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A new sol-gel method that employs cation exchange from an aqueous metal ion solution with H+ ions of granulated alginic acid was developed for synthesizing high-purity Y2O3 nanoparticles. In this study, the cation exchange kinetics of H+~Y3+ in aqueous solution were analyzed using on-line pH technology and off-line inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis. Pseudo 2nd-order models were utilized to evaluate the parameters of the kinetics, suggesting that the concentration of H+~Y3+ involved in the cation exchange reaction was 1:1.733. Further, a comprehensive understanding of the Y-ALG calcination process was developed using thermo-gravimetric analysis, along with results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC). A detailed analysis of the XRD Rietveld refinement plots revealed that the crystallite sizes of Y2O3 nanoparticles were about 4 nm (500 °C) and 15 nm (800 °C), respectively. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to investigate the electrochemical oxidation of catechol. The oxidation peak currents of catechol at Y2O3 (500 °C)/GCE and Y2O3 (800 °C)/GCE showed two stages linear function of concentration (2.0~20.0 × 10−6 mol/L, 20.0~60.0 × 10−6 mol/L). The results indicated that the detection limits were equal to 2.4 × 10−7 mol/L (Y2O3 (500 °C)/GCE) and 7.8 × 10−7 mol/L (Y2O3 (800 °C)/GCE). The study not only provided a method to synthesize metal oxide, but also proposed a promising on-line pH model to study cation exchange kinetics.

Abstract With rapid developments in the field of very large‐scale integrated circuits, heat dissipation has emerged as a significant factor that restricts the high‐density integration of chips. Due to their high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient, diamond/Cu composites have attracted considerable attention as a promising thermal management material. In this study, a surface tungsten carbide gradient layer coating of diamond particles has been realized using comprehensive magnetron sputtering technology and a heat treatment process. Diamond/Cu composites were prepared using high‐temperature and high‐pressure technology. The results show that, by adjusting the heat treatment process, tungsten carbide and di‐tungsten carbide are generated by an in situ reaction at the tungsten–diamond interface, and W–WC–W2C gradient layer‐coated diamond particles were obtained. The diamond/Cu composites were sintered by high‐temperature and high‐pressure technology, and the density of surface‐modified diamond/Cu composites was less than 4 g cm−3. The W–WC–W2C@diamond/Cu composites have a thermal diffusivity as high as 331 mm2 s−1, and their thermal expansion coefficient is as low as 1.76 × 10−6 K−1. The interface coherent structure of the gradient layer‐coated diamond/copper composite can effectively improve the interface heat transport efficiency.

In order to alleviate the cyclic attenuation caused by the dissolution of poly-selenides in lithium/sodium storage devices, quantitative selenium was slowly evaporated on the surface of sodium citrate derived carbon (SCDC) at low temperature, and simultaneously the element Se was doped. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the domain-limiting effect of embedded nanopores on Se nanoparticles and the stability of SCDC with Se doped during the embedding and stripping of Na ions, Se@C versus sodium metal exhibits high second specific capacity of 485 mAh·g−1 and unexpected stability at 0.1 A g−1 and 1 A g−1. Se@C versus lithium metal exhibits high second specific capacity of 1185 mAh·g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and excellent stability. Together with the simple and application of synthesis method, Se@C composite is expected to become an anode material for large sodium/lithium storage devices.

Abstract To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients. Randomised controlled trial (RCT) on music therapy for anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients was searched from 7 major databases, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, WOS, CNIC, Wanfang, and Wipro, spanning the period of library construction to 23 October 2023, and the literature screening of music therapy for anxiety or depression in breast cancer patients was carried out by 2 experimentalists, each of whom conducted a literature screening RCT independently of the other anxiety or depression in a RCT. Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale; GRADE profiler software for quality of evidence; and RevMan 5.4 was used for effect size merging and forest plots; publication bias tests and sensitivity analyses were performed using Stata 17.0; and standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI were used as the effect statistics. A total of 13 RCTs with 1326 subjects (aged 18–70 years) were included in the literature, with a mean PEDro score of 6.8, and the literature was overall of good methodological quality. Meta-analysis showed that music therapy improved anxiety in breast cancer patients (841 cases), with a combined effect size (SMD = − 0.82, 95% CI [− 1.03, − 0.61] and P

Abstract Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is suggested to pose a severe risk to the kidneys by inducing functional degradation and chronic kidney diseases (CKD). This study aims to explore the nephrotoxicity of PM2.5 exposure and the underlying mechanism. Herein, based on the UK Biobank, it is found that per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 is associated with a 6% (95% CI: 1%–11%), 7% (95% CI: 3%–11%), 9% (95% CI: 4%–13%), 11% (95% CI: 9%–13%), and 10% (95% CI: 8%–12%) increase in the risk of nephritis, hydronephrosis, kidney stone, acute renal failure, and CKD, respectively. In experimental study, noticeable kidney injury, which is the initiation of kidney diseases, is observed with PM2.5 exposure in C57BL/6N mice (n = 8), accompanied with oxidative stress, autophagy and pyroptosis. In vitro, HK‐2 cells with PM2.5‐stimulation exhibit tubulopathy, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activated pyroptosis and autophagy. All changes are abolished by ROS scavenger of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, the study provides evidence showing that PM2.5 exposure is associated with 5 kinds of kidney diseases by directly inducing nephrotoxicity, in which ROS may be the potential target by triggering autophagy and pyroptosis.

Study objective: Liver fibrosis is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. However, it is unknown how these risks compare in those with pre-diabetes (pre-DM) or diabetes (DM). We examined the association of FIB-4 levels, an indicator of liver fibrosis, with CVD risk and mortality according to DM status. Design and setting: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Participants: We examined 13,326 U.S. adults (6.7 % with DM) with FIB-4 measures classified as low (

Therapeutic Area: ASCVD/CVD Risk Assessment Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); however, there are few algorithms incorporating Lp(a), especially from real-world settings. We developed an electronic health record (EHR)-based risk prediction algorithm including Lp(a). Methods: Utilizing a large EHR database, we categorized Lp(a) cut-points at 25, 50, and 75 mg/dL and constructed 10-year ASCVD risk prediction models incorporating Lp(a) with external validation in a pooled cohort of four US prospective studies. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) was determined among borderline-intermediate risk patients. Results: We included 5,902 patients (mean age 48.7±16.7 years, 51.2% female, and 7.7% Black). Over a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, ASCVD event rates (per 1000 person years) ranged from 8.7 to 16.7 across Lp(a) groups. A 25 mg/dL increment in Lp(a) was associated with 23% higher risk of composite ASCVD. Those with Lp(a) >75 had 88% higher risk of ASCVD (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.30-2.70) and more than double the risk of incident stroke (HR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.54-4.23). C-statistics for our EHR and EHR+Lp(a) models in our EHR training dataset were 0.7475 and 0.7556, respectively, with external validation of 0.7350 and 0.7368, respectively. Among those at borderline/intermediate risk, the NRI was 21.3%. Conclusions: We show the feasibility of developing an improved ASCVD risk prediction model incorporating Lp(a) based on a real-world adult clinic population. The inclusion of Lp(a) in ASCVD prediction models can reclassify risk in patients who may benefit from more intensified ASCVD prevention efforts.

Airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is closely associated with metabolic disturbance, in which brown adipose tissue (BAT) is one of the main contributing organs. However, knowledge of the phenotype and mechanism of PM2.5 exposure-impaired BAT is quite limited. In the study, male C57BL/6 mice at three different life phases (young, adult, and middle-aged) were simultaneously exposed to concentrated ambient PM2.5 or filtered air for 8 weeks using a whole-body inhalational exposure system. H&E staining and high-resolution respirometry were used to assess the size of adipocytes and mitochondrial function. Transcriptomics was performed to determine the differentially expressed genes in BAT. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining, and immunoblots were performed to verify the transcriptomics and explore the mechanism for BAT mitochondrial dysfunction. Firstly, PM2.5 exposure caused altered BAT morphology and mitochondrial dysfunction in middle-aged but not young or adult mice. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure increased cellular senescence in BAT of middle-aged mice, accompanied by cell cycle arrest, impaired DNA replication, and inhibited AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, PM2.5 exposure disrupted apoptosis and autophagy homeostasis in BAT of middle-aged mice. Therefore, BAT in middle-aged mice was more vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure, and the cellular senescence-initiated apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be the mechanism of PM2.5 exposure-induced BAT impairment.

Conventional mechanical drilling of thick carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite laminates is prone to machining-induced defects such as burrs, delamination, and severe tool wear. However, pulsed laser drilling as an improved strategy results in hole taper and the formation of a heat-affected zone (HAZ). Herein, a new laser-mechanical composite drilling process is proposed, which combines the advantages of pulsed laser drilling for avoiding tool wear and twist drilling for achieving high dimensional accuracy, significantly improving the drilling quality of thick CFRP laminates. The evolution mechanism of the hole taper and HAZ with processing conditions in pulsed laser drilling is investigated. Furthermore, a theoretical model is established to reveal the material removal mechanism during the reaming process. The thrust force variation, drilling quality and tool wear are analyzed and verified by comparative experiments. The results show that due to the shielding effect from the surface materials, the maximum hole taper and HAZ at the hole exit reach up to 37.5° and 650 μm, respectively, which can be removed effectively by subsequent reaming operations. Due to its small amount of material removal, the peak thrust force and the average thrust force in laser-mechanical drilling are only 53.8 % and 37.6 % of the critical thrust force of delamination, respectively, which can effectively inhibit delamination. Compared with direct twist drilling, the average wear of the main cutting edge in laser-mechanical drilling is decreased by 60.87 %, which greatly reduces the size of the delamination by 55 %.

Abstract Background The PI3K/AKT pathway transduces the majority of the metabolic actions of insulin. In addition to cytosolic targets, insulin-stimulated phospho-AKT also translocates to mitochondria in the myocardium. Mouse models of diabetes exhibit impaired mitochondrial AKT signaling but the implications of this on cardiac structure and function is unknown. We hypothesized that loss of mitochondrial AKT signaling is a critical step in cardiomyopathy and reduces cardiac oxidative phosphorylation. Methods To focus our investigation on the pathophysiological consequences of this mitochondrial signaling pathway, we generated transgenic mouse models of cardiac-specific, mitochondria-targeting, dominant negative AKT1 (CAMDAKT) and constitutively active AKT1 expression (CAMCAKT). Myocardial structure and function were examined using echocardiography, histology, and biochemical assays. We further investigated the underlying effects of mitochondrial AKT1 on mitochondrial structure and function, its interaction with ATP synthase, and explored in vivo metabolism beyond the heart. Results Upon induction of dominant negative mitochondrial AKT1, CAMDAKT mice developed cardiac fibrosis accompanied by left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction. Cardiac mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation efficiency and ATP content were reduced, mitochondrial cristae structure was lost, and ATP synthase structure was compromised. Conversely, CAMCAKT mice were protected against development of diabetic cardiomyopathy when challenged with a high calorie diet. Activation of mitochondrial AKT1 protected cardiac function and increased fatty acid uptake in myocardium. In addition, total energy expenditure was increased in CAMCAKT mice, accompanied by reduced adiposity and reduced development of fatty liver. Conclusion CAMDAKT mice modeled the effects of impaired mitochondrial signaling which occurs in the diabetic myocardium. Disruption of this pathway is a key step in the development of cardiomyopathy. Activation of mitochondrial AKT1 in CAMCAKT had a protective role against diabetic cardiomyopathy as well as improved metabolism beyond the heart.

As China shifts from urbanization to rural revitalization within its rural governance strategy, devising appropriate governance programs becomes crucial for the effective implementation of overarching strategies. This paper explores the policy pathway of the rural revitalization strategy via the lens of village relational governance. This paper builds a relational network of village governance using the Newtonian gravity model and proposes an effective relational governance policy by analyzing the impact of village cluster patterns under different policy rules. Empirical research was conducted in Guiyang County, Hunan Province, China. The findings of this paper are as follows. (1) Rural development in Guiyang County heavily relies on location advantages and natural resources, and there is an urgent need to reinvent the path of rural governance to foster potential rural clusters. (2) A comparative analysis of the relational networks shows that the assignment-based network has more high-clustering groups and fewer low-clustering clusters than the merit-based network, and it has more cluster types, resulting in a more balanced and diverse network structure. In contrast, the merit-based network has fewer cluster types and tends to have a centralized structure. (3) The assignment-type network has greater advantages in terms of agricultural productivity, preserving local culture, and protecting the environment. Simultaneously, its network path has the potential to boost the intrinsic vitality of rural areas and attract more groups to contribute to its development. This path is feasible due to the high level of organization within the Chinese villages. Consequently, this study recommends that the county government should actively decentralize power to villages and grant villages equal development rights to encourage villages to build network clusters with unique competitive advantages.

The electrification of transportation is experiencing rapid development. Electric bicycles (e-bikes) are commonly employed as convenient modes of transportation. Thanks to the advantages of long life and high energy density, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in e-bikes. In certain business models, e-bikes can utilize rental LIBs, which are centrally managed at charging stations. The low-temperature charging and discharging performance of the LIB system poses a significant challenge during usage. Among various heating methods, alternating current (AC) heating has garnered attention due to its high efficiency and has been applied to quickly warm up the LIB system. To address this issue, an AC heating model was established to determine the appropriate frequency and magnitude of the current, and a prototype AC heating system for the LIB modules used in e-bikes was designed. A full-bridge topology system model was established, and an experimental platform was constructed to test the effectiveness of the proposed AC heating topology and thermoelectric model under different AC heating frequencies and currents. The results show that the proposed AC heating system can heat an 18650 battery module within 20 min. Under an ambient temperature of −20 °C, using a 10 A, a 100 Hz excitation current achieves a heating rate of 1.3 °C per minute, with minimum power losses. The prototype also has a fast response time of only 70 ms. Finally, the strategies of LIB heating and insulation are proposed for the scenario of a battery swapping station. This research holds great significance in resolving the problem of low-temperature heating for e-bikes in cold regions.

Difficulties in elucidating active sites and the role of the support hamper the development of high-efficiency two-electron oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. Here, the authors develop hybrid single-atom catalysts by rational experimental and theoretical screening for hydrogen peroxide production.

Abstract In this study, we explored the relationship between inflammatory adipokine levels and coronary artery disease (CAD). We collected subcutaneous adipose tissues(SAT), pericardial adipose tissues(PAT), and epicardial adipose tissues (EAT) and serum samples from 26 inpatients with CAD undergone coronary artery bypass grafting and 20 control inpatients without CAD. Serum inflammatory adipokines were measured by ELISA. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to measure gene and protein expression. Adipocyte morphology was assessed by H&E staining. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to measure endothelial and inflammatory markers. Serum pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokine levels were higher and lower, respectively, in the CAD group than those in the control group (P

Therapeutic Area: Diabetes Background: Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are both leading contributors to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, HTN subtypes may impact CVD outcomes to varying degrees. Data are limited on the association of HTN subtypes comparing those with versus without DM. The aim of this project is to examine the association of DM status with HTN subtypes. Methods: A total of 19,062 adults (projected to 39 million adults) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey years 1999-2016 with untreated HTN, defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 130 or diastolic BP ≥ 80 mm Hg, were included in the analysis. Individuals were further stratified by HTN subtype: isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). Multiple logistic regression analyses examined the relation of diabetes and glycemic control to the likelihood of ISH. Results: Among the subjects examined, 16.4% had DM and among those a greater proportion (65%) had ISH compared to 36% in those without DM (p

A sinusoidal phase modulation laser interferometer is proposed to detect water surface acoustic waves excited by underwater acoustic radiation, and an improved PGC-Arctan demodulation algorithm that combines prenormalization and Lissajous ellipse fitting is proposed to demodulate detection signals. In this paper, the effects of phase modulation depth, carrier phase delay, and interference signal visibility on the Lissajous figure formed by quadrature interference components are analyzed. The demodulation algorithm first uses the amplitudes of multiple Fourier spectral components of an interference signal to calculate the phase modulation depth C, and calculation of the carrier phase delay Vc is achieved through the introduction of a quadrature carrier signal. Then, certain coefficients regarding C and Vc are constructed for prenormalization of the two quadrature interference signal components to eliminate the local nonuniform widening phenomenon of Lissajous ellipse. Next, the outer and the inner contours are extracted from a uniformly widened Lissajous ellipse resulting from light intensity disturbance, and the axial ratio of the ellipse is obtained, which is used to correct the ratio of the quadrature interference signal to eliminate the effect of filter gain coefficients. At last, through the combination of an Arctan algorithm and a phase-unwrapping algorithm, high-precision demodulation of the interference signal is realized. A sinusoidal phase modulation interferometer was set up to detect water surface acoustic waves, and a series of detection experiments were carried out. The experiment results show that the detection method and demodulation algorithm described in this paper can accurately realize the measurement of weak water surface acoustic waves. The proposed algorithm shows less distortion in demodulation results, and its signal-to-noise distortion ratio is less than 20 dB at 500 Hz, which is significantly better than traditional algorithms. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of water surface acoustic wave detection using sinusoidal phase modulation interferometer.

It is challenging to integrate multi-single metal atoms into one support. In this work, the authors demonstrate the production of high-entropy single-atom catalysts via a movable typing method, which enables the anchor up to eleven metals as highly dispersed single-atom active centers on the carbon support for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Dendritic silver hierarchical structures were prepared via a simple electrochemical deposition method in the presence of citric acid. The influence of the molar ratio of citric acid and AgNO3, the deposition time and the deposition current on the crystalline and morphology of the products were studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Dendritic silver hierarchical structures consist of a long trunk with secondary branches, which grew in a parallel direction with a definite angle to the trunk. The average diameter of the trunk is 230-320 nm, that of the secondary branches is about 250 nm and the length of the branches is about 850 nm. The charge specific capacity of dendritic silver hierarchical structures was stable at around 250 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 0.1C. They also exhibited excellent rate capability at the various current rates from 0.1 to 5C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aberrant RNA splicing produces alternative isoforms of genes to facilitate tumor progression, yet how this process is regulated by oncogenic signal remains largely unknown. Here, we unveil that non-canonical activation of nuclear AURKA promotes an oncogenic RNA splicing of tumor suppressor RBM4 directed by m6A reader YTHDC1 in lung cancer. Nuclear translocation of AURKA is a prerequisite for RNA aberrant splicing, specifically triggering RBM4 splicing from the full isoform (RBM4-FL) to the short isoform (RBM4-S) in a kinase-independent manner. RBM4-S functions as a tumor promoter by abolishing RBM4-FL-mediated inhibition of the activity of the SRSF1-mTORC1 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, AURKA disrupts the binding of SRSF3 to YTHDC1, resulting in the inhibition of RBM4-FL production induced by the m6A-YTHDC1-SRSF3 complex. In turn, AURKA recruits hnRNP K to YTHDC1, leading to an m6A-YTHDC1-hnRNP K-dependent exon skipping to produce RBM4-S. Importantly, the small molecules that block AURKA nuclear translocation, reverse the oncogenic splicing of RBM4 and significantly suppress lung tumor progression. Together, our study unveils a previously unappreciated role of nuclear AURKA in m6A reader YTHDC1-dependent oncogenic RNA splicing switch, providing a novel therapeutic route to target nuclear oncogenic events.

RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) has recently been recognized as a cancer therapeutic target. The activity of this enzyme is essential for ribosome biogenesis and is universally activated in cancers. The enzymatic activity of this multi-subunit complex resides in its catalytic core composed of RPA194, RPA135, and RPA12, a subunit with functions in RNA cleavage, transcription initiation and elongation. Here we explore whether RPA12 influences the regulation of RPA194 in human cancer cells. We use a specific small-molecule Pol I inhibitor BMH-21 that inhibits transcription initiation, elongation and ultimately activates the degradation of Pol I catalytic subunit RPA194. We show that silencing RPA12 causes alterations in the expression and localization of Pol I subunits RPA194 and RPA135. Furthermore, we find that despite these alterations not only does the Pol I core complex between RPA194 and RPA135 remain intact upon RPA12 knockdown, but the transcription of Pol I and its engagement with chromatin remain unaffected. The BMH-21-mediated degradation of RPA194 was independent of RPA12 suggesting that RPA12 affects the basal expression, but not the drug-inducible turnover of RPA194. These studies add to knowledge defining regulatory factors for the expression of this Pol I catalytic subunit.

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a gestational hypertensive disease with unclear pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify the genes that play an important role in determining the pathogenesis of PE using bioinformatics analysis and fundamental researches.Materials and methods: Datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The NCBI, SangerBox, and other databases were used to analyze the functions of the DEGs. Targetscan7, miRWalk, ENCORI, DIANA TOOLS, CircBank databases, and the Cytoscape tool were used to construct the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA- LEP network. SRAMP, RPISeq, RBPsuite, and catRPAID were used to analyze the RNA modifications of LEP. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the dataset GSE75010. Placental tissues from normal pregnant women and PE patients were collected, screened for gene expression using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The results were further verified in HTR-8/SVneo cell line hypoxia model and PE mouse model.Results: Our analyses revealed that LEP was significantly upregulated in eight datasets. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses indicated that LEP was involved in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, angiogenesis, and placental development. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed that M1 and M2 macrophages differed between normal pregnancies and those in PE patients. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed, and proteins interacting with LEP were identified. RNA modification sites of LEP were also identified. Finally, the overexpression of LEP in PE was confirmed in clinical samples, HTR-8/SVneo cell line and PE mouse model.Conclusion: Our results indicate that LEP overexpression is associated with PE and may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target.

Abstract The aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte*platelet ratio (NLRP) are novel indices that simultaneously reflect the inflammatory and immune status. However, the role of these indices in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the predictive value of AISI, SIRI, and NLRP in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. A total of 1558 patients with ACS undergoing PCI were consecutively enrolled from January 2016 to December 2018. The AISI, SIRI, NLRP, systemic immune-inflammatory index, derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio cutoff values for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were calculated using receiver-operating characteristic curves, and Spearman's test was used to analyze correlations between these indices. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression models were used for survival analyses, and the endpoint was a MACE, which included all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for severe heart failure during the follow-up period. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that higher AISI, SIRI, and NLRP values were associated with a higher risk of MACE (all P .05). Increasing tertiles of AISI, SIRI, and NLRP significantly increased the MACE risk ( P for trend < .05). AISI, SIRI, and NLRP may be suitable laboratory markers for identifying high-risk patients with ACS after PCI.

Breast cancer stem cells are responsible for cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. However, effective targeting strategies against the cell subpopulation are still limited. Here, we unveil two splice variants of very-low-density lipoprotein receptor, VLDLR-I and -II, which are highly expressed in breast cancer stem cells. In breast cancer cells, VLDLR silencing suppresses sphere formation abilities in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. We find that VLDLR knockdown induces transition from self-renewal to quiescence. Surprisingly, ligand-binding activity is not involved in the cancer-promoting functions of VLDLR-I and -II. Proteomic analysis reveals that citrate cycle and ribosome biogenesis-related proteins are upregulated in VLDLR-I and -II overexpressed cells, suggesting that VLDLR dysregulation is associated with metabolic and anabolic regulation. Moreover, high expression of VLDLR in breast cancer tissues correlates with poor prognosis of patients. Collectively, these findings indicate that VLDLR may be an important therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of agricultural soils poses a potential public health issue for humans. Phytoremediation-based accumulating plants are an effective and sustainable technology for Cadmium remediation of contaminated agricultural soil. The rhizosphere microbiome can promote the growth and Cadmium accumulation in hyperaccumulators, but its taxonomic and functional traits remain elusive. The present study used two ecotypes of Sedum alfredii, an accumulating ecotype (AE) and a non-accumulating ecotype (NAE), as model plants to investigate the rhizosphere microbiome assemblages and influence on plant growth under high cadmium conditions. Our results showed that distinct root microbiomes assembled in association with both ecotypes of S. alfredii and that the assemblages were based largely on the lifestyles of the two ecotypes. In addition, we demonstrated that the functions of the microbes inhabiting the rhizosphere soils were closely associated with root-microbe interactions in both ecotypes of S. alfredii. Importantly, our results also demonstrated that the rhizosphere microbiome assembled in the AE rhizosphere soils contributed to plant growth and cadmium uptake under high cadmium conditions through functions such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, and siderophore metabolism. However, this phenomenon was not clearly observed in the NAE. Our results suggest that the rhizosphere microbiome plays important roles in biogeochemical nutrient and metal cycling that can contribute to host plant fitness.

In nature, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in the root systems of plants. They can help enhance the resistance of host plants by improving the compartmentalization of toxic metal contaminants in the cell walls (CWs). However, the functions and responses of various CW subfractions to mycorrhizal colonization under Cd exposure remain unknown. Here we conducted a study to investigate how Cd is stored in the cell walls of maize roots colonized by Funneliformis mosseae. Our findings indicate that inoculating the roots with AMF significantly lowers the amount of Cd in the maize shoots (63.6 ± 6.54 mg kg−1 vs. 45.3 ± 2.19 mg kg−1, p < 0.05) by retaining more Cd in the mycorrhized roots (224.0 ± 17.13 mg kg−1 vs. 289.5 ± 8.75 mg kg−1, p < 0.01). This reduces the adverse effects of excessive Cd on the maize plant. Additional research on the subcellular distribution of Cd showed that AMF colonization significantly improves the compartmentalization of 88.2% of Cd in the cell walls of maize roots, compared to the 80.8% of Cd associated with cell walls in the non-mycorrhizal controls. We observed that the presence of AMF did not increase the amount of Cd in pectin, a primary binding site for cell walls; however, it significantly enhanced the content of lignin and the proportion of Cd in the total root cell walls. This finding is consistent with the increased activity of lignin-related enzymes, such as PAL, 4CL, and laccase, which were also positively impacted by mycorrhizal colonization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that AMF increased the number and types of functional groups, including −OH/−NH and carboxylate, which chelate Cd in the lignin. Our research shows that AMF can improve the ability of maize plants to tolerate Cd by reducing the amount of Cd transferred from the roots to the shoots. This is achieved by increasing the amount of lignin in the cell walls, which binds with Cd and prevents it from moving through the plant. This is accomplished by activating enzymes related to lignin synthesis and increasing the exposure of Cd-binding functional groups of lignin. However, more direct evidence on the immobilization of Cd in the mycorrhiza-altered cell wall subfractions is needed.

Abstract Application of differentiation therapy targeting cellular plasticity for the treatment of solid malignancies has been lagging. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinctive cancer with poor differentiation and high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Here, we show that the expression of EBV latent protein LMP1 induces dedifferentiated and stem-like status with high plasticity through the transcriptional inhibition of CEBPA. Mechanistically, LMP1 upregulates STAT5A and recruits HDAC1/2 to the CEBPA locus to reduce its histone acetylation. HDAC inhibition restored CEBPA expression, reversing cellular dedifferentiation and stem-like status in mouse xenograft models. These findings provide a novel mechanistic epigenetic-based insight into virus-induced cellular plasticity and propose a promising concept of differentiation therapy in solid tumor by using HDAC inhibitors to target cellular plasticity.

Background and aims Novel pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines affect inflammation, energy metabolism, and insulin signaling. However, their role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) development is unclear. We evaluated the diagnostic and risk predictive value of such adipocytokines for ACS. Methods We enrolled 168 consecutive inpatients with suspected ACS and detected serum PLIN1, PLIN2, PLIN5, CTRP6, CTRP7, CTRP11, WISP1, FAM19A5, TNF-α, and adiponectin levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Spearman's test were used to assess risk factors for ACS and correlations between serum adipocytokines and continuous variables, respectively. Results Serum levels of the adipocytokines differed between ACS and Non-ACS groups ( p

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is caused by prolonged inflammation of the paranasal sinus mucosa. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the occurrence and development of CRSwNP. The T-cell immunoglobulin domain and the mucin domain 4 (TIM-4) is closely related to chronic inflammation, but its mechanism in CRSwNP is poorly understood. In our study, we found that TIM-4 was increased in the sinonasal mucosa of CRSwNP patients and, especially, in macrophages. TIM-4 was positively correlated with α-SMA but negatively correlated with E-cadherin in CRS. Moreover, we confirmed that TIM-4 was positively correlated with the clinical parameters of the Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores. In the NP mouse model, administration of TIM-4 neutralizing antibody significantly reduced the polypoid lesions and inhibited the EMT process. TIM-4 activation by stimulating with tissue extracts of CRSwNP led to a significant increase of TGF-β1 expression in macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, coculture of macrophages and human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) results suggested that the overexpression of TIM-4 in macrophages made a contribution to the EMT process in hNECs. Mechanistically, TIM-4 upregulated TGF-β1 expression in macrophages via the ROS/p38 MAPK/Egr-1 pathway. In conclusion, TIM-4 contributes to the EMT process and aggravates the development of CRSwNP by facilitating the production of TGF-β1 in macrophages. Inhibition of TIM-4 expression suppresses nasal polyp formation, which might provide a new therapeutic approach for CRSwNP.

BackgroundThe C1q/TNF-related protein (CTRP) family affects inflammation regulation, energy metabolism, and insulin signaling. However, their role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) development is unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the association between CTRP family and ACS.MethodsWe enrolled 289 consecutive inpatients with suspected ACS. Serum CTRP family, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and adiponectin (ADP) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses were used to assess risk factors for ACS. Spearman's tests were used to analyze correlations between CTRP family and continuous variables.ResultsSerum CTRP family levels differed significantly between ACS and Control groups (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, CTRP family were independently associated with ACS (p < 0.05). The association between serum CTRP family levels and ACS was stable in various subgroups according to sex, age, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia status (p for interaction > 0.05). Increasing tertiles of serum CTRP1 levels, significantly increased ACS risks, which decreased gradually with increasing CTRP2, CTRP12, and CTRP13 tertiles (p for trend < 0.05). Additionally, serum CTRP1, CTRP2, CTRP13, and CTRP15 levels were weakly correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.ConclusionCTRP1 and CTRP5 were identified as independent ACS risk factors, whereas CTRP2, CTRP3, CTRP9, CTRP12, CTRP13, and CTRP15 were independent protective factors for ACS. CTRP family, especially CTRP1 and CTRP3 could be novel potential clinical biomarkers of ACS.

PurposeTo identify and compare the value of functional MRI (fMRI) in predicting the early response of metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs) to induction chemotherapy (IC) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.MethodsThis prospective study collected 94 metastatic LNs from 40 consecutive NPC patients treated with IC from January 2021 to May 2021. Conventional diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were performed before and after IC. The parameter maps apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean diffusion coefficient (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), Dslow, Dfast, perfusion fraction (PF), Ktrans, Ve, and Kep) of the metastatic nodes were calculated by the Functool postprocessing software. All LNs were classified as the responding group (RG) and non-responding group (NRG) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. The fMRI parameters were compared before and after IC and between the RG and the NRG. The significant parameters are fitted by logistic regression analysis to produce new predictive factor (PRE)–predicted probabilities. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to further identify and compare the efficacy of the parameters.ResultsAfter IC, the mean values of ADC, MD, and Dslow significantly increased, while MK, Dfast, and Ktrans values decreased dramatically, while no significant difference was detected in Ve and Kep. Compared with NRG, PF-pre and Ktrans-pre values in the RG were higher statistically. The areas under the ROC for the pretreatment PF, Ktrans, and PRE were 0.736, 0.722, and 0.810, respectively, with the optimal cutoff value of 222 × 10-4, 934 × 10-3/min, and 0.6624, respectively.ConclusionsThe pretreatment fMRI parameters PF and Ktrans showed promising potential in predicting the response of the metastatic LNs to IC in NPC patients.Clinical Trial RegistrationThis study was approved by the ethics board of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, and registered on 30 January 2021, in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=121198, identifier (ChiCTR2100042863).

The integration of active cooling systems in super or hypersonic aircraft using endothermic hydrocarbon fuels is considered an effective way to relieve the thermal management issues caused by overheating. When the temperature of aviation kerosene exceeds 150 °C, the oxidation reaction of fuel is accelerated, forming insoluble deposits that could cause safety hazards. This work investigates the deposition characteristic as well as the morphology of the deposits formed by thermal-stressed Chinese RP-3 aviation kerosene. A microchannel heat transfer simulation device is used to simulate the heat transfer process of aviation kerosene under various conditions. The temperature distribution of the reaction tube was monitored by an infrared thermal camera. The properties and morphology of the deposition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The mass of the deposits was measured using the temperature-programmed oxidation method. It is observed that the deposition of RP-3 is highly related to dissolved oxygen content (DOC) and temperature. When the outlet temperature increased to 527 °C, the fuel underwent violent cracking reactions, and the structure and morphology of deposition were significantly different from those caused by oxidation. Specifically, this study reveals that the structure of the deposits caused by short-to-medium term oxidation are dense, which is different from long-term oxidative deposits.

The development of highly active and low-cost catalysts for use in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial to many advanced and eco-friendly energy techniques. N-doped carbons are promising ORR catalysts. However, their performance is still limited. In this work, a zinc-mediated template synthesis strategy for the development of a highly active ORR catalyst with hierarchical porous structures was presented. The optimal catalyst exhibited high ORR performance in a 0.1 M KOH solution, with a half-wave potential of 0.89 V vs. RHE. Additionally, the catalyst exhibited excellent methanol tolerance and stability. After a 20,000 s continuous operation, no obvious performance decay was observed. When used as the air–electrode catalyst in a zinc–air battery (ZAB), it delivered an outstanding discharging performance, with peak power density and specific capacity as high as 196.3 mW cm−2 and 811.5 mAh gZn−1, respectively. Its high performance and stability endow it with potential in practical and commercial applications as a highly active ORR catalyst. Additionally, it is believed that the presented strategy can be applied to the rational design and fabrication of highly active and stable ORR catalysts for use in eco-friendly and future-oriented energy techniques.

It was found in our previous work that hyperbranched polyester (HPE) can generate radicals and accelerate the chemical reactions of hydrocarbon fuels used as initiators. In this work, the evaporation and autoignition characteristics of JP-10 droplets with or without HPE were investigated using the high-speed backlight imaging technique in detail. The results indicate that the puffing and micro-explosion phenomena of HPE-blended JP-10 droplets can accelerate fuel evaporation and autoignition. When a 0.1% mass concentration of HPE was used, the droplet lifetime was reduced by 16.5% in evaporation at 850 K and 18.0% in autoignition at 900 K. A mechanism of HPE that promotes puffing and micro-explosions was proposed by analyzing droplet images of combustion and SEM images of combustion residues. Overall, this study provides a method for improving the evaporation and autoignition performance of JP-10.