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Abstract A Josephson radiation threshold detector (JRTD) that is based on the threshold behaviour of a current bias Josephson junction (CBJJ) is designed and fabricated for infrared radiation (IR@1550nm) detection at low temperatures. To achieve the optimal performance, we develop a binary hypothesis detection method to calibrate Josephson threshold behaviours (i.e. the switching current distributions of the CBJJ with the Al/AlOx/Al junction) in the absence and presence of radiation. In the absence of IR radiation, the junction transitioned with a measurable voltage drop across the junction, and this signal was treated as the events of hypothesis H0. The events of junction transition observed in the presence of the IR radiation served as hypothesis H1. Considering the usual Gaussian noise and based on statistical decision theory, the accumulated data of the measured switching current distributions are processed, and the threshold sensitivity of the demonstrated JRTD device is estimated. The minimum detectable IR radiation power of the proposed detector is approximately 0.74 pW, which corresponds to the photon rate of 5.692 × 106 photons/second. Further optimisation of JRTDs to implement the desired binary detection of a single photon is still a subject of argument, at least theoretically.

It is well known that elementary particles in the real 3+1-dimensional world are either bosons or fermions, without exception, and not both. Here, we show that a quantized current-biased Josephson junction (CBJJ), as an artificial macroscopic “particle,” can serve as either a boson or a fermion or the combination, depending on the amplitude of the biased dc current. By using high vacuum two-angle electron beam evaporations, we fabricated CBJJ devices and calibrated their physical parameters by applying low-frequency signal drivings. At 50mK temperature environment, the microwave transmission characteristics of the fabricated CBJJ devices were measured at the low power limit. The experimental results verify the relevant theoretical predictions, i.e., when the bias current is significantly lower than the critical ones of the junctions, the device works in a very linear regime and thus behaves as a harmonic oscillator “boson”; while if the biased current is sufficiently large (especially approaching the junctions' critical currents), the device works manifestly in the nonlinear regime and thus behaves as a two-level artificial atom “fermion.” Therefore, by adjusting the biased dc current, the CBJJ device can be effectively switched from a Bose-type macroscopic particle to a Fermi-type one and thus might open an approach for quantum technology applications at a macroscopic scale.

This paper proposes an indoor visible light location method based on embedded platform and optical frequency image recognition technology with artificial intelligence, which can effectively improve the location effect in complex indoor environment. By transplanting the artificial intelligence (AI) based image classification algorithm into the embedded platform, this method uses a forward neural network to analyse the position information coming from the coded optical frequency image received by a camera, and then the positioning results can be obtained. In view of the "motion state" and "occlusion state" that are most likely to fail in traditional visible image localization, we specially supplement the training set of relevant characteristic optical frequency images to enhance the robustness of the method. According to the track and positioning results of the moving platform receiver, the proposed method can provide accurate and reliable navigation and positioning and has stronger anti-interference ability compared with the traditional light intensity or light image positioning methods.

Based on source-specific saccharide tracers, the characteristics of biomass burning (BB) and biogenic emissions of saccharides were investigated in three rural sites at Lincang, which is 65 % covered with forest in the southwest border of China. The total saccharides accounted for 8.4 ± 2.7 % of organic carbon (OC) and 1.6 ± 0.6 % of PM2.5. The measured anhydrosugars accounted for 48.5 % of total saccharides, among which levoglucosan was the most dominant species. The high level of levoglucosan was both attributed to the local BB activities and biomass combustion smoke transported from the neighboring regions of Southeast Asia (Myanmar) and the northern Indian subcontinent. The measured mono- or disaccharides and sugar alcohols accounted for 24.9 ± 8.3 % and 26.6 ± 9.9 % of the total saccharides, respectively, and both proved to be mostly emitted by direct biogenic volatilization from plant material or surface soils rather than byproducts of polysaccharide breakdown during BB processes. Five sources of saccharides were resolved by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analysis, including BB, soil microbiota, plant senescence, airborne pollen, and plant detritus with contributions of 34.0 %, 16.0 %, 21.0 %, 23.7 %, and 5.3 %, respectively. The results provide information on the magnitude of levoglucosan and contributions of BB, as well as the characteristic of biogenic saccharides, at the remote sites of southwest China, which can be further applied to regional source apportionment models and global climate models.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is one of the endocrine hormones that plays an important role in regulating growth and development of animals. In this study, polymorphism in the 5′UTR and 3′UTR coding region and of the IGF1 gene was detected by DNA sequencing technology, and the abundance of IGF1 mRNA in various tissues at three growth stages of the Shitou goose was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, the differential expression of IGF1 in various tissues between the Shitou goose and Wuzong goose was revealed. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the exon3 region of IGF1 in the Shitou goose. IGF1 mRNA was extensively expressed in various tissues of Shitou geese with high abundant expression in the liver, breast muscle and leg muscle at three growth stages. IGF1 mRNA expression showed a trend of first increase and then decrease in the pituitary, liver, subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat tissues, but it decreased in the breast muscle and leg muscle of a Shitou goose with growing age. Expression of IGF1 in the liver, leg muscle and pituitary tissues of the Shitou goose was significantly higher than that of the Wuzong goose. This provides a foundation for further study of regulatory mechanisms of IGF1 in the growth and development of geese.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soy isoflavone daidzein on ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and rumen bacterial community in beef cattle. Six rumen-cannulated adult beef cattle were assigned to three blocks according to similar body weight in a randomised block design, with two cattle each block. Each block randomly received one of the two dietary treatments: control (basal concentrate) and daidzein (supplementation with 500 mg daidzein/kg basal concentrate). High-throughput sequencing data showed that supplemental daidzein increased the relative abundance of bacteria belonging to phylum Bacteroidetes (p = .050), but reduced and tended to reduce the relative abundance of phylum Spirochaetae (p = .030) and Firmicutes (p = .080). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Prevotella (p = .036), RC9_gut_group (p = .019), Succinivibrio (p = .093) and Ruminobacter (p = .085) were increased or tended to be increased by daidzein supplementation. However, supplemental daidzein reduced or tended to reduce some uncultured and unclassified bacteria genus belonging to Ruminococcaceae (p = .028), Prevotellaceae (p = .088) and Lachnospiraceae (p = .068). The ruminal pH (p = .023) and ammonia-N (p = .031) concentration were lower in the daidzein group than in the control group, but the daidzein group tended to have greater ruminal total VFA (p = .063) concentration. Supplemental daidzein increased urinary excretion of allantoin (p = .005) and total purine derivatives (p = .007). Current results suggest that supplemental daidzein can affect ruminal fermentation by changing ruminal microbial community, increase the production of VFA and enhance microbial protein synthesis in the rumen, showing the potential of daidzein for improving ruminal fermentation in beef cattle.

The analysis of random vibration of a vehicle with hysteretic nonlinear suspension under road roughness excitation is a fundamental part of evaluation of a vehicle’s dynamic features and design of its active suspension system. The effective analysis method of random vibration of a vehicle with hysteretic suspension springs is presented based on the pseudoexcitation method and the equivalent linearisation technique. A stable and efficient iteration scheme is constructed to obtain the equivalent linearised system of the original nonlinear vehicle system. The power spectral density of the vehicle responses (vertical body acceleration, suspension working space and dynamic tyre load) at different speeds and with different nonlinear levels of hysteretic suspension springs are analysed, respectively, by the proposed method. It is concluded that hysteretic nonlinear suspensions influence the vehicle dynamic characteristic significantly; the frequency-weighted root mean square values at the front and rear suspensions and the vehicle’s centre of gravity are reduced greatly with increasing the nonlinear levels of hysteretic suspension springs, resulting in better ride comfort of the vehicle.

Nonstationary random vibration analysis of an infinitely long beam resting on a Kelvin foundation subjected to moving random loads is studied in this paper. Based on the pseudo excitation method (PEM) combined with the Fourier transform (FT), a closed-form solution of the power spectral responses of the nonstationary random vibration of the system is derived in the frequency-wavenumber domain. On the numerical integration scheme a fast Fourier transform is developed for moving load problems through a parameter substitution, which is found to be superior to Simpson’s rule. The results obtained by using the PEM-FT method are verified using Monte Carlo method and good agreement between these two sets of results is achieved. Special attention is paid to investigation of the effects of the moving load velocity, a few key system parameters, and coherence of loads on the random vibration responses. The relationship between the critical speed and resonance is also explored.

Many structures or machines interact with some internal nonconservative forces and present asymmetric systems in which the stiffness and damping matrices are asymmetric. Examples include friction-induced vibration and aeroelastic flutter. Asymmetric systems are prone to flutter instability as a result of the real parts of some poles becoming positive when certain system parameters vary.

Miniature pigs have been recognized as valuable experimental animals in medical research. However, porcine models related to gene knockout of human diseases are not widely available. The objective of this study was to establish Mx1-Cre pigs using somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this study, we created transgenic pigs using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Transfer of 210, 230, 250 and 215 zygotes to four surrogates produced 10 piglets. The Cre recombinase expression in transgenic pigs was studied using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Mx1-Cre swine were shown to harbor the Cre gene in their genomic DNA using the PCR. In conclusion, Mx1-Cre transgenic piglets were successfully produced by SCNT. These transgenic swine, in conjunction with inducible systems for controlling Cre expression and function, are likely to have a profound impact on the study of human diseases.

Results on a [Ni.sub.80][Fe.sub.20]/[Ni.sub.x][Fe.sub.(1-x)]O thin-film bilayer that shows a positive exchange bias loop shift of ~90 Oe at K under zero-field-cooled conditions is reported. The appearance of a positive exchange bias loop shift at low temperature-dependent changes in the interfacial pinning and exchange coupling due to a complex [Ni.sub.x][Fe.sub.(1-x)]O structure from energetic ion-beam bombardment effects during the film deposition.

A dynamic model of a pantograph-catenary system is established. In the model, motion of the pantograph is coupled with that of the catenary by friction. Stability of the pantograph-catenaiy system is studied using the finite element complex eigenvalue method. Numerical results show that there is a strong propensity of self-excited vibration of the pantograph-catenary system when the friction coefficient is greater than 0.1. The dynamic transient analysis results show that the self-excited vibration of the pantograph-catenaiy system can affect the contact condition between the pantograph and catenaiy. If the amplitude of the self-excited vibration is strong enough, the contact may even get lost. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows that the coefficient of friction, static lift force, pan-head suspension spring stiffness, tension of contact wire, and the spatial location of pantograph have important influences on the friction-induced, self-excited vibration of the pantograph-catenary system. Bringing the fiction coefficient below a certain level and choosing a suitable static lift force can suppress or eliminate the contact loss between the pantograph and catenary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myostatin is expressed in skeletal muscle tissue where it functions to suppress myoblast proliferation and myofiber hypertrophy. Recently, myostatin was detected in the tendon, mammary gland, and adipose tissue of mice. We sought to determine whether myostatin is expressed in the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of pigs. Real-time PCR and Western blots demonstrated that myostatin, follistatin, decorin, and activin receptor IIB (ActRIIB) mRNA and proteins were expressed in skeletal muscle, heart muscle, and adipose tissue, and also in liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and cultured fibroblasts. The relative abundance of myostatin was closely related to follistatin and decorin in porcine tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis further demonstrated the presence of myostatin, follistatin, and decorin in the skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, heart muscle, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of pigs. These results suggest that myostatin could be associated with certain functions of the internal organs, such as energy metabolism or fibrosis. We conclude that myostatin is a factor broadly expressed in the internal organs and muscle tissues of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Foliar δ13C values of Calligogum kozlovi and Haloxylon ammodendron ranged from −13.13 to −15.11 ‰, while those of the rest 11 species were in the range of −22.22 to −27.73 ‰. This indicates that two of 13 dominant plant species in the Qaidam Basin possess a C4 photosynthetic pathway. Significant differences were observed for the average foliar δ13C values between C3 or C4 plant communities, between grass and shrub communities, even between the same species derived from different sites. Precipitation accounted for the major part of the differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wearable self-powered active sensor for respiration and healthcare monitoring was fabricated based on a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator. An electrospinning poly(vinylidene fluoride) thin film on silicone substrate was polarized to fabricate the flexible nanogenerator and its electrical property was measured. When periodically stretched by a linear motor, the flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator generated an output open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of up to 1.5 V and 400 nA, respectively. Through integration with an elastic bandage, a wearable self-powered sensor was fabricated and used to monitor human respiration, subtle muscle movement, and voice recognition. As respiration proceeded, the electrical output signals of the sensor corresponded to the signals measured by a physiological signal recording system with good reliability and feasibility. This self-powered, wearable active sensor has significant potential for applications in pulmonary function evaluation, respiratory monitoring, and detection of gesture and vocal cord vibration for the personal healthcare monitoring of disabled or paralyzed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the magnetism of core-shell nanoparticles (made of maghemite, γ -Fe2O3, cores and transition-metal and metal-oxide shells) is altered substantially by the interface, which is a doped iron-oxide layer formed naturally during the seed-mediated synthesis process, a route used typically to produce core-shell nanoparticles. Characteristics fundamental to useful applications, such as the anisotropy and superparamagnetic blocking temperature, were altered substantially with Cu, CoO, MnO, and NiO shells. To ascertain the origin of this behavior, the prototype γ -Fe2O3/CoO core-shell nanoparticles are described in detail. We show that the magnetism originates essentially from an interfacial doped iron-oxide layer formed via migration of shell ions, e.g., Co2+, into octahedral site vacancies in the surface layers of the γ -Fe2O3 core. For this system, an overall Fe morb/mspin = 0.15 ± 0.03 is measured (morb ~ 0 for the Fe-oxides) and an enhanced Comorb/mspin = 0.65 ± 0.03 elucidates the origin of the unexpectedly high overall anisotropy of the nanoparticle. This interfacial layer is responsible for the overall (e.g., bulk) magnetism and provides a perspective on how the magnetism of core-shell nanoparticles manifests from the selected core and shell materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinotefuran is known to negatively affect honeybee (Apis mellifera) behavior, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The magnetoreceptor (MagR, which responds to magnetic fields) and cryptochrome (Cry2, which is sensitive to light) genes are considered to play important roles in honey bees' homing and localization behaviors. Our study found that dinotefuran, even without direct contact, can act like a magnet, significantly altering MagR expression in honeybees. This non-contact exposure reduced the bees' homing rate. In further experiments, we exposed foragers to light and magnetic fields, the MagR gene responded to magnetic fields only in the presence of light, with Cry2 playing a key switching role in the magnetic field receptor mechanism (MagR-Cry2). Yeast two-hybrid and BiFc assays confirmed an interaction of these two genes. Moreover, the bees' homing rate was significantly reduced when the expression of these genes was decreased using RNAi. These findings suggest that changes in MagR and Cry2 expression are critical to the reduction in homing ability caused by non-contact dinotefuran exposure. This study reveals the potential navigation mechanisms of honey bees during homing and foraging and shows that the impact of dinotefuran on honey bee populations is more extensive than previously understood., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gastric ulcers often cause postprandial epigastric pain, especially in acute cases. Abnormal motility, with about 50 % of patients having delayed gastric emptying, contributes to ulcer development. Costunolide (COS) and dehydrocostuslactone (DEH), derived from "Mu xiang" herbs, show potential in treating ulcers and regulating gastrointestinal motility. However, their poor solubility and bioavailability limit in vivo use. This study uses electrospinning to develop hydrophilic nanofibers loaded with COS and DEH in a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix for treating acute gastric ulcers. The production process for costunolide / dehydrocostuslactone nanofibers (COS/DEH/NFs) was optimized, characterized, and tested in pharmacodynamic studies. The results showed that COS and DEH remained in a non-crystalline state within COS/DEH/NFs, enhancing their in vitro release. With 21 % drug incorporation, COS/DEH/NFs released over 70 % of COS and more than 50 % of DEH within 20 min in body fluids. In treatment, COS/DEH/NFs suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, resisted oxidative stress, promoted gastric mucosal repair, and enhanced gastrointestinal motility. In a mouse model of acute gastric ulcer, high-dose COS/DEH/NFs achieved a 77.09 % ulcer inhibition rate, and low-dose COS/DEH/NFs resulted in gastric residual and intestinal propulsion rates of 73.55 % and 69.89 %, respectively. The drug loading of COS/DEH/NFs is 14.76 ± 0.26 %, with an encapsulation efficiency of 68.77 ± 1.14 %. COS/DEH/NFs is a new choice for treating acute gastric ulcers with gastrointestinal bloating due to its convenience and swallow-free use, providing rapid symptom relief., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression is a widely recognized neuropsychiatric disorder. Recent studies have shown a potential correlation between bile acid disorders and depression, highlighting the importance of maintaining bile acid balance for effective antidepressant treatment. Schisandrol B (SolB), a primary bioactive compound from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. or Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd.etWils, is pivotal in regulating bile acid homeostasis via pregnane X receptor (PXR) in cholestasis. However, the potential of SolB in alleviating depression-like symptoms, its pharmacological effects, and the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated., Methods: We confirmed the effect of SolB against depression induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in mice. The role of SolB in bile acid homeostasis in depression was analyzed using the metabolomic. Gene analyses and 16S rRNA sequencing were employed to investigate the involvement of PXR. Experiments with Pxr -/- mice were conducted to confirm the essential role of the PXR pathway in SolB's antidepressant effects., Results: SolB treatment significantly increased sucrose consumption in the SPT and the locomotor activity in the OFT, while decreasing immobility time in the FST and TST in mice exposed to CRS and CUMS. Additionally, SolB treatment significantly preserved the integrity of the dendritic spine, elevated synaptic protein PSD95 levels, and augmented CREB/BDNF expression. Metabolomic and gene analyses indicated that SolB treatment significantly facilitated bile acid metabolism, promoted intestinal bile acid efflux, decreased hippocampal levels of the secondary bile acids DCA and TLCA, and upregulated expression of the PXR target proteins CYP3A11, SULT2A1, MRP2, and OATP1B1 in the liver, and MRP2 and MDR1 in hippocampus, which are integral to bile acid homeostasis. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that SolB reduced the abundance of the bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-producing bacteria Lactobacillus johnsonii and Bacteroides fragilis and subsequently decreased the production of TLCA and DCA. Moreover, SolB failed to protect against depression induced by CRS in Pxr-null mice, suggesting that the antidepressant effect of SolB was PXR-dependent., Conclusions: These results provide direct evidence of the antidepressant effect of SolB via activation of PXR to regulate bile acid homeostasis in the brain-liver-gut axis, suggesting that SolB may serve as a novel potential target for preventing and treating depression., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Nitrogen (N) uptake by plant roots from soil is the largest flux within the terrestrial N cycle. Despite its significance, a comprehensive analysis of plant uptake for inorganic and organic N forms across grasslands is lacking. Here we measured in situ plant uptake of 13 inorganic and organic N forms by dominant species along a 3000 km transect spanning temperate and alpine grasslands. To generalize our experimental findings, we synthesized data on N uptake from 60 studies encompassing 148 plant species world-wide. Our analysis revealed that alpine grasslands had faster NH 4 + uptake than temperate grasslands. Most plants preferred NO 3 - (65%) over NH 4 + (24%), followed by amino acids (11%). The uptake preferences and uptake rates were modulated by soil N availability that was defined by climate, soil properties, and intrinsic characteristics of the N form. These findings pave the way toward more fully understanding of N cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, provide novel insights into the N form-specific mechanisms of plant N uptake, and highlight ecological consequences of chemical niche differentiation to reduce competition between coexisting plant species., (© 2024 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Background: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains one of the most challenging gynecological malignancies, with over 70% of ovarian cancer patients ultimately experiencing disease progression. The current prognostic tools for progression-free survival (PFS) in HGSOC patients have limitations. This study aims to develop an explainable machine learning (ML) model for predicting PFS in HGSOC patients., Methods: Nine ML algorithms for PFS prediction were developed using a prospective cohort of 310 HGSOC patients consecutively enrolled from a large Chinese tertiary hospital between January 2017 and December 2020. The optimal model was internally validated using the 1000 bootstrap method. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was employed to interpret the model in terms of feature importance and feature effects. The final model, constructed with the optimal feature subset, was deployed as an interactive web-based Shiny app., Results: The random survival forest (RSF) model demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to other ML models, the RFS model constructed with an optimal feature subset in the optimal imputed dataset achieved a superior 1000 bootstrap C-index of 0.755 (95% CI: 0.750-0.780) and a Brier score of 0.183 (95% CI: 0.175-0.190). SHAP analysis identified tumor residual, HE4, FIGO stage, T stage, CA125, age, ascites volume, platelet counts, and BMI as the top nine contributing factors. It also revealed potential nonlinear relationships and important thresholds between HE4, CA125, age, ascites volume, platelet counts, the body mass index, and PFS risk. Additionally, interaction effects were found between tumor residual and age, HE4, and CA125. Finally, an interactive web-based Shiny app for the model was developed and accessible at https://rsfmodels.shinyapps.io/ocRSF/., Conclusion: An explainable ML model for PFS prediction in HGSOC patients was developed with superior results. The publicly accessible web tool based on the optimized model facilitates its utility in clinical settings, potentially improving individualized patient management and treatment decision-making in HGSOC., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Manipulation under anesthesia is a widely used treatment for frozen shoulder, but the factors that influence patient outcomes after manipulation remain unclear. The degree of shoulder stiffness, a critical feature of frozen shoulder, likely reflects the severity of the condition but currently lacks standardized, objective assessment methods., Questions/purposes: (1) What are the releasing forces in patients with frozen shoulder, and do the forces vary across different stages of frozen shoulder? (2) Are there differences in postoperative outcomes of manipulation under anesthesia among patients with frozen shoulder at different stages of the condition? (3) Is a higher releasing force associated with poorer outcomes of manipulation, and what threshold of releasing force is optimal for better outcomes? (4) What clinical factors influence the magnitude of releasing forces?, Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients with primary unilateral frozen shoulder who underwent manipulation under anesthesia after at least 3 months of unsuccessful nonsurgical treatment, which was defined as progressive worsening ROM, failure to make progress, or residual functional impairment after 3 months of treatment. Between December 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, we treated 280 patients with unilateral frozen shoulder, all of whom were considered potentially eligible for this study. The inclusion criteria were: a reduction of passive external rotation in the affected shoulder to less than 50% compared with the contralateral side, at least 3 months of unsuccessful nonsurgical treatment, absence of shoulder trauma, radiographs and MRI showing no other pathologic lesions in the shoulder, and no prior medical history in the contralateral shoulder. The exclusion criteria were patients who had previously undergone shoulder surgery, those who had bilateral frozen shoulder, patients with anesthesia intolerance, and those with incomplete preoperative assessments. One hundred fifty-six patients were enrolled in follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months after manipulation. The mean ± SD age for enrolled patients was 54 ± 8 years, 35% (55 of 156) of all participants were male, and the mean BMI was 23 ± 3 kg/m2. Two percent (3 of 156) withdrew consent, and 4% (7 of 156) were lost to follow-up, leaving 94% (146 of 156) for analysis. The contralateral unaffected shoulder was used as a self-control. During the manipulation process, the force-time curves for the affected and unaffected shoulders were sequentially recorded using a handheld dynamometer, following the order of forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation. Two key force values, an initial tear value and a peak value, were extracted from the curve for the affected shoulder, while only the peak value was recorded for the unaffected shoulder. Passive ROM, the Oxford shoulder score (OSS), and the VAS were evaluated at the baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Patients were categorized into four stages according to the patient-reported duration of pain: Stage 1 (0 to 3 months), Stage 2 (3 to 9 months), Stage 3 (9 to 15 months), and Stage 4 (> 15 months). To address our first and second questions, we used ANOVA for multistage comparisons of continuous variables, followed by a post hoc Tukey test for pairwise comparisons. For the third question, we performed univariate regression to analyze the correlation between factors like age, sex, symptom duration, frozen shoulder stage, preoperative ROM, upper arm circumference, fat-free mass, diabetes, thyroid disease, hyperlipidemia, tear value, peak value, and 6-month postoperative ROM, VAS, and the OSS. Factors with p < 0.05 were included in a multivariate regression. A tear value threshold of poor ROM outcomes was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Youden index. For the fourth question, we used similar regression models to examine potential factors associated with the releasing force, focusing on both tear and peak values. Pairwise comparisons in this subgroup analysis were performed using the Student t-test. All p values less than 0.05 were considered significant., Results: Tear values of each stage were as follows: 25 ± 13 N in Stage 2, 28 ± 15 N in Stage 3, and 38 ± 18 N in Stage 4. The tear value for patients in Stage 4 was higher compared with both Stage 2 and Stage 3 (Stage 4 versus Stage 2, mean difference 13 [95% CI 6 to 20]; p < 0.001; Stage 4 versus Stage 3, mean difference 10 [95% CI 2 to 19]; p = 0.01). Patients in Stage 4 exhibited an increased peak value relative to the other two stages (Stage 4 versus Stage 2, mean difference 11 [95% CI 2 to 20]; p = 0.02; Stage 4 versus Stage 3, mean difference 8 [95% CI 0 to 16]; p = 0.04). The peak value in the affected shoulder was higher than that in the unaffected (mean difference 40 [95% CI 36 to 44] in forward flexion; p < 0.001). At the 6-month endpoint after manipulation, patients in Stage 2 and 3 showed greater ROM in forward flexion than those in Stage 4 (Stage 2 versus Stage 4, mean difference 12 [95% CI 9 to 14]; p < 0.001; Stage 3 versus Stage 4, mean difference 14 [95% CI 11 to 17]; p < 0.001) and a lower OSS than those in Stage 4 (Stage 2 versus Stage 4, mean difference -8 [95% CI -9 to -7]; p < 0.001; Stage 3 versus Stage 4, mean difference -7 [95% CI -8 to -6]; p < 0.001). Two factors were associated with the OSS at the 6-month endpoint: increased tear value (β = 0.47; p = 0.004) and diabetes (β = 0.28; p = 0.02). The optimal thresholds for predicting a forward flexion at least 164° at 6 months was a tear value of 53 N (area under curve [AUC] 0.79 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.91]). Patients with a tear value of below 53 N demonstrated better postoperative ROM (mean difference 10 [95% CI 3 to 16]; p = 0.004) and OSS (mean difference -4 [95% CI -8 to 0]; p = 0.04). The tear value was associated with male sex (β = 0.36; p = 0.03) and ROM in flexion (β = 0.20; p = 0.049), whereas peak value was associated with male sex (β = 0.45; p = 0.001) and diabetes (β = 0.16; p = 0.048)., Conclusion: These findings suggest that performing manipulation before reaching Stage 4 may result in more favorable outcomes for patients, and evaluating shoulder stiffness by measuring releasing force proved to be feasible., Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study., Competing Interests: Each author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)

Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a significant challenge due to stress concentration at interfaces, which often leads to unexpected failures. Investigating the complex, multiscale-graded structures found in animal tissue provides valuable insights that can help address this challenge. The human meniscus root-bone interface is an exemplary model, renowned for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness, and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan. Here, we investigated the multiscale graded mineralization structure and their strengthening mechanisms within the 30-micron soft-hard interface at the root-bone junction. This graded interface, featuring interdigitated structures and an exponential increase in modulus, undergoes a phase transition from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to gradually matured hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystals, regulated by location-specific distributed biomolecules. In coordination with collagen fibril deformation and reorientation, the in situ tensile mechanical experiments and molecular dynamic simulations revealed that immature ACP particles debond from the collagenous matrix and translocate to dissipate energy, while the progressively matured HAP crystals with high stiffness pins propagating cracks, thereby enhancing both the toughness and fatigue resistance of the interface. To further validate our findings, we built biomimetic soft-hard interfaces with phase-transforming mineralization which exhibited boosted strength, toughness, and interface adhesion. This interface model is generalizable to other material joints and provides a blueprint for developing robust soft-hard composites across various applications., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Biomaterials that mimic extracellular matrix topography are crucial in tissue engineering. Previous research indicates that certain biomimetic topography can guide stem cells toward multiple specific lineages. However, the mechanisms by which topographic cues direct stem cell differentiation remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that microtopography influences nuclear tension in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), shaping chromatin accessibility and determining lineage commitment. On aligned substrates, MSCs exhibit high cytoskeletal tension along the fiber direction, creating anisotropic nuclear stress that opens chromatin sites for neurogenic, myogenic, and tenogenic genes via transcription factors like Nuclear receptor TLX (TLX). In contrast, random substrates induce isotropic nuclear stress, promoting chromatin accessibility for osteogenic and chondrogenic genes through Runt-related transcription factors (RUNX). Our findings reveal that aligned and random microtopographies direct site-specific chromatin stretch and lineage-specific gene expression, priming MSCs for distinct lineages. This study introduces a novel framework for understanding how topographic cues govern cell fate in tissue repair and regeneration., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

pH is an important physiological parameter within organisms, playing a crucial role in functional activities in cells and tissues. Among various pH sensing methods, optical fiber pH sensors have gained a wide attention due to their unique advantages. However, current silica optical fiber-based pH sensors face some challenges such as weak biocompatibility, low biological safety, complex or unstable surface modification. Herein, we develop what we believe to be a novel pH sensor based on a CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-doped polymer optical fiber microprobe (POF MP) grown at the end of the silica optical fiber using the free radical photopolymerization process, which has the advantages of significant compactness, high flexibility, good biocompatibility, easy functionalization, high structural stability and safety. Moreover, the size of the POF MP are controllable, which is highly significant for applications requiring specific probe sizes or those used in special terrains. The proposed sensor is demonstrated to have a sensitivity of 0.18097/pH in a wide pH range from 4.5 to 9.0, while it exhibits a highly linear correlation between fluorescence intensity and pH value ( R 2  = 0.99448) and good reversibility and reusability. This proposed pH sensor offers a promising solution for pH monitoring in biological environments, contributing to advancements in biosensing, microenvironment monitoring, and potential therapeutic applications.

Based on Marx's theory of international value, this paper analyzes the carrier of unequal exchange and the path of international transfer of surplus value, constructs an international division of labour status index by comprehensively observing the organic composition of capital in the export and import sectors, and tries to accurately grasp the characteristics of the current international division of labour pattern coexisting between horizontal products and vertical products. At the same time, based on the data of all available HS92 six-digit code categories in various countries in the world from 1993 to 2016, the level of international division of labour in China is empirically analysed. The results show that: (1) there is no breakthrough in the situation of China's low status of international division of labour; (2) the high capital-organic composition of the import sector is the main reason for the low status of international division of labour; (3) the continuous decline in the absolute value of captured surplus is a global phenomenon; (4) WTO accession has not significantly improved the status of international division of labour. Finally, the idea of improving the status of international division of labour through the development of domestic regional cooperation is put forward., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Ouyang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Over recent years, the LUMinescent AntiBody Sensor (LUMABS) system, utilizing bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), has emerged as a highly effective method for antibody detection. This system incorporates NanoLuc (Nluc) as the donor and fluorescent protein (FP) as the acceptor. However, the limited Stokes shift of FP poses a challenge, as it leads to significant spectral cross-talk between the excitation and emission spectra. This issue complicates the implementation of multiplexed detection. To address this challenge, we present an innovative enhancement to the LUMABS sensor with quantum dots (QDs) as the acceptor instead of FP. The use of QDs offers several advantages over those of traditional FP-based sensors. The biotin-avidin system facilitates the flexible interchangeability of QDs, allowing for a more convenient multicolor sensor construct. The new QD-LUMABS system overcomes the limitations of spectral cross-talk and provides better spectral separation. This breakthrough enables the successful implementation of multiplexed detection for multiple targets simultaneously. Results demonstrated that the wavelength-tunable QD-LUMABS sensors achieved picomolar-level detection limits for antibodies and that this sensor-construction strategy was generally applicable among various epitopes and their antibodies. Furthermore, this sensor displayed excellent duplexing capabilities. These features underscore its potential for future clinical disease diagnosis applications.

Symbiotic bioabsorbable devices are ideal for temporary treatment. This eliminates the boundaries between the device and organism and develops a symbiotic relationship by degrading nutrients that directly enter the cells, tissues, and body to avoid the hazards of device retention. Symbiotic bioresorbable electronics show great promise for sensing, diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation, as underpinned by innovations in materials, devices, and systems. This review focuses on recent advances in bioabsorbable devices. Innovation is focused on the material, device, and system levels. Significant advances in biomedical applications are reviewed, including integrated diagnostics, tissue repair, cardiac pacing, and neurostimulation. In addition to the material, device, and system issues, the challenges and trends in symbiotic bioresorbable electronics are discussed., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: To investigate the different categories of benefit finding among caregivers of patients with ischemic stroke and the mechanisms of personality and coping styles using an individual-centered approach., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 235 caregivers of patients with ischemic stroke in the neurology departments of three tertiary hospitals in Bengbu using the revised Inventory of Illness Benefit, the Short Form of the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire., Results: The benefit finding of caregivers of patients with ischemic stroke could be categorized into three latent classes: "Low sense of benefit-low personal growth group " (n = 58, 24.68 %), "Moderate sense of benefit-healthy behaviors group " (n = 117, 49.78 %), and "High Sense of Benefit-Family Cohesion Group " (n = 60, 25.53 %). Neuroticism positively predicted the low benefit group, while conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and extraversion positively predicted the moderate and high benefit groups, all acting as mediators across different benefit categories., Conclusion: Caregivers of patients with ischemic stroke exhibit significant classification characteristics in benefit finding. Healthcare providers can develop targeted intervention measures based on the specific characteristics of the caregivers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they do not receive any financial benefits of any kind, including but not limited to consulting fees, patents, stock holdings, travel grants, etc., from any commercial entity, corporation, or other for-profit organization. Personal Relationships: All authors do not have any personal relationships with each other, such as relatives, partners, etc., that could lead to a conflict of interest. In addition, all authors do not have any personal relationships with reviewers, editors, research funders, or other relevant persons. Academic interests: All authors declare that they have not received any academic benefits, such as research evaluation, position promotion, professional status, etc., as a result of the publication of specific results. Political interests: All authors declare that they have not been influenced by any political position or policy to ensure the independence and objectivity of the research. Other interests: All authors declare that they do not have any other potential conflicts of interest that may influence the results or conclusions of the study., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nonlinear activation functions (NAFs) are essential in artificial neural networks, enhancing learning capabilities by capturing complex input-output relationships. However, most NAF implementations rely on additional optoelectronic devices or digital computers, reducing the benefits of optical computing. To address this, we propose what we believe to be the first implementation of a nonlinear modulation process using an electro-optic IQ modulator on a silicon photonic convolution operator chip as a novel NAF. We validated this operator by constructing a convolutional neural network for radio machine learning classification, achieving 92.5% accuracy-an improvement of 27% over the case without a NAF. Compared with optoelectronic systems that rely on separate components, this fully integrated silicon photonic chip allows the NAF to execute nearly synchronously with the convolution operation, significantly lowering latency and reducing the complexity of the peripheral control system. This work paves the way for a large-scale on-chip optical neural network computation.

To investigate the effect of icariin (ICA) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its autophagy/apoptosis mechanism in HCC. The anti-HCC mechanism of ICA was investigated using HCC cells treated with 20 µmol/L ICA. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays, respectively, while TUNEL staining evaluated anti-apoptotic effects. DHE staining quantified intracellular ROS levels, and JC-1 staining assessed mitochondrial membrane potential. The expression of LC3 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, HepG2 cells (2.0 × 10 6 ) were implanted into the thymus of BALB/c nude mice, which received intraperitoneal injections of 40 mg/kg ICA. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of proteins related to apoptosis and autophagy. ICA effectively inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells, enhancing autophagy and apoptosis. Silencing of lncRNA LOXL1-AS1 reduced β-catenin expression and downregulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway phosphorylation. Targeting β-catenin with siRNA augmented apoptosis in HepG2 cells through elevated levels of Bax and caspase-3/8/9 and boosted autophagy via increased expression of LC3-II, Atg5, Atg7, Atg8, and Beclin-1. ICA reversed this autophagic effect, while rapamycin enhanced ICA's efficacy. In vivo, ICA suppressed tumor growth and promoted autophagy and apoptosis in mice. Icariin induces autophagy and apoptosis in HCC cells via the β-catenin signaling pathway mediated by lncRNA LOXL1-AS1, offering a novel approach to HCC clinical management., Competing Interests: Declarations. Human ethics and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines. All procedures performed were in compliance with international and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. No human experiment was involved in our study. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Disulfiram (DSF) is a safe drug with negligible toxicity and Cu-dependent anti-tumor efficacy. However, the accumulation and combination of DSF and Cu in non-tumor tissues leads to systemic toxicity owing to the formation of highly poisonous diethyldithiocarbamate (CuET). In addition, CuET-mediated tumor-killing reactive oxygen species may be weakened by intra-tumoral glutathione (GSH). Herein, a synergistic treatment was developed that utilized the oral delivery of DSF and an injectable polyphenol-copper (PA-Cu) hydrogel loaded with the glutamine uptake inhibitor 2-amino-4-bis(phenoxymethyl)aminobutane (V9302). The injectable hydrogels were synthesized by the Schiff base reaction of hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) with a PA-Cu reversible cross-linking agent. Because of the dynamic coordination between PA and Cu, the PA-Cu/HPCS hydrogel gradually releases Cu 2+ , forming CuET with DSF. The released V9302 inhibits glutamine uptake, thereby suppressing GSH synthesis and enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the in situ formed CuET. The synergistic effect of PA-Cu/HPCS/V9302 and DSF in eliminating intracellular GSH and killing tumor cells was validated by in vitro cell experiments. Animal experiments further confirmed that PA-Cu/HPCS/V9302 and DSF have an inhibitory effect on tumor growth while maintaining the biosafety of main organs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Yuan Ding reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Zongrui Tong reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Weilin Wang reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Yuan Ding reports financial support was provided by Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Probiotics are highly regarded for their multiple functions, such as regulating gut health, enhancing the immune system, and preventing chronic diseases. However, their stability in harsh environments and targeted release remain significant challenges. Therefore, exploring effective protection and delivery strategies to ensure targeted release of probiotics is critically important. Polysaccharides, known for their non-toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and superior biodegradability, show broad prospects in probiotic delivery by forming physical barriers to protect the probiotics. Particularly, polysaccharide-based gels (PBGs), with their unique "spider-web" like structure, capture and ensure the targeted release of probiotics, significantly enhancing their efficacy. This review discusses common polysaccharides used in PBG preparation, their classification and synthesis in food applications, and the advantages of PBGs as probiotic delivery systems. Despite their potential, challenges such as inconsistent gel properties and the need for improved stability remain. Future research should focus on developing novel PBG materials with higher biodegradability and mechanical strength, optimizing the physicochemical properties and cross-linking methods, as well as designing multilayered structures for more precise release control. Additionally, exploring the co-delivery of probiotics with prebiotics, active ingredients, or multi-strain systems could further enhance the efficacy of probiotic delivery., (© 2025 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

To investigate the regulatory mechanism mediated by hypothalamic OPN5 on seasonal changes in the reproductive activities of domestic geese, 60 Magang ganders in their breeding period were selected for the experiment and evenly divided into an immunization group(OPN5-IM) and a control group. On days 0, 15 and 30, ganders in the immunized group were immunized with OPN5-KLH protein vaccine, and ganders in the control were immunized with the same amount of blank emulsified vaccine. Additionally, 120 female geese were provided to stimulate the reproductive activities of male geese. The results showed that the arrangement of spermatogenic cells was disturbed, the number of sperm decreased, and the testicular weight, seminiferous tubule area, length diameter, spermatogenic epithelium thickness decreased significantly with the natural day length prolonged. Moreover, the concentration of testosterone and LH decreased significantly while PRL increased. The prolonged photoperiod significantly affected the gene expression of GnRH-I, VIP, FSHβ, FSHR, LHβ, PRL, and PRLR in ganders. Specifically, the gene expression of GnRH-I, FSHβ, and LHβ in the hypothalamus and pituitary decreased, while the gene expression of VIP, PRL, and PRLR increased. Following OPN5 immunization, the anti-OPN5 antibody titer of ganders in the OPN5-IM group was notably higher than in the control group. The testicular degeneration was severe in OPN5-IM group compared with the control, as evidenced by a significant reduction in seminiferous tubule area, length diameter, and thickness of spermatogenic epithelium in the immunized group on day 60. Additionally, the concentrations of testosterone and LH were lower in the OPN5-IM group than in the control group, whereas PRL was higher. Moreover, OPN5 immunization significantly affected the expression of GnRH-I, PRL, and PRLR. OPN5 mRNA and protein expression were higher in the immunized group, whereas TRH, DIO2, and TSHR mRNA expressions were lower. However, DIO3 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the immunized group. In conclusion, our results indicated that the reproductive performance of Magang geese degraded from the breeding to the non-breeding period as daylight was extended. Immunization against OPN5 increased OPN5 expression and down-regulated the TSH-DIO2/DIO3 pathway, further to affect the HPG axis and accelerate the degradation of reproductive activity. Therefore, OPN5 may play an important mediating role in light-regulating seasonal reproductive degradation in Magang geese., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Walnut meal is a large quantity and high-quality resource with great exploitation value. Ultrasonic-assisted enzymolysis (UAE) was utilized in the preparation of peptides from walnut meal protein. Results indicated that by optimizing the UAE process with neutral protease, an ultrasound power of 180 W, a 4.3 h duration and an enzyme dosage of 10 KU/g, the walnut peptides exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity. In comparison to the control group, the WPI treated with ultrasound and neutral enzymes in combination (UNWPI) demonstrated a significant enhancement in their DPPH, ABTS, and ·OH scavenging capabilities, with increases of 234.23 %, 240.22 %, and 69.52 %, respectively. By analyzing the structure of walnut antioxidant peptides with or without ultrasound, it was observed that the underlying mechanism for the increased antioxidant activity was that UAE not only formed more small peptides, but also produced more peptides with hydrophobic amino acids at their terminal ends. Subsequently, six peptides were identified and screened from UNWPI, namely IFW, IIPF, IVAF, IIFY, ILAFF, and IFIP, which exhibited high antioxidant activity and could bind to Keap1 protein through hydrogen bonding, π-alkyl interactions, and π-π stacking interactions. The research results provided theoretical basis and technical support for the preparation of walnut antioxidant peptides and the high-value utilization of walnut meal., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Silk fibroin (SF), the core structural protein derived from Bombyx mori silk, is extensively employed in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to its exceptional mechanical properties, favorable biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and versatile processing capabilities. Despite these advantages, current research predominantly focuses on SF biomaterials as structural scaffolds or drug carriers, often overlooking their potential role in modulating cellular behavior and tissue regeneration. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the inherent biological effects of SF biomaterials, independent of any exogenous biomolecules, and their implications for various tissue regeneration. It will cover in vitro cellular interactions of SF with various cell types, including stem cells and functional tissue cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. Moreover, it will summarize in vivo immune responses, cellular responses, and tissue regeneration following SF implantation, specifically focusing on vascular, bone, skin, cartilage, ocular, and tendon/ligament regeneration. Furthermore, it will address current limitations and future perspectives in the design of bioactive SF biomaterials. A comprehensive understanding of these cellular interactions and the biological effects of SF is crucial for predicting regenerative outcomes with precision and for designing SF-based biomaterials tailored to specific properties, enabling broader applications in regenerative medicine., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: The outbreak of COVID-19 not only raised public health concerns but also caused tremendous psychological distress. Deficits in fear played a role in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). We aimed to investigate the relationship between fear and PTSS during COVID-19 at two points., Method: The questionnaire at the first time of investigation (T1) was conducted through WeChat or phone from January 30, 2020 to February 25, 2020 as part of the psychological trauma recover project-5-6 in China. And the questionnaire at the second time of investigation (T2) was collected from March 17, 2021 to June 17, 2021. After 12 months, data from 150 participants were included in the final analysis. Fear was measured by a self-reported question. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) was designed to assess PTSS. Pearson correlation, multivariate regression analysis, and multiple mediator model were used as statistical analyses., Results: Fear reduced significantly over time. Participants with higher fear presented worse PTSS in both T1 and T2. Positive correlations between fear and PTSS of participants were found over time. Occupation and change of fear are significant predictors in the severity of PTSS over time. Change of fear partially mediated the relationship between the PCL-5 total score in T1 and the development of PTSS., Conclusion: Fear reduction was beneficial to trauma resilience. Future interventions could be developed to reduce excessive fear in facing natural disasters or following epidemics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Timely and facile monitoring of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) plays an important role for preventing and controlling tuberculosis infection. Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) has long been employed as a safe surrogate for the investigation of M. tuberculosis. In this work, an aqueous soluble tail protein derived from our previously isolated mycobacteriophage was prepared with a recombinant expression technique and noted as GP89, which shows noticeable binding capacity to Mycobacterium genus. GP89 was sprayed as a capture agent onto a nitrocellulose membrane for forming the test line of a lateral flow assay (LFA) strip. Moreover, an aptamer binding M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis was labeled with fluorescent microspheres to act as the signal tracer of the LFA method. With the GP89 based LFA, M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis can be detected with the aid of a handheld UV flashlight or a portable fluorescent strip reader within 10 min. The concentration range for quantitating M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis are both 1.0 × 10 2  CFU mL -1 - 1.0 × 10 6  CFU mL -1 , and the detection limits for the two mycobacteria are 2.0 and 24 CFU mL -1 (S/N = 3), respectively. The test strip was applied to detect M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis in different samples such as physiological salt solution, urine, and saliva. This study offers a promising screening tool for diagnosing M. tuberculosis infection in resource-limited institutes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Enhancing post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a key aspect of prognosis for stroke patients. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) is currently a widely utilised method for treating PSCI. With the increasing promotion of traditional Chinese medicine, Xingnao Kaiqiao (XNKQ) acupuncture has been progressively incorporated into clinical treatment. This paper observes the effect of LF-rTMS with XNKQ acupuncture on patients with PSCI., Methods: Totally, 192 patients with PSCI were consecutively recruited and treated either with LF-rTMS and XNKQ acupuncture (observation group) or LF-rTMS only (control group) for 4 weeks. The pre- and post-treatment Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, P300 latency and amplitude, inflammatory factor levels were compared and clinical efficacy was assessed., Results: Both groups exhibited increased MMSE/MoCA scores, and P300 amplitude, and shortened P300 latency, and the observation group had higher scores and P300 amplitude, and shorter P300 latency than the control group. Both groups displayed decreased inflammatory factor levels (Tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-1β) after treatment, which were lower in the observation group than the control group. Inflammatory factor levels in PSCI patients were negatively interrelated with MMSE, MoCA score and P300 amplitude, and positively with P300 latency. The observation group showed an increased number of patients showing cured and significantly effective results, a decreased number of patients showing effective and invalid results, and an observably elevated total effective rate., Conclusion: LF-rTMS with XNKQ acupuncture can improve cognitive function and reduce inflammatory immune response, and has better clinical efficacy in PSCI patients., (© 2024 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.)

Understanding how embryonic progenitors decode extrinsic signals and transform into lineage-specific regulatory networks to drive cell fate specification is a fundamental, yet challenging question. Here, we develop a new model of surface epithelium (SE) differentiation induced by human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using retinoic acid (RA), and identify BMP4 as an essential downstream signal in this process. We show that the retinoid X receptors, RXRA and RXRB, orchestrate SE commitment by shaping lineage-specific epigenetic and transcriptomic landscapes. Moreover, we find that TCF7, as a RA effector, regulates the transition from pluripotency to SE initiation by directly silencing pluripotency genes and activating SE genes. MSX2, a downstream activator of TCF7, primes the SE chromatin accessibility landscape and activates SE genes. Our work reveals the regulatory hierarchy between key morphogens RA and BMP4 in SE development, and demonstrates how the TCF7-MSX2 axis governs SE fate, providing novel insights into RA-mediated regulatory principles., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: The authors declare their consent for this publication. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is one of the conserved posttranslational modifications in eukaryotes that attach proteins to the plasma membrane. In fungi, in addition to plasma membrane GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), some GPI-APs are specifically released from the cell membrane, secreted into the cell wall, and covalently linked to cell wall glucans as GPI-anchored cell wall proteins (GPI-CWPs). However, it remains unclear how fungal cells specifically release GPI-CWPs from their membranes. In this study, phospholipase PlcH was identified and confirmed as a phospholipase C that hydrolyzes phosphate ester bonds to release GPI-APs from the membrane of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus . Deletion of the plcH gene led to abnormal conidiation, polar abnormality, and increased sensitivity to antifungal drugs. In an immunocompromised mouse model, the Δ plcH mutant showed an attenuated inflammatory response and increased macrophage killing compared with the wild type. Biochemical and proteomic analyses revealed that PlcH was involved in the localization of various cell wall GPI-APs and contributed to the cell wall integrity. Our results demonstrate that PlcH can specifically recognize and release GPI-CWPs from the cell membrane, which represents a newly discovered secretory pathway of GPI-CWPs in A. fumigatus ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests., (© 2024 The Author(s). mLife published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)