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Abstract Flavonoids are crucial secondary metabolites that possess the ability to mitigate UV damage and withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, it is of immense significance to investigate the flavonoid content as a pivotal indicator for a comprehensive assessment of chestnut's drought tolerance. This study aimed to determine the flavonoid content and drought tolerance-related physiological and biochemical indices of six chestnut varieties (clones) grafted trees—Qianxi 42 (QX42), Qinglong 45 (QL45), Yanshanzaofeng (YSZF), Yanzi (YZ), Yanqiu (YQ), and Yanlong (YL)-under natural drought stress. The results were used to comprehensively analyze the drought tolerance ability of these varieties. The study revealed that the ranking of drought tolerance indices in terms of their ability to reflect drought tolerance was as follows: superoxide (oxide) dismutase (SOD) activity, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, flavone content, catalase (CAT) activity, proline (PRO) content, soluble sugar content, peroxidase (POD) activity, betaine content, flavonol content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, soluble protein content, superoxide ion (OFR) content, superoxide (ion OFR) production rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, chlorophyll content. Through principal component analysis, the contents of flavonoids and flavonols can be used as indicators for comprehensive evaluation of drought tolerance of chestnut. The comprehensive evaluation order of drought tolerance of grafted trees of 6 chestnut varieties (Clones) was: QL45 > QX42 > YQ > YZ > YSZF > YL.

Abstract There is a deficiency in population-based studies investigating the impact of HPV infection on vaginal microenvironment, which influences the risk of persistent HPV infection. This prospective study aimed to unravel the dynamics of vaginal microbiota (VM) and vaginal metabolome in reaction to the changed state of HPV infection. Our results propose that the vaginal metabolome may be a superior indicator to VM when assessing the impact of altered HPV state on the vaginal microenvironment.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility of an internet-facilitated community model for cervical cancer screening using self-collected HPV testing as primary screening. Method A population-based cervical cancer screening program was conducted in the suburb of Shenzhen, China, from September 2014 to July 2017. Women with 25–60 years of age and no pregnancy were eligible for participation. Participants could register for screening by logging in a website by themselves or with the aids of local community workers. A unique barcode was issued to each applicant upon successful registration. After registration, women could get sampling kits from community screening site/study clinic, collect vaginal samples privately or in group, and provide their sample for Hr-HPV tests on Cobas4800 and SeqHPV assays. Testing reports were checkable through personal account for all participant and phone calls were given to all women positive of Hr-HPV. Participants positive of both or either the 2 assays were identified as the positives. The positives could return the study clinic for triage or search medical care in other clinics. Colposcopy directed or ramdom biopsies were performed on all positives who returned to the study clinics. Results A total of 10,792 community women registered for screening, among whom, 10,010 provided their vaginal samples for tests. 99.5% of the participants were confirmed to have correct personal identifiable information and samples, and 98.9% of them got HPV testing results from both or either assays. No adverse event was reported. Conclusion When self-collected HPV testing is used as the primary testing, the internet-based data platform facilitates the screening in registration, data collection, and data tracking, and increases the screening coverage. Internet-facilitated community model is promising to cervical cancer control and applicable in regions with variety of resources.

Abstract Structural coloring is a photostable and environmentally friendly coloring approach that harnesses optical interference and nanophotonic resonances to obtain colors with a range of applications including display technologies, colorful solar panels, steganography, décor, data storage, and anticounterfeiting measures. We show that optical coatings exhibiting the photonic Fano Resonance present an ideal platform for structural coloring; they provide full color access, high color purity, high brightness, controlled iridescence, and scalable manufacturing. We show that an additional oxide film deposited on Fano resonant optical coatings (FROCs) increases the color purity (up to 99%) and color gamut coverage range of FROCs to 61% of the CIE color space. For wide-area structural coloring applications, FROCs have a significant advantage over existing structural coloring schemes.

This report described three cases with long-term severe dysmenorrhea, and these cases were referred to our department for medical help. The diagnosis of accessory cavitated uterine malformation (ACUM) was considered based on symptoms and ultrasound/MRI findings. Moreover, a combined approach involving hysteroscopic surgery and laparoscopic surgery was undertaken, and no complications occurred during surgery and in the post-operative period. It is important to consider ACUM in patients with severe dysmenorrhea that does not respond to medical management. Surgery is the most effective treatment for this anomaly.

The NAC gene family is one of the most important transcription factor families specific to plants, responsible for regulating many biological processes, including development, stress response, and signal transduction. However, it has not yet been characterized in chestnut, an important nut tree species. Here, we identified 115 CmNAC genes in the chestnut genome, which were divided into 16 subgroups based on the phylogenetic analysis. Numerous cis-acting elements related to auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid were identified in the promoter region of CmNACs, suggesting that they play an important role in the growth and development of chestnut. The results of the collinear analysis indicated that dispersed duplication and whole-genome-duplication were the main drivers of CmNAC gene expansion. RNA-seq data of developmental stages of chestnut nut, bud, and ovule revealed the expression patterns of CmNAC genes. Additionally, qRT-PCR experiments were used to verify the expression levels of some CmNAC genes. The comprehensive analysis of the above results revealed that some CmNAC members may be related to chestnut bud and nut development, as well as ovule fertility. The systematic analysis of this study will help to increase understanding of the potential functions of the CmNAC genes in chestnut growth and development.

The atomic-level structure and electronic properties of monazite were investigated using a first-principles method based on density functional theory (DFT). First, the geometric structure of monazite was optimized, followed by calculations of its Mulliken population, electron density, and density of states, which were subsequently analyzed. The findings of this analysis suggest that monazite is highly susceptible to cleavage along the {100} plane during crushing and grinding. When SPA was utilized as the collector, the recovery rate of monazite was higher than that when LF-P8 was used. The zeta potential and adsorption energy results indicated that the zeta potential after SPA adsorption tended towards negativity, and the adsorption energy was smaller, indicating that SPA exhibited stronger adsorption performance. LF-P8 was stably adsorbed on the monazite (100) surface via mononuclear double coordination. SPA was stably adsorbed on the surface of monazite (100) via binuclear double coordination. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the adsorption of monazite by commonly used flotation collectors. These findings are of substantial importance for future endeavors in designing flotation collectors capable of achieving selective monazite flotation.

To overcome the difficulty of separating bastnaesite from fluorite through the flotation technique, the present study examined the suitability of sodium alginate (SA) as a depressant in the flotation process. The effect of SA on the flotation separation of bastnaesite and fluorite was evaluated using micro-flotation tests, zeta potential measurements, adsorption density measurements, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The micro-flotation results showed that SA exerted a strongly detrimental effect on fluorite flotation, while slightly affecting bastnaesite flotation. The surface chemistry results revealed that the -COO- and HO- functional groups in SA coordinated with Ca2+ on the fluorite surface, which induced hydrophilicity and hindered adsorption in the subsequent octylhydroxamic acid as a collector. However, the interaction of SA with the bastnaesite surface was marginal and did not affect the anchoring of the collector on the surface of bastnaesite. Based on these results, the present study proposes a possible model for the interaction of SA on the surfaces of the two minerals, laying a foundation for the flotation separation of bastnaesite from fluorite with SA as an environmentally benign depressant.

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women on a global scale. It can generally be divided into four main categories, of which estrogen receptor ER-positive breast cancer accounts for most breast cancer cases. RBCK1 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase containing the UBL, NZF, and RBR domains. It is well known to exhibit abnormal expression in breast tumors, making it a valuable diagnostic marker and drug target. Additionally, studies have confirmed that in breast cancer, about 25 to 40% of tumors appear as visible hypoxic regions, while in hypoxia, tumor cells can activate the hypoxia-inducing factor HIF1 pathway and widely activate the expression of downstream genes. Previous studies have confirmed that in the hypoxic environment of tumors, HIF1α promotes the remodeling of extracellular matrix, induces the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and immunosuppression of allogeneic tumors, thereby influencing tumor recurrence and metastasis. This research aims to identify RBCK1 as an important regulator of HIF1α signaling pathway. Targeted therapy with RBCK1 could be a promising treatment strategy for ER-positive breast cancer.

Electrochemical oxidation/reduction of radicals is a green and environmentally friendly approach to generating fuels. These reactions, however, suffer from sluggish kinetics due to a low local concentration of radicals around the electrocatalyst. A large applied electrode potential can enhance the fuel generation efficiency via enhancing the radical concentration around the electrocatalyst sites, but this comes at the cost of electricity. Here, we report about a ~45% saving in energy to achieve an electrochemical hydrogen generation rate of 3×1016 molecules cm–2s–1 (current density: 10 mA/cm2) through localized electric field-induced enhancement in the reagent concentration (LEFIRC) at laser-induced periodic surface structured (LIPSS) electrodes. The finite element model is used to simulate the spatial distribution of the electric field to understand the effects of LIPSS geometric parameters in field localization. When the LIPSS patterned electrodes are used as substrates to support Pt/C and RuO2 electrocatalysts, the η10 overpotentials for HER and OER are decreased by 40.4 and 25%, respectively. Moreover, the capability of the LIPSS-patterned electrodes to operate at significantly reduced energy is also demonstrated in a range of electrolytes, including alkaline, acidic, neutral, and seawater. Importantly, when two LIPSS patterned electrodes were assembled as the anode and cathode into a cell, it requires 330 mVs of lower electric potential with enhanced stability over a similar cell made of pristine electrodes to drive a current density of 10 mA/cm2. This work demonstrates a physical and versatile approach of electrode surface patterning to boost electrocatalytic fuel generation performance and can be applied to any metal and semiconductor catalysts for a range of electrochemical reactions.

Background: There are 9.9 million new cases of dementia in the world every year. Short-term conversion rate from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia is between 20% and 40%, but long-term in 5–10 years ranges from 60% to 100%. It is particularly important to prevent or prolong the development of MCI into dementia. Both auriculotherapy and vagus nerve stimulation are effective on improving cognitive functions. However, there is no double blinded randomized clinical trial to support the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of auricular acupoints in patients with MCI. Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved patients with MCI, aged from 55 to 75 years old. Patients were randomly allocated to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) group or sham taVNS group. In the taVNS group, two auricular acupoints were stimulated, including heart (concha, CO15) and kidney (CO10), which are in the distribution of vagus nerve. While in the sham taVNS group, two other auricular acupoints were stimulated, including elbow (scaphoid fossa, SF3) and shoulder (SF4,5), which are out of the distribution of vagus nerve. The primary outcome was the Montreal cognitive assessment-basic, MOCA-B. The secondary outcomes included auditory verbal learning test-HuaShan version (AVLT-H), shape trails test A&B (STT-A&B), animal fluence test (AFT), Boston naming test (BNT), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire (RBDSQ), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and functional activities questionnaire (FAQ). These outcome measures were taken at baseline, 24 weeks later. Results: After 24 weeks of intervention, the data of 52 patients were intended for analysis. After intervention, there was significant difference in the overall scores of MoCA-B between taVNS group and sham taVNS group (p = 0.033

Taking a certain kaolin in the south as the object, based on the study of sample properties, the influence of factors such as pH value, sodium sulfonate dosage, oxalic acid dosage, pulp concentration, temperature and other factors on the whiteness of kaolin was systematically investigated. The results show that the kaolin belongs to sandy kaolin, and the iron-containing minerals that affect the whiteness are mainly hematite, magnetite and rutile; under the optimal test conditions for iron removal and whitening, the Fe2O3 content is 0.46%. Kaolin product with a brightness of 80.82%; Provide technical support for the development and utilization of the kaolin mine.

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is an important nut tree species, and its embryo is rich in sugar. We combined metabolomic and transcriptomic data to analyze metabolites and genes related to sugar in two Chinese chestnut cultivars at 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 days after flowering (DAF). The soluble sugar content of high-sugar cultivar at maturity is 1.5 times that of low-sugar cultivar. Thirty sugar metabolites were identified in embryo, with the most dominant being sucrose. Analysis of the gene expression patterns revealed that the high-sugar cultivar promoted the conversion of starch to sucrose by up-regulating genes related to starch degradation and sucrose synthesis at 90-100 DAF. It also strongly increased the enzyme activity of SUS-synthetic, which may promote sucrose synthesis. Gene co-expression network analysis showed that ABA and peroxide were related to starch decomposition during Chinese chestnut ripening. Our study analyzed the composition and molecular synthesis mechanism of sugar in Chinese chestnut embryos, and provided a new insight into the regulation pattern of high sugar accumulation in Chinese chestnut nuts.

Summary: Eco-friendly, efficient, and durable electrocatalysts from earth-abundant materials are crucial for water splitting through hydrogen and oxygen generation. However, available methods to fabricate electrocatalysts are either hazardous and time-consuming or require expensive equipment, hindering the large-scale, eco-friendly production of artificial fuels. Here, we present a rapid, single-step method for producing MoSx/NiF electrocatalysts with controlled sulfur-vacancies via electric-field-assisted pulsed laser ablation (EF-PLA) in liquid and in-situ deposition on nickel foam, enabling efficient water splitting. Electric-field parameters efficiently control S-vacancy active sites in electrocatalysts. Higher electric fields yield a MoSx/NiF electrocatalyst with a larger density of S-vacancy sites, suited for HER due to lower Gibbs free energy for H∗ adsorption, while lower electric fields produce an electrocatalyst with lower S-vacancy sites, better suited for OER, as shown by both experimental and theoretical results. The present work opens a horizon in designing high-efficiency catalysts, for a wide range of chemical reactions.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) gene family is an important gene family in plants, and participates in regulation of plant apical meristem growth, metabolic regulation and stress resistance. However, its characteristics and potential functions have not been studied in chestnut (Castanea mollissima), an important nut with high ecological and economic value. In the present study, 94 CmbHLHs were identified in chestnut genome, of which 88 were unevenly distributed on chromosomes, and other six were located on five unanchored scaffolds. Almost all CmbHLH proteins were predicted in the nucleus, and subcellular localization demonstrated the correctness of the above predictions. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, all of the CmbHLH genes were divided into 19 subgroups with distinct features. Abundant cis-acting regulatory elements related to endosperm expression, meristem expression, and responses to gibberellin (GA) and auxin were identified in the upstream sequences of CmbHLH genes. This indicates that these genes may have potential functions in the morphogenesis of chestnut. Comparative genome analysis showed that dispersed duplication was the main driving force for the expansion of the CmbHLH gene family inferred to have evolved through purifying selection. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR experiments showed that the expression patterns of CmbHLHs were different in different chestnut tissues, and revealed some members may have potential functions in chestnut buds, nuts, fertile/abortive ovules development. The results from this study will be helpful to understand the characteristics and potential functions of the bHLH gene family in chestnut.

The aim of this study was to characterize the riebeckite type rare earth ore found in the Bayan Obo deposit, in order to identify the distribution and occurrence of both rare earths and gangue species within the ore. Several analytical techniques were utilized to accomplish this, such as chemical analysis, quantitative XRD, a single polarizing microscope, and a mineral automatic analysis system. The analysis revealed that the primary rare earth minerals (REMs) in the ore were bastnaesite and monazite, with huanghoite, parisite, aeschynite, and fergusonite identified as secondary rare earth minerals. The main gangue species was magnetite, accompanied by smaller quantities of riebeckite and dolomite. The ore was rich in rare earth oxides, with a 3.81 wt% grade. The screen analysis of the pulverized ore indicates that the 43–100 μm fraction is the dominant size, while the finer size fractions below 43 μm contain the bastnaesite and monazite, as well as huanghoite, parisite, aeschynite, and fergusonite. Microstructural characterization showed that the REMs were both coarse-grained and fine-grained, occurring as granular aggregates and fine disseminations within the gangue. Bastnaesite and monazite were the major REMs, with dominant amounts of cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, and neodymium, while parasite was identified as an impurity. Huanghoite and parisite contained barium and calcium as impurities, respectively. Aeschynite and fergusonite were REMs that included niobium in their composition. Bastnaesite and monazite were found to contain a much higher rare earth content than huanghoite, parisite, aeschynite, and fergusonite. Potential methods for recovering rare earths from this ore, such as magnetic separation and froth flotation, have been identified and may be applicable to similar ferruginous rare earth-bearing ores.

Transition–metal-doped electrocatalysts are considered as low-cost alternatives of Pt and RuO2 electrocatalysts for large scale electrochemical generations of hydrogen and oxygen, respectively. Although, chemical synthesis, typically adopted to produce these electrocatalysts, is scalable but hazardous by-products and chemical wastes create growing environmental concerns. Here, we developed a single step, single pot, and environmentally friendly physical approach of electric field-assisted pulsed laser ablation in liquid for the synthesis of colloidal solution of pure CuMoO4 (CMO) electrocatalysts. The entire process took few minutes and did not involve or generate any chemical. A pulsed picosecond laser was used to ablate MoS2 target at the solid-liquid interface to generate spatially confined plasma plume. Two parallel electrodes (copper sheets) were mounted around the plasma plume to modulate the plasma parameters, control the reactions at the plasma-liquid interface, and simultaneously inject copper ions from the electrode to the laser-produced plasma (LPP) for the generation of CMO. nanoparticles. Surprisingly, we observed that by varying the applied electric field, we can efficiently control the size, shape, crystallinity, morphology, and composition of as produced CMO nanocomposites and enhance their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. The characterization results proves that the introduction of applied electric field during the laser ablation process significantly change the morphology of as-prepared nanomaterials, and the shape of these nanomaterials were spherical, spindle and cuboid for MoS2, CuO and CMO respectively. Among all the fabricated electrocatalysts, CMO-60 is the best HER performer in alkaline medium, while MoS2 and CuO nanoparticles were the worse. For CMO-60 sample, only 440 mV overpotential required to reach the current density of 10 mA/cm2 and as well as posess good stability. We found that electrocatalysts produced at a higher electric field have higher contents of copper and oxygen leading to a superior HER activity. The developed approach can be applied for the synthesis of other electrocatalysts for a range of chemical reactions.

Titanium ferrite represents one of the most promising magnetic materials that exhibits optical absorption in both ultraviolet and visible spectral regions with a range of applications in photocatalysis, giant magnetoresistance, sensors, high-frequency modern power supplies, etc. Here in the present work, we report synthesizing titanium ferrite NPs via the co-precipitation method. As obtained ferrite nanopowders were characterized using XRD, UV-Visible absorption, Raman scattering, and variable sample magnetometer techniques. The crystalline size of NPs lies between 35 to 50 nm. The as-obtained nanopowder samples were calcined at 200, 500, 800 °C temperatures, and the resulting change in the optical, structural, and magnetic properties are investigated. The saturation magnetization of 500 °C calcined sample is higher than that calcined at 200 °C, but the magnetization value drastically becomes reduced for powder calcined at 800 °C temperature. The results of the present work can be used to understand the effects of annealing temperature on the structural and magnetic properties of other ferrite nanomaterials.

We simulate with FDTD solutions a complete family of basic Boolean logic operations, which includes XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR, by using compact Ψ-shaped silicon-on-silica optical waveguides that are operated at a 1.55 μm telecommunications wavelength. Four identical slots and one microring resonator, all made of silicon deposited on silica, compose the adopted waveguide. The operating principle of these logic gates is based on the constructive and destructive interferences that result from the phase differences incurred by the launched input optical beams. The performance of these logic operations is evaluated against the contrast ratio (CR) metric. The obtained results suggest that the considered functions designed with the employed waveguide can be realized all-optically with higher CRs and faster speeds than other reported designs.

GRAS transcription factors play an important role in regulating various biological processes in plant growth and development. However, their characterization and potential function are still vague in Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), an important nut with rich nutrition and high economic value. In this study, 48 CmGRAS genes were identified in Chinese chestnut genome and phylogenetic analysis divided CmGRAS genes into nine subfamilies, and each of them has distinct conserved structure domain and features. Genomic organization revealed that CmGRAS tend to have a representative GRAS domain and fewer introns. Tandem duplication had the greatest contribution for the CmGRAS expansion based on the comparative genome analysis, and CmGRAS genes experienced strong purifying selection pressure based on the Ka/Ks. Gene expression analysis revealed some CmGRAS members with potential functions in bud development and ovule fertility. CmGRAS genes with more homologous relationships with reference species had more cis-acting elements and higher expression levels. Notably, the lack of DELLA domain in members of the DELLA subfamily may cause de functionalization, and the differences between the three-dimensional structures of them were exhibited. This comprehensive study provides theoretical and practical basis for future research on the evolution and function of GRAS gene family.

Abstract Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), a novel category of small noncoding RNAs, are enzymatically cleaved from tRNAs. Previous reports have shed some light on the roles of tsRNAs in the development of human diseases. However, our knowledge about tsRNAs is still relatively lacking. In this paper, we review the biogenesis, classification, subcellular localization as well as action mechanism of tsRNAs, and discuss the association between chemical modifications of tRNAs and the production and functions of tsRNAs. Furthermore, using immunity, metabolism, and malignancy as examples, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of tsRNAs in diseases and evaluate the potential of tsRNAs as new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. At the same time, we compile and introduce several resource databases that are currently publicly available for analyzing tsRNAs. Finally, we discuss the challenges associated with research in this field and future directions.

ObjectiveTo validate the HPV viral loads that are reflected by the cycle threshold values of Cobas4800 as the viral load indicators by verifying the consistency of the viral loads per unit (10,000 cells) from the BMRT assay.MethodsThe analysis is based on data from the Chinese Multi-Center Screening Trial (CHIMUST). The cases included in the analysis are all positive for physician-collected hrHPV on SeqHPV and/or Cobas4800 or negative for hrHPV but abnormal in cytology (≥LSIL), and some cases selected by nested case-control randomization from those negative for physician-collected hrHPV and cytology. With HPV testing results and relevant Ct values from Cobas4800 available, we tested the entire sample set with the BMRT HPV testing assay and analyzed their agreement with Cobas4800, followed by a comparison of the CtV from Cobas4800 and viral loads (lg) from BMRT by lesion grade.ResultsWe included 4,485 women (mean age: 45.4 years) in the study, and 4,290 had complete data. The consistency of genotypes from Cobas4800 and BMRT for hrHPV, HPV-16, HPV-18, and 12-HPV pools was 94.9% (4070/4290, Kappa = 0.827), 99.1% (4251/4290, Kappa = 0.842), 99.6% (4,273/4,290, Kappa = 0.777), and 95.3% (4,089/4,290, Kappa = 0.821), respectively. Further analysis shows that any inconsistency between the two assays is likely among samples with comparatively lower viral loads. When analyzing per lesions of CIN2+ and CIN3+, the CtV from Cobas4800 and VL (lg) from BMRT are highly correlated inversely and follow the linear regression for HPV16 and 12-HPV pool (Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient (r): In CIN3+, r HPV16 = −0.641, P < 0.001; r 12−HPVpool = −0.343, P = 0.109; In CIN2+, r HPV16 = −0.754, P < 0.001; r 12−HPVpool = −0.429, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe CtV from Cobas4800 and the viral loads (lg) of per unit cells from the BMRT are well correlated for lesion grading when tested on physician-collected samples. Cobas-CtV is worthy of further study for clinical application.

BackgroundFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies examining differences in the activity of brain networks between the first depressive episode (FDE) and recurrent depressive episode (RDE) are limited. The current study observed and compared the altered functional connectivity (FC) characteristics in the default mode network (DMN), cognitive control network (CCN), and affective network (AN) between the RDE and FDE. In addition, we further investigated the correlation between abnormal FC and clinical symptoms.MethodsWe recruited 32 patients with the RDE, 31 patients with the FDE, and 30 healthy controls (HCs). All subjects underwent resting-state fMRI. The seed-based FC method was used to analyze the abnormal brain networks in the DMN, CCN, and AN among the three groups and further explore the correlation between abnormal FC and clinical symptoms.ResultsOne-way analysis of variance showed significant differences the FC in the DMN, CCN, and AN among the three groups in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and precuneus lobes and cerebellum. Compared with the RDE group, the FDE group generally showed reduced FC in the DMN, CCN, and AN. Compared with the HC group, the FDE group showed reduced FC in the DMN, CCN, and AN, while the RDE group showed reduced FC only in the DMN and AN. Moreover, the FC in the left posterior cingulate cortices and the right inferior temporal gyrus in the RDE group were positively correlated with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), and the FC in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and the right precuneus in the FDE group were negatively correlated with the HAMD-17.ConclusionsThe RDE and FDE groups showed multiple abnormal brain networks. However, the alterations of abnormal FC were more extensive and intensive in the FDE group.

ObjectiveTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In the current study, we observed the immediate modulating brain effect of taVNS in patients with TRD using rest-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).MethodForty patients with TRD and forty healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Rs-fMRI was performed before and after 30 min of taVNS at baseline. The brain regions that presented significantly different the Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) between the TRD patients and HCs were selected as the ROI to calculate the functional connectivity (FC) of full brain. The correlations were estimated between the clinical scales' score and the functional brain changes.ResultsFollowing taVNS stimulation treatment, TRD patients showed significantly reduced ReHo in the medial orbital frontal cortex (mOFC) (F = 18.06, P < 0.0001), ANCOVA of the mOFC-Based FC images revealed a significant interaction effect on the left inferior parietal gyrus (IPG) and left superior marginal gyrus (SMG) (F = 11.6615, P

Bcl-3 is an atypical IκB family member that regulates transcription in the nucleus by binding to the p50/p52 homologous dimer subunit. Although various studies illustrate the important role of Bcl-3 in physiological function, its role in metabolism is still unclear. We found that Bcl-3 has a metabolic regulatory effect on autoimmunity. Bcl-3-depleted mice are unable to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The disease resistance was linked to an increase in lactate levels in Th17 cells, and lactate could alleviate EAE development in WT mice. Bcl-3 deficient mice had more differentiated Th17 cells and an increased extracellular acidification rate in these cells. Concurrently, their ultimate respiration rate and respiratory reserve capacity were significantly lower than wild-type mice. However, adding GNE-140 (LADH inhibitor) to Bcl-3-deficient Th17 cells could reverse the phenomenon, and lactate supplementation could increase the glycolysis metabolism of Th17 cells in WT mice. Mechanically, Bcl-3 could interact with Raptor through ANK and RNC domains. Therefore, Bcl-3 regulates Th17 pathogenicity by promoting Raptor mediated energy metabolism, revealing a novel regulation of adaptive immunity.

Lower female genital tract is colonized by a variety of microbes (cervicovaginal microbiota, CVM) which associate with the risk of genital infection. This study characterized CVM for 149 Chinese women with different status of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL): no HPV infection (HPV-), HPV infection without significant SIL (HPV+NoSIL), HPV infection with low-grade SIL (HPV+LSIL) and HPV infection with high-grade SIL (HPV+HSIL). Analysis results showed CVM has dramatically changed in HPV+HSIL group when compared to HPV+LSIL group, but it exhibited no significant differences between HPV- and HPV+NoSIL groups as well as between HPV+NoSIL and HPV+LSIL groups. In consistence, random forest analysis found more notable differences in HPV+HSIL vs HPV+LSIL comparison than in other comparisons. In addition, depletion of Lactobacillus in CVM was more to be frequently identified in SIL-positive women as compared to SIL-negative individuals. Our findings suggested that significant CVM differences occurred when SIL developed to HSIL which was caused by persistent HPV infection.

BackgroundTreatment-resistant depression (TRD) may have different physiopathological neuromechanism in different age groups. This study used the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) to initially compare abnormalities in local functional brain activity in younger and older patients with TRD.Materials and methodsA total of 21 older TRD patients, 19 younger TRD, 19 older healthy controls (HCs), and 19 younger HCs underwent resting-state functional MRI scans, and the images were analyzed using the ALFF and further analyzed for correlation between abnormal brain regions and clinical symptoms in TRD patients of different age groups.ResultsCompared with the older TRD, the younger TRD group had increased ALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus and decreased ALFF in the left caudate nucleus. Compared with the matched HC group, ALFF was increased in the right middle temporal gyrus and left pallidum in the older TRD group, whereas no significant differences were found in the younger TRD group. In addition, ALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus in the younger TRD group and in the right middle temporal gyrus in the older TRD were both positively correlated with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score.ConclusionDifferent neuropathological mechanisms may exist in TRD patients of different ages, especially in the left middle frontal gyrus and left caudate nucleus. This study is beneficial in providing potential key targets for the clinical management of TRD patients of different ages.

In the last ten years, silicon photonics has made considerable strides in terms of device functionality, performance, and circuit integration for a variety of practical uses, including communication, sensing, and information processing. In this work, we theoretically demonstrate a complete family of all-optical logic gates (AOLGs), including XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR, through finite-difference-time-domain simulations using compact silicon-on-silica optical waveguides that operate at 1.55 μm. Three slots, grouped in the shape of the letter Z, make up the suggested waveguide. The function of the target logic gates is based on constructive and destructive interferences that result from the phase difference experienced by the launched input optical beams. These gates are evaluated against the contrast ratio (CR) by investigating the impact of key operating parameters on this metric. The obtained results indicate that the proposed waveguide can realize AOLGs at a higher speed of 120 Gb/s with better CRs compared to other reported designs. This suggests that AOLGs could be realized in an affordable manner and with improved outcomes to enable the satisfaction of the current and future requirements of lightwave circuits and systems that critically rely on AOLGs as core building elements.

ObjectiveIn this study, we used amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) to observe differences in local brain functional activity and its characteristics in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and non-treatment-resistant depression (nTRD), and to explore the correlation between areas of abnormal brain functional activity and clinical symptoms.MethodThirty-seven patients with TRD, 36 patients with nTRD, and 35 healthy controls (HCs) were included in resting-state fMRI scans. ALFF and ReHo were used for image analysis and further correlation between abnormal brain regions and clinical symptoms were analyzed.ResultsANOVA revealed that the significantly different brain regions of ALFF and ReHo among the three groups were mainly concentrated in the frontal and temporal lobes. Compared with the nTRD group, the TRD group had decreased ALFF in the left/right inferior frontal triangular gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, left cuneus and bilateral posterior lobes of the cerebellum, and increased ALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus, and the TRD group had decreased ReHo in the left/right inferior frontal triangular gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and increased ReHo in the right superior frontal gyrus. Compared with the HC group, the TRD group had decreased ALFF/ReHo in both the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus and the left middle temporal gyrus. Pearson correlation analysis showed that both ALFF and ReHo values in these abnormal brain regions were positively correlated with HAMD-17 scores (P < 0.05).ConclusionAlthough the clinical symptoms were similar in the TRD and nTRD groups, abnormal neurological functional activity were present in some of the same brain regions. Compared with the nTRD group, ALFF and ReHo showed a wider range of brain area alterations and more complex neuropathological mechanisms in the TRD group, especially in the inferior frontal triangular gyrus of the frontal lobe and the middle temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe.

BackgroundPrevious studies found that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) was clinically effective in treating a case of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, the brain neural mechanisms underlying the immediate effects of taVNS treatment for TRD have not been elucidated.Materials and MethodsDifferences in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) between TRD and healthy control (HC) groups were observed. The TRD group was treated with taVNS for 30 min, and changes in ALFF in the TRD group before and after immediate treatment were observed. The ALFF brain regions altered by taVNS induction were used as regions of interest to analyze whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) changes in the TRD group.ResultsA total of 44 TRD patients and 44 HCs completed the study and were included in the data analysis. Compared with the HC group, the TRD group had increased ALFF in the left orbital area of the middle frontal gyrus. After taVNS treatment, ALFF in the left orbital area of the middle frontal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus decreased in the TRD group, while ALFF in the right orbital area of the superior frontal gyrus increased. The FC in the left orbital area of the middle frontal gyrus with left middle frontal gyrus and the right inferior occipital gyrus was significantly increased.ConclusionTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation demonstrates immediate modulation of functional activity in the emotional network, cognitive control network, and visual processing cortex, and may be a potential brain imaging biomarker for the treatment of TRD.

BackgroundThe disparities of hr-HPV infection among races/ethnicities have not been fully discussed. This study aimed to investigate the difference of hr-HPV infection between Chinese Han and Mongols minority women in Inner Mongolia.MethodsGenotyping and histopathology data of Chinese Han and Mongols minority women in Inner Mongolia from Chinese Multi-Center Screening Trial were used to analyze the hr-HPV prevalence, and type-specific distribution in abnormal pathology results.ResultsThe hr-HPV infection rates of Han women was 15.9% while of Mongols was 21.6% (P < 0.001). The most prevalent genotypes in Han women were ranked as HPV-16,−52,−18/-58,−31/-39, and−59 while in Mongols were−16,−31,−58,−18 and−52. When analyzing the age-specific of hr-HPV infection, two peaks were found at age of 40–44 (20.5%) and 55–59 (23.5%) years in Han women while three peaks were observed at age of 30–34 (22.1%), 45–49 (22.9%), and 55–59 (31.8%) years, respectively, in Mongols. HPV-16 accounting for 62.5 and 53.8% of the CINII+ in Han and Mongols, respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of hr-HPV was significantly different between the Han and Mongols minority women in Inner Mongolia, races/ethnicities background should be taken into consideration for the refinement of cervical cancer screening strategies and vaccine implementation in China.

Abstract Objective To assess the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among Chinese Han women, and to explore the risk of high-grade cervical lesions associated with individual hr-HPV genotypes. Methods Genotyping and histopathology data from the Chinese Multi-Center Screening Trial (CHIMUST) and its pilot screening trial, from 6 regions across mainland China, were re-analyzed. The data from physician- and self-collected samples from 10,867 Chinese Han women (ages 30–69) were used to determine the prevalence and distribution of hr-HPV and to explore the risk association between hr-HPV genotypes and precancerous lesions. Results 9.2% of the study population tested hr-HPV positive in physician-collected sample. The prevalence varied regionally from the lowest in Guangdong (6.3%) to the highest in Inner Mongolia (13.0%). The most prevalent genotypes found were HPV-52 (21.7%), HPV-16 (19.2%), HPV-58 (15.0%), HPV-39 (8.9%), and HPV-51 (8.2%). The overall odds ratios for CIN2+ and CIN3+ for the presence of HPV-16 was 58.6 (95% CI 39.2–87.5) and, 91.6 (95%CI 54.3–154.6), respectively and remained the highest odds ratio for CIN3+ in all 6 regions. Conclusion Geographical variation exists in the prevalence and distribution of hr-HPV in mainland China. HPV-16/52/58 were the most prevalent genotypes, and HPV-16 had the highest risk for high-grade cervical lesions. Trial registration CHIMUST, Registration number: ChiCTR-EOC-16008456 . Registered 11 May 2016.

Conversion of a regular metal surface to a superhydrophobic one has great appeal because of the wide range of potential applications such as anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. One promising technique is to modify surface wettability by laser processing to form nano-micro hierarchical structures with various patterns, such as pillars, grooves, and grids, followed by an aging process in the air or additional chemical processes. Surface processing is typically a lengthy process. Herein, we demonstrate a facile laser technique that converts the surface wettability of aluminum from inherently hydrophilic to hydrophobic and superhydrophobic with single-shot nanosecond laser irradiation. A single shot covers a fabrication area of approximately 19.6 mm2. The resultant hydrophobic and superhydrophobic effects persisted after six months. The effect of the incident laser energy on the surface wettability is studied, and the underlying mechanism of the wettability conversion through single-shot irradiation is suggested. The obtained surface shows a self-cleaning effect and the control of water adhesion. The single-shot nanosecond laser processing technique promises a fast and scalable method to produce laser-induced surface superhydrophobicity.

Controlling and modulating charge transfer dynamics in composite nanostructures, though promising for optoelectronic applications, remains a challenge. Here, the authors report optical control of charge separation and recombination processes in organic semiconductor-based composite nanostructures.

BackgroundStudies on differences in brain function activity between the first depressive episode (FDE) and recurrent depressive episodes (RDE) are scarce. In this study, we used regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) as indices of abnormal brain function activity. We aimed to determine the differences in these indices between patients with FDE and those with RDE, and to investigate the correlation between areas of abnormal brain function and clinical symptoms.MethodsA total of 29 patients with RDE, 28 patients with FDE, and 29 healthy controls (HCs) who underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were included in this study. The ReHo and ALFF measurements were used for image analysis and further analysis of the correlation between different brain regions and clinical symptoms.ResultsAnalysis of variance showed significant differences among the three groups in ReHo and ALFF in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. ReHo was higher in the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus and lower in the left inferior temporal gyrus in the RDE group than in the FDE group. Meanwhile, ALFF was higher in the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus, left anterior cingulate gyrus, orbital part of the left middle frontal gyrus, orbital part of the left superior frontal gyrus, and right angular gyrus, but was lower in the right lingual gyrus in the RDE group than in the FDE group. ReHo and ALFF were lower in the left angular gyrus in the RDE and FDE groups than in the HC group. Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the ReHo and ALFF values in these abnormal areas in the frontal lobe and the severity of depressive symptoms (P < 0.05). Abnormal areas in the temporal and occipital lobes were negatively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe RDE and FDE groups had abnormal neural function activity in some of the same brain regions. ReHo and ALFF were more widely distributed in different brain regions and had more complex neuropathological mechanisms in the RDE group than in the FDE group, especially in the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus of the frontal lobe.

The NF-κB transcription factor family controls the transcription of many genes and regulates a number of pivotal biological processes. Its activity is regulated by the IκB family of proteins. Bcl-3 is an atypical member of the IκB protein family that regulates the activity of nuclear factor NF-κB. It can promote or inhibit the expression of NF-κB target genes according to the received cell type and stimulation, impacting various cell functions, such as proliferation and differentiation, induction of apoptosis and immune response. Bcl-3 is also regarded as an environment-dependent cell response regulator that has dual roles in the development of B cells and the differentiation, survival and proliferation of Th cells. Moreover, it also showed a contradictory role in inflammation. At present, in addition to the work aimed at studying the molecular mechanism of Bcl-3, an increasing number of studies have focused on the effects of Bcl-3 on inflammation, immunity and malignant tumors in vivo. In this review, we focus on the latest progress of Bcl-3 in the regulation of the NF-κB pathway and its extensive physiological role in inflammation and immune cells, which may help to provide new ideas and targets for the early diagnosis or targeted treatment of various inflammatory diseases, immunodeficiency diseases and malignant tumors.

BackgroundSalt reduction is a cost-effective, and rather challenging public health strategy for controlling chronic diseases. The AppSalt program is a school-based multi-component mobile health (mhealth) salt reduction program designed to tackle the high salt intake in China. This mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted to investigate the implementation of this program across sites, identify factors associated with the implementation, and collect evidence to optimize the intervention design for future scale-up.MethodsMixed methods were used sequentially to collect data regarding five process evaluation dimensions: fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, and context. Quantitative data were collected during the intervention process. Participation rate of intervention activities was calculated and compared across cities. The quantitative data was used for the selection of representative intervention participants for the qualitative interviews. Qualitative data were collected in face-to-face semi-structured interviews with purposively selected students (n = 33), adult family members (n = 33), teachers (n = 9), heads of schools (n = 9), key informants from local health, and education departments (n = 8). Thematic analysis technique was applied to analyze the interview transcripts using NVivo. The qualitative data were triangulated with the quantitative data during the interpretation phase.ResultsThe total number of families recruited for the intervention was 1,124. The overall retention rate of the AppSalt program was 97%. The intervention was implemented to a high level of fidelity against the protocol. About 80% of intervention participants completed all the app-based salt reduction courses, with a significant difference across the three cities (Shijiazhuang: 95%; Luzhou: 73%; Yueyang: 64%). The smartphone app in this program was perceived as a feasible and engaging health education tool by most intervention participants and key stakeholders. Through the interviews with participants and key stakeholders, we identified some barriers to implementing this program at primary schools, including the left-behind children who usually live with their grandparents and have limited access of smartphones; perceived adverse effects of smartphones on children (e.g., eyesight damage); and overlooked health education curriculum at Chinese primary schools.ConclusionThis process evaluation demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of using smartphone applications delivered through the education system to engage families in China to reduce excessive salt intake.Clinical Trial RegistrationThe AppSalt study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR1800017553. The date of registration is August 3, 2018.

Abstract Optical absorbers are a key component in all solar‐thermal energy technologies. Cermet‐based solar absorbers are commonly used in solar‐thermal applications. However, due to their multilayered structures, these absorbers have limited thermal conductivity and mechanical stability at the interfaces. Femtosecond laser processing is a single‐step, environmentally friendly, and monolithic approach that can directly transform a metal surface to a solar absorber through surface patterning without adding additional weight, hazard, or complexity. In this review, we will focus on femtosecond‐laser induced broadband and selective solar absorbers and their utilizations in solar thermoelectric generators and solar‐thermal water purification. We will discuss the laser surface patterning and the procedure to control the size, distribution, and composition of the surface structures that are responsible for optical absorbance/emittance. Several multifunctional solar absorber surfaces produced by femtosecond‐laser processing and their possible energy applications are also discussed.

In recent years, supramolecular nanoparticles consisting of peptides and drugs have been regarded as useful drug delivery systems for tumor therapy. Pemetrexed (PEM) is a multitarget drug that is effective for many cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer. Here, RGD-conjugated molecular nanoparticles mainly composed of an anticancer drug of PEM (PEM-FFRGD) were prepared to deliver PEM to tumors. The peptide could self-assemble into a nanoparticle structure with diameter of about 20 nm. Moreover, the nanoparticle showed favorable solubility and biocompatibility compared with those of PEM, and the MTT test on A549 and LLC cells showed that the PEM-FFRGD nanoparticles had stronger cytotoxic activity than PEM alone. Most importantly, the nanoparticle could promote tumor apoptosis and decrease mitochondrial energy metabolism in tumors. In vivo studies indicated that PEM-FFRGD nanoparticles had enhanced antitumor efficacy in LLC tumor-bearing mice compared to that of PEM. Our observations suggested that PEM-FFRGD nanoparticles have great practical potential for application in lung cancer therapy.

Summary: Imaging photo-induced ultrafast dynamics of nanostructure phase transition is of great interest to the fields of laser-matter interactions and nanotechnology. However, conventional ultrafast far-field optical imaging methods cannot image nanostructures as their scattering scales as D6, with D being the diamater, leading to a vanishing signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we use ultrafast ultramicroscopy to capture the spatiotemporal evolution of surface nanostructures as they undergo melting, spallation, and re-solidification processes. Our experimental observations, combined with finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations, show agreement with molecular dynamic simulations on ultrashort laser pulse-irradiated metallic nanoparticles and suggest the occurrence of melting of nanostructures followed by photomechanical spallation within a few picoseconds. At longer timescales, we image the re-solidification dynamics of the melted nanostructures occurring within nanoseconds. The re-solidification time for nanostructured surface occurs an order of magnitude faster than for an initially flat surface. Our study demonstrates a simple but powerful far-field optical approach for studying ultrafast dynamics of nanostructures.

Petroleum is an indispensable chemical product in industrial production and daily life. The hydrocarbon molecules in petroleum are important raw materials in the organic chemical industry. The hydrocarbons currently used in industry are usually obtained by fractional distillation of petroleum, which not only consumes more energy, but has poor separation selectivity for some hydrocarbons. Adsorption separation technology has many advantages such as energy saving and high efficiency. It can adsorb and separate hydrocarbon molecules in petroleum with low energy consumption and high selectivity under mild conditions. In this paper, the research progress of adsorption and separation of hydrocarbon molecules in petroleum is reviewed, and various new catalysts and the rules of adsorption and desorption are analyzed.

The presence of different clinical symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) of different sexes may be related to different neuropathological mechanisms. A total of 16 male patients with TRD, 18 female patients with TRD, 18 male healthy controls (HCs) and 19 female HCs completed this study. We used the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) method to analyze the results. Moreover, the correlation between abnormal brain areas and clinical symptoms in different sexes of the TRD groups was also analyzed. The effects of the sex-by-group interaction difference in ALFF among the four groups was located in the left middle frontal gyrus, left precentral gyrus and left precuneus. Post hoc comparisons revealed that the male TRD group had lower ALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus and left precentral gyrus compared with the female TRD group. There was a positive correlation between the left middle frontal gyrus, the left precuneus and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scale (HAMD-17) scores, and a negative correlation between the left precentral gyrus and the HAMD-17 scores in the female TRD group. This study will provide some clinical reference value for the sex differences in neuropathological mechanisms of TRD.

The presence of reward deficits in major depressive disorder is associated with abnormal striatal function. However, differences in striatal whole-brain functional between recurrent depressive episode (RDE) and first-episode depression (FDE) have not been elucidated. Thirty-three patients with RDE, 27 with FDE, and 35 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. A seed-based functional connectivity (FC) method was used to analyze abnormalities in six predefined striatal subregion circuits among the three groups of subjects and to further explore the correlation between abnormal FC and clinical symptoms. The results revealed that compared with the FDE group, the RDE group showed higher FC of the striatal subregion with the left middle occipital gyrus, left orbital area of the middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral posterior cerebellar gyrus, while showing lower FC of the striatal subregion with the right thalamus, left inferior parietal lobule, left middle cingulate gyrus, right angular gyrus, right cerebellum anterior lobe, and right caudate nucleus. In the RDE group, the HAMD-17 scores were positively correlated with the FC between the left dorsal rostral putamen and the left cerebellum posterior lobe. This study provides new insights into understanding the specificity of striatal circuits in the RDE group.

In this study, we observed the sex differences in functional brain activity in patients with recurrent depressive disorder (RDE) and assessed the correlation between abnormal functional brain activity changes and clinical symptoms. A total of 40 patients with RDE (19 male and 21 female) and 42 healthy controls (HCs) (20 male and 22 female) met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of images using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and further analysis of the correlation between abnormal brain areas and clinical symptoms of the different sexes with RDE groups were carried out. For the main effects of sex (male vs. female), there were statistically significant differences in ReHo among the four groups in the right middle temporal gyrus, right thalamus, and left posterior cerebellar lobe. For the effects of the sex-by-group interaction, there were statistically significant differences in ReHo among the four groups in the left middle frontal gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and right insula. Post hoc analyses showed that compared with the female RDE group, the male RDE group had decreased ReHo in the left middle frontal gyrus and right insula. In the female RDE group, the ReHo values of the left middle frontal gyrus were positively correlated with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) scores. This study provides new insights into the clinical targeting of different sexes for RDE.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women. Inorganic pyrophosphatase 1 (PPA1) is a multifunctional protein involved in the development of several tumors. However, the role of PPA1 in breast cancer progression remains unclear. In this study, we found that PPA1 was highly expressed in breast cancer compared to its levels in normal breast tissue and that it was correlated with breast cancer clinicopathological characteristics, as well as poor survival in breast cancer patients. Silencing PPA1 restrained breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by regulating Slug-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Opposite results were observed following PPA1 overexpression. In addition, investigation of the underlying mechanism demonstrated that PPA1 ablation led to decrease phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) phosphorylation levels and attenuate phosphorylated AKT and glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β), while ectopic PPA1 expression had the opposite effects. Moreover, PI3K inhibitors suppress the signaling pathways mediating the effects of PPA1 on breast cancer, resulting in tumor growth and metastasis suppression in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our results verify that PPA1 can act as an activator of PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/Slug-mediated breast cancer progression and that it is a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of tumor progression.

In a low-temperature environment, water vapor in the ambient air is easy to condense and form frost on superhydrophobic surfaces, causing a reduction of their anti-icing performance. In this paper, a femtosecond laser was used to fabricate two new structures on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrates to compare anti-icing properties with conventional structures. The two new structures are Siberian-Cocklebur-like microstructures and square pillars integrated Siberian-Cocklebur-like microstructures; whereas, the conventional structures include microgrooves with small step size, microgrooves with large step size, and square pillars. We illustrate the mechanism of forming the new structures in the interaction between the femtosecond laser and PTFE. The two new structures have greater water contact angles in a low-temperature environment than the conventional structures. We set up corresponding models for various microstructures contacted with water droplets and discuss hydrophobicity diversity. The two new structures on PTFE can effectively inhibit the vapor condensation in the microstructures and improve the hydrophobic performance and anti-icing property of PTFE surfaces in a low-temperature environment.

How diet as a whole impacts the risk of general overweight and abdominal obesity among the Chinese elderly is unclear. The present study aimed to examine the association of overall diet quality with general overweight and abdominal obesity in the Chinese elderly. Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1993 to 2015, an ongoing cohort study, we selected participants aged 60 and older who were not generally overweight, but who had abdominal obesity at baseline and who had participated in at least two waves of the survey as subjects. The China Elderly Dietary Guidelines Index (CDGI-E) was used, based on the critical diet-related recommendations of the 2016 Chinese Dietary Guideline (CDG-2016), to assess overall diet quality. Consecutive 3 d, 24 h recalls and household weighing for seasonings and edible oils were used to collect dietary data and calculate the CDGI-E scores. Three-level (community-individual-wave) random intercept logistic regression models were used to analyze the impact of diet quality on the risk of general overweight and abdominal obesity in the elderly. The results showed that the older women in the top sixtiles of the CDGI-E scores had a 38% reduction —0.62, 95% CI (0.41, 0.92)—in the risk of abdominal obesity, as compared to those in the bottom sixtiles after adjusting for all potential confounders, while the null association was observed in the older men. The relationship between CDGI-E score and the risk of overweight/general obesity in the Chinese elderly has not been found. It was concluded that a high diet quality was associated with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity among elderly women in China. Our findings will help to improve the understanding of the relationship between the overall effect of diet and health. It may provide a new avenue for obesity intervention policy formulation from the aspect of improving overall dietary quality.

The methylammonium lead halide perovskites have shown excellent optoelectronic properties but the field-effect transistors are much less studied. Here Yu et al. synthesize micrometer-thin crystals of perovskites with low surface contamination and make ambipolar transistor devices with high mobilities.