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Abstract Interleukin-33 (IL-33), an emerging cytokine within the IL-1 family, assumes a pivotal function in the control of obesity. However, the specific mechanism of its regulation of obesity formation remains unclear. In this study, we found that the expression level of IL-33 increased in visceral adipose tissue in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) compared with that in mice fed with a normal diet (ND). In vitro, we also found the expression level of IL-33 was upregulated during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. Functional test results showed that knockdown of IL-33 in 3T3-L1 cells differentiation could promote the accumulation of lipid droplets, the content of triglyceride and the expression of adipogenic–related genes (i.e. PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, FABP4, LPL, Adipoq and CD36). In contrast, overexpression of IL-33 inhibits adipogenic differentiation. Meanwhile, the above tests were repeated after over-differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells induced by oleic acid, and the results showed that IL-33 played a more significant role in the regulation of adipogenesis. To explore the mechanism, transcriptome sequencing was performed and results showed that IL-33 regulated the PPAR signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 cells. Further, Western blot and confocal microscopy showed that the inhibition of IL-33 could promote PPAR-γ expression by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signal in 3T3-L1 cells. This study demonstrated that IL-33 was an important regulator of preadipocyte differentiation and inhibited adipogenesis by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin/PPAR-γ signaling pathway, which provided a new insight for further research on IL-33 as a new intervention target for metabolic disorders.

ObjectiveThe main purpose of this study was to explore the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament and its attachments following reconstruction with the all-inside technique after anterior cruciate ligament injury.MethodsKnee joint computed tomography data were collected from healthy volunteers, and knee joint models were created using Mimics software. A normal knee joint model, an all-inside reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model, and a traditional reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model were established. A tensile force of 134 N and a bending moment of 5 N/m were applied at the anterior aspect of the proximal tibia in these three models. The knee joint was subjected to external rotation, internal rotation, varus, valgus, flexion, and extension under this bending moment. The magnitude and distribution of stress on the ligament or graft and the magnitude and distribution of stress on the graft attachments were observed under different loading conditions.ResultsUnder different external forces, the maximum stress on the ligament in the normal model fluctuated from 1.949 to 18.302 MPa, with an uncertain distribution of maximum stress. The maximum stress on the graft in the all-inside reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model fluctuated from 0.705 to 3.465 MPa and was mainly distributed at the junction of the graft and the tibial footprint. In the traditional reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model, the maximum stress on the graft fluctuated from 5.012 to 59.269 MPa and was primarily distributed at the junction of the interference screw and the graft. The concentration of stress on the loop and plate in the all-inside reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model fluctuated from 70.461 to 346.363 MPa, with maximum stress distributed at the junction of the loop and the tibial surface. The maximum stress on the interference screw in the traditional reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament model fluctuated from 10.184 to 92.298 MPa, with maximum stress primarily distributed at the end of the interference screw.ConclusionUnder different external forces, the graft used in all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is subjected to fewer external forces than that used in traditional anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, which may indicate a relatively stable mechanical environment. The strength of the loop and plate can theoretically tolerate daily knee joint movements of patients without injury.

The steelmaking–continuous casting process (SCCP) is a complex manufacturing process which exhibits the distinct features of process manufacturing. The SCCP involves a variety of production elements, such as multiple process routes, a wide array of smelting and auxiliary devices, and a variety of raw and auxiliary materials. The production-simulation of SCCP holds a natural advantage in being able to accurately depict the intricate production behavior involved, and this serves as a crucial tool for optimizing the production operation of the SCCP. This paper thoroughly considers the various production elements involved in the SCCP, such as the fluctuation of the converter smelting cycle, fluctuation of heat weight, and ladle operation. Based on the Plant Simulation software platform, a dynamic simulation model of the SCCP is established and detailed descriptions are provided regarding the design of an SCCP using dynamic-operation rules. Additionally, a dynamic operational control program for the SCCP is developed using the SimTalk language, one which ensures the continuous operation of the caster in the SCCP, using the discrete simulation platform. The effectiveness of the proposed dynamic simulation model is verified by the total completion time of the production plan, the transfer time of the heat among the different processes, and the frequency of ladle turnover. The simulation’s results indicate that the dynamic simulation model has a satisfactory effect in simulating the actual production process. On this basis, the application effects of different schedules are compared and analyzed. Compared with a heuristic schedule, the optimized schedule based on the “furnace–machine coordinating” mode reduces the weighted value of total completion time by 8.7 min, reduces the weighted value of transfer waiting time by 45.5 min, and the number of rescheduling times is also reduced, demonstrating a better application effect and verifying the optimizing effect of the “furnace–machine coordinating” mode on the schedule.

Abstract Objective To analyze whether metformin treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) results in a decrease of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, we reviewed and analyzed PCOS studies which evaluated serum AMH levels before and after metformin treatment. Methods This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of self-controlled clinical trials. Databases including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science library were searched to identify eligible studies published before February 2023. Random-effects models were applied to assess standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results The electronic-based search retrieved 167 articles of which 14 studies (12 publications) involving 257 women with PCOS were included. In general, AMH levels decreased significantly after metformin treatment [SMD (95% CI) of -0.70 (-1.13 to -0.28); P = 0.001]. Metformin exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on AMH levels for PCOS patients with age less than 28 [SMD − 1.24, 95% CI − 2.15 to − 0.32, P = 0.008]. Additionally, AMH levels significantly slid down in PCOS patients with no more than 6 months metformin treatment [SMD − 1.38, 95% CI − 2.18 to − 0.58, P = 0.0007], or with no more than a dose of 2000 mg/day [SMD -0.70, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.28; P = 0.001]. Notably, suppressive effects of metformin treatment were merely observed in patients with AMH levels at baseline higher than 4.7 ng/ml [SMD − 0.66, 95% CI − 1.02 to − 0.31, P = 0.0003]. Conclusion This meta-analysis provided quantitative evidence demonstrating that metformin significantly decreased AMH levels, especially for young patients and those with AMH levels at baseline higher than 4.7 ng/ml. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42020149182.

Cu and Zn are common and potentially harmful heavy metals to plants, animals and humans. Herein, we investigated the effects of Cu and Zn stress on the photosynthesis and tolerance mechanism of alfalfa plants to ROS using fluorescence and biochemical methods. The results showed that Cu stress significantly reduced the chlorophyll content of the leaves, while Zn stress only reduced the Chl a content. The Fv/Fm decreased significantly under Cu stress but was not affected by Zn treatment. However, the PIABS of the leaves were sensitive to Cu and Zn stress. Both Cu and Zn stress resulted in the weakening of the ability of PQ library to accept electrons, the damage of OEC and the inhibition of the electron transfer from QA- to QB. Moreover, Cu stress also dissociated the thylakoids of leaves, but Zn stress did not significantly damage it. In Cu and Zn stressed leaves, the reduction of RC/CSm significantly increased the ABS/RC and TRo/RC values. When the stress intensified, the value of DIo/RC increased indicated a plant self-protection mechanism that eliminates excess energy in the PSII reaction center and increases the energy for heat dissipation per unit reaction center. Cu stress significantly increased the O2- production rate, H2O2 content, and MDA accumulation in the leaves. However, Zn stress exhibited a minimal effect on the ROS production and oxidative damage in the alfalfa leaves but increased the O2- production rate at the concentration of 800 μmol·L−1. Cu stress increased the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GPX in the leaves; however, leaves adapts to Zn stress by enhancing the activities of SOD and GPX. Thus under Cu stress, the degree of photoinhibition and oxidative damage in alfalfa leaves were significantly higher than under Zn stress.

Pyroptosis, a type of programmed necrosis associated with inflammatory, is a host defense mechanism against microbial infections. Although Chlamydia has been shown to induce pyroptosis, whether pyroptosis directly impacts the growth of Chlamydia has not been demonstrated. In this study, we found that C. trachomatis L2 infection of the mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells induced pyroptosis by monitoring the ultrastructural changes under transmission electron microscopy and the release of LDH and IL-1β. More importantly, this C. trachomatis-triggered pyroptosis with activation of caspase-1 and caspase-11 was also accompanied by gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation. Suppression of these two inflammatory caspases inhibited GSDMD activation. Interestingly, the C. trachomatis-triggered pyroptosis significantly inhibited the intracellular growth of C. trachomatis since inactivation of either GSDMD or caspase-1/11 significantly rescued infectious C. trachomatis yields, which suggests pyroptosis response can be utilized as an intrinsic mechanism to restrict C. trachomatis intracellular infection in addition to the well- documented extrinsic mechanisms by recruiting and enhancing inflammatory responses. This study may reveal novel targets for attenuating C. trachomatis infectivity and/or pathogenicity.

DELLA gene family plays a key role in regulating plant development and responding to stress. Currently, many DELLA family members have been identified in plants, however, information on DELLA genes in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is scarce. In this study, physical and chemical properties, gene structure cis-regulatory elements and expression of CmoDELLA genes were examined in pumpkin. We found that seven CmoDELLA genes were identified in pumpkin, and they were unevenly classified into five chromosomes. CmoDELLA proteins were relatively unstable and their secondary structures were mainly made up α-helix and random coil. All seven CmoDELLA proteins contained typical DELLA domain and GRAS domain, however, motif numbers between CmoDELLA proteins were unevenly distributed, implying the complex evolution and functional diversification of CmoDELLA proteins. Cis-regulatory elements analysis revealed that CmoDELLA genes might play an essential role in regulating plant growth and development, and response to stress in pumpkin. Transcriptome data in the roots, stems, leaves and fruits demonstrated that CmoDELLA2, CmoDELLA3 and CmoDELLA7 were related to the stems development, CmoDELLA1, CmoDELLA4, CmoDELLA5 and CmoDELLA6 were associated with the fruits development. Furthermore, we found that CmoDELLA1 and CmoDELLA5 were up-regulated under NaCl stress. CmoDELLA1, CmoDELLA2, CmoDELLA3, CmoDELLA5, CmoDELLA6 and CmoDELLA7 were remarkably induced under waterlogging stress. While, all of the 7 CmoDELLA genes showed significantly induced expression under cold stress. The expression patterns under abiotic stress suggested that CmoDELLA genes might mediate the stress response of pumpkin to NaCl, waterlogging and cold, however, the functions of different CmoDELLA genes varied under different stress. Overall, our study provides valuable information for further research about the potential functions and regulatory networks of CmoDELLA genes in pumpkin.

This study aimed to explore how cold acclimation (CA) modulates cold stress in tobacco leaves and reveal the relationship between CA and cold stress resistance, and the mechanism of CA-induced plant resistance to cold stress. This study examined the effects of CA treatment (at 8–10℃ for 2 d) on the cold tolerance of tobacco leaves under 4°C cold stress treatment using seedlings without CA treatment as the control (NA). In both CA and NA leaves, cold stress treatment resulted in a decrease in maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), increase in relative variable fluorescence (VJ) at 2 ms on the standardized OJIP curve, inhibition of PSII activity, and impairment of electron transfer on the acceptor side. Besides increasing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage rate, the cold stress exacerbated the degree of membrane peroxidation. The CA treatment also induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion (O2·−) and H2O2, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX). The CA treatment also enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugar (SS) and soluble protein (SP), cyclic electron flow (CEF), and the proportion of regulatory energy dissipation Y(NPQ). Moreover, CA+ cold stress treatment significantly reduced CEF and Y(NPQ) in tobacco leaves than under NA+ cold stress treatment, thus significantly alleviating the degree of PSII photoinhibition. In conclusion, CA treatment significantly alleviated PSII photoinhibition and oxidative damage in tobacco leaves under cold stress treatment. Improvement in cold resistance of tobacco leaves is associated with the induction of antioxidant enzyme activity, accumulation of osmoregulation substances, and initiation of photoprotective mechanisms.

The physical process of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in the diamond and the performance of the Raman laser in the multi-phonon absorption band of 2.5–3 μm were theoretically studied. A theoretical model for the external-cavity diamond Raman laser emitting at the waveband was built based on the Raman coupled-wave equation and boundary conditions. Raman laser output characteristics such as lasing threshold, input–output, and temporal behavior of Stokes conversion were investigated and theoretically simulated by varying the values of the length of the diamond and the transmittance of the output coupler. The numerical modeling shows that to reduce the impact of the multi-phonon absorption and obtain a higher conversion efficiency, it is necessary to appropriately increase the output coupling of the cavity. Taking the 3 μm diamond Raman laser optimization as an example, it is predicted that the conversion efficiency of 10% could be obtained with a diamond length of 1 cm, a transmittance of 69%, and a pump intensity of 1.2 GWcm−2. The theoretical model also could be used to investigate other wavelengths of the external-cavity diamond Raman laser and be helpful for the optimum design of diamond Raman lasers in the mid-infrared band.

BackgroundT-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (Tim) proteins are immunomodulatory molecules that play key roles in the regulation of T-cell activation. Published studies have reported that Tim molecules are involved in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which T cells mediate the destruction of islet β cells. However, the expression of Tim molecules in T1D remains unclear. In this study, we measured the expression of Tim family molecules as well as T-cell subset-specific transcription factors in T1D patients, and we explored the possible involvement of Tim molecules in the pathogenesis of T1D.MethodsNinety T1D patients, Thirty-six type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and forty healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, RNA was extracted from the PBMCs and reverse transcribed into cDNA, and gene expression patterns were analysed by RT–qPCR. The expression of Tim molecules in different T-cell subsets was analysed by flow cytometry.ResultsCompared with that in HCs, the mRNA expression of Tim-1 and RORC was increased in T1D patients (P=0.0355 and P=0.0423, respectively), while the expression of Tim-3 was decreased (P=0.0013). In addition, compared with HCs, the ratio of Tim-3 to Tim-1 expression in diabetic patients was decreased (P

Acoustic logging instruments generate high voltages in the order of thousands of volts. Electrical interferences are thus induced by high-voltage pulses that affect the logging tool and make it inoperable owing to damaged components in severe cases. High-voltage pulses from the acoustoelectric logging detector interfere with the electrode measurement loop through capacitive coupling, which has seriously affected the acoustoelectric signal measurements. In this paper, we simulate high voltage pulses, capacitive coupling and electrode measurement loops based on qualitative analysis of the causes of electrical interference. Based on the structure of the acoustoelectric logging detector and the logging environment, an electrical interference simulation and prediction model was developed to quantify the characteristics of the electrical interference signal.

Abstract The diagnosis of primary angiosarcoma of ovary is still a challenge as it has no specific clinical symptoms and is easily confused with other malignant neoplasms in morphology. Here, we described a case of primary ovarian angiosarcoma and reviewed the literature. A 47-year-old female showed a left ovary mass. Grossly, the cut surface of the tumor was solid and gray-white with intermediate texture. Some areas were spongy and atropurpureus with a soft texture. Microscopically, the tumor cells were arranged into a variety of different structures with visible hemorrhage. Immunochemically, the tumor cells were positive for CD31, ERG, Fli1, D2–40 and vimentin in a strong and diffused manner. CD34 stain showed focal positivity. Epithelial markers (e.g. CK, CK7, CK8/18 and PAX8) were all negative. Negative immunostaining for SMA, S-100, P53 and calretinin also were detected. The proliferative index (Ki-67) was approximately 40%. After surgery, the patient was treated with radiotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In the 9-month follow-up, the patient was survival without evidence of disease. The diagnosis of ovarian angiosarcoma required the careful observation of morphology and the reasonable application of immunohistochemistry. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are the potential directions for the treatment of angiosarcoma.

PurposeSerum uric acid (UA) not only affects the development of obesity but also alters the metabolic status in obese subjects; thus we investigated the relationship between serum UA and the overweight/obese metabolic phenotypes.MethodsThe demographic, biochemical, and hematological data were collected for 12,876 patients undergoing routine physical examination, and 6,912 participants were enrolled in our study. Participants were classified into four obesity metabolic phenotypes according to their BMI and the presence of metabolic syndrome: metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHOO), metabolically healthy and normal weighted (MHNW), metabolically abnormal and overweight/obese (MAOO), and metabolically abnormal but normal weighted (MANW). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, stratified analysis, and also interaction analysis were conducted to analyze the relationship between serum UA and obesity metabolic phenotypes.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis showed that hyperuricemia was positively associated with MHOO, MANW, and MAOO phenotypes relative to MHNW. After adjusting for the confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) for individuals with hyperuricemia to be MHOO, MANW, and MAOO phenotypes were 1.86 (1.42–2.45), 2.30 (1.44–3.66), and 3.15 (2.34–4.24), respectively. The ORs for having MHOO, MANW, and MAOO increased 6% [OR: 1.06 (1.05–1.07), P < 0.0001], 5% [OR: 1.05 (1.03–1.07), P < 0.0001], and 11% [OR: 1.11 (1.10–1.13), P < 0.0001] for each 10 unit (μmol/L) of increase in serum UA level. Stratification analysis as well as an interaction test showed that sex and age did not interfere with the association of hyperuricemia with each metabolic phenotype. In terms of the components of the metabolic syndrome, after adjusting for other confounding factors including all of the metabolic indicators except itself, hyperuricemia was positively associated with increased BMI [OR: 1.66 (1.32–2.09), P < 0.0001], hypertriglyceridemia [OR: 1.56 (1.21–2.02), P = 0.0006], and hypertension [OR: 1.22 (1.03–1.46), P = 0.0233], while it had no significant association with hyperglycemia and low HDL-C (all P > 0.05).ConclusionIn our study, we discovered that hyperuricemia was positively associated with MHOO, MANW, and MAOO phenotypes, and this relationship was independent of sex and age.

BackgroundType 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease with a complex aetiology. B cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of T1D. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a subset of B cells that produce and secrete the inhibitory factor interleukin-10 (IL-10), thereby exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. It was recently discovered that T-cell immunoglobulin mucin domain 1 (Tim-1) is essential for maintaining Bregs function related to immune tolerance. However, the detailed understanding of Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs in T1D patients is lacking. This study aimed to characterize the profile of B cell subsets in T1D patients compared with that in controls and determine whether Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs play roles in T1D.Materials and MethodsA total of 47 patients with T1D, 30 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 24 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of different B cell subsets (including B cells, plasmablasts, and Bregs) in the peripheral blood. Radiobinding assays were performed to detect the antibody titres of T1D patients. In addition, the correlations between different B cell subsets and patient parameters were investigated.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, differences in frequency of Tim-1+ Bregs were significantly decreased in patients with T1D (36.53 ± 6.51 vs. 42.25 ± 6.83, P=0.02*), and frequency of IL-10+ Bregs were lower than healthy controls (17.64 ± 7.21vs. 24.52 ± 11.69, P=0.009**), the frequency of total Bregs in PBMC was also decreased in patients with T1D (1.42 ± 0.53vs. 1.99 ± 0.93, P=0.002.**). We analyzed whether these alterations in B cells subsets were associated with clinical features. The frequencies of Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs were negatively related to fasting blood glucose (FBG) (r=-0.25 and -0.22; P=0.01* and 0.03*, respectively). The frequencies of Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs are positively correlated with fast C-peptide (FCP) (r=0.23 and 0.37; P=0.02* and 0.0001***, respectively). In addition, the frequency of IL-10+ Breg was also negatively related to glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=-0.20, P=0.04*). The frequencies of Tim-1+ Bregs, IL-10+ Bregs and Bregs in T2D patients were reduced, but no statistically significant difference was found between other groups. Interestingly, there was positive correlation between the frequencies of Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs in T1D (r=0.37, P=0.01*). Of note, it is worth noting that our study did not observe any correlations between B cell subsets and autoantibody titres.ConclusionsOur study showed altered Tim-1 and IL-10 expression in regulatory B cell in T1D patients. Tim-1, as suggested by the present study, is associated with islet function and blood glucose levels. These findings indicate that Tim-1+ Bregs and IL-10+ Bregs were involved in the pathogenesis of T1D.

T cell Ig and mucin domain (Tim) protein family members were identified to be important regulators of the immune response. As their name indicates, Tim proteins were originally considered a T cell-specific markers, and they mainly regulate the responses of T helper cells. However, accumulating evidence indicates that Tims are also expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells, and even plays various roles in natural killer cells (NKs) and mast cells. In recent years, the expression and function of Tims on different cells and the identification of new ligands for the Tim family have suggested that the Tim family plays a crucial role in immune regulation. In addition, the relationship between Tim family gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases has expanded our knowledge of the role of Tim proteins in immune regulation. In this review, we discuss how the Tim family affects immunomodulatory function and the potential role of the Tim family in typical autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). A deeper understanding of the immunoregulatory mechanism of the Tim family might provide new insights into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Abstract Background Development of safe and effective chemopreventive agents is a winning strategy in reducing the morbidity and mortality of breast cancer. The current study was to investigate the mechanism-based chemopreventive potential of a Chinese herb formula Yanghe Huayan (YHHY) Decoction on the classical 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced rat mammary carcinogenesis model. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 42 days of age were orally administered with a human equivalent dose of YHHY Decoction at 0.02 ml/g (10 mg/ml) once daily, starting 1 wk. before and 4 wks following DMBA treatment. Mammary tumor occurrence was monitored every day. The length of time before palpable tumor is examined is defined as tumor-free survival time. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were adopted to identify major chemical compositions of the decoction. Following bioinformatics data mining and experimental analyses were performed to demonstrate the underlying mechanism of action. Results DMBA animals receiving YHHY Decoction exhibited a significant delay (P = 0.014) and in some animals prevention (P = 0.046) of tumor occurrence without obvious toxicity. Oncogenic myc activation was significantly suppressed in the DMBA-induced rats by the YHHY treatment. Eight major chemical compositions of the decoction were identified and were shown to interfere with multiple tumorigenic pathways simultaneously in the mammary tumors, including inducing tumor apoptosis and up-regulating pro-apoptotic protein Bax and down-regulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2; suppressing abnormal cell proliferation and the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT signalings; blocking neo-angiogenesis and the VEGF/KDR signaling, and inhibiting oxidative stress in the mammary tumors. Conclusion The multi-components and multi-targeting properties of the YHHY Decoction support its use as a potent chemopreventive drug in breast cancer.

Background To contain the pandemics caused by SARS-CoV-2, early detection approaches with high accuracy and accessibility are critical. Generating an antigen-capture based detection system would be an ideal strategy complementing the current methods based on nucleic acids and antibody detection. The spike protein is found on the outside of virus particles and appropriate for antigen detection. Methods In this study, we utilized bioinformatics approaches to explore the immunodominant fragments on spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Results The S1 subunit of spike protein was identified with higher sequence specificity. Three immunodominant fragments, Spike56-94, Spike199-264, and Spike577-612, located at the S1 subunit were finally selected via bioinformatics analysis. The glycosylation sites and high-frequency mutation sites on spike protein were circumvented in the antigen design. All the identified fragments present qualified antigenicity, hydrophilicity, and surface accessibility. A recombinant antigen with a length of 194 amino acids (aa) consisting of the selected immunodominant fragments as well as a universal Th epitope was finally constructed. Conclusion The recombinant peptide encoded by the construct contains multiple immunodominant epitopes, which is expected to stimulate a strong immune response in mice and generate qualified antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Background: Major depressive disorder is associated with inflammation and immune processes. Depressive symptoms correlate with inflammatory markers and alterations in the immune system including cytokine levels and immune cell function. Th17 cells are a T cell subset which exerts proinflammatory effects. Th17 cell accumulation and Th17/Treg imbalances have been reported to be critical in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder and depressive-like behaviors in animal models. Th17 cells are thought to interfere with glutamate signaling, dopamine production, and other immune processes. Ketamine is a newly characterized antidepressant medication which has proved to be effective in rapidly reducing depressive symptoms. However, the mechanisms behind these antidepressant effects have not been fully elucidated.Method: Literature about Th17 cells and their role in depression and the antidepressant effect of ketamine are reviewed, with the possible interaction networks discussed.Result: The immune-modulating role of Th17 cells may participate in the antidepressant effect of ketamine.Conclusion: As Th17 cells play multiple roles in depression, it is important to explore the mechanisms of action of ketamine on Th17 cells and Th17/Treg cell balance. This provides new perspectives for strengthening the antidepressant effect of ketamine while reducing its side effects and adverse reactions.

Background: Postoperative depression is a common complication after surgery that profoundly affects recovery and prognosis. New research indicates that (R,S)-ketamine is a potent antidepressant that exerts a rapid and sustained antidepressive effect. However, there is no consensus on whether intraoperative low-dose (R,S)-ketamine prevents postoperative depression.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and short-term complications of intraoperative low-dose (R,S)-ketamine in preventing postoperative depressive symptoms.Methods: The Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, and CNKI databases were systematically searched (last search February 28, 2020) to identify studies involving ketamine. Sensitivity and metaregression analyses were performed to identify potential confounders. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.Results: A total of 13 studies (seven in Chinese and six in English) representing 1,148 cases of patients who were treated with (R,S)-ketamine and 874 cases of patients who received other treatments were included in the meta-analysis. Anesthesia duration and blood loss did not significantly differ between the two groups, demonstrating that (R,S)-ketamine was safe (odds ratio,OR: 0.27; 95% CI: −1.14 to 1.68; P = 0.71) for prophylactic treatment of postoperative depression. Blood loss (OR: −1.83; 95% CI: −8.34 to 4.68; P = 0.58), the number of postoperative depressive patients (95% CI: 0.8–1.07; P = 0.08; (R,S)-ketamine: control = 12.9%:15.8%), and postoperative complications (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.44–1.58; P = 0.57; (R,S)-ketamine: control = 19.3%:19.3%) were all similar across groups. Intra-operative low-dose (R,S)-ketamine reduced extubation time (OR: −2.84; 95% CI: −5.48 to −0.21; P = 0.03).Conclusions: The prophylactic anti-depressant effect of (R,S)-ketamine did not significantly differ between the (R,S)-ketamine and control groups in patients undergoing general or spinal anesthesia. However, (R,S)-ketamine use led to a higher incidence of adverse reactions in patients under 40 years of age who underwent a Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

A vector control based on the extended equivalent circuit and virtual circuits is proposed for the single-phase inverter. By the extended circuit, the other two phase voltages can be extended by the output voltage of the single-phase inverter so as to construct the voltage vector. The voltage outer-loop is to control the voltage vector in dq coordinate system, and the output voltage can track the target value without deviation in steady state. By designing the virtual circuit, the voltage inner-loop can achieve approximate decoupling and improve the dynamic response under the changeable load. Compared with the traditional dual closed-loop control, the proposed dual closed-loop control scheme only needs to detect and control the voltage without the current. It not only can achieve good control effect, but also reduce the complexity of the hardware. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the single-phase inverter has good static and dynamic characteristics regardless of stable load or changeable load.

Two terahertz (THz) polarization splitters based on dual slotted core polymer fiber are proposed and numerically investigated. The splitter structures are based on dual cores composed of subwavelength-scale air slots that are independently suspended within the fiber, which not only allows for single-mode propagation for the two orthogonal polarization modes with low absorption losses but enables them to couple with each other as well. Polarization splitters based on both symmetric and asymmetric dual slotted core structures, respectively, based on total and partial coupling are proposed and analyzed. The transmission modes, splitting lengths, and pertinent performance parameters of the two polarization splitters are investigated and numerically analyzed at a center-frequency of 1.0 THz. Comparisons of the two splitters with similar structural parameters are also carried out, which shows a comparably short splitting length of ∼1 cm and an ultra-low transmission loss of 0.4 dB with the asymmetric structure having a broader bandwidth and better extinction ratios.

Deformation monitoring is a powerful tool to understand the formation mechanism of earth fissure hazards, enabling the engineering and planning efforts to be more effective. To assess the evolution characteristics of the Yangshuli earth fissure hazard more completely, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), a remote sensing technique which is regarded as one of the most promising surveying technologies in geohazard monitoring, was employed to detect the changes to ground surfaces and buildings in small- and large-scales, respectively. Time-series of high-density point clouds were collected through 5 sequential scans from 2014 to 2017 and then pre-processing was performed to filter the noise data of point clouds. A tiny deformation was observed on both the scarp and the walls, based on the local displacement analysis. The relative height differences between the two sides of the scarp increase slowly from 0.169 m to 0.178 m, while no obvious inclining (the maximum tilt reaches just to 0.0023) happens on the two walls, based on tilt measurement. Meanwhile, global displacement analysis indicates that the overall settlement slowly increases for the ground surface, but the regions in the left side of scarp are characterized by a relatively larger vertical displacement than the right. Furthermore, the comparisons of monitoring results on the same measuring line are discussed in this study and TLS monitoring results have an acceptable consistency with the global positioning system (GPS) measurements. The case study shows that the TLS technique can provide an adequate solution in deformation monitoring of earth fissure hazards, with high effectiveness and applicability.

The design of bowtie antennas for carbon nanotube (CNT) photodetectors has been investigated. CNT photodetectors have shown outstanding performance by using CNT as sensing element. However, detection wavelength is much larger than the diameter of the CNT, resulting in small fill factor. Bowtie antenna can confine light into a subwavelength volume based on plasmonic resonance, thus integrating a bowtie antenna to CNT photodetectors can highly improve photoresponse of the detectors. The electric field enhancement of bowtie antennas was calculated using the device geometry by considering fabrication difficulties and photodetector structure. It is shown that the electric field intensity enhancement increased exponentially with distance reduction between the CNT photodetector to the antenna. A redshift of the peak resonance wavelength is predicted due to the increase of tip angles of the bowtie antennas. Experimental results showed that photocurrent enhancement agreed well with theoretical calculations. Bowtie antennas may find wide applications in nanoscale photonic sensors.