Large-scale array for radio astronomy on the farside (LARAF)

At the Royal Society meeting in 2023, we have mainly presented our lunar orbit array concept called DSL, and also briefly introduced a concept of a lunar surface array, LARAF. As the DSL concept had been presented before, in this article, we introduce the LARAF. We propose to build an array in the far side of the Moon, with a master station which handles the data collection and processing, and 20 stations with maximum baseline of 10 km. Each station consists of 12 membrane antenna units, and the stations are connected to the master station by power line and optical fibre. The array will make interferometric observation in the 0.1-50 MHz band during the lunar night, powered by regenerated fuel cells. The whole array can be carried to the lunar surface with a heavy rocket mission, and deployed with a rover in eight months. Such an array would be an important step in the long-term development of lunar-based ultralong wavelength radio astronomy. It has a sufficiently high sensitivity to observe many radio sources in the sky, though still short of the dark age fluctuations. We discuss the possible options in the power supply, data communication, deployment etc. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)'.

Association of macronutrient consumption quality, food source and timing with depression among US adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that meal timing may influence dietary choices and mental health. Thus, this study examined the association between macronutrient consumption quality, food source, meal timing, and depression prevalence in Americans.

METHODS

23,313 National Health and Nutrition Survey participants from 2007 to 2016 were included in this cross-sectional study. Macronutrient intake was calculated for all day, dinner, and breakfast and subtypes into 4 classes. Based on the Patient Health Questionnaire, depression was defined as a 9-item score ≥ 10 on the PHQ-9. The correlation between macronutrients and depression prevalence was estimated with multivariable logistic regression models and isocaloric substitution effects.

RESULTS

Low-quality carbohydrates (OR = 1.54, 95 % CI: 1.11, 2.12) were positively linked to depression compared with the lowest quartile, after adjusting for age and other covariates. In contrast, total high-quality carbohydrate (OR = 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.40, 0.66), total animal protein (OR = 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.45, 0.80), and total vegetable protein (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.43, 0.85) were negatively associated with depression was negatively associated. Replacing low-quality carbohydrates with high-quality carbohydrates throughout the day reduced the risk of depression by approximately 15 %.

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional data.

CONCLUSION

All in all, diet plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of depression. Especially in terms of macronutrient intake, high-quality, moderate intake can reduce the risk of depression. However, different subtypes of macronutrient consumption may have different effects on depression, so it becomes crucial to carefully consider the selection and combination of macronutrients.

Predicting the complexity and mortality of polytrauma patients with machine learning models

We aim to develop machine learning (ML) models for predicting the complexity and mortality of polytrauma patients using clinical features, including physician diagnoses and physiological data. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a cohort comprising 756 polytrauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Pizhou People's Hospital Trauma Center, Jiangsu, China between 2020 and 2022. Clinical parameters encompassed demographics, vital signs, laboratory values, clinical scores and physician diagnoses. The two primary outcomes considered were mortality and complexity. We developed ML models to predict polytrauma mortality or complexity using four ML algorithms, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). We assessed the models' performance and compared the optimal ML model against three existing trauma evaluation scores, including Injury Severity Score (ISS), Trauma Index (TI) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). In addition, we identified several important clinical predictors that made contributions to the prognostic models. The XGBoost-based polytrauma mortality prediction model demonstrated a predictive ability with an accuracy of 90% and an F-score of 88%, outperforming SVM, RF and ANN models. In comparison to conventional scoring systems, the XGBoost model had substantial improvements in predicting the mortality of polytrauma patients. External validation yielded strong stability and generalization with an accuracy of up to 91% and an AUC of 82%. To predict polytrauma complexity, the XGBoost model maintained its performance over other models and scoring systems with good calibration and discrimination abilities. Feature importance analysis highlighted several clinical predictors of polytrauma complexity and mortality, such as Intracranial hematoma (ICH). Leveraging ML algorithms in polytrauma care can enhance the prognostic estimation of polytrauma patients. This approach may have potential value in the management of polytrauma patients.

Mechanistic understanding of acclimation and energy metabolism of acetoclastic methanogens under different substrate to microorganism ratios

Mechanistic understanding of acetoclastic methanogenesis is pivotal for optimizing anaerobic digestion for efficient methane production. In this study, two different operational modes, continuous flow reactor (CFR) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR), accompanied with solids retention times (SRT) of 10 days (SBR10d and CFR10d) and 25 days (SBR25d and CFR25d) were implemented to elucidate their impacts on microbial communities and energy metabolism of methanogens in acetate-fed systems. Microbial community analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Methanosarcina (16.0% ∼ 46.0%) surpassed Methanothrix (3.7% ∼ 22.9%) in each reactor. SBRs had the potential to enrich both Methanothrix and Methanosarcina. Compared to SBRs, CFRs had lower total relative abundance of methanogens. Methanosarcina exhibited a superior enrichment in reactors with 10-day SRT, while Methanothrix preferred to be acclimated in reactors with 25-day SRT. The operational mode and SRT were also observed to affect the distribution of acetate-utilizing bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Desulfocurvus, Mesotoga, and Thauera. Regarding enzymes involved in energy metabolism, Ech and Vho/Vht demonstrated higher relative abundances at 10-day SRT compared to 25-day SRT, whereas Fpo and MtrA-H showed higher relative abundances in SBRs than those in CFRs. The relative abundance of genes encoding ATPase harbored by Methanothrix was higher than Methanosarcina at 25-day SRT. Additionally, the relative abundance of V/A-type ATPase (typically for methanogens) was observed higher in SBRs compared to CFRs, while the F-type ATPase (typically for bacteria) exhibited higher relative abundance in CFRs than that in SBRs.

Myricanol improves metabolic profiles in dexamethasone induced lipid and protein metabolism disorders in mice

Myricanol (MY) is one of the main active components from bark of Myrica Rubra. It is demonstrated that MY rescues dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle dysfunction via activating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and increasing adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Since SIRT1 and AMPK are widely involved in the metabolism of nutrients, we speculated that MY may exert beneficial effects on DEX-induced metabolic disorders. This study for the first time applied widely targeted metabolomics to investigate the beneficial effects of MY on glucose, lipids, and protein metabolism in DEX-induced metabolic abnormality in mice. The results showed that MY significantly reversed DEX-induced soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weight loss, muscle fiber damage, and muscle strength loss. MY alleviated DEX-induced metabolic disorders by increasing SIRT1 and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expressions. Additionally, myricanol prevented muscle cell apoptosis and atrophy by inhibiting caspase 3 cleavages and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) expression. Metabolomics showed that MY treatment reversed the serum content of carnitine ph-C1, palmitoleic acid, PS (16:0_17:0), PC (14:0_20:5), PE (P-18:1_16:1), Cer (t18:2/38:1(2OH)), four amino acids and their metabolites, and 16 glycerolipids in DEX mice. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and metabolic set enrichment analysis (MSEA) analysis revealed that MY mainly affected metabolic pathways, glycerolipid metabolism, lipolysis, fat digestion and absorption, lipid and atherosclerosis, and cholesterol metabolism pathways through regulation of metabolites involved in glutathione, butanoate, vitamin B6, glycine, serine and threonine, arachidonic acid, and riboflavin metabolism. Collectively, MY can be used as an attractive therapeutic agent for DEX-induced metabolic abnormalities.

Lifileucel, an Autologous Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocyte Monotherapy, in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

In this phase 2 multicenter study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of lifileucel (LN-145), an autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy, in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who had received prior immunotherapy and progressed on their most recent therapy. The median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-6). Lifileucel was successfully manufactured using tumor tissue from different anatomic sites, predominantly lung. The objective response rate was 21.4% (6/28). Responses occurred in tumors with profiles typically resistant to immunotherapy, such as PD-L1-negative, low tumor mutational burden, and STK11 mutation. Two responses were ongoing at the time of data cutoff, including one complete metabolic response in a PD-L1-negative tumor. Adverse events were generally as expected and manageable. Two patients died of treatment-emergent adverse events: cardiac failure and multiple organ failure. Lifileucel is a potential treatment option for patients with mNSCLC refractory to prior therapy.

Recalled age of myopia onset may predict risk of high adult myopia in Chinese adults

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between age of myopia onset and high myopia and to explore if age of onset mediated the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 1118 myopic patients aged 18 to 40. Information was obtained via a detailed questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression and linear regression models were utilized to assess age of onset in relation to high myopia and spherical equivalent refractive error, respectively. Structural equation models examined the mediated effect of onset age on the association between parental myopia, time spent on electronics and high myopia.

RESULTS

An early age at myopia onset was negatively correlated with spherical equivalent refractive power. Subjects who developed myopia before the age of 12 were more likely to suffer from high myopia than those who developed myopia after the age of 15. Age of myopia onset was the strongest predictor of high myopia, with an area under the curve (AUC) in Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis of 0.80. Additionally, age of myopia onset served as a mediator in the relationships between parental myopia, electronic device usage duration, and the onset of high myopia in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Age of myopia onset might be the single best predictor for high myopia, and age at onset appeared to mediate the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics.

Decoding the glycoproteome: a new frontier for biomarker discovery in cancer

Cancer early detection and treatment response prediction continue to pose significant challenges. Cancer liquid biopsies focusing on detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and DNA (ctDNA) have shown enormous potential due to their non-invasive nature and the implications in precision cancer management. Recently, liquid biopsy has been further expanded to profile glycoproteins, which are the products of post-translational modifications of proteins and play key roles in both normal and pathological processes, including cancers. The advancements in chemical and mass spectrometry-based technologies and artificial intelligence-based platforms have enabled extensive studies of cancer and organ-specific changes in glycans and glycoproteins through glycomics and glycoproteomics. Glycoproteomic analysis has emerged as a promising tool for biomarker discovery and development in early detection of cancers and prediction of treatment efficacy including response to immunotherapies. These biomarkers could play a crucial role in aiding in early intervention and personalized therapy decisions. In this review, we summarize the significant advance in cancer glycoproteomic biomarker studies and the promise and challenges in integration into clinical practice to improve cancer patient care.

The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival

The apicoplast is a four-membrane plastid found in the apicomplexans, which harbors biosynthesis and organelle housekeeping activities in the matrix. However, the mechanism driving the flux of metabolites, in and out, remains unknown. Here, we used TurboID and genome engineering to identify apicoplast transporters in Toxoplasma gondii. Among the many novel transporters, we show that one pair of apicomplexan monocarboxylate transporters (AMTs) appears to have evolved from a putative host cell that engulfed a red alga. Protein depletion showed that AMT1 and AMT2 are critical for parasite growth. Metabolite analyses supported the notion that AMT1 and AMT2 are associated with biosynthesis of isoprenoids and fatty acids. However, stronger phenotypic defects were observed for AMT2, including in the inability to establish T. gondii parasite virulence in mice. This study clarifies, significantly, the mystery of apicoplast transporter composition and reveals the importance of the pair of AMTs in maintaining the apicoplast activity in apicomplexans.

The plant-like protein phosphatase PPKL regulates parasite replication and morphology in Toxoplasma gondii

BACKGROUND

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes dozens of phosphatases, among which a plant-like phosphatase absent from mammalian genomes named PPKL, which is involved in regulating brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis, was identified in the genome. Among the Apicomplexa parasites, T. gondii is an important and representative pathogen in humans and animals. PPKL was previously identified to modulate the apical integrity and morphology of the ookinetes and parasite motility and transmission in another important parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. However, the exact function of PPKL in the asexual stages of T. gondii remains unknown.

METHODS

The plant auxin-inducible degron (AID) system was applied to dissect the phenotypes of PPKL in T. gondii. We first analyzed the phenotypes of the AID parasites at an induction time of 24 h, by staining of different organelles using their corresponding markers. These analyses were further conducted for the parasites grown in auxin for 6 and 12 h using a quantitative approach and for the type II strain ME49 of AID parasites. To further understand the phenotypes, the potential protein interactions were analyzed using a proximity biotin labeling approach. The essential role of PPKL in parasite replication was revealed.

RESULTS

PPKL is localized in the apical region and nucleus and partially distributed in the cytoplasm of the parasite. The phenotyping of PPKL showed its essentiality for parasite replication and morphology. Further dissections demonstrate that PPKL is required for the maturation of daughter parasites in the mother cells, resulting in multiple nuclei in a single parasite. The phenotype of the daughter parasites and parasite morphology were observed in another type of T. gondii strain ME49. The substantial defect in parasite replication and morphology could be rescued by genetic complementation, thus supporting its essential function for PPKL in the formation of parasites. The protein interaction analysis showed the potential interaction of PPKL with diverse proteins, thus explaining the importance of PPKL in the parasite.

CONCLUSIONS

PPKL plays an important role in the formation of daughter parasites, revealing its subtle involvement in the proper maturation of the daughter parasites during division. Our detailed analysis also demonstrated that depletion of PPKL resulted in elongated tubulin fibers in the parasites. The important roles in the parasites are potentially attributed to the protein interaction mediated by kelch domains on the protein. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of a key phosphatase involved in parasite replication, suggesting the potential of this phosphatase as a pharmaceutic target.

Predicting environmental risks of pharmaceutical residues by wastewater surveillance: An analysis based on pharmaceutical sales and their excretion data

Pharmaceutical residues are increasingly becoming a significant source of environmental water pollution and ecological risk. This study, leveraging official national pharmaceutical sales statistics, predicts the environmental concentrations of 33 typical pharmaceuticals in the Tianjin area. The results show that 52 % of the drugs have a PEC/MEC (Predicted Environmental Concentration/Measured Environmental Concentration) ratio within the acceptable range of 0.5-2, including atenolol (1.21), carbamazepine (1.22), and sulfamethoxazole (0.91). Among the selected drugs, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and acetaminophen had the highest predicted concentrations. The EPI (Estimation Programs Interface) biodegradation model, a tool from the US Environmental Protection Agency, is used to predict the removal efficiency of compounds in wastewater treatment plants. The results indicate that the EPI predictions are acceptable for macrolide antibiotics and β-blockers, with removal rates of roxithromycin, spiramycin, acetaminophen, and carbamazepine being 14.1 %, 61.2 %, 75.1 %, and 44.5 %, respectively. However, the model proved to be less effective for fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The ECOSAR (Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships) model was used to supplement the assessment of the potential impacts of drugs on aquatic ecosystems, further refining the analysis of pharmaceutical environmental risks. By combining the concentration and detection frequency of pharmaceutical wastewater, this study identified 9 drugs with significant toxicological risks and marked another 24 drugs as substances of potential concern. Additionally, this study provides data support for addressing pharmaceutical residues of priority concern in subsequent research.

Comparison of intravesical chemotherapy regimens after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma and analysis of risk factors for postoperative recurrence

OBJECTIVE

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare but aggressive type of urologic cancer that includes renal pelvic tumors and ureteral tumors with a poor prognosis. Full-length nephroureterectomy plus sleeve bladder resection is the standard treatment for the disease, but patients are prone to recurrence of bladder tumors after surgery. Intravesical infusion therapy is the main means to prevent the recurrence and progression of bladder cancer. Epirubicin and gemcitabine are widely used in clinical practice as first-line or salvage therapy for intravesical chemotherapy; however, the efficacy of these agents is rarely discussed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of epirubicin and gemcitabine on the occurrence of bladder cancer after radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC and to analyze the risk factors affecting the recurrence of postoperative bladder cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 215 patients with diagnosed UTUC and treated in our hospital from June 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects, and they were divided into an observation group (120 cases) and a control group (95 cases) according to different treatment methods. The patients in the control group were treated with epirubicin, while those in the observation group received gemcitabine. All patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient examination for 12 months to record the occurrence of adverse reactions. The occurrence of bladder cancer was recorded at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery. According to the occurrence of bladder cancer after surgery, the patients were divided into a bladder cancer group (63 cases) and a non-bladder cancer group (152 cases). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of bladder cancer after surgery.

RESULTS

The total incidence of adverse reactions in the control group was 49.47%, which was higher than that in the observation group with 15.00% (p<0.01). The incidence of bladder tumors in the observation group and the control group was 0.00% and 2.11% at 3 months, 5.00% and 8.42% at 6 months, 13.33% and 15.79% at 12 months, without significant difference (p>0.05). After 12 months of perfusion, the levels of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the two groups were significantly lower than those before perfusion (p<0.05). In the observation group, the levels of these three factors were slightly decreased compared with those in the control group, without a significant difference (p>0.05). Between the bladder cancer and non-bladder cancer groups, there were significant differences in tumor location, number of lesions, tumor stage, preoperative ureteral examination, and preoperative history of bladder cancer (p<0.05). The above indexes were all risk factors for postoperative bladder cancer (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Epirubicin and gemcitabine reduced the occurrence of bladder cancer and effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis after radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. The tumor location, number of lesions, tumor stage, preoperative ureteral examination, and preoperative history of bladder cancer were risk factors for postoperative bladder cancer.

The soil emergence-related transcription factor PIF3 controls root penetration by interacting with the receptor kinase FER

The cotyledons of etiolated seedlings from terrestrial flowering plants must emerge from the soil surface, while roots must penetrate the soil to ensure plant survival. We show here that the soil emergence-related transcription factor PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 3 (PIF3) controls root penetration via transducing external signals perceived by the receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The loss of FER function in Arabidopsis and soybean (Glycine max) mutants resulted in a severe defect in root penetration into agar medium or hard soil. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) profiling of Arabidopsis roots identified a distinct cell clustering pattern, especially for root cap cells, and identified PIF3 as a FER-regulated transcription factor. Biochemical, imaging, and genetic experiments confirmed that PIF3 is required for root penetration into soil. Moreover, FER interacted with and stabilized PIF3 to modulate the expression of mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO and the sloughing of outer root cap cells.

A Phase 2 Trial of Primary Tumor Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Boost Before Concurrent Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

Primary tumor failure is common in patients treated with chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced NSCLC (LA-NSCLC). Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) yields high rates of primary tumor control (PTC) in early-stage NSCLC. This trial tested an SBRT boost to the primary tumor before the start of CRT to improve PTC.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with LA-NSCLC received an SBRT boost in 2 fractions (central location 12 Gy, peripheral location 16 Gy) to the primary tumor, followed by standard CRT (60 Gy in 30 fractions). The primary objective was PTC rate at 1 year, and the hypothesis was that the 1-year PTC rate would be ≥90%. Secondary objectives included objective response rate, regional and distant control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Correlative studies included functional magnetic resonance imaging and blood-based miRNA analysis.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 21 patients (10 men and 11 women); the median age was 62 years (range, 52-78). The median pretreatment primary tumor size was 5.0 cm (range, 1.0-8.3). The most common nonhematologic toxicities were pneumonitis, fatigue, esophagitis/dysphagia, dyspnea, and cough. Only 1 treatment-related grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity occurred (respiratory failure/radiation pneumonitis), and no grade 5 toxicities occurred. The objective response rate at 3 and 6 months was 72.7% and 80.0%, respectively, and PTC at 1 and 2 years was 100% and 92.3%, respectively. The 2-year regional and distant control rates were 81.6% and 70.3%, respectively. Disease-free survival and overall survival at 2 years were 46.1% and 50.3%, respectively, and median survival was 37.8 months. Functional magnetic resonance imaging detected a mean relative decrease in blood oxygenation level-dependent signal of -87.1% (P = .05), and miR.142.3p was correlated with increased risk of grade ≥3 pulmonary toxicity (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Dose escalation to the primary tumor using upfront SBRT appears feasible and safe. PTC was high and other oncologic endpoints compared favorably to standard treatment. Functional magnetic resonance imaging suggested changes in oxygenation with the first SBRT boost dose, and miR.142.3p was correlated with pulmonary toxicity.

Chlorogenic Acid Attenuates Isoproterenol Hydrochloride-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in AC16 Cells by Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is an important characteristic in heart failure development. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a crucial bioactive compound from honeysuckle, is reported to protect against CH. However, its underlying mechanism of action remains incompletely elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the protective effect of CGA on CH. This study established a CH model by stimulating AC16 cells with isoproterenol (Iso). The observed significant decrease in cell surface area, evaluated through fluorescence staining, along with the downregulation of CH-related markers, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) at both mRNA and protein levels, provide compelling evidence of the protective effect of CGA against isoproterenol-induced CH. Mechanistically, CGA induced the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) while concurrently attenuating the expression of the core protein β-catenin in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, the experiment utilized the Wnt signaling activator IM-12 to observe its ability to modulate the impact of CGA pretreatment on the development of CH. Using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database combined with online platforms and tools, this study identified Wnt-related genes influenced by CGA in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and further validated the correlation between CGA and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in CH. This result provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of CGA against CH, indicating CGA as a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases.

Elucidating Phase Transformation and Surface Amorphization of Li7 La3 Zr2 O12 by In Situ Heating TEM

Garnet-type Li7 La3 Zr2 O12 (LLZO) solid-state electrolytes hold great promise for the next-generation all-solid-state batteries. An in-depth understanding of the phase transformation during synthetic processes is required for better control of the crystallinity and improvement of the ionic conductivity of LLZO. Herein, the phase transformation pathways and the associated surface amorphization are comparatively investigated during the sol-gel and solid-state syntheses of LLZO using in situ heating transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The combined ex situ X-ray diffraction and in situ TEM techniques are used to reveal two distinct phase transformation pathways (precursors → La2 Zr2 O7  → LLZO and precursors → LLZO) and the subsequent layer-by-layer crystal growth of LLZO on the atomic scale. It is also demonstrated that the surface amorphization surrounding the LLZO crystals is sensitive to the postsynthesis cooling rate and significantly affects the ionic conductivity of pelletized LLZO. This work brings up a critical but often overlooked issue that may greatly exacerbate the Li-ion conductivity by undesired synthetic conditions, which can be leveraged to ameliorate the overall crystallinity to improve the electrochemical performance of LLZO. These findings also shed light on the significance of optimizing surface structure to ensure superior performance of Li-ion conductors.

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of substantia nigral iron deposition in Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with abnormal iron accumulation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that patients with Parkinson's disease have an increased amount of iron in their substantia nigra (SN). We have undertaken a meta-analysis of studies using MRI in PD, to explore the potential role of MRI in diagnosing PD using abnormal iron deposition in SN as a candidate biomarker.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Searches of PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases revealed 16 studies that compared PD patients and healthy controls (HC). A sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to evaluate the reliability of our results. Estimates were pooled by the fixed-effects model. As an expression of I2, we computed the proportion of variation due to heterogeneity.

RESULTS

We included 16 studies with sample sizes of 435 PD and 355 HC in our meta-analysis. Results showed that SN iron deposition was significantly elevated (p<0.00001) in patients with PD compared to HC ones (SMD=0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.87, p<0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings, based on a homogeneous group-level analysis, suggest that MRI-based SN iron deposition could be used to distinguish PD from HC. For a more rigorous investigation of SN iron deposition in PD, larger cohort studies are needed.

Relationship between visual acuity and OCT angiography parameters in diabetic retinopathy eyes after treatment

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between visual acuity and OCT angiography parameters in diabetic retinopathy eyes after treatment, and to analyze the relative factors in PDR eyes.

METHODS

A total of 89 eyes, including 42 eyes with non-PDR (NPDR), and 47 eyes after vitrectomy with PDR were included and underwent OCTA. All images were processed by Python or FIJI. Multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between postoperative BCVA and OCTA parameters in PDR patients.

RESULTS

Postoperative OCTA parameters including deep capillary plexus (DCP) parafoveal and perifoveal vessel density (VD), DCP parafoveal and perifoveal vessel length density (VLD), DCP fractal dimension (FD), choriocapillaris plexus (CCP) VD, CCP VLD, were significantly lower in the PDR group than in the NPDR group. In the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), we found a negative correlation between the postoperative BCVA and VD (parafovea: β coefficient = -0.351, p = 0.023; perifovea: β coefficient = -0.338, p = 0.036). Perifoveal VLD (β coefficient = -0.343, p = 0.031) and FD (β coefficient = -0.375, p = 0.016) of the SCP were also negatively correlated with postoperative BCVA. Regarding the DCP, perifoveal VD (β coefficient = -0.396, p = 0.008), perifoveal VLD (β coefficient = -0.334, p = 0.025), vessel tortuosity (VT) (β coefficient = -0.369, p = 0.015) were negatively correlated with postoperative BCVA. In CCP, VLD (β coefficient = -0.373, p = 0.023) and number of flow voids (β coefficient = -0.334, p = 0.036) exhibited a negative association with postoperative BCVA.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative BCVA of PDR patients was related to OCTA parameters of the SCP (parafoveal and perifoveal VD, perifoveal VLD and FD), DCP (perifoveal VD, VLD, and VT) and CCP (VLD and number of flow voids).

Integrating fecal pollution markers and fluorescence analysis for water quality assessment of urban river

Human fecal contamination in urban rivers poses significant health risks, but their potential connections with other substances like dissolved organic matter (DOM) remain underexplored. In this study, five fecal pollution markers related to fecal Bacteroides or human fecal contamination (AllBac, HF183, BacH, Hum2, and Hum163) and DOM along an urban river were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and three-dimensional excitation-emission (3D EEM) fluorescence spectrometry. All five markers were detected with average absolute abundance ranging from 2.51 to 6.28 lg gene copies/100 mL, showing a progressive increase along the river (R2 = 0.29-0.92, p < 0.05). Parallel factor analysis identified three dominant DOM components (humic acid-like, fulvic acid-like, and protein-like), with strong positive correlations between protein-like components and all fecal markers (R2 = 0.59-0.66, p < 0.001). Both fecal and DOM distributions consistently showed significant differences between upstream and downstream areas (p < 0.001), suggesting their complementary assessment. While DOM was more sensitive to environmental variables such as rainfall, rubber dam, and tidal dynamic, the combination of fecal pollution markers and 3D EEM analysis allowed a more comprehensive assessment of contamination levels, mitigating potential biases caused by the influence of multiple factors on a single method. Furthermore, due to the strong correlation between protein-like and fecal markers in the DOM, 3D EEM can be used as a pre-detection means for qPCR detection, reducing testing time and costs.

Design and Reality-Based Modeling Optimization of a Flexible Passive Joint Paddle for Swimming Robots

Rowing motion with paired propellers is an essential actuation mechanism for swimming robots. Previous work in this field has typically employed flexible propellers to generate a net thrust or torque by using changes in the compliance values of flexible structures under the influence of a fluid. The low stiffness values of the flexible structures restrict the upper limit of the oscillation frequency and amplitude, resulting in slow swimming speeds. Furthermore, complex coupling between the fluid and the propeller reduce the accuracy of flexible propeller simulations. A design of a flexible passive joint paddle was proposed in this study, and a dynamics model and simulation of the paddle were experimentally verified. In order to optimize the straight swimming speed, a data-driven model was proposed to improve the simulation accuracy. The effects of the joint number and controller parameters on the robot's straight swimming speed were comprehensively investigated. The multi-joint paddle exhibited significantly improved thrust over the single-joint paddle in a symmetric driving mode. The data-driven model reduced the total error of the simulated data of the propulsive force in the range of control parameters to 0.51%. Swimming speed increased by 3.3 times compared to baseline. These findings demonstrate the utility of the proposed dynamics and data-driven models in the multi-objective design of swimming robots.

Associations of the magnesium depletion score and magnesium intake with diabetes among US adults: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018

Objectives

The magnesium depletion score (MDS) is considered more reliable than traditional approaches for predicting magnesium deficiency in humans. We explored the associations of MDS and dietary magnesium intake with diabetes.

Methods

We obtained data from 18,853 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. Using multivariate regression and stratified analysis, we investigated the relationships of both MDS and magnesium intake with diabetes. To compute prevalence ratios (PRs), we employed modified Poisson or log-binomial regression. We characterized the nonlinear association between magnesium intake and diabetes using restricted cubic spline analysis.

Results

Participants with MDS ≥2 exhibited a PR of 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.34) for diabetes. Per-SD increase in dietary magnesium intake was associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes (PR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.96). Subgroup analyses revealed a positive association between MDS ≥2 and diabetes across all levels of dietary magnesium intake, including the lowest (PR=1.35; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.55), middle (PR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.35), and highest tertiles (PR=1.25; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.37; pinteraction<0.001). Per-SD increase in magnesium intake was associated with lower diabetes prevalence in participants with MDS <2 (PR=0.92; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.98) and those with MDS ≥2 (PR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.98; pinteraction=0.030).

Conclusion

MDS is associated with diabetes, particularly among individuals with low magnesium intake. Adequate dietary magnesium intake may reduce diabetes risk, especially in those with high MDS.

Analysis and experimental research of transient temperature rise characteristics of high-speed cylindrical roller bearing

In this paper, on one hand, the time-varying characteristics of the heat source and thermal boundary conditions of the high-speed spindle system were analyzed considering the thermal-structural coupling effect. And a transient bearing temperature field prediction method combining the thermal network method and finite element method was proposed. Furthermore, the relationships between time step, calculation efficiency and calculation results were analyzed. On the other hand, a online real-time monitoring system of the transient temperature of the cylindrical roller bearing inner ring for maximum speed of 13,000 r/min was designed and implemented using fibre optic sensing technology. Comparing with the conventional static thermal analysis results, it is verified that the simulation method proposed in this paper has higher accuracy. This paper provides a new approach for analysing and testing the thermal characteristics of high-speed spindle system.

SAPPHIRE: phase III study of sitravatinib plus nivolumab versus docetaxel in advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy revolutionized treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, most patients progress due to primary or acquired resistance. Sitravatinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that can shift the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment toward an immunostimulatory state. Combining sitravatinib with nivolumab (sitra + nivo) may potentially overcome initial CPI resistance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the phase III SAPPHIRE study, patients with advanced non-oncogenic driven, nonsquamous NSCLC who initially benefited from (≥4 months on CPI without progression) and subsequently experienced disease progression on or after CPI combined with or following platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized 1 : 1 to sitra (100 mg once daily administered orally) + nivo (240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks administered intravenously) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks administered intravenously). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), duration of response (DOR; all assessed by blinded independent central review), and safety.

RESULTS

A total of 577 patients included randomized: sitra + nivo, n = 284; docetaxel, n = 293 (median follow-up, 17.1 months). Sitra + nivo did not significantly improve OS versus docetaxel [median, 12.2 versus 10.6 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-1.05; P = 0.144]. The median PFS was 4.4 versus 5.4 months, respectively (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.89-1.32; P = 0.452). The ORR was 15.6% for sitra + nivo and 17.2% for docetaxel (P = 0.597); CBR was 75.5% and 64.5%, respectively (P = 0.004); median DOR was 7.4 versus 7.1 months, respectively (P = 0.924). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 53.0% versus 66.7% of patients receiving sitra + nivo versus docetaxel, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although median OS was numerically longer with sitra + nivo, the primary endpoint was not met in patients with previously treated advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. The safety profiles demonstrated were consistent with previous reports.

Photoswitchable Enantioselective and Helix-Sense Controlled Living Polymerization

A pair of enantiomeric photoswitchable PdII catalysts, alkyne-PdII /LR-azo and alkyne-PdII /LS-azo , were prepared via the coordination of alkyne-PdII and azobenzene-modified phosphine ligands LR-azo and LS-azo . Owing to the cis-trans photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety, alkyne-PdII /LR-azo and alkyne-PdII /LS-azo exhibited different polymerization activities, helix-sense selectivities, and enantioselectivities during the polymerization of isocyanide monomers under irradiation of different wavelength lights. Furthermore, the achiral isocyanide monomer A-1 could be polymerized efficiently using alkyne-PdII /LR-azo under dark condition in a living/controlled manner. Further, it generated single right-handed helical poly-A-1m (LR-azo ), confirmed by the circular dichroism spectra and atomic force microscopy images. However, the polymerization of A-1 almost could not be initiated under 420 nm light in identical conditions of dark condition. Moreover, the photoswitchable catalyst alkyne-PdII /LR-azo exhibited high enantioselectivity for the polymerization of the racemates of L-1 and D-1, respectively. D-1 was polymerized preferentially under dark condition with a D-1/L-1 rate ratio of 70, yielding single right-handed polyisocyanides. Additionally, reversible enantioselectivity was observed under 420 nm light using alkyne-PdII /LR-azo , and the calculated polymerization rate ratio of L-1/D-1 was 57 because of the isomerization of the azobenzene moiety of the catalyst. Furthermore, alkyne-PdII /LS-azo showed opposite enantioselectivity and helix-sense selectivity during the polymerization of the racemates of L-1 and D-1.

Complete remission of tumors in mice with neoantigen-painted exosomes and anti-PD-1 therapy

Neoantigen-based cancer vaccines are emerging as promising tumor therapies, but enhancement of immunogenicity can further improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that anchoring different peptide neoantigens on subcutaneously administered serum exosomes promote lymph node homing and dendritic cell uptake, resulting in significantly enhanced antigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Exosomes anchoring of melanoma peptide neoantigens augmented the magnitude and breadth of T cell response in vitro and in vivo, to a greater extent with CD8+ T cell responses. Simultaneous decoration of different peptide neoantigens on serum exosomes induced potent tumor suppression and neoantigen-specific immune responses in mice with melanoma and colon cancer. Complete tumor eradication and sustainable immunological memory were achieved with neoantigen-painted serum exosome vaccines in combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibodies in mice with colon cancer. Importantly, human serum exosomes loaded with peptide neoantigens elicited significant tumor growth retardation and immune responses in human colon cancer 3-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids. Our study demonstrates that serum exosomes direct in vivo localization, increase dendritic cell uptake, and enhance the immunogenicity of antigenic peptides and thus provides a general delivery tool for peptide antigen-based personalized immunotherapy.

Degradation of Nitrobenzene by Mackinawite through a Sequential Two-Step Reduction and Oxidation Process

Mackinawite (FeS) has gained increasing interest due to its potential application in contaminant removal by either reduction or oxidation processes. This study further demonstrated the efficiency of FeS in degrading nitrobenzene (ArNO2) via a sequential two-step reduction and oxidation process under neutral conditions. In the reduction stage, FeS rapidly reduced ArNO2 to aniline (ArNH2), with nitrosobenzene (ArNO) and phenylhydroxylamine (ArNHOH) serving as the intermediates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that both Fe(II) and S(II) in FeS contributed electrons to the reduction of ArNO2. In the subsequent oxidation stage with oxygen, by addition of 0.5 mM tripolyphosphate (TPP), ArNH2 generated in the reduction process could be effectively oxidized to aminophenols by hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which would undergo eventual mineralization via ring-cleavage reactions. TPP exerted a favorable role in enhancing •OH production for ArNH2 degradation by promoting the formation of the dissolved Fe(II)-TPP complex, thus enhancing the homogeneous Fenton reaction. Additionally, TPP adsorption inhibited the surface oxidation reactivity of FeS due to the change of Fe(II) coordination. Finally, the effective degradation of ArNO2 by FeS in actual groundwater was demonstrated by using this sequential reduction and oxidation approach. These research findings provide a theoretical basis for a new FeS-based remediation approach, offering an alternative way for comprehensive removal of ArNO2.

Transient ischemic stroke triggers sustained damage of the choroid plexus blood-CSF barrier

Neuroinflammation is a pathological event associated with many neurological disorders, including dementia and stroke. The choroid plexus (ChP) is a key structure in the ventricles of the brain that secretes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), forms a blood-CSF barrier, and responds to disease conditions by recruiting immune cells and maintaining an immune microenvironment in the brain. Despite these critical roles, the exact structural and functional changes to the ChP over post-stroke time remain to be elucidated. We induced ischemic stroke in C57BL/6J mice via transient middle cerebral artery occlusion which led to reduction of cerebral blood flow and infarct stroke. At 1-7 days post-stroke, we detected time-dependent increase in the ChP blood-CSF barrier permeability to albumin, tight-junction damage, and dynamic changes of SPAK-NKCC1 protein complex, a key ion transport regulatory system for CSF production and clearance. A transient loss of SPAK protein complex but increased phosphorylation of the SPAK-NKCC1 complex was observed in both lateral ventricle ChPs. Most interestingly, stroke also triggered elevation of proinflammatory Lcn2 mRNA and its protein as well as infiltration of anti-inflammatory myeloid cells in ChP at day 5 post-stroke. These findings demonstrate that ischemic strokes cause significant damage to the ChP blood-CSF barrier, contributing to neuroinflammation in the subacute stage.

Transcriptome profiling of Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells uncover differences in the susceptibility of cattle to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two major apicomplexan protozoan parasites with heteroxenous life cycles and worldwide distributions. The transplacental transmission of N. caninum causes bovine abortion, which resulting in serious economic losses to the dairy industry. Although T. gondii was also reported to cause abortions in pregnant woman and small ruminants, scarce cases about the symptom to the host cattle and the causality remains unknown. In this study, transcriptome analysis of Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells infected with T. gondii and N. caninum was performed to uncover the differences in susceptibility of cattle to the two parasites. The results showed that 256 and 2225 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in cells infected with N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. Moreover, significant biological differences were revealed by the functional analysis including GO and KEGG enrichment. One serpin peptidase inhibitor (SEPRINA14), which is associated with immunosuppression during pregnancy, was found to significantly decrease in cells infected with N. caninum and increase in cells infected with T. gondii-infected cells. Pattern recognition receptors TLR3 and NOD2 were also significantly upregulated in N. caninum-infected MDBK cells, but not in T. gondii. They could induce an increased inflammatory response leading to severe tissue damage. In addition, the interleukin 12 receptor subunit beta 2 (IL12β2), which plays an essential role in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation and inflammatory bowel disease, was also markedly upregulated in the N. caninum infected cells, which led to an imbalance in the Th1 and Th2 cells by promoting the Th1 cellular response. Altogether, our findings recognized a new understanding on the differences between T. gondii and N. caninum infection of MDBK cells, where SEPRINA14, TLR3, NOD2, and IL12β2 may be the key genes that affect the difference in susceptibility of cattle to T. gondii and N. caninum, especially in pregnant animals. This study provides more clues as to why N. caninum is more likely to cause abortions in cattle.

Effects of the chlorination on organic matter removal and microbial communities during soil aquifer treatment for wastewater reclamation

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) has been widely applied for wastewater reclamation, which cooperates secondary treatment (i.e. A2O process) and disinfection treatment (chlorination) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), to remove organic matter. This study compared dissolved organic carbon (DOC) characteristics, substrate utilisation patterns, and microbial communities between pre-chlorination SAT and SAT columns, and effective removals of DOC were observed in the pre-chlorination SAT and SAT columns. However, the composition of HiA in SAT columns without chlorination was less than in pre-chlorination SAT columns for DOC fraction. In comparison to A2O effluent, different metabolic patterns and the composition of the microbial community were demonstrated by the top layer of SAT column and pre-chlorination SAT column. Furthermore, deeper layers showed similarities in the metabolic pattern and composition of the microbial community. Overall, pre-chlorination minimised the change of the microbial communities from A2O effluent in the top layer of SAT except for deeper layers, and DOC concentrations decreased in pre-chlorination SAT column. Thus, the cooperation of SAT and wastewater treatments could be suitable for wastewater reclamation.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the essential nature of Rab1B in Toxoplasma gondii

BACKGROUND

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes a dozen Rab proteins, which are parts of the small GTPase superfamily and regulate intracellular membrane trafficking. Our previous study showed that depletion of Rab1B caused severe defects regarding parasite growth and morphological structure, yet early defects of endocytic trafficking and vesicle sorting to the rhoptry in T. gondii are not expected to have a strong effect. To understand this discrepancy, we performed an integrated analysis at the level of transcriptomics and metabolomics.

METHODS

In the study, tetracycline-inducible TATi/Ty-Rab1B parasite line treated with ATc at three different time points (0, 18 and 24 h) was used. We first observed the morphological changes caused by Rab1B depletion via transmission electron technology. Then, high-throughput transcriptome along with non-targeted metabolomics were performed to analyze the RNA expression and metabolite changes in the Rab1B-depleted parasite. The essential nature of Rab1B in the parasite was revealed by the integrated omics approach.

RESULTS

Transmission electron micrographs showed a strong disorganization of endo-membranes in the Rab1B-depleted parasites. Our deep analysis of transcriptome and metabolome identified 2181 and 2374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 30 and 83 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) at 18 and 24 h of induction in the tetracycline-inducible parasite line, respectively. These DEGs included key genes associated with crucial organelles that contain the rhoptry, microneme, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The analysis of qRT-PCR verified some of the key DEGs identified by RNA-Seq, supporting that the key vesicular regulator Rab1B was involved in biogenesis of multiple parasite organelles. Functional enrichment analyses revealed pathways related to central carbon metabolisms and lipid metabolisms, such as the TCA cycle, glycerophospholipid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis and elongation. Further correlation analysis of the major DEMs and DEGs supported the role of Rab1B in biogenesis of fatty acids (e.g. myrisoleic acid and oleic acid) (R > 0.95 and P < 0.05), which was consistent with the scavenging role in biotin via the endocytic process.

CONCLUSIONS

Rab1B played an important role in parasite growth and morphology, which was supported by the replication assay and transmission electron microscopy observation. Our multi-omics analyses provided detailed insights into the overall impact on the parasite upon depletion of the protein. These analyses reinforced the role of Rab1B in the endocytic process, which has an impact on fatty acid biogenesis and the TCA cycle. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of a key vesicular regulator, Rab1B, on parasite metabolism and morphological formation in T. gondii.

Coptis chinensis and Berberine Ameliorate Chronic Ulcerative Colitis: An Integrated Microbiome-Metabolomics Study

Coptis chinensis Franch (RC), has historically been used for the treatment of "Xiao Ke" and "Xia Li" symptoms in China. "Xia Li" is characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea, which are similar to the clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC). For the first time, this study aims to compare the anti-colitis effects of berberine (BBR) and total RC alkaloids (TRCA) and investigate the underlying metabolites and gut microbiota biomarkers. Metabolomics results showed that several colitis-related biomarkers, including lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, scopolamine-methyl-bromide, N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide, 4-hydroxyretinoic acid, and malic acid, were significantly improved in model mice after BBR and TRCA treatments. High-dose BBR and TRCA treatments reversed the mouse colon shortening caused by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), alleviated bowel wall swelling, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. BBR and TRCA restored the damaged mucosa integrity in colitis mice by upregulating claudin 1 and occludin, preventing colon epithelium apoptosis by inhibiting the cleavage of caspase 3. Additionally, BBR and TRCA significantly decreased the richness of the pathogenic bacteria Bacteroides acidifaciens but increased the abundance of the probiotic Lactobacillus spp. Notably, TRCA exhibited superior anti-colitis effects to those of BBR. Thus, this agent warrants further study and application in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in the clinic.

Meta-analysis of microbial source tracking for the identification of fecal contamination in aquatic environments based on data-mining

Microbial source tracking (MST) technology represents an innovative approach employed to trace fecal contamination in environmental water systems. The performance of primers may be affected by amplification techniques, target primer categories, and regional differences. To investigate the influence of these factors on primer recognition performance, a meta-analysis was conducted on the application of MST in water environments using three databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed (n = 2291). After data screening, 46 studies were included in the final analysis. The investigation encompassed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/quantitative PCR (qPCR) methodologies, dye-based (SYBR)/probe-based (TaqMan) techniques, and geographical differences of a human host-specific (HF183) primer and other 21 additional primers. The results indicated that the primers analyzed were capable of differentiating host specificity to a certain degree. Nonetheless, by comparing sensitivity and specificity outcomes, it was observed that virus-based primers exhibited superior specificity and recognition capacity, as well as a stronger correlation with human pathogenicity in water environments compared to bacteria-based primers. This finding highlights an important direction for future advancements. Moreover, within the same category, qPCR did not demonstrate significant benefits over conventional PCR amplification methods. In comparing dye-based and probe-based techniques, it was revealed that the probe-based method's advantage lay primarily in specificity, which may be associated with the increased propensity of dye-based methods to produce false positives. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the HF183 primer was not detected in China, Canada, and Singapore respectively, indicating a low likelihood of regional differences. The variation among the 21 other primers may be attributable to regional differences, sample sources, detection techniques, or alternative factors. Finally, we identified that economic factors, climatic conditions, and geographical distribution significantly influence primer performance.

Association Between Pretreatment Chest Imaging and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Pneumonitis Among Patients With Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a first-line and perioperative treatment for lung cancer. Pneumonitis is a potentially life-threatening complication of ICI treatment in 2% to 5% of patients; however, risk factors for developing ICI pneumonitis (ICI-p) remain undefined.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with lung cancer who received at least one dose of ICI from 2015 through 2020 at The Ohio State University. Pneumonitis cases were documented by the treating oncologist and retrospectively evaluated for agreement between an oncologist and a pulmonologist. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded and summarized between those with and without pneumonitis for the overall cohort. Univariate and multivariable survival analyses using the Fine-Gray competing risk model were used to examine the associations.

RESULTS

A total of 471 patients with lung cancer were included, of which 402 had non-small cell lung cancer and 69 had small cell lung cancer; 39 (8%) patients in the overall cohort developed ICI-p. Preexisting interstitial abnormalities and prior chest radiation were both significantly associated with ICI-p on univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 8.91; 95% CI, 4.69-16.92; P<.001; and HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.50-5.28; P=.001). On multivariable analyses, interstitial abnormalities remained a strong independent risk factor for ICI-p when controlling for chest radiation and type of immunotherapy (HR, 9.77; 95% CI, 5.17-18.46; P<.001). Among patients with ICI-p (n=39), those with severe (grade 3-5) pneumonitis had worse overall survival compared with those with mild (grade 1 or 2) pneumonitis (P=.001). Abnormal pulmonary function test results at both 12 and 18 months prior to ICI initiation were not significantly associated with ICI-p.

CONCLUSIONS

Preexisting interstitial abnormalities on chest CT and prior chest radiation are independent risk factors that are strongly associated with ICI-p in patients with lung cancer. These findings highlight a potential need for closer observation for ICI-p among patients with these risk factors.

Chimpanzee adenovirus-mediated multiple gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration AMD (nAMD) is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and could lead to irreversible blindness. However, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has limited efficacy. Therefore, we generated a chimpanzee adenoviral vector (AdC68-PFC) containing three genes, pigment endothelial-derived factor (PEDF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and soluble forms of CD59 (sCD59), to treat nAMD. The results showed that AdC68-PFC mediated a strong onset of PEDF, sFlt-1, and sCD59 expression both in vivo and in vitro. AdC68-PFC showed preventive and therapeutic effects following intravitreal (IVT) injection in the laser-induced CNV model and very low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Vldlr-/-) mouse model. In vitro assessment indicated that AdC68-PFC had a strong inhibitory effect on endothelial cells. Importantly, the safety test showed no evidence of in vivo toxicity of adenovirus in murine eyes. Our findings suggest that AdC68-PFC may be a long-acting and safe gene therapy vector for future nAMD treatments.

Resolution enhancement via guided filtering for spatial-frequency multiplexing single-shot high-speed imaging

The frequency recognition algorithm for multiple exposures (FRAME) is a progressive single-shot high-speed videography technique that employs the spatial-frequency multiplexing concept to provide high temporal and spatial resolution. However, the inherent crosstalk from the zero-frequency component to the carrier-frequency component leads to resolution degradation and artifacts. To improve recovered frames' quality, we propose a FRAME reconstruction method using guided filters for a removal of the zero-frequency component, which can minimize the artifacts while enhance spatial resolution. A total variation (TV) denoising operation is involved to remove artifacts further to achieve optimized performances. Simulations and experiments were conducted to demonstrate the robust and efficient post-processing capability of the proposed method. With a two-frame experimental system, the results of a USAF 1951 resolution target reveal a 1.8-fold improvement in spatial resolution from 16 lp/mm to 28.5 lp/mm. For complex dynamic scenarios, the wide field of high-speed fuel spray was shot and the proposed method can resolve two droplets with a 30 μm distance which outperforms the traditional method.

Data-driven estimation of nitric oxide emissions from global soils based on dominant vegetation covers

Soils are a major source of global nitric oxide (NO) emissions. However, estimates of soil NO emissions have large uncertainties due to limited observations and multifactorial impacts. Here, we mapped global soil NO emissions, integrating 1356 in-situ NO observations from globally distributed sites with high-resolution climate, soil, and management practice data. We then calculated global and national total NO budgets and revealed the contributions of cropland, grassland, and forest to global soil NO emissions at the national level. The results showed that soil NO emissions were explained mainly by N input, water input and soil pH. Total above-soil NO emissions of the three vegetation cover types were 9.4 Tg N year-1 in 2014, including 5.9 Tg N year-1 (1.04, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.09-1.99 kg N ha-1  year-1 ) emitted from forest, 1.7 Tg N year-1 (0.68, 95% CI: 0.10-1.26 kg N ha-1  year-1 ) from grassland, and 1.8 Tg N year-1 (0.98, 95% CI: 0.42-1.53 kg N ha-1  year-1 ) from cropland. Soil NO emissions in approximately 57% of 213 countries surveyed were dominated by forests. Our results provide updated inventories of global and national soil NO emissions based on robust data-driven models. These estimates are critical to guiding the mitigation of soil NO emissions and can be used in combination with biogeochemical models.

A fast and accurate identification model for Rhinolophus bats based on fine-grained information

Bats are a crucial component within ecosystems, providing valuable ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. In practical conservation efforts, the classification and identification of bats are essential in order to develop effective conservation management programs for bats and their habitats. Traditionally, the identification of bats has been a manual and time-consuming process. With the development of artificial intelligence technology, the accuracy and speed of identification work of such fine-grained images as bats identification can be greatly improved. Bats identification relies on the fine features of their beaks and faces, so mining the fine-grained information in images is crucial to improve the accuracy of bats identification. This paper presents a deep learning-based model designed for the rapid and precise identification of common horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. The model was developed by utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 883 high-resolution images of seven distinct Rhinolophus species which were collected during surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022. An improved EfficientNet model with an attention mechanism module is architected to mine the fine-grained appearance of these Rhinolophus. The performance of the model beat other classical models, including SqueezeNet, AlexNet, VGG16_BN, ShuffleNetV2, GoogleNet, ResNet50 and EfficientNet_B0, according to the predicting precision, recall, accuracy, F1-score. Our model achieved the highest identification accuracy of 94.22% and an F1-score of 0.948 with low computational complexity. Heat maps obtained with Grad-CAM show that our model meets the identification criteria of the morphology of Rhinolophus. Our study highlights the potential of artificial intelligence technology for the identification of small mammals, and facilitating fast species identification in the future.

Template-Free Prompting for Few-Shot Named Entity Recognition via Semantic-Enhanced Contrastive Learning

Prompt tuning has achieved great success in various sentence-level classification tasks by using elaborated label word mappings and prompt templates. However, for solving token-level classification tasks, e.g., named entity recognition (NER), previous research, which utilizes N-gram traversal for prompting all spans with all possible entity types, is time-consuming. To this end, we propose a novel prompt-based contrastive learning method for few-shot NER without template construction and label word mappings. First, we leverage external knowledge to initialize semantic anchors for each entity type. These anchors are simply appended with input sentence embeddings as template-free prompts (TFPs). Then, the prompts and sentence embeddings are in-context optimized with our proposed semantic-enhanced contrastive loss. Our proposed loss function enables contrastive learning in few-shot scenarios without requiring a significant number of negative samples. Moreover, it effectively addresses the issue of conventional contrastive learning, where negative instances with similar semantics are erroneously pushed apart in natural language processing (NLP)-related tasks. We examine our method in label extension (LE), domain-adaption (DA), and low-resource generalization evaluation tasks with six public datasets and different settings, achieving state-of-the-art (SOTA) results in most cases.

Jasmonates regulate apical hook development by repressing brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling

An apical hook is a special structure formed during skotomorphogenesis in dicotyledonous plant species. It is critical for protecting the shoot apical meristem from mechanical damage during seed germination and hypocotyl elongation in soil. Brassinosteroid (BR) and jasmonate (JA) phytohormones antagonistically regulate apical hook formation. However, the interrelationship between BRs and JAs in this process has not been well elucidated. Here, we reveal that JAs repress BRs to regulate apical hook development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) repressed the expression of the rate-limiting BR biosynthetic gene DWARF4 (DWF4) in a process relying on 3 key JA-dependent transcription factors, MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4. We demonstrated that MYC2 interacts with the critical BR-activated transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1), disrupting the association of BZR1 with its partner transcription factors, such as those of the PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR (PIF) family and downregulating the expression of their target genes, such as WAVY ROOT GROWTH 2 (WAG2), encoding a protein kinase essential for apical hook development. Our results indicate that JAs not only repress the expression of BR biosynthetic gene DWF4 but, more importantly, attenuate BR signaling by inhibiting the transcriptional activation of BZR1 by MYC2 during apical hook development.

Effects of soil solarization combined with manure-amended on soil ARGs and microbial communities during summer fallow

Soil solarization (SS) is a technique for managing pathogens and weeds, which involves covering with transparent plastic to increase soil temperature during summer fallow (SF). However, SS also alters the diversity of bacterial communities. Therefore, during SF, various organic modifiers are used in combination with SS to improve its efficacy. Organic amendments may contain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) soils are vital to ensure food security and ecological balance. However, comprehensive study on the effects of SS combined with different types of manure on ARGs in GVP soils during SF remains unclear. Therefore, this study employed high-throughput qPCR to explore the effects of different organic amendments combined with SS on the abundance changes of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in GVP soils during SF. The abundance and diversity of ARGs and MGEs in GVP soils with different manure fertilization and SS decreased during SF. Horizontal gene transfer via MGEs (especially integrases 45.80%) induced by changes in environmental factors (NO3--N 14.7% and NH4+-N) was the main factor responsible for the changes in ARGs. Proteobacteria (14.3%) and Firmicutes were the main potential hosts of ARGs. Network analysis suggested that Ornithinimicrobium, Idiomarina and Corynebacterium had positive correlations with aminoglycosides, MLSB, and tetracycline resistance genes. These results provide new insights to understand the fate of ARGs in the GVP soils by manure-amended combined with SS during SF, which may help to reduce the spread of ARGs.

Metastasis organotropism in colorectal cancer: advancing toward innovative therapies

Distant metastasis remains a leading cause of mortality among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Organotropism, referring to the propensity of metastasis to target specific organs, is a well-documented phenomenon in CRC, with the liver, lungs, and peritoneum being preferred sites. Prior to establishing premetastatic niches within host organs, CRC cells secrete substances that promote metastatic organotropism. Given the pivotal role of organotropism in CRC metastasis, a comprehensive understanding of its molecular underpinnings is crucial for biomarker-based diagnosis, innovative treatment development, and ultimately, improved patient outcomes. In this review, we focus on metabolic reprogramming, tumor-derived exosomes, the immune system, and cancer cell-organ interactions to outline the molecular mechanisms of CRC organotropic metastasis. Furthermore, we consider the prospect of targeting metastatic organotropism for CRC therapy.

Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Anterior Process Locking Plate Alone versus Combined with Percutaneous Cannulated Screw Fixation for Sanders Type II Calcaneal Fractures: A Finite Element Study

BACKGROUND Calcaneal fractures are the most common tarsal bone fractures, and account for 75% of intra-articular fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of the anterior process locking plate combined with the percutaneous cannulated screw fixation (screw group) versus the anterior process locking plate fixation alone (plate group) for the treatment of Sanders type II calcaneal fractures using finite element analysis to provide a theoretical basis for clinical work. MATERIAL AND METHODS We established a 3D model of Sanders type II calcaneal fracture; assigned material properties to the internal fixation systems; applied loads; set up analysis criteria; analyzed the displacement of the fracture, relative displacement, stress state of bone tissue, and internal fixation; and compared mechanical stability. RESULTS For Sanders type II A, II B, and II C calcaneal fractures, the degree of displacement and relative displacement of the fracture in the screw group was less than that of the plate group. For all subtypes of Sanders type II calcaneal fractures, the screw group had better mechanical stability than the plate group. CONCLUSIONS Both fixation methods (screw and plate group) were within a reasonable range for restoring the levelling effect of the joint surface and maintaining the strength of fixation, and both had good mechanical stability. Finite element analysis is a relatively reliable method, and biomechanics and clinical studies must further verify the experimental results.

Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting

In the apicomplexans, endocytosed cargos (e.g., hemoglobin) are trafficked to a specialized organelle for digestion. This follows a unique endocytotic process at the micropore/cytostome in these parasites. However, the mechanism underlying endocytic trafficking remains elusive, due to the repurposing of classical endocytic proteins for the biogenesis of apical organelles. To resolve this issue, we have exploited the genetic tractability of the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii, which ingests host cytosolic materials (e.g., green fluorescent protein[GFP]). We determined an association between protein prenylation and endocytic trafficking, and using an alkyne-labeled click chemistry approach, the prenylated proteome was characterized. Genome editing, using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repaet/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), was efficiently utilized to generate genetically modified lines for the functional screening of 23 prenylated candidates. This identified four of these proteins that regulate the trafficking of endocytosed GFP vesicles. Among these proteins, Rab1B and YKT6.1 are highly conserved but are non-classical endocytic proteins in eukaryotes. Confocal imaging analysis showed that Rab1B and Ras are substantially localized to both the trans-Golgi network and the endosome-like compartments in the parasite. Conditional knockdown of Rab1B caused a rapid defect in secretory trafficking to the rhoptry bulb, suggesting a trafficking intersection role for the key regulator Rab1B. Further experiments confirmed a critical role for protein prenylation in regulating the stability/activity of these proteins (i.e., Rab1B and YKT6.1) in the parasite. Our findings define the molecular basis of endocytic trafficking and reveal a potential intersection function of Rab1B on membrane trafficking in T. gondii. This might extend to other related protists, including the malarial parasites. IMPORTANCE The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii establishes a permissive niche, in host cells, that allows parasites to acquire large molecules such as proteins. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the parasite repurposes the classical endocytic components for secretory sorting to the apical organelles, leaving the question of endocytic transport to the lysosome-like compartment unclear. Recent studies indicated that endocytic trafficking is likely to associate with protein prenylation in malarial parasites. This information promoted us to examine this association in the model apicomplexan T. gondii and to identify the key components of the prenylated proteome that are involved. By exploiting the genetic tractability of T. gondii and a host GFP acquisition assay, we reveal four non-classical endocytic proteins that regulate the transport of endocytosed cargos (e.g., GFP) in T. gondii. Thus, we extend the principle that protein prenylation regulates endocytic trafficking and elucidate the process of non-classical endocytosis in T. gondii and potentially in other related protists.

Light manipulation for all-fiber devices with VCSEL and graphene-based metasurface

Light manipulation for all-fiber devices has played a vital role in controllable photonic devices. A graphene-based metasurface is proposed to realize light manipulation. A row of VCSEL-based optical engines with low crosstalk is used as the control light to modulate the signal transmitted in the microstructured fiber. In this configuration, the proposed device can work independently of the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system. With an insertion loss of only 0.28 dB, evanescent wave coupling to graphene layers is polarisation-insensitive. The device could be effectively manipulated for a few days (not less than 72 hours), which possesses the capacity to dynamically modulate the signal light with both low-temperature sensitivity and low-wavelength sensitivity. The 35 nm wavelength interval results in a change of only about 0.1 dB in the output light intensity of the microstructured fiber when the wavelength changes from 1530 nm to 1565 nm. Moreover, the modulation depth is approximately 2 dB when the modulating voltage is 2.2 V, which may open avenues for channel detection techniques and have deep implications in top tuning applications.

Theoretical study on time response of semiconductor photorefractive effects under subpicosecond ultra-fast X-rays

A theoretical model that can efficiently calculate the refractive index response of semiconductors under ultrafast X-ray radiation is established based on the photorefractive effect of semiconductors. The proposed model is used to interpret X-ray diagnostics experiments, and the results are in good agreement with experiments. In the proposed model, a rate equation model of free carrier density calculation is adopted with the X-ray absorption cross-sections calculated by atomic codes. The two-temperature model is used to describe the electron-lattice equilibration and the extended Drude model is applied to calculate the transient refractive index change. It is found that faster time response can be achieved for semiconductors with shorter carrier lifetime and sub-picosecond resolution can be obtained for InP and [Formula: see text]. The material response time is not sensitive to X-ray energy and the diagnostics can be used in the 1-10 keV energy range. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dynamic and transient processes in warm dense matter'.

HS6ST1 overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblast and inhibited cholangiocarcinoma progression

BACKGROUD

Fibroblasts turn into cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment, which play an important role in tumor progression. However, the mechanism is unclear.

AIMS

To investigate the role of CAFs with HS6ST1-overexpression in cell migration and invasion effects.

METHODS

Human primary CAFs were isolated and identified from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. mRNA profiles differences between CAFs and NFs were examined by using transcriptome sequencing. Using Transwell® migration assays, ICCA cells (RBE and HUCCT1) with NF-CM, CAF-CM, CAFsNC-CM, and CAFsHS6ST1-CM were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the expression of HS6ST1 in CAF in 152 patients with ICCA. Overall survival (OS) was compared based on CAF HS6ST1 expression were analysed. The relationship between clinicopathological parameters and survival was also examined.

RESULTS

Successfully isolated CAFs is positive staining with αSMA, FSP-1, FAP, and PDGFR-β. Transcriptome sequencing showed that differently expressed genes were enriched in the function of the extracellular matrix and chemokine signaling pathway. HS6ST1 is differentially expressed between CAFs and NFs, and associated with the migration and invasion of ICCA cells. Moreover, HS6ST1 positive expression of CAFs predicted unfavorable prognosis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and showed correlation with the presence of lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

HS6ST1 is new possibilities for targeting the CAFs to reduce cholangiocarcinoma growth and metastasis.