Melatonin enhances resistance to Botryosphaeria dothidea in pear by promoting jasmonic acid and phlorizin biosynthesis

Ring rot, caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, is an important fungal disease of pear fruit during postharvest storage. Melatonin, as a plant growth regulator, plays an important role in enhancing the stress resistance of pear fruits. It enhances the resistance of pear fruits to ring rot by enhancing their antioxidant capacity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of melatonin on the growth of B. dothidea. Results showed that melatonin did not limit the growth of B. dothidea during in vitro culture. However, metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses of 'Whangkeumbae' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) revealed that melatonin increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the fruit and activated the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway to improve fruit resistance. Furthermore, melatonin treatment significantly increased the contents of jasmonic acid and phlorizin in pear fruit, both of which could improve disease resistance. Jasmonic acid regulates melatonin synthesis and can also promote phlorizin synthesis, ultimately improving the resistance of pear fruit to ring rot. In summary, the interaction between melatonin and jasmonic acid and phlorizin enhances the antioxidant defense response and phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway of pear fruit, thereby enhancing the resistance of pear fruit to ring rot disease. Our results provide new insights into the application of melatonin in the resistance to pear fruit ring rot.

A Terahertz Metasurface Sensor Based on Quasi-BIC for Detection of Additives in Infant Formula

Prohibited additives in infant formula severely affect the health of infants. Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy has enormous application potential in analyte detection due to its rich fingerprint information content. However, there is limited research on the mixtures of multiple analytes. In this study, we propose a split ring metasurface that supports magnetic dipole bound states in the continuum (BIC). By breaking the symmetry, quasi-BIC with a high quality (Q) factor can be generated. Utilizing an angle-scanning strategy, the frequency of the resonance dip can be shifted, resulting in the plotting of an envelope curve which can reflect the molecular fingerprint of the analytes. Two prohibited additives found in infant formula, melamine and vanillin, can be identified in different proportions. Furthermore, a metric similar to the resolution in chromatographic analysis is introduced and calculated to be 0.61, indicating that these two additives can be detected simultaneously. Our research provides a new solution for detecting additives in infant formula.

Fabricating Pea Protein Micro-Gel-Stabilized Pickering Emulsion as Saturated Fat Replacement in Ice Cream

Unsaturated fat replacement should be used to reduce the use of saturated fat and trans fatty acids in the diet. In this study, pea protein micro-gels (PPMs) with different structures were prepared by microparticulation at pH 4.0-7.0 and named as PPM (pH 4.0), PPM (pH 4.5), PPM (pH 5.0), PPM (pH 5.5), PPM (pH 6.0), PPM (pH 6.5), and PPM (pH 7.0). Pea protein was used as a control to evaluate the structure and interfacial properties of PPMs by particle size distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), free sulfhydryl group content, and emulsifying property. PPM (pH 7.0) was suitable for application in O/W emulsion stabilization because of its proper particle size, more flexible structure, high emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI). The Pickering emulsion stabilized by PPM (pH 7.0) had a uniform oil droplet distribution and similar rheological properties to cream, so it can be used as a saturated fat replacement in the manufacture of ice cream. Saturated fat was partially replaced at different levels of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, which were respectively named as PR0, PR20, PR40, PR60, PR80, and PR100. The rheological properties, physicochemical indexes, and sensory properties of low-saturated fat ice cream show that PPM (pH 7.0)-stabilized emulsion can be used to substitute 60% cream to manufacture low-saturated fat ice cream that has high structural stability and similar melting properties, overrun, and sensory properties to PR0. The article shows that it is feasible to prepare low-saturated fat ice cream with PPM (pH 7.0)-stabilized Pickering emulsion, which can not only maintain the fatty acid profile of the corn oil used, but also possess a solid-like structure. Its application is of positive significance for the development of nutritious and healthy foods and the reduction of chronic disease incidence.

The effect of justice sensitivity on malevolent creativity: the mediating role of anger and the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND

the AMORAL model emphasizes the close connection of individuals' belief system and malevolent creativity. Belief in a just world theory (BJW) states that people have a basic need to believe that the world they live in is just, and everyone gets what they deserve. Therefore, justice matters to all people. Justice sensitivity, as one of individual trait, has been found associated with negative goals. However, relevant studies have not tested whether justice sensitivity can affect malevolent creativity and its psychological mechanisms. Additionally, researchers have found that both anger and emotion regulation linked with justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity, but their contribution to the relationship between justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity remained unclear. The current study aims to explore the influence of justice sensitivity on malevolent creativity, the mediating effect of trait anger/state anger on the relationship between justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity, and the moderating effect of emotion regulation on this mediating effect.

METHODS

A moderated mediating model was constructed to test the relationship between justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity. A sample of 395 Chinese college students were enrolled to complete the questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

Justice sensitivity positively correlated with malevolent creativity, both trait anger and state anger partly mediated the connection between justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity. Moreover, emotion regulation moderated the indirect effect of the mediation model. The indirect effect of justice sensitivity on malevolent creativity through trait anger/state anger increased as the level of emotion regulation increased. The results indicated that justice sensitivity can affect malevolent creativity directly and indirectly through the anger. The level of emotion regulation differentiated the indirect paths of justice sensitivity on malevolent creativity.

CONCLUSIONS

Justice sensitivity and malevolent creativity was mediated by trait anger/state anger. The higher sensitivity to justice, the higher level of trait anger/state anger, which in turn boosted the tendency of malevolent creativity. This indirect connection was moderated by emotion regulation, individuals with high emotion regulation are better able to buffer anger from justice sensitivity.

Structural Design and Control Research of Multi-Segmented Biomimetic Millipede Robot

Due to their advantages of good stability, adaptability, and flexibility, multi-legged robots are increasingly important in fields such as rescue, military, and healthcare. This study focuses on the millipede, a multi-segmented organism, and designs a novel multi-segment biomimetic robot based on an in-depth investigation of the millipede's biological characteristics and locomotion mechanisms. Key leg joints of millipede locomotion are targeted, and a mathematical model of the biomimetic robot's leg joint structure is established for kinematic analysis. Furthermore, a central pattern generator (CPG) control strategy is studied for multi-jointed biomimetic millipede robots. Inspired by the millipede's neural system, a simplified single-loop CPG network model is constructed, reducing the number of oscillators from 48 to 16. Experimental trials are conducted using a prototype to test walking in a wave-like gait, walking with a leg removed, and walking on complex terrain. The results demonstrate that under CPG waveform input conditions, the robot can walk stably, and the impact of a leg failure on overall locomotion is acceptable, with minimal speed loss observed when walking on complex terrain. The research on the structure and motion control algorithms of multi-jointed biomimetic robots lays a technical foundation, expanding their potential applications in exploring unknown environments, rescue missions, agriculture, and other fields.

Effect of Exogenous Organic Matter on Phosphorus Forms in Middle-High Fertility Cinnamon Soil

OBJECTIVES

To slow down the chemical fixation of phosphate fertilizer, reduce the risk of active phosphorus leaching, stimulate the inherent phosphorus resource activity of soil, and improve phosphorus supply capacity.

METHODS

This study utilized a combination of field experiments and indoor chemical analysis. Six types of exogenous organic matter (fulvic acid, biochar, compound microbial fertilizer, high-energy microbial inoculum, pig manure-vermicompost, cow manure-vermicompost) were added based on conventional fertilization. The experiment was conducted under the wheat-maize rotation system in the Huang-Huai-Hai region.

RESULTS

Compared with control (CK) without exogenous organic matter (EOM), all the other treatments with EOM had an enhancing effect on the available phosphorus of the cultivated soil. During the maize harvest, the combined application of biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of available phosphorus in 0-20 cm soil by 45.87-56.59% compared with CK. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of Ca2-P in 0-20 cm soil by 34.04-65.14%. The content of Ca10-P in each treatment with EOM exhibited a lower level compared to CK. EOM could slow down the fixation of phosphorus to some degree. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, Fe-P, neutral phosphatase activity, acid phosphatase activity, and the available phosphorus content in the soil. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, and cow manure-vermicompost could enhance the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase in topsoil to a certain extent, thereby facilitating the conversion of phosphorus into highly available Ca2-P. EOM could enhance the soil phosphorus availability and decelerate the conversion of soil phosphorus into O-P and Ca10-P forms with low availability. Among all treatments, biochar exhibited the most pronounced efficiency in mitigating phosphorus leaching downward.

CONCLUSIONS

All the EOMs had the potential to enhance the conversion of phosphorus into soluble phosphorus (Ca2-P), thereby mitigating the chemical fixation of soil phosphorus and ameliorating non-point source pollution caused by phosphorus. EOM enhanced the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase, which was beneficial to the conversion of organic phosphorus to inorganic phosphorus and increasing the content of available phosphorus. All EOMs had good effects on the retention of soil effective phosphorus, among which biochar had the best effect on retaining effective phosphorus in the tillage layer and blocking phosphorus leaching downward.

Calmodulin-like protein MdCML15 interacts with MdBT2 to modulate iron homeostasis in apple

BTB and TAZ domain proteins (BTs) function as specialized adaptors facilitating substrate recognition of the CUL3-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL3) complex that targets proteins for ubiquitination in reaction to diverse pressures. Nonetheless, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms by which the apple scaffold protein MdBT2 responds to external and internal signals is limited. Here we demonstrate that a putative Ca 2+ sensor, calmodulin-like 15 (MdCML15), acts as an upstream regulator of MdBT2 to negatively modulate its functions in plasma membrane H+-ATPase regulation and iron deficiency tolerance. MdCML15 was identified to be substantially linked to MdBT2, and to result in the ubiquitination and degradation of the MdBT2 target protein MdbHLH104. Consequently, MdCML15 repressed the MdbHLH104 target, MdAHA8's expression, reducing levels of a specific membrane H+-ATPase. Finally, the phenotype of transgenic apple plantlets and calli demonstrated that MdCML15 modulates membrane H+-ATPase-produced rhizosphere pH lowering alongside iron homeostasis through an MdCML15-MdBT2-MdbHLH104-MdAHA8 pathway. Our results provide new insights into the relationship between Ca2+ signaling and iron homeostasis.

Three-way junction structure-mediated reverse transcription-free exponential amplification reaction for pathogen RNA detection

Since RNA is an important biomarker of many infectious pathogens, RNA detection of pathogenic organisms is crucial for disease diagnosis and environmental and food safety. By simulating the base mismatch during DNA replication, this study presents a novel three-way junction structure-mediated reverse transcription-free exponential amplification reaction (3WJ-RTF-EXPAR) for the rapid and sensitive detection of pathogen RNA. The target RNA served as a switch to initiate the reaction by forming a three-way junction (3WJ) structure with the ex-trigger strand and the ex-primer strand. The generated trigger strand could be significantly amplified through EXPAR to open the stem-loop structure of the molecular beacon to emit fluorescence signal. The proofreading activity of Vent DNA polymerase, in combination with the unique structure of 2+1 bases at the 3'-end of the ex-primer strand, could enhance the role of target RNA as a reaction switch to reduce non-specific amplification and ensure excellent specificity to differentiate target pathogen from those causing similar symptoms. Furthermore, detection of target RNA showed a detection limit of 1.0×104 copies/mL, while the time consumption was only 20 min, outperforming qRT-LAMP and qRT-PCR, the most commonly used RNA detection methods in clinical practice. All those indicates the great application prospects of this method in clinical diagnostic.

Influence of Zr Microalloying on the Microstructure and Room-/High-Temperature Mechanical Properties of an Al-Cu-Mn-Fe Alloy

Here, 0.3 wt.%Zr was introduced in an Al-4 wt.%Cu-0.5 wt.%Mn-0.1 wt.%Fe alloy to investigate its influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy. The microstructures of both as-cast and T6-treated Al-Cu-Mn-Fe (ACMF) and Al-Cu-Mn-Fe-Zr (ACMFZ) alloys were analyzed. The intermetallic compounds formed through the casting procedure include Al2Cu and Al7Cu2Fe, and the Al2Cu phase dissolves into the matrix and re-precipitates as θ' phase during the T6 process. The introduction of Zr results in the precipitation of L12-Al3Zr nanometric precipitates after T6, while the θ' precipitates in ACMFZ alloy are much finer than those in ACMF alloy. The L12-Al3Zr precipitates were found coherently located with θ', which was assumed beneficial for stabilizing the θ' precipitates during the high-temperature tensile process. The tensile properties of ACMF and ACMFZ alloys at room temperature and elevated temperatures (200, 300, and 400 °C) were tested. Especially, the yield strength of ACMFZ alloys can reach 128 MPa and 65 MPa at 300 °C and 400 °C, respectively, which are 31% and 33% higher than those of ACMF alloys. The strengthening mechanisms of grain size, L12-Al3Zr, and θ' precipitates on the tensile properties were discussed. This work may be referred to for designing Al-Cu alloys for application in high-temperature fields.

Acupuncture in Multiple Myeloma Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review

Background

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a prevalent complication of multiple myeloma (MM), due to the disease itself or its treatment. Despite extensive research, the optimal treatment for multiple myeloma peripheral neuropathy (MMPN) remains unclear. Clinical practice has shown the potential efficacy of acupuncture in managing MMPN. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the literature to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for MMPN.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were comprehensively searched from inception to November 1, 2023 to identify relevant studies pertaining to the use of acupuncture to treat MMPN.

Results

A total of five studies, encompassing 97 patients diagnosed with drug-related PN, were ultimately included in this analysis. The literature lacks any reports pertaining to the utilization of acupuncture for disease-related PN. ST36, LI4, SP6, and EX-LE-10 were found to be the most frequently chosen acupoints. Following acupuncture treatment, there was a consistent reduction in scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) among MMPN patients. The results of Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests yielded conflicting results. No severe adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion

The use of acupuncture for disease-related PN has not been studied to date. Acupuncture is safe for drug-related PN and is helpful for relieving pain. But uncertainty exists regarding the efficacy of this approach because there is substantial heterogeneity with respect to acupuncture treatment regimens, and more high-quality studies on this topic are warranted.

Research on fault identification of high-voltage circuit breakers with characteristics of voiceprint information

High voltage circuit breakers are one of the core equipment in power system operation, and the voiceprint signals generated during operation contain extremely rich information. This paper proposes a fault identification method for high voltage circuit breakers based on voiceprint information data. Firstly, based on the developed voiceprint information data acquisition device, the voiceprint information of a certain high voltage circuit breaker is obtained; Secondly, an improved S-transform is proposed in the article, which generates an amplitude matrix based on the S-transform of voiceprint information; Then, through the matrix Singular value decomposition method, the fault feature quantity of voiceprint information is extracted from the time-frequency angle, and the diagnosis system of the support vector machine model is established, and the system is trained to realize the fault identification of the high-voltage circuit breaker; Finally, through experimental simulation calculations, it was shown that the accuracy of the proposed fault identification method in different operating conditions reached 92.6%, verifying the good accuracy and robustness of the proposed method and equipment.

Enhancing Multi-Spectral Fingerprint Sensing for Trace Explosive Molecules with All-Silicon Metasurfaces

Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to identify the specific fingerprints of analytes in a label-free way. However, conventional sensing methods face unavoidable barriers in analyzing trace-amount target molecules due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. Here, we propose a sensing scheme to achieve strong fingerprint absorption based on the angular-scanning strategy on an all-silicon metasurface. By integrating the mid-infrared and terahertz sensing units into a single metasurface, the sensor can efficiently identify 2,4-DNT with high sensitivity. The results reveal that the fingerprint peak in the enhanced fingerprint spectrum is formed by the linked envelope. It exhibits a significant enhancement factor exceeding 64-fold in the terahertz region and more than 55-fold in the mid-infrared region. Particularly, the corresponding identification limit of 2,4-DNT is 1.32 µg cm-2, respectively. Our study will provide a novel research idea in identifying trace-amount explosives and advance practical applications of absorption spectroscopy enhancement identification in civil and military security industries.

Numerical simulation and fast method for the 0D-1D multi-scale coupled model and its application in ischemic brain tissue blood flow problems

As living standards rise, more and more people are paying attention to their own health, especially issues such as cerebral thrombosis, cerebral infarction, and other cerebral blood flow problems. An accurate simulation of blood flow within cerebral vessels has emerged as a crucial area of research. In this study, we focus on microcirculatory blood flow in ischemic brain tissue and employ a 0D-1D geometric multi-scale coupled model to characterize this process. Given the intricate nature of human cerebral vessels, we apply a numerical method combining the finite element method and the third-order Runge-Kutta method to resolve the coupled model. To enhance computational efficiency, we introduce a fast method based on the reduced-order extrapolation algorithm. Our numerical example underscores the stability of the method and convergence accuracy toO h 3 + τ 3 $$ O\left({h}^3+{\tau}^3\right) $$ , while significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of blood flow simulation, making the mechanism analysis more accurate. Additionally, we present examples detailing variations and distribution of intracranial pressure and blood flow in ischemic brain tissue throughout a cardiac cycle. Both reduced vascular compliance and vascular stenosis can have adverse effects on intracranial cerebral pressure and blood flow, leading to insufficient local oxygen supply and negative effects on brain function. Meanwhile, there will also be corresponding changes in volume flow and pulsatile blood pressure.

Association of Serum Uric Acid with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Study in China

Purpose

The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been widely focused on and studied in recent years. However, the exact association between SUA and AF is unclear, and the effect of gender on the association between SUA levels and AF has been controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between SUA levels and non-valvular AF (NVAF) and the potential effect of gender on it.

Patients and Methods

A total of 866 NVAF patients (463 males, age 69.44 ± 8.07 years) and 646 sex-matched control patients in sinus rhythm, with no history of arrhythmia were included in this study. t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test were used for baseline data analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve, logistic regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used for correlation analysis.

Results

Compared to controls, NVAF patients exhibited higher SUA (P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders of NVAF, SUA remained significantly associated with NVAF, regardless of gender (OR= 1.31, 95% CI 1.18-1.43, P<0.001). SUA demonstrated higher predictability and sensitivity in predicting the occurrence of female NVAF compared to male (area under the curve was 0.68 (95% CI 0.64-0.72, P<0.001), sensitivity 87.3%), with the optimal cut-off point identified as 5.72 mg/dL. Furthermore, SUA levels correlated with APOA1, Scr and NT-proBNP in NVAF patients. SUA levels varied significantly among NVAF subtypes.

Conclusion

High SUA levels were independently associated with NVAF, regardless of gender. SUA exhibited higher predictability and sensitivity in predicting the occurrence of NVAF in females compared to males. High SUA levels may affect other NVAF-related factors and participate in the pathophysiological process of NVAF.

Targeted delivery of HSP90 inhibitors for efficient therapy of CD44-positive acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumor-colon cancer

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is overexpressed in numerous cancers, promotes the maturation of numerous oncoproteins and facilitates cancer cell growth. Certain HSP90 inhibitors have entered clinical trials. Although less than satisfactory clinical effects or insurmountable toxicity have compelled these trials to be terminated or postponed, these results of preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that the prospects of targeting therapeutic strategies involving HSP90 inhibitors deserve enough attention. Nanoparticulate-based drug delivery systems have been generally supposed as one of the most promising formulations especially for targeting strategies. However, so far, no active targeting nano-formulations have succeeded in clinical translation, mainly due to complicated preparation, complex formulations leading to difficult industrialization, incomplete biocompatibility or nontoxicity. In this study, HSP90 and CD44-targeted A6 peptide functionalized biomimetic nanoparticles (A6-NP) was designed and various degrees of A6-modification on nanoparticles were fabricated to evaluate targeting ability and anticancer efficiency. With no excipients, the hydrophobic HSP90 inhibitor G2111 and A6-conjugated human serum albumin could self-assemble into nanoparticles with a uniform particle size of approximately 200 nm, easy fabrication, well biocompatibility and avoidance of hepatotoxicity. Besides, G2111 encapsulated in A6-NP was only released less than 5% in 12 h, which may avoid off-target cell toxicity before entering into cancer cells. A6 peptide modification could significantly enhance uptake within a short time. Moreover, A6-NP continues to exert the broad anticancer spectrum of Hsp90 inhibitors and displays remarkable targeting ability and anticancer efficacy both in hematological malignancies and solid tumors (with colon tumors as the model cancer) both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, A6-NP, as a simple, biomimetic and active dual-targeting (CD44 and HSP90) nanomedicine, displays high potential for clinical translation.

A novel method-based reinforcement learning with deep temporal difference network for flexible double shop scheduling problem

This paper studies the flexible double shop scheduling problem (FDSSP) that considers simultaneously job shop and assembly shop. It brings about the problem of scheduling association of the related tasks. To this end, a reinforcement learning algorithm with a deep temporal difference network is proposed to minimize the makespan. Firstly, the FDSSP is defined as the mathematical model of the flexible job-shop scheduling problem joined to the assembly constraint level. It is translated into a Markov decision process that directly selects behavioral strategies according to historical machining state data. Secondly, the proposed ten generic state features are input into the deep neural network model to fit the state value function. Similarly, eight simple constructive heuristics are used as candidate actions for scheduling decisions. From the greedy mechanism, optimally combined actions of all machines are obtained for each decision step. Finally, a deep temporal difference reinforcement learning framework is established, and a large number of comparative experiments are designed to analyze the basic performance of this algorithm. The results showed that the proposed algorithm was better than most other methods, which contributed to solving the practical production problem of the manufacturing industry.

Queen bee gut microbiota extends honeybee lifespan by inhibiting insulin signaling

Queen and worker bees are natural models for aging research, as their lifespans vary considerably independent of genetic variation. Investigating the reasons why queens live longer than workers is of great significance for research on the universal processes of aging in animals. The gut microbiome has received attention as a vital regulator of host health, while its precise role in honeybee aging needs further investigation. The effects and mechanisms behind the relationship between gut microbiota and worker lifespan were measured by transplanting queen bee gut bacteria (QG) and worker bee gut bacteria (WG) into microbiota-free (MF) workers. The transplantation of QG to MF bees significantly extended the workers' lifespans compared with MF and WG bees. Untargeted metabolomics identified 49 lifespan-related differential metabolites, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of these revealed three lifespan-related metabolic pathways: insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, immune, and ketone body metabolism pathways. Further verification showed that QG inhibited the expression of insulin-like peptides (ILPs), and the expression of ILPs was lower in natural queens than in natural workers. QG transplantation also stimulated the expression of antioxidant genes and lowered oxidative damage products in natural queen bees. However, gut microbiota transplantation failed to mimic the immune properties and ketone body metabolism profiles of natural queens and workers. Concisely, QG could increase the antioxidant capacity to extend lifespan by inhibiting insulin signaling. These findings may help determine the mechanisms behind queen longevity and provide further insights into the role of gut symbionts.

IMPORTANCE

Queen and worker bees share the same genetic background but have vastly different lifespans. The gut microbiome regulates host health, suggesting that differences in lifespan between queen and worker bees could be related to gut bacteria. Herein, we used an innovative method to transplant gut microbiota from adult queen or worker bees to microbiota-free bees. The transplantation of queen gut microbiota to microbiota-free bees extended their lifespan. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, a highly conserved metabolic pathway related to lifespan, displayed identical expression profiles in natural queen bees and microbiota-free bees transplanted with queen microbiota. This finding significantly expands our understanding of the relationships between intestinal bacteria, host health, and the biology of aging.

STAT3 mediates ECM stiffness-dependent progression in ovarian cancer

The treatment of ovarian cancer remains a medical challenge and its malignant progression is connected with obvious changes in both tissue and cell stiffness. However, the accurate mechanical-responsive molecules and mechanism remains unclear in ovarian cancer. Based on our previous results combined with the crucial regulatory role of STAT3 in the malignant progression of various cancer types, we want to investigate the relationship between STAT3 and matrix stiffness in ovarian cancer and further explore the potential mechanisms. Collagen-coated polyacrylamide gels (1, 6, and 60 kPa) were prepared to mimic soft or hard matrix stiffness. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, IHC, EdU assays, and TEM were used to evaluate the effect of STAT3 in vitro under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, a BALB/c nude mouse model was established to assess the relationship in vivo. Our results confirmed the differential expression of STAT3/p-STAT3 not only in normal and malignant ovarian tissues but also under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, we verified that STAT3 was a mechanically responsive gene both in vitro and in vivo, and the mechanical response was carried out by altering the migration-related molecules (TNFAIP1) and adhesion-related molecules (LPXN, CNN3). The novel findings suggest that STAT3, a potential therapeutic target for clinical diagnosis and treatment, is a mechanically responsive gene that responds to matrix stiffness, particularly regulation in migration and adhesion in the progression of ovarian cancer.

Regulating the Topology of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Boosting Overall H2O2 Photogeneration

Photocatalytic oxygen reduction reactions and water oxidation reactions are extremely promising green approaches for massive H2O2 production. Nonetheless, constructing effective photocatalysts for H2O2 generation is critical and still challenging. Since the network topology has significant impacts on the electronic properties of two dimensional (2D) polymers, herein, for the first time, we regulated the H2O2 photosynthetic activity of 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) by topology. Through designing the linking sites of the monomers, we synthesized a pair of novel COFs with similar chemical components on the backbones but distinct topologies. Without sacrificial agents, TBD-COF with cpt topology exhibited superior H2O2 photoproduction performance (6085 and 5448 μmol g-1 h-1 in O2 and air) than TBC-COF with hcb topology through the O2-O2⋅--H2O2, O2-O2⋅--O2 1-H2O2, and H2O-H2O2 three paths. Further experimental and theoretical investigations confirmed that during the H2O2 photosynthetic process, the charge carrier separation efficiency, O2⋅- generation and conversion, and the energy barrier of the rate determination steps in the three channels, related to the formation of *OOH, *O2 1, and *OH, can be well tuned by the topology of COFs. The current study enlightens the fabrication of high-performance photocatalysts for H2O2 production by topological structure modulation.

Trends in the Notification Rates and Treatment Outcome of Tuberculosis in Shandong Province, China, 2005-2021

Purpose

To analyze the time trends in the notification rates of registered tuberculosis (TB) and bacteriologically confirmed TB in Shandong Province. And analyze the changes in TB treatment outcomes during 2005-2021.

Patients and Methods

The information of TB patients registered in the Shandong Information Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was collected during 2005-2021. We calculated the notification rates of registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB. Moreover, we calculated the year-to-year change rate of TB in treatment outcomes before and after COVID-19. The time trends were analyzed using the joinpoint regression method and illustrated as the annual percentage change (APC) of notification rates.

Results

A total of 236,898 cases of TB were diagnosed during 2005-2021, of which 51.11% were bacteriologically confirmed cases. Since 2008, the notification rates of registered TB have declined. The notification rates of bacteriologically confirmed TB had been declining during 2005-2016, then remained stable after 2016. In subgroup, the notification rates of both registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB were higher among men, rural residents, and people aged ≥ 60 years. Compared with clinically confirmed TB, bacteriologically confirmed TB has shown higher rates of poor outcomes since 2008 and higher case fatality rate since 2005. The rate of poor outcomes remained stable during 2008-2019. However, after the COVID-19 outbreak, the rate of poor outcomes and case fatality rate of TB has risen significantly.

Conclusion

After unremitting efforts to fight against TB, the notification rates of registered TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB declined in Shandong Province. The rate of poor outcomes remained stable during 2008-2019, then rise significantly after the COVID-19 outbreak. In the context of the long-term existence of COVID-19, further efforts should be made in TB diagnosis and treatment among high-risk population, especially with regard to males, rural residents and older adults.

Prognostic effect of TCF1+ CD8+ T cell and TOX+ CD8+ T cell infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma

Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal roles of T cell transcription factors TCF-1 and TOX in modulating the immune response in cancer, with TCF-1 maintaining CD8+ T cell stemness and TOX promoting T cell exhaustion. The prognostic significance of these factors in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a critical area of investigation. The retrospective study included 191 patients with LUAD who underwent surgery, of whom 83% were in stages II and III. These patients were divided into exploratory (n = 135) and validation (n = 56) groups based on the time of diagnosis. Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to examine the infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells, TCF1+ CD8+ T cells, and TOX+ CD8+ T cells. The percentage of CD8+ T cells in tumor was markedly lower than that in stroma (p < 0.05). In tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) invaded by tumor, the proportion of stem-like TCF1+ CD8+ T cells was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Importantly, higher infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells and TCF1+ CD8+ T cells were associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.009 and p = 0.006, respectively) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.018 and p = 0.010, respectively). This study underscores the potential of TCF1+ CD8+ T cells as prognostic biomarkers in LUAD, providing insights into the tumor immune microenvironment and guiding future therapeutic strategies.

Cu(II)-Loaded Polydopamine-Coated Urchin-like Titanate Microspheres as a High-Performance IMAC Adsorbent for Hemoglobin Separation

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) adsorbents generally have excellent affinity for histidine-rich proteins. However, the leaching of metal ions from the adsorbent usually affects its adsorption performance, which greatly affects the reusable performance of the adsorbent, resulting in many limitations in practical applications. Herein, a novel IMAC adsorbent, i.e., Cu(II)-loaded polydopamine-coated urchin-like titanate microspheres (Cu-PDA-UTMS), was prepared via metal coordination to make Cu ions uniformly decorate polydopamine-coated titanate microspheres. The as-synthesized microspheres exhibit an urchin-like structure, providing more binding sites for hemoglobin. Cu-PDA-UTMS exhibit favorable selectivity for hemoglobin adsorption and have a desirable adsorption capacity towards hemoglobin up to 2704.6 mg g-1. Using 0.1% CTAB as eluent, the adsorbed hemoglobin was easily eluted with a recovery rate of 86.8%. In addition, Cu-PDA-UTMS shows good reusability up to six cycles. In the end, the adsorption properties by Cu-PDA-UTMS towards hemoglobin from human blood samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results showed that Cu-PDA-UTMS are a high-performance IMAC adsorbent for hemoglobin separation, which provides a new method for the effective separation and purification of hemoglobin from complex biological samples.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing analysis reveals intra-tumor heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive system that poses a significant threat to human life and health. It is crucial to thoroughly investigate the mechanisms of esophageal carcinogenesis and identify potential key molecular events in its carcinogenesis. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing is an emerging technology that has gained prominence in recent years for studying molecular mechanisms, which may help to further explore the underlying mechanisms of the ESCC tumor microenvironment in depth. The single-cell dataset was obtained from GSE160269 in the Gene Expression Omnibus database, including 60 tumor samples and four paracancer samples. The single-cell data underwent dimensional reduction clustering analysis to identify clusters and annotate expression profiles. Subcluster analysis was conducted for each cellular taxon. Copy number variation analysis of tumor cell subpopulations was performed to primarily identify malignant cells within them. A proposed chronological analysis was performed to obtain the process of cell differentiation. In addition, cell communication, transcription factor analysis, and tumor pathway analysis were also performed. Relevant risk models and key genes were established by univariate COX regression and LASSO analysis. The key genes obtained from the screen were subjected to appropriate silencing and cellular assays, including CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, colony formation, and western blot. Single-cell analysis revealed that normal samples contained a large number of fibroblasts, T cells, and B cells, with fewer other cell types, whereas tumor samples exhibited a relatively balanced distribution of cell types. Subclassification analysis of immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells revealed their specific spatial characteristics. The prognostic risk model, we constructed successfully, achieved accurate prognostic stratification for ESCC patients. The screened key gene, UPF3A, was found to be significantly associated with the development of ESCC by cellular assays. This process might be linked to the phosphorylation of ERK and P38. Single-cell transcriptome analysis successfully revealed the distribution of cell types and major expressed factors in ESCC patients, which could facilitate future in-depth studies on the therapeutic mechanisms of ESCC.

Visible-Light-Driven Z-Type Pg-C3N4/Nitrogen Doped Biochar/BiVO4 Photo-Catalysts for the Degradation of Norfloxacin

Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2-, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts.

Calculation method and evaluation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft

The surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts is one of the basic parameters of shaft lining design. Investigating its calculation methods and applicable scopes has great engineering significance. The paper classifies and compares the calculation methods, discusses the application scopes of various calculation methods, and proposes that the axisymmetric layered method is highly consistent with the field monitoring data for the calculation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts in bedrock sections on the basis of practical engineering examples. On the basis of Terzaghi theory, the calculation formula of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft in inclined rock strata with single group joints is derived. The formula can reflect the influence of rock strata dip angle and joints.

Oral Administration of Antimicrobial Peptide NZ2114 Through the Microalgal Bait Tetraselmis subcordiformis (Wille) Butcher for Improving the Immunity and Gut Health in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture to treat the bacterial diseases. However, the improper use of antibiotics could lead to environmental pollution and development of resistance. As a safe and eco-friendly alternative, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are commonly explored as therapeutic agents. In this study, a mutant strain of Tetraselmis subcordiformis containing AMP NZ2114 was developed and used as an oral drug delivery system to reduce the use of antibiotics in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture. The gut, kidney, and liver immune-related genes and their effects on gut digestion and bacterial communities in turbot fed with NZ2114 were evaluated in an 11-day feeding experiment. The results showed that compared with the group fed with wild-type T. subcordiformis, the group fed with T. subcordiformis transformants containing NZ2114 was revealed with decreased levels of both pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1β), inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio splendidus demonstrated by the in vitro simulation experiments, and increased richness and diversity of the gut microbiota of turbot. In conclusion, our study provided a novel, beneficial, and low-cost method for controlling bacteria in turbot culture through the oral drug delivery systems.

Early and Accurate Detection of Radiation-induced Heart Damage by Cardiodynamicsgram

Cardiodynamicsgram (CDG) has emerged recently as a noninvasive spatiotemporal electrocardiographic method for subtle cardiac dynamics information analysis within electrocardiogram (ECG). This study explored the feasibility of CDG for detecting radiation-induced heart damage (RIHD) in a rat model. A single radiation dose of 40 Gy was delivered to the cardiac apex of female Wistar rats. First, CDG was generated through dynamic modeling of ECG signals using the deterministic learning algorithm. Furthermore, CDG indexes were calculated using the wavelet transform and entropy. In this model, CDG entropy indexes decreased significantly after radiotherapy. The shape of CDG changed significantly after radiotherapy (irregular shape) compared with controls (regular shape). Macrophage and fibrosis in myocardium of rats increased significantly after radiotherapy. CDG changes after radiotherapy were significantly correlated with histopathological changes and occurred significantly earlier than histopathological changes. This study provides an experimental basis for the clinical application of CDG for the early detection of RIHD.

SLAMF7 Promotes Foam Cell Formation of Macrophage by Suppressing NR4A1 Expression During Carotid Atherosclerosis

Macrophage-derived lipid-laden foam cells from the subendothelium play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the molecule mechanism that regulates the formation of foam cells is not completely understood. Here, we found that SLAMF7 was upregulated in mice bone marrow-derived macrophages and RAW264.7 cells stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). SLAMF7 promoted ox-LDL-mediated macrophage lipid accumulation and M1-type polarization. SLAMF7 deficiency reduced serum lipid levels and improved the lesions area of carotid plaque and aortic arch in high-fat diet-fed ApoE-/- mice. In response to ox-LDL, SLAMF7 downregulated NR4A1 and upregulated RUNX3 through transcriptome sequencing analysis. Overexpression NR4A1 reversed SLAMF7-induced lipid uptake and M1 polarization via inhibiting RUNX3 expression. Furthermore, RUNX3 enhanced foam cell formation and M1-type polarization. Taken together, the study suggested that SLAMF7 play contributing roles in the pro-atherogenic effects by regulating NR4A1-RUNX3.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the ABF Transcription Factor Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Members of the abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE) binding factor (ABF) and ABA-responsive element binding protein (AREB) families play essential roles in the regulation of ABA signaling pathway activity and shape the ability of plants to adapt to a range of stressful environmental conditions. To date, however, systematic genome-wide analyses focused on the ABF/AREB gene family in wheat are lacking. Here, we identified 35 ABF/AREB genes in the wheat genome, designated TaABF1-TaABF35 according to their chromosomal distribution. These genes were further classified, based on their phylogenetic relationships, into three groups (A-C), with the TaABF genes in a given group exhibiting similar motifs and similar numbers of introns/exons. Cis-element analyses of the promoter regions upstream of these TaABFs revealed large numbers of ABREs, with the other predominant elements that were identified differing across these three groups. Patterns of TaABF gene expansion were primarily characterized by allopolyploidization and fragment duplication, with purifying selection having played a significant role in the evolution of this gene family. Further expression profiling indicated that the majority of the TaABF genes from groups A and B were highly expressed in various tissues and upregulated following abiotic stress exposure such as drought, low temperature, low nitrogen, etc., while some of the TaABF genes in group C were specifically expressed in grain tissues. Regulatory network analyses revealed that four of the group A TaABFs (TaABF2, TaABF7, TaABF13, and TaABF19) were centrally located in protein-protein interaction networks, with 13 of these TaABF genes being regulated by 11 known miRNAs, which play important roles in abiotic stress resistance such as drought and salt stress. The two primary upstream transcription factor types found to regulate TaABF gene expression were BBR/BPC and ERF, which have previously been reported to be important in the context of plant abiotic stress responses. Together, these results offer insight into the role that the ABF/AREB genes play in the responses of wheat to abiotic stressors, providing a robust foundation for future functional studies of these genes.

Transferable G/Au Film for Constructing a Variety of SERS Substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), as one of the most powerful analytical methods, undertakes important inspection tasks in various fields. Generally, the performance of an SERS-active substrate relies heavily on its structure, which makes it difficult to integrate multiple-functional detectability on the same substrate. To address this problem, here we designed and constructed a film of graphene/Au nanoparticles (G/Au film) through a simple method, which can be conveniently transferred to different substrates to form various composite SERS substrates subsequently. By means of the combination of the electromagnetic enhancement mechanism (EM) and the chemical enhancement mechanism (CM) of this structure, the film realized good SERS performance experimentally, with the enhancement factor (EF) approaching ca. 1.40 × 105. In addition, the G/Au film had high mechanical strength and had large specific surface area and good biocompatibility that is beneficial for Raman detection. By further transferring the film to an Ag/Si composite substrate and PDMS flexible film, it showed enhanced sensitivity and in situ detectability, respectively, indicating high compatibility and promising prospect in Raman detection.

Hypermethylation of the glutathione peroxidase 4 gene promoter is associated with the occurrence of immune tolerance phase in chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health problem that seriously threatens human health. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) in the occurrence and development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

A total of 169 participants including 137 patients with CHB and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. We detected the expression of GPX4 and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The methylation level of GPX4 gene promoter in PBMCs was detected by TaqMan probe-based quantitative methylation-specific PCR (MethyLight). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the serum levels of GPX4, IFN-β, oxidative stress (OS) related molecules, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

RESULTS

The expression levels of GPX4 in PBMCs and serum of CHB patients were lower than those of HCs, but the methylation levels of GPX4 promoter were higher than those of HCs, especially in patients at the immune tolerance phase. STING mRNA expression levels in PBMCs and serum IFN-β levels of patients at the immune activation phase and reactivation phase of CHB were higher than those at other clinical phases of CHB and HCs. GPX4 mRNA expression level and methylation level in PBMCs from patients with CHB had a certain correlation with STING and IFN-β expression levels. In addition, the methylation level of the GPX4 promoter in PBMCs from patients with CHB was correlated with molecules associated with OS and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

GPX4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune tolerance of CHB, which may provide new ideas for the functional cure of CHB.

Research on multi-model imaging machine learning for distinguishing early hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) based on CT and MR multiphase radiomics combined with different machine learning models and compare the diagnostic efficacy between different radiomics models.

BACKGROUND

Primary liver cancer is one of the most common clinical malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. A clear diagnosis of HCC is important for the individualized treatment of patients with HCC. However, more sophisticated diagnostic modalities need to be explored.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 211 patients with liver lesions: 97 HCC and 124 non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) who underwent CT and MRI. Imaging data were used to obtain imaging features of lesions and radiomics regions of interest (ROI). The extracted imaging features were combined to construct different radiomics models. The clinical data and imaging features were then combined with radiomics features to construct the combined models. Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest Neighbor (KNN), RandomForest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) six machine learning models were used for training. Five-fold cross-validation was used to train the models, and ROC curves were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of each model and calculate the accuracy rate. Model training and efficacy test were performed as before.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that some clinical data (gender and concomitant cirrhosis) and imaging features (presence of envelope, marked enhancement in the arterial phase, rapid contouring in the portal phase, uniform density/signal and concomitant steatosis) were statistical differences (P < 0.001). The results of machine learning models showed that KNN had the best diagnostic efficacy. The results of the combined model showed that SVM had the best diagnostic efficacy, indicating that the combined model (accuracy 0.824) had better diagnostic efficacy than the radiomics-only model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the radiomic features of CT and MRI combined with machine learning models enable differential diagnosis of HCC and non-HCC (malignant, benign). The diagnostic model with dual radiomic had better diagnostic efficacy. The combined model was superior to the radiomic model alone.

Recent Molecular Characterization of Porcine Rotaviruses Detected in China and Their Phylogenetic Relationships with Human Rotaviruses

Porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA) is an enteric pathogen capable of causing severe diarrhea in suckling piglets. Investigating the prevalence and molecular characteristics of PoRVA in the world, including China, is of significance for disease prevention. In 2022, a total of 25,768 samples were collected from 230 farms across China, undergoing porcine RVA positivity testing. The results showed that 86.52% of the pig farms tested positive for porcine RVA, with an overall positive rate of 51.15%. Through the genetic evolution analysis of VP7, VP4 and VP6 genes, it was revealed that G9 is the predominant genotype within the VP7 segment, constituting 56.55%. VP4 genotypes were identified as P[13] (42.22%), P[23] (25.56%) and P[7] (22.22%). VP6 exhibited only two genotypes, namely I5 (88.81%) and I1 (11.19%). The prevailing genotype combination for RVA was determined as G9P[23]I5. Additionally, some RVA strains demonstrated significant homology between VP7, VP4 and VP6 genes and human RV strains, indicating the potential for human RV infection in pigs. Based on complete genome sequencing analysis, a special PoRVA strain, CHN/SD/LYXH2/2022/G4P[6]I1, had high homology with human RV strains, revealing genetic reassortment between human and porcine RV strains in vivo. Our data indicate the high prevalence, major genotypes, and cross-species transmission of porcine RVA in China. Therefore, the continuous monitoring of porcine RVA prevalence is essential, providing valuable insights for virus prevention and control, and supporting the development of candidate vaccines against porcine RVA.

The Function and Mechanism of Anti-Inflammatory Factor Metrnl Prevents the Progression of Inflammatory-Mediated Pathological Bone Osteolytic Diseases

Metrnl, recently identified as an adipokine, is a secreted protein notably expressed in white adipose tissue, barrier tissues, and activated macrophages. This adipokine plays a pivotal role in counteracting obesity-induced insulin resistance. It enhances adipose tissue functionality by promoting adipocyte differentiation, activating metabolic pathways, and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Extensive research has identified Metrnl as a key player in modulating inflammatory responses and as an integral regulator of muscle regeneration. These findings position Metrnl as a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target in treating inflammation-associated pathologies. Despite this, the specific anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Metrnl in immune-mediated osteolysis and arthritis remain elusive, warranting further investigation. In this review, we will briefly elaborate on the role of Metrnl in anti-inflammation function in inflammation-related osteolysis, arthritis, and pathological bone resorption, which could facilitate Metrnl's clinical application as a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent bone loss. While the pathogenesis of elbow stiffness remains elusive, current literature suggests that Metrnl likely exerts a pivotal role in its development.

Pancancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of FANCD2: a potential target for carcinogenesis and survival

Recent evidence has shed light on the significant role of FANCD2 in cancer initiation, development, and progression. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of FANCD2 has been lacking. In this study, we have conducted a thorough investigation into the expression profiles and prognostic significance of FANCD2, as well as its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and immune cell infiltration, using advanced bioinformatic techniques. The results demonstrate that FANCD2 is significantly upregulated in various common cancers and is associated with prognosis. Notably, higher expression levels of FANCD2 are linked to poor overall survival, as indicated by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Additionally, we have observed a decrease in the methylation of FANCD2 DNA in some cancers, and this decrease is inversely correlated with FANCD2 expression. Genetic alterations in FANCD2 predominantly manifest as mutations, which are associated with overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in certain tumor types. Moreover, FANCD2 exhibits a strong correlation with infiltrating cell levels, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Enrichment analysis further highlights the potential impact of FANCD2 on Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway and cell cycle regulation. Through this comprehensive pan-cancer analysis, we have gained a deeper understanding of the functions of FANCD2 in oncogenesis and metastasis across different types of cancer.

A novel multi-scale CNN and Bi-LSTM arbitration dense network model for low-rate DDoS attack detection

Low-rate distributed denial of service attacks, as known as LDDoS attacks, pose the notorious security risks in cloud computing network. They overload the cloud servers and degrade network service quality with the stealthy strategy. Furthermore, this kind of small ratio and pulse-like abnormal traffic leads to a serious data scale problem. As a result, the existing models for detecting minority and adversary LDDoS attacks are insufficient in both detection accuracy and time consumption. This paper proposes a novel multi-scale Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and bidirectional Long-short Term Memory (bi-LSTM) arbitration dense network model (called MSCBL-ADN) for learning and detecting LDDoS attack behaviors under the condition of limited dataset and time consumption. The MSCBL-ADN incorporates CNN for preliminary spatial feature extraction and embedding-based bi-LSTM for time relationship extraction. And then, it employs arbitration network to re-weigh feature importance for higher accuracy. At last, it uses 2-block dense connection network to perform final classification. The experimental results conducted on popular ISCX-2016-SlowDos dataset have demonstrated that the proposed MSCBL-ADN model has a significant improvement with high detection accuracy and superior time performance over the state-of-the-art models.

Visible-light Excited and Highly Photostable Organic Fluorophore with dual-state Emission

Organic fluorophores with dual-state emission (DSE) are rare or difficult to observe because most of them display either aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Amazing works have been accomplished, yet most of the DSE compounds were excited by UV light which limits their wide application in bioimaging. In this work, we achieved a visible-light excited DSE fluorophore and realized its imaging in SKOV-3 cells and zebrafish. The naphtho[2',3':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (NIP) core ensures its emission in dilute solution. Meanwhile, the twisted phenyl ring blocks fluorescence quenching induced by the π-π stacking and leads to the emission of the solid. The fluorescence intensity is steady even after 6 h of continuous intense sunlight. More importantly, photostability of NIP in cells is much better than commercial dye (mitochondrial green).

Screening of key immunerelated gene in Parkinsons disease based on WGCNA and machine learning

OBJECTIVES

Abnormal immune system activation and inflammation are crucial in causing Parkinson's disease. However, we still don't fully understand how certain immune-related genes contribute to the disease's development and progression. This study aims to screen key immune-related gene in Parkinson's disease based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning.

METHODS

This study downloaded the gene chip data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and used WGCNA to screen out important gene modules related to Parkinson's disease. Genes from important modules were exported and a Venn diagram of important Parkinson's disease-related genes and immune-related genes was drawn to screen out immune related genes of Parkinson's disease. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to analyze the the functions of immune-related genes and signaling pathways involved. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed using the CIBERSORT package of R language. Using bioinformatics method and 3 machine learning methods [least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM)], the immune-related genes of Parkinson's disease were further screened. A Venn diagram of differentially expressed genes screened using the 4 methods was drawn with the intersection gene being hub nodes (hub) gene. The downstream proteins of the Parkinson's disease hub gene was identified through the STRING database and a protein-protein interaction network diagram was drawn.

RESULTS

A total of 218 immune genes related to Parkinson's disease were identified, including 45 upregulated genes and 50 downregulated genes. Enrichment analysis showed that the 218 genes were mainly enriched in immune system response to foreign substances and viral infection pathways. The results of immune infiltration analysis showed that the infiltration percentages of CD4+ T cells, NK cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells were higher in the samples of Parkinson's disease patients, while resting NK cells and resting CD4+ T cells were significantly infiltrated in the samples of Parkinson's disease patients. ANK1 was screened out as the hub gene. The analysis of the protein-protein interaction network showed that the ANK1 translated and expressed 11 proteins which mainly participated in functions such as signal transduction, iron homeostasis regulation, and immune system activation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies the Parkinson's disease immune-related key gene ANK1 via WGCNA and machine learning methods, suggesting its potential as a candidate therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease.

Dynamics of Chromatin Opening across Larval Development in the Urochordate Ascidian Ciona savignyi

Ascidian larvae undergo tail elongation and notochord lumenogenesis, making them an ideal model for investigating tissue morphogenesis in embryogenesis. The cellular and mechanical mechanisms of these processes have been studied; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were applied to investigate potential regulators of the development of ascidian Ciona savignyi larvae. Our results revealed 351 and 138 differentially accessible region genes through comparisons of ATAC-seq data between stages 21 and 24 and between stages 24 and 25, respectively. A joint analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data revealed a correlation between chromatin accessibility and gene transcription. We further verified the tissue expression patterns of 12 different genes. Among them, Cs-matrix metalloproteinase 24 (MMP24) and Cs-krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) were highly expressed in notochord cells. Functional assay results demonstrated that both genes are necessary for notochord lumen formation and expansion. Finally, we performed motif enrichment analysis of the differentially accessible regions in different tailbud stages and summarized the potential roles of these motif-bearing transcription factors in larval development. Overall, our study found a correlation between gene expression and chromatin accessibility and provided a vital resource for understanding the mechanisms of the development of ascidian embryos.

A nomogram for predicting adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Identifying risk factors for adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) can provide valuable insights into the necessity of surgical or non-surgical treatment. This study aims to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients.

METHODS

A total of 662 patients with low-risk PTMC who underwent thyroid surgery were retrospectively analyzed in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from May 2019 to December 2021. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for adverse pathologic features, and a nomogram was constructed based on these factors.

RESULTS

Most PTMC patients with these adverse pathologic features had tumor diameters greater than 0.6 cm (p < 0.05). Other factors (age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, history of autoimmune thyroiditis, and BRAFV600E mutation) had no significant correlation with adverse pathologic features (p > 0.05 each). The nomogram was drawn to provide a quantitative and convenient tool for predicting the risk of adverse pathologic features based on age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, tumor size, and BRAFV600E mutation in low-risk PTMC patients. The areas under curves (AUC) were 0.645 (95% CI 0.580-0.702). Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves were used to evaluate the clinical benefits of this nomogram, presenting a high net benefit.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size > 0.60 cm was identified as an independent risk factor for adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients. The nomogram had a high predictive value and consistency based on these factors.

Can environmental protection tax force enterprises to improve green technology innovation?

The introduction of an environmental protection tax enables a smooth shift from the sewerage charge system to the environmental protection tax scheme. This, in turn, promotes a more sustainable development of enterprise growth, emphasizing eco-friendliness. This is of immense importance in advancing environmentally aware practices and sustainability. Based on data collected from A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2014 to 2021, this paper investigates the influence of environmental protection taxes on the advancement of green technology and the underlying mechanisms. Taking the execution of the Environmental Protection Tax Law in 2018 as a quasi-natural experiment, a double-difference model is employed to examine the causal relationship between environmental protection taxes and the adoption of green technology by companies. The findings indicate that the introduction of an environmental tax could markedly enhance the extent of green technological innovation within corporations. The evidence arising from the testing mechanism implies that such a tax can encourage firms to boost their investments in research and development, upgrade their innovative human capital, and mitigate financing limitations. The study found that there is heterogeneity in the promotion effect of the environmental protection tax on the green technological innovation of businesses in different regions and provinces with varying tax burdens and types of equity capital. Further research shows that the environmental protection tax has a greater impact on the promotion of utility model patent applications for green technology innovation. This paper presents empirical evidence to support further enhancement of the environmental protection tax system. It recommends designing the environmental protection tax policy with consideration for enterprises and local conditions and bolstering the system's capacity for guiding and stimulating enterprises' green development.

Transcription factor CEBPB mediates intracranial aneurysm rupture by inflammatory and immune response

INTRODUCTION

Genetic factors play a major part in mediating intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. However, research on the role of transcription factors (TFs) in IA rupture is rare.

AIMS

Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the TFs and related functional pathways involved in IA rupture.

RESULTS

A total of 63 differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs) were obtained. Significantly enriched biological processes of these DETFs were related to regulation of myeloid leukocyte differentiation. The top 10 DETFs were screened based on the MCC algorithm from the protein-protein interaction network. After screening and validation, it was finally determined that CEBPB may be the hub gene for aneurysm rupture. The GSEA results of CEBPB were mainly associated with the inflammatory response, which was also verified by the experimental model of cellular inflammation in vitro.

CONCLUSION

The inflammatory and immune response may be closely associated with aneurysm rupture. CEBPB may be the hub gene for aneurysm rupture and may have diagnostic value. Therefore, CEBPB may serve as the diagnostic signature for RIAs and a potential target for intervention.

Serum CXCL16: A new predictor of liver inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B

The prompt initiation of antiviral therapy is essential in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially when severe liver inflammation is detected. However, transcutaneous liver puncture, the gold standard for assessing liver inflammation, is invasive and its widespread application is limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more non-invasive markers to predict liver inflammation. In our retrospective cross-sectional study, which included 120 CHB patients and 31 healthy subjects, we observed a significant increase in serum chemokine C-X-C-motif ligand 16 (CXCL16) in CHB patients compared to healthy controls (p < .001). Notably, patients with severe inflammation (Scheuer's grade G ≥ 3, n = 26) exhibited a substantial increase in serum CXCL16 compared to those with non-severe inflammation (Scheuer's grade G < 3, n = 96) [(median, IQR), 0.42 (0.24-0.71) ng/mL vs. 1.01 (0.25-2.09) ng/mL, p < .001]. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model that combined CXCL16 with platelet count (PLT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin (ALB) to accurately predict liver inflammation in CHB patients. This model was more effective than ALT alone in predicting liver inflammation (AUC, 0.92 vs. 0.81, p = .015). Additionally, using an HBV-transduced mouse model, we demonstrated that blocking CXCL16 led to a reduction in liver inflammation and impaired infiltration and function of natural killer T (NKT) and natural killer (NK) cells. These findings suggest that CXCL16 is a promising non-invasive biomarker of liver inflammation in CHB patients and may play a role in inducing liver inflammation via a NKT and NK cell pathway.

Antibody and transcription landscape in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly adults over 70 years of age with third dose of COVID-19 BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 booster vaccine

BACKGROUND

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and extensive vaccination, it is important to explore the immune response of elderly adults to homologous and heterologous booster vaccines of COVID-19. At this point, we detected serum IgG antibodies and PBMC sample transcriptome profiles in 46 participants under 70 years old and 25 participants over 70 years old who received the third dose of the BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 vaccines.

RESULTS

On day 7, the antibody levels of people over 70 years old after the third dose of booster vaccine were lower than those of young people, and the transcriptional responses of innate and adaptive immunity were also weak. The age of the participants showed a significant negative correlation with functions related to T-cell differentiation and costimulation. Nevertheless, 28 days after the third dose, the IgG antibodies of elderly adults reached equivalence to those of younger adults, and immune-related transcriptional regulation was significantly improved. The age showed a significant positive correlation with functions related to "chemokine receptor binding", "chemokine activity", and "chemokine-mediated signaling pathway".

CONCLUSIONS

Our results document that the response of elderly adults to the third dose of the vaccine was delayed, but still able to achieve comparable immune effects compared to younger adults, in regard to antibody responses as well as at the transcript level.

Evaluation of the Improvement Effect of Whey Protein Poly-Peptides on Quality Characteristics of Repeated Freeze-Thawed Spanish Mackerel Surimi Balls

This investigation aimed to assess the effects of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) on the oxidative stability of protein and the ability of Scomberomorus niphoniu surimi balls to retain water after repeated freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. Ten percent natural whey peptides (NWP), 5% WPH, 10% WPH, 15% WPH, 0.02% butyl hydroxyl anisole (BHA), and a control group that did not receive any treatment were the six groups that were employed in the experiment. The cooking loss, water retention, total sulfhydryl content, and carbonyl content of each group were all measured. Notably, it was found that the surimi balls' capacity to hold onto water and fend off oxidation was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by the addition of WPH. Furthermore, the results showed that the 15% WPH added to the surimi balls effectively decreased protein oxidation in the F-T cycles and ameliorated the texture deterioration of surimi balls induced by repeated F-T, laying a theoretical foundation for the industrial application of WPH in surimi products.

Transcriptome analysis of axillary buds in low phosphorus stress and functional analysis of TaWRKY74s in wheat

BACKGROUND

Wheat is one of the main grain crops in the world, and the tiller number is a key factor affecting the yield of wheat. Phosphorus is an essential element for tiller development in wheat. However, due to decreasing phosphorus content in soil, there has been increasing use of phosphorus fertilizer, while imposing risk of soil and water pollution. Hence, it is important to identify low phosphorus tolerance genes and utilize them for stress resistance breeding in wheat.

RESULTS

We subjected the wheat variety Kenong 199 (KN199) to low phosphorus stress and observed a reduced tiller number. Using transcriptome analysis, we identified 1651 upregulated genes and 827 downregulated of genes after low phosphorus stress. The differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched in the enzyme activity regulation related to phosphorus, hormone signal transduction, and ion transmembrane transport. Furthermore, the transcription factor analysis revealed that TaWRKY74s were important for low phosphorus tolerance. TaWRKY74s have three alleles: TaWRKY74-A, TaWRKY74-B, and TaWRKY74-D, and they all belong to the WRKY family with conserved WRKYGQK motifs. These proteins were found to be located in the nucleus, and they were expressed in axillary meristem, shoot apical meristem(SAM), young leaves, leaf primordium, and spikelet primordium. The evolutionary tree showed that TaWRKY74s were closely related to OsWRKY74s in rice. Moreover, TaWRKY74s-RNAi transgenic plants displayed significantly fewer tillers compared to wild-type plants under normal conditions. Additionally, the tiller numebr of the RNAi transgenic plants was also significantly lower than that of the wild-type plants under low-phosphorus stress, and increased the decrease amplitude. This suggestd that TaWRKY74s are related to phosphorus response and can affect the tiller number of wheat.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this research showed that TaWRKY74s were key genes in wheat response to low phosphorus stress, which might regulate wheat tiller number through abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin signal transduction pathways. This research lays the foundation for further investigating the mechanism of TaWRKY74s in the low phosphorus environments and is significant for wheat stress resistance breeding.

Functional Study of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A in Penicillium oxalicum

Signaling pathways play a crucial role in regulating cellulase production. The pathway mediated by signaling proteins plays a crucial role in understanding how cellulase expression is regulated. In this study, using affinity purification of ClrB, we have identified sixteen proteins that potentially interact with ClrB. One of the proteins, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PoPKA-C), is an important component of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Knocking out PoPKA-C resulted in significant decreases in the growth, glucose utilization, and cellulose hydrolysis ability of the mutant strain. Furthermore, the cellulase activity and gene transcription levels were significantly reduced in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant, while the expression activity of CreA, a transcriptional regulator of carbon metabolism repression, was notably increased. Additionally, deletion of PoPKA-C also led to earlier timing of conidia production. The expression levels of key transcription factor genes stuA and brlA, which are involved in the production of the conidia, showed significant enhancement in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant. These findings highlight the involvement of PoPKA-C in mycelial development, conidiation, and the regulation of cellulase expression. The functional analysis of PoPKA-C provides insights into the mechanism of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in cellulase expression in filamentous fungi and has significant implications for the development of high-yielding cellulase strains.

Practical NTRU Signcryption in the Standard Model

Based on the NTRU trapdoor used in NIST's Falcon, a signcryption scheme following the sign-then-encrypt paradigm is constructed. The existing partitioning technique based on Waters hash over the lattice can not complete the security reduction in the standard model for the signature part due to the "partiality" of the pre-image generated with the NTRU trapdoor. To address this, a variant of Waters hash over small integers is proposed and, the probability of the successful reduction is analyzed. The resulting signcryption achieves existential unforgeability under the adaptive chosen-message attacks. By utilizing the uniqueness of the secret and the noise in an NTRU instance, the tag used in encryption is eliminated. Furthermore, a method to construct tamper-sensitive lattice public key encryption is proposed. This approach implants the ciphertext-sensitive information into the lattice public key encryption and binds it to the encrypted information. The malleability to the public key ciphertext triggers the change of the message-signature pair so that the IND-CCA2 security of the entire ciphertext can be guaranteed by the signature for the message. Thanks to the rational design and the efficiency of the NTRU trapdoor, the computational overhead of the proposed scheme is reduced significantly compared to the existing lattice-based signcryption scheme, reaching orders of magnitude improvement in efficiency. The experiment shows that the proposed scheme is efficient.

Therapeutic Effects of Mechanical Stress-Induced C2C12-Derived Exosomes on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT Signaling Pathway

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease in which the bone loses density and strength and is prone to fracture. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are important in bone-related diseases. Exosomes, as mediators of cell communication, have potential in cell processes. Previous studies have focused on muscle factors' regulation of bone remodeling, but research on exosomes is lacking.

Methods

 In order to confirm the therapeutic effect of mechanically stimulated myocytes (C2C12) derived exosomes (Exosome-MS) on the Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis(GIOP) compared with unmechanically stimulated myocytes (C2C12) derived exosomes (Exosomes), we established a dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis model in vivo and in vitro. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using CCK8 and EDU assays. Osteogenic potential was evaluated through Western blotting, real-time PCR, alkaline phosphatase activity assay, and alizarin red staining. Differential expression of miRNAs was determined by high-throughput sequencing. The regulatory mechanism of miR-92a-3p on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation via the PTEN/AKT pathway was investigated using real-time PCR, luciferase reporter gene assay, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. The therapeutic effects of exosomes were evaluated in vivo using microCT, HE staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

 In this study, we found that exosomes derived from mechanical stress had a positive impact on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Importantly, we demonstrated that miR-92a-3p mimics could reverse dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis in vitro and in vivo, indicating that mechanical stress-induced mouse myoblast-derived exosomes could promote osteogenesis and prevent the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis in mice through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

 Exosomes derived from mechanical stress-induced myoblasts can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through miR-92a-3p/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway, and can have a therapeutic effect on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in mice in vivo.

Exploring the Connectivity of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Microglia as the Center

Degenerative diseases affect people's life and health and cause a severe social burden. Relevant mechanisms of microglia have been studied, aiming to control and reduce degenerative disease occurrence effectively. This review discussed the specific mechanisms underlying microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, age-related hearing loss, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) degenerative diseases. It also reviewed the studies of microglia inhibitors (PLX3397/PLX5622) and activators (lipopolysaccharide), and suggested that reducing microglia can effectively curb the genesis and progression of degenerative diseases. Finally, microglial cells' anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory dual role was considered the critical communication point in central and peripheral degenerative diseases. Although it is difficult to describe the complex morphological structure of microglia in a unified manner, this does not prevent them from being a target for future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.