Integrating Iso-seq and RNA-seq data for the reannotation of the greater amberjack genome.

The greater amberjack is a very important fishery species with high commercial value, and it is distributed worldwide. Transcriptome-based studies on S. dumerili have been limited by an inadequate reference genome and a lack of well-annotated full-length transcripts. In this study, a total of 12 tissues from juvenile and adult fish both sexes were collected for next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and full-length isoform sequencing (Iso-seq). For Iso-seq, a total of 163,218, 149,716, and 189,169 high-quality unique transcript sequences were obtained, with an N50 of 5,441, 5,255, and 5,939, from juvenile, adult male and adult female S. dumerili, respectively. We integrated the Iso-seq and RNA-seq data to construct a comprehensive gene annotation and systematically profiled the dynamics of gene expression across the 12 tissues. Our gene models had greater detail and accuracy than those from NCBI and Ensembl, with more precise polyA locations. These resources serve as a foundation for functional genomic studies and provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the development, reproduction and commercial traits of amberjack.

A biocompatible pea protein isolate-derived bioink for 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering.

Three-dimensional bioprinting is a potent biofabrication technique in tissue engineering but is limited by inadequate bioink availability. Plant-derived proteins are increasingly recognized as highly promising yet underutilized materials for biomedical product development and hold potential for use in bioink formulations. Herein, we report the development of a biocompatible plant protein bioink from pea protein isolate. Through pH shifting, ethanol precipitation, and lyophilization, the pea protein isolate (PPI) transformed from an insoluble to a soluble form. Next, it was modified with glycidyl methacrylate to obtain methacrylate-modified PPI (PPIGMA), which is photocurable and was used as the precursor of bioink. The mechanical and microstructural studies of the hydrogel containing 16% PPIGMA revealed a suitable compress modulus and a porous network with a pore size over 100 µm, which can facilitate nutrient and waste transportation. The PPIGMA bioink exhibited good 3D bioprinting performance in creating complex patterns and good biocompatibility as plenty of viable cells were observed in the printed samples after 3 days of incubation in the cell culture medium. No immunogenicity of the PPIGMA bioink was identified as no inflammation was observed for 4 weeks after implantation in Sprague Dawley rats. Compared with methacrylate-modified gelatin, the PPIGMA bioink significantly enhanced cartilage regeneration in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that it can be used in tissue engineering applications. In summary, the PPIGMA bioink can be potentially used for tissue engineering applications.

A Convexity-Preserving Level-Set Method for the Segmentation of Tumor Organoids.

Tumor organoid cultures play a crucial role in clinical practice, particularly in guiding medication by accurately determining the morphology and size of the organoids. However, segmenting individual tumor organoids is challenging due to their inhomogeneous internal intensity and overlapping structures. This paper proposes a convexity-preserving level-set segmentation 4 model based on the characteristics of tumor organoid images to segment individual tumor organoids precisely. Considering the predominant spherical shape exhibited by organoid growth, we propose a level-set model that includes a data-driven term, a curvature term, and a regularization term. The data-driven term pulls the contour to the vicinity of the boundary; the curvature term ensures the maintenance of convexity in the targeted segmentation, and the regularization term controls the smoothness and propagation of the contour. The proposed model aids in overcoming interference from factors such as overlap and noise, enabling the evolving curve to converge to the actual boundary of the target accurately. Furthermore, we propose a selectable and targeted initialization method that guarantees precise segmentation of specific regions of interest. Experiments on 51 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma organoid images show that our model achieved excellent segmentation results. The average Dice value and computation time are 98.81±0.48% and 20.67 s. Compared with the C-V and CPLSE models, it is more accurate and takes less time.

Photocrosslinkable Sericin Hydrogel Injected into the Anterior Chamber of Mice with Chronic Ocular Hypertension Efficacy, Medication Sensitivity, and Material Safety.

(1) Background: A rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) and decreased retinal ganglion cells are frequent indicators of effective modeling of chronic ocular hypertension in mice. In this study, the sensitivity of the mouse model to pharmaceutical therapy to reduce intraocular tension was assessed, the model's safety was confirmed using a cytotoxicity test, and the success rate of the mouse model of ocular hypertension was assessed by assessing alterations in IOP and neurons in the ganglion cell layer. (2) Methods: A mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension was produced in this study by employing photocrosslinkable sericin hydrogel injection and LED lamp irradiation. The eyes of 25 C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to 405 nm UV light from the front for 2 min after being injected with 5 µL of sericin hydrogel in the anterior chamber of the left eye. IOP in the mice was measured daily, and IOP rises greater than 5 mmHg were considered intraocular hypertension. When the IOP was lowered, the intervention was repeated once, but the interval between treatments was at least 2 weeks. The right eyes were not treated with anything as a normal control group. Mice eyeballs were stained with HE, Ni-type, and immunofluorescence to assess the model's efficacy. Two common drugs (tafluprost eye drops and timolol eye drops) were provided for one week after four weeks of stable IOP, and IOP changes were assessed to determine the drug sensitivity of the mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension. Furthermore, CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay (MTS) was utilized to investigate the safety of the ocular hypertension model by evaluating the deleterious effects of photocrosslinkable sericin hydrogel on cells. (3) Results: Before injection, the basal IOP was (9.42 ± 1.28) mmHg (1 kPa = 7.5 mmHg) in the experimental group and (9.08 ± 1.21) in the control group. After injection, cataract occurred in one eye, corneal edema in one eye, endophthalmitis in one eye, iris incarceration in one eye, and eyeball atrophy in one eye. Five mice with complications were excluded from the experiment, and twenty mice were left. Four weeks after injection, the IOP of the experimental group was maintained at (19.7 ± 4.52) mmHg, and that of the control group was maintained at (9.92 ± 1.55) mmHg, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Before the intervention, the IOP in the experimental group was (21.7 ± 3.31) mmHg in the high IOP control group, (20.33 ± 2.00) mmHg in the tafluprost eye drops group, and (20.67 ± 3.12) mmHg in the timolol maleate eye drops group. The IOP after the intervention was (23.2 ± 1.03) mmHg, (12.7 ± 2.11) mmHg, and (10.4 ± 1.43) mmHg, respectively. Before and after the intervention, there were no significant differences in the high-IOP control group (p > 0.05), there were statistically significant differences in the timolol eye drops group (p < 0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in the tafluprost eye drops group (p < 0.05). One week after drug withdrawal, there was no significant difference in IOP among the three groups (p > 0.05). In the high-IOP group, the protein (sericin hydrogel) showed a short strips or fragmented structure in the anterior chamber, accompanied by a large number of macrophages and a small number of plasma cells. The shape of the chamber angle was normal in the blank control group. The number of retinal ganglion cells decreased significantly 8 weeks after injection of sericin hydrogel into the anterior chamber, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the blank control group (p < 0.05). After the cells were treated with photocrosslinkable sericin hydrogel, there was no significant difference in the data of the CellTiter 96® assay kit of MTS compared with the blank control group (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: A mouse model of chronic intraocular hypertension can be established successfully by injecting sericin in the anterior chamber and irradiating with ultraviolet light. The model can simulate the structural and functional changes of glaucoma and can effectively reduce IOP after the action of most antihypertensive drugs, and it is highly sensitive to drugs. Sericin has no obvious toxic effect on cells and has high safety.

Activation of secondary metabolite gene clusters in Chaetomium olivaceum via the deletion of a histone deacetylase.

Histone acetylation modifications in filamentous fungi play a crucial role in epigenetic gene regulation and are closely linked to the transcription of secondary metabolite (SM) biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a pivotal role in determining the extent of histone acetylation modifications and act as triggers for the expression activity of target BGCs. The genus Chaetomium is widely recognized as a rich source of novel and bioactive SMs. Deletion of a class I HDAC gene of Chaetomium olivaceum SD-80A, g7489, induces a substantial pleiotropic effect on the expression of SM BGCs. The C. olivaceum SD-80A ∆g7489 strain exhibited significant changes in morphology, sporulation ability, and secondary metabolic profile, resulting in the emergence of new compound peaks. Notably, three polyketides (A1-A3) and one asterriquinone (A4) were isolated from this mutant strain. Furthermore, our study explored the BGCs of A1-A4, confirming the function of two polyketide synthases (PKSs). Collectively, our findings highlight the promising potential of molecular epigenetic approaches for the elucidation of novel active compounds and their biosynthetic elements in Chaetomium species. This finding holds great significance for the exploration and utilization of Chaetomium resources. KEY POINTS: • Deletion of a class I histone deacetylase activated secondary metabolite gene clusters. • Three polyketides and one asterriquinone were isolated from HDAC deleted strain. • Two different PKSs were reported in C. olivaceum SD-80A.

The relationship and pathways between resting-state EEG, physical function, and cognitive function in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Based on resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) evidence, this study aimed to explore the relationship and pathways between EEG-mediated physical function and cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment. METHODS: A total of 140 older adults with cognitive impairment were recruited, and data on their physical function, cognitive function, and EEG were collected. Pearson correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance, linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling analysis were conducted to explore the relationships and pathways among variables. RESULTS: FP1 theta (effect size = 0.136, 95% CI: 0.025-0.251) and T4 alpha2 (effect size = 0.140, 95% CI: 0.057-0.249) were found to significantly mediate the relationship. The direct effect (effect size = 0.866, 95% CI: 0.574-1.158) and total effect (effect size = 1.142, 95% CI: 0.848-1.435) of SPPB on MoCA were both significant. CONCLUSION: Higher physical function scores in older adults with cognitive impairment were associated with higher cognitive function scores. Left frontal theta and right temporal alpha2, as key observed indicators, may mediate the relationship between physical function and cognitive function. It is suggested to implement personalized exercise interventions based on the specific physical function of older adults, which may delay the occurrence and progression of cognitive impairment in older adults with cognitive impairment.

Long non-coding RNA LIP interacts with PARP-1 influencing the efficiency of base excision repair.

In recent years, various long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in DNA damage response (DDR) have been identified and studied to deepen our understanding. However, there are rare reports on the association between lncRNAs and base excision repair (BER). Our designed DNA microarray identified dozens of functionally unknown lncRNAs, and their transcription levels significantly increased upon exposure to DNA damage inducers. One of them, named LIP (Long noncoding RNA Interacts with PARP-1), exhibited a significant alteration in transcription in response to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and temozolomide (TMZ) treatments. LIP knockdown or knockout cell lines are sensitive to MMS and TMZ, indicating that LIP plays a crucial role in DDR. The loss or insufficiency of LIP significantly influences the efficiency of BER in human cells, and it suggests that LIP participates in the BER pathway. The interaction between LIP and a key factor in BER, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), has been confirmed. We identified and characterized LIP, a lncRNA, which is involved in DDR, significantly influences BER efficiency, and interacts with the BER key factor PARP-1. This advances our understanding of the connection between lncRNAs and BER, presenting the potential for the discovery of new drug targets.

Leveraging genomic signatures of oral microbiome-associated antibiotic resistance genes for diagnosing pancreatic cancer.

Growing evidence has increasingly suggested a potential linkage between the oral microbiome and various diseases, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the utilization of gene-level information derived from the oral microbiome for diagnosing PDAC remains unexplored. In this study, we sought to investigate the novel potential of leveraging genomic signatures associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the oral microbiome for the diagnosis of PDAC. By conducting an analysis of oral microbiome samples obtained from PDAC patients, we successfully identified specific ARGs that displayed distinct sequence abundance profiles correlated with the presence of PDAC. In the healthy group, three ARGs were found to be enriched, whereas 21 ARGs were enriched in PDAC patients. Remarkably, these ARGs from oral microbiome exhibited promising diagnostic capabilities for PDAC (AUROC = 0.79), providing a non-invasive and early detection method. Our findings not only provide novel modal data for diagnosing PDAC but also shed light on the intricate interplay between the oral microbiome and PDAC.

PTSD prevalence and factors in intern nursing students after COVID-19 full liberalization in China: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its influencing factors among intern nursing students after the full liberalization of the COVID-19 prevention and control policy in China. Methods: Participants completed the online survey from January 14 to January 19, 2023. A demographic questionnaire, COVID-19 and internship-related questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 scale, the Primary Care PTSD Screen, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to conduct the online survey. Results: Of 438 participants, 88.4% tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 6 months. The prevalence of fear, resilience, and PTSD was 16.9, 15.5, and 11.2%, respectively. Direct care of COVID patients in hospital (OR = 2.084, 95%CI 1.034 ~ 4.202), the experience of occupational exposure (OR = 2.856, 95%CI 1.436 ~ 5.681), working with an experienced team (OR = 2.120, 95%CI 1.070 ~ 4.198), and fear COVID-19 (OR = 8.269, 95%CI 4.150 ~ 16.479) were significantly and positively associated with PTSD in nursing internship students. Conclusion: After COVID-19 full liberalization in China, intern nursing students still experienced pandemic-related mental distress, which can bring PTSD. Adequate support and counseling should be provided, as needed, to intern nursing students who are about to enter the workforce and have experienced severe PTSD symptoms related to COVID-19. Our findings indicated that should understand the importance of screening, formulate intervention strategies and preventive measures to address psychosocial problems, and provide coping skills training to intern nursing students.

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to obstruction of the superior mesenteric vein.

ABSTRACT: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common clinical symptom. Finding the underlying cause is the first step for treatment. In a few patients, this can be difficult. The present work reports on the unusual case of a 53-year-old man who presented gastrointestinal bleeding. No bleeding site was found by gastrocolonoscopy or interventional examination, but after multidisciplinary consultation, we discovered that the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding was the obstruction of the upper mesenteric vein.

Injectable Nanocomposite Immune Hydrogel Dressings: Prevention of Tumor Recurrence and Anti-Infection after Melanoma Resection.

Complex wound repair due to tumor recurrence and infection following tumor resection presents significant clinical challenges. In this study, a bifunctional nanocomposite immune hydrogel dressing, SerMA-LJC, is developed to address the issues associated with repairing infected damaged tissues and preventing tumor recurrence. Specifically, the immune dressing is composed of methacrylic anhydride-modified sericin (SerMA) and self-assembled nanoparticles (LJC) containing lonidamine (Lon), JQ1, and chlorine e6 (Ce6). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the nanocomposite hydrogel dressing can trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD) and has a potent anti-tumor effect. Moreover, this dressing can mitigate the acidic microenvironment of tumor cells and suppress the overexpression of PD-L1 on the tumor cell surface, thereby altering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and augmenting the anti-tumor immune response. Further, the RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the hydrogel dressing significantly impacts pathways associated with positive regulation of immune response, apoptotic process, and other relevant pathways, thus triggering a potent anti-tumor immune response. More importantly, the dressing generates a substantial amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can effectively kill Staphylococcus aureus and promote infectious wound healing. In conclusion, this dual-function nanocomposite immune hydrogel dressing exhibits promise in preventing tumor recurrence and promoting infectious wound healing.

An Anti-Oxidative Bioink for Cartilage Tissue Engineering Applications.

Since chondrocytes are highly vulnerable to oxidative stress, an anti-oxidative bioink combined with 3D bioprinting may facilitate its applications in cartilage tissue engineering. We developed an anti-oxidative bioink with methacrylate-modified rutin (RTMA) as an additional bioactive component and glycidyl methacrylate silk fibroin as a biomaterial component. Bioink containing 0% RTMA was used as the control sample. Compared with hydrogel samples produced with the control bioink, solidified anti-oxidative bioinks displayed a similar porous microstructure, which is suitable for cell adhesion and migration, and the transportation of nutrients and wastes. Among photo-cured samples prepared with anti-oxidative bioinks and the control bioink, the sample containing 1 mg/mL of RTMA (RTMA-1) showed good degradation, promising mechanical properties, and the best cytocompatibility, and it was selected for further investigation. Based on the results of 3D bioprinting tests, the RTMA-1 bioink exhibited good printability and high shape fidelity. The results demonstrated that RTMA-1 reduced intracellular oxidative stress in encapsulated chondrocytes under H2O2 stimulation, which results from upregulation of COLII and AGG and downregulation of MMP13 and MMP1. By using in vitro and in vivo tests, our data suggest that the RTMA-1 bioink significantly enhanced the regeneration and maturation of cartilage tissue compared to the control bioink, indicating that this anti-oxidative bioink can be used for 3D bioprinting and cartilage tissue engineering applications in the future.

Study on the Quality Variation and Internal Mechanisms of Frozen Oatmeal Cooked Noodles during Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

Frozen staple food, attributed to its favorable taste and convenience, has a promising development potential in the future. Frequent freezing and thawing, however, will affect its quality. This study simulated several freeze-thaw cycles (FTC) that may occur during the cold chain process of frozen oatmeal cooked noodles (FOCN) production to consumption. The quality changes and their mechanisms were elucidated using methods such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), texture analysis, and sensory evaluation. The freezable water content of the FOCN decreased because of the FTC treatment, and the relative content of total water in FOCN also decreased accordingly. The increase in ß-Turn after FTC induced disorder in the secondary structure of proteins, causing the protein microstructure to become loose and discontinuous, which in turn reduced the water-holding capacity of FOCN. Additionally, FTC reduced the chewiness and sensory score of FOCN. This research will contribute a theoretical foundation for optimizing the cold chain process.

A novel adjustable PHBV basement film for enhancing the efficacy of glaucoma surgery by inhibiting scar formation.

Trabeculectomy is the primary surgical approach used to treat glaucoma, but scarring of the filtering passage (filtering bleb) after surgery often leads to treatment failure. To address this issue, we have developed a drug release system called RSG/Pd@ZIF-8 PHBV film. This system enables the sustained release of an anti-fibrosis drug, aiming to prevent scarring. In vitro, the film has the function of continuous Rosiglitazone (RSG) release, with accelerated release after laser irradiation. The antibacterial experiments revealed that the film exhibited antibacterial rates of 87.0 % against E.coli and 97.1 % against S.aureus, respectively. Moreover, we confirmed its efficacy in a rabbit eye model undergoing trabeculectomy. After implantation of the film, we observed a prolonged postoperative period for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), increased survival rate of filtering blebs, and improved long-term surgical outcomes in vivo. Additionally, the film exhibited excellent biosafety. In summary, the designed sustained-release film in this study possesses the aforementioned functionalities, allowing for the regulation of anti-scarring drug release without causing harm post-surgery. This personalized and precise anti-scarring strategy represents a significant advancement.

Natural self-healing injectable hydrogels loaded with exosomes and berberine for infected wound healing.

Complete and rapid healing of infected skin wounds remains a challenge in current clinical treatment. In this study, we prepared a self-healing injectable CK hydrogel by crosslinking two natural polysaccharides, carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized konjac glucomannan, based on the Schiff base bond. To enhance the biological function of the hydrogel, we multi-functionalized hydrogen by loading it with berberine (BBR) and stem cell-derived exosomes (Exo), forming a composite hydrogel, CK@BBR&Exo, which could be injected directly into the wound through a needle and adhered to the wound. Furthermore, the self-healing properties of CK@BBR&Exo increased its usefulness and service life. Additionally, the drug-loaded CK@BBR&Exo hydrogel was versatile, inhibiting bacterial growth, regulating the inflammatory response, and promoting neovascularization in infected skin wounds, thus achieving the rapid healing of infected skin wounds. These results suggest that the CK@BBR&Exo-injectable self-healing hydrogel is an ideal dressing for treating infected skin wounds.

Tanshinone IIA Facilitates Efficient Cartilage Regeneration under Inflammatory Factors Caused Stress via Upregulating LncRNA NEAT1_2.

(1) Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a crippling condition characterized by chondrocyte dedifferentiation, cartilage degradation, and subsequent cartilage defects. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective medicines to facilitate the repair of cartilage defects in OA patients. In this study, we investigated the role of lncRNA NEAT1_2 in maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype and identified tanshinone IIA(TAN) as a natural medicine that enhances NEAT1_2 levels, resulting in efficient cartilage regeneration under inflammatory cytokines. (2) Methods: The transcriptional levels of NEAT1_2 and cartilage phenotype-related genes were identified by RT-qPCR. The siRNA interference approach was utilized to silence NEAT1_2; the Alamar Blue assay was performed to determine chondrocyte viability under inflammatory conditions. To evaluate the concentrations of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans distributed by chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo, immunohistochemical staining and Safranin O staining were used. (3) Results: IL-1ß suppresses NEAT1_2 and genes related to the chondrocytic phenotype, whereas TAN effectively upregulates them in a NEAT1_2-dependent manner. Consistently, TAN alleviated chondrocyte oxidative stress inhibited cartilage degradation by modulating the relevant genes and promoted efficient cartilage regeneration in vitro and in vivo when chondrocytes are exposed to inflammatory cytokines. (4) Conclusions: TAN enhances the expression of NEAT1_2 inhibited by IL-1ß and affects the transcription of chondrocytic phenotype-related genes, which promotes cartilage regeneration in an inflammatory environment.

Molecular underpinnings underlying behaviors changes in the brain of juvenile common carp (Cyrinus carpio) in response to warming.

INTRODUCTION: Global warming is increasing interest in how aquatic animals can adjust their physiological performance and cope with temperature changes. Therefore, understanding the behavioral changes and molecular underpinnings in fish under warming is crucial for both the individual and groups survival. This could provide experimental evidence and resource for evaluating the impact of global warming. OBJECTIVE: Three genetic families of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were generated. These juveniles were constructed short-term (4 days) and long-term (30 days) warming groups to investigate the effects of warming on behavioral responses and to elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms of warming-driven behavior. METHODS: Behavioral tests were used to explore the effects of short- and long-term exposure to warming on the swimming behavior of C. carpio. Brain transcriptome combined with measurement of nervous system activity was used to further investigated the comprehensive neuromolecular mechanisms under warming. RESULTS: Long-term warming groups had a more significant impact on the decline of swimming behavior in juvenile C. carpio. Furthermore, brain comparative transcriptomic analysis combined with measurement of nervous system activity revealed that genes involved in cytoskeletal organization, mitochondrial regulation, and energy metabolism are major regulators of behavior in the juvenile under warming. Importantly, especially in the long-term warming groups, enrichment analysis of associated gene expression suggested functional alterations of synaptic transmission and signal transduction leading to swimming function impairment in the central nervous system, as revealed by behavioral tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence of the neurogenomic mechanism underlying the decreased swimming activity in juvenile C. carpio under warming. These findings have important implications for understanding the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them.

Optimizing Voice Recognition Informatic Robots for Effective Communication in Outpatient Settings.

Aim/Objective Within the dynamic healthcare technology landscape, this research aims to explore patient inquiries within outpatient clinics, elucidating the interplay between technology and healthcare intricacies. Building upon the initial intelligent guidance robot implementation shortcomings, this investigation seeks to enhance informatic robots with voice recognition technology. The objective is to analyze users' vocal patterns, discern age-associated vocal attributes, and facilitate age differentiation through subtle vocal nuances to enhance the efficacy of human-robot communication within outpatient clinical settings. Methods This investigation employs a multi-faceted approach. It leverages voice recognition technology to analyze users' vocal patterns. A diverse dataset of voice samples from various age groups was collected. Acoustic features encompassing pitch, formant frequencies, spectral characteristics, and vocal tract length are extracted from the audio samples. The Mel Filterbank and Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) are employed for speech and audio processing tasks alongside machine learning algorithms to assess and match vocal patterns to age-related traits. Results The research reveals compelling outcomes. The incorporation of voice recognition technology contributes to a significant improvement in human-robot communication within outpatient clinical settings. Through accurate analysis of vocal patterns and age-related traits, informatic robots can differentiate age through nuanced verbal cues. This augmentation leads to enhanced contextual understanding and tailored responses, significantly advancing the efficiency of patient interactions with the robots. Conclusion Integrating voice recognition technology into informatic robots presents a noteworthy advancement in outpatient clinic settings. By enabling age differentiation through vocal nuances, this augmentation enhances the precision and relevance of responses. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the dynamic evolution of healthcare technology, underscoring the complex synergy between technological progression and the intricate realities within healthcare infrastructure. As healthcare continues to metamorphose, the seamless integration of voice recognition technology marks a pivotal stride in optimizing human-robot communication and elevating patient care within outpatient settings.

Spliceosomal protein U2B″ delays leaf senescence by enhancing splicing variant JAZ9ß expression to attenuate jasmonate signaling in Arabidopsis.

The regulatory framework of leaf senescence is gradually becoming clearer; however, the fine regulation of this process remains largely unknown. Here, genetic analysis revealed that U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein B (U2B″), a component of the spliceosome, is a negative regulator of leaf senescence. Mutation of U2B″ led to precocious leaf senescence, whereas overexpression of U2B″ extended leaf longevity. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway was activated in the u2b″ mutant. U2B″ enhances the generation of splicing variant JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN 9ß (JAZ9ß) with an intron retention in the Jas motif, which compromises its interaction with CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 and thus enhances the stability of JAZ9ß protein. Moreover, JAZ9ß could interact with MYC2 and obstruct its activity, thereby attenuating JA signaling. Correspondingly, overexpression of JAZ9ß rescued the early senescence phenotype of the u2b″ mutant. Furthermore, JA treatment promoted expression of U2B″ that was found to be a direct target of MYC2. Overexpression of MYC2 in the u2b″ mutant resulted in a more pronounced premature senescence than that in wild-type plants. Collectively, our findings reveal that the spliceosomal protein U2B″ fine-tunes leaf senescence by enhancing the expression of JAZ9ß and thereby attenuating JA signaling.

Berberine oleanolic acid complex salt grafted hyaluronic acid/silk fibroin (BOA-g-HA/SF) composite scaffold promotes cartilage tissue regeneration under IL-1ß caused stress.

Since inflammatory cytokines cause stress to chondrocytes and the failure of cartilage defects repair with cartilage tissue engineering, it is necessary to develop a scaffold to maintain cartilage regeneration under inflammatory factors caused stress. Following a berberine-oleanolic acid (OA) complex salt (BOA) was grafted to hyaluronic acid (HA) to obtain water soluble BOA-g-HA, it mixed with silk fibroin (SF) to prepared 4 solutions, which contained 30 mg/mL SF and 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, and 3.0 mg/mL BOA-g-HA respectively. They were lyophilized to fabricate BOA-g-HA/SF-1, BOA-g-HA/SF-2, BOA-g-HA/SF-3, and BOA-g-HA/SF-4 composite scaffolds respectively. All prepared scaffolds displayed porous network structure and exhibited promising mechanical properties for tissue engineering applications. Among them, the BOA-g-HA/SF-3 composite scaffold showed the highest influence on maintaining chondrocytic phenotype of chondrocytes under IL-1ß induced stress. Following SF, HA/SF, and BOA-g-HA/SF-3 composite scaffolds with seeded chondrocytes were treated with IL-1ß induction for 1 week, specimens were incubated with cell culture medium for 3 week or were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice for 4 weeks. The results demonstrated that the BOA-g-HA/SF-3 composite scaffold promotes cartilage tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo under IL-1ß caused stress, suggesting that it can be potential applied for repairing cartilage defects in osteoarthritis patients.