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Abstract Background Sp1, a transcription factor, regulates essential cellular processes and plays important tumorigenic roles across diverse cancers. However, comprehensive pan-cancer analyses of its expression and potential immunomodulatory roles remain unexplored. Methods Utilizing bioinformatics tools and public datasets, we examined the expression of Sp1 across normal tissues, tumors, and immune cells, and screened for pre- and post-transcriptional modifications, including genetic alterations, DNA methylation, and protein phosphorylation, affecting its expression or function. The association of Sp1 expression with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden, and immune checkpoint signaling was also investigated. Single-cell transcriptome data was used to assess Sp1 expression in immune cells in gastric cancer (GC), and findings were corroborated using immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence in an immunotherapy-treated patient cohort. The prognostic value of Sp1 in GC patients receiving immunotherapy was evaluated with Cox regression models. Results Elevated Sp1 levels were observed in various cancers compared to normal tissues, with notable prominence in GC. High Sp1 expression correlated with advanced stage, poor prognosis, elevated tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) status, particularly in GC. Significant correlations between Sp1 levels and CD8+ T cell and the M1 phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages were further detected upon multiplex immunofluorescence in GC samples. Interestingly, we verified that GC patients with higher Sp1 levels exhibited improved response to immunotherapy. Moreover, Sp1 emerged as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for GC patients undergoing immunotherapy. Conclusions Our pan-cancer analysis sheds light on the multifaceted role of Sp1 in tumorigenesis and underscores its potential as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for patients with GC undergoing immunotherapy.

Abstract Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have emerged as a versatile and promising platform for developing advanced integrated photonic devices and systems due to their low power consumption, high modulation bandwidth, small footprint, excellent scalability, and compatibility with monolithic integration. By combining these unique capabilities of VCSELs with the functionalities offered by micro/nano optical structures (e.g. metasurfaces), it enables various versatile energy-efficient integrated photonic devices and systems with compact size, enhanced performance, and improved reliability and functionality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art versatile integrated photonic devices/systems based on VCSELs, including photonic neural networks, vortex beam emitters, holographic devices, beam deflectors, atomic sensors, and biosensors. By leveraging the capabilities of VCSELs, these integrated photonic devices/systems open up new opportunities in various fields, including artificial intelligence, large-capacity optical communication, imaging, biosensing, and so on. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to provide a detailed understanding of the pivotal role played by VCSELs in integrated photonics and highlight their significance in advancing the field towards efficient, compact, and versatile photonic solutions.

Abstract Background The Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum results in reduced crop yields and the potential for vomitoxin contamination, which poses a risk to both human and livestock health. The primary method of control relies on the application of chemical fungicides. Results The current study found that the tebuconazole sensitivity of 165 F. graminearum isolates collected from the Huang-Huai-Hai region of China between 2019 and 2023 ranged from 0.005 to 2.029 µg/mL, with an average EC50 value of 0.33 ± 0.03 µg/mL. The frequency distribution conformed to a unimodal curve around the mean, and therefore provides a useful reference for monitoring the emergence of tebuconazole resistance in field populations of F. graminearum. No cross-resistance was detected between tebuconazole and other unrelated fungicides such as flutriafol, propiconazole and fluazinam, but there was a clear negative cross-resistance with triazole fungicides including fludioxonil, epoxiconazole, hexaconazole, and metconazole. Analysis of five tebuconazole-resistant mutants produced under laboratory conditions indicated that although the mycelial growth of the mutants were significantly (p

Abstract Background Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) can affect patient outcomes and can even be life-threatening. This study aimed to explore the role of Shionone in cerebral I/R and reveal its mechanism of action through the cerebral I/R in vitro model. Methods SH-SY5Y cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to induce cerebral I/R in vitro model. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with different concentrations of Shionone. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry assays were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis levels. The levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde were determined using their corresponding kits to examine the level of oxidative stress. The inflammation response was detected by IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels, using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels of p38 and NF-κB. Western blotting was used to quantify the apoptosis-related proteins and p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway proteins. Results Shionone exhibited no toxic effects on SH-SY5Y cells. Shionone inhibited OGD/R-induced cell apoptosis, improved the inflammatory response caused by OGD/R, and reduced the level of oxidative stress in cells. Western blot assay results showed that Shionone alleviated OGD/R-induced injury by inhibiting the activity of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The p38/MAPK agonist P79350 reversed the beneficial effects of Shionone. Conclusion Shionone alleviates cerebral I/R and may thus be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating cerebral I/R.

Abstract Background Prior studies have suggested a potential relationship between osteoporosis and sarcopenia, both of which can present symptoms of compromised mobility. Additionally, fractures among the elderly are often considered a common outcome of both conditions. There is a strong correlation between fractures in the elderly population, decreased muscle mass, weakened muscle strength, heightened risk of falls, and diminished bone density. This study aimed to pinpoint crucial diagnostic candidate genes for osteoporosis patients with concomitant sarcopenia. Methods Two osteoporosis datasets and one sarcopenia dataset were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential expression genes (DEGs) and module genes were identified using Limma and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), followed by functional enrichment analysis, construction of protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, and application of a machine learning algorithm (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression) to determine candidate hub genes for diagnosing osteoporosis combined with sarcopenia. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and column line plots were generated. Results The merged osteoporosis dataset comprised 2067 DEGs, with 424 module genes filtered in sarcopenia. The intersection of DEGs between osteoporosis and sarcopenia module genes consisted of 60 genes, primarily enriched in viral infection. Through construction of the PPI network, 30 node genes were filtered, and after machine learning, 7 candidate hub genes were selected for column line plot construction and diagnostic value assessment. Both the column line plots and all 7 candidate hub genes exhibited high diagnostic value (area under the curve ranging from 1.00 to 0.93). Conclusion We identified 7 candidate hub genes (PDP1, ALS2CL, VLDLR, PLEKHA6, PPP1CB, MOSPD2, METTL9) and constructed column line plots for osteoporosis combined with sarcopenia. This study provides reference for potential peripheral blood diagnostic candidate genes for sarcopenia in osteoporosis patients.

IntroductionAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a widespread upper airway disorder characterized by inflammation of the nasal passages. It is immunologically mediated via the hypersensitivity type I mechanism, which is primarily elicited by the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-linking allergen-induced imbalance of the Th2/Th1 immune response. Owing to the limited efficacy of current medications, probiotics have received attention for their potential in preventing and ameliorating AR.MethodsIn this study, a Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain, GOLDGUTLpc969 (Lpc969), isolated from the feces of healthy adults, was proven to be effective in preventing AR by LPA-induced RBL-2H3 in-vitro and OVA-induced AR mice in-vivo evaluation.ResultsThe strain significantly attenuated the release of histamine and degranulation in LPS-induced RBL-2H3 cells. In the OVA-induced AR mice, L. paracasei GOLDGUT-Lpc969 also exhibited a significant decrease in disease indicators such as the disease activity index (DAI score), serum IgE, and serum histamine. Treatment with L. paracasei GOLDGUT-Lpc969 led to significant suppression of the Th2-related cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α in the serum of mice.DiscussionFurthermore, a comparison of the genomes of three previously reported AR-effective L. paracasei strains (including GOLDGUTLpc969) and one non-effective L. paracasei strain revealed that the gene K03671 may play a key role in alleviating AR symptoms. In conclusion, this study highlights the efficacy of L. paracasei GOLDGUT-Lpc969 in AR prevention by suppressing the Th2 immune response and proposes the potential involvement of the functional gene K03671 in ameliorating AR symptoms. Therefore, L. paracasei GOLDGUT-Lpc969 shows promise as a probiotic for preventing AR.

Abstract Bamboo corals are promising archives of paleoceanographic conditions. Existing calibrations for element‐to‐calcium ratio (El/Ca) proxies of bamboo corals, however, are not necessarily calibrated to contemporaneous environmental parameters, thus weakening the reliability of the proxies. Here, we aim at calibrating the proxies by comparing El/Ca in the outermost surface of the calcareous skeletons of live‐collected bamboo corals from the South China Sea (SCS) with modern environmental records. Statistical analysis suggests that Mg/Ca and Ba/Ca can be expressed as a function of in situ seawater temperature and silicate concentration, respectively, that is, Mg/Ca (mmol/mol) = 2.17 ± 0.51 * T (°C) + 74.90 ± 2.66 and Ba/Ca (μmol/mol) = 0.070 ± 0.020 * Silicate (μmol/kg) + 7.27 ± 2.42. The slope of the Mg/Ca‐T equation from this study is slightly different from that in a previous study on bamboo corals, likely due to taxonomic and/or geographic differences of the corals and/or differences in sampling strategy and pre‐treatment method. Intra‐ and inter‐coral variations have small effects on Mg/Ca, yielding an uncertainty of 2.04 mmol/mol in Mg/Ca (95% confidence interval), equivalent to 0.94°C in estimated temperature. The slope of the Ba/Ca‐silicate equation is the same as that in a previous study, suggesting little effect of geographic difference on Ba/Ca. Intra‐ and inter‐coral variations in Ba/Ca are larger than those in Mg/Ca, possibly reflecting incorporation of multiple Ba‐rich particulate phases and/or highly variable nutrient concentrations in the micro‐environment near corals. These new calibrations allow reconstructions of paleo‐temperature and nutrient concentration in the SCS on decadal and longer timescales.

Abstract Background Pudendal neuralgia is a chronic and debilitating condition. Its prevalence ranges from 5 to 26%. Currently, therapeutic approaches to treat pudendal neuralgia include patient education, medication management, psychological and physical therapy, and procedural interventions, such as nerve block, trigger point injections, and surgery. Drug therapy has a limited effect on pain relief. A pudendal nerve block may cause a significant decrease in pain scores for a short time; however, its efficacy significantly decreases over time. In contrast, pudendal nerve pulsed radiofrequency can provide pain relief for 3 months, and ganglion impar block has been widely used for treating chronic perineal pain and chronic coccygodynia. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of monotherapy (pudendal nerve pulsed radiofrequency) and combination therapy (pudendal nerve pulsed radiofrequency plus ganglion impar block) in patients with pudendal neuralgia. Methods This randomized, controlled clinical trial will include 84 patients with pudendal neuralgia who failed to respond to drug or physical therapy. Patients will be randomly assigned into one of the two groups: mono or combined treatment groups. The primary outcome will be a change in pain intensity measured using the visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will include a Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score, Self-Rating Depression Scale score, the use of oral analgesics, the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey Short Form-36 Item score, and the occurrence of adverse effects. The study results will be analyzed using intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. Primary and secondary outcomes will be evaluated between the mono and combined treatment groups. Subgroup analyses will be conducted based on the initial ailment, age, and baseline pain intensity. The safety of the treatment will be assessed by monitoring adverse events, which will be compared between the two groups. Discussion This study protocol describes a randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of mono and combination therapies in patients with pudendal neuralgia. The study results will provide valuable information on the potential benefits of this combination therapy and contribute to the development of more effective and safer treatments for patients with pudendal neuralgia. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200061800).

Abstract To investigate the hypolipidemic and modulation effects of probiotics, the golden hamster of hyperlipidemia model was established and intervened with Lactobacillus fermentum GLF‐217 (GLF‐217) and lovastatin (LOV) for 6 weeks. Body weight and serum biochemical indexes were measured, and liver, colonic contents, and feces were collected after autopsy for pathological and gut microbiota analysis. The results showed that the intervention of GLF‐217 and LOV could significantly reduce serum lipid levels and liver fat accumulation in golden hamsters on a high‐fat diet, more importantly, the LOV intervention could cause damage to the liver. The LOV intervention significantly reduced the contents of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic and downregulated the abundance of SCFAs‐producing bacteria, but GLF‐217 intake increased butyric acid, thus reducing blood lipids and protected the liver. This study elucidates the possible mechanism of the hypolipidemic effect of probiotics in terms of regulating gut microbiota.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to investigate acid hydrolysis-bound phenols from Rosa roxburghii Tratt and their biological activities in vitro. The optimal extraction parameters were as follows: HCl concentration of 7 mol/L, extraction time of 10 h and material-liquid ratio of 1:40 g/mL. The highest yield of bound polyphenols was 495.64 ± 11.66 mg GAE/100 g DW. There were 24 phenolic compounds and 14 flavonoids released by acid hydrolysis. The antioxidant study showed that the RRT-BPs had a certain scavenging ability of free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. RRT-BPs showed good inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, respectively, and RRT-PBs acted as anticompetitive and mixed inhibitors against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, respectively. Our study suggests that acid-hydrolysed bound phenols have good prebiotic properties and can be used as a supplement to existing alkaline-hydrolysed bound phenols to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the deep medullary vein (DMV) score and atrophy in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).MethodsImaging and clinical data from 125 patients with CSVD from January to December 2022 were reviewed. Normalized gray matter volume (GM_N) was calculated by dividing the gray matter volume by the whole brain volume. DMV scoring is conducted using susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, wherein the DMV area is partitioned into six distinct regions: bilateral frontal, parietal, and occipital regions. Each region undergoes assessment based on the clarity and consistency of DMV visibility. Subsequently, the scores from these six regions are summed, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 18 points.ResultsDMV score was associated with GM_N (r = −0.376, p

Background For space object detection tasks, conventional optical cameras face various application challenges, including backlight issues and dim light conditions. As a novel optical camera, the event camera has the advantages of high temporal resolution and high dynamic range due to asynchronous output characteristics, which provides a new solution to the above challenges. However, the asynchronous output characteristic of event cameras makes them incompatible with conventional object detection methods designed for frame images. Methods Asynchronous convolutional memory network (ACMNet) for processing event camera data is proposed to solve the problem of backlight and dim space object detection. The key idea of ACMNet is to first characterize the asynchronous event streams with the Event Spike Tensor (EST) voxel grid through the exponential kernel function, then extract spatial features using a feed-forward feature extraction network, and aggregate temporal features using a proposed convolutional spatiotemporal memory module ConvLSTM, and finally, the end-to-end object detection using continuous event streams is realized. Results Comparison experiments among ACMNet and classical object detection methods are carried out on Event_DVS_space7, which is a large-scale space synthetic event dataset based on event cameras. The results show that the performance of ACMNet is superior to the others, and the mAP is improved by 12.7% while maintaining the processing speed. Moreover, event cameras still have a good performance in backlight and dim light conditions where conventional optical cameras fail. This research offers a novel possibility for detection under intricate lighting and motion conditions, emphasizing the superior benefits of event cameras in the realm of space object detection.

Tibetan tea changes during microorganism fermentation. Research on microorganisms in Tibetan tea has focused on their identification, while studies on the influence of specific microorganisms on the components and health functions of Tibetan tea are lacking. Bacillus licheniformis was inoculated into Tibetan tea for intensive fermentation, and the components of B. licheniformis-fermented tea (BLT) were detected by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS), and then the effects of BLT on intestinal probiotic functions were investigated by experiments on mice. The results revealed the metabolites of BLT include polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, amino acids, and lipids. Intensified fermentation also improved the antioxidant capacity in vivo and the protective effect on the intestinal barrier of Tibetan tea. In addition, the enhanced fermentation of Tibetan tea exerted intestinal probiotic effects by modulating the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. Therefore, intensive fermentation with B. licheniformis can improve the health benefits of Tibetan tea.

In this study, the volatile components in 40 samples of Tartary buckwheat and common buckwheat from 6 major producing areas in China were analyzed. A total of 77 volatile substances were identified, among which aldehydes and hydrocarbons were the main volatile components. Odor activity value analysis revealed 26 aromatic compounds, with aldehydes making a significant contribution to the aroma of buckwheat. Seven key compounds that could be used to distinguish Tartary buckwheat from common buckwheat were identified. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was effectively used to classify Tartary buckwheat and common buckwheat from different producing areas. This study provides valuable information for evaluating buckwheat quality, breeding high-quality varieties, and enhancing rational resource development.

This study evaluated the nutrients, flavour and antioxidant capacity in the embryo, colloid and fruiting body of Dictyophora rubrovalvata. The embryo had the highest protein [2.91 ± 0.39 g.(100 g)-1] and polysaccharides (17.44 ± 1.49 mg.g-1), the fruiting body had the highest total phenol content (0.87 ± 0.17 mg.g-1), the colloid was rich in minerals [1.57 ± 0.16 g.(100 g)-1]. The antioxidant capacity of the embryo was higher than that of the other parts, in terms of different solvents, the antioxidant capacity of D. rubrovalvata extracted with ethanol was higher than that of water. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reducing capacity were positively correlated with polysaccharides, proteins and polyphenols. The free amino acid content ranged from 7.44 to 11.52 mg.g-1, the distribution was fruiting body > embryo > colloid, of which glutamic acid content was the highest, and the flavour characteristics were mainly umami and sweetness. The nucleotide content of fruiting body and embryo was higher than in the colloid. In addition, the compositions of volatile flavour compounds were identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), mainly alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, their distributions varied greatly among the three samples. These results indicated that different parts of D. rubrovalvata have different nutritional characteristics, the fruiting body has a high content of volatile and non-volatile components, the embryo and the colloid have good functional activity, laying a foundation for the functional development and comprehensive utilisation of D. rubrovalvata.

Abstract Background Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is one of the most significant diseases limiting crop production in the Huanghuai wheat-growing region of China. Prothioconazole, a triazole sterol 14α-demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide developed by the Bayer Crop Protection Company, is mainly registered for the prevention and control of wheat powdery mildew and stripe rust (China Pesticide Information Network). It is known to exhibit high activity against F. pseudograminearum, but further research, particularly regarding the potential for fungicide resistance, is required before it can be registered for the control of FCR in China. Results The current study found that the baseline sensitivity of 67 field isolates of F. pseudograminearum collected between 2019 and 2021 ranged between 0.016–2.974 μg/mL, with an average EC50 value of 1.191 ± 0.720 μg/mL (mean ± SD). Although none of the field isolates exhibited signs of resistance, three highly resistant mutants were produced by repeated exposure to prothioconazole under laboratory conditions. All of the mutants were found to exhibit significantly reduced growth rates on potato dextrose agar (PDA), as well as reduced levels of sporulation, which indicated that there was a fitness cost associated with the resistance. However, inoculation of wounded wheat coleoptiles revealed that the pathogenicity of the resistant mutants was little affected or actually increased. Molecular analysis of the genes corresponding to the prothioconazole target protein, FpCYP51 (FpCYP51A, FpCYP51B, and FpCYP51C), indicated that the resistant mutants contained three conserved substitutions (M63I, A205S, and I246V) that were present in the FpCYP51C sequence of all three mutants, as well as several non-conserved substations in their FpCYP51A and FpCYP51B sequences. Expression analysis revealed that the presence of prothioconazole (0.1 μg/mL) generally resulted in reduced expression of the three FpCYP51 genes, but that the three mutants exhibited more complex patterns of expression that differed in comparison to their parental isolates. The study found no evidence of cross-resistance between prothioconazole and any of the fungicides tested including three DMI fungicides tebuconazole, prochloraz, and flutriafol. Conclusions Taken together these results not only provide new insight into the resistant mechanism and biological characteristics associated with prothioconazole resistance in F. pseudograminearum, but also strong evidence that prothioconazole could provide effective and sustained control of FCR, especially when applied in combination with other fungicides.

Abstract The escalating crisis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic contamination in biological wastewater treatment systems is a pressing environmental concern. These microplastics inevitably accumulate in sewage sludge due to the absence of effective removal technologies. Addressing this urgent issue, this study introduces a novel approach using DuraPETase, a potent enzyme with enhanced PET hydrolytic activity at ambient temperatures. Remarkably, this enzyme was successfully secreted from Comamonas testosteroni CNB-1, a dominant species in the active sludge. The secreted DuraPETase showed significant hydrolytic activity toward p-NPB and PET nanoplastics. Furthermore, the CNB-1 derived whole-cell biocatalyst was able to depolymerize PET microplastics under ambient temperature, achieving a degradation efficiency of 9% within 7 days. The CNB-1-based whole biocatalysts were also capable of utilizing PET degradation intermediates, such as terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG), and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-TPA (BHET), for growth. This indicates that it can completely mineralize PET, as opposed to merely breaking it down into smaller molecules. This research highlights the potential of activated sludge as a potent source for insitu microplastic removal. Graphical Abstract

The impact of the roasting degree on ultra-high-pressure cold brew (UHP) coffee remains unclear, although it has been found that UHP technology accelerates the extraction of cold brew (CB) coffee. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of three different degrees of roasting (light, medium, and dark) on the physicochemical characteristics, volatile and non-volatile components, and sensory evaluation of UHP coffee. Orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to assess the effects of different roasting degrees. The results showed that most physicochemical characteristics, including total dissolved solids (TDSs), extraction yield (EY), total titratable acidity (TTA), total sugars (TSs), and total phenolic content (TPC), of UHP coffee were similar to those of conventional CB coffee regardless of the degree of roasting. However, the majority of physicochemical characteristics, non-volatile components, including the antioxidant capacity (measured based on DPPH and ABTS) and melanoidin, caffeine, trigonelline, and CGA contents increased significantly with an increase in roasting degree. The sensory evaluation revealed that as the roasting degree rose, the nutty flavor, astringency, bitterness, body, and aftertaste intensities increased, while floral, fruity, and sourness attributes decreased. The HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis showed that most volatile components increased from light to dark roasting. Moreover, 15 representative differential compounds, including hazelnut pyrazine, linalool, butane-2,3-dione, and 3-methylbutanal, were identified by calculating the odor-active values (OAVs), indicating that these contributed significantly to the odor. The PCA showed that the distance between the three roasting degree samples in UHP coffee was smaller than that in CB coffee. Overall, the effect of roasting degrees on UHP coffee was less than that on CB coffee, which was consistent with the results of physicochemical characteristics, volatile components, and sensory evaluation.

IntroductionThe severity of flood disasters is increasing due to climate change, resulting in a significant reduction in the yield and quality of forage crops worldwide. This poses a serious threat to the development of agriculture and livestock. Hemarthria compressa is an important high-quality forage grass in southern China. In recent years, frequent flooding has caused varying degrees of impacts on H. compressa and their ecological environment.MethodsIn this study, we evaluated differences in flooding tolerance between the root systems of the experimental materials GY (Guang Yi, flood-tolerant) and N1291 (N201801291, flood-sensitive). We measured their morphological indexes after 7 d, 14 d, and 21 d of submergence stress and sequenced their transcriptomes at 8 h and 24 h, with 0 h as the control.ResultsDuring submergence stress, the number of adventitious roots and root length of both GY and N1291 tended to increase, but the overall growth of GY was significantly higher than that of N1291. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 6046 and 7493 DEGs were identified in GY-8h and GY-24h, respectively, and 9198 and 4236 DEGs in N1291-8h and N1291-24h, respectively, compared with the control. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis results indicated the GO terms mainly enriched among the DEGs were oxidation-reduction process, obsolete peroxidase reaction, and other antioxidant-related terms. The KEGG pathways that were most significantly enriched were phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction etc. The genes of transcription factor families, such as C2H2, bHLH and bZIP, were highly expressed in the H. compressa after submergence, which might be closely related to the submergence adaptive response mechanisms of H. compressa.DiscussionThis study provides basic data for analyzing the molecular and morphological mechanisms of H. compressa in response to submergence stress, and also provides theoretical support for the subsequent improvement of submergence tolerance traits of H. compressa.

Abstract Our aim was to explore the correlation between ultrasound attenuation parameter (UAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) based on FibroTouch (China) and clinical features in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), so as to provide a certain basis for the clinical application of FibroTouch in NAFLD. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD were graded according to FibroTouch, and the relationship between steatosis and fibrosis levels and clinical characteristics was retrospectively analyzed. Hepatic steatosis was positively related with weight, BMI, waist, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, FBG, UA, TG, ALT, AST, GGT, LSM and hepatic fibrosis grading, and was negatively related with gender (male), age and AST/ALT ratio. Hepatic fibrosis was positively related with age, BMI, waist, hypertension, FBG, ALT, AST, GGT, NFS, APRI, FIB-4, UAP and hepatic steatosis grading, and was negatively related with blood platelet (PLT) counts. Moreover, BMI, waist, TG, ALT and LSM were independent risk factors of hepatic steatosis, while decreased PLT counts, AST and UAP were independent risk factors of hepatic fibrosis. Body mass parameters, metabolic risk factors and liver function indicators increase the risk of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD, and UAP and LSM can interact with each other.

Light is a key environmental factor regulating reproduction in avians. However, the mechanism of light intensity regulating ovarian development is still unclear. In this study, 5-week-old (5 wk) partridge broiler breeders were randomly divided into a low-light-intensity group (LL group) and a natural-light-intensity group (NL group) (n = 100). In the rearing period (5 wk to 22 wk), the light intensity of the LL group and NL group were 0.41 ± 0.05 lux and 45.39 ± 1.09 lux, and in the laying period (23 wk to 32 wk) they were 23.92 ± 0.06 lux and 66.93 ± 0.76 lux, respectively. Samples were collected on 22 wk and 32 wk. The results showed that the LL group had a later age at first egg and a longer laying period than the NL group. Serum P4 and LH levels in the LL group were higher than in the NL group on 22 wk (p < 0.05). On 32 wk, P4, E2, LH and FSH levels in the LL group were lower than in the NL group (p < 0.05). Ovarian transcriptomics and metabolomics identified 128 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 467 differential metabolites (DMs) on 22 wk; 155 DEGs and 531 DMs on 32 wk between two groups. An enrichment analysis of these DEGs and DMs identified key signaling pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. In these pathways, genes such as CYP21A1, SSTR2, and NPY may regulate the synthesis of metabolites, including tryptamine, triglycerides, and phenylalanine. These genes and metabolites may play a dominant role in the light-intensity regulation of ovarian development and laying performance in broiler breeders.

Hemerocallis L. possesses abundant germplasm resources and holds significant value in terms of ornamental, edible, and medicinal aspects. However, the quality characteristics vary significantly depending on different varieties. Selection of a high-quality variety with a characteristic aroma can increase the economic value of Hemerocallis flowers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is an effective decision-making method for comparing and evaluating multiple characteristic dimensions. By applying AHP, the aromatic character of 60 varieties of Hemerocallis flowers were analyzed and evaluated in the present study. Headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was employed to identify volatile components in Hemerocallis flowers. Thirteen volatile components were found to contribute to the aroma of Hemerocallis flowers, which helps in assessing their potential applications in essential oil, aromatherapy, and medical treatment. These components include 2-phenylethanol, geraniol, linalool, nonanal, decanal, (E)-β-ocimene, α-farnesene, indole, nerolidol, 3-furanmethanol, 3-carene, benzaldehyde and benzenemethanol. The varieties with better aromatic potential can be selected from a large amount of data using an AHP model. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the aroma components in Hemerocallis flowers, offers guidance for breeding, and enhances the economic value of Hemerocallis flowers.

The gut is home to a large number of intestinal microbiota that play an important role in the metabolism and immune system of the host. A growing body of evidence suggests that a high-fat diet is closely associated with many metabolic disorders, including fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. According to reports, Tartary buckwheat extract has a positive effect on intestinal microbiota in animals. The effects of Tartary buckwheat on biochemical indexes and intestinal microflora in mice were studied. Tartary buckwheat protein (FGP), Tartary buckwheat resistant starch (FGS) and Tartary buckwheat flour (FGF) alleviated organ damage in mice and lowered the atherosclerotic index (AI) in plasma. Otherwise, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that intestinal bacterial structure of FGF were separated apparently from other groups. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) value of the high-fat (HF)-FGF group was significantly lower than that of the HF-FGP and HF-FGS groups. FGF significantly increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, while decreasing the abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing bacteria. Observation of blood lipid metabolism parameters and analysis of the intestinal microbiota suggested that FGF can be more effective than FGP and FGS to reduce the effects of a high-fat diet in mice, restoring the blood parameters to values similar of those in mice fed a low-fat diet. FGF may be used to prevent or treat blood lipid metabolism disorders and intestinal microbiota disorders in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Abstract Tea polyphenols (TP) are the most biologically active components in tea, with antioxidant, antiobesity, and antitumor properties, as well as the ability to modulate the composition and function of intestinal microbiota. This experimental study evaluated the chemical constituents of polyphenols in Pu-erh (PTP) and Dian Hong tea (DHTP). It also investigated the co-regulatory effects of PTP and DHTP on intestinal flora and liver tissues in mice using 16 S rRNA gene and transcriptome sequencing. The results revealed that DHT had higher concentrations of EGC (epigallocatechin), C (catechin), EC (epicatechin), and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). In contrast, PT had higher concentrations of GA (gallic acid), ECG (epicatechin-3-gallate), TF (theaflavin), and TB (theabrownin). PTP and DHTP consumption significantly reduced the rates of weight gain in mice. Microbial community diversity was significantly higher in PTP and DHTP-treated mice than in the control group. Notably, beneficial microbes such as Lactobacillus increased significantly in PTP-treated mice, whereas Lachnospiraceae increased significantly in DHTP-treated mice. Both PTP and DHTP improved the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the liver. The transcriptome analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of PTP and DHTP were due to changes in various metabolic pathways, the majority of which were related to antioxidant and lipid metabolism. This study discovered that PTP and DHTP had beneficial effects in mice via the gut-liver axis.

Polyester plastics are widely used in daily life, but also cause a large amount of waste. Degradation by microbial enzymes is the most promising way for the biobased upcycling of the wastes. However, there is still a shortage of high-performance enzymes, and more efficient polyester hydrolases need to be developed. Here we identified two polyester hydrolases, jmPE13 and jmPE14, from a previously isolated strain Pseudomonas sp. JM16B3. The proteins were recombinantly expressed and purified in E. coli, and their enzymatic properties were characterized. JmPE13 and jmPE14 showed hydrolytic activity towards polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) at medium temperatures. The enzyme activity and stability of jmPE13 were further improved to 3- and 1.5-fold, respectively, by rational design. The results of our research can be helpful for further engineering of more efficient polyester plastic hydrolases and their industrial applications.

IntroductionBeta-amyloid accumulation in the brain appears to be a key initiating event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and factors associated with increased deposition of beta-amyloid are of great interest. Enhanced deposition of amyloid-β peptides is due to an imbalance between their production and elimination. Previous studies show that diminished levels of CSF amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) is a biomarker in AD; however, the role of serum Aβ42 in AD is contradictory. BMI and obesity have been reported to be related to increased serum Aβ42 levels. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relation between metabolic syndrome (MetS), its clinical measures (abdominal obesity, high glucose, high triglyceride, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and hypertension), and serum Aβ42 levels.MethodsA total of 1261 subjects, aged 18–89 years in Chengdu, China, were enrolled from January 2020 to January 2021 to explore the correlation of serum Aβ42 levels with body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, and blood pressure. Furthermore, as the risk of MetS is closely related to age, 1,212 participants (N = 49 with age ≥ 80 years old were excluded) were analyzed for the correlation of serum Aβ42 level and MetS clinical measures.ResultsThe results showed that log-transformed serum Aβ42 level was positively correlated with BMI (R = 0.29; p < 0.001), log-transformed triglyceride (R = 0.14; p < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (R = 0.12; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) (R = −0.18; p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and other covariates, elevated serum Aβ42 level was correlated with higher values of BMI (βmodel1 = 2.694, βmodel2 = 2.703) and DBP (βmodel1 = 0.541, βmodel2 = 0.546) but a lower level of HDL-c (βmodel2 = −1.741). Furthermore, serum Aβ42 level was positively correlated with MetS and its clinical measures, including BMI and DBP, and negatively correlated with HDL-c level in the Han Chinese population. However, the level of serum Aβ42 did not show a significant correlation with high glucose or high triglyceride.DiscussionThese observations indicate that MetS and its components are associated with higher levels of serum Aβ42 and hence limit the potential of serum Aβ42 as a suitable diagnostic biomarker for AD. As such, we recommend serum Aβ42 serve as a direct risk biomarker for MetS rather than for AD.

Extracellular enzymes play important roles in myxobacteria degrading macromolecules and preying on other microorganisms. Glycoside hydrolases 19 (GH19) are widely present in myxobacteria, but their evolution and biological functions have not been fully elucidated. Here we investigated the comparative secretory proteome of Corallococcus silvisoli c25j21 in the presence of cellulose and chitin. A total of 313 proteins were detected, including 16 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), 7 of which were induced by cellulose or chitin, such as GH6, GH13, GH19, AA4, and CBM56. We further analyzed the sequence and structural characteristics of its three GH19 enzymes to understand their potential functions. The results revealed that myxobacterial GH19 enzymes are evolutionarily divided into two clades with different appended modules, and their different amino acid compositions in the substrate binding pockets lead to the differences in molecular surface electrostatic potentials, which may, in turn, affect their substrate selectivity and biological functions. Our study is helpful for further understanding the biological functions and catalytic mechanisms of myxobacterial CAZymes.

Conclusions: T-tube is safe and effective in the treatment of SBAS. The severity of secretion retention increased in patients with long-term placement of the T-tube. For patients with mild stenosis and anatomical stenosis, the T-tube removal can be attempted at about 1 year of follow-up.

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutical action of Lactobacillus fermentum CKCC1858 and Lactobacillus plantarum CKCC1312 on ulcerative colitis (UC) and its mechanism. The results showed that L. fermentum CKCC1858 and L. plantarum CKCC1312 were able to relieve UC in DSS-induced mice, manifested in a noticeable increase in food intake, colon length, water intake and weight, and a marked decrease in histological scores and disease activity index. Further studies showed that L. fermentum CKCC1858 and L. plantarum CKCC1312 had the capacity to increase the level of mucin-2, zonula occludens-1 and interleukin-10, decrease the levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-17A, interferon-γ, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and regulated the genes correlated with immune. Simultaneously, we suggested that L. fermentum CKCC1858 and L. plantarum CKCC1312 possess the ability to alleviate UC via regulating the intestinal microbiome and genes expression, improving intestinal mucosa and promoting the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids.

Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a systemic metabolic disorder typified by an imbalance in bone turnover, where bone resorption supersedes bone formation. This imbalance primarily arises from a decline in bone mass induced by estrogen deficiency, and an elevated risk of fractures resulting from degradation of bone microstructure. Despite recognizing these changes, the precise causative factors and potential molecular pathways remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), associated pathways, and the role of immune infiltration in osteoporosis, leveraging an integrated bioinformatics approach to shed light on potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: We retrieved the expression profiles of GSE230665 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, comprising 15 femur samples, including 12 postmenopausal osteoporosis samples and 3 normal controls. From the aggregated microarray datasets, we derived differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for further bioinformatics analysis. We used WGCNA, analyzed DEGs, PPI, and conducted GO analysis to identify pivotal genes. We then used the CIBERSORT method to explore the degree of immune cell infiltration within femur specimens affected by postmenopausal osteoporosis. To probe into the relationship between pivotal genes and infiltrating immune cells, we conducted correlation analysis. Results: We identified a total of 12,204 DEGs. Among these, 12,157 were up-regulated, and 47 were down-regulated. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that these DEGs predominantly targeted cellular protein localization activity and associated signaling pathways. The protein-protein interaction network highlighted four central hub-genes: RPL31, RPL34, EEF1G, and BPTF. Principal component analysis indicated a positive correlation between the expression of these genes and resting NK cells (as per CIBERSORT). In contrast, the expression of RPL31, RPL34, and EEF1G showed a negative correlation with T cells (gamma delta per CIBERSORT). Conclusions: Immune infiltration plays a role in the development of osteoporosis.

In order to enrich the local flavor condiments of Guizhou and improve the comprehensive utilization value of Lentinus edodes, the L.edodes chutney with national flavor was developed. In this study, the formula of L.edodes and pickling pepper produced in Guizhou Province was optimized by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and orthogonal test. The sensory quality, physicochemical and microbial indicators were analyzed. The results showed that 53% L.edodes, 15.1% pickling pepper, 0.7% salt and 0.7% white sugar under the basic formula (15.1% Ciba chili, 7.5% tomato paste, 3.8% broad bean paste, 0.7% monosodium glutamate, 1.4% sesame, 1.4% cooking wine and 90 g edible oil), the sensory score of the product was 86.7±2.36. The product brightness value (L*), redness value (a*) and yellowness value (b*) were 33.62, 14.76 and 13.01, respectively. And the hardness, chewiness, elasticity of the extrusion restoring force reached 969.04, 636.87, 0.87, 0.32 g. The moisture and microbial indicators of this product meet the safety limits of this product, and the amino acid nitrogen, protein and carbohydrates were 7.95, 5.21 g/100 g and 346.61 mg/g, respectively. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the main flavor substances in the L.edodes chutney were alcohols, alkenes and ketones formed during the frying process of pickling pepper. This study would provide a theoretical basis for the deep processing of L.edodes and other edible mushrooms combined with local flavor condiments.

ObjectivesIt is easy to produce buckling distortion when welding thin plate butt joints, which affects the construction period, cost and performance, but this can be controlled by applying external restraints. MethodsFirst, a butt welding test of a thin plate under external restraints is carried out, and the out-of-plane deformation is measured by the optical surface scanning method. At the same time, finite element (FE) models in a free state and external restraint state are established, and the thermal mechanical phenomena of the two models are subjected to thermal-elastic-plastic FE analysis (TEP FE). The influence of different external restraint distributions on the welding buckling distortion of the joints is then studied, and reasons for controlling welding buckling distortion are analyzed from the perspective of longitudinal plastic strain and longitudinal contraction force.ResultsThe out-of-plane deformation of the corresponding model is in good agreement with the measured results, and milder than the out-of-plane deformation of the model in a free state. When external restraints are applied, the longitudinal plastic strain of the weld and its adjacent metal decreases, and the longitudinal contraction force of the thin plate also decreases.ConclusionsThe results verify that external restraints can effectively control welding buckling distortion, and the control effects are different depending on the external restraint distribution.

Tartary buckwheat contains more valuable nutrients than common buckwheat, but it also contains allergenic proteins that induce allergic reactions through an IgE-mediated response. Our study demonstrated that fermentation by Pediococcus pentosaceus degrades allergenic proteins in Tartary buckwheat, as confirmed by HPLC-MS/MS analysis of polypeptides. Our results showed significant degradation of the protein after 16 h of Pediococcus pentosaceus fermentation (PP16), leading to a reduction in IgE-binding activity. Comparison with unfermented Tartary buckwheat (UTB) peptides yielded 2042 fragments, of which 756 fragments associated with allergenic proteins were upregulated. Among them, the expression of 213 fragments was reduced by 71.83%. By performing bioactivity prediction on potential allergenic peptide fragments, we identified six peptide fragments derived from Fagt 1, potentially contributing to the residual allergenicity in PP16. These suggest that Pediococcus pentosaceus fermentation can effectively destroy allergen epitopes and mitigate the allergenicity of Tartary buckwheat.

In this study, tartary buckwheat combined with compound strains was fermented to make sourdough and applied to improve frozen dough. The results showed that the compound bacteria had a certain synergistic effect, and the bacterial colony growth in tartary buckwheat substrate was better than single bacteria, especially in LF+WC group, the lactic acid bacteria growth rate was the fastest, and a large amount of fructose (11.82 mmol/kg) and EPS (3.132 g/kg) were generated after 12 h fermentation. In addition, the binding water content of tartary buckwheat sourdough in LF+WC group decreased by 0.48%, content of non-flowing water and free water increased by 0.18% and 0.3%, respectively, the glutenin subunit degradation was less, α-helix and β-rotation content decreased by 0.43% and 2.34%, respectively, after 13 weeks of freezing. So that gluten can maintain a more uniform and regular network structure. Therefore, LF+WC tartary buckwheat sourdough has good antifreezing protection effect.

Taking 3 strains of Lactobacillus isolated from fruits and vegetables natural fermentation broth as the object, the surface characteristics of Lactobacillus were analyzed by measuring the surface hydrophobicity and self-aggregation rate; DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS free radical scavenging ability and iron reducing ability were used as indexes to analyze the difference of antioxidant ability of three Lactobacillus strains in vitro; to evaluate the functional activity of Lactobacillus using cholesterol and nitrite degradation as indicators. The results showed that among the three strains, L3 had good surface hydrophobicity and self-aggregation rate, which were 57.7% and 95.2% (24 h) respectively; The supernatants of the three strains had stronger DPPH radical (>90%) and hydroxyl radical clearance (>68%) and reduction ability (>1.0), among which L1 and L3 supernatant had stronger hydroxyl radical clearance, nearly 90% and L2 had stronger anti-lipid peroxidation ability (>37%); Lactobacillus almost completely degraded 200 mg/L NaNO2 within 48 h; The supernatants of the three strains had good cholesterol degradation ability (>19%), and their active substances were mainly proteins and polysaccharides. In summary, the three strains of Lactobacillus isolated from the fermentation broth of fruits and vegetables show good probiotic properties, which can lay a solid foundation for the development of functional fermented foods.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative damage and lead to various metabolic disease. Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn) is a new kind of protein-rich functional food, the protein in which has been proved to have good antioxidant capacity. In this study, in order to further explore the antioxidant mechanism of Tartary buckwheat protein, 4 peptides (CR-8, LR-8, GK-10 and SR-12) were isolated and identified from it. H2O2 was used to induce oxidative damage to Caco-2 cells to evaluate antioxidant capacity of these peptides. The results of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and mitochondrial membrane potential etc. showed that these peptides have superior antioxidant capacity. CR-8 has the best antioxidant capacity. In order to further clarify the antioxidant mechanism of CR-8, metabolomics was used to analyze related metabolites and metabolic pathways. The results showed that after CR-8 intervention, the content of metabolites such as L-acetyl carnitine has increased. This indicated that CR-8 can improve the antioxidant capacity of damaged cells by intervening in multiple metabolic pathways. This also revealed the anti-oxidant mechanism of tartary buckwheat protein. In conclusion, it provided a theoretical basis for further studying the activity of tartary buckwheat portein and utilizing buckwheat resources.

The dynamic changes of functional enzyme activity of tomato enzyme were investigated during natural fermentation, protease activity, lipase activity, cellulase activity, amylase activity and pectinase activity were measured by spectrophotometry, and the correlation between superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and antioxidant capacity were analyzed. The results showed that there were some differences in the activities of the main functional enzymes during the natural fermentation of tomato enzyme. The activities of cellulase and amylase gradually increased with the extension of fermentation time, and their enzyme activities were 38.180 and 79.289 U/g respectively at 90 days. The activities of pectinase and lipase increased first and then decreased, and reached the maximum values at 20 and 60 days of fermentation. The protease activity fluctuated from 0 to 60 days, then increased significantly (P

Abstract Background Poor air quality can result in a variety of respiratory disorders. However, the air quality index (AQI) and the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the progression and prognosis of nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unclear. Methods We launched a cohort study focused on the relationship between air quality and overall survival as well as progression, incorporating data from 590 patients with NSCLC in our medical center between November 1, 2013 and March 1, 2016. Forty‐nine patients from Sichuan Cancer Hospital were used for validation. Results Cases with poorer AQI 6 months before NSCLC diagnosis were more likely to progress to stage III to IV NSCLC than controls (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.35–5.24, p = 0.005). Similarly, if exposed to high levels of PM2.5 during these 6 months, overall survival was poor (HR [95% CI] = 1.53 [1.13, 2.07], p = 0.006). According to multivariate analysis, age, gender, KPS, PM2.5, hyperlipemia, and NSCLC stage were independent risk factors of overall survival. A predictive model developed by these factors above yielded a favorable agreement (C‐index = 0.758) on the calibration curve. External validation was conducted by 46 patients from Sichuan Cancer Hospital displaying an AUC of 0.724 (0.684–0.763). Conclusions PM2.5 and AQI levels affect disease progression and long‐term survival in NSCLC patients. An overall survival prediction model based on the PM2.5 level can help clinicians predict the risk of death in NSCLC.

Abstract Background The associations of frailty with all-cause and cause-specific mortality remain unclear. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to fill this gap. Methods We searched the PubMed and Embase databases through June 2022. Prospective cohort studies or clinical trials examining frailty were evaluated, and the multiple adjusted risk estimates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, such as death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, respiratory illness, dementia, infection, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), were included. A random effects model was used to calculate the summary hazard ratio (HR). Results Fifty-eight studies were included for the qualitative systematic review, of which fifty-six studies were eligible for the quantitative meta-analysis, and the studies included a total of 1,852,951 individuals and more than 145,276 deaths. Compared with healthy adults, frail adults had a significantly higher risk of mortality from all causes (HR 2.40; 95% CI 2.17–2.65), CVD (HR 2.64; 95% CI 2.20–3.17), respiratory illness (HR 4.91; 95% CI 2.97–8.12), and cancer (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.50–2.57). Similar results were found for the association between prefrail adults and mortality risk. In addition, based on the studies that have reported the HRs of the mortality risk per 0.1 and per 0.01 increase in the frailty index, we obtained consistent results. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that frailty was not only significantly related to an increased risk of all-cause mortality but was also a strong predictor of cause-specific mortality from CVD, cancer, and respiratory illness in community-dwelling adults. More studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between frailty and cause-specific mortality from dementia, infection, and COVID-19. Trial registration PROSPERO (CRD42021276021).

Abstract The role of mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) in regulating aerosol‐induced cloud brightness remains unaddressed. Using 7 years of satellite‐based observations of cloud water adjustment to aerosol‐induced perturbations for closed MCCs across different sizes (8, 16, 32, and 64 km) over the North Atlantic Ocean, we show that MCC cell‐size plays a nontrivial role in regulating aerosol‐induced cloud brightness via cloud water adjustment. In cells that are primarily non‐precipitating, the adjustment in small‐scale MCCs can be 10 times more negative than in large‐scale MCCs, consistent with stronger evaporation via cloud top entrainment. Consequently, the response of cloud brightness is significantly stronger for large‐scale MCCs. We also find notable intra‐cell co‐variability between cloud liquid water path (LWP) and drop concentration (Nd) within MCCs that varies with cell size. Erroneously considering such co‐variability as a LWP response to Nd can lead to a significant positive bias, especially for small scale MCCs.

Background and objectiveThis study aims to examine the role of neurovascular coupling (NVC) in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) by investigating the relationship between white matter lesion (WML) burden, NVC, and cognitive deficits. Additionally, we aim to explore the potential of NVC as a tool for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying VCI.MethodsThis study included thirty-eight small vessel disease cognitive impairment (SVCI) patients, 34 post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) patients, and 43 healthy controls (HC). Comprehensive assessments, including neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing, were conducted to evaluate cognitive function. WML burden was measured and correlated with NVC coefficients to examine the relationship between white matter pathology and NVC. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the link relationship between NVC, WML burden, and cognitive function.ResultsThe present study showed that NVC was significantly reduced in the SVCI and PSCI groups compared with HCs at both whole-brain and brain region level. The analysis revealed notable findings regarding NVC in relation to WML burden and cognitive function in VCI patients. Specifically, reduced NVC coefficients were observed within higher order brain systems responsible for cognitive control and emotion regulation. Mediation analysis demonstrated that NVC played a mediating role in the relationship between WML burden and cognitive impairment.ConclusionThis study reveals the mediating role of NVC in the relationship between WML burden and cognitive function in VCI patients. The results demonstrate the potential of the NVC as an accurate measure of cognitive impairment and its ability to identify specific neural circuits affected by WML burden.

In recent years, the environmentally friendly gas, C4F7N, has been recognized as a potential SF6 alternative gas due to its excellent insulation. To study the streamer discharge characteristics of different electrode shapes in C4F7N, a fluid model was established by COMSOL, and simulations were performed. Streamer discharge as a function of varying electrode shapes was analyzed, and the variation law of electric field intensity and photon flux was obtained, which serves as a theoretical basis for optical detection and reliable diagnosis of partial discharge. Simulation results demonstrate that under the same discharge conditions, the electric field inhomogeneity of the needle–plane model, rod–plane model, and ball–plane model decreased successively and the breakdown difficulty increased. With the increase in the applied voltage, the peak electric field intensity of the streamer head was found to increase, whereas an increase in the electrode spacing was found to decrease this property. The change in photon flux was found to be similar to the change in the electric field intensity.

Abstract Myxobacteria, as predatory bacteria, have good application potential in the biocontrol of pathogenic microorganisms. Extracellular enzymes are thought to play an important role in their predation and also provide resources for discovering new antibacterial molecules. We previously isolated a myxobacterium, Corallococcus silvisoli c25j21 GDMCC 1.1387, which is predatory to plant pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we identified an endolysin-like GH19 glycoside hydrolase, C25GH19B, from the genome of c25j21. After its heterologous expression and purification from E. coli, the enzymatic properties of C25GH19B were characterized. C25GH19B showed lysozyme activity with the optimal reaction conditions at 40 °C and pH 4.5–5.0. Moreover, C25GH19B showed bacteriolytic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative plant pathogenic bacteria. Our research provides not only a candidate enzyme for the development of novel biocontrol agents but also an experimental basis for further study on the function and mechanisms of extracellular enzymes in myxobacterial predation.

Abstract Partial discharge identification is of great significance in monitoring power equipment. Although substantial work has been done in partial discharge pattern recognition, most studies have been performed in noise‐free environments. To improve the accuracy of partial discharge pattern recognition, this paper introduces a partial discharge image feature extraction method based on upright speeded‐up robust features. Each group of phase‐resolved pulse sequence data is converted into grayscale images to construct a sample library of partial discharge defects. Upright speeded‐up robust features is used to extract features in grayscale images. The improved support vector machine is used to achieve the best classification of partial discharge sources. The sensitivity of local features to different phase resolutions and different image resolutions of partial discharge phase‐resolved pulse sequence patterns was investigated, and the optimal phase resolution and image resolution were used to construct phase‐resolved pulse sequence patterns. In addition, the recognition effect of this feature extraction method under different noise conditions was also analysed. The results prove that upright speeded‐up robust features can effectively deal with noisy data. The results of this research can provide references for the storage setting and recognition of three‐dimensional images of on‐site partial discharge data.

Abstract Background Serum indicators AFP, CA50, CA125, CA153, CA19-9, CEA, f-PSA, SCC-Ag have been confirmed as tumor markers (TMs). We conducted a genome-wide association study on 8 tumor markers of our 427 Han population in southern China, in order to identify genetic loci that are significantly associated with the level of 8 tumor markers. Methods We use Gene Titan multi-channel instrument and Axiom Analysis Suite 6.0 software for genotyping. We used IMPUTE2 software for imputation, and 1000 Genomes Project (Phase 3) was used as haplotype reference. After necessary quality control and statistical analysis, genetic loci genome-wide associated with TMs (p < 5E-8) will be identified. Finally, we selected Top SNPs (p < 5E-7) from the GWAS results for replication test. We used SPSS software to draw the distribution box plots of serum TMs under different genotypes of significant loci. Results The results showed that there were only MUC1 (mucin 1)-rs4072037 significantly genome-wide associated with CA153 (p = 1.28E-18). However, we found that a total of 30 genetic loci have a suggestively significant genome-wide association with the level of 8 serum tumor markers (p < 5E-6). Then 3 Top SNPs (p < 5E-7) were selected for replication verification. The results showed that MUC1-rs4072037 was still significantly associated with CA153 in another population (p = 3.73E-08). Comparing with the TT genotype of rs4072037, the CA153 level was higher under CC or CT genotype of rs4072037. Conclusion MUC1-rs4072037 is significantly genome-wide associated with CA153 level. There are 30 genetic loci suggestively genome-wide associated with level of tumor markers among the Han population from Southern China.

This study mainly focused on a strategy for reducing acrylamide(AM) content in wheat breads by combining Lactobacilli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sourdough, in comparison with natural fermentation. The results showed that acrylamide levels in breads using sourdough were much lower (102.02–129.37 μg/kg) than control group (204.79 μg/kg). The pH value of sourdough directly influenced the formation of acrylamide in breads (P

Abstract Aim To explore the effect of TEC chemotherapy regimen (Docetaxel + Epirubicin + Cyclophosphamide) on traditional cardiovascular risk factors, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac electrical activity. Design 243 patients with first initially diagnosed breast cancer were collected who receiving TEC chemotherapy. Methods Univariate analysis, multivariate analysis, binary logistic regression analysis and statistical description were used to analyse the data. Results Among the first diagnosed patients, prevalence of hypertension and overweight/obesity in postmenopausal patients were significantly higher than premenopausal group. Compared with initially diagnosed state, incidence of hyperlipidaemia increased significantly after TEC chemotherapy, blood glucose level was remarkably increased, and prevalence of hyperuricaemia was significantly increased, changes of blood pressure level and prevalence rate of hypertension were not significant, and there was no statistical difference. Different menopause status showed the same trend. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk stratification showed after chemotherapy low‐risk patients decrease, medium‐risk and high‐risk people increased. Grouped by menstrual status, after chemotherapy, both groups showed the same trend. The independent influencing factors of increased heart rate after chemotherapy were postmenopausal status. Postmenopausal patients had more cardiovascular risk factors than premenopausal patients. After receiving chemotherapy, levels of cardiovascular risk factors in both groups mostly changed to the direction of disease. Chemotherapy drugs increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in breast cancer patients. It is necessary to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation to dynamic assess the cardiovascular health of patients of breast cancer patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to critically appraise whether published systematic reviews/meta-analyses of traditional Chinese medicine for adults with ischemic stroke are of sufficient quality and to rate the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.Method: A literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and SinoMed databases by March 2022. The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews/meta-analyses of traditional Chinese medicine in adults who suffered from ischemic stroke. A Measurement Tool to Access Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Abstract (PRISMA-A) statements were used to assess the methodological and reporting quality of the included reviews. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was utilized to assess each report’s evidence level.Results: Of the 1,908 titles and abstracts, 83 reviews met the inclusion criteria. These studies were published between 2005 and 2022. The results of AMSTAR-2 showed that 51.4% of the items were reported, but the registration, reasons for the inclusion of study design, the list of excluded studies, and funding information were ignored in the majority of the reviews. The results of PRISMA-A showed that 33.9% of items were reported, and the information on registration, limitation, and funding was not available in many publications. The assessment of the evidence with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation showed that more than half (52/83) of the included studies had either low or very low levels of evidence.Conclusion: The reporting quality in the abstract of systematic reviews/meta-analyses on traditional Chinese medicine for ischemic stroke is poor and does not facilitate timely access to valid information for clinical practitioners. Although the methodological quality is of a medium level, this evidence lacks certainty, especially with a high risk of bias in individual studies.

IntroductionSubmergence stress creates a hypoxic environment. Roots are the first plant organ to face these low-oxygen conditions, which causes damage and affects the plant growth and yield. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is one of the most important cold-season forage grasses globally. However, their submergence stress-induced gene expression and the underlying molecular mechanisms of orchardgrass roots are still unknown.MethodsUsing the submergence-tolerant ‘Dianbei’ and submergence-sensitive ‘Anba’, the transcriptomic analysis of orchardgrass roots at different time points of submergence stress (0 h, 8 h, and 24 h) was performed.ResultsWe obtained 118.82Gb clean data by RNA-Seq. As compared with the control, a total of 6663 and 9857 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in Dianbei, while 7894 and 11215 DEGs were detected in Anba at 8 h and 24 h post-submergence-stress, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis obtained 986 terms, while Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis obtained 123 pathways. Among them, the DEGs in plant hormones, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Ca2+ signal transduction were significantly differentially expressed in Dianbei, but not in Anba.DiscussionThis study was the first to molecularly elucidate the submergence stress tolerance in the roots of two orchardgrass cultivars. These findings not only enhanced our understanding of the orchardgrass submergence tolerance, but also provided a theoretical basis 36 for the cultivation of submergence-tolerant forage varieties.

The rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic agents is the key to guide clinicians on diagnosis and medication, especially for intractable diseases, such as neurosyphilis. It is extremely challenging for clinicians to diagnose neurosyphilis with no highly sensitive and specific test available. It is well known that the early transmission and immune evasion ability of Treponema pallidum have earned it the title of “stealth pathogen.” Neurosyphilis has complex clinical manifestations, including ocular involvement, which is infrequent and often overlooked, but its neuroimaging results may be normal. Therefore, it is important to find a new test that can detect the presence or absence of Treponema pallidum immediately for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. We reviewed all the patients admitted to the Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital between 2021 and 2022 who had ocular involvement and whose clinical samples were examined via metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and we found 10 candidates for further analysis. The results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were normal for four patients, and three of them met the diagnostic criteria for neurosyphilis confirmed by mNGS. In addition, the results of mNGS from the three patients were further validated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Five of the 10 patients had diplopia manifestations; two (20%) experienced abducens nerve palsies, two (20%) had eyelid drooping, and one (10%) had decreased vision. One of the 10 patients (10%) who was HIV positive and five patients had abnormal MRI results. To our knowledge, Treponema pallidum was detected by mNGS in patients with ocular involvement and normal MRI results for the first time. Given this situation, we recommend mNGS as a potential and supplementary tool for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of neurosyphilis.