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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the regulatory function of COL1A1 against the apoptosis of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the potential function in congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV). Methods: Muscle tissues were collected from 20 children with CTEV and 20 children without CTEV, followed by detecting the expression of COL1A1 using the RT‐PCR method. COL1A1 was knocked down in H1 and H9 human ESCs using the RNA interference technology, followed by determining the level of COL1A1, PITX1, TBX4, HOXD10, Fas, FasL, and Bax using the Western blotting assay. Results: COL1A1 was found markedly upregulated in muscle tissues of CTEV children. In H1 and H9 human ESCs, compared to the empty vector, COL1A1, PITX1, TBX4, HOXD10, Fas, FasL, and Bax were found notably downregulated after transfected with the siRNA targeting COL1A1. Conclusion: COL1A1 induced the apoptosis of ESCs by mediating the PITX1/TBX4 signaling and might be a potential target for treating CTEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA), which is highly toxic and carcinogenic, is easily produced in cereal crops, dry herbs, and other foods under improper storage. Traditional detection methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), can detect OTA accurately, but there are many problems such as long period, high cost, and poor reproducibility. Therefore, developing a rapid, non-destructive, and highly sensitive method for OTA detection is essential. In this paper, we used a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor combined with terahertz (THz) spectroscopy to quantify OTA. As a result, the concentration range of OTA in acetonitrile solution was up to 0–20 pg/μL, with a detection limit of 1 pg/μL, which can meet the requirements for OTA detection in most foods. Further, we applied this method to black tea, and the detection limit was up to 1 pg/mg, which is 500 times higher than UV spectrophotometry, and completely meets the EU regulations. This study shows that the combination of terahertz spectroscopy and an SPR biosensor is a promising approach to achieve a simple, rapid, and low-cost method for trace substance quantification in foods and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain‐cultivated ginseng is typically harvested after 10 years, while ginseng aged over 15 years is considered wild ginseng. This study aims to differentiate mountain‐cultivated ginseng by age, as the fraudulent practice of selling low‐aged cultivated ginseng disguised as high‐aged one is damaging the market. In this study, LC‐MS analyzed 98 ginseng samples, and multivariate statistical analysis identified patterns between samples to select influential components. Machine learning models were developed to identify ginseng samples of different ages. The untargeted metabolomic analysis clearly divided samples aged 4‐20 years into three age groups. Twenty‐two potential age‐dependent biomarkers were discovered to differentiate the three sample groups. Three machine learning models were used to predict new samples, and the optimal model was selected. Some biomarkers could determine age phases according to the differentiation of mountain‐cultivated ginseng samples. These biomarkers were thoroughly analyzed for variation trends. The machine learning models established using the screened biomarkers successfully predicted the age group of new samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a grave traumatic experience that can profoundly compromise patients' psychological resilience, impacting their overall quality of life. The oxytocin system represents one of the essential neurobiological bases of psychological resilience and plays a critical role in regulating resilience in response to social or traumatic events during adulthood. Oxytocin, through its direct interaction with peripheral or central oxytocin receptors, has been found to have a significant impact on regulating social behavior. However, the precise mechanism by which the activation of peripheral oxytocin receptors leads to improved social is still not completely comprehended and requires additional research. Its activation can modulate psychological resilience by influencing estrogen and its receptors, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thyroid function, 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism levels, and arginine pressure release in breast cancer patients. Various interventions, including psychotherapy and behavioral measures, have been employed to improve the psychological resilience of breast cancer patients. The potential effectiveness of such interventions may be underpinned by their ability to modulate oxytocin release levels. This review provides an overview of the oxytocin system and resilience in breast cancer patients and identifies possible future research directions and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng, a slow‐growing perennial herb, is the most praised and popular traditional medicinal herb. Mountain‐cultivated ginseng (MCG) and cultivated ginseng (CG) both belong to Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. The market price and medical effects of this popular health product are closely related to its age. It is widely acknowledged that CG is typically harvested after 4–6 years of growth, but MCG is often collected after 10 years. Until now, the age identification of MCG or mountain wild ginseng (MWG) has remained a major challenge. In this study, we established a novel and rapid method for staining xylem vessels with phloroglucinol and identifying the "annual growth rings" of ginseng by utilizing a stereoscope, which serves as a reliable indicator of the age of MCG. Statistical analysis of the ring radius and the ring density of MCG aged from 1 to 20 years shows that the secondary xylem of MCG increases rapidly in the first 3 years but then gradually slows down from 4 to 10 years, and minor fluctuation is observed in the next 10 years. Meanwhile, the space between the growth rings (ring density) becomes increasingly small with age. This straightforward staining approach can reveal the age of MCG with remarkable clarity and can distinguish MCG from CG. Research Highlights: A novel rapid staining method for Panax ginseng was established.The age of mountain‐cultivated ginseng (MCG) can be identified by microscopic techniques.MCG and cultivated ginseng (CG) can be discriminated by microstructure characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetic studies and drug designs of butyrylcholinesterase play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics. In this research, automated docking studies were performed to provide useful insights into butyrylcholinesterase inhibition binding modes with designed 4-acyloxy-biphenyl-4'-N-butylcarbamates (compounds 1-8). Moreover, several significant linear correlations between experimental and calculated docking results are observed. Among compounds 1-7, compound 3, which exhibits the strongest hydrophobicity and has four carbonyl hydrogen bindings, shows the highest binding affinity ([K.sub.i] = 1.4 µmol/L) with a binding energy of -7.99 kcal/mol. The observed linear correlation of experimental and calculated inhibition constants ([K.sub.i]) indicates that the molecular docking results are reliable. Moreover, a good linear correlation is observed between calculated binding energies and experimental p[K.sub.i]. The experimental Hansch hydrophobicity constants (π values) are also correlated with the docked binding energy. This study reveals important correlations between butyrylcholinesterase experimental and docking results that contribute to the kinetic based identification of antagonists for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, these docked models provide important insights into a potential series of 4,4=-biphenolbased inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase. Key words: brain, butyrylcholinesterase, cholinergic neurotransmission, Alzheimer's disease, molecular docking. On sait que les etudes cinetiques et la modelisation moleculaire portant sur la butyrylcholinesterase jouent un role important dans le developpement d'agents therapeutiques contre la maladie d'Alzheimer. En vue d'acquerir des connaissances utiles sur les modes de liaison permettant l'inhibition de la butyrylcholinesterase, les presents travaux ont porte sur des etudes d'amarrage moleculaire automatise realisees sur des modeles de 4-acyloxy-biphenyl-4'-N- butylcarbamates (composes 1-8). En outre, nous avons observe plusieurs correlations lineaires entre les resultats experimentaux et les calculs de modelisation moleculaire. Parmi les composes 1-7, le compose 3, qui presente la plus forte hydrophobicite et possede quatre groupes carbonyles aptes a former des liaisons hydrogene, montre l'affinite de liaison la plus elevee ([K.sub.i] = 1,4 µmol/L); son energie de liaison etant de -7,99 kcal/mol. La correlation lineaire observee entre les constantes d'inhibition ([K.sub.i]) experimentales et calculees indique que les resultats d'amarrage moleculaire sont fiables. De plus, nous avons observe une correlation lineaire satisfaisante entre les energies de liaison calculees et les valeurs experimentales de p[K.sub.i]. Les valeurs experimentales des constantes d'hydrophobicite de Hansch (valeurs π) sont egalement correlees avec l'energie de liaison obtenue par modelisation. En somme, cette etude revele d'importantes correlations entre les resultats experimentaux et les calculs d'amarrage moleculaire a la butyrylcholinesterase, lesquelles contribuent a l'identification fondee sur la cinetique d'inhibiteurs pour le traitement de la maladie d'Alzheimer. De plus, ces modeles d'amarrage moleculaire permettent d'obtenir d'importantes connaissances sur une serie d'inhibiteurs de structure 4,4'-biphenolique contre la butyrylcholinesterase. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : cerveau, butyrylcholinesterase, neurotransmission cholinergique, maladie d'Alzheimer, amarrage moleculaire., Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible but progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by the loss of synapses and neurons in the certain subcortical regions and cerebral cortex. Previous [...]

This paper proposes a model of learning dynamics and learning energy, one that analyzes learning systems scientifically. This model makes response to the learner action by means of some equations relating to learning dynamics, learning energy, learning speed, learning force, and learning acceleration, which is analogous to the notion of Newtonian mechanics in some way; therefore, this model is named Learning Response Dynamics. First, in this paper, the relationship between learning dynamics and learning speed has been investigated in a learning system, and then the changes of learning energy are inferred from the relationships obtained. The learning effect is estimated according to the changes of the learning energy. Based on the learning portfolios of the learners, the model is designed to investigate the changes of learning speed over time. Various dynamics will influence the learning speed. These dynamics include the traits of the learners, the traits of the learning materials, and the stimulation of the learning activities. How to use different dynamics to motivate the learners is crucial to the success of learning. This model converts the factors in a learning system to quantified and comprehensible data, deducing the relationships between those factors. It makes the study of the learning system more efficient and scientific. With the experience of the two-year ongoing experiments on distance learning, and with the learning information discovered from the web-based-distance-class learners' learning portfolios by means of data mining techniques, the learning model mentioned above is inferred, tested and verified.