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In order to address the autonomous underwater vehicle navigation challenge for dam inspections, with the goal of enabling safe inspections and reliable obstacle avoidance, an improved smooth Ant Colony Optimization algorithm is proposed for path planning. This improved algorithm would optimize the smoothness of the path besides the robustness, avoidance of local optima, and fast computation speed. To achieve the goal of reducing turning time and improving the directional effect of path selection, a corner-turning heuristic function is introduced. Experimental simulation results show that the improved algorithm performs best than other algorithms in terms of path smoothness and iteration stability in path planning.

Summary RNA‐dependent RNA Polymerases (RdRPs) synthesize double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) from a single‐stranded RNA (ssRNA) template. In plants, dsRNAs produced by RdRPs can be further processed into small interfering RNA (siRNAs) with different lengths, ranging from 21 to 24 nucleotides (nt). These siRNAs play a pivotal role in various biological processes, including antiviral responses, transposable elements silencing, DNA methylation, and the regulation of plant reproduction and development. Recent research has reported significant progress in uncovering the molecular mechanisms of plant RNA‐DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 2 (RDR2), a representative RdRP involved in the RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. These discoveries provide a molecular basis underlying the principles of RdRP function and offer insights into potential advancements in crop breeding and antiviral defense strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelica dahurica var. formosana (ADF), which belongs to the Umbelliferae family, is one of the original plants of herbal raw material Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. ADF roots represent an enormous biomass resource convertible for disease treatment and bioproducts. But, early bolting of ADF resulted in lignification and a decrease in the coumarin content in the root, and roots lignification restricts its coumarin for commercial utility. Although there have been attempts to regulate the synthesis ratio of lignin and coumarin through biotechnology to increase the coumarin content in ADF and further enhance its commercial value, optimizing the biosynthesis of lignin and coumarin remains challenging. Based on gene expression analysis and phylogenetic tree profiling, AdNAC20 as the target for genetic engineering of lignin and coumarin biosynthesis in ADF was selected in this study. Early-bolting ADF had significantly greater degrees of root lignification and lower coumarin contents than that of the normal plants. In this study, overexpression of AdNAC20 gene plants were created using transgenic technology, while independent homozygous transgenic lines with precise site mutation of AdNAC20 were created using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The overexpressing transgenic ADF plants showed a 9.28% decrease in total coumarin content and a significant 12.28% increase in lignin content, while knockout mutant plants showed a 16.3% increase in total coumarin content and a 33.48% decrease in lignin content. Furthermore, 29,671 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by comparative transcriptomics of OE-NAC20, KO-NAC20, and WT of ADF. A schematic diagram of the gene network interacting with AdNAC20 during the early-bolting process of ADF was constructed by DEG analysis. AdNAC20 was predicted to directly regulate the transcription of several genes with SNBE-like motifs in their promoter, such as MYB46, C3H, and CCoAOMT. In this study, AdNAC20 was shown to play a dual pathway function that positively enhanced lignin formation but negatively controlled coumarin formation. And the heterologous expression of the AdNAC20 gene at Arabidopsis thaliana proved that the AdNAC20 gene also plays an important role in the process of bolting and flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional topological insulators hosting the quantum spin Hall effect have application potential in dissipationless electronics. To observe the quantum spin Hall effect at elevated temperatures, a wide band gap is indispensable to efficiently suppress bulk conduction. Yet, most candidate materials exhibit narrow or even negative band gaps. Here, via elegant control of van der Waals epitaxy, we have successfully grown monolayer ZrTe5 on a bilayer graphene/SiC substrate. The epitaxial ZrTe5 monolayer crystalizes in two allotrope isomers with different intralayer alignments of ZrTe3 prisms. Our scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy characterization unveils an intrinsic full band gap as large as 254 meV and one-dimensional edge states localized along the periphery of the ZrTe5 monolayer. First-principles calculations further confirm that the large band gap originates from strong spin−orbit coupling, and the edge states are topologically nontrivial. These findings thus provide a highly desirable material platform for the exploration of the high-temperature quantum spin Hall effect.Quantum spin Hall materials hold great potential for future nanoelectronics. Here, authors synthesize a potential host system — monolayer ZrTe5 — and demonstrate it possesses a band gap wide enough for potential room-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To examine the effects of borneol on inflammation and myocardial remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Eight-week-old wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) gene knockout ( TRPM8-/-) mice were randomly divided into sham and MI groups, and were subsequently treated with normal saline (control group) or borneol (borneol group) via gavage. Survival curves were plotted for WT and TRPM8mice with MI treated with or without borneol. After 28 d, cardiac function of the mice was assessed through echocardiography, and haemodynamic indexes were evaluated using a multi-channel physiological instrument. Infarct size, myocardial hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis were assessed via pathological staining. In addition, inflammatory response in the peri-infarct region was detected. RESULTS: The TRPM8 expression was up-regulated in the peri-infarct region of the mice with MI (P<0. 05), and borneol had no effect on TRPM8 expression (P>0. 05). Borneol increased the survival rate, reduced the infarct size, inhibited cardiac remodeling and improved cardiac function in WT mice with MI (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). However, it did not affect the survival rate, infarct size, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis or cardiac function in TRPM8mice (P>0. 05). Furthermore, borneol reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), in WT mice (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01) but not in TRPM8-/- mice (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION: Borneol attenuates inflammation, inhibits cardiac remodeling and improves cardiac function in mice with MI via TRPM8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the association between the serum CXC chemokine ligand 17 (CXCL17) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Newly diagnosed T2DM patients hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from April 2021 to December 2022 and the healthy volunteers in the physical examination center during the same period were selected as the control group. Height and weight of the participants were collected, body mass index (BMI) was calculated, CXCL17, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT) were detected, and hepatic fat fraction (HFF) was measured. According to HFF, patients with T2DM but without NAFLD were assigned to T2DM group (HFF≤5.5%), and patients with T2DM and NAFLD were assigned to T2DM+NAFLD group (HFF> 5.5%). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis H test and χ² test were used for comparisons between groups, Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between HFF and other variables, and binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of T2DM patients with NAFLD. Results Two hundred and seventy patients were enrolled. Of these, 88 were in T2DM group, 92 in T2DM+NAFLD group and 90 in control group. The level of serum CXCL17 in T2DM+NAFLD group [(95.62±6.83) ng/L] was higher than that in T2DM group [(56.49±9.45) ng/L] and control group [(21.59±5.12) ng/L] (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that HFF was positively correlated with CXCL17 (r=0.672), BMI (r=0.481), ALT (r=0.447), LDL-C (r=0.253), respectively (all P<0.001). Binary logistic regression showed that CXCL17(OR=0.949,95%CI 0.926-0.973), BMI(OR=0.773,95%CI 0.678-0.882), ALT(OR= 0.943, 95%CI 0.918-0.968), LDL-C(OR=0.632, 95%CI 0.432-0.923) were independent influencing factors of NAFLD (P<0.05). Conclusion The increase of serum CXCL17 might be an independent risk factor of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The traditional treatment of diabetic wounds is unsatisfactory. Exosomes isolated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) promote the healing of diabetic wounds. However, whether the exosomes secreted by interferon (IFN)‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs have an enhanced therapeutic effect on diabetic wound healing and the relevant mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we isolated exosomes from the corresponding supernatants of BMSCs with (IExos) or without IFN‐γ treatment (NExos). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the proliferation, migration, and tube formation under different treatments in vitro. Diabetic mice were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin, and a circular full‐thickness dermal defect was then made on the back of each mouse, followed by a multisite subcutaneous injection of phosphate buffered saline or exosomes. Hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and histological analysis were performed to assess the speed and quality of wound healing. Results: NExos treatment accelerated the healing of diabetic wounds by promoting angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro, and IExos exhibited superior therapeutic efficiency. MicroRNA (miR)‐126‐3p was significantly increased in IExos, and exosomal miR‐126‐3p promoted angiogenesis and diabetic wound healing via its transfer to HUVECs. miR‐126‐3p regulates SPRED1 by directly targeting the 3′‐UTR. Mechanistically, IFN‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs secreted miR‐126‐3p‐enriched exosomes, which enhanced the function of HUVECs and promoted angiogenesis via the SPRED1/Ras/Erk pathway. Conclusion: Exosomal miR‐126‐3p secreted from IFN‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs exhibited higher therapeutic efficacy than NExos in diabetic wound healing by promoting angiogenesis via the SPRED1/Ras/Erk axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-walled carbon nanotube hybrid polymer gel particles (MWCNTs-HPGP) were synthesized using the free radical polymerization approach to reduce water cut at first. The microstructure, particle size distribution, swelling characteristics, strength, and rheology of MWCNTs-HPGP were then studied. Subsequently, the migration and plugging properties of MWCNTs-HPGP were assessed at the core scale. The morphology of MWCNTs-HPGP was irregular with interpenetration networks, and MWCNTs-HPGP could expand by 48.2–94 times in brine with varying salinities (0 ∼ 20 × 104 mg/L NaCl), according to experimental results. After 60 d of age, MWCNTs-HPGP retained 95.2% of strength. Furthermore, the MWCNTs-HPGP dispersion solution's shearing thinning feature and good viscoelasticity supplied it with favorable injectivity and deep migrating capacity. In addition, when the matching coefficient (β, the ratio of MWCNTs-HPGP median particle size to the average pore diameter) was 1.06 and the flooding rate was 0.5 mL/min, MWCNTs-HPGP could efficiently plug large pores with a plugging efficiency ranging from 82.7% to 98.5%. All the experimental results demonstrated that MWCNTs-HPGP could be a potential candidate for deep profile control and displacement in high temperature and high salinity reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus agalactiae ( S.agalactiae ), also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a highly infectious pathogen. Prolonged antibiotic usage leads to significant issues of antibiotic residue and resistance. Chelerythrine (CHE) is a naturally occurring benzophenidine alkaloid and chelerythrine chloride (CHEC) is its hydrochloride form with diverse biological and pharmacological activities. However, the antibacterial mechanism of CHEC against GBS remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of CHEC on GBS and elucidate its underlying mechanism. The antibacterial effect of CHEC on GBS was assessed using inhibitory zone, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays, as well as by constructing a time-kill curve. The antibacterial mechanism of CHEC was investigated through techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), measurement of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, determination of Na + K + , Ca 2+ Mg 2+ -adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity, observation of membrane permeability, and analysis of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mRNA expression levels of key virulence genes. The results demonstrated that the inhibition zone diameters of CHEC against GBS were 14.32 mm, 12.67 mm, and 10.76 mm at concentrations of 2 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. The MIC and MBC values were determined as 256 μg/mL and 512 μg/mL correspondingly. In the time-kill curve, 8 × MIC, 4 × MIC and 2 × MIC CHEC could completely kill GBS within 24 h. SEM and TEM analyses revealed significant morphological alterations in GBS cells treated with CHEC including shrinkage, collapse, and leakage of cellular fluids. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanism underlying CHEC's efficacy against GBS was attributed to its disruption of cell wall integrity as well as membrane permeability resulting in extracellular release of intracellular ATP, AKP, Na + K + , Ca 2+ Mg 2+ . Additionally CHEC could increase the ROS production leading to oxidative damage and downregulating mRNA expression levels of key virulence genes in GBS cells. In conclusion, CHEC holds potential as an antimicrobial agent against GBS and further investigations are necessary to elucidate additional molecular mechanisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xin, Pu, Wang, Gu, He, Du, Tang and Han.)

Two-dimensional topological insulators hosting the quantum spin Hall effect have application potential in dissipationless electronics. To observe the quantum spin Hall effect at elevated temperatures, a wide band gap is indispensable to efficiently suppress bulk conduction. Yet, most candidate materials exhibit narrow or even negative band gaps. Here, via elegant control of van der Waals epitaxy, we have successfully grown monolayer ZrTe 5 on a bilayer graphene/SiC substrate. The epitaxial ZrTe 5 monolayer crystalizes in two allotrope isomers with different intralayer alignments of ZrTe 3 prisms. Our scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy characterization unveils an intrinsic full band gap as large as 254 meV and one-dimensional edge states localized along the periphery of the ZrTe 5 monolayer. First-principles calculations further confirm that the large band gap originates from strong spin-orbit coupling, and the edge states are topologically nontrivial. These findings thus provide a highly desirable material platform for the exploration of the high-temperature quantum spin Hall effect., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a formidable challenge in oncology, ranking as a leading cause of cancer mortality globally. This underscores an urgent need for innovative prognostic markers that can revolutionize patient management and outcomes. Recent insights into cancer biology have spotlighted the profound influence of lipid metabolism alterations on tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and the tumor microenvironment. These alterations not only fuel cancer cell growth and proliferation but also play a strategic role in evading immune surveillance and promoting metastasis. The intricate web of lipid metabolism in cancer cells, characterized by deregulated uptake, synthesis, and oxidation of fatty acids (FAs), opens new avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions and prognostic evaluations. Specifically, this study zeroes in on apolipoprotein A-I ( APOA1 ), a key player in lipid metabolism, to unearth its prognostic value in GC. By delving into the role of lipid metabolism-related genes, particularly APOA1 , we aim to unveil their potential as groundbreaking biomarkers for GC prognosis. This endeavor not only aims to enhance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of GC but also to spearhead the development of lipid metabolism-based strategies for improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic outcomes., Methods: Transcriptomic and clinical data from GC patients and healthy individuals were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a comprehensive project that molecularly characterizes over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples across 33 cancer types. Significantly differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes were identified using the "limma" package in R. Prognostic genes were selected via univariate Cox regression analysis. Differential gene enrichment analysis was performed using Metascape (http://www.metascape.org). The Human Protein Atlas (HPA, https://www.proteinatlas.org) provided information on APOA1 protein expression in GC and healthy tissues. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm (http://cibersort.stanford.edu)., Results: Significant differences in lipid metabolism-related gene expression were observed between GC and normal tissues, closely linked to FA metabolism, oxidoreductase activity, and sphingolipid metabolism. APOA1 emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker by intersecting prognostic and differentially expressed lipid metabolism genes. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed APOA1 downregulation in GC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated its predictive value, with the area under the curve (AUC) being 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.76]. APOA1 expression correlated with immune cell infiltrations. Clinical serum APOA1 results revealed lower levels in GC patients (1.38 vs . 1.26; P<0.05), associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio =1.50; P<0.001) and clinical characteristics. ROC analysis of serum APOA1 demonstrated good diagnostic ability (AUC: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.61-0.65). Serum APOA1 levels significantly increased after treatment., Conclusions: This study highlights lipid metabolism reprogramming in GC and identifies APOA1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, suggesting its clinical utility in managing GC., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tcr-23-1966/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

It is well known that 5-methylcytosine (m 5 C) is involved in variety of crucial biological processes in cancers. However, its biological roles in lung adenocarcinoma (LAUD) remain to be determined. The LUAD samples were used to assess the clinical value of NOP2/Sun RNA Methyltransferase 2 (NSUN2). Dot blot was used to determine global m 5 C levels. ChIP and dual-luciferase assays were performed to investigate the MYC-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ)-binding sites in NSUN2 promoter. RNA-seq was used to explore the downstream molecular mechanisms of NSUN2. Dual luciferase reporter assay, m 5 C-RIP-qPCR, and mRNA stability assay were conducted to explore the effect of NSUN2-depletion on target genes. Cell viability, transwell, and xenograft mouse model were designed to demonstrate the characteristic of NSUN2 in promoting LUAD progression. The m 5 C methyltransferase NSUN2 was highly expressed and caused elevated m 5 C methylation in LUAD samples. Mechanistically, MAZ positively regulated the transcription of NSUN2 and was related to poor survival of LUAD patients. Silencing NSUN2 decreased the global m 5 C levels, suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibited activation of PI3K-AKT signaling in A549 and SPAC-1 cells. Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 2 (PIK3R2) was upregulated by NSUN2-mediated m 5 C methylation by enhancing its mRNA stabilization and activated the phosphorylation of the PI3K-AKT signaling. The present study explored the underlying mechanism and biological function of NSUN2-meditated m 5 C RNA methylation in LUAD. NSUN2 was discovered to facilitate the malignancy progression of LUAD through regulating m 5 C modifications to stabilize PIK3R2 activating the PI3K-AKT signaling, suggesting that NSUN2 could be a novel biomarker and promising therapeutic target for LUAD patients., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)