Observation of quantum entanglement with top quarks at the ATLAS detector

Entanglement is a key feature of quantum mechanics1-3, with applications in fields such as metrology, cryptography, quantum information and quantum computation4-8. It has been observed in a wide variety of systems and length scales, ranging from the microscopic9-13 to the macroscopic14-16. However, entanglement remains largely unexplored at the highest accessible energy scales. Here we report the highest-energy observation of entanglement, in top-antitop quark events produced at the Large Hadron Collider, using a proton-proton collision dataset with a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 140 inverse femtobarns (fb)-1 recorded with the ATLAS experiment. Spin entanglement is detected from the measurement of a single observable D, inferred from the angle between the charged leptons in their parent top- and antitop-quark rest frames. The observable is measured in a narrow interval around the top-antitop quark production threshold, at which the entanglement detection is expected to be significant. It is reported in a fiducial phase space defined with stable particles to minimize the uncertainties that stem from the limitations of the Monte Carlo event generators and the parton shower model in modelling top-quark pair production. The entanglement marker is measured to be D = -0.537 ± 0.002 (stat.) ± 0.019 (syst.) for 340 GeV < m t t ¯ < 380 GeV . The observed result is more than five standard deviations from a scenario without entanglement and hence constitutes the first observation of entanglement in a pair of quarks and the highest-energy observation of entanglement so far.

Integrated framework for dynamic conservation of bamboo forest in giant panda habitat under climate change

Climate change presents formidable challenges to forest biodiversity and carbon storage. Bamboo forests will be affected particularly in Southwest China's mountainous regions. Bamboo serves as not only a key food resource and habitat for giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca but also a potential carbon sink due to its rapid energy-to-matter conversion capability. We employ the MaxEnt model to project the distribution shifts of 20 giant panda foraged bamboo species in Sichuan Province under future climate scenarios, utilizing climate data of 30m resolution. Based on the changes in the diversity and distribution area of bamboo communities caused by climate change, the changing of giant pandas' food resources and the carbon storage of bamboo forests were calculated. The results indicated that the area of bamboo communities is projected to expand by 17.94%-60.88% more than now by the end of the 21st century. We analyzed the energy balance between the dietary needs of giant pandas and the energy provided by bamboo. We predicted that bamboo communities from 2000 to 2150 could support the continuous growth of the giant panda population (6533 wild individuals by 2140-2150 in an ideal state in Sichuan province). However, the species diversity and carbon storage of bamboo forests face out-of-sync fluctuations, both temporally and spatially. This is a critical issue for subalpine forest ecosystem management under climate change. Therefore, we propose a dynamic conservation management framework for giant panda habitats across spatial and temporal scales. This framework aims to facilitate the adaptation of subalpine forest ecosystems to climate change. This innovative approach, which integrates climate change into the conservation strategy for endangered species, contributes a conservation perspective to global climate action, highlighting the interconnectedness of biodiversity preservation and climate mitigation.

Long-term prognostic value of thyroid hormones in left ventricular noncompaction

PURPOSE

Thyroid function is closely related to the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of thyroid hormones for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODS

This longitudinal cohort study enrolled 388 consecutive LVNC patients with complete thyroid function profiles and comprehensive cardiovascular assessment. Potential predictors for adverse outcomes were thoroughly evaluated.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 5.22 years, primary outcome (the combination of cardiovascular mortality and heart transplantation) occurred in 98 (25.3%) patients. For secondary outcomes, 75 (19.3%) patients died and 130 (33.5%) patients experienced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Multivariable Cox analysis identified that free triiodothyronine (FT3) was independently associated with both primary (HR 0.455, 95%CI 0.313-0.664) and secondary (HR 0.547, 95%CI 0.349-0.858; HR 0.663, 95%CI 0.475-0.925) outcomes. Restricted cubic spline analysis illustrated that the risk for adverse outcomes increased significantly with the decline of serum FT3. The LVNC cohort was further stratified according to tertiles of FT3 levels. Individuals with lower FT3 levels in the tertile 1 group suffered from severe cardiac dysfunction and remodeling, resulting in higher incidence of mortality and MACE (Log-rank P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that lower concentration of FT3 was linked to worse prognosis, particularly for patients with left atrial diameter ≥ 40 mm or left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%. Adding FT3 to the pre-existing risk score for MACE in LVNC improved its predictive performance.

CONCLUSION

Through the long-term investigation on a large LVNC cohort, we demonstrated that low FT3 level was an independent predictor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Measurements of Chemical Potentials in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This Letter presents the most precise measurement to date of the matter-antimatter imbalance at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. Using the Statistical Hadronization framework, it is possible to obtain the value of the electric charge and baryon chemical potentials, μ_{Q}=-0.18±0.90  MeV and μ_{B}=0.71±0.45  MeV, with unprecedented precision. A centrality-differential study of the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios of charged pions, protons, Ω baryons, and light (hyper)nuclei is performed. These results indicate that the system created in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC is on average baryon-free and electrically neutral at midrapidity.

Diversity, functions, and antibiotic resistance genes of bacteria and fungi are examined in the bamboo plant phyllosphere that serve as food for the giant pandas

The phyllosphere of bamboo is rich in microorganisms that can disrupt the intestinal microbiota of the giant pandas that consume them, potentially leading to their death. In the present study, the abundance, diversity, biological functions (e.g., KEGG and CAZyme), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of bacteria and fungi in two bamboo species phyllosphere (Chimonobambusa szechuanensis, CS; Bashania fangiana, BF) in Daxiangling Nature Reserve (an important part of the Giant Panda National Park) were investigated respectively by amplicon sequencing of the whole 16S rRNA and ITS1-ITS2 genes on PacBio Sequel and whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The results suggested that there were respectively 18 bacterial and 34 fungi biomarkers between the phyllosphere of the two species of bamboo. Beta diversity of bacteria and fungi communities exited between the two bamboos according to the (un)weighted UniFrac distance matrix. Moreover, the functional analysis showed that the largest relative abundance was found in the genes related to metabolism and global and overview maps. Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and glycosyl transferases (GTs) have a higher abundance in two bamboo phyllospheres. Co-occurrence network modeling suggested that bacteria and fungi communities in CS phyllosphere employed a much more complex metabolic network than that in BF, and the abundance of multidrug, tetracycline, and glycopeptide resistance genes was higher and closely correlated with other ARGs. This study references the basis for protecting bamboo resources foraged by wild giant pandas and predicts the risk of antibiotic resistance in bamboo phyllosphere bacterial and fungal microbiota in the Giant Panda National Park, China.

Observation of Strong Nuclear Suppression in Exclusive J/ψ Photoproduction in Au+Au Ultraperipheral Collisions at RHIC

We report a measurement of exclusive J/ψ and ψ(2s) photoproduction in Au+Au ultraperipheral collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV using the STAR detector. For the first time, (i) the ψ(2s) photoproduction in midrapidity at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider has been experimentally measured; (ii) nuclear suppression factors are measured for both the coherent and incoherent J/ψ production. At average photon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 25.0 GeV, the coherent and incoherent J/ψ cross sections of Au nuclei are found to be 71±10% and 36±7%, respectively, of that of free protons. The stronger suppression observed in the incoherent production provides a new experimental handle to study the initial-state parton density in heavy nuclei. Data are compared with theoretical models quantitatively.

Observation of the antimatter hypernucleus H ¯ Λ ¯ 4

At the origin of the Universe, an asymmetry between the amount of created matter and antimatter led to the matter-dominated Universe as we know it today. The origins of this asymmetry remain unknown so far. High-energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter1-6. Much of the created antimatter escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilating, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and to study their properties7-14, hoping to shed some light on the existing questions on the asymmetry between matter and antimatter. Here we report the observation of the antimatter hypernucleusH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 , composed of aΛ ¯ , an antiproton and two antineutrons. The discovery was made through its two-body decay after production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider15,16. In total, 15.6 candidateH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 antimatter hypernuclei are obtained with an estimated background count of 6.4. The lifetimes of the antihypernucleiH ¯ Λ ¯ 3 andH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 are measured and compared with the lifetimes of their corresponding hypernuclei, testing the symmetry between matter and antimatter. Various production yield ratios among (anti)hypernuclei (hypernuclei and/or antihypernuclei) and (anti)nuclei (nuclei and/or antinuclei) are also measured and compared with theoretical model predictions, shedding light on their production mechanisms.

Genome-wide detection of runs of homozygosity and heterozygosity in Tunchang pigs

Tunchang pigs, mainly distributed throughout Hainan Province of China, are well-known for their superior meat quality, crude feed tolerance, and adaptability to high temperatures and humidity. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) can provide valuable information about the inbreeding coefficient in individuals and selection signals that may reveal candidate genes associated with key functional traits. Runs of heterozygosity (ROHet) are commonly associated with balance selection, which can help us understand the adaptive evolutionary history of domestic animals. In this study, we investigated ROHs and ROHets in 88 Tunchang pigs. We also compared the estimates of inbreeding coefficients in individuals calculated based on four methods. In summary, we detected a total of 16 ROH islands in our study, and 100 genes were found within ROH regions. These genes were correlated with economically important traits such as reproduction (e.g., SERPIND1, HIRA), meat quality (e.g., PI4KA, TBX1), immunity (e.g., ESS2, RANBP1), adaption to heat stress (TXNRD2 and DGCR8), and crude food tolerance (TRPM6). Moreover, we discovered 18 ROHet islands harbouring genes associated with reproduction (e.g., ARHGEF12, BMPR2), immune system (e.g., BRD4, DNMT3B). These findings may help us design effective breeding and conservation strategies for this unique breed.

The differences between sinonasal respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma and nasal polyps: insights into immunopathology

BACKGROUND

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a benign lesion commonly occurring in the nasal cavity and sinuses. It is often accompanied by nasal polyps (NP). While the histological features of these two conditions have been studied, there is limited knowledge about their differences in the underlying immunopathology.

METHODS

Nasal tissue specimens were collected from 8 patients with concurrent REAH and NP and 10 controls. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, tight junctions (TJ), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors in the tissues were analyzed. The mRNA expression of the aforementioned factors was measured using qRT-PCR, while the expression of TJ and EMT-related proteins was analyzed through Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Compared to the control group, levels of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-α, IL-5, IL-17A, IL-31, IL-33, and TNF-α) and EMT-related factors (α-SMA, COL1A1, MMP9, TGF-β1, and Vimentin) were significantly increased in both REAH and NP tissues. Conversely, E-Cadherin and TJ-related factors (Claudin-4 and Occludin) significantly decreased. When comparing REAH with NP, it was observed that the expression of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-33 was lower in REAH, while TNF-ɑ; was higher. Regarding TJ-related factors, the expression of Occludin was lower in REAH. Furthermore, in terms of EMT-related factors, except for E-Cadherin, the expressions of ɑ-SMA, COL1A1, CTGF, MMP9, TGF-β11, and Vimentin were higher in REAH.

CONCLUSION

REAH and NP exhibit different immunopathological mechanisms. NP demonstrates a more severe inflammatory response, whereas REAH is characterized by a more pronounced TJ and EMT breakdown than NP.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting acute myocardial injury of fulminant myocarditis survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment in adults

AIMS

To detect the acute myocardial injury in fulminant myocarditis (FM) survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to demonstrate its significant differences from non-FM patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 59 patients with acute myocarditis (AM), including 35 non-FM patients, 24 FM patients, and 54 controls. The peak value of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was recorded. Tissue parameters, including native T1, extracellular volume (ECV), late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE)%, and T2 by CMR were assessed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 35 ± 14 years, and 45.8% of the population were males in the AM group. Patients had higher levels of peak cTnT, peak NT-proBNP and peak C-reactive protein in the FM group (all p<0.05). Comparing with non-FM, the values of T1-based imaging parameters were significantly higher in the FM group (all p<0.05). In contrast, no difference was observed among the two groups in terms of T2 value (p=0.707). The septal area was more frequently involved in FM survivors after ECMO treatment, both in T1 and T2-based images. In addition, the cubic relationship was the relative best fit of LGE% against logcTnT and indicated that cTnT value exceeding 300ng/L exhibited a rapid upward trend of LGE%.

CONCLUSION

Comparing to non-FM, higher myocardial necrosis and fibrosis but similar edema determined by T1 and T2 based imaging was found in FM survivors after ECMO treatment. Furthermore, the inter-ventricular septal area was more frequently involved by acute myocardial injury in FM survivors after ECMO treatment. In addition, LGE% showed an overall increasing trend with cTnT values elevating with rapidly increasing with cTnT exceeding 300 ng/L.

Mandibular reconstruction using an iliac bone flap with perforator-supported external oblique abdominal muscle island: a pilot study

The deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap is one of the bone flaps commonly used for mandibular reconstruction. Observation of the skin paddle and Doppler ultrasound are methods that are usually used to monitor DCIA flaps after mandibular reconstruction surgery. The aim of this study was to introduce a novel DCIA flap with a perforator-supported external oblique abdominal muscle (EOAM) island for postoperative flap monitoring. This study included five patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using this modified technique. The DCIA flap and the EOAM island supplied by the ascending branch of the DCIA were harvested during the surgery. After mandibular reconstruction, the EOAM island was placed in the submandibular region to monitor the blood supply to the DCIA flap after surgery. The blood supply to the DCIA flap was monitored by observing the colour, texture, and bleeding condition of the EOAM island. After the monitoring period, the EOAM was removed and the ascending branch of the DCIA was ligated. The outcome was successful in all patients. The EOAM island supported by the ascending branch of the DCIA is reliable and safe, thus providing a robust option to monitor the blood supply to the DCIA flap.

Effects of different mesh materials on complications after prophylactic placement for stoma formation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

PURPOSE

We primary aimed to synthesise the available data, assess the effectiveness of different mesh materials in prophylactic mesh placement, and rank these materials according to the incidence of parastomal hernia (PSH) and other stoma complications.

METHOD

This network meta-analysis performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. Four databases were searched for randomised controlled trials of prophylactic mesh placement. The aggregated results were performed in the STATA routine for Bayesian hierarchical random effects models.

RESULT

Thirteen randomised controlled trials from 1203 articles, met the inclusion criteria, including 681 cases without meshes, 65 cases with mesh material of xenogeneic acellular dermis (porcine/bovine), 27 cases with polypropylene/PG910, 114 cases with polypropylene/polyglecaprone (Monocryl), 117 cases with polypropylene/cellulose (ORC), 233 cases with polypropylene, and 35 cases with polypropylene/PVDF. In network A, compared with no mesh, only polypropylene (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.04-0.80) were significantly associated with a reduction in the incidence of PSH. In network B, no statistical difference regarding stoma complications was found between mesh and no mesh.

CONCLUSION

Based on the network meta-analysis and ranking results, the polypropylene mesh material exhibited the best performance. However, this conclusion needs to be confirmed with larger sample sizes and high-quality randomised controlled trials.

Characterization of circRNA expression profiles associated with non-Mendelian inheritance in feather growth of chickens

1. Non-coding RNAs, such as miRNAs, play a crucial role in chicken feather growth rate. However, circular RNA (circRNA) expression profiles in fast- and slow-feathering chickens that follow and do not follow Mendelian inheritance are unclear.2. The circRNA expression profiles was analysed by RNA sequencing of hair follicles of slow-feathering chickens that follow genetic rules and fast-feathering chickens that did not follow genetic rules. Differentially expressed circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was then constructed and the key factors and regulation mechanisms controlling feather growth rate were identified.3. The results revealed that 67 circRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in hens, including 22 up-regulated and 45 down-regulated circRNAs in non-Mendelian inheritance-mediated fast-feathering hens compared with Mendelian inheritance-mediated slow-feathering hens. In addition, 16 significantly differentially expressed circRNAs were identified in cockerels, including nine up-regulated and seven down-regulated circRNAs in non-Mendelian inheritance-mediated fast- compared with Mendelian inheritance-mediated slow-feathering cocks. Moreover, circRNA-mediated ceRNA regulation of hair follicle formation was particularly abundant in the Jak-STAT, Wnt and Toll-like receptor signalling pathways. Furthermore, circABI3BP was seen to be a crucial circRNA in regulating feather growth rate, by binding with gga-miR-1649-5p to regulate SSTR2 expression.4. In conclusion, this study analysed circRNA expression profiles in fast- and slow-feathering chickens that follow and do not follow Mendelian inheritance, which laid the foundation for understanding the role of circRNA in chicken feather growth rate.

[Progress of interruption of schistosomiasis transmission and prospects in Yunnan Province]

Schistosomiasis was once hyper-endemic in Yunnan Province. Following concerted efforts for over 70 years, remarkable achievements have been made for schistosomiasis control in the province. In 2004, the Mid- and Long-term Plan for Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control in Yunnan Province was initiated in Yunnan Province, and the target for transmission control of schistosomiasis was achieved in the province in 2009. Following the subsequent implementation of the Outline for Key Projects in Integrated Schistosomiasis Control Program (2009-2015) and the 13th Five - year Plan for Schistosomiasis Control in Yunnan Province, no acute schistosomiasis had been identified in Yunnan Province for successive 12 years, and no local Schistosoma japonicum infections had been detected in humans, animals or Oncomelania hupensis snails for successive 6 years in the province by the end of 2020. The transmission of schistosomiasis was interrupted in Yunnan Province in 2020. This review summarizes the history of schistosomiasis, changes in schistosomiasis prevalence and progress of schistosomiasis control in Yunnan Province, and proposes the future priorities for schistosomiasis control in the province.

Strong and Tough MXene Bridging-induced Conductive Nacre

Nacre is a classic model, providing an inspiration for fabricating high-performance bulk nanocomposites with the two-dimensional platelets. However, the "brick" of nacre, aragonite platelet, is an ideal building block for making high-performance bulk nanocomposites. Herein, we demonstrated a strong and tough conductive nacre through reassembling aragonite platelets with bridged by MXene nanosheets and hydrogen bonding, not only providing high mechanical properties but also excellent electrical conductivity. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the obtained conductive nacre reach ~282 MPa and ~6.3 MPa m1/2, which is 1.6 and 1.6 times higher than that of natural nacre, respectively. These properties are attributed to densification and high orientation degree of the conductive nacre, which is effectively induced by the combined interactions of hydrogen bonding and MXene nanosheets bridging. The crack propagations in conductive nacre are effectively inhibited through crack deflection with hydrogen bonding, and MXene nanosheets bridging between aragonite platelets. In addition, our conductive nacre also provides a self-monitoring function for structural damage and offers exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding performance. Our strategy of reassembling the aragonite platelets exfoliated from waste nacre into high-performance artificial nacre, provides an avenue for fabricating high-performance bulk nanocomposites through the sustainable reutilization of shell resources.

Statistical Combination of ATLAS Run 2 Searches for Charginos and Neutralinos at the LHC

Statistical combinations of searches for charginos and neutralinos using various decay channels are performed using 139  fb^{-1} of pp collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Searches targeting pure-wino chargino pair production, pure-wino chargino-neutralino production, or Higgsino production decaying via standard model W, Z, or h bosons are combined to extend the mass reach to the produced supersymmetric particles by 30-100 GeV. The depth of the sensitivity of the original searches is also improved by the combinations, lowering the 95% C.L. cross-section upper limits by 15%-40%.

Self-assembly behavior and adhesive performance of imidazolium cation grafted cellulose nanocrystals in confined space

Confined evaporation-induced self-assembly (C-EISA) is a powerful technique to guide disordered nanoparticles into long-range organized structures. Herein, we investigate the C-EISA behavior of 1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium cation ([VBIm]+) grafted cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-C) in a parallel-plates confined geometry. Interestingly, CNC-C can spontaneously assemble into maze-like patterns with branch dimensions on the micrometer scale and uniformly distributed throughout the confined space, which is completely different from the lamellar self-assembly patterns of unmodified CNCs. Combining in situ observations and microscopic characterization, we speculate that the formation of maze-like patterns originates from the reduction of colloidal stability induced by the grafted imidazolium cations. The electrostatic attraction between CNC-C aggregated bundles and glass substrates acts as anchor points, thereby leading to the unstable motion of the liquid-air menisci during the inward intrusion of air. Due to the physicochemical properties and unique C-EISA behavior, the CNC-C based adhesive can maintain adhesion at temperatures of ca. 200 °C, while rapidly debonding when immersed in water, demonstrating the potential to be used as stimuli-responsive temporary or removable adhesives. Furthermore, the strategy proposed in this work for achieving CNCs patterning is also promising to be extended to other anisotropic rod-shaped nanoparticles.

Observation of Medium-Induced Yield Enhancement and Acoplanarity Broadening of Low-p_{T} Jets from Measurements in pp and Central Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration reports the measurement of semi-inclusive distributions of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum (high p_{T}) hadron trigger in proton-proton and central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. A data-driven statistical method is used to mitigate the large uncorrelated background in central Pb-Pb collisions. Recoil jet distributions are reported for jet resolution parameter R=0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 in the range 7 Collapse

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Acute rapamycin treatment reveals novel mechanisms of behavioral, physiological, and functional dysfunction in a maternal inflammation mouse model of autism and sensory over-responsivity

Maternal inflammatory response (MIR) during early gestation in mice induces a cascade of physiological and behavioral changes that have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a prior study and the current one, we find that mild MIR results in chronic systemic and neuro-inflammation, mTOR pathway activation, mild brain overgrowth followed by regionally specific volumetric changes, sensory processing dysregulation, and social and repetitive behavior abnormalities. Prior studies of rapamycin treatment in autism models have focused on chronic treatments that might be expected to alter or prevent physical brain changes. Here, we have focused on the acute effects of rapamycin to uncover novel mechanisms of dysfunction and related to mTOR pathway signaling. We find that within 2 hours, rapamycin treatment could rapidly rescue neuronal hyper-excitability, seizure susceptibility, functional network connectivity and brain community structure, and repetitive behaviors and sensory over-responsivity in adult offspring with persistent brain overgrowth. These CNS-mediated effects are also associated with alteration of the expression of several ASD-,ion channel-, and epilepsy-associated genes, in the same time frame. Our findings suggest that mTOR dysregulation in MIR offspring is a key contributor to various levels of brain dysfunction, including neuronal excitability, altered gene expression in multiple cell types, sensory functional network connectivity, and modulation of information flow. However, we demonstrate that the adult MIR brain is also amenable to rapid normalization of these functional changes which results in the rescue of both core and comorbid ASD behaviors in adult animals without requiring long-term physical alterations to the brain. Thus, restoring excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and sensory functional network modularity may be important targets for therapeutically addressing both primary sensory and social behavior phenotypes, and compensatory repetitive behavior phenotypes.

Ultrastrong MXene film induced by sequential bridging with liquid metal

Assembling titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene nanosheets into macroscopic films presents challenges, including voids, low orientation degree, and weak interfacial interactions, which reduce mechanical performance. We demonstrate an ultrastrong macroscopic MXene film using liquid metal (LM) and bacterial cellulose (BC) to sequentially bridge MXene nanosheets (an LBM film), achieving a tensile strength of 908.4 megapascals. A layer-by-layer approach using repeated cycles of blade coating improves the orientation degree to 0.935 in the LBM film, while a LM with good deformability reduces voids into porosity of 5.4%. The interfacial interactions are enhanced by the hydrogen bonding from BC and the coordination bonding with LM, which improves the stress-transfer efficiency. Sequential bridging provides an avenue for assembling other two-dimensional nanosheets into high-performance materials.

Properties of Cosmic Deuterons Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on the International Space Station of the deuteron (D) flux are presented. The measurements are based on 21×10^{6} D nuclei in the rigidity range from 1.9 to 21 GV collected from May 2011 to April 2021. We observe that over the entire rigidity range the D flux exhibits nearly identical time variations with the p, ^{3}He, and ^{4}He fluxes. Above 4.5 GV, the D/^{4}He flux ratio is time independent and its rigidity dependence is well described by a single power law ∝R^{Δ} with Δ_{D/^{4}He}=-0.108±0.005. This is in contrast with the ^{3}He/^{4}He flux ratio for which we find Δ_{^{3}He/^{4}He}=-0.289±0.003. Above ∼13  GV we find a nearly identical rigidity dependence of the D and p fluxes with a D/p flux ratio of 0.027±0.001. These unexpected observations indicate that cosmic deuterons have a sizable primarylike component. With a method independent of cosmic ray propagation, we obtain the primary component of the D flux equal to 9.4±0.5% of the ^{4}He flux and the secondary component of the D flux equal to 58±5% of the ^{3}He flux.

Bromocriptine sensitivity in bromocriptine-induced drug-resistant prolactinomas is restored by inhibiting FGF19/FGFR4/PRL

PURPOSE

At present, various treatment strategies are available for pituitary adenomas, including medications, surgery and radiation. The guidelines indicate that pharmacological treatments, such as bromocriptine (BRC) and cabergoline (CAB), are important treatments for prolactinomas, but drug resistance is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of drug resistance in prolactinomas is beneficial for clinical treatment.

METHODS

In our research, BRC-induced drug-resistant cells were established. Previous RNA sequencing data and an online database were used for preliminary screening of resistance-related genes. Cell survival was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assays and flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were used to assess the molecular changes and regulation. The therapeutic efficacy of BRC and FGFR4 inhibitor fisogatinib (FISO) combination was evaluated in drug-resistant cells and xenograft tumors in nude mice.

RESULTS

Consistent with the preliminary results of RNA sequencing and database screening, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) expression was elevated in drug-resistant cells and tumor samples. With FGF19 silencing, drug-resistant cells exhibited increased sensitivity to BRC and decreased intracellular phosphorylated fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) levels. After confirming that FGF19 binds to FGFR4 in prolactinoma cells, we found that FGF19/FGFR4 regulated prolactin (PRL) synthesis through the ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways. Regarding the effect of targeting FGF19/FGFR4 on BRC efficacy, FISO and BRC synergistically inhibited the growth of tumor cells, promoted apoptosis and reduced PRL levels.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study revealed FGF19/FGFR4 as a new mechanism involved in the drug resistance of prolactinomas, and combination therapy targeting the pathway could be helpful for the treatment of BRC-induced drug-resistant prolactinomas.

Characterizing the metabolome and microbiome at giant panda scent marking sites during the mating season

Scent marking sites served as a primary means of chemical communication for giant pandas, enabling intraspecific communication. We integrated metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing techniques to examine the non-targeted metabolome and microbial community structure of scent marking sites and feces in the field. Integrative analysis revealed a more comprehensive array of chemical compounds compared to previous investigations, including ketones, acids, heterocycles, alcohols, and aldehydes. Notably, specific compounds such as 2-decenal, (E)-, octanal, decanal, L-α-terpineol, vanillin, and nonanal emerged as potential key players in scent signaling. Intriguingly, our study of the microbial domain identified dominant bacterial species from the Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria phyla, likely orchestrating metabolic processes at scent marking sites. Comparative analyses showed, for the first time, that feces do not share the same functions as scent markers, indicating distinct functional roles. This research deepens scientific understanding of chemical communication in wild pandas.

[COVID-19 and autoimmune dysregulation: exploring common mechanisms and treatment strategies in interstitial lung disease]

COVID-19 is caused by the infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and manifests primarily as acute lung injury with diffuse interstitial lung disease evident in imaging. Patients often present with clinical features similar to those of autoimmune diseases and share imaging, treatment and serological similarities with autoimmune-related interstitial lung diseases. The association between autoimmune abnormalities and post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis is also recognized. This article provided a comprehensive review of the pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic interventions associated with autoimmune abnormalities induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Combination of Searches for Resonant Higgs Boson Pair Production Using pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

A combination of searches for a new resonance decaying into a Higgs boson pair is presented, using up to 139  fb^{-1} of pp collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination includes searches performed in three decay channels: bb[over ¯]bb[over ¯], bb[over ¯]τ^{+}τ^{-}, and bb[over ¯]γγ. No excess above the expected Standard Model background is observed and upper limits are set at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of Higgs boson pairs originating from the decay of a narrow scalar resonance with mass in the range 251 GeV-5 TeV. The observed (expected) limits are in the range 0.96-600 fb (1.2-390 fb). The limits are interpreted in the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model and the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and constrain parameter space not previously excluded by other searches.