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Abstract Smart city construction is crucial for regional economic development, and the micro-level impact of such construction on business operations cannot be ignored. Based on the panel data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2020, this paper investigates the relationship between smart city construction and firm performance and its mechanism of action. The study findings show that (1) smart city construction significantly improves enterprise performance; (2) the improvements are significant across all industries and regions; and (3) the impact of smart city construction on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and nonstate enterprises is more significant than that on large enterprises and state-owned enterprises. These findings provide a theoretical framework and fresh perspectives for encouraging coordinated regional development and new urbanization construction.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal system, with the third and second highest incidence and mortality rates globally in 2020, respectively. Immunotherapy has developed rapidly in recent years. Natural killer (NK) cells have received increasing attention in the field of tumor immunotherapy due to their recognition and killing tumor cells without the limitations of major histocompatibility complexes. However, constraints within the tumor microenvironment that impede the infiltration and proliferation of NK cells result in poor efficacy of NK cell therapy for solid tumors. Oncolytic viral therapy is an immunogenic treatment with the potential to enhance anti-tumour immune responses and promote immune cell infiltration. In this study, we synergistically combine NK cells with an oncolytic adenovirus carrying Decorin (rAd.DCN) for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in a xenograft mouse model. By using Flow cytometry, real-time quantitative PCR and Calcein-AM release assay, we found that rAd.DCN could effectively promote proliferation, activation and degranulation of NK cells, up-regulate expression and secretion of NK cell killing activity-related factors, and enhance their killing activity. The efficacy is better than that of the blank control oncolytic virus rAd.Null. Combined treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth, increased the number of NK cells in peripheral blood, promoted the killing function of NK cells, and increased the expression levels of perforin and IFN-γ. At the same time, more NK cells were recruited to infiltrate tumor tissue. Our study established the feasibility of combination NK cells and oncolytic adenovirus application, thus expanding the scope of potentially curative treatments for NK cells in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination and toxicity of copper (Cu) in soils are global issues, particularly in regions where Cu-based fungicides are utilized. Elevated Cu concentrations can lead to soil contamination and pose significant risks to the ecosystem, including plant life, wildlife, and human health. The application of biochar has been proposed as a viable strategy to mitigate Cu accumulation in plants. However, there is no quantitative and data-based consensus on the impact of biochar on plant Cu accumulation. In this meta-analysis, 624 data records from 65 published literature were collected and the effects of various factors, including biochar properties, experimental conditions, and soil properties on Cu accumulation in plants, were examined through meta-subgroup analysis and meta-regression models. The results obtained indicate a significant dose-dependent effect of biochar in decreasing Cu concentration in plants by an average of 23.45%. Soils with acidic pH values and medium textures were more conducive for biochar to mitigate Cu accumulation in plant tissues. In addition, manure biochar and green waste biochar were found to be more successful in decreasing Cu concentrations in plants compared to other biochar types. Biochar types with pyrolysis temperatures of > 600 °C and pH values of ≥ 10 resulted in greater decreases in plant Cu concentration. Regarding biochar application, biochar minimum range of 1% in potting experiments and 20 t/ha in field experiments have been recommended to effectively decrease Cu concentration in plants. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into Cu transfer mitigation through food chain to human bodies and for policymakers to take preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent the worldwide diseases caused by the micro-organisms, the great effort has been performed to synthesize unique CuO nanoflakes (NF) and walnut shape (W-S) CuO/CeO2 heterostructures with O vacancies by a simple precipitation technique without using any template. The morphology, structure, valance states, chemical composition and surface charge of the synthesized samples were inspected by i.e. scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential (ζ). The expected crystallite's size was studied by XRD data i.e. for CuO NF ~5.9 nm with 0.1–0.2% error and SD is ±0.2–0.5, while for the W-S CuO/CeO2 heterostructures it is about ~6.4 nm with 0.05–0.1% error and SD is ±0.1–0.2 respectively. Both samples were tested as an antiseptic agent against E. coli and S. aureus, and it was confirmed that they had greater antibacterial effects as compared to the control group (water) which showed no response (0%). It was predicted that the CuO/CeO2 heterostructure showed excellent antibacterial activity (100%) verses pure CuO NF (80–90%) at the same 0.2 mg/L concentration for E. coli with SD (±0–1). While against S. Aureus strain the CuO/CeO2 heterostructure showed (80–90%) antibacterial action at the lowest concentration (0.2 mg/L) but 100% as the concentration increases i.e. 0.5 mg/L due to difference in bacterial strain with the SD (±0–2). After remarkable antibacterial activity, the biofilm inhibition of CuO/CeO2 heterostructure against S. aureus was also studied by crystal violet staining, and examined that the inhibition effect of the biofilm increases with the increase concentration of heterostructures. At 0.31 mg/mL, the biofilm reduced visibly and the whole structure has destroyed, indicating that it is a remarkable biofilm inhibitor. Highlights: CeO2 and CuO nanoparticles were prepared without use of any surfactant or additives at low processing temperature and less reaction time. Addition of CeO2 in CuO nanoflakes, assembled in a new shape of heterostructure i.e. walnut morphology with enhanced O vacancies. These innovative and surfactant free heterostructures are enriched with Ce3+ ions and vacancies which played an important role in their biological application. All samples showed remarkable antibacterial properties as compared to the control group and also study the mechanism of biofilm inhibition of the novel heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although intracranial neural electrodes have significantly contributed to both fundamental research and clinical treatment of neurological diseases, their implantation requires invasive surgery to open craniotomies, which can introduce brain damage and disrupt normal brain functions. Recent emergence of endovascular neural devices offers minimally invasive approaches for neural recording and stimulation. However, existing endovascular neural devices are unable to resolve single-unit activity in large animal models or human patients, impeding a broader application as neural interfaces in clinical practice. Here, we present the ultraflexible implantable neural electrode as an intravascular device (uFINE-I) for recording brain activity at single-unit resolution. We successfully implanted uFINE-Is into the sheep occipital lobe by penetrating through the confluence of sinuses and recorded both local field potentials (LFPs) and multi-channel single-unit spiking activity under spontaneous and visually evoked conditions. Imaging and histological analysis revealed minimal tissue damage and immune response. The uFINE-I provides a practical solution for achieving high-resolution neural recording with minimal invasiveness and can be readily transferred to clinical settings for future neural interface applications such as brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) and the treatment of neurological diseases. Intravascular interfaces offer minimally invasive alternatives for intracranial neural recording and stimulation. Here, the authors introduce a novel intravascular implantation strategy using an ultraflexible microelectrode array, enabling multi-channel single-unit recording in large animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PowerPlex® 35GY System (Promega, USA) is an advanced eight-dye multiplex STR kit, incorporating twenty-three autosomal STR loci, eleven Y chromosome STR loci, one sex determining marker Amelogenin, and two quality indicators. This multiplex system includes 20 CODIS loci and up to 15 mini-STR loci with sizing values less than 250 bases. In this study, validation for PowerPlex® 35GY System was conducted following the guidelines of SWGDAM, encompassing sensitivity, precision, accuracy, concordance, species specificity, stutter, mixture, stability, and degraded DNA. The results from experiments demonstrated that the PowerPlex® 35GY System could effectively amplify DNA samples, with complete allele detection achieved at 125 pg. Moreover, over 90% of alleles from minor contributors were detected at a mixed ratio of 1:4. Additionally, the system was found to yield full profiles even in the presence of hematin, humic acid, and indigo. The PowerPlex® 35GY System demonstrated superior performance in the sensitivity and degraded DNA studies compared to a six-dye STR kit. Hence, it is evident that the PowerPlex® 35GY System is well-suited for forensic practice, whether in casework or for database samples. These findings provide strong support for the efficacy and reliability of the PowerPlex® 35GY System in forensic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) tweezers are a promising multifunctional micromanipulation method that controls microscale targets via patterned acoustic fields. Owing to their device structure and bonding process, most SAW tweezers have limitations in terms of controlling the position and motion of the acoustic traps, as they generate an acoustic field with a fixed region and adjust the manipulation effects via signal modulation. To address this challenge, we propose movable SAW tweezers with a multilayer structure, achieving dynamic control of their wave field and acoustic trap positions; we demonstrate their precise manipulation functions, such as translation, in-plane rotation, out-of-plane rotation, and cluster formation, on a wide spectrum of samples, including particles, bubbles, droplets, cells, and microorganisms. Our method not only improves the degree of freedom and working range of SAW tweezers but also allows for precise and selective manipulation of microtargets via microtools and localized wavefields. Owing to their flexibility, versatility, and biocompatibility, the movable SAW tweezers can be a practical platform for achieving arbitrary manipulation of microscale targets and have the potential to play significant roles in biomedical microrobotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify colorectal cancer (CRC)-related proteomic profiles and develop a prediction model for CRC onset by integrating proteomic profiles with genetic and non-genetic factors (QCancer-15) to improve the risk stratification and estimate of personalized initial screening age. Here, using a two-stage strategy, we prioritize 15 protein biomarkers as predictors to construct a protein risk score (ProS). The risk prediction model integrating proteomic profiles with polygenic risk score (PRS) and QCancer-15 risk score (QCancer-S) shows improved performance (C-statistic: 0.79 vs. 0.71, P = 4.94E–03 in training cohort; 0.75 vs 0.69, P = 5.49E–04 in validation cohort) and net benefit than QCancer-S alone. The combined model markedly stratifies the risk of CRC onset. Participants with high ProS, PRS, or combined risk score are proposed to start screening at age 46, 41, or before 40 years old. In this work, the integration of blood proteomics with PRS and QCancer-15 demonstrates improved performance for risk stratification and clinical implication for the derivation of risk-adapted starting ages of CRC screening, which may contribute to the decision-making process for CRC screening. Non-invasive approaches for risk stratification and screening remain crucial for colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, the authors develop a model for CRC risk stratification by integrating plasma proteomics data with polygenic risk score and QCancer-15 risk score, which could guide recommendations for earlier screening of high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) are a type of electronegative compound that can be used as photothermal agent for cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the agglomeration of MNP, which is one of the limitations in practice, contributes to the instability of MNP. Pristine layered double hydroxide (LDH), as a kind of positive inorganic material when there exist no other cargo between its layers, can accommodate electronegative molecules between its layers to endow them with stable properties. Hence, in this study, electronegative MNP was intercalated into LDH lamellas via ion-exchange method to obtain the stable original photothermal agent LDH/MNP, solving the tough problem of MNP's agglomeration. The surface morphology, X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectra affirmed the successful intercalation of MNP between LDH lamellas. The Z-average particle sizes of LDH/MNP on day 0, 7 and 14 were measured as 221.8 nm, 227.6 nm and 230.5 nm without obvious fluctuation, while the particle sizes of MNP went through dramatic enlargement from 105.8 nm (day 0) to 856.1 nm (day 7), indicating the better stability of LDH/MNP than MNP. The typical polymer dispersity index (PDI) values on day 0, 7 and 14 verified the better stability of LDH/MNP, too. Photothermal properties of LDH/MNP were assessed and the results ensured the representative photothermal properties of LDH/MNP. The fine cytocompatibility of LDH/MNP was verified via cytotoxicity test. Results confirmed that the agglomeration of MNP disappeared after its intercalation into LDH and LDH/MNP possessed fine stability as well as typical photothermal property. The intercalation of MNP into LDH gave the photothermal agent MNP a promising way for its better stability and long-term availability in photothermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we reported a Gram-stain-negative, ovoid to rod-shaped, atrichous, and facultative anaerobe bacteria strain named YMD61T, which was isolated from the intertidal sediment of Yangma island, China. Growth of strain YMD61T occurred at 10.0–45.0 °C (optimum, 30.0 °C), pH 7.0–10.0 (optimum, 8.0) and with 0–3.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0%). Phylogenetic tree analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene or genomic sequence indicated that strain YMD61T belonged to the genus Fuscovulum and was closely related to Fuscovulum blasticum ATCC 33,485T (96.6% sequence similarity). Genomic analysis indicated that strain YMD61T contains a circular chromosome of 3,895,730 bp with DNA G + C content of 63.3%. The genomic functional analysis indicated that strain YMD61T is a novel sulfur-metabolizing bacteria, which is capable of fixing carbon through an autotrophic pathway by integrating the processes of photosynthesis and sulfur oxidation. The predominant respiratory quinone of YMD61T was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The polar lipids of YMD61T contained phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, five unidentified lipids, unidentified aminolipid and unidentified aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids of strain YMD61T contained C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω 7c or/and C18:1ω 6c). Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological analyses suggested that strain YMD61T represents a novel species of the genus Fuscovulum, and the name Fuscovulum ytuae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YMD61T (= MCCC 1K08483T = KCTC 43,537T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Gram-positive, anaerobic, nonspore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NGMCC 1.200840 T, was isolated from the alpacas fresh feces. The taxonomic position of the novel strain was determined using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed strain NGMCC 1.200840 T was a member of the genus Clostridium and closely related to Clostridium tertium DSM 2485 T (98.16% sequence similarity). Between strains NGMCC 1.200840 T and C. tertium DSM 2485 T, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA˗DNA hybridization (dDDH) were 79.91% and 23.50%, respectively. Genomic DNA G + C content is 28.44 mol%. The strain can utilise D-glucose, D-mannitol, D-lactose, D-saccharose, D-maltose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-cellobiose, D-mannose, D-melezitose, D-raffinose, D-sorbitol, L-rhamnose, D-trehalose, D-galactose and Arbutin to produce acid. The optimal growth pH was 7, the temperature was 37 °C, and the salt concentration was 0–0.5% (w/v). The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) included iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified aminolipids. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, NGMCC 1.200840 T represents a novel species within the genus Clostridium, for which the named Clostridium lamae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NGMCC 1.200840 T (= CGMCC 1.18014 T = JCM 35704 T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water pollution problems caused by organic dyes, inorganic ions and other pollutants are becoming more and more serious, and the removal of pollutants from wastewater is still a challenge. A polyoxometalate-based metal organic framework [Pr4(bpdc)4(H2O)10]·SiMo12O40·3H2O (1) (H2bpdc = 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid) was synthesized for multi-functional treatment of pollutants in water. Structural analysis revealed that Keggin-type polyanions are sandwiched between adjacent lanthanide-organic layers. Electrochemical and dye removal experiments showed that compound 1 can not only reduce NO2− and BrO3− pollutants in water by electrocatalytic oxidation, but also photocatalytically degrade and adsorb cationic organic dye pollutants in water, and even adsorb cationic organic dyes from mixed dyes solution. It has been proved that compound 1 is a multifunctional water treatment agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type VI secretion system 2 (T6SS2) gene cluster of Vibrio parahaemolyticus comprises three operons: VPA1027-1024, VPA1043-1028, and VPA1044-1046. AcsS is a LysR-like transcriptional regulator that play a role in activating flagella-driven motility in V. parahaemolyticus. However, its potential roles in other cellular pathways remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a series of experiments to investigate the regulatory effects of AcsS on the transcription of VPA1027 (hcp2), VPA1043, and VPA1044. The findings revealed that AcsS indirectly inhibits the transcription of these genes. Additionally, deletion of acsS resulted in enhanced adhesion of V. parahaemolyticus to HeLa cells. However, disruption of T6SS2 alone or in conjunction with AcsS significantly diminished the adhesion capacity of V. parahaemolyticus to HeLa cells. Therefore, it is suggested that AcsS suppresses cell adhesion in V. parahaemolyticus by downregulating the transcription of T6SS2 genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a bifurcation analysis of the piezoelectric neuron system (PNS) is conducted utilizing the time-domain minimum residual method (TMRM). From a biophysical standpoint, integrating piezoelectric devices into a nonlinear neuron circuit enables the conversion of external pressure or sound wave signals into electrical signals. The primary content of this research are as follows: initially, the piezoelectric neuron system is analytically solved by employing the TMRM, yielding high-precision periodic solutions. Subsequently, a detailed bifurcation analysis is performed leveraging these high-precision solutions. The findings demonstrate that the neuronal system experiences a periodic-doubling bifurcation when the amplitude of external stimuli surpasses a specific threshold. With further increases in the stimulus, this periodic-doubling response evolves into a periodic response. Moreover, changes in cell membrane resistance will lead to complex nonlinear behaviors such as stable or unstable period-1 solutions and stable or unstable and critically stable period-3 solutions in the system. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the advanced design of intelligent functional neuron arrays and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is prevalent in many natural systems and poses a great risk to human health. In this respect, a novel composite material with efficient removal of As(V) was reported, namely ZIF-8@CNDs, consisting of zeolite imidazolium framework-8 (ZIF-8) with a high surface area and carbon nanodots (CNDs) with abundant active groups. The synthesis of the nanostructure and the adsorption efficiency for As(V) were confirmed through chemical, morphological, phase analysis, specific surface area and point of zero charge. ZIF-8@CNDs was applied for the removal of As(V) in batch experiments. The results revealed that ZIF-8@CNDs exhibited the highest removal efficiencies for As(V) (94.12%), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 57.80 mg/g at the optimum conditions as follows: pH 6, 0.1 g/L ZIF-8@CNDs, 180 min, 298 K and a 1 mg/L initial As(V) concentration. The As(V) adsorption process by ZIF-8@CNDs followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and exhibited optimal fitting with the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption mechanism of As(V) by ZIF-8@CNDs was proposed by analyzing macroscopic data and microscopic morphology. Electrostatic attraction and multifunctional groups (amino, carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl dissociable groups) played critical roles during the As(V) removal process. Overall, this investigation demonstrated ZIF-8@CNDs is a promising adsorbent to remove As(V) from polluted water and has great potential in remediating wastewater contained by organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunocompromised individuals are at high risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and subsequent severe or fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet they have suboptimal responses to mRNA and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. The efficacy of tixagevimab–cilgavimab in reducing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was demonstrated in phase III clinical trials. Nevertheless, real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of tixagevimab–cilgavimab remain limited. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tixagevimab–cilgavimab among immunocompromised individuals. Methods: Adults who were immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive therapies were included in this target trial emulation using territory-wide electronic health records in Hong Kong. A sequential trial emulation approach was adopted to compare effectiveness and safety outcomes between individuals who received tixagevimab–cilgavimab and individuals who did not. Results: A total of 746 tixagevimab–cilgavimab recipients and 2980 controls were included from 1 May 2022 to 30 November 2022. Tixagevimab–cilgavimab significantly reduced the risk of COVID-19 infection (hazard ratio [HR] 0.708, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.527–0.951) during a median follow-up of 60 days. No significant difference was observed in the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation. Zero versus eight COVID-19 mortality cases and zero versus two severe COVID-19 cases were observed in tixagevimab–cilgavimab recipients and controls, respectively. Notably, significant risk reduction in COVID-19 infection was also observed among immunocompromised individuals who had been previously vaccinated with three or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine, or had no prior COVID-19 infection history. Conclusions: Tixagevimab–cilgavimab was effective in reducing COVID-19 infection among immunocompromised patients during the Omicron wave. Findings were consistent among individuals who previously received three or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine, or had no previous history of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study examined the clinical outcomes and complications in 6 cases of compound Meige's syndrome, presenting with blepharospasm and masticatory muscle spasm, following treatment with CT-guided radiofrequency ablation targeting bilateral facial nerves and mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerve. After the operation, the symptoms of eyelid spasm and masticatory muscle spasm resolved, but mild facial paralysis and numbness of mandibular nerve innervation persisted. Follow-up for 4–28 months showed that the symptoms of facial paralysis resolved within 2–5 (3.17 ± 0.94) months after the operation, whereas the numbness in the mandibular region persisted, accompanied by a decrease in masticatory function. During the follow-up period, none of the 6 patients experienced a recurrence of Meige's syndrome. These findings suggest that CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of the bilateral facial nerve and mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerve may offer a promising approach to treating compound Meige's syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate and analyze the relationship between body composition components, including Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, and visceral fat index, and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels in patients diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how various aspects of body composition impact AMH levels. This study enrolled 167 women with PCOS of reproductive age. Serum AMH level and body composition were measured, and the correlation between body composition elements and AMH levels was analyzed. AMH level was negatively correlated with body weight, BMI, fat-free mass, body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, and visceral fat level (P < 0.01). And negatively correlated with skeletal muscle ratio (P = 0.003). AMH level remained significantly associated with BMI (P = 0.028), body fat percentage (P = 0.040), waist-hip ratio (P = 0.003), and visceral fat level (P = 0.040) after age was included and a multiple linear regression model was established. After adjusting for age, BMI was still significantly associated with AMH (P = 0.029). At the same time, there was no obvious linear correlation between BSA and AMH. The results showed that AMH levels were significantly different among the three groups (9.53 ± 5.12 vs 6.98 ± 3.35 vs 6.38 ± 3.38, P < 0.001; ng/mL). The level of AMH in the non-central obesity group was higher than that in the central obesity group (9.68 ± 5.22vs7.09 ± 3.83, P < 0.001; ng/mL). In PCOS patients, those who are more obese have lower AMH levels, indicating poorer Ovarian Reserve. BMI may independently affect AMH levels, apart from age, BSA, and other factors. Ovarian function in centrally obese patients is poorer than in those with non-central obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is a serious threat to many crops, and C. siamense has become increasingly prevalent worldwide. However, the mycelial growth and virulence of many of these species, especially below 26 °C, has largely remained unknown. Here, mycelial growth of five representative Colletotrichum strains (three C. siamense [Cs], one C. fructicola [Cf] and one C. gloeosporioides s.s. [Cg]) from diseased strawberry was measured at 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 °C. Their virulence on Fragaria vesca and highly susceptible F. × ananassa cv. Benihoppe was tested at 14 °C and 22 °C. The strains did not differ much in mycelial growth between 10 and 26 °C, although growth of the Cs and Cg strains was somewhat faster than that of Cf. However, the strains varied greatly in their virulence on the two hosts. Strain Cs GQHZJ19, which grew fastest at 22 °C, was also the most virulent on both hosts at 14 °C and 22 °C. But growth rate of Cs was only positively correlated with virulence on susceptible cv. Benihoppe after 3 days at 22 °C. Based on the virulence analysis of the five Colletotrichum strains on hosts that vary in susceptibility at distinct temperatures, host genotype might play a decisive role in disease severity at an early stage, while temperature might influence the host–Colletotrichum spp. interaction at a later stage. More Colletotrichum strains (especially C. siamense) need to be tested to determine the mycelial growth and virulence in a wider temperature range and thus we can effectively manage disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs) has attracted extensive attention. Numerous studies have shown that MPs could cause liver damage in aquatic animals. However, there is a limited range of technical approaches available to mitigate and minimize the detrimental impact of MPs on both wild fish populations and aquaculture operations. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary chitosan supplementation on the prevention and treatment of liver damage induced by exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus). The results indicated that after two weeks of exposure, the liver of tilapia showed oxidative stress, inflammatory response and fibrosis. Meanwhile, after the chitosan addition, the oxidative stress, inflammatory response and fibrosis of tilapia liver were reversed, the pyroptosis and ferroptosis in tilapia liver were inhibited, the combination of mitochondria with PS-MPs in tilapia liver cells was inhibited, and the mitochondrial damage was reversed. In summary, the study confirmed the potential prophylaxis and treatment effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on PS-MPs exposure-induced liver damage in tilapia, and provided basic data for further studies on prophylaxis and treatment of the toxic effects of MPs. This study also presented efficacious strategies for alleviating the deleterious impacts of MPs on fish farming, thereby fostering sustainable and eco-friendly approaches in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common type of orthostatic intolerance in children. We investigated whether platelet-related factors related to treatment efficacy in children suffering from VVS treated with metoprolol. Methods: Metoprolol-treated VVS patients were recruited. The median duration of therapy was three months. Patients were followed and divided into two groups, treament-effective group and treatment-ineffective group. Logistic and least absolute shrinkage selection operator regressions were used to examine treatment outcome variables. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, precision–recall (PR) curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analyses were used to evaluate the nomogram model. Results: Among the 72 patients who complete the follow-up, treatment-effective group and treatment-ineffective group included 42 (58.3%) and 30 (41.7%) cases, respectively. The patients in the treatment-effective group exhibited higher mean platelet volume (MPV) [(11.0 ± 1.0) fl vs. (9.8 ± 1.0) fl, P < 0.01] and platelet distribution width [12.7% (12.3%, 14.3%) vs. 11.3% (10.2%, 12.2%), P < 0.01] than those in the treatment-ineffective group. The sex ratio was significantly different (P = 0.046). A fit model comprising age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.766, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.594–0.987] and MPV (OR = 5.613, 95% CI = 2.297–13.711) might predict therapeutic efficacy. The area under the curve of the ROC and PR curves was computed to be 0.85 and 0.9, respectively. The P value of the Hosmer–Lemeshow test was 0.27. The decision curve analysis confirmed that managing children with VVS based on the predictive model led to a net advantage ranging from 0.01 to 0.58. The nomogram is convenient for clinical applications. Conclusion: A novel nomogram based on age and MPV can predict the therapeutic benefits of metoprolol in children with VVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi, such as Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) and Microsporum canis Bodin Anamorph (M. canis Bodin Anamorph) are the main pathogens of dermatophysis. According to ancient books records, Rumex japonicus Houtt. (RJH) has a miraculous effect on the treatment of dermatophysis. To reveal the anti-fungi (T. rubrum and M. canis Bodin Anamorph) components and its mechanism of the Rumex japonicus Houtt. The vinegar extraction and alcohol precipitation, HPLC and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were employed for analyzing the chemical compositions of RJH; in vitro anti-fungal experiment was investigated including test the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), spore germination rate, nucleic acid, protein leakage rate, biofilm structure, and the mechanism of anti-fungal and anti-fungal biofilms in RJH. Seven anthraquinones and their glycoside compounds were obtained in this study respectively, such as chrysophanol, physcion, aloe-emodin, emodin, rhein, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside and chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucoside. In vitro anti-fungal experiment results showed that RJH extracts have good anti-fungal activity for dermatophytic fungi. Among them, the MIC of the rhein, emodin and aloe-emodin against T. rubrum are 1.9 µg/ml, 3.9 µg/ml and 15.6 µg/ml, respectively; the MIC of emodin and aloe-emodin against M. canis Bodin Anamorph are 7.8 µg/ml and 62.5 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, its active components can inhibit fungal spore germination and the formation of bud tube, change cell membrane permeability, prevent hyphal growth, destroy biofilm structure, and down-regulate the expression of agglutinin-like sequence family 1 of the adhesion phase of biofilm growth. The study shows that RJH play a fungicidal role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a new class of generalized Nash-population games (GNPGs) which can be used to capture the desired features of both population games (PGs) and generalized Nash games within the same framework. We introduce the concept of generalized inertial Nash equilibrium (GINE) for the GNPG and show the existence of GINE by using the method of the system of variational inequalities and fixed point theorems both in the compact and noncompact cases. Moreover, we introduce a slightly altruistic generalized inertial Nash equilibrium (SAGINE) as a refinement concept of the GINE and prove that the GNPG has at least an SAGINE under some mild assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central-to-axial chirality conversion represents a fascinating class of chemical processes consisting of the destruction of stereogenic centers and the simultaneous installation of axial chiral elements, which provides efficient methods for the preparation of axially chiral compounds. However, developing catalytic asymmetric approaches for constructing these central chirality precursors and the efficient central-to-axial chirality conversion remains a challenge due to the requirement of aromatization or elimination process. In this work, we have developed an unprecedented enantioselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation with unactivated-ketone carbonyls from which a chiral tertiary alcohol was generated with high efficiency and excellent enantioselectivity. In addition, the central-to-axial chirality conversion strategy has been successfully applied to the synthesis of enantioenriched biaryls via a less-explored carbocation-initiated rearrangement and aromatization under the promotion of Lewis acid. This methodology provided a straightforward and sustainable access to a broad range of biaryl-2-carboxylic acid and in excellent yields (up to 92%) and excellent central-to-axial chirality conversion (up to 99% conversion percentage). This work could be a great model for developing new methods for synthesizing axially chiral biaryls and a general protocol for the rearrangement and aromatization of carbocations for further functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Increasing evidence implicates that inflammatory factors do play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the association between inflammatory markers and different symptom dimensions and cognitive function of schizophrenia remains unclear. A total of 140 drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia and 69 healthy controls matched for age and gender were enrolled. Peripheral blood plasma concentrations of S-100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Psychotic symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and cognitive function was assessed by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia had significantly worse cognitive function and lower levels of NGAL and IFN-γ (P < 0.001). In schizophrenia, plasma NGAL and IFN-γ levels negatively correlated with positive symptom scores (all P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between plasma levels of NGAL and IFN-γ with visual learning, neurocognition, and MCCB total score (all P < 0.05). We found that NGAL levels (β = 0.352, t = 5.553, 95% CI 0.228–0.477, P < 0.001) and negative symptoms subscale scores (β = − 0.321, OR = 0.725, 95% CI 648–0.811, P < 0.001) were independently associated with the MCCB total score. Further, binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the concentrations of NGAL (β = − 0.246, OR = 0.782, 95% CI 0.651–0.939, P = 0.008) were independently associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. There was a positive correlation between NGAL and IFN-γ levels and MCCB total score in schizophrenia. NGAL level was an independent protective factor for cognitive function and an independent risk factor for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed to investigate the characteristics of different obesity metabolic indexes [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), cardiometabolic index (CMI), body roundness index (BRI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid aggregation products (LAP)] and their correlation with insulin resistance (IR) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study was conducted on 140 subjects with PCOS and 133 control subjects aged 18–44 years. According to insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.69 and HOMA-IR < 2.69, PCOS group members were divided into insulin resistance group and non-insulin resistance group. Anthropometric and serological characteristics of the population with PCOS focused on calculating different obesity metabolic indexes and HOMA-IR. BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, CMI, BRI, VAI, and LAP were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05); In the insulin resistance group of PCOS patients, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, CMI, BRI, VAI, and LAP were significantly higher than in the non-insulin resistance group (P < 0.05). In PCOS patients, BMI (r = 0.658, P < 0.001), WC (r = 0.0.662, P < 0.001), WHR (r = 0.377, P < 0.001), WHtR (r = 0.660, P < 0.001), CMI (r = 0.698, P < 0.001), BRI (r = 0.757, P < 0.001), VAI (r = 0.640, P < 0.001), and LAP (r = 0.767, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with IR. Obesity metabolic indexes associated with PCOS were elevated in the PCOS group compared to the control group, and in the PCOS insulin-resistant group compared to the non-insulin resistant group. Novel obesity metabolic indexes, especially CMI, BRI and LAP, might be more appropriate for evaluating the risk of concurrent IR in PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2) occur in 2H and rhombohedral (3R) polytypes, respectively distinguished by anti-parallel and parallel orientation of consecutive monolayer lattices. In its bulk form, 3R-MX2 is ferroelectric, hosting an out-of-plane electric polarisation, the direction of which is dictated by stacking. Here, we predict that twin boundaries, separating adjacent polarisation domains with reversed built-in electric fields, are able to host two-dimensional electrons and holes with an areal density reaching ~ 1013cm−2. Our modelling suggests that n-doped twin boundaries have a more promising binding energy than p-doped ones, whereas hole accumulation is stable at external surfaces of a twinned film. We also propose that assembling pairs of mono-twin films with a 'magic' twist angle θ* that provides commensurability between the moiré pattern at the interface and the accumulated carrier density, should promote a regime of strongly correlated states of electrons, such as Wigner crystals, and we specify the values of θ* for homo- and heterostructures of various TMDs. The authors investigate the twin boundaries in ferroelectric transition metal dichalcogenides, predicting their trap electrons with low densities, enhancing electron-electron interactions and potentially promoting Wigner crystallisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies in small samples have identified inconsistent cortical abnormalities in major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite genetic influences on MDD and the brain, it is unclear how genetic risk for MDD is translated into spatially patterned cortical vulnerability. Here, we initially examined voxel-wise differences in cortical function and structure using the largest multi-modal MRI data from 1660 MDD patients and 1341 controls. Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we then adopted transcription-neuroimaging spatial correlation and the newly developed ensemble-based gene category enrichment analysis to identify gene categories with expression related to cortical changes in MDD. Results showed that patients had relatively circumscribed impairments in local functional properties and broadly distributed disruptions in global functional connectivity, consistently characterized by hyper-function in associative areas and hypo-function in primary regions. Moreover, the local functional alterations were correlated with genes enriched for biological functions related to MDD in general (e.g., endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase, histone acetylation, and DNA methylation); and the global functional connectivity changes were associated with not only MDD-general, but also brain-relevant genes (e.g., neuron, synapse, axon, glial cell, and neurotransmitters). Our findings may provide important insights into the transcriptomic signatures of regional cortical vulnerability to MDD. Our combined large-scale neuroimaging and brain transcriptome study demonstrates genetic substrates underlying cortical functional abnormalities in depression, suggesting transcriptomic decoding of regional cortical vulnerability to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The bidirectional regulation of macrophages and exosomes provides a meaningful research direction for the treatment of complications arising from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, there is currently no comprehensive evaluation of the bidirectional regulatory role of macrophages and exosomes in diabetic complications. In this review, we aim to provide the detailed process of the bidirectional regulation mechanism of macrophages and exosomes, and how macrophage-associated exosomes use this mechanism to make it better applied to clinical practice through biotechnology. Methods: Therefore, we summarized the bidirectional regulation mechanism of macrophages and exosomes and the application based on the bidirectional regulation mechanism from two aspects of inflammation and insulin resistance. Results: As key regulators of the immune system, macrophages are crucial in the progression of diabetic complications due to their significant impact on the regulation of cellular metabolism, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, exosomes, as innovative mediators of intercellular communication, transport miRNAs, proteins, and various bioactive molecules, influencing the occurrence and progression of diabetic complications through the regulation of inflammation and insulin resistance. The bidirectional regulation between macrophages and exosomes provides a promising pathway for the treatment of diabetic complications aimed at regulating the immune response and improving insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: Understanding the complexity of the interaction between macrophages and exosomes can advance the treatment of diabetic complications and drug development, and bringing more innovative and effective treatment strategies for diabetic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding accurately the influence of non-plastic fines on stress-dilatancy of coral sand mixture-packing is crucial for marine engineering in various geotechnical applications. This work experimentally examined the effects of non-plastic fines and initial test conditions on stress-dilatancy behavior of mixture. Based on test results, equivalent void ratio ( e ∗ ) was determined to quantify the global effect of fines on shear behavior across different shear stages. Test results show that e ∗ exhibits a reduction as the mean effective stress ( p ′ ) increases, following a power function relationship. Besides, e ∗ variation under phase transformation, peak state, and critical state can be described by a normalized curve. Reduced fines content and increased relative density can contribute to the enhancement of both peak strength and internal friction angle within the mixture. However, the smooth shape and lubrication function facilitated by fines actively contribute to initiation of shear contraction. Furthermore, the stress paths observed in the CD shear tests manifest as a sequence of parallel straight lines within the q - p ′ plane. The length of these lines progressively extends as the stress level escalates. Moreover, deviator stress in q - p ′ curves under character state presents lower and upper limits which are 0.334 and 0.639 corresponding to tested samples determined by fines content and relative density. Elevated fines content combined with reduced relative density can lead to a reduction in both peak-state friction angle and maximum angle of dilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin has been shown to modulate neuronal processes through insulin receptors. The ion channels located on neurons may be important targets for insulin/insulin receptor signaling. Both insulin receptors and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are expressed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. However, it is still unclear whether there is an interaction between them. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of insulin on the functional activity of ASICs. A 5 min application of insulin rapidly enhanced acid-evoked ASIC currents in rat DRG neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. Insulin shifted the concentration–response plot for ASIC currents upward, with an increase of 46.2 ± 7.6% in the maximal current response. The insulin-induced increase in ASIC currents was eliminated by the insulin receptor antagonist GSK1838705, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A, and the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase antagonist wortmannin. Moreover, insulin increased the number of acid-triggered action potentials by activating insulin receptors. Finally, local administration of insulin exacerbated the spontaneous nociceptive behaviors induced by intraplantar acid injection and the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by intramuscular acid injections through peripheral insulin receptors. These results suggested that insulin/insulin receptor signaling enhanced the functional activity of ASICs via tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathways. Our findings revealed that ASICs were targets in primary sensory neurons for insulin receptor signaling, which may underlie insulin modulation of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problem of reduced face recognition accuracy in masked scenarios, this paper proposes a masked face reconstruction algorithm DeMaskGAN, which uses the Transformer Reconstruction Head (TRH) to restore the masked face features, and uses the Transformer Segmentation Head as an aid so that the TRH focuses on the masked face region and reconstructs the face to an unmasked state while maintaining the identity information. To improve the model performance, identity consistency, key point consistency, and perceptual consistency supervision mechanisms for faces are proposed to assist in training the model, and data augmentation methods are used to generate Mask-FFHQ datasets adapted to the mask-obscured face segmentation and reconstruction tasks, the experimental results show that the reconstructed face images enable the face recognition algorithm MobileFaceNet to achieve an AUC metric of 0.9743, which is 0.039 better than the direct use of MobileFaceNet to recognize masked faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Uric acid has been linked to various disease outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether uric acid-lowering therapy could be repurposed as a treatment for conditions other than gout. We first performed both observational phenome-wide association study (Obs-PheWAS) and polygenic risk score PheWAS (PRS-PheWAS) to identify associations of uric acid levels with a wide range of disease outcomes. Then, trajectory analysis was conducted to explore temporal progression patterns of the observed disease outcomes. Finally, we investigated whether uric acid-lowering drugs could be repurposed using a factorial Mendelian randomization (MR) study design. A total of 41 overlapping phenotypes associated with uric acid levels were identified by both Obs- and PRS- PheWASs, primarily cardiometabolic diseases. The trajectory analysis illustrated how elevated uric acid levels contribute to cardiometabolic diseases, and finally death. Meanwhile, we found that uric acid-lowering drugs exerted a protective role in reducing the risk of coronary atherosclerosis (OR = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.93, 1.00, P = 0.049), congestive heart failure (OR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.99, P = 0.043), occlusion of cerebral arteries (OR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.87, 1.00, P = 0.044) and peripheral vascular disease (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.38, 0.94, P = 0.025). Furthermore, the combination of uric acid-lowering therapy (e.g. xanthine oxidase inhibitors) with antihypertensive treatment (e.g. calcium channel blockers) exerted additive effects and was associated with a 6%, 8%, 8%, 10% reduction in risk of coronary atherosclerosis, heart failure, occlusion of cerebral arteries and peripheral vascular disease, respectively. Our findings support a role of elevated uric acid levels in advancing cardiovascular dysfunction and identify potential repurposing opportunities for uric acid-lowering drugs in cardiovascular treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four representative halophytes, Tamarix chinensis (Tc), Phragmites australis (Pa), Suaeda salsa (Ss), and Spartina alterniflora (Sa), in the Yellow River Estuary wetland were selected to clarify the root disturbance on soil nutrient elements, salt ions, and their stoichiometric ratios. The results showed that the average total organic carbon (TOC) content of Tc, Pa, Ss, and Sa in the rhizosphere (RS) group was 5.19, 2.15, 2.05, and 2.14 times higher than those in the non-rhizosphere (CK) group, respectively. The total nitrogen (TN) content of Tc in the RS group was about 3.44 times that of the CK group. The average soil salinity reduced by 41.35%, due to the root disturbance of Tc. Soil ions, including K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl-, and SO42- reduced by 33.86-62.86%. The root disturbance of Pa reduced soil salinity and soil ions by 35.47% and 16.93%-46.85%, respectively. However, the root disturbance effects in Sa and Ss were not obvious. The disturbance of roots played a crustal role in affecting the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties in the coastal wetlands above the intertidal zone (Tc and Pa), but its effect was greatly weakened below the intertidal zone (Sa and Ss). These findings are important for understanding how halophytes can impact soil nutrient levels and salt concentrations in coastal wetlands, which is crucial for effective management and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene response factors have been shown to be involved in the effects of plant developmental processes and to regulate stress tolerance. The aim of this study was to recognize the regulatory mechanisms of ethylene response factors on tobacco plant height. In this study, a gene-edited mutant (ERF10-KO) and wild type (WT) were utilized as experimental materials. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses were used to investigate the regulatory mechanism of NtERF10 gene editing on plant height in tobacco. Here, through the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 2051 genes were upregulated and 1965 genes were downregulated. We characterized the different ERF10-KO and WT plant heights and identified key genes for photosynthesis, the plant hormone signal transduction pathway and the terpene biosynthesis pathway. NtERF10 was found to affect the growth and development of tobacco by regulating the expression levels of the PSAA, PSBA, GLY17 and GGP3 genes. Amino acid metabolism was analyzed by combining analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). In addition, we found that members of the bHLH, NAC, MYB, and WRKY transcription factor families have vital roles in regulating plant height. This study not only provides important insights into the positive regulation of the ethylene response factor NtERF10 on plant height during plant growth and development but also provides new research ideas for tobacco molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) engineered as drug delivery systems continue to make breakthroughs as they offer numerous advantages over free therapeutics. However, the poor understanding of the interplay between the NPs and biomolecules, especially blood proteins, obstructs NP translation to clinics. Nano-bio interactions determine the NPs' in vivo fate, efficacy and immunotoxicity, potentially altering protein function. To fulfill the growing need to investigate nano-bio interactions, this study provides a systematic understanding of two key aspects: (i) protein corona (PC) formation and (ii) NP-induced modifications on protein's structure and stability. A methodology was developed by combining orthogonal techniques to analyze both quantitative and qualitative aspects of nano-bio interactions, using human serum albumin (HSA) as a model protein. Protein quantification via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) clarified adsorbed protein quantity and stability. CZE further unveiled qualitative insights into HSA forms (native, glycated HSA and cysteinylated), while synchrotron radiation circular dichroism enabled analyzing HSA's secondary structure and thermal stability. Comparative investigations of NP cores (organic vs. hybrid), and shells (with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG)) revealed pivotal factors influencing nano-bio interactions. Polymeric NPs based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and hybrid NPs based on metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) presented distinct HSA adsorption profiles. PLGA NPs had protein-repelling properties while inducing structural modifications on HSA. In contrast, HSA exhibited a high affinity for nanoMOFs forming a PC altering thereby the protein structure. A shielding effect was gained through PEGylation for both types of NPs, avoiding the PC formation as well as the alteration of unbound HSA structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Draws on the integration of aesthetic theory and transaction-specific satisfaction theory, this study concentrated on the concept of hospitality service aesthetics of the front desk of luxury hotel about consumers' perception among the visual servicescape and humanistic appearance and potential effect on their willingness-to-pay price premium. A mixed method approach of both lab experiment and field investigation was applied to test three hypotheses. The results showed that consumers' visual aesthetics of front desk with non-thematic style have a more significant impact on their willingness-to-pay price premium compared to the thematic style. This study also indicated that the physical attractiveness of employees is a moderator only when consumers' willingness-to-pay price premium during service interactions in the context of thematic front desk with low hospitableness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callosobruchus maculatus is one of the most competitive stored grain pests, which causes a great loss to agricultural economy. However, due to an inadequacy of high-quality reference genome, the molecular mechanisms for olfactory and hypoxic adaptations to stored environments are unknown and require to be revealed urgently, which will contribute to the detection and prevention of the invasive pests C. maculatus. Here, we presented a high-quality chromosome-level genome of C. maculatus based on Illumina, Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing data. The total size was 1.2 Gb, and 65.17% (797.47 Mb) of it was identified to be repeat sequences. Among assembled chromosomes, chromosome 10 was considered the X chromosome according to the evidence of reads coverage and homologous genes among species. The current version of high-quality genome provides preferable data resources for the adaptive evolution research of C. maculatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus possesses two distinct type VI secretion systems (T6SS), namely T6SS1 and T6SS2. T6SS1 is predominantly responsible for adhesion to Caco-2 and HeLa cells and for the antibacterial activity of V. parahaemolyticus, while T6SS2 mainly contributes to HeLa cell adhesion. However, it remains unclear whether the T6SS systems have other physiological roles in V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, we demonstrated that the deletion of icmF2, a structural gene of T6SS2, reduced the biofilm formation capacity of V. parahaemolyticus under low salt conditions, which was also influenced by the incubation time. Nonetheless, the deletion of icmF2 did not affect the biofilm formation capacity in marine-like growth conditions, nor did it impact the flagella-driven swimming and swarming motility of V. parahaemolyticus. IcmF2 was found to promote the production of the main components of the biofilm matrix, including extracellular DNA (eDNA) and extracellular proteins, and cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) in V. parahaemolyticus. Additionally, IcmF2 positively influenced the transcription of cpsA, mfpA, and several genes involved in c-di-GMP metabolism, including scrJ, scrL, vopY, tpdA, gefA, and scrG. Conversely, the transcription of scrA was negatively impacted by IcmF2. Therefore, IcmF2-dependent biofilm formation was mediated through its effects on the production of eDNA, extracellular proteins, and c-di-GMP, as well as its impact on the transcription of cpsA, mfpA, and genes associated with c-di-GMP metabolism. This study confirmed new physiological roles for IcmF2 in promoting biofilm formation and c-di-GMP production in V. parahaemolyticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a good alternative to natural fibers and petroleum-derived fibers, Lyocell fibers draw increasing interests owing to its advantages of sustainable forest source, low carbon emission, high strength and comfort. However, Lyocell exhibits significant fibrillation behavior under friction, which seriously reduce product quality and limit its further development. Herein, dual crosslinking networks were innovatively constructed in Lyocell cellulose structure to enhance the interaction of cellulose macromolecular chains. Bifunctional reactive dyes were loaded in the inner part of Lyocell fiber to form a primary crosslinking network. Then, the cellulose interaction in Lyocell skin layer was further enhanced after the coating by cationic waterborne polyurethane. The mechanism was determined and results showed that durable dual crosslinking networks were formed in Lyocell cellulose structure. From scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, fibrillation behavior of Lyocell fibers was effectively prevented by dual crosslinking networks. Meanwhile, the durability was evaluated, showing that the treated fabric maintained good anti-fibrillation performance after washing for 50 times. Furthermore, the interaction of dyes and fibers was also enhanced by the cationic polymer via electrostatic attraction force, realizing high dye utilization efficiency. Therefore, the method exhibits great potential in promoting the application of Lyocell fibers in greener textile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the challenges that remain, the synergistic adjustment of various microstructures and photochemical parameters of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) in photocatalytic reactions holds promises for improving catalytic efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Herein, sulfur-doped and nitrogen-defective g-C3N4 (n-SC3Nx) nanosheets were designed and elaborately synthesized. The resultant n-SC3Nx possessed a precisely defined 2D layer structure with extensive porosity and incremental specific surface area. Enhanced photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization of vinyl monomers with low dispersity, excellent temporal control and high chain-end fidelity was achieved under mild blue light irradiation in a nondegassed system. Owing to their ultrathin nanostructures with nitrogen defects and sulfur dopants, n-SC3Nx was capable of catalyzing RAFT polymerization in aqueous solutions at significantly accelerated rates, which were nearly 8 times faster compared to bulk g-C3N4. The ease of separation and efficient reusability in subsequent polymerizations was enabled by the heterogeneous nature of n-SC3Nx. The appeal of this approach was illustrated by the fact that utilizing a reusable and metal-free photocatalyst in aqueous environments allowed for the synthesis of polymers with molecular weight up to 300 kg mol−1 and a dispersity of 1.32. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were considered as two neurodevelopmental disorders and had shared clinical features. we hypothesized that they have some common atypical brain functions and the purpose of this study was to explored the shared brain spontaneous activity strength alterations in early onset schizophrenia (EOS) and ASD in the children and adolescents with a multi-center large-sample study. A total of 171 EOS patients (aged 14.25 ± 1.87), 188 ASD patients (aged 9.52 ± 5.13), and 107 healthy controls (aged 11.52 ± 2.82) had scanned with Resting-fMRI and analyzed surface-based amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Results showed that both EOS and ASD had hypoactivity in the primary sensorimotor regions (bilateral primary and early visual cortex, left ventral visual stream, left primary auditory cortex) and hyperactivity in the high-order transmodal regions (bilateral SFL, bilateral DLPFC, right frontal eye fields), and bilateral thalamus. EOS had more severe abnormality than ASD. This study revealed shared functional abnormalities in the primary sensorimotor regions and the high-order transmodal regions in EOS and ASD, which provided neuroimaging evidence of common changes in EOS and ASD, and may help with better early recognition and precise treatment for EOS and ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper adopted a two-step hydrothermal method to fabricate CeO2-modified Au–ZnO (CAZ) nanosheets, as well as investigated the gas-sensing performance of CAZ composites and Au–ZnO materials with various CeO2 contents to triethylamine. It has been found that the sensitivity of the 0.5% CAZ composite material (382) is enhanced by a factor of 4.2 over the Au/ZnO material at 220 °C. The response time is accelerated from 4 to 3 s, while it also possesses outstanding selectivity and stability. The outstanding gas-sensitizing performance is attributable to the catalytic and overflow effects of Au as well as the n–n heterojunction constructed among CeO2 and ZnO, which provides additional carriers for the material to adsorb more oxygen and triethylamine molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In optical communication systems, a laser is used as a light source to transmit information using optical signals. However, as the speed of data transmission and the distance between telecommunications stations increase, the possibility of errors in data transmission also increases. One of the main causes of errors in optical communication systems is the intensity of laser light output. Optical communication systems are a common means of transferring information from one place to another, often using lasers as strong light sources, such as in fiber optic communications and communication networks. However, the fluctuating power of laser output is a major issue when using lasers for data transmission. Therefore, stabilizing the laser output light intensity can greatly improve the quality of data transmission in optical communication systems, reducing the likelihood of errors in the light source. Various factors, such as temperature, voltage, and current, can cause fluctuations in the intensity of laser output. Changes in the intensity of laser output light can result in inaccuracies in data transmission, which can be avoided using laser output intensity stabilization techniques. These techniques reduce the intensity of light and source errors by continuously adjusting and correcting the amount of output light intensity over time. The manufacturing of semiconductor lasers and their continuous monitoring, including laser power and temperature regulation, are the most important components of these systems. Finally, with a comparison between the gain and the output waveform as a light source, for three bias currents of 0.85, the limit current at the modulation frequency of 109 GHz and the input power of – 40 dbm has been done. This paper presents a system that can adapt to 0–50 °C temperature fluctuations while stabilizing a semiconductor laser's operating parameters and power with an accuracy of 0.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]