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The metabolic reprogramming of macrophages is a potential therapeutic strategy for sepsis treatment, but the mechanism underlying this reprogramming remains unclear. Since glycolysis can drive macrophage phenotype switching, the rate-limiting enzymes in glycolysis may be key to treating sepsis. Here, we found that, compared with other isoenzymes, the expression of 6-phosphofructokinase, muscle type (PFKM) was the most upregulated in monocytes from septic patients. Recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) treatment downregulated the protein expression of PFKM in macrophages. Both rTM treatment and Pfkm knockout protected mice from sepsis and reduced the production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-27, whereas PFKM overexpression increased the production of these cytokines. Mechanistically, rTM treatment inhibited glycolysis in macrophages by decreasing PFKM expression in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-dependent manner. HIF-1α overexpression increased methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression, elevated the m6A level on Pfkm, and upregulated the protein expression of PFKM. METTL3 silence attenuated HIF-1α-mediated PFKM expression. These findings provide insight into the underlying mechanism of macrophage reprogramming for the treatment of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocular depth estimation is essential in computer vision and robotics applications, including localization, mapping, and 3D object detection. In recent years, supervised learning algorithms that model large amounts of data have been successful in depth estimation. However, obtaining dense ground truth depth labels remains a challenge in supervised training. Therefore, unsupervised methods trained using monocular image sequences have gained wider attention. However, the depth estimation results of most existing models often produce blurred edges. Therefore, we propose various effective improvement strategies to construct a depth estimation network TL-Depth. (1) We propose a tower connection structure that utilizes convolutional processing to facilitate feature fusion, achieve precise semantic classification of pixels, and yield more accurate depth results. (2) We employ a Laplacian-filtering residual to focus on boundary information and enhance detailed results. (3) During the feature extraction stage, multiple pooling excitations are used by embedding them in the convolutional layer. This reduces redundant information while enhancing the network's feature extraction capability. The experimental results on the KITTI dataset and the Make3D dataset demonstrate that this method achieves good results compared to current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) during rectal cancer resection remains a topic of controversy, and there is a notable absence of robust evidence regarding the outcomes associated with LCA preservation. And the advantages of robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL) surgery in rectal resection remain uncertain. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of LCA preservation surgery and RAL surgery on intraoperative and postoperative complications of rectal cancer resection. Patients who underwent laparoscopic (LSC) or RAL with or without LCA preservation resection for rectal cancer between April 2020 and May 2023 were retrospectively assessed. The patients were categorized into two groups: low ligation (LL) which with preservation of LCA and high ligation (HL) which without preservation of LCA. A one-to-one propensity score-matched analysis was performed to decrease confounding. The primary outcome was operative findings, operative morbidity, and postoperative genitourinary function. A total of 612 patients were eligible for this study, and propensity score matching yielded 139 patients in each group. The blood loss of the LL group was significantly less than that of the HL group (54.42 ± 12.99 mL vs. 65.71 ± 7.37 mL, p<0.001). The urinary catheter withdrawal time in the LL group was significantly shorter than that in the HL group (4.87 ± 2.04 d vs. 6.06 ± 2.43d, p<0.001). Anastomotic leakage in the LL group was significantly lower than that in HL group (1.44% vs. 7.91%, p = 0.011). The rate of urinary dysfunction and sexual dysfunction in LL group is both significantly lower than HL group. Blood loss and number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs) of both RAL subgroups in LL and HL groups were significantly more than that in LSC subgroups. The anastomotic leakage in the RAL subgroup of HL group was significantly lower than that in LSC subgroup (0% vs. 14.89%, p = 0.018). LCA preservation surgery for rectal cancer may help reduce the blood loss, urinary catheter withdrawal time, the rate of anastomotic leakage and ileus, and postoperative genitourinary function outcomes. RAL can reduce the probability of blood loss and improve harvest LNs in patients with rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide–based Fenton reaction can effectively degrade many small-molecule fluorescent dyes, leading to notable alterations in fluorescence signals. Additionally, the two-dimensional black phosphorus/platinum nanocomposite (BP/Pt) demonstrates exceptional catalase (CAT) characteristics. Based on these, a colorimetric-fluorescence dual-mode signal output pattern based on BP/Pt-Fenton reaction-rhodamine B tandem reaction system is reported. The physical adsorption property of the BP/Pt nanozymes was utilized to couple with antibodies, thus constructing a novel dual-mode nanozyme-based immuno-sensing assay (NISA). By using the migratory antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) as the target, the NISA provided highly sensitive detection with the detection limits of 0.058 ng/mL for colorimetric-mode and 0.025 ng/mL for fluorescence-mode and achieved accurate quantitative detection in environmental water and crucian carp samples. This work provides an innovative design for monitoring antibiotics in the environment and broadens the idea for the application of nanozymes and Fenton systems in immunosensing assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure evolution on the surface of Fe-20Mn-6Al-0.6C-0.15Si austenitic low-density steel was studied by comparing with the microstructure at the core. In the present study, the austenite grain growth was in situ observed using laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). The microstructure of specimens on surface and at core was analyzed after LSCM experiments. The distribution of Mn and Al along axial direction was analyzed. The results show that the volatilization of Mn on the specimen surface during isothermal holding at high temperatures varying from 900 to 1200 °C results in a low stability of the austenite on the specimen surface, leading to the transformation of less stable austenite to ferrite during subsequent cooling process. The ferrite fraction on the specimen surface increases with isothermal temperature, indicating more Mn volatilization at higher temperature. In addition, because Mn volatilizes during isothermal holding at high temperatures, the austenite grain growth on the surface is different from that at the core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI) and lymphatic node metastasis (LNM) status of endometrial cancer (EC) patients, using radiomics based on MRI images. Methods: Five hundred and ninety-eight EC patients between January 2015 and September 2020 from two institutions were retrospectively included. Tumoral regions on DWI, T1CE, and T2W images were manually outlined. Radiomics features were extracted from tumor region and peri-tumor region of different thicknesses. We established sub-models to select features from each smaller category. Using this method, we separately constructed radiomic signatures for intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral images using different sequences. We constructed intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral models by combining their features, and a multi-sequence model by combining logits. Models were trained with 397 patients and validated with 170 internal and 31 external patients. Results: For LVSI positive/LNM positive status identification, the multi-parameter MRI radiomics model achieved the area under curve (AUC) values of 0.771 (95%CI: [0.692–0.849])/0.801 (95%CI: [0.704, 0.898]) and 0.864 (95%CI: [0.728–1.000])/0.976 (95%CI: [0.919, 1.000]) in internal and external test cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: Intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral radiomics signatures based on mpMRI can both be used to identify LVSI or LNM status in EC patients non-invasively. Further studies on LVSI and LNM should pay attention to both of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance (USMR) has emerged as a promising candidate for magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) technology. However, the realization of high signal-to-noise output signal in USMR devices has remained a challenge, primarily due to the limited USMR effect at room temperature. In this study, we report a large USMR effect in FeNi/Pt/Bi₂Se₃ trilayers through interfacial engineering with Pt to optimize the spin current transmission efficiency and electron-magnon scattering. Our devices exhibit a USMR value that is an order of magnitude higher than previously reported systems, reaching 30.6 ppm/MA/cm² at room temperature. First-principles calculations and experimental observations suggest that the Pt layer not only preserves the spin-momentum locked topological surface states in Bi₂Se₃ at the Fermi-level but also generates additional Rashba surface states within the Pt itself to enhance the effective SOT efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two-terminal USMR-MRAM devices show robust output performance with 2nd harmonic resistance variation around 0.11 Ω/mA. Remarkably, the performance of these devices further improves at elevated temperatures, highlighting their potential for reliable operation in a wide range of environmental conditions. Our findings pave the way for future advancements in high-performance, energy-efficient spintronic memory devices. Unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance refers to an asymmetric resistance response, which allows for the readout of the magnetic state from two terminal devices. Here, Zhang et al demonstrate a large unidirectional spin hall magnetoresistance FeNi/Pt/Bi₂Se₃ trilayers and present a robust random-access magnetoresistance device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotary swaging (RS) with mandrel was performed on aeroengine high-temperature alloy steel tubes at room temperature. Annealing experiments were conducted on both the non-RS and RS sections at various temperatures. The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties was analyzed. Mechanical testing results revealed that RS resulted in a greater increase in yield strength compared to tensile strength, with a less pronounced recovery of yield strength enhancement after annealing. Annealing at 700 °C showed the most effective recovery of elongation. Microstructural observations showed shortening and coarsening of martensite packets and blocks after annealing, along with the evolution of precipitates. The higher dislocation density introduced by the RS process led to recovery during annealing and extensive recrystallization at 900 °C. Both annealing temperature and dislocations jointly influenced microstructure evolution and the work-hardening behavior. The thickness of shear layers induced by the RS process on the surface could be reduced after annealing and the elongated grains underwent recovery and recrystallization. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms of mechanical performance and microstructure evolution. It holds practical insights for applying the RS-annealing process to aeroengine high-temperature alloy steel tubes and for developing advanced processing routes for aeroengine shafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It was essential to identify individuals at high risk of fragility fracture and prevented them due to the significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden associated with fragility fracture. The quantitative ultrasound (QUS) showed promise in assessing bone structure characteristics and determining the risk of fragility fracture. Aims: To evaluate the performance of a multi-channel residual network (MResNet) based on ultrasonic radiofrequency (RF) signal to discriminate fragility fractures retrospectively in postmenopausal women, and compared it with the traditional parameter of QUS, speed of sound (SOS), and bone mineral density (BMD) acquired with dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Using QUS, RF signal and SOS were acquired for 246 postmenopausal women. An MResNet was utilized, based on the RF signal, to categorize individuals with an elevated risk of fragility fracture. DXA was employed to obtain BMD at the lumbar, hip, and femoral neck. The fracture history of all adult subjects was gathered. Analyzing the odds ratios (OR) and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) was done to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods in discriminating fragility fracture. Results: Among the 246 postmenopausal women, 170 belonged to the non-fracture group, 50 to the vertebral group, and 26 to the non-vertebral fracture group. MResNet was competent to discriminate any fragility fracture (OR = 2.64; AUC = 0.74), Vertebral fracture (OR = 3.02; AUC = 0.77), and non-vertebral fracture (OR = 2.01; AUC = 0.69). After being modified by clinical covariates, the efficiency of MResNet was further improved to OR = 3.31–4.08, AUC = 0.81–0.83 among all fracture groups, which significantly surpassed QUS-SOS (OR = 1.32–1.36; AUC = 0.60) and DXA-BMD (OR = 1.23–2.94; AUC = 0.63–0.76). Conclusions: This pilot cross-sectional study demonstrates that the MResNet model based on the ultrasonic RF signal shows promising performance in discriminating fragility fractures in postmenopausal women. When incorporating clinical covariates, the efficiency of the modified MResNet is further enhanced, surpassing the performance of QUS-SOS and DXA-BMD in terms of OR and AUC. These findings highlight the potential of the MResNet as a promising approach for fracture risk assessment. Future research should focus on larger and more diverse populations to validate these results and explore its clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the advantages of radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) over standard retrograde pancreatosplenectomy (SPRS) in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) by comparing clinical outcomes. Methods: Clinical data from 154 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between January 2015 and August 2018 were collected. We compared the preoperative conditions, postoperative complications, and survival outcomes of patients who underwent two different surgical procedures. By creating a LASSO-Cox model, we determined the parameters affecting DFS and the risk ratios of the two surgical procedures on DFS. Results: The R0 resection rate (85.23% vs. 68.18%, P = 0.003), negative posterior margin rate (96.59% vs. 75.76%, P < 0.001), and tumor bed recurrence rate (15.29% vs. 40.00%, P = 0.001) significantly differed between the RAMPS and SPRS groups. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival and DFS rates of the RAMPS group were significantly better than those of the SPRS group (P < 0.05). Disease-free survival analysis based on Kaplan–Meier curves revealed that RAMPS was superior to SPRS (P < 0.001). Conclusions: We recommend RAMPS as the preferred procedure for treating ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail due to its enhanced lymph node repair capacity and visualization of posterior pancreatic sections, which can increase DFS in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Presenilin-associated protein (PSAP) is a mitochondrial proapoptotic protein as established in cell biology studies. It remains unknown whether it involves in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we explored PASP expression in adult and aged human brains and its alteration relative to Alzheimer-disease (AD)-type neuropathology. In pathology-free brains, light PASP immunoreactivity (IR) occurred among largely principal neurons in the cerebrum and subcortical structures. In the brains with AD pathology, enhanced PSAP IR occurred in neuronal and neuritic profiles with a tangle-like appearance, with PSAP and pTau protein levels elevated in neocortical lysates relative to control. Neuronal/neuritic profiles with enhanced PSAP IR partially colocalized with pTau, but invariably with Amylo-Glo labelled tangles. The neuronal somata with enhanced PASP IR also showed diminished IR for casein kinase 1 delta (Ck1δ), a marker of granulovacuolar degeneration; and diminished IR for sortilin, which is normally expressed in membrane and intracellular protein sorting/trafficking organelles. In old 3xTg-AD mice with β-amyloid and pTau pathologies developed in the brain, PSAP IR in the cerebral sections exhibited no difference relative to wildtype mice. These findings indicate that PSAP upregulation is involved in the course of tangle formation especially in the human brain during aging and in AD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous hospitality research typically focuses on consumers' positive attitudes and intentions toward addressing an existing research gap in the literature on consumer attitude and behaviour in green hotel marketing. Those studies have frequently neglected to investigate the effects of negative attitudes and perspectives. This study aims to explore the relationships between seven indicators of perceived risk, familiarity, novelty, trust, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and intention to visit green hotels. A total of 606 questionnaires were collected and analysed using structural equation modelling. Results showed that perceived risk negatively influences trust, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control. Familiarity positively influences perceived risk but negatively influences attitude. Novelty negatively influences perceived risk and attitude, while trust positively influences attitude and intention. Subjective norm positively influences attitude, perceived behavioural control, and intention, and attitude influences intention. This study provides an alternative negative factor perspective on green hotel visitation using a theoretically driven approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to effectively improve the low bonding strength of TA1/304 clad plates. This study proposes a new process for applying pulse current (1500 A, 500 Hz, 50% duty cycle) to TA1/304 clad plates during the rolling process, which changes the interface microstructure and effectively improves the bonding strength of the clad plates. The influence of the pulsed current on the interface microstructure and bonding strength was systematically studied. The results indicate that the clad plate is initially bonded at 750 °C and 35% reduction ratio under electrically-assisted rolling (EAR), and finally the higher bonding strength is obtained at 850 °C and 48% reduction ratio, reaching 395 MPa. The strengthening of the interface element diffusion and grain refinement under the action of the pulsed current are important reasons for the improvement in the bonding strength of the clad plate. This discovery provides new ideas for the preparation of clad plates with high bonding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Actin-like protein 8 (ACTL8) significantly correlates with tumor growth and prognosis across various cancer types. Nevertheless, the potential relationship between ACTL8 and gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the role of ACTL8 in human GC cells and to explore its mechanism. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis tools, such as GEPIA2, Kaplan–Meier, and STRING, were utilized for a comprehensive investigation of the characteristics and functional roles of ACTL8 in GC, including differential expression, prognostic value, and related signaling pathways. Subsequently, gene expression analyses, cell function assays, and signaling pathway experiments were conducted to verify key findings. Results: Bioinformatics analysis showed that ACTL8 was significantly elevated in GC and closely associated with poor prognosis. Gene expression experiments confirmed the bioinformatics results. Furthermore, ACTL8 knockdown markedly reduced GC cell proliferation and inhibited migration and invasion. Mechanistically, a significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of signaling proteins was observed in GC cells following ACTL8 overexpression, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitors could reverse this effect. Conclusion: ACTL8 expression is significantly upregulated in GC cells and is closely correlated with poor patient prognosis. Further mechanistic studies revealed that ACTL8 may promote GC cell migration and proliferation through activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Consequently, ACTL8 emerges as a promising therapeutic target for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming can enhance biodiversity and soil health and is a sustainable alternative to conventional farming. Yet, soil protists especially protistan predators, have received inadequate attention, and their contributions to the sustainability of organic farming remained underexplored. In this study, we examined soil microbial communities from 379 samples, including both organic and chemically fertilized soils from China. Our findings revealed higher bacterial diversity and increases in plant-beneficial bacteria in organically farmed soils. Notably, organic farming systems facilitated dynamic predator-prey interactions, which may be disrupted by the application of chemical fertilizers. Additionally, organic farming enriched protistan predators, enhancing the relative abundance of functional PGPR, thus improving soil health. We further conducted a case study highlighting the critical role of organic matter in sustaining protistan predator populations and their interactions with bacteria. We propose the crucial contributions of organic inputs for supporting protistan predators and the interplay of predator-prey, ultimately enhancing soil functions and promoting agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is lack of research on corticosteroid use for severe and critical COVID-19 patients with Omicron variant infection. Methods: This multi-center retrospective cohort study involved 1167 patients from 59 ICUs across the mainland of China diagnosed with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection between November 1, 2022, and February 11, 2023. Patients were segregated into two groups based on their corticosteroid treatment—usual dose (equivalent prednisone dose 30–50 mg/day) and higher dose (equivalent prednisone dose > 50 mg/day). The primary outcome was 28-day ICU mortality. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes between cohorts. Results: After propensity score matching, 520 patients in the usual dose corticosteroid group and 260 patients in the higher dose corticosteroid group were included in the analysis, respectively. The mortality was significantly higher in the higher dose corticosteroid group (67.3%, 175/260) compared to the usual dose group (56.0%, 291/520). Logistic regression showed that higher doses of corticosteroids were significantly associated with increased mortality at 28-day (OR = 1.62,95% CI 1.19–2.21, p = 0.002) and mortality in ICU stay (OR = 1.66,95% CI 1.21–2.28, p = 0.002). Different types of corticosteroids did not affect the effect. Conclusions: The study suggests that higher-dose corticosteroids may lead to a poorer prognosis for severe and critical COVID-19 patients with Omicron variant infection in the ICU. Further research is needed to determine the appropriate corticosteroid dosage for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Osteosarcoma, a highly malignant primary bone tumor primarily affecting adolescents, frequently develops resistance to initial chemotherapy, leading to metastasis and limited treatment options. Our study aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets for metastatic and recurrent osteosarcoma. Methods: In this study, we proved the potential of modulating the YAP1-regulated glutamine metabolic pathway to augment the response of OS to DFMO. We initially employed single-cell transcriptomic data to gauge the activation level of polyamine metabolism in MTAP-deleted OS patients. This was further substantiated by transcriptome sequencing data from recurrent and non-recurrent patient tissues, confirming the activation of polyamine metabolism in progressive OS. Through high-throughput drug screening, we pinpointed CIL56, a YAP1 inhibitor, as a promising candidate for a combined therapeutic strategy with DFMO. In vivo, we utilized PDX and CDX models to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this drug combination. In vitro, we conducted western blot analysis, qPCR analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and PuMA experiments to monitor alterations in molecular expression, distribution, and tumor metastasis capability. We employed CCK-8 and colony formation assays to assess the proliferative capacity of cells in the experimental group. We used flow cytometry and reactive oxygen probes to observe changes in ROS and glutamine metabolism within the cells. Finally, we applied RNA-seq in tandem with metabolomics to identify metabolic alterations in OS cells treated with a DFMO and CIL56 combination. This enabled us to intervene and validate the role of the YAP1-mediated glutamine metabolic pathway in DFMO resistance. Results: Through single-cell RNA-seq data analysis, we pinpointed a subset of late-stage OS cells with significantly upregulated polyamine metabolism. This upregulation was further substantiated by transcriptomic profiling of recurrent and non-recurrent OS tissues. High-throughput drug screening revealed a promising combination strategy involving DFMO and CIL56. DFMO treatment curbs the phosphorylation of YAP1 protein in OS cells, promoting nuclear entry and initiating the YAP1-mediated glutamine metabolic pathway. This reduces intracellular ROS levels, countering DFMO's anticancer effect. The therapeutic efficacy of DFMO can be amplified both in vivo and in vitro by combining it with the YAP1 inhibitor CIL56 or the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839. This underscores the significant potential of targeting the YAP1-mediated glutamine metabolic pathway to enhance efficacy of DFMO. Conclusion: Our findings elucidate YAP1-mediated glutamine metabolism as a crucial bypass mechanism against DFMO, following the inhibition of polyamine metabolism. Our study provides valuable insights into the potential role of DFMO in an "One-two Punch" therapy of metastatic and recurrent osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaGeTeO6: Nd3+/Yb3+/Ho3+ green up-conversion phosphors were synthesized using the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The optimal doping concentrations for the three dopant ions Nd3+, Yb3+, and Ho3+ were determined to be 1 mol%, 6 mol%, and 0.8 mol%, respectively, through the method of controlling variables. By analyzing the dependence of the up-conversion luminescence intensity on the pump current of the 980 nm laser, it was found that the green and red up-conversion emissions of Ho3+ ions under 980 nm laser excitation were both two-photon processes. Furthermore, the influence of temperature on the up-conversion luminescent properties of BaGeTeO6: Nd3+/Yb3+/Ho3+ green up-conversion phosphors under 980 nm laser excitation was investigated, and the temperature sensing properties of Ho3+ ions were discussed. The results indicated that, at room temperature and higher temperatures, both the red and green up-conversion emissions of the sample were two-photon processes. Within the range of excitation current used in the experiment, the ratio of red to green up-conversion luminescence intensity of Ho3+ ions was independent of the laser excitation current but correlated with the sample temperature. In the temperature range of 303–723 K, the ratio of red to green up-conversion luminescence intensity of Ho3+ ions exhibited a nonlinear relationship with temperature. Comparing the temperature sensing sensitivity of Ho3+ in different matrices, the results indicated that the sample possessed high temperature sensing sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of aflD gene plays a significant role in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin, aflD structural genes can be served as a good biomarker of aflatoxigenic strains. The detection of the aflD gene is a promising method to control the further spread of aflatoxins. In this research, a rapid fluorescence biosensor targeting aflatoxigenic biosynthesis-related genes aflD was developed based on nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) and AuNPs as fluorescence donors and quenchers respectively. This sensor was fabricated by immobilization of NCQDs and AuNPs on the two ends of hairpin DNA. In the absence of the aflD gene, NCQDs were closed to AuNPs to trigger the fluorescence resonance energy transfer leading to a quenching and showed the fluorescent signal "off". In the presence of the aflD gene, NCQDs and AuNPs were separated by the target aflD gene complementary matching with the loop of the hairpin structure, which caused to the recovery of fluorescence signal and performance the fluorescent signal "on". It was shown that the biosensor provided an excellent limit of detection (LOD) of 1.95 nM (3σ / k) with a liner range of 10–150 nM. Besides, this biosensor performed the satisfied selectivity through the comparison between aflD gene and mismatched DNA sequences. The feasibility of this biosensor was examined in rice contaminated by Aspergillus flavus. Therefore, it could potentially be used as a feasible tool for preventing aflatoxin in grain and its products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine whether an extended lifestyle metrics incorporating sleep quality improves risk stratification for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and significant fibrosis. Methods: A total of 5011 participants with abdominal ultrasound from Imaging sub-cohort of South China Cohort (ISSCC) and 3672 participants underwent vibration controlled transient elastography from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (US NHANES) were included. Liver Essential 5 was constructed by incorporating sleep quality into traditional healthy lifestyles (HLS). Results: A total of 4.66–17.72% of the association between traditional HLS and MAFLD was mediated by sleep quality regardless of the detection techniques, and their joint associations on MAFLD were significant in both cohorts. ORs for individuals with poor sleep and unfavorable HLS were 1.72 (1.29–2.30) in ISSCC and 2.25 (1.55–3.26) in US NHANES, respectively. Around half of the participants previously considered as following a favorable HLS were re-classified by Liver Essential 5 with significantly higher prevalences of MAFLD in both cohorts (P < 0.001). Similar results were also found on at-risk MASH and significant fibrosis in US NHANES. ORs of participants with per one increment increase in Liver Essential 5 were 0.82 (0.77–0.89) and 0.79 (0.70–0.88) for MAFLD in ISSCC and US NHANES, 0.62 (0.48–0.78) for at-risk MASH and 0.78 (0.65–0.93) for significant fibrosis. Conclusions: Liver Essential 5, which incorporates sleep quality and traditional lifestyle factors, provides additional risk stratification for MAFLD-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how engagement (E), foreign language enjoyment (FLE), and ambiguity tolerance (AT) exert mediation/moderation in metaverse-based foreign language learning (FLL). Featuring augment/simulation-based experiences and self-fulfillment/external-control-oriented mechanics, metaverse provides virtualized interactive circumstances involving individuals' embodied presence/behaviors, aligning with FLL that emphasizes social interaction. Based on the quantified survey data, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analyses investigate the significance and positivity of the mediation/moderation relations. According to the results, E exerts fully positive mediation in the effect of intrinsic motivation (IM) on learning effectiveness (LE), FLE exerts partially positive mediation in the effect of classroom social climate (CSC) on E, and AT exerts negative moderation in the positive effect of E on LE. Notably, FLE exerts insignificant mediation in the effect of growth mindset (GM) on E. Therefore, efficient metaverse-based FLL requires synergies of affective factors, i.e., intrinsic motivation, perceptions of classroom social climate, moderate degrees of ambiguity tolerance, and engagement, for sustainable and long-term language learning progress in virtual interactive experiences. At the theoretical level, the findings extend the FLL-related models and advance the understanding of FLL. At the practical level, the findings provide references for more efficient metaverse implementations in FLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), once thought to be mere remnants of ancient viral integrations in the mammalian genome, are now recognized for their critical roles in various physiological processes, including embryonic development, innate immunity, and tumorigenesis. Their impact on host organisms is significant driver of evolutionary changes, offering insight into evolutionary mechanisms. In our study, we explored the functionality of ERVs by examining single-cell transcriptomic profiles from human embryonic stem cells and urine cells. This led to the discovery of a unique ERVH48-1 expression pattern between these cell types. Additionally, somatic cell reprogramming efficacy was enhanced when ERVH48-1 was overexpressed in a urine cell-reprogramming system. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated with ERVH48-1 overexpression recapitulated the traits of those produced by traditional reprogramming approaches, and the resulting iPSCs demonstrated the capability to differentiate into all three germ layers in vitro. Our research elucidated the role of ERVs in somatic cell reprogramming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the rs3918188, rs1799983 and rs1007311 loci of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in northeastern China. The base distribution of eNOS gene rs3918188, rs1799983 and rs1007311 in 1712 human peripheral blood samples from Northeast China was detected by SNaPshot sequencing technology. The correlation between genotype, allele and gene model of these loci of the eNOS gene and the genetic susceptibility to SLE was investigated by logistic regression analysis. The results of the differences in the frequency distribution of their gene models were visualised using R 4.3.2 software. Finally, HaploView 4.2 software was used to analyse the relationship between the haplotypes of the three loci mentioned above and the genetic susceptibility to SLE. A multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis was used to determine the best SNP-SNP interaction model. The CC genotype and C allele at the rs3918188 locus may be a risk factor for SLE (CC vs AA: OR = 1.827, P < 0.05; C vs A: OR = 1.558, P < 0.001), and this locus increased the risk of SLE in the dominant model and the recessive model (AC + CC vs AA: OR = 1.542, P < 0.05; CC vs AA + AC: OR = 1.707, P < 0.001), while the risk of SLE was reduced in the overdominant model (AC vs AA + CC: OR = 0.628, P < 0.001). The GT genotype and T allele at locus rs1799983 may be a protective factor for SLE (GT vs GG: OR = 0.328, P < 0.001; T vs G: OR = 0.438, P < 0.001) and this locus reduced the risk of SLE in the overdominant model (GT vs GG + TT: OR = 0.385, P < 0.001). There is a strong linkage disequilibrium between the rs1007311 and rs1799983 loci of the eNOS gene. Among them, the formed haplotype AG increased the risk of SLE compared to GG. AT and GT decreased the risk of SLE compared to GG. In this study, the eNOS gene rs3918188 and rs1799983 loci were found to be associated with susceptibility to SLE. This helps to deeply explore the mechanism of eNOS gene and genetic susceptibility to SLE. It provides a certain research basis for the subsequent exploration of the molecular mechanism of these loci and SLE, as well as the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy on platelet function in relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM) has not been thoroughly investigated. Our cohort comprised fifty MM patients treated with CAR-T cells. The mean platelet closure time (PCT) induced by collagen/adenosine diphosphate (CADP) in peripheral blood was significantly prolonged before lymphodepletion (195.24 ± 11.740 s) and notably reduced post-CAR-T cell therapy (128.02 ± 5.60 s), with a statistically significant improvement (67.22, 95% CI 46.91–87.53, P < 0.001). This post-treatment PCT was not significantly different from that of healthy controls (10.64, 95% CI 1.11–22.40, P > 0.05). Furthermore, a pronounced enhancement in PCT was observed in patients with a response greater than partial remission (PR) following CAR-T cell infusion compared to pre-treatment values (P < 0.001). An extended PCT was also associated with a less favorable remission status. In patients with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grades 0–2, those with a PCT over 240.5 s exhibited a shorter progression-free survival (PFS), with median PFS times of 10.2 months for the PCT > 240.5 s group versus 22.0 months for the PCT ≤ 240.5 s group. Multivariate analysis revealed that a PCT value exceeding 240.5 s is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in R/R MM patients after CAR-T cell therapy. The study demonstrates that CAR-T cell therapy enhances platelet function in R/R MM patients, and PCT emerges as a potential prognostic biomarker for the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer, classified as a malignant hepatic tumor, can be divided into two categories: primary, originating within the liver, and secondary, resulting from metastasis to the liver from other organs. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main form of primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The diagnosis and prognosis of HCC using current methods still face numerous challenges. This study aims to develop novel diagnostic and prognostic models while identifying new biomarkers for improved HCC treatment. Diagnostic and prognostic models for HCC were constructed using traditional binary classification methods and machine learning algorithms based on the TCGA database (Downloaded in August 2023). The mechanisms by which APLN (Apelin) affects HCC were investigated using single-cell sequencing data sourced from the GEO database (GSE149614). The diagnostic models yielded by various algorithms could effectively distinguished HCC samples from normal ones. The prognostic model, composed of four genes, was constructed using LASSO and Cox regression algorithms, demonstrating good performance in predicting the three-year survival rate of HCC patients. The HCC biomarker Apelin (APLN) was identified in this study. APLN in liver cancer tissues mainly comes from endothelial cells and is associated with the carcinogenesis of these cells. APLN expression is significantly upregulated in liver cancer tissues, marking it as a viable indicator of endothelial cell malignancy in HCC. Furthermore, APLN expression was determined to be an independent predictor of tumor endothelial cell carcinogenesis, unaffected by its modifications such as single nucleotide variation, copy number variation, and methylation. Additionally, liver cancers characterized by high APLN expression are likely to progress rapidly after T2 stage. Our study presents diagnostic and prognostic models for HCC with appreciably improved accuracy and reliability compared to previous reports. APLN is a reliable HCC biomarker and contributes to the establishment of our models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a common health issue among college students, and its prevalence has been increasing in recent years. Numerous studies have indicated that experiences of childhood abuse may be a contributing factor to the development of depression. However, the underlying mechanism in this relationship remains unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy in the relationship between childhood abuse and depression and to identify the moderating effect of subjective social status. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1105 college students from several universities in Sichuan Province, China. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect information on childhood abuse, subjective social status, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and depression. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between childhood abuse and depression. The bootstrap method was employed to test the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and the moderating effect of subjective social status. The results showed that childhood abuse was significantly positively correlated with depression (p < 0.001), regulatory emotional self-efficacy mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and depression, and subjective social status moderated the mediating path. Childhood abuse could affect depression by reducing subjective social status and regulatory emotional self-efficacy. These findings indicated that enhancing regulatory emotional self-efficacy and subjective social status may prevent or reduce depressive symptoms in college students, especially in those with left-behind experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Investigating the effects of different segment compositions in block copolymers on their performance is crucial for enhancing material properties and developing new applications. In this study, we investigate the impact of differing segment compositions on the crystallization behavior, microphase separation characteristics, and physical properties of Poly(vinylcyclohexane)-b-poly(ethylene)-b-poly(vinylcyclohexane) (PVCH-PE-PVCH) block copolymers. In PVCH-PE-PVCH block copolymers, the longer PE segments significantly enhance crystallization capability and order. These long PE segments not only facilitate more effective microphase separation, promoting the formation of larger structural domains, but also favor the crystallization of the PE phase, thereby markedly improving the material's mechanical and optical properties. This reveals the pivotal role of the synergistic effect between long-chain PE distribution and microphase separation in regulating the structure and performance of high-performance polymer materials. Although theoretically, high PE content and high molecular weight are conducive to performance enhancement, this was not fully realized under conditions of weak phase separation capability and shorter PE chains. Therefore, we emphasize that optimizing the performance of these high-performance block copolymers through precise molecular design is feasible, providing powerful strategies and theoretical support for designing novel materials with specific functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iguratimod (T-614) is a compound widely used as anti-rheumatic drug. This study investigated the effect and underlying mechanism of T-614 on experimental Sjögren's syndrome (ESS). ESS mice model was established by injection of submandibular gland protein. Mice were randomly divided into control, experimental Sjögren's syndrome (ESS), ESS + T-614 (10 mg/kg), ESS + T-614 (20 mg/kg), and ESS + T-614 (30 mg/kg) groups. Human submandibular gland (HSG) were cultured with 0, 0.5, 5, or 50 μg/ml T-614 in the absence or presence of interferon-α (IFN-α). Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and cytokine levels were used to detect immune cells activation in submandibular glands. Apoptosis in submandibular glands tissues and cells was determined by TUNEL and flow cytometry. Apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins were detected by western blotting. T-614 treatment attenuated submandibular gland damage in ESS mice. T-614 administration inhibited submandibular gland cell apoptosis in ESS mice. Furthermore, T-614 blocked inflammatory factor levels and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the submandibular glands. In vitro, results corroborated that T-614 could protect HSG cells from IFN-α-induced cell apoptosis and inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our results expounded that T-614 alleviated ESS by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Highlights: Iguratimod ameliorates mice's submandibular gland damage. Iguratimod inhibits submandibular gland cell apoptosis in ESS mice. Iguratimod inhibits inflammatory cytokine levels in ESS mice. Iguratimod attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome activation in ESS mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the affective and performative effects of ludicization, i.e., the process of transforming the original contexts into immersive ludic experiences based on metaphorized desired behaviors and reflexive space, on language learning. The effects of ludicization are based on an integrated model involving multidimensional constructs of extrinsic/intrinsic motivation, technology-acceptance-related constructs from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, and quantified language performance from the College English Test-4 (CET-4). Structural equation modelling (SEM) based on Mplus is the quantitative analytical approach to investigating the relations of these constructs. The results demonstrate that all paths in the integrated model are significantly positive. Multidimensional constructs of extrinsic/intrinsic motivation exert exogenous effects on technology-acceptance-related constructs that positively influence language performance. Ludicization facilitates language learning through 1) an integrative affective cultivation of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation positively associated with the technology-use intention and 2) a problem-solving-oriented setting based on actual technology-use behaviors. This study also provides the rationale for the integrated model to interpret how ludicization is applicable to language learning through affective and performative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of early-onset (onset age <50 years) and later-onset (onset age ≽ 50 years) cancers differ significantly. Identifying novel risk factors for both types of cancer is crucial for increasing awareness of cancer prevention and for reducing its burden. This study aimed to analyze the trends in incidence and risk factors for early-onset and late-onset cancers. We conducted a prospective study by drawing data from the Kailuan Study. This study included 6,741 participants with cancer (624 with early-onset cancer and 6,117 with later-onset cancer) and 6,780 matched controls among the 186,249 participants who underwent Kailuan health examinations from 2006 to 2019. The primary outcomes were cancer incidence rates, and associated risk factors for early- and later-onset cancer. Weighted Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of each exposure factor for early- and later-onset cancer by cancer type. Population-attributable risk proportions were used to estimate the number of cases that could be prevented by eliminating a risk factor from the population. Except for liver cancer, incidence rates for nearly all types of cancer increased during the study period. Smoking, alcohol consumption, lipid metabolism disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver, and inflammation were associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer at multiple sites, but risk factors for cancer incidence differed by site. Smoking, alcohol consumption, inflammation, and hypertension were the major contributors to preventable cancer. The incidence of several different types of cancer, including early-onset cancer, is increasing in northeastern China. Differences in risk factors between early-onset and later-onset malignancies may contribute to the divergence in the observed changes in incidence trends between these two specific types of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a long-term reactivation monitoring approach using multi-source satellite SAR and optical data. It also explores the relationship between landslide deformations and hydrological factors for reactivation assessment and management. More specifically, this approach is applied to investigate the long-term reactivation evolution of the Huangtupo landslide under the local engineering work conducted in four different phases. The spatial–temporal evolutions of the Huangtupo landslide were mapped by the multi-temporal optical images from the PlanetScope satellite, revealing that the building areas were gradually replaced by the vegetation covers. The long-term reactivated deformations were explored by the multi-source satellite SAR data from ALOS-2 and Sentinel-1A/B based on time-series InSAR analysis. Cross-validation between the multi-source InSAR results showed that the ALOS-2 and Sentinel-1A/B measurements are highly correlated. Long-term spatial–temporal deformations were investigated using the Sentinel-1A/B Track 11 data between 2016 and 2022. A long stack of SAR datasets was divided into four consecutive branches based on the local engineering work plan. A general slowing down deformation trend can be observed from the time series analysis, indicating the effectiveness of local measures for maintaining the slope stability. Most importantly, seasonal fluctuations caused by changes in rainfall and Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) water level can be clearly observed from the time series evolutions of deformation during each phase. Through the gray correlation analysis and cross wavelet analysis, it is found that the lower part of the Huangtupo landslide shows a higher correlation with the TGR water level changes, while the upper slope mainly responds to rainfall. Importantly, it is found that the lowest common power was observed at P4 since August, 2020, suggesting that the upper part of the slope has been changed to be more rainfall erosion resistant due to the effort of the drainage system and vegetation restoration from the ecological restoration project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate whether increasing total gonadotropin (Gn) dose is associated with changes in euploid blastocyst rate in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) oocytes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, and 19,246 oocytes were grouped and analyzed based on tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses. Setting: Single reproductive medical center. Subjects: All the patients who underwent PGT cycles, including PGT for aneuploidy, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements, were included. Exposure: Next-generation sequencing platforms for chromosomal analysis. Main outcome measures.: Blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. Results: In total, 19,246 oocytes and 5375 PGT blastocysts were analyzed. There were significant differences in blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates among the groups classified according to tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses. Significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), proportion of primary infertility, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, number of oocytes retrieved, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen, type of Gn, and PGT category were observed among the three groups. After stratifying the analysis by age, BMI, infertility diagnosis, AMH levels, number of oocytes retrieved, PGT category, type of Gn, and COS regimen, significant differences were only seen in a small number of specific subgroups. Furthermore, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates did not significantly increase or decrease with the total Gn dose, whether treated as a continuous variable or divided into three Gn groups as categorical variables. Notably, advancing age was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. PGT for structural rearrangements was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates as compared with PGT for aneuploidy. Conclusion: In the total PGT cycles, advancing age, and preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements negatively affected blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates; however, the total Gn dose did not affect blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs generated by reverse splicing. They are involved in biological process and human diseases by interacting with specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Due to traditional biological experiments being costly, computational methods have been proposed to predict the circRNA-RBP interaction. However, these methods have problems of single feature extraction. Therefore, we propose a novel model called circ-FHN, which utilizes only circRNA sequences to predict circRNA-RBP interactions. The circ-FHN approach involves feature coding and a hybrid deep learning model. Feature coding takes into account the physicochemical properties of circRNA sequences and employs four coding methods to extract sequence features. The hybrid deep structure comprises a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU). The CNN learns high-level abstract features, while the BiGRU captures long-term dependencies in the sequence. To assess the effectiveness of circ-FHN, we compared it to other computational methods on 16 datasets and conducted ablation experiments. Additionally, we conducted motif analysis. The results demonstrate that circ-FHN exhibits exceptional performance and surpasses other methods. circ-FHN is freely available at https://github.com/zhaoqi106/circ-FHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nasal mucosa is composed of multiple layers of barrier structures and is the first line of defense against infection by respiratory pathogenic microorganisms. A large number of commensal microorganisms are present in the nasal mucosa that mediate and regulate nasal mucosal barrier function. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of commensal microorganisms on the nasal mucosal barrier. The results revealed that the strain of Bacillus velezensis (B. velezensis) NSV2 from the nasal cavity has good probiotic abilities to resist Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Lambs were subsequently administered intranasally with B. velezensis NSV2 at 3, 12, 21, and 26 days old, respectively. For the microbial barrier, although B. velezensis NSV2 reduces the diversity of nasal microbiota, it significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the nasal cavity, and reduced the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria. For the mucus barrier, the number of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa significantly increased after B. velezensis NSV2 treatment. For the immune barrier, B. velezensis NSV2 also significantly increased the number of IgA+ B cells, CD3+ T cells and dendritic cells in the nasal mucosa, as well as the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL) 6, IL11, CCL2, and CCL20 (P < 0.05). The protein level of CCL20 also significantly raised in nasal washings (P < 0.05). Moreover, the heat-inactivated and culture products of B. velezensis NSV2 also drastically induced the expression of CCL20 in nasal mucosa explants (P < 0.05), but lower than that of the live bacteria. This study demonstrated that a symbiotic strain of B. velezensis NSV2 could improve the nasal mucosal barrier, and emphasized the important role of nasal symbiotic microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasmid encoded mobile colistin resistance (MCRs) enzyme poses a significant challenge to the clinical efficacy of colistin, which is frequently employed as a last resort antibiotic for treating infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. This transferase catalyzes the addition of positively charged phosphoethanolamine to lipid A of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, thereby facilitating the acquired colistin resistance. This review aims to summarize and critically discuss recent advancements in the distribution and pathogenesis of mcr-positive bacteria, as well as the various control measures available for treating these infections. In addition, the ecology of mcr genes, colistin-resistance mechanism, co-existence with other antibiotic resistant genes, and their impact on clinical treatment are also analyzed to address the colistin resistance crisis. These insights provide a comprehensive perspective on MCRs and serve as a valuable reference for future therapeutic approaches to effectively combat mcr-positive bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddies are increasingly threatened by cadmium (Cd) pollution, and potentially serve as CH4 emitters to the atmosphere. Remediation agents widely mitigate Cd pollution in paddy soil, however, we know little about their regulations on CH4 emission. Here, via adding biochar (B), sulfhydryl-modified palygorskite (SMP), and selenium foliar fertilizer (SFF), we conducted a pot experiment to investigate soil and rice Cd contents together with in-situ CH4 fluxes. Compared to CK, the addition of SMP, SFF, and B-SMP reduced Cd in brown rice by 25% to 50%, 25%, and 50% to 75%, respectively. Agents 7% B, 7% B-0.01% SMP, and SFF reduced CH4 emissions by 8.46%, 5.30%, and 4.11%, respectively. CH4 emission increased gradually along the growing season, with the cumulative CH4 fluxes ranging between 338.82 and 619.13 kg hm−2. Our results highlight that mixed 7% B-0.01% SMP and SFF showed collaborative effects on Cd remediation and CH4 emission. This study reveals the feasibility of reducing Cd pollution and CH4 emission in karst rice paddies, which hopes to supplement the knowledge of collaborative controls on soil remediation and carbon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elemental distribution and microstructure near the surface of high-Mn/Al austenitic low-density steel were investigated after isothermal holding at temperatures of 900–1200°C in different atmospheres, including air, N2, and N2 + CO2. No ferrite was formed near the surface of the experimental steel during isothermal holding at 900 and 1000°C in air, while ferrite was formed near the steel surface at holding temperatures of 1100 and 1200°C. The ferrite fraction was larger at 1200°C because more C and Mn diffused to the surface, exuded from the steel, and then reacted with N and O to form oxidation products. The thickness of the compound scale increased owing to the higher diffusion rate at higher temperatures. In addition, after isothermal holding at 1100°C in N2, the Al content near the surface slightly decreased, while the C and Mn contents did not change. Therefore, no ferrite was formed near the surface. However, the near-surface C and Al contents decreased after holding at 1100°C in the N2 + CO2 mixed atmosphere, resulting in the formation of a small amount of ferrite. The compound scale was thickest in N2, followed by the N2 + CO2 mixed atmosphere, and thinnest in air. Overall, the element loss and ferrite fraction were largest after holding in air at the same temperature. The differences in element loss and ferrite fraction between in N2 and N2 + CO2 atmospheres were small, but the compound scale formed in N2 was significantly thicker. According to these results, N2 + CO2 is the ideal heating atmosphere for the industrial production of high-Mn/Al austenitic low-density steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we aimed to understand and summarize the clinical and pathological characteristics of cutaneous mixed tumors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and pathological data of 20 patients diagnosed with cutaneous mixed tumors in our outpatient department between January 2014 and April 2024. The study comprised 20 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 3:2. The mean age of onset was 52.10 ± 15.46 years. All patients presented with solitary cutaneous lesions ranging from 2 to 30 mm in diameter. Notably, none of the patients received a preoperative diagnosis of cutaneous mixed tumor. The clinical manifestations of cutaneous mixed tumors are nonspecific, necessitating histopathological examination for a definitive diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the multiple object tracking (MOT) performance of athletes vs. non-athletes and expert athletes vs. novice athletes by systematically reviewing and meta-analyzing the literature. A systematic literature search was conducted using five databases for articles published until July 2024. Healthy people were included, specifically classified as athletes and non-athletes, or experts and novices. Potential sources of heterogeneity were selected using a random-effects model. Moderator analyses were also performed. A total of 23 studies were included in this review. Regarding the overall effect, athletes were significantly better at MOT tasks than non-athletes, and experts performed better than novices. Subgroup analyses showed that expert athletes had a significantly larger effect than novices, and that the type of sport significantly moderated the difference in MOT performance between the two groups. Meta-regression revealed that the number of targets and duration of tracking moderated the differences in performance between experts and novices, but did not affect the differences between athletes and non-athletes. This meta-analysis provides evidence of performance advantages for athletes compared with nonathletes, and experts compared with novices in MOT tasks. Moreover, the two effects were moderated by different factors; therefore, future studies should classify participants more specifically according to sports levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are responsible for maintaining pulp structure and function after pulp injury. DPSCs migrate directionally to the injury site before differentiating into odontoblast-like cells, which is a prerequisite and a determinant in pulp repair. Increasing evidence suggests that sensory neuron-stem cell crosstalk is critical for maintaining normal physiological functions, and sensory nerves influence stem cells mainly by neuropeptides. However, the role of sensory nerves on DPSC behaviors after pulp injury is largely unexplored. Here, we find that sensory nerves released significant amounts of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) near the injury site, acting directly on DPSCs via receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) to promote collective migration of DPSCs to the injury site, and ultimately promoting pulp repair. Specifically, sensory denervation leads to poor pulp repair and ectopic mineralization, in parallel with that DPSCs failed to be recruited to the injury site. Furthermore, in vitro evidence shows that sensory nerve-deficient microenvironment suppressed DPSC migration prominently among all related behaviors. Mechanistically, the CGRP-Ramp1 axis between sensory neurons and DPSCs was screened by single-cell RNA-seq analysis and immunohistochemical studies confirmed that the expression of CGRP rather than Ramp1 increases substantially near the damaged site. We further demonstrated that CGRP released by sensory nerves binds the receptor Ramp1 on DPSCs to facilitate cell collective migration by an indirect co-culture system using conditioned medium from trigeminal neurons, CGRP recombinant protein and antagonists BIBN4096. The treatment with exogenous CGRP promoted the recruitment of DPSCs, and ultimately enhanced the quality of pulp repair. Targeting the sensory nerve could therefore provide a new strategy for stem cell-based pulp repair and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]