Search

In the domains of geographic information systems and remote sensing image analysis, change detection is vital for examining surface variations in high-resolution remote sensing pictures. However, the intricate texture characteristics and rich details found in high-resolution remote sensing photos are difficult for conventional change detection systems to deal with. Target misdetection, missed detections, and edge blurring are further problems with current deep learning-based methods. This research proposes a high-resolution city change detection network based on difference and attention mechanisms under multi-scale feature fusion (MDANet) to address these issues and improve the accuracy of change detection. First, to extract features from dual-temporal remote sensing pictures, we use the Siamese architecture as the encoder network. The Difference Feature Module (DFM) is employed to learn the difference information between the dual-temporal remote sensing images. Second, the extracted difference features are optimized with the Attention Refinement Module (ARM). The Cross-Scale Fusion Module (CSFM) combines and enhances the optimized attention features, effectively capturing subtle differences in remote sensing images and learning the finer details of change targets. Finally, thorough tests on the BTCDD dataset, LEVIR-CD dataset, and CDD dataset show that the MDANet algorithm performs at a cutting-edge level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat aphids are major pests of wheat and a significant threat to global food security. Eupeodes corollae Fabricius is one of the dominant species of wheat field hoverflies, but its ability and role in wheat aphid control lack systematic research. This study on the predatory function responses of E. corollae to Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, and Sitobion miscanthi, Takahashi showed that the maximum daily predation (1/Th) of 2nd instar E. corollae larvae was 166.67, 125.00, and 142.86, and that of 3rd instar larvae was 333.33, 250.00, and 250.00, respectively. The cage simulation test indicated that the wheat aphid population decline rate was 100% at the 60th hour of inoculation of 3rd instar E. corollae larvae at a 1:100 ratio. Eupeodes corollae exhibited a predatory relationship with all three wheat aphid species in the wheat fields of Hebei Province, China, and the corrected predation detection rates of E. corollae larvae against R. padi, S. graminum, and S. miscanthi were 12.36%, 1.08%, and 28.77% in 2022, and 6.74%, 0.82%, and 37.56% in 2023, respectively. The results of this study clarify the predatory ability of E. corollae on wheat aphids and the predatory relationship between them and provide technical support for the management of wheat aphids using the bio-control ecological service function of E. corollae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) have emerged as a significant worldwide issue. However, the availability of efficacious antibiotics for treating CRO infections remains limited. Polymyxins, including colistin sulfate, represent the last-line therapeutic option against CRO infections. This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of colistin sulfate in managing CRO infections among patients with hematological diseases. Methods: Between April 2022 and January 2023, a total of 118 hematological patients diagnosed with CRO infection were treated with colistin sulfate at Suzhou Hongci Hospital of Hematology. The assessment encompassed the clinical efficacy, bacterial clearance rate, adverse reactions, and 30-day all-cause mortality. Results: The study found that the total effective rate of colistin sulfate in the treatment of CRO infection was 74.6%, with a bacterial clearance rate of 72.6%. Throughout the treatment, nephrotoxicity occurred in 7.6% of cases, neurotoxicity in 2.5% of cases, and the 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 22.9%. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that the treatment course and combination medication with other antimicrobials were independent factors affecting the clinical efficacy of colistin sulfate. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the treatment of colistin sulfate can achieve high clinical efficacy and microbial responses, with a low risk of nephrotoxicity. This study provides evidence of the positive clinical efficacy and safety of colistin sulfate treatment in these patients. High-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to further confirm the beneficial role of colistin sulfate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the rapid increase in the data volume to be processed has led to urgent requirements for highly efficient computing paradigms. Brain-like computing that mimics the way the biological brain processes information has attracted growing interest due to extremely high energy efficiency. Particularly, dynamics play an essential role in neural spike information processing. Here, we offer a brief review and perspective in the field of electrolyte-gated neuromorphic transistors for brain-like dynamic computing. We first introduce the biological foundation of dynamic neural functions. Then dynamic synaptic plasticity, dynamic dendritic integration, dynamic neural functions, and bio-inspired somatosensory systems realized based on the electrolyte-gated neuromorphic transistors are presented. At last, conclusions and perspectives are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of orange‐red/red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with both high emission efficiencies and short lifetimes is highly desirable for electroluminescence (EL) applications, but remains a formidable challenge owing to the strict molecular design principles. Herein, two new orange‐red/red TADF emitters, namely AC‐PCNCF3 and TAC‐PCNCF3, composed of pyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitrile‐derived electron‐acceptor (PCNCF3) and acridine electron‐donors (AC/TAC) are developed. These emitters in doped films exhibit excellent photophysical properties, including high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 0.91, tiny singlet‐triplet energy gaps of 0.01 eV, and ultrashort TADF lifetimes of less than 1 µs. The TADF‐organic light‐emitting diodes employing the AC‐PCNCF3 as emitter achieve orange‐red and red EL with high external quantum efficiencies of up to 25.0% and nearly 20% at doping concentrations of 5 and 40 wt%, respectively, both accompanied by well‐suppressed efficiency roll‐offs. This work provides an efficient molecular design strategy for developing high‐performance red TADF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eupeodes corollae Fabricius, one of the most common predatory natural enemies of agricultural ecosystems, plays an important role in aphid control, but its ability to prey on and control leguminous plant aphids has not been systematically studied. Our study on the spawning and predation preferences, predatory function responses, searching efficiency, and prevention and control capabilities of E. corollae on Aphis craccivora Koch, Myzus persicae Sulzer, and Megoura japonica Matsumura showed that the spawning and predation preferences of E. corollae were consistent and that it preferred A. craccivora for both spawning and predation. The Holling's type II response was observed in the second- and third-instar larvae of E. corollae to the three species of aphids. For A. craccivora, M. persicae, and M. japonica, the maximum daily predations (1/Th) of second-instar larvae were 83.33, 166.67, and 47.62, respectively, and those of third-instar larvae were 142.86, 200.00, and 90.91, respectively. For A. craccivora, the aphid population decline rates for the 1:1000 and 1:2000 treatment ratios were close to 100% 12 days after the release of E. corollae; for M. persicae, the aphid population decline rates for the 1:2000, 1:4000, and 1:6000 ratios were 98.80%, 96.46%, and 92.89%, respectively. For M. japonica, the aphid population decline rates for the 1:250, 1:500, and 1:1000 ratios all reached 100%. These results provide good theoretical and application value for the management of aphids and the optimization of the ecological biocontrol service functions of E. corollae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread application of protonic ceramic fuel cells is limited by the lack of oxygen electrodes with excellent activity and stability. Herein, the strategy of halogen doping in a Ba0.6Sr0.4Co0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-δ (BSCFN) cathode is discussed in detail for improving cathode activity. Ba0.6Sr0.4Co0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-x-δFx (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) cathode materials are synthesised by a solid-phase method. The XRD results show that fluorine anion-doped BSCFN forms a single-phase perovskite structure. XPS and titration results reveal that fluorine ion doping increases active oxygen and surface adsorbed oxygen. It also confines chemical bonds between cations and anions, which enhances the cathode's catalytic performance. Therefore, an anode-supported single cell with the configuration of Ni-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ (BZCYYb)|BZCYYb|Ba0.6Sr0.4Co0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-0.1-δF0.1 (BSCFN-F0.1) achieved a high peak power density of 630 mW cm−2 at 600 °C. Moreover, according to the symmetrical cell test, the BSCFN-F0.1 electrode demonstrated a superb stability for nearly 400 h at 600 °C. This work focuses on the influence of fluorine anion incorporation upon the performance of cathode materials. It also analyses and discusses the effects of different fluorine ion incorporation amounts to occupy different oxygen positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials based on multiple resonance (MR) molecular structures can achieve advantages, such as high fluorescence efficiency, reduced structural relaxation and narrow emission. It still remains a challenge to design highly efficient MR structure-based TADF materials with fast reverse intersystem crossing processes and easy emission-color tuning. Herein, we theoretically investigated the recently reported TADF molecule, which has the MR structure of quinolino[3,2,1-de] acridine-5,9-dione (QAD) as the acceptor and the moiety of carbazole (Cz) as the donor, namely QAD-Cz. The calculated fluorescence quantum efficiency of QAD-Cz is as high as 96.5%, which agrees with the experimental results (99.6%) very well. Moreover, we designed two new TADF materials based on the MR-QAD structure with different electron-donating moieties, namely QAD-TPA and QAD-DPTZ. The two newly designed molecules can theoretically achieve high fluorescence quantum efficiencies (over 90%) and fast reverse intersystem crossing rates (e.g. as high as 107 s−1 for QAD-DPTZ). The calculated emission wavelength of the QAD-DPTZ molecule is 638 nm, which obviously widens the emission color range of the reported MR-QAD-based TADF materials. Furthermore, we have analyzed the aggregation effects of the QAD-DPTZ molecule and demonstrated that this novel compound can likewise exhibit excellent luminescence performance in amorphous states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Abnormal vascular network of tumor can create a hypoxic microenvironment, and reduce radiotherapy sensitivity. Normalization of tumor vasculature can be a new therapeutic strategy for sensitizing radiotherapy. This study aimed to explore the effect of apatinib on vascular normalization, as well as the syngeneic effect with radiotherapy on lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenograft‐bearing female C57BL/6 mice were treated with different doses of apatinib (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg per day) and/or radiation therapy (8 Gy/1F) and then sacrificed to harvest tumor tissue for immunohistochemical test. Further 18F‐FMISO micro‐ PET in vivo explored the degree of hypoxia. Results: Immunohistochemistry of CD31 and alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) proved that low‐dose apatinib can normalize vasculature in tumor, especially on Day 10. Tissue staining of hypoxyprobe‐1 and 18F‐FMISO micro‐ PET in vivo showed that 60 mg/kg/day of apatinib significantly alleviates hypoxia. Moreover, this study further proved that low‐dose apatinib (60 mg/kg/day) can enhance the radio‐response of LLC xenograft mice. Conclusion: Our data suggested that low‐ dose apatinib can successfully induce a vascular normalization window and function as a radio‐ sensitizer in the lung cancer xenografts model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Solute carrier family 7 member 2 (SLC7A2), a cationic amino acid transporter, is lowly expressed in ovarian and hepatocellular cancers, which is associated with their worse prognosis. However, its roles in the prognosis, drug resistance and immune infiltration in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unclear. Methods: We chose SLC7A2 from RNA-Seq of paclitaxel/cisplatin-resistant A549 cells, then bioinformatics, cell lines construction, RT-qPCR, and CCK8 were performed to investigate SLC7A2 role. Result: We analyzed the 223 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from RNA-Seq of paclitaxel/cisplatin-resistant A549 cells and found that SLC7A2 expression was down-regulated in NSCLC. Lower SLC7A2 expression was associated with worse recurrence-free survival (RFS) in NSCLC. SLC7A2 silencing enhanced the proliferation of NSCLC cells and their insensitivity to paclitaxel, cisplatin, and gemcitabine in vitro. Activation of AMPK has up-regulated SLC7A2 expression and enhanced the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to anti-tumor drugs, which could be attributed to E2F1's regulation. In addition, the levels of SLC7A2 expression were correlated to the numbers of infiltrated neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells and their marker genes, like CD86, HLA-DPA1 and ITGAM. Conclusions: SLC7A2 may act as a tumor suppressor to modulate drug sensitivity, immune infiltration and survival in NSCLC. 5Lxg85-2rHuSUrkE_-2WDq Video abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The emergence of atypical response (AR) has challenged the process of response evaluation and the subsequent management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis and found that AR was not an uncommon event in patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with the PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor. The median time to AR occurrence was 2.0 months, and patients with ≥3 metastatic organs at baseline were more likely to develop AR. For patients with AR, the common sites of progressive lesions were the lymph nodes and lungs. Furthermore, the majority of patients with AR had only 1–2 progressive tumor lesions, and most of the progressive lesions developed from originally existing tumor sites. Patients with AR had a comparable prognosis to those with a typical response (TR). Proper local therapy targeting progressive tumor lesions while maintaining the PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor may be a feasible treatment selection for patients with AR. Purpose: To explore the clinical characteristics, management, and survival outcomes of advanced NSCLC patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors who presented with an atypical response (AR). Methods: A total of 926 PD-1/PD-L1-inhibitor-treated patients with metastatic NSCLC from three academic centers were retrospectively reviewed. All measurable lesions were evaluated by RECIST version 1.1. Results: Fifty-six (6.1%) patients developed AR. The median time to the occurrence of AR was 2.0 months. Patients with no fewer than 3 metastatic organs at baseline were more prone to develop AR in advanced NSCLC (p = 0.038). The common sites of progressive lesions were lymph nodes (33.8%) and lungs (29.7%). The majority (78.2%) of patients with AR had only 1–2 progressive tumor lesions, and most (89.1%) of the progressive lesions developed from originally existing tumor sites. There was no significance in terms of survival between patients with AR and those with typical response (TR). Local therapy was an independent predictor for PFS of patients with AR (p = 0.025). Conclusions: AR was not an uncommon event in patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, and it had a comparable prognosis to those with TR. Proper local therapy targeting progressive lesions without discontinuing original PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may improve patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations on the relationship between geometrical structures, excited state properties, and photophysical performance can accelerate the design of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules. Herein, the photophysical properties of newly proposed organic TADF molecule: [4‐(9,9‐dimethyl‐9,10‐dihydroacridine) phenyl] (pyridin‐4‐yl)‐methanone (PyB‐DMAC), are theoretically investigated by using the quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics method. The photophysical performance dependency of PyB‐DMAC molecule on its geometrical and electronic structures, and aggregation effects are systematically analyzed. The calculated fluorescence quantum efficiencies are in good agreement with the experimental results, for instance, the calculated fluorescence efficiency of 61.2% (exp. 49%) for PyB‐DMAC molecule in the crystal phase. Based on these investigations, novel organic TADF molecules can be designed by balancing the singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔEST) and transition dipole moment. Sixteen unexplored candidates are screened with similar structures to PyB‐DMAC molecule, while two new TADF organic molecules (PyBF‐DMAC and OSOF‐DMAC) are selected with enhanced luminescence performance. The newly designed TADF molecules reveal lower reorganization energies and reduced nonradiative decay rates. The simulation results exhibit that their luminescence quantum efficiencies in toluene solvent and amorphous state are as high as 63.7%, 53.2% and 90%, 97.4%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of glucose oxidase (GOx) requires extra carriers, which suffers from early leakage and exposure of GOx. These issues will be of less concern if GOx itself acts as a drug carrier. However, the catalytic activity of GOx in the blood still needs to be inhibited. Herein, we found that GOx could self‐assemble with hydrophobic molecules into uniform and stable nanoparticles (NPs), including sorafenib, 4′‐(amino‐methyl phenyl)‐2,2′ : 6′,2′′‐terpyridine modified cyanin and paclitaxel. The catalytic activity of GOx in NPs was significantly inhibited due to the binding of small molecules with its hydrophobic pockets. After dissociation in the tumor acidic microenvironment, the enzyme activity of GOx could be largely recovered. This acidity‐triggered "OFF‐to‐ON" process ensured safe intravenous administration of GOx‐based NPs. In vivo experiments showed that the combined starvation therapy and ferroptosis/photothermal therapy/chemotherapy effectively inhibited 4T1 breast tumor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of glucose oxidase (GOx) requires extra carriers, which suffers from early leakage and exposure of GOx. These issues will be of less concern if GOx itself acts as a drug carrier. However, the catalytic activity of GOx in the blood still needs to be inhibited. Herein, we found that GOx could self‐assemble with hydrophobic molecules into uniform and stable nanoparticles (NPs), including sorafenib, 4′‐(amino‐methyl phenyl)‐2,2′ : 6′,2′′‐terpyridine modified cyanin and paclitaxel. The catalytic activity of GOx in NPs was significantly inhibited due to the binding of small molecules with its hydrophobic pockets. After dissociation in the tumor acidic microenvironment, the enzyme activity of GOx could be largely recovered. This acidity‐triggered "OFF‐to‐ON" process ensured safe intravenous administration of GOx‐based NPs. In vivo experiments showed that the combined starvation therapy and ferroptosis/photothermal therapy/chemotherapy effectively inhibited 4T1 breast tumor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli ringspot virus (ChiRSV; genus Potyvirus) was one of several viruses previously detected in pepper samples with severe yellowing and curling symptoms growing in Wenshan, Yunan province, China. We now report the full-length sequence of ChiRSV-YN/Wenshan (MZ269480), which has 88.5-98.9% nucleotide sequence identity to other published ChiRSV isolates. A full-length cDNA infectious clone was constructed. This cDNA and an eGFP-tagged clone were infectious, leading to systemic symptoms in both Nicotiana benthamiana and Capsicum spp. Recombinant clones containing the P1 protein coding region of other ChiRSV isolates differed in their pathogenicity. Single infection by ChiRSV caused mild mosaic or leaf crinkling in Capsicum frutescens L. and Capsicum annuum L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is highly reliant upon the properties of cathodes, including crystal structure, electrical conductivity, electrode thickness, and so on. Here, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3‐δ (BSCF) is synthesized and served as the electrode for enabling high‐performance SOFCs. The effect of electrode thickness on the electrocatalytic activity is systematically investigated. The electrode thickness is adjusted in two ways. One is spray‐coating and then calcining once, and the other is performing the above process twice. On the basis of symmetrical cells configuration, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of BSCF electrode with different thickness is evaluated and analyzed by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique and distribution of relaxation time (DRT). The obtained area‐specific resistances (ASRs) of electrodes on the oxygen ion conducting electrolyte Sm0.2Ce0.9O1.90 (SDC) demonstrate the thickness‐dependent electrochemical activity in ORR of BSCF electrode. With an electrode thickness of 24 μm that controlled by conducting "spray‐coating and calcining" twice, the BSCF electrode displays the optimal electrochemical performance with an ASR of 0.072 Ω cm2 in ambient air at 600°C. This strategy has allowed us to produce an electrode layer with optimal thickness, paving a new path for the design of high‐performance SOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal depression in the thalamus underlies anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness, while the precise sub-thalamus nuclei and molecular targets involved remain to be elucidated. The present study investigated the role of extrasynaptic GABA A receptors in the central medial thalamic nucleus (CM) in anesthesia induced by gaboxadol (THIP) and diazepam (DZP) in rats. Local lesion of the CM led to a decrease in the duration of loss of righting reflex induced by THIP and DZP. CM microinjection of THIP but not DZP induced anesthesia. The absence of righting reflex in THIP-treated rats was consistent with the increase of low frequency oscillations in the delta band in the medial prefrontal cortex. CM microinjection of GABA A receptor antagonist SR95531 significantly attenuated the anesthesia induced by systemically-administered THIP, but not DZP. Moreover, the rats with declined expression of GABA A receptor δ-subunit in the CM were less responsive to THIP or DZP. These findings explained a novel mechanism of THIP-induced loss of consciousness and highlighted the role of CM extrasynaptic GABA A receptors in mediating anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic sensitivity of 3D heavily weighted T2-weighted MRI (T2MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with cochlear fibrosis associated with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis and the practicality of Cochlear implantation (CI) treatments.Between January 2020 and December 2022, we enrolled four patients with rare cochlear S. suis meningitis with associated hearing loss despite aggressive or non-aggressive follow-up antibiotic treatment. Clinical imaging data, surgical performances and post-surgical-electrode impedance were evaluated.Combined with HRCT and T2MRI, the cochlea had varying degrees of fibrosis and ossification in different cases. However, the electrodes were successfully and wholly inserted after intraoperative removal of the ossified and fibrotic foci. Post-surgical electrode impedance values of MP1 + 2 mode were normal in all 4 cases at initial activation.In patients with S. suis meningitis and associated cochlear fibrosis, T2MRI examination of the inner ear was more sensitive than HRCT. This research highlights the feasibility of CI treatment in S. suis meningitis patients with severe cochlear fibrosis.Methods: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic sensitivity of 3D heavily weighted T2-weighted MRI (T2MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with cochlear fibrosis associated with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis and the practicality of Cochlear implantation (CI) treatments.Between January 2020 and December 2022, we enrolled four patients with rare cochlear S. suis meningitis with associated hearing loss despite aggressive or non-aggressive follow-up antibiotic treatment. Clinical imaging data, surgical performances and post-surgical-electrode impedance were evaluated.Combined with HRCT and T2MRI, the cochlea had varying degrees of fibrosis and ossification in different cases. However, the electrodes were successfully and wholly inserted after intraoperative removal of the ossified and fibrotic foci. Post-surgical electrode impedance values of MP1 + 2 mode were normal in all 4 cases at initial activation.In patients with S. suis meningitis and associated cochlear fibrosis, T2MRI examination of the inner ear was more sensitive than HRCT. This research highlights the feasibility of CI treatment in S. suis meningitis patients with severe cochlear fibrosis.Results: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic sensitivity of 3D heavily weighted T2-weighted MRI (T2MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with cochlear fibrosis associated with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis and the practicality of Cochlear implantation (CI) treatments.Between January 2020 and December 2022, we enrolled four patients with rare cochlear S. suis meningitis with associated hearing loss despite aggressive or non-aggressive follow-up antibiotic treatment. Clinical imaging data, surgical performances and post-surgical-electrode impedance were evaluated.Combined with HRCT and T2MRI, the cochlea had varying degrees of fibrosis and ossification in different cases. However, the electrodes were successfully and wholly inserted after intraoperative removal of the ossified and fibrotic foci. Post-surgical electrode impedance values of MP1 + 2 mode were normal in all 4 cases at initial activation.In patients with S. suis meningitis and associated cochlear fibrosis, T2MRI examination of the inner ear was more sensitive than HRCT. This research highlights the feasibility of CI treatment in S. suis meningitis patients with severe cochlear fibrosis.Conclusion: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic sensitivity of 3D heavily weighted T2-weighted MRI (T2MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with cochlear fibrosis associated with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis and the practicality of Cochlear implantation (CI) treatments.Between January 2020 and December 2022, we enrolled four patients with rare cochlear S. suis meningitis with associated hearing loss despite aggressive or non-aggressive follow-up antibiotic treatment. Clinical imaging data, surgical performances and post-surgical-electrode impedance were evaluated.Combined with HRCT and T2MRI, the cochlea had varying degrees of fibrosis and ossification in different cases. However, the electrodes were successfully and wholly inserted after intraoperative removal of the ossified and fibrotic foci. Post-surgical electrode impedance values of MP1 + 2 mode were normal in all 4 cases at initial activation.In patients with S. suis meningitis and associated cochlear fibrosis, T2MRI examination of the inner ear was more sensitive than HRCT. This research highlights the feasibility of CI treatment in S. suis meningitis patients with severe cochlear fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes at the surface of Fe 2 O 3 photoanode was inhibited through the CoSe 2 /Ti-Fe 2 O 3 interface. • The constructed CoSe 2 /Ti Fe 2 O 3 p-n heterojunction could suppress the tunneling of photogenerated electrons from the photoanode to the electrolyte. • The synergistic strategy of Ti4+ doping and CoSe 2 co-catalyst resulted in a photocurrent density of 2.85 mA/cm2 and a maximum IPCE of 60.14 % at 1.23 V vs.RHE. Fe 2 O 3 -based photoelectrodes hold promise for photoelectrochemical water splitting due to their cost-effectiveness and stable chemical properties. However, Fe 2 O 3 -based photoelectrodes face limitations including low bulk conductivity and severe surface recombination of photo-generated charge carriers, which adversely affect their performance. To address these challenges, a novel p-type CoSe 2 surface co-catalyst was developed to establish a Ti-Fe 2 O 3 /CoSe 2 p-n heterojunction. By incorporating a Ti4+ doping strategy, the resulting Ti-Fe 2 O 3 /CoSe 2 p-n heterojunction demonstrated a significant increase in photocurrent density, reaching 2.85 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V RHE under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The corresponding IPCE achieved 60.14 % under 365 nm light irradiation, nearly 5 times higher than that observed on pristine Fe 2 O 3. Besides Ti4+ dopant, the improvement can be attributed to the p-type CoSe 2 surface co-catalyst, which created a built-in electric field at the interface between CoSe 2 and Ti-Fe 2 O 3 , effectively suppressing electron tunneling from the photoelectrode to the electrolyte and reducing surface carrier recombination. This study improves our understanding of the water splitting catalytic reaction on CoSe 2 -derived heterojunctions and provides insights for the rational design of photoelectrodes used in photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dual-network hydrogel with excellent flexibility and biocompatibility. • Adjusting ions and cryoprotectants to prepare a multifunctional hydrogel. • The hydrogel possesses excellent freeze-resistant and conductive properties. • Sensors crafted from hydrogels demonstrate outstanding sensitivity and stability. • Wearable sensing devices for detecting human movement at low temperatures. Hydrogels possess several advantageous characteristics, including transparency, biocompatibility, and ionic conductivity, making them promising for applications in flexible electronics, drug delivery, ionic skin, and electrolytes. Nevertheless, creating a robust conductive and antifreezing hydrogel with enduring environmental stability remains a significant challenge. This study, based on the salt-out effect of alkali metal ion salts and binary solvent systems, employs a straightforward one-pot solvent exchange method to introduce dynamic and reversible non-covalent bonds (hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonds) into a polyacrylamide-sodium alginate (PAM-SA) dual-network hydrogel with excellent flexibility and biocompatibility. By adjusting the types of ions and cryoprotective agents (CPA), a series of ion-conductive organic hydrogels with anti-freezing properties were successfully prepared. The resulting PAM/SA-Gly-KCl 1M hydrogel exhibits commendable mechanical properties (with a tensile strain of up to 1465 %, a tensile strength of 166 kPa, and toughness of 1354 kJ m3), high ionic conductivity (0.59 S/m), outstanding frost resistance (–100 °C), and sustained long-term stability (maintaining 70 % of its weight for over one month in an open environment). Therefore, sensors based on organic hydrogels exhibit exceptional characteristics, including high strength, superior transparency, and dependable operation in low-temperature conditions. Its remarkable sensing sensitivity and stability and antifreeze properties facilitate operation across an extensive temperature range and contribute to an extended operational lifespan. Overall, this sensor proves conducive to developing enduring flexible electronic products in challenging environments, thereby unveiling novel prospects for the realms of smart wearable technology and health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the influencing factors of severe hyperbilirubinemia in neonates complicated with acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) and then build relevant prediction models and evaluate the prediction performance of the models. Methods. The data of 120 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia were collected by retrospective analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the data of 120 children. R software was used to visualize the results of multivariate analysis, and a nomogram model was obtained. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision-making curve (DC) were used to evaluate the discrimination, accuracy, and clinical net profit rate of the model. Results. Multivariate analysis showed that nonfull breastfeeding, high-risk symptoms, and pregnancy complications were independent risk factors for ABE in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia. At the same time, the risk of ABE in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia increased with the increase of B/A and Hb levels. The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve for the model was 0.908 (95% CI: 0.839–0.960). The calibration curve shows that the actual prediction curve of the model is in good agreement with the corrected prediction curve. Using the cutoff value of the ROC curve as the diagnostic criterion, the threshold probability of the model was calculated to be 38%. The decision curve shows that when 38% is used as the basis for judging whether to take measures to intervene, the profit rate is 61%. Conclusion. The occurrence of ABE in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia is affected by many factors, and there is a certain degree of interaction between these factors. Combining multiple factors to construct a risk nomogram model can provide a reference for early clinical detection of high-risk neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As a candidate for controlling aphid populations, Eupeodes corollae Fabricius also performs a pollination function which is critical to agricultural systems. We evaluated the population life tables and flight performance of E. corollae fed on three prey species (Aphis craccivora Koch, Myzus persicae Sulzer and Megoura japonica Matsumura) to select suitable aphid species for keeping E. corollae indoors. The results showed that E. corollae completed development and reproduction on these three aphid species while achieving the shortest generation time, the maximum fecundity, and the highest intrinsic natural growth rate and flight ability on M. japonica. Our study indicated that M. japonica is the most suitable prey for E. corollae, providing a basis for utilizing the ecological service function of the hoverfly. Eupeodes corollae Fabricius, as one of the most common beneficial predatory insects in agricultural ecosystems, provides pollination and biological control services that help improve crop yield and maintain biodiversity. However, systematic research is needed on the species of aphids used for propagation. To develop highly fit populations of the important insect predator and crop pollinator, E. corollae, for research and commercial use, further research is needed to develop the most nutritious diet and efficient propagation methods. Here, the fitness of E. corollae was assessed in the laboratory after larvae were fed an aphid diet of Aphis craccivora Koch, Myzus persicae Sulzer or Megoura japonica Matsumura. The larval survival rate on M. japonica was significantly lower than on A. craccivora and M. persicae. The developmental duration for larvae (7.6 d) and pupae (6.9 d) was longest on A. craccivora. The pupal emergence rate on A. craccivora (98.0%) was significantly higher than on the other two, and lowest (64.7%) on M. japonica. On A. craccivora, M. persicae, and M. japonica, respectively, the generation time was 24.85 d, 23.12 d and 21.05 d; the value for the intrinsic rate of natural increase was 0.19, 0.20, and 0.21; and the value for the finite rate of increase was 1.21, 1.22, and 1.23. For flight variables, E. corollae attained the fastest velocity and longest distance and duration on M. japonica. The M. japonica diet, thus, provided the shortest generation time, the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase and finite rate of increase, the maximum fecundity and the greatest flight ability. Thus, to improve the survival rate of E. corollae larvae, A. craccivora or M. persicae can be used to feed newly hatched larvae, and M. japonica can be used for second- and third-instar larvae. These results provide a theoretical basis for feeding E. corollae and optimizing its ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that cardiovascular risk factors play a role in the etiology of breast cancer. However, the combined effect of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of breast cancer is still uncertain.Methods: Data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a prospective cohort of middle-aged women, were used to investigate the association of individual and combined cardiovascular risk factors with breast cancer. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: A total of 7501 women were included. During a mean follow-up of 19.7 years, 576 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. White women and premenopausal status were independently associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Of the individual cardiovascular risk factors, only obesity was independently associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.61). Compared with women without cardiovascular risk factors, women having three or greater, but not those with fewer than three cardiovascular risk factors, had a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.53). Subgroup analyses indicated that women with three or greater cardiovascular risk factors had higher risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal Black women, but not among premenopausal Black and White women.Conclusions: Combinations of cardiovascular risk factors are associated with increased risk of breast cancer in middle-aged women, especially in postmenopausal Black women. Joint interventions to modify cardiovascular risk factors could be used to prevent breast cancer in these higher-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater is one of the most abundant and clean hydrogen atom resources on our planet, so hydrogen production from seawater splitting has notable advantages. Direct electrolysis of seawater would not be in competition with growing demands for pure water. Using green electricity generated from renewable sources (e.g., solar, tidal, and wind energies), the direct electrolytic splitting of seawater into hydrogen and oxygen is a potentially attractive technology under the framework of carbon-neutral energy production. High selectivity and efficiency, as well as stable electrocatalysts, are prerequisites to facilitate the practical applications of seawater splitting. Even though the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is thermodynamically favorable, the most desirable reaction process, the four-electron reaction, exhibits a high energy barrier. Furthermore, due to the presence of a high concentration of chloride ions (Cl−) in seawater, chlorine evolution reactions involving two electrons are more competitive. Therefore, intensive research efforts have been devoted to optimizing the design and construction of highly efficient and anticorrosive OER electrocatalysts. Based on this, in this review, we summarize the progress of recent research in advanced electrocatalysts for seawater splitting, with an emphasis on their remarkable OER selectivity and distinguished anti-chlorine corrosion performance, including the recent progress in seawater OER electrocatalysts with their corresponding optimized strategies. The future perspectives for the development of seawater-splitting electrocatalysts are also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper pollution in aquatic environments poses a significant health challenge due to its non-biodegradable nature. This study introduces a novel and environmentally friendly approach to preparing Camellia oleifera shell extract reduced graphene oxide (COS-rGO) for the effective removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. By using a 0.5 g/L dosage of COS-rGO at a pH of 5.1 and a temperature of 20 °C, an 85.8 % removal efficiency (18.7 mg/g) of Cu(II) was achieved at an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Various characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed to examine the synthesized COS-rGO. Additionally, thermodynamic and kinetic studies were conducted to investigate the mechanism of Cu(II) adsorption on COS-rGO. The results demonstrate that the adsorption of Cu(II) on COS-rGO follows pseudo-second-order kinetics, representing a spontaneous exothermic reaction. Our findings further support that the removal of Cu(II) by COS-rGO is driven by chemical adsorption in accordance with the rate-controlled process based on the Langmuir adsorption model. Overall, this study presents the green synthesis of COS-rGO as a promising technique for producing a cost-effective adsorbent from waste materials, which can be utilized for the mitigation of heavy metals in water. [Display omitted] • Camellia Oleifera shell extract is applied to fabricate COS-rGO as a reducing agent. • COS-rGO exhibits better adsorption properties for aqueous Cu(II) than GO. • Cu removal by COS-rGO is a chemical adsorption and rate-controlled process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism is involved in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the role of BCAA metabolism in CRC progression. Dietary BCAA was administered to both azoxymethane-induced and azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced CRC mouse models. The expression of genes related to BCAA metabolism was determined using RNA sequencing. Adjacent tissue samples, obtained from 58 patients with CRC, were subjected to quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, the suppressive role of branched-chain aminotransferase 2 (BCAT2) in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and xenograft mouse models was investigated. Alterations in BCAAs and activation of downstream pathways were also assessed using metabolic analysis and western blotting. High levels of dietary BCAA intake promoted CRC tumorigenesis in chemical-induced CRC and xenograft mouse models. Both the mRNA and protein levels of BCAT2 were decreased in tumor tissues of patients with CRC compared to those in normal tissues. Proliferation assays and xenograft models confirmed the suppressive role of BCAT2 in CRC progression. Furthermore, the accumulation of BCAAs caused by BCAT2 deficiency facilitated the chronic activation of mTORC1, thereby mediating the oncogenic effect of BCAAs. BCAT2 deficiency promotes CRC progression through inhibition of BCAAs metabolism and chronic activation of mTORC1. [Display omitted] • High dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids promotes tumor growth. • BCAT2 is downregulated in colorectal cancer, which is associated with shorter progression-free survival. • Branched-chain amino acid accumulation caused by BCAT2 deficiency results in mTORC1 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The big data era has ushered in huge transformation in the form of major media, with WeMedia nowadays becoming the mainstream. As is witnessed, WeMedia has achieved a rapid and widespread growth in both dissemination and influence, which has posed a series of challenges to the Emergency Intelligence Service System for Think Tanks, including changes to the subject, content, form, and connotation of platforms. Based on big data, this study makes an investigation into the Emergency Intelligence Service for the modern think tanks and applies the method of factor analysis to draw the conclusion on what kind of factors will influence the performance of the Emergency Intelligence Service for Think Tanks. Then, from the perspective of the life-cycle theory, this research not only optimizes the work process of the Emergency Intelligence Service for Think Tanks, but also constructs a multi-dimensional Emergency Intelligence Service System based on the concept of "Data Driven + Technology Application + Expert Decision" from the aspect of theoretical and technical perspectives. Meanwhile, a public health incident emergency information service system is built on this basis, describing the application process with food poisoning as an example. Last but not least, hopefully, this study could help improve the quality of decision and effectiveness of the Emergency Intelligence Service for Think Tanks and enhance the power of influence and communication for agencies of Emergency Intelligence Service and this paper provides a reference for the establishment and improvement of government decision-making and governance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important food crops around the world. China is the largest wheat production country and wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) is a non-negligible threat to wheat production. This study aimed to explore miRNAs and their corresponding target genes responsive to WYMV in wheat. Linmai and Jimai were used for miRNA and degradome high-throughput sequencing. After comparison and analysis, differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes between normal wheat and WYMV-infected wheat were identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were then performed on target genes. A total of 530 miRNAs were identified in all samples, including 106 known miRNAs and 424 novel miRNAs. Among them, 131 miRNAs, corresponding to 85 target genes, were differentially expressed between normal wheat and WYMV-infected wheat. 85 target genes were significantly enriched in 21 GO terms and two KEGG pathways, Plant hormone signal transduction and Monobactam biosynthesis. In conclusion, 131 differentially expressed miRNAs, corresponding to 85 target genes, were identified between normal wheat and WYMV-infected wheat. Our findings provide more evidence on the roles of miRNAs and their target genes in wheat–WYMV interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic plasticity is a basic characteristic of synapses and plays an important role in the computation, learning and memory of human brain. Metaplasticity is a higher-order form of synaptic plasticity, which regulates the ability of synapses to generate synaptic plasticity and has a great regulating effect on later learning, memory and coping behaviors. At present, there are rarely reports on the emulation of synaptic metaplasticity in synaptic transistor. In this article, flexible dual-gate indium-zinc-oxide neuromorphic devices on freestanding solid-state proton conducting chitosan electrolyte membrane are designed for metaplasticity emulation. The key synaptic plasticity functions including excitatory postsynaptic current, synaptic paired-pulse response and synaptic pulse train response can be effectively regulated by the priming pulse stimuli. Besides, configurable synaptic depression and synaptic potentiation effect can be realized in such device. These results can expand the potential applications of the multi-terminal electrolyte-gated oxide transistors for flexible dynamic neuromorphic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between proteins and nucleic acid plays an important role in many processes, such as transcription, translation and DNA repair. The mechanisms of related biological events can be understood by exploring the function of proteins in these interactions. The number of known protein sequences has increased rapidly in recent years, but the databases for describing the structure and function of protein have unfortunately grown quite slowly. Thus, improving such databases is meaningful for predicting protein–nucleic acid interactions. Furthermore, the mechanism of related biological events, such as viral infection or designing novel drug targets, can be further understood by understanding the function of proteins in these interactions. The information for each sequence, including its function and interaction sites, were collected and identified, and a database called PNIDB was built. The proteins in PNIDB were grouped into 27 classes, such as transcription, immune system, and structural protein, etc. The function of each protein was then predicted using a machine learning method. Using our method, the predictor was trained on labeled sequences, and then the function of a protein was predicted based on the trained classifier. The prediction accuracy achieved a score of 77.43% by 10-fold cross validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose oxidase (GOx) catalyzes the oxidation of D -glucose to D -glucono-1,5-lactone and has a wide range of applications in various industries. However, the strict substrate specificity of GOx hampers its application in the conversion of other abundant sugars such as D -xylose. In this study, the substrate preference of GOx from Aspergillus niger (AnGOx) was engineered using a semi-rational design approach. The mutant T110V/F414L exhibited a 5.7-fold increase in D -xylose oxidation activity compared to that of the wild-type enzyme, which was attributed to its enhanced affinity for the substrate. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the T110V and F414L mutations may mitigate the non-productive binding of D -xylose at the entrance of the substrate-binding pocket, and therefore, are beneficial for providing access of its C1 hydroxyl group to the catalytic residues. Moreover, the mutant simultaneously oxidized D -xylose and D -glucose in the corncob hydrolysate to the corresponding aldonic acids when coupled with catalase. These findings provide new insights into substrate recognition by GOx and offer a new method for the utilization of D -xylose from lignocellulosic feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how the desire for Western credentials and transnational mobility reconcile with strong nationalist sentiments among Chinese students and how Chinese students' overseas educational experiences are largely structured by the People's Republic of China (PRC). Through a 12-month transnational ethnography study of 15 Chinese students migrating between China's Pearl River Delta and the US Midwest, I argue that transnational education has become a crucial part of China's nation-building in the era of intensified globalization. The seemingly contradictory existence of the transnational desire for Western education and rising nationalist sentiments work jointly in the neoliberal market economy to build entrepreneurial individuals, who are expected to contribute to China's economic growth as well as political rejuvenation. This article reveals that transnationalism is, by no means, the opposing force of nationalism. On the contrary, the movement, mobility, and fluidity endowed by transnationalism could enhance the migrants' national identity and political intolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In predominantly white universities in the United States, international students are frequently exposed to racism, xenophobia, and other forms of exclusion. This ethnographic research examines how students from China's Pearl River Delta negotiate a predominantly white Midwestern university in an era of reenergized racism and nationalism. It reveals the persistence of the ideology of whiteness and culture-based exclusion, which not only racialize foreign students of color, but also engage with this student population to perpetuate white supremacy. It also highlights race as a transnational construct, where China's state ideology of anti-Blackness and Han ethnocentrism powerfully push Chinese students to isolate from Black and Asian American communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nociceptor is a type of sensory receptor with the ability to perceive noxious stimuli, which is very important for the survival and health of organisms. Several neuromorphic devices have been proposed to emulate this sensory receptor. The basic pain perception functions of a nociceptor can be emulated. However, those artificial nociceptors lack functional tunability and intelligent adaptability. Here, freestanding oxide-based neuromorphic transistors with dual-gate structures were fabricated on proton-conducting electrolyte membranes and used for flexible artificial nociceptor emulation. Such a freestanding biomimetic device can not only capture the pain perception functions to peripheral inputs. What is more, the modulation of pain sensitivity can be emulated in this device by the voltage applied on the second gate electrode. Our artificial nociceptors open a new avenue in the design of an artificial sensory system with sensory alarm function and intelligent adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural and microwave absorption characteristics of multiferroic nanocomposite (La 0.9 Bi 0.1 Fe 0.8 Co 0.2 O 3 and MWCNTs) coated with PEDOT/Polyaniline co-polymer, was studied systematically. First, MWCNTs/La 0.9 Bi 0.1 Fe 0.8 Co 0.2 O 3 nanocomposite was synthesized using sol-gel auto-ignition and then PEDOT/Polyaniline polymers were coated on MWCNTs/La 0.9 Bi 0.1 Fe 0.8 Co 0.2 O 3 powder via in-situ polymerization method. The effects of the copolymers coating on the structure, morphology, magnetic and electromagnetic performances of the prepared multiferroic nanocomposite surface were comprehensively investigated via XRD, FESEM, VSM and VNA analysis. Enhanced interfacial dielectric relaxation and also perfectly tuned in impedance matching characteristics were achieved by coating nanocomposite with co-polymers. Coating multiferroic nanocomposite with PEDOT/Polyaniline polymers were leading to decrease in matching thickness. Moreover, the significant improvement in microwave absorption properties were also investigated. It was noticed that the coated nanocomposite achieved maximum reflection loss of −60 dB at 11.8 GHz matching frequency with 3.9 GHz bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a 29-year-old woman with pT2N0M0 breast cancer, histological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma, ER and PR low positive, and HER-2 (3+). The patient developed trastuzumab-induced thrombocytopenia in 6 hours after an intravenous infusion of trastuzumab at the second cycle of trastuzumab treatment with the symptom of abnormal uterine bleeding. Laboratory exam revealed a sharp drop of platelet count down to 3×109/L. With the treatment of single-donor platelet transfusions, glucocorticoids, oxytocin and thrombopoietic drugs, the platelet count recovered completely in 11 days. This case was confirmed to be severe thrombocytopenia induced by trastuzumab, and retreatment with trastuzumab was not attempted. With increasing clinical utilization of trastuzumab, clinicians are likely to encounter more life-threatening trastuzumab induced severe thrombocytopenia. By this case report and literature review, we hope to increase the awareness, attach the attentions to this condition, and help with the effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our study is to identify DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes), comprehensively investigate hub genes, annotate enrichment functions and key pathways of Non-functional pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), and also to verify STO-609 therapeutic effect. Methods: The gene expression level of NFPA and normal tissues were compared to identify the DEGs (Differential expressed genes) based on gene expression profiles (GSE2175, GSE26966 and GSE51618). Enrichment functions, pathways and key genes were identified by carrying out GO (Gene Ontology), KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis and PPI (Protein-Protein Interation) network analysis. Moreover, experiments in vitro were conducted to verify the anti-NFPAs effects of STO-609. Results: 169 over-expression genes and 182 low expression genes were identified among 3 datasets. Dopaminergic synapse and vibrio cholerae infection pathways have distinctly changed in NFPA tissues. The Ca2+/CaM pathway played important roles in NFPA. Four hub proteins encoded by genes CALM1, PRDM10, RIPK4 and MAD2L1 were recognized as hub proteins. In vitro, assays showed that STO-609 induced apoptosis of NFPA cells to inhibit the hypophysoma cellular viability, diffusion and migration. Conclusion: Four hub proteins, encoded by gene CALM1, PRDM10, RIPK4 and MAD2L1, played important roles in NFPA development. The Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway had significant alternations during NFPA forming process, the STO-609, a selective CaM-KK inhibitor, inhibited NFPA cellular viability, proliferation and migration. Meanwhile, NFPA was closely related to parkinson's disease (PD) in many aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic CoO@C catalyst with a carbon‐encapsulated structure was prepared by a hydrothermal method and applied into catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural with alcohol as the hydrogen donor. The preparation parameters of CoO@C were studied in detail. Various techniques were used to systematically analyze the physicochemical properties of CoO@C. The formation mechanism of CoO@C was proposed. CoO@C exhibited higher catalytic activity and selectivity toward furfuryl alcohol in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural than Co3O4@C and Co@C. The effects of reaction conditions on catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural over CoO@C were also investigated to optimize the reaction conditions. The CoO@C catalyst can be recovered and reused under an external magnetic field, and its catalytic performance did not decrease significantly after reuse for four times. Based on the experimental results, a possible mechanism for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural over CoO@C and over Co@C was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard chemotherapy is commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its therapeutic efficacy remains low. Combination therapy for cancer treatment has attracted attention in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of the combination treatment with gemcitabine and sorafenib on NSCLC in vitro and in vivo, and to determine its underlying molecular mechanisms. The anti-NSCLC effects of combination therapy were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis, MTT, western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. A549 cells subjected to combination treatment with gemcitabine and sorafenib demonstrated a more irregular cellular morphology and lower cell viability compared with the monotherapy groups. Combination of gemcitabine and sorafenib significantly induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 cells. Additionally, combination therapy was demonstrated to restrain the migration and invasion of tumor cells by suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 cells. In vivo analyses confirmed that co-treatment with gemcitabine and sorafenib decreased NSCLC tumor growth and tumor weight in nude mice. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that combination treatment with gemcitabine and sorafenib exerted a synergistic inhibitory effect on NSCLC in vitro and in vivo via the EMT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and potential clinical value of local consolidative therapy (LCT) in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-treated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-treated metastatic NSCLC patients with measurable disease in three academic centers were screened and those with adequate follow-up were included. Oligo-residual disease (ORD) was defined as residual tumors limited to three organs and five lesions evaluated at the best response among patients with partial response or stable disease after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Oligometastatic and multiple-metastatic disease (OMD/MMD) were similarly classified at baseline. Locoregional interventions, administered after effective treatment of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and before initial disease progression, were defined as LCT. Patterns of initial progressive disease (PD) were classified as involving only residual sites (RP), only new sites (NP), or a combination of both (BP). Results: Among the 698 patients included, ORD was documented in 73 (47.1%) of 155 patients with baseline OMD and 60 (11.0%) of 543 patients with baseline MMD. With a median follow-up of 31.0 (range, 6.0–53.0) months, 108 patients with ORD developed initial PD, with RP, NP, and BP occurring in 51 (47%), 23 (21.3%), and 34 (31.5%), respectively. Among the 133 patients with ORD, those receiving LCT (n = 43) had longer progression-free survival (HR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.85, p = 0.01) and overall survival (HR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.30–0.79, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: ORD occurs with a clinically relevant frequency among PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-treated metastatic NSCLC patients and LCT may provide extra survival benefits in those with ORD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Starch is synthesized during daylight for temporary storage in leaves and then degraded during the subsequent night to support plant growth and development. Impairment of starch degradation leads to stunted growth, even senescence and death. The nuclear pore complex is involved in many cellular processes, but its relationship with starch degradation has been unclear until now. We previously identified that two Nucleoporin98 genes (Nup98a and Nup98b) redundantly regulate flowering via the CONSTANS (CO)-independent pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. The double mutant also shows severe senescence phenotypes. Results: We find that Nucleoporin 98 participates in the regulation of sugar metabolism in leaves and is also involved in senescence regulation in Arabidopsis. We show that Nup98a and Nup98b function redundantly at different stages of starch degradation. The nup98a-1 nup98b-1 double mutant accumulates more starch, showing a severe early senescence phenotype compared to wild type plants. The expression of marker genes related to starch degradation is impaired in the nup98a-1 nup98b-1 double mutant, and marker genes of carbon starvation and senescence express their products earlier and in higher abundance than in wild type plants, suggesting that abnormalities in energy metabolism are the main cause of senescence in the double mutant. Addition of sucrose to the growth medium rescues early senescence phenotypes of the nup98a-1 nup98b-1 mutant. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence for a novel role of the nuclear pore complex in energy metabolism related to growth and development, in which Nup98 functions in starch degradation to control growth regulation in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraethyl p‐xylenediphosphate is used as the organic ligand to prepare the Ni−P‐MOFs material belonging to the category of organic phosphoric acids, through pyrolysis and in‐situ reduction reaction of Ni−P‐MOFs material during the high‐temperature carbonization process, Ni−P@C catalyst with graphitized carbon‐covering Ni2P particles is prepared. Compared with Ni−P catalyst prepared through coprecipitation method, Ni−P@C catalyst prepared with Ni−P‐MOFs material can obviously decrease the formation temperature of Ni2P active phase and retain the schistose morphology of the Ni−P‐MOFs material, which is of high specific area, and meanwhile effectively suppresses the agglomeration of Ni2P particles. It is indicated by research on furfural hydrogenation performance that, Ni−P@C catalyst presents a high activity and stability in furfural hydrogenation. Products of furfural hydrogenation catalyzed by Ni−P@C catalyst mainly contain furfuryl alcohol, 2‐methylfuran and 2‐methyltetra hydrofuran, and the reaction temperature and reaction time have great influence on the distribution of products. The carbon‐covering structure of Ni−P@C catalyst can effectively protect the active components of Ni2P, thus presenting a high stability and good reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus nanosheets (BP NSs), a kind of attractive two-dimensional materials, have been widely used in optoelectronics, transistors and photocatalysis. Recently, growing interest has been attracted to explore the application of BP NSs for cancer therapy in view of their unique properties. BP NSs have high surface area and negative charge, which can load drug, targeting molecules, photosensitizer, magnetic nanoparticles etc. They are also potential candidates for cancer phototherapy including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) by virtue of extensive near-infrared absorbance. Furthermore, BP NSs exhibit biodegradable and compatible nature to avoid toxicity in vivo. In this review, the preparation and properties of BP NSs are firstly summarized. More importantly, multifunctional platform based on BP NSs for cancer therapy such as photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemotherapy, antibacterial therapy, chemo−/photothermal combined therapy, photothermal/gene- combined therapy, chemo−/photothermal/gene- combined therapy and chemo−/photothermal/photodynamic combined therapy is reviewed in detail. And the future perspectives of BP NSs is finally discussed. Unlabelled Image • We reviewed functional black phosphorus nanosheets for cancer therapy. • The exfoliation methods and properties of black phosphorus nanosheets were introduced. • The different kinds of delivery systems based on black phosphorus nanosheets for cancer therapy were reviewed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-encapsulated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@C) catalysts were prepared by a solvothermal method using glucose as the carbon source and their physicochemical properties were characterized via various analytical techniques. Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural over Fe3O4@C catalysts was investigated with isopropanol as the solvent and hydrogen donor. The Fe3O4@C catalysts exhibited high catalytic furfural transfer hydrogenation activity, selectivity of furfuryl alcohol, and high reusability. The mechanism of catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural by Fe3O4@C obeys the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction on a Lewis acid site (Fe3O4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1), a type II membrane protein, has been identified as receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The current study firstly provided evidence that OLR1 regulated EMT and thus promoted lung metastases in osteosarcoma (OS).Method: All relevant experiments were conducted according to the manufacturer's protocols. In vivo tumor xenograft experiments were carried out in 6- to 16-week-old mice, then maintained in our animal facility under pathogen-free conditions in accordance with the Institutional Guidelines and approval by local authorities. For the use of the clinical materials for research purposes, prior patient's consent and approval from the Institute Research Ethics Committee were obtained. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 for Windows.Result: Microarrays were adopted to explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms related to metastasis. 11 genes were identified among total 26,890 differentially expressed genes. After validated in paired primary and metastatic tissues, OLR1 was selected in the current study. The expression levels of OLR1 were tested in 4 widely used cell lines. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion could be enhanced when OLR1 was overexpressed. OLR1 overexpression also triggered G1 to S + G2 phases of cell cycle. Accordingly, cell proliferations, migration and invasion would be reduced when OLR1 was silenced. OLR1-silencing blocked G1 to S + G2 phases of cell cycle. Also, OLR1 silencing effectively suppressed local tumor carcinogenesis and lung metastases in vivo. Moreover, silencing OLR1 repressed the expression of mesenchymal markers (Snail, Twist, and N-cadherin), but induced an epithelial marker (E-cadherin).Conclusion: This study indicated a novel molecular mechanism involving the role of OLR1 in lung metastases of osteosarcoma, strengthened the correlation between OLR1 and lung metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Two redundant nucleoporin genes Nup98a and Nup98b bypass the CO-check point in photoperiodic signaling and integrated signals from multiple pathways to directly target FT for flowering control in Arabidopsis. Flowering regulation is an important and widely studied plant development event. Even though nucleoporin Nup98 has been proven to play pivotal roles in the growth and development of mammalian cells and yeast, it is still unknown if Nup98 participates in flowering control in plants. In this study, we investigated the function of two Nup98 homologs, Nup98a and Nup98b, in flowering regulation in Arabidopsis. The results showed that Nup98a and Nup98b redundantly inhibit flowering through multiple pathways including clock, photoperiod, and age pathways. Single mutants of nup98a and nup98b do not show any obvious abnormal phenotypes compared to wild-type plants; however, the nup98a1 nup98b1 double mutant displays early flowering. Significantly, Nup98a/Nup98b gate flowering in a CONSTANS (CO)-independent mode. Therefore, Nup98a/Nup98b bypasses the CO checkpoint in photoperiodic signaling and integrated signals from multiple pathways to directly target FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) for flowering control. In addition, our results provide a line of genetic evidence for uncoupling the mechanism of flowering and senescence at Nup98a/Nup98b genes in Arabidopsis, which are classically recognized as two coupled developmental events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cancer-related inflammation plays an important role in tumor development and progression. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been studied as a biomarker for prognosis in gynecologic cancers. But, the results of previous studies were controversial, so we performed this meta-analysis.Methods: We searched the scientific database of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) using free text and MeSH keywords. Crude HR (hazard ratio) with 95% confidence interval was used to evaluate the risk association between PLR and overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in gynecologic neoplasms.Results: There totally 23 studies, including 6869 patients who were eligible, most of which are published after 2015 or later. PLR greater than the cut-off was associated with poorer survival prognosis in ovarian cancer [OS: HR 1.80 (95% CI 1.37-2.37), p = 0.000; PFS: HR 1.63 (95% CI 1.38-1.91), p = 0.000] and cervical cancer [OS: HR 1.36 (95% CI 1.10-1.68), p = 0.005; PFS: HR 1.40 (95% CI 1.16-1.70), p = 0.002], but not in endometrial cancer [OS: HR 1.95 (95% CI 0.65-5.84), p = 0.234].Conclusions: The current meta-analysis revealed that pretreatment PLR was a simple, promising prognostic indicator for OS and PFS in ovarian and cervical cancers. But, its significance of prognosis did not agree with endometrial neoplasm. However, due to the limited number of original studies, future large-scale studies with more well-designed, high-quality studies are still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the vanadium-doped LiFePO 4 @C composites (abbreviated as LiFe 1−x V x PO 4 @C, x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) were successfully fabricated through a facile sol-gel method followed by a thermal treatment. The effects of vanadium-doping on the crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of LiFePO 4 @C were systematically studied in this work. XRD and XPS results reveal that the low content of vanadium-ion has been doped into the lattice structure of LiFePO 4 without destroying the phase of LiFePO 4 @C material. SEM and TEM images show that all the LiFe 1−x V x PO 4 @C samples have regular and uniform crystals with a particle size of 100 nm. Compared to the undoped LiFePO 4 @C, the LiFe 1−x V x PO 4 @C electrodes exhibit superior rate performances and cycling stabilities for lithium-ion batteries. Particularly, the LiFe 0.97 V 0.03 PO 4 @C shows the best lithium storage performance among the vanadium-doped samples with a high reversible capacity of 112.7 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 10C. The reasons for the enhanced rate performances of LiFe 1−x V x PO 4 @C electrodes are studied in detail in this work. • Vanadium-doped LiFe 1−x V x PO 4 @C electrodes have been designed and fabricated. • Vanadium-doping can greatly improve the electrical conductivity of LiFePO 4 @C. • LiFe 0.97 V 0.03 PO 4 @C delivers a high capacity of 112.7 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 10C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure and health effects of fluoride are an ongoing topic that has attracted worldwide attention. Fluoride exposure disturbs the testicular development, sexual hormone levels and spermatogenesis. However, as to whether fluoride interferes with acrosome formation which is essential for production of capable spermatozoa during spermatogenesis still remains unclear. The objective was to determine the effects of fluoride on the acrosome formation and to further elucidate the potential mechanism of impaired reproductive function. For this, forty adult rats were assigned into four groups. The control group received distilled water, while the other three groups were treated with 25, 50 and 100 mg NaF/L via drinking water for 56 d, respectively. Testes were processed for total RNA extraction and western blot analysis. Three samples of each group were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution for transmission electron microscopy analysis. From the results, we first found that fluoride decreased the expression of mRNA and protein levels of Zpbp1, Spaca1 and Dpy19l2 of seven markers during acrosome biogenesis in testes. Furthermore, fluoride damaged not only the acrosome structure, but also the structure of the nuclear lamina which was observed to be discontinuous and partially missing by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the results indicated that the altered structure in nuclear lamina maybe due to reduced LMNB2 expression in testis induced by fluoride. In a nutshell, fluoride exposure could restrain acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis and contribute to the elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of fluoride-induced male reproductive toxicity. • Fluoride alters the ultrastructure of acrosome and arrests acrosome formation during spermatogenesis. • Fluoride down-regulates the expressions of ZPBP1, SPACA1 and Dpy19L2 during acrosome biogenesis in testis. • Fluoride alters the ultrastructure of the nuclear lamina, and reduces LMNB2 expression in testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]