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The oceanic emission of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) plays a vital role in the Earth's climate system and constitutes a substantial source of uncertainty when evaluating aerosol radiative forcing. Currently, the widely used monthly climatology of sea surface DMS concentration falls short of meeting the requirement for accurately simulating DMS-derived aerosols with chemical transport models. Hence, there is an urgent need for a high-resolution, multi-year global sea surface DMS dataset. Here we develop an artificial neural network ensemble model that uses nine environmental factors as input features and captures the variability of the DMS concentration across different oceanic regions well. Subsequently, a global sea surface DMS concentration and flux dataset (1° × 1°) with daily resolution spanning from 1998 to 2017 is established. According to this dataset, the global annual average concentration was ∼ 1.71 nM, and the annual total emissions were ∼ 17.2 Tg S yr−1, with ∼ 60 % originating from the Southern Hemisphere. While overall seasonal variations are consistent with previous DMS climatologies, notable differences exist in regional-scale spatial distributions. The new dataset enables further investigations into daily and decadal variations. Throughout the period 1998–2017, the global annual average concentration exhibited a slight decrease, while total emissions showed no significant trend. The DMS flux from our dataset showed a stronger correlation with the observed atmospheric methanesulfonic acid concentration compared to those from previous monthly climatologies. Therefore, it can serve as an improved emission inventory of oceanic DMS and has the potential to enhance the simulation of DMS-derived aerosols and associated radiative effects. The new DMS gridded products are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11879900 (Zhou et al., 2024).

Leaf area index (LAI) is a crucial parameter for characterizing vegetation canopy structure and energy absorption capacity. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LAI has played a significant role in landmark studies due to its clear theoretical basis, extensive historical time series, extensive validation results, and open accessibility. However, MODIS LAI retrievals are calculated independently for each pixel and a specific day, resulting in high noise levels in the time series and limiting its applications in the regions of optical remote sensing. Reprocessing MODIS LAI predominantly relies on temporal information to achieve smoother LAI profiles with little use of spatial information and may easily ignore genuine LAI anomalies. To address these problems, we designed the spatiotemporal information compositing algorithm (STICA) for the reprocessing of MODIS LAI products. This method integrates information from multiple dimensions, including pixel quality information, spatiotemporal correlation, and the original retrieval, thereby enabling both “reprocessing” and “value-added data” with respect to the existing MODIS LAI products, leading to the development of the high-quality LAI (HiQ-LAI) dataset. Compared with ground measurements, HiQ-LAI shows better performance than the original MODIS product with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) or bias decrease from 0.87 or −0.17 to 0.78 or −0.06, respectively. This is due to the improvement of HiQ-LAI with respect to capturing the seasonality in vegetation phenology and reducing abnormal time-series fluctuations. The time-series stability (TSS) index, which represents temporal stability, indicated that the area with smooth LAI time series expanded from 31.8 % (MODIS) to 78.8 % (HiQ) globally, and this improvement is more obvious in equatorial regions where optical remote sensing cannot usually achieve good performance. We found that HiQ-LAI demonstrates superior continuity and consistency compared with raw MODIS LAI from both spatial and temporal perspectives. We anticipate that the global HiQ-LAI time series, generated using the STICA procedure on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, will substantially enhance support for diverse global LAI time-series applications. The 5 km 8 d HiQ-LAI datasets from 2000 to 2022 are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8296768 (Yan et al., 2023).

A promising pollution control technology is cold plasma driven chemical processing. The plasma is a pulsed electric gas discharge inside a near atmospheric-pressure-temperature reactor. The system is energized by a continuous stream of very short high-voltage pulses. The exhaust gas to be treated flows through the reactor. The methods applied involve the development of robust cold plasma systems, industrial applications and measuring technologies. Tests of the systems were performed at many industrial sites and involved control of airborne VOC (volatile organic compound) and odor. Electrical, chemical and odor measuring data were collected with state-of-the-art methods. To explain the test data an approximate solution of global reaction kinetics of pulsed plasma chemistry was developed. It involves the Lambert function and, for convenience, a simple approximation of it. The latter shows that the amount of removal, in good approximation, is a function of a single variable. This variable is electric plasma power divided by gas flow divided by input concentration. In the results sections we show that in some cases up to 99% of volatile pollution can be removed at an acceptable energy requirement. In the final sections we look into future efficiency enhancements by implementation of (sub)nanosecond pulsed plasma and solid state high-voltage technology and by integration with catalyst technology.

Leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) are critical biophysical parameters for the characterization of terrestrial ecosystems. Long-term global LAI/FPAR products, such as the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), provide the fundamental dataset for accessing vegetation dynamics and studying climate change. However, existing global LAI/FPAR products suffer from several limitations, including spatial–temporal inconsistencies and accuracy issues. Considering these limitations, this study develops a sensor-independent (SI) LAI/FPAR climate data record (CDR) based on Terra-MODIS/Aqua-MODIS/VIIRS LAI/FPAR standard products. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR covers the period from 2000 to 2022, at spatial resolutions of 500 m/5 km/0.05∘, 8 d/bimonthly temporal frequencies and available in sinusoidal and WGS1984 projections. The methodology includes (i) comprehensive analyses of sensor-specific quality assessment variables to select high-quality retrievals, (ii) application of the spatial–temporal tensor (ST-tensor) completion model to extrapolate LAI and FPAR beyond areas with high-quality retrievals, (iii) generation of SI LAI/FPAR CDR in various projections and various spatial and temporal resolutions, and (iv) evaluation of the CDR by direct comparisons with ground data and indirectly through reproducing results of LAI/FPAR trends documented in the literature. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of each step involved in the generation of the SI LAI/FPAR CDR, as well as evaluation of the ST-tensor completion model. Comparisons of SI LAI (FPAR) CDR with ground truth data suggest an RMSE of 0.84 LAI (0.15 FPAR) units with R2 of 0.72 (0.79), which outperform the standard Terra/Aqua/VIIRS LAI (FPAR) products. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR is characterized by a low time series stability (TSS) value, suggesting a more stable and less noisy dataset than sensor-dependent counterparts. Furthermore, the mean absolute error (MAE) of the CDR is also lower, suggesting that SI LAI/FPAR CDR is comparable in accuracy to high-quality retrievals. LAI/FPAR trend analyses based on the SI LAI/FPAR CDR agree with previous studies, which indirectly provides enhanced capabilities to utilize this CDR for studying vegetation dynamics and climate change. Overall, the integration of multiple satellite data sources and the use of advanced gap filling modeling techniques improve the accuracy of the SI LAI/FPAR CDR, ensuring the reliability of long-term vegetation studies, global carbon cycle modeling, and land policy development for informed decision-making and sustainable environmental management. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR is open access and available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8076540 (Pu et al., 2023a).

Aptamers are short DNA or RNA sequences that adopt 3D structures and can bind to protein targets with high binding affinity and specificity. Aptamers exhibit excellent tissue penetration, are inexpensive to produce, and can be internalized by cells. Therefore, aptamers are attractive targeting ligands to direct the delivery of theranostic agents to the desired cells. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a tumor-associated antigen that is aberrantly overexpressed on many epithelial-derived cancers, including on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. Its expression on treatment-resistant cancer stem cells, along with its abundance in the CCA tumor microenvironment, highlights the need to develop EpCAM-targeted therapies for CCA. Herein, an in silico approach was used to design and screen DNA aptamers capable of binding to the EpCAM monomer and homodimer. Two aptamers, PLD01 and PLD02, met the selection criteria and were validated in vitro. Both aptamers exhibited high affinity for EpCAM+ CCA cells, with negligible binding to EpCAM- leukemia cells. Modified versions of PLD01 and PLD02 were successfully incorporated into the membranes of milk-derived nanovesicles. PLD01-functionalized nanovesicles enabled EpCAM-targeted delivery of the therapeutic cargo to CCA cells. In summary, these EpCAM-targeting aptamers can be utilized to direct the delivery of theranostic agents to EpCAM-expressing cells.

The scarcity of data is likely to have a negative effect on machine learning (ML). Yet, in the health sciences, data is diverse and can be costly to acquire. Therefore, it is critical to develop methods that can reach similar accuracy with minimal clinical features. This study explores a methodology that aims to build a model using minimal clinical parameters to reach comparable performance to a model trained with a more extensive list of parameters. To develop this methodology, a dataset of over 1,000 COVID-19-positive patients was used. A machine learning model was built with over 90% accuracy when combining 24 clinical parameters using Random Forest (RF) and logistic regression. Furthermore, to obtain minimal clinical parameters to predict the mortality of COVID-19 patients, the features were weighted using both Shapley values and RF feature importance to get the most important factors. The six most highly weighted features that could produce the highest performance metrics were combined for the final model. The accuracy of the final model, which used a combination of six features, is 90% with the random forest classifier and 91% with the logistic regression model. This performance is close to that of a model using 24 combined features (92%), suggesting that highly weighted minimal clinical parameters can be used to reach similar performance. The six clinical parameters identified here are acute kidney injury, glucose level, age, troponin, oxygen level, and acute hepatic injury. Among those parameters, acute kidney injury was the highest-weighted feature. Together, a methodology was developed using significantly minimal clinical parameters to reach performance metrics similar to a model trained with a large dataset, highlighting a novel approach to address the problems of clinical data collection for machine learning.

Background:. Impaired natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumor responses contribute to the growth of liver tumors. Expression of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 9 (ADAM9) increases shedding of membrane-bound major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related protein A and results in evasion from NK cell-mediated cytolysis. ADAM9 is also involved in angiogenesis and tumor progression and is a target of miR-126-3p, a tumor suppressor that is downregulated and alters tumor cell behavior in the liver and other cancers. We evaluated the restoration of miR-126-3p and modulation of the miR-126-3p/ADAM9 axis as a therapeutic approach to simultaneously enhance NK cell-mediated cytolysis while targeting both tumor cells and their microenvironment. Methods:. Precursor miRNAs were loaded into milk-derived nanovesicles to generate therapeutic vesicles (therapeutic milk-derived nanovesicles) for the restoration of functional miR-126-3p in recipient cancer cells. Results:. Administration of therapeutic milk-derived nanovesicles increased miR-126-3p expression and reduced ADAM9 expression in target cells and was associated with an increase in membrane-bound major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related protein A. This enhanced NK cell cytolysis in adherent tumor cells and in multicellular tumor spheroids while also impairing angiogenesis and modulating macrophage chemotaxis. Moreover, IV administration of therapeutic milk-derived nanovesicles with adoptive transfer of NK cells reduced tumor burden in orthotopic hepatocellular cancer xenografts in mice. Conclusion:. A directed RNA therapeutic approach can mitigate NK cell immune evasion, reduce angiogenesis, and alter the tumor cell phenotype through the restoration of miR-126-3p in liver tumor cells. The pleiotropic effects elicited by this multi-targeted approach to modulate the local tumor microenvironment support its use for the treatment of liver cancer.

Getah virus (GETV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus with economic impact on the livestock industry in East Asia. In this study, we successfully produced GETV virus-like particles (VLPs) in insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system. We show that the GETV envelope glycoproteins were successfully expressed at the surface of the insect cell and were glycosylated. VLPs were isolated from the culture fluid as enveloped particles of 60-80 nm in diameter. Two 1 µg vaccinations with this GETV VLP vaccine, without adjuvant, generated neutralizing antibody responses and protected wild-type C57/BL6 mice against GETV viremia and arthritic disease. The GETV VLP vaccine may find application as a horse and/or pig vaccine in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Critically acute and ill and Obstetrical patients constitute a unique clinical population with a high mortality rate. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is gradually being used in obstetrical acute and critically ill patients and has shown great advantages. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese CNKI Database, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from the earliest available date to March 15, 2024, to obtain relevant studies on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in obstetric patients. After screening the literature, data were independently extracted and summarized using random effects or fixed effects models, depending on the magnitude of heterogeneity. A total of 38 studies (917 patients) were included. The overall survival rate for critically ill obstetric patients supported by ECMO was 65% (56-74%). Among these, the survival rates for antepartum and postpartum patients were 70% (55-84%) and 63% (47-78%) respectively. The survival rates of obstetric patients supported by VV-ECMO and VA-ECMO were 70% (56-83%) and 56% (44-68%), respectively. This article systematically reports the survival rate of critically ill obstetric patients under ECMO support. The survival rate for these patients is significantly higher than the overall survival rate of all patients receiving ECMO support. Survival rates were similar for prenatal and postpartum patients but survival rates for patients supported by VV-ECMO were significantly higher than those supported by VA-ECMO. Further research is needed to explore the benefits of ECMO for obstetric patients with different disease types., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the Japanese Society for Artificial Organs.)

MYB fusions are recurrently found in select cancers, including blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an acute leukemia with poor prognosis. They are markedly enriched in BPDCN compared to other blood cancers, and in some patients are the only obvious somatic mutation detected. This suggests they may alone be sufficient to drive dendritic cell transformation. MYB fusions are hypothesized to alter the normal transcription factor activity of MYB, but mechanistically how they promote leukemogenesis is poorly understood. Using CUT&RUN chromatin profiling, we found that in BPDCN leukemogenesis, MYB switches from being a regulator of dendritic cell lineage genes to aberrantly regulating G2/M cell cycle control genes. MYB fusions found in BPDCN patients increased the magnitude of DNA binding at these locations, and this was linked to BPDCN-associated gene expression changes. Furthermore, expression of MYB fusions in vivo impaired dendritic cell differentiation and induced transformation to generate a mouse model of myeloid-dendritic acute leukemia. Therapeutically, we present evidence that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) may cause loss of MYB protein and cell death in BPDCN.

The complex microenvironment of diabetic wounds, which is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, excessive inflammatory responses, and hypoxic conditions, significantly impedes the efficacy of traditional hydrogels. Nanocomposite hydrogels, which combine the high-water content and biocompatibility of hydrogels with the unique functionalities of nanomaterials, offer a promising solution. These hydrogels exhibit enhanced antibacterial, antioxidant, and drug-release properties. Incorporating nanomaterials increases the mechanical strength and bioactivity of hydrogels, allowing for dynamic regulation of the wound microenvironment and promoting cell migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis, thereby accelerating wound healing. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in nanocomposite hydrogels for diabetic wound treatment and discusses their advantages and molecular mechanisms at various healing stages. The study aims to provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for future research and clinical applications. Furthermore, it highlights the challenges related to the mechanical durability, antimicrobial performance, resistance issues, and interactions with the cellular environments of these hydrogels. Future directions include optimizing smart drug delivery systems and personalized medical approaches to enhance the clinical applicability of nanocomposite hydrogels.

Background: Short term results of the change of center of rotation (COR) after Bryan cervical disc replacement (CDR) have been reported. However, there is a lack of long-term studies focusing on the COR and its influences on facet joint degeneration., Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic results of Bryan CDR, and to explore the influence of deviated COR on facet joint degeneration at index level., Methods: It is a retrospective follow up study conducted in China. Eighty-three consecutive patients who received single-level Bryan CDR were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical evaluation included Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Odom's scale. Radiographic evaluation underwent before surgery, at early follow-up (3 months) and last follow-up (10 years). The radiographic parameters included range of motion (ROM), location of COR presented by the coordinates (COR-x, COR-y), and facet joint degeneration score. Correlation analysis was conducted between changes of COR and facet joint degeneration score., Results: Fifty-nine patients were included, with an average age of 44.6 ± 7.4 years. The mean follow-up time was 135.7 ± 12.4 (120-155) months. JOA score, NDI and Odom's scale showed significant improvements at last follow-up. The ROM was well preserved through follow-up. 33 patients (55.9%) showed deterioration of facet joint degeneration at index level. The increment of facet joint degeneration score at index level was strongly correlated with the change of COR-x (r = 0.758, P < 0.001), and weakly correlated with the change of COR-y (r=-0.473, P < 0.001). The deviation of COR was significantly greater in Group Degeneration than that in Group Non-degeneration (14.8 ± 10.5% vs. -2.6 ± 8.1% for COR-x, and - 6.4 ± 7.5% vs. 0.8 ± 8.3% for COR-y)., Conclusions: Bryan CDR with minimum of 10-year follow-up achieved favorable clinical outcome and good maintenance of ROM. Deviated COR could be an important risk factor for facet joint degeneration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The development of cancer vaccines is at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy. Most existing strategies to induce an efficient anti-tumor immune response rely on molecular adjuvants and the incorporation of complex synthetic vectors into vaccine formulations. In contrast, this study introduces a one-step engineering technique to assemble the model antigen, Ovalbumin (OVA), into amyloid aggregates, leveraging biomimetic folding and aggregation to create non-fibrillar OVA globular aggregates and OVA amyloid-like fibrils as single-component, adjuvant-free vaccines. Notably, the OVA amyloid-like fibrils induced stronger immune responses compared to the native form, as evidenced by robust humoral immune reactions and the establishment of immune memory. These enhanced responses can be attributed to the self-adjuvant effect of the unique assembled structure, which preserves antigenic epitopes, improves antigen stability, facilitates antigen internalization, prolongs retention at the injection site, enhances antigen trafficking to the lymphoid organs, and promotes increased secretion of antibodies and cytokines. Furthermore, the efficacy of the vaccine was validated in a high OVA-expressing tumor model, demonstrating the potential of OVA amyloid-like fibrils as an effective vaccine for cancer immunoprevention. This minimalist self-adjuvant vaccine strategy holds promising implications for cancer immunotherapy and can inform the design of other protein antigen-based vaccines., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) suffers from incomplete ablation with tumor remnants, recurrence, and metastasis. To capture these matters, a calcium-based thermosensitizer (CBT) was constructed, which can swell the thermal ablation treatment. DMXAA was encapsulated within CaCO 3 nanoparticles and surface-modified using PEG. DMXAA @CBTNps emanates continuous cavitation to enhance the RFA effect, lower RFA power, and shorten the RFA time by responding to the acidic tumor microenvironment and releasing carbon dioxide bubbles. Ca 2+ deposition to form calcification instigates the calcium death of the tumor and strengthens the thermal conductivity, wherein CBT fortifies the immunogenic cell death (ICD) of RFA. The vascular disruptor DMXAA is administered to the tumor site to impair the blood and nutrient supply to the tumor tissue. Calcium carbonate nanoparticles generate persistent carbon dioxide bubbles within the acidic microenvironment, leading to a sustained cavitation effect that enhances magneto-thermal conversion. This synergistic approach facilitates tumor vascular occlusion, thereby improving thermal ablation therapy. This strategy is different from previous thermal ablation treatments in that the CBT-released product Ca 2+ , the continuous cavitation effect of CO 2 , and the vascular disrupting agent can accelerate the conversion of energy from electromagnetic energy to thermal energy and reduce the heat loss, which significantly amplifies the effect of thermal ablation treatment of HCC and intensifies ICD. Therefore, this research provides a promising avenue and therapeutic platform for clinical liver cancer treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lumateperone in treating bipolar disorder and schizophrenia., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and websites from inception to July 16, 2024, to identify both published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects or fixed-effects models depending on statistical heterogeneity. Relative risks (RRs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to summarize the effects., Results: Out of 931 records screened, seven RCTs (four focusing on bipolar depression and three on schizophrenia) were eligible for inclusion. Lumateperone was efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms in bipolar depression (SMDs = -0.36, 95% CI: -0.59 to -0.13). In treating schizophrenia, lumateperone exhibited a lower combined SMD of -0.14 (95% CI: -0.27 to 0, P = 0.051, I² = 49.6%), showing no significant difference from the placebo group, although the p-value approached significance. The lumateperone group showed significantly higher response rates compared to placebo in both bipolar depression (RRs = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.51) and schizophrenia (RRs = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.86). Common treatment-emergent adverse events included somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, and headache (RRs = 1.30 to 3.29). Importantly, lumateperone did not significantly increase extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS, RRs = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.84 to 2.53)., Conclusions: Lumateperone is effective in treating bipolar depression but does not significantly reduce symptom severity in schizophrenia. It has a favorable safety and tolerability profile. However, caution is warranted in interpreting these findings due to the limited number of studies included., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.)

Background: Ensuring the efficient recognition and management of crop pests is crucial for maintaining the balance in global agricultural ecosystems and ecological harmony. Deep learning-based methods have shown promise in crop pest recognition. However, prevailing methods often fail to address a critical issue: biased pest training dataset distribution stemming from the tendency to collect images primarily in certain environmental contexts, such as paddy fields. This oversight hampers recognition accuracy when encountering pest images dissimilar to training samples, highlighting the need for a novel approach to overcome this limitation., Results: We introduce the Decoupled Feature Learning (DFL) framework, leveraging causal inference techniques to handle training dataset bias. DFL manipulates the training data based on classification confidence to construct different training domains and employs center triplet loss for learning class-core features. The proposed DFL framework significantly boosts existing baseline models, attaining unprecedented recognition accuracies of 95.33%, 92.59%, and 74.86% on the Li, DFSPD, and IP102 datasets, respectively., Conclusion: Extensive testing on three pest datasets using standard baseline models demonstrates the superiority of DFL in pest recognition. The visualization results show that DFL encourages the baseline models to capture the class-core features. The proposed DFL marks a pivotal step in mitigating the issue of data distribution bias, enhancing the reliability of deep learning in agriculture. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objectives: Developing a deep learning radiomics model from longitudinal breast ultrasound and sonographer's axillary ultrasound diagnosis for predicting axillary lymph node (ALN) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer., Methods: Breast cancer patients undergoing NAC followed by surgery were recruited from three centers between November 2016 and December 2022. We collected ultrasound images for extracting tumor-derived radiomics and deep learning features, selecting quantitative features through various methods. Two machine learning models based on random forest were developed using pre-NAC and post-NAC features. A support vector machine integrated these data into a fusion model, evaluated via the area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. We compared the fusion model's performance against sonographer's diagnosis from pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography, referencing histological outcomes from sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection., Results: In the validation cohort, the fusion model outperformed both pre-NAC (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.786, p < 0.001) and post-NAC models (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.853, p = 0.014), as well as the sonographer's diagnosis of ALN status on pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.719, p < 0.001). Decision curve analysis revealed patient benefits from the fusion model across threshold probabilities from 0.02 to 0.98. The model also enhanced sonographer's diagnostic ability, increasing accuracy from 71.9% to 79.2%., Conclusion: The deep learning radiomics model accurately predicted the ALN response to NAC in breast cancer. Furthermore, the model will assist sonographers to improve their diagnostic ability on ALN status before surgery., Clinical Relevance Statement: Our AI model based on pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy ultrasound can accurately predict axillary lymph node metastasis and assist sonographer's axillary diagnosis., Key Points: Axillary lymph node metastasis status affects the choice of surgical treatment, and currently relies on subjective ultrasound. Our AI model outperformed sonographer's visual diagnosis on axillary ultrasound. Our deep learning radiomics model can improve sonographers' diagnosis and might assist in surgical decision-making., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that relapses frequently. Keratinocyte apoptosis dysregulation plays a crucial role in the pathological mechanisms of psoriasis. PANoptosis is a process with intermolecular interaction among pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The mechanism of PANoptosis in the occurrence and development of psoriasis is still unclear. Here we present a novel approach by identifying PANoptosis-related signatures (PANoptosis-sig) from skin tissue of psoriasis patients and healthy controls on transcriptional and protein levels. Five PANoptosis-sig (TYMP, S100A8, S100A9, NAMPT, LCN2) were identified. Enrichment analysis showed they were mainly enriched in response to leukocyte aggregation, leukocyte migration, chronic inflammatory response and IL-17 signaling pathway. Single cell transcriptome analysis showed TYMP and NAMPT were expressed in almost all cell populations, while LCN2, S100A8 and S100A9 were significantly highly expressed in keratinocyte. We then constructed predictive and diagnostic models with the PANoptosis-sig and evaluated their performance. Finally, unsupervised consensus clustering analysis was conducted to ascertain psoriasis molecular subtypes by the PANoptosis-sig. The psoriasis cohort was divided into two distinct subtypes. Immune landscape showed that the stromal score of cluster 1 was significantly higher than cluster 2, while the immune and estimate scores of cluster 2 were expressively higher than cluster 1. Cluster 1 exhibited high expression of Plasma cells, Tregs and Mast cells resting, while cluster 2 showed high expression of T cells, Macrophages M1, Dendritic cells activated, and Neutrophils in immune infiltration analysis. And cluster 2 was more sensitive to immune checkpoints. In conclusion, our findings revealed potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of psoriasis, enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PANoptosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Wu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Numerous studies have shown that wasp stings can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, health outcomes. Predicting deaths associated with wasp stings remains challenging yet is of critical importance. This study was conducted to identify predictors and develop a visual model for predicting mortality following wasp stings. Clinical data from 486 patients were analyzed, dividing them into two groups: survival group (N = 435) and death group (N = 51). Various statistical methods were used to create a prognostic model, including one-way analysis, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and binary logistic regression. The model's accuracy was evaluated through ROC curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The study identified four key predictors of mortality: receiving more than 50 stings, having serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels of ≥ 2200 U/L, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of ≥ 90 s, and the requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation within 24 h. These factors contributed to a model with an area under the ROC curve of 0.980 (95% CI: [0.968-0.992]), indicating high calibration and applicability. The decision curve analysis confirmed the model's substantial net clinical benefit. Thus, the number of stings, serum LDH, APTT, and the need for early invasive mechanical ventilation are reliable, independent predictors of death among patients experiencing wasp stings. The developed predictive model exhibits high levels of accuracy, sensitivity, consistency, and practical use., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Most of the traditional fluorescent molecules have the advantages of high fluorescence quantum yield, good stability, and excellent structural adjustability, but they exhibit the characteristics of fluorescence quenching caused by aggregation, which restricts their application in aqueous solutions or solids. The excellent luminescence properties and photosensitive potential of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials in a condensed state have made them widely concerned in the scientific research field, so it is very challenging to regulate the transformation of traditional aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) fluorophores into AIE fluorophores. In this study, the traditional coumarin fluorophore was used as a matrix. After conjugating the triphenylamine AIE group, the triphenylphosphine cation was linked through the alkyl chain to obtain a molecular probe NCTPP with excellent AIE characteristic, water solubility, mitochondrial green light imaging, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy capabilities. As far as we know, it was the first time that the photosensitivity of coumarin fluorescent molecules was imparted by the ACQ-AIE conversion method.

In a rigorous 40-month study, we evaluated the geroprotective effects of metformin on adult male cynomolgus monkeys, addressing a gap in primate aging research. The study encompassed a comprehensive suite of physiological, imaging, histological, and molecular evaluations, substantiating metformin's influence on delaying age-related phenotypes at the organismal level. Specifically, we leveraged pan-tissue transcriptomics, DNA methylomics, plasma proteomics, and metabolomics to develop innovative monkey aging clocks and applied these to gauge metformin's effects on aging. The results highlighted a significant slowing of aging indicators, notably a roughly 6-year regression in brain aging. Metformin exerts a substantial neuroprotective effect, preserving brain structure and enhancing cognitive ability. The geroprotective effects on primate neurons were partially mediated by the activation of Nrf2, a transcription factor with anti-oxidative capabilities. Our research pioneers the systemic reduction of multi-dimensional biological age in primates through metformin, paving the way for advancing pharmaceutical strategies against human aging., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J.C.I.B., S.H., C.R.E., P.R., and A.H. are employees of Altos Labs. S.H. is a founder of the non-profit Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation, which has licensed several of his patents from UC Regents and distributes the mammalian methylation array., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the primary entry receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but ACE2-independent entry has been observed in vitro for strains with the spike-E484D substitution. Here, we conduct a whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen using SARS-CoV-2 mouse adapted 1 (SARS-CoV-2 MA1 ), which carries spike-E484D, to identify the ACE2-independent entry mechanisms. SARS-CoV-2 MA1 infection in HEK293T cells relies on heparan sulfate and endocytic pathways, with TMEM106B, a transmembrane lysosomal protein, the most significant contributor. While SARS-CoV-2 MA1 productively infects human brain organoids and K18-hACE2 mouse brains, it does not infect C57BL/6J or Ifnar -/- mouse brains. This suggests that ACE2-independent entry via TMEM106B, which is predominantly expressed in the brain, does not overtly increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasiveness in mice with endogenous Ace2 expression. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 MA1 does not replicate in the Ace2 -/- mouse respiratory tract. Overall, this suggests that robust ACE2-independent infection by SARS-CoV-2 MA1 is likely an in vitro phenomenon with no apparent implications for infection in vivo., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, the rapid advancement of flexible sensors as the cornerstone of flexible electronics has propelled a flourishing evolution within the realm of flexible electronics. Unlike traditional flexible devices, hydrogel flexible sensors have characteristic advantages such as biocompatibility, adhesion, and adjustable mechanical properties and have similar properties to human skin. Especially, biobased hydrogels have become the preferred substrate material for flexible sensors due to increased environmental pressures caused by the scarcity of petrochemical resources. In this regard, proteins possess advantages such as diverse amino acid compositions, adjustable advanced structures, chemical modifiability, the application of protein engineering techniques, and the ability to respond to various external stimuli. These enable the hydrogels constructed from them to have greater designability, flexibility, and adaptability. As a result, their applications in manufacturing various types of sensors have experienced rapid growth. This work systematically reviews the sensing mechanism of protein-based hydrogels, focusing on the preparation of protein-based hydrogels and the optimization of flexible sensors mainly from the perspective of a typical type of animal-derived protein casein. In addition, while the potential of casein is recognized, the limitations of casein-based hydrogels in flexible sensor applications are explored, and insights are provided into the development trends of next-generation sensors based on casein-based hydrogel materials.

Dysfunction of the ribosome manifests during cellular senescence and contributes to tissue aging, functional decline, and development of aging-related disorders in ways that have remained enigmatic. Here, we conducted a comprehensive CRISPR-based loss-of-function (LOF) screen of ribosome-associated genes (RAGs) in human mesenchymal progenitor cells (hMPCs). Through this approach, we identified ribosomal protein L22 (RPL22) as the foremost RAG whose deficiency mitigates the effects of cellular senescence. Consequently, absence of RPL22 delays hMPCs from becoming senescent, while an excess of RPL22 accelerates the senescence process. Mechanistically, we found in senescent hMPCs, RPL22 accumulates within the nucleolus. This accumulation triggers a cascade of events, including heterochromatin decompaction with concomitant degradation of key heterochromatin proteins, specifically heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP1γ) and heterochromatin protein KRAB-associated protein 1 (KAP1). Subsequently, RPL22-dependent breakdown of heterochromatin stimulates the transcription of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), triggering cellular senescence. In summary, our findings unveil a novel role for nucleolar RPL22 as a destabilizer of heterochromatin and a driver of cellular senescence, shedding new light on the intricate mechanisms underlying the aging process., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Chemokines play a crucial role in immune responses by facilitating the migration of cells expressing corresponding chemokine receptors along concentration gradients. Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae (PDD) and Nocardia seriolae (NS) are known to induce substantial mortality in silver pomfret populations, yet there exists a dearth of research regarding the immune response of CCLs in PDD- or NS-infected silver pomfret. In our investigation, we identified 10 PaCCLs, which include one fish-specific CCL (PaCCL44). Phylogenetic analysis revealed considerable diversity in CCL types and copy numbers among various teleost fishes. Notably, silver pomfret lacks specific CCL genes, with most PaCCLs exhibiting heightened expression levels in immune-related organs such as the spleen and kidney, and some being expressed in mucosal immune-related organs like the skin and gills. Transcriptome analysis conducted on silver pomfret infected with NS and PDD elucidated that the expression changes of PaCCLs primarily manifested in the spleen during the initial stages of NS infection, shifting to the kidney in later stages. Conversely, the expression changes of PaCCLs following PDD infection predominantly occurred in the kidney. In vitro studies using silver pomfret spleen cell lines demonstrated an early peak in PaCCLs expression during infection, followed by gradual decline with NS treatment and rapid diminishment with PDD treatment. These findings suggest that PaCCLs primarily support the innate immunity of silver pomfret, potentially exhibiting chemotactic effects in the early infection stages, such as the synergistic action of PaCCL4 and PaCCL25, and later serving as direct antibacterial agents. NS invasion is characterised by a chronic infection affecting multiple organs, whereas PDD primarily inflicts severe damage to the kidney. PaCCL19a and PaCCL19b are specific to PDD, and their expression levels may decrease in the later stages of infection due to PDD immune escape. These data offer initial insights into understanding the mechanism underlying the innate immune response of the CCL gene family in silver pomfret and provide theoretical underpinnings for fish culture practices., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The export and degradation pathways compete to sort nuclear RNAs, yet the default pathway remains unclear. Sorting of mature RNAs to degradation, facilitated by the exosome co-factor poly(A) exosome targeting (PAXT), is particularly challenging for their resemblance to mRNAs intended for translation. Here, we unveil that ZFC3H1, a core PAXT component, is co-transcriptionally loaded onto the first exon/intron of RNA precursors (pre-RNAs). Interestingly, this initial loading does not lead to pre-RNA degradation, as ZFC3H1 adopts a "closed" conformation, effectively blocking exosome recruitment. As processing progresses, RNA fate can be reshaped. Longer RNAs with more exons are allowed for nuclear export. By contrast, short RNAs with fewer exons preferentially recruit transient PAXT components ZC3H3 and RBM26/27 to the 3' end, triggering ZFC3H1 "opening" and subsequent exosomal degradation. Together, the decoupled loading and activation of ZFC3H1 pre-configures RNA fate for decay while still allowing a switch to nuclear export, depending on mature RNA features., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Improving the efficiency of drug delivery is one of the most important goals in the field of drug delivery. One strategy for drug delivery efficiency is to make the drug delivery system capable of charge reversal. In this study, we used hyaluronic acid (HA) as the skeleton to anchor dimethylmaleic anhydride-modified polylysine (PLL-DMMA) and N-(3-Aminopropyl)-imidazole (IMI) to construct a pH-sensitive (IMI/Zn 2+ )-HA-PLL-DMMA system via Zn coordination. The (IMI/Zn 2+ )-HA-PLL-DMMA system can detach DMMA moieties and expose PLL with a positive charge in the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), which enhances cellular uptake in cancer cells through charge reversal. Once the drug-loaded (IMI/Zn 2+ )-HA-PLL-DMMA enters cancer cells, it specifically responds and disassembles in the acidic TME, resulting in drug release and inhibition of cancer cell viability. The (IMI/Zn 2+ )-HA-PLL-DMMA system is designed to regulate drug release behavior with Zn 2+ and IMI groups as control units. The HA-based system shows synergistic selective drug delivery in suppressing tumor cells and has potential in cancer therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The selective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bishydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran (BHMTHF), a vital fuel precursor and solvent, is crucial for biomass refining. Herein, we report highly selective and stable PdNi nanoalloy catalysts for this deep hydrogenation process. A CO2-assisted green method was developed for the controllable synthesis of various bimetallic and monometallic catalysts. The PdNi/SBA-15 catalysts with various Pd/Ni ratios exhibited a volcano-like trend between BHMTHF yield and Pd/Ni ratio. Among all catalysts tested, Pd2Ni1/SBA-15 achieved the best performance, converting 99.0% of HMF to BHMTHF with 96.0% selectivity, surpassing previously reported catalysts. Additionally, the Pd2Ni1/SBA-15 catalyst maintained excellent stability even after five recycling runs. Catalyst characterizations (e.g., HAADF-STEM) and DFT calculations confirmed the successful formation of the alloy structure with electron transfer between Ni and Pd, which accounts for the remarkable performance and stability of the catalyst. This work paves the way for developing highly selective and stable alloy catalysts for biomass valorization., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Marine biofouling severely limits the development of the marine economy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by electrocatalytic antifouling techniques could inactivate marine microorganisms and inhibit the formation of marine biofouling. Compared with an electro-Fenton reaction, a three-electron oxygen reduction reaction (3e - ORR) could generate a hydroxyl radical (˙OH) in situ without the limitation of pH and iron mud pollutants. Herein, O v -rich γ-MnO 2 is designed to enhance the 3e - ORR performance in neutral media and exhibits excellent sterilization performance for typical marine bacteria. DFT calculation reveals that O v is beneficial to the "end-on" adsorption and activation of O 2 , and the Mn site could accept the electrons from *OOH and promote its further reduction to form ˙OH; O v and Mn sites together guarantee the high 3e - ORR efficiency. In addition, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proves the vast formation of ˙OH in the primary reaction stage, which is the key to sterilization. This work explores the reaction mechanism of the 3e - ORR in neutral media and provides the possibility for the application of electrocatalysis technology in the treatment of marine biofouling pollution.

Catalytic removal of alkynes is essential in industry for producing polymer-grade alkenes from steam cracking processes. Non-noble Ni-based catalysts hold promise as effective alternatives to industrial Pd-based catalysts but suffer from low activity. Here we report embedding of single-atom Pd onto the NiGa intermetallic surface with replacing Ga atoms via a well-defined synthesis strategy to design Pd 1 -NiGa catalyst for alkyne semi-hydrogenation. The fabricated Pd 1 Ni 2 Ga 1 ensemble sites deliver remarkably higher specific mass activity under superb alkene selectivity of >96 % than the state-of-the-art catalysts under industry-relevant conditions. Integrated experimental and computational studies reveal that the single-atom Pd synergizes with the neighbouring Ni sites to facilitate the σ-adsorption of alkyne and dissociation of hydrogen while suppress the alkene adsorption. Such synergistic effects confer the single-atom Pd on the NiGa intermetallic with a Midas touch for alkyne semi-hydrogenation, providing an effective strategy for stimulating low active Ni-based catalysts for other selective hydrogenations in industry., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background & Aims: Incidence of obesity and Crohn's disease (CD) is increasing globally. Therefore, understanding any associations between adiposity and disease phenotype is crucial. We aimed explore the relationship between nutritional status measured by body mass index (BMI) and phenotypes of CD using a large national recallable data set., Methods: Using National Institute for Health and Care Research-IBD Bioresource data base, we retrospectively assessed the relationship between BMI and stenosing CD by logistic regression. BMI was the primary variable of interest; CD behaviour was the dependent variable; stenosing CD was the primary outcome. Confounders were adjusted for in a multivariate model., Results: 8797 patients diagnosed between 1942 and 2020 were included. Mean overall BMI was 26.3 kg/m 2 (SD5.5). 52.7 % had a BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 (mean 30.2 kg/m 2 , SD 4.5). Majority had inflammatory CD (62.9 %) followed by stenosing (25.1 %) and penetrating CD (12 %). Stenosing and penetrating phenotypes were more common in the <25 kg/m 2 BMI group (50.7 %, 50.3 % respectively) p < 0.001. Colonic disease location was more common (27.8 % vs 24.3 %, p = 0.001) in patients with high BMI. On univariate analysis, stenosing disease was positively associated with ileal disease location, disease duration, previous surgery, use of infliximab, ustekinumab, vedolizumab, adalimumab and azathioprine but negatively associated with BMI (OR 0.98, 95%CI [0.968-0.99]). On multivariate analyses, BMI remained negatively associated with stenosing CD (OR 0.98, 95%CI [0.97-0.99]); ileal disease location (OR 3.69, 95%CI [3.22-4.24]), adalimumab (OR 1.47, 95%CI [1.30-1.66]), ustekinumab usage (OR 1.51, 95%CI [1.14-2.01] and azathioprine (OR 1.35, 95%CI [1.19-1.53])., Conclusions: After multivariate analyses, BMI, ileal disease location and biologic use was negatively associated with a stenosing disease phenotype. This might reflect a change in eating behaviour due to persistent postprandial symptoms related to stenosing disease. Large longitudinal studies are needed to investigate any possible temporal relationship between the obesogenic state and intestinal fibrosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest GM Received grant funding from Astra Zeneca, Alimentiv Inc, Jansen, Bristol Myers Squibb. He has attended advisory boards for Pfizer and Abbvie. He is a consultant for Alimentiv Inc. JN, SV, TT, KY, GF, and SV do not declare any conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Skin greasiness occurred on stored apples ( Malus domestica Borkh.) is generally believed to result from changes in surface wax components. Previous reports have typically correlated wax changes with greasiness scores to reveal the contributing wax components. A notable limitation of this approach is that greasiness scores are highly subjective and influenced by individual perception., Methods: This study aimed to assess skin quality by quantitatively analyzing wax morphology changes in greasy 'Jonagold' apples using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) roughness parameters Ra, Rq, Rmax, and Rz, and to correlate these changes with wax composition., Results: AFM results revealed that wax crystals disappeared as skin greasiness increased, accompanied by significant declines in roughness parameters Ra, Rq, Rmax, and Rz, which decreased by 70% to 85%. Chemical analysis showed a significant increase in liquid esters, including linoleate and oleate esters, in the surface waxes, which negatively correlated with the decline in roughness parameters. Key genes related to ester production, such as MdFAD2, MdWSD1 , and MdWBC11 , exhibited increased expression and were also negatively correlated with decreases in Rq, Ra and Rz. Additionally, 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment suppressed both the development of greasiness and the associated changes., Discussion: Our findings suggest that the increased liquid esters contribute to alternations in wax morphology in greasy apples, and that MdFAD2, MdWSD1 , and MdWBC11 , play crucial roles in ester biosynthesis. These results highlight the effectiveness of AFM roughness parameters Ra, Rq, Rmax, and Rz in quantifying wax morphology changes in apples during skin greasiness development., Competing Interests: The authors declare 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 Yang, Xie, Huang, Yan, Wang, Liu, Zeng, Ren and Gong.)

The automatic video recognition of depression is becoming increasingly important in clinical applications. However, traditional depression recognition models still face challenges in practical applications, such as high computational costs, the poor application effectiveness of facial movement features, and spatial feature degradation due to model stitching. To overcome these challenges, this work proposes a lightweight Time-Context Enhanced Depression Detection Network (TCEDN). We first use attention-weighted blocks to aggregate and enhance video frame-level features, easing the model's computational workload. Next, by integrating the temporal and spatial changes of video raw features and facial movement features in a self-learning weight manner, we enhance the precision of depression detection. Finally, a fusion network of 3-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (3D-CNN) and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory Network (ConvLSTM) is constructed to minimize spatial feature loss by avoiding feature flattening and to achieve depression score prediction. Tests on the AVEC2013 and AVEC2014 datasets reveal that our approach yields results on par with state-of-the-art techniques for detecting depression using video analysis. Additionally, our method has significantly lower computational complexity than mainstream methods.

Objective: To evaluate the response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) using ultrasound(US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS), with correction to the tumor regression grade (TRG) of pathological results., Methods: This study included patients with resectable CRLMs admitted from February to December 2022. After at least 4 cycles neoadjuvant therapy, all the patients received US and CEUS examinations within two weeks before hepatectomy. CEUS clips were postprocessed with color parameter imaging (CPI) and microflow imaging (MFI) analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to develop an evaluation Nomogram. Ultrasound-based model was constructed to discriminate between the response (TRG1/2/3) and nonresponse (TRG4/5) groups at the lesion level. The model's predictive ability was evaluated using the C index and calibration curve, with decision curve analysis assessing the Nomogram's added value., Results: The study analyzed 105 CRLM lesions (the lesion with the highest diameter analyzed for each patient), with 43.8% showing a response to therapy. Univariate analysis identified calcification on US (p = 0.039), CEUS enhancement degree (p < 0.001), CEUS enhancement pattern (p<0.001), CEUS washout type (p < 0.001), CEUS necrosis (p < 0.001), CPI feeding artery (p = 0.003) and MFI pattern (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with TRG. The multivariate analysis showed CEUS enhancement pattern (p = 0.026), CEUS washout type (p = 0.018) and CEUS necrosis (p = 0.005) were independently associated with the neoadjuvant therapy response. A Nomogram with the three independent predictors was developed, with an AUC of 0.898., Conclusion: The ultrasound-based model provided accurate evaluation of pathological tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with CRLM, and may help to decide the individualized treatment strategy., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD) is a syndrome with rapidly increasing awareness since being first described in March 2019. As such, few cases of R-CPD are currently reported in the literature. The goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive systematic review of the available literature on R-CPD, including patient characteristics, diagnosis, and management., Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE., Review Methods: A systematic review of the available English literature was conducted using the data sources PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE. Studies with original data of patients experiencing classic symptoms of R-CPD were included. Independent abstract screening followed by full-text screening was performed to assess study eligibility. Data extraction of patient demographics, symptoms, treatment, and follow-up were subsequently performed., Results: Common presentations of R-CPD include abelchia (100%), abdominal bloating (83%), and gurgling noises (75%). 554 (86.9%) patients had improved symptoms after initial treatment with BTX. The most common initial dose was 50 units in 204 (37.3%) patients. Subsequent BTX injections resolved symptoms in 40 (80%) patients. Six patients ultimately received CP myotomy for recurrent symptoms, resulting in long-term resolution in 4 (67%) patients., Conclusion: R-CPD is a newly recognized syndrome with effective treatment options including botulinum toxin injections and cricopharyngeal myotomy, where appropriate. Diagnostic modalities including esophageal manometry may aid in the initial work up of R-CPD, however further studies are required to assess its diagnostic utility., Competing Interests: None., (© 2024 The Author(s). OTO Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) manifests as inflammation in the colon, rectum, and ileum, presenting a global health concern with increasing prevalence. Therefore, effective anti-inflammatory therapy stands as a promising strategy for the prevention and management of IBD. However, conventional nano drug delivery systems (NDDSs) for IBD face many challenges in targeting the intestine, such as physiological and pathological barriers, genetic variants, disease severity, and nutritional status, which often result in nonspecific tissue distribution and uncontrolled drug release. To address these limitations, stimulus-responsive NDDSs have received considerable attention in recent years due to their advantages in providing controlled release and enhanced targeting. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying IBD and summarizes recent advancements in microenvironmental stimulus-responsive nanocarriers for IBD therapy. These carriers utilize physicochemical stimuli such as pH, reactive oxygen species, enzymes, and redox substances to deliver drugs for IBD treatment. Additionally, pivotal challenges in the future development and clinical translation of stimulus-responsive NDDSs are emphasized. By offering insights into the development and optimization of stimulus-responsive drug delivery nanoplatforms, this review aims to facilitate their application in treating IBD. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review highlights recent advancements in stimulus-responsive nano drug delivery systems (NDDSs) for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These innovative nanoplatforms respond to specific environmental triggers, such as pH reactive oxygen species, enzymes, and redox substances, to release drugs directly at the inflammation site. By summarizing the latest research, our work underscores the potential of these technologies to improve drug targeting and efficacy, offering new directions for IBD therapy. This review is significant as it provides a comprehensive overview for researchers and clinicians, facilitating the development of more effective treatments for IBD and other chronic inflammatory diseases., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Teleost testis development during the annual cycle involves dramatic changes in cellular compositions and molecular events. In this study, the testicular cells derived from adult black rockfish at distinct stages - regressed, regenerating and differentiating - were meticulously dissected via single-cell transcriptome sequencing. A continuous developmental trajectory of spermatogenic cells, from spermatogonia to spermatids, was delineated, elucidating the molecular events involved in spermatogenesis. Subsequently, the dynamic regulation of gene expression associated with spermatogonia proliferation and differentiation was observed across spermatogonia subgroups and developmental stages. A bioenergetic transition from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration of spermatogonia during the annual developmental cycle was demonstrated, and a deeper level of heterogeneity and molecular characteristics was revealed by re-clustering analysis. Additionally, the developmental trajectory of Sertoli cells was delineated, alongside the divergence of Leydig cells and macrophages. Moreover, the interaction network between testicular micro-environment somatic cells and spermatogenic cells was established. Overall, our study provides detailed information on both germ and somatic cells within teleost testes during the annual reproductive cycle, which lays the foundation for spermatogenesis regulation and germplasm preservation of endangered species., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

As a cutting-edge technology of connecting biological brain and external devices, brain-computer interface (BCI) exhibits promising applications on extensive fields such as medical and military. As for the disable individuals with four limbs losing the motor functions, it is a potential treatment way to drive mechanical equipments by the means of non-invasive BCI, which is badly depended on the accuracy of the decoded electroencephalogram (EEG) singles. In this study, an explanatory convolutional neural network namely EEGNet based on SimAM attention module was proposed to enhance the accuracy of decoding the EEG singles of index and thumb fingers for both left and right hand using sensory motor rhythm (SMR). An average classification accuracy of 72.91% the data of eight healthy subjects was obtained, which were captured from the one second before finger movement to two seconds after action. Furthermore, the character of event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event related synchronization (ERS) of index and thumb fingers was also studied in this study. These findings have significant importance for controlling external devices or other rehabilitation equipment using BCI in a fine way., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ovarian microenvironment plays a crucial role in ensuring the reproductive success of viviparous teleosts. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between spermatozoa and the ovarian microenvironment has remained elusive. This study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of this process in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) using integrated multi-omics approaches. The results demonstrated significant upregulation of ovarian complement-related proteins and pattern recognition receptors, along with remodeling of glycans on the surface of spermatozoa at the early spermatozoa-storage stage (1 month after mating). As spermatozoa were stored over time, ovarian complement proteins were progressively repressed by tryptophan and hippurate, indicating a remarkable adaptation of spermatozoa to the ovarian microenvironment. Before fertilization, a notable upregulation of cellular junction proteins was observed. The study revealed that spermatozoa bind to ZPB2a protein through GSTM3 and that ZPB2a promotes spermatozoa survival and movement in a GSTM3-dependent manner. These findings shed light on a key mechanism that influences the dynamics of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract, providing valuable insights into the molecular networks regulating spermatozoa adaptation and survival in species with internal fertilization., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most prevalent and highly toxic mycotoxin within the fumonisins family, poses threats to humans, especially in children and infants, even at trace levels. Therefore, it is essential to design an easy and sensitive detection strategy. Herein, a brand-new dual-photoelectrode photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform for FB1 detection under near-infrared irradiation was unveiled. This platform integrated a photon up-conversion bio-photocathode substrate (UCNPs/Au/CuInS 2 , UCNPs: NaYF 4 : Yb 3+ , Er 3+ , Nd 3+ ) and used a SnO 2 /SnS 2 @Bi/Bi 2 S 3 heterojunction photoanode to greatly enhance light capture. Additionally, ZnO coated with polydopamine (ZnO@PDA) was utilized as a signal inhibitor. The restoration of photocurrent occurred due to the strong binding affinity between FB1 and its aptamer (FB1-Apt), facilitating the dissociation of FB1-Apt/ZnO@PDA from the photoelectrode. The PEC sensing performance and the electron transfer process were thoroughly examined. The developed "signal-restoration" PEC aptasensor exhibited a wider dynamic linear range from 1.0 × 10 -3 to 1.0 × 10 2  ng/mL, with a lower limit of detection (0.13 pg/mL). It has demonstrated excellent practical detection performance in unspiked real samples, such as corn paste, with the FB1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit serving as a reference, indicating its potential for routine analysis of other mycotoxins. Thus, this research establishes a feasible dual-photoelectrode PEC framework for the effective detection of mycotoxins and other hazardous substances., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Molecular phosphorescence in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) holds promise for deep-tissue optical imaging with high contrast by overcoming background fluorescence interference. However, achieving bright and stable NIR-II molecular phosphorescence suitable for biological applications remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report a new series of symmetric isocyanorhodium(I) complexes that could form oligomers and exhibit bright, long-lived (7-8 μs) phosphorescence in aqueous solution via metallophilic interaction. Ligand substituents with enhanced dispersion attraction and electron-donating properties were explored to extend excitation/emission wavelengths and enhanced stability. Further binding the oligomers with fetal bovine serum (FBS) resulted in NIR-II molecular phosphorescence with high quantum yields (up to 3.93 %) and long-term stability in biological environments, enabling in vivo tracking of single-macrophage dynamics and high-contrast time-resolved imaging. These results pave the way for the development of highly-efficient NIR-II molecular phosphorescence for biomedical applications., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Mandible-first surgery (MdFS) has gained attention as an alternative to the traditional maxilla-first surgery (MxFS) in bimaxillary procedures. Given the distinct sequence of operations between these approaches, evaluating the clinical advantages of MdFS compared to MxFS is crucial for optimizing surgical decision-making. This systematic review and meta-analysis examine intraoperative achievability and postoperative stability between these two surgical approaches., Methods: A thorough literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE, covering articles published from 2013 to 2023. Studies included were retrospective, prospective, and randomized trials that compared the accuracy and/or stability of MdFS with MxFS. The primary endpoint for the meta-analysis was the standardized mean difference in surgical accuracy for translational movements, with a secondary focus on rotational accuracy., Results: A total of 11 studies encompassing 712 patients met the inclusion criteria. The analysis suggested that MdFS might reduce accuracy in the sagittal dimension (CI, 0.05 to 0.74) but offered greater achievability in the vertical direction (CI, - 0.47 to - 0.07). Additionally, MdFS was associated with a relatively posterior (CI, - 1.18 to - 0.60) and inferior (CI, - 0.64 to - 0.07) positioning of the maxillomandibular complex., Conclusion: Despite certain limitations, our findings indicate that MdFS can achieve clinical outcomes similar to MxFS in terms of both accuracy and stability. However, further researches with larger sample sizes and more rigorous study designs are necessary to validate these conclusions., Level of Evidence Iii: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are among the most prevalent organ-specific autoimmune disorders, with thyroid hormones playing a pivotal role in the gastrointestinal system's structure and function. Emerging evidence suggests a link between AITDs and the gut microbiome, which is a diverse community of organisms that are essential for digestion, absorption, intestinal homeostasis, and immune defense. Recent studies using 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples from AITD patients have revealed a significant correlation between a gut microbiota imbalance and the severity of AITDs. Progress in animal models of autoimmune diseases has shown that intervention in the gut microbiota can significantly alter the disease severity. The gut microbiota influences T cell subgroup differentiation and modulates the pathological immune response to AITDs through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and mucosal immunity. Conversely, thyroid hormones also influence gut function and microbiota composition. Thus, there is a bidirectional relationship between the thyroid and the gut ecosystem. This review explores the pathogenic mechanisms of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in AITDs, characterizes the gut microbiota in Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and examines the interactions between the gut microbiota, thyroid hormones, T cell differentiation, and trace elements. The review aims to enhance understanding of the gut microbiota-thyroid axis and proposes novel approaches to mitigate AITD severity through gut microbiota modulation.

In this study, the planetary ball milling with CaO addition was used to remediate lindane-contaminated soil. Based on Hertzian theory, a mathematical model was proposed to simulate the trajectory of grinding ball and the local energy transfer during a planetary operation at the disk rotation velocities of 150-250 rpm. Besides, the influence of different parameters on lindane removal in soil was investigated, whose results showed that disk rotation velocity and reagent-to-soil ratio had a positive effect, while soil moisture, initial concentration of lindane, and mass of polluted soil demonstrated a negative influence. The mechanochemical method exhibited a higher degradation performance at 3 wt% CaO addition, and a disk rotation velocity of 250 rpm. Active species generated by ball collisions in the presence of CaO, especially superoxide (·O 2 - ) demonstrated a significant role in participating in the lindane conversion. In combination with GCMS and XPS analysis, the proposed model provides insight into mechanochemical remediation process from physical and chemical perspectives, which mainly includes four main steps: mixing, inducing, chemical reaction, and structure destruction., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The lifespan of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIB) has been hindered by the instability of zinc anodes, encountering challenges such as irregular dendritic growth, corrosion and hydrogen evolution reactions. In this study, we address these challenges by employing atomic-layer deposition (ALD) to create an ultrathin, conductive titanium oxynitride (TiN x O y ) coating with abundant zincophilic sites. This atomic-scale coating serves as a bi-functional barrier that isolates the zinc metal from the electrolyte, thereby reducing spontaneous corrosion and mitigating hydrogen evolution. Additionally, the TiN x O y layer improves the distribution of the interfacial electric field and promotes uniform zinc plating and stripping. As a result, the TiN x O y -coated zinc anode demonstrates a significantly reduced over-potential and enhanced cycling stability, maintaining performance over 1300 h at 1 mA cm -2 in a symmetric cell. When coupled with a MnO 2 cathode, the full cell achieves a capacity of 85.3 mAh g -1 after 4500 cycles at a high current density of 10C., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biomass is a rich and renewable source of carbon, and its rational and effective utilization is important for achieving green and sustainable carbon neutrality. POMs@MOFs composites have outstanding catalytic advantages in biomass catalysis due to their abundant and adjustable catalytic active sites as well as excellent acid catalytic activity. This review covers the current development of POMs@MOFs composites in biomass catalysis. Firstly, the current mainstream synthesis strategies of POMs@MOFs, including one-step in situ synthesis methods as well as post-loading methods, are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are analyzed. In addition, the nanostructure modulation strategies of POMs@MOFs composites, including the design of geometrical structures, the selection of active sites and the modulation of surface properties, are highlighted. For the biomass valorization over POMs@MOFs composites, the application in the catalytic conversion of biomass-derived polysaccharides, monosaccharides, furan compounds, organic acids, ketones, and esters acids is highlighted. Finally, the future prospects and challenges for the development of POMs@MOFs composites in biomass catalysis are presented., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The effectiveness of vonoprazan (VPZ)-based regimens in enhancing Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication rates is promising. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of 14-day VPZ-based triple therapy in obese patients infected with HP. A total of 200 obese patients with gastric disorders, confirmed to be HP-positive via gastroscopy and the 13 C urea breath test, were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 118 patients received the 14-day VPZ-based triple regimen (Study group), while 82 patients were treated with the traditional 14-day bismuth-containing proton pump inhibitor-based quadruple regimen (Control group). Baseline characteristics, pretreatment inflammatory indicators, lipid profiles, and gastrointestinal function indicators recorded. The two groups were compared for treatment efficacy, HP eradication rate, gastrointestinal function improvement, and incidence of adverse reactions. The Study group demonstrated a higher overall effective rate compared to the Control group, particularly in HP-strong positive obese patients. No significant differences were observed between the two groups for HP-positive obese patients in terms of total effective rate, HP eradication rate, gastrointestinal function improvement, or adverse reactions incidence. In conclusion, the 14-day VPZ-based triple regimen exhibited superior therapeutic efficacy, higher HP eradication rates, enhanced gastrointestinal function, and reduced adverse reactions in HP-strong positive obese patients, indicating improved overall efficacy and safety.

Pampus argenteus demonstrates a preference for Rhopilema esculentum as prey, yet the ramifications of consuming supplemental medusa on fish microbiota and metabolism remain elusive. To elucidate these effects, 300 juvenile fish were divided into two groups: control group (C, given commercial food only) and supplemental medusa (SM) group (given supplemental medusa + commercial feed). After 15 days, fish in the SM group exhibited a significant increase in fatness, the amylase activity in the intestine significantly increased, and the intestinal microvilli were arranged more neatly. The comprehensive approach involving 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomics was employed, leading to the identification of five genera within the SM group, namely Lactococcus, Cohaesibacter, Maritalea, Sulfitobacter, and Carnobacterium. Functional prediction analysis of the microbiota indicated that the consumption of supplemental medusa facilitated processes such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and amino acid absorption. Metabolomics analysis revealed significant enrichment of 85 differential metabolites, most of them belonging to fatty acids and conjugates. These differential metabolites primarily participated in processes such as amino acid metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, and disease. Notably, the consumption of medusa resulted in a significant reduction in nine lysophospholipids associated with cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis revealed associations between specific microorganisms and metabolites, indicating that Cobetia, Weissella, and Macrococcus exhibited an increased abundance in the SM group, positively correlating with apocynin, 12-Hete, and delta 9-THC-d3. The indicator bacteria Psychrobacter reduced in the SM group, exhibiting a negative correlation with cystathionine (a compound involved in glutathione synthesis). Overall, the supplementation of medusa may confer a beneficial effect on the immunity of the fish. This study contributes to the theoretical framework for fish feed development., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Due to its exceptionally high theoretical energy density, fluorinated carbon has been recognized as a strong contender for the cathode material in lithium primary batteries particularly valued in aerospace and related industries. However, CF x cathode with high F/C ratio, which enables higher energy density, often suffer from inadequate rate capability and are unable to satisfy escalating demand. Furthermore, their intrinsic low discharge voltage imposes constraints on their applicability. In this study, a novel and high F/C ratio fluorinated carbon nanomaterials (FNC) enriched with semi-ionic C-F bonds is synthesized at a lower fluorination temperature, using aggregated nanocarbon as the precursor. The increased presence semi-ionic C-F bonds of the FNC enhances conductivity, thereby ameliorating ohmic polarization effects during initial discharge. In addition, the spherical shape and aggregated configuration of FNC facilitate the diffusion of Li + to abundant active sites through continuous paths. Consequently, the FNC exhibits high discharge voltage of 3.15 V at 0.01C and superior rate capability in lithium primary batteries. At a high rate of 20C, power density of 33,694 W kg -1 and energy density of 1,250 Wh kg -1 are achieved. Moreover, FNC also demonstrates notable electrochemical performance in sodium/potassium-CF x primary batteries. This new-type alkali-metal/CF x primary batteries exhibit outstanding rate capability, rendering them with vast potential in high-power applications., 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 Chen, Yan, Zou, Xia, Kang, Yue and Chen.)