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Ferroelectric properties of hafnium-based thin films have gained significant interest, yet the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the emergence of the ferroelectric phase continue to be inadequately investigated. In contrast with polycrystalline films fabricated by atomic layer deposition or sputter methods, which possess uncertainty in polarization orientation, epitaxial ferroelectric HfO2-based materials are less investigated, especially for factors such as electric field and oxygen vacancy, which are proposed and examined for their potential impacts on phase stability. In this study, Y-doped hafnium oxide (HYO) ferroelectric epitaxial films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition, with variations in oxygen pressure during the deposition process. Structural and electrical analyses of HYO epitaxial ferroelectric films prepared under differing oxygen pressures revealed a correlation between the ferroelectric properties of the films and the oxygen content. An optimal selection of oxygen pressure was found to be conducive to the formation of HYO epitaxial ferroelectric films, presenting a promising avenue for future ferroelectric memory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric properties of hafnium-based thin films have gained significant interest, yet the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the emergence of the ferroelectric phase continue to be inadequately investigated. In contrast with polycrystalline films fabricated by atomic layer deposition or sputter methods, which possess uncertainty in polarization orientation, epitaxial ferroelectric HfO2-based materials are less investigated, especially for factors such as electric field and oxygen vacancy, which are proposed and examined for their potential impacts on phase stability. In this study, Y-doped hafnium oxide (HYO) ferroelectric epitaxial films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition, with variations in oxygen pressure during the deposition process. Structural and electrical analyses of HYO epitaxial ferroelectric films prepared under differing oxygen pressures revealed a correlation between the ferroelectric properties of the films and the oxygen content. An optimal selection of oxygen pressure was found to be conducive to the formation of HYO epitaxial ferroelectric films, presenting a promising avenue for future ferroelectric memory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are one of the most important central regulatory proteins response to extra environmental stresses. In this study, two novel p38 MAPKs, Ec-P38γ and Ec-P38δ, were identified from Epinephelus coioides , an economically important cultured fish in China and Southeast Asian counties. Both of Ec-p38γ and Ec-p38δ sequences contain a serine/threonine protein kinase (S_TKc) domain and a highly conserved Thr-Gly-Tyr (TGY) motif. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships illustrated that p38 amino acid sequences were conserved between different species indicating that the functions may be similar. The four subtypes of p38 (α, β, γ, and δ) mRNA can be detected in all thirteen tissues examined, but the expression level is different in these tissues. The expression patterns of the four Ec-p38 subtypes in E. coioides were also detected response to Cryptocaryon irritans infection, one of the most important protozoan pathogens of marine fish. The expression of four p38 subtypes was up-regulated in the tissues examined, with the highest expressions of Ec-p38α (5.2 times) and Ec-p38δ (4.2 times) occurring in the skin, while Ec-p38β (24.8 times) and γ (16.6 times) occurred in the spleen. There was no significantly correlation between the expression of Ec-p38γ/Ec-p38δ and the expression of nuclear factor kappaB (NF- k B). The results indicated the sequences and the characters of Ec-p38γ and Ec-p38δ were conserved, the p38 subtypes showed tissue-specific expression patterns in healthy grouper, and their expressions were significantly up-regulated post C. irritans infection, suggesting these p38 MAPKs may play important roles in these tissues during pathogen-caused inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the investigation and detection of the surface water and sediments of Luoma Lake, the structure and occurrence characteristics of PFASs (perlyfluoroalkyl substances) in the two types of media were analyzed, and the principal component analysis method was used to analyze the characteristics of such substances in the surface water. The source was analyzed, and the potential health risks of such substances were evaluated using the risk quotient method. The results showed that a total of 13 PFASs were detected in the surface sediments of Luoma Lake, and one more species was detected in the surface water (PFTeA); ρ (ΣPFASs) in the surface water ranged from 46.09 to 120.34 ng·L -1 , and ω (ΣPFASs) in sediments ranged from 2.22 to 9.55 ng·g -1 . PFPeA was the major component in surface water, and the mass fraction of PFPeA was 38%. PFBA was the major component in sediment, and the mass fraction of PFPeA was 61%. The multi-media PFASs in Luoma Lake were mainly short-chain substances; the high concentration area of PFASs in the surface water of Luoma Lake was concentrated and distributed at the mouth of the northern rivers. Its concentration showed a decreasing trend from north to south, and the content of PFASs in the sediments showed a decreasing trend from southwest to northeast. The distribution of ΣPFASs, PFBA, and PFOS in the sediments of Luoma Lake and the TOC content in the sediment were related; the principal component analysis showed that the PFASs in the surface water of Luoma Lake were mainly from textile flame retardant, rubber product emulsification, food packaging processes and paper surface treatment industries, the metal electroplating industry, and leather and textile manufacturing industries. PFASs in the surface water of Luoma Lake were at a relatively low health risk level.

Aim: To investigate the abundance and potential functions of LAP + CD4 + T cells in colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: Proportions of LAP + CD4 + T cells were examined in peripheral blood and tumor/paratumor tissues of CRC patients and healthy controls using flow cytometry. Expression of phenotypic markers such as forkhead box (Fox)p3, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)-4, chemokine CC receptor (CCR)4 and CCR5 was measured using flow cytometry. LAP - CD4 + and LAP + CD4 + T cells were isolated using a magnetic cell-sorting system and cell purity was analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure expression of cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β., Results: The proportion of LAP + CD4 + T cells was significantly higher in peripheral blood from patients (9.44% ± 3.18%) than healthy controls (1.49% ± 1.00%, P < 0.001). Among patients, the proportion of LAP + CD4 + T cells was significantly higher in tumor tissues (11.76% ± 3.74%) compared with paratumor tissues (3.87% ± 1.64%, P < 0.001). We also observed positive correlations between the proportion of LAP + CD4 + T cells and TNM stage ( P < 0.001), distant metastasis ( P < 0.001) and serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen ( P < 0.05). Magnetic-activated cell sorting gave an overall enrichment of LAP + CD4 + T cells (95.02% ± 2.87%), which was similar for LAP - CD4 + T cells (94.75% ± 2.76%). In contrast to LAP - CD4 + T cells, LAP + CD4 + T cells showed lower Foxp3 expression but significantly higher levels of CTLA-4, CCR4 and CCR5 ( P < 0.01). LAP + CD4 + T cells expressed significantly larger amounts of IL-10 and TGF-β but lower levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-17 and interferon-γ, compared with LAP - CD4 + T cells., Conclusion: LAP + CD4 + T cells accumulated in the tumor microenvironment of CRC patients and were involved in immune evasion mediated by IL-10 and TGF-β., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) vs low-dose PPIs for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding., Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eligible trials were RCTs that compared high-dose PPI with low-dose PPI following endoscopic hemostasis. The primary endpoint was rebleeding; secondary endpoints were patient numbers that needed surgery, and mortality. The meta-analysis was performed with a fixed effects model or random effects model., Results: Nine eligible RCTs including 1342 patients were retrieved. The results showed that high-dose intravenous PPI was not superior to low-dose intravenous PPI in reducing rebleeding [odds ratio (OR) = 1.091, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.777-1.532], need for surgery (OR = 1.522, 95% CI: 0.643-3.605) and mortality (OR = 1.022, 95% CI: 0.476-2.196). Subgroup analysis according to different region revealed no difference in rebleeding rate between Asian patients (OR = 0.831, 95% CI, 0.467-1.480) and European patients (OR = 1.263, 95% CI: 0.827-1.929)., Conclusion: Low-dose intravenous PPI can achieve the same efficacy as high-dose PPI following endoscopic hemostasis.