Search

The effective integration of nanomaterials with underlying current collectors is a key factor affecting the performance of nonenzymatic glucose sensors, where an inappropriate integration structure often leads to poor electron transport and instability. In this work, a seamless integrated electrode was constructed by the in situ immobilizing of a nickel-based metal-organic framework (Ni-MOF) on a three-dimensional (3D) conductive nickel foam (NF) for highly sensitive and durable glucose sensing. Facilitated by a rapid microwave-assisted reaction, a robust interfacial interaction between the Ni-MOF and the substrate was established through in situ conversion from nickel oxide (NiO). The fabricated Ni-MOF/NF electrode exhibits an excellent limit of detection (LOD) of 2.65 μM and an impressive sensitivity (14.31 mA cm-2 mM-1) within the linear range (4-576 μM), which is significantly boosted compared with that of an electrode prepared by a typical drop-casting method (3.56 mA cm-2 mM-1 in 4-1836 μM). Characterization and electrochemical tests reveal that this integrated structure on the one hand contributes to fast electron transport and thus has enhanced sensitivity and on the other hand leads to exceptional durability with its structural integrity maintained under bending, shaking, and ultrasonication. Moreover, this seamless integration method was also employed to immobilize the Ni-MOF converted from the pre-chemically deposited NiO layer on another type of substrate, 3D carbon paper (CP), demonstrating the versatility of this facile strategy in creating diverse electrochemical electrodes for applications beyond glucose sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the problem we investigate is to simultaneously identify the source term and initial value of the time fractional diffusion equation. This problem is ill-posed, i.e., the solution (if exists) does not depend on the measurable data. We give the conditional stability result under the a-priori bound assumption for the exact solution. The modified Tikhonov regularization method is used to solve this problem, and under the a-priori and the a-posteriori selection rule for the regularization parameter, the convergence error estimations for this method are obtained. Finally, numerical example is given to prove the effectiveness of this regularization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on the quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with thyroid nodules treated by ultrasound-guided microwave ablation. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted from December 2020 to December 2022 at The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital. One hundred and twenty patients with benign thyroid nodules undergoing microwave ablation were included. Patients were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. Patients in the control group were given conventional intervention mode during the perioperative period, while those in the experimental group were given comprehensive nursing intervention mode on the basis of the control group. The differences in quality of life, cognitive level before and after intervention and satisfaction between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: The SF-36 scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in the control group after intervention. After the intervention, the SAS and SDS scores in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with a statistically significant difference. The VAS scores in the experimental group were better than those in the control group at six, twelve and twenty four hour after operation, with statistically significant differences. After the intervention, the cognitive score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusion: Comprehensive nursing intervention is worthy of clinical promotion in the treatment of patients with thyroid nodules treated by ultrasound-guided microwave ablation, leading to various benefits such as effectively improving patients' quality of life and relieving pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunity is subjected to spatiotemporal regulation by leukocyte interaction with neoplastic and stromal cells, contributing to immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance. Here, we identify a distinct mesenchymal-like population of endothelial cells (ECs) that form an immunosuppressive vascular niche in glioblastoma (GBM). We reveal a spatially restricted, Twist1/SATB1-mediated sequential transcriptional activation mechanism, through which tumor ECs produce osteopontin to promote immunosuppressive macrophage (Mφ) phenotypes. Genetic or pharmacological ablation of Twist1 reverses Mφ-mediated immunosuppression and enhances T cell infiltration and activation, leading to reduced GBM growth and extended mouse survival, and sensitizing tumor to chimeric antigen receptor T immunotherapy. Thus, these findings uncover a spatially restricted mechanism controlling tumor immunity and suggest that targeting endothelial Twist1 may offer attractive opportunities for optimizing cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background No single graft type has been shown to have a benefit in acetabular labral reconstruction. The native labrum and lateral meniscus share many similarities, suggesting that the meniscus may be a promising source of graft material in labral reconstruction. Questions/purposes Using a pig model, we sought to evaluate the healing process of fresh-frozen meniscus allograft for acetabular reconstruction by assessing (1) MRI and macroscopic observations of the meniscus allograft; (2) histologic appearance and immunohistologic evaluation of the meniscus allograft, native meniscus, and labrum; (3) microscopic assessment of the native labrum and meniscus via scanning electron microscopy; and (4) biomechanical assessment of tensile properties. Methods Twelve skeletally mature male miniature Bama pigs (24 hips) were randomly divided into two groups: labral defect group (control) and lateral meniscus allograft group. The selection of Bama pig specimens was based on the similarity of their acetabular labrum to that of the human acetabular labrum, characterized by the presence of fibrocartilage-like tissue lacking blood vessels. The pigs underwent bilateral hip surgery. Briefly, a 1.5-cm-long section was resected in the anterior dorsal labrum, which was left untreated or reconstructed using an allogeneic lateral meniscus. The pigs were euthanized at 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively, and then evaluated by macroscopic observations and MRI measurement to assess the extent of coverage of the labral defect. We also performed a histologic analysis and immunohistologic evaluation to assess the composition and structure of meniscus allograft, native labrum, and meniscus, as well as scanning electron microscopy assessment of the microstructure of the native labrum and meniscus and biomechanical assessment of tensile properties. Results Imaging measurement and macroscopic observations revealed that the resected area of the labrum was fully filled in the lateral meniscus allograft group, whereas in the control group, the labral defect remained at 24weeks. The macroscopic scores of the meniscus allograft group (8.260.8) were higher than those of the control groups (4.8 6 1.0) (mean difference 3.3 [95% CI 1.6 to 5.0]; p < 0.001). Moreover, in themeniscus allograft group, histologic assessment identified fibrocartilage-like cell cluster formation at the interface between the graft and acetabulum; cells and fibers arranged perpendicularly to the acetabulum and tideline structure that were similar to those of native labrum could be observed at 24 weeks. Immunohistochemical results showed that the average optical density value of Type II collagen at the graft-acetabulum interface was increased in the meniscus allograft group at 24 weeks compared with at 12 weeks (0.259 6 0.031 versus 0.228 6 0.023, mean difference 0.032 [95% CI 0.003 to 0.061]; p = 0.013). Furthermore, the tensile modulus of the lateral meniscus allograft was near that of the native labrum at 24 weeks (54.7 6 9.9 MPa versus 63.2 6 11.3 MPa, mean difference -8.4 MPa [95% CI -38.3 to 21.4]; p = 0.212). Conclusion In a pig model, lateral meniscus allografts fully filled labral defects in labral reconstruction. Regeneration of a fibrocartilage transition zone at the graftacetabulum interface was observed at 24 weeks. Clinical Relevance The use of an autograft meniscus for labral reconstruction may be a viable option when labral tears are deemed irreparable. Before its clinical implementation, it is imperative to conduct a comparative study involving tendon grafts, which are extensively used in current clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence highlights the importance of trace metal micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) in coronary and vascular diseases. Zn2+ plays a signalling role in modulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase and protects the endothelium against oxidative stress by upregulation of glutathione synthesis. Excessive accumulation of Zn2+ in endothelial cells leads to apoptotic cell death resulting from dysregulation of glutathione and mitochondrial ATP synthesis, whereas zinc deficiency induces an inflammatory phenotype, associated with increased monocyte adhesion. Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor known to target hundreds of different genes. Activation of NRF2 affects redox metabolism, autophagy, cell proliferation, remodelling of the extracellular matrix and wound healing. As a redox-inert metal ion, Zn has emerged as a biomarker in diagnosis and as a therapeutic approach for oxidative-related diseases due to its close link to NRF2 signalling. In non-vascular cell types, Zn has been shown to modify conformations of the NRF2 negative regulators Kelch-like ECH-associated Protein 1 (KEAP1) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and to promote degradation of BACH1, a transcriptional suppressor of select NRF2 genes. Zn can affect phosphorylation signalling, including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinases and protein kinase C, which facilitate NRF2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Notably, several NRF2-targeted proteins have been suggested to modify cellular Zn concentration via Zn exporters (ZnTs) and importers (ZIPs) and the Zn buffering protein metallothionein. This review summarises the cross-talk between reactive oxygen species, Zn and NRF2 in antioxidant responses of vascular cells against oxidative stress and hypoxia/reoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines two interconnected human-made nonhuman entities stemming from Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone, that have become dominant figures in mapping the city's - and by extension, China's - future: the robot and the drone. I bring an interdisciplinary, cultural studies approach to the multiple meaning-making practices that engage with these two objects; both participate in enacting the vision for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an extension of the success of Shenzhen. These practices simultaneously normalise aspirations for a future fuelled by the power of nonhuman technological agents while offering glimpses into the uneven power relations between different humans that underpin such future making. At the same time, they also point to the emergent possibilities of meaningmaking that conjoin the human and the nonhuman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large convection cloud chamber has the potential to produce drizzle-sized droplets, thus offering a new opportunity to investigate aerosol-cloud-drizzle interactions at a fundamental level under controlled environmental conditions. One key measurement requirement is the development of methods to detect the low concentration drizzle drops in such a large cloud chamber. In particular, remote sensing methods may overcome some limitations of in situ methods. Here, the potential of an ultra-high-resolution radar to detect the radar return signal of a small drizzle droplet against the cloud droplet background signal is investigated. It is found that using a small sampling volume is critical to drizzle detection in a cloud chamber to allow a drizzle drop in the radar sampling volume to dominate over the background cloud droplets signal. For instance, a radar volume of 1 cubic centimeter (cm³) would enable the detection of drizzle embryos with diameter larger than 40 µm. However, the probability of drizzle sampling also decreases as the sample volume reduces, leading to a longer observation time. Thus, the selection of radar volume should consider both of the signal power and the drizzle occurrence probability. Finally, observations from the Pi Convection-Cloud Chamber are used to demonstrate the single drizzle particle detection concept using small radar volume. The results presented in this study also suggest new applications of ultra-high-resolution cloud radar for atmospheric sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cap-snatching mechanism mediated by cap-dependent endonuclease, which is common among the negative-stranded, segmented RNA viruses in Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Arenaviridae, is crucial for viral transcription and replication and is thus an attractive target for antiviral drug development. Herein, tanshinone I and its analog tanshinone IIA were identified as candidate compounds with broad-spectrum antiviral activities against bandaviruses, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, Heartland virus, and Guertu virus. Additionally, the broad-spectrum antiviral activity was observed in influenza A virus and arenavirus. Further study demonstrated that tanshinone I exhibited potent antiviral activity in vitro and significantly reduced the viral loads in vivo. The underlying mechanism was speculated to involve tanshinone I binding to the active pocket of the L protein endonuclease domain to inhibit cap cleavage. This study reports candidate broad-spectrum antiviral compounds against negative-stranded, segmented RNA viruses, highlighting the endonuclease involved in the cap-snatching process as a reliable antiviral target for discovering broad-spectrum antivirals. IMPORTANCE The spread of avian-borne, tick-borne, and rodent-borne pathogens has the potential to pose a serious threat to human health, and candidate vaccines as well as therapeutics for these pathogens are urgently needed. Tanshinones, especially tanshinone I, were identified as a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor with broad-spectrum antiviral effects on negative-stranded, segmented RNA viruses including bandavirus, orthomyxovirus, and arenavirus from natural products, implying an important resource of candidate antivirals from the traditional Chinese medicines. This study supplies novel candidate antivirals for the negative-stranded, segmented RNA virus and highlights the endonuclease involved in the cap-snatching process as a reliable broad-spectrum antiviral target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reportedly, ovarian cancer (OC) is a major threat to women's health. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ASB16-AS1 has been uncovered to participate in cancer progression. Nevertheless, the role of ASB16-AS1 in OC remains to be revealed. This study aimed to unveil the biological function of ASB16-AS1 and its underlying mechanisms in OC cells. QRT-PCR was done to test ASB16-AS1 expression in OC cells. Functional assays were performed to evaluate the malignant behaviors and cisplatin resistance of OC cells. Mechanistic analyses were done to investigate the regulatory molecular mechanism in OC cells. ASB16-AS1 was found to be highly expressed in OC cells. ASB16-AS1 knockdown repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells, while facilitating cell apoptosis. ASB16-AS1 was further validated to up-regulate GOLM1 through competitively binding with miR-3918. Moreover, miR-3918 overexpression was corroborated to suppress OC cell growth. Rescue assays further uncovered that ASB16-AS1 modulated the malignant processes of OC cells via targeting miR-3918/GOLM1 axis. ASB16-AS1 facilitates the malignant processes and chemoresistance of OC cells via serving as miR-3918 sponge and positively modulating GOLM1 expression. • ASB16-AS1 was found to be highly expressed in OC cells. ASB16-AS1 knockdown repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells. • miR-3918 overexpression was corroborated to suppress OC cell growth. Rescue assays further uncovered that ASB16-AS1 modulated the malignant processes of OC cells via targeting miR-3918/GOLM1 axis. • ASB16-AS1 facilitates the malignant processes and chemoresistance of OC cells via serving as miR-3918 sponge and positively modulating GOLM1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction in mammals is an extremely energy-intensive process and is therefore tightly controlled by the body's energy status. Changes in the nutritional status of the body cause fluctuations in the levels of peripheral metabolic hormone signals, such as leptin, insulin, and ghrelin, which provide feedback to the hypothalamus and integrate to coordinate metabolism and fertility. Therefore, to link energy and reproduction, energetic information must be centrally transmitted to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons that act as reproductive gating. However, GnRH neurons themselves are rarely directly involved in energy information perception. First, as key factors in the control of GnRH neurons, we describe the direct role of Kisspeptin and Arg-Phe amide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) neurons in mediating metabolic signaling. Second, we focused on summarizing the roles of metabolic hormone-sensitive neurons in mediating peripheral energy hormone signaling. Some of these hormone-sensitive neurons can directly transmit energy information to GnRH neurons, such as Orexin neurons, while others act indirectly through other neurons such as Kisspeptin, RFRP-3 neuron, and (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) PACAP neurons. In addition, as another important aspect of the integration of metabolism and reproduction, the impact of reproductive signaling itself on metabolic function was also considered, as exemplified by our examination of the role of Kisspeptin and RFRP-3 in feeding control. This review summarizes the latest research progress in related fields, in order to more fully understand the central neuropeptide network that integrates energy metabolism and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mantle plumes can encounter stagnant slabs in the mantle transition zone (MTZ) during their ascent from the lower mantle to Earth's surface. However, the interactions between stagnant slabs and mantle plumes remain poorly understood. This study presents new data on the spatial thermal-lithological-chemical heterogeneity in the mantle over a vast area of Southeast Asia that reflects the variable influence of a late Cenozoic mantle plume. Site U1433 of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 349 in the southwest sub-basin of the South China Sea (SCS) is located near the center of this seismically imaged mantle upwelling. This area also contains midocean ridge basalt (MORB) derived from a peridotite-dominated and normal temperature mantle source with a depleted Nd-Hf and enriched 207Pb/206Pb isotopic composition. In contrast, MORB from Site U1431 of IODP Expedition 349 within the eastern sub-basin of the SCS and other intraplate basalts from the Hainan-Leizhou area, the eastern Indochina block, and elsewhere in the SCS are dominantly sourced from higher temperature pyroxenite-enriched mantle material that records mantle plume activity. These observations are in contrast with previous models involving a single plume rising from the lower mantle beneath the SCS that then tilted toward Hainan Island, China. Instead, it is likely that the observations from this region are indicative of plume-stagnant slab interaction. The shallow upper mantle beneath Site U1433 has not been influenced by a mantle plume as the presence of stagnant slabs within the MTZ prevented further upwelling of the plume. In contrast, a mantle plume passed through the weaker MTZ within the eastern sub-basin and circum-SCS areas, allowing plume-related magmatism to occur. The bifurcation of a deep-rooted mantle plume by stagnant slabs in the MTZ produced a cluster of small mantle upwellings that ascended to shallow depths, consistent with new multiscale global tomographic data for Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) treatment has been shown to reduce the toxicity and accumulation of lead (Pb) in many plants, including rice. The mechanisms responsible for this effect are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of Si treatment on Pb toxicity and accumulation in two rice mutants (lsi1 and lsi2) defective in Si uptake and in their wild types. Si did not alleviate Pb-induced inhibition of root elongation in shortterm experiments, but reduced Pb accumulation in wild types, but not in mutants, in long-term experiments. Pre-treatment with Si reduced Pb concentration in xylem sap and Pb accumulation in wild types but not in mutants. In split-root experiments, Si treatment reduced Pb accumulation but did not alter Pb localization in roots. Si treatment suppressed the expression of many genes encoding proteins that may participate in Pb uptake and transport in the wild type, but not in the lsi1 mutant. These results indicate that Si accumulation in shoots is required to reduce Pb uptake in rice and that the effect is achieved via Siinduced suppression of genes encoding proteins involved in Pb uptake and/or transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of trichostatin A (TSA) on biological characteristics of side population (SP) cells of cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) Methods: Side population (SP) and NSP cells were obtained from 6th generation of primary cervical cancer cells and cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Cell surface markers (ATP-binding membrane transporter superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), CD133, CD43, p63, Ki67, multidrug resistance (MDR) as well as cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis, were determined. SP cells in HeLa were divided into 3 groups that received TSA at doses of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.2 μM. Untreated cells served as control. Cell growth inhibition rates of different dose groups were compared. SP cells in HeLa were divided into simple irradiation group and combined irradiation group TSA (10 % inhibition concentration (IC10) + irradiation, and values of SP cell survival fraction (SF) of the two groups under different irradiation conditions were compared. Results: The content of SP in HeLa cell line was significantly higher than in cervical cancer tissue (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in expression levels of ABCG2, CD133, CD43, p63, Ki67, and MDR, as well as G0/G1, S, and G2/M phase distributions and apoptosis rate between HeLa cell line and cervical cancer tissue (p > 0.05). On the 3rd, 5th, and 7th day, SF value of SP cells was significantly higher in NSP cells (p > 0.05). With increasing concentration of TSA, SF value of NSP cells gradually decreased, while that of SP cells did not change significantly. Conclusion: Cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) contains SP cells which have biological characteristics of tumor stem cells. Moreover, TSA exerts good cytotoxicity and radio-sensitization effect on SP cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble sugar accumulation in fruit ripening determines fleshy fruit quality. However, the molecular mechanism for this process is not yet understood. Here, we showed a transcriptional repressor, CmMYB44 regulates sucrose accumulation and ethylene synthesis in oriental melon (Cucumis. melo var. makuwa Makino) fruit. Overexpressing CmMYB44 suppressed sucrose accumulation and ethylene production. Furthermore, CmMYB44 repressed the transcriptional activation of CmSPS1 (sucrose phosphate synthase 1) and CmACO1 (ACC oxidase 1), two key genes in sucrose and ethylene accumulation, respectively. During the later stages of fruit ripening, the repressive effect of CmMYB44 on CmSPS1 and CmACO1 could be released by overexpressing CmERFI-2 (ethylene response factor I-2) and exogenous ethylene in "HS" fruit (high sucrose accumulation fruit). CmERFI-2 acted upstream of CmMYB44 as a repressor by directly binding the CmMYB44 promoter region, indirectly stimulating the expression level of CmSPS1 and CmACO1. Taken together, we provided a molecular regulatory pathway mediated by CmMYB44, which determines the degree of sucrose and ethylene accumulation in oriental melon fruit and sheds light on transcriptional responses triggered by ethylene sensing that enable the process of fruit ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation intervention and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced liver cancer after ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (UMA). Methods: This is a retrospective study. Total 110 in-patients with advanced liver cancer who had received UMA in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were included and randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the control group received the conventional intervention and those in the experimental group received comprehensive rehabilitation intervention. The incidence of postoperative complications as well as the differences in indicators, including emotional status, QoL score, and patient satisfaction before and after the intervention were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The differences in survival between the two groups were compared. Results: The incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group were significantly decreased after intervention, while the control group had no significant change before and after intervention. KPS and SF-36 quality of life scores in the experimental group were significantly improved compared with the control group, and patient satisfaction was significantly higher than the control group, and the 12-month survival rate was significantly higher than that in the control group. Conclusion: Comprehensive rehabilitation intervention can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, improve the mood and QoL, and increase patient satisfaction and survival rate in patients with advanced liver cancer after UMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, our understanding of the effects of glaucousness on the population sizes of microbial communities on leaf surfaces is limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of glaucousness and chemical composition on the colony-forming unit (CFU) counts of microbes on leaf surfaces. Various leaf morphological and physicochemical features, microbial CFU counts and glaucousness on the leaf surfaces of wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Shimai No.1), rye (Secale cereale var. Gannong No.1) and triticale (Triticale wittmack var. Gannong No.2) were assessed. The results showed that larger CFU counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were found on the non-glaucous leaf surfaces in wheat than on the glaucous leaf surfaces in rye and triticale. The CFU counts of LAB and yeasts were negatively correlated with the amount of soluble wax (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the contents of starch and fructose in leaf tissue (P < 0.05), soluble and reduced sugars, soluble protein and free amino acids on leaf surfaces (P < 0.05). The CFU counts of microbes on leaf surfaces were mainly influenced by the level of available carbon sources and glaucousness of leaf surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactate, which is an end product of glycolysis, has traditionally been considered a metabolic waste. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that lactate serves metabolic and nonmetabolic functions in physiological processes and multiple diseases. Cancer and pulmonary arterial hypertension have been shown to undergo metabolic reprogramming, which is accompanied by increased lactate production. Metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modifications have been extensively linked; furthermore, posttranslational modi- fications of histones caused by metabolites play a vital role in epigenetic alterations. In this paper, we reviewed recent research on lactate-induced histone modifications and provided a new vision about the metabolic effect of glycolysis. Based on our review, the cross talk between the metabolome and epigenome induced by glycolysis may indicate novel epigenetic regulatory and therapeutic opportunities. There is a magnificent progress in the interaction between metabolomics and epigenomics in recent decades, but many questions still remained to be investigated. Lactylation is found in different pathophysiological states and leads to diverse biological effects; however, only a few mechanisms of lactylation have been illustrated. Further research on lactylation would provide us with a better understanding of the cross talk between metabolomics and epigenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphomas are malignant tumors of the immune system that arise in lymphoid organs and can impact the central nervous system. However, lymphomas with acute myelitis as the first manifestation are exceedingly rare, and most of them are symptoms of spinal cord damage due to the lack of specificity in their clinical manifestations. The rate of early misdiagnosis is exceedingly high, and the prognosis is dire. Here, we report a case of mature B-cell lymphoma with acute myelitis as the first presentation and review the related literature. Case presentation: In this study, We report a case of a 70-year-old male patient with bilateral lower extremity weakness, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and recurrent fever. A paraureteral mass was seen beneath the right kidney on imaging, and the final pathological biopsy revealed: CD20 (+), mature B-cell tumor, The patient refused to undergo additional tests to ascertain the type of lymphoma and subsequent therapy and asked to be discharged. In mid-November 2020, the patient died. Conclusions: This case report shows that patients with lymphoma can present with acute myelitis as the first symptom, especially if they have recurrent fever, that conventional treatment for myelitis is ineffective, and that tumors are considered after other causes of myelitis have been ruled out. Furthermore, a focused search for tumor-related evidence, as well as early identification and therapy, may help patients live longer lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungal strain Aspergillus fumigatus CBC18132, isolated from deep-sea sediment, was investigated for secondary metabolites. Fermentation on rice medium followed by chromatographic separation led to the isolation of three polyketides (1−3) and ten alkaloids (4−13). The structures were determined by analyses of spectroscopic data (¹H and 13C NMR, and MS data). The absolute configuration of the anthraquinone-derivative trypacidin (1) was resolved for the first time by a combination of ECD and specific rotation calculation. The probable biogenetic relationships of compounds 1−3 were described. All isolated compounds were inactive toward the -glucosidase at the initial concentration of 4 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the atomic dynamics of a Cu-rich Cu76Ti24 alloy between 1223 K and 1453 K using the quasi-elastic neutron scattering technique. The obtained mean Cu/Ti sell-diffusion coefficient D exhibits an Arrhenius-like temperature dependence with an activation energy of 0.46 ± 0.02 eV per atom. Compared with those of the pure elements at a given temperature, D is slower than that for pure Cu, but similar to pure Ti. This slowing down of the liquid dynamics upon alloying has been observed for most binary alloy systems. However, in this study. the packing fraction of the Cu-Ti alloy is lower than that of the pure elements. which can be explained by the positive excess volume of the Cu-Ti system. Therefore, the compositional dependence of the atomic dynamics cannot be linked to a macroscopic packing argument. Only, the atomic dynamics is not correlated with an increase of the average packing fraction of the melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been established as the cornerstone for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, while thyroid adverse events (AEs) associated with ICIs have not been systematically documented. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of ICI applications on the thyroid of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase for eligible randomized controlled trials up to December 2021. Clinical trials reporting thyroid AEs including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis were enrolled. The I2 statistic was also calculated to quantify the heterogeneity. Data were evaluated as risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95%CIs. A total of 10 randomized clinical trials involving 6154 patients were included in this meta-analysis. ICI application was found to have a statistically significant higher risk of all grade hypothyroidism (RR, 7.03; P < 0.0001), hyperthyroidism (RR, 4.88; P < 0.0001), and thyroiditis (RR, 6.58; P = 0.0014) compared with the chemotherapy group. Moreover, we demonstrated that second-line therapy significantly increased the risk of all-grade hypothyroidism (RR, 7.03 [95%CI, 4.69-10.55]) and hyperthyroidism (RR, 4.88 [95%CI, 3.11-7.65]). Our meta-analysis manifested that regimens with ICIs may significantly increase all grades of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis. ICIs may induce the occurrence and exacerbation of endocrine AEs compared with chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We all desire to have meaningful experiences in life, but what factors give rise to perceptions of meaning? Across seven preregistered studies (total N = 1362), we examined the role of self-transcendence (i.e., benefits to society) and self-enhancement (i.e., benefits to the self) in people's judgments of meaning, in comparison with their judgments of happiness. We found that people weighed benefits to society more heavily than benefits to the self when evaluating the meaning of different jobs (Study 1), other people's life (Study 2a), and advice given to others (Study 2b). In contrast, benefits to the self were weighed similarly to (Studies 1 and 2) or even more heavily than benefits to society (Study 3) in people's judgments about happiness, suggesting people's meaning judgment is more self-transcendent than happiness judgment. Similar differences between meaning and happiness were found in participants' first-party perceptions of their own jobs (Study 4), advice intended to improve their own lives (Study 5), and actual feelings of completing a behavioral task (Study 7), except that self-enhancement played a relatively bigger role in first-party meaning judgments than in third-party meaning judgments (Studies 4-6). The results consistently suggest that people's meaning perceptions are more self-transcendent than their happiness perceptions (Studies 1-7). Our findings help illuminate the social-cognitive processes underlying people's perceptions of meaning, as well as shed light on the similarities and differences between people's conceptualizations of meaning and happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenic mechanisms of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) infection remain poorly understood, leaving peste des petits ruminants (PPR) control and eradication especially difficult. Here, we determined that PPRV nucleocapsid (N) protein triggers formation of stress granules (SGs) to benefit viral replication. A mass spectrometry-based profiling of the interactome of PPRV N protein revealed that PPRV N protein interacted with protein kinase R (PKR)-activating protein (PACT), and this interaction was confirmed in the context of PPRV infection. PACT was essential for PPRV replication. Besides, the ectopic expression of N activated the PKR/eIF2a (a subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2) pathway through induction of PKR phosphorylation, but it did not induce PKR phosphorylation in PACT-deficient (PACT2/2) cells. PPRV N interacted with PACT, impairing the interaction between PACT and a PKR inhibitor, transactivation response RNA-binding protein (TRBP), which subsequently enhanced the interaction between PACT and PKR and thus promoted the activation of PKR and eIF2a phosphorylation, resulting in formation of stress granules (SGs). Consistently, PPRV infection induced SG formation through activation of the PKR/eIF2a pathway, and knockdown of N impaired PPRV-induced SG formation. PPRV-induced SG formation significantly decreased in PACT2/2 cells as well. The role of SG formation in PPRV replication was subsequently investigated, which showed that SG formation plays a positive role in PPRV replication. By using an RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, we found that PPRV-induced SGs hid cellular mRNA rather than viral mRNA. Altogether, our data provide the first evidence that PPRV N protein plays a role in modulating the PKR/eIF2a/SG axis and promotes virus replication through targeting PACT. IMPORTANCE Stress granule (SG) formation is a conserved cellular strategy to reduce stress-related damage regulating cell survival. A mass spectrometry-based profiling of the interactome of PPRV N protein revealed that PPRV N interacted with PACT to regulate the assembly of SGs. N protein inhibited the interaction between PACT and a PKR inhibitor, TRBP, through binding to the M1 domain of PACT, which enhanced the interaction between PACT and PKR and thus promoted PKR activation and subsequent eIF2a phosphorylation as well as SG formation. The regulatory function of N protein was strikingly abrogated in PACT2/2 cells. SGs induced by PPRV infection through the PKR/eIF2a pathway are PACT dependent. The loss-of-function assay indicated that PPRV-induced SGs were critical for PPRV replication. We concluded that the PPRV N protein manipulates the host PKR/eIF2a/SG axis to favor virus replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of live yeast (LY, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the lactation performance, bacterial community, and functions in the rumen and hindgut of dairy cows under heat stress. Thirty-three multiparous (parity 3.9 ± 0.8) Holstein dairy cows (189.1 ± 6.6 d in milk at the beginning of the experiment) were randomly assigned to three groups (11 cows per treatment). Cows in the three groups were fed a diet without yeast (CON), with 10 g yeast/d/head (LY-10), and with 20 g yeast/d/head (LY-20). The yeast product contained 2.0 × 1010 CFU/g. Supplementing LY decreased the rectal temperature and respiratory rate of cows, and increased dry matter intake, milk yield, milk fat yield, milk protein yield, and milk lactose yield (P < 0.001), yet decreased milk urea nitrogen concentration (P = 0.035). Interaction effects of treatment × week were observed for rectal temperature (P < 0.05), respiratory rate (P < 0.05), milk yield (P = 0.015), milk urea nitrogen (P = 0.001), milk protein yield (P = 0.008), and milk lactose yield (P = 0.030). In rumen, LY increased the concentrations of acetate, isobutyrate, isovaterate, valerate, total volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and NH3-N (P < 0.05). Miseq sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes showed that LY increased the relative abundance of Prevotella and Prevotellaceae UCG-003 at the genus level with a series of enriched pathways in the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein. In fecal samples, LY did not affect the profile of VFAs (P > 0.05). Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (P = 0.013) and Actinobacillus (P = 0.011) increased in the relative abundance by LY, whereas Bacteroides (P = 0.016) and Oscillospirales UCG-010 (P = 0.005) decreased with a series of enriched pathways in carbohydrate metabolism, secondary bile acid biosynthesis. In summary, LY supplementation altered the bacterial community's composition and function in rumen and hindgut, and simultaneously alleviated the detrimental effects of heat stress on dairy cows. These findings provide extended insight into the effects of LY in the rumen and hindgut of dairy cows exposed to heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract of a deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium thomii Maire YPGA3 cultured on rice solid medium led to the isolation of three new chromone analogs, named penithochromones U-W (1-3), along with six known compounds (4-9). The structures were determined by extensive analyses of spectroscopic data (NMR and HRESIMS data). Compounds 1-3 are 5,7-dioxygenated chromone analogs bearing an aliphatic acid side chain. All isolated compounds were inactive toward the α-glucosidase at the concentration of 200 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival of human and sustainable development of the society both closely rely on forest ecosystem services. Employing two different methods, this paper based on benefit transfer method calculated the forest ecosystem services value of Sichuan province, China. The results showed that the total forest ecosystem services value had a steady rate of increase in Sichuan province from 2008 to 2018, and meanwhile, the different evaluation methods resulted in significant deviation of estimation outcomes. This paper considered the differences of biomass and socioeconomic development which were ignored in prior studies. The Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach was employed to estimate the net primary productivity of different forest species. Further, the S type R. Pearl growth curve was employed to estimate people’s willingness and ability to pay for forest ecosystem services. This paper provided implications to help forest managers and policy makers pay additional attention to the evaluation systems choosing on forest ecosystem services value and the differences of biomass and socioeconomic development by using benefit transfer method method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased risk of perinatal complications and of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A strategy including universal screening following new evidence-based thresholds recommended by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) combined with antenatal care and postpartum lifestyle management could reduce these risks. This new strategy has been endorsed by the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) following evidence that showed previous diagnostic thresholds were too high to prevent perinatal adverse events (PAEs) and subsequent T2DM. This study therefore aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the new ADIPS GDM strategy in Australia. Methods A decision tree model (GeDiForCE) was applied in this study. Our analysis modifies the model and optimizes resource use and cost parameters, to reflect real costs within the Australian context. Data on Australian GDM and T2DM epidemiology, intervention costs and literature were used to estimate model parameters. Costs (in AUD $), averted disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and net cost per DALY averted during life-time horizon were calculated. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted, by testing the impact of variations in key input variables. Results Compared to the previous criteria, the new ADIPS strategy costs AUD $20,671 (USD $15,839) per DALY averted in the base case, however sensitivity analyses reveal it is dominant in over half of cases and has a 86% chance of being dominant and/or cost-effective according to WTP threshold of $151,200 international dollars ($I) or $AUD 217,576 per DALY averted (equal to three times per capita GDP). Compared with no screening or treatment, the new ADIPS strategy saves AUD $25,509 (USD $19,547) per DALY averted. Conclusions Using local data and literature estimates, this study shows that use of the new Australian Diabetes In Pregnancy Society gestional diabetes mellitus strategy would lead to cost saving care for pregnant women in Australia when compared to a no screening scenario and is likely to be cost effective when compared to previously used criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been widely accepted that monocytes are one of the central mediators contributing to inflammaging. However, it remains unclear whether aged monocytes, similar to aged T cells, have characteristics of hyperactivation and increased expression of co-inhibitory molecules. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from young (21–40 years old), middle-aged (41–60 years old), and older human subjects (> 60 years old). Flow cytometry was used to monitor changes in the expression of surface molecules of monocyte subsets and cytokine-producing capacity. Results: We observed increased tumor necrosis factor-α: TNF-α and decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in monocytes from older adults compared with young and middle-aged adults. Older adults had a greater percentage of intermediate and non-classical monocyte subsets, along with increased levels of the immune activation markers human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), and adhesion molecules cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b) and L-selectin (CD62L). Furthermore, we observed increased C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) expression on classical monocytes and decreased C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) expression on non-classical monocytes in older adult subjects. The expression of co-inhibitory receptors was reduced on monocyte subsets in older adults. Conclusions: Circulating monocytes in older adults exhibit increased expression of activation, adhesion, and migration markers, but decreased expression of co-inhibitory molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, comprehensive laboratorial experiments on newly proposed microfluidic devices are necessary for theoretical validation, technological design, methodological calibration and optimization. Multiple parameters and characteristics, such as the flow rate, particle size, microchannel dimensions, etc., should be studied by controlled trials, which could inevitably result in extensive experiments and a heavy burden on researchers. In this work, a novel numerical model was introduced to simulate particle migration within a complicated double-layered microchannel. Using the hybrid meshing method, the proposed model achieved a significant improvement in meshing quality, and remarkably reduced the required calculation resources at the same time. The robust, efficient and resource-saving numerical model was calibrated and validated with experimental results. Based on this model, 1) the mechanism of microparticle manipulation within the microchannel was revealed; 2) the primary reason for the microparticle focusing failure was investigated; and 3) the optimal microparticle sorting strategy at different flow rates was analyzed. In experiments, the obtained optimal strategy could approach a good sorting performance with a high recovery rate and high concentration ratio in a high-throughput manner. The proposed numerical model shows great potential in mechanism investigation and functional prediction for microfluidic technologies using unconventional designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to develop infrared (IR) thermogram identification technologies to establish automatic diagnosis systems in power substations. The convolutional neural network (CNN) based methods show the highest accuracy in this field. The IR thermograms of electrical equipment are very different from general digital images, which means the present methods need further improvements. For data-driven CNN methods, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the IR data. This paper collected 11817 thermograms from substations and structured the dataset according to equipment types. The statistical features of mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis and contrast are analyzed and compared with other five image datasets. Several tricks are revealed from the analysis and tested on CNN models. Firstly, greycaling the Iron pseudo-color images extracts the temperature information and makes it possible to design models with fewer channels. The test shows it could reduce over 35% computational costs. Secondly, the sparse information of color and edges of thermograms makes it necessary to keep the original aspect ratio. The image preprocessing method of cropping shows better performance than padding and rescaling. Thirdly, the 0-1 normalization can boost the training process for about 100 epochs, which is related to the particular background of thermograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic engineering is promising to expand the application scope of exoelectrogens in energy and environmental applications and plasmid vectors, as one type of fundamental tool, are intensively applied. Antibiotics are widely utilized for plasmid selection and maintenance; however, their utilization suffers from environmental concerns on the spread of resistance genes, elevated costs, inevitable genotypic instability and phenotypic heterogeneity. In this work, we establish an auxotrophic complementation system for stable plasmid maintenance without antibiotic association, in Shewanella oneidensis, an attractive model exoelectrogen. A plasmid‐transition strategy is designed to facilitate the rapid and efficient construction of the auxotrophic complementation system. Such a system not only enables the same intensive gene expression as the conventional antibiotic‐associated plasmid system but also exhibits remarkably superior robustness and stability. With this system, the menaquinone pool of the extracellular respiratory chain is enhanced first independently and further synergized by engineering the Mtr conduit, leading to significantly promoted extracellular electron transfer (EET) outputs (up to 10.33‐ and 2.97‐fold improvement in the maximum current density and the maximum output voltage) and heavy metal Cr(VI) reduction ability (5.15‐fold improvement). This work provides a robust and stable platform to engineer exoelectrogens for environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) seriously damage tomato production worldwide, and biocontrol bacteria can induce tomato immunity to RKNs. Our previous studies have revealed that Pseudomonas putida strain Sneb821 can trigger tomato immunity against M. incognita and that several long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in this process. However, the molecular functions of the miRNAs in tomato immune responses remain unclear. In this study, deep small RNA sequencing identified 78 differentially expressed miRNAs in tomato plants inoculated with Sneb821 and M. incognita relative to plants inoculated with M. incognita alone; 38 miRNAs were upregulated, and 40 miRNAs were downregulated. The expression levels of six known miRNAs and five novel miRNAs were validated using RT-qPCR assays. These included S!y-miR482d-3p, Sly-miR156e-5p, Sly-miR319a, novel_miR_116, novel_miR_121, and novel_miR_221, which were downregulated, and Sly-miR390a-3p, Sly-miR394-3p, Sly- miR396a-3p, novel_miR_215, and novel_miR_83, which were upregulated in plants treated with Sneb821 and M. incognita. In addition, Sly-miR482d was functionally characterized through gene silencing and overexpression of its target gene NBS-LRR (Solyc05g009750.1) in tomato and by challenging the plants with M. incognita inoculation. The number of second-stage juveniles (12) inside roots and induced galls were significantly decreased in both Sly-miR482d-silenced plants and Solyc05g009750.1 overexpressing plants, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and hydrogen peroxide content were significantly increased. The results suggest that Sneb821 could inhibit Sly-miR482d expression and thus regulate tomato immune responses against M. incognita infestation. This study provides novel insights into the biocontrol bacteria-mediated tomato immunity to M. incognita that engages with plant miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant glutamine synthetase (GS, EC6.3.1.2) catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonium ions and acts as a key enzyme in the nitrogen metabolic pathway in organisms. Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and development and plays an important role in crop yield and quality formation. Therefore, GS is crucial in many physiological processes in plants. Currently, nitrogen regulation by GS in plants is well-studied in terms of its effect on plant growth and development. This article reviews the regulatory role of plant GS and its molecular mechanism in mitigating stress injury, such as low or high temperature, salinity, drought and oxidation. The function of plant GS in stress tolerance response is focused. The review aims to provide a reference for the utilization of plant GS in crop stress tolerance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR) is the membrane receptor for bile acids and a driving force of the liver-bile acid-microbiota-organ axis to regulate metabolism and other pathophysiological processes. Although GPBAR is an important therapeutic target for a spectrum of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, its activation has also been found to be linked to carcinogenesis, leading to potential side effects. Here, via functional screening, we found that two specific GPBAR agonists, R399 and INT-777, demonstrated strikingly different regulatory effects on the growth and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic investigation showed that R399-induced GPBAR activation displayed an obvious bias for ß-arrestin 1 signaling, thus promoting YAP signaling activation to stimulate cell proliferation. Conversely, INT-777 preferentially activated GPBAR-Gs signaling, thus inactivating YAP to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Phosphorylation of GPBAR by GRK2 at S310/S321/S323/S324 sites contributed to R399-induced GPBAR-ß-arrestin 1 association. The cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the R399-bound GPBAR-Gs complex enabled us to identify key interaction residues and pivotal conformational changes in GPBAR responsible for the arrestin signaling bias and cancer cell proliferation. In summary, we demonstrate that different agonists can regulate distinct functions of cell growth and apoptosis through biased GPBAR signaling and control of YAP activity in a NSCLC cell model. The delineated mechanism and structural basis may facilitate the rational design of GPBAR-targeting drugs with both metabolic and anticancer benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nowhere-zero unoriented flow of graph G is an assignment of non-zero real numbers to the edges of G such that the sum of the values of all edges incident with each vertex is zero. Let k be a natural number. A nowhere-zero unoriented k-flow is a flow with values from the set {±1, . . .,±(k-1)}, for short we call it NZ-unoriented k-flow. Let H1 and H2 be two graphs, H1 ⊕H2 denote the 2-sum of H1 and H2, if E(H1 ⊕H2) = E(H1) ∪ E(H2), |V (H1)∩V (H2)| = 2, and |E(H1)∩E(H2)| = 1. A triangle-path in a graph G is a sequence of distinct triangles T1, T2, . . ., Tm in G such that for 1 ≤ i ≤ m, |E(Ti) ∩ E(Ti+1)| = 1 and E(Ti) ∩ E(Tj) = ∅ if j > i + 1. A triangle-star is a graph with triangles such that each triangle having one common edges with other triangles. Let G be a graph which can be partitioned into some triangle-paths or wheels H1,H2, . . .,Ht such that G = H1⊕H2⊕· · ·⊕Ht. In this paper, we prove that G except a triangle-star admits an NZ-unoriented 6-flow. Moreover, if each Hi is a triangle-path, then G except a triangle-star admits an NZ-unoriented 5-flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saccharomyces/rice ferment filtrate (SRFF) has been reported to have antiaging properties, provide good skin hydration, and make wrinkles less visible. We investigated the effects of SRFF on skin barrier function through normal human epidermal keratinocytes and clinical testing. Protein expressions of tight junction (TJ) proteins (claudin-1, claudin-4, and occludin) were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The barrier effect of skin protection by SRFF in cosmetic products was evaluated by tape-stripping testing and clinical dermatologist assessment during 28 days of treatment. The expression of TJs including claudin-1, claudin-4, and occludin increased in epidermal keratinocytes treated with SRFF (12.5 µg/mL), promoting rates up to 116.0 ± 4.0% (p < 0.01), 108.9 ± 5.5%, and 113.5 ± 2.4% (p < 0.01). After 28 days of clinical treatment with the same sunscreen cream, the side treated with yeast essence balance lotion with SRFF showed significant changes: skin brightness increased by 16.98%, whiteness increased by 20.13%, and gloss increased by 17.39%. SRFF can increase skin barrier function by increasing the expression of TJs, such as claudin-1, claudin-4, and occludin, and reducing photoaging and its synergy with sunscreen products. The skin treated with yeast essence balance lotion with SRFF showed immediate repair and provided an enhanced long-term barrier that protects skin from sun-induced damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanofluorochromic polymers, which can indicate damage or excessive stress in highly polarized environments with a clearly perceptible optical signal, are potentially useful in a variety of exciting applications. However, most reported fluorochromic mechanophores exhibit poor color contrast and fluorescence penetration, or are irreversible in polarized phase after mechanical activation. Here, this challenge is tackled by designing and engineering a novel near-infrared (NIR) emissive, rhodanmin derived mechanophore (Rh-Co) in a kind of hydrogel composites. The ring-opened Rh-Co is unique in high molar extinction coefficient and bright NIR emission with such optical transition under force directly corresponding to covalent bond scission and reversibly switchable in an aqueous environment. The hydrogel composites thus can sensitively change their color from yellow to green and emit highly penetrated NIR fluorescence when different types of forces (tension, compression, and friction force) are applied, highlighting the potential applications of Rh-Co in biocompatible environments as a "force meter". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the study was to report our initial experience of robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) with a modified hypothermia technique. Methods: Between March 2018 and May 2020, 12 patients with end-stage renal disease underwent RAKT at the Chinese PLA General Hospital, and a modified regional hypothermia was implemented by wrapping the kidney in a sealed plastic jacket filled with ice slush. Baseline, surgical, and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results: All surgeries were successfully performed. The mean operative time was 180.5 min, with a mean console time of 133.3 min. Mean warm ischemia, cold ischemia, and rewarming times were 1.5, 135.1, and 48.4 min, respectively. The median blood loss was 50 mL, and the median hospital stay was 9.5 days. No complications were observed. The mean serum creatinine levels were 119.4, 100.5, 108, and 108.5 μmol/L 7 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively, respectively. All patients and grafts survived at a median follow-up of 32.2 months. Conclusion: RAKT is a safe and feasible procedure for surgical teams with expertise in open kidney transplantation and robotic surgery. Our modification of the hypothermia technique can maintain the kidney at a constant low temperature without repeatedly adding ice and prevent the complication of paralytic ileus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) can regulate gametogenesis via modulation of neuroendocrine signaling. However, the effect of gWAT on the local microenvironment of the gonad was largely unknown. Herein, we ruled out that gWAT had a neuroendocrine effect on gonad function through a unilateral lipectomy strategy, in which cutting off epididymal white adipose tissue could reduce seminiferous tubule thickness and decrease sperm counts only in the adjacent testis and epididymis of the affected gonad. Consistent with the results in males, in females, ovary mass was similarly decreased by lipectomy. We determined that the defects in spermatogenesis were mainly caused by augmented apoptosis and decreased proliferation of germ cells. Transcriptome analysis suggested that lipectomy could disrupt immune privilege and activate immune responses in both the testis and ovary on the side of the lipectomy. In addition, lipidomics analysis in the testis showed that the levels of lipid metabolites such as free carnitine were elevated, whereas the levels of glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines were decreased, which indicated that the metabolic niche was also altered. Finally, we show that supplementation of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine could partially rescue the observed phenotype. Collectively, our findings suggest that gWAT is important for gonad function by not only affecting whole-body homeostasis but also via maintaining local metabolic and immune niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Craniopharyngioma (CP) and cranial fibrous dysplasia (CFD) are rare embryonic benign cranial diseases that most commonly present during childhood or adolescence. The coexistence of CP and CFD is extremely rare and has not yet been reported.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of five patients with concomitant CP and CFD treated at Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2003 to January 2021 and summarized their clinicopathological features, treatment modalities, and outcomes. We also performed a comprehensive literature review, tested the patients for characteristic GNAS gene mutations related to CFD, and tested the CP specimens for corresponding Gsα protein to explore the potential connection leading to the coexistence of CP and CFD.Results: The cohort comprised four men and one woman (median age, 39 years). The symptoms mainly included headache, dizziness, fatigue, polyuria/polydipsia, hypogonadism, and blurred vision. CFD most commonly involved the sphenoid bone (n = 4). Four patients underwent surgery to remove the CP (one trans-sphenoidal and three transcranial resections); complete and subtotal resection were achieved in two patients, respectively. The tumor subtype was adamantinomatous in three patients and unknown in one. The common postoperative complications were panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, and hypothyroidism. The mean follow-up duration was 57.2 months. Two patients required postoperative hormone replacement therapy. Three patients underwent genetic study of the tumor specimens; GNAS mutations were not detected, but these patients were positive for Gsα protein.Conclusions: Although a definite causative relationship has not been proved, the coexistence of CP and CFD means that potential interplay or an atypical fibrous dysplasia course as uncommon manifestations of CP cannot be excluded. It is more challenging to initiate prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment for concomitant CP and CFD than for solitary CP because of skull base deformations. Current management strategies are aimed at surgical treating the CP and regularly monitoring the CFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe effects of Broncho-Vaxom immunotherapy combined with trelegy ellipta on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its influence on inflammation-related cells that can be detected in blood routine. 120 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were selected and divided into observation group and control group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given Trelegy Ellipta alone and the observation group was given Trelegy Ellipta combined with Broncho-Vaxom immunotherapy. After 3 mo of treatment, the blood routine, immune function, lung function and clinical scores were compared between the two groups and the adverse effects of drugs were recorded. After 12 mo of follow-up, the number of acute exacerbations in patients was statistically analyzed. During treatment, the total incidence rate of adverse reactions showed no statistical difference between the two groups of patients (p>0.05). Within 12 mo of follow-up, the number of acute exacerbations was (0.41±0.12) times in the observation group, which was lower than (0.61±0.25) times in control group (p<0.05). The application of Broncho-Vaxom immunotherapy combined with Trelegy Ellipta on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lower the level of eosinophil in peripheral blood, regulate the immune function, improve the lung function, enhance the quality of their life and reduce the number of acute exacerbations, as well as with good safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We attempts to study the application of urapidil blood pressure regulation and mechanical ventilation combined with bone window craniotomy in the treatment of hypertensive basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage. Retrospectively selected 98 patients with hypertensive basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent bone window craniotomy hematoma removal and decompression in our hospital from May 2018 to may 2021. Divided them into two groups with 49 cases in a single group. Treated control group with routine treatment combined with mechanical ventilation, after receiving the same treatment as control group, observation group received another urapidil for blood pressure regulation. Compared both groups in cerebral oxygen uptake rate, intracranial pressure, middle cerebral artery blood flow parameters, Glasgow Coma Scale score and 3 mo prognosis conditions. Compared with control group, the intracranial pressure in observation group was remarkably lower at 3 and 7 d after operation, the average velocity of middle cerebral artery at 7 d after operation was remarkably higher and the pulsatility index was remarkably lower than that in control group (p<0.05). 7 d after operation, both groups had higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores than before operation (p<0.05). Compared with control group, 7 d after operation, Glasgow Coma Scale score of observation group was significantly higher (p<0.05). 3 mo after operation, good recovery rate (24.49 %) and moderate disability rate (46.94 %) in observation group were higher than those in control group, but severe disability rate (12.24 %) and mortality rate (6.12 %) were lower than those in control group and the vegetative state rate (10.20 %) had no significant difference compared with control group (p>0.05). Urapidil blood pressure regulation and mechanical ventilation combined with bone window craniotomy in the treatment of hypertensive basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage can reduce cerebral oxygen uptake rate, regulate middle cerebral artery blood flow parameters and improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Molecule generation, which is to generate new molecules, is an important problem in bioinformatics. Typical tasks include generating molecules with given properties, molecular property improvement (i.e. improving specific properties of an input molecule), retrosynthesis (i.e. predicting the molecules that can be used to synthesize a target molecule), etc. Recently, deep-learning-based methods received more attention for molecule generation. The labeled data of bioinformatics is usually costly to obtain, but there are millions of unlabeled molecules. Inspired by the success of sequence generation in natural language processing with unlabeled data, we would like to explore an effective way of using unlabeled molecules for molecule generation. Results We propose a new method, back translation for molecule generation, which is a simple yet effective semisupervised method. Let X be the source domain, which is the collection of properties, the molecules to be optimized, etc. Let Y be the target domain which is the collection of molecules. In particular, given a main task which is about to learn a mapping from the source domain X to the target domain Y ⁠ , we first train a reversed model g for the Y to X mapping. After that, we use g to back translate the unlabeled data in Y to X and obtain more synthetic data. Finally, we combine the synthetic data with the labeled data and train a model for the main task. We conduct experiments on molecular property improvement and retrosynthesis, and we achieve state-of-the-art results on four molecule generation tasks and one retrosynthesis benchmark, USPTO-50k. Availability and implementation Our code and data are available at https://github.com/fyabc/BT4MolGen. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of HZ. Aim: Repetitive paravertebral block with local anaesthetics and dexmedetomidine for the prevention of PHN in patients with acute herpes zoster. Material and methods: 104 patients with acute herpes zoster were randomly divided into two groups. Group Rop received repetitive paravertebral block with 0.25% ropivacaine 20 ml per 72 h three times. Group Dex received repetitive paravertebral block with a mixture of 0.25% ropivacaine 20 ml and dexmedetomidine 20 μg per 72 h three times. Patients were permitted to take tramadol when the visual analogue scale (VAS) ≥ 4. The incidence of zosterrelated pain was recorded at 1, 3, and 6 months after the end of treatments; VAS scores and the dose of rescue drug were recorded at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the end of treatments. Results: At 1 month post therapy, the incidence of zoster-related pain was 11% in Group Dex, compared with 35% in Group Rop (p = 0.005). At 3 months post therapy, the incidence of zoster-related pain in Group Dex was still significantly lower than in Group Rop. The VAS scores and the dose of rescue drug in Group Dex were also significantly lower than in Group Rop at each time point (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Repetitive paravertebral block with local anaesthetics and dexmedetomidine in patients with acute herpes zoster can significantly reduce the incidence of zoster-related pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are the most widely used genetic markers in forensic application, but they are not ideal genetic markers for the analysis of forensic challenging samples such as highly degraded or unbalanced mixed samples because of their relatively large amplicons and stutter peaks. In this study, we developed a set of short microhaplotypes based on non-binary SNPs with molecular extent sizes no longer than 60 bases and genotyped 100 unrelated individuals from northern Han groups. Our results showed this panel has similar discrimination power to STR kits, as the combined random match probability (CMP) reached 1.396 × 10−22 and mean effective number of alleles (Ae) was 3.59. The cumulative probability of exclusion for duos (CPE-duos) was 0.999919 and the cumulative probability of exclusion for trios (CPE-trios) was 0.9999999987, suggesting this panel could be applied for forensic personal identification and parentage testing independently. Population differentiation in 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project indicated this panel could distinguish populations from Africa, East Asia, South Asia, America, and Europe. These microhaplotypes based on non-binary SNPs have short amplicons, good discrimination power, no stutter artifacts, and have great potential in detection of highly degraded and unbalanced mixtures for personal identification, paternity testing, and ancestry inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]