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Background: We aimed to examine the evolution of blood lipids and compare the risk of dyslipidemia between antiretroviral-naive people living with HIV who received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), lamivudine (3TC), and efavirenz (EFV) (TDF + 3TC + EFV) and those who received coformulated elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (E/C/F/TAF). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2343 antiretroviral-naive people living with HIV who initiated TDF + 3TC + EFV or E/C/F/TAF. A propensity score matching method was used to compare longitudinal changes of blood lipids between the 2 groups. Results: By using 1:3 matching ratio, we included 253 and 91 matched patients in TDF + 3TC + EFV group and E/C/F/TAF group, respectively. The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in E/C/F/TAF group than those in TDF + 3TC + EFV group at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months (Wilcoxon test, all P s < 0.05), except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 9 and 12 months. The cumulative rates of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and high LDL-C in PLWH with normal lipid levels in E/C/F/TAF group were higher than those in TDF + 3TC + EFV group (hypercholesterolemia, 59.7% vs 21.5%, P < 0.001; hypertriglyceridemia, 69.5% vs 46.3%, P < 00.001; and high LDL-C, 41.5% vs 14.2%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed treatment with E/C/F/TAF was associated with a significantly higher risk of hypercholesterolemia [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 4.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.65 to 6.41], hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted HR, 1.69; 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.43), and high LDL-C (adjusted HR, 4.60; 95% CI: 2.66 to 7.97). Conclusions: We concluded that treatment with E/C/F/TAF resulted in higher risks of dyslipidemia compared with TDF + 3TC + EFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cemented soil–pipe pile is an expanded pile that is composed of a high-strength, precast, prestressed pipe pile core and an expanded zone of cemented soil. To investigate the shear behaviours of the cemented soil–pipe pile interface, a series of large-scale direct shear tests on the cemented soil–concrete interface under various cemented soil strengths and different normal stresses were conducted in this research. The results revealed that the shear stress increased approximately linearly with the increase of shear displacement. When the bond limit was reached, the interface slid and the shear stress decreased sharply to the residual stress, after which it remained almost constant. The shear stress increased with the increase of the cemented soil strength and normal stress, while the peak stress was found to be relatively less affected by normal stress. The residual stress was found to be less affected by the cemented soil strength, while it increased dramatically with the increase of normal stress. Based on the test results, the shear process of the cemented soil–concrete interface can be summarised as the bond failure stage and the friction slip stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis affects the quality of life among middle-aged and elderly individuals. In addition, dysfunction of osteoblasts can lead to the progression of osteoporosis. Circular (circ)RNAs are involved in various types of diseases, including osteoporosis. Moreover, it has been reported that hsa_circ_0001275 expression is upregulated in osteoporosis. However, the effects of hsa_circ_0001275 on the growth of osteoblasts remain unclear. Methods: In the present study, the gene and protein expression levels in hFOB1.19 cells were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses, respectively. In addition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium nodules were examined by ALP and alizarin red staining, respectively. Cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assay were used to confirm the association among hsa_circ_0001275, microRNA (miR)-377 and CDKN1B. Results: DEX-induced hFOB1.19 cell growth inhibition was significantly reversed by silencing hsa_circ_0001275. Moreover, DEX significantly increased ALP activity and calcium nodules in hFOB1.19 cells, while this effect was significantly reversed in the presence of hsa_circ_0001275 small interfering RNA. In addition, miR-377 was sponged by hsa_circ_0001275 and CDKN1B was directly targeted by miR-377 in hFOB1.19 cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of hsa_circ_0001275 knockdown on osteoporosis was notably reversed by miR-377 antagomir. Conclusion: The data demonstrated that knockdown of hsa_circ_0001275 reversed DEX-induced osteoblast growth inhibition via activation of the miR-377/CDKN1B axis. Therefore, this study might shed new lights on the treatment of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Scrophularia dentata is an important medicinal plant and used for the treatment of exanthema and fever in Traditional Tibetan Medicine. Scrodentoids H and I (SHI), a pair of epimerides of C19-norditerpenoids isolated from Scrophularia dentata, could transfer to each other in room temperature and were firstly reported in our previous work. Here, we first reported the anti-inflammatory effects of SHI on LPS-induced inflammation. Purpose. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of SHI, we investigated the effects of SHI on LPS-activated THP-1 cells. Methods. THP-1 human macrophages were pretreated with SHI and stimulated with LPS. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 were measured by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The mechanism of action involving phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, P38, and STAT3 was measured by western Blot. The NF-κB promoter activity was evaluated by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System in TNF-α stimulated 293T cells. Results. SHI dose-dependently reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. The ability of SHI to reduce production of cytokines is associated with phosphorylation depress of JNK and STAT3 rather than p38, ERK, and NF-κB promoter. Conclusions. Our experimental results indicated that anti-inflammatory effects of SHI exhibit attenuation of LPS-induced inflammation and inhibit activation through JNK/STAT3 pathway in macrophages. These results suggest that SHI might have a potential in treating inflammatory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: The genus Mesorhizobium is shown by phylogenomics to be paraphyletic and forms part of a complex that includes the genera Aminobacter, Aquamicrobium, Pseudaminobacter and Tianweitania. The relationships for type strains belong to these genera need to be carefully re-evaluated. Results: The relationships of Mesorhizobium complex are evaluated based on phylogenomic analyses and overall genome relatedness indices (OGRIs) of 61 type strains. According to the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on concatenated sequences of 539 core proteins and the tree constructed using the bac120 bacterial marker set from Genome Taxonomy Database, 65 type strains were grouped into 9 clusters. Moreover, 10 subclusters were identified based on the OGRIs including average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and core-proteome average amino acid identity (cAAI), with AAI and cAAI showing a clear intra- and inter-(sub)cluster gaps of 77.40–80.91% and 83.98–86.16%, respectively. Combined with the phylogenetic trees and OGRIs, the type strains were reclassified into 15 genera. This list includes five defined genera Mesorhizobium, Aquamicrobium, Pseudaminobacter, Aminobacterand Tianweitania, among which 40/41 Mesorhizobium species and one Aminobacter species are canonical legume microsymbionts. The other nine (sub)clusters are classified as novel genera. Cluster III, comprising symbiotic M. alhagi and M. camelthorni, is classified as Allomesorhizobium gen. nov. Cluster VI harbored a single symbiotic species M. albiziae and is classified as Neomesorhizobium gen. nov. The remaining seven non-symbiotic members were proposed as: Neoaquamicrobium gen. nov., Manganibacter gen. nov., Ollibium gen. nov., Terribium gen. nov., Kumtagia gen. nov., Borborobacter gen. nov., Aerobium gen. nov.. Furthermore, the genus Corticibacterium is restored and two species in Subcluster IX-1 are reclassified as the member of this genus. Conclusion: The Mesorhizobium complex are classified into 15 genera based on phylogenomic analyses and OGRIs of 65 type strains. This study resolved previously non-monophyletic genera in the Mesorhizobium complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient gene delivery vectors has faced two major challenges, namely endo‐ and lysosomal escape and intracellular release. To address these problems, we developed an oligonucleotide (ON)‐template‐assisted polymerization approach to create ON nanospheres as gene vectors. Guanidinium‐containing disulfide monomers were organized on the ON templates to increase their effective local concentrations. Consequently, ring‐opening disulfide‐exchange polymerization between monomers was accelerated, further facilitating the self‐assembly of ON nanospheres. The size of these nanospheres was controlled by varying the length of the ON templates. Importantly, the nanospheres can be directly delivered into the cytosol through an endocytosis‐independent pathway, which is followed by intracellular depolymerization in the reductive cytosolic environment to release the packaged ONs, resulting in efficient gene silencing. The ON nanospheres thus hold great promise as candidates for gene therapy. Self‐assembled and size‐controllable oligonucleotide nanospheres were prepared by oligonucleotide‐template‐assisted polymerization. The resulting nanospheres rapidly enter the cytosol through an endocytosis‐independent pathway. A significantly higher gene therapy effect was thus achieved compared with conventional vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient gene delivery vectors has faced two major challenges, namely endo‐ and lysosomal escape and intracellular release. To address these problems, we developed an oligonucleotide (ON)‐template‐assisted polymerization approach to create ON nanospheres as gene vectors. Guanidinium‐containing disulfide monomers were organized on the ON templates to increase their effective local concentrations. Consequently, ring‐opening disulfide‐exchange polymerization between monomers was accelerated, further facilitating the self‐assembly of ON nanospheres. The size of these nanospheres was controlled by varying the length of the ON templates. Importantly, the nanospheres can be directly delivered into the cytosol through an endocytosis‐independent pathway, which is followed by intracellular depolymerization in the reductive cytosolic environment to release the packaged ONs, resulting in efficient gene silencing. The ON nanospheres thus hold great promise as candidates for gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic soil‒water characteristic tests and microscopic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests on compacted silt in the yellow river flooding area under four stress states were conducted to study the impact of stress changes on the soil‒water characteristics and microscopic pores of silt, and to clarify the microscopic mechanism of the influence of the stress state on the soil‒water characteristics of silt. The results were as follows. With the increase of normal stress, the water-holding capacity of silt enhances, the hysteretic characteristics weaken, and the air-entry value of the soil‒water characteristic curve increases. In addition, the boundary effect stage lengthens and the conversion phase moves up, but the slope of the conversion phase does not change significantly. The compacted silt has a bimodal pore structure. With increasing normal stress, the volume of pores between the aggregates decreases, the pore volume within the aggregates increases, and the maximum pore size in the soil decreases. However, the stress does not change the dominant pore size or the pore size distribution range in the aggregates. The changes in pore size distribution between silt aggregates caused by stress are intrinsic to the change in soil‒water characteristics. The results contribute to deepening the understanding of the water-holding characteristics and microscopic features of unsaturated silt in the Yellow River flooding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Polysaccharides synthesized by microalgae can be used as the functional ingredients of food or drugs. Here, we investigated the physicochemical properties and bioactivities of the polysaccharide from microalgae Pavlova viridis , and indicated the structure–activity relationship. Main methods The polysaccharides (PPS0) were degraded with H 2 O 2 -vitamin C assisted by ultrasonic waves. The functional group content, monosaccharide composition, and average molecular weight (avg-MW) were detected by chemical or chromatographic method. The immunomodulatory activities were evaluated in vitro by detecting nitric oxide (NO) emission, neutral red uptake and macrophage proliferation. Antitumor activities of degraded fragments were detected using S180-tumor-bearing mouse model by intragastric administration. Key findings Degraded polysaccharides PPS1 and PPS2 were obtained at avg-MW of 386.96 and 54.99 kDa. The sulfate group content of polysaccharide was 16%, and the uronic acid content was 5.88 and 8.48%. PPS mainly consisted of fructose, glucose and mannose. All the degraded PPSs could increase phagocytosis and proliferation of macrophages, and stimulated NO emission in a dose-dependently way. PPS2 in Low-MW fragments had the strongest immunoenhancing activities. Different doses of PPS all could inhibit the growth of implanted S180 tumor. At dose of 200 mg/kg/day, the tumor inhibition rate of PPS2 was 57.06%, about 23.6% less than that of CTX-treated group. Different-MW PPS significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation. At 200 mg/L, the proliferation index of PPS2 was 1.37, 2.03 times higher than that of CTX-treated group. Significance The polysaccharides of Pavlova viridis had potential antitumor activities by improving immune response. Moreover, the bioactivities depend on their molecular weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinobufagin and resibufogenin are two major effective bufadienolides of Chan su (toad venom), which is a Chinese medicine obtained from the skin venom gland of toads and is used as a cardiotonic and central nervous system (CNS) respiratory agent, an analgesic and anesthetic, and as a remedy for ulcers. Many clinical cases showed that Chan su has severe side-effects on the CNS, causing shortness of breath, breathlessness, seizure, coma and cardiac arrhythmia. We used whole-cell recordings from brain slices to determine the effects of bufadienolides on excitability of a principal neuron in main olfactory bulb (MOB), mitral cells (MCs), and the cellular mechanism underlying the excitation. At higher concentrations, cinobufagin and resibufogenin induced irreversible over-excitation of MCs indicating a toxic effect. At lower concentrations, they concentration-dependently increased spontaneous firing rate, depolarized the membrane potential of MCs, and elicited inward currents. The excitatory effects were due to a direct action on MCs rather than an indirect phasic action. Bufadienolides and ouabain had similar effects on firing of MCs which suggested that bufadienolides activated neuron through a ouabain-like effect, most likely by inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase. The direct action of bufadienolide on brain Na+ channels was tested by recordings from stably Nav1.2-transfected cells. Bufadienolides failed to make significant changes of the main properties of Nav1.2 channels in current amplitude, current-voltage (I-V) relationships, activation and inactivation. Our results suggest that inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase may be involved in both the pharmacological and toxic effects of bufadienolide-evoked CNS excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Physicochemical and configurations characteristics of polysaccharide were clarified. [•] Relations between bioactivity and MW or properties of polysaccharide were studied. [•] Low-MW degraded fragments showed more obvious radical scavenging effects. [•] Higher anti-lipid-peroxidation activities were observed in low-MW polysaccharides. [•] Low-MW fragments had higher inhibited effect on H2O2-induced hemolysis of RBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's world faces the dual pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction and an energy crisis. Microalgae, which can use solar energy to convert CO2 to organic matter, have emerged as a promising and renewable cell factory for producing nutrients, biofuels, and various high value‐added compounds (HVACs). They possess numerous advantages, such as high photosynthetic efficiency, fast growth rate, and use of agro‐industrial waste and nonagricultural land for cultivation. Microalgae can also effectively remove eutrophic elements (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) from wastewater and atmospheric pollutants (e.g., SOx and NOx) from flue gas, thus providing great environmental benefits. However, microalgae‐based production often faces low productivity, limiting applicability in industrial settings. Genetic and metabolic modifications of certain microalgal strains have proven effective in improving productivity. Here, we review the latest developments regarding the microalgae‐based production of platform compounds, biofuels, and other HVACs. Although still in the early exploration stage, the rapid development of gene editing tools, a deeper understanding of the metabolic pathways of microalgae and their regulatory mechanisms, and further optimization of cultivation procedures and photosynthetic efficiency can eventually enable the launch of microalgae‐based biomanufacturing for green industrial production. Therefore, this technology is strategically important for solving the current energy crisis problems of excessive CO2 emissions and environmental pollution. This review provides information about the advancement and development of microalgae‐based production over the past two decades and discusses possible future directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oxidative stress is pivotal in advancing diabetic nephropathy (DN). Salvianolic acid B (SAB), derived from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, exhibits renoprotective effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its action in DN are not fully elucidated. This study explores SAB's protective effect on DN, focusing on its antioxidative properties in glomerular mesangial cells. Methods: The renoprotective effects of various SAB dosages on DN rats were assessed by evaluating kidney tissue pathological alterations through hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, Masson, TUNEL staining, and kidney function through biochemical detection. Cell counting kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assays were utilized to evaluate the viability of high glucose (HG)-induced HBZY-1 cells treated with various SAB dosages. Oxidative stress and inflammation levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3)/Forkhead box transcription factor O1 (FOXO1) pathway was examined through Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: SAB mitigated kidney histopathological alterations and function and cell apoptosis in DN rats at various dosages. It enhanced the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase while decreasing reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels both in vivo and in vitro. SAB also suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α) and the expression of collagen IV and fibronectin in HG-induced HBZY-1 cells. Furthermore, SAB activated the SIRT3/FOXO1 signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SAB may alleviate oxidative stress in DN both in vivo and in vitro, potentially through the activation of the SIRT3/FOXO1-mediated signaling pathway. This study provides initial insights into the possible antioxidative and renoprotective effects of SAB, indicating its potential utility as a therapeutic agent for DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) are present in glomeruli of the main olfactory bulb. The functions of CB1Rs and their endogenous activators, endocannabinoids, for glomerular signaling are unknown. Glomeruli contain at least three types of neurons: periglomerular (PG), external tufted (ET), and short-axon (SA) cells. PG cells form inhibitory GABAergic dendrodendritic synapses with ET cells. ET cells form excitatory glutamatergic dendrodendritic synapses with PG and SA cells. In mouse brain slices, we used whole-cell patch-clamp recordings to study the role of CB1Rs in regulating PG and ET cells. Cannabinoids displayed strong, direct inhibitory effects on PG cells and weak effects on ET cells. Single pulses or a train of pulses of depolarizing current injected into an ET cell evoked suppression of IPSCs. This suggests retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, namely, depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI) in ET cells. Our results support the hypothesis that burst firing of ET cells triggers the release of endocannabinoids which in turn directly inhibit PG cells and reduce GABA release from PG cells. This, in turn, can result in a transient reduction of PG cell inhibitory input to ET cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) isolated from Porphyridium cruentum were degraded by hermetical–microwave and H2O2 under ultrasonic waves. Six products were obtained with molecular weights of 6.53, 256, 606, 802.6, 903.3 and 1002kDa. The antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of different-molecular-weight (MW) polysaccharides were evaluated by the S180-tumor-bearing mouse model in vivo and peritoneal macrophage activation in vitro. The degraded EPSs all showed clear immunomodulation to different extents. The MW of the EPSs had a notable effect on their activity. The 6.53-kDa fragment had the strongest immunoenhancing activity. Different doses of EPS all inhibited the growth of the implanted S180 tumor. The tumor inhibition index at high, middle and low doses was 53.3%, 47.5% and 40.5%, respectively. In addition, three different concentrations of EPS significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation, which indicated the unique mechanism of the antitumor effect of EPS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hermetical microwave was used to degrade Porphyridium cruentum polysaccharides from 2918 to 256.2, 60.66 and 6.55kDa. The antioxidant properties of different molecular weight polysaccharides were evaluated by determining the scavenging ability of free radicals, inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates and hemolysis of mouse erythrocytes. Analysis of physicochemical properties confirmed that microwave degradation might not markedly change the chemical components of the polysaccharides. High-molecular-weight polysaccharides from P. cruentum had no obvious antioxidant activity, but low-molecular-weight fragments after degradation exerted an inhibitory effect on oxidative damage. The 6.55-kDa fragment had stronger antioxidant activity than the 60.66 and 256-kDa fragments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

(-)-α-Bisabolol (BIS) is a sesquiterpene alcohol derived mostly from Matricaria recutita L., which is a traditional herb and exhibits multiple biologic activities. BIS has been reported for treatment of skin disorders, but the effect of BIS on anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of BIS on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD in BALB/c mice and the underlying mechanism in Bone Marrow-Derived Mast Cells (BMMCs). Topical BIS treatment reduced AD-like symptoms and the release of interleukin (IL)-4 without immunoglobulin (Ig)-E production in DNCB-induced BALB/c mice. Histopathological examination revealed that BIS reduced epidermal thickness and inhibited mast cells in the AD-like lesions skin. Oral administration of BIS effectively and dose-dependently suppressed mast-cell-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In IgE-mediated BMMCs, the levels of β-hexosaminidase (β-hex), histamine, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were reduced by blocking the activation of nuclear factor-қB (NF-қB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) without P38 mitogen activated protein (P38) and extracellular regulated protein kinases (Erk1/2). Taken together, our experimental results indicated BIS suppresses AD by inhibiting the activation of JNK and NF-κB in mast cells. BIS may be a promising therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis and other mast-cell-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a cooperative control method based on model predictive control and multiagent theory is proposed to control an interconnected air suspension system with three controllable structures of interconnection mode, damping, and vehicle height. The model predictive controller is constructed based on a discrete-time state-space model. The optimal interval for suspension force is obtained through solving cost functions while satisfying a set of constraints on controlled variables and thereby reducing the coupling complexity of a multivariable control system. Deliberative agents are involved in building cost functions of interconnection mode, vehicle height adjustment, and damping force, and the energy consumption control strategy is established to realize suspension force distribution with low energy consumption. Finally, the test results show that the proposed control method can significantly improve vehicle ride comfort and restrain rollover on the premise of ensuring energy efficiency. Compared with traditional control, the peak value of the sprung mass acceleration speed decreases by 70% and the peak value of the unsprung mass acceleration speed decreases by 75% under straight-driving condition. The roll angle decreases by 40% under the steering condition. As for the traditional control, they are skyhook, imitation skyhook, and PID-PWM control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the contradiction between handling stability and ride comfort of vehicles with interconnected air suspension system (IASS) and reduce the energy consumption of air suspension with adjustable spring stiffness, a coordinated control for dynamic performance was designed based on the logic of switching interconnection modes and game control for the damper. The control system consists of a switching controller for air suspension interconnection modes and a distribution controller for the damping force. The switching controller determines the optimal air suspension interconnection mode by calculating the vehicle dynamic performance index in real-time. The distribution controller achieves a distribution for optimal damping force based on an infinite time differential game. veDYNA software that is a vehicle dynamics analysis software based on MATLAB/Simulink was used to verify the algorithm, and the accuracy was verified by a bench test. Finally, the results show this coordinated system can significantly improve the ride comfort and restrain the pitching motion. Compared with traditional suspension, the vertical acceleration decreases by 18.32% and the dynamic stroke decreases by more than 10% under the straight condition; the vertical acceleration decreases by 12.24% and the roll angle decreases by 1.26% under the steering condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-view clustering has gained soar attention in the field of data mining in recent years. Most multi-view clustering methods are considered to be complete for each view. However, in many applications, some views may contain missing instances, resulting in the incomplete multi-view learning problem. Incomplete views cannot be directly dealt with traditional multi-view clustering methods. In this paper, we propose a One-step multi-view subspace clustering with incomplete views (OMVSC-IV) method based on low-rank matrix factorization to overcome this problem. Specifically, the proposed algorithm uses low-rank matrix factorization to learn a consensus representation matrix, and then combined with the objective function of non-negative embedding and spectral embedding subspace clustering proposed in this paper. The whole process is established into the same objective function for joint optimization and requires no post-processing (e.g., K -means), thus avoiding the defect of being sensitive to initial values. Furthermore, the accuracy, parameter, sensitivity and convergence of the algorithm are studied by experiments. Experimental results on nine data sets show that the proposed algorithm performs superior to some of the latest algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-granular probabilistic linguistic modeling allows decision makers to express cognitive information using multiple linguistic term sets based on their preferences. However, personalized individual semantics (PIS) can lead to different meanings of the same word within the linguistic context. To address this issue and manage consensus in large-scale group decision making, this study proposes a decision framework that employs multi-granular probabilistic linguistic preference relations (MGPLPRs). First, a transformation method is presented to unify different granularity levels of MGPLPRs, thus ensuring the consistency of granularity. Moreover, a consistency-driven optimization model is constructed to generate the numerical scales with PIS for different experts. Thereafter, a two-stage consensus reaching process (CRP) is developed, including both within-cluster and across-cluster CRP, to achieve group consensus. The experts' original weights are derived from a social network, taking into account the trust relationships among them. A dynamic weighting mechanism is used to update the experts' weights based on their contributions to group consensus, which better reflects the actual situation than fixed weights. The proposed method is exemplified through a case study of assessing and selecting campus surveillance measures for COVID-19. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed framework are verified through comparative analysis and sensitivity analysis. • A new LSGDM method with MGPLPRs is proposed. • Design a two-stage CRP based on the PIS model. • A probabilistic linguistic trust propagation operator is proposed. • A new weight determination method for experts is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caring behavior among nurses would have an impact on patient outcomes. External organizational job resources and personal internal psychological resources are correlated to nurses' caring behavior. Authentic leadership and psychological capital were shown to be correlated with nurses' caring behavior in previous studies. However, the relationships among the three are nevertheless unclear. This study aimed to examine if psychological capital could act as a mediator between nursing managers' authentic leadership and nurses' caring behavior. Methods: In December 2021, a total of 3,662 nurses were recruited from 37 hospitals in Anhui Province, China. They filled out online surveys, including general demographic information, the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and the Caring Behavior Inventory. Structural Equation Modeling and the bootstrapping procedure were used to examine the mediating role of psychological capital. Results: The scores of authentic leadership, psychological capital, and caring behavior of 3,495 nurses were 52.04 ± 13.24, 96.89 ± 17.78, and 104.28 ± 17.01, respectively. Psychological capital significantly mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and nurses' caring behavior (β = 0.378, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval: 0.350 ~ 0.402), which made up 78.75% of the total impact (0.480). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that nursing managers should develop an authentic leadership style, which can effectively improve nurses' caring behaviors toward patients in clinical practice. Meanwhile, nursing leaders should strengthen nurses' psychological evaluation and training, and promote nurses' caring behavior in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple instance learning is a modification in supervised learning that handles the classification of collection instances, which called bags. Each bag contains a number of instances whose features are extracted. In multiple instance learning, the standard assumption is that a positive bag contains at least one positive instance, whereas a negative bag is only comprised of negative instances. The complexity of multiple instance learning relies heavily on the number of instances in the training datasets. Since we are usually confronted with a large instance space, it is important to design efficient instance selection techniques to speed up the training process, without compromising the performance. Firstly, a multiple instance learning model of support vector machine based on grey relational analysis is proposed in this paper. The data size can be reduced, and the importance of instances in the bag can be preliminarily judged. Secondly, this paper introduces an algorithm with the bag-representative selector that trains the support vector machine based on bag-level information. Finally, this paper shows how to generalize the algorithm for binary multiple instance learning to multiple class tasks. The experimental study evaluates and compares the performance of our method against 8 state-of-the-art multiple instance methods over 10 datasets, and then demonstrates that the proposed approach is competitive with the state-of-art multiple instance learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a research study conducted on people living in Fuyang Shi, China including prevalence of diabetes and increased risks during urbanization. Topics discussed include statistical analysis of data required to evaluate outcomes of diagnosis, measurement of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and prevention of diabetes with proper measures.

D-Galactose derivatives, including galactosyl-conjugates and galactose-upgrading compounds, provide various physiological benefits and find applications in industries such as food, cosmetics, feed, pharmaceuticals. Many research on galactose derivatives focuses on identification, characterization, development, and mechanistic aspects of their physiological function, providing opportunities and challenges for the development of practical approaches for synthesizing galactose derivatives. This study focuses on recent advancements in enzymatic biosynthesis of galactose derivatives. Various strategies including isomerization, epimerization, transgalactosylation, and phosphorylation-dephosphorylation were extensively discussed under the perspectives of thermodynamic feasibility, theoretical yield, cost-effectiveness, and by-product elimination. Specifically, the enzymatic phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cascade is a promising enzymatic synthesis route for galactose derivatives because it can overcome the thermodynamic equilibrium of isomerization and utilize cost-effective raw materials. The study also elucidates the existing challenges and future trends in enzymatic biosynthesis of galactose derivatives. Collectively, this review provides a real-time summary aimed at promoting the practical biosynthesis of galactose derivatives through enzymatic catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox has a very prominent regional epidemic. It has been confined to Western and Central African countries. Sporadic cases found in countries outside Africa generally have a history of sojourn in endemic areas. However, the recent multinational outbreak of monkeypox cases in Europe in early May 2022 has revealed a changing epidemiological trend, those confirmed cases had no sojourn history in endemic areas and with a high proportion of cases involving men who have sex with men (MSM). Among the MSM cases, many of them presented atypical clinical manifestations of monkeypox and with other sexually transmitted diseases co-infection. Combined with the high social interactivity in this community, there is likely a higher risk of monkeypox transmission in this population. Establishing an infectious disease surveillance system, maintaining highly vigilant regarding the transmission of monkeypox in MSM, and responding promptly are necessary and effective measures to contain the outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tumor‐specific neoantigen‐based cancer vaccines hold tremendous potential, it still faces low cross‐presentation associated with severe degradation via endocytosis pathway. Herein, a thiolated nano‐vaccine allowing direct cytosolic delivery of neoantigen and Toll like receptor 9 agonist CpG‐ODN is developed. This approach is capable of bypassing the endo‐/lysosome degradation, increasing uptake and local concentration of neoantigen and CpG‐ODN to activate antigen‐presenting cells, significantly strengthening the anti‐cancer T‐cell immunity. In vivo immunization with thiolated nano‐vaccine enhanced the lymph organ homing and promoted the antigen presentation on dendritic cells, effectively inhibited tumor growth, and significantly prolonged the survival of H22‐bearing mice. Strikingly, further combination of the thiolated nano‐vaccine with anti‐programmed cell death protein‐1 antibody (αPD‐1) could efficiently reverse immunosuppression and enhance response rate of tumors, which led to enhanced tumor elimination, complete prevention of tumor re‐challenge, and long‐term survival above 150 d. Collectively, a versatile methodology to design cancer vaccines for strengthening anti‐cancer T‐cell immunity in solid tumors is presented, which could be further remarkably enhanced by combining with immune checkpoint inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tumor‐specific neoantigen‐based cancer vaccines hold tremendous potential, it still faces low cross‐presentation associated with severe degradation via endocytosis pathway. Herein, a thiolated nano‐vaccine allowing direct cytosolic delivery of neoantigen and Toll like receptor 9 agonist CpG‐ODN is developed. This approach is capable of bypassing the endo‐/lysosome degradation, increasing uptake and local concentration of neoantigen and CpG‐ODN to activate antigen‐presenting cells, significantly strengthening the anti‐cancer T‐cell immunity. In vivo immunization with thiolated nano‐vaccine enhanced the lymph organ homing and promoted the antigen presentation on dendritic cells, effectively inhibited tumor growth, and significantly prolonged the survival of H22‐bearing mice. Strikingly, further combination of the thiolated nano‐vaccine with anti‐programmed cell death protein‐1 antibody (αPD‐1) could efficiently reverse immunosuppression and enhance response rate of tumors, which led to enhanced tumor elimination, complete prevention of tumor re‐challenge, and long‐term survival above 150 d. Collectively, a versatile methodology to design cancer vaccines for strengthening anti‐cancer T‐cell immunity in solid tumors is presented, which could be further remarkably enhanced by combining with immune checkpoint inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: With the current coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic and high endemic levels of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide, it is urgent to investigate liver function changes of COVID‐19 patients with chronic HBV infection, and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection in turn affects the course of chronic HBV infection. Method: We undertook a retrospective study based on 347 COVID‐19 patients (21 vs. 326 with vs. without chronic HBV infection). With the propensity score matching (PSM) method, we yielded 20 and 51 matched patients for the HBV group and the non‐HBV group, respectively. Results: At the end of follow‐up, all of these 71 patients achieved SARS‐CoV‐2 clearance (P = 0.1). During the follow‐up, 30% versus 31.4% in the HBV group versus non‐HBV group progressed to severe COVID‐19 (P = 0.97). After PSM, the longitudinal changes of median values for liver biochemistries were not significantly different between the two groups. In the HBV group versus non‐HBV group, 35% (7/20) versus 37.25% (19/51) (P = 0.86) had abnormal alanine aminotransferase at least once during hospitalization, 30% (6/20) versus 31.37% (16/51) had abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.91), 40% (8/20) versus 37.25% (19/51) had abnormal γ‐glutamyltransferase (P = 0.83), and 45% (9/20) versus 39.22% (20/51) had abnormal total bilirubin levels (P = 0.91). Moreover, three patients in the HBV group had hepatitis B reactivation. Conclusions: Liver dysfunction presented in COVID‐19 patients with/without chronic HBV. Moreover, those COVID‐19 patients co‐infected with chronic HBV could have a risk of hepatitis B reactivation. It is necessary to monitor liver function of COVID‐19 patients, as well as HBV‐DNA levels for those co‐infected with HBV during the whole disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarophyton vermiculophyllum is a commercially important red alga for agar production in the Northwest Pacific Ocean and is an invasive seaweed in Europe. High temperature is an important environmental stressor that influences its growth, metabolism, and migration. Nevertheless, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underpinning the response of A. vermiculophyllum to heat stress. Using RNA-sequencing, we performed the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis of A. vermiculophyllum under heat stress to explore and identify potentially important heat stress-responsive genes. After de novo assembly of the transcriptome, 55,486 unigenes were found, of which 39,687 unigenes (71.52%) were functionally annotated. In total, 2,923 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between heat-stressed and control samples. Heat shock proteins represented the most abundant DEGs. Transcript factors were also significantly differently expressed under heat stress. Meanwhile, the photoprotective mechanism based on PsbS (Photosystem II subunit S) related nonphotochemical quenching and PGR5 (proton gradient regulation 5) dependent cyclic electron flow around photosystem I was found to be promoted under heat stress, which may help A. vermiculophyllum to cope with the high temperature. This study lays an important foundation for further elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying heat tolerance in A. vermiculophyllum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of CuS/CaCO 3 nanocomposite by using eggshell as template. • The catalytic effect of CuS/CaCO 3 composite is better than that of pure CuS in the presence of persulfate. • Multiple free radicals (such as SO 4 −, OH, and CO 3 -) to synergistically degrade etracycline Hydrochloride. Persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation process (AOP) has attracted wide attention in recent years, in which it is crucial to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly catalyst. Herein, a waste eggshell derived eggshell/CuS (ES-CuS) composite catalyst was successfully prepared in a simple way, and used in combination with PS to degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Our results showed that the coated CuS had a sheet-like structure and was evenly distributed on the surface of the eggshell, which could effectively prevent agglomeration and enhance catalytic performance. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and free radical capturing experiments confirmed that a series of active species such as sulfate radicals (SO 4 −), hydroxyl radicals (OH), as well as carbonate radicals (CO 3 -) were produced during the catalysis process, which is the main reason for enhanced catalytic effect compared with that of the pure CuS. A possible degradation pathway was proposed. It can be expected that discarded eggshells can be used as a low-cost carrier for the synthesis of various composites to achieve its valorization, which have very broad development prospects in the field of environmental remediation or catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a product produced by the intestinal bacteria-mediated breakdown of ginsenoside, exhibits a wide array of pharmacological activities against diverse targets. However, few of preclinical safety evaluation of CK is reported. Aims of the study : The present study therefore sought to assess the toxicity of oral CK in Beagle dogs over a 26-week period. All dogs received 4, 12, or 36 mg/kg oral CK doses for 26 weeks with regular monitoring, followed by a 4-week recovery period. Animals were monitored through measurements of temperature, weight, food intake, blood chemistry and hematological findings, electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, urinalysis, gross necropsy and organ weight and tissue histopathology. Animals in the 36 mg/kg group exhibited an apparent reduction in body weight over the study period, in addition to the presence of focal liver necrosis and increased plasma enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase, ALT; alkaline phosphatase, ALP) consistent with hepatotoxicity, although there was some evidence suggesting this toxicity was reversible. Animals in the 4 and 12 mg/kg groups did not exhibit any apparent toxicity for any measured parameters. These results thus indicate that the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in dogs is 12 mg/kg. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

20(s)-ginsenoside Rg3 is a red ginseng-derived compound with the formula C 42 H 72 O 13 that has been increasingly used by humans, leading to safety concerns regarding this use. In the current study, we conducted a 26-week study during which 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (0, 7, 20, or 60 mg/kg) was continuously administered orally to Beagle dogs in order to explore its toxicity in these animals, with control dogs receiving a vehicle capsule. In total, 10 dogs received each dose of this compound (n = 5 male, n = 5 female per dose). Animals were continuously monitored for a 26-week administration period and a subsequent 4-week follow-up recovery period. At the end of study, we observed no evidence of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 toxicity in clinical indications, body weight, food intake, ophthalmoscopy, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross and histopathology findings. However, the kidney relative weight of animals receiving 60 mg/kg of compound was significantly elevated relative to control animals (5.15 ± 0.88‰ vs. 4.11 ± 0.59‰. P < 0.05), and this effect was reversed after 4-week recovery period. Based on these results, the NOAEL value for orally administered 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 in dogs is 20 mg/kg. • In 26-week chronic toxicity, the NOAEL of Rg3 for dogs is 20 mg/kg. • In toxicity study, 60 mg/kg Rg3 induced increasing of the kidney relative weight. • Increasing of kidney weight maybe a result of the excretion of Rg3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a hydrolysate of ginsenosides in the soil bacteria. This study evaluated the toxicity of CK as acute and the 26-week repeated-dose. The results of acute toxicity show that CK administered orally to rats and mice did not cause mortality or toxicity at the maximum dosage of 8 g/kg and 10 g/kg, respectively. In the toxicity study for 26-week, rats were administered with CK at doses of 13, 40, or 120 mg/kg, and were observed for 26 weeks and recovery periods of four weeks. Under the conditions, asthenia, hypoactivity, loss of fur and body weight reduction were transiently noticed in males of 120 mg/kg group. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity also were evident including the elevation of liver and kidney relative weight, along with focal liver necrosis as well as the increase in plasma enzymes (ALT and ALP) in male rats receiving CK (120 mg/kg), but this toxicity might be reversible. For 13 and 40 mg/kg CK groups, there was no significant variation in food habits, clinical signs, urine analysis, body weight, biochemical and hematological values, organ coefficient and histopathology examination. The NOAEL for male and female rats were observed to be 40 and 120 mg/kg, respectively. • In acute toxicity, the maximum dosage was 8 and 10 g/kg CK in rats and mice, respectively. • In 26-week toxicity study, NOAEL was 40 and 120 mg/kg in male and female rats, respectively. • In 26-week toxicity study, liver and kidney were a possible CK-toxicity target organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]