Silk fibroin and hydroxypropyl cellulose composite injectable hydrogel-containing extracellular vesicles for myocardial infarction repair

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as one of the promising specific drugs for myocardial infarction (MI) prognosis. Nevertheless, low intramyocardial retention of EVs remains a major impediment to their clinical application. In this study, we developed a silk fibroin/hydroxypropyl cellulose (SF/HPC) composite hydrogel combined with AC16 cell-derived EVs targeted modification by folic acid for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction repair. EVs were functionalized by distearoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG-FA) via noncovalent interaction for targeting and accelerating myocardial infarction repair.In vitro, cytocompatibility analyses revealed that the as-prepared hydrogels had excellent cell viability by MTT assay and the functionalized EVs had higher cell migration by scratch assay.In vivo, the composite hydrogels can promote myocardial tissue repair effects by delaying the process of myocardial fibrosis and promoting angiogenesis of infarct area in MI rat model.

imply: improving cell-type deconvolution accuracy using personalized reference profiles

Using computational tools, bulk transcriptomics can be deconvoluted to estimate the abundance of constituent cell types. However, existing deconvolution methods are conditioned on the assumption that the whole study population is served by a single reference panel, ignoring person-to-person heterogeneity. Here, we present imply, a novel algorithm to deconvolute cell type proportions using personalized reference panels. Simulation studies demonstrate reduced bias compared with existing methods. Real data analyses on longitudinal consortia show disparities in cell type proportions are associated with several disease phenotypes in Type 1 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. imply is available through the R/Bioconductor package ISLET at https://bioconductor.org/packages/ISLET/ .

Retinoids in the treatment of photoageing: A histological study of topical retinoid efficacy in black skin

BACKGROUND

Photoageing describes complex cutaneous changes that occur due to chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The 'gold standard' for the treatment of photoaged white skin is all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA); however, cosmetic retinol (ROL) has also proven efficacious. Recent work has identified that black skin is susceptible to photoageing, characterized by disintegration of fibrillin-rich microfibrils (FRMs) at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). However, the impact of topical retinoids for repair of black skin has not been well investigated.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the potential of retinoids to repair photoaged black skin.

METHODS

An exploratory intervention study was performed using an in vivo, short-term patch test protocol. Healthy but photoaged black volunteers (>45 years) were recruited to the study, and participant extensor forearms were occluded with either 0.025% ATRA (n = 6; 4-day application due to irritancy) or ROL (12-day treatment protocol for a cosmetic) at concentrations of 0.3% (n = 6) or 1% (n = 6). Punch biopsies from occluded but untreated control sites and retinoid-treated sites were processed for histological analyses of epidermal characteristics, melanin distribution and dermal remodelling.

RESULTS

Treatment with ATRA and ROL induced significant acanthosis (all p < 0.001) accompanied by a significant increase in keratinocyte proliferation (Ki67; all p < 0.01), dispersal of epidermal melanin and restoration of the FRMs at the DEJ (all p < 0.01), compared to untreated control.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that topical ATRA has utility for the repair of photoaged black skin and that ROL induces comparable effects on epidermal and dermal remodelling, albeit over a longer timeframe. The effects of topical retinoids on black photoaged skin are similar to those reported for white photoaged skin and suggest conserved biology in relation to repair of UVR-induced damage. Further investigation of topical retinoid efficacy in daily use is warranted for black skin.

The boom era of emerging contaminants: A review of remediating agricultural soils by biochar

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are widely sourced persistent pollutants that pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. Their footprint spans global ecosystems, making their remediation highly challenging. In recent years, a significant amount of literature has focused on the use of biochar for remediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and water environments. However, the use of biochar for the remediation of ECs in agricultural soils has not received as much attention, and as a result, there are limited reviews available on this topic. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of the primary types, sources, and hazards of ECs in farmland, as well as the structure, functions, and preparation types of biochar. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the importance and prospects of three remediation strategies for ECs in cropland: (i) employing activated, modified, and composite biochar for remediation, which exhibit superior pollutant removal compared to pure biochar; (ii) exploring the potential synergistic efficiency between biochar and compost, enhancing their effectiveness in soil improvement and pollution remediation; (iii) utilizing biochar as a shelter and nutrient source for microorganisms in biochar-mediated microbial remediation, positively impacting soil properties and microbial community structure. Given the increasing global prevalence of ECs, the remediation strategies provided in this paper aim to serve as a valuable reference for future remediation of ECs-contaminated agricultural lands.

Integrative proteomic and transcriptomic analysis in the female goat ovary to explore the onset of puberty

Puberty is considered a prerequisite for affecting reproductive performance and productivity. Little was known about molecular changes in pubertal goat ovaries. Therefore, we measured and performed a correlation analysis of the mRNA and proteins changes in the pre-pubertal and pubertal goat ovaries. The results showed that only six differentially expressed genes and differentially abundant proteins out of 18,139 genes and 7550 proteins quantified had significant correlations. CNTN2 and THBS1, discovered in the mRNA-mRNA interaction network, probably participated in pubertal and reproductive regulation by influencing GnRH receptor signals, follicular development, and ovulation. The predicted core transcription factors may either promote or inhibit the expression of reproductive genes and act synergistically to maintain normal reproductive function in animals. The interaction between PKM and TIMP3 with other proteins may impact animal puberty through energy metabolism and ovarian hormone secretion. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the co-associated key pathways between ovarian genes and proteins at puberty included calcium signalling pathway and olfactory transduction. These pathways were associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone synthesis and secretion, signal transmission, and cell proliferation. In summary, these results enriched the potential molecules and signalling pathways that affect puberty and provided new insights for regulating and promoting the onset of puberty. SIGNIFICANCE: This study conducted the first transcriptomic and proteomic correlation analysis of pre-pubertal and pubertal goat ovaries and identified six significantly correlated molecules at both the gene and protein levels. Meanwhile, we were drawn to several molecules and signalling pathways that may play a regulatory role in the onset of puberty and reproduction by influencing reproductive-related gene expression, GnRH receptor signals, energy metabolism, ovarian hormone secretion, follicular development, and ovulation. This information contributed to identify potential biomarkers in pubertal goat ovaries, which was vital for predicting the onset of puberty and improving livestock performance.

Confinement effects of mandrel degradation in ICF target fabrication

Understanding and further regulating the degradation of mandrel materials is a key aspect of target fabrication in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Here, a quasi-one-dimensional confinement model is developed using a series of single-walled carbon nanotubes with varying diameters (Dm), and the degradation of poly-α-methylstyrene (PAMS) as a typical mandrel material is investigated under such confined conditions by using the combined method of quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics. In comparison to the isolated system, the calculations show that confinement can decrease or increase the energy barriers of PAMS degradation, which directly depends on Dm. Following which a clear exponential relationship between the degradation rate of PAMS and its own density is derived, indicating that the density of PAMS can be used to regulate mandrel degradation. This work highlights the important effects of confinement on degradation and provides a valuable reference for further development of polymer degradation technologies in ICF target fabrication and other fields.

Reevaluation of the protein requirement in Chinese elderly adults without sarcopenia with the indicator amino acid oxidation technique

It is now generally believed that elderly may have slightly higher dietary protein requirements than those of the young-middle-aged adults. We have previously conducted related studies by the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique, but more research data are needed to revise the protein requirements of the elderly. The main objective was to reevaluate the dietary protein requirements of healthy Chinese adults (65-80 years) without sarcopenia by using the IAAO technique. Nine healthy adult men and seven healthy adult women participated in the study, with protein intakes ranging from 0·1 to 1·8 g/(kg·d). Diets that delivered energy at a 1·5 resting energy expenditure were isocaloric. The amounts of phenylalanine and tyrosine needed to remain constant for each protein dosage. By applying a nonlinear mixed-effects model analysis on the F13CO2 data, which revealed a breakpoint in F13CO2 in response to graded protein intakes, the mean protein requirement was calculated. The mean estimated average requirement (EAR) for healthy elderly Chinese adults without sarcopenia was determined to be 0·94 g/(kg·d). The protein recommended nutrient intake (RNI) determined using various derivation approaches ranged from 1·13 to 1·36 g/(kg·d). The EAR for Chinese adults without sarcopenia aged 65-80 years in this study is 6·8 % higher than the current recommended EAR (0·88 g/(kg·d)). The RNI derived using various derivation approaches are all greater than the current RNI (0·98 g/(kg·d)). This trial was registered with the Chinese clinical trial registry as ChiCTR2200061382.

Large-scale soil application of hydrochar: Reducing its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content and toxicity by heating

The beneficial roles of hydrochar in carbon sequestration and soil improvement are widely accepted. Despite few available reports regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generated during preparation, their potential negative impacts on ecosystems remain a concern. A heating treatment method was employed in this study for rapidly removing PAHs and reducing the toxicity of corn stover-based hydrochar (CHC). The result showed total PAHs content (∑PAH) decreased and then sharply increased within the temperature range from 150 °C to 400 °C. The ∑PAH and related toxicity in CHC decreased by more than 80% under 200 °C heating temperature, compared with those in the untreated sample, representing the lowest microbial toxicity. Benzo(a)pyrene produced a significant influence on the ecological toxicity of the hydrochar among the 16 types of PAHs. The impact of thermal treatment on the composition, content, and toxicity of PAHs was significantly influenced by the adsorption, migration, and desorption of PAHs within hydrochar pores, as well as the disintegration and aggregation of large molecular polymers. The combination of hydrochar with carbonized waste heat and exhaust gas collection could be a promising method to efficiently and affordably reduce hydrochar ecological toxicity.

Precise Regulation on the Bond Dissociation Energy of Exocyclic C-N Bonds in Various N-Heterocycle Electron Donors via Machine Learning

Heterocycles with saturated N atoms (HetSNs) are widely used electron donors in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials. Their relatively low bond dissociation energy (BDE) of exocyclic C-N bonds has been closely related to material intrinsic stability and even device lifetime. Thus, it is imperative to realize fast prediction and precise regulation of those C-N BDEs, which demands a deep understanding of the relationship between the molecular structure and BDE. Herein, via machine learning (ML), we rapidly and accurately predicted C-N BDEs in various HetSNs and found that five-membered HetSNs (5-HetSNs) have much higher BDEs than almost all 6-HetSNs, except emerging boron-N blocks. Thorough analysis disclosed that high aromaticity is the foremost factor accounting for the high BDE of 5-HetSNs, and introducing intramolecular hydrogen-bond or electron-withdrawing moieties could also increase BDE. Importantly, the ML models performed well in various realistic OLED materials, showing great potential in characterizing material intrinsic stability for high-throughput virtual-screening and material design efforts.

Mouse model of Graves' orbitopathy induced by the immunization with TSHR A and IGF-1R α subunit gene

PURPOSE

The study aimed to establish a mouse model of Graves' disease (GD) with Graves' orbitopathy (GO; GD + GO) that can represent the clinical disease characteristics.

METHODS

A eukaryotic expression plasmid of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) α subunit (pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα) and a thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) A subunit plasmid (pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289) were injected in female BALB/c mice followed by immediate electroporation to induce a GD + GO model. Grouping was performed according to the frequency of injection (2- to 4-week intervals) and type of injected plasmids: T: pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +), I: pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα( +), or co-injection T + I: pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +) and pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα( +). Serum TSH, T4, TSAb, TSBAb, body weight, and blood glucose levels were evaluated. Thyroid 99mTcO4- imaging and retrobulbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed, and bilateral eye muscle volumes were measured. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed on the relevant tissues, and semi-quantitative analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 60% of mice (3/5, one mouse died) in the T group developed GD + GO. In the T + I group, 83.3% of mice (5/6) developed GD + GO. Mice in the I group did not develop GD. Compared with the control group, serum T4, TSAb, and TSBAb of the mice in the GD + GO model groups were increased to varying degrees (P < 0.05), and serum TSH and body weight were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The thyroid uptake capacity of 99mTcO4- and the volume of eye muscle of mice in the GD + GO group were significantly higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The thyroid and retrobulbar muscles of these mice showed varying inflammatory infiltration and interstitial muscle edema. The severity of GD + GO in the co-injection group was not related to injection frequency; however, GD and ocular signs in co-injection mice were more severe compared to the T group.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully induced a GD + GO mouse model by a repeated co-injection of pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα and pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289 plasmids. Injection of pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα alone failed to induce GD. Co-injection of two plasmids induced more severe GD + GO than pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +) alone.

Ultra-Fast Preparation of High-Strength Polymer Concrete via Frontal Polymerization at Room Temperature

Concrete, in particular application scenarios, such as crack repair, disaster rescue and relief, and 3D printing, needs to be cured quickly. In this work, a novel synthesis strategy, UV-initiated frontal polymerization (FP), for fast preparation of high-strength polymer concrete at room temperature is proposed, and the whole fabrication progress within several minutes, in which coarse aggregates and a small amount of short carbon fibers (CF) are used to enhance mechanical properties and heat conduction and reduce the amounts of chemical adhesives. SEM, DSC, MIP, Ultra depth of field microscope, and Rheometer are employed to characterize the properties of chemical adhesives, polymer concrete, and polymerization process. In addition, the finite element method is used to investigate the internal temperature field status of the FP process. The results indicate that the compressive and flexural strengths of the polymer concrete with 1.0 wt%-1 mm-CF-50 vol.%-quartz sand exceeded 70 and 20 MPa, respectively, in which the average self-propagation velocity reached 58 mm min-1. The investigation provides a promising approach for the rapid construction of structural facilities, emergency repair after disasters, 3D printing concrete, etc.

Highly Conductive Imidazolate Covalent Organic Frameworks with Ether Chains as Solid Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes are often used for Li+ conduction as they can dissociate the Li salts efficiently. However, high entanglement of the chains and lack of pathways for rapid ion diffusion limit their applications in advanced batteries. Recent developments in ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs) showed that their highly ordered structures provide efficient pathways for Li+ transport, solving the limitations of traditional PEO-based electrolytes. Here, we present imidazolate COFs, PI-TMEFB-COFs, having methoxyethoxy chains, synthesized by Debus-Radziszewski multicomponent reactions and their ionized form, Li+@PI-TMEFB-COFs, showing a high Li+ conductivity of 8.81 mS cm-1 and a transference number of 0.974. The mechanism for such excellent electrochemical properties is that methoxyethoxy chains dissociate LiClO4, making free Li+, then those Li+ are transported through the imidazolate COFs' pores. The synthesized Li+@PI-TMEFB-COFs formed a stable interface with Li metal. Thus, employing Li+@PI-TMEFB-COFs as the solid electrolyte to assemble LiFePO4 batteries showed an initial discharge capacity of 119.2 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C, and 82.0 % capacity and 99.9 % Coulombic efficiency were maintained after 400 cycles. These results show that iCOFs with ether chains synthesized via multicomponent reactions can create a new chapter for making solid electrolytes for advanced rechargeable batteries.

Flexible Broadband Organic Photodetectors with Ternary Planar-Mixed Heterojunction Semiconductors and Solution-Processed Polymeric Electrode

Flexible organic photodetectors (OPDs) hold immense promise in health monitoring sensors, flexible imaging sensors, and portable optical communication. Nevertheless, the actualization of high-performance flexible electronics has been hindered by rigid electrodes such as metals or metal oxides. In this work, we constructed a flexible broadband organic photodetector using a solution-processed polymeric electrode, which exhibits flexibility surpassing that of conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. Additionally, we employed a planar-mixed heterojunction (PMHJ) through a sequential deposition method and introduced PC71BM as the third constituent into the PM6/Y6 binary active layer, resulting in enhanced photodetection performance and a broadend spectral range. The optimized OPDs demonstrated remarkable detectivity (D*) exceeding 1012 Jones in brodband from 300 to 900 nm, with a champion D* of 6.31 × 1012 Jones at 790 nm. Furthermore, after undergoing 500 cycles of bending, the D* retained approximately 78% of its original performance, highlighting the outstanding mechanical stability. This work presents a promising pathway toward the development of flexible broadband OPDs using a straightforward method, offering enhanced compatibility in diverse application scenarios and propelling the frontier of flexible optoelectronic research.

The impacts of national centralized drug procurement policy on drug utilization of medical institutions: an empirical study in a county-level hospital in China

PURPOSE

Under the background of the regular implementation of the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) policy, this study aimed to assess the impacts of the NCDP policy on drug utilization of county-level medical institutions, and probe into the influencing factors of the changes in drug utilization.

METHOD

A pre-post study was applied using inpatient data from a county-level medical institution in Nanjing. Drug utilization behavior of medical institutions of 88 most commonly used policy-related drugs (by generic name, including bid-winning and bid-non-winning brands) was analyzed, and the substitution of bid-winning brands for brand-name drugs after policy intervention was evaluated.

RESULTS

After policy intervention, 43.18% of policy-related drugs realized the substitution of bid-winning brands for bid-non-winning brands (6.82% of complete substitution, 36.36% of partial substitution). Meanwhile, 40.90% of policy-related drugs failed to realize brand substitution. Multiple factors affected brand substitution, including: (1) Policy effect: brand substitution was more obvious after the intervention of the first and third round of NCDP. (2) Drug market competition: the greater the price reduction of bid-non-winning brands, the more the drugs for the same indication, the more likely that medical institutions keep using the same brands as they did before policy intervention. (3) Previous drug utilization of medical institutions: brand substitution was more obvious in drugs with large number of prescriptions and weak preference for brand-name drugs.

CONCLUSION

The NCDP policy promoted the substitution of bid-winning brands for bid-non-winning brands. However, the NCDP policy remained to be further implemented in county-level medical institutions. Policy implememtation efforts, drug market competition and drug utilization of medical institutions would affect the implementation of the NCDP policy.

Migration of l-Selenomethionine in the Water-Soil Interface Dominated by Iron Oxides

Organic selenium (Se) accounts for up to 10-80% of total Se in soils, and l-selenomethionine (SeMet) is a typical organic Se species. However, the migration of SeMet in soils remains elusive. This study investigated the solid-liquid distribution, adsorption, desorption by phosphate, and self-oxidization of SeMet in solution under the influence of ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite through batch experiments. Iron oxides could adsorb a much larger amount of SeMet than inorganic Se. At the initial Se element concentrations of 0-200 mg/L, the solid/liquid partition coefficient of SeMet was constant, which was 0.41, 0.43, and 0.50 on ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite, respectively. In addition, the adsorption process of SeMet on the three iron oxides could be well described by the linear driving force model. Accordingly, the intraparticle diffusion coefficient of SeMet in ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite was 1.4 × 103, 7.9 × 104, and 1.2 × 105 nm2/min, respectively. The adsorption of SeMet on the three iron oxides was slightly influenced by the pH and the coexisting ions, such as Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, and H2PO4-. The desorption ratio of SeMet on the three iron oxides by phosphate was lower than 2.5%. SeMet would aggregate the nanoparticles of iron oxides, resulting in a synergistic effect on the adsorption of phosphate. The oxidization ratio of SeMet was 23.9% in the solution, while it decreased to 17.1-17.5% in iron oxide suspensions. For this oxidization process, the three iron oxides exhibited varying effects to decelerate SeMet oxidation, as represented by the equivalent reaction. The findings of this study reveal the migration of SeMet in the water-soil interface under the influence of iron oxides, which can improve the understanding of Se cycling in the environment as well as provide some guidance for the better utilization of Se in soils and environmental remediation of Se pollution.

Class I HDAC inhibitors enhance antitumor efficacy and persistence of CAR-T cells by activation of the Wnt pathway

Epigenetic modification shapes differentiation trajectory and regulates the exhaustion state of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. Limited efficacy induced by terminal exhaustion closely ties with intrinsic transcriptional regulation. However, the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we identify class I histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) as boosters of CAR-T cell function by high-throughput screening of chromatin-modifying drugs, in which M344 and chidamide enhance memory maintenance and resistance to exhaustion of CAR-T cells that induce sustained antitumor efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HDACi decrease HDAC1 expression and enhance H3K27ac activity. Multi-omics analyses from RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and H3K27ac CUT&Tag-seq show that HDACi upregulate expression of TCF4, LEF1, and CTNNB1, which subsequently activate the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Collectively, our findings elucidate the functional roles of class I HDACi in enhancing CAR-T cell function, which provides the basis and therapeutic targets for synergic combination of CAR-T cell therapy and HDACi treatment.

Burnout among Nurses: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Global Publications

Objective

To investigate the current situation, trending subjects, and future directions in the field of burnout among nurses, and to serve as a resource for researchers conducting related research.

Methods

The bibliometric analysis was carried out using R package "bibliometrix", bibliometric online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/) and VOSviewer (1.6.18).

Results

The leading countries that had a significant impact on this field were the USA and China. University of Pennsylvania was the most influential institution. Journal of Nursing Management was the top productive journal. Critical care, oncology care, acute care, and infectious disease care were more likely to lead to symptoms of burnout among nurses. "Mental health", "job satisfaction", "stress", and "COVID-19" were the current hot topics in this field.

Conclusion

Our study not only provides a thorough outline to assist researchers in understanding the leading countries, institutions, journals, and potential collaborators, but it also examines the current and upcoming trends in this field and inspires researchers to select research directions.

PeNAC67-PeKAN2-PeSCL23 and B-class MADS-box transcription factors synergistically regulate the specialization process from petal to lip in Phalaenopsis equestris

The molecular basis of orchid flower development involves a specific regulatory program in which MADS-box transcription factors play a central role. The recent 'perianth code' model hypothesizes that two types of higher-order heterotetrameric complexes, namely SP complex and L complex, play pivotal roles in the orchid perianth organ formation. Therefore, we explored their roles and searched for other components of the regulatory network.Through the combined analysis for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing and RNA sequencing of the lip-like petal and lip from Phalaenopsis equestris var.trilip, transcription factor-(TF) genes involved in lip development were revealed. PeNAC67 encoding a NAC-type TF and PeSCL23 encoding a GRAS-type TF were differentially expressed between the lip-like petal and the lip. PeNAC67 interacted with and stabilized PeMADS3, which positively regulated the development of lip-like petal to lip. PeSCL23 and PeNAC67 competitively bound with PeKAN2 and positively regulated the development of lip-like petal to petal by affecting the level of PeMADS3. PeKAN2 as an important TF that interacts with PeMADS3 and PeMADS9 can promote lip development. These results extend the 'perianth code' model and shed light on the complex regulation of orchid flower development.

Topological Electronic Transition Contributing to Improved Thermoelectric Performance in p-Type Mg3Sb2- xBix Solid Solutions

Topological electronic transition is the very promising strategy for achieving high band degeneracy (NV) and for optimizing thermoelectric performance. Herein, this work verifies in p-type Mg3Sb2- xBix that topological electronic transition could be the key mechanism responsible for elevating the NV of valence band edge from 1 to 6, leading to much improved thermoelectric performance. Through comprehensive spectroscopy characterizations and theoretical calculations of electronic structures, the topological electronic transition from trivial semiconductor is unambiguously demonstrated to topological semimetal of Mg3Sb2- xBix with increasing the Bi content, due to the strong spin-orbit coupling of Bi and the band inversion. The distinct evolution of Fermi surface configuration and the multivalley valence band edge with NV of 6 are discovered in the Bi-rich compositions, while a peculiar two-step band inversion is revealed for the first time in the end compound Mg3Bi2. As a result, the optimal p-type Mg3Sb0.5Bi1.5 simultaneously obtains a positive bandgap and high NV of 6, and thus acquires the largest thermoelectric power factor of 3.54 and 6.93 µW cm-1 K-2 at 300 and 575 K, respectively, outperforming the values in other compositions. This work provides important guidance on improving thermoelectric performance of p-type Mg3Sb2- xBix utilizing the topological electronic transition.

Thoracic versus coronary calcification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events prediction

This study compared the prognostic value of quantified thoracic artery calcium (TAC) including aortic arch on chest CT and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on ECG-gated cardiac CT.

METHODS

A total of 2412 participants who underwent both chest CT and ECG-gated cardiac CT at the same period were included in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Exam 5. All participants were monitored for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. TAC is defined as calcification in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta on chest CT. The quantification of TAC was measured using the Agatston method. Time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the prognostic value of TAC and CAC scores.

RESULTS

Participants were 69±9 years of age and 47% were male. The Spearman correlation between TAC and CAC scores was 0.46 (p<0.001). During the median follow-up period of 8.8 years, 234 participants (9.7%) experienced ASCVD events. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, TAC score was independently associated with increased risk of ASCVD events (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.58) as well as CAC score (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.17). However, the area under the time-dependent ROC curve for CAC score was greater than that for TAC score in all participants (0.698 and 0.641, p=0.031). This was particularly pronounced in participants with borderline/intermediate and high 10-year ASCVD risk scores.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a significant association between TAC and CAC scores but a superior prognostic value of CAC score for ASCVD events. These findings suggest TAC on chest CT provides supplementary data to estimate ASCVD risk but does not replace CAC on ECG-gated cardiac CT.

Targeting deubiquitinase OTUB1 protects vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis by modulating PDGFRβ

Atherosclerosis is a chronic artery disease that causes various types of cardiovascular dysfunction. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the main components of atherosclerotic plaque, switch from contractile to synthetic phenotypes during atherogenesis. Ubiquitylation is crucial in regulating VSMC phenotypes in atherosclerosis, and it can be reversely regulated by deubiquitinases. However, the specific effects of deubiquitinases on atherosclerosis have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, RNAi screening in human aortic smooth muscle cells was performed to explore the effects of OTU family deubiquitinases, which revealed that silencing OTUB1 inhibited PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMC phenotype switch. Further in vivo studies using Apoe-/- mice revealed that knockdown of OTUB1 in VSMCs alleviated atherosclerosis plaque burden in the advanced stage and led to a stable plaque phenotype. Moreover, VSMC proliferation and migration upon PDGF-BB stimulation could be inhibited by silencing OTUB1 in vitro. Unbiased RNA-sequencing data indicated that knocking down OTUB1 influenced VSMC differentiation, adhesion, and proliferation. Mass spectrometry of ubiquitinated protein confirmed that proteins related to cell growth and migration were differentially ubiquitylated. Mechanistically, we found that OTUB1 recognized the K707 residue ubiquitylation of PDGFRβ with its catalytic triad, thereby reducing the K48-linked ubiquitylation of PDGFRβ. Inhibiting OTUB1 in VSMCs could promote PDGFRβ degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, so it was beneficial in preventing VSMCs' phenotype switch. These findings revealed that knocking down OTUB1 ameliorated VSMCs' phenotype switch and atherosclerosis progression, indicating that OTUB1 could be a valuable translational therapeutic target in the future.

Progress and perspectives on iron-based electrode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries: a critical review

Iron-based materials with significant physicochemical properties, including high theoretical capacity, low cost and mechanical and thermal stability, have attracted research attention as electrode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries (AMIBs). However, practical implementation of some iron-based materials is impeded by their poor conductivity, large volume change, and irreversible phase transition during electrochemical reactions. In this review we critically assess advances in the chemical synthesis and structural design, together with modification strategies, of iron-based compounds for AMIBs, to obviate these issues. We assess and categorize structural and compositional regulation and its effects on the working mechanisms and electrochemical performances of AMIBs. We establish insight into their applications and determine practical challenges in their development. We provide perspectives on future directions and likely outcomes. We conclude that for boosted electrochemical performance there is a need for better design of structures and compositions to increase ionic/electronic conductivity and the contact area between active materials and electrolytes and to obviate the large volume change and low conductivity. Findings will be of interest and benefit to researchers and manufacturers for sustainable development of advanced rechargeable ion batteries using iron-based electrode materials.

Research on Vibration Accumulation Self-Powered Downhole Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

In drilling operations, measuring vibration parameters is crucial for enhancing drilling efficiency and ensuring safety. Nevertheless, the conventional vibration measurement sensor significantly extends the drilling cycle due to its dependence on an external power source. Therefore, we propose a vibration-accumulation-type self-powered sensor in this research, aiming to address these needs. By leveraging vibration accumulation and electromagnetic power generation to accelerate charging, the sensor's output performance is enhanced through a complementary charging mode. The experimental results regarding sensing performance demonstrate that the sensor possesses a measurement range spanning from 0 to 11 Hz, with a linearity of 3.2% and a sensitivity of 1.032. Additionally, it exhibits a maximum average measurement error of less than 4%. The experimental results of output performance measurement indicate that the sensor unit and generator set exhibit a maximum output power of 0.258 μW and 25.5 mW, respectively, and eight LED lights can be lit at the same time. When the sensor unit and power generation unit output together, the maximum output power of the sensor is also 25.5 mW. Furthermore, we conducted tests on the sensor's output signal in conditions of high temperature and humidity, confirming its continued functionality in such environments. This sensor not only achieves self-powered sensing capabilities, addressing the power supply challenges faced by traditional downhole sensors, but also integrates energy accumulation with electromagnetic power generation to enhance its output performance. This innovation enables the sensor to harness downhole vibration energy for powering other micro-power devices, showcasing promising application prospects.

Exosomes derived from vMIP-II-Lamp2b gene-modified M2 cells provide neuroprotection by targeting the injured spinal cord, inhibiting chemokine signals and modulating microglia/macrophage polarization in mice

Inflammation is one of the key injury factors for spinal cord injury (SCI). Exosomes (Exos) derived from M2 macrophages have been shown to inhibit inflammation and be beneficial in SCI animal models. However, lacking targetability restricts their application prospects. Considering that chemokine receptors increase dramatically after SCI, viral macrophage inflammatory protein II (vMIP-II) is a broad-spectrum chemokine receptor binding peptide, and lysosomal associated membrane protein 2b (Lamp2b) is the key membrane component of Exos, we speculated that vMIP-II-Lamp2b gene-modified M2 macrophage-derived Exos (vMIP-II-Lamp2b-M2-Exo) not only have anti-inflammatory properties, but also can target the injured area by vMIP-II. In this study, using a murine contusive SCI model, we revealed that vMIP-II-Lamp2b-M2-Exo could target the chemokine receptors which highly expressed in the injured spinal cords, inhibit some key chemokine receptor signaling pathways (such as MAPK and Akt), further inhibit proinflammatory factors (such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, and iNOS), and promote anti-inflammatory factors (such as IL-4 and Arg1) productions, and the transformation of microglia/macrophages from M1 into M2. Moreover, the improved histological and functional recoveries were also found. Collectively, our results suggest that vMIP-II-Lamp2b-M2-Exo may provide neuroprotection by targeting the injured spinal cord, inhibiting some chemokine signals, reducing proinflammatory factor production and modulating microglia/macrophage polarization.

Observation of giant non-reciprocal charge transport from quantum Hall states in a topological insulator

Symmetry breaking in quantum materials is of great importance and can lead to non-reciprocal charge transport. Topological insulators provide a unique platform to study non-reciprocal charge transport due to their surface states, especially quantum Hall states under an external magnetic field. Here we report the observation of non-reciprocal charge transport mediated by quantum Hall states in devices composed of the intrinsic topological insulator Sn-Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S, which is attributed to asymmetric scattering between quantum Hall states and Dirac surface states. A giant non-reciprocal coefficient of up to 2.26 × 105 A-1 is found. Our work not only reveals the properties of non-reciprocal charge transport of quantum Hall states in topological insulators but also paves the way for future electronic devices.

Carbon capture in polymer-based electrolytes

Nanoparticle organic hybrid materials (NOHMs) have been proposed as excellent electrolytes for combined CO2 capture and electrochemical conversion due to their conductive nature and chemical tunability. However, CO2 capture behavior and transport properties of these electrolytes after CO2 capture have not yet been studied. Here, we use a variety of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to explore the carbon speciation and transport properties of branched polyethylenimine (PEI) and PEI-grafted silica nanoparticles (denoted as NOHM-I-PEI) after CO2 capture. Quantitative 13C NMR spectra collected at variable temperatures reveal that absorbed CO2 exists as carbamates (RHNCOO- or RR'NCOO-) and carbonate/bicarbonate (CO32-/HCO3-). The transport properties of PEI and NOHM-I-PEI studied using 1H pulsed-field-gradient NMR, combined with molecular dynamics simulations, demonstrate that coulombic interactions between negatively and positively charged chains dominate in PEI, while the self-diffusion in NOHM-I-PEI is dominated by silica nanoparticles. These results provide strategies for selecting adsorbed forms of carbon for electrochemical reduction.

pH-Responsive Co-Assembled Peptide Hydrogel to Inhibit Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infection and Promote Wound Healing

Drug-resistant bacterial infection and biofilm formation are the key inhibitors of wound healing, and new strategies are urgently needed to address these issues. In this study, we designed a pH-responsive co-assembled peptide hydrogel to inhibit Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and promote wound healing. We synthesized a cationic short peptide (Nap-FFKKK) and a co-assembled hydrogel with curcumin at pH ∼ 7.8. The loaded curcumin was continuously released in a weak acid environment (pH ∼ 5.5). The lysine-rich cationic peptide inhibited biofilm formation in MRSA via electrostatic interaction with the negatively charged bacterial cell surface and, thus, provided a reinforcing antibacterial effect with curcumin. In vitro antibacterial experiments showed that the co-assembled system considerably reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration of curcumin against MRSA by 10-fold and promoted wound healing in a mouse model of MRSA-infected wounds. This study provides a simple and promising strategy to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections in wounds.

SAD2 functions in plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 defense by regulating the nuclear accumulation of MYB30 in Arabidopsis thaliana

Accurate nucleocytoplasmic transport of signal molecules is essential for plant growth and development. Multiple studies have confirmed that nucleocytoplasmic transport and receptors are involved in regulating plant disease resistance responses, however, little is known about the regulatory mechanism in plants. In this study, we showed that the mutant of the importin beta-like protein SAD2 exhibited a more susceptible phenotype than wild-type Col-0 after treatment with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiments demonstrated that SAD2 interacts with the hypersensitive response (HR)-positive transcriptional regulator MYB30. Subcellular localization showed that MYB30 was not fully localized in the nucleus in sad2-5 mutants, and western-blot experiments further indicated that SAD2 was required for MYB30 nuclear trafficking during the pathogen infection process. A phenotypic test of pathogen inoculation demonstrated that MYB30 partially rescued the disease symptoms of sad2-5 caused by Pst DC3000, and that MYB30 worked downstream of SAD2 in plant pathogen defense. These results suggested that SAD2 might be involved in plant pathogen defense by mediating MYB30 nuclear trafficking. Taken together, our results revealed the important function of SAD2 in plant pathogen defense and enriched understanding of the mechanism of nucleocytoplasmic transport-mediated plant pathogen defense.

HnRNPA2B1 ISGylation Regulates m6A-Tagged mRNA Selective Export via ALYREF/NXF1 Complex to Foster Breast Cancer Development

Regulating nuclear export precisely is essential for maintaining mRNA homeostasis and impacts tumor progression. However, the mechanisms governing nuclear mRNA export remain poorly elucidated. Herein, it is revealed that the enhanced hypoxic long no-ncoding RNA (lncRNA prostate cancer associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) in breast cancer (BC) promotes the nuclear export of m6A-modified mRNAs, bolstering breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) stemness and doxorubicin resistance. Clinically, hypoxic PCAT6 correlates with malignant BC features and poor prognosis. Mechanically, PCAT6 functions as a scaffold between interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1), leading to ISGylation of hnRNPA2B1, thus protecting hnRNPA2B1 from ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal degradation. Interestingly, as an m6A reader, hnRNPA2B1 selectively mediates m6A-tagged mRNAs nuclear export via the Aly/REF export factor (ALYREF)/ nuclear RNA export factor 1 (NXF1) complex, which promotes stemness-related genes expression. HnRNPA2B1 knockdown or mRNA export inhibition can result in the retention of nuclear m6A-tagged mRNA associated with stemness maintenance, which suppresses BCSCs self-renewal and effectively improves the efficacy of doxorubicin therapy. These findings demonstrate the pivotal role of m6A-modified mRNA nuclear export in BC progression, highlighting that the inhibition of m6A-tagged mRNA and its nuclear export is a potential therapeutic strategy for the amelioration of cancer chemotherapy.

Exploration of a new approach for detection of nitrite with hydroxyl radical fluorescence probe in aqueous solutions

Nitrite (NO2-) has been widely recognized by the international community as an important substance affecting water quality safety and human health, and the detection of NO2- has always been a hot topic for researchers. Fluorescent probe method is an emerging and ideal way for detecting NO2-. Due to the high dependence of the reported reactive NO2- fluorescent probes on strong acidic systems, using the idea of photochemistry, a fluorescence analysis method for detecting NO2- was proposed in this work to change the necessity of strong acidic solutions in probe detection process. A 365 nm UV-LED lamp was used to irradiate NO2- in aqueous solution to convert it into hydroxyl radicals (HO·), and capture the photodegradation product of NO2- using coumarin-3-carboxylic acid as probe 3-CCA that can react with HO· to generate only one type of strong fluorescent substance. This probe has excellent photostability, selectivity, and anti-interference ability, and can realize the quantitative detection of NO2- (0-15 μM) in pure aqueous solution with pH of 7.4. In addition, its application in actual water samples is also satisfactory, with a recovery rate of (85.91 %-109.15 %). Importantly, we hope that this photolysis strategy can open up the novel thinking to develop suitable fluorescent probes for the analysis and detection of some hardly detected analytes.

A blood-based multi-omic landscape for the molecular characterization of kidney stone disease

Kidney stone disease (KSD, also named renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis) is a common urological disease entailing the formation of minerals and salts that form inside the urinary tract, frequently caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, and monogenetic components in most patients. 10% of adults worldwide are affected by KSD, which continues to be highly prevalent and with increasing incidence. For the identification of novel therapeutic targets in KSD, we adopted high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques in this study and carried out an integrative analysis of exosome proteomic data and DNA methylation data from blood samples of normal and KSD individuals. Our research delineated the profiling of exosomal proteins and DNA methylation in both healthy individuals and those afflicted with KSD, finding that the overexpressed proteins and the demethylated genes in KSD samples are associated with immune responses. The consistency of the results in proteomics and epigenetics supports the feasibility of the comprehensive strategy. Our insights into the molecular landscape of KSD pave the way for a deeper understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, providing an opportunity for more precise diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies for KSD.

Methods for the estimation of direct and indirect vaccination effects by combining data from individual- and cluster-randomized trials

Both individually and cluster randomized study designs have been used for vaccine trials to assess the effects of vaccine on reducing the risk of disease or infection. The choice between individually and cluster randomized designs is often driven by the target estimand of interest (eg, direct versus total), statistical power, and, importantly, logistic feasibility. To combat emerging infectious disease threats, especially when the number of events from one single trial may not be adequate to obtain vaccine effect estimates with a desired level of precision, it may be necessary to combine information across multiple trials. In this article, we propose a model formulation to estimate the direct, indirect, total, and overall vaccine effects combining data from trials with two types of study designs: individual-randomization and cluster-randomization, based on a Cox proportional hazards model, where the hazard of infection depends on both vaccine status of the individual as well as the vaccine status of the other individuals in the same cluster. We illustrate the use of the proposed model and assess the potential efficiency gain from combining data from multiple trials, compared to using data from each individual trial alone, through two simulation studies, one of which is designed based on a cholera vaccine trial previously carried out in Matlab, Bangladesh.

Enhancing compound confidence in suspect and non-target screening through machine learning-based retention time prediction

The retention time (RT) of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is crucial for database matching in non-targeted screening (NTS) analysis. In this study, we developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict RTs of CECs in NTS analysis. Using 1051 CEC standards, we evaluated Random Forest (RF), XGBoost, Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with molecular fingerprints and chemical descriptors to establish an optimal model. The SVR model utilizing chemical descriptors resulted in good predictive capacity with R2ext = 0.850 and r2 = 0.925. The model was further validated through laboratory NTS compound characterization. When applied to examine CEC occurrence in a large wastewater treatment plant, we identified 40 level S1 CECs (confirmed structure by reference standard) and 234 level S2 compounds (probable structure by library spectrum match). The model predicted RTs for level S2 compounds, leading to the classification of 153 level S2 compounds with high confidence (ΔRT <2 min). The model served as a robust filtering mechanism within the analytical framework. This study emphasizes the importance of predicted RTs in NTS analysis and highlights the potential of prediction models. Our research introduces a workflow that enhances NTS analysis by utilizing RT prediction models to determine compound confidence levels.

New mechanistic insight into catalytic decomposition of dioxins over MnOx-CeO2/TiO2 catalysts: A combined experimental and density functional theory study

Elucidation of the catalytic decomposition mechanism of dioxins is pivotal in developing highly efficient dioxin degradation catalysts. In order to accurately simulate the whole molecular structure of dioxins, two model compounds, o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) and furan, were employed to represent the chlorinated benzene ring and oxygenated central ring within a dioxin molecule, respectively. Experiments and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were combined to investigate the adsorption as well as oxidation of o-DCB and furan over MnOx-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst (denoted as MnCe/Ti). The results indicate that competitive adsorption exists between furan and o-DCB. The former exhibits superior adsorption capacity on MnCe/Ti catalyst at 100 °C - 150 °C, for it can adsorb on both surface metal atom and surface oxygen vacancies (Ov) via its O-terminal; while the latter adsorbs primarily by anchoring its Cl atom to surface Ov. Regarding oxidation, furan can be completely oxidized at 150 °C - 300 °C with a high CO2 selectivity (above 80 %). However, o-DCB cannot be totally oxidized and the resulting intermediates cause the deactivation of catalyst. Interestingly, the pre-adsorption of furan on catalyst surface can facilitate the catalytic oxidation of o-DCB below 200 °C, possibly because the dissociated adsorption of furan may form additional reactive oxygen species on catalyst surface. Therefore, this work provides new insights into the catalytic decomposition mechanism of dioxins as well as the optimization strategies for developing dioxin-degradation catalysts with high efficiency at low temperature.

Effect of anterior femoral cortical notch grade on postoperative function and complications during TKA surgery: A multicenter, retrospective study

Purpose

To explore the effect of AFN on knee function and complications in patients after TKA.

Methods

We evaluated 150 patients undergoing unilateral TKA, specifically including 102 patients with varying degrees of AFN after selection. They were divided into four groups based on AFN grade. About 48 patients did not produce AFN, 63 patients were grade I, 29 patients were grade II, and 10 patients were grade III. All patients were followed up for 24 months, and knee function, pain, complications, and other indicators were compared between the four groups. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to study the relationship between AFN and other indicators.

Results

Two cases of periprosthetic fractures (PPF) occurred in our study, with an incidence of 1.35%, which did not show a significant association with AFN. The changes in knee social score (ΔKSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (ΔWOMAC), and postoperative anterior knee pain visual analog scale (VAS) score were higher in patients with AFN than in those without. Particularly, grades II and III AFN demonstrated superior efficacy. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that AFN grade is positively correlated with both ΔKSS and ΔWOMAC (r = 0.44, P < 0.001), and AFN grade had a negative correlation with the anterior knee pain VAS (r = -0.250, P < 0.05). In linear regression analysis, AFN grade was positively correlated with both ΔKSS (β = 5.974, 95% CI: 3.968-7.981, P < 0.001) and ΔWOMAC (β = 6.356, 95% CI: 4.223-8.490, P < 0.001). Besides that, there was a negative correlation between AFN grade and anterior knee pain (β = 5.974, 95% CI: 3.968-7.981, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with grade II and III AFN who underwent TKA exhibited better knee function and lower levels of anterior knee pain post-surgery.

Topologically Tunable Conjugated Metal-Organic Frameworks for Modulating Conductivity and Chemiresistive Properties for NH3 Sensing

Electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks (cMOFs) have garnered significant attention in materials science due to their potential applications in modern electrical devices. However, achieving effective modulation of their conductivity has proven to be a major challenge. In this study, we have successfully prepared cMOFs with high conductivity by incorporating electron-donating fused thiophen rings in the frameworks and extending their π-conjugated systems through ring-closing reactions. The conductivity of cMOFs can be precisely modulated ranging from 10-3 to 102 S m-1 by regulating their dimensions and topologies. Furthermore, leveraging the inherent tunable electrical properties based on topology, we successfully demonstrated the potential of these materials as chemiresistive gas sensors with an outstanding response toward 100 ppm NH3 at room temperature. This work not only provides valuable insights into the design of functional cMOFs with different topologies but also enriches the cMOF family with exceptional conductivity properties.

Mapping network connection and direction among symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic gastritis

Regarding neurophysiological and developmental findings, anxiety and depression are usual comorbidities of gastritis patients. However, research related to anxiety and depression among chronic gastritis patients was conducted on the disease level while ignoring symptoms. Hence, we rendered the network approach to reveal the symptoms of anxiety and depression among chronic gastritis patients. Three hundred and sixty-nine chronic gastritis patients (female = 139, Mage = 55.87 years) were asked to complete the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Three symptom networks and one directed acyclic graph (DAG) network were formed. First, in the anxiety network of chronic gastritis patients, dizziness was the most influential symptom. In the depression network of chronic gastritis patients, depressed affect and psychomotor retardation were the influential symptoms. Second, panic, easy fatiguability, weakness, palpitation, depressed affect, tachycardia, fatigue, and psychomotor agitation bridged the anxiety-depression network of chronic gastritis patients. Third, DAG networks showed that anxiousness and hopelessness could trigger other symptoms in the anxiety-depression networks of chronic gastritis patients. The current study provided insightful information on patients with chronic gastritis by examining the structures of symptoms.

HRU-Net: A high-resolution convolutional neural network for esophageal cancer radiotherapy target segmentation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The effective segmentation of esophageal squamous carcinoma lesions in CT scans is significant for auxiliary diagnosis and treatment. However, accurate lesion segmentation is still a challenging task due to the irregular form of the esophagus and small size, the inconsistency of spatio-temporal structure, and low contrast of esophagus and its peripheral tissues in medical images. The objective of this study is to improve the segmentation effect of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma lesions.

METHODS

It is critical for a segmentation network to effectively extract 3D discriminative features to distinguish esophageal cancers from some visually closed adjacent esophageal tissues and organs. In this work, an efficient HRU-Net architecture (High-Resolution U-Net) was exploited for esophageal cancer and esophageal carcinoma segmentation in CT slices. Based on the idea of localization first and segmentation later, the HRU-Net locates the esophageal region before segmentation. In addition, an Resolution Fusion Module (RFM) was designed to integrate the information of adjacent resolution feature maps to obtain strong semantic information, as well as preserve the high-resolution features.

RESULTS

Compared with the other five typical methods, the devised HRU-Net is capable of generating superior segmentation results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our proposed HRU-NET improves the accuracy of segmentation for squamous esophageal cancer. Compared to other models, our model performs the best. The designed method may improve the efficiency of clinical diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma lesions.

New Adsorption Materials for Deep Desulfurization of Fuel Oil

In recent years, due to the rapid growth of mankind's demand for energy, harmful gases (SOx) produced by the combustion of sulfur-containing compounds in fuel oil have caused serious problems to the ecological environment and human health. Therefore, in order to solve this hidden danger from the source, countries around the world have created increasingly strict standards for the sulfur content in fuel. Adsorption desulfurization technology has attracted wide attention due to its advantages of energy saving and low operating cost. This paper reviewed the latest research progress on various porous adsorption materials. The future challenges and research directions of adsorption materials to meet the needs of clean fuels are proposed.

Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 Attenuates Myocardial and Mitochondrial Injury in Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a cardiac dysfunction caused by sepsis, with mitochondrial dysfunction being a critical contributor. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) is a kinase of pyruvate dehydrogenase with multifaceted actions in mitochondrial metabolism. However, its role in SIC remains unknown.

METHODS

Serum PDK4 levels were measured and analyzed in 27 children with SIC, 30 children with sepsis, and 29 healthy children. In addition, for mice exhibiting SIC, the effects of PDK4 knockdown or inhibition on the function and structure of the myocardium and mitochondria were assessed.

RESULTS

The findings from the analysis of children with SIC revealed that PDK4 was significantly elevated and correlated with disease severity and organ injury. Nonsurvivors displayed higher serum PDK4 levels than survivors. Furthermore, mice with SIC benefited from PDK4 knockdown or inhibition, showing improved myocardial contractile function, reduced myocardial injury, and decreased mitochondrial structural injury and dysfunction. In addition, inhibition of PDK4 decreased the inhibitory phosphorylation of PDHE1α (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 subunit α) and improved abnormal pyruvate metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

PDK4 is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of SIC. In experimental SIC, PDK4 promoted mitochondrial dysfunction with increased phosphorylation of PDHE1α and abnormal pyruvate metabolism.

Left atrial appendage closure in conjunction with radiofrequency ablation: Effects on left atrial functioning in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Objective

In the present study, we investigated the impact of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) following catheter ablation (CA) on the left atrial structure and functioning of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

Patients with paroxysmal AF were enrolled in this single-center prospective cohort study between April 2015 and July 2021; 353 patients received CA alone, while 93 patients received CA in combination with Watchman LAAC. We used age, gender, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores as well as other demographic variables to perform propensity score matching. Patients with paroxysmal AF were randomly assigned to the CA combined with Watchman LAAC group (combined treatment group) and the simple CA group, with 89 patients in each group. The left atrial structure, reserve, ventricular diastole, and pump functions and their changes in patients were assessed using routine Doppler echocardiography and 2D speckle tracking echocardiography over the course of a 1-year follow-up.

Results

At 1-week follow-up, the reserve, ventricular diastole, and pump functions of the left atrium (LA) increased in both groups; these functions were gradually restored at the 1- to 3-month follow-up; they were close to or returned to their pre-operative levels at the 3-month follow-up; and no significant differences were found compared with the pre-operative levels at the 12-month follow-up. In the first 3 months, the reserve (Ƹ, SRs) and pump functions (SRa) in the combined treatment group decreased significantly when compared with the simple CA group, and the differences were statistically significant.

Conclusion

Patients with paroxysmal AF may experience a short term, partial effect of LAAC on LA reserve and pump functions, which are gradually restored and the effect disappears by 12 months.

Fine mapping and analysis of a candidate gene controlling Phytophthora blight resistance in cucumber

Cucumber blight is a destructive disease. The best way to control this disease is resistance breeding. This study focuses on disease resistance gene mapping and molecular marker development. We used the resistant cucumber, JSH, and susceptible cucumber, B80, as parents to construct F2 populations. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) combined with specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) were used, from which we developed cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPs) markers to map the resistance gene. Resistance in F2 individuals showed a segregation ratio of resistance:susceptibility close to 3:1. The gene in JSH resistant cucumber was mapped to an interval of 9.25 kb, and sequencing results for the three genes in the mapped region revealed three mutations at base sites 225, 302, and 591 in the coding region of Csa5G139130 between JSH and B80, but no mutations in coding regions of Csa5G139140 and Csa5G139150. The mutations caused changes in amino acids 75 and 101 of the protein encoded by Csa5G139130, suggesting that Csa5G139130 is the most likely resistance candidate gene. We developed a molecular marker, CAPs-4, as a closely linked marker for the cucumber blight resistance gene. This is the first report on mapping of a cucumber blight resistance gene and will provideg a useful marker for molecular breeding of cucumber resistance to Phytophthora blight.

Novel Peptide DR3penA as a Low-Toxicity Antirenal Fibrosis Agent by Suppressing the TGF-β1/miR-212-5p/Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Class a Domain Containing 4/Smad Axis

Renal fibrosis is a complex pathological process that contributes to the development of chronic kidney disease due to various risk factors. Conservative treatment to curb progression without dialysis or renal transplantation is widely applicable, but its effectiveness is limited. Here, the inhibitory effect of the novel peptide DR3penA (DHα-(4-pentenyl)-AlaNPQIR-NH2), which was developed by our group, on renal fibrosis was assessed in cells and mice with established fibrosis and fibrosis triggered by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), unilateral ureteral obstruction, and repeated low-dose cisplatin. DR3penA preserved renal function and ameliorated renal fibrosis at a dose approximately 100 times lower than that of captopril, which is currently used in the clinic. DR3penA also significantly reduced existing fibrosis and showed similar efficacy after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection. Mechanistically, DR3penA repressed TGF-β1 signaling via miR-212-5p targeting of low-density lipoprotein receptor class a domain containing 4, which interacts with Smad2/3. In addition to having good pharmacological effects, DR3penA could preferentially target injured kidneys and exhibited low toxicity in acute and chronic toxicity experiments. These results unveil the advantages of DR3penA regarding efficacy and toxicity, making it a potential candidate compound for renal fibrosis therapy.

Bioorthogonal labeling and profiling of N6-isopentenyladenosine (i6A) modified RNA

Chemical modifications in RNAs play crucial roles in diversifying their structures and regulating numerous biochemical processes. Since the 1990s, several hydrophobic prenyl-modifications have been discovered in various RNAs. Prenyl groups serve as precursors for terpenes and many other biological molecules. The processes of prenylation in different macromolecules have been extensively studied. We introduce here a novel chemical biology toolkit that not only labels i6A, a prenyl-modified RNA residue, by leveraging the unique reactivity of the prenyl group, but also provides a general strategy to incorporate fluorescence functionalities into RNAs for molecular tracking purposes. Our findings revealed that iodine-mediated cyclization reactions of the prenyl group occur rapidly, transforming i6A from a hydrogen-bond acceptor to a donor. Based on this reactivity, we developed an Iodine-Mediated Cyclization and Reverse Transcription (IMCRT) tRNA-seq method, which can profile all nine endogenous tRNAs containing i6A residues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single-base resolution. Furthermore, under stress conditions, we observed a decline in i6A levels in budding yeast, accompanied by significant decrease of mutation rate at A37 position. Thus, the IMCRT tRNA-seq method not only permits semi-quantification of i6A levels in tRNAs but also holds potential for transcriptome-wide detection and analysis of various RNA species containing i6A modifications.

Sulfonium-Stapled Peptides-Based Neoantigen Delivery System for Personalized Tumor Immunotherapy and Prevention

Neoantigen peptides hold great potential as vaccine candidates for tumor immunotherapy. However, due to the limitation of antigen cellular uptake and cross-presentation, the progress with neoantigen peptide-based vaccines has obviously lagged in clinical trials. Here, a stapling peptide-based nano-vaccine is developed, comprising a self-assembly nanoparticle driven by the nucleic acid adjuvant-antigen conjugate. This nano-vaccine stimulates a strong tumor-specific T cell response by activating antigen presentation and toll-like receptor signaling pathways. By markedly improving the efficiency of antigen/adjuvant co-delivery to the draining lymph nodes, the nano-vaccine leads to 100% tumor prevention for up to 11 months and without tumor recurrence, heralding the generation of long-term anti-tumor memory. Moreover, the injection of nano-vaccine with signal neoantigen eliminates the established MC-38 tumor (a cell line of murine carcinoma of the colon without exogenous OVA protein expression) in 40% of the mice by inducing potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor microenvironment without substantial systemic toxicity. These findings represent that stapling peptide-based nano-vaccine may serve as a facile, general, and safe strategy to stimulate a strong anti-tumor immune response for the neoantigen peptide-based personalized tumor immunotherapy.