Modulations of ocean-atmosphere interactions on squid abundance over Southwest Atlantic

Anthropogenic shifts in seas are reshaping fishing trends, with significant implications for aquatic food sources throughout this century. Examining a 21-year abundance dataset of Argentine shortfin squids Illex argentinus paired with a regional oceanic analysis, we noted strong correlations between squid annual abundance and sea surface temperature (SST) in January and February and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) from March to May in the Southwest Atlantic. A deeper analysis revealed combined ocean-atmosphere interactions, pinpointed as the primary mode in a rotated empirical orthogonal function analysis of SST. This pattern produced colder SST and amplified EKE in the surrounding seas, factors crucial for the unique life stages of squids. Future projections from the CMIP6 archive indicated that this ocean-atmosphere pattern, referred to as the Atlantic symmetric pattern, would persist in its cold SST phase, promoting increased squid abundance. However, rising SSTs due to global warming might counteract the abundance gains. Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized link between squids and specific environmental conditions governed by broader ocean-atmosphere interactions in the Southwest Atlantic. Integrating these insights with seasonal and decadal projections can offer invaluable information to stakeholders in squid fisheries and marine conservation under a changing climate.

How different face mask types affect interpersonal distance perception and threat feeling in social interaction

Due to the easing of the pandemic, public policies no longer mandated people to wear masks. People can choose to no wear or wear different types of masks based on personal preferences and safety perceptions during daily interaction. Available information about the influence of face mask type on interpersonal distance (IPD) by different aging populations is still lacking. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the face mask type (no wear, cloth, medical and N95 mask) and age group effect of avatars (children, adults and older adults) on IPD perception, threat feeling and physiological skin conductance response under active and passive approaching. One hundred participants with a range from 20 to 35 years old were recruited for this study. Twelve avatars (three age groups*four face mask conditions) were created and applied in a virtual reality environment. The results showed that age group, mask type and approach mode had significant effects on IPD and subjective threat feeling. A non-significant effect was found on skin conductance responses. Participants maintained a significantly longer IPD when facing the older adults, followed by adults and then children. In the passive approach condition, people tended to maintain a significantly greater comfort distance than during the active approach. For the mask type effect, people kept a significantly largest and shortest IPD when facing an avatar with no mask or the N95 mask, respectively. A non-significant IPD difference was found between the N95 and medical mask. Additionally, based on the subjective threat feeling, facing an avatar wearing a medical mask generated the lowest threat feeling compared to the others. The findings of this study indicated that wearing medical masks provided a benefit in bringing people closer for interaction during specific situations. Understanding that mask-wearing, especially medical one, brought to shortest IPD when compared to the unmasked condition can be utilized to enhance safety measures in crowded public spaces and health-care settings. This information could guide the development of physical distancing recommendations, taking into account both the type of mask and the age groups involved, to ensure the maintenance of appropriate distances.

Perceived interpersonal distance changes in young Taiwanese pre and post SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The persistent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, spanning over three years, has profoundly impacted daily life worldwide. Crucial measures like interpersonal distance (IPD) and mask-wearing have become paramount in preventing infection. With SARS-CoV-2 now resembling an endemic condition similar to influenza, it is vital to assess the changes in IPD influenced by relevant factors during and after the pandemic. This study concentrated on two specific stages (the pandemic stage and the post-pandemic era) and investigated variations in IPD with different test combinations. Variables taken into account encompassed the pandemic stage, participant gender, target gender, and mask-wearing status. We examined IPD data from 100 young individuals (50 males and 50 females) at each stage, with a one-year interval between tests. The results highlighted the substantial impact of all variables on perceived IPD during the pandemic phase (all p < 0.001). However, in the post-pandemic stage, only mask-wearing demonstrated a notable effect on IPD (p < 0.001). As the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic subsides, the enduring influence of mask usage on IPD persists. Nevertheless, the gap between the two mask-wearing scenarios diminishes, contracting from around 50 cm during the epidemic phase to 20 cm in the post-epidemic phase. Across these two pandemic stages, there was an overall reduction of approximately 90 cm in IPD, indicating a noteworthy decrease in perceived personal space and a consequential shortening of social proximity during the post-pandemic stage. This decrease in IPD may suggest the successful socio-cultural adaptation of the young Taiwanese individuals in our study during the post-pandemic era.

Dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics mediated aortic perivascular adipose tissue-associated vascular reactivity impairment under excessive fructose intake

Excessive fructose intake presents the major risk factor for metabolic cardiovascular disease. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a metabolic tissue and possesses a paracrine function in regulating aortic reactivity. However, whether and how PVAT alters vascular function under fructose overconsumption remains largely unknown. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were fed a 60% high fructose diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood sugar, insulin, and triglycerides were significantly increased by HFD intake. Plasma adiponectin was significantly enhanced in the HFD group. The expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and mitochondrial mass were reduced in the aortic PVAT of the HFD group. Concurrently, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were suppressed. Furthermore, decreased fusion proteins (OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2) were accompanied by increased fission proteins (FIS1 and phospho-DRP1). Notably, the upregulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and osteocalcin in the PVAT were concurrent with the impaired reactivity of aortic contraction and relaxation. Coenzyme Q10 (Q, 10 mg/100 mL, 4 weeks) effectively reversed the aforementioned events induced by HFD. Together, these results suggested that the dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics mediated HFD-triggered PVAT whitening to impair aortic reactivity. Fortunately, coenzyme Q10 treatment reversed HFD-induced PVAT whitening and aortic reactivity.

Watch your step: A pilot study of smartphone use effect on young females' gait performance while walking up and down stairs and escalators

The increasingly ubiquitous use of smartphones has made distracted walking common, not only on flat ground, but also on stairs. Available information regarding changes in gait performance while walking and using a smartphone in different environments is still lacking. We aimed to investigate the differences in gait behavior and subjective walking confidence while walking up and down stairs and escalators, with and without smartphone use. A field experiment involving 32 female adults was conducted at a subway station. Gait parameters collected included step frequency, acceleration root mean square, step variability, step regularity, and step symmetry. The results showed that walking task, walking environment, and walking direction significantly affected gait performance and walking confidence. Overall, playing games or texting while walking down escalators resulted in the lowest walking confidence and the largest gait performance decrement: slower step frequency; reduced root mean square; decreased step regularity and step symmetry; and increased step variability. Step frequency, step variability, and step regularity significantly correlated with walking confidence. Smartphone use while walking on stairs and escalators significantly affects gait behavior and might increase the risk of falls. Interventions and prevention are needed to increase safety education and hazard warnings for the general population.

Perceived Interpersonal Distances: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Young Taiwanese and Young Southeast Asians during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prior research on interpersonal distance (IPD) has predominantly concentrated on specific nationalities or population groups within their respective regions. There is a dearth of studies investigating IPD differences among individuals of distinct nationalities coexisting in the same geographical location. This study aimed to examine the variances in IPD between 100 young Taiwanese participants (comprising 50 males and 50 females) and 100 Southeast Asian individuals (including 50 males and 50 females). This study also considered factors affecting IPD, including target genders and mask-wearing conditions. The results of the four-way ANOVA indicate that target gender and mask-wearing conditions had a significant impact on IPD (p < 0.001). While there were no significant main effects for region and participant gender, there was a noteworthy interactive effect between these two variables on IPD. In general, Southeast Asian participants exhibited lower sensitivity to changes in IPD in response to the independent variables in comparison to their Taiwanese counterparts; in certain instances, their IPD did not notably increase when confronted with targets not wearing masks. While prior research typically indicated that women tend to maintain larger IPD than men, the current study observed this gender difference only among young Taiwanese participants. However, such a gender gap was absent among young individuals from Southeast Asia.

Exploring the Benefits of 3D-Printed Bolus in Cone Beam CT for Modified Radical Mastectomy Breast Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To improve the accuracy of superficial dose coverage for patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM), boluses are frequently applied to the skin surface of targeted region during radiotherapy. The irregular curvature of MRM breast cases results in discrepancies of dosimetry and poor contact. Additionally, the presence of an air gap causes unnecessary high-dose escalation and uncertainty in dose calculation, making the use of commercial flat bolus problematic. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 3D-printed bolus by comparing it to commercial bolus in setup variations and dosimetric compliance through daily cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Ten patients underwent MRM were divided into 2 groups. 5 patients treated with 0.5 cm commercial bolus as group A while the other 5 patients covered by 3D Bolus as group B. 3D bolus was made of polylactic acid filament (PLA) and contoured in advance with thickness of 0.5 cm on the surface of target. Positional errors were recorded through daily image guidance and compared with the images. Both groups had right-sided breast with neck lymph nodes involved and received 50 Gy in 25 fractions using 4 partial arcs of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique. The CBCTs were recalculated through treatment planning system (TPS) to assess superficial dose coverage. A two-tailed student's t-test was applied.

RESULTS

Groups A and B pitch angles were -0.203 ± 0.837° and 0.334 ± 0.909° (p = 0.0003). Roll angle were 0.313 ± 0.728° and -0.633 ± 1.286° (p = 0.0000013). Yaw angle were -0.034 ± 0.872° and 0.018 ± 0.883° (p = 0.721). There was a trend of differences in the Z-axis and significant statistical differences in the pitch and roll angles due to aligning gel layers directly with group A's body surface, while 3D bolus rigidly adherence to group B's delineated curve. In the planned target volume (PTV), the CI and HI of group A were 0.9448±0.0208 and 1.2061±0.0448, respectively, while 0.9776±0.0144 and 1.1472±0.0206 (p<0.005) were for group B. As for the superficial region, which is defined from body surface to 0.5cm inside PTV, CI and HI of A were 0.8290±0.0599 and 1.4675±0.2434, while for B, they were 0.9753±0.0214 and 1.1330±0.0126, respectively (p<0.005).

CONCLUSION

The study analyzed the results through image comparison and investigated the CI and HI between two types of boluses. The 3D bolus reduces setup errors and improves dose coverage especially when superficial region is concerned. Better consistency of patient repositioning and dosimetry can be achieved and proved by daily assessment of CBCT scan. The customization of 3D bolus with integration of TPS and CT scans provides a solution to the inadequacies of commercial bolus. The results suggest that the use of 3D bolus is a promising development in radiation therapy for MRM breast cancer patients.

The Effectiveness of Music Interventions for Improving Anxiety Symptoms in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Being alone in the treatment room during radiation therapy (RT) often causes anxiety which may lead to treatment failure. The benefit of music interventions in reducing anxiety among cancer patients during RT simulations is still controversial. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of music on anxiety symptoms among patients undergoing initial RT and a randomized trial was conducted.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients who received RT for the first time were enrolled and were randomly allocated into groups of experiment and control. The questionnaire of mood thermometer (BSRS-5), distress thermometer (DT), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI-C) and were given before and after RT. We also measured the changes in physiological symptoms for ten consecutive days since the first day of RT. The experimental group was given music during RT, while the control group was not. The generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the pre-post difference of music interventions on the BSRS-5, DT, and BAI-C compared with control group after considering the random intercept and the unstructured residual variance-covariance matrix.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients in the experimental group and 50 patients in the control group were enrolled in this study. The satisfaction degree of treatment in the experimental group was 100%, but it was 96% in control group (p = 0.0048). The pre-test BSRS-5 was 3.4±2.3 for the experimental group versus 2.6±2.3 for the control group (p = 0.0815), the post-test BSRS-5 score was significantly reduced in the experimental group (1.6±1.4 for experimental group versus 2.7±2.2 for the control group, p = 0.0057), the significant pre-post difference of BSRS-5 between group was found (p = 0.0024). When the experimental group withdrew from the music intervention, the BSRS-5 rebounded to 3.7±3.0. The pre-test DT was 4.3±1.5 and 3.4±1.7 in the experimental group and control group (p = 0.0051), and the post-test DT score was significantly reduced in the experimental group (2.7±1.2 for the experimental group and 3.5±1.3 for the control group, p = 0.0021), the significant pre-post difference of DT between group was found (p<.0001). When the experimental group withdrew from the music intervention, the DT rebounded to 3.7±1.4. The pre-test BAI-C was 6.7±11.7 and 7.8±8.5 in the experimental group and control group (p = 0.5878), and the post-test BAI-C score was significantly lower in the experimental group (1.7±3.7 for the experimental group and 7.4±8.0 for the control group, p<.0001), however, the pre-post difference of BAI-C between group was not significant (p = 0.0619). When the experimental group withdrew from the music intervention, the BAI-C rebounded to 6.5±8.7. There is a significantly increased systolic blood pressure in the control group compared with the patients had music intervention.

CONCLUSION

This study's results provide evidence that playing music routinely (music intervention) during RT can be an excellent way to relieve patients' anxiety and improve their comfort.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Small Intact Brain Metastasis: A Comparative Evaluation of 3 Different Single Fraction Prescription Doses

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

While single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of small brain metastases (SBM, ≤ 2 cm) is well established, prescription dosing varies considerably across institutions and clinical trials. The choice of prescription dose is a delicate balance between local failure (LF) and radiation necrosis (RN) risks. In the modern era, historically-established dosing thresholds may no longer be applicable. To evaluate the impact of prescription dose on outcomes, we performed a comparative analysis of patients with SBM treated with definitive SRS using three different prescriptions, at a single tertiary institution.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Consecutive patients with intact SBM treated with SRS from January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics and dosing parameters were abstracted from the medical record. To limit the integral brain dose when treating multiple brain metastases, the institutional practice was to reduce prescription dose as the total number of lesions increased (i.e., 24 Gy for ≤10 lesions, 22 Gy for 11-20, and 20 Gy for >20). A per lesion analysis, where each lesion was followed from the date of SRS to the last follow-up, was conducted with primary endpoints of LF and RN. Gray's test was used to compare the cumulative incidence of the LF and RN, with death as a competing risk. Factors affecting LF were analyzed using Cox hazard regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1318 SBM in 250 patients received SRS and met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 62 years (range: 18-90), median KPS was 90 (range: 50-100) and 66% were female. The most common primary tumors were lung (55.5%) and breast cancers (26.4%). With a median follow-up of 12 months, 136 (11%) LF in 44 patients and 70 (5.7%) RN events in 46 patients occurred. The actuarial 1-year cumulative rate of LF was lower in lesions treated with 24 Gy (6.4%, 95% CI: 4.7-8.6%) or 22 Gy (5.8%, 95% CI: 3.7-8.7%) compared to 20 Gy (15.4%, 95% CI: 10.9-20.5%) (p<0.01). 22 Gy and 24 Gy prescription doses were associated with a 44% and 52% reduction in risk in LF compared to 20 Gy (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.9; p = 0.01 and HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31-0.74; p<0.01, respectively). In a subset analysis of radiosensitive tumors, 1-year LF rate was still lower with 24 Gy (7.4%, 95% CI: 5.3-9.9%) and 22 Gy (6.1%, 95% CI: 3.7-9.4%) than 20 Gy (15.7%, 95% CI: 11.2-21%) (p = 0.01). The cumulative 1-year RN rate numerically declined with dose, but was not statistically significantly different, with 3.6% (95% CI: 2.3-5.3%) for 24 Gy, 2.6% (95% CI: 1.3-4.8%) for 22 Gy and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.4-3.7%) for 20 Gy.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with single fraction SRS to intact SBM were at increased risk of LF with prescription doses of 20 Gy compared to 22-24 Gy, without an increased risk of RN. Even in patients with radiosensitive histologies, higher LF rates were still observed following 20 Gy compared to 22-24 Gy.

Src Kinase Activates Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 to Enhance Radioresistance in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known to be insensitive to radiation therapy, and it requires to development radiosensitizer for TNBC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We previously established a radioresistant sub-line from MDA-MB-231 cells, called 231-RR, and have demonstrated that 231-RR cells displayed high cancer stem cell (CSC) activity. And 231-RR cells were treated with dasatinib, a Src inhibitor.

RESULTS

In the present study, we discovered that the activation of Src kinase was increased in 231-RR cells. Treatment of dasatinib, an Src inhibitor, sensitized 231-RR cells to radiotherapy, along with the increased p-γH2Axser139, indicated the enhancement of DNA damage. Dasatinib also caused the downregulation of cancer stemness factors, including c-Myc, OCT4, and the Notch intracellular domain, as well as the decrease of phosphorylation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3). The treatment of C188-9, a STAT3 inhibitor, also sensitized 231-RR cells toward radiotherapy along with the increased p-γH2Axser139, but without changing the phosphorylation of Src, indicating that STAT3 is a downstream event of Src activation.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our data suggests that the inhibitors of Src or STAT3 could function as radiosensitizers or CSC targeting agents for TNBC radiotherapy.

Correlation between Psychosomatic Assessment, Heart Rate Variability, and Refractory GERD: A Prospective Study in Patients with Acid Reflux Esophagitis

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects a significant proportion of individuals, with life stress being a contributing factor. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between psychosomatic evaluations, heart rate variability (HRV), and GERD in a cohort of individuals. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze the sequencing changes following proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment and identify predictive factors associated with refractory GERD.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of 105 individuals with reflux esophagitis and a control group of 50 participants without acid reflux symptoms were enrolled. Psychosomatic evaluations, including GERDQ, GERDQLQ, RSI, BAI, BDI, and SSS-8, were assessed at baseline and during treatment. HRV parameters were also evaluated. Multivariate analysis was used to identify predictive factors for refractory GERD. PPIs were administered regularly for the initial 2 months and then used on-demand. Refractory GERD was defined as less than 50% improvement in symptom relief or GERDQLQ score ≥ 20 after 8 weeks of PPI treatment.

RESULTS

The GERD group had higher scores in all psychosomatic evaluations compared to the control group (all p-values < 0.001). There were no significant changes in any parameters of HRV before and after treatment in the GERD group. Strong and consistent correlations were observed between GERD symptoms and psychological scores (BAI, BDI, and SSS-8) across all time points (W0, W4, and W8). Sequential reductions in GERD symptom scores and psychosomatic evaluations were observed during the initial eight weeks of treatment. Higher GERDQ (≥10) and SSS-8 (≥12) scores were predictive of refractory GERD (p = 0.004 and p = 0.009, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of considering physiological and psychological factors in the management of GERD. Psychosomatic evaluations provide valuable insights for assessing and treating GERD patients. Integrating stress management and comprehensive assessments into personalized treatment strategies is crucial.

Correction: First-principles modeling of the highly dynamical surface structure of a MoS2 catalyst with S-vacancies

Correction for 'First-principles modeling of the highly dynamical surface structure of a MoS2 catalyst with S-vacancies' by Po-Yuan Wang et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 24166-24172, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP03384D.

Protective Renalase-deficiency in beta cells shapes immune metabolism and function in autoimmune diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the immune-mediated loss of pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. The latest advances in stem cell (SC)-beta cell differentiation methods have made a cell replacement therapy for T1D feasible. However, recurring autoimmunity would rapidly destroy transplanted SC-beta cells. A promising strategy to overcome immune rejection is to genetically engineer SC-beta cells. We previously identified Renalase (Rnls) as a novel target for beta cell protection. Here we show that Rnls deletion endows beta cells with the capacity to modulate the metabolism and function of immune cells within the local graft microenvironment. We used flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize beta cell graft-infiltrating immune cells in a mouse model for T1D. Loss of Rnls within transplanted beta cells affected both the composition and the transcriptional profile of infiltrating immune cells in favor of an anti-inflammatory profile with decreased antigen presenting capacity. We propose that changes in beta cell metabolism mediate local immune regulation and that this feature could be exploited for therapeutic goals.

Protocol for genome-scale in vivo CRISPR screening to study protection of beta cells under autoimmunity in a type 1 diabetes mouse model

Autoimmunity-induced pancreatic beta cell failure is the main characteristic of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here, we describe a protocol for genome-scale in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screening for use in a mouse model of T1D. Using a non-obese-diabetic-derived mouse beta cell line, NIT-1, and a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library (GeCKO-v2), we describe how to identify genes that confer resistance to autoimmune killing. This protocol can be applied in other mouse models of autoimmunity. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Cai et al. (2020).¹.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms among Construction Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in South China

Statistics showed that work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the leading cause of productivity loss in the construction industry. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of WMSDs and associated factors among construction workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 construction workers in Guangdong Province, China. A demographic, work-related survey and the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire were used to collect the workers' data. Descriptive statists and logistic regression were used for the data analysis. The results showed that the overall prevalence of WMSDs symptoms among the participants in any body region during the last 12 months was 57.9%. Neck (24.7%), shoulder (22.1%), upper back (13.4%), and lower back (12.6%) showed the highest prevalence of WMSDs. Age, exercise, work experience, work position, and level of fatigue after work were significantly associated with the prevalence of WMSDs symptoms in different body regions. The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of WMSDs symptoms among construction workers in south China is still high and is associated with different body areas compared to previous studies. The prevalence of WMSDs and risk-associated factors vary by country and region. This indicates that further local investigations are needed to propose specific solutions to improve the occupational health of construction workers.

Cationic surfactants influencing the enhancement of energy efficiency for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal in the electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) system

From an environmental perspective, approaching sustainability requires a fundamental conceptual shift from the wastewater treatment process toward integrated treatment systems that consider efficient and effective utilization. This study aims to investigate the effects of different surfactants on the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We used cationic surfactants as both frothers and collectors in the electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) method to improve the removal efficiency of PFOA. The results showed that, under a monopolar aluminum electrode and with an initial PFOA concentration of 0.25 mM, the ECF method with decyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (DTAB) was able to remove over 98% of PFOA within 10 min. Cationic surfactants with a similar linear alkyl chain shape to PFOA, but a longer chain length, are more effective at removing PFOA through the ECF process. The removal mechanism is thought to involve co-precipitation with aluminum hydroxides through Al-F bonding, co-flotation with cationic surfactants, and mixed micelle formation with cationic surfactants. The optimal conditions were tested in both synthetic and realistic wastewater matrices and produced similar results. It has the potential for real wastewater application. The energy yield (G₅₀) of ECF with 5 mM DTAB is 497 g·kWh^-1, superior to other treatments, and is an extremely energy-effective method for separating PFOA from wastewater.

The impact of alcoholic drinks and dietary factors on epigenetic markers associated with triglyceride levels

Background: Many epigenetic loci have been associated with plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, but epigenetic connections between those loci and dietary exposures are largely unknown. This study aimed to characterize the epigenetic links between diet, lifestyle, and TG. Methods: We first conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) for TG in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring population (FHS, n = 2,264). We then examined relationships between dietary and lifestyle-related variables, collected four times in 13 years, and differential DNA methylation sites (DMSs) associated with the last TG measures. Third, we conducted a mediation analysis to evaluate the causal relationships between diet-related variables and TG. Finally, we replicated three steps to validate identified DMSs associated with alcohol and carbohydrate intake in the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) study (n = 993). Results: In the FHS, the EWAS revealed 28 TG-associated DMSs at 19 gene regions. We identified 102 unique associations between these DMSs and one or more dietary and lifestyle-related variables. Alcohol and carbohydrate intake showed the most significant and consistent associations with 11 TG-associated DMSs. Mediation analyses demonstrated that alcohol and carbohydrate intake independently affect TG via DMSs as mediators. Higher alcohol intake was associated with lower methylation at seven DMSs and higher TG. In contrast, increased carbohydrate intake was associated with higher DNA methylation at two DMSs (CPT1A and SLC7A11) and lower TG. Validation in the GOLDN further supports the findings. Conclusion: Our findings imply that TG-associated DMSs reflect dietary intakes, particularly alcoholic drinks, which could affect the current cardiometabolic risk via epigenetic changes. This study illustrates a new method to map epigenetic signatures of environmental factors for disease risk. Identification of epigenetic markers of dietary intake can provide insight into an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease and support the application of precision nutrition. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), NCT00005121; the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN), NCT01023750.

First-principles modeling of the highly dynamical surface structure of a MoS2 catalyst with S-vacancies

Vacancy sites, e.g., S-vacancies, are essential for the performance of MoS₂ catalysts. As earlier studies have revealed that the size and shape of the S-vacancies may affect the catalytic activity, we have studied the behavior and mobility of such vacancies on MoS₂ using DFT calculations and kinetic Monte-Carlo (kMC) simulations. The diffusion barriers for the S-vacancies are highly dependent on the immediate environment: isolated single S-vacancies are found to be immobile. In contrast, small nS-vacancies formed from n = 2 to 5 neighboring S-vacancies are often highly dynamic systems that can move within a confined area. Large extended nS-vacancies are generally unstable and transform quickly into alternating patterns of S-atoms and vacancy sites. These results illustrate the importance of recognizing MoS₂ (but also other catalysts) as dynamic structures when trying to tune their catalytic performances by introducing specific defect structures.

Intratumoral delivery of TransCon™ TLR7/8 Agonist promotes sustained anti-tumor activity and local immune cell activation while minimizing systemic cytokine induction

Background

Intratumoral (IT) delivery of toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists has shown encouraging anti-tumor benefit in preclinical and early clinical studies. However, IT delivery of TLR agonists may lead to rapid effusion from the tumor microenvironment (TME), potentially limiting the duration of local inflammation and increasing the risk of systemic adverse events.

Methods

To address these limitations, TransCon^™ TLR7/8 Agonist—an investigational sustained-release prodrug of resiquimod that uses a TransCon linker and hydrogel technology to achieve sustained and predictable IT release of resiquimod—was developed. TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist was characterized for resiquimod release in vitro and in vivo, in mice and rats, and was assessed for anti-tumor efficacy and pharmacodynamic activity in mice.

Results

Following a single IT dose, TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist mediated potent tumor growth inhibition which was associated with sustained resiquimod release over several weeks with minimal induction of systemic cytokines. TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist monotherapy promoted activation of antigen-presenting cells in the TME and tumor-draining lymph nodes, with evidence of activation and expansion of CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor-draining lymph node and TME. Combination of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist with systemic immunotherapy further promoted anti-tumor activity in TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist-treated tumors. In a bilateral tumor setting, combination of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist with systemic IL-2 potentiated tumor growth inhibition in both injected and non-injected tumors and conferred protection against tumor rechallenge following complete regressions.

Conclusions

Our findings show that a single dose of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist can mediate sustained local release of resiquimod in the TME and promote potent anti-tumor effects as monotherapy and in combination with systemic immunotherapy, supporting TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist as a novel intratumoral TLR agonist for cancer therapy. A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab, in cancer patients is currently ongoing (transcendIT-101; NCT04799054).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02708-6.

Comparative Analysis of Male Cyclist Population in Four Asia Countries for Anthropometric Measurements

This study aimed to compare the anthropometric variables of male cyclist samples from India, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. The cyclist's body dimensions were measured among 413 randomly chosen males (aged between 18 to 60), which included 104 Indians, 106 Taiwanese, 100 Singaporeans, and 103 Chinese. Based on the previous research articles, the considered 17 anthropometric variables were weight, stature, BMI, buttock extension, shoulder height (sitting), shoulder-elbow length, elbow height (sitting), lower leg length, knee height, acromion-grip length, hand length, elbow-hand length, buttock-popliteal length, buttock-knee length, elbow-to-elbow breadth, hip breadth (sitting), and foot breadth. Using statistical techniques (descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test), the data were analysed in SPSS, version 25.0. The results of the statistical analyses showed significant differences among the cyclists across selected anthropometric characteristics, except for the weight and sitting-related anthropometric measurements. The outcome of the descriptive statistics (percentile values), such as the percentile range (5th to 95th percentile), could be applied to the seat-height adjustment system to cover 95% of the bicyclist population. These types of implantation could enhance the ergonomic benefits for the bicyclist.

TransCon IL-2 β/γ: a novel long-acting prodrug with sustained release of an IL-2Rβ/γ-selective IL-2 variant with improved pharmacokinetics and potent activation of cytotoxic immune cells for the treatment of cancer

BACKGROUND

Recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2, aldesleukin) is an approved cancer immunotherapy but causes severe toxicities including cytokine storm and vascular leak syndrome (VLS). IL-2 promotes antitumor function of IL-2Rβ/γ⁺ natural killer (NK) cells and CD8⁺, CD4⁺ and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. However, IL-2 also potently activates immunosuppressive IL-2Rα⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-2Rα⁺ eosinophils and endothelial cells, which may promote VLS. Aldesleukin is rapidly cleared requiring frequent dosing, resulting in high C_max likely potentiating toxicity. Thus, IL-2 cancer immunotherapy has two critical drawbacks: potent activation of undesired IL-2Rα⁺ cells and suboptimal pharmacokinetics with high C_max and short half-life.

METHODS

TransCon IL-2 β/γ was designed to optimally address these drawbacks. To abolish IL-2Rα binding yet retain strong IL-2Rβ/γ activity, IL-2 β/γ was created by permanently attaching a small methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) moiety in the IL-2Rα binding site. To improve pharmacokinetics, IL-2 β/γ was transiently attached to a 40 kDa mPEG carrier via a TransCon (transient conjugation) linker creating a prodrug, TransCon IL-2 β/γ, with sustained release of IL-2 β/γ. IL-2 β/γ was characterized in binding and primary cell assays while TransCon IL-2 β/γ was studied in tumor-bearing mice and cynomolgus monkeys.

RESULTS

IL-2 β/γ demonstrated selective and potent human IL-2Rβ/γ binding and activation without IL-2Rα interactions. TransCon IL-2 β/γ showed slow-release pharmacokinetics with a low C_max and a long (>30 hours) effective half-life for IL-2 β/γ in monkeys. In mouse tumor models, TransCon IL-2 β/γ promoted CD8⁺ T cell and NK cell activation and antitumor activity. In monkeys, TransCon IL-2 β/γ induced robust activation and expansion of CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells and γδ T cells, relative to CD4⁺ T cells, Tregs and eosinophils, with no evidence of cytokine storm or VLS. Similarly, IL-2 β/γ enhanced proliferation and cytotoxicity of primary human CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells and γδ T cells.

SUMMARY

TransCon IL-2 β/γ is a novel long-acting prodrug with sustained release of an IL-2Rβ/γ-selective IL-2. It has remarkable and durable pharmacodynamic effects in monkeys and potential for improved clinical efficacy and tolerability compared with aldesleukin. TransCon IL-2 β/γ is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT05081609).

Retinoic acid signaling acts as a rheostat to balance Treg function

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) promote immune homeostasis by maintaining self-tolerance and regulating inflammatory responses. Under certain inflammatory conditions, Tregs can lose their lineage stability and function. Previous studies have reported that ex vivo exposure to retinoic acid (RA) enhances Treg function and stability. However, it is unknown how RA receptor signaling in Tregs influences these processes in vivo. Herein, we employed mouse models in which RA signaling is silenced by the expression of the dominant negative receptor (DN) RARα in all T cells. Despite the fact that DNRARα conventional T cells are hypofunctional, Tregs had increased CD25 expression, STAT5 pathway activation, mTORC1 signaling and supersuppressor function. Furthermore, DNRARα Tregs had increased inhibitory molecule expression, amino acid transporter expression, and metabolic fitness and decreased antiapoptotic proteins. Supersuppressor function was observed when wild-type mice were treated with a pharmacologic pan-RAR antagonist. Unexpectedly, Treg-specific expression of DNRARα resulted in distinct phenotypes, such that a single allele of DNRARα in Tregs heightened their suppressive function, and biallelic expression led to loss of suppression and autoimmunity. The loss of Treg function was not cell intrinsic, as Tregs that developed in a noninflammatory milieu in chimeric mice reconstituted with DNRARα and wild-type bone marrow maintained the enhanced suppressive capacity. Fate mapping suggested that maintaining Treg stability in an inflammatory milieu requires RA signaling. Our findings indicate that RA signaling acts as a rheostat to balance Treg function in inflammatory and noninflammatory conditions in a dose-dependent manner.

Triglyceride-Associated Epigenetic Markers and Diet and Lifestyle Habits in the Framingham Heart Study

Objectives

The current evidence has shown that environmental and lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, physical activity, tobacco smoking, alcohol) are associated with DNA methylation patterns. However, the mechanisms underlying the relation between diet and other exposures and epigenetic profiles are not well understood. To reduce such knowledge gap, we investigated the links between lifestyle, including diet, and methylation marks with plasma triglyceride concentrations (TG).

Methods

We first conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) (Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip) for TG in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring population (n = 2,178). We then examined the relationships between dietary and lifestyle-related variables, collected over 13 years, and differential DNA methylation marks associated with the last TG measures (exam 8). Second, we conducted a mediation analysis to examine the potential causal relationship between diet-related variables and TG.

Results

The EWAS analyses revealed 28 TG-associated DNA methylation sites at 19 regions (e.g., ABCG1, CPT1A, DHCR24, PHGDH, SLC7A11, SLC43A1, SREBF1, TXNIP). Within those methylation sites, we identified 427 significant associations between these DNA methylation sites and one or more dietary and lifestyle-related variables after accounting for multiple testing. The two most significant and consistent associations between TG-associated DNA methylation markers and diet were alcohol (g/day) and carbohydrate intake (% total energy), with P-values ranging from 10^(−4) to 10^(−56). Mediation analyses demonstrated that alcohol and carbohydrate intake independently affect TG via DNA methylation markers as mediators. For seven of the 19 identified differential DNA-methylation regions, higher alcohol intake was associated with decreased methylation and higher TG. In contrast, increased carbohydrate intake was associated with higher DNA methylation at two epigenetic loci (CPT1A and SLC7A11) and lower TG.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that dietary factors (i.e., alcohol and carbohydrate) are associated with specific DNA methylation markers that could mediate some of the observed associations between diet and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Funding Sources

This work was funded by the US Department of Agriculture, under agreement no. 8050-51,000-107-000D.

Effects of zinc salt addition on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal by electrocoagulation with aluminum electrodes

In this study, the electrocoagulation (EC) of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by an aluminum electrode with the addition of zinc salt was investigated. Adding ZnCl₂ successfully prevented a rise in pH during EC and increased the efficiency from 73.7% to over 99%. In addition, the longer the carbon chain of a PFA was, the better the removal of that PFA by electrocoagulation. The main functions of ZnCl₂ were to prevent the rise in pH and improve flotation because the flocs with added ZnCl₂ were easy to gather together and had a faster floating speed. The XPS results demonstrated the occurrence of bonding between aluminum and fluoride. This finding indicates that complexation between aluminum and fluoride may be the main mechanism for removal when aluminum electrodes are used to remove perfluoroalkyl (PFA) compounds.

Using Machine Learning to Predict Obesity Based on Genome-Wide and Epigenome-Wide Gene-Gene and Gene-Diet Interactions

Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases that impair healthy aging and is governed by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors and their complex interactions. This study aimed to develop a model that predicts an individual's risk of obesity by better characterizing these complex relations and interactions focusing on dietary factors. For this purpose, we conducted a combined genome-wide and epigenome-wide scan for body mass index (BMI) and up to three-way interactions among 402,793 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 415,202 DNA methylation sites (DMSs), and 397 dietary and lifestyle factors using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) method. The training set consisted of 1,573 participants in exam 8 of the Framingham Offspring Study (FOS) cohort. After identifying genetic, epigenetic, and dietary factors that passed statistical significance, we applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict participants' obesity status in the test set, taken as a subset of independent samples (n = 394) from the same cohort. The quality and accuracy of prediction models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC). GMDR identified 213 SNPs, 530 DMSs, and 49 dietary and lifestyle factors as significant predictors of obesity. Comparing several ML algorithms, we found that the stochastic gradient boosting model provided the best prediction accuracy for obesity with an overall accuracy of 70%, with ROC-AUC of 0.72 in test set samples. Top predictors of the best-fit model were 21 SNPs, 230 DMSs in genes such as CPT1A, ABCG1, SLC7A11, RNF145, and SREBF1, and 26 dietary factors, including processed meat, diet soda, French fries, high-fat dairy, artificial sweeteners, alcohol intake, and specific nutrients and food components, such as calcium and flavonols. In conclusion, we developed an integrated approach with ML to predict obesity using omics and dietary data. This extends our knowledge of the drivers of obesity, which can inform precision nutrition strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), [NCT00005121].

Host Genetic Associations with Salivary Microbiome in Oral Cancer

Despite the growing recognition of a host genetic effect on shaping gut microbiota composition, the genetic determinants of oral microbiota remain largely unexplored, especially in the context of oral diseases. Here, we performed a microbiome genome-wide association study in 2 independent cohorts of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC, n = 144 and 67) and an additional group of noncancer individuals (n = 104). Besides oral bacterial dysbiosis and signatures observed in OSCC, associations of 3 loci with the abundance of genus-level taxa and 4 loci with β diversity measures were detected (q < 0.05) at the discovery stage. The most significant hit (rs10906082 with the genus Lachnoanaerobaculum, P = 3.55 × 10^-9 at discovery stage) was replicated in a second OSCC cohort. Moreover, the other 2 taxonomical associations, rs10973953 with the genus Kingella (P = 1.38 × 10^-9) and rs4721629 with the genus Parvimonas (P = 3.53 × 10^-8), were suggestive in the meta-analysis combining 2 OSCC cohorts. Further pathway analysis revealed that these loci were enriched for genes in regulation of oncogenic and angiogenic responses, implicating a genetic anchor to the oral microbiome in estimation of casual relationships with OSCC. Our findings delineate the role of host genotypes in influencing the structure of oral microbial communities.

Stature estimation using foot dimensions via 3D scanning in Taiwanese male adults

In forensic identification, the use of foot dimensions to predict stature is a requisite. For Taiwanese male stature prediction, available information about stature estimation using foot dimensions is still lacking. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to establish Taiwanese adult male stature prediction models for various foot dimensions. A total of 2,072 male 3D foot models were collected and the subjects' ages ranged from 18 to 59 years old. Thirteen foot dimensions for each foot were utilized in this study. Bilateral differences were tested using pairedt-tests. Stature predictions based on different foot dimensions were conducted using simple linear and stepwise regression methods. The results showed significant bilateral differences in the majority of the selected foot dimensions (p < 0.001). Foot length had the highest positive correlation with stature in the right and left foot. Using length-related dimensions generated better prediction accuracy (0.356 < R² < 0.533, 4.193 < SEE < 4.928), whereas the worst accuracy was observed with angle-related dimensions (0.001 < R² < 0.023; 6.072 < SEE < 6.137) when employing a single foot dimension to estimate Taiwanese male stature. Stepwise regression analysis results indicated that the coefficient of determination was improved to 0.590 and 0.593 by applying five and six foot parameters to predict stature, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that these stature estimation equations can be applied to predict Taiwanese male stature in the forensic science field.

Effects of Different Finger Grips and Arm Positions on the Performance of Manipulating the Chinese Brush in Chinese Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the effects of finger grip and wrist position on Chinese calligraphy handwriting (CCH). Thirty participants were recruited in the study and asked to manipulate the Chinese brush using two finger grip methods (three-finger grip and five-finger grip) and two wrist positions (suspended wrist and raised wrist). Three experimental writing tasks were applied to investigate writing stability, agility, and hand–eye coordination, and to evaluate the completion time (s), area of error (cm²), and error times. Subjective responses (arm aching level, ease of grip, exertion level, and comfort) regarding the four combinations of Chinese brush manipulation were measured. The results indicated significantly better performance with the three-finger grip for the stability and agility tests, and with the five-finger grip for the hand–eye coordination task. Using the suspended wrist position for CCH allowed better agility and hand–eye coordination than the raised wrist position. In consideration of the results of the four operational combinations, the three-finger grip with a suspended wrist position demonstrated the best performance in both objective and subjective measurements. It is recommended for application in the early learning stage. These findings can be considered when teaching Chinese brushes for beginners of CCH in schools.

Influence of Wearing Surgical Mask on Interpersonal Space Perception Between Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese People

Wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing of 1.5m are two common preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19. However, the interaction of these preventive measures in interpersonal space (IPS) perception remains unknown. This study evaluated the effects of wearing surgical masks, sex dyads, and approaching patterns on IPS judgment. Data were collected from participants from Mainland China (n=100) and Taiwan (n=100) through an online survey. Therefore, the regional differences were also examined. A smaller IPS was observed when participants faced confederates wearing surgical masks than in the no-mask condition. Female dyads tended to maintain a smaller IPS than did both male and mixed-sex dyads, and Taiwanese participants maintained a significantly larger IPS than did Mainland Chinese participants. No significant difference was observed between the active and passive pattern. Moreover, the interaction between region and mask had a significant influence on IPS perception. Among all test combinations, only the IPS perceived by Taiwanese participants facing confederates without surgical masks exceeded 1.5m. This study revealed that the wearing of surgical masks for health protection during the pandemic influences IPS perception in different regions. The current findings may provide useful information for social interaction and environmental design during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Differences in Baseball Batting Movement Patterns Between Facing a Pitcher and a Pitching Machine

Purpose: Pitching machines are widely used for baseball batting practice. However, these machines cannot precisely simulate a live pitcher's pitching motion. To understand if a batter's movement strategy would be altered due to disparate visual information provided by a pitching machine as opposed to a live pitcher, the present study aimed to compare differences in baseball batting movement patterns under the two delivery conditions. Methods: To examine movement variations and different strategies of each high-level athlete rather than obtaining averaged group performance, single-subject analysis was adopted. Four professional baseball players were recruited to bat around 50 pitches under each delivery condition. Vertical ground reaction forces of the participants' batting movements were recorded. Relative timings of key events and values of several kinetic parameters during batting were examined. Results: When batting against the pitching machine, batters initiated forward stepping earlier (relative to ball release), had smaller loading rate at landing the step, and altered the duration from forward bat swing to ball impact. These results might be attributed to lacking visual cues of a live pitcher's whole body kinematics prior to ball release. Without sufficient visual information, greater uncertainty and incomplete weight transfer affected the batter's decision making and movement execution. Conclusion: The batters in this study did adjust their movement strategy in batting against a pitching machine. With dissimilar batting movement patterns under the two delivery conditions, extensive reliance on training with pitching machines is not recommended.

Using the Goldilocks Principle to model coral ecosystem engineering

The occurrence and proliferation of reef-forming corals is of vast importance in terms of the biodiversity they support and the ecosystem services they provide. The complex three-dimensional structures engineered by corals are comprised of both live and dead coral, and the function, growth and stability of these systems will depend on the ratio of both. To model how the ratio of live : dead coral may change, the ‘Goldilocks Principle’ can be used, where organisms will only flourish if conditions are ‘just right’. With data from particle imaging velocimetry and numerical smooth particle hydrodynamic modelling with two simple rules, we demonstrate how this principle can be applied to a model reef system, and how corals are effectively optimizing their own local flow requirements through habitat engineering. Building on advances here, these approaches can be used in conjunction with numerical modelling to investigate the growth and mortality of biodiversity supporting framework in present-day and future coral reef structures.

Sorafenib use in hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching study

Sorafenib is the recommended first-line treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related advanced HCC (HCV-HCC) seemed to have a better response than hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC (HBV-HCC) in sorafenib use, but it was undetermined. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effect of sorafenib between HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC patients in Taiwan. From August 2012 to December 2016, 575 consecutive advanced HCC patients received sorafenib under the reimbursement of Taiwan national health insurance in our hospital. Radiologic assessment was performed at a 2-month interval. Those patients with tumor progression or liver function deterioration were disallowed for further sorafenib use. Patients with HBV or HCV infection were, retrospectively, enrolled and followed till December 2018. There were 277 (62.4%) HBV-HCC patients and 167 (37.6%) HCV-HCC patients. Before sorafenib, 192 (69.3%) HBV-HCC patients who had used nucleoside analogs (NAs) for HBV management, whereas only 5 (3%) HCV-HCC patients received interferon-based antiviral therapy. Overall survival (OS) of HCV-HCC patients was significantly superior to HBV-HCC patients without NAs (8.8 months vs. 4.9 months, p = 0.006), but was noninferior to HBV-HCC patients with NAs (8.8 months vs. 10.7 months, p = 0.54). Using propensity score matching, progression-free survival (2.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p = 0.374) and OS (10.5 months vs. 9.6 months, p = 0.746) between HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC groups were not different. Antiviral therapy might increase survival benefits of advanced HBV-HCC patients underwent sorafenib use, leading to a comparable OS to HCV-HCC patients in Taiwan.

Maternal high-fructose diet induced early-onset retinopathy via the suppression of synaptic plasticity mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction

Retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness, and there is currently no cure. Earlier identification of the progression of retinopathy could provide a better chance for intervention. Diet has profound effects on retinal function. A maternal high-fructose diet (HFD) triggers diseases in multiple organs. However, whether maternal HFD impairs retinal function in adult offspring is currently unknown. By using the rodent model of maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation, our data indicated a reduced b-wave of electroretinography (ERG) in HFD female offspring at 3 mo of age compared with age-matched offspring of dams fed regular chow (ND). Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses indicated that the distributions and expressions of synaptophysin, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), and phospho(p)-Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) were significantly suppressed in the HFD group. Furthermore, the ATP content and the mitochondrial respiratory protein, Mt CPX 4-2, were decreased. Moreover, the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in the retina of the HFD group were downregulated. Treatment with coenzyme Q₁₀ (Q10), a key mediator of the electron transport chain, effectively reversed these abovementioned dysfunctions. Together, these results suggested that maternal HFD impaired retinal function in adult female offspring. The mechanism underlying early-onset retinopathy may involve the reduction in the capacity of mitochondrial energy production and the suppression of synaptic plasticity. Most importantly, mitochondria could be a feasible target to reprogram maternal HFD-damaged retinal function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we provide novel evidence that maternal high-fructose diet during gestation and lactation could induce early-onset retinopathy in adult female offspring. Of note, the insufficient energy content, downregulated mitochondrial respiratory complex 4-2, and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis might contribute to the decrease of synaptic plasticity resulting in retinal function suppression. Oral application with coenzyme Q₁₀ for 4 wk could at least partially reverse the aforementioned molecular events and retinal function.

An Investigation of Human Errors in Medication Adverse Event Improvement Priority Using a Hybrid Approach

The aim of this study was to analyze and provide an in-depth improvement priority for medication adverse events. Thus, the Human Factor Analysis and Classification System with subfactors was used in this study to analyze the adverse events. Subsequently, the improvement priority for the subfactors was determined using the hybrid approach in terms of the Analytical Hierarchy Process and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. In Of the 157 medical adverse events selected from the Taiwan Patient-safety Reporting system, 25 cases were identified as medication adverse events. The Human Factor Analysis and Classification System and root cause analysis were used to analyze the error factors and subfactors that existed in the medication adverse events. Following the analysis, the Analytical Hierarchy Process and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution were used to determine the improvement priority for subfactors. The results showed that the decision errors, crew resource management, inadequate supervision, and organizational climate contained more types of subfactors than other error factors in each category. In the current study, 16 improvement priorities were identified. According to the results, the improvement priorities can assist medical staff, researchers, and decisionmakers in improving medication process deficiencies efficiently.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal by flotation with cationic surfactants

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was separated and recovered using a foam flotation process aided by cationic surfactants. The PFOA removal efficiency was in the following decreasing order: OTAB (C₈TAB) > DTAB (C₁₀TAB) > CTAB (C₁₆TAB) > TBAB, which indicates that cationic surfactants with an alkyl chain that had a similar length to that of PFOA had higher affinities to PFOA. PFOA removal slightly decreased with increasing ionic strength of the surfactant but did not change with the pH. PFOA could be completely removed in 20 min with 1.25 mM of OTAB in actual wastewater. The energy yield value of foam flotation with a cationic surfactant was much higher than those of other methods, which means that using foam flotation with a cationic surfactant as the collector is a simple, fast, and energy-efficient method to separate and recover PFOA from dilute water solutions.

Tipping the immunostimulatory and inhibitory DAMP balance to harness immunogenic cell death

Induction of tumor cell death is the therapeutic goal for most anticancer drugs. Yet, a mode of drug-induced cell death, known as immunogenic cell death (ICD), can propagate antitumoral immunity to augment therapeutic efficacy. Currently, the molecular hallmark of ICD features the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by dying cancer cells. Here, we show that gemcitabine, a standard chemotherapy for various solid tumors, triggers hallmark immunostimualtory DAMP release (e.g., calreticulin, HSP70, and HMGB1); however, is unable to induce ICD. Mechanistic studies reveal gemcitabine concurrently triggers prostaglandin E2 release as an inhibitory DAMP to counterpoise the adjuvanticity of immunostimulatory DAMPs. Pharmacological blockade of prostaglandin E2 biosythesis favors CD103+ dendritic cell activation that primes a Tc1-polarized CD8+ T cell response to bolster tumor rejection. Herein, we postulate that an intricate balance between immunostimulatory and inhibitory DAMPs could determine the outcome of drug-induced ICD and pose COX-2/prostaglandin E2 blockade as a strategy to harness ICD.

Increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and nitrotyrosine are associated with increased body weight in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after etanercept therapy

OBJECTIVES

Etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, is an effective drug for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nitrotyrosine (NT) are pro-inflammatory biomolecules associated with satiety and increased body weight. We evaluated whether MCP-1 and NT are associated with decreased inflammation or increased body mass during etanercept therapy in active RA patients.

METHODS

RA patients with moderate to high disease activity were enrolled to receive add-on etanercept (25 mg subcutaneous injection, biweekly) for at least one year, combined with sustained treatment with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs).

RESULTS

Forty patients received add-on etanercept and 15 received DMARDs alone. At the end of one year, etanercept significantly reduced the disease activity score of 28 joints, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Moreover, etanercept significantly increased the body weight, body mass index (BMI), as well as MCP-1 and NT levels, compared to that in the csDMARD-only group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased serum MCP-1 and NT levels in RA patients with moderate to high disease activity, who underwent one-year etanercept treatment, might be attributed to increase in body weight and BMI rather than induction of more severe autoimmune inflammation.

Patterns of COVID-19 on computed tomography imaging

PURPOSE

As the designated tertiary referral centre for infectious diseases in Hong Kong, our hospital received the city's first group of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herein, we studied the earliest patients admitted to our centre in order to clarify the typical radiological findings, particularly computed tomography (CT) findings, associated with COVID-19.

METHODS

From 22 January 2020 to 29 February 2020, 19 patients with confirmed COVID-19 underwent high-resolution or conventional CT scans of the thorax in our centre. The CT imaging findings of these patients with confirmed COVID-19 in Hong Kong were reviewed in this study.

RESULTS

Ground-glass opacities (GGO) with peripheral subpleural distribution were found in all patients (100%). No specific zonal predominance was observed. All lobes were involved in 16 (84.2%) patients, focal subsegmental consolidations were observed in 14 (73.7%) patients, and interlobular septal thickening was present in 12 (63.2%) patients. No mediastinal lymph node enlargement, centrilobular nodule, or pleural effusion was detected in any of the patients. Other imaging features present in several patients include bronchial dilatation, bronchial wall thickening, and crazy-paving patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Peripheral subpleural GGO without zonal predominance in the absence of centrilobular nodule, pleural effusion, and lymph node enlargement were consistent findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The observed radiological patterns on CT scans can help identify COVID-19 and assess affected patients in the context of the ongoing outbreak.

An Investigation Into Interpersonal and Peripersonal Spaces of Chinese People for Different Directions and Genders

This study explores the interpersonal space (IPS) and peripersonal space (PPS) of Chinese people and evaluates the relationship between the two spaces for different directions and genders. Seventy-one participants were recruited for this study. Participants were required to determine their IPS in eight directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°) when approached by male or female confederates in the comfort distance task. Each participant was also asked to judge their PPS in five directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 270°, 315°) following the same procedure. Results showed that their IPS was significantly influenced by direction (p < 0.05), with the largest distance in the front (0°) and the closest distance in the rear (135°, 180°, 225°), indicating non-circular IPS among Chinese subjects. Moreover, the PPS on the right side (90°) was larger than in other directions (0°, 45°, 270°, 315°). Participants maintained larger IPS than PPS in the front, but the IPS was closer than PPS on the right and left sides. When facing a female confederate, larger IPS was preferred than PPS, whereas the opposite held true when facing a male confederate. Comparison of participants’ arm length and PPS showed that the reachability distance was overestimated in the front but underestimated laterally. The findings of this study can be applied to environmental design, space utilization, and social interaction.

Divergent roles of retinoic acid signaling in T regulatory cell function

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) modulate immune responses to maintain immune homeostasis. Retinoic acid (RA) signaling promotes Treg generation and stability. Paradoxically, we observed that dominant negative RA receptor α expressed only in donor T cells (DNRARαfl/flCD4Cre) dampened inflammation and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), while increasing Tregs. We found that diminishing RA signaling significantly enhanced their in vitro suppressive capacity. In vivo the adoptive transfer of DNRARαfl/flCD4Cre Tregs at the time of transplant was significantly (p&lt;0.01) more effective than wild type (WT) controls in ameliorating GVHD. Mechanistically, enhanced suppression was associated with elevated expression of suppressive (CTLA-4, GITR, CD39) and fitness (CD25, pSTAT5) markers. To evaluate the intrinsic requirement of RA signaling in Tregs, we generated transgenic mice with conditional DNRARα expression in Tregs (DNRARαfl/fl x Foxp3YFPCre). Surprisingly, the extent of ablation of RA signaling resulted in divergent phenotypes. Heterozygous ablation (DNRARαfl/wt) was permissive of enhanced Treg suppression. In striking contrast and unexpectedly, homozygous ablation (DNRARαfl/fl) impaired Treg suppressive function and caused multi-organ (lung, liver) autoimmunity in &gt;90% of females and males by 3 months of age. Poor suppression is not cell intrinsic as DNRARαfl/fl Tregs isolated from mixed bone marrow chimeras of congenic WT and DNRARαfl/fl x Foxp3YFP Cre had enhanced function. Our studies indicate that RA signaling in Tregs can be targeted to prevent autoimmunity by enhancing Treg suppression or alternatively, promote antitumor responses by reducing Treg function.

Efficient decomposition of perfluorooctanic acid by persulfate with iron-modified activated carbon

Using persulfate (PS) oxidation to remove the persistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water typically requires an elevated temperature or an extended reaction time. Under relatively ambient temperatures (15-45 °C), feasibility of employing PS with iron-modified activated carbon (AC) for PFOA oxidation was evaluated. With presence of Fe/AC in PS oxidation, 61.7% of PFOA was decomposed to fluoride ions and intermediates of short-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with a 41.9% defluorination efficiency at 25 °C after 10 h. Adsorption of PFOA onto Fe/AC can be regarded as a pre-concentration step prior to subsequent oxidation of PFOA. Fe/AC not only removes PFOA through adsorption, but also activates PS to form sulfate radicals that accelerate the decomposition and mineralization of PFOA. With Fe/AC in the PS system, activation energies (E_a) of PFOA removal and defluorination were significantly reduced from 66.8 to 13.2 and 97.3 to 14.5 kJ/mol, respectively. It implies that PFOA degradation and defluorination could proceed at a lower reaction temperature within a shorter reaction time. Besides, the surface characteristics of AC and Fe/AC before and after PS oxidation were evaluated by XPS and SEM. A quenching test used MeOH as an inhibitor and EPR spectra of free radicals were conducted to develop the proposed reaction mechanisms for PFOA oxidation.

Salivary AMY1 Copy Number Variation Modifies Age-Related Type 2 Diabetes Risk

BACKGROUND

Copy number variation (CNV) in the salivary amylase gene (AMY1) modulates salivary α-amylase levels and is associated with postprandial glycemic traits. Whether AMY1-CNV plays a role in age-mediated change in insulin resistance (IR) is uncertain.

METHODS

We measured AMY1-CNV using duplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in two studies, the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS, n = 749) and the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drug and Diet Network study (GOLDN, n = 980), and plasma metabolomic profiles in the BPRHS. We examined the interaction between AMY1-CNV and age by assessing the relationship between age with glycemic traits and type 2 diabetes (T2D) according to high or low copy numbers of the AMY1 gene. Furthermore, we investigated associations between metabolites and interacting effects of AMY1-CNV and age on T2D risk.

RESULTS

We found positive associations of IR with age among subjects with low AMY1-copy-numbers in both studies. T2D was marginally correlated with age in participants with low AMY1-copy-numbers but not with high AMY1-copy-numbers in the BPRHS. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis identified the pentose metabolic pathway based on metabolites that were associated with both IR and the interactions between AMY1-CNV and age. Moreover, in older participants, high AMY1-copy-numbers tended to be associated with lower levels of ribonic acid, erythronic acid, and arabinonic acid, all of which were positively associated with IR.

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence supporting a role of AMY1-CNV in modifying the relationship between age and IR. Individuals with low AMY1-copy-numbers tend to have increased IR with advancing age.

IL-23 and IL-2 activation of STAT5 is required for optimal IL-22 production in ILC3s during colitis

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins have critical roles in the development and function of immune cells. STAT signaling is often dysregulated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting the importance of STAT regulation during the disease process. Moreover, genetic alterations in STAT3 and STAT5 (e.g., deletions, mutations, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms) are associated with an increased risk for IBD. In this study, we elucidated the precise roles of STAT5 signaling in group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), a key subset of immune cells involved in the maintenance of gut barrier integrity. We show that mice lacking either STAT5a or STAT5b are more susceptible to Citrobacter rodentium-mediated colitis and that interleukin-2 (IL-2)- and IL-23-induced STAT5 drives IL-22 production in both mouse and human colonic lamina propria ILC3s. Mechanistically, IL-23 induces a STAT3-STAT5 complex that binds IL-22 promoter DNA elements in ILC3s. Our data suggest that STAT5a/b signaling in ILC3s maintains gut epithelial integrity during pathogen-induced intestinal disease.

Maternal high fructose-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation in the adult female offspring via PPARγ-NF-κB signaling

The mechanisms beneath the initiation of neuroinflammation are still inconclusive. Growing evidence proposes the maternal effect on the development of neuroinflammation. In this study, we evaluated the upstream regulators and the indices of neuroinflammation in the hippocampi of female offspring at 3 months old. The accumulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB, 65 kDa), a cytokine-encoding transcription factor, was increased in microglia. The enhanced microglial activation was detected in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) HFD group with upregulation of CD11b and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1). Moreover, proinflammatory cytokines (including TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6) were significantly increased in HFD group. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPARγ) is a transcription factor involved in the suppression of NF-κB expression and in encoding endogenous antioxidants (such as catalase and glutathione peroxidases). On the contrary, the expression of nuclear PPARγ was suppressed in hippocampal neurons of the HFD group. In addition, the expressions of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) was suppressed in HFD group. Oral application with pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, effectively ceased the neuroinflammation and reversed the expression of antioxidants in HFD group. Together, these results for the first time demonstrated that maternal HFD triggered the waxing and waning of NF-κB and PPARγ may initiate neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of adult female offspring. Our findings further suggest that PPARγ could be the feasible targets to reprogram the hippocampal impairment induced by maternal HFD.

Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) gel polymer electrolyte incorporating with water-soluble sodium sulfide salt for quasi-solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cell

Rapid decay of photoanode, leakage from sealant, and evaporation of electrolyte are always the major concerns of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) based on liquid electrolyte. Subsequently, gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) appears as an attractive solution in addition to lower cost, lighter weight, and flexibility. Poly(acrylamide- co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-PAA) is of special interest to act as a polymer host to entrap liquid electrolyte because it provides high transparency, good gelatinizing properties, and excellent compatibility with the liquid electrolyte. In this work, the electrical and transport properties of PAAm-PAA GPE incorporating with water-soluble sodium sulfide were characterized by impedance spectroscopy. An increment of ionic conductivity was observed with the incorporation of ethylene carbonate (EC) and potassium chloride (KCl). The highest room temperature ionic conductivity of PAAm-PAA GPE is 70.82 mS·cm−1. QDSC based on PAAm-PAA GPE with the composition of 1.3 wt% of KCl, 0.9 wt% of EC, 55.3 wt% of PAAm-PAA, 38.5 wt% of sodium sulfide, and 4.0 wt% of sulfur can present up to 1.80% of light-to-electricity conversion efficiency.