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Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high mortality rate. This study investigated the status of lipid metabolism-related genes in HCC. Bulk transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data for HCC were retrieved from public databases. The single-cell sequencing data was subjected to dimensionality reduction, which facilitated the annotation of distinct cell subpopulations and marker gene expression analysis within each subpopulation. Genes associated with lipid metabolism in liver cells were identified, and a machine-learning model was developed using the bulk transcriptomic data randomly partitioned into training and validation sets. The efficacy of the model was validated using these two sets. A multifactorial Cox analysis on the model genes combined with clinical features, led to the identification of age, HMGCS2, HNRNPU, and RAN as independent prognostic factors, which were included in the nomogram model construction and validation. A weighted gene co-expression analysis of all genes of the bulk transcriptome samples revealed the correlation between gene modules and risk score. Genes with cor > 0.4 in the highest-expressing module were selected for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis. Immune-related analysis was conducted based on seven algorithms for immune cell infiltration prediction. For the genes in the nomogram model, the expression in clinical pathological factors was also analyzed. The drug sensitivity analysis offered a reference for the selection of targeting drugs. This investigation provides novel insights and a theoretical basis for the prognosis, treatment, and pharmaceutical advancements for patients diagnosed with HCC.

The branches and leaves of 8 varieties of Lonicera japonica as materials, a high-performance liquid chromatography detection method for 8 phenolic acid components was established to determine the content characteristics of phenolic acids in the samples. The content determination results were evaluated by multivariate statistical methods such as cluster analysis, factor comprehensive analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that the established method for determining the content of 8 phenolic acids in the branches and leaves of L. japonica was stable, reliable and simple. The variation range of phenolic acids total content in the branches and leaves of 8 varieties of L. japonica was 19.4162~33.6684 mg·g−1, and 40.9900~80.3068 mg·g−1, respectively. The total content of phenolic acids varied greatly among different varieties, with 'Beihua No.1' had the highest total content in both branches and leaves, and 'Juhua No.1' had the lowest total content. Cluster analysis found that among the branches of 'Beihua No.1' was clustered separately into one group, with higher content of each component than other varieties. Factor comprehensive analysis showed that the comprehensive score of 'Beihua No.1' was >1. PLS-DA analysis identified isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid as the main components that might cause differences in phenolic acid content in branches. Among leaves, 'Beihua No.1' and 'Jiufeng No.1' were clustered into one category, and their comprehensive factor analysis scores were both greater than 1. PLS-DA analysis identified chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid as the main components that might cause differences in phenolic acid content in leaves. In summary, there were differences in the main phenolic acid composition characteristics of different varieties. In terms of phenolic acid content, the branches and leaves of 'Beihua No.1' and 'Jiufeng No.1' have more advantages. This study provides a scientific basis for the utilization of L. japonica branches and leaves.

The application of offshore wind power gangways ensures the normal operation of offshore wind turbines and provides reliable support for optimizing the boarding process, improving the operation and maintenance efficiency, and reducing the cost of wind power projects. This paper provides an overview of the development history and technological progress of gangways, and analyzes the main equipment in this field and its performance at home and abroad, as well as discussing the key technologies of offshore wind turbine gangways in such aspects as motion sensing and data analysis, compensation control and execution, structural design and reliability, and composite material application. It is pointed out that the parallel platform is the mainstream offshore gangway actuator; wave compensation is the core of equipment performance and the source of competitiveness; and advanced wave compensation technology depends on the development of sensor technology, artificial intelligence technology and other multidisciplinary development. This paper makes a comprehensive analysis for researchers and practitioners in the field of offshore wind power gangways, providing valuable references for subsequent technology exploration.

This work explores the potential of a triple combination of meropenem (MEM), a novel metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) inhibitor (indole-2-carboxylate 58 (InC58)), and a serine-β-lactamase (SBL) inhibitor (avibactam (AVI)) for broad-spectrum activity against carbapenemase-producing bacteria. A diverse panel comprising MBL- and SBL-producing strains was used for susceptibility testing of the triple combination using the agar dilution method. The frequency of resistance (FoR) to MEM combined with InC58 was investigated. Mutants were sequenced and tested for cross resistance, fitness, and the stability of the resistance phenotype. Compared with the double combinations of MEM plus an SBL or MBL inhibitor, the triple combination extended the spectrum of activity to most of the isolates bearing SBLs (oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48) and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2)) and MBLs (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases (NDMs)), although it was not effective against Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM)-carrying Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and OXA-23-carrying Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). The FoR to MEM plus InC58 ranged from 2.22 × 10−7 to 1.13 × 10−6. The resistance correlated with mutations to ompC and comR, affecting porin C and copper permeability, respectively. The mutants manifested a fitness cost, a decreased level of resistance during passage without antibiotic pressure, and cross resistance to another carbapenem (imipenem) and a β-lactamase inhibitor (taniborbactam). In conclusion, compared with the dual combinations, the triple combination of MEM with InC58 and AVI showed a much wider spectrum of activity against different carbapenemase-producing bacteria, revealing a new strategy to combat β-lactamase-mediated antimicrobial resistance.

To comprehensively understand the genetic information of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SGJ-24 and thoroughly analyze the functional genes associated with its tolerance to challenging vinous environments, reduction of biological acid, and biogenic amine degradation activities. The study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing, which combined second-generation Illumina HiSeq technology with third-generation PacBio RS II technology. The results showed that, a total genome size of 3451191 bp and 3361 coding genes. Numerous genes were annotated for functions such as nutrient (sugar, amino acid and so on) transport and metabolism, protein synthesis, and nucleic acid metabolism. Additionally, specific functional genes related to the versatile activities of this strain were identified, including malolactic fermentation activity (MLE and so on), acid tolerance (gadB and so on), ethanol tolerance (PFK, GK and so on), and biogenic amine degradation (GAPDH) function. The research findings provided a deep insight into the genetic characteristics of L. plantarum SGJ-24, laying a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization of the strain.

ABSTRACT Background MiRNA let7d‐5p has been recently reported to be abnormally expressed in diabetes‐associated atherosclerosis (AS). However, it still remains unknown how let7d‐5p contributes to the process of atherosclerosis. Methods Twenty fresh tissues and a total of 28 wax block specimens from carotid endarterectomy procedures were obtained from the Luoyang Central Hospital affiliated to Zhengzhou University. The expression of let7d‐5p was assessed using quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). A series of in vitro experiments was used to determine the roles of let7d‐5p knockdown and overexpression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Results We discovered that the carotid plaques from diabetic patients had lower expression levels of miR let7d‐5p. In VSMCs, the expression of miRNA let7d‐5p was significantly lower in high glucose conditions compared with low glucose situations. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs were also inhibited by the overexpression of let7d‐5p, whereas the opposite was true when let7d‐5p was inhibited, according to gain and loss of function studies. Mechanically, let7d‐5p might activate the GSK3β/β‐catenin signaling pathway via binding to the high mobility group AT‐Hook 2 (HMGA2) mRNA in VSMCs. Additionally, GLP‐1RA liraglutide may prevent the migration and proliferation of VSMCs by raising let7d‐5p levels. Conclusions High glucose stimulated the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by regulating the let7d‐5p/HMGA2/GSK3β/β‐catenin pathway, and liraglutide may slow atherosclerosis by increasing the levels of miR let7d‐5p.

Little information is known about the increased aroma compounds and possible mechanism in Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb roasted mutton (TRM). A comprehensive analysis of aroma compounds and lipids were firstly performed by lipidomics and sensomics approach. The results indicated that 9 out of 53 aroma compounds were considered as key odorants, including 5-methyl-2,3-diethylpyrazine. The roasted mutton contained highest levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC, 13.95%), triglyceride (TG, 13.50%), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 12.25%). TG 18:0_18:0_18:1 and nine odorants were the potential biomarkers for discriminating differential samples due to variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1 and p

Background: The role and molecular mechanisms of collagen type VII (COL7A1) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain unknown. Methods: We analyzed the expression of COL7A1 in CCA and its relationship with patient prognosis using bioinformatic techniques. Expression levels of COL7A1 in CCA cells and tissues were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The effects of COL7A1 expression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CCA cells were assessed using CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to examine the binding of KLF4 to COL7A1, and cytological experiments further verified the role of KLF4 in regulating the CCA phenotype through COL7A1. Xenograft mouse models were established to investigate the effects of COL7A1 on CCA tumor growth in vivo. Results: CCA tissues exhibited higher COL7A1 expression than normal bile duct tissues. There was no significant correlation between high or low COL7A1 expression and the survival time of patients with CCA. COL7A1 knockdown inhibited CCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, COL7A1 knockdown suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. KLF4 can bind to COL7A1 and regulate COL7A1 expression, which in turn regulates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and impacts the proliferation and metastasis of CCA cells. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KLF4 regulates CCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the COL7A1/PI3K/AKT axis.

Abstract Objectives This study aims to elucidate the transcriptomic signatures and dysregulated pathways in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), with a particular focus on those persisting during disease remission. Methods We conducted bulk RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a well-defined cohort comprising 26 remission patients meeting the Low Lupus Disease Activity State (LLDAS) criteria, 76 patients experiencing disease flares, and 15 healthy controls. To elucidate immune signature changes associated with varying disease states, we performed extensive analyses, including the identification of differentially expressed genes and pathways, as well as the construction of protein-protein interaction networks. Results Several transcriptomic features recovered during remission compared to the active disease state, including down-regulation of plasma and cell cycle signatures, as well as up-regulation of lymphocytes. However, specific innate immune response signatures, such as the interferon (IFN) signature, and gene modules involved in chromatin structure modification, persisted across different disease states. Drug repurposing analysis revealed certain drug classes that can target these persistent signatures, potentially preventing disease relapse. Conclusion Our comprehensive transcriptomic study revealed gene expression signatures for SLE in both active and remission states. The discovery of gene expression modules persisting in the remission stage may shed light on the underlying mechanisms of vulnerability to relapse in these patients, providing valuable insights for their treatment.

Abstract Background To establish a method to induce Campylobacter jejuni colonization in the intestines of C57BL/6 mice through antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion. Results Fifty-four female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the normal, control, and experimental groups. The experimental group was administered intragastric cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium (50 mg/mL) for 2 days; then, the experimental and control mice were intragastrically administered 200 µL C. jejuni, which was repeated once more after 2 days. Animal feces were collected, and the HipO gene of C. jejuni was detected using TaqMan qPCR from day 1 to day 14 after modeling completion. Immunofluorescence was used to detect intestinal C. jejuni colonization on day 14, and pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, 16S rDNA analyses of the intestinal contents were conducted on day 14. In the experimental group, C. jejuni was detected in the feces from days 1 to 14 on TaqMan qPCR, and immunofluorescence-labeled C. jejuni were visibly discernable in the intestinal lumen. The intestinal mucosa was generally intact and showed no significant inflammatory-cell infiltration. Diversity analysis of the colonic microbiota showed significant inter-group differences. In the experimental group, the composition of the colonic microbiota differed from that in the other 2 groups at the phylum level, and was characterized by a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes and a lower proportion of Firmicutes. Conclusions Microbiome depletion induced by cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium could promote long-term colonization of C. jejuni in the intestines of mice.

ABSTRACTEmerging evidence has revealed the novel role of gut microbiota in the development of cancer. The characteristics of function and composition in the gut microbiota of patients with breast cancer patients has been reported, however the detailed causation between gut microbiota and breast cancer remains uncertain. In the present study, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that Prevotella, particularly the dominant species Prevotella copri, is significantly enriched and prevalent in gut microbiota of breast cancer patients. Prior-oral administration of P. copri could promote breast cancer growth in specific pathogen-free mice and germ-free mice, accompanied with sharp reduction of indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA). Mechanistically, the present of excessive P. copri consumed a large amount of tryptophan (Trp), thus hampering the physiological accumulation of IPyA in the host. Our results revealed that IPyA is an intrinsic anti-cancer reagent in the host at physiological level. Briefly, IPyA directly suppressed the transcription of UHRF1, following by the declined UHRF1 and PP2A C in nucleus, thus inhibiting the phosphorylation of AMPK, which is just opposite to the cancer promoting effect of P. copri. Therefore, the exhaustion of IPyA by excessive P. copri strengthens the UHRF1-mediated negative control to inactivated the energy-controlling AMPK signaling pathway to promote tumor growth, which was indicated by the alternation in pattern of protein expression and DNA methylation. Our findings, for the first time, highlighted P. copri as a risk factor for the progression of breast cancer.

Protective vaccines are crucial for preventing and controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Updated vaccines are needed to confront the continuously evolving and circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. These vaccines should be safe, effective, amenable to easily scalable production, and affordable. Previously, we developed receptor binding domain (RBD) dimer-based protein subunit vaccines (ZF2001 and updated vaccines) in mammalian cells. In this study, we explored a strategy for producing RBD-dimer immunogens in Pichia pastoris. We found that wild-type P. pastoris produced hyperglycosylated RBD-dimer protein containing four N-glycosylation sites in P. pastoris. Therefore, we engineered the wild type P. pastoris (GS strain) into GSΔOCH1pAO by deleting the OCH1 gene (encoding α-1,6-mannosyltransferase enzyme) to decrease glycosylation, as well as by overexpressing the HIS4 gene (encoding histidine dehydrogenase) to increase histidine synthesis for better growth. In addition, RBD-dimer protein was truncated to remove the R328/F329 cleavage sites in P. pastoris. Several homogeneous RBD-dimer proteins were produced in the GSΔOCH1pAO strain, demonstrating the feasibility of using the P. pastoris expression system. We further resolved the cryo-EM structure of prototype-Beta RBD-dimer complexed with the neutralizing antibody CB6 to reveal the completely exposed immune epitopes of the RBDs. In a murine model, we demonstrated that the yeast-produced RBD-dimer induces robust and protective antibody responses, which is suitable for boosting immunization. This study developed the yeast system for producing SARS-CoV-2 RBD-dimer immunogens, providing a promising platform and pipeline for the future continuous updating and production of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

H5, H7, and H9 are pivotal avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes that cause substantial economic losses and pose potential threats to public health worldwide. In this study, a novel triplex fluorescence reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TLAMP) assay was developed in which traditional LAMP techniques were combined with probes for detection. Through this innovative approach, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of AIV can be simultaneously identified and differentiated, thereby offering crucial technical support for prevention and control efforts. Three primer sets and composite probes were designed based on conserved regions of the haemagglutinin gene for each subtype. The probes were labelled with distinct fluorophores at their 3′ ends, which were detached to release the fluorescence signal during the amplification process. The detection results were interpreted based on the colour of the TLAMP products. Then, the reaction conditions were optimized, and three primer sets and probes were combined in the same reaction system, resulting in a TLAMP detection assay for the differential diagnosis of AIV subtypes. Sensitivity testing with in vitro-transcribed RNA revealed that the detection limit of the TLAMP assay was 205 copies per reaction for H5, 360 copies for H7, and 545 copies for H9. The TLAMP assay demonstrated excellent specificity, no cross-reactivity with related avian viruses, and 100% consistency with a previously published quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Therefore, due to its simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity, this TLAMP assay is suitable for epidemiological investigations and is a valuable tool for detecting and distinguishing H5, H7, and H9 subtypes of AIV in clinical samples.

Using granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as the volcanic ash material and fly ash (FA) as the supplementary material, the study was conducted to investigate the mix proportions of an alkali-activated solid waste cementitious material under the stimulating effect of alkali activator carbide slag (CS). This type of cementitious material could serve as a substitute for a portion of cement usage, contributing to resource conservation and mitigating environmental pollution caused by solid waste. This facilitates green and sustainable development. Firstly, an analysis of three raw materials was conducted, and the mix proportions were designed with reference to the CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 system of Portland cement. Then 28 groups of specimens were prepared based on the designed mix proportions. The flowability and setting time of each group of specimens were tested. It was observed that an increase in the amount of CS and a decrease in the amount of GGBS resulted in decreased flowability and earlier setting times of the specimens. Additionally, FA exhibited a retarding effect on setting time. Compressive strength tests were conducted on these specimens, revealing that the optimal CS content ranged between 20 % and 40 %. Overall, FA had minimal impact on compressive strength, but it contributed to increased compressive strength in the specimens at later ages. Subsequently, microscopic characterization of the hydration products was performed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). The hydration products were identified as predominantly composed of calcium silicate hydrate. The quality and defects in the microstructure of gel products from various specimen formulations were compared to elucidate differences in macroscopic performance. Finally, the hydration process mechanism diagram of alkali-activated materials was presented to illustrate the stimulation and formation of gel products, primarily composed of C-S-H. This diagram revealed the principles behind the action of alkali-activated cementitious materials. The proposed design and testing methodology for the GGBS-FA-CS system in this study had certain reference significance for research in the direction of alkali-activated solid waste cementitious materials.

Starting in 2015, the widespread prevalence of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) has led to considerable financial losses within China’s poultry farming industry. In this study, pathogenicity assessments, whole-genome sequencing, and analyses were conducted on 10 new isolates of the novel genotype FAdV-4 during a HHS outbreak in Guangxi Province, China, from 2019 to 2020. The results indicated that strains GX2019-010 to GX2019-013 and GX2019-015 to GX2019-018 were highly virulent, while strain GX2020-019 exhibited moderate virulence. Strain GX2019-014 was characterized as a wild-type strain with low virulence, displaying no pathogenic effects when 0.5 mL containing 106 TCID50 virus was inoculated into the muscle of specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens at 4 weeks of age, while 107 TCID50 and 108 TCID50 resulted in mortality rates of 80 and 100%, respectively. The whole genomes of strains GX2019-010 to GX2019-013, GX2019-015 to GX2019-018, and GX2020-019 showed high homology with other Chinese newly emerging highly pathogenic FAdV-4 strains, whereas GX2019-014 was closer to nonmutant strains and shared the same residues with known nonpathogenic strains (B1-7, KR5, and ON1) at positions 219AA and 380AA of the Fiber-2 protein. Our work enriches the research on prevalent strains of FAdV-4 in China, expands the knowledge on the virulence diversity of the novel genotype FAdV-4, and provides valuable reference material for further investigations into the key virulence-associated genetic loci of FAdV-4.

RFID-based human activity recognition (HAR) attracts attention due to its convenience, non-invasiveness, and privacy protection. Existing RFID-based HAR methods use modeling, CNN, or LSTM to extract features effectively. Still, they have shortcomings: 1) requiring complex hand-crafted data cleaning processes and 2) only addressing single-person activity recognition based on specific RF signals. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a novel device-free method based on Time-streaming Multiscale Transformer called TransTM. This model leverages the Transformer's powerful data fitting capabilities to take raw RFID RSSI data as input without pre-processing. Concretely, we propose a multiscale convolutional hybrid Transformer to capture behavioral features that recognizes single-human activities and human-to-human interactions. Compared with existing CNN- and LSTM-based methods, the Transformer-based method has more data fitting power, generalization, and scalability. Furthermore, using RF signals, our method achieves an excellent classification effect on human behavior-based classification tasks. Experimental results on the actual RFID datasets show that this model achieves a high average recognition accuracy (99.1%). The dataset we collected for detecting RFID-based indoor human activities will be published.

Abstract An enzyme-free sandwich amperometric immunosensor based on bimetallic Pt/Ag nanoparticle (Pt/AgNPs)-functionalized chitosan (Chi)-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as dual signal amplifiers and Chi-modified MWCNTs (MWCNTs-Chi) as substrate materials was developed for ultrasensitive detection of fowl adenovirus group I (FAdV-I). MWCNTs have a large specific surface area, and many accessible active sites were formed after modification with Chi. Hence, MWCNTs-Chi, as a substrate material for modifying glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs), could immobilize more antibodies (fowl adenovirus group I-monoclonal antibody, FAdV-I/MAb). Multiple Pt/AgNPs were attached to the surface of MWCNTs-Chi to generate MWCNTs-Chi-Pt/AgNPs with high catalytic ability for the reaction of H2O2 and modified active sites for fowl adenovirus group I-polyclonal antibody (FAdV-I/PAb) binding. Amperometric i–t measurements were employed to characterize the recognizability of FAdV-I. Under optimal conditions, and the developed immunosensor exhibited a wide linear range (100.93 EID50 mL−1 to 103.43 EID50 mL−1), a low detection limit (100.67 EID50 mL−1) and good selectivity, reproducibility and stability. This immunosensor can be used in clinical sample detection.

Abstract Background Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is a valuable tool in prenatal diagnosis for the detection of chromosome uniparental disomy (UPD). This retrospective study examines fetuses undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis through Affymetrix CytoScan 750 K array analysis. We evaluated both chromosome G-banding karyotyping data and CMA results from 2007 cases subjected to amniocentesis. Results The detection rate of regions of homozygosity (ROH) ≥ 10 Mb was 1.8% (33/2007), with chromosome 11 being the most frequently implicated (17.1%, 6/33). There were three cases where UPD predicted an abnormal phenotype based on imprinted gene expression. Conclusion The integration of UPD detection by CMA offers a more precise approach to prenatal genetic diagnosis. CMA proves effective in identifying ROH and preventing the birth of children affected by imprinting diseases.

Threshold selection is challenging when analyzing tail data with a generalized Pareto distribution. Data below the threshold was not used in the model, resulting in incomplete characterization of the whole data. This paper applied the Gamma distribution, Weibull distribution, and lognormal distribution to fit the central data separately, and a generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) was used to analyze the tail data. In such composite models, the thresholds are estimated directly as parameters. We proposed an empirical distribution function-based parameter estimation method. The absolute value of the difference between the empirical distribution function and the composite distribution function was used as a loss function to obtain an estimate of the parameter. This parameter estimation method is suitable for complex multiparameter distributions. The estimation method based on the empirical distribution function was verified to be feasible through simulation studies. The composite model and the estimation method based on the empirical distribution function were applied to study the earthquake magnitude data to provide a reference for earthquake hazard analysis.

The cultivated Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link and Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. var. mitis (Pursh) Peter are two valuable grass species that are widely used in improving saline-alkali soil. Here we conducted a pot experiment combined with roots morphological analysis to investigate the adaptability of grass roots to saline stress environments, with cultivated E. frumentacea and E. crusgalli being subjected to salt treatments of 0 (CK), 100, 220, and 340 mmoL·L−1. Results indicated that E. frumentacea had longer primary roots with fewer root hairs and lower local branching density than E. crusgalli, with the root volume of E. frumentacea being 1.43 times greater than that of E. crusgalli. The aboveground biomass of both grasses decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing salt concentrations, whereas the root-to-shoot ratio exhibited the opposite trend, suggesting the preferential allocation of photosynthetic products to the roots under salt stress. The total length, surface area, and tip number of fine roots and the growth of coarse roots (d > 2.00 mm) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two grass species. Different concentrations of salt stress had inconsistent effects on the biomass and radial growth of roots for grasses. The cultivated E. frumentacea seems to adopt an adapt strategy of gradually increasing its root thickness, root hairs, and root density under increasing salt stress. E. crusgalli, on the other hand, employed a strategy of increasing root length, maintaining uniform thickness, and developing root hairs.

WRKY transcription factors constitute one of the largest plant-specific gene families, regulating various aspects of plant growth, development, physiological processes, and responses to abiotic stresses. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the WRKY gene family of yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), to understand their expression patterns during the growth and development process and their response to different treatments of yam and analyze the function of DoWRKY71 in detail. A total of 25 DoWRKY genes were identified from the transcriptome of yam, which were divided into six clades (I, IIa, IIc, IId, IIe, III) based on phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of conserved motifs revealed 10 motifs, varying in length from 16 to 50 amino acids. Based on real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, DoWRKY genes were expressed at different stages of growth and development and responded differentially to various abiotic stresses. The expression level of DoWRKY71 genes was up-regulated in the early stage and then down-regulated in tuber enlargement. This gene showed responsiveness to cold and abiotic stresses, such as abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Therefore, further study was conducted on this gene. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the DoWRKY71 protein was localized in the nucleus. Moreover, the overexpression of DoWRKY71 enhanced the cold tolerance of transgenic tobacco and promoted ABA mediated stomatal closure. This study presents the first systematic analysis of the WRKY gene family in yam, offering new insights for studying WRKY transcription factors in yam. The functional study of DoWRKY71 lays theoretical foundation for further exploring the regulatory function of the DoWRKY71 gene in the growth and development related signaling pathway of yam.

Abstract Background Vascular invasion is a major route for intrahepatic and distant metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a strong negative prognostic factor. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the regulatory functions and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in the development of vascular invasion in HCC are largely unknown. Methods High throughput sequencing was used to screen dysregulated circRNAs in portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) tissues. The biological functions of candidate circRNAs in the migration, vascular invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. To explore the underlying mechanisms, RNA sequencing, MS2-tagged RNA affinity purification, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed. Results circRNA sequencing followed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that circRNA pleckstrin and Sect. 7 domain containing 3 (circPSD3) was significantly downregulated in PVTT tissues. Decreased circPSD3 expression in HCC tissues was associated with unfavourable characteristics and predicted poor prognosis in HCC. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) inhibited the biogenesis of circPSD3 by interacting with the downstream intron of pre-PSD3. circPSD3 inhibited the intrahepatic vascular invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Serpin family B member 2 (SERPINB2), an endogenous bona fide inhibitor of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system, is the downstream target of circPSD3. Mechanistically, circPSD3 interacts with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) to sequester it in the cytoplasm, attenuating the inhibitory effect of HDAC1 on the transcription of SERPINB2. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that circPSD3 is a promising inhibitor of the uPA system. Conclusions circPSD3 is an essential regulator of vascular invasion and metastasis in HCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a process that can produce electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between deep cold water and surface warm water. The cold-water pipe (CWP) is a key component of OTEC systems, which transports deep cold water to the floating platform. The CWP is subjected to various environmental and operational loads, such as waves, currents, internal flow, and platform motion, which can affect its dynamic response and stability. In this paper, we establish a computational model of the mechanical performance of the CWP based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the Morrison equation, considering the effects of internal flow, sea current, and wave excitation. We use the differential quadrature method (DQM) to obtain a semi-analytical solution of the lateral displacement and bending moment of the CWP. We verify the correctness and validity of our model by comparing it with the finite element simulation results using OrcaFlex software. We also analyze the effects of operating conditions—such as wave intensity, clump weight at the bottom, and internal flow velocity—on the dynamic response of the CWP using numerical simulation and the orthogonal experimental method. The results show that changing the wave strength and internal flow velocity has little effect on the lateral displacement of the CWP but increasing the current velocity can significantly increase the lateral displacement of the CWP, which can lead to instability. The effects of waves, clump weight, internal flow, and sea current on the maximum bending moment of the CWP are similar; all of them increase sharply at first and then decrease gradually until they level off. The differences in the effects are mainly reflected in the different locations of the pipe sections. This paper suggests some design guidance for CWP in terms of dynamic responses depending on the operating conditions. This paper contributes to the journal’s scope by providing a novel and efficient method for analyzing the mechanical performance of CWP for OTEC systems, which is an important ocean energy resource.

Abstract Avian parvoviruses cause several enteric poultry diseases that have been increasingly diagnosed in Guangxi, China, since 2014. In this study, the whole-genome sequences of 32 strains of chicken parvovirus (ChPV) and 3 strains of turkey parvovirus (TuPV) were obtained by traditional PCR techniques. Phylogenetic analyses of 3 genes and full genome sequences were carried out, and 35 of the Guangxi ChPV/TuPV field strains were genetically different from 17 classic ChPV/TuPV reference strains. The nucleotide sequence alignment between ChPVs/TuPVs from Guangxi and other countries revealed 85.2–99.9% similarity, and the amino acid sequences showed 87.8–100% identity. The phylogenetic tree of these sequences could be divided into 6 distinct ChPV/TuPV groups. More importantly, 3 novel ChPV/TuPV groups were identified for the first time. Recombination analysis with RDP 5.0 revealed 15 recombinants in 35 ChPV/TuPV isolates. These recombination events were further confirmed by Simplot 3.5.1 analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on full genomes showed that Guangxi ChPV/TuPV strains did not cluster according to their geographic origin, and the identified Guangxi ChPV/TuPV strains differed from the reference strains. Overall, whole-genome characterizations of emerging Guangxi ChPV and TuPV field strains will provide more detailed insights into ChPV/TuPV mutations and recombination and their relationships with molecular epidemiological features.

Abstract Background Abdominal pregnancy, a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, is associated with high morbidity and adverse consequences for future fertility. Early recognition and management reduce mortality and allow minimal invasive and conservative treatment. In modern medicine, primitive prevention to unexpected fatal pregnancies is crucial. Case presentation A divorced 33-year-old “self-identified” infertile polycystic ovary woman diagnosed as repeated implantation failure in previous in vitro fertilization with her ex-husband ever presented in surgery department with a history of 15-day abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting and 3-h worsening abdominal pain. The serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin value was more than 10,000 m-international units per milliliter. Sonogram findings were significant for the absence of intrauterine gestation; a placenta and well-formed living fetus of second-trimester gestation were seen in the abdomen, accompanied by hemoperitoneum. A unique spontaneously second-trimester tubo-abdominal pregnancy was confirmed in emergent laparotomy by gynecologists, she received a removing of the living fetus, a right total salpingectomy, resection of partial omentum and blood transfusion. The patient recovered uneventfully and her serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin returned to normal range on the 30th postoperative day, till now, she has weak fertility awareness because of her catastrophic experiences in the unexpected abdominal pregnancy. Conclusions This case highlights woman with a previous in vitro fertilization history may be in is a high risk to be delayed or missed in diagnosis in an intended ectopic pregnancy due to a fixed belief in infertility. Educational interventions and contraceptive care should be provided by fertility and healthcare practitioner. The possibility of abdominal pregnancy must always be suspected and dealt with promptly and appropriately by the astute clinician.

BackgroundCarotid artery atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke, and ischemic stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unfortunately, the reason for the build-up of atherosclerosis plaque is unknown. The miRNA-29c was reported to promote the phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in diabetes mice, eventually leading to plaque formation and bleeding. However, such studies are rare and limited to animal experiments.MethodsIn our study, 40 patients were divided into a diabetic mellitus (DM) group and a non-DM group according to whether they were diagnosed with DM. Then, the real-time quantitative PCR was applied to examine the miRNA-29c level in human carotid plaque tissue derived from 40 subjects receiving carotid endarterectomy.ResultsBriefly, diabetes patients had a decreased miRNA-29c level as compared with non-DM subjects, and this comparison was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Notably, variable miRNA-29c level was negatively associated with HbA1c level, although no statistical significance was observed. Moreover, there was an increased miRNA-29c level in patients with cerebral stroke.ConclusionCollectively, the miRNA-29c level in the carotid plaque is closely associated with DM and cerebral stroke, which may contribute to atherosclerosis formation.

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains are widely distributed and spreading rapidly, creating significant challenges for clinical therapeutics. NDM-5, a novel mutant of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-1 (NDM-1), exhibits high hydrolase activity toward carbapenems. Since the genetic backgrounds of clinically isolated carbapenem-resistant E. coli are heterogeneous, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the impact of blaNDM–5 on antibiotic resistance. Herein, E. coli BL21 was transformed with a plasmid harboring blaNDM–5, and the resultant strain was named BL21 (pET-28a-blaNDM–5). Consistent with the findings of previous studies, the introduction of exogenous blaNDM–5 resulted in markedly greater resistance of E. coli to multiple β-lactam antibiotics. Compared with BL21 (pET-28a), BL21 (pET-28a-blaNDM–5) exhibited reduced motility but a significant increase in biofilm formation capacity. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing was conducted to compare the transcriptional differences between BL21 (pET-28a) and BL21 (pET-28a-blaNDM–5). A total of 461 differentially expressed genes were identified, including those related to antibiotic resistance, such as genes associated with the active efflux system (yddA, mcbR and emrY), pili (csgC, csgF and fimD), biofilm formation (csgD, csgB and ecpR) and antioxidant processes (nuoG). Finally, the pGS21a plasmid harboring blaNDM–5 was transformed into E. coli Rosetta2, after which the expression of the NDM-5 protein was induced using isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Using glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays, total proteins from E. coli were scanned to screen out 82 proteins that potentially interacted with NDM-5. Our findings provide new insight into the identified proteins to identify potential antibiotic targets and design novel inhibitors of carbapenem-resistant bacteria.

ABSTRACT Objectives: Pegylated interferon alfa (PegIFNα) has limited efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Because single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known to confer disease susceptibility and influence treatment response, we aimed to identify novel tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) SNPs that were associated with therapeutic efficacy in patients with CHB after PegIFNα treatment. Samples from 107 patients with CHB were genotyped using Asian Screening Array gene chips. The related mechanisms of SNPs screened were explored through both cell experiments and RNA sequence methods. TRIM22 was the most upregulated upon stimulation with PegIFNα. Specifically, the SNP rs10838543 CC genotype in TRIM22 was found to be associated with the positive response to PegIFNα treatment. The SNP rs10838543 CC genotype in TRIM22 was more stable and more robustly inhibited hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in HepAD38 cells compared to the TT genotype. Mechanistically, we showed that the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway was significantly upregulated in HepAD38 cells stably expressing the SNP rs10838543 CC genotype of TRIM22 compared to the TT genotype after PegIFNα treatment and that the SNP rs10838543 CC genotype in TRIM22 enhanced PegIFNα-induced anti-HBV activity by inducing the secretion of IFNL1, CCL3, and CCL5. The SNP rs10838543 CC genotype in TRIM22 increased the secretion of the cytokines IFNL1, CCL3, and CCL5 from hepatocytes by regulating the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway and was positively correlated with the PegIFNα-induced treatment response in patients with CHB. Our findings suggest that genotyping patients with CHB for the SNP rs10838543 in TRIM22 may be a useful biomarker to help physicians identify patients who are most likely to benefit from PegIFNα treatment. IMPORTANCE Pegylated interferon alfa (PegIFNα) has limited efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Although many biomarkers related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been proposed to stratify patients, the response rate to PegIFNα is still unsatisfactory. Herein, our data suggest that the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10838543 in TRIM22 potentiates a positive clinical response to PegIFNα treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB by increasing the levels of IFNL1, CCL3, and CCL5. These observations can help guide treatment decisions for patients with CHB to improve the response rate to PegIFNα.

Chicken parvovirus (ChPV) infection can cause runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) in chickens. There is currently no commercially available vaccine for controlling ChPV, and ChPV infection in chickens is widespread globally. The rapid detection of ChPV is crucial for promptly capturing epidemiological data on ChPV. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 1B12 and 2B2, against the ChPV NS1 protein were generated. A double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) was developed for detecting ChPV based on the mAb 1B12 and an anti-chicken polyclonal antibody against the ChPV NS1 protein. The detection limit for the ChPV recombinant pET32a-NS1 protein was approximately 31.2 ng/mL. A total of 192 throat and cloaca swab samples were analyzed for ChPV by the established DAS-ELISA and nested PCR methods. The concordance rate between the DAS-ELISA and the nested PCR method was 89.1%. The DAS-ELISA can detect the ChPV antigen without any cross-reaction with FAdV-4, FAdV-1, NDV, AIV, MS, CIAV, aMPV, EDSV, IBV, or AGV2. The method also has high repeatability, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 5%. These findings indicate that the DAS-ELISA exhibits high accuracy, good sensitivity, and specificity, making it suitable for viral detection, field surveillance, and epidemiological studies.

Interferon-alpha inducible protein 6 (IFI6) is an important interferon-stimulated gene. To date, research on IFI6 has mainly focused on human malignant tumors, virus-related diseases and autoimmune diseases. Previous studies have shown that IFI6 plays an important role in antiviral, antiapoptotic and tumor-promoting cellular functions, but few studies have focused on the structure or function of avian IFI6. Avian reovirus (ARV) is an important virus that can exert immunosuppressive effects on poultry. Preliminary studies have shown that IFI6 expression is upregulated in various tissues and organs of specific-pathogen-free chickens infected with ARV, suggesting that IFI6 plays an important role in ARV infection. To analyze the function of avian IFI6, particularly in ARV infection, the chicken IFI6 gene was cloned, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted, and the roles of IFI6 in ARV replication and the innate immune response were investigated after the overexpression or knockdown of IFI6 in vitro. The results indicated that the molecular weight of the chicken IFI6 protein was approximately 11 kDa and that its structure was similar to that of the human IFI27L1 protein. A phylogenetic tree analysis of the IFI6 amino acid sequence revealed that the evolution of mammals and birds was clearly divided into two branches. The evolutionary history and homology of chickens are similar to those of other birds. Avian IFI6 localized to the cytoplasm and was abundantly expressed in the chicken lung, intestine, pancreas, liver, spleen, glandular stomach, thymus, bursa of Fabricius and trachea. Further studies demonstrated that IFI6 overexpression in DF-1 cells inhibited ARV replication and that the inhibition of IFI6 expression promoted ARV replication. After ARV infection, IFI6 modulated the expression of various innate immunity-related factors. Notably, the expression patterns of MAVS and IFI6 were similar, and the expression patterns of IRF1 and IFN-β were opposite to those of IFI6. The results of this study further advance the research on avian IFI6 and provide a theoretical basis for further research on the role of IFI6 in avian virus infection and innate immunity.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with severe immune evasion are a major challenge for COVID-19 prevention, especially the circulating Omicron XBB/BQ.1.1/BF.7 strains. Thus, the next-generation of broad-spectrum vaccines are urgently needed. Previously, we developed a COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine, ZF2001, based on the RBD-homodimer as the immunogen. To adapt SARS-CoV-2 variants, we developed chimeric RBD-heterodimers to induce broad immune responses. In this study, we further explored the concept of tandem RBD homotrimer and heterotrimer. Prototype SARS-CoV-2 RBD-homotrimer, prototype-Delta-BA.1 (PDO) RBD-heterotrimer and Delta-BA.2-BA.5 (DBA2BA5) RBD-heterotrimer were designed. Biochemical and cryo-EM structural characterization demonstrated total epitope exposure of the RBD-trimers. In mouse experiments, PDO and DBA2BA5 elicited broad SARS-CoV-2 neutralization. Potent protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants was observed in challenge assays and was correlated with neutralizing antibody titer. This study validated the design strategy of tandem RBD-heterotrimers as multivalent immunogens and presented a promising vaccine candidate, DBA2BA5, eliciting broad-spectrum immune responses, including against the circulating XBB/BF.7/BQ.1.1.

Temperature affects the growth and yield of yam (Dioscorea opposite Thunb.), and calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play an important role in the plant stress response. However, there has been a lack of system analyses of yam’s CDPK gene family. In this study, 29 CDPK transcriptome sequences with complete open reading frames (ORFs) were identified from yam RNA sequencing data. The sequences were classified into four groups (I–VI) using phylogenetic analysis. Two DoCDPK genes were randomly selected from each group and the gene patterns of yam leaves were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) under high and low temperature stress in order to show their unique functions in mediating specific responses. Among them, DoCDPK20 was significantly induced in high temperatures. The pPZP221-DoCDPK20 was transformed into tobacco leaves using an agrobacterium-mediated method. Under high temperature stress, DoCDPK20 overexpression reduced photosynthesis and improved heat tolerance in transgenic tobacco. Our research offers meaningful perspectives into CDPK genes and new avenues for the genetic engineering and molecular breeding of yam.

Abstract Background Genome-wide sequencing may extensively identify potential pathogenic variants, which helps to understand mechanisms of tumorigenesis, but such study has not been reported in benzene-induced leukemia (BIL). Methods We recruited 10 BIL patients and conducted the whole-exome sequencing on their peripheral blood samples. The obtained sequencing data were screened for potential pathogenic and novel variants, then the variants-located genes were clustered to identify cancer-related pathways. Shared or recurrent variants among the BIL cases were also identified and evaluated for their potential functional impact. Results We identified 48,802 variants in exons in total, 97.3% of which were single nucleotide variants. After filtering out variants with minor allele frequency ≥ 1%, we obtained 8667 potentially pathogenic variants, of which 174 were shared by all the BIL cases. The identified variants located in genes that could be significantly enriched into certain cancer-related pathways such as PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and Ras signaling pathway. We also identified 1010 novel variants with no record in the Genome Aggregation Database and in dbSNP, and one of them was shared by 90% cases. The recurrent and novel variant caused a missense mutation in SESN3. Conclusions We examined variations of the whole exome in BIL patients for the first time. The commonly shared variants implied a relation with BIL, and the recurrent and novel variant might be specifically related to BIL. The related variants may help unravel the carcinogenic mechanisms of BIL.

Abstract Among the common methods used for antibody immobilization on electrode surfaces, which is the best available option for immunosensor fabrication? To answer this question, we first used graphene-chitosan-Au/Pt nanoparticle (G-Chi-Au/PtNP) nanocomposites to modify a gold electrode (GE). Second, avian reovirus monoclonal antibody (ARV/MAb) was immobilized on the GE surface by using four common methods, which included glutaraldehyde (Glu), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), direct incubation or cysteamine hydrochloride (CH). Third, the electrodes were incubated with bovine serum albumin, four different avian reovirus (ARV) immunosensors were obtained. Last, the four ARV immunosensors were used to detect ARV. The results showed that the ARV immunosensors immobilized via Glu, EDC/NHS, direct incubation or CH showed detection limits of 100.63 EID50 mL−1, 100.48 EID50 mL−1, 100.37 EID50 mL−1 and 100.46 EID50 mL−1 ARV (S/N = 3) and quantification limits of 101.15 EID50 mL−1, and 101.00 EID50 mL−1, 100.89 EID50 mL−1 and 100.98 EID50 mL−1 ARV (S/N = 10), respectively, while the linear range of the immunosensor immobilized via CH (0–105.82 EID50 mL−1 ARV) was 10 times broader than that of the immunosensor immobilized via direct incubation (0–104.82 EID50 mL−1 ARV) and 100 times broader than those of the immunosensors immobilized via Glu (0–103.82 EID50 mL−1 ARV) or EDC/NHS (0–103.82 EID50 mL−1 ARV). And the four immunosensors showed excellent selectivity, reproducibility and stability.

Objectives To compare the safety and efficacy of step-by-step debulking Microwave Ablation (MWA) with Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) monotherapy for huge (≥10 cm in diameter) unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after TACE refractoriness.Methods This is a multi-center retrospective study carried out on 599 patients with huge unresectable HCC who received TACE as first-line therapy at five hospitals from January 2009 to December 2018. A total of 103 patients with TACE refractoriness were divided into two cohorts: monthly step-by-step debulking MWA (n = 52) or continued TACE (n = 51). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after refractory TACE were evaluated. Residual liver and tumor volume were recorded for the MWA group.Results Median follow-up period was 24.3 months and median OS and PFS were significantly longer in the MWA group than in the TACE group (OS 21.0 vs. 11.7 months, PFS 6.1 vs. 3.0 months, both p

This article elaborates on a peaks over threshold (POT) model with earthquake samples based on the Pareto distribution. We analyze the earthquakes using the POT model in the eastern Bayan Har block. The result shows that the area experiences an earthquake above [Formula: see text] 7.5 every 30 years and a large earthquake above [Formula: see text] 7.8 every 100 years. The average magnitude of earthquakes above [Formula: see text] 5.2 that occur in the area every 5 years is [Formula: see text] 7.1 or greater. The upper limit of the theoretical magnitude predicted by the model is [Formula: see text] 8.7. Therefore, the risk of geological hazards is high in this area.

Abstract Avian influenza virus H9 subtype (AIV H9) has contributed to enormous economic losses. Effective diagnosis is key to controlling the spread of AIV H9. In this study, a nonenzymatic highly electrocatalytic material was prepared using chitosan (Chi)-modified graphene sheet (GS)-functionalized Au/Pt nanoparticles (GS-Chi-Au/Pt), followed by the construction of a novel enzyme-free sandwich electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of AIV H9 using GS-Chi-Au/Pt and graphene–chitosan (GS-Chi) nanocomposites as a nonenzymatic highly electrocatalytic material and a substrate material to immobilize capture antibodies (avian influenza virus H9-monoclonal antibody, AIV H9/MAb), respectively. GS, which has a large specific surface area and many accessible active sites, permitted multiple Au/Pt nanoparticles to be attached to its surface, resulting in substantially improved conductivity and catalytic ability. Au/Pt nanoparticles can provide modified active sites for avian influenza virus H9-polyclonal antibody (AIV H9/PAb) immobilization as signal labels. Upon establishing the electrocatalytic activity of Au/Pt nanoparticles on graphene towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction for signal amplification and optimizing the experimental parameters, we developed an AIV H9 electrochemical immunosensor, which showed a wide linear range from 101.37 EID50 mL−1 to 106.37 EID50 mL−1 and a detection limit of 100.82 EID50 mL−1. This sandwich electrochemical immunosensor also exhibited high selectivity, reproducibility and stability.

Abstract Disinfection eliminates pathogenic microorganisms and ensures a biosafe environment for human beings. The rapid spread of COVID-19 is challenging traditional disinfection methods in terms of reducing harmful side effects and conducting faster processes. Spraying large-scale chemical disinfectants is harmful to individuals and the environment, while UV lamp and light-emitting diode (LED) disinfection still requires a long exposure time due to the low irradiance and highly divergent beam characteristics. Given that a laser maintains a high irradiance over a long distance, we studied the effectiveness of lasers as a new disinfection method, and the results show the capability for ultrafast inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus with a 266 nm laser. This work confirms UV lasers as a good candidate for disinfection.

Abstract With the rapid development of Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) and mobile devices, the IoT applications become more computation‐intensive and latency‐sensitive, which bring severe challenges to the resource‐limited devices. Mobile Edge Computing has served as a key promising method to enhance the network's computing capability by enabling resource‐constrained devices to offload tasks to the edge servers. A major challenge, which has been overlooked by most existing works on task offloading, is the dependencies among tasks and subtasks. In this paper, the subtask offloading with logical dependency for IoT applications is focused on. Specifically, subtask dependent graphs are employed to explore the dependency of subtasks and consider the priority of task scheduling. Further, an offloading scheme is put forward for minimizing both task latency and energy consumption of the device with dependency guarantees for all IoT tasks in multi‐server edge networks. Finaly, the simulation results demonstrate that the overall reduction rate is around 14% and relatively stable can effectively reduce task latency in multi‐server edge networks.

Identifying whether high-temperature oxidation is realized in fire flooding has become one of the technical difficulties in evaluating the effect of fire flooding for heavy oil reservoirs. In order to study how the chemical properties of crude oil varied during fire flooding, a series of heavy oil fire flooding laboratory experiments were carried out using a three-dimensional physical model, and the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of aromatics were performed for the crude oil before and after high-temperature oxidation during fire flooding. Results show that after fire flooding, the relative contents of naphthalenes, phenanthrenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the crude oil sample increased, while the relative content of tri-aromatic steroids decreased. During fire flooding, naphthalenes and phenanthrenes were all prone to demethylation, methyl migration and methyl substitution, showing significantly higher thermal stabilities in β-naphthalenes and β-phenanthrenes relative to α-naphthalenes and α-phenanthrenes. Due to the difference in thermal stability between 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 1-methyldibenzothiophene, the high-temperature oxidation in fire flooding could be identified according to the changes in their relative contents and the distribution characteristics of their spectra. Anthracene in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be used as a marker of high-temperature oxidation in fire flooding, while the changes in perylene/benzo(e)pyrene, fluoranthene/pyrene and anthracene/phenanthrene ratios were also good indicators for high-temperature oxidation in fire flooding. As observed from these findings, it can thus be concluded that the variation characteristics and characteristic markers of aromatic compounds in crude oil are good indicators for combustion state during fire flooding, providing favorable support for the identification of combustion state in heavy oil fire flooding.

Abstract Background Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that is mainly transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of untreated patients. Owing to the lack of specific serological markers and clinical manifestations, leprosy can be easily confused with other skin lesion-related diseases and is difficult to distinguish. Case presentation This study introduces and summarises the diagnosis and treatment process of a case of leprosy misdiagnosed as erythema multiforme for a long time. A 43-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of “repeated fever with superficial lymphadenopathy and systemic rash in May”. The diagnosis of the patient was based on the two main clinical characteristics of superficial lymphadenopathy and systemic pleomorphic erythema by using a combination of multiple samples of lymph nodes and skin, routine pathological examination, immunohistochemistry, acid-fast, silver hexamine, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, and second-generation gene sequencing of fresh biopsy tissue. The patient was treated with dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine at the Institute of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases. After treatment for 1 year, her temperature returned to normal, the area of facial erythema decreased, and the volume of axillary lymph nodes had gradually reduced. Conclusions In conclusion, special pathological staining and second-generation gene sequencing show promising advantages in distinguishing leprosy from other skin lesion-related diseases.

Complete trisomy 9 is a rare and lethal chromosomal anomaly characterized by multisystem dysmorphism and central nervous system (CNS) malformations. This study presents a case of complete trisomy 9 with an unusual phenotypic association and investigates the genetic pathways involved in this chromosomal abnormality. Trisomy 9 leads to a wide range of organ abnormalities, and this research contributes to a better understanding of the phenotype associated with this rare aneuploidy. The literature on the phenotypes of fetuses with various systems affected by complete trisomy 9 was reviewed and summarized. Correct diagnosis and appropriate counseling based on the characteristics of previous reports of fetuses with trisomy 9 is essential in maternity care and clinical management. To provide guidance and help for clinical diagnosis, this study aimed to explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of trisomy 9 syndrome to improve clinicians’ understanding of the disease.

IntroductionGrowth-retarded lambs would reduce the economic incomes of sheep farming. Nutritional interventions are supposed to promote gastrointestinal health and the compensatory growth of growth-retarded lambs. This study evaluated the effects of probiotic supplementation on the growth performance, plasma characteristics and ruminal bacterial community of growth-retarded lambs.MethodsTwenty-four 50-days old male Hu lambs, including 8 healthy lambs (13.2 ± 1.17 kg) and 16 growth-retarded lambs (9.46 ± 0.81 kg), were used in this study. The 8 healthy lambs were fed the basal diet and considered the positive control (GN), and the other 16 growth-retarded lambs were randomly assigned into 2 groups (basal diet without probiotic [negative control, GR] and basal diet supplementation with 1 g/kg concentrate feed probiotic [GRP]), with each group having 4 replicate pens. The feeding trial lasted for 60 days with 7 days for adaptation.ResultsThe results showed that dietary supplementation with probiotic increased (p < 0.05) the average daily gain and dry matter intake of growth-retarded lambs. For growth-retarded lambs, supplementation with probiotic increased (p < 0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the concentrations of growth hormone and immunoglobulin G. Furthermore, the highest (p < 0.05) concentrations of interleukin-6, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed in the GR group. The concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and acetate in growth-retarded lambs were increased by probiotic supplementation (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Ruminococcus, Succiniclasticum and Acidaminococcus were lower (p < 0.05) in growth-retarded lambs. However, probiotic supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundances of these three genera.DiscussionThese results indicate that dietary supplementation with probiotic are promising strategies for improving the growth performance of growth-retarded lambs by enhancing immunity and altering the ruminal microbiota.

Interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is an antiviral factor that plays an important role in the host innate immune response against viruses. Previous studies have shown that IFITM3 is upregulated in various tissues and organs after avian reovirus (ARV) infection, which suggests that IFITM3 may be involved in the antiviral response after ARV infection. In this study, the chicken IFITM3 gene was cloned and analyzed bioinformatically. Then, the role of chicken IFITM3 in ARV infection was further explored. The results showed that the molecular weight of the chicken IFITM3 protein was approximately 13 kDa. This protein was found to be localized mainly in the cytoplasm, and its protein structure contained the CD225 domain. The homology analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the IFITM3 genes of different species exhibited great variation during genetic evolution, and chicken IFITM3 shared the highest homology with that of Anas platyrhynchos and displayed relatively low homology with those of birds such as Anser cygnoides and Serinus canaria. An analysis of the distribution of chicken IFITM3 in tissues and organs revealed that the IFITM3 gene was expressed at its highest level in the intestine and in large quantities in immune organs, such as the bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen. Further studies showed that the overexpression of IFITM3 in chicken embryo fibroblasts (DF-1) could inhibit the replication of ARV, whereas the inhibition of IFITM3 expression in DF-1 cells promoted ARV replication. In addition, chicken IFITM3 may exert negative feedback regulatory effects on the expression of TBK1, IFN-γ and IRF1 during ARV infection, and it is speculated that IFITM3 may participate in the innate immune response after ARV infection by negatively regulating the expression of TBK1, IFN-γ and IRF1. The results of this study further enrich the understanding of the role and function of chicken IFITM3 in ARV infection and provide a theoretical basis for an in-depth understanding of the antiviral mechanism of host resistance to ARV infection.

H5, H7 and H9 are the most important subtypes of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), and nine neuraminidase (NA) subtypes (N1–N9) of AIVs have been identified in poultry. A method that can simultaneously detect H5, H7, H9 and the nine NA subtypes of AIVs would save time and effort. In this study, 13 pairs of primers, including 12 pairs of subtype-specific primers for detecting particular subtypes (H5, H7, H9 and N1–N9) and one pair of universal primers for detecting all subtypes of AIVs, were designed and screened. The 13 pairs of primers were mixed in the same reaction, and the 13 target genes were simultaneously detected. A GeXP assay using all 13 pairs of primers to simultaneously detect H5, H7, H9 and the nine NA subtypes of AIVs was developed. The GeXP assay showed specific binding to the corresponding target genes for singlet and multiplex templates, and no cross-reactivity was observed between AIV subtypes and other related avian pathogens. Detection was observed even when only 102 copies of the 13 target genes were present. This study provides a high-throughput, rapid and labor-saving GeXP assay for the simultaneous rapid identification of three HA subtypes (H5, H7 and N9) and nine NA subtypes (N1–N9) of AIVs.

During the use of polyethylene (PE) cable in power systems, electrical tree damages can inevitably occur inside the insulation materials, causing partial discharges and threatening the safety of the power supply. It is difficult to detect the micro damages inside the materials by existing technology, and replacing cables creates a lot of solid waste. The microcapsule self-healing technology derived from bionics can automatically detect and heal micro damages inside the material in time, avoiding accidents and saving resources. In this paper, the self-healing abilities and mechanism of the PE/microcapsule composite materials to the electrical tree damage are studied by means of experiments and simulation. PE/microcapsule composite materials are prepared, and the composite material with 1 wt% microcapsule is demonstrated to have better insulation strength. Microcapsules can attract the development of electric trees and limit their size, while the electrical tree can trigger the self-healing behavior of microcapsules in time. The self-healing behavior can effectively heal the electrical tree branch channel, restore breakdown strength and polarization current, and reverse the deterioration process of the material. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirms that there is good chemical compatibility between the healing product and PE matrix, ensuring a good self-healing effect.

Abstract Background Postoperative early recurrence (ER) is a major obstacle to long-term survival after curative liver resection (LR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to establish preoperative and postoperative nomograms to predict ER in HCC without macrovascular invasion. Methods Patients who underwent curative LR for HCC between January 2012 and December 2016 were divided into training and internal prospective validation cohorts. Nomograms were constructed based on independent risk factors derived from the multivariate logistic regression analyses in the training cohort. The predictive performances of the nomograms were validated using the internal prospective validation cohort. Results In total, 698 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Among them, 265 of 482 patients (55.0%) in the training cohort and 120 of 216 (55.6%) patients in the validation cohort developed ER. The preoperative risk factors associated with ER were age, alpha-fetoprotein, tumor diameter, and tumor number, and the postoperative risk factors associated with ER were age, tumor diameter, tumor number, microvascular invasion, and differentiation. The pre- and postoperative nomograms based on these factors showed good accuracy, with concordance indices of 0.712 and 0.850 in the training cohort, respectively, and 0.754 and 0.857 in the validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curves showed optimal agreement between the predictions by the nomograms and actual observations. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the pre- and postoperative nomograms were 0.721 and 0.848 in the training cohort, respectively, and 0.754 and 0.844 in the validation cohort, respectively. Conclusions The nomograms constructed in this study showed good performance in predicting ER for HCC without macrovascular invasion before and after surgery. These nomograms would be helpful for doctors when determining treatments and selecting patients for regular surveillance or administration of adjuvant therapies.

The GX2020-019 strain of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) was isolated from the liver of chickens with hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome in Guangxi Province, China, and was purified by plaque assay three times. Pathogenicity studies showed that GX2020-019 can cause typical FAdV-4 pathology, such as hydropericardium syndrome and liver yellowing and swelling. Four-week-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens inoculated with the virus at doses of 103 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50), 104 TCID50, 105 TCID50, 106 TCID50, and 107 TCID50 had mortality rates of 0, 20, 60, 100, and 100%, respectively, which were lower than those of chickens inoculated with other highly pathogenic Chinese isolates, indicating that GX2020-019 is a moderately virulent strain. Persistent shedding occurred through the oral and cloacal routes for up to 35 days postinfection. The viral infection caused severe pathological damage to the liver, kidney, lung, bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen. The damage to the liver and immune organs could not be fully restored 21 days after infection, which continued to affect the immune function of chickens. Whole genome analysis indicated that the strain belonged to the FAdV-C group, serotype 4, and had 99.7–100% homology with recent FAdV-4 strains isolated from China. However, the amino acid sequences encoded by ORF30 and ORF49 are identical to the sequences found in nonpathogenic strains, and none of the 32 amino acid mutation sites that appeared in other Chinese isolates were found. Our research expands understanding of the pathogenicity of FAdV-4 and provides a reference for further studies.