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Abstract Background Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is most effectively treated with microvascular decompression (MVD). However, there are certain challenges in performing MVD for HFS when the vertebral artery (VA) is involved in compressing the facial nerve (VA-involved). This study aimed to introduce a “bridge-layered” decompression technique for treating patients with VA-involved HFS and to evaluate its efficacy and safety to treat patients with HFS. Methods A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 62 patients with VA-involved HFS. The tortuous trunk of VA was lifted by a multi-point “bridge” decompression technique to avoid excessive traction of the cerebellum and reduce the risk of damage to the facial-acoustic nerve complex. To fully decompress all the responsible vessels, the branch vessels of VA were then isolated using the “layered” decompression technique. Results Among the 62 patients, 59 patients were cured immediately after the surgery, two patients were delayed cured after two months, and one had occasional facial muscle twitching after the surgery. Patients were followed up for an average of 19.5 months. The long-term follow-up results showed that all patients had no recurrence of HFS during the follow-up period, and no patients developed hearing loss, facial paralysis, or other permanent neurological damage complications. Only two patients developed tinnitus after the surgery. Conclusion The “bridge-layered” decompression technique could effectively treat VA-involved HFS with satisfactory safety and a low risk of hearing loss. The technique could be used as a reference for decompression surgery for VA-involved HFS.

Abstract Background Gut microbiome metabolites are important modulators of host health and disease. However, the overall metabolic potential of the gut microbiome and interactions with the host organs have been underexplored. Results Using stable isotope resolved metabolomics (SIRM) in mice orally gavaged with 13C-inulin (a tracer), we first observed dynamic enrichment of 13C-metabolites in cecum contents in the amino acids and short-chain fatty acid metabolism pathways. 13C labeled metabolites were subsequently profiled comparatively in plasma, liver, brain, and skeletal muscle collected at 6, 12, and 24 h after the tracer administration. Organ-specific and time-dependent 13C metabolite enrichments were observed. Carbons from the gut microbiome were preferably incorporated into choline metabolism and the glutamine-glutamate/GABA cycle in the liver and brain, respectively. A sex difference in 13C-lactate enrichment was observed in skeletal muscle, which highlights the sex effect on the interplay between gut microbiome and host organs. Choline was identified as an interorgan metabolite derived from the gut microbiome and fed the lipogenesis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine in host organs. In vitro and in silico studies revealed the de novo synthesis of choline in the human gut microbiome via the ethanolamine pathway, and Enterococcus faecalis was identified as a major choline synthesis species. These results revealed a previously underappreciated role for gut microorganisms in choline biosynthesis. Conclusions Multicompartmental SIRM analyses provided new insights into the current understanding of dynamic interorgan metabolite transport between the gut microbiome and host at the whole-body level in mice. Moreover, this study singled out microbiota-derived metabolites that are potentially involved in the gut-liver, gut-brain, and gut-skeletal muscle axes. Video Abstract

The gob of coal mine is an important area for achieving the goal of “dual carbon” in China. The geological body formed by coal mining, which can enrich coalbed methane and provide substrate and space for later microbial activities and mineralization filling is defined as the mining influence body. The proposed technologies include the residual coal extraction through mining influence body microorganisms and the co-mineralization and filling of CO2-fly ash. The broad prospects of the technology in the secondary development of mining, from the perspectives of necessity and feasibility, are elaborated upon regarding the safe storage of CO2 and efficient disposal of fly ash solid waste in coal-fired power plants. The overall concept is to utilize mining influence body as a anaerobic fermentation “factory” and microorganisms as “workers” to process the existing raw materials of the “factories”including residual coal, thin coal seams, dispersed organic matter, and injected CO2. The ultimate goal is to produce methane, thereby achieving the resource utilization of microbial mining for residual coal and CO2. The combination of CO2 and alkaline fly ash simultaneously achieves the mineralization storage of CO2 and the filling of mining influence body. The key scientific issues are involved in this technology encompass the classification of mining influence body and the characteristics of organic matter, elucidating the mechanism of anaerobic fermentation under in-situ conditions specific to mining influence body, investigating the cooperative mineralization mechanism of microbial-CO2-fly ash, as well as undertaking a demonstration project for constructing the key technology of microbial residual coal mining and filling. The laboratory physical simulation of the in-situ conditions of the mining influence body demonstrates that the residual coal and organic-rich mud shale have the capability to generate biomethane, with methane production further enhanced by a small quantity of fly ash. The dynamic experiment of simulated groundwater recharge demonstrates that the nutrient recharge significantly impacts the anaerobic fermentation system. Specifically, the system with a cycle period of 14 days was consistent with the cycle of methanogens, which can ensure the continuous and efficient operation of the anaerobic fermentation system. After a curing period of 28 days, the test specimen containing high calcium fly ash, CO2, and mine water exhibited a compressive strength of 12.31 MPa. Additionally, each ton of fly ash had the potential to store approximately 21.99 m3 of CO2 through mineralization, highlighting the dual benefits of CO2 emission reduction and goaf solidification achieved by utilizing fly ash. The engineering test target area was optimized based on the purpose of microbial coal residue mining and fly ash filling. Also, the groundwater retention area was identified as the optimal location for CO2 mineralization and fly ash filling. The natural trap formed by mining activities and the trap formed by artificial filling were one of the more favorable engineering test targets. The proposed technologies of microbial residual coal mining, CO2 and fly ash co-filling are aimed at providing a novel technical approach for carbon emission reduction and goaf ecological environment management in China.

ABSTRACT African swine fever (ASF) is a highly fatal viral disease that poses a significant threat to domestic pigs and wild boars globally. In our study, we aimed to explore the potential of a multiplexed CRISPR-Cas system in suppressing ASFV replication and infection. By engineering CRISPR-Cas systems to target nine specific loci within the ASFV genome, we observed a substantial reduction in viral replication in vitro. This reduction was achieved through the concerted action of both Type II and Type III RNA polymerase-guided gRNA expression. To further evaluate its anti-viral function in vivo, we developed a pig strain expressing the multiplexable CRISPR-Cas-gRNA via germline genome editing. These transgenic pigs exhibited normal health with continuous expression of the CRISPR-Cas-gRNA system, and a subset displayed latent viral replication and delayed infection. However, the CRISPR-Cas9-engineered pigs did not exhibit a survival advantage upon exposure to ASFV. To our knowledge, this study represents the first instance of a living organism engineered via germline editing to assess resistance to ASFV infection using a CRISPR-Cas system. Our findings contribute valuable insights to guide the future design of enhanced viral immunity strategies.IMPORTANCEASFV is currently a devastating disease with no effective vaccine or treatment available. Our study introduces a multiplexed CRISPR-Cas system targeting nine specific loci in the ASFV genome. This innovative approach successfully inhibits ASFV replication in vitro, and we have successfully engineered pig strains to express this anti-ASFV CRISPR-Cas system constitutively. Despite not observing survival advantages in these transgenic pigs upon ASFV challenges, we did note a delay in infection in some cases. To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes the first example of a germline-edited animal with an anti-virus CRISPR-Cas system. These findings contribute to the advancement of future anti-viral strategies and the optimization of viral immunity technologies.

Ovarian cancer presents a substantial challenge due to its high mortality and recurrence rates among gynecological tumors. Existing clinical chemotherapy treatments are notably limited by drug resistance and systemic toxic side effects caused by off target drugs. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has emerged as a promising approach in cancer treatment, motivating researchers to explore synergistic combinations with other therapies for enhanced efficacy. In this study, we developed magnetic sonodynamic nanorobot (Fe3O4@SiO2-Ce6, FSC) by applying a SiO2 coating onto Fe3O4 nanoparticle, followed by coupling with the sonosensitizer Ce6. The magnetic FSC nanorobot collectives could gather at fixed point and actively move to target site regulated by magnetic field. In vitro experiments revealed that the magnetic FSC nanorobot collectives enabled directional navigation to the tumor cell area under guidance. Furthermore, under low-intensity ultrasonic stimulation, FSC nanorobot collectives mediated sonodynamic therapy exhibited remarkable anti-tumor performance. These findings suggest that magnetically actuated sonodynamic nanorobot collectives hold promising potential for application in target cancer therapy.

The research of enhancing biomethanation of coal has been paid much attention, which is an effective measure for increasing coalbed methane production. Adding conductive material to the digestive system can effectively accelerate direct interspecific electron transfer and increase methane production, which has great potential in enhancing the anaerobic digestion of organic matter. In this study, long-flame coal was used as the substrate to construct an anaerobic digestion system. The effect of the addition of graphene on biomethane production was discussed from the aspects of cumulative methane yield, the changes of key intermediates in the liquid phase, the microbial community structure, the methane metabolic pathway, and the changes of surface functional groups in residual coal after anaerobic digestion. The results showed that adding 0.4 g/L of graphene to the anaerobic digestion system based on coal effectively enhanced the entire anaerobic digestion process, not only enhanced methane production, but also brought forward the peak of methane production. At the early stage of digestion, the activities of hydrolytic bacteria (Paraclostridium) and hydrogen-production and aceogenic microflora (Alcaligenes and Sphaerochaeta) were enhanced, and sufficient nutrients were accumulated in the early stage. At the peak of methane production, the abundance of Methanoculleus decreased while the abundance of Methanosarcina significantly increased after the addition of graphene. The β subunit and γδ subunit of acetyl-coa decarbonyase/synthase, as key enzymes in the acetic acid synthesis pathway, increased by 233.54% and 3.32%, respectively. This significantly increased the abundance of Methanosarcina and mainly produced methane in the form of acetic acid nutrition. The abundance of Geobacter and Anaerovorax bacteria that can use ethyl acetate increased, and the Geobacter with high abundance were likely to DIET with Methanosarcina by bioelectric connection assisted by graphene. This electron transport mode accelerated the formation of biomethane to some extent. The carbonyl carbon (C=O) and carboxyl carbon (COO—) on the surface of residual coal decreased by 42.8% and 49.5%, respectively, after the addition of graphene, indicating that graphene effectively promoted the degradation of coal by microflora. The addition of graphene improves the activity and degradation efficiency of microflora, speeds up the process of anaerobic digestion, provides abundant substrate for methanogenic microflora, and improves methane production.

Bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) represent a promising immunotherapy, but their efficacy against immunologically cold tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains unclear. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can transform the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into the active state and also serve as transgene vectors to selectively express the desired genes in tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate whether the therapeutic benefits of tumor-targeting Claudin18.2 BiTE can be augmented by combining cancer selectively and immune-potentiating effects of OVs. Claudin18.2/CD3 BiTE was inserted into herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to construct an OV-BiTE. Its expression and function were assessed using reporter cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) co-culture assays. Intratumoral application of OV-BiTE restrained tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival compared with the unarmed OV in xenograft models and syngeneic mice bearing CLDN18.2-expressing KPC or Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells. Flow cytometry of tumor-infiltrating immune cells suggested both OV-BiTE and the unarmed OV remodeled the tumor microenvironment by increasing CD4+ T cell infiltration and decreasing regulatory T cells. OV-BiTE further reprogrammed macrophages to a more pro-inflammatory antitumor state, and OV-BiTE-induced macrophages exhibited greater cytotoxicity on the co-cultured tumor cell. This dual cytotoxic and immunomodulatory approach warrants further development for pancreatic cancer before clinical investigation.

Abstract Background Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)‐based minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, which can identify disease relapse ahead of radiological imaging, has shown promising performance. The objective of this study was to develop and validate OriMIRACLE S (Minimal Residual Circulating Nucleic Acid Longitudinal Detection in Solid Tumor), a highly sensitive and specific tumor‐informed assay for MRD detection. Methods Tumor‐specific somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were identified via whole exome sequencing of tumor tissue and matched germline DNA. Clonal SNVs were selected using the OriSelector algorithm for patient‐specific, multiplex PCR‐based NGS assays in MRD detection. Plasma‐free DNA from patients with gastrointestinal tumors prior to and following an operation, and during monitoring, were ultradeep sequenced. Results The detection of three positive sites was sufficient to achieve nearly 100% overall sample level sensitivity and specificity and was determined by calculating binomial probability based on customized panels containing 21 to 30 variants. A total of 127 patients with gastrointestinal tumors were enrolled in our study. Preoperatively, MRD was positive in 18 of 26 patients (69.23%). Following surgery, MRD was positive in 24 of 82 patients (29.27%). The positivity rate for MRD was 33.33% (n = 18) for gastric adenocarcinoma and 32.26% (n = 62) for colorectal cancer. Twenty (20) of 59 patients (34.48%) experienced a change in MRD status over the monitoring period. Patients 8 and 31 responded to 3 cycles of systemic therapy, after which levels for all ctDNA dropped below the detection limit. Patient 53 was an example of using MRD to predict tumor metastasis. Patient 55 showed a weak response to treatments first and respond to new systemic therapy after tumor progression. Conclusion Our study identified a sensitive and specific clinical detection method for low frequency ctDNA, and explored the detection performance of this technology in gastrointestinal tumors.

Browning of white adipose tissue is a novel approach for the management of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. Kaempferol (KPF) is a common dietary nutrient found abundantly in many fruits and vegetables and has been shown to have the potential to regulate lipid metabolism. However, the detailed mechanism by which it affects the browning of white adipose tissue remains unclear. In the present study, we sought to determine how KPF induces adipocytes to undergo a browning transformation by establishing a primary adipocyte model and an obese mouse model. Our results showed that KPF-treated mice were rescued from diet-induced obesity, glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, associated with increased expression of adaptive thermogenesis-related proteins. KPF-promoted white adipose browning correlated with the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, as the use of an AMPK inhibitor in preadipocytes partially reversed the observed browning phenotype of KPF-treated cells. Taken together, these data suggest that KPF promotes browning of white adipose tissue through activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway. This study demonstrates that KPF is a promising natural product for the treatment of obesity by promoting white fat browning.

Abstract Objective Studies have shown that obesity has a significant impact on poor surgical outcomes. However, the relationship between obesity and pediatric epilepsy surgery has not been reported. This study aimed to explore the relationship between obesity and complications of pediatric epilepsy surgery and the effect of obesity on the outcome of pediatric epilepsy surgery, and to provide a reference for weight management of children with epilepsy. Methods A single-center retrospective analysis of complications in children undergoing epilepsy surgery was conducted. Body mass index (BMI) percentiles were adjusted by age and used as a criterion for assessing obesity in children. According to the adjusted BMI value, the children were divided into the obese group (n = 16) and nonobese group (n = 20). The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and postoperative fever were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 36 children were included in the study, including 20 girls and 16 boys. The mean age of the children was 8.0 years old, ranging from 0.8 to 16.9 years old. The mean BMI was 18.1 kg/m2, ranging from 12.4 kg/m2 to 28.3 kg/m2. Sixteen of them were overweight or obese (44.4%). Obesity was associated with higher intraoperative blood loss in children with epilepsy (p = 0.04), and there was no correlation between obesity and operation time (p = 0.21). Obese children had a greater risk of postoperative fever (56.3%) than nonobese children (55.0%), but this was statistically nonsignificant (p = 0.61). The long-term follow-up outcomes showed that 23 patients (63.9%) were seizure-free (Engel grade I), 6 patients (16.7%) had Engel grade II, and 7 patients (19.4%) had Engel grade III. There was no difference in long-term seizure control outcomes between obese and nonobese groups (p = 0.682). There were no permanent neurological complications after surgery. Conclusion Compared with nonobese children with epilepsy, obese children with epilepsy had a higher intraoperative blood loss. It is necessary to conduct early weight management of children with epilepsy as long as possible.

Copper, a vital element in various physiological processes, is transported from the gastrointestinal tract to tissues and cells through diverse copper transporters. Among these transporters, ATP7A and ATP7B play significant roles in regulating systemic copper metabolism and exhibit precise regulation in their intracellular trafficking. These transporters undergo dynamic shuttling between the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and the plasma membrane via the endocytic recycling mechanism, which involves the retromer and other associated factors. Interestingly, the antimicrobial attribute of copper implies a potential connection between microbial infection and copper metabolism. Several microbes, including Salmonella enterica, Cryptococcus, Influenza A virus (IAV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) have been observed to impact the regulatory mechanisms of ATP7A/B, either directly or indirectly, as a means of survival. This review summarizes the key features and trafficking mechanisms of the copper transporters ATP7A/B, and examines the intricate interplay between microbes and copper metabolism. Ultimately, it highlights how microbes can perturb copper homeostasis through interactions with host factors, offering valuable insights into the mechanistic aspects of host-microbe interactions.

Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus, presenting a serious threat to humans and animals. Susceptible hosts are of great significance for the prevention of RVFV. Appropriate animal models are helpful to better understand the onset and development of diseases, as well as the control measures and vaccine research. This review focuses on the role of animal hosts in the maintenance of the virus, and summarizes the host range of RVFV. We list some common animal models in the process of RVFV research, which would provide some important insights into the prevention and treatment of RVFV, as well as the study of Rift Valley fever (RVF) pathogenesis and vaccines.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the therapeutic effects of 131I-caerin 1.1 and 131I-c(RGD)2 on TE-1 esophageal cancer cell xenografts. Methods: (1) The in vitro antitumor effects of the polypeptides caerin 1.1 and c(RGD)2 were verified by MTT and clonogenic assays. 131I-caerin 1.1 and 131I-c(RGD)2 were prepared by chloramine-T (Ch-T) direct labeling, and their basic properties were measured. The binding and elution of 131I-caerin 1.1, 131I-c(RGD)2, and Na131I (control group) in esophageal cancer TE-1 cells were studied through cell binding and elution assays. (2) The antiproliferative effect and cytotoxicity of 131I-caerin 1.1, 131I-c(RGD)2, Na131I, caerin 1.1 and c(RGD)2 on TE-1 cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. (3) A nude mouse esophageal cancer (TE-1) xenograft model was established to study and compare the efficacy of 131I-caerin 1.1 and 131I-c(RGD)2 in internal radiation therapy for esophageal cancer. Results: (1) Caerin 1.1 inhibited the in vitro proliferation of TE-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 13.00 µg/mL. The polypeptide c(RGD)2 had no evident inhibitory effect on the in vitro proliferation of TE-1 cells. Therefore, the antiproliferative effects of caerin 1.1 and c(RGD)2 on esophageal cancer cells were significantly different (P

Nonlinear optical materials, especially two-dimensional materials, are anticipated to reveal broadband optical nonlinearity for future miniaturized photonic applications. Herein, we report a physical vapor deposition method to produce β-In _2 Se _3 thin film and investigate the broadband nonlinear absorption ( β ) and refraction (n _2 ) characteristics. The β-In _2 Se _3 semiconductor shows an excellent optical nonlinearity with large β in 10 ^2 cm GW ^−1 scale and n _2 in 10 ^−12 cm ^2 W ^−1 scale from visible to NIR wavelengths, which are superior to those of metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) and metal-organic frameworks. This excellent optical nonlinearity makes β-In _2 Se _3 a promising candidate for advanced nanophotonic devices and beyond.

Abstract Large‐scale multi‐heterostructure and optimal band alignment are significantly challenging but vital for photoelectrochemical (PEC)‐type photodetector and water splitting. Herein, the centimeter‐scale bismuth chalcogenides‐based cascade heterostructure is successfully synthesized by a sequential vapor phase deposition method. The multi‐staggered band alignment of Bi2Te3/Bi2Se3/Bi2S3 is optimized and verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The PEC photodetectors based on these cascade heterostructures demonstrate the highest photoresponsivity (103 mA W−1 at −0.1 V and 3.5 mAW−1 at 0 V under 475 nm light excitation) among the previous reports based on two‐dimensional materials and related heterostructures. Furthermore, the photodetectors display a fast response (≈8 ms), a high detectivity (8.96 × 109 Jones), a high external quantum efficiency (26.17%), and a high incident photon‐to‐current efficiency (27.04%) at 475 nm. Due to the rapid charge transport and efficient light absorption, the Bi2Te3/Bi2Se3/Bi2S3 cascade heterostructure demonstrates a highly efficient hydrogen production rate (≈0.416 mmol cm−2 h−1 and ≈14.320 µmol cm−2 h−1 with or without sacrificial agent, respectively), which is far superior to those of pure bismuth chalcogenides and its type‐II heterostructures. The large‐scale cascade heterostructure offers an innovative method to improve the performance of optoelectronic devices in the future.

All-optical terahertz (THz) modulators have received tremendous attention due to their significant role in developing future sixth-generation technology and all-optical networks. Herein, the THz modulation performance of the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure is investigated via THz time-domain spectroscopy under the control of continuous wave lasers at 532 nm and 405 nm. Broadband-sensitive modulation is observed at 532 nm and 405 nm within the experimental frequency range from 0.8 to 2.4 THz. The modulation depth reaches 80% under the 532 nm laser illumination with a maximum power of 250 mW and 96% under 405 nm illumination with a high power of 550 mW. The mechanism of the largely enhanced modulation depth is attributed to the construction of a type-II Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, which could promote photogenerated electron and hole separation and increase carrier density dramatically. This work proves that a high photon energy laser can also achieve high-efficiency modulation based on the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, and the UV-Visible control laser may be more suitable for designing advanced all-optical THz modulators with micro-level sizes.

We presented a facile and scalable route for the synthesis of di-azido sugars via one-pot double inversion of the mono-benzoyl sugars by TBAN3 and studied the dependency pattern between solvent and protecting groups as well as the configuration of the neighboring and leaving groups. Moreover, we developed a chemical synthetic strategy for pseudaminic acid precursors (11 steps in 49%). Furthermore, we discussed the configuration of nonulosonic acid precursors for specificity of PseI and PmNanA enzymatic synthesis, permitting us to synthesize new nonulosonic acid derivatives for accessing Pse isomers.

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the impact of the inferior petrosal veins (IPVs) on operational exploration and to analyze related anatomic features.MethodsA total of 317 patients were retrospectively studied. Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were analyzed, and patients were divided into two groups according to whether the IPV was sacrificed or preserved. The diameter of the IPV was also recorded during operation. Furthermore, the position where the IPV drained into the jugular bulb was recorded in each patient, and the influence of different injection points on the operation was analyzed.ResultsIPVs were conclusively identified in 242/317 (76.3%) of patients, with 110/242 (45.5%) of patients categorized as “IPV sacrifice” versus 132/242 (54.5%) categorized as “IPV preservation.” IPV diameter was observed to be 1 mm in 39 cases (16.2%). The position of IPV drainage into the jugular bulb was at the level of the accessory nerve in 163 cases (67.3%), the level of the vagus nerve in 42 cases (17.4%), and the level of the glossopharyngeal nerve or above in 37 cases (15.3%). The diameters of IPV in the sacrifice group were mainly less than 1 mm (94.5% vs. 75%, P 1 mm.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a common pregnancy-specific disease. In this study, we used comprehensive bioinformatics to screen key genes related to the development of pre-eclampsia and explore their potential connections. Methods: Two data sets GSE44711 and GSE30186 from the GEO database were used. The experimental group data set GSE44711 includes 16 samples (8 normal group samples and 8 early-onset PE group samples); the validation group data set GSE30186 includes 12 samples (6 Samples from the normal group and 6 samples from the PE group). Use the limma R package to analyze the difference between the two data sets, perform enrichment analysis, GO and KEGG analysis on the experimental group data set GSE44711, then obtain the hub gene by cytoscape, and verify the Hub gene in the validation data set GES30186. Results: 826 DEGs were identified from GSE44711, including 458 up-regulated genes and 368 down-regulated genes; The 6 Hub genes (CXCR6, CD3D, CD8A, CD69, and IL5) identified are considered to have high credibility. Conclusion: Through our analysis, the functional difference between early onset preeclampsia and normal pregnancy patients was explained, and the Hub genes CXCR6, CD3D, CD8A, CD69 and IL5 were determined.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics, including the carrier photoexcitation and relaxation processes, plays an essential role in improving the performance of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based optoelectronic devices. Herein, we investigate the photo-generated carrier dynamics in layered MoS2 crystal using a time-resolved terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. We have analyzed the ultrafast changes of the THz complex photoconductivity deduced from the peak and zero-crossing of THz waveforms. The decay time of the real part of the THz photoconductivity in layered MoS2 crystal is independent with the pump power, while the imaginary part increases with the pump power. We attribute the decay time of the real part to the carrier recombination process via phonon-assistance and the decay time of the imaginary part to the defect-assisted exciton recombination. The peak values of the complex photoconductivity show a trend of saturation with the increase of the pump power because of the many-body effect at high carrier concentration. This work deepens the understanding of the basic ultrafast physical process in MoS2 crystal, which is enlightening for the design of novel optoelectronic devices.

A group of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. However, a comprehensive study of the interactions between pathogenic miRNAs and their downstream Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related target genes has not been performed. Here, we identified the miRNA expression profiles in the plasma and circulating exosomes of Parkinson’s disease patients using next-generation RNA sequencing. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses showed that the miRNA target genes were enriched in axon guidance, neurotrophin signaling, cellular senescence, and the Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a group of aberrantly expressed miRNAs were selected and further validated in individual patient plasma, human neural stem cells (NSCs) and a rat model of PD. More importantly, the full scope of the regulatory network between these miRNAs and their PD-related gene targets in human neural stem cells was examined, and the findings revealed a similar but still varied downstream regulatory cascade involving many known PD-associated genes. Additionally, miR-23b-3p was identified as a novel direct regulator of alpha-synuclein, which is possibly the key component in PD. Our current study, for the first time, provides a glimpse into the regulatory network of pathogenic miRNAs and their PD-related gene targets in PD. Moreover, these PD-associated miRNAs may serve as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for PD.

The software Optimer has aided the programmable one-pot oligosaccharide synthesis with a library of 50 Building BLocks (BBLs). Here, the authors expanded Optimer's validated and virtual libraries of BBLs and developed Auto-CHO, a software which allows the one-pot programmable synthesis of more complex glycans.

Environmentally friendly synthesis and scalable photoelectrode fabrication are important for the photoelectric conversion in photocurrent generation. We find that 28% ethanol in 72% deionized water are the best mixed solvent for efficient exfoliation of layered ReS2 by absorption spectra and the enthalpy of mixing theory. Electrophoretic deposition method is used to fabricate photoelectrodes with different thicknesses by controlling the deposition time. These photoelectrodes demonstrate fast and stable photoelectric response and enhanced photocurrent with the thickness of the nanosheet films controlled by the deposition time. We also discuss the photoelectric mechanism as well as the influence of the effective mass of the monolayer, two-layer, and bulk ReS2 via Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). This work paves the way for the solvent selection in exfoliation of ReS2 nanosheets as well as the scalable fabrications for the photodetectors, photoelectrodes, and other solar energy conversion devices. Keywords: Mixed-solvent, ReS2, Electrophoretic deposition, Photoelectric response, First-principle calculations

In visual tracking, the tracking model must be updated online, which often leads to undesired inclusion of corrupted training samples, and hence inducing tracking failure. We present a locality preserving correlation filter (LPCF) integrating a novel and generic decontamination approach, which mitigates the model drift problem. Our decontamination approach maintains the local neighborhood feature points structures of the bounding box center. This proposed tracking-result validation approach models not only the spatial neighborhood relationship but also the topological structures of the bounding box center. Additionally, a closed-form solution to our approach is derived, which makes the tracking-result validation process could be accomplished in only milliseconds. Moreover, a dimensionality reduction strategy is introduced to improve the real-time performance of our translation estimation component. Comprehensive experiments are performed on OTB-2015, LASOT, TrackingNet. The experimental results show that our decontamination approach remarkably improves the overall performance by 6.2%, 12.6%, and 3%, meanwhile, our complete algorithm improves the baseline by 27.8%, 34.8%, and 15%. Finally, our tracker achieves the best performance among most existing decontamination trackers under the real-time requirement.

Thyroid nodules, a common endocrine tumor, have shown a significant increase in incidence globally. The total incidence rate of thyroid nodules worldwide is about 25% from 2000 to 2022, of which the incidence of malignant thyroid nodules is 4.0% to 6.5%. In recent years, the application of thermal ablation technology in the treatment of thyroid nodules has been steadily increasing, with broader indications and fewer contraindications. Thermal ablation techniques have been widely applied in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Studies have demonstrated that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) significantly reduce nodule volume and alleviate symptoms. For retrosternal thyroid nodules, the post-treatment volume reduction rate exceeds 90%. For calcified benign nodules, a five-year follow-up showed an average volume reduction rate of 92.95%. Studies on follicular tumors indicated that more than half of the nodules achieved a 90%-volume reduction one year after thermal ablation, with a low incidence of complications in the treatment group. In the treatment of malignant thyroid tumors, thermal ablation has shown promising results in T1aN0M0 solitary low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), with a disease progression rate as low as 3.6%. For T1bN0M0-T2N0M0 primary solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the prognosis following thermal ablation is comparable to surgery, with a lower incidence of complications. In patients with multifocal PTC, the success rate of thermal ablation was 100%, with a low rate of local tumor progression during follow-up. For PTMC located in the isthmus, adjacent to the trachea, or close to the thyroid capsule, thermal ablation demonstrated similar efficacy to surgery, with lower rates of complications and recurrence. This review summarizes the current indications of thermal ablation technology in the treatment of thyroid nodules and provides a reference for clinical applications.

Most prior work in quantitative approaches to generalizability and transportability emphasizes extending causal effect estimates from randomized trials to target populations. Extending findings from observational studies is also of scientific interest, and identifiability assumptions and estimation methods differ from randomized settings when there is selection on both the exposure and exposure--outcome mediators in combination with exposure--outcome confounders (and both confounders and mediators can modify exposure--outcome effects). We argue that this causal structure is common in observational studies, particularly in the field of life course epidemiology, for example, when extending estimates of the effect of an early-life exposure on a later-life outcome from a cohort enrolled in midlife or late life. We describe identifiability assumptions and identification using observed data in such settings, highlighting differences from work extending findings from randomized trials. We describe statistical methods, including weighting, outcome modeling, and doubly robust approaches, to estimate potential outcome means and average treatment effects in the target population and illustrate performance of the methods in a simulation study. We show that in the presence of selection into the study sample on both exposure and confounders, estimators must be able to address confounding in the target population. When there is also selection on mediators of the exposure--outcome relationship, estimators need to be able to use different sets of variables to account for selection (including the mediator), and confounding. We discuss conceptual implications of our results as well as highlight unresolved practical questions for applied work to extend findings from observational studies to target populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cancers evade immune rejection by suppressing major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) antigen processing and presentation (AgPP). Such cancers do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies (ICIT) such as PD-1/PD-L1 [PD-(L)1] blockade. Certain chemotherapeutic drugs augment tumor control by PD-(L)1 inhibitors through potentiation of T-cell priming but whether and how chemotherapy enhances MHC-I-dependent cancer cell recognition by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) is not entirely clear. We now show that the lysine acetyl transferases p300/CREB binding protein (CBP) control MHC-I AgPPM expression and neoantigen amounts in human cancers. Moreover, we found that two distinct DNA damaging drugs, the platinoid oxaliplatin and the topoisomerase inhibitor mitoxantrone, strongly up-regulate MHC-I AgPP in a manner dependent on activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), p300/CBP, and other transcription factors, but independently of autocrine IFNγ signaling. Accordingly, NF-κB and p300 ablations prevent chemotherapyinduced MHC-I AgPP and abrogate rejection of low MHC-I-expressing tumors by reinvigorated CD8+ CTLs. Drugs like oxaliplatin and mitoxantrone may be used to overcome resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibitors in tumors that had "epigenetically down-regulated," but had not permanently lost MHC-I AgPP activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Our aim was to assess the release level of heparin-binding protein (HBP) in sepsis and septic shock under the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). Design Prospective cohort study. Setting A general teaching hospital in China. Participants Adult infected patients with suspected sepsis and people who underwent physical examination were included. According to the health status and severity of illness, the research subjects were divided into healthy, local infection, sepsis non-shock and septic shock under Sepsis-3 definitions. Main outcome measures Plasma levels of HBP, procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood count were detected in all subjects. Single-factor analysis of variance was used to compare the biomarker levels of multiple groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic capacity of each marker. Results HBP levels were significantly higher in patients with sepsis non-shock than in those with local infections (median 49.7ng/mL vs 11.8 ng/mL, p<0.01) at enrolment. Moreover, HBP levels in patients with septic shock were significantly higher than in patients with sepsis without shock (median 153.8ng/mL vs 49.7 ng/mL, p<0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of HBP (cut-off ≥28.1 ng/mL) was 0.893 for sepsis which was higher than those of PCT (0.856) for a cut-off ≥2.05 ng/mL and of CRP (0.699) for a cut-off ≥151.9 mg/L. Moreover, AUC of HBP (cut-off ≥103.5 ng/mL) was 0.760 for septic shock which was higher than the ROC curve of sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment (SOFA) Score (0.656) for a cut-off ≥5.5. However, there was no significant difference between 28-d survivors (n=56) and 28-d non-survivors (n=37) with sepsis in terms of HBP value (p=0.182). Conclusions A high level of HBP in plasma is associated with sepsis, which might be a useful diagnostic marker in patients with suspected sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A MoS2/graphene heterojunction has been prepared via a facile one-pot liquid exfoliation method and proved to have improved photoelectrochemical properties. With a suitable ultrasonic power, small MoS2 nanosheets with dozens of nanometer diameter can be obtained to adhere to graphene layers with tens of micrometer-scale diameter. Atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscope, Raman spectra and adsorption spectra are used to characterize the structure of these MoS2/graphene heterojunction samples after exfoliation. The characterizations indicate that MoS2/graphene heterojunction in solution is stable and has good crystallinity. Moreover, photoelectrochemical measurements further prove that the obtained MoS2/graphene heterojunction exhibits improved photoresponse activity under the illumination of simulated sunlight compared to MoS2 and graphene. Combined with the first-principle calculation analysis, the improvement can be attributed to the extremely efficient charge separation of the heterojunction. The dynamic mechanism has been revealed through a MoS2/graphene band model, where graphene can serve as a collector for storing and transferring electrons, to promote the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and suppress their recombination. This work verifies the superiority of MoS2/graphene heterojunction through its photoelectrochemical performance, which have referential significance for future MoS2/graphene optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We assessed the genetic rules for the dermatoglyphics of human fingertips. We also evaluated the correlation between spouse selection with the number of whorls on fingertips. Methods: Data were collected for the number of whorls from 118 families (couples and their children). Distribution of whorls was analyzed further to investigate the relationship between heredity and spouse selection. Results: Through multiple regression analysis, we found that the number of whorls on fingertips was affected considerably by genetic factors. In a married couple with a moderate number of whorls, the probability of their children having a high number of whorls was 26.5 %, and the probability of their children having a low number of whorls was 23.5. These values were close to the theoretical value (25 %). A significant correlation between whorl count between spouses was observed. Conclusion: These data suggest that whorls are inherited from a single gene or a group of closely linked genes. Our findings provide an initial insight on the potential contribution of biologic characteristics on spouse selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unexpected products are often found in the synthesis of sulfur-containing glycosides where the sulfur-containing group is acquired through substitution of a leaving group by a thioacetate reagent. Thus low yields have to be born. The reason has been disclosed to originate from the basicity and nucleophilicity of sulfur atom leading to a thioacetyl group migration in this study. The migration may occur through a five or six-membered ring tetrahedral intermediate, followed by cleavage of CS bond of this intermediate to form a sulfhydryl anion and subsequently another acetyl group migration from the thioacetate reagent to the sulfhydryl anion, leading to an unexpected product with an acetylated neighboring hydroxyl group. The occurrence of the migration may depend on the concentration of thioacetate reagent and the steric and stereoelectronic effects of the substrate itself. Based on these results, the yields for synthesis of sulfur-containing glycosides can be highly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a facile one-pot synthetic strategy to prepare highly branched metal nanocrystals including monometallic Pd and bimetallic Au@Pd nanodendrites, and demonstrated their superior catalytic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the potential of stacked multilayer graphene as broadband terahertz (THz) antireflection coating based on the impedance matching effect in experiment and theory. The reflected pulses from the quartz and silicon substrates were observed to change with the layer number and doping concentration of the graphene coating. Remarkable broadband impedance matching was achieved due to optimized THz conductivity. Theoretical analysis based on Drude model and thin film Fresnel coefficients have been used to explain the experimental phenomena, which indicated the shift of Fermi level caused by chemical doping. This work paves the way for graphene-based broadband THz antireflection coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H-bonding activation in the regioselective acetylation of vicinal and 1,3-diols is presented. Herein, the acetylation of the hydroxyl group with acetic anhydride can be activated by the formation of H-bonds between the hydroxyl group and anions. The reaction exhibits high regioselectivity when a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium acetate is employed. Mechanistic studies indicated that acetate anion forms dual H-bonding complexes with the diol, which facilitates the subsequent regioselective monoacetylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organotin-mediated regioselective protection has been extensively used in organic synthesis for many years. However, the mechanistic origin of the resulting regioselectivity is still not clear. By the comparison of the steric and stereoelectronic effects controlling the geometry of five-membered rings formed from neighboring group participation, from intramolecular acyl group migration, or from orthoester transesterification on pyranoside rings, a theory on the pattern resulting from the reaction with dibutyltin oxide is presented. It is thus suggested that the regioselectivity of organotin-mediated protection is controlled by analogous steric and stereoelectronic effects as in neighboring group participation and acyl group migration, mainly dependent on the stereoelectronic effects of the pyranoside itself, and not related to complex stannylene structures. An organotin protection mechanism is also suggested, emanating from steric and stereoelectronic effects, nucleophilicity, and organotin acyl migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband terahertz (THz) impedance matching is important for both spectral resolution improvement and THz anti-radar technology. Herein, graphene–silicon hybrid structure has been proposed for active broadband THz wave impedance matching with optical tunability. The main transmission pulse measured in the time domain indicates a modulation depth as high as 92.7% totally from the graphene–silicon interface. The interface reflection from the graphene–silicon junction implies that an impedance matching condition can be actively achieved by optical doping. To reveal the mechanism, we propose a graphene–silicon heterojunction model, which gives a full consideration of both the THz conductivity of graphene and the loss in doped junction layer. The theory fits well with the experimental results. This work proves active THz wave manipulation by junction effect and paves the way for active anti-reflection coating for THz components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the malignant solid tumor types with the highest morbidity and mortality globally. In recent years, the survival of lung cancer has improved, but its prognosis and five-year survival are still poor. Risk factors of lung cancer include smoking, environmental pollution, occupational factors and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have various forms and are widely involved in physiological, pathological and pharmacological processes of the body. Nicotine, one of the main components in tobacco, can be mediated by nAChRs after entering the human body. It is found that different subtypes of nAChRs have single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which can affect their functions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS), as an epidemiological research strategy, can better mine SNPs sites that are closely related to cancer occurrence, and then make it possible to find targets and drugs closely related to cancer occurrence and development. Based on the relevant research results at home and abroad, this paper systematically expounds the global prevalence of lung cancer and the relationship between nAChRs related gene SNPs and their function, and lung cancer, in order to provide a reference basis for accurate prevention and treatment of lung cancer.

A scalable liquid exfoliation of layered Bi2S3 employing a mixed-solvent strategy was used for the fabrication of Bi2S3 nanosheets. We found that 10% deionized water in 90% isopropyl alcohol is the best mixed solvent for the efficient and effective exfoliation of layered Bi2S3. These results are consistent with the absorbance spectra and enthalpy of mixing theory. The obtained Bi2S3 nanosheets had few-quintuple layers and were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. These Bi2S3 nanosheets can be used to fabricate large-scale thin films by filtration method; the films demonstrated sensitive photoelectric response with the rise and decay response of photocurrent on the sub-second scale under visible light excitation. The electronic structures of bulk and one-quintuple layer Bi2S3 are calculated by first-principle calculation for better understanding of the photoelectric response. A green mixed-solvent processing of Bi2S3 opens up the potential application of Bi2S3 optoelectric films to photoelectric detection and solar energy conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excitons are one of the most important fundamental quasi-particles, and are involved in a variety of processes forming the basis of a wide range of opto-electronic and photonic devices based on II–VI semiconductor nanowires and nanobelts, such as light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, photodetectors and nanolasers. A clear understanding of their properties and unveiling the potential engineering for excitons is of particular importance for the design and optimization of nanoscale opto-electronic and photonic devices. Herein, we present a comprehensive review on discussing the fundamental behaviours of the excitons in one-dimensional (1D) II–VI semiconductor nanomaterials (nanowires and nanobelts). We will start with a focus on the unique properties (origin, generation, etc) and dynamics of excitons and exciton complexes in the II–VI semiconductor nanowires and nanobelts. Then we move to the recent progress on the excitonic response in 1D nanomaterials and focus on the tailoring and engineering of excitonic properties through rational controlling of the physical parameters and conditions, intrinsically and extrinsically. These include (1) exciton–exciton interaction, which is important for 1D nanomaterial nanolasing; (2) exciton–phonon interaction, which has interesting applications for laser cooling; and (3) exciton–plasmon interaction, which is the cornerstone towards the realization of plasmonic lasers. The potential of electric field, morphology and size control for excitonic properties is also discussed. Unveiling and controlling excitonic properties in II–VI semiconductor nanowires and nanobelts would promote the development of 1D nanoscience and nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz (THz) time-domain emission spectroscopy in both transmission and reflection configurations has been employed to understand the THz radiation property and surface properties of tungsten disulfide (WS2). We observed only one polarization of THz radiation under different polarization of pump beam and a saturation effect with the increasing of pump power. The results are different from that of MoS2 based on optical rectification in spite of similar physical and optoelectronic properties of them. The nonlinear optical coefficient calculation based on first-principle method combined with the azimuthal angle dependence of THz radiation implies that THz radiation is insensitive to the azimuthal angle in WS2. From the pump polarization angle dependence of THz radiation, we find that the contribution due to the nonlinear effect is only 12% approximately. All these suggest the main THz mechanism from WS2 is due to the surface depletion field induced by the surface states. We also analyzed the surface field features of WS2 with the maximum surface depletion field of approximate 1.2×105V/cm. Fresnel law combined with the dipole radiation model is also used to analyze the angular dependence of THz radiation. The results can not only afford a fundamental THz radiation property of layered materials, but also promote the development of THz devices based on layered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]