an outlook on the future research direction. In this study, we used bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress of global remote sensing in the field of mineral exploration from 2000 to 2022, and to provide an outlook on future research directions. We analysed 37,977 publications related to this period covering 185 countries, 2646 journals 16,328 institutions 25,170 funding agencies, and 114,746 authors.

The rapid rise of cyberattacks and the gradual failure of traditional defense systems and approaches led to using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques (such as machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL)) to build more efficient and reliable intrusion detection systems (IDSs). However, the advent of larger IDS datasets has negatively impacted the performance and computational complexity of AI-based IDSs. Many researchers used data preprocessing techniques such as feature selection and normalization to overcome such issues. While most of these researchers reported the success of these preprocessing techniques on a shallow level, very few studies have been performed on their effects on a wider scale. Furthermore, the performance of an IDS model is subject to not only the utilized preprocessing techniques but also the dataset and the ML/DL algorithm used, which most of the existing studies give little emphasis on. Thus, this study provides an in-depth analysis of feature selection and normalization effects on IDS models built using three IDS datasets: NSL-KDD, UNSW-NB15, and CSE–CIC–IDS2018, and various AI algorithms. A wrapper-based approach, which tends to give superior performance, and min-max normalization methods were used for feature selection and normalization, respectively. Numerous IDS models were implemented using the full and feature-selected copies of the datasets with and without normalization. The models were evaluated using popular evaluation metrics in IDS modeling, intra- and inter-model comparisons were performed between models and with state-of-the-art works. Random forest (RF) models performed better on NSL-KDD and UNSW-NB15 datasets with accuracies of 99.86% and 96.01%, respectively, whereas artificial neural network (ANN) achieved the best accuracy of 95.43% on the CSE–CIC–IDS2018 dataset. The RF models also achieved an excellent performance compared to recent works. The results show that normalization and feature selection positively affect IDS modeling. Furthermore, while feature selection benefits simpler algorithms (such as RF), normalization is more useful for complex algorithms like ANNs and DNNs, and algorithms such as NB are unsuitable for IDS modeling. The study also found that the UNSW-NB15 and CSE–CIC–IDS2018 datasets are more complex and more suitable for building and evaluating modern-day IDS than the NSL-KDD dataset. Our findings suggest that prioritizing robust algorithms like RF, alongside complex models such as ANN and DNN, can significantly enhance IDS performance. These insights provide valuable guidance for managers to develop more effective security measures by focusing on high detection rates and low false alert rates.