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Due to the potential applications in biomedical engineering, it becomes more and more important to understand the process of engulfment and internalization of nanoparticles (NPs) by cell membranes. Despite the fact that the interaction between cell membranes and passive particles has been widely studied, the interaction between cell membranes and self-propelled nonspherical NPs remains to be elucidated. Here, we present a theoretical model to systematically investigate the influence of the active force, aspect ratio of NPs, particle size, and membrane properties (adhesion energy density and membrane tension) on the cellular uptake of a nonspherical nanoparticle. It is found that the active force generated by an NP can trigger a type of first-order wrapping transition from a small partial wrapping state to a large one. In addition, the phase diagram in the force-aspect ratio (particle size, adhesion energy density, and membrane tension) space displays more complex behaviors compared with that for the passive wrapping mediated merely by adhesion. These results may provide useful guidance to the study of activity-driven cellular entry of active particles into cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study developed and validated a self‐regulated learning (SRL) teaching scale with a total sample of 966 preschool teachers. A pool of items was generated from literature reviews, teacher interviews, and expert reviews using Zimmerman's cyclical model of SRL. An exploratory factor analysis (N = 333) in study 1, and a confirmatory factor analysis (N = 334), discriminant, and convergent validity (N = 667) in study 2 were performed to support a six‐factor construct, including task analysis, self‐motivation beliefs, self‐control, self‐observation, self‐judgement, and self‐reaction, with a satisfactory fit. In study 3, the T‐SRL was found significantly correlated with teacher self‐efficacy, validating the scale's concurrent validity with another sample of 299 teachers. Overall, the findings collectively support the further development of the T‐SRL to assess teaching practice while emphasizing the need for more empirical research on promoting children's SRL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging hemodynamic responses to interictal spikes holds promise for presurgical epilepsy evaluations. Understanding the hemodynamic response function is crucial for accurate interpretation. Prior interictal neurovascular coupling data primarily come from anesthetized animals, impacting reliability. We simultaneously monitored calcium fluctuations in excitatory neurons, hemodynamics, and local field potentials (LFP) during bicuculline-induced interictal events in both isoflurane-anesthetized and awake mice. Isoflurane significantly affected LFP amplitude but had little impact on the amplitude and area of the calcium signal. Anesthesia also dramatically blunted the amplitude and latency of the hemodynamic response, although not its area of spread. Cerebral blood volume change provided the best spatial estimation of excitatory neuronal activity in both states. Targeted silencing of the thalamus in awake mice failed to recapitulate the impact of anesthesia on hemodynamic responses suggesting that isoflurane's interruption of the thalamocortical loop did not contribute either to the dissociation between the LFP and the calcium signal nor to the alterations in interictal neurovascular coupling. The blood volume increase associated with interictal spikes represents a promising mapping signal in both the awake and anesthetized states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the SWT model was improved by incorporating the Walker equation into the strain–life curve. The established model takes into account the material's sensitivity to mean stress by introducing the Walker exponent, w. Under uniaxial loading condition, the proposed model can reduce to the SWT model, Manson‐Coffin equation, and Walker model for w values of 0.5, 1, and 0, respectively. Under multiaxial symmetric loading, when w = 0.5, the proposed model can be simplified as another SWT correction model (CXH) proposed by Chen et al. The prediction accuracy of the established model was validated using about 200 data points collected from literature. These data points were obtained from tests conducted on eight different kinds of metals under various multiaxial loading paths. The verification results indicate that 96.8% and 97.9% of the data points fall within the factor‐of‐three boundary for the loading paths without and with mean stresses, respectively. Highlights: Shear terms have significant influence on fatigue damage under non‐proportional loading.An improved SWT model is proposed by incorporating Walker equation into strain–life curve.Procedures for determining the critical plane and damage parameters were presented.Good predictions are obtained for loadings with/without mean stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal indirect liquefied diesel soot (Coal‐to‐liquids diesel soot, CS) was collected by a self‐made soot trapper. CS was modified with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and named as CS‐CTAB. The tribological properties of CS and CS‐CTAB in 10#white oil(10#WO) were tested on a WTM‐2E controlled atmosphere miniature friction and wear testing machine. The morphology, composition, and tribological mechanism of CS and modified CS‐CTAB were studied by using TEM, XPS, XRD, Raman, and other instruments. The results showed that CS modified by CTAB is wrapped and entangled in long chains. Their main structure components are all amorphous carbon with a small amount of graphite crystallites. The addition of CS‐CTAB (0.8 wt%) significantly reduces both AFC and wear rate, with reductions of 32.9% for AFC, and 65.6% for wear rate compared to no additive. The anti‐friction and anti‐wear effect of CS is greatly improved after being modified by CTAB. Mechanism analysis shows that CS as a lubricant additive, acts as a micro‐bearing in the friction process and falls off under the action of shear force to generate an independent graphite sheet, thus forming a graphite protective film on the surface of 304 stainless steel plate. However, CS has the defects of low graphitization degree, large particle size, and easy agglomeration. During friction, uneven adsorption of CS on the surface can worsen wear. However, CTAB modification can improve dispersion stability in 10#WO and effectively reduce wear on the friction surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyzing water is an effective and feasible technology to achieve a large-scale hydrogen production in industry. However, it is still challenging to develop an efficient approach to fabricate a superior and stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrodes with low cost and outstanding catalytic efficiency. This work presents an innovative surface modification technique of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) to fabricate superior MoN based coating electrodes. By simply introducing Na 2 MoO 4 and NiAc 2 into the electrolyte, a novel MoTiN and NiMoTiN coatings were successfully achieved on the surface of a titanium substrate by PEO and annealing treatments, which exhibits excellent mechanical adhesion and platinum-like catalytic properties. Importantly, it has been demonstrated that the newly formed MoTiN solid solution combined by active Mo 2 N and conductive TiN can contribute the superior catalytic activity and the subsequent Ni doping can effectively stabilize the structure and activity of MoTiN. Under the alkaline environment of 1 M KOH, the MoTiN and NiMoTiN coated electrodes require only 126 and 121 mV overpotential, respectively, to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Additionally, under the same test conditions, NiMoTiN can operate stably for over 24 h, demonstrating excellent HER catalytic activity and stability. This work provides new insights into the preparation of HER electrodes with superior mechanical properties and excellent catalytic performance towards industrial hydrogen production. [Display omitted] • Plasma electrolytic oxidation method is proposed to prepare coating electrodes. • Ni doping could enhance the catalytic activity and stability of MoTiN. • MoTiN and NiMoTiN coatings exhibit outstanding adhesion and catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as a focal point in electrocatalysis, particularly for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), owing to their notable catalytic activity, chemical stability, and cost‐efficiency. Despite these advantages, the challenge of devising a practical and economical method for their large‐scale application in HER remains an unresolved and critical issue. In this study, a facile, scalable, and cost‐effective approach is introduced for producing high‐yield, catalytically active TMD nanoparticles, including MoS2, MoSe2, RuS2, and RuSe2. These nanoparticles are synthesized through an aqueous room‐temperature process, which is not only environmentally friendly but also economically feasible for large‐scale production. Remarkably, these TMD nanoparticles exhibit versatile catalytic activity across a broad pH range for HER. Among them, RuSe2 nanoparticles demonstrate catalytic performance comparable to that of a commercial Pt/C electrode. Upon scaling up, the nanomaterials show great potential for integration into practical proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, maintaining high efficiency even at large current densities and exhibiting very stable performance for up to 100 h. This research paves the way to a sustainable synthesis method of high‐performance catalysts, tailored for industrial hydrogen production applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capmatinib is a potent selective mesenchymal-epithelial transition inhibitor approved in 2020 for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. As real-world evidence is very limited, this study evaluated capmatinib-induced adverse events through data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database. Four disproportionality analysis methods were employed to quantify the signals of capmatinib-related adverse events. The difference in capmatinib-associated adverse event signals was further investigated with respect to sex, age, weight, dose, onset time, continent, and concomitant drug. A total of 1518 reports and 4278 adverse events induced by capmatinib were identified. New significant adverse event signals emerged, such as dysphagia, dehydration, deafness, vocal cord paralysis, muscle disorder, and oesophageal stenosis. Notably, higher risk of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase increases were observed in females, especially when capmatinib was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Compared with Europeans and Asians, Americans were more likely to experience peripheral swelling, especially in people > 65 years of age. Renal impairment and increased blood creatinine were more likely to occur with single doses above 400 mg and in Asians. This study improves the understanding of safety profile of capmatinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is dedicated to optimizing the design of microfluidic cells to minimize mass transfer effects and ensure a uniform flow field distribution, which is essential for accurate SPR array detection. Employing finite element simulations, this study methodically explored the internal flow dynamics within various microfluidic cell designs to assess the impact of different contact angles on flow uniformity. The cells, constructed from Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), were subjected to micro-particle image velocimetry to measure flow velocities in targeted sections. The results demonstrate that a contact angle of 135° achieves the most uniform flow distribution, significantly enhancing the capability for high-throughput array detection. While the experimental results generally corroborated the simulations, minor deviations were observed, likely due to fabrication inaccuracies. The microfluidic cells, evaluated using a custom-built SPR system, showed consistent repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) defines constitutions which are relevant to corresponding diseases among people. As one of the common constitutions, Yin-deficiency constitution influences a number of Chinese population in the disease onset. Therefore, accurate Yin-deficiency constitution identification is significant for disease prevention and treatment. Methods: In this study, we collected participants with Yin-deficiency constitution and balanced constitution, separately. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression were used to analyze genetic predictors. Four machine learning models for Yin-deficiency constitution classification with multiple combined genetic indicators were integrated to analyze and identify the optimal model and features. The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretation was developed for model explanation. Results: The results showed that, NFKBIA, BCL2A1 and CCL4 were the most associated genetic indicators with Yin-deficiency constitution. Random forest with three genetic predictors including NFKBIA, BCL2A1 and CCL4 was the optimal model, area under curve (AUC): 0.937 (95% CI 0.844–1.000), sensitivity: 0.870, specificity: 0.900. The SHAP method provided an intuitive explanation of risk leading to individual predictions. Conclusion: We constructed a Yin-deficiency constitution classification model based on machine learning and explained it with the SHAP method, providing an objective Yin-deficiency constitution identification system in TCM and the guidance for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Salicylic acid (SA) is known to enhance salt tolerance in plants. However, the mechanism of SA‐mediated response to high salinity in halophyte remains unclear. Using electrophysiological and molecular biological methods, we investigated the role of SA in response to high salinity in mangrove species, Kandelia obovata, a typical halophyte. Exposure of K. obovata roots to high salinity resulted in a rapid increase in endogenous SA produced by phenylalanine ammonia lyase pathway. The application of exogenous SA improved the salt tolerance of K. obovata, which depended on the NADPH oxidase‐mediated H2O2. Exogenous SA and H2O2 increased Na+ efflux and reduced K+ loss by regulating the transcription levels of Na+ and K+ transport‐related genes, thus reducing the Na+/K+ ratio in the salt‐treated K. obovata roots. In addition, exogenous SA‐enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and its transcripts, and the expressions of four genes related to AsA‐GSH cycle as well, then alleviated oxidative damages in the salt‐treated K. obovata roots. However, the above effects of SA could be reversed by diphenyleneiodonium chloride (the NADPH oxidase inhibitor) and paclobutrazol (a SA biosynthesis inhibitor). Collectively, our results demonstrated that SA‐induced salt tolerance of K. obovata depends on NADPH oxidase‐generated H2O2 that affects Na+/K+ and redox homeostasis in response to high salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In experiments, the distributions of mRNA or protein numbers in single cells are often fitted to the random telegraph model which includes synthesis and decay of mRNA or protein, and switching of the gene between active and inactive states. While commonly used, this model does not describe how fluctuations are influenced by crucial biological mechanisms such as feedback regulation, non-exponential gene inactivation durations, and multiple gene activation pathways. Here we investigate the dynamical properties of four relatively complex gene expression models by fitting their steady-state mRNA or protein number distributions to the simple telegraph model. We show that despite the underlying complex biological mechanisms, the telegraph model with three effective parameters can accurately capture the steady-state gene product distributions, as well as the conditional distributions in the active gene state, of the complex models. Some effective parameters are reliable and can reflect realistic dynamic behaviors of the complex models, while others may deviate significantly from their real values in the complex models. The effective parameters can also be applied to characterize the capability for a complex model to exhibit multimodality. Using additional information such as single-cell data at multiple time points, we provide an effective method of distinguishing the complex models from the telegraph model. Furthermore, using measurements under varying experimental conditions, we show that fitting the mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model may even reveal the underlying gene regulation mechanisms of the complex models. The effectiveness of these methods is confirmed by analysis of single-cell data for E. coli and mammalian cells. All these results are robust with respect to cooperative transcriptional regulation and extrinsic noise. In particular, we find that faster relaxation speed to the steady state results in more precise parameter inference under large extrinsic noise. Author summary: Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the theory and experiments of single-cell stochastic gene expression dynamics. The most well studied and widely used stochastic gene expression model is the two-state telegraph model. However, the conventional telegraph model is too simple and limited in its predictive power because it lacks a description of some important biological mechanisms, such as feedback regulation, multiple gene activation steps, and multiple gene activation pathways. This raises a important question: what can we learn when fitting a complex gene expression model to a simple telegraph model? In this paper, we investigate four complex gene expression models by fitting their steady-state mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model and then obtain estimates of the effective parameters. We show that while the estimated values of the parameters in the "artificial" telegraph model are not always accurate, they are still sometimes reliable and can also reveal important dynamical properties of the complex models such as the ability for a complex model to produce bimodality. Moreover, we provide an effective method of distinguishing the complex models from the telegraph model by using additional information such as gene expression data at multiple time points. Finally, we show that fitting the mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model may even reveal the underlying gene regulation mechanism of a complex model by using measurements under varying experimental conditions. The effectiveness of these methods is well confirmed by analysis of single-cell gene expression data for E. coli and mammalian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground and AimMethodsResultsConclusionsTo explore the feasibility of a standardized training and assessment system for magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (MCCG).The results of 90 trainees who underwent the standardized training and assessment system of the MCCG at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from May 2020 to November 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. The trainees were divided into three groups according to their medical backgrounds: doctor, nurse, and non-medical groups. The training and assessment system adopted the ‘7 + 2’ mode, seven days of training plus two days of theoretical and operational assessment. The passing rates of theoretical, operational, and total assessment were the primary outcomes. Satisfaction and mastery of the MCCG was checked.Ninety trainees were assessed; theoretical assessment’s passing rates in the three groups were 100%. The operational and total assessment passing rates were 100% (25/25), 97.92% (47/48), and 94.12% (16/17), for the doctor, nurse, and non-doctor groups respectively, with no significant difference (χ2 = 1.741, p = 0.419). No bleeding or perforation occurred during the procedure. Approximately, 96.00% (24/25), 95.83% (46/48), and 94.12% (16/17) of the doctor, nurse and non-medical groups anonymously expressed great satisfaction, respectively, without statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0.565, p = 1.000). The average follow-up time was 4–36 months, and 87 trainees (96.67%) had mastered the operation of the MCCG in daily work.Standardized training and assessment of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopists is effective and feasible. Additionally, a strict assessment system and long-term communication and learning can improve teaching effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To compare the refractive errors measured by the Spot photoscreener (with or without cycloplegia) to cycloplegic retinoscopy in 6- to 10-week-old infants. Materials and Methods. 101 right eyes from 101 healthy infants aged 6 to 10 weeks were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. Refractive errors were measured using Spot photoscreener before and after cycloplegia, as well as cycloplegic retinoscopy. Comparisons between the refractive measurements were performed using one-way ANOVA with the post hoc Tukey HSD test or Kruskal–Wallis test with the Steel–Dwass test according to the data normality. Pearson's correlation test and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The agreement was evaluated using a Bland–Altman plot with 95% limits of agreement of the differences. Results. Spot photoscreener was found to underestimate the spherical equivalent by 2.33 Diopters (D) in these infants. Following the induction of cycloplegia, the spherical equivalent measured by Spot photoscreener was in excellent agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy with the mean difference of 0.01 D. Spot photoscreener overestimated cylindrical parameter by 0.2 D with poor agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy no matter whether cycloplegia was induced. It had good agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy in the J 0 vector than the J 45 vector measurement. Conclusions. With the induction of cycloplegia, Spot photoscreener can accurately evaluate spherical equivalent in hyperopic infants with mild-to-moderate astigmatism. While it may provide valuable measurements of astigmatism, discrepancies in cylinder and axis should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Materials and Methods Results Conclusions This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of implant failure in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and investigate the potential association between OLP and peri‐implant diseases.Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for studies with no time restrictions. Meta‐analysis was performed calculating pooled proportion of peri‐implantitis (PI), peri‐implant mucositis (PIM), and bleeding on probing (BOP) prevalence using fixed‐effects model. Odds ratio and corresponding 95% CI were calculated to assess the potential risk of PI, PIM, and BOP in dental implant patients with OLP compared to healthy controls.Implant failure rate was 4.38% at the patient level and 4.37% at the implant level. Six patients (3.92%) from five studies were diagnosed with oral cancer after receiving implant. The prevalence of PI, PIM, and BOP at the implant level were 14.00%, 20.00%, and 40.00%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of PI and PIM between OLP patients and healthy controls.Stabilized OLP is not considered a significant risk factor for peri‐implant diseases. It is advised against placing implants or prostheses during the acute phase of the disease. Histopathological investigation to differentiate OLP from oral lichenoid dysplasia is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic photothermal materials have attracted increasing attention because of their structural diversity, flexibility, and compatibility. However, their energy conversion efficiency is limited owing to the narrow absorption spectrum, strong reflection/transmittance, and insufficient nonradiative decay. In this study, two quinoxaline‐based D–A‐D–A‐D‐type molecules with ethyl (BQE) or carboxylate (BQC) substituents were synthesized. Strong intramolecular charge transfer provided both molecules with a broad absorption range of 350–1000 nm. In addition, the high reorganization energy and weak molecular packing of BQE resulted in efficient nonradiative decay. More importantly, the self‐assembly of BQE leads to a textured surface and enhances the light‐trapping efficiency with significantly reduced light reflection/transmittance. Consequently, BQE achieved an impressive solar‐thermal conversion efficiency of 18.16 % under 1.0 kW m−2 irradiation with good photobleaching resistance. Based on this knowledge, the water evaporation rate of 1.2 kg m−2 h−1 was attained for the BQE‐based interfacial evaporation device with an efficiency of 83 % under 1.0 kW m−2 simulated sunlight. Finally, the synergetic integration of solar‐steam and thermoelectric co‐generation devices based on BQE was realized without significantly sacrificing solar‐steam efficiency. This underscores the practical applications of BQE‐based technology in effectively harnessing photothermal energy. This study provides new insights into the molecular design for enhancing light‐trapping management by molecular self‐assembly, paving the way for photothermal‐driven applications of organic photothermal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic photothermal materials have attracted increasing attention because of their structural diversity, flexibility, and compatibility. However, their energy conversion efficiency is limited owing to the narrow absorption spectrum, strong reflection/transmittance, and insufficient nonradiative decay. In this study, two quinoxaline‐based D–A‐D–A‐D‐type molecules with ethyl (BQE) or carboxylate (BQC) substituents were synthesized. Strong intramolecular charge transfer provided both molecules with a broad absorption range of 350–1000 nm. In addition, the high reorganization energy and weak molecular packing of BQE resulted in efficient nonradiative decay. More importantly, the self‐assembly of BQE leads to a textured surface and enhances the light‐trapping efficiency with significantly reduced light reflection/transmittance. Consequently, BQE achieved an impressive solar‐thermal conversion efficiency of 18.16 % under 1.0 kW m−2 irradiation with good photobleaching resistance. Based on this knowledge, the water evaporation rate of 1.2 kg m−2 h−1 was attained for the BQE‐based interfacial evaporation device with an efficiency of 83 % under 1.0 kW m−2 simulated sunlight. Finally, the synergetic integration of solar‐steam and thermoelectric co‐generation devices based on BQE was realized without significantly sacrificing solar‐steam efficiency. This underscores the practical applications of BQE‐based technology in effectively harnessing photothermal energy. This study provides new insights into the molecular design for enhancing light‐trapping management by molecular self‐assembly, paving the way for photothermal‐driven applications of organic photothermal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiomiotin (AMOT) family comprises three members: AMOT, AMOT‐like protein 1 (AMOTL1), and AMOT‐like protein 2 (AMOTL2). AMOTL2 is widely expressed in endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and various cancer cells. Specifically, AMOTL2 predominantly localizes in the cytoplasm and nucleus in human normal cells, whereas associates with cell–cell junctions and actin cytoskeleton in non‐human cells, and locates at cell junctions or within the recycling endosomes in cancer cells. AMOTL2 is implicated in regulation of tube formation, cell polarity, and shape, although the specific impact on tumorigenesis remains to be conclusively determined. It has been shown that AMOTL2 enhances tumor growth and metastasis in pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer, however inhibits cell proliferation and migration in lung, hepatocellular cancer, and glioblastoma. In addition to its role in cell shape and cytoskeletal dynamics through co‐localization with F‐actin, AMOTL2 modulates the transcription of Yes‐associated protein (YAP) by binding to it, thereby affecting its phosphorylation and cellular sequestration. Furthermore, the stability and cellular localization of AMOTL2, influenced by its phosphorylation and ubiquitination mediated by specific proteins, affects its cellular function. Additionally, we observe that AMOTL2 is predominantly downregulated in some tumors, but significantly elevated in colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD). Moreover, overall analysis, GSEA and ROC curve analysis indicate that AMOTL2 exerts as an oncogenic protein in COAD by modulating Wnt pathway, participating in synthesis of collagen formation, and interacting with extracellular matrix receptor. In addition, AMOTL2 potentially regulates the distribution of immune cells infiltration in COAD. In summary, AMOTL2 probably functions as an oncogene in COAD. Consequently, further in‐depth mechanistic research is required to elucidate the precise roles of AMOTL2 in various cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMaterials and methodsResults and conclusionsThe impact of electromagnetic radiation from communication on the male reproductive system has emerged as a significant concern in public health. A notable distinction of the 5G sub-6 GHz band, compared to traditional 2G, 3G, and 4G frequency bands, is the inclusion of higher frequency bands. This has raised public concerns regarding the potential effects of these higher frequencies on organisms, particularly their reproductive systems. While it is imperative to investigate the biological effects and potential risks associated with these new frequency bands in laboratory settings, comparing and evaluating differences between various frequency bands remain challenging due to the absence of standardized parameters such as exposure conditions and duration. In contrast, dose assessment offers a simpler and more reliable approach.The dose assessment method was employed in this study to investigate the risks associated with sub-6 GHz electromagnetic radiation from 5G base stations on the male reproductive system. A classical human body model (Duke) was utilized, and an electromagnetic simulation environment was established based on the actual polarization direction of the exposed base stations and various body postures. This research explored the effects of field direction, posture, public population, and frequency on the specific absorption rate of the reproductive system.While maintaining the same level of exposure, a higher frequency results in a reduced dosage on reproductive system. Further analysis reveals that, considering the public exposure threshold, the employment of higher frequency bands in 5G sub-6 GHz does not present a greater dosage on reproductive system compared to lower frequency bands. Consequently, with regard to dosage, there is no need for excessive concern among the general public regarding the impact of electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G base stations operating below 6 GHz on male reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (sivelestat sodium) on gastrointestinal function in sepsis. A reanalysis of the data from previous clinical trials conducted at our center was performed. Septic patients were divided into either the sivelestat group or the non‐sivelestat group. The gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GIDS), feeding intolerance (FI) incidence, serum levels of intestinal barrier function and inflammatory biomarkers were recorded. The clinical severity and outcome variables were also documented. A total of 163 septic patients were included. The proportion of patients with GIDS ≥2 in the sivelestat group was reduced relative to that in the non‐sivelestat group (9.6% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.047) on the 7th day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The FI incidence was also remarkably reduced in the sivelestat group in contrast to that in the non‐sivelestat group (21.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.034). Furthermore, the sivelestat group had fewer days of FI [4 (3, 4) vs. 5 (4–6), p = 0.008]. The serum levels of d‐lactate (p = 0.033), intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein (p = 0.005), interleukin‐6 (p = 0.001), white blood cells (p = 0.007), C‐reactive protein (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p < 0.001) of the sivelestat group were lower than those of the non‐sivelestat group. The sivelestat group also demonstrated longer ICU‐free days [18 (0–22) vs. 13 (0–17), p = 0.004] and ventilator‐free days [22 (1–24) vs. 16 (1–19), p = 0.002] compared with the non‐sivelestat group. In conclusion, sivelestat sodium administration appears to improve gastrointestinal dysfunction, mitigate dysregulated inflammation, and reduce disease severity in septic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) on board the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite has been widely used in climate and environment studies to obtain the vertical profiles of atmospheric aerosols. To retrieve the vertical profile of aerosol extinction, the CALIOP algorithm assumes column-averaged lidar ratios based on a clustering of aerosol optical properties measured at surface stations. On one hand, these lidar ratio assumptions may not be appropriate or representative at certain locations. One the other hand, the two-wavelength design of CALIOP has the potential to constrain aerosol size information, which has not been considered in the operational algorithm. In this study, we present a modified inversion algorithm to simultaneously retrieve aerosol extinction and effective radius profiles using two-wavelength elastic lidars such as CALIOP. Specifically, a lookup table is built to relate the lidar ratio with the Ångström exponent calculated using aerosol extinction at the two wavelengths, and the lidar ratio is then determined iteratively without a priori assumptions. The retrieved two-wavelength extinction at each layer is then converted to the particle effective radius assuming a lognormal distribution. The algorithm is tested on synthetic data, Raman lidar measurements and then finally the real CALIOP backscatter measurements. Results show improvements over the CALIPSO operational algorithm by comparing with ground-based Raman lidar profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new approaches to digital art is based on improving a variety of technologies. The main goal of this paper is to identify the gamification of digital art through the promotion of speculative design and interactive experiences. To achieve this goal, theoretical and practical methods were used in the research. A survey determined approaches the designers used to improve their skills. Most respondents (28%) prefer reading books and watching video blogs on their own while 22% of designers took professional courses. Therefore, mechanisms that promote respondents' involvement in selecting professional courses for designers have been described. Cognitive assessment of the skills acquired after completing the course showed significant advantages compared to those observed at the start of the experiment. This was confirmed by the Cohen coefficient. The hierarchy analysis method also contributed to the identification of program elements that are most important for the development of professional skills while not relying exclusively on the data from respondents. The value of the presented work lies in the possibility to improve the skills of gamification in the field of design with the help of the developed mechanisms, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a significant predictive biomarker for selecting patients that may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Whole exome sequencing is a common method for measuring TMB; however, its clinical application is limited by the high cost and time-consuming wet-laboratory experiments and bioinformatics analysis. To address this challenge, we downloaded multimodal data of 326 gastric cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas, including histopathological images, clinical data and various molecular data. Using these data, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to investigate the relationship between TMB, clinical factors, gene expression and image features extracted from hematoxylin and eosin images. We further explored the feasibility of predicting TMB levels, i.e. high and low TMB, by utilizing a residual network (Resnet)-based deep learning algorithm for histopathological image analysis. Moreover, we developed a multimodal fusion deep learning model that combines histopathological images with omics data to predict TMB levels. We evaluated the performance of our models against various state-of-the-art methods using different TMB thresholds and obtained promising results. Specifically, our histopathological image analysis model achieved an area under curve (AUC) of 0.749. Notably, the multimodal fusion model significantly outperformed the model that relied only on histopathological images, with the highest AUC of 0.971. Our findings suggest that histopathological images could be used with reasonable accuracy to predict TMB levels in gastric cancer patients, while multimodal deep learning could achieve even higher levels of accuracy. This study sheds new light on predicting TMB in gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the effectiveness and safety of neurological interventions using the right transradial approach (R-TRA) in patients with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). We retrospectively analyzed cases that underwent cerebral angiography and interventions at Huangpi District People's Hospital from January 2023 to July 2023. Out of 335 cases, 5 patients with ARSA were identified. All 5 cases underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography via R-TRA. Two of the patients received interventions via R-TRA: 1 underwent right internal carotid artery balloon dilation angioplasty, while another underwent left vertebral artery stenting. No surgery-related complications were observed during these procedures. R-TRA proves to be a safe and effective option for neuro-interventional surgery in patients with ARSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, carriers are designed to deliver pharmaceutical (featuring small drug‐molecules) and biopharmaceutical (featuring large‐molecule drugs, e.g., antibodies, proteins, etc.) active ingredients and platform that is capable of transporting nanoparticles is rare. Herein, the fabrication of a supramolecular carrier with a nano‐grid structure for the entrapment of liposomes and exosomes is reported. The nano‐grid particles (NGP) are made of cyclodextrins as elementary units which are widely used to load drugs through host–guest inclusion complexes, whilst its secondary structure further formed the NGP tertiary architectures, enabling the entrapment of nanoparticles. The NGP features stimuli responsiveness, tunable surface charge, and good biocompatibility. The entrapped liposomes in NGP present enhanced distribution in lungs and extended duration of action in mice. And elongated release profiles for over 14 days is obtained for exosomes—making one‐of‐its‐kind unique platform to load and deliver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some studies have reported on the expression and clinical significance of Fascin-1 (FSCN1) in liver cancer, the clinical application and differential diagnosis value of FSCN1 in liver cancer are still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression level of FSCN1 protein in liver cancer tissues and explore its diagnostic and application value in differentiating between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The immunehistochemical analysis was used to detect the expression of FSCN1 in 108 cases of HCC, 26 cases of ICC, 23 cases of liver cirrhosis, and 11 cases of normal liver tissues. The differences in the positive expression rate and strong positive expression rate of FSCN1 among different groups were analyzed. The positive rate of FSCN1 in normal liver tissues, liver cirrhosis, HCC, and ICC tissues was 0.0% (0/11), 0.0% (0/23), 13.9% (15/108), and 92.3% (24/26), respectively, while the strong positive rate was 0.0% (0/11), 0.0% (0/23), 0.9% (1/108), and 69.2% (18/26), respectively. Both the positive rate and strong positive rate of FSCN1 in ICC tissues were significantly higher than those in HCC, liver cirrhosis, and normal liver tissues. Additionally, the positive rate of FSCN1 in moderately to poorly differentiated HCC tissues was 18.8% (15/80), significantly higher than in well-differentiated HCC (0.0%, 0/28) (P = 0.031). In liver cancer, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of FSCN1 positive prediction for ICC were 92.3%, 86.1%, 61.5%, and 97.9%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of FSCN1 strong positive prediction for ICC were 69.2%, 99.1%, 94.7%, and 93.0%, respectively. These results suggest that FSCN1 may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of liver cancer, and it can be used as a novel diagnostic marker for ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore the scientific output on immune‐related recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and its key aspects. Despite the lack of clear explanations for most RPL cases, immune factors were found to play a significant role. Method of Study: The study utilized a bibliometric approach, searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for relevant literature published between 2004 and 2023. Results: The collected dataset consisted of 2228 articles and reviews, revealing a consistent increase in publications and citations over the past two decades. The analysis identified the United States and China as the most productive countries in terms of RPL research. Among the institutions, Fudan University in China emerged as the top contributor, followed by Shanghai Jiaotong University. Kwak‐kim J was the most prolific author, while Christiansen Ob had the highest number of co‐citations. The top 25 co‐cited references on diagnosis, treatment, and mechanisms formed the foundation of knowledge in this field. By examining keyword co‐occurrence and co‐citations, the study found that antiphospholipid syndrome and natural killer cells were the primary areas of focus in immune‐related RPL research. Additionally, three emerging hotspots were identified: chronic endometritis, inflammation, and decidual macrophages. These aspects demonstrated increasing interest and research activity within the field of immune‐related RPL. Conclusions: Overall, this comprehensive bibliometric analysis provided valuable insights into the patterns, frontiers, and focal points of global scientific output related to immune‐related RPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic membranes infused with mixed solvents including a low polar solvent and a specific solvent can efficiently separate analytes from blood upon applying a voltage. In contrast, membranes infused with a specific solvent alone show significantly reduced separation efficiencies for blood samples. Infusion of a low polar solvent is of importance for achieving antifouling ability of membranes for biological sample pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Flaxseed orbitides have health‐promoting properties, particularly potent anti‐cancer activity. However, flaxseed orbitides containing a methionine structure, such as [1‐9‐NαC]‐linusorb B2 (CLB), are easily oxidized to sulfoxide ([1‐9‐NαC],[1‐Rs,Ss‐MetO]‐linusorb‐B2 (CLC)) and sulfone ([1–9‐NαC], [1‐MetO]‐linusorb B2 (CLK)), with CLC having less anti‐cancer ability than CLB. It is unclear why oxidized flaxseed orbitides are less effective against cancer than non‐oxidized flaxseed orbitide. RESULTS: Non‐oxidized ([1‐9‐NαC]‐linusorb‐B3 (CLA) and CLB) and oxidized (CLC and CLK) flaxseed orbitides were found to significantly upregulate the levels of pro‐apoptotic proteins, including Bax/Bcl‐2, CytoC, caspase‐3, and caspase‐8, in a dose‐dependent manner, with non‐oxidized flaxseed orbitides being more effective than oxidized flaxseed orbitides. Mechanically, the cellular absorption of non‐oxidized flaxseed orbitides was higher than that of oxidized flaxseed orbitides. Moreover, the significant fluorescence quenching of DR4 protein by flaxseed orbitides (especially non‐oxidized orbitides) indicated the formation of a DR4–orbitide complex. Molecular docking demonstrated that non‐oxidized orbitides could easily dock into the active cavity of DR4 protein. Further blocking DR4 significantly reduced the ability of non‐oxidized flaxseed orbitides to stimulate caspase‐3 expression, whereas oxidized flaxseed orbitides retained this ability. CONCLUSION: Non‐oxidized flaxseed orbitides are more effective against cancer than oxidized flaxseed orbitides due to higher cellular uptake and activation of the DR4‐mediated death receptor signaling pathway. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access-based consumption has received close attention from academics and industry practitioners in recent years. However, the nature of this type of consumption and the corresponding concept of psychological ownership are yet to be fully understood in hospitality services. This study referred to self-determination theory and psychological ownership theory to examine antecedents and outcomes of psychological ownership in the accommodation context. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 empirically assessed theoretical relationships among the constructs with an Airbnb customer sample, and Study 2 evaluated the proposed model with a hotel sample. Findings highlighted identity and existential authenticity as consistent antecedents of psychological ownership while intimacy and communal identity were not. Multi-group analysis indicated that the two samples' path coefficients did not significantly differ, providing empirical evidence that supports the proposition that Airbnb and hotels both fall into the category of access-based consumption. The findings provide important insight into similarities and differences between new and traditional access-based consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although customer engagement's (CE) effects on marketing-related outcomes are well documented, its broader impacts on life domain constructs (e.g., subjective well-being [SWB]) have received less attention. We propose CE as a viable mechanism for prolonging travel's positive effects on SWB. Specifically, this study adopts a three-wave design to investigate the linkages between destination brand experience (DBE), CE, and SWB over time. Our results indicate that sensory destination experience (t1) and affective destination experience (t1) stimulated CE with a destination (t2), which contributed significantly to SWB (t3). Findings from this longitudinal study contribute to the literature by demonstrating that CE significantly mediates the effects of the sensory and affective dimensions of DBE on tourists' SWB over time. The study highlights the importance of CE beyond key marketing performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium supplementation has been shown to be efficacious in mitigating the progression of senile osteoporosis (SOP) and reducing the incidence of osteoporotic fractures resulting from prolonged calcium shortage. In this study, Grifola frondosa (GF) peptides‐calcium chelate were synthesized through the interaction between peptide from GF and CaCl2. The chelation reaction was shown to involve the participation of the amino and carboxyl groups in the peptide, as revealed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier‐transform infrared, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Furthermore, a mouse model of (SOP) induced by d‐galactose was established (SCXK‐2018‐0004). Results demonstrated that low dosage of low‐molecular weight GF peptides‐calcium chelates (LLgps‐Ca) could significantly improve serum index and pathological features of bone tissue and reduce bone injury. Further research suggested that LLgps‐Ca could ameliorate SOP by modulating the disrupted metabolic pathway, which includes focal adhesion, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, and PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway. Using Western blot, the differentially expressed proteins were further confirmed. Thus, calciumchelating peptides from GF could serve as functional calcium agents to alleviate SOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional materials that exhibit circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) have shown immense potential in applications such as 3D optical displays and advanced information encryption. However, facile and efficient regulation of the multiple emission properties in chiral systems has remained a challenge due to the scarcity of suitable materials and the complexity of the systems. Herein, a multiple CPL regulation platform is fabricated by the helical co‐assembly of an aldehyde‐functionalized fluorane dye (Rhodol‐CHO, 6′‐(diethylamino)‐3′‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐3H‐spiro[isobenzofuran‐1,9′‐xanthene]‐4′‐carbaldehyde) and chiral liquid crystals, which can efficiently combine multiple stimuli‐responsive characteristics and high optical activity. By introducing acid, base, and compounds containing primary amino (─NH2) groups, the CPL property of the system can be easily modified. The obtained CPL systems exhibit apparent asymmetry, with glum values reaching 0.54–0.75). Further, these CPL modules are successfully applied in multi‐mode information encryption, highlighting their practical utility. Therefore, this study presents a novel strategy for developing materials with diverse CPL behaviors based on a simple‐designed platform, advancing further applications of CPL materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol remote sensing typically relies on reflected shortwave radiation and thus lacks nighttime retrievals. Here we made an original attempt to retrieve nighttime aerosol optical depth (AOD) by utilizing longwave measurements in the atmospheric window region from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) instrument. A machine‐learning based algorithm is developed using AIRS longwave radiance and auxiliary data as the input and AOD from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) as well as reanalysis surface temperature as the output. Independent validation indicates good agreement with lunar AOD derived from surface photometers. An overall increase in nighttime AOD compared to daytime is also uncovered, which is further corroborated by surface and space lidar measurements. The theoretical basis of the algorithm is further verified using radiative transfer simulations. Our approach substantially extends the potential of hyperspectral longwave measurements and offers valuable insights into nighttime aerosol properties. Plain Language Summary: Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is an important parameter for understanding the effects of aerosols on the Earth's atmosphere and air quality. However, current satellite‐based methods for estimating AOD mainly rely on reflected sunlight, thus lacking the capability of deriving aerosol properties at night. In this study, we develop a novel machine‐learning based method for estimating nighttime AOD using longwave far infrared measurements from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) satellite instrument. Our algorithm shows satisfactory performance with good agreements with surface AOD derived from moonlight, as well as from space lidar. Through radiative transfer simulations, we were able to verify the theoretical basis of our method and establish a relationship between AOD and the longwave measurements. This new approach greatly expands our ability to estimate AOD during nighttime and provides valuable insights into day‐time aerosol variability. Key Points: Nighttime AOD is successfully retrieved from satellite longwave radiance measurementsResults agree well with AERONET lunar AOD and CALIPSO nighttime AODNighttime AOD is found to be overall higher than daytime AOD globally [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are caused by a deficiency in the enzymes needed to degrade glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the lysosome. The storage of GAGs leads to the involvement of several systems and even to the death of the patient. In recent years, an increasing number of therapies have increased the treatment options available to patients. Early treatment is beneficial in improving the prognosis, but children with MPSs are often delayed in their diagnosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a method for early screening and diagnosis of the disease. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is an analytical method that can detect multiple substrates or enzymes simultaneously. GAGs are reliable markers of MPSs. MS/MS can be used to screen children at an early stage of the disease, to improve prognosis by treating them before symptoms appear, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, and for metabolomic analysis or to find suitable biomarkers. In the future, MS/MS could be used to further identify suitable biomarkers for MPSs for early diagnosis and to detect efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose and study a discretized one‐predator two‐prey system along with prey refuge and Michaelis–Menten‐type prey harvesting. The interaction among the species is considered as Holling type III functional response. Firstly, existence and local stability of all the fixed points are derived under certain parametric conditions. Furthermore, a special consideration is made to global asymptotic stability of the interior fixed point. Then, we have shown that the system undergoes different types of bifurcations including transcritical bifurcation, flip bifurcation, and Neimark–Sacker bifurcation by using center manifold theorem, bifurcation theory, and normal form method. Also, Feigenbaum's constant of the system is calculated. It is observed that both harvesting and refuge have a stabilizing effect on the system, and the stabilizing effect of harvesting dominates the stabilizing effect of refuge. Of most interest is the finding of coexisting attractors and multistability. In particular, optimal harvesting policy has been obtained by extension of Pontryagin's maximum principle to discrete system. Finally, some intriguing numerical simulations are provided to verify our analytic findings and rich dynamics of the three species system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of MAPK on intestinal obstruction during pregnancy. Methods A total of 105 SPF Wistar rats (female = 70 and male = 35) were selected. After placing all the rats in the same cage, 33 female rats were pregnant, and 8 rats were assigned to the control group and the other 25 rats were used to established bowel obstruction model. A total of 24 rats were successfully modelled, which were divided into model group (n = 8), up-regulation group (n = 8), and down-regulation group (n = 8). Results Compared with the model group, MAPK expression, VIP, GAS, TNF-α, IL-6 levels, TLR4, Myd88, NF-κB mRNA were increased and MOT, IL-4, IL-10 levels were decreased in up-regulation group; MAPK expression, VIP, GAS, TNF-α, IL-6 levels, TLR4, Myd88, NF-κB mRNA were decreased and MOT, IL-4, IL-10 levels were increased in down-regulation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion MAPK down-regulation reduced inflammatory response and improved bowel obstruction in pregnancy, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and chemotherapy still serves as the cornerstone treatment functioning by inducing cytotoxic cell death. Notably, emerging evidence suggests that dying cell-released signals may induce cancer progression and metastasis by modulating the surrounding microenvironment. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and targeting strategies are yet to be explored. Methods: Apoptotic TNBC cells induced by paclitaxel or adriamycin treatment were sorted and their released extracellular vesicles (EV-dead) were isolated from the cell supernatants. Chemokine array analysis was conducted to identify the crucial molecules in EV-dead. Zebrafish and mouse xenograft models were used to investigate the effect of EV-dead on TNBC progression in vivo. Results: It was demonstrated that EV-dead were phagocytized by macrophages and induced TNBC metastasis by promoting the infiltration of immunosuppressive PD-L1+ TAMs. Chemokine array identified CXCL1 as a crucial component in EV-dead to activate TAM/PD-L1 signaling. CXCL1 knockdown in EV-dead or macrophage depletion significantly inhibited EV-dead-induced TNBC growth and metastasis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CXCL1EV-dead enhanced TAM/PD-L1 signaling by transcriptionally activating EED-mediated PD-L1 promoter activity. More importantly, TPCA-1 (2-[(aminocarbonyl) amino]-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-thiophenecarboxamide) was screened as a promising inhibitor targeting CXCL1 signals in EVs to enhance paclitaxel chemosensitivity and limit TNBC metastasis without noticeable toxicities. Conclusions: Our results highlight CXCL1EV-dead as a novel dying cell-released signal and provide TPCA-1 as a targeting candidate to improve TNBC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full waveform inversion (FWI) is a high-resolution technique to estimate the parameters of dielectric permittivity (ϵ) and electrical conductivity (σ) and identify the structure of the subsurface for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) application. However, permittivity and conductivity parameters can be coupled in bi-parameter GPR inversion. This coupling effect leads to the crosstalk in the FWI result. To solve this problem, we propose a novel approach to use the multi-scale FWI with the hybrid regularization method, which combines Tikhonov and total-variation (TV) regularizers that simultaneously invert the ϵ and the σ parameters, which improve the inversion accuracy and reduce the crosstalk effect. The multi-scale strategy uses the Wiener filtering to process the GPR data in different frequency ranges. Then, the low frequencies signal updates the bottom part and subsequently increases the frequencies to invert for the shallow areas. The Tikhonov regularization stabilizes the reconstruction of the smoothly varying background part. In contrast, Total Variation (TV) regularization can recover the large contrasts associated with the LNAPL model. The new Tikhonov-TV (TT) regularization can mitigate the crosstalk caused by the parameter coupling effect. Numerical tests with typical GPR models demonstrate that the proposed multi-scale TT-FWI strategy can effectively eliminate the crosstalk and improve the reconstruction accuracy when the model parameters have a different structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in clinical practice to treat diseases related to central nervous system (CNS) damage. However, the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a significant impediment to the effective delivery of TCM, thus substantially diminishing its efficacy. Advances in nanotechnology and its applications in TCM (also known as nano‐TCM) can deliver active ingredients or components of TCM across the BBB to the targeted brain region. This review provides an overview of the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the BBB and systematically classifies the common TCM used to treat CNS diseases and types of nanocarriers that effectively deliver TCM to the brain. Additionally, drug delivery strategies for nano‐TCMs that utilize in vivo physiological properties or in vitro devices to bypass or cross the BBB are discussed. This review further focuses on the application of nano‐TCMs in the treatment of various CNS diseases. Finally, this article anticipates a design strategy for nano‐TCMs with higher delivery efficiency and probes their application potential in treating a wider range of CNS diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Refractoriness to surgical resection and chemotherapy makes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) a fatal cancer of the digestive system with high mortality and poor prognosis. Important function invests circRNAs with tremendous potential in biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, it is still unknown how circRNAs contribute to the evolution of ICC. Methods: CircRNAs in paired ICC and adjacent tissues were screened by circRNAs sequencing. To explore the impact of circRNAs on ICC development, experiments involving gain and loss of function were conducted. Various experimental techniques, including quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase reporter assays, RNA pull-down, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), ubiquitination assays and so on were employed to identify the molecular regulatory role of circRNAs. Results: Herein, we reported a new circRNA, which originates from exon 9 to exon 15 of the SLCO1B3 gene (named circSLCO1B3), orchestrated ICC progression by promoting tumor proliferation, metastasis and immune evasion. We found that the circSLCO1B3 gene was highly overexpressed in ICC tissues and related to lymphatic metastasis, tumor sizes, and tumor differentiation. Mechanically, circSLCO1B3 not only promoted ICC proliferation and metastasis via miR-502-5p/HOXC8/SMAD3 axis, but also eradicated anti-tumor immunity via suppressing ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of PD-L1 by E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP. We further found that methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) mediated the m6A methylation of circSLCO1B3 and stabilizes its expression. Our findings indicate that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in ICC patients. Conclusions: Taken together, m6A-modified circSLCO1B3 was correlated with poor prognosis in ICC and promoted ICC progression not only by enhancing proliferation and metastasis via potentiating HOXC8 expression, but also by inducing immune evasion via antagonizing PD-L1 degradation. These results suggest that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on thermal and electrical conduction properties of polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposite used for high voltage direct current cable insulation. To improve the thermal conductivity of the PP/propylene-based elastomer (PBE) blend (noted as PB), boron nitride (BN) nanosheets with high thermal conductivity are added. The pretreatment process through template method is to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) network structure composed of BN nanosheets (noted as 3DBN). Then the 3DBN is added into the PP/ PBE blend, in which the 3D networks are locally arranged and the other BN nanosheets are randomly dispersed. Thermal conductivity is estimated, while electrical conductivity is measured under electric fields of 5–40 kV mm−1 at various temperatures. Carrier trap distribution is derived from isothermal surface potential decay method. In addition, the microstructure and crystallization characteristics of the nanocomposites are measured. The results show that the thermal conductivity of the PP/PBE blend is improved obviously by the addition of the locally arranged 3DBN, and that of PB-3DBN-10 is increased by 16% compared with that of PB. Deep traps are introduced by the dispersed BN nanosheets and the electrical conduction is reduced, which becomes increasingly evident with the filler content and temperature. It is suggested that the introduction of thermal conductive fillers with a 3D network structure and well-dispersed state can synergistically enhance the thermal conductivity and insulation performances of the PP-based material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based alloys have been extensively employed in energy harvesting and refrigeration applications for decades. However, commercially produced Bi2Te3-based alloys using the zone-melting (ZM) technique often encounter challenges such as insufficient mechanical properties and susceptibility to cracking, particularly in n-type Bi2Te3-based alloys, which severely limit the application scenarios for bismuth telluride devices. In this work, we seek to enhance the mechanical properties of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 alloys while preserving their thermoelectrical performance by a mixed mechanism of grain refinement and the TiN composite phase-introduced pinning effect. These nanoscale processes, coupled with the addition of TiN, result in a reduction in grain size. The pinning effects of nano-TiN contribute to increased resistance to crack propagation. Finally, the TiN-dispersed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 samples demonstrate increased hardness, bending strength and compressive strength, reaching 0.98 GPa, 36.3 MPa and 74 MPa. When compared to the ZM ingots, those represent increments of 181%, 60% and 67%, respectively. Moreover, the thermoelectric performance of the TiN-dispersed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 samples is identical to the ZM ingots. The samples exhibit a peak dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) value of 0.957 at 375 K, with an average ZT value of 0.89 within the 325–450 K temperature range. This work has significantly enhanced mechanical properties, increasing the adaptability and reliability of bismuth telluride devices for various applications, and the multi-effect modulation of mechanical properties demonstrated in this study can be applied to other thermoelectric material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs and post-translational modifications (PTM) such as lysine acetylation play fundamental roles in physiological circuits, offering rapid responses to environmental signals with low energy consumption. Yet, the interplay between these regulatory systems remains underexplored. Here, we unveil the cross-talk between sRNAs and lysine acetylation in Streptococcus mutans, a primary cariogenic pathogen known for its potent acidogenic virulence. Through systematic overexpression of sRNAs in S. mutans, we identified sRNA SmsR1 as a critical player in modulating acidogenicity, a key cariogenic virulence feature in S. mutans. Furthermore, combined with the analysis of predicted target mRNA and transcriptome results, potential target genes were identified and experimentally verified. A direct interaction between SmsR1 and 5'-UTR region of pdhC gene was determined by in vitro binding assays. Importantly, we found that overexpression of SmsR1 reduced the expression of pdhC mRNA and increased the intracellular concentration of acetyl-CoA, resulting in global changes in protein acetylation levels. This was verified by acetyl-proteomics in S. mutans, along with an increase in acetylation level and decreased activity of LDH. Our study unravels a novel regulatory paradigm where sRNA bridges post-transcriptional regulation with post-translational modification, underscoring bacterial adeptness in fine-tuning responses to environmental stress. Author summary: Post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification are widely present in physiological circuits due to their low energy consumption and rapid response to the environment. sRNA is an important post-transcriptional regulatory factor in bacterial response to environmental stress, and bacteria also use sRNA as a key signal to control multicellular behaviors such as biofilm formation and quorum sensing to regulate virulence. S. mutans is an intractable cariogenic pathogen, but the role of sRNA in S. mutans is poorly understood. Here, we elucidated the virulence regulation and mechanism of sRNA SmsR1 in S. mutans by means of transcriptomics, acetyl-proteomics and animal models, and found its relationship with protein acetylation (post-translational modification), and a new role of sRNA physiological regulatory network was shown. This study presents an innovative perspective that a sRNA in S. mutans is involved in the correlation between post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, C-to-U RNA editing mainly occurs in plastid and mitochondrial transcripts, which contributes to a complex transcriptional regulatory network. More evidence reveals that RNA editing plays critical roles in plant growth and development. However, accurate detection of RNA editing sites using transcriptome sequencing data alone is still challenging. In the present study, we develop PlantC2U, which is a convolutional neural network, to predict plastid C-to-U RNA editing based on the genomic sequence. PlantC2U achieves >95% sensitivity and 99% specificity, which outperforms the PREPACT tool, random forests, and support vector machines. PlantC2U not only further checks RNA editing sites from transcriptome data to reduce possible false positives, but also assesses the effect of different mutations on C-to-U RNA editing based on the flanking sequences. Moreover, we found the patterns of tissue-specific RNA editing in the mangrove plant Kandelia obovata , and observed reduced C-to-U RNA editing rates in the cold stress response of K. obovata , suggesting their potential regulatory roles in plant stress adaptation. In addition, we present RNAeditDB, available online at https://jasonxu.shinyapps.io/RNAeditDB/. Together, PlantC2U and RNAeditDB will help researchers explore the RNA editing events in plants and thus will be of broad utility for the plant research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the Paraoxonase 1 (Pon1) gene underlie aging, cardiovascular disease, and impairments of the nervous and gastrointestinal systems and are linked to the intestinal microbiome. The potential role of Pon1 in modulating the intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites is poorly understood. The present study demonstrated that mice with genomic excision of Pon1 by a multiplexed guide RNA CRISPR/Cas9 approach exhibited disrupted gut microbiota, such as significantly depressed alpha‐diversity and distinctly separated beta diversity, accompanied by varied profiles of circulating metabolites. Furthermore, genomic knock in of Pon1 exerted a distinct effect on the intestinal microbiome and serum metabolome, including dramatically enriched Aerococcus, linoleic acid and depleted Bacillus, indolelactic acid. Specifically, a strong correlation was established between bacterial alterations and metabolites in Pon1 knockout mice. In addition, we identified metabolites related to gut bacteria in response to Pon1 knock in. Thus, the deletion of Pon1 affects the gut microbiome and functionally modifies serum metabolism, which can lead to dysbiosis, metabolic dysfunction, and infection risk. Together, these findings put forth a role for Pon1 in microbial alterations that contribute to metabolism variations. The function of Pon1 in diseases might at least partially depend on the microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral hybrid metal halides hold great potential as circularly polarized luminescence light sources. Herein, we have obtained two enantiomeric pairs of one‐dimensional hybrid chiral manganese(II) chloride single crystals, R/S‐(3‐methyl piperidine)MnCl3 (R/S‐1) and R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine)MnCl3 (R/S‐2), crystallizing in the non‐centrosymmetric space group P212121. In comparison to R/S‐1, R/S‐2 single crystals not only show red emission with near‐unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and high resistance to thermal quenching but also exhibit circularly polarized luminescence with an asymmetry factor (glum) of 2.5×10−3, which can be attributed to the enhanced crystal rigidity resulting from the hydrogen bonding networks between R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine) cations and [MnCl6]4− chains. The circularly polarized luminescence activities originate from the asymmetric [MnCl6]4− luminophores induced by N−H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bonding with R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine). Moreover, these samples demonstrate great application potential in circularly polarized light‐emitting diodes and X‐ray scintillators. This work shows a highly efficient photoluminescent Mn‐based halide and offers a strategy for designing multifunctional chiral metal halides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of catalytic sites for contact with reactants is a key issue to improve the performance of a catalyst, where constructing hollow structured nanomaterials has been considered as an effective strategy. Here, an N-doped carbon supported Ru catalyst with an interior cavity was synthesized by etching a MOF-derived core–shell precursor, in which metal Ru can be highly dispersed in the porous shell. This catalyst shows 98.7% conversion and >99% selectivity towards p-chloroaniline in the hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene, which is better than the corresponding supported catalyst. Moreover, it also displays excellent stability with 5 cycle runs and good substrate universality for the hydrogenation of extensive substituted nitroarenes. Various characterization techniques and control experiments reveal the advantage of the unique structure to promote the mass transport and adsorption of reactant molecules on Ru sites. This work provides a novel strategy to design an efficient Ru-based catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper ions (Cu2+) play an essential role in various cellular functions, including respiration, nerve conduction, tissue maturation, oxidative stress defense, and iron metabolism. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of porous crystalline materials with directed structural designability and high stability due to the combination of different monomers through covalent bonds. In this study, we synthesized a porphyrin-tetrathiazole COF (TT-COF(Zn)) with Zn-porphyrin and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as monomers and used it as a photoactive material. The strong light absorption of metalloporphyrin and the electron-rich properties of supplied TTF contribute to its photoelectrochemical performance. Additionally, the sulfur (S) in the TTF can coordinate with Cu2+. Based on these properties, we constructed a highly sensitive photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting Cu2+. The sensor exhibited a linear range from 0.5 nM to 500 nM (R2 = 0.9983) and a detection limit of 0.15 nM for Cu2+. Notably, the sensor performed well when detecting Cu2+ in water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]