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To reveal the energy accumulation law of surrounding rock in coal thickness change area and the influence of mining direction on it, this study takes the 17# coal seam of Hegang Junde Coal Mine as the research background, and takes the combined rock strata as the object to discuss the stress transfer mechanism of coal thickness change area. The relationship between the original rock stress and the thickness ratio and elastic modulus ratio of coal rock in the coal thickness change area is revealed, and the influence of mining direction on the mining stress and energy accumulation law in the coal thickness change area is clarified. The following conclusions are obtained: due to the difference in strength (stiffness) between rock and coal, the principal stress distribution in the coal thickness change area is uneven. The peak stress appears in the coal thickness thinning area, and the valley stress appears in the thickening area. The larger the range of coal thickness change and the smaller the elastic modulus ratio of coal and rock, the greater the peak stress and the smaller the valley stress. Under the influence of mining stress, the advance abutment pressure and the abnormal stress of coal thickness change are superimposed in the area of coal thickness change, and the stress concentration of surrounding rock is high. From thin to thick mining, there is an impact danger zone due to the superposition of the advance abutment pressure zone and the stress anomaly zone in front of the working face, and there are two impact danger zones from thick to thin mining, so it is more reasonable to mine from thin to thick. In view of the mining stress and energy accumulation law in the coal thickness change area, the prevention and control ideas of regulating the surrounding rock structure, surrounding rock stress, and increasing impact resistance energy are put forward, the engineering application is carried out, and the application effect is good.

The success of gangue support in roof cutting and retaining roadway depends on the evolution process of gangue side and its lateral pressure distribution. Based on the engineering background of Xinghua Coal Mine, this paper analyzes the mechanical characteristics of gangue compaction, the roof caving process, and the gangue side evolution process through indoor experiments and similar simulations. The mechanical model is established through theoretical analysis, and the impact of different factors on the lateral pressure of the gangue side is analyzed. The numerical simulation gives the distribution law of the overburden pressure and the lateral pressure of the gangue side at the boundary of the goaf and gives the gangue side support scheme from the perspective of gangue side lateral pressure influencing factors. The research results show that : ①The lateral pressure of the gangue side is related to the evolution process of the gangue in the goaf. In the self-organizing adjustment stage of the gangue, the lateral pressure of the gangue side is mainly generated by the self-weight of the gangue, and the lateral pressure depends on the accumulated height. In the passive compaction stage of gangue, the gangue body is repeatedly compacted under periodic roof pressure, and the lateral pressure of the gangue side gradually increases. In the stable stage of gangue, the gangue body is compacted at this stage, which plays an obvious supporting role in the overburdened rock. The stable value of the overburden pressure is 3.81 MPa, and the stable value of the gangue side lateral pressure is 2.12 MPa. ②From the position of the roof of the roadway to the position of the floor, the lateral pressure of the gangue side gradually increases. ③From the perspective of the external environment, the lateral pressure of the gangue side has a significant positive correlation with the roof overburden pressure and a significant negative correlation with the roof cutting angle. From the perspective of the gangue’s mechanical properties, the gangue side’s lateral pressure and the gangue’s internal friction angle show a significant positive correlation. Consequently, the “bag + net + u-shaped steel + inclined support monomer” gangue retaining support scheme is proposed, and the field application effect is good. This study may provide a reference for similar engineering conditions of gangue support.

Abstract With the gradual shift of coal mining to the western coal mining region of China, floor heave in weakly cemented mudstone roadways has become an issue affecting the safety and efficiency of coal mine production. Additionally, different mining rates can lead to fluctuating support stresses on the roof and floor of weakly cemented mudstone roadways. Therefore, obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of weakly cemented mudstone at different loading rates is conducive to improving the issue of floor heave in such roadways and provides a theoretical basis for further study. In this context, a series of uniaxial mechanical tests with concurrent acoustic emission monitoring were conducted on specimens of weakly cemented mudstone under various loading rates (0.005, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mm/s). The stress‒strain and acoustic emission response curves were obtained to effectively characterize the strength, deformation, damage, macroscale instability, and crack propagation characteristics of the mudstone under the influence of loading rate effects. The research results support the following findings: (1) With increasing loading rate, the peak strength and elastic modulus of weakly cemented mudstone significantly increase, while the peak axial strain and peak radial deformation significantly decrease. (2) With increasing loading rate, the stress required to trigger the expansion of weakly cemented mudstone gradually increases, and a significant power-law relationship arises between the strain of the mudstone at the start of expansion and the loading rate. (3) With increasing loading rate, the acoustic emission ringing count of weakly cemented mudstone increases: The failure of weakly cemented mudstone changes from small-range progressive failure to sudden failure, and the failure mode transitions from shear failure to tensile‒shear composite failure. (4) The studied mudstone damage variables increase with increasing loading rate, following an approximate exponential function. The conclusions obtained in this work can provide a theoretical basis for the evolution mechanism and control of floor heave in deep roadway mining.

Abstract Background Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a vital oil and food crop globally, is susceptible to web blotch which is a significant foliar disease caused by Phoma arachidicola Marasas Pauer&Boerema leading to substantial yield losses in peanut production. Calcium treatment has been found to enhance plant resistance against pathogens. Results This study investigates the impact of exogenous calcium on peanut resistance to web blotch and explores its mechanisms. Greenhouse experiments revealed that exogenous calcium treatment effectively enhanced resistance to peanut web blotch. Specifically, amino acid calcium and sugar alcohol calcium solutions demonstrated the best induced resistance effects, achieving reduction rates of 61.54% and 60% in Baisha1016, and 53.94% and 50% in Luhua11, respectively. All exogenous calcium treatments reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and relative electrical conductivity (REC) levels in peanut leaves, mitigating pathogen-induced cell membrane damage. Exogenous calcium supplementation led to elevated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and superoxide anion (O2 ∙-) production in peanut leaves, facilitating the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) crucial for plant defense responses. Amino acid calcium and sugar alcohol calcium treatments significantly boosted activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in peanut leaves. Activation of these antioxidant enzymes effectively scavenged excess ROS, maintaining ROS balance and mitigating cellular damage. Conclusions In summary, exogenous calcium treatment triggered ROS production, which was subsequently eliminated by the activation of antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing cell membrane damage and inducing defense responses against peanut web blotch.

Aiming at the problem of cutting roof and retaining roadway on the right third working face of 16#, east second mining area of Jixian Coal Mine in Shuangyashan city, the mechanical model of surrounding rock of cutting roof and retaining roadway is established, and the theoretical calculation formula of key parameters such as cutting height and cutting angle is given; the influence of roof cutting parameters (roof cutting height and angle) on the stress distribution and deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock is further analyzed. The numerical simulation results show that the greater the roof cutting height is, the better the relief effect is; with the increase of the cutting angle, the side stress of solid coal shows an increasing trend, which also creates certain conditions for the caving of gangue. The similar simulation results show that when the coal seam is mined to a certain distance, the upper rock stratum in the goaf collapses at the same time, and the rock mass in the slit range and caving rock mass form a hinged joint, that is, the side filling of the roadway is basically completed, and the structure of “low cantilever beam + high hinged rock beam” is formed above the roadway. The engineering practice show that the cutting height is 8.0 m (2.39 m medium sandstone), the cutting angle is 10°, and the spacing of the drilling holes is 600 mm. When it is about 60 m away from the working face, the roof subsidence is 168 mm, the solid coal wall displacement is 212 mm, the deformation of the gangue wall is almost 0, and the bottom heave is 120 mm.

Rainfall, particularly in continental climates with a monsoonal tendency, impacts the microbial niches during the growth of mountain cultivated ginseng. With shifts in the microbial community, diseases in ginseng cultivated and protected under rain shelter conditions may ultimately be altered. Such cultivation may influence microflora dynamics through variations in meteorological parameters; however, this is not yet clear. The present study found that rain shelter cultivation affected the distribution of fungal communities within mountain cultivated ginseng. This led to an improved community structure in the ginseng rhizosphere, characterized by the proliferation of antagonistic fungi and a reduction in pathogenic fungi. A correlation analysis of meteorological factors found that soil temperature and humidity were the primary meteorological factors affecting mountain cultivated ginseng. It is evident that rain shelter cultivation regulated the microecological environment of the mountain cultivated ginseng’s rhizosphere and resulted in positive outcomes. A disease investigation supported this finding. The incidence of ginseng root diseases, such as rust and root rot, was reduced by 5–6%. The incidence of ginseng leaf diseases, including gray mold and black spot, was reduced by 5–10%. This research provides evidence to address the dynamics of microbial ecology under rain shelter cultivation and its benefits for sustainable mountain cultivated ginseng management.

Abstract Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common head and neck malignant with a high incidence in Southern China. Genetic aberrations play a vital role in the pathogenesis, progression and prognosis of NPC. In the present study, we elucidated the underlying mechanism of FAS-AS1 and its genetic variation rs6586163 in NPC. We demonstrated that FAS-AS1 rs6586163 variant genotype carriers were associated with lower risk of NPC (CC vs. AA, OR = 0.645, P = 0.006) and better overall survival (AC + CC vs. AA, HR = 0.667, P = 0.030). Mechanically, rs6586163 increased the transcriptional activity of FAS-AS1 and contributed to ectopic overexpression of FAS-AS1 in NPC. rs6586163 also exhibited an eQTL trait and the genes affected by rs6586163 were enriched in apoptosis related signaling pathway. FAS-AS1 was downregulated in NPC tissues and over-expression of FAS-AS1 was associated with early clinical stage and better short-term treatment efficacy for NPC patients. Overexpression of FAS-AS1 inhibited NPC cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis. GSEA analysis of RNA-seq data suggested FAS-AS1 participate in mitochondria regulation and mRNA alternative splicing. Transmission electron microscopic examination verified that the mitochondria was swelled, the mitochondrial cristae was fragmented or disappeared, and their structures were destroyed in FAS-AS1 overexpressed cells. Furthermore, we identified HSP90AA1, CS, BCL2L1, SOD2 and PPARGC1A as the top 5 hub genes of FAS-AS1 regulated genes involved in mitochondria function. We also proved FAS-AS1 could affect Fas splicing isoform sFas/mFas expression ratio, and apoptotic protein expression, thus leading to increased apoptosis. Our study provided the first evidence that FAS-AS1 and its genetic polymorphism rs6586163 triggered apoptosis in NPC, which might have a potential as new biomarkers for NPC susceptibility and prognosis.

Clinical trials of combined IDO/PD1 blockade in metastatic melanoma (MM) failed to show additional clinical benefit compared to PD1-alone inhibition. We reasoned that a tryptophan-metabolizing pathway other than the kynurenine one is essential. We immunohistochemically stained tissues along the nevus-to-MM progression pathway for tryptophan-metabolizing enzymes (TMEs; TPH1, TPH2, TDO2, IDO1) and the tryptophan transporter, LAT1. We assessed tryptophan and glucose metabolism by performing baseline C11-labeled α-methyl tryptophan (C11-AMT) and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging of tumor lesions in a prospective clinical trial of pembrolizumab in MM (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03089606). We found higher protein expression of all TMEs and LAT1 in melanoma cells than tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within MM tumors (n = 68). Melanoma cell-specific TPH1 and LAT1 expressions were significantly anti-correlated with TIL presence in MM. High melanoma cell-specific LAT1 and low IDO1 expression were associated with worse overall survival (OS) in MM. Exploratory optimal cutpoint survival analysis of pretreatment ‘high’ vs. ‘low’ C11-AMT SUVmax of the hottest tumor lesion per patient revealed that the ‘low’ C11-AMT SUVmax was associated with longer progression-free survival in our clinical trial (n = 26). We saw no such trends with pretreatment FDG PET SUVmax. Treatment of melanoma cell lines with telotristat, a TPH1 inhibitor, increased IDO expression and kynurenine production in addition to suppression of serotonin production. High melanoma tryptophan metabolism is a poor predictor of pembrolizumab response and an adverse prognostic factor. Serotoninergic but not kynurenine pathway activation may be significant. Melanoma cells outcompete adjacent TILs, eventually depriving the latter of an essential amino acid.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of multiple peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells (DCs) combined with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in patients with cancer.MethodsFive patients diagnosed with cancer between November 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled and received DC-CTLs therapy. Peripheral blood was collected and antigenic peptides were analyzed. The phenotype and function of DC-CTLs and the immune status of patients were detected using flow cytometry or IFN-γ ELISPOT analysis.ResultsDCs acquired a mature phenotype and expressed high levels of CD80, CD86, CD83, and HLA-DR after co-culture with peptides, and the DC-CTLs also exhibited high levels of IFN-γ. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from post-treatment patients showed a stronger immune response to peptides than those prior to treatment. Importantly, four of five patients maintained a favorable immune status, of which one patient’s disease-free survival lasted up to 28.2 months. No severe treatment-related adverse events were observed.ConclusionOur results show that multiple peptide-pulsed DCs combined with CTLs therapy has manageable safety and promising efficacy for cancer patients, which might provide a precise immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer.

Abstract This letter proposes a cross‐domain WiFi‐based gesture recognition system (WiCross) based on a dynamically weighted multi‐label generative adversarial network. Most existing WiFi‐based gesture recognition systems are user, orientation, and environment sensitive, which limits the application of WiFi sensing. Compared with the influence of users and environments on WiFi sensing systems, the influence of orientation on WiFi sensing systems is more difficult to remove. To alleviate the confusion caused by the orientation more effectively, we arrange the transmitting and receiving antennas according to the characteristics of the Fresnel region. It is proposed to dynamically weight different links according to users' orientations and use a multi‐label generative adversarial network to obtain domain‐independent features. More importantly, WiCross can use domain‐independent features to classify some unknown gestures without modifying any code or dataset. Lightweight computing resource consumption allows WiCross to respond in real time. The experimental results show that WiCross can achieve an in‐domain recognition accuracy of 93.54% and a cross‐domain recognition accuracy of 93.11%.

Abstract The fluorophores in the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) biological window (1000 – 1700 nm) show great application prospects in the fields of biology and optical communications. However, both excellent radiative transition and nonradiative transition cannot be achieved simultaneously for the majority of traditional fluorophores. Herein, tunable nanoparticles formulated with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) heater are developed rationally. The system can be implemented via the development of an ideal synergistic system that can not only produce photothermal from nonspecific triggers but also trigger carbon radical release. Once accumulating in tumors and subsequently being irradiated with 808 nm laser, the nanoparticles (NMB@NPs) encapsulated with NMDPA‐MT‐BBTD (NMB) are splitted due to the photothermal effect of NMB, leading to the decomposition of azo bonds in the nanoparticle matrix to generate carbon radical. Accompanied by second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) window emission from the NMB, fluorescence image‐guided thermodynamic therapy (TDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) which significantly inhibited the growth of oral cancer and negligible systemic toxicity is achieved synergistically. Taken together, this AIE luminogens‐based synergistic photothermal‐thermodynamic strategy brings a new insight into the design of superior versatile fluorescent NPs for precise biomedical applications and holds great promise to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of cancer therapy.

Abstract Background Radiodynamic therapy (RDT) holds the potential to overcome the shallow tissue penetration issue associated with conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT). To this end, complex and sometimes toxic scintillator–photosensitizer nanoconjugates are often used, posing barriers for large-scale manufacturing and regulatory approval. Methods Herein, we report a streamlined RDT strategy based on CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). 5-ALA is a clinically approved photosensitizer, converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in cancer cells’ mitochondria. CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles produce strong ~ 410 nm X-ray luminescence, which matches the Soret band of PpIX. We hypothesize that the CsI(Na)@MgO-and-5-ALA combination can mediate RDT wherein mitochondria-targeted PDT synergizes with DNA-targeted irradiation for efficient cancer cell killing. Because scintillator nanoparticles and photosensitizer are administered separately, the approach forgoes issues such as self-quenching or uncontrolled release of photosensitizers. Results When tested in vitro with 4T1 cells, the CsI(Na)@MgO and 5-ALA combination elevated radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhancing damages to mitochondria, DNA, and lipids, eventually reducing cell proliferation and clonogenicity. When tested in vivo in 4T1 models, RDT with the CsI(Na)@MgO and 5-ALA combination significantly improved tumor suppression and animal survival relative to radiation therapy (RT) alone. After treatment, the scintillator nanoparticles, made of low-toxic alkali and halide elements, were efficiently excreted, causing no detectable harm to the hosts. Conclusions Our studies show that separately administering CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles and 5-ALA represents a safe and streamlined RDT approach with potential in clinical translation. Graphical Abstract

The small-molecule iododiflunisal (IDIF) is a transthyretin (TTR) tetramer stabilizer and acts as a chaperone of the TTR-Amyloid beta interaction. Oral administration of IDIF improves Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)-like pathology in mice, although the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics remain unknown. Radiolabeling IDIF with positron or gamma emitters may aid in the in vivo evaluation of IDIF using non-invasive nuclear imaging techniques. In this work, we report an isotopic exchange reaction to obtain IDIF radiolabeled with 18F. [19F/18F]exchange reaction over IDIF in dimethyl sulfoxide at 160 °C resulted in the formation of [18F]IDIF in 7 ± 3% radiochemical yield in a 20 min reaction time, with a final radiochemical purity of >99%. Biodistribution studies after intravenous administration of [18F]IDIF in wild-type mice using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging showed capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (ca. 1% of injected dose per gram of tissue in the brain at t > 10 min post administration), rapid accumulation in the liver, long circulation time, and progressive elimination via urine. Our results open opportunities for future studies in larger animal species or human subjects.

Aim: In China, warfarin is usually prescribed with Chuanxiong Rhizoma for treating thromboembolism diseases. However, the reason for their combination is still being determined. The present study explored the pharmacokinetics interactions of warfarin, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and gut microbiota in the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods: A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into six groups: MCAO rats orally administered warfarin (W group), pseudo germ-free MCAO rats orally administered warfarin (W-f group), MCAO rats co-administered Chuanxiong Rhizoma and warfarin (C + W group), pseudo germ-free MCAO rats co-administered Chuanxiong Rhizoma and warfarin (C + W-f group), MCAO rats co-administered warfarin and senkyunolide I (S + W group); pseudo germ-free MCAO rats co-administered warfarin and senkyunolide I (S + W-f group). After treatment, all animals’ blood and stool samples were collected at different time points. The stool samples were used for 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established to quantify warfarin, internal standards, and the main bioactive components of Chuanxiong in blood samples. The main pharmacokinetics parameters of warfarin were calculated by DAS 2.1.1 software.Results: The relative abundance of Allobaculum and Dubosiella in the pseudo germ-free groups (W-f, C + W-f, S + W-f) was lower than that in the other three groups (W, C + W, S + W). The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the W-f group was higher than that of the W group, while the relative abundance of Akkermansia decreased. The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group in the S + W-f group was lower than in the S + W group. Compared to the W group, the AUC0-t and Cmax of warfarin in the W-f group increased significantly to 51.26% and 34.58%, respectively. The AUC0-t and Cmax in the C + W group promoted 71.20% and 65.75% more than the W group. Compared to the W group, the AUC0-t and Cmax increased to 64.98% and 64.39% in the S + W group.Conclusion: Chuanxiong Rhizoma and senkyunolide I (the most abundant metabolites of Chuanxiong Rhizoma aqueous extract) might affect the pharmacokinetics features of warfarin in MCAO rats through, at least partly, gut microbiota.

Summary: The overall survival rate of gliomas has not significantly improved despite new effective treatments, mainly due to tumor heterogeneity and drug delivery. Here, we perform an integrated clinic-genomic analysis of 1, 477 glioma patients from a Chinese cohort and a TCGA cohort and propose a potential prognostic model for gliomas. We identify that SBS11 and SBS23 mutational signatures are associated with glioma recurrence and indicate worse prognosis only in low-grade type of gliomas and IDH-Mut subtype. We also identify 42 genomic features associated with distinct clinical outcome and successfully used ten of these to develop a prognostic risk model of gliomas. The high-risk glioma patients with shortened survival were characterized by high level of frequent copy number alterations including PTEN, CDKN2A/B deletion, EGFR amplification, less IDH1 or CIC gene mutations, high infiltration levels of immunosuppressive cells and activation of G2M checkpoint and Oxidative phosphorylation oncogenic pathway.

In moths, mate finding relies on female-emitted sex pheromones that the males have to decipher within a complex environmental odorant background. Previous studies have shown that interactions of both sex pheromones and plant volatiles can occur in the peripheral olfactory system, and that some plant volatiles can activate the pheromone-specific detection pathway. In the noctuid moth Agrotis ipsilon, plant volatiles such as heptanal activate the receptor neurons tuned to the pheromone component (Z)7-12:OAc. However, the underlying mechanisms remain totally unknown. Following the general rule that states that one olfactory receptor neuron usually expresses only one type of receptor protein, a logic explanation would be that the receptor protein expressed in (Z)7-12:OAc-sensitive neurons recognizes both pheromone and plant volatiles. To test this hypothesis, we first annotated odorant receptor genes in the genome of A. ipsilon and we identified a candidate receptor putatively tuned to (Z)7-12:OAc, named AipsOR3. Then, we expressed it in Drosophila olfactory neurons and determined its response spectrum to a large panel of pheromone compounds and plant volatiles. Unexpectedly, the receptor protein AipsOR3 appeared to be very specific to (Z)7-12:OAc and was not activated by any of the plant volatiles tested, including heptanal. We also found that (Z)7-12:OAc responses of Drosophila neurons expressing AipsOR3 were not affected by a background of heptanal. As the Drosophila olfactory sensilla that house neurons in which AipsOR3 was expressed contain other olfactory proteins – such as odorant-binding proteins – that may influence its selectivity, we also expressed AipsOR3 in Xenopus oocytes and confirmed its specificity and the lack of activation by plant volatiles. Altogether, our results suggest that a still unknown second odorant receptor protein tuned to heptanal and other plant volatiles is expressed in the (Z)7-12:OAc-sensitive neurons of A. ipsilon.

Coal–rock disasters are becoming more and more severe as the intensity of coal mining increases. Due to its destructive power and resulting extensive area damage, rock burst is among the most critical threats to coal mine safety. It results from the combined action of the coal and the rock when affected by the mining process. To this end, we used a combination of coal and rock to conduct our studies. Combining a uniaxial compression experiment with theoretical analysis, this work investigated how different lithologies and coal–rock height ratios affect the mechanical properties of this combination and the law governing energy accumulation. We determined the following: When the coal–rock height ratios are dissimilar, the peak strength and modulus of elasticity of the combination show a negative correlation with the coal thickness share, and the pre-peak energy accumulation and impact energy index of the combination is positively correlated with the coal thickness percentage. In combination with the same coal–rock height ratio, the peak strength, elastic modulus, pre-peak energy accumulation, and impact energy index all increase with increased rock strength and elastic modulus. The presence of a hard rock layer affects the accumulation of pre-peak energy. Based on the experimental analysis, a theoretical model was established, and the surrounding rock stress negatively correlates with the percentage of coal thickness; the energy stored in the surrounding rock is directly proportional to the coal in the zone. Therefore, we inferred that the stress distribution of the surrounding rock as coal thickness changes is abnormal; substantial energy accumulation can swiftly initiate dynamic disasters, such as rock bursts. This study has important reference significance for preventing and controlling rock bursts in areas where coal thickness changes.

Abstract Background Recently, gadolinium-intercalated carbon dots (Gd@C-dots) have demonstrated potential advantages over traditional high-Z nanoparticles (HZNPs) as radiosensitizers due to their high stability, minimal metal leakage, and remarkable efficacy. Results In this work, two Gd@C-dots formulations were fabricated which bore carboxylic acid (CA-Gd@C-dots) or amino group (pPD-Gd@C-dots), respectively, on the carbon shell. While it is critical to develop innovative nanomateirals for cancer therapy, determining their tumor accumulation and retention is equally important. Therefore, in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) was performed, which found that 64Cu-labeled pPD-Gd@C-dots demonstrated significantly improved tumor retention (up to 48 h post injection) compared with CA-Gd@C-dots. Indeed, cell uptake of 64Cu-pPD-Gd@C-dots reached close to 60% of total dose compared with ~ 5% of 64Cu-CA-Gd@C-dots. pPD-Gd@C-dots was therefore further evaluated as a new radiosensitizer for non-small cell lung cancer treatment. While single dose radiation plus intratumorally injected pPD-Gd@C-dots did lead to improved tumor suppression, the inhibition effect was further improved with two doses of radiation. The persistent retention of pPD-Gd@C-dots in tumor region eliminates the need of reinjecting radiosensitizer for the second radiation. Conclusions PET offers a simple and straightforward way to study nanoparticle retention in vivo, and the selected pPD-Gd@C-dots hold great potential as an effective radiosensitizer. Graphic abstract

Abstract A system called WiSDP, which is based on Wi‐Fi signals, to detect whether a Seated Dumbbell Press action is standard by using inexpensive consumer Wi‐Fi devices is proposed. Compared with the scheme based on high speed cameras and wearable sensors, Wi‐Fi devices are insensitive to light and colour, do not need wear any device, and decrease the risk of disclosing privacy. WiSDP senses environment changes through the Channel State Information which is fine‐grained physical layer information comparing to frequently used Received Signal Strength Indicator. Compared to the action recognition, action quality recognition depends on slight differences between a non‐standard action and standard actions, which makes it challenging. The authors propose an improved sliding window algorithm calculating action energy to extract Seated Dumbbell Press actions from the Channel State Information streams, estimate action quality by choosing an appropriate classifier and use Principal Component Analysis and Butterworth low‐pass filter to remove noise. The authors conduct experiments in two different scenarios and the average true positive rate of WiSDP are 94.66% and 95.11%, respectively.

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is one of the most important medicinal herbs in China. It is known for its high medicinal value and economic value. The ginseng root rust rot (RRR) has always been one of the important diseases troubling the ginseng industry. The yield reduction rate of RRR is ~30%. To understand why the Cylindrocarpon species bring about the ginseng RRR in Northeastern China, this study isolates 45 strains from samples collected in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces. The rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was analyzed to identify the pathogenic species. The morphological characteristics of colonies and conidia of each strain on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium were observed, and the pathogenicity difference between different pathogenic species was analyzed by pricking method and determining the cell wall degrading enzyme activity. The BLAST alignment analysis shows that the homology of rDNA-ITS between 45 strains and Cylindrocarpon is more than 99%, among which 28 are identified as Cylindrocarpon destructans, three are identified as C. destructans var. destructans, and 14 are identified as Ilyonectria robusta. The colony diameters of all 45 isolated range from 4.21 ± 0.16a to 7.78 ± 0.25c cm after several days of incubation. Among all the species, I. robusta has the fastest growth rate, and C. destructans var. destructans has the slowest growth rate. Pathogenicity test results show that the pathogenicity of C. destructans var. destructans is the strongest, followed by C. destructans. I. robusta has relatively weak pathogenicity.

Abstract The social motivation hypothesis of autism posits that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired motivation to seek out social experience early in life that interferes with the development of social functioning. This framework suggests that impaired mesolimbic dopamine function underlies compromised responses to social rewards in ASD. Although this hypothesis is supported by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, no molecular imaging study has evaluated striatal dopamine functioning in response to rewards in ASD. Here, we examined striatal functioning during monetary incentive processing in ASD and controls using simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) and fMRI. Using a bolus + infusion protocol with the D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist [11C]raclopride, voxel-wise binding potential (BPND) was compared between groups (controls = 12, ASD = 10) in the striatum. Striatal clusters showing significant between-group BPND differences were used as seeds in whole-brain fMRI general functional connectivity analyses. Relative to controls, the ASD group demonstrated decreased phasic dopamine release to incentives in the bilateral putamen and left caudate, as well as increased functional connectivity between a PET-derived right putamen seed and the precuneus and insula. Within the ASD group, decreased phasic dopamine release in the putamen was related to poorer theory-of-mind skills. Our findings that ASD is characterized by impaired striatal phasic dopamine release to incentives provide support for the social motivation hypothesis of autism. PET-fMRI may be a suitable tool to evaluate novel ASD therapeutics targeting the striatal dopamine system.

Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and opiates cause long-term inflammatory insult to the central nervous system (CNS) and worsen disease progression and HIV-1-related neuropathology. The combination of these proinflammatory factors reflects a devastating problem as opioids have high abuse liability and continue to be prescribed for certain patients experiencing HIV-1-related pain. Methods Here, we examined the impact of chronic (3-month) HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) exposure to short-term (8-day), escalating morphine in HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice that express the HIV-1 Tat protein in a GFAP promoter-regulated, doxycycline (DOX)-inducible manner. In addition to assessing morphine-induced tolerance in nociceptive responses organized at spinal (i.e., tail-flick) and supraspinal (i.e., hot-plate) levels, we evaluated neuroinflammation via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using the [18F]-PBR111 ligand, immunohistochemistry, and cytokine analyses. Further, we examined endocannabinoid (eCB) levels, related non-eCB lipids, and amino acids via mass spectrometry. Results Tat-expressing [Tat(+)] transgenic mice displayed antinociceptive tolerance in the tail withdrawal and hot-plate assays compared to control mice lacking Tat [Tat(−)]. This tolerance was accompanied by morphine-dependent increases in Iba-1 ± 3-nitrotryosine immunoreactive microglia, and alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in the spinal cord and striatum, while increases in neuroinflammation were absent by PET imaging of [18F]-PBR111 uptake. Tat and morphine exposure differentially affected eCB levels, non-eCB lipids, and specific amino acids in a region-dependent manner. In the striatum, non-eCB lipids were significantly increased by short-term, escalating morphine exposure, including peroxisome proliferator activator receptor alpha (PPAR-α) ligands N-oleoyl ethanolamide (OEA) and N-palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA), as well as the amino acids phenylalanine and proline. In the spinal cord, Tat exposure increased amino acids leucine and valine, while morphine decreased levels of tyrosine and valine but did not affect eCBs or non-eCB lipids. Conclusion Overall results demonstrate that 3 months of Tat exposure increased morphine tolerance and potentially innate immune tolerance evidenced by reductions in specific cytokines (e.g., IL-1α, IL-12p40) and microglial reactivity. In contrast, short-term, escalating morphine exposure acted as a secondary stressor revealing an allostatic shift in CNS baseline inflammatory responsiveness from sustained Tat exposure.

Abstract Background Radiation therapy is a main treatment option for cancer. Due to normal tissue toxicity, radiosensitizers are commonly used to enhance RT. In particular, heavy metal or high-Z materials, such as gold nanoparticles, have been investigated as radiosensitizers. So far, however, the related studies have been focused on spherical gold nanoparticles. In this study, we assessed the potential of ultra-thin gold nanowires as a radiosensitizer, which is the first time. Methods Gold nanowires were synthesized by the reduction of HAuCl4 in hexane. The as-synthesized gold nanowires were then coated with a layer of PEGylated phospholipid to be rendered soluble in water. Spherical gold nanoparticles coated with the same phospholipid were also synthesized as a comparison. Gold nanowires and gold nanospheres were first tested in solutions for their ability to enhance radical production under irradiation. They were then incubated with 4T1 cells to assess whether they could elevate cell oxidative stress under irradiation. Lastly, gold nanowires and gold nanoparticles were intratumorally injected into a 4T1 xenograft model, followed by irradiation applied to tumors (3 Gy/per day for three days). Tumor growth was monitored and compared. Results Our studies showed that gold nanowires are superior to gold nanospheres in enhancing radical production under X-ray radiation. In vitro analysis found that the presence of gold nanowires caused elevated lipid peroxidation and intracellular oxidative stress under radiation. When tested in vivo, gold nanowires plus irradiation led to better tumor suppression than gold nanospheres plus radiation. Moreover, gold nanowires were found to be gradually reduced to shorter nanowires by glutathione, which may benefit fractionated radiation. Conclusion Our studies suggest that gold nanowires are a promising type of radiosensitizer that can be safely injected into tumors to enhance radiotherapy. While the current study was conducted in a breast cancer model, the approach can be extended to the treatment of other cancer types.

Methods to generate beige adipocytes from a human cell source are inefficient. Here, the authors present a protocol that efficiently generates beige adipocytes from human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which have potential utility in therapeutic development relating to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

Topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) relieves DNA torsional stress during transcription and facilitates the expression of long neuronal genes. Here we show that deletion of Top1 in excitatory neurons leads to early onset neurodegeneration that is partially dependent on p53/PARP1 activation and NAD+ depletion.

Abstract Background 68Ga-labelled peptides targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) have demonstrated encouraging results in managing patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). In addition to metal chelation, bifunctional chelators have also been found to impact imaging outcomes due to their differences in stability, charge, hydrophilicity, etc. In the present work, a comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation and imaging characteristics were performed between 68Ga-labelled somatostatin analogues (TATE) using NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) and DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) as bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs). Results Both 68Ga-NOTA-TATE and 68Ga-DOTA-TATE were obtained with high radiochemical purity. 68Ga-NOTA-TATE demonstrated higher in vitro stability (≥ 99%) than 68Ga-DOTA-TATE (≥ 95%) after 3 h of incubation. The water solubilities (partition coefficients, − 1.76 ± 0.06 vs. − 2.72 ± 0.16) and plasma protein binding rates (12.12% vs. 30.6%) were lower for 68Ga-NOTA-TATE than for 68Ga-DOTA-TATE. Differential pharmacokinetics and comparable tumour affinities (within 1 h) were observed in AR42J tumour-bearing mice. Healthy volunteer imaging studies showed comparable distribution patterns of these two imaging agents. However, the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the two tracers varied in each organ. The two PET agents demonstrated almost identical SUVmax values in the kidneys. 68Ga-NOTA-TATE did have a lower SUVmax in most other organs compared with 68Ga-DOTA-TATE, including the liver (4.2 vs. 10.1), potentially due to the lower protein binding rate. Conclusion 68Ga-NOTA-TATE and 68Ga-DOTA-TATE demonstrated comparable tumour uptake in an AR42J mouse model. An initial clinical study revealed that 68Ga-NOTA-TATE may have reduced background uptake in the major organs such as the liver. Although the subject numbers were limited, further investigation of 68Ga-NOTA-TATE is warranted for detecting SSTR2-positive neuroendocrine tumours.

Abstract Background Hypercoagulation and neutrophilia are described in several cancers, however, whether they are involved in lung carcinogenesis is currently unknown. Emodin is the main bioactive component from Rheum palmatum and has many medicinal values, such as anti-inflammation and anticancer. This study is to investigate the contributions of neutrophils to the effects of emodin on hypercoagulation and carcinogenesis. Methods The effects of emodin on neutrophil phenotypes were assessed by cell proliferation, morphological changes, phagocytosis and autophagy in vitro. The anti-coagulation and cancer-preventing actions of emodin were evaluated in the urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model. The expressions of Cit-H3 and PAD4 in lung sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry, CD66b+ neutrophils were distinguished by immunofluorescence, and cytokines and ROS were examined with ELISA. The neutrophils-regulating and hypercoagulation-improving efficacies of emodin were confirmed in a Lewis lung cancer allograft model. The related targets and pathways of emodin were predicted by network pharmacology. Results In vitro, emodin at the dose of 20 µM had no effect on cell viability in HL-60N1 but increased ROS and decreased autophagy and thus induced apoptosis in HL-60N2 with the morphological changes. In the urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model, before lung carcinogenesis, urethane induced obvious hypercoagulation which was positively correlated with lung N2 neutrophils. There were the aggravated hypercoagulation and lung N2 neutrophils after lung carcinoma lesions. Emodin treatment resulted in the ameliorated hypercoagulation and lung carcinogenesis accompanied by the decreased N2 neutrophils (CD66b+) in the alveolar cavity. ELISA showed that there were more IFN-γ, IL-12 and ROS and less IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in the alveolar cavity in the emodin group than those in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that emodin treatment decreased Cit-H3 and PAD4 in lung sections. In the Lewis lung cancer allograft model, emodin inhibits tumor growth accompanied by the attenuated coagulation and intratumor N2 neutrophils. Network pharmacology indicated the multi-target roles of emodin in N2 neutrophil activation. Conclusions This study suggests a novel function of emodin, whereby it selectively suppresses N2 neutrophils to prevent hypercoagulation and lung carcinogenesis.

To investigate the effects of different levels of ramie powder (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich.) (i.e., 0%, 6%, 12% and 24%) on the production performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidative capacity and intestinal development of Yanling white geese, a total of 256 geese at 56 days of age were randomly divided into four groups and fed a control diet and the control diet supplemented with 6%, 12% and 24% ramie powder, respectively, for 42 days. The results show that dietary supplementation with 12% ramie powder significantly increased the average final weight (p < 0.05) and tended to improve the average daily gain (ADG) and feed/gain ratio (F/G) of the test geese (0.05 < p < 0.10). Moreover, the dietary inclusion of 12 and 24% ramie powder improved meat qualities by reducing the L* value (p < 0.05) and cooking loss (0.05 < p < 0.10) of thigh muscle. Compared with the control group, the ramie powder supplementation at different levels increased the serum activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione, promoting the antioxidative capacity of the body (0.05 < p < 0.10). This study demonstrates that moderate ramie powder is beneficial to the production performance of Yanling white geese and has the potential to be used as a poultry feed ingredient. In conclusion, 12% was the proper supplementation rate of ramie powder in Yanling white geese feed.

18F-Labeled blood pool agents (BPAs) have attracted great attention for identifying bleeding sites. However, many BPAs are not sufficiently evaluated partially due to the limitations of labeling methods. In our previous work, we noticed that 18F-PEG1-vinyl sulfone (18F-VS) could efficiently label red blood cells (RBCs) ex vivo and in situ. However, its application as BPA is not fully evaluated. In this study, we systematically explored the feasibility of using 18F-VS-labeled RBCs as a positron emission tomography (PET) BPA for intra-abdominal bleeding diagnosis. In brief, we first optimized the labeling conditions, which lead to an 80% labeling yield of RBCs after incubating with 18F-VS in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37°C for 20 min. 18F-VS-labeled RBCs were found to be stable in vitro, which could simplify its transportation/storage for in vivo applications. In normal rat PET study, the cardiovascular system could be clearly imaged up to 5 h post injection (p.i.). An intra-abdominal hemorrhage rat model demonstrated that the 18F-VS-labeled RBCs clearly showed the dynamic changes of extravascular radioactivity due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Validation in the model of gastrointestinal bleeding clearly demonstrated the great potential of using 18F-VS-labeled RBCs as a BPA, which could be further evaluated in future studies.

Elsinochromes (ESCs) are virulence factors produced by Elsinoë arachidis which is the cause of peanut scab. However, the biosynthesis pathway of ESCs in E. arachidis has not been elucidated and the potential pathogenic mechanism of E. arachidis is poorly understood. In this study, we report a high-quality genome sequence of E. arachidis. The size of the E. arachidis genome is 33.18Mb, which is comparable to the Ascomycota genome (average 36.91 Mb), encoding 9174 predicted genes. The self-detoxification family including transporters and cytochrome P450 enzymes were analysis, candidate effectors and cell wall degrading enzymes were investigated as the pathogenicity genes by using PHI and CAZy databases. Additionally, the E. arachidis genome contains 24 secondary metabolism gene clusters, in which ESCB1 was identified as the core gene of ESC biosynthesis. Taken together, the genome sequence of E. arachidis provides a new route to explore its potential pathogenic mechanism and the biosynthesis pathway of ESCs.

Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae), one of the main insect pests, causes severe damage in cotton and many other economic crops. As is well-known, legs play important roles in the chemoreception of insects. In this study, the putative chemosensory proteins in legs of A. lucorum involved in close or contact chemical communication of adult bugs were investigated using RNA transcriptome sequencing and qPCR methods. Transcriptome data of forelegs, middle legs and hind legs of adult bugs demonstrated that 20 odorant binding protein (OBP) genes, eight chemosensory protein (CSP) genes, one odorant receptor (OR) gene, one ionotropic receptor (IR) gene and one sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) gene were identified in legs of A. lucorum. Compared to the previous antennae transcriptome data, five CSPs, IR21a and SNMP2a were newly identified in legs. Results of qPCR analysis indicated that all these putative chemosensory genes were ubiquitously expressed in forelegs, middle legs and hind legs of bugs. Furthermore, four types of sensilla on legs of A. lucorum including sensilla trichodea (subtypes: long straight sensilla trichodea, Str1; long curved sensilla trichodea, Str2), sensilla chaetica (subtypes: sensilla chaetica 1, Sch1; sensilla chaetica 2, Sch2; and sensilla chaetica 3, Sch3), sensilla basiconca (subtypes: medium-long sensilla basiconca, Sba1; short sensilla basiconca, Sba2) and Böhm bristles (BB) were found using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the largest number of sensilla was observed on hind legs, while the forelegs had the smallest number of sensilla. Our data provide valuable insights into understanding the chemoreception of legs in A. lucorum.

MerTK (Mer tyrosine kinase), a receptor tyrosine kinase, is ectopically or aberrantly expressed in numerous human hematologic and solid malignancies. Although a variety of MerTK targeting therapies are being developed to enhance outcomes for patients with various cancers, the sensitivity of tumors to MerTK suppression may not be uniform due to the heterogeneity of solid tumors and different tumor stages. In this report, we develop a series of radiolabeled agents as potential MerTK PET (positron emission tomography) agents. In our initial in vivo evaluation, [18F]-MerTK-6 showed prominent uptake rate (4.79 ± 0.24%ID/g) in B16F10 tumor-bearing mice. The tumor to muscle ratio reached 1.86 and 3.09 at 0.5 and 2 h post-injection, respectively. In summary, [18F]-MerTK-6 is a promising PET agent for MerTK imaging and is worth further evaluation in future studies.

The painted sweetlips Diagramma pictum (Thunberg 1792) is an important fish for commercial fisheries which is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. It can change its external coloration and pattern during their lives. The complete mitochondrial genome of D. pictum was determined in this study. The genome was 16,531 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and one noncoding control region. The overall base composition was estimated to be A: 27.5%; T: 24.7%; C: 30.9% and G: 16.9% with AT bias of 52.2%. The molecular phylogenetic result revealed that D. pictum did not form an independent branch but was tightly clustered inside the Plectorhinchus groups, closely related to the species Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides, indicating the close relationships between genera Diagramma and Plectorhinchus. These results may provide important genomic information for species evolution and mitogenome based phylogenetic analyses of D. pictum in the family Haemulidae.

The study aims to assess site assessment of the performance of 18F-PBR-111 as a neuroinflammation marker in the cuprizone mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). 18F-PBR-111 PET imaging has not been well evaluated in multiple sclerosis applications both in preclinical and clinical research. This study will help establish the potential utility of 18F-PBR-111 PET in preclinical MS research and future animal and future human applications. 18F-PBR-111 PET/CT was conducted at 3.5 weeks (n = 7) and 5.0 weeks (n = 7) after cuprizone treatment or sham control (n = 3) in the mouse model. A subgroup of mice underwent autoradiography with cryosectioned brain tissue. T2 weighted MRI was performed to obtain the brain structural data of each mouse. 18F-PBR-111 uptake was assessed in multiple brain regions with PET and autoradiography images. The correlation between autoradiography and immunofluorescence staining of neuroinflammation (F4/80 and CD11b) was measured. Compared to control mice, significant 18F-PBR-111 uptake in the corpus callosum (p < 0.001), striatum (caudate and internal capsule, p < 0.001), and hippocampus (p < 0.05) was identified with PET images at both 3.5 weeks and 5.0 weeks, and validated with autoradiography. No significant uptake differences were detected between 3.5 weeks and 5.0 weeks assessing these regions as a whole, although there was a trend of increased uptake at 5.0 weeks compared to 3.5 weeks in the CC. High 18F-PBR-111 uptake regions correlated with microglial/macrophage locations by immunofluorescence staining with F4/80 and CD11b antibodies. 18F-PBR-111 uptake in anatomic locations correlated with activated microglia at histology in the cuprizone mouse model of MS suggests that 18F-PBR-111 has potential for in vivo evaluation of therapy response and potential for use in MS patients and animal studies.

Bee responses to floral scent are usually influenced by both innate biases and prior experience. Honeybees are less attracted than bumblebees to tomato flowers. However, little is known about how tomato floral scent regulates the foraging behaviors of honeybees and bumblebees. In this study, the foraging behaviors of the honeybee Apis mellifera and the bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis on tomato flowers in greenhouses were investigated. Whether the two bee species exhibit different responses to tomato floral scent and how innate biases and prior experience influence bee choice behavior were examined. In the greenhouses, honeybees failed to collect pollen from tomato flowers, and their foraging activities decreased significantly over days. Additionally, neither naïve honeybees nor naïve bumblebees showed a preference for tomato floral scent in a Y-tube olfactometer. However, foraging experience in the tomato greenhouses helped bumblebees develop a strong preference for the scent, whereas honeybees with foraging experience continued to show aversion to tomato floral scent. After learning to associate tomato floral scent with a sugar reward in proboscis extension response (PER) assays, both bee species exhibited a preference for tomato floral scent in Y-tube olfactometers. The findings indicated that prior experience with a food reward strongly influenced bee preference for tomato floral scent.

Background Sclerotinia ginseng is a major devastating soil-borne pathogen of ginseng that can cause irreparable damage and large economic losses. This pathogen produces sclerotia, which are among the most persistent resting structures produced by filamentous fungi. The production of an exudate is a common feature of sclerotial development. Methods S. ginseng was cultured on 10 different media and the following parameters were measured: mycelial growth rate (mm/day), initial formation time of exudate droplets, total quantity of exudate, number of sclerotia per dish, and sclerotial fresh/dry weight. The composition of the sclerotial exudate was analyzed using four methods (high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and Nessler’s reagent spectrophotometry). Results We found that PDA was the optimal medium for exudate production, while SDA medium resulted in the highest mycelial growth rate. The earliest emergence of exudate droplets from sclerotia was on OA-YE and V8 media. The largest amount of sclerotia and the smallest sclerotia were produced on V8 medium. The maximum and minimum dry/fresh weight were obtained on MEA medium and V8 medium, respectively. The exudate contained organic acids (oxalic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and tannic acid), carbohydrates (inositol, glucose, and trehalose), various ions (potassium, sodium, and magnesium), and ammonia. Discussion The functions of the identified compounds are discussed within the context of pathogenicity, sclerotial development, and antimicrobial activity. Our findings provide information about the production of sclerotia and the composition of sclerotial exudate that may be useful to develop strategies to control this disease.

Introduction: Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR-1) is expressed and activated in prostate cancer cells. In this study, we explore the NTR expression in normal mouse tissues and study the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of NTR in prostate cancer models. Materials and Methods: Three 64 Cu chelators (1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid [DOTA], 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid [NOTA], or AmBaSar) were conjugated to an NT analog. Neurotensin receptor binding affinity was evaluated using cell binding assay. The imaging profile of radiolabeled probes was compared in well-established NTR + HT-29 tumor model. Stability of the probes was tested. The selected agents were further evaluated in human prostate cancer PC3 xenografts. Results: All 3 NT conjugates retained the majority of NTR binding affinity. In HT-29 tumor, all agents demonstrated prominent tumor uptake. Although comparable stability was observed, 64 Cu-NOTA-NT and 64 Cu-AmBaSar-NT demonstrated improved tumor to background contrast compared with 64 Cu-DOTA-NT. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of the NTR expression in PC-3 xenografts showed high tumor uptake of the probes, correlating with the in vitro Western blot results. Blocking experiments further confirmed receptor specificity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that 64 Cu-labeled neurotensin analogs are promising imaging agents for NTR-positive tumors. These agents may help us identify NTR-positive lesions and predict which patients and individual tumors are likely to respond to novel interventions targeting NTR-1.

A new class of multifunctionalized sarcophagine derivatives was synthesized for 64Cu chelation. The platform developed in this study could have broad applications in 64Cu-radiopharmaceuticals.

We prepared high-performance photoresistors based on CH3NH3PbI3 films with a high PbI2 doping level. The role of PbI2 in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin film was systematically investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and photoconductive atomic force microscope. Laterally-structured photodetectors have been fabricated based on CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin films deposited using precursor solution with various CH3NH3I:PbI2 ratios. Remarkably, the introduction of a suitable amount of PbI2 can significantly improve the performance and stability of perovskite-based photoresistors, optoelectronic devices with ultrahigh photo-sensitivity, high current on/off ratio, fast photo response speed, and retarded decay. Specifically, a highest responsivity of 7.8 A/W and a specific detectivity of 2.1 × 1013 Jones with a rise time of 0.86 ms and a decay time of 1.5 ms have been achieved. In addition, the local dependence of photocurrent generation in perovskite thin films was revealed by photoconductive atomic force microscopy, which provides direct evidence that the presence of PbI2 can effectively passivate the grain boundaries of CH3NH3PbI3 and assist the photocurrent transport more effectively.

The recent advancement of nanotechnology has provided unprecedented opportunities for the development of nanoparticle enabled technologies for detecting and treating cancer. Here, we reported the construction of a PET trackable organic nanoplatform based on phage particle for targeted tumor imaging. Method: The integrin αvβ3 targeted phage nanoparticle was constructed by expressing RGD peptides on its surface. The target binding affinity of this engineered phage particle was evaluated in vitro. A bifunctional chelator (BFC) 1,4,7,10-tetraazadodecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) or 4-((8-amino-3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo [6.6.6] icosane-1-ylamino) methyl) benzoic acid (AmBaSar) was then conjugated to the phage surface for 64Cu2+ chelation. After 64Cu radiolabeling, microPET imaging was performed in U87MG tumor model and the receptor specificity was confirmed by blocking experiments. Results: The phage-RGD demonstrated target specificity based on ELISA experiment. According to the TEM images, the morphology of the phage was unchanged after the modification with BFCs. The labeling yield was 25 ± 4% for 64Cu-DOTA-phage-RGD and 46 ± 5% for 64Cu-AmBaSar-phage-RGD, respectively. At 1 h time point, 64Cu-DOTA-phage-RGD and 64Cu-AmBaSar-phage-RGD have comparable tumor uptake (~ 8%ID/g). However, 64Cu-AmBaSar-phage-RGD showed significantly higher tumor uptake (13.2 ± 1.5 %ID/g, P64Cu-DOTA-phage-RGD (10 ± 1.2 %ID/g). 64Cu-AmBaSar-phage-RGD also demonstrated significantly lower liver uptake, which could be attributed to the stability difference between these chelators. There is no significant difference between two tracers regarding the uptake in kidney and muscle at all time points tested. In order to confirm the receptor specificity, blocking experiment was performed. In the RGD blocking experiment, the cold RGD peptide was injected 2 min before the administration of 64Cu-AmBaSar-phage-RGD. Tumor uptake was partially blocked at 1 h time point. Phage-RGD particle was also used as the competitive ligand. In this case, the tumor uptake was significantly reduced and the value was kept at low level consistently. Conclusion: In this report, we constructed a PET trackable nanoplatform based on phage particle and demonstrated the imaging capability of these targeted agents. We also demonstrated that the choice of chelator could have significant impact on imaging results of nano-agents. The method established in this research may be applicable to other receptor/ligand systems for theranostic agent construction, which could have an immediate and profound impact on the field of imaging/therapy and lay the foundation for the construction of next generation cancer specific theranostic agents.

PURPOSE:To investigate the aberrant functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their clinical relevance. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Resting-state functional MRI data were collected from 31 patients with ESRD (24 men, 24-61 years) and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs, 21 men, 26-61years). A whole-brain seed-based functional connectivity analysis of these collected R-fMRI data was performed by locating the seeds in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to investigate the functional connectivity of the posterior and anterior DMN over the whole brain, respectively. RESULTS:Compared to the HCs, the patients exhibited significantly decreased functional connectivity with the PCC in the left middle temporal gyrus, the right anterior cingulate gyrus, and the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus. For the vmPFC seed, only the right thalamus showed significantly decreased functional connectivity in the patients with ESRD compared to HCs. Interestingly, functional connectivity between the PCC and right medial superior frontal gyrus exhibited a significantly positive correlation with the hemoglobin level in the patients. CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest a spatially specific disruption of functional connectivity in the DMN in patients with ESRD, thereby providing novel insights into our understanding of the neurophysiology mechanism that underlies the disease.

18 F positron emission tomography (PET) has a number of attributes that make it clinically attractive, including nearly 100% positron efficiency, very high specific radioactivity, and a short half-life of ≈ 110 minutes. However, the short half-life of 18 F and the poor nucleophilicity of fluoride introduce challenges for the incorporation of 18 F into complex molecules. Recently, the tetrazine- trans -cyclooctene ligation was introduced as a novel 18 F labeling method that proceeds with fast reaction rates without catalysis. Herein we report an efficient method for 18 F labeling of free cysteines of peptides and proteins based on sequential ligation with a bifunctional tetrazinyl-maleimide and an 18 F-labeled trans -cyclooctene. The newly developed method was tested for site-specific labeling of both c(RGDyC) peptide and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-SH protein. Starting with 4 mCi of 18 F- trans -cyclooctene and only 10 μg of tetrazine-RGD (80–100 μM) or 15 μg of tetrazine-VEGF (6.0 μM), 18 F-labeled RGD peptide and VEGF protein could be obtained within 5 minutes in 95% yield and 75% yield, respectively. The obtained tracers were then evaluated in mice. In conclusion, a highly efficient method has been developed for site-specific 18 F labeling of cysteine-containing peptides and proteins. The special characteristics of the tetrazine– trans -cyclooctene ligation provide unprecedented opportunities to synthesize 18 F-labeled probes with high specific activity for PET applications.

We hypothesized that imaging-based assessment of cellular proliferation in prostate cancer may improve tumor characterization. We therefore evaluated the biodistribution and effect of androgen on tumor uptake of the cellular proliferation imaging marker [ 18 F]-2'-fluoro-5-methyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil ( 18 F-FMAU) in xenograft mouse models of human prostate cancer. Castrated and noncastrated athymic male mice were implanted with androgen-independent PC3 and androgen-sensitive CWR22 human prostate cancer cells. Dynamic micro–positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography was performed for 1 hour followed by 10-minute static scans at 2 and 3 hours. Animals were sacrificed after imaging for biodistribution studies and immunohistochemical staining of tumors for androgen receptor and Ki-67/MIB expression. 18 F-FMAU uptake was significantly higher in all major organs of the castrated animals in comparison with noncastrated mice, with the highest uptake in liver and the lowest uptake in muscle and bone. When compared to PC3 tumors, CWR22 xenografts showed significantly higher tumor to muscle (2.56 ± 0.30 vs 1.99 ± 0.30, p 5.008) and tumor to liver (1.72 ± 0.12 vs 1.26 ± 0.17, p = .0003) uptake ratios in the noncastrated animal at the 3-hour time point. Androgen receptor and Ki-67/MIB expressions were higher in CWR22 than in PC3 xenografts. Our initial preclinical observations suggest that there may be an association between androgen signaling and thymidine metabolism and that 18 F-FMAU PET may be useful in prostate tumor characterization.

Accumulating experimental evidence indicates that overexpression of α 2 β 1 integrin may correlate with progression in human prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to design a novel imaging probe based on the Asp-Gly-Glu-Ala (DGEA) peptide for near-infrared-fluorescent (NIRF) imaging of α 2 β 1 , integrin expression in prostate cancer. The peptides were conjugated with appropriate fluorescent dyes, and the binding affinity of these probes was evaluated by flow cytometry in three human prostate cell lines (PC-3, CWR-22, and LNCaP). In vivo NIRF imaging of the α 2 β 1 -positive PC-3 xenograft model was performed to evaluate the α 2 β 1 targeted probe. In vitro immunofluorescence staining was carried out to confirm the α 2 β 1 integrin expression level. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PC-3 had the highest probe uptake, followed by CWR-22 and LNCaP tumor cells. In the subcutaneous PC-3 model, the tumor demonstrated prominent uptake with good tumor to background contrast. Immunohistochemistry staining also supported the in vivo optical imaging results. DGEA-based optical agents have been developed for specific imaging of α 2 β 1 , integrin expression. In vitro and in vivo localization demonstrated the potential of this agent to identify tumor subtypes amenable to anti-α 2 β 1 integrin treatment and potentially provide prognostic information regarding tumor progression.