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Background Radial artery cannulation in young children is challenging. A single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guidance system was invented to project the path of the target artery on the skin surface. The hypothesis was that this system would improve the first-attempt success rate of radial arterial cannulation in young pediatric patients relative to traditional ultrasound guidance. Methods This single-center, prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled study enrolled pediatric patients (n = 80, age less than 2 yr) requiring radial artery cannulation during general anesthesia. The participants were randomized into the traditional ultrasound-guidance group or the single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guidance group. After inducing general anesthesia, ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation was performed by two experienced operators. The primary outcome was the first-attempt success rate. The secondary outcomes included the procedure time to success within the first attempt, midmost rate of first attempt, first needle-tip position, and average number of adjustments. Results In total, 80 children were included in the analysis. The first-attempt success rate in the single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guidance group (36 of 40 [90%]) was significantly greater than that in the traditional ultrasound-guidance group (28 of 40 [70%]; absolute difference, 20% [95% CI, 2.3% to 36.6%]; P = 0.025). The median procedure time to success within the first attempt was shorter in the single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guidance group compared with the traditional ultrasound-guidance group (31 s [27, 36 s] vs. 46 s [39, 52 s]; P < 0.001). The incidence of hematoma in the single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guidance group (1 of 40, 3%) was significantly lower than that in the traditional ultrasound-guidance group (11 of 40, 28%; P = 0.002). Regarding the initial needle-tip position after skin puncture, the median score (4 [3,4] vs. 2 [2,3]; P < 0.001); position 3, 4, or 5 (38 [95%] vs. 13 [33%]; P < 0.001); and position 4 or 5 (26 [65%] vs. 5 [13%]; P < 0.001) were all in favor of single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound guidance. Conclusions Compared with traditional ultrasound guidance, the single-operator laser-assisted ultrasound-guided system is a useful add-on to the ultrasound dynamic needle-tip puncture technique. It improves the first-attempt success rate of radial artery cannulation in children younger than 2 yr by projecting the path of the artery on the skin and provides better procedural conditions (stable ultrasound probe). Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

R-CQDs were prepared by successfully modifying rhodamine 6G on the surface of hydrothermally synthesized carbon quantum dots, and R-CQDs achieved ratiometric fluorescence detection of doxorubicin by internal filtration effect and fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Highly deviated well is widely applied in thin interbedded reservoirs fracturing in changqing oilfield. the oil production data shows that highly deviated fracturing well can increase the oil production compared with horizontal well fracturing, which suggests that highly deviated well fracturing is more efficient. However, it still needs deeper understanding for the mechanism of highly deviated well increase oil production, to study this problem, True-axial hydraulic fracturing physical simulation test is carried out on two kinds of cement specimen with interlayers, the results show that cement specimen for highly deviated well is more productive because fractures are more likely to cross the interbedded layers and connect oil reservoirs that separated by interlayers. Further research on the mechanism of highly deviated well fracture crossing interbedded layers is conducted via numerical simulation. Cohesive zone model is adopted to simulate the propagation of fracture in highly deviated well and horizontal well to compare the difference of thin interbedded layers stress. the results show that due to the deflection of highly deviated well fracture during propagation, the reservoir mass is divided into two parts, which causes relative displacement of rock mass on both sides of the fracture under the effect of vertical principal stress, thin interlayer eventually got broken under the action of tensile and shear stress. Both laboratory tests and numerical simulation results show that highly deviated wells have stronger interlayer penetration capability, which can improve the fracturing effect of thin interbedded reservoirs.

A fault diagnosis solution is proposed in this article for the uncertainty and external disturbance problems in the main drive system of a rolling mill based on analytical redundancy. Considering the nonlinear friction damping, a system is mathematically modeled, and a bank of nonlinear Luenberger observers is designed. The generalized residual set theory is used to isolate two typical fault types of the system. To optimize the anti-disturbance ability of the observer, the disturbance attenuation factor is introduced. The influence of external disturbance on fault estimation is reduced by adjusting the disturbance attenuation factor. Using Lyapunov stability theory, the convergence analysis of the observer dynamic error equation is provided. The observer gain is obtained through resolving the optimality issue under the linear matrix inequality constraint. Numerical simulations of a 2030-mm tandem cold rolling mill were conducted to demonstrate the practicability of the approach. This fault diagnosis scheme is important to improve the stability of system operation.

Funding Information: This project was primarily supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant 2018YFA0307200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 91950119, 61905196, and 62090033), Key Research and Development Program in Shaanxi Province of China (Grant 2020JZ-10), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grants 310201911cx032, 3102019JC008, and D5000210905). The authors also thank the Analytical & Testing Center of NPU for their assistance in device fabrication and characterizations. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Chemical Society. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, featuring distinctive electronic and optical properties and dangling-bond-free surfaces, are promising for developing high-performance on-chip photodetectors in photonic integrated circuits. However, most of the previously reported devices operating in the photoconductive mode suffer from a high dark current or a low responsivity. Here, we demonstrate a MoTe2p-i-n homojunction fabricated directly on a silicon photonic crystal (PC) waveguide, which enables on-chip photodetection with ultralow dark current, high responsivity, and fast response speed. The adopted silicon PC waveguide is electrically split into two individual back gates to selectively dope the top regions of the MoTe2 channel in p- or n-types. High-quality reconfigurable MoTe2 (p-i-n, n-i-p, n-i-n, p-i-p) homojunctions are realized successfully, presenting rectification behaviors with ideality factors approaching 1.0 and ultralow dark currents less than 90 pA. Waveguide-assisted MoTe2 absorption promises a sensitive photodetection in the telecommunication O-band from 1260 to 1340 nm, though it is close to MoTe2's absorption band-edge. A competitive photoresponsivity of 0.4 A/W is realized with a light on/off current ratio exceeding 104 and a record-high normalized photocurrent-to-dark-current ratio of 106 mW-1. The ultrasmall capacitance of p-i-n homojunction and high carrier mobility of MoTe2 promise a high dynamic response bandwidth close to 34.0 GHz. The proposed device geometry has the advantages of employing a silicon PC waveguide as the back gates to build a 2D material p-i-n homojunction directly and simultaneously to enhance light-2D material interaction. It provides a potential pathway to develop 2D material-based photodetectors, laser diodes, and electro-optic modulators on silicon photonic chips.

Peri-implantitis is characterized by inflammation resulting from bacterial infections in peri-implant connective tissue. The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize chitosan/gelatin (CSG)-based membranes with antibacterial agents to functionalize the surface of titanium (Ti) implants. CSG membranes were prepared on Ti substrates

BACKGROUND: Prospective genetic evaluation of patients at our referral research hospital presents clinical research challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study sought not only a single-gene explanation for participants’ immune-related presentations, but viewed each participant holistically, with the potential to have multiple genetic contributions to their immune-phenotype and other heritable comorbidities relevant to their presentation and health. METHODS: We developed a program integrating exome sequencing, chromosomal microarray, phenotyping, results return with genetic counseling, and reanalysis in 1505 individuals from 1000 families with suspected or known inborn errors of immunity. RESULTS: Probands were 50.8% female, 71.5% ≥18 years, and had diverse immune presentations. Overall, 327/1000 probands (32.7%) received 361 molecular diagnoses. These included 17 probands with diagnostic copy number variants, 32 probands with secondary findings, and 31 probands with multiple molecular diagnoses. Reanalysis added 22 molecular diagnoses, predominantly due to new disease-gene associations (9/22, 40.9%). One-quarter of the molecular diagnoses (92/361) did not involve immune-associated genes. Molecular diagnosis was correlated with younger age, male sex, and a higher number of organ systems involved. This program also facilitated the discovery of new gene-disease associations such as SASH3-related immunodeficiency. A review of treatment options and ClinGen actionability curations suggest that at least 251/361 (69.5%) of these molecular diagnoses could translate into ≥1 management option. CONCLUSION: This program contributes to our understanding of the diagnostic and clinical utility whole exome analysis on a large scale.

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) have been reported to have critical regulatory roles in osteoarthritis (OA). Recent studies have suggested that autophagy promotes the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes in OA. However, the role of tRFs in posttranscriptional gene regulation during autophagy in OA is unknown. Therefore, we explored the role of tRF-5009A in the posttranscriptional gene regulation of autophagy and cartilage degeneration in OA. Using RNA sequencing, we identified tRF-5009A, the tRNAValCAC-derived fragment, in OA tissues and explored its expression by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. We further investigated the relationship between the expression of tRF-5009A and clinical factors in OA. Chondrocytes were transfected with a tRF-5009A inhibitor or mimic to determine their functions, including in relation to autophagy and the cartilage phenotype. A rescue experiment and dual-luciferase reporter assay were conducted to determine whether the 3 ′ -untranslated region (UTR) of mTOR contains a tRF-5009A-binding site. tRF-5009A was downregulated in the cartilage of OA knees, especially in damaged areas. mTOR was highly expressed in damaged cartilage and negatively correlated with the expression of tRF-5009A; transfection with a tRF-5009A inhibitor promoted the expression of mTOR and suppressed autophagy, whereas transfection with a tRF-5009A mimic had the opposite effect. A dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that tRF-5009A silenced the expression of mTOR by binding to its 3 ′ -UTR. Thus, tRF-5009A regulates autophagy and cartilage degeneration in OA by targeting mTOR. In summary, these findings provide an additional tool for the clinical diagnosis and novel targeted therapy of OA.

The relationship between vitamin B12 and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains controversial. To comprehensively evaluate the relationship between vitamin B12 and GDM, and to provide more information on GDM prevention, this study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of vitamin B12 and GDM. As of September 22, 2021, 304 articles were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, of which 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results presented there was no association between maternal vitamin B12 concentration during the first trimester with GDM, however, low vitamin B12 concentration in the second or third trimester of pregnancy was related to an increased risk of GDM. Compared with the non-GDM group, the vitamin B12 concentration in the GDM group was remarkably decreased (MD: –10·79; 95%CI: –21·37, –0·21), and vitamin B12 deficiency increased the risk for GDM (OR: 1·59; 95%CI: 1·10, 2·29). These effects were more significant among Asians. In addition, an increased ratio of high folate to low vitamin B12 in serum also increased the risk of GDM (OR: 1·87; 95% CI: 1·46, 2·41). These results suggest that more vitamin B12 may need to be provided during pregnancy.

PurposeThough copy number variants (CNVs) have been suggested to play a significant role in inborn errors of immunity (IEI), the precise nature of this role remains largely unexplored. We sought to determine the diagnostic contribution of CNVs using genome-wide chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in children with IEI.MethodsWe performed exome sequencing (ES) and CMA for 332 unrelated pediatric probands referred for evaluation of IEI. The analysis included primary, secondary, and incidental findings.ResultsOf the 332 probands, 134 (40.4%) received molecular diagnoses. Of these, 116/134 (86.6%) were diagnosed by ES alone. An additional 15/134 (11.2%) were diagnosed by CMA alone, including two likely de novo changes. Three (2.2%) participants had diagnostic molecular findings from both ES and CMA, including two compound heterozygotes and one participant with two distinct diagnoses. Half of the participants with CMA contribution to diagnosis had CNVs in at least one non-immune gene, highlighting the clinical complexity of these cases. Overall, CMA contributed to 18/134 diagnoses (13.4%), increasing the overall diagnostic yield by 15.5% beyond ES alone.ConclusionPairing ES and CMA can provide a comprehensive evaluation to clarify the complex factors that contribute to both immune and non-immune phenotypes. Such a combined approach to genetic testing helps untangle complex phenotypes, not only by clarifying the differential diagnosis, but in some cases by identifying multiple diagnoses contributing to the overall clinical presentation.

Pressure induced insulator to metal transition followed by the appearance of superconductivity has been observed recently in inorganic quantum spin liquid candidate NaYbSe2. In this letter, we study the properties of isostructural compound NaYbS2 under pressure. It is found that the resistance of NaYbS2 single crystal exhibits an insulating state below 82.9 GPa, but with a drop of more than six orders of magnitude at room temperature. Then a minimum of resistance is observed at about 100.1 GPa and it moves to lower temperature with further compression. Finally, a metallic state in the whole temperature range is observed at about 130.3 GPa accompanied a non-Fermi liquid behavior below 100 K. The insulator to metal transition, non-monotonic resistance feature and non-Fermi liquid behavior of NaYbS2 under pressure is similar to those of NaYbSe2, suggesting that these phenomena might be the universal properties in NaLnCh2 (Ln = rare earth, Ch = O, S, Se) system.

Objective A better Understanding of the key regulatory cells in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and their role and regulatory mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) progression can facilitate the development of targeted treatment strategies for KOA. Methods The relationship between ACL degeneration and KOA was first explored using human ACL specimens and mouse models. Next, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell detection of transposase accessible and chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) data were integrated to reveal the transcriptional and epigenomic landscape of ACL in normal and osteoarthritis (OA) states. Results Six cell populations were identified in the human ACL, among which were inflammation-associated fibroblasts (IAFs). Degeneration of the ACL during OA mechanically alters the knee joint homeostasis and influences the microenvironment by regulating inflammatory- and osteogenic-related factors, thereby contributing to the progression of KOA. Specifically, a IAF subpopulation identified in OA ACL was found to enhance the transcription and secretion of EGER via SOX5 upregulation, with consequent activation of the EGER–EGFR signaling pathway. These molecular events led to the upregulation of downstream inflammatory and osteogenic factors, and the downregulation of the extracellular matrix-associated factor, thereby leading to knee osteoid formation, cartilage degeneration, and OA progression. Conclusions In summary, this study identifies a novel subpopulation of fibroblasts in the ACL, which confirms the importance of the ACL in knee joint homeostasis and disease. Additionally, the specific mechanism by which these IAFs regulate KOA progression was uncovered, which provides new foundation for the development of targeted treatments for KOA.

Damaged image inpainting is one of the hottest research fields in computer image processing. The development of deep learning, especially Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), has significantly enhanced the effect of image inpainting. However, the direct connection between convolution layers may increase the risk of gradient disappearance or overfitting during training process. In addition, pixel artifacts or visual inconsistencies may occur if the damaged area is inpainted directly. To solve the above problems, we propose a novel Dense Gated Convolutional Network (DGCN) for generative image inpainting by modifying the gated convolutional network structure in this paper. Firstly, Holistically-nested edge detector (HED) is utilized to predict the edge information of the missing areas to assist the subsequent inpainting task to reduce the generation of artifacts. Then, dense connections are added to the generative network to reduce the network parameters while reducing the risk of instability in the training process. Finally, the experimental results on CelebA and Places2 datasets show that the proposed model achieves better inpainting results in terms of PSNR, SSIM and visual effects compared with other classical image inpainting models. DGCN has the common advantages of gated convolution and dense connection, which can reduce network parameters and improve the inpainting effect of the network.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is a leading cause of chronic liver diseases lacks effective treatment. Tamoxifen has been proven to be the first-line chemotherapy for several solid tumors in clinics, however, its therapeutic role in NAFLD has never been elucidated before. In vitro experiments, tamoxifen protected hepatocytes against sodium palmitate-induced lipotoxicity. In male and female mice fed with normal diets, continuous tamoxifen administration inhibited lipid accumulation in liver, and improved glucose and insulin intolerance. Short-term tamoxifen administration largely improved hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, however, the phenotypes manifesting inflammation and fibrosis remained unchanged in abovementioned models. In addition, mRNA expressions of genes related to lipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis were downregulated by tamoxifen treatment. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of tamoxifen on NAFLD was not gender or ER dependent, as male and female mice with metabolic disorders shared no difference in response to tamoxifen and ER antagonist (fulvestrant) did not abolish its therapeutic effect as well. Mechanistically, RNA sequence of hepatocytes isolated from fatty liver revealed that JNK/MAPK signaling pathway was inactivated by tamoxifen. Pharmacological JNK activator (anisomycin) partially deprived the therapeutic role of tamoxifen in treating hepatic steatosis, proving tamoxifen improved NAFLD in a JNK/MAPK signaling-dependent manner.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have detrimental effects on human health. Embryos are particularly susceptible to environmental insults such as PAHs. We examined the association between prenatal exposure to PAHs and the risk for fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). A case-control study was conducted with 119 NTD cases and 119 controls. A total of 16 PAHs in umbilical cord tissue, determined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, were used as in utero exposure markers. Logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were performed to evaluate the individual and overall effects of PAH exposure on the risk for NTDs, respectively. Median concentrations of 10 PAHs were significantly higher in cases than in controls. In logistic regression, concentrations of four PAHs above the median of all participants were significantly associated with an increased NTD risk, even when potential covariates were adjusted for: phenanthrene, 2.35-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–5.34); fluoranthene, 2.37-fold (95% CI 1.02–5.48); pyrene, 2.41-fold (95% CI 1.04–5.62); and benzo(b)fluoranthene, 2.95-fold (95% CI 1.27–6.86). In BKMR, the risk for NTDs increased when PAH concentrations were all above their 65th percentile compared to their median, while no statistical association between a single compound and NTD risk was observed when the remaining nine PAHs were taken into consideration simultaneously. Together these results show that prenatal PAH exposure is a risk factor for NTDs in offspring.

The role of alkali metals in the development of neural tube defects (NTDs) is little known. We examined the associations between placental concentrations of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs), and the occurrence of NTDs in fetuses.408 women who had NTD-affected pregnancies and 593 women who delivered healthy infants were included. Logistic regression, weight quantile sum regression (WQSR), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were applied to assess whether these metals are associated with the occurrence of NTDs.Cs showed an inverse association with the odds of NTDs [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-0.91] in single-metal logistic model. Estimates did not change much in the multiple-metal logistic model. In WQSR, the WQS index was inversely associated with the odds of NTDs (aOR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.51-0.75), in which Cs (weighted 0.45) had the highest weight. In BKMR, the odds of NTDs decreased with the levels of the five-metal mixtures. Cs was associated with decreased odds of NTDs when the remaining four metals were fixed at their 25A high concentration of Cs and Na in placental tissue was respectively associated with decreased and increased odds of NTDs. In addition, the occurrence of NTDs decreased with the levels of the five-metal mixtures.

Soil salinity and alkalization limit plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. The application of salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) effectively improved plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress. To obtain the beneficial actinomyces resources with salt tolerance, thirteen isolates were isolated from rhizosphere saline and alkaline soil of Phragmites communis. Among these isolates, D2-8 was moderately halophilic to NaCl and showed 120 mmol soda saline-alkali solution tolerance. Moreover, the plant growth-promoting test demonstrated that D2-8 produced siderophore, IAA, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD), and organic acids. D2-8 showed 99.4% homology with the type strain Streptomyces paradoxus NBRC 14887T and shared the same branch, and, therefore, it was designated S. paradoxus D2-8. Its genome was sequenced to gain insight into the mechanism of growth-promoting and saline-alkali tolerance of D2-8. IAA and siderophore biosynthesis pathway, genes encoding ACC deaminase, together with six antibiotics biosynthesis gene clusters with antifungal or antibacterial activity, were identified. The compatible solute ectoine biosynthesis gene cluster, production, and uptake of choline and glycine betaine cluster in the D2-8 genome may contribute to the saline-alkali tolerance of the strain. Furthermore, D2-8 significantly promoted the seedling growth even under soda saline-alkali stress, and seed coating with D2-8 isolate increased by 5.88% of the soybean yield in the field. These results imply its significant potential to improve soybean soda saline-alkali tolerance and promote crop health in alkaline soil.

A random 2D nanochannel orientation in a polyamide membrane provides superior membrane permeability and selectivity to a horizontally aligned one.

A biocompatible CMC/G membrane for titanium substrates has been fabricated in an eco-friendly manner and could be a promising carrier for negatively charged agents.

The structurally precise alloy nanoclusters have been emerged as a burgeoning nanomaterial for their unique physical/chemical features. We here report a rod-like nanocluster [Au12Cu13(PPh3)10I7](SbF6)2 (Au12Cu13), which was generated through a transformation of a [Au9(PPh3)8]3+ intermediate in the presence of CuI, unveiled by time-dependent UV-vis spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. Au12Cu13 is comprised of two pentagonal bipyramids Au6Cu units and a pentagonal prism Cu11 unit, where the copper and gold species are presented in +1 and 0 chemical states. The Cu-dopants significantly improved the stability and fluorescence (quantum yield: ~34%, 34-folds of homo-Au25(PPh3)10Br7). The high stability of Au12Cu13 is attributed to the high binding energy of iodine ligands, Au-Cu synergistic effects and its 16-electon system as an 8-electron superatom dimer. Finally, the robust Au12Cu13 exhibited high catalytic activity (~92% conversion and ~84% methyl formate-selectivity) and good durability in methanol photo-oxidation.

PurposeTo investigate the micro-vascular changes in choroidal structures in patients with pre- and early-stage clinical diabetic retinopathy (DR) using wide-field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS-OCTA).MethodThis observational cross-sectional study included 131 eyes of 68 subjects that were divided into healthy controls (group 1, n = 46), pre-DR (group 2, n = 43), early-stage DR (group 3, n = 42) cohorts. All participants that underwent SS-OCTA examination were inpatients in the department of Ophthalmology and the department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, and Department of Ophthalmology, Aier Eye Hospital, Jinan, from July 11, 2021 to March 17, 2022. The choroidal vascularity index (CVI), choroidal thickness (ChT) and central macular thickness (CMT) in the whole area (diameter of 12 mm) and concentric rings with different ranges (0–3, 3–6, 6–9, and 9–12 mm) were recorded and analyzed from the OCTA image.ResultCompared with healthy eyes, decreases in CVI and ChT were found in the eyes of patients with pre-or early-stage DR. The changes were more significant in the peripheral choroid, with the most prominent abnormalities in the 9-12mm area (P < 0.001). However, there was no obvious difference in the average CMT value. Furthermore, CVI and ChT were significantly correlated with the duration of diabetes in the range of 6–9 and 9–12 mm (Ps < 0.05; Correlation coefficient = -0.549, -0.395, respectively), with the strongest correlation (Ps < 0.01; Correlation coefficient = -0.597, -0.413, respectively) observed at 9–12 mm.ConclusionThe CVI and ChT values of diabetic patients are significantly lower than in healthy controls, especially in patients with early-stage DR. In addition, the peripheral choroidal capillaries are more susceptible to early DM-induced injury than in the central area.

Brewery—a water-intensive industry—produces a significant amount of wastewater, requiring effective treatment before discharge to the terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem. The treatment efficacy of the single/two-stage membrane aerated biofilm bioreactor (MABR)...

OsPPR11 belongs to the P-type PPR protein family and can interact with OsCAF2 to regulate Group II intron splicing and affect chloroplast development in rice. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins participate in chloroplasts or mitochondria group II introns splicing in plants. The PPR protein family contains 491 members in rice, but most of their functions are unknown. In this study, we identified a nuclear gene encoding the P-type PPR protein OsPPR11 in chloroplasts. The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that OsPPR11 was expressed in all plant tissues, but leaves had the highest expression. The osppr11 mutants had yellowing leaves and a lethal phenotype that inhibited chloroplast development and photosynthesis-related gene expression and reduced photosynthesis-related protein accumulation in seedlings. Moreover, photosynthetic complex accumulation decreased significantly in osppr11 mutants. The OsPPR11 is required for ndhA, and ycf3-1 introns splicing and interact with CRM family protein OsCAF2, suggesting that these two proteins may form splicing complexes to regulate group II introns splicing. Further analysis revealed that OsCAF2 interacts with OsPPR11 through the N-terminus. These results indicate that OsPPR11 is essential for chloroplast development and function by affecting group II intron splicing in rice.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) transplantation methods are promising candidates for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. However, inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α) that occur at cell transplantation sites are critical factors that impair the effectiveness of the treatment. Previous studies have shown that aspirin (AS) had a regulatory role in stem cell differentiation. However, little is known about the role of AS on the chondrogenesis of BMMSCs. The purpose of this study is to explore the protective role of AS against the negative effects of TNF-α on BMMSC chondrogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of AS and TNF-α on BMMSCs chondrogenesis by performing the Alcian Blue staining, safranin O-fast green staining, haematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemical staining, as well as real-time RT-PCR and western blot assays. Our results demonstrated that TNF-α inhibited chondrogenic differentiation of BMMSCs by disrupting the balance of cartilage metabolism and promoting oxidative stress in BMMSCs, while AS treatment attenuated these effects. Furthermore, a detailed molecular mechanistic analysis indicated that Yes-associated protein (YAP) played a critical regulatory role in this process. In addition, AS treatment mitigated the progression of cartilage degeneration in a mouse destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model. AS alleviated the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on chondrogenesis of BMMSCs by stabilizing YAP, which may provide new therapeutic strategies for OA treatment.

Precise mono-doping of metal atom into metal particles at a specific particle position (e.g., the central site) in a highly controllable manner is still a challenge. In this work, we develop a highly controllable strategy for exchanging a single Ag atom into the central gold site of Au13Ag12(PPh3)10Cl8 (Ph = phenyl) nanoclusters. Interestingly, a “pigeon-pair” cluster of {[Au13Ag12(PPh3)10Cl8]·[Au12Ag13(PPh3)10Cl8]}2+ is obtained and confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis. The experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the single-metal-atom exchanging from [Au13Ag12(PPh3)10Cl8]+ to [Au12Ag13(PPh3)10Cl8]+ occurs at the central position through the side entry of the μ3-bridging Cl atoms. Finally, the effects on the electronic structure and properties caused by the single-atom exchange at the central site are shown by the enhancement of fluorescence and catalytic activity in the photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol.

The prioritization of the processing of highly relevant personal stimuli pervades various cognitive domains and is vital to our survival and normal functioning. However, the extent to which this process is altered by drug addiction remains to be elucidated. The present study examined the self-prioritization effect in abstinent heroin users (AHUs) using the perceptual matching task, which controls for the confounding effect of familiarity, and further modified it to revalidate the drug-prioritization effect (DPE). Eighty male AHUs and forty healthy control (HC) participants were recruited for this study. Participants filled in the questionnaire and completed two perceptual matching tasks. The questionnaire included demographic information (e.g., age, education) and characteristics of drug use, whereas the HC participants only completed the demographic information. AHUs exhibited a robust self-advantage in the self-perceptual matching task, and that the magnitude of the self-prioritization effect (MSPE) was comparable to that in HCs. Only AHUs prioritized the processing of drug-related stimuli in the drug-perceptual matching task, and showed similar prioritization effects during self- and drug-related processing. The MSPE and magnitude of the drug-prioritization effect (MDPE) were correlated with the heroin consumption behavior in AHUs. The process of self-prioritization is intact in drug users, and they uniquely prioritize the processing of drug cues. The similar pattern between the self- and drug-related processing provided behavioral evidence to support that drug cues are likely to be associated with heightened personal relevance in drug users. These prioritization processes may play critical roles in addiction and provide a promising route for intervention.

Purpose: Though copy number variants (CNVs) have been suggested to play a significant role in inborn errors of immunity (IEI), the precise nature of this role remains largely unexplored. Thus, we sought to determine the diagnostic contribution of CNVs using genome-wide chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in children with suspected or known IEI. Methods: We performed exome sequencing (ES) and CMA for 332 unrelated pediatric probands referred for evaluation of IEI. The analysis included primary, secondary, and incidental findings. Results: Of the 332 probands, 134 (40.4%) received molecular diagnoses. Of these, 116/134 (86.6%) were diagnosed by ES alone. An additional 15/134 (11.2%) were diagnosed by CMA alone, including two likely de novochanges. Three (2.2%) participants had diagnostic molecular findings from both ES and CMA, including two compound heterozygotes and one patient with two distinct diagnoses. Half of the participants with CMA contribution to diagnosis had CNVs in at least one non-immune gene, highlighting the clinical complexity of these cases. Overall, CMA contributed to 18/134 diagnoses (13.4%), increasing the overall diagnostic yield by 15.5%. Conclusion: Pairing ES and CMA can provide a comprehensive evaluation to clarify the complex factors that contribute to both immune and non-immune phenotypes. Such a combined approach to genetic testing helps untangle complex phenotypes, not only by clarifying the differential diagnosis, but in some cases by identifying multiple diagnoses contributing to the overall clinical presentation.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, featuring distinctive electronic and optical properties and dangling-bond-free surfaces, are promising for developing high-performance on-chip photodetectors in photonic integrated circuits. However, most of the previously reported devices operating in the photoconductive mode suffer from a high dark current or a low responsivity. Here, we demonstrate a MoTe