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Abstract Background Tourniquets are routinely employed to achieve hemostasis in modern limb surgeries. Nevertheless, the precise role and benefits of tourniquets in high tibial osteotomy (HTO) surgeries remain understudied. The aim of this study was to assess the application of tourniquets in high-tibial osteotomy procedures. Methods This was a prospective study of patients who underwent HTO surgery at an identical hospital. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups: Group A, with a tourniquet (n = 43); and Group B, without a tourniquet (n = 43). The same surgical technique and postoperative care were employed for both groups of patients. Knee range of motion (ROM) and pain were assessed by utilizing a visual analogue scale (VAS) after exercise and maximum calf circumference, and postoperative Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, as well as inflammatory markers including CRP and IL-6, were adopted to compare and analyse the recovery of knee function in the two groups of patients following surgery. Results All participants were followed up for a period exceeding three months. No cases of vascular or nerve injuries were observed during surgery in either group. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in total blood loss volume throughout treatment or haemoglobin or haematocrit levels (P > 0.05). furthermore, Group A underwent a shorter operation than Group B did (P

The new gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed flotation technology can realize the efficiency recovery of coarse particles based on the principle of refloating coupling. Taking 1.0-0.5 mm coarse coal slime as the research object, the effects of water velocity, inflating gas flow, concentration of collector and frother on the fluidization characteristics and separation effect of two-dimensional fluidized-bed in the laboratory were systematically investigated. The results show that the fluctuation of pressure signal can be effectively reduced and the stability of fluidized-bed can be improved by increasing the water velocity, reducing the inflating gas flow and adding frother and collector. Reducing the inflating gas flow can reduce the apparent gas velocity of the fluidized-bed, while increasing the water velocity and adding the frother will reduce the bubble size through the shear effect of the upflowing fluid and the reduction of the surface tension, and the adding of the collector will make the adhesion of the bubble to the particles and reduce the floating speed of the bubble. With the increase of water velocity and inflating gas flow, the ash content of concentrate first decreases and then increases, but the tailling ash content has a slightly different trend. Too high inflating gas flow will disturb the fluidized-bed and lead to serious mixing，then the tailling ash content will increase. The appropriate addition of collector and frother will further reduce the ash content of concentrate, which is due to the adhesion of flotation bubbles on the surface of coarse particles, reducing its apparent density and strengthening the density separation effect. However, excessive addition of agents may lead to the occurrence of flotation entrainment and increase the ash content of concentrate. Finally, a semi-industrial test of fluidized bed flotation with a diameter of 200 mm was carried out, and the best separation index was obtained with 1.0-0.25 mm coarse slime as feed at water velocity of 15 L/min, inflating gas flow of 1.5 L /min, collector of 200 g/t and frother of 400 g/t. Ash content and yield of concentrate were 9.34% and 90.13%, and tailling ash content and yield were 38.51% and 9.87%, respectively. This study is of great significance for the realization of fluidized-bed stability control and efficient recovery of coarse slime in fluidized bed flotation process.

Postoperative delirium (POD) represents a common neurological complication encountered predominantly among the elderly cohort undergoing surgical intervention for hip fractures. This phenomenon, particularly commonplace in geriatric populations with heightened preoperative risk profiles, pronounced comorbidities, and later stages of lifespan, poses complex clinical challenges. The impact of perioperative pharmacological interventions and anesthetic strategies on POD’s emergence cannot be understated, as it may profoundly affect the length of hospital stays, rehabilitation milestones, and the overall mortality hazard. The pharmacotherapeutic landscape for managing POD remains constrained, underscoring the imperative nature of preventive measures. Prudent preoperative risk stratification, meticulous intraoperative neuromonitoring guided by electroencephalographic studies, and a holistic postoperative patient welfare model are cornerstone recommendations in the quest to mitigate POD’s incidence. Nonetheless, an extensive exploration into the influence of anesthetic approaches and perioperative medications on the emergence of POD is yet to be satisfactorily charted. Our investigation endeavors to dissect the nexus between anesthetic modalities, perioperative pharmacological interventions, and POD incident rates among the elderly with hip fractures. This study spotlights pivotal determinants of POD in the wake of hip fracture surgery by evaluating and synthesizing data from peer-reviewed sources that adhere to rigorous inclusion criteria. Preliminary studies have revealed that certain anesthesia protocols and perioperative medications may increase the potential incidence of POD, such as higher depth of anesthesia or benzodiazepine use, and the incidence of POD in specific populations, such as patients with higher age, prior history of psychosis, and lower intraoperative oxygen saturation The findings from this study are instrumental in refining strategic perioperative plans tailored for the elderly recipients of hip fracture surgery, aimed at not only diminishing the incidence but also the gravity of POD. Despite these forward steps, the clinical uncertainty concerning the efficacy and safety of the specific drugs and surgical techniques in question remains. These lingering questions underscore the exigency for more extensive, empirically grounded research to consolidate the learnings of this investigation.

In this study, E-nose, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-SPME-GC–MS technologies were used to evaluate the flavor characteristics of the pileus and stipe of Boletus edulis from eight origins. 23 key Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with odor activity values (OAVs) > 1 were identified, and 19 aroma types have been identified in Boletus edulis at the same time. Vegetable and earthy were defined as the dominant aroma types for all pileus and stipe samples. Balsamic and musty were the main and characteristic aroma types for the pileus. The highest concentrations of VOCs in the pileus and stipe were originated from Chuxiong Prefecture and Aba Prefecture, respectively. 19 and 16 key VOCs were detected Chuxiong pileus and Aba stipe, respectively, and Methional was the decisive compound that influenced the vegetable aroma type. The results of this study could be helpful for flavor identification and application of pileus and stipe from Boletus edulis.

Summary: The stop signal is produced in response to negative experiences at the food source and inhibits honey bee (Apis mellifera) waggle dancing. Here, we present a protocol for measuring the effects of an inhibitory signal associated with danger on honey bee dopamine levels. We describe steps for observing honey bee colonies, training them with artificial nectar, and simulating hornet attacks. We then detail procedures for recording waggle dancing and stop signals and measuring brain dopamine levels during different treatments.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Dong et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

The generation of squeezed states of light lies at the heart of modern photonics-based quantum information technologies. Traditionally, optical nonlinear interactions have been employed to produce squeezed states. However, the harnessing of electrically pumped semiconductor lasers offers distinctive paradigms to achieve enhanced squeezing performance for real-world applications. We present the first evidence that quantum dot lasers enable the realization of broadband amplitude-squeezed states at room temperature across a wide frequency range, spanning from 3 GHz to 12 GHz. Our findings are corroborated by a stochastic simulation in agreement with the experimental data.

We illustrate the generation of single-mode amplitude squeezing in a distributed feedback quantum dot laser driven by a constant-current pump. Achieving broadband amplitude squeezing of 1.7 dB over a 10 GHz range at room temperature is realized by suppressing carrier noise and implementing optical feedback. The noise-corrected squeezing level reached 5.1 dB. Furthermore, the examination of the zero-delay second-order correlation function demonstrates the robust feedback stability of the amplitude-squeezed state in the quantum dot laser compared to a reference quantum well laser. This investigation lays the groundwork for future advancements in integrated optical quantum chips.

As a tool for near-earth remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be used to acquire images and data of the earth's surface. This provides a powerful support for Earth observation and resource management. Object tracking in UAV videos has been a topic of much interest in recent years. A large number of algorithms have been proposed. Among these algorithms, deep learning has achieved a high accuracy rate. However, it is difficult to carry hardware devices for UAV, which makes it difficult to be practically applied. The correlation filter does not require a graphic processing unit to accelerate the computation, but it uses only manual features, which makes it difficult to achieve satisfactory performance. In order to solve the above problems, we proposed adaptive spatial regularization correlation filters, called DTSRT. Specifically, we first introduce deep features in the correlation filter instead of the original manual features, which can greatly improve the discriminative ability of the model. At the same time, in order to prevent affecting the real-time performance of the algorithm, we use histogram of oriented gradients features to determine the target scale and deep features to determine the target location. In addition, considering the large inter-frame distance between targets in UAV videos, we use a saliency detection method to dynamically generate spatially constrained templates. The proposed DTSRT outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms with area under curve of 0.481, 0.431, and 0.474 on UAV123@10FPS, UAVDT, and DTB70 datasets, respectively.

The inadequacy of tactile perception systems in humanoid robotic manipulators limits the breadth of available robotic applications. Here, we designed a multifunctional flexible tactile sensor for robotic fingers that provides capabilities similar to those of human skin sensing modalities. This sensor utilizes a novel PI-MXene/SrTiO3 hybrid aerogel developed as a sensing unit with the additional abilities of electromagnetic transmission and thermal insulation to adapt to certain complex environments. Moreover, polyimide (PI) provides a high-strength skeleton, MXene realizes a pressure-sensing function, and MXene/SrTiO3 achieves both thermoelectric and infrared radiation response behaviors. Furthermore, via the pressure response mechanism and unsteady-state heat transfer, these aerogel-derived flexible sensors realize multimodal sensing and recognition capabilities with minimal cross-coupling. They can differentiate among 13 types of hardness and four types of material from objects with accuracies of 94% and 85%, respectively, using a decision tree algorithm. In addition, based on the infrared radiation-sensing function, a sensory array was assembled, and different shapes of objects were successfully recognized. These findings demonstrate that this PI-MXene/SrTiO3 aerogel provides a new concept for expanding the multifunctionality of flexible sensors such that the manipulator can more closely reach the tactile level of the human hand. This advancement reduces the difficulty of integrating humanoid robots and provides a new breadth of application scenarios for their possibility.

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating innate immunity, and dysregulated activity of STING has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Recent findings suggest that bacterial infection activates STING, relieving ER stress, and triggers non-canonical autophagy by spatially regulating STX17. Despite these insights, the precise mechanism governing the dynamics of autophagosome fusion elicited by STING remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that dynamic STING activation guides the autophagy flux, mirroring the trajectory of canonical autophagy adaptors. STING engages in a physical interaction with STX17, and agonist-induced phosphorylation or degradation alleviates STING's inhibitory effects on the assembly of the STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 complex. Consistent with these findings, degradation-deficient mutants hinder autophagy flux by impeding STX17-mediated autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Moreover, STING mutants associated with lupus disrupt the assembly of the STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 complex and autophagy process, which lead to persistent STING activation and elevated IFN-β production. Our results highlight that the intracellular trajectory of STING, coupled with autophagy flux, guides the assembly and membrane fusion of the STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 complex, ensuring the accurate regulation of innate immunity.

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) has a high incidence rate and unresolved clinical symptoms. Although Hand Yangming Meridian Penetrating Acupuncture has been used to treat thyroid diseases in China, there is no randomized controlled trial (RCT) on HT. Methods: This exploratory RCT aims to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of Hand Yangming Meridian Penetrating Acupuncture in the treatment of HT. Included subjects were randomly assigned to the acupuncture group and the waiting treatment group at a ratio of 1:1. Subjects in the acupuncture group received 16 weeks of acupuncture treatment, followed by a 16-week follow-up observation phase. Subjects in the waiting group received thyroxine supplementation for 16 weeks, followed by 16 weeks of compensation treatment. Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOab) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGab) levels were the main indicators, and Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome short form (ThyPRO-39), MOS Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores were also recorded. Results: In total, 58 subjects were included. After 16 weeks of treatment, there was no statistical difference in the changes in TPOab levels between the two groups, but the TGab level in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than in the waiting group (difference: −141.97 [95 % CI: −222.4 to −61.5], P = 0.011). Moreover, the total ThyPRO-39 and SF-36 scores were statistically different between the two groups (PThyPRO-39 < 0.001, PSF-36 = 0.005). There was no statistical difference in HADS between the two groups. Conclusions: Hand Yangming Meridian Penetrating Acupuncture may be safe and feasible for HT hypothyroidism to improve symptoms and reduce TGab levels. Trial registration: This trial was registered at Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry: AMCTR-IOR-19000308 (ChiCTR1900026830, https://www.chictr.org.cn/searchprojEN.html).

Aiming at the problem that the unknown variation rule of molten pool and the interlayer effect on the forming efficiency and precision of products in the process of selective laser melting(SLM) of high-strength aluminum alloy A17075, the influence of different process parameters (laser power and scanning speed) on the morphology of the molten pool and the temperature field of the various forming layers was investigated. The finite element analysis software ANSYS was used to establish a multi-layer and multi-channel temperature field finite element model for SLM forming of thin-walled metal parts, and at the same time, the loading of the laser heat source, the laser power and the scanning speed were simulated by using the programming of the language APDL (ansys parametric design language), and the "element birth and death" technique was adopted to describe the dynamic growth process of the metal powder material and the distribution of the transient temperature field was derived. The results show that the laser power and scanning speed affect different temperature field factors, and the SLM process parameters suitable for Al7075 powder are power of 250~300 W and speed of 800~1 000 mm/s. The reasonable range of leser power and scanning speed is obtained, which provides theoretical reference and support for high-strength aluminum alloy in SLM practical experiments.

Asphalt pavement construction is a large-volume project, with the ability to recycle the industrial waste and reduce carbon emissions. Rubber-modified asphalt is a carbon-neutralized asphalt-based material, facilitating the recycling of waste rubber materials and improving the road performance of the asphalt mixture. To evaluate the interface interaction of the rubber–asphalt system and its effect on the viscosity characteristics of rubber-modified asphalt, the contact properties of rubber particles in asphalt were analyzed on a microscopic level. Rubber swelling tests and solvent elution tests were conducted on the rubber–asphalt system under different preparation conditions. The swelling ratio, degradation ratio, and swelling–degradation ratio were proposed to evaluate the interface interaction. The results show that the interface interaction of the rubber–asphalt system can be divided into the following three stages: swelling, effective degradation, and over-degradation. The degree of swelling is mainly affected by the content and size of the rubber particles and it is physically condensed, while the degradation is mainly affected by the preparation temperature and preparation time. The effective interface interaction greatly affects the viscosity with the building of the stable three-dimensional network structure. The stronger the interface interaction, the greater the viscosity of the rubber-modified asphalt, except for the 25% content of rubber particles. The gel film will be generated on the surface of the rubber particles throughout the swelling and effective degradation, increasing the viscosity of the rubber-modified asphalt.

Background: People living with a cancer diagnosis often experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Between 9% and 45% of people report CRF as moderate to severe, negatively impacting their quality-of-life (QOL). The evidence-base for managing CRF recommends exercise-related therapies over pharmaceutical interventions. One such exercise-like therapy is Baduanjin mind-body exercise (MBE), which has additional benefits. A remotely delivered program may further benefit people with CRF. The primary objective of this pilot will test study feasibility of a remotely delivered Baduanjin MBE exercise program for people living with CRF. Methods: This is a randomized wait-list controlled pilot study and will take place in Sydney, Australia. Subject to informed consent, 40 adults with moderate CRF levels and receiving or previously received adjuvant chemotherapy, will undertake a home-based 8-week Baduanjin MBE program supported by online resources and instructors. The primary feasibility outcomes are recruitment, enrollment, retention, and adherence rates; and safety as measured by tolerance and adverse-event frequency. Clinical outcomes (eg, changes in CRF, QOL, and participant perceptions) are assessed at pre-intervention, week 1, week 4, week 8, and post-intervention. Analyses follows the Intent-to-Treat (all participants as per randomization) and per-protocol (participants adhering to the protocol). Missing data will be imputed from previous data entries and regression models may be tested to predict missing outcomes. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the feasibility and effects of Baduanjin MBE on CRF using a remote delivery method. These feasibility data will inform a fully powered future trial investigating evidence of effect on CRF and QOL. Trial registration : Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR 12623000177651). Ringgold ID : 651498 Chinese Medicine Centre

Abstract Background and aims Monocytes/macrophages play important roles in inflammatory bowel disease and depression, but few studies had focused on the change of monocytes/macrophages in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods UC patients were divided into two groups based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic and clinical data were captured. Peripheral blood samples and intestinal biopsies were collected for the analysis of monocyte immunophenotype, phagocytic function, and CD4 + T cell differentiation. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of intestinal macrophages. Results A total of 139 UC patients were included. 37.41% and 32.37% of UC patients had symptoms of anxiety and depression. In patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression, mayo score, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and endoscopic score, histological scores were significantly higher than those in UC patients without. In patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression, the percentages of CD14 + + CD16 + monocytes and CD14 + CD16++ monocytes were higher, and the phagocytosis was decreased. Patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression had more CD68 + cells and higher M1/M2 ratios in the intestine mucosal layer compared to those without. Conclusions Monocytes and intestinal macrophages from UC patients with anxiety/depression tended to polarize to pro-inflammatory subtypes, and their function was also impaired.

Abstract The absence of tactile perception limits the dexterity of a prosthetic hand and its acceptance by amputees. Recreating the sensing properties of the skin using a flexible tactile sensor could have profound implications for prosthetics, whereas existing tactile sensors often have limited functionality with cross‐interference. In this study, we propose a machine‐learning‐assisted multifunctional tactile sensor for smart prosthetics, providing a human‐like tactile sensing approach for amputations. This flexible sensor is based on a poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)–melamine sponge, which enables the detection of force and temperature with low cross‐coupling owing to two separate sensing mechanisms: the open‐circuit voltage of the sensor as a force‐insensitive intrinsic variable to measure the absolute temperature and the resistance as a temperature‐insensitive extrinsic variable to measure force. Furthermore, by analyzing the unsteady heat conduction and characterizing it using real‐time thermal imaging, we demonstrated that the process of open‐circuit voltage variation resulting from the unsteady heat conduction is closely correlated with the heat‐conducting capabilities of materials, which can be utilized to discriminate between substances. Assisted by the decision tree algorithm, the device is endowed with thermal conductivity sensing ability, which allows it to identify 10 types of substances with an accuracy of 94.7%. Furthermore, an individual wearing an advanced myoelectric prosthesis equipped with the above sensor can sense pressure, temperature, and recognize different materials. We demonstrated that our multifunctional tactile sensor provides a new strategy to help amputees feel force, temperature and identify the material of objects without the aid of vision.

Honey bees use a complex form of spatial referential communication. Their waggle dance communicates to nestmates the direction, distance, and quality of a resource by encoding celestial cues, retinal optic flow, and relative food value into motion and sound within the nest. This protocol was developed to investigate the potential for social learning of this waggle dance. Using this protocol, we showed that correct waggle dancing requires social learning. Bees (Apis mellifera) that did not follow any dances before they first danced produced significantly more disordered dances, with larger waggle angle divergence errors, and encoded distance incorrectly. The former deficits improved with experience, but distance encoding was set for life. The first dances of bees that could follow other dancers had none of these impairments. Social learning, therefore, shapes honey bee signaling, as it does communication in human infants, birds, and multiple other vertebrate species. However, much remains to be learned about insects’ social learning, and this protocol will help to address knowledge gaps in the understanding of sophisticated social signal learning, particularly in understanding the molecular bases for such learning.Key features• It was unclear if honey bees (Apis mellifera) could improve their waggle dance by following experienced dancers before they first waggle dance.• Honey bees perform their first waggle dances with more errors if they cannot follow experienced waggle dancers first.• Directional and disorder errors improved over time, but distance error was maintained. Bees in experimental colonies continued to communicate longer distances than control bees.• Dancing correctly, with less directional error and disorder, requires social learning.• Distance encoding in the honey bee dance is largely genetic but may also include a component of cultural transmission.

BackgroundAnxiety and depression symptoms are very common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to explore the impact of anxiety and depression on the efficacy of medications, as well as IBD-related poor outcomes.MethodThis was a prospective longitudinal observational study. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between anxiety/depression and the response to different medications. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model were applied to analyze the relationship between anxiety/depression and IBD-related poor outcomes, which were defined as urgent IBD-related hospitalization, IBD-related surgery, or death.ResultsA total of 325 IBD patients were enrolled, 118 of whom were treated with corticosteroids, 88 with azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6-MP), and 147 with anti-TNF agents. Anxiety/depression symptoms were found to be significantly related to steroid resistance, but independent of AZA/6-MP and anti-TNF agents nonresponse. There was a significant association between anxiety/depression symptoms and IBD-related poor outcomes. Coexisting with anxiety/depression symptoms was an independent influencing factor of steroid resistance and IBD-related poor outcomes.ConclusionIBD patients with anxiety/depression symptoms were at a higher risk of developing steroid resistance and IBD-related poor outcomes. Future studies are needed to explore whether interventions for anxiety and depression will improve their response to medications and change their prognosis.

This study theoretically investigates the impact of external carrier noise from pumping sources on the optical noise of epitaxial quantum dot (QD) lasers on silicon. The findings indicate that the spectral linewidth and relative intensity noise (RIN) of silicon-based QD lasers using a quiet pump are significantly reduced. At 5.5 times the threshold current, the spectral linewidth decreases from 337.2 kHz to 213.2 kHz, and the RIN decreases from −141.3 dB Hz ^−1 to −168.8 dB Hz ^−1 . This reduction is attributed to the lower external carrier noise level of the quiet pump, which also suppresses the spectral linewidth rebroadening effect at a high bias current. Moreover, when external optical injection locking is applied, the spectral linewidth further decreases to 24 kHz at an injection ratio of −70 dB and to 1.8 mHz at 0 dB. The RIN also slightly decreases to −172.4 dB Hz ^−1 with an injection ratio of 10. These results demonstrate that using a quiet pump is an effective and manageable strategy for significantly reducing both the spectral linewidth and RIN of QD lasers, thereby facilitating their application in next-generation photonic integrated circuits, continuous-variable quantum key distribution, quantum computing and ultra-precise quantum sensing.

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. A number of studies proposed that long non-coding RNA plays an essential role in the regulation of invasion and metastasis of various forms of malignancy, including lung cancer, gastric cancer, and bladder cancer. In this study, a long non-coding RNA(LncRNA) MAFG-AS1 was explored in detail to understand the significance in the etiology of breast cancer. The results indicated that expression of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 in the breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than the adjacent normal breast tissues and elevated expression level of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was correlated to the larger tumor size, negative expression of ER, PR and lymph node metastasis. The potency of breast cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis was inhibited in the absence of LncRNA MAFG-AS1. Mechanically, LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm. The downstream target gene of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was STC2 which might promote cell proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer and this study provides a new potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Traditional mobile robots have limitations in obstacle-crossing ability, motion stability and load-bearing capacity in complex environments, which make them difficult to be applied on a large scale. Based on the Rubik’s Cube mechanism (RCM) with strong coupling and variable topology, a polymorphous wheel-legged mobile robot (WLMR) is proposed. Aiming at the problems of the classical three-order RCM, such as small internal space, difficult processing and demanding precision, a new type of chute third-order RCM is designed, and its mechanical characteristics analysis and feasibility analysis are carried out. What’s more, a driving configuration analysis method is established according to different driving configuration relationships, and the configuration of WLMR is determined by the configuration stability analysis. Then, a WLMR with polymorphism is designed, and gait planning and gait stability analysis are conducted. Eventually, the co-simulation and prototype experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of the WLMR’s straight motion, in-situ rotation, obstacle-crossing and morphology transformation in complex environments. This research not only provides a reference for the design of polymorphous mobile robots, but also opens up ideas for the application of the RCM in daily production and life.

Recently, Roon, Hoole, Zeroual, Du, and Gafos (2021) have offered evidence that an empirical estimate of stiffness, a parameter in the dynamics hypothesized to control the kinematics of gestures, modulates overlap in consonant clusters of Moroccan Arabic. Here, we extend the Roon et al. (2021) study in two ways. First, empirically, we broaden the assessment of the role of stiffness in overlap by examining data from three languages, largely confirming the Roon et al. results with electromagnetic articulography recordings from stop-lateral clusters spoken by German, English, and Spanish participants. Second, we examine for the first time the extent to which C1 and C2 stiffness individually, as opposed to the combined measure of stiffness difference in earlier work, contributes to overlap with the main finding being that the significant effect of stiffness difference is mainly due to C2 stiffness; C1 stiffness is not as robust as C2 stiffness in modulating overlap. These results are placed in the context of other work on articulatory and perceptual influences on inter-consonantal timing as well as in the broader context of work on the coupling between perception and action in other domains of skilled action.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent complication in geriatric patients with hip fractures, which is linked to poorer functional recovery, longer hospital stays, and higher short-and long-term mortality. Patients with increased age, preoperative cognitive impairment, comorbidities, perioperative polypharmacy, and delayed surgery are more prone to develop POD after hip fracture surgery. In this narrative review, we outlined the latest findings on postoperative delirium in geriatric patients with hip fractures, focusing on its pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Perioperative risk prediction, avoidance of certain medications, and orthogeriatric comprehensive care are all examples of effective interventions. Choices of anesthesia technique may not be associated with a significant difference in the incidence of postoperative delirium in geriatric patients with hip fractures. There are few pharmaceutical measures available for POD treatment. Dexmedetomidine and multimodal analgesia may be effective for managing postoperative delirium, and adverse complications should be considered when using antipsychotics. In conclusion, perioperative risk intervention based on orthogeriatric comprehensive care is the most effective strategy for preventing postoperative delirium in geriatric patients with hip fractures.

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play a pivotal role in various cancers recently. Our present study focused on exploring the function of long intergenic non-coding RNA 00473 (LINC00473) in GC. In this study, we found that LINC00473 expression was aberrantly increased in tumor tissues compared with the paired para-cancerous tissues. The expression of high LINC00473 in GC was notably correlated with a higher risk of lymphatic metastasis, a higher incidence of vascular cancer embolus, and advanced TNM stage. Further experiments showed that the overexpression of LINC00473 could promote the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. The apoptosis of GC cells increased significantly by the decrease of LINC00473. Mechanistically, LINC00473 could sponge miR-16-5p in the cytoplasm and relieve its suppression of CCND2. Moreover, AQP3 was found to be a significant downstream target gene for LINC00473 through RNA transcriptome sequencing, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR and western blot. Overexpression of LINC00473 can partially reverse the effects of AQP3 decrease on GC proliferation and metastasis. LINC00473 regulated AQP3 expression through CREB was confirmed by western blot. Our research indicates that LINC00473/miR-16-5p/CCND2 axis plays a role in the proliferation of GC and modulates AQP3 to influence GC cell metastasis, making it a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Abstract Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women around the world. It is urgently needed to identify genes associated with tumorigenesis and prognosis, as well as to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the oncogenic process. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in the pathological and physiological processes of organisms and play an important role as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, affecting the development and progression of tumors. In this study, we focused on terminal differentiation-induced non-coding RNA (TINCR) (GeneID:257000) and explore its role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The results showed that TINCR was increased in breast cancer tissue, and high expression level of TINCR was associated with older age, larger tumor size, and advanced TNM stage. High level of TINCR can promote proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells, while downregulation of TINCR induces G1-G0 arrest and apoptosis. Mechanismly, TINCR can bind to staufen1 (STAU1) and then guide STAU1 (GeneID:6780) to bind to OAS1 mRNA (NM_016816.4) to mediate its stability. Thus low level of OAS1(GeneID:4938) can lead to cell proliferation and migration. This result elucidates a new mechanism for TINCR in breast cancer development and provides a survival indicator and potential therapeutic target for breast cancer patients.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine is thought to be the most effective preventive method of controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Some patients with immune-related diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, however, may hesitate to be vaccinated for various reasons. Although several guidelines recommend vaccinating all IBD patients with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, there is still a lack of real-world data on the safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and COVID-19 vaccination rate in IBD patients. In this study, we investigated the reasons for hesitancy in COVID-19 vaccination, the COVID-19 vaccination rate, and the safety of SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccination in patients with IBD. Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 418 participants with IBD were enrolled to calculate the vaccination rates. A total of 232 patients with IBD who did not receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were recruited to investigate the reasons for hesitation. A follow-up survey of 151 IBD patients and 188 healthy participants who had received the SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccination was conducted to analyze adverse reactions. Results: The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 49.3% and almost half of the participants were ‘Concerned about the safety of the vaccine (such as adverse reactions) due to IBD’. After SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, adverse reactions were mild or moderate. The adverse reactions in the IBD and non-IBD populations were roughly the same, and IBD medications did not increase the risk of adverse reactions. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccination rates in IBD patients are still low and a significant proportion of patients are hesitant about the vaccine because of safety concerns. SARS-CoV-2-inactivated vaccination in patients with IBD appears to be safe.

The emergence of optical Internet of Things (optical-IoT) for sixth-generation (6G) networks has been envisaged to relieve the bandwidth congestion in the conventional radio frequency (RF) channel, and to support the ever-increasing number of smart devices. Among the plethora of device innovations deemed essential for fortifying the development, herein we report on the visible-to-near-infrared color-conversion luminescent-dyes based on lead sulphide quantum dots (PbS QDs), so as to achieve an eye-safe high-speed optical link. The solution-processed PbS QDs exhibited strong absorption in the visible range, radiative recombination lifetime of 6.4 $\mu$s, as well as high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 88%. Our proof-of-principle demonstration based on an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme established an infrared data transmission of 0.27 Mbit/s, readily supporting an indoor optical-IoT system, and shed light on the possibility for PbS-integrated transceivers in supporting remote access control of multiple nodes. We further envisaged that our investigations could find applications in future development of solution-processable PbS-integrated luminescent fibers, concentrators, and waveguides for high-speed optical receivers.

Abstract Studies have demonstrated that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at an increased risk of developing anxiety and/or depression. IBD patients with depression/anxiety have higher rates of hospitalization and increased disease severity than those without. So far, there is a paucity of data concerning the impact of anxiety/depression on Chinese IBD patients. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety/depression in Chinese IBD population and its impact on IBD-related features. This is a cross-sectional study from the southwest China IBD referral center. Eligible participants were divided into those with symptoms of anxiety/depression and those without based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic data and disease duration, IBD-related surgery, tobacco use, extra-intestinal manifestations, disease activity scores, endoscopic evaluation, laboratory data and current medication use were compared between two groups. A total of 341 IBD patients [221 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 120 ulcerative colitis (UC)] were included. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety/depression in IBD was 33.1%. CD patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression tended to have higher scores of simple endoscopic scores for Crohn’s disease (SES-CD) (p = 0.0005). UC patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression had a significantly higher Mayo score (p = 0.0017) and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) (p

The eastern Sichuan Basin has undergone multiple stages of tectonic evolution and shows complex structural characteristics. It is found that there are a series of NW-SE base-trending strike-slip faults in this area besides NE-SW strike-blocking structures. There are almost no previous studies on strike-slip faults in the eastern Sichuan Basin. This paper fills in the blank of geometry and kinematics research on the strike-slip fault zone in this area. Based on highly precise 3D seismic section, coherent attribute slice and time slice, the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault are analyzed. The dynamic characteristics are analysed based on the structural style of the superimposed development model and the nature and activity intensity of strike-slip faults in different periods. and it was found that No. 15 strike-slip fault was a large basement strike-slip fault. The research results show that the profile of the No. 15 strike-slip fault mainly shows a subvertical fracture, positive flower structure and negative flower structure and a composite flower structure with positive and negative flower structures superimposed on each other in the upper and lower planar sections with linearly outspread and zonal distribution characteristics; spatially, there is a “ribbon” effect and a “dolphin” effect. the left strike-slip distance of the TS interface is 0.462 km, and the right strike-slip distance of the TP2 interface is 0.782 km. The strike-slip fault experienced at least three active stages of superimposed deformation during its formation and reconstruction, among which episode II in the middle Caledonian movement was the main active stage of the No. 15 strike-slip fault zone. This study of the structural style and genetic mechanism of a strike-slip fault zone is of guiding significance to the exploration and development of strike-slip fault-controlled reservoirs in the study area.

Background and AimsThe effect of antidepressant therapy on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) remains controversial. This trial aimed to assess whether adding venlafaxine to standard therapy for IBD improved the quality of life (QoL), mental health, and disease activity of patients with IBD with anxious and depressive symptoms.MethodsA prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Participants diagnosed with IBD with symptoms of anxiety or depression were randomly assigned to receive either venlafaxine 150 mg daily or equivalent placebo and followed for 6 months. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), Mayo score, Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and blood examination were completed before the enrollment, during, and after the follow-up. Mixed linear models and univariate analyses were used to compare groups.ResultsForty-five patients with IBD were included, of whom 25 were randomized to receive venlafaxine. The mean age was 40.00 (SD = 13.12) years old and 25 (55.6%) were male. Venlafaxine showed a significant improvement on QoL (p < 0.001) and disease course (p = 0.035), a greater reduction in HADS (anxiety: p < 0.001, depression: p < 0.001), Mayo scores (p < 0.001), and CDAI (p = 0.006) after 6 months. Venlafaxine had no effect on IL-10 expression, endoscopic scores, relapse rate, and use rate of biologics and corticosteroids, but did reduce serum level of erythrocyte estimation rate (ESR; p = 0.003), C-reactive protein (CRP; p < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; p = 0.009).ConclusionsVenlafaxine has a significantly beneficial effect on QoL, IBD activity, and mental health in patients with IBD with comorbid anxious or depressive symptoms. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR1900021496).

The pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is complex and remains unclear. Nucleus pulposus stem cells (NPSCs) and annulus fibrosus cells (AFCs) play a critical role in the maintenance of intervertebral disc structure and function. Exosome-mediated miRNAs regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and degradation. However, it is not clear whether the degenerative intervertebral disc-derived nucleus pulposus stem cells (D-NPSCs) can regulate the function of AFCs by delivering exosomes. Here, we show that exosomes secreted by nucleus pulposus stem cells derived from degenerative intervertebral disc (D-DPSC-exo) can exacerbate AFC degeneration via inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, matrix synthesis, and promoting apoptosis. Specifically, let-7b-5p was highly expressed in D-DPSC-exo. Transfection of let-7b-5p mimic was found to promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation migration and matrix synthesis of AFCs. In addition, transfection with let-7b-5p inhibitor caused the effect of D-DPSC-exo on AFCs to be reversed. Furthermore, we found that D-DPSC-exo and let-7b-5p inhibited IGF1R expression and blocked the activation of the PI3K–Akt pathway. Results suggested that NPSC-exo exacerbated cell degeneration of AFCs via let-7b-5p, accompanied by inhibition of IGF1R expression, and PI3K–Akt pathway activation. Therefore, insights from this work may provide a clue for targeted molecular therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Pyroptosis is lytic, programmed cell death and plays a critical role against microbial invasion, functioning as an innate immune effector mechanism. The pore-forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD), a member of gasdermin family proteins, is a primary effector of pyroptosis. The cleavage of inflammasome-associated inflammatory caspases activates GSDMD to liberate the N-terminal effector domain from the C-terminal inhibitory domain and form pores in the cellular plasma membrane. Emerging evidence shows that the pore-forming activity of GSDMD beyond pyroptosis and modifies non-lytic cytosolic protein secretion in living cells and innate immunity. While the essential roles of GSDMD in bacterial infection and cancer have been widely investigated, the importance of GSDMD in virus infection, including coronaviruses, remains elusive. Here, we review the current literature regarding the activation and functions of GSDMD during virus infections. Last, we further discuss the roles of GSDMD and the therapeutic potential of targeting this GSDMD pore-forming activity in coronavirus diseases.

An effective strategy based on optical tunneling is developed to significantly improve the efficiency of quantum dots light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) and perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Contrary to the common impression that the hole transport layers (HTL) with low refractive index will severely confine lights according to Snell's law, optical tunneling unlocks a channel to extract the lights through HTL. In this work, we demonstrate the light beyond the critical angle still has a chance to penetrate into the substrate and finally emit outside the device. An optical tunneling model is also presented here to quantitatively describe the light extraction through optical tunneling and reveal related factors. Applying a thin HTL (thickness = 10 nm) and a high-index substrate (refractive index = 2) in the typical device architecture (Glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/EML/TPBi/LiF/Al), substrate modes can be improved from 18% to 60%. Therefore, optical tunneling followed by EES is believed to be a cost-effective strategy to enhance light extraction efficiency. This work unravels the potential to further significantly improve the efficiency of QLEDs and PeLEDs.

It has been claimed that patterns of regressive place assimilation in consonant clusters are attributable to the ‘inherent velocities’ of the primary oral articulators involved. The present study used articulatory data from Moroccan Arabic to evaluate whether there were reliable differences in peak velocity or measured stiffness based on primary oral articulator. Evidence for such differences was limited. We also evaluated whether the degree of overlap in clusters could be predicted by the combination of articulators in a C1C2 cluster. Some significant differences were found, but they did not align with the assumed differences in inherent rapidity of the articulators. Lastly, we evaluated whether the amount of overlap was influenced by the relative peak velocities of the closing gestures of two-consonant clusters. It was not. However, when the dynamical control parameter of stiffness of the same closing gestures was used instead of peak velocity, a robust effect on overlap was found. This result suggests that the relative settings of the control parameter of stiffness influence degree of overlap in a cluster, not peak velocity, which is too subject to contextual effects such as movement amplitude.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children and is responsible for more than 200,000 pediatric deaths per year. There is currently no pharmacological treatment for rotavirus infection in clinical activity. Although cholesterol synthesis has been proven to play a key role in the infections of multiple viruses, little is known about the relationship between cholesterol biosynthesis and rotavirus replication. The models of rotavirus infected two cell lines and a human small intestinal organoid were used. We investigated the effects of cholesterol biosynthesis, including inhibition, enhancement, and their combinations on rotavirus replication on these models. The knockdown of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) was built by small hairpin RNAs in Caco2 cells. In all these models, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by statins or HMGCR knockdown had a significant inhibitory effect on rotavirus replication. The result was further confirmed by the other inhibitors: 6-fluoromevalonate, Zaragozic acid A and U18666A, in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Conversely, enhancement of cholesterol production increased rotavirus replication, suggesting that cholesterol homeostasis is relevant for rotavirus replication. The effects of all these compounds toward rotavirus were further confirmed with a clinical rotavirus isolate. We concluded that rotavirus replication is dependent on cholesterol biosynthesis. To be specific, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis can downregulate rotavirus replication; on the contrary, rotavirus replication is upregulated. Statin treatment is potentially an effective novel clinical anti-rotavirus strategy.

In this paper, we report high performance top-emitting quantum dot light-emitting diodes (TE-QLEDs) with an interfacial modification layer. The specular metal bottom electrode was modified by an interfacial layer to improve the wettability of the aqueous solution on a metal electrode. By doing so, the potential barrier between the metal electrode and hole injection layer is decreased and the hole injection is enhanced. The capacitance analysis was used to understand the charge transfer process of the TE-QLEDs. The result showed that the indium tin oxide (ITO) interface layer is the best among NiOx, MoO3, and ITO. As a consequence, the red TE-QLEDs with an ITO interfacial modification layer show a maximum luminance and maximum external quantum efficiency of 18 880 cd/m2 and 11.8%, respectively. Our works indicate that the interfacial modification with metal oxides is an effective approach for high performance TE-QLEDs.

Quantum dot lasers are an attractive option for light sources in silicon photonic integrated circuits. Thanks to the three-dimensional charge carrier confinement in quantum dots, high material gain, low noise and large temperature stability can be achieved. This paper discusses, both theoretically and experimentally, the advantages of silicon-based quantum dot lasers for passive mode-locking applications. Using a frequency domain approach, i.e., with the laser electric field described in terms of a superposition of passive cavity eigenmodes, a precise quantitative description of the conditions for frequency comb and pulse train formation is supported, along with a concise explanation of the progression to mode locking via Adler’s equation. The path to transform-limited performance is discussed and compared to the experimental beat-note spectrum and mode-locked pulse generation. A theory/experiment comparison is also used to extract the experimental group velocity dispersion, which is a key obstacle to transform-limited performance. Finally, the linewidth enhancement contribution to the group velocity dispersion is investigated. For passively mode-locked quantum dot lasers directly grown on silicon, our experimental and theoretical investigations provide a self-consistent accounting of the multimode interactions giving rise to the locking mechanism, gain saturation, mode competition and carrier-induced refractive index.

Stereocomplex-type polylactide (SC-PLA) created by alternate packing of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D-lactide) (PDLA) chains in a crystalline state has emerged as a growingly popular engineering bioplastic that possesses excellent hydrolytic stability and thermomechanical properties. However, it is extremely difficult to acquire high-performance SC-PLA products via melt-processing of high-molecular-weight PLLA/PDLA blends because both SC crystallites and homocrystallites (HCs) are competitively formed in the melt-crystallization. Herein, a facile yet powerful way was employed to boost SC formation by introducing trace amounts of some epoxy-functionalized small-molecule modifiers into the enantiomeric blends during reactive melt-blending. The results show that the SC formation is considerably enhanced with the in situ generation of multi-arm stereo-block PLA copolymers, based on the reaction between epoxy groups of the modifiers and hydroxyl end groups of PLAs. More impressively, it is intriguing to find that the introduction of only 0.5 wt% modifiers can induce exclusive SC formation in the blends upon isothermal and non-isothermal melt-crystallizations. The outstanding SC crystallizability might be attributed to the suppressing effect of such unique copolymers on the separation of the alternately arranged PLLA/PDLA chain segments in molten state as a compatibilizer. Furthermore, the generation of these copolymers does not result in a significant increase in melt viscosity of the blends. These findings suggest new opportunities for the high-throughput processing of SC-PLA materials into useful products.

Our present study investigated the anti-diabetic activity and potential mechanism of β-ecdysterone (β-EC) derived from Cyanotis arachnoidea. In vitro, β-EC exhibited a promising effect on increasing GLUT4 translocation by 1.6 folds and glucose uptake by 1.75 folds in L6 cells. In vivo, KK-Ay mice’s body weight, blood glucose levels and other related blood–lipid indexes can be significantly reduced with β-EC treatment. For the mechanism study, we have found that β-EC exhibited a significant protective effect on insulin resistance (IR) in L6 and HepG2 cells through increasing expressions of IRβ, p-Akt, p-IRS-1 and increasing the expressions of GLUT4 and GLUT2. The phosphorylation of Akt, IRS-1 and the expression of IRβ, GLUT4 and GLUT2 in the liver and skeletal muscle in KK-Ay mice were also significantly ameliorated after 4-weeks treatment with β-EC. According to our present findings, we could conclude that β-EC possessed the potential anti-diabetic effects through activating IRS-1/AKT/GLUT4 and IRS-1/AKT/GLUT2 pathways.

The heat ball defense of honey bees against their sympatric hornet predators is a classic and spectacular outcome of a co-evolutionary race. Hundreds of bees can encapsulate a hornet within a large ball that kills it with elevated heat. However, the role of stinging in this defense has been discounted, even though sting venom is an important weapon in bees. Surprisingly, no studies have tested the role of bee sting venom alone or in conjunction with elevated temperature on hornet survival. We surveyed dead Vespa velutina hornets found near and inside Apis cerana colonies and found stings retained in hornet bodies, most often in an intersegmental neck-like region, the veracervix. Experimentally stinging hornets in this region with A. cerana and Apis mellifera guards significantly increased hornet mortality. The combination of sting venom and elevated heat ball temperature (44 °C) was the most lethal, although there was no synergistic interaction between sting venom and temperature. As expected, hornet mortality increased when they were stung more often. The average amount of venom per insect species and the length of stinger lancets correlated with insect mass. Sting venom thus remains important in the arms race between bees and their hornet predators.

The title compound, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, C20H26O3 [systematic name: (4bS)-3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-4b,8,8-trimethyl-4b,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydrophenanthrene-1,4-dione] was isolated from Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. The compound crystallizes in the space group P21. The crystal structure features two O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the [010] direction.

The title compound, C20H28O4 [systematic name: (4bS,8aS,10S)-3,10-dihydroxy-2-isopropyl-4b,8,8-trimethyl-4b,5,6,7,8,8a,9,10-octahydrophenanthrene-1,4-dione], is an abietane-type diterpene, which was isolated from Taxodium ascendens (B.). The compound crystallizes in the chiral space group P21, but it was not possible to determine the absolute structure of the molecule in the crystal by resonant scattering. The molecular structure is stabilized by two intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds, enclosing S(5) and S(6) ring motifs. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the [010] direction. The crystal structure of the 10R stereoisomer of the title compound, isolated from the roots of Premna obtusifolia (Verbenaceae), has been reported. It crystallized in the chiral space group P212121, and the absolute structure was determined as (4bS,8aS,10R), by resonant scattering using Cu Kα radiation [Razak et al. (2010). Acta Cryst. E66, o1566–o1567].

Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. (EA) is a well-known noxious invasive species. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the essential oil derived from EA (EAEO) is mainly composed of sesquiterpenes. However, the pharmacological value of EAEO in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unexplored. Herein, we investigated the anti-HCC activities of EAEO, and explored the potential mechanisms of EAEO-induced apoptosis. An MTT assay showed that EAEO inhibited HCC cell proliferation with little toxicity on normal liver cells. Wound healing and FACS assays revealed that EAEO suppressed HCC cell migration and arrested cell cycle, respectively. Moreover, EAEO promoted in vitro HCC cell apoptosis, and EAEO treatment inhibited HepG2 xenografts growth and enhanced apoptotic nucleus of xenografts in HepG2-bearing nude mice. Mechanistically, EAEO significantly decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and resulted in the activation of caspase-9 and -3. EAEO also reduced the expression of Grp78, which in turn relieved the inhibition of caspase-12 and -7. Meanwhile, EAEO suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3 and AKT, indicative of its anti-HCC potential. In summary, we determined that EAEO treatment promoted HCC apoptosis via activation of the apoptotic signaling pathway in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, as well as repressed the activity of STAT3 and AKT in HCC cells.

Kurarinone, a flavonoid isolated from Sophora flavescens Aiton, has been reported to have significant antitumor activity. However, the cytotoxic activity of kurarinone against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells is still under explored. In our study, we have evaluated the inhibitory effects of kurarinone on the growth of NSCLC both in vivo and in vitro as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying kurarinone-induced A549 cell apoptosis. The results showed that kurarinone effectively inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells with little toxic effects on human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. FASC examination and Hoechst 33258 staining assay showed that kurarinone dose-dependently provoked A549 cells apoptosis. Mechanistically, kurarinone significantly decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, thereby causing the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3, and reduced the expression of Grp78, which led to relieve the inhibition of caspase-12 and caspase-7, as well as suppressing the activity of AKT. Meanwhile, modeling results from the Surflex-Dock program suggested that residue Ser473 of Akt is a potential binding site for kurarinone. In vivo, kurarinone inhibited the growth of A549 xenograft mouse models without apparent signs of toxicity. Our study indicated that kurarinone has the potential effects of anti-NSCLC, implemented through activating mitochondria apoptosis signaling pathway, as well as repressing the activity of endoplasmic reticulum pathway and AKT in A549 cells.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a high-risk pregnancy complication of great effect on the perinatal health of women and newborns, may cause changes of gut microbiota in mothers and further affect gut microbiota in newborns. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of mother GDM on newborns' gut microbiota. Meconium DNA was extracted from a total of 34 full-term and C-sectioned newborns, in which 20 newborns had mothers diagnosed with GDM, while 14 had unaffected mothers. Sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of 16S rRNA indicated that the gut microbiota of GDM newborns showed differences compared to control newborns. The taxonomy analyses suggested that the overall bacterial content significantly differed by maternal diabetes status, with the microbiome of the GDM group showing lower alpha-diversity than that of control group. The phyla of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in GDM newborns increased, while that of Bacteroidetes significantly reduced (P

Aiming to solve the contradiction between the workability and performance of pothole patching using cold mixtures, this paper proposed new patching materials based on the microcapsule technique and polymer reinforcement, namely cold mixtures with polymer modified asphalt and dense graded (DG) of aggregates (PADG) mixtures. Laboratory tests were conducted to compare the PADG mixtures with commonly used DG mixtures and open graded (OG) mixtures concerning workability, storability, cohesion, stability, and durability of each mixture. The results found that the PADG mixtures were satisfactory in their workability and storability and were as satisfactory as the OG mixtures. Meanwhile, stability and durability of the PADG mixtures was better than the DG mixtures and OG mixtures, i.e., the PADG mixtures showed stability in the conditions of the timeliness, low temperature, and immersion, as well as the freeze-thaw resistance and wear resistance in wet conditions. Therefore, it can be concluded that PADG mixtures are applicable in timely and durable pothole repairs in low temperatures and wet conditions.

This study investigated the active principles, hypoglycemic activity and potential mechanisms of the flavonoid rich extract from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (SS-EtOAc) in KK-Ay diabetic mice. An off-line semipreparative LC-NMR and LC-UV-ESIMS protocol was performed to determine 13 flavonoids from SS-EtOAc. SS-EtOAc administrated orally to the KK-Ay mice significantly increased their sensibility to insulin, reduced fasting blood-glucose levels and blood lipid indexes such as triglyceride and cholesterol. Moreover, SS-EtOAc exhibited a strong effect of stimulation on GLUT4 translocation by 2.7 fold in L6 cells. However, the selective AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor Compound C can completely inhibit the activation of the AMPK pathway and prevent the GLUT4 translocation caused by SS-EtOAc. In vivo, phosphorylation of the AMPK expression in the liver and skeletal muscle was measured. The results showed phosphorylation of the AMPK had been improved and GLUT4 expression had been also enhanced. In this paper we conclude that, SS-EtOAc seems to have potential beneficial effects on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with the probable mechanism of stimulating GLUT4 translocation modulated by the AMPK pathway.