Search

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted signaling protein that is implicated in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, and cancer. Outside of its role in lipid metabolism, ANGPTL4 signaling remains poorly understood. Here, we identify ANGPTL4 as a Wnt signaling antagonist that binds to syndecans and forms a ternary complex with the Wnt co-receptor Lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). This protein complex is internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and degraded in lysosomes, leading to attenuation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Angptl4 is expressed in the Spemann organizer of Xenopus embryos and acts as a Wnt antagonist to promote notochord formation and prevent muscle differentiation. This unexpected function of ANGPTL4 invites re-interpretation of its diverse physiological effects in light of Wnt signaling and may open therapeutic avenues for human disease.

This study proposed the use of the benchmarking framework to evaluate the performance of vocational education and training centers (VETC) in using the Taiwan Training Quality System (TTQS) to ensure the advantages and disadvantages of each factor and to confirm the priority of the weights of the criteria and alternative solutions. This study used the Delphi method, Analytic Hierarchy Process Theory (AHP), and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) as the base method and divided the whole process into three stages. In the first stage, the Delphi method identified and integrated the criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. In the second stage, AHP was used to ensure that VETC underwent performance evaluation against their competitors through TTQS to observe the relationships of every criteria and sub-criteria, as well as the overall performance indicators. In the third stage, the TOPSIS is used as the basis to evaluate the VETC performance.

With their unique structural characteristics, customizable chemical composition, and adjustable functional characteristics, high‐entropy materials (HEMs) have triggered a wide range of interdisciplinary research, especially in the biomedical field. In this paper, the basic concept, core properties, and preparation methods of HEMs are first summarized, and then the application and development of HEMs in the field of biomedical are briefly described. Subsequently, based on the diverse and comprehensive properties of HEMs and a few reported cases, the possible application scenarios of HEMs in biological fields such as biosensors, antibacterial materials, therapeutics, bioimaging, and tissue engineering are prospectively predicted and discussed. Finally, their potential advantages and major challenges is summarized, which may provide useful guidance and principles for researchers to develop and optimize novel HEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐photon high‐speed fluorescence calcium imaging stands as a mainstream technique in neuroscience for capturing neural activities with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, challenges arise from the inherent tradeoff between acquisition speed and image quality, grappling with a low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) due to limited signal photon flux. Here, a contrast‐enhanced video‐rate volumetric system, integrating a tunable acoustic gradient (TAG) lens‐based high‐speed microscopy with a TAG‐SPARK denoising algorithm is demonstrated. The former facilitates high‐speed dense z‐sampling at sub‐micrometer‐scale intervals, allowing the latter to exploit the spatial redundancy of z‐slices for self‐supervised model training. This spatial redundancy‐based approach, tailored for 4D (xyzt) dataset, not only achieves >700% SNR enhancement but also retains fast‐spiking functional profiles of neuronal activities. High‐speed plus high‐quality images are exemplified by in vivo Purkinje cells calcium observation, revealing intriguing dendritic‐to‐somatic signal convolution, i.e., similar dendritic signals lead to reverse somatic responses. This tailored technique allows for capturing neuronal activities with high SNR, thus advancing the fundamental comprehension of neuronal transduction pathways within 3D neuronal architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the researchers aimed to understand the life experience of older widowed women living alone. Employing a phenomenological approach, we interviewed 15 older women (age 62 to 95) living alone at homes in two villages in Central Java. Through systematic text condensation procedure, we identified five themes: (1) negative feelings at times, (2) getting used to living alone, (3) needing help to support independent living, (4) coping toward negative feelings, (5) attachment to the original house. We depicted the struggles of older women living alone in their homes. Despite the coping strategies they have developed over time, older women needed help during hard times, especially when getting sick. Families and neighbors were the main resources to maintain their independent living. Improving the home environment to increase suitability for aging residents and providing a support system are the options that best fit the needs and values the older women believed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Most patients with ectopic pregnancies experience a high level of psychological distress for various reasons. The psychological state and needs of patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies need to be seriously addressed. However, psychological distress in patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancy has not been widely studied. The purpose of this study is to investigate and understand the prevalence and factors influencing psychological distress in patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: This study follows the STROBE guidelines. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was utilised to assess the level of psychological stress in patients. The Kruskal–Wallis test or Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the factors influencing psychological stress in patients with different conditions. Results: A total of 134 patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies completed the survey, and most patients experienced moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress. The psychological distress experienced by patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies is complex and dynamic, influenced by various factors. Among them, the main factors affecting the psychological distress of patients were age, education level, number of children, number of abortions, medical insurance and economic pressure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the psychological distress experienced by patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies is universal and cannot be ignored. It is necessary to pay attention to the psychological needs of patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancies and carry out scientific and effective psychological care management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Following technological advancements, there has been a rise in the early detection of pulmonary nodules, with more patients found to have multiple lesions. These lesions may indicate benign or malignant stages, each requiring careful evaluation and management. Multiple treatment strategies can be followed while ensuring patient comfort and minimizing complications. Thus, our study aims to provide an example of single-stage management for multiple lung lesions, using percutaneous ablation and thoracoscopic resection in a hybrid operating room (HOR). These combined procedures in a single stage and setting allows for a minimally invasive experience for patients, with minimal complications and a shorter operation time. In addition to personalized therapy, there is more flexibility for managing complications in the HOR. Thus, these initial results indicate a feasible and safe single-stage workflow and an alternative way to manage multiple pulmonary lesions in patients. Background: Different approaches are required in treating patients with multiple pulmonary lesions. A multistage procedure may increase the risk of complications and patient discomfort. This study reports an initial experience with single-stage management of multiple lung lesions using percutaneous ablation with thoracoscopic resection in a hybrid operating room (HOR). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent combined ablation and resection in an HOR between May 2022 and July 2024. All patients received a single anesthesia via endotracheal tube intubation. The clinical data, operative findings, and pathological characteristics of the lung nodules were recorded. Results: A total of 22 patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients underwent unilateral procedures, while the other two patients underwent bilateral procedures. Ablations were performed before lung resection in 21 patients; only 1 patient underwent surgery first. The median global operating room time was 227.0 min. The median total radiation dose (dose area product) was 14,076 μGym2. The median hospital postoperative length of stay was 2 days. Conclusions: The single-stage procedure of percutaneous ablation with thoracoscopic resection under general anesthesia in an HOR is feasible and safe. This procedure is an alternative method for managing multiple pulmonary lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial slope deformation pattern is crucial for landslide early warning and management. Quantitative modelling of the effects of multiple driving factors on the landslide spatial pattern has not yet been fully explored. To address this, this study utilizes data-driven models and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques to unveil the spatial pattern of landslides based on SUs (slope units). Specifically, we propose a methodology that establishes a correlation between InSAR deformation and topographic/meteorological factors by constructing a Generalized Additive Mixed Model (GAMM). Using this method, we analysed ALOS-2 ascending SAR images from April 2020 to September 2021 and successfully obtained cumulative minimum deformation during the period. Through the GAMM, we linked the observed cumulative minimum deformation in each SU to various factors, including topographic and meteorological factors. In terms of accuracy, there is an excellent agreement between the observed and fitted deformation, with a Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) of 0.83. In terms of interpretability, our method can well explain the contribution of each factor to landslide deformation. We conclude that using the data-driven GAMM and InSAR techniques can effectively reveal the spatial pattern of landslides based on SUs. Furthermore, based on the method proposed in this study, it is possible to predict landslide deformation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogenic substances primarily formed through pyrolysis and oxidation of fat at high cooking temperatures, are commonly found at high levels in grilled meats. Reducing PAHs formation by incorporating natural antioxidants, such as through marination, has been demonstrated to be effective. However, the inhibitory effect of fresh phenolic-rich fruit powders on PAHs formation in charcoal-grilled meats remains unknown. To clarify the application of the fruit powders, 15 experimental groups were conducted. All pretreatment techniques (spraying, marinating, and mixing) were applied across all four freeze-dried fruit powders (lemon, guava, papaya, and mango). Each method was systematically tested with each fruit powder to evaluate its effect on inhibiting the formation of the four PAHs (BaA, CHR, BbF, and BaP) in charcoal-grilled pork belly and loin. Firstly, guava powder exhibited the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the lemon, papaya, and mango powders (p < 0.05), among which the main phenolic compounds were ellagic acid, quercetin, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Further, marination of pork belly with guava powder exhibited the highest inhibition rate of PAHs (94.8%), followed by lemon (91.1%), papaya (89.8%), and mango (89.0%), with a statistically significant difference at p < 0.05. The reduction in estimated daily intake (EDI) and the increase in the margin of exposure (MOE) indicate that consuming grilled meat treated with these fruit powders poses no safety concerns and may potentially reduce health risks. Finally, the sensory evaluation showed that marinating with guava powder did not perceptibly affect the sensory attributes of the meat. Overall, this study provides a potent strategy for inhibiting the formation of PAHs in meat during charcoal grilling by incorporating fruit powder while preserving sensory qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive energy demand of the conventional Haber–Bosch process for ammonia (NH3) generation, coupled with the disruptive effects of nitrate (NO3−) pollution on the global nitrogen cycle, has made the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR) an essential exit strategy for sustainable NH3 synthesis. However, the intricate multi-step proton and electron transfer process posed a great challenge in achieving high-efficiency electrocatalysts. In this study, we report a selective and highly active NO3−RR electrocatalyst featuring molecular M–Nx sites derived from the immobilization of Fe ions within N-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs). We demonstrated that the formation of molecular Fe–Nx coordination activated the NO3−RR of NGQDs-Fe, despite the initial inactivity of NGQDs. In situ Raman analysis revealed that those Fe–Nx sites served as favourable adsorption sites for *NO3. Such catalyst achieved an FE of 93% and a yield rate of 15.41 mmol h−1 cm−2 for NH3 at −0.8 V (vs. RHE) in an alkaline medium. These findings revealed the preferential sequential 2e− and 6e− transfer pathways over the direct 8e− pathway in the NO3−RR, which provides new mechanistic insights into the nitrate reduction reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Su Chul Jang et al. develop exoSTING, consisting of an engineered extracellular vesicle loaded with a potent cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) agonist of the STING pathway. They find that exoSTING shows more than 100-fold increased potency in in vivo tumor models and has increased tumor retention and lower levels of systemic inflammatory cytokine production as compared to free CDN.

BACKGROUND As more attention is paid to selenium-rich products, the research on the determination of selenium content in crops has become more and more significant. However, existing methods for determining organic selenium has interferences of the matrix effect and polyatomic ion, which affect the accuracy of the measurement. OBJECTIVES To establish a rapid method to determine selenium species pf organic selenium in agricultural products by liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Q Exactive Orbitrap MS). METHODS The selenium species were extracted using an ultrasonic extraction system with a mixture of protease XIV. The separation was carried out on a Waters Symmetry RP18 column by gradient elution with water and acetonitrile as mobile phases. The selenomethionine, selenocystine and methylselenocysteine were simultaneously analyzed in switching positive and negative modes. The quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out by high-resolution mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source in negative ion acquisition mode under Full MS/dd-MS2 mode. RESULTS Under the optimal conditions, good linearity was obtained in the respective concentration ranges. The limits of detection for three compounds were in the range of 1.0-4.7μg/kg. The recoveries ranged from 76.4% to 116.0% with relative standard deviations less than 6.5%. CONCLUSIONS Compared with existing methods, this method has a wider linear range and is suitable for the analysis of a variety of grain and vegetable samples. The established method has been applied to the determination of the edible part of a variety of crops in Heilongjiang, which is the main grain production area in China. The results show that selenomethionine is the main ingredient in cereals, and methylselenocysteine is the main ingredient in vegetables, and that the organic selenium content of crops in this area is at a low level. Therefore, selenium supplementation is urgently needed.