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We assess the orbit accuracy and time synchronization error using the L1 and C1 observables during the different solar activities. In general, GPS single-frequency (SF) observable can be used for commercial applications in satellite industry. The accuracy of satellite orbit determination using the SF observations is dominated by solar activities. The solar activities are indexed by the F10.7 value. The different solar activities lead to the ionosphere perturbation, triggering off the occurrence probability of ionospheric irregularities. The ionospheric irregularity affects the amplitude and phase of GPS signal. The affected amplitude and phase are indexed by the S4 value. We determine the GRACE satellite orbit using the SF GPS observations and compare the resulting orbit to that derived by dual-frequency observations for the effectiveness. The SF phase data are very sensitive to the variation in electron density and indirectly affects both the orbit accuracy and the time synchronization error. This is most likely caused by the phase ambiguity disturbed by the ionosphere. However, the C1 is relatively free from such a disturbance due to the strong signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the phase shift keying technique. The C1 performs the consistent solution over the low and high solar activities. However, this is not the case for the L1. The L1-derived orbit solution during the high solar activities is worse than that during the low solar activities. On the other hand, the time synchronization errors derived by the L1 and C1 are also different. The L1-derived time synchronization error has a relatively large perturbation as compared to the C1-derived one, which shows a consistent solution for a long-term period. This work suggests that the C1 observable is able to produce a consistent the orbit solution and time synchronization for the commercial applications of the satellite industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a 3 × 3 blue micro-LED array with a pixel size of 10 × 10 μm2 and a pitch of 15 μm was fabricated on an epilayer grown on a sapphire substrate using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technology. The fabrication process involved photolithography, wet and dry etching, E-beam evaporation, and ion implantation technology. Arsenic multi-energy implantation was utilized to replace the mesa etching for electrical isolation, where the implantation depth increased with the average energy. Different ion depth profiles had varying effects on electrical properties, such as forward current and leakage currents, potentially causing damage to the n-GaN layer and increasing the series resistance of the LEDs. As the implantation depth increased, the light output power and peak external quantum efficiency of the LEDs also increased, improving from 5.33 to 9.82%. However, the efficiency droop also increased from 46.3 to 48.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulator of melanocyte function, development and plays a significant role in melanoma pathogenesis. MITF genomic amplification promotes melanoma development, and it can facilitate resistance to multiple therapies. Here, we show that MITF regulates a global antioxidant program that increases survival of melanoma cell lines by protecting the cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage. In addition, this redox program is correlated with MITF expression in human melanoma cell lines and patient-derived melanoma samples. Using a zebrafish melanoma model, we show that MITF decreases ROS-mediated DNA damage in vivo. Some of the MITF target genes involved, such as IDH1 and NNT, are regulated through direct MITF binding to canonical enhancer box (E-BOX) sequences proximal to their promoters. Utilizing functional experiments, we demonstrate the role of MITF and its target genes in reducing cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS. Collectively, our data identify MITF as a significant driver of the cellular antioxidant state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between adipose tissue, liver and immune system are at the center of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes. To address the need for an accurate in vitro model, we establish an interconnected microphysiological system (MPS) containing white adipocytes, hepatocytes and proinflammatory macrophages derived from isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cells. Using this MPS, we find that increasing the adipocyte-to-hepatocyte ratio moderately affects hepatocyte function, whereas macrophage-induced adipocyte inflammation causes lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and MPS-wide insulin resistance, corresponding to initiation of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. We also use our MPS to identify and characterize pharmacological intervention strategies for hepatic steatosis and systemic insulin resistance and find that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide improves hepatocyte function by acting specifically on adipocytes. These results establish our MPS modeling the adipose tissue-liver axis as an alternative to animal models for mechanistic studies or drug discovery in metabolic diseases. In vitro modelling of the adipose tissue-liver axis can advance understanding and therapy of metabolic disease, including by distinguishing effects of obesity and inflammation. Here, authors develop such a system based on isogenic human iPSCs and interconnected microphysiological devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although prostate cancer is a common occurrence among males, the relationship between existing risk prediction models remains unclear. The objective of this hospital-based retrospective study is to investigate the impact of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) on the incidence and prognosis of prostate cancer in the Han Chinese population. A total of 24,778 male participants including 903 patients with prostate cancer at Taichung Veterans General Hospital were enrolled in the study. PRS was calculated using 269 single nucleotide polymorphisms and their corresponding effect sizes from the polygenic score catalog. The association between PRS and the risk prostate cancer was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression model. Among the 24,778 participants, 903 were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk of prostate cancer was significantly higher in the highest quartile of PRS distribution compared to the lowest (hazard ratio = 4.770, 95% CI = 3.999–5.689, p < 0.0001), with statistical significance across all age groups. Patients in the highest quartile were diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age (66.8 ± 8.3 vs. 69.5 ± 8.8, p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis of patients with localized or stage 4 prostate cancer showed no significant differences in biochemical failure or overall survival. This hospital-based cohort study observed that a higher PRS was associated with increased susceptibility to prostate cancer and younger age of diagnosis. However, PRS was not found to be a significant predictor of disease stage and prognosis. These findings suggest that PRS could serve as a useful tool in prostate cancer risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operating efficiency of fishermen's associations is significant for developing the fishery industry and fishing villages. Since fishermen's associations have economic, financial, and service sectors, this study evaluates their efficiency through multiactivity data envelopment analysis. In addition to exploring the overall efficiency of each fishermen association, this study further investigates the differences in the operating efficiency of each of the economic, financial, and service sectors. Fishermen's associations were divided according to their sizes and geographic areas for analyses and comparisons by considering the differences in their organizational scales and fishing activities. In the empirical study, 24 fishermen associations in Taiwan were selected as the research subjects, and the shared inputs of economic, financial, and service sectors were taken to conform to their practical operation. The overall efficiency of fishermen's associations was affected by their size and mainly varied by economic sector. The research results indicate room for improvement in the overall efficiency of fishermen's associations, but improving the efficiency of different fishermen's associations should occur in various sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear how explicit knowledge of an externally imposed mismatch between visual and proprioceptive cues of hand position affects perceptual recalibration. The Bayesian causal inference framework might suggest such knowledge should abolish the visual and proprioceptive recalibration that occurs when individuals perceive these cues as coming from the same source (their hand), while the visuomotor adaptation literature suggests explicit knowledge of a cue conflict does not eliminate implicit compensatory processes. Here we compared visual and proprioceptive recalibration in three groups with varying levels of knowledge about the visuo-proprioceptive cue conflict. All participants estimated the position of visual, proprioceptive, or combined targets related to their left index fingertip, with a 70 mm visuo-proprioceptive offset gradually imposed. Groups 1, 2, and 3 received no information, medium information, and high information, respectively, about the offset. Information was manipulated using instructional and visual cues. All groups performed the task similarly at baseline in terms of variance, weighting, and integration. Results suggest the three groups recalibrated vision and proprioception differently, but there was no difference in variance or weighting. Participants who received only instructional cues about the mismatch (Group 2) did not recalibrate less, on average, than participants provided no information about the mismatch (Group 1). However, participants provided instructional cues and extra visual cues of their hands during the perturbation (Group 3) demonstrated significantly less recalibration than other groups. These findings are consistent with the idea that instructional cues alone are insufficient to override participants' intrinsic belief in common cause and reduce recalibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In open fields, plants experience dynamic changes in environment, particularly radiation, temperature, wind, and humidity but their short-term responses have not been adequately characterized under natural conditions. In this study, we assessed causal effects of rapid radiation fluctuation on seven plant parameters in open fields of cotton and sweet corn canopies. The parameters are evapotranspiration (ET), canopy photosynthesis indicated by CO2 flux from air to canopy (FCO2), sensible heat energy flux (H), canopy conductance for water vapor (gcw), canopy surface temperature (Ts), shoot and leaf elongation rate, and stem diameter change. The energy and CO2 fluxes were measured with Bowen ratio/energy balance/CO2 gradient (BREB+) technique, using averaging time of 5 min. Shoot + leaf elongation and stem diameter change were monitored with position transducers using averaging time of 1 min. All parameters were all found to respond to change in radiation and transpiration within minutes or sooner. While radiation effects on canopy gas exchanges are expected, illuminating are the indirect but immediate effects on shoot + leaf growth and stem diameter change through radiation effects on transpiration and plant water status. A novel finding is that gcw also responded within minutes or sooner to radiation fluctuations and that FCO2 was related almost linearly to gcw. Results are discussed in terms of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, and interpreted in terms of dynamic interactions between transpiration and plant water status. The clear inverse relationship between ET and elongation rate or stem diameter changes provides additional evidence supporting the validity of 5-min averaging for the BREB + technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, it takes an average of 17 years to move new treatments from clinical evidence to daily practice. Given the highly effective treatments now available to prevent or delay kidney disease onset and progression, this is far too long. The time is now to narrow the gap between what we know and what we do. Clear guidelines exist for the prevention and management of common risk factors for kidney disease, such as hypertension and diabetes, but only a fraction of people with these conditions worldwide are diagnosed, and even fewer are treated to target. Similarly, the vast majority of people living with kidney disease are unaware of their condition, because in the early stages, it is often silent. Even among patients who have been diagnosed, many do not receive appropriate treatment for kidney disease. Considering the serious consequences of kidney disease progression, kidney failure, or death, it is imperative that treatments are initiated early and appropriately. Opportunities to diagnose and treat kidney disease early must be maximized beginning at the primary care level. Many systematic barriers exist, ranging from patient to clinician to health systems to societal factors. To preserve and improve kidney health for everyone everywhere, each of these barriers must be acknowledged so that sustainable solutions are developed and implemented without further delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a CR manifold with non-degenerate Levi form, we show that the operators of the functional calculus for Toeplitz operators are complex Fourier integral operators of Szegő type. As an application, we establish semi-classical asymptotics for the dimension of the spectral spaces of Toeplitz operators. We then consider a CR manifold with a compact Lie group action G and we establish quantization commutes with reduction for Toeplitz operators. Moreover, we also compute semi-classical asymptotics for the dimension of the spectral spaces of G-invariant Toeplitz operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bidirectional communication between tumours and neurons has emerged as a key facet of the tumour microenvironment that drives malignancy1,2. Another hallmark feature of cancer is epigenomic dysregulation, in which alterations in gene expression influence cell states and interactions with the tumour microenvironment3. Ependymoma (EPN) is a paediatric brain tumour that relies on epigenomic remodelling to engender malignancy4,5; however, how these epigenetic mechanisms intersect with extrinsic neuronal signalling during EPN tumour progression is unknown. Here we show that the activity of serotonergic neurons regulates EPN tumorigenesis, and that serotonin itself also serves as an activating modification on histones. We found that inhibiting histone serotonylation blocks EPN tumorigenesis and regulates the expression of a core set of developmental transcription factors. High-throughput, in vivo screening of these transcription factors revealed that ETV5 promotes EPN tumorigenesis and functions by enhancing repressive chromatin states. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the genes repressed by ETV5, and its overexpression suppresses EPN tumour progression and tumour-associated network hyperactivity through synaptic remodelling. Collectively, this study identifies histone serotonylation as a key driver of EPN tumorigenesis, and also reveals how neuronal signalling, neuro-epigenomics and developmental programs are intertwined to drive malignancy in brain cancer.Serotonin has a role in ependymoma tumorigenesis through modifying histones and thereby regulating key transcription factors and activating specific oncogenic transcriptional networks in brain cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thiostrepton (TST) is a known inhibitor of the transcription factor Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) and inducer of heat shock response (HSR) and autophagy. TST thus may be one potential candidate of anticancer drugs for combination chemotherapy. Methods and Results: Immunofluorescence staining of mitotic spindles and flow cytometry analysis revealed that TST induces mitotic spindle abnormalities, mitotic arrest, and apoptotic cell death in the MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell line. Interestingly, overexpression or depletion of FoxM1 in MDA-MB-231 cells did not affect TST induction of spindle abnormalities; however, TST-induced spindle defects were enhanced by inhibition of HSP70 or autophagy. Moreover, TST exhibited low affinity for tubulin and only slightly inhibited in vitro tubulin polymerization, but it severely impeded tubulin polymerization and destabilized microtubules in arrested mitotic MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, TST significantly enhanced Taxol cytotoxicity. TST also caused cytotoxicity and spindle abnormalities in a Taxol-resistant cell line, MDA-MB-231-T4R. Conclusions: These results suggest that, in addition to inhibiting FoxM1, TST may induce proteotoxicity and autophagy to disrupt cellular tubulin polymerization, and this mechanism might account for its antimitotic effects, enhancement of Taxol anticancer effects, and ability to overcome Taxol resistance in MDA-MB-231 cells. These data further imply that TST may be useful to improve the therapeutic efficacy of Taxol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diet and gut microbiota contribute to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression. High-fat diets (HFDs) change gut microbiota compositions, induce gut dysbiosis, and intestinal barrier leakage, which facilitates portal influx of pathogen-associated molecular patterns including lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to the liver and triggers inflammation in NASH. Current therapeutic drugs for NASH have adverse side effects; however, several foods and herbs that exhibit hepatoprotection could be an alternative method to prevent NASH. Methods: We investigated ginger essential oil (GEO) against palm oil-containing HFDs in LPS-injected murine NASH model. Results: GEO reduced plasma alanine aminotransferase levels and hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokine levels; and increased antioxidant catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione levels to prevent NASH. GEO alleviated hepatic inflammation through mediated NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and LPS/Toll-like receptor four (TLR4) signaling pathways. GEO further increased beneficial bacterial abundance and reduced NASH-associated bacterial abundance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GEO prevents NASH progression which is probably associated with the alterations of gut microbiota and inhibition of the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Hence, GEO may offer a promising application as a dietary supplement for the prevention of NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cosmic Gems arc is among the brightest and highly magnified galaxies observed at redshift z ≈ 10.2 (ref. 1). However, it is an intrinsically ultraviolet faint galaxy, in the range of those now thought to drive the reionization of the Universe2–4. Hitherto the smallest features resolved in a galaxy at a comparable redshift are between a few hundreds and a few tens of parsecs (pc)5,6. Here we report JWST observations of the Cosmic Gems. The light of the galaxy is resolved into five star clusters located in a region smaller than 70 pc. They exhibit minimal dust attenuation and low metallicity, ages younger than 50 Myr and intrinsic masses of about 106M⊙. Their lensing-corrected sizes are approximately 1 pc, resulting in stellar surface densities near 105M⊙ pc−2, three orders of magnitude higher than typical young star clusters in the local Universe7. Despite the uncertainties inherent to the lensing model, they are consistent with being gravitationally bound stellar systems, that is, proto-globular clusters. We conclude that star cluster formation and feedback likely contributed to shaping the properties of galaxies during the epoch of reionization.JWST observations of the Cosmic Gems arc resolve the light of an infant galaxy into five gravitationally bound star clusters located in a region smaller than 70 pc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a practical scheme for the efficient preparation of laser–cooled 43 Ca + ions in an ion trap. Our approach integrates two well-established methods: isotope-selective photoionization and isotope-specific parametric excitation. Drawing inspiration from the individual merits of each method, we have successfully integrated these techniques to prepare extended chains of 43 Ca + ions, overcoming the challenge posed by their low natural abundance of 0.135% in a natural source. Furthermore, we explore the subtleties of our scheme, focusing on the influence of different factors on the purification process. Our investigation contributes to a broader understanding of the technique and highlights the adaptability of established methods in addressing specific isotopic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of virtual reality, the projection design of the head-mounted display (HMD) requires improvement as well. The surface relief grating (SRG) is one of the popular diffraction elements to achieve light guiding through the waveguide. Using the SRG as the coupler, incoming information light can be coupled into the waveguide by the 1-order diffraction. To increase possible design options for the HMD, SRG with complex geometry has been designed to fit more diffraction conditions. In this paper, a 2D SRG is proposed to form by periodically arranging slanted glass pillars on the surface of a glass waveguide, just like a photonic crystal. The structure can suppress all the other diffraction orders except the 0-order and the [1, 0] order. The best diffraction efficiency of the [1, 0] order can be obtained when the incident light is incident with not only an incident angle but also an azimuth angle. The geometric parameters of the pillars are investigated and optimized with the diffraction efficiency by the finite element method, and the relationship between the incident angles and the diffraction efficiency will also be discussed. The proposed structure has the potential in both the in-coupler and the out-coupler, respectively, for integrating light coming from different azimuth angles or for outputting light to different azimuth angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) stands as the second most prevalent hematological malignancy, constituting approximately 10% of all hematological malignancies. Current guidelines recommend upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for transplant-eligible MM patients. This study seeks to delineate factors influencing post–ASCT outcomes in MM patients. Our cohort comprised 150 MM patients from Taipei Veterans General Hospital, with progression-free survival (PFS) as the primary endpoint and overall survival (OS) as the secondary endpoint. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to discern potential predictive factors for survival. ASCT age ≥ 65 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–3.47) and the presence of extramedullary disease (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.53–4.19) negatively impacted PFS. Conversely, treatment response ≥ VGPR before ASCT (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31–0.87) and total CD34+ cells collected ≥ 4 × 106 cells/kg on the first stem cell harvesting (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.87) were positively associated with PFS. For OS, patients with ISS stage III (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.05–4.04), the presence of extramedullary disease (HR 3.92, 95% CI 2.03–7.58), light chain ratio ≥ 100 before ASCT (HR 7.08, 95% CI 1.45–34.59), post–ASCT cytomegalovirus infection (HR 9.43, 95% CI 3.09–28.84), and a lower conditioning melphalan dose (< 140 mg/m2; HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.23–6.17) experienced shorter OS. In contrast, post–ASCT day + 15 absolute monocyte counts (D15 AMC) > 500/µl (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17–0.79) and post–ASCT day + 15 platelet counts (D15 PLT) > 80,000/µl (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.94) were correlated with improved OS. Significantly, early PLT and AMC recovery on day + 15 predicting longer OS represents a novel finding not previously reported. Other factors also align with previous studies. Our study provides real-world insights for post–ASCT outcome prediction beyond clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclin D1 protein-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has an immunophenotype of CD5(−) cyclin D1(+) SOX11(−), and most cases lack a CCND1 rearrangement and have a gene expression profile of DLBCL. Rarely, cyclin D1 protein-positive DLBCL harbors a CCND1 rearrangement, and some genetic copy number features typical of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) have been detected. Since gene expression studies have not been performed, whether such CCND1-rearranged cases represent cyclin D1 protein-positive DLBCL or CD5/SOX11 double-negative pleomorphic MCL remains unclear. To date, no cases of CD5/SOX11 double-negative MCL have been reported. In this study, we collected eight cases initially diagnosed as cyclin D1 protein-positive DLBCL, including four with a CCND1 rearrangement and four without. Immunohistochemically, all four CCND1-rearranged cases had >50% of tumor cells positive for cyclin D1 protein, whereas only one (25%) non-rearranged case had >50% positive tumor cells. Analysis of genome-wide copy number, mutational, and gene expression profiles revealed that CCND1-rearranged cases were similar to MCL, whereas CCND1-non-rearranged cases resembled DLBCL. Despite the SOX11 negativity by immunohistochemistry, CCND1-rearranged cases had a notable trend (P = 0.064) of higher SOX11 mRNA levels compared to non-rearranged cases. Here, we show for the first time that CCND1 rearrangement could be useful for identifying CD5/SOX11 double-negative pleomorphic MCL in cases diagnosed as cyclin D1 protein-positive DLBCL. Cases with >50% cyclin D1 protein-positive tumor cells immunohistochemically and higher SOX11 mRNA levels are more likely to have a CCND1 rearrangement, and fluorescence in situ hybridization can be used to detect the rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reef ecosystems host diversified and highly productive communities, but corals are degrading in many places worldwide. Picking suitable locations to maximize coral conservation and restoration efforts is critical. From a mass balance point of view, the supply of new nutrients is crucial to support a productive and reef-building coral ecosystem. Quantifying and qualifying available nutrients provide information to set region-specific thresholds for anthropogenic pollution monitoring and to generate research hypotheses. Here, we report the inorganic and organic nutrient levels from twenty-three sampling sites in coral reefs and coastal waters covering regions from high to low coral coverage, including two remote islands, Dongsha Atoll and Taiping Island, in the South China Sea. Some of the surveyed reefs received external inorganic nutrient supply via upwelling or submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), suggesting sites potential for new production (i.e., reef-building). Production or removal of organic matter at various sites is evidenced by their elevated or depleted organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations, respectively. The degree of impact by the upwelling and SGD on various inorganic and organic nutrient distribution varies. Among all sites, organic nitrogen accounts for most of the total nitrogen and is potentially a significant nitrogen source for the environment. The highly correlated total organic nitrogen (TON) concentrations and their C-to-N ratios (C/N-TON) suggest the production of TON with low C/N-TON and preferential removal of N during remineralization processes, leaving "leftover" TON with high C/N ratios. Furthermore, we found that high coral diversity and coverage sites are featured in low organic matter with high C/N, while macroalgae-dominating sites had elevated organic matter. The new data are valuable to generate hypotheses for future research to test, for example, whether sites with low organic matter are more suitable for restoring reef-building corals than sites with high organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription-blocking DNA lesions are specifically targeted by transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER), which removes a broad spectrum of DNA lesions to preserve transcriptional output and thereby cellular homeostasis to counteract aging. TC-NER is initiated by the stalling of RNA polymerase II at DNA lesions, which triggers the assembly of the TC-NER-specific proteins CSA, CSB and UVSSA. CSA, a WD40-repeat containing protein, is the substrate receptor subunit of a cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase complex composed of DDB1, CUL4A/B and RBX1 (CRL4CSA). Although ubiquitination of several TC-NER proteins by CRL4CSA has been reported, it is still unknown how this complex is regulated. To unravel the dynamic molecular interactions and the regulation of this complex, we apply a single-step protein-complex isolation coupled to mass spectrometry analysis and identified DDA1 as a CSA interacting protein. Cryo-EM analysis shows that DDA1 is an integral component of the CRL4CSA complex. Functional analysis reveals that DDA1 coordinates ubiquitination dynamics during TC-NER and is required for efficient turnover and progression of this process. Transcription-Coupled Nucleotide Excision Repair (TC-NER) removes transcription-blocking DNA lesions. This study reveals that DDA1 is a crucial player in TC-NER, protecting transcription programs against genotoxic insults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since long-term exposure to PM2.5 is a growing concern in Taiwan, therefore, our study aimed to investigate the association between different PM2.5 concentrations and cause-specific mortalities, as well as explore the influence of demographic, socio-economic, and geographic determinants on mortality. Utilizing a Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM), we estimated the PM2.5-attributable mortality burden among the elderly population (above 65 years) in Taiwan from 2005 to 2018. Our analysis considered various thresholds defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess the impact of PM2.5 concentrations, ranging from standard Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) levels (0–15 μg/m3) to higher interim targets (up to 80 μg/m3). Our study reveals that achieving AQG levels (< 15 μg/m3) in Taiwan could potentially prevent 5571 elderly deaths, including 889 deaths from CVDs, 934 deaths from RTIs, and 680 deaths from chronic diseases. We observed a rapid increase in attributable deaths at lower PM2.5 concentrations, with a subsequent marginal increase at higher levels of exposure. We also identified several factors that modify the effects of PM2.5 exposures among elderly. For example, we found that higher elderly population ratios and high-income households were associated with an elevated risk of PM2.5-related deaths. In contrast, higher social welfare expenditure, better availability of medical practitioners per square kilometer, and higher forest-to-land ratios were associated with positive effects, indicating their potential in reducing mortality risk. This study fills a knowledge gap by examining the health consequences of varying PM2.5 levels and explored the complex interplay between demographic, socio-economic, and geographic factors in relation to PM2.5-related mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasions of nonnative species have multiple implications, including modification of biogeochemical cycles, inhibition of natural regeneration of native species, and loss of ecosystem biodiversity and productivity. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is a vigorous invader of the southern forestlands of the United States (U.S.). Our objectives were to document changes in the distribution of Japanese honeysuckle since the turn of the century, identify climatic variables correlated with its successful invasion, and project its potential future distribution under climate change. To accomplish this, we analyzed the most recent U.S. Forest Service field measurements of Japanese honeysuckle in the southern U.S. Our analysis indicated that the number of sampled plots invaded by Japanese honeysuckle from 2009 to 2017 increased by approximately 53% compared to plots sampled from 2000 to 2008, and the mean percent coverage of Japanese honeysuckle in sampled plots increased significantly. Results of boosted regression tree analysis indicated that probability of invasion was correlated with six climatic variables, including annual precipitation, annual mean temperature, max temperature of warmest month, mean diurnal range, temperature annual range, and isothermality. The states projected to be most at risk to invasion under the historical climate were Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Future projections imply a northward shift of predominant species presence, with the most likely affected states being Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. Our model provides important insights into the management of Japanese honeysuckle in the southern forestlands of the U.S. By identifying current and potential future high-risk and low-risk areas, our results can aid forest managers in developing long term monitoring and control strategies for effectively slowing Japanese honeysuckle range expansion and mitigating its effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating skin condition that requires multimodal treatment. Adherence remains a significant challenge for many patients due to complex nature of treatment, thus presenting a barrier to management success. This review summarizes the current literature on the factors associated with adherence to medications, and lifestyle behaviors in patients with HS and proposes strategies to improve adherence. In February 2023, a systematic literature search was conducted by two independent authors on PubMed and EMBASE for articles from 2000 to 2023 on hidradenitis suppurativa adherence. A total of 21 articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review. Of the studies, 11 addressed systemic medication adherence, 3 addressed topical medication adherence, 2 addressed both systemic and topical medication adherence, and 5 addressed lifestyle/behavioral modification adherence. The generalizability of results was limited by differences in study design, outcome measures, and sample size. English-only articles with full texts were used. The most reported reasons for non-adherence included presence of side effects, cost of medications, low efficacy, and unclear instructions. Proposed strategies to improve adherence in HS patients include management of side effects, use of reminder systems, improved patient education, patient support groups, aid of family and caregivers, personalization of the medication regimen, and regular follow-ups with patients. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42023488549. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of education and robotics has emerged as a crucial development in the technological landscape. This study focuses on the use of a robot teaching assistant to enhance the learning efficiency of 8th-grade students in hands-on STEM activities centered around the theme of "Smart City." It explores the impact of educational robots on students' learning outcomes and their development of hands-on skills through diverse learning methods. Conducted over 12 weeks with 103 participants, the study employed a quasi-experimental design. Students were split into two groups: The Experimental Group (EG), using the 6E model with robot teaching assistants, and the Control Group (CG), using only the 6E model. The analysis of covariance revealed that the EG exhibited superior performance in STEM knowledge, motivation, and hands-on skills compared to the CG. Further analysis indicated that learning motivation significantly influenced hands-on performance in the EG, particularly in high-scoring subgroups. The findings suggest that combining the 6E model with educational robots effectively enhances STEM learning and student engagement. Educational robots as teaching assistants not only aid in knowledge acquisition but also significantly boost students' motivation and hands-on skill development. This implies a promising direction for integrating advanced technology in educational practices to foster more effective learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal interface materials (TIMs), which are recently being used in high-power and new-generation materials, improve thermal stability at high temperatures because of the formation of intermetallic compounds. In this study, Cu-type Ga-based TIM solder has been selected to investigate the interface reaction of Ga-based thermal interface materials after curing, annealing, and reflow. During the curing process, liquid Ga diffuses through the X-alloy and reacts with Cu, resulting in the formation of the CuGa2 phase. With the increase of annealing time, the area fraction of CuGa2 and Cu9Ga4 decreases by 38% and increases by 44% because of the further diffusion of Cu into Ga, respectively. During reflow, the diffusion of Cu atoms into Ga leads to the formation of the solid solution of Cu and Ga. Meanwhile, the melted X-alloy reacts with Cu and forms Cu6X5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial mismatch between jobs and housing in cities creates long daily travels that exacerbate climate change, air pollution, and traffic congestion. Yet, not enough research on occupational differences has been done. This study first applies the Hidden Markov Mixture Model (H3M) to model travel patterns for different occupation groups in Hong Kong. Then, the Variational Bayesian Hierarchical EM algorithm is used to identify common lifestyle clusters. Next, a binary logistic regression is developed to examine whether the lifestyle clusters can be explained by jobs-housing balance. This study is among the first to consider travel patterns as a Markov process and apply H3M to examine jobs-housing balance by fine-grain occupation group. The method is transferable and universally applicable; and the results provide occupation-specific insights on jobs-housing balance in an Asian context. The research findings suggest that different occupation groups have different travel patterns in Hong Kong. Two lifestyle clusters, "balanced and compact activity space" and "work-oriented and extensive travels", are unveiled. Notably, the latter is associated a lower level of jobs-housing balance. Some occupations in the quaternary industry ("information and communications", "profession, science and technology", "real estate", and "finance and insurance") are having more serious jobs-housing imbalance. The paper concludes with a discussion on improving the occupation-specific jobs-housing balance in accordance with Hong Kong's future development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The heterogeneous response of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to current anti‐leukemic therapies is only partially explained by mutational heterogeneity. We previously identified GPR56 as a surface marker associated with poor outcome across genetic groups, which characterizes two leukemia stem cell (LSC)‐enriched compartments with different self‐renewal capacities. How these compartments self‐renew remained unclear. Here, we show that GPR56+ LSC compartments are promoted in a complex network involving epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators besides Rho, Wnt, and Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Unexpectedly, Wnt pathway inhibition increased the more immature, slowly cycling GPR56+CD34+ fraction and Hh/EMT gene expression, while Wnt activation caused opposite effects. Our data suggest that the crucial role of GPR56 lies in its ability to co‐activate these opposing signals, thus ensuring the constant supply of both LSC subsets. We show that CDK7 inhibitors suppress both LSC‐enriched subsets in vivo and synergize with the Bcl‐2 inhibitor venetoclax. Our data establish reciprocal transition between LSC compartments as a novel concept underlying the poor outcome in GPR56high AML and propose combined CDK7 and Bcl‐2 inhibition as LSC‐directed therapy in this disease.

Chromatin organization and dynamics play important roles in governing the regulation of nuclear processes of biological cells. However, due to the constant diffusive motion of chromatin, examining chromatin nanostructures in living cells has been challenging. In this study, we introduce interferometric scattering correlation spectroscopy (iSCORS) to spatially map nanoscopic chromatin configurations within unlabeled live cell nuclei. This label-free technique captures time-varying linear scattering signals generated by the motion of native chromatin on a millisecond timescale, allowing us to deduce chromatin condensation states. Using iSCORS imaging, we quantitatively examine chromatin dynamics over extended periods, revealing spontaneous fluctuations in chromatin condensation and heterogeneous compaction levels in interphase cells, independent of cell phases. Moreover, we observe changes in iSCORS signals of chromatin upon transcription inhibition, indicating that iSCORS can probe nanoscopic chromatin structures and dynamics associated with transcriptional activities. Our scattering-based optical microscopy, which does not require labeling, serves as a powerful tool for visualizing dynamic chromatin nano-arrangements in live cells. This advancement holds promise for studying chromatin remodeling in various crucial cellular processes, such as stem cell differentiation, mechanotransduction, and DNA repair. A correlation spectroscopy technique has been developed for interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy, enabling quantitative measurement of chromatin condensation dynamics in live mammalian cells without requiring any labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary emulsifiers are linked to various diseases. The recent discovery of the role of gut microbiota–host interactions on health and disease warrants the safety reassessment of dietary emulsifiers through the lens of gut microbiota. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and mono- and diglycerides (MDG) emulsifiers are common dietary emulsifiers with high exposure levels in the population. This study demonstrates that sucrose fatty acid esters and carboxymethylcellulose induce hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in a mouse model. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, and CMC disrupt glucose homeostasis in the in vitro insulin-resistance model. MDG impairs circulating lipid and glucose metabolism. All emulsifiers change the intestinal microbiota diversity and induce gut microbiota dysbiosis. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, and CMC do not impact mucus–bacterial interactions, whereas MDG tends to cause bacterial encroachment into the inner mucus layer and enhance inflammation potential by raising circulating lipopolysaccharide. Our findings demonstrate the safety concerns associated with using dietary emulsifiers, suggesting that they could lead to metabolic syndromes. Common dietary emulsifiers such as lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, carboxymethylcellulose, and mono- and diglycerides can promote metabolic disorders and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamin A/C gene (LMNA) mutations contribute to severe striated muscle laminopathies, affecting cardiac and skeletal muscles, with limited treatment options. In this study, we delve into the investigations of five distinct LMNA mutations, including three novel variants and two pathogenic variants identified in patients with muscular laminopathy. Our approach employs zebrafish models to comprehensively study these variants. Transgenic zebrafish expressing wild-type LMNA and each mutation undergo extensive morphological profiling, swimming behavior assessments, muscle endurance evaluations, heartbeat measurement, and histopathological analysis of skeletal muscles. Additionally, these models serve as platform for focused drug screening. We explore the transcriptomic landscape through qPCR and RNAseq to unveil altered gene expression profiles in muscle tissues. Larvae of LMNA(L35P), LMNA(E358K), and LMNA(R453W) transgenic fish exhibit reduced swim speed compared to LMNA(WT) measured by DanioVision. All LMNA transgenic adult fish exhibit reduced swim speed compared to LMNA(WT) in T-maze. Moreover, all LMNA transgenic adult fish, except LMNA(E358K), display weaker muscle endurance than LMNA(WT) measured by swimming tunnel. Histochemical staining reveals decreased fiber size in all LMNA mutations transgenic fish, excluding LMNA(WT) fish. Interestingly, LMNA(A539V) and LMNA(E358K) exhibited elevated heartbeats. We recognize potential limitations with transgene overexpression and conducted association calculations to explore its effects on zebrafish phenotypes. Our results suggest lamin A/C overexpression may not directly impact mutant phenotypes, such as impaired swim speed, increased heart rates, or decreased muscle fiber diameter. Utilizing LMNA zebrafish models for drug screening, we identify l-carnitine treatment rescuing muscle endurance in LMNA(L35P) and creatine treatment reversing muscle endurance in LMNA(R453W) zebrafish models. Creatine activates AMPK and mTOR pathways, improving muscle endurance and swim speed in LMNA(R453W) fish. Transcriptomic profiling reveals upstream regulators and affected genes contributing to motor dysfunction, cardiac anomalies, and ion flux dysregulation in LMNA mutant transgenic fish. These findings faithfully mimic clinical manifestations of muscular laminopathies, including dysmorphism, early mortality, decreased fiber size, and muscle dysfunction in zebrafish. Furthermore, our drug screening results suggest l-carnitine and creatine treatments as potential rescuers of muscle endurance in LMNA(L35P) and LMNA(R453W) zebrafish models. Our study offers valuable insights into the future development of potential treatments for LMNA-related muscular laminopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with differing prevalence between males and females. Although G6PD deficiency is an X-linked genetic condition, its interaction with sex regarding T2DM risk among the Taiwanese population has not been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the association between G6PD deficiency and T2DM risk in the Taiwanese population, focusing on the potential influence of sex. Data were obtained from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database, involving 85,334 participants aged 30 to 70 years. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the interaction between G6PD rs72554664 and sex in relation to T2DM risk. The T2DM cohort comprised 55.35% females and 44.65% males (p < 0.001). The TC + TT genotype of rs72554664 was associated with an increased risk of T2DM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.95 (95% CI: 1.39–2.75), and males showed an OR of 1.31 (95% CI: 1.19–1.44). Notably, the G6PD rs72554664-T allelic variant in hemizygous males significantly elevated the T2DM risk (OR), 4.57; p < 0.001) compared to females with the CC genotype. Our findings suggest that the G6PD rs72554664 variant, in conjunction with sex, significantly affects T2DM risk, particularly increasing susceptibility in males. The association of the G6PD rs72554664-T allelic variant with a higher risk of T2DM highlights the importance of sex-specific mechanisms in the interplay between G6PD deficiency and T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-gas radon concentration data recorded for one year at the San-Jie monitoring station in northern Taiwan has been analysed in this study. To detect genuine pre-seismic anomalies, the hourly radon data was decomposed into seasonal, trend, and residual components. Anomalous fluctuations in hourly and residual radon data have been correlated to earthquakes and rainfall. Preliminary results indicate that this procedure can be useful for the identification of pre-seismic anomalies in radon time series that may be masked by rainfall or other meteorological factors. Furthermore, Pearson correlation was employed to determine radon relationships with temperature, pressure, precipitation, and humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel tetraamine, 4,4’-oxy-bis[4-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-benzendiamine] (7), was synthesized through a seven-step synthetic procedure starting from 1-chloro-4-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (1). Polybenzimidazole CF3-PBI-OO was prepared from 4,4’-oxybis(benzoic acid) (OBA) and tetraamine (7) using Eaton’s reagent as the solvent. To achieve a relatively high molecular weight, the temperature and concentration should be well controlled. CF3-PBI-OO exhibited a high inherent viscosity of 2.1 dL/g, measured in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) with a concentration of 0.2 g/dL at 35 ℃. We provide a relatively fast method to fabricate membranes by dissolving them in MSA. CF3-PBI-OO also required less time (2.7 h) to achieve a saturated PA uptake (271%), when immersed in a 75% phosphoric acid solution at room temperature. CF3-PBI-OO membrane with a PA uptake of 213% demonstrated the optimal combination of properties. The membrane exhibited a high proton conductivity of 115 mS/cm at 160 ℃. The single fuel cell based on CF3-PBI-OO demonstrated a peak power density of 691 mW/cm2 at 160 ℃. It showed superior performance compared to commercially available m-PBI when subjected to the same test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of T-cell lymphoma (TCL) has been continually increasing in Taiwan and the United States (US) in recent years. This epidemiological study using population-based registry data aimed to determine the incidence patterns of common subtypes of TCL in Taiwan from 2008–2020 and compare them with those in the US and the Asian/Pacific Islander (API) population. Subtypes included angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL); extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal or other type (ENKTL); peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS); and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). The total number of patients newly diagnosed with TCL during 2008–2020 was 4477, 3171, and 48,889 in Taiwan, API, and the US, respectively. Except the incidence rate of AITL in Taiwan, the incidence rates of these common TCL subtypes showed downward trends in all studied populations. There was also a significant increase in the relative frequency of AITL among TCL in Taiwan, with an annual percent change of 4.44 (p < 0.001), from 8.44% in 2002 to 20.63% in 2020. The rapid development of diagnostics may be the main factor contributing to this rise in incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans use pictures to model the world. The structure of a picture maps to mind space to form a concept. When an internal structure matches the corresponding external structure, an observation functions. Whether effective or not, the observation is self-consistent. In epistemology, people often differ from each other in terms of whether a concept is probabilistic or certain. Based on the effect of the presented IG and pull anti algorithm, we attempt to provide a comprehensive answer to this problem. Using the characters of hidden structures, we explain the difference between the macro and micro levels and the same difference between semantics and probability. In addition, the importance of attention is highlighted through the combination of symmetry and asymmetry included and the mechanism of chaos and collapse revealed in the presented model. Because the subject is involved in the expression of the object, representationalism is not complete. However, people undoubtedly reach a consensus based on the objectivity of the representation. Finally, we suggest that emotions could be used to regulate cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease caused by hepatic steatosis. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) catalyze adenosine to inosine RNA editing. However, the functional role of ADAR2 in NAFLD is unclear. ADAR2+/+/GluR-BR/R mice (wild type, WT) and ADAR2−/−/GluR-BR/R mice (ADAR2 KO) mice are fed with standard chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. ADAR2 KO mice exhibit protection against HFD–induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Moreover, ADAR2 KO mice display reduced liver lipid droplets in concert with decreased hepatic TG content, improved hepatic insulin signaling, better pyruvate tolerance, and increased glycogen synthesis. Mechanistically, ADAR2 KO effectively mitigates excessive lipid production via AMPK/Sirt1 pathway. ADAR2 KO inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis via the AMPK/CREB pathway and promotes glycogen synthesis by activating the AMPK/GSK3β pathway. These results provide evidence that ADAR2 KO protects against NAFLD progression through the activation of AMPK signaling pathways. ADAR2 KO mice are protected against several HFD–induced metabolic defects, show reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, improved hepatic insulin signaling, and increased pyruvate tolerance and glycogen synthesis, by activation of AMPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric-arc-furnace (EAF) steelmaking uses scrap iron and steel as raw materials. Scrap iron and steel originate from complex sources and may contain heavy metal components which can leach into the environment over time due to wear-and-tear. A by-product of the EAF steelmaking process is oxidizing slag, and approximately 1.2 million metric tons is produced every year in Taiwan alone. This study investigated substitution of natural aggregates with oxidizing slag in dense-graded asphalt concrete. We evaluated the water resistance and asphalt film thickness of the oxidizing slag substituted asphalt concrete and further explored the performance of oxidizing slag as paving material. We determined the dissolved and total amounts of heavy metals in the oxidizing slag, comparing these results with current regulatory controls to assess the environmental compatibility of the oxidizing slag. We found that due to the complicated sources of oxidizing slag, the basic properties should be analyzed on a batch-to-batch basis. Furthermore, we recommend trial mixing before upscaling the production of oxidizing slag substituted dense-graded asphalt concrete to confirm the mixing time required to achieve uniformity. The results also show that in comparison to natural aggregates used in asphalt concrete, oxidizing slag exhibits superior performance in terms of increased asphalt film thickness and improved water resistance. Furthermore, oxidizing slag as an aggregate material was associated with decreased heavy metal leaching and reduced environmental pollution. The results of the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) met regulatory requirements. However, the microwave-assisted aqua-regia digestion procedure showed heavy metal concentrations exceeding the monitoring standards for food crops. Considering environmental compatibility, it is recommended that controlling the total amount of heavy metals in oxidizing slag should be included in regulatory requirements. Furthermore, we should prohibit the use of materials such as oxidizing slag and other steel furnace slag in the roadways adjacent to edible crop farmlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal (GI) disruptions and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but how they may impact risk for PD remains poorly understood. Herein, we provide evidence that prodromal intestinal inflammation expedites and exacerbates PD endophenotypes in rodent carriers of the human PD risk allele LRRK2 G2019S in a sex-dependent manner. Chronic intestinal damage in genetically predisposed male mice promotes α-synuclein aggregation in the substantia nigra, loss of dopaminergic neurons and motor impairment. This male bias is preserved in gonadectomized males, and similarly conferred by sex chromosomal complement in gonadal females expressing human LRRK2 G2019S. The early onset and heightened severity of neuropathological and behavioral outcomes in male LRRK2 G2019S mice is preceded by increases in α-synuclein in the colon, α-synuclein-positive macrophages in the colonic lamina propria, and loads of phosphorylated α-synuclein within microglia in the substantia nigra. Taken together, these data reveal that prodromal intestinal inflammation promotes the pathogenesis of PD endophenotypes in male carriers of LRRK2 G2019S, through mechanisms that depend on genotypic sex and involve early accumulation of α-synuclein in myeloid cells within the gut. Prodromal gut inflammation exacerbates Parkinson's disease endophenotypes in mouse carriers of human LRRK2 G2019S in a sex-dependent manner, showing increased α-synuclein positive macrophages in the colon and brain microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we calculate the sensitivities on the gauge-boson couplings gaZZ, gaZγ, and gaWW of an axion-like particle (ALP) that one can achieve at the LHC with s = 14 TeV and integrated luminosities of 300 fb−1 (current run) and 3000 fb−1 (High-Luminosity LHC). We focus on the associated production processes pp → Za → (l+l−)(γγ) and pp → W±a → (l±ν)(γγ). We show that better sensitivities on these gauge couplings can be achieved at the LHC for Ma = 1 – 100 GeV, down to the level of 10−4 GeV−1. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the significance of the investigated channels in constraining the ALP couplings at the LHC, offering valuable insights for future experiments dedicated to ALP detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a non-perturbative framework for incorporating gauge field fluctuations into effective actions of QED3 in the infrared using fermionic particle-vortex duality. This approach is demonstrated through the applications to models containing N species of 2-component Dirac fermions in solvable and interpretable electromagnetic backgrounds, focusing on N = 1 or 2. For the N = 1 model, we establish a correspondence between fermion Casimir energy at finite density and the magnetic Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian, and further evaluate the corrections to their amplitudes. This predicts amplification of charge susceptibility and reduction of magnetic permeability. We additionally provide physical interpretations for each component of our calculation and offer alternative derivations based on energy density measurements in different characteristic lengths. For N = 2, we show that magnetic catalysis is erased in a U(1) × U(1) QED3, indicating no breakdown of chiral symmetry. Reasoning is offered based on the properties of the lowest Landau level wave functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal phosphorylation of the microtubule-binding protein tau in the brain is a key pathological marker for Alzheimer's disease and additional neurodegenerative tauopathies. However, how hyperphosphorylated tau causes cellular dysfunction or death that underlies neurodegeneration remains an unsolved question critical for the understanding of disease mechanism and the design of efficacious drugs. Using a recombinant hyperphosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) synthesized by the PIMAX approach, we examined how cells responded to the cytotoxic tau and explored means to enhance cellular resistance to tau attack. Upon p-tau uptake, the intracellular calcium levels rose promptly. Gene expression analyses revealed that p-tau potently triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, unfolded protein response (UPR), ER stress-associated apoptosis, and pro-inflammation in cells. Proteomics studies showed that p-tau diminished heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an ER stress-associated anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress regulator, while stimulated the accumulation of MIOS and other proteins. p-Tau-induced ER stress-associated apoptosis and pro-inflammation are ameliorated by apomorphine, a brain-permeable prescription drug widely used to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms, and by overexpression of HO-1. Our results reveal probable cellular functions targeted by hyperphosphorylated tau. Some of these dysfunctions and stress responses have been linked to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. The observations that the ill effects of p-tau can be mitigated by a small compound and by overexpressing HO-1 that is otherwise diminished in the treated cells inform new directions of Alzheimer's disease drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pycnoporus sanguineus is a fungus of the phylum Basidiomycota that has many applications in traditional medicine, modern pharmaceuticals, and agricultural industries. Light plays an essential role in the metabolism, growth, and development of fungi. This study evaluated the mycelial growth and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in P. sanguineus fermentation broth (PFB) cultured under different wavelengths of LED irradiation or in the dark. Compared to the dark cultures, the dry weight of mycelia in red- and yellow-light cultures decreased by 37 and 35% and the yields of pigments increased by 30.92 ± 2.18 mg and 31.75 ± 3.06 mg, respectively. Compared with the dark culture, the DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS+ free radical scavenging capacity, and reducing power of yellow-light cultures increased significantly, and their total phenolic content peaked at 180.0 ± 8.34 μg/mL. However, the reducing power in blue-light cultures was significantly reduced, though the total phenol content did not vary with that of dark cultures. In LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, nitrite release was significantly reduced in the red and yellow light-irradiated PFB compared with the dark culture. In the dark, yellow-, and green-light cultures, TNF-α production in the inflamed RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by 62, 46, and 14%, respectively. With red-, blue-, and white-light irradiation, TNF-α production was significantly enhanced. Based on these results, we propose that by adjusting the wavelength of the light source during culture, one can effectively modulate the growth, development, and metabolism of P. sanguineus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigates the associations of α1-antitrypsin, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH4), and 8-isoprostane with lung function in shipyard workers exposed to occupational metal fume fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is known to be associated with adverse respiratory outcomes. Methods: A 3-year follow-up study was conducted on 180 shipyard workers with 262 measurements. Personal exposure to welding fume PM2.5 was collected for an 8-h working day. Pre-exposure, post-exposure, and delta (∆) levels of α1-antitrypsin, ITIH4, and 8-isoprostane were determined in urine using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Post-exposure urinary metals were sampled at the beginning of the next working day and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Lung function measurements were also conducted the next working day for post-exposure. Results: An IQR increase in PM2.5 was associated with decreases of 2.157% in FEV1, 2.806% in PEF, 4.328% in FEF25%, 5.047% in FEF50%, and 7.205% in FEF75%. An IQR increase in PM2.5 led to increases of 42.155 µg/g in ∆α1-antitrypsin and 16.273 µg/g in ∆ITIH4. Notably, IQR increases in various urinary metals were associated with increases in specific biomarkers, such as post-urinary α1-antitrypsin and ITIH4. Moreover, increases in ∆ α1-antitrypsin and ∆ITIH4 were associated with decreases in FEV1/FVC by 0.008% and 0.020%, respectively, and an increase in ∆8-isoprostane resulted in a 1.538% decline in FVC. Conclusion: Our study suggests that urinary α1-antitrypsin and ITIH4 could indicate early lung function decline in shipyard workers exposed to metal fume PM2.5, underscoring the need for better safety and health monitoring to reduce respiratory risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Elucidating how demography and contemporary landscape features regulate functional connectivity is crucial to implementing effective conservation strategies. We assessed the impacts of landscape features on the genetic variation of a locally endangered carnivore, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in Taiwan. Objectives: We aim to evaluate the association between genetic structure and landscape features. We further predicted the changes in genetic diversity and suitable habitats in the future. Methods: We genotyped 184 leopard cats in western Taiwan using 12 nuclear microsatellites and a mitochondrial marker. We applied a landscape optimization procedure with two genetic distances to identify major genetic barriers and employed ecological niche modeling to predict the future distribution of the leopard cat. Results: Bayesian demographic inferences revealed a dramatic population decline for all leopard cat populations in Taiwan. Genetic clustering and resistance surface modeling supported that the population connectivity was influenced by highways and high elevation. Niche modeling indicated low temperature was one of the primary factors limiting the occurrence of leopard cats that may inhibit their movement in high elevations. We predicted the suitable habitats of leopard cats would shrink northward and towards higher altitudes with rugged topography in response to global warming. Conclusions: Our study provided genetic evidence that leopard cats in Taiwan had undergone a dramatic population decline that may be associated with anthropogenic impacts. We also inferred the anthropogenic linear feature compromised the connectivity and persistence of leopard cats in human-mediated landscapes. Our finding serves as a model for landscape genetic studies of island carnivores in subtropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]