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Abstract Background The insertion positions of mini-implant in infrazygomatic crest has been reported, but due to the anatomical variation, the precise location of this site is not clear yet. This study used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to analyze the position and angle of mini-implants successfully inserted in the infrazygomatic crest, with the goal of providing reference data for clinical practice. Methods CBCT was used to image 40 mini-implants and their surrounding tissues in adult orthodontic patients who successfully underwent mini-implant insertion in the infrazygomatic crest. The insertion positions and angles of mini-implants were measured, and the thicknesses of buccal and palatal bone adjacent to the mini-implants were also recorded. Then, we proposed the position and implantation angle for infrazygomatic crest insertion. According to the position and angle, the cortical bone thickness and distance to the root of another 54 randomly selected infrazygomatic crests were recorded to verify its feasibility. Results In the coordinate system, the implantation position of the 40 successful mini-implants was (-0.4 ± 2, 8.2 ± 2.5) and the implantation angle between the long axis of the mini-implant and horizontal reference plane was 56.4° ± 7.7°. The bone thicknesses on buccal and palatal sides of infrazygomatic crest adjacent to mini-implants were 4.1 ± 2.5 mm and 7.2 ± 3.2 mm, respectively, and the cortical bone thickness was 2.4 ± 0.6 mm. Among 54 infrazygomatic crests, 75.9% of them met the safety and stability requirements. When the implantation height was increased by 1, 2, and 3 mm, the proportions of implants that met requirements for success were 81.5%, 90.7%, and 94.4%, respectively. But, the proportions of eligible implants were limited at implantation angle increases of 5° and 10°. Conclusions Using the long axis of the maxillary first permanent molar (U6) as the vertical reference line, mini-implants could be safely inserted in the infrazygomatic crest at a distal distance of 0.4 mm and height of 8.2 mm from the central cementum-enamel junction of U6, with an implantation angle of 56.4°. The success rate increased when the implant height increased, but the proportion of eligible implantation was limited with the increase of implantation angle.

Objective: The three-dimensional morphological structures of periodontal ligaments (PDLs) are important data for periodontal, orthodontic, prosthodontic, and implant interventions. This study aimed to employ a deep learning (DL) algorithm to segment the PDL automatically in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Method: This was a retrospective study. We randomly selected 389 patients and 1734 axial CBCT images from the CBCT database, and designed a fully automatic PDL segmentation computer-aided model based on instance segmentation Mask R-CNN network. The labels of the model training were ‘teeth’ and ‘alveolar bone’, and the ‘PDL’ is defined as the region where the ‘teeth’ and ‘alveolar bone’ overlap. The model’s segmentation performance was evaluated using CBCT data from eight patients outside the database. Results: Qualitative evaluation indicates that the PDL segmentation accuracy of incisors, canines, premolars, wisdom teeth, and implants reached 100%. The segmentation accuracy of molars was 96.4%. Quantitative evaluation indicates that the mIoU and mDSC of PDL segmentation were 0.667 ± 0.015 (>0.6) and 0.799 ± 0.015 (>0.7) respectively. Conclusion: This study analysed a unique approach to AI-driven automatic segmentation of PDLs on CBCT imaging, possibly enabling chair-side measurements of PDLs to facilitate periodontists, orthodontists, prosthodontists, and implantologists in more efficient and accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

ObjectivesTo investigate the pathogenic effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis cultured media on the esophagus and the mechanism underlying the effect.BackgroundPeriodontitis is strongly associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The cultured media of P. gingivalis may act on healthy esophagus to trigger a malignant transformation; however, this has not been confirmed.MethodsCell migration assays and cell cycle measurements were performed on normal human esophageal epithelial cells in the presence or absence of P. gingivalis cultured media. The esophagi of healthy adult C57BL/6J mice were isolated and cultured in-vitro. Hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Claudin 1 and Claudin 4 were performed to detect dysplasia in specific tissues. Total mRNA was extracted to determine transcriptional dysregulation. A specific inhibitor of Sonic hedgehog signaling, cyclopamine, was used to confirm the underlying molecular mechanism.ResultsIn the presence of P. gingivalis cultured media, proliferation and migration of normal human esophageal epithelial cells were up-regulated, and aneuploid cells appeared. Compared with control cells, the arrangement of mouse esophageal epithelial cells became disordered, the percentage of PCNA-positive cells increased, and the positive staining of Claudin 1 and Claudin 4 became weak. In addition, the expression of cancer-related pathway genes was up-regulated but tight junction-related gene expression was down-regulated. The Sonic hedgehog pathway was abnormally activated, and its inhibition reduced the pathogenic effect of P. gingivalis cultured media.ConclusionsWe revealed that the cultured media of the key periodontal pathogen, P. gingivalis, can induce the malignant transformation of normal esophageal epithelium through the Sonic hedgehog pathway.

Abstract Background The immune system is one aspect of health that is affected by dietary selenium (Se) levels and selenoprotein expression. Spleen is an important immune organ of the body, which is directly involved in cellular immunity. However, there are limited reports on Se levels and spleen health. Therefore, this study established a Se-deficient pig model to investigate the mechanism of Se deficiency-induced splenic pathogenesis. Methods Twenty-four pure line castrated male Yorkshire pigs (45 days old, 12.50 ± 1.32 kg, 12 full-sibling pairs) were divided into two equal groups and fed Se-deficient diet (0.007 mg Se/kg) or Se-adequate diet (0.3 mg Se/kg) for 16 weeks. At the end of the trial, blood and spleen were collected to assay for erythroid parameters, the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes, the spleen index, histology, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, Se concentrations, the selenogenome, redox status, and signaling related inflammation and apoptosis. Results Dietary Se deficiency decreased the erythroid parameters and increased the number of osmotically fragile erythrocytes (P

Tan sheep are greatly preferred by consumers in China because of their nutritional value and unique flavor. However, the meat quality of Tan sheep has decreased due to the change in feeding systems from grazing to indoor. Studies investigating the mechanisms for the decrease in meat quality are limited. A total of 28 Tan sheep were randomly allocated to two treatments, receiving a concentrated diet, or pasture. Flavor precursors and volatile compounds were analyzed with foodomics. E-nose and E-tongue analyses suggested that the aroma and taste profiles differed between the feeding systems. The grazing lambs had higher levels of linoleic acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.01). Metabolomics indicated that 25 hydrophilic metabolites active in glycolipid and amino acid metabolisms were changed by the feeding system. Among the 57 volatile compounds identified, methional, γ-butyrolactone, benzaldehyde, and ethyl acetate were at concentrations significantly higher in the grazing lambs than the indoor-fed lambs (p < 0.01). These results reveal key changes in flavor precursors and flavor profiles affected by the feeding system, which may provide an initial view of the reason for consumer preference for the grazing Tan sheep.

A naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe, Nap-I, with iodoacetamide as the alkylating group, has been synthesized, and its specific fluorescent staining of proteins containing cysteine (Cys) and selenocysteine (Sec) residues in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) has been evaluated. This molecule shows good fluorescence properties in the labeling of protein Cys/Sec residues, while reducing steric hindrance and minimizing changes in the water solubility of proteins. Reaction parameters, such as labeling time and pH, have been investigated, and the optimal labeling conditions for Cys-containing proteins have been determined. Thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) is best stained at low pH. The probe Nap-I has been successfully used for the quantification of serum proteins and hemoglobin in Tan sheep serum, and TXNRD in Tan sheep liver and muscle has been labeled at low pH. Based on the probe Nap-I, we have also distinguished TXNRD1 and TXNRD2 by SDS-PAGE. The results showed that, compared with the normal microenvironment in which the protein resides, the lower the pH value, the greater the TXNRD activity.

Background. The aims of this study were to investigate the ridge contour anterior to the nasopalatine canal, and the difference between the incidences of the nasopalatine canal perforation in dentate and partially edentulous patients by cone-beam computed tomography.Methods. Cone-beam computed tomography scan images from 72 patients were selected from database and divided into dentate and partially edentulous groups. The configuration of the ridge anterior to the canal including palatal concavity depth, palatal concavity height, palatal concavity angle, bone height coronal to the incisive foramen, and bone width anterior to the canal was measured. A virtual implant placement procedure was used, and the incidences of perforation were evaluated after implant placement in the cingulum position with the long axis along with the designed crown.Results. Comparing with variable values from dentate patients, the palatal concavity depth and angle were greater by 0.9 mm and 4°, and bone height was shorter by 1.1 mm in partially edentulous patients, respectively. Bone width in edentulous patients was narrower than in dentate patients by 1.2 mm at incisive foramen level and 0.9 mm at 8 mm subcrestal level, respectively. After 72 virtual cylindrical implants (4.1 × 12 mm) were placed, a total of 12 sites (16.7%) showed a perforation and three-fourths occurred in partially edentulous patients. After replacing with 72 tapered implants (4.3 × 13 mm), only 6 implants (8.3%) broke into the canal in the partially edentulous patient group.Conclusions. The nasopalatine canal may get close to the implant site and the bone width anterior to the canal decreases after the central incisor extraction. The incidence of nasopalatine canal perforation may occur more commonly during delayed implant placement in central incisor missing patients.

Abstract Environmental degradation has profoundly impacted both human society and ecosystems. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) illuminates the intricate relationship between economic growth and environmental decline. However, the recent surge in trade protectionism has heightened global economic uncertainties, posing a severe threat to global environmental sustainability. This research aims to investigate the intricate pathways through which trade protection, assessed by available trade openness data, influences the nexus between economic growth and environmental degradation. Leveraging comprehensive global panel data spanning 147 countries from 1995 to 2018, this study meticulously examines the non-linear dynamics among trade, economy, and the environment, with a particular emphasis on validating the EKC hypothesis. This study encompasses exhaustive global and panel data regressions categorized across four income groups. The research substantiates the validity of the EKC hypothesis within the confines of this investigation. As income levels rise, the impact of economic growth on environmental degradation initially intensifies before displaying a diminishing trend. Additionally, trade protection manifests as a detriment to improving global environmental quality. The ramifications of trade protectionism display nuanced variations across income strata. In high-income nations, trade protection appears to contribute to mitigating environmental degradation. Conversely, within other income brackets, the stimulating effect of trade protection on environmental pressure is more conspicuous. In other words, trade protectionism exacerbates environmental degradation, particularly affecting lower-income countries, aligning with the concept of pollution havens. The study’s results illuminate nuanced thresholds in the relationship between trade, economic growth, and environmental degradation across income groups, emphasizing the heterogeneous impact and underlying mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, urging collaborative efforts among nations to achieve a harmonious balance between economic advancement and environmental preservation on a global scale.

Abstract Due to self-incompatibility (SI) prevents self-fertilization, natural or artificial cross-pollination has been conducted in many orchards to stabilize fruit yield. However, it is still puzzled which routes of self S-RNase arresting pollen tube growth. Herein, 17 COBRA genes were isolated from pear genome. Of these genes, the pollen-specifically expressed PbCOB.A.1 and PbCOB.A.2 positively mediates pollen tube growth. The promoters of PbCOB.A.1 and/or PbCOB.A.2 were bound and activated by PbABF.E.2 (an ABRE-binding factor) and PbC2H2.K16.2 (a C2H2-type zinc finger protein). Notably, the expressions of PbCOB.A.1, PbCOB.A.2, and PbC2H2.K16.2 were repressed by self S-RNase, suggesting that self S-RNase reduces the expression of PbCOB.A.1 and PbCOB.A.2 by decreasing the expression of their upstream factors, such as PbC2H2.K16.2, to arrest pollen tube growth. PbCOB.A.1 or PbCOB.A.2 accelerates the growth of pollen tubes treated by self S-RNase, but can hardly affect level of reactive oxygen species and deploymerization of actin cytoskeleton in pollen tubes and cannot physically interact with any reported proteins involved in SI. These results indicate that PbCOB.A.1 and PbCOB.A.2 may not relieve S-RNase toxicity in incompatible pollen tube. The information provides a new route to elucidate the arresting pollen tube growth during SI reaction. Graphical Abstract

Industrial agglomeration not only brings economic prosperity, but also raises concerns about its environmental impact. How to balance industrial agglomeration and inclusive economic growth is a major challenge for today's social development. On the foundation of the balanced panel data of 164 cities in China from 2003 to 2013, our study employs the dynamic spatial Dubin model to empirically analyze the possible spatial effects between industrial agglomeration and air pollution at China's urban level, and detects the potential transmission mechanism through the lens of environmental regulation, technological progress and industrial structure upgrading. The findings denote that: (1) An inverted “N'' type relationship exists between industrial agglomeration and air pollution, namely, with the deepening of industrial agglomeration, the air pollution of the city will first decline, then rise, and finally recover the trend of decline. (2) The influence of local industrial agglomeration on neighbor air pollution also presents an inverted “N'' shape, denoting that local industrial agglomeration also has an alleviating influence on air pollution in adjacent regions in the long run. (3) Industrial agglomeration can reduce the air pollution level in urban agglomeration by affecting environmental regulation, technological progress and industrial structure upgrading. These results provide a detailed reference for promoting industrial development and air pollution control.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is crucial for organogenesis in the foregut. This study investigated the function of Shh at the late-gestational stage; during which, the esophagus continues to differentiate. We established cytokeratin 14 (CK14)-Cre;Shhfl/fl mice in which the down-regulation of Shh in the epithelium occurred at approximately the same time as esophageal muscle conversion. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining, with antibodies against keratin 14, Shh, patched 1 (Ptch1), Gli1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), high-molecular-weight caldesmon (hCD), myogenin, paired box 7 (Pax7), β3-tubulin, and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), was performed to detect specific tissue dysplasia. Organ culture was conducted in vitro, and total mRNA was extracted to determine the transcriptional dysregulation. The esophagus of CK14-Cre;Shhfl/fl mice developed into an independent tube with an obvious dilatation at postnatal d 0.5. The number of cell layers and the expression of PCNA were decreased in mutant mice, compared with those in wild-type mice. The expression of hCD declined progressively in the middle, distal, and lower esophageal sphincter levels of the mutant esophagus from embryonic d 17.5, compared with the expression in wild-type littermates. Pax7 accumulation and myogenin reduction in mutant mice indicated that esophageal skeletal-myoblast progression was blocked. RNA sequencing analysis revealed a significant down-regulation of genes involved in proliferation and muscular motivation in CK14-Cre;Shhfl/fl mice. Thus, loss of Shh at the late-gestational stage leads to megaesophagus with reduced proliferation and a muscle development disorder in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In organic light-emitting diodes, positive and negative charge carriers mostly migrate at different rates. This could result in excitons formed in the EML often migrating to the vicinity of the hole transport layer and the electron transport layer. To address this, it is important to design high-quality multi-resonance hosts that can balance the migration rate of carriers. Here, we report two newly developed multi-resonance hosts, m-ICzPBI and o-ICzPBI. The hosts contain an indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (ICz) motif, which functionalized as either a donor or an acceptor unit. The hosts exhibit extremely high molecular rigidity and thermal stability. Devices A and B were constructed using FIrpic as a phosphorescent emitter with m-ICzPBI or o-ICzPBI as a host. Device A achieved high maximum values of EQE, PE and CE of 13.4%, 24.8 lm W−1 and 31.6 cd A−1, respectively, and low efficiency roll-off at 5000 cd m−2 of 8.6%, 10.6 lm W−1 and 20.3 cd A−1, respectively.

Region-function combinations are essential for smartphones to be intelligent and context-aware. The prerequisite for providing intelligent services is that the device can recognize the contextual region in which it resides. The existing region recognition schemes are mainly based on indoor positioning, which require pre-installed infrastructures or tedious calibration efforts or memory burden of precise locations. In addition, location classification recognition methods are limited by either their recognition granularity being too large (room-level) or too small (centimeter-level, requiring training data collection at multiple positions within the region), which constrains the applications of providing contextual awareness services based on region function combinations. In this paper, we propose a novel mobile system, called Echo-ID, that enables a phone to identify the region in which it resides without requiring any additional sensors or pre-installed infrastructure. Echo-ID applies Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) acoustic signals as its sensing medium which is transmitted and received by the speaker and microphones already available in common smartphones. The spatial relationships among the surrounding objects and the smartphone are extracted with a signal processing procedure. We further design a deep learning model to achieve accurate region identification, which calculate finer features inside the spatial relations, robust to phone placement uncertainty and environmental variation. Echo-ID requires users only to put their phone at two orthogonal angles for 8.5 s each inside a target region before use. We implement Echo-ID on the Android platform and evaluate it with Xiaomi 12 Pro and Honor-10 smartphones. Our experiments demonstrate that Echo-ID achieves an average accuracy of 94.6% for identifying five typical regions, with an improvement of 35.5% compared to EchoTag. The results confirm Echo-ID’s robustness and effectiveness for region identification.

Considering the notable mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polydopamine–polyethyleneimine (PEI) -modified TPU nanofiber membranes (PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs) have been developed successfully for removal of anionic azo dyes. The adsorption capacity of PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs was evaluated using three anionic dyes: congo red (CR), sunset yellow (SY), and methyl orange (MO). Interestingly, it exhibited different adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of CR on PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs compared with SY and MO. With the decrease in pH, leading to more positive charges on the PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs, the adsorption capacity of SY and MO increased, indicating electrostatic interaction as a main mechanism for SY and MO adsorption. However, wide pH range adaptability and superior adsorption have been observed during the CR adsorption process compared to SY and MO, suggesting a synergistic effect of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, likely as a critical factor. The adsorption kinetics revealed that chemical interactions predominate in the CR adsorption process, and multiple stages control the adsorption process at the same time. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of CR, SY and MO were reached 263, 17 and 23 mg/g, respectively. After six iterations of adsorption–desorption, the adsorption performance of the PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs did not decrease significantly, which indicated that the PDA/PEI-TPU NFMs have a potential application for the removal of CR molecules by adsorption from wastewater.

Hydrogels have outstanding research and application prospects in the biomedical field. Among them, the design and preparation of biomedical hydrogels with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as building blocks have attracted increasing research interest. DNA-based hydrogel not only has the skeleton function of hydrogel, but also retains its biological functions, including its excellent selection specificity, structural designability, precise molecular recognition ability, outstanding biocompatibility, and so on. It has shown important application prospects in the biomedical field, such as drug delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering. In recent years, researchers have made full use of the characteristics of DNA molecules and constructed various pure DNA-based hydrogels with excellent properties through various crosslinking methods. Moreover, via introducing functional molecules or elements, or combining with other functional materials, a variety of multifunctional DNA-based hybrid hydrogels have also been constructed, which expand the breadth and depth of their applications. Here, we described the recent development trend in the area of DNA-based hydrogels and highlighted various preparation methods of DNA-based hydrogels. Representative biomedical applications are also exemplified to show the high performance of DNA-based hydrogels. Meanwhile, the existing problems and prospects are also summarized. This review provided references for the further development of DNA-based hydrogels.

This study mainly investigated the adsorption behavior and mechanism of microfiltration membranes (MFMs) with different physiochemical properties (polyamide (PA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), nitrocellulose (NC), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) for bisphenol A (BPA). According to the adsorption isotherm and kinetic, the maximum adsorption capacity of these MFMs was PA (161.29 mg/g) > PVDF (80.00 mg/g) > NC (18.02 mg/g) > PTFE (1.56 mg/g), and the adsorption rate was PVDF (K1 = 2.373 h−1) > PA (K1 = 1.739 h−1) > NC (K1 = 1.086 h−1). The site energy distribution analysis showed that PA MFMs had the greatest adsorption sites, followed by PVDF and NC MFMs. The study of the adsorption mechanism suggested that the hydrophilic microdomain and hydrophobic microdomain had a micro-separation for PA and PVDF, which resulted in a higher adsorption capacity of PA and PVDF MFMs. The hydrophilic microdomain providing hydrogen bonding sites and the hydrophobic microdomain providing hydrophobic interaction, play a synergetic role in improving the BPA adsorption. Due to the hydrogen bonding force being greater than the hydrophobic force, more hydrogen bonding sites on the hydrophobic surface resulted in a higher adsorption capacity, but the hydrophobic interaction contributed to improving the adsorption rate. Therefore, the distribution of the hydrophilic microdomain and hydrophobic microdomain on MFMs can influence the adsorption capacity and the adsorption rate for BPA or its analogues. These consequences provide a novel insight for better understanding the adsorption behavior and mechanism on MFMs.

Both pro- and antiatherosclerotic effects have been ascribed to dietary peroxidized lipids. Confusion on the role of peroxidized lipids in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is punctuated by a lack of understanding regarding the metabolic fate and potential physiological effects of dietary peroxidized lipids and their decomposition products. This study sought to determine the metabolic fate and physiological ramifications of 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE) and 13-HODE (13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid) supplementation in intestinal and hepatic cell lines, as well as any effects resulting from 13-HPODE or 13-HODE degradation products. In the presence of Caco-2 cells, 13-HPODE was rapidly reduced to 13-HODE. Upon entering the cell, 13-HODE appears to undergo decomposition, followed by esterification. Moreover, 13-HPODE undergoes autodecomposition to produce aldehydes such as 9-oxononanoic acid (9-ONA). Results indicate that 9-ONA was oxidized to azelaic acid (AzA) rapidly in cell culture media, but AzA was poorly absorbed by intestinal cells and remained detectable in cell culture media for up to 18 h. An increased apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) secretion was observed in Caco-2 cells in the presence of 13-HPODE, 9-ONA, and AzA, whereas such induction was not observed in HepG2 cells. However, 13-HPODE treatments suppressed paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, suggesting the induction of ApoA1 secretion by 13-HPODE may not represent functional high-density lipoprotein (HDL) capable of reducing oxidative stress. Alternatively, AzA induced both ApoA1 secretion and PON1 activity while suppressing ApoB secretion in differentiated Caco-2 cells but not in HepG2. These results suggest oxidation of 9-ONA to AzA might be an important phenomenon, resulting in the accumulation of potentially beneficial dietary peroxidized lipid-derived aldehydes.

Natural small molecular drugs with excellent biocompatibility, diverse pharmacological activities, and wide sources play an increasingly important role in the development of new drug and disease treatment. In recent years, the utilization of paclitaxel, camptothecin, rhein, curcumin, and other natural small molecular drugs with unique rigid backbone structures and modifiable multiple sites as building blocks to form gels by self-assembly has attracted widespread attention. The obtained low-molecular-weight supramolecular gel not only retains the general characteristics of the gel but also overcomes the shortcomings of natural drugs, such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability. It has the advantages of high drug loading, low toxicity, and outstanding stimulus responsiveness, which is widely used in biomedical fields. Here, we provided a comprehensive review of natural-drugs-based low-molecular-weight supramolecular gels reported in recent years and summarized their assembly mechanism, gel structure, gel properties, and potential applications. It is expected to provide a reference for further research of natural-drugs-based supramolecular gels.