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Background: Spectrin Breakdown Products (SBDPs) accumulate in the brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are expected to become a potentially promising biomarker of TBI. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to evaluate the role of SBDPs in the diagnosis and prognosis of TBI. Methods: We systematically searched the following databases up to 31 October 2022: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science Database, and studies were only included if they had sufficient data on SBDP concentrations in TBI patients. We calculated the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for continuous outcomes and assessed the potential publication bias by using Egger's test and funnel plots. The statistical analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17. Results: Of 1429 identified studies, 10 studies involving 417 participants were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) SBDP concentrations were significantly increased in TBI compared to controls (SBDP120: SMD = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.71 ~ 2.12, P < 0.00001; SBDP145: SMD = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.78 ~ 1.86, P < 0.00001; SBDP150: SMD = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.97 ~ 1.80, P < 0.00001), and CSF SBDPs were significantly associated with poor functional outcomes (PFO) (SBDP145: SMD = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.37 ~ 2.13, P < 0.00001; SBDP150: SMD = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.75 ~ 1.52, P < 0.00001). In addition, CSF and serum SBDP145 are valuable in diagnosing TBI (AUC = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80 ~ 0.99, P < 0.00001), and CSF SBDP145 also has diagnostic value for PFO (AUC = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.76 ~ 0.84, P < 0.00001). Conclusions: The limited evidence supports that the SBDPs can be employed as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to increase the response of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a challenge. In clinical, we found that Zoledronic acid (ZA) may increase the anti-tumor effect of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To explore the underlying mechanism, we established a mouse model of HCC by subcutaneously injecting Hepa1-6 cell line. The result showed that the tumor volume in the ZA plus anti-PD-1 monocloning antibody (anti-PD-1 mAb) treatment groups was significantly smaller than that of control group, and the onset time of tumor inhibition was even shorter than that of the anti-PD-1 mAb group. Using flow cytometry (FC) to detect the proportion of major immune cell subsets in tumor tissues of each group of mice, we found that the synergistic anti-tumor effect of ZA and anti-PD-1 mAb may be related to ZA-induced polarization of macrophages toward the M1 phenotype. Next, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on tumor samples from different groups to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were then input DEGs into pathway enrichment analysis. Data indicated that ZA participated in the M1-type polarization via ferroptosis-related pathways. Our results revealed how ZA involves in the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 monoclonal antibody and provided a potential therapeutic candidate for patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• R s of biocrust was measured and modeled as a function of soil environment factors. • Variation of R s in biocrust & bare soils was strongly predicted in regression models. • R s averaged 1.03 and 0.54 μmol m−2 s−1 for biocrust and bare soil across all seasons. • Annual CO 2 -C efflux of biocrust and bare soil was 390 and 203 g m−2, respectively. • Contribution of biocrust to R s may be linked to the C stored in the biocrust layer. Biocrust is a potentially extensive living cover in drylands, which comprises much of the land surface, but presently its contribution to the soil respiration rate (R s) and CO 2 efflux is still not clearly understood. In this study, we continuously measured the R s of moss-dominated biocrust (biocrust and biocrust covered soil) and bare soil, together with soil temperature and moisture, for ~100 days each in a semiarid climate on the Chinese Loess Plateau. We modeled R s across a two-year period, based on its relationship with soil temperature and moisture. Using the model, the seasonal variation of the R s was simulated for biocrust and bare soil, and their annual CO 2 efflux were further estimated. We also obtained samples of the biocrust layer and bare soil surface and analyzed their physicochemical properties and enzyme activities to explain the biocrust effects on R s. Our results showed that the measured R s of the biocrust and bare soil ranged from 0.05 to 7.62 and 0.02–2.73 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively, and was closely exponentially related to the dynamics of soil temperature and moisture (in threshold relationships). The variations of R s in both the biocrust and bare soil were strongly predicted in a regression model by R 2 ≥ 0.50 and P < 0.001. Through this model, we simulated the seasonal variations of R s , which averaged 1.03 ± 0.01 and 0.54 ± 0.01 μmol m−2 s−1 (F = 225.51, P < 0.001) across all seasons for the biocrust and bare soil, respectively. We further estimated that the annual CO 2 -C efflux through respiration of the biocrust was 390 g m−2 yr−1 and that of the bare soil was 203 g m−2 yr−1, indicating that the presence of the biocrust layer annually contributed 91.8% (187 g m−2 yr−1) more soil respiration in comparison to the bare soil. Moreover, the main correlates with R s shifted from largely abiotic, e.g. soil texture and total phosphorus content, in bare soils to biotic, e.g. indicators of carbon and nitrogen content, in biocrust soils. This finding implies that the contribution of the biocrust to R s is linked to the carbon fixed and organic nutrients stored in the biocrust layer. In conclusion, moss-dominated biocrust highly accelerates soil respiration and increases gross soil CO 2 efflux, possibly through regulating soil temperature and moisture, improving soil physicochemical properties, increasing soil enzyme activities, and accelerating decomposition of biocrust-fixed and -stored carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocrusts are widely distributed throughout the world in dryland ecosystems, but their respiration rate (R s) and responses to soil temperature and mositure have not yet been fully investigated. In a semiarid region of the Loess Plateau in China, the R s of moss-dominated biocrusts was continuously (104 days) measured in summer through an automated soil respiration system, and their relationships with soil temperature and moisture at 2, 5, and 10 cm depths were intensively analyzed. The results showed the biocrusts had 115% higher (t = −3.82, P < 0.001) R s during day and 44% higher (t = −10.22, P < 0.001) R s during night as compared with the underlying soil; they averagely increased R s by 81% (2.52 vs. 1.39 μmol m−2 s−1) across day and night. More specifically, the R s of biocrusts ranged from 0.33 to 6.33 μmol m−2 s−1 in wet conditions (soil moisture ≥ 0.15 cm3 cm−3) and 0.27 to 2.83 μmol m−2 s−1 in dry conditions (soil moisture = 0.05 cm3 cm−3), with a daily mean of 2.11 μmol m−2 s−1. Particularly, in wet conditions the R s of biocrusts had positive responses to increasing temperature, and their relationship was well fitted with an exponential function (R 2 ≥ 0.44; P < 0.001), with a Q 10 value ranging between 1.73 and 2.08. Similarly, the R s of biocrusts was positively correlated with soil moisture, but their relationship was not well fitted with the quadratic function (R 2 ≤ 0.22). A model based on the soil moisture and temperature at 2 cm depth performed much better (R 2 = 0.53; P < 0.001) with R s than that based on the soil moisture and temperature at 5 or 10 cm depth or even air temperature. In conclusion, moss biocrusts made a significant contribution to soil respiration in semiarid ecosystem, firstly (and directly) due to the rich and diversified microbial communities in biocrust layer and secondly (and indirectly) due to the biocrust effects on soil temperature and moisture regimes. The temperature and moisture at 2 cm depth (biocrust layer) should be employed with a higher priority in simulating R s of biocrusted surfaces, rather than the commonly used soil depth (5 cm) in estimating R s of the ordinary soil without biocrusts. Unlabelled Image • Biocrusts increased respiration rate (R s) by 81% as compared with underlying soil. • R s of biocrusts ranged from 0.05 to 9.50 μmol m−2 s−1 with a mean of 2.11 in summer. • R s of biocrusts was highly dependent on moisture and temperature (Q 10 = 1.73–2.08). • Soil temperature and moisture at 2 cm depth are capable of estimating R s of biocrusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a capacitive flexible tactile sensor based on the composite dielectric layer with a C-type symmetrical structure is proposed to improve the sensing performance through the introduction of a precise structure. Combined with simulations and experiments, the influence of the structural characteristics of the tactile sensor on its sensitivity is investigated, the correlation between the signal output of the sensor and the loading pressure is shown for different structural parameter designs, and the structure of the sensor is optimized. Data results display that the tactile sensor proposed in this work exhibits a lower detection limit (8.6 Pa) and an ultra-wide linear sensing range (8.6–500 kPa). In addition, from the 55 ms response time of the sensor and 2000 cycles of experiments, it can be concluded that the sensor possesses good repeatability and durability, and can achieve more accurate measurement results in motion detection, soft robots, and electronic skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Increased precipitation suppresses respiration rate (R s) of biocrust by 9%–22%. • Moderately reduced precipitation stimulates R s of biocrust by up to 26%. • Relationship between biocrust R s and precipitation amount is nonlinear. • Response of biocrust R s to precipitation gradient is negatively asymmetric. • Precipitation manipulation affects R s via changing biocrusts and soil properties. Global climate change is expected to cause both increased and reduced precipitation in the next decades, especially in drylands with semi-arid climates. Biocrusts are an essential soil surface cover in global drylands, and they strongly influence most soil properties and support fundamental ecosystem functions, especially soil carbon (C) cycling. Nevertheless, the response patterns and mechanisms of biocrust respiration rate (R s) to precipitation changes remain uncertain under changing semi-arid climates. In our study, a field experiment for biocrusts with natural precipitation (CK) and six levels of precipitation manipulation (–50 %, –30 %, –10 %, +10 %, +30 %, and +50 % of CK) were conducted from 2019 to 2021 in a semi-arid climate region of the northern Chinese Loess Plateau. We continuously measured the biocrust R s of all the treatments in the growing seasons, and the fundamental properties of biocrusts and their temperature and water content at 5 cm depth were also measured. Our results showed that the increased precipitation inhibited biocrust R s , while moderately reduced precipitation stimulated biocrust R s. As compared with the CK, the precipitation manipulations of +10 %, +30 %, and +50 % decreased biocrust R s by 8.9 %, 15.3 %, and 22.1 %, respectively, while the treatments of –10 % and –30 % increased biocrust R s by 25.5 % and 8.0 %, respectively. However, the precipitation manipulation of –50 % suppressed biocrust R s by 19.3 %. More importantly, the responses of biocrust R s to precipitation changes were negative and asymmetric, which indicated a higher sensitivity of biocrust R s to reduced precipitation in comparison to increased precipitation. Moreover, the increased precipitation (+10 % to + 50 %) raised soil water content (by 29.7 %–55.0 %), moss biomass (by 12.5 %–50.0 %), and organic matter content (by 11.3 %–12.4 %). In contrast, the reduced precipitation (–10 % to –30 %) decreased soil water content (by 5.2 %–17.6 %) and moss biomass (by 12.5 %–25.8 %). The structural equation modeling analysis showed that the responses of biocrust R s to precipitation manipulation were mainly and directly influenced by soil temperature and biocrust properties. Although soil water content did not have a direct significant effect on biocrust R s , it indirectly influenced biocrust R s by affecting the fundamental properties of soil and biocrusts. Consequently, the changed soil properties and biocrust characteristics caused by precipitation shifts aggravated the negative responses of biocrust R s to precipitation manipulation. Our findings emphasize that biocrusts have a negative and asymmetric response of R s to precipitation changes, implying that the intensified precipitation variation in semi-arid regions caused by global climate change in future may positively affect the stability of soil C stocks contributed by biocrusts and thus reduce soil C efflux in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-based chemical looping gasification is a clean biomass technology, which has the advantage of reducing CO2 emissions and the potential of self-sustaining operation without supplemental heating. A novel process combining Fe-based chemical looping and biomass pyrolysis was proposed and simulated using Aspen Plus. The biomass was first subjected to pyrolysis to coproduce biochar, bio-oil and pyrolysis gas; the pyrolysis gas was subjected to an Fe looping process to obtain high-purity hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The influences of the pyrolysis reactor operating temperature and fuel reactor operation temperature, and the steam reactor and air reactor on the process performance are researched. The results showed that, under the operating condition of the established process, 23.07 kg/h of bio-oil, 24.18 kg/h of biochar, 3.35 kg/h of hydrogen and a net electricity of 3 kW can be generated from 100 kg/h of rice straw, and the outlet CO2 concentration of the fuel reactor was as high as 80%. Moreover, the whole exergy efficiency and total exergy loss of the proposed process was 58.98% and 221 kW, respectively. Additionally, compared to biomass direct chemical looping hydrogen generation technology, the new process in this paper, using biomass pyrolysis gas as a reactant in the chemical looping hydrogen generation process, can enhance the efficiency of hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radix Astragali , a versatile traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has a rich history dating back to "Sheng Nong's herbal classic". It has been employed in clinical practice to address various ailments, including depression. One of its primary active components, total flavonoids from Astragalus (TFA), remains unexplored in terms of its potential antidepressant properties. This study delves into the antidepressant effects of TFA using a mouse model subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The study aimed to scrutinize how TFA influenced depressive behaviors, corticosterone and glutamate levels in the hippocampus, as well as myelin-related protein expression in CUMS mice. Additionally, it sought to explore the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin/Olig2/Sox10 signaling axis as a potential antidepressant mechanism of TFA. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to CUMS to induce depressive behaviors. TFA were orally administered at two different doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg). A battery of behavioral tests, biochemical analyses, immunohistochemistry, UPLC-MS/MS, real-time PCR, and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the antidepressant potential of TFA. The role of the Wnt/β-catenin/Olig2/Sox10 signaling axis in the antidepressant mechanism of TFA was validated through MO3.13 cells. TFA administration significantly alleviated depressive behaviors in CUMS mice, as evidenced by improved sucrose preference, reduced immobility in tail suspension and forced swimming tests, and increased locomotor activity in the open field test. Moreover, TFA effectively reduced hippocampal corticosterone and glutamate levels and promoted myelin formation in the hippocampus of CUMS mice. Then, TFA increased Olig2 and Sox10 expression while inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the hippocampus of CUMS mice. Finally, we further confirmed the role of TFA in promoting myelin regeneration through the Wnt/β-catenin/Olig2/Sox10 signaling axis in MO3.13 cells. TFA exhibited promising antidepressant effects in the CUMS mouse model, facilitated by the restoration of myelin sheaths and regulation of corticosterone, glutamate, Olig2, Sox10, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This research provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic application of TFA in treating depression, although further investigations are required to fully elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and clinical relevance. TFA effectively alleviates depressive-like behaviors in CUMS model mice through various mechanisms, including the regulation of corticosterone and glutamate levels in the hippocampus, the enhancement of myelination, and the modulation of Olig2/Sox10 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. [Display omitted] • TFA can improve depressive-like behavior in CUMS mice. • TFA can reduce hippocampal corticosterone and glutamate levels in depression mice. • TFA can improve hippocampal demyelination in CUMS depression mice. • TFA exert antidepressant effects by modulating the wnt/β-catenin/olig2/sox10 signaling axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible piezoresistive sensors hold a great potential with broad application spectrum in human-computer interaction and wearable electronic devices. Inspired by human touch sensation architecture, we report a new type of flexible piezoresistive sensor with ultrawide sensing range and highrobustness by engineering biomimetic structure and carbon black (CB)/MXene/SR/fiber nanocomposites. The facile fabrication processes, piezoresistive sensing mechanism, and performance of the device are comprehensively investigated. The sensor provides a high sensitivity of 2.18 kPa−1, ultrawide linear sensing range of 0.1–1700 kPa, fast response time (∼100 ms), and reliable durability (>5000 cycles). Furthermore, the developed flexible devices have been effectively implemented as electronic skin, demonstrating potential functions in manipulator soft grabbing and human movement monitoring. Such architecture paves the way for great application in the fields of healthcare, human–machine interface, and extremely large pressure monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological function and underlying mechanism of microRNA‐628‐5p (miR‐628‐5p) remains to be clarified in the growth and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, the expression levels of miR‐628‐5p in PDAC tissues and cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. The relationship between miR‐628‐5p expression and clinicopathologic characteristics was examined in human PDAC tissue samples. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function and the putative targets of miR‐628‐5p were evaluated in PDAC cell lines. The upstream and downstream signals of miR‐628‐5p in PDAC were also examined. MiR‐628‐5p was lowly expressed in PDAC tissues and cell lines, and low miR‐628‐5p expression in PDAC tissues was associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and shorter overall survival. Functionally, restoration of miR‐628‐5p expression decreased PDAC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis, whereas miR‐628‐5p silencing abolished these biological behaviors. MiR‐628‐5p was found to target and negatively regulate phospholipid scramblase 1 and insulin receptor substrate 1 expression, which resulted in the inhibition of the AKT/NF‐κB signaling pathway. MYC knockdown led to miR‐628‐5p upregulation, whereas MYC overexpression repressed miR‐628‐5p expression. These findings indicate that miR‐628‐5p functions as a tumor‐suppressive microRNA in PDAC and implicate miR‐628‐5p as a potential therapeutic target for PDAC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) shows altered electrophysiological and anatomic characteristics in Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known about the effect of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion and levodopa (L -DOPA) therapy on the relationship between spike and local field potential (LFP) activities in the PPN and motor cortex. Aiming to investigate this, synchronous spike and LFP signals in the PPN and primary motor cortex (M1) were recorded. The spike–LFP relationship was evaluated using coherence analysis, phase-lock and spike-field coherence (SFC). The results suggested that 6-OHDA lesion had a significant effect on the spike–LFP relationship between the PPN and M1 in rats under a rest or locomotion state. The significantly altered frequency bands varied across different neuron types and animal activity states. In addition, the altered coherence values between PPN spike and M1 LFP were refractory to long-term L -DOPA therapy although all other changes could be reversed by this drug treatment. All results provided evidence of the spike–LFP relationship between the PPN and M1 in PD, revealing some network mechanisms of the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry and PPN, which might be an underlying candidate for PD pathophysiology and therapy. Highlights • 6-OHDA lesion in SNc had effect on spike–LFP coherence between PPN and M1 in rats. • Distinct neuron types in PPN and M1 showed different spike–LFP coherence alteration. • In spike–LFP coherency between PPN and M1, L -DOPA has a therapeutic limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levodopa ( l -DOPA) has been proved to reverse the pathologic neuron activities in many brain regions related to Parkinson’s disease (PD). But little is known about the effect of l -DOPA on the altered electrophysiological coherent activities between pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and motor cortex. To investigate this, local field potentials (LFPs) of PPN and primary motor cortex (M1) were recorded simultaneously in control, 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned and lesioned rats with l -DOPA chronic treatment. The results revealed that in resting state, chronic l -DOPA treatment could correct the suppressed power of LFPs in PPN and M1 in low-frequency band (1–7 Hz) and the enhanced power in high-frequency band (7–70 Hz in PPN and 12–70 Hz in M1) of lesioned rats. In locomotor state, l -DOPA treatment could correct the alterations in most of frequency bands except the δ band in PPN and α band in M1. Moreover, l -DOPA could also reverse the altered coherent relationships caused by dopamine depletion in resting state between PPN and M1 in β band. And in locomotor state, l -DOPA had therapeutic effect on the alterations in δ and β bands but not in the α band. These findings provide evidence that l -DOPA can reverse the altered LFP activities in PPN and M1 and their relationships in a rat model of PD, which contributes to better understanding the electrophysiological mechanisms of the pathophysiology and therapy of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is a new deep brain stimulation target for treating Parkinson’s disease (PD). But the alterations of the PPN electrophysiological activities in PD are still debated. To investigate these potential alterations, extracellular single unit and local field potential (LFP) activities in the PPN were recorded in unilateral hemispheric 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats and in control rats, respectively. The spike activity results revealed two types of neurons (Type I and Type II) with distinct electrophysiological characteristics in the PPN. Both types of neurons had increased firing rate and changed firing pattern in lesioned rats when compared to control rats. Specifically, Type II neurons showed an increased firing rate when the rat state was switched from rest to locomotion. The LFP results demonstrated that lesioned rats had lower LFP power at 0.7–12 Hz and higher power at 12–30 Hz than did control animals in either resting or locomotor state. These findings provide a better understanding of the effects of 6-OHDA lesion on neuronal activities in the PPN and also provide a proof of the link between this structure and locomotion, which contributes to better understanding the mechanisms of the PPN functioning in the pathophysiology of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dopamine receptor agonists were intrastriatally injected into hemiparkinsonism and control rats. • SKF38393 and quinpirole produce a dose-related enhancement in locomotor activity. • SKF38393 and quinpirole induce more ameliorated movement in hemiparkinsonism rats than in control rats. • Quinpirole produced more ameliorated locomotor activity than SKF38393 in hemiparkinsonism rats. Dopamine (DA) in the striatum is essential to influence motor behavior and may lead to movement impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study examined the different functions of the DA D1 receptor (D1R) and DA D2 receptor (D2R) by intrastriatal injection of the D1R agonist SKF38393 and the D2R agonist quinpirole in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned and control rats. All rats separately underwent dose-response behavior testing for SKF38393 (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 μg/site) or quinpirole (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 μg/site) to determine the effects of the optimal modulating threshold dose. Two behavior assessment indices, the time of latency to fall and the number of steps on a rotating treadmill, were used as reliable readouts of motor stimulation variables for quantifying the motor effects of the drugs. The findings indicate that at threshold doses, SKF38393 (1.0 μg/site) and quinpirole (1.0 μg/site) produce a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity compared to vehicle injection. The ameliorated behavioral responses to either SKF38393 or quinpirole in lesioned rats were greater than those in unlesioned control rats. Moreover, the dose-dependent increase in locomotor capacity for quinpirole was greater than that for SKF38393 in lesioned rats. These results can clarify several key issues related to DA receptors directly and may provide a basis for exploring the potential of future selective dopamine therapies for PD in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]