Enhancement of ammonia synthesis via electrocatalytic reduction of low-concentration nitrate using co-doped MIL-101(Fe) nanostructured catalysts.

In the domain of electrocatalytic NO3- reduction (NO3-RR) for the treatment of low-concentration nitrate-containing domestic or industrial wastewater, the conversion of NO3- into NH4+ holds significant promise for resource recovery. Nevertheless, the central challenge in this field revolves around the development of catalysts exhibiting both high catalytic activity and selectivity. To tackle this challenge, we design a two-step hydrothermal combine with carbonization process to fabricate a cobalt-doped Fe-based MOF (MIL-101) catalyst at 800 °C temperatures. The aim was to fully leverage cobalt's demonstrated high selectivity in NO3- electroreduction and enhance activity by promoting electron transfer through the d-band of Fe. The results indicate that the synthesized catalyst inherits multiple active sites from its precursor, with the co-doping process optimized through the topological properties of the MOF. Elemental analysis and oxidation state testing were employed to scrutinize the fundamental characteristics of this catalyst type and comprehend how these features may influence its efficiency. Electrochemical analysis revealed that, even under conditions of low NO3- concentration, the Cox@MIL-Fe catalyst achieved an impressive nitrate conversion rate of 98 % at -0.9 V vs. RHE. NH4+ selectivity was notably high at 87 %, and the by-product NO2- levels remained at a minimal threshold. The Faradaic efficiency for NH4+ reached 74 %, with ammonia yield approaching 0.08 mmol h-1 cm-2. This study furnishes indispensable research data for the design of Fe-based electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction, offering profound insights into the modulation of catalysts to play a pivotal role in the electroreduction of nitrate ions.

Repeated radon exposure induced ATM kinase-mediated DNA damage response and protective autophagy in mice and human bronchial epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Radon ( 222 Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has been closely linked with the development of lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the radon-induced DNA strand breaks, a critical event in lung carcinogenesis, and the corresponding DNA damage response (DDR) in mice and human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. METHODS: Biomarkers of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), DNA repair response to DSBs, ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, autophagy, and a cell apoptosis signaling pathway as well as cell-cycle arrest and the rate of apoptosis were determined in mouse lung and BEAS-2B cells after radon exposure. RESULTS: Repeated radon exposure induced DSBs indicated by the increasing expressions of γ-Histone 2AX (H2AX) protein and H2AX gene in a time and dose-dependent manner. Additionally, a panel of ATM-dependent repair cascades [i.e. non-homologous DNA end joining (NHEJ), cell-cycle arrest and the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)/Bax apoptosis signaling pathway] as well as the autophagy process were activated. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine pre-treatment partially reversed the expression of NHEJ-related genes induced by radon exposure in BEAS-2B cells. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated that long-term exposure to radon gas induced DNA lesions in the form of DSBs and a series of ATM-dependent DDR pathways. Activation of the ATM-mediated autophagy may provide a protective and pro-survival effect on radon-induced DSBs.

Spatially Informed Graph Structure Learning Extracts Insights from Spatial Transcriptomics.

Embeddings derived from cell graphs hold significant potential for exploring spatial transcriptomics (ST) datasets. Nevertheless, existing methodologies rely on a graph structure defined by spatial proximity, which inadequately represents the diversity inherent in cell-cell interactions (CCIs). This study introduces STAGUE, an innovative framework that concurrently learns a cell graph structure and a low-dimensional embedding from ST data. STAGUE employs graph structure learning to parameterize and refine a cell graph adjacency matrix, enabling the generation of learnable graph views for effective contrastive learning. The derived embeddings and cell graph improve spatial clustering accuracy and facilitate the discovery of novel CCIs. Experimental benchmarks across 86 real and simulated ST datasets show that STAGUE outperforms 15 comparison methods in clustering performance. Additionally, STAGUE delineates the heterogeneity in human breast cancer tissues, revealing the activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and PI3K/AKT signaling in specific sub-regions. Furthermore, STAGUE identifies CCIs with greater alignment to established biological knowledge than those ascertained by existing graph autoencoder-based methods. STAGUE also reveals the regulatory genes that participate in these CCIs, including those enriched in neuropeptide signaling and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, thereby providing insights into the underlying biological processes.

Immune signature of gene expression pattern shared by autism spectrum disorder and Huntington's disease.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Huntington's disease (HD) are complex neurological conditions with unclear causes and limited treatments, affecting individuals, families, and society. Despite ASD and HD representing two opposing stages of neuronal development and degeneration, they share similar clinical-pathological features in motor function. In this study, we leveraged transcriptomic data from the prefrontal cortex available in public databases to identify shared transcriptional characteristics of ASD and HD. Differential expression analysis revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated in ASD carriers, whereas most DEGs were down-regulated in HD carriers. Among the DEGs shared between both diseases, three out of seven protein-coding genes were related to the immune system. Furthermore, we identified two enriched pathways shared between ASD and HD DEGs. The gene interaction network analysis unveiled four hub genes shared by both diseases, all of which are associated with immune functions. The findings suggest a shared gene expression pattern in the prefrontal cortex of people with ASD and HD, closely linked to the immune system. These findings will contribute to exploring the biological mechanisms underlying the shared phenotypes of these two diseases from an immunological perspective.

On the contribution of atmospheric reactive nitrogen deposition to nitrogen burden in a eutrophic Lake in eastern China.

Although it has been demonstrated that atmospheric reactive nitrogen (i.e., Nr mainly including NH3, NH4+, NOx, NO3- and etc.) deposition has substantial impacts on nitrogen pools in remote and/or sensitive lakes, there is a scarcity of systematic evaluations regarding the impact on nitrogen burden in eutrophic lakes with riverine input as primary nitrogen source. Utilizing a regional atmospheric chemical transport model, combined with observation-based estimates of atmospheric nitrogen deposition fluxes and riverine nitrogen inputs, we investigate the contribution of atmospheric Nr deposition to the fifth largest freshwater lake located in eastern China, i.e., the Chaohu Lake which is facing frequent outbreaks of algal bloom. The results indicate that in the studied year of 2022, riverine total nitrogen (TN) input to the lake was 11553.3 t N yr-1 and atmospheric TN deposition was 2326.0 t N yr-1. For Nr species which are directly available for the biosphere supporting algae and plant growth, riverine NH4+ input was 1856.1 t N yr-1 and atmospheric NHx (NH3 and NH4+) deposition was 824.5 t N yr-1. The latter accounts for 30.8% of total NHx input to the lake. For NOy (HNO3 and NO3-), riverine NO3- input was estimated as 2621.7 t N yr-1, while atmospheric NOy deposition was 629.3 t N yr-1, accounting for 19.4%. In all, atmospheric Nr deposition accounts for 24.5 % of total Nr input to the lake. Our results suggest that even in regions with dense human activities with primary riverine N input, atmospheric deposition of Nr could also contribute significantly to the bio-available nitrogen in lake systems, and addressing eutrophication in Lake Chaohu and other eutrophic lakes will also need to consider the influence of atmospheric Nr deposition which is related to NH3 and NOx (i.e., NO + NO2, the precursor of NOy) emissions, in addition to the mitigation of riverine N input.

Sex-Specific Behavioral and Molecular Responses to Maternal Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Immune Activation in a Murine Model: Implications for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy has been increasingly recognized as a critical factor in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, with potential sex-specific impacts that are not yet fully understood. In this study, we utilized a murine model to explore the behavioral and molecular consequences of MIA induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration on embryonic day 12.5. Our findings indicate that male offspring exposed to LPS exhibited significant increases in anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, while female offspring did not show comparable changes. Molecular analyses revealed alterations in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and synaptic gene expression in male offspring, suggesting that these molecular disruptions may underlie the observed behavioral differences. These results emphasize the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in studies of neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight the need for further molecular investigations to understand the mechanisms driving these sex-specific outcomes. Our study contributes to the growing evidence that prenatal immune challenges play a pivotal role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders and underscores the potential for sex-specific preventative approaches of MIA.

Effects of Social Group Housing on the Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Captive Sub-Adult Giant Pandas.

Wild giant pandas are inherently solitary creatures, however, the ex-situ conservation efforts significantly alter the living circumstances of their captive counterparts. Following the breeding period, giant pandas in captivity may be maintained in social groups. Currently, there is a lack of research on the effects of group housing on the physiology, behavior, and gut microbiota of captive giant pandas. This study divided six captive giant pandas into two groups following the breeding period. By comparing the behavior, physiology, and microorganisms of the two groups, we aim to investigate the behavioral responses and physiological adaptation mechanisms exhibited by captive giant pandas in a "group living" state. Our findings indicate that sub-adult giant pandas housed in group settings exhibit a significantly longer duration of playing behavior (including interactive and non-interactive play) compared to their counterparts housed separately (p < 0.001) while also demonstrating a significantly lower duration of stereotyped behavior than their separately housed counterparts. Additionally, an analysis of urine cortisol and heart rate variability between the two groups revealed no significant differences. Simultaneously, the group housing strategy markedly elevated the ß diversity of gut microbiota in sub-adult giant pandas. In conclusion, the group-rearing model during the sub-adult stage has been shown to significantly alter the behavioral patterns of captive giant pandas. In conclusion, within the present captive setting, the group-rearing approach during the sub-adult stage proved to be less distressing for adult captive giant pandas.

Millet Bran Dietary Fibers Modified by Heating and Enzymolysis Combined with Carboxymethylation, Acetylation, or Crosslinking: Influences on Properties of Heat-Induced Egg White Protein Gel.

Applications of millet bran dietary fiber (MBDF) in the food industry are limited by its poor hydration properties. Herein, MBDF was modified by heating, xylanase and cellulase treatment separately combined with carboxymethylation, acetylation, and phosphate crosslinking, and the effects of the modified MBDFs on heat-induced egg white protein gel (H-EWG) were studied. The results showed that three composite modifications, especially heating and dual enzymolysis combined with carboxymethylation, increased the surface area, soluble fiber content, and hydration properties of MBDF (p < 0.05). MBDF and the modified MBDFs all made the microstructure of H-EWG denser and decreased its α-helix content. Three composite modifications, especially heating and dual enzymolysis combined with carboxymethylation, enhanced the improving effect of MBDF on the WRA (from 24.89 to 35.53 g/g), pH, hardness (from 139.93 to 323.20 g), chewiness, and gumminess of H-EWPG, and enhanced the gastric stability at 3-5 g/100 g. MBDFs modified with heating and dual enzymolysis combined with acetylation or crosslinking were more effective in increasing the antioxidant activity of the gastrointestinal hydrolysates of H-EWG than MBDF (p < 0.05). Overall, heating, xylanase and cellulase treatment separately combined with carboxymethylation, acetylation and crosslinking can enhance the hydration properties and the improving effect of millet bran fibers on H-EWG properties.

Impact of non-selective beta blockers on further decompensation and death in decompensated cirrhosis: Benefit and risk stratification by MELD score.

BACKGROUND: Non-selective beta blockers (NSBBs) can reduce the risk of decompensation, but their impact on further decompensation has been rarely investigated. AIMS: The aim is to evaluate the impact of NSBBs on further decompensation and death in decompensated cirrhosis stratified by the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Overall, 332 decompensated cirrhotic patients were retrospectively included, of whom 149 used NSBBs. Kaplan-Meier and Nelson-Aalen cumulative risk curves as well as Cox regression and competing risk analyses were used to estimate the associations of NSBBs with further decompensation and death, if appropriate. Hazard ratio (HR) and sub-distribution HR (sHR) were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score at admission. RESULTS: In the overall analysis, the use of NSBBs was not significantly associated with further decompensation in multivariate competing risk analysis (sHR = 1.09, p = 0.580). In the subgroup analysis of patients with a MELD score of ≤9, the use of NSBBs was significantly associated with decreased risk of further decompensation in multivariate competing risk analysis (sHR = 0.57, p = 0.021). In the subgroup analysis of patients with a MELD score of >9, the use of NSBBs was associated with increased risk of further decompensation in multivariate competing risk analysis (sHR = 1.45, p = 0.044). Regardless of overall and subgroup analyses, the use of NSBBs was not significantly associated with death in multivariate Cox regression analyses. CONCLUSION: NSBBs may be beneficial for the prevention of further decompensation in cirrhotic patients with a MELD score of ≤9, but deleterious in those with a MELD score of >9.

Knowledge and Awareness Toward Menopausal Hormone Therapy in a Fourth-Tier City of China.

BACKGROUND Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has been receiving increasing attention in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate understanding of menopause and acceptance of MHT in Qinhuangdao, China. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed data from 186 perimenopausal patients on topics including menopausal symptoms and acceptance of and adherence to MHT treatment. We also surveyed 100 medical staff on menopausal-related knowledge. RESULTS Group A consisted of 41 patients treated with MHT for more than 1 cycle, group B consisted of 49 patients who had received MHT but had stopped it for more than 3 months, and group C consisted of 96 patients who never received MHT. There was a significant difference among them in modified Kupermann scores before treatment (P<0.05), but the difference disappeared after MHT (P>0.05). In group C, 32 patients (33%) were unaware of MHT, 60 (62.5%) were worried about the risk of breast/endometrial cancer, 24 (25%) were worried about high costs, and 67 (70%) had no obvious symptoms and did not want MHT. Similarly, in group B, most people stopped MHT for fear of breast or endometrial cancer. A survey targeting 100 medical staff in our hospital found 14 people (14%) knew about and were willing to accept MHT, 44 people (44%) knew about MHT but were afraid to use it, and 42 people (42%) did not know about MHT at all. CONCLUSIONS MHT has not yet been accepted by the majority of people, even medical staff, in Qinhuangdao, China, and much further progress is needed.

Abscopal effect: from a rare phenomenon to a new frontier in cancer therapy.

Radiotherapy (RT) controls local lesions, meantime it has the capability to induce systemic response to inhibit distant, metastatic, non-radiated tumors, which is referred to as the "abscopal effect". It is widely recognized that radiotherapy can stimulate systemic immune response. This provides a compelling theoretical basis for the combination of immune therapy combined with radiotherapy(iRT). Indeed, this phenomenon has also been observed in clinical treatment, bringing significant clinical benefits to patients, and a series of basic studies are underway to amplify this effect. However, the molecular mechanisms of immune response induced by RT, determination of the optimal treatment regimen for iRT, and how to amplify the abscopal effect. In order to amplify and utilize this effect in clinical management, these key issues require to be well addressed; In this review, we comprehensively summarize the growing consensus and emphasize the emerging limitations of enhancing the abscopal effect with radiotherapy or immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the prospects and barriers to the current clinical translational applications.

Construction of floating photothermal-assisted S-scheme heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline: Insights into mechanisms, degradation pathways and toxicity assessment.

Inspired by ecological floating beds to treat water pollution through photosynthesis, we employed a combination of calcination and hydrothermal methods to construct a photothermal-assisted photocatalysis system based on a floating monolithic porous mesh of g-C3N4 (MPMCN) loaded with the excellent photothermal material Bi2MoO6 (BMO), forming a BMO/MPMCN S-scheme heterojunction. This approach improved the utilization efficiency of solar light by BMO/MPMCN, minimized heat loss, and enhanced the overall temperature of the material during the reaction process, thereby accelerating interfacial electron transfer. The unique floating structure confers a larger specific surface area to BMO/MPMCN, providing more reaction sites for TC pollutants and efficiently removing TC contamination from water. BMO/MPMCN degradated 99.3% of TC after 90 min of photothermal reaction, and exhibited good recyclability and reusability. Structural and performance characterizations of the material were carried out using techniques such as XRD, TEM, electrochemical testing, and ESR. Furthermore, the corresponding band structure and S-scheme electron transfer mechanism of the BMO/MPMCN heterojunction were deduced through the combination of in-situ XPS and UPS. The possible degradation pathways of TC and the ecological toxicity changes of intermediate products were analyzed. Finally, a mechanistic model for the photothermal-assisted photocatalytic degradation of TC in water by the BMO/MPMCN S-scheme heterojunction was established, providing a novel approach for the practical application of photocatalysis technology.

Tumor-infiltrating immune cell profiles and changes associate with additional trastuzumab in preoperative chemotherapy for patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: HER2(+) gastric cancer (GC) can benefit from trastuzumab. However, the impact of additional trastuzumab in preoperative treatment on immune cells remains largely unknown. METHODS: In cohort I, immune cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in 1321 patients. Then 88 HER2(+) patients received preoperative therapy were collected as cohort II. Immune cell profiles and changes were analyzed in paired pre- and post-operative specimens using multiple immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: In the treatment-naive GC patients (n = 1002), CD3+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration was significantly lower in the HER2(+) GC patients together with higher FoxP3+ T cells compared with HER2(-). However, FoxP3+ T and CD20+ B cell infiltration was significantly higher in HER2(+) GC after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 319). The trastuzumab-exposed group had higher CD8+ T and lower FoxP3+ T cell infiltration and CD8+ T cell was even more significant in responders. Additionally, tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) density increased in invasion margin of residual tumors. Patients with lower TLS in the tumor core or lower FoxP3+ T cells had better overall survival in the trastuzumab-exposed group. CONCLUSION: Addition of trastuzumab modulates the immune microenvironment, suggesting the potential mechanism of the favorable outcome of anti-HER2 therapy and providing a theoretical rationale for the combinational immunotherapy in resectable HER2(+) GC patients.

Assessing the causal association of sleep abnormalities with preeclampsia and eclampsia: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are severe pregnancy disorders marked by hypertension and potential organ damage. The etiological basis of preeclampsia and eclampsia is not fully understood. Previous studies have revealed a link between sleep abnormality and preeclampsia/eclampsia, but the causal relationship remains unclear. In this study, we explored the genetic links between sleep and preeclampsia/eclampsia using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. METHODS: RNA sequence dataset GSE114691 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, comprising placental tissues from patients with preeclampsia and controls. Differential expression analysis was conducted with R (v4.2.3) and DESeq2 (v1.38.3). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was carried out using HTSanalyzeR2. GWAS summary data on preeclampsia/eclampsia and genetic markers for sleep abnormality were sourced from the FinnGen Consortium and IEU genetic databases. The Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted with TwoSampleMR (v0.6.2), and the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach was employed as the principal method. RESULTS: GSEA analysis revealed that the orexin receptor pathway showed heightened expression in the preeclampsia group versus controls. The random-effects IVW results showed that sleeplessness/insomnia has a genetic causal relationship with preeclampsia (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.07-4.06, p = 0.0318), while sleep duration has evidence of regulating eclampsia (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.67, p = 0.0187). CONCLUSION: This study provides significant evidence for a genetic causal association between sleep abnormalities and preeclampsia/eclampsia. [Figure: see text].

Abnormal expression of natural mating behaviour of captive adult giant pandas is related to physiological stress.

During ex situ conservation, the adaptability of giant pandas to environmental changes is greatly challenged. The issue of natural reproduction in captive giant pandas remains unresolved both domestically and internationally. It hypothesized that the restricted natural reproductive capacity may be linked to abnormal mating behavior expression due to physiological stress resulting from incompatible pairings in confined environments. To test this hypothesis, we utilized ultra-high performance liquid chromatographytandem quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) to analyse urine metabolites in captive adult giant pandas during their breeding period. Simultaneously, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of cortisol and epinephrine in urine, providing insight into the psychological state of captive giant pandas during mate selection by examining all metabolites and related biochemical pathways. This comprehensive approach aims to fully elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying the decline in natural reproductive capacity. The metabolomics findings indicate that the aberrant expression of natural mating behaviour in captive adult male and female giant pandas may be associated with dysfunction in amino acid metabolic pathways. The activation of these metabolic pathways is linked to psychological stress, such as the tryptophan metabolic pathway and GABAergic synapse pathway. The results of physiological indicators indicate a significant correlation between the expression of natural mating behaviour in captive adult pandas and the hormone urine cortisol, which is associated with physiological stress. These findings indicate that the atypical manifestation of natural mating behaviour in captive adult giant pandas may be associated with physiological stress induced by incompatible pairings within confined environments.

Interleukin-12 sustained release system promotes hematopoietic recovery after radiation injury.

The continuous production of mature blood cell lineages is maintained by hematopoietic stem cells but they are highly susceptible to damage by ionizing radiation (IR) that induces death. Thus, devising therapeutic strategies that can mitigate hematopoietic toxicity caused by IR would benefit acute radiation syndrome (ARS) victims and patients receiving radiotherapy. Herein, we describe the preparation of an injectable hydrogel formulation based on Arg-Gly-Asp-alginate (RGD-Alg) and Laponite using a simple mixing method that ensured a slow and sustained release of interleukin-12 (IL-12) (RGD-Alg/Laponite@IL-12). The local administration of RGD-Alg/Laponite@IL-12 increased survival rates and promoted the hematopoietic recovery of mice who had received sublethal-dose irradiation. Local intra-bone marrow (intra-BM) injection of RGD-Alg/Laponite@IL-12 hydrogel effectively stimulated IL12 receptor-phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (IL-12R-PI3K/AKT) signaling axis, which promoted proliferation and hematopoietic growth factors secretion of BM mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. This signaling axis facilitates the repair of the hematopoietic microenvironment and plays a pivotal role in hematopoietic reconstitution. In conclusion, we describe a biomaterial-sustained release of IL-12 for the treatment of irradiated hematopoietic injury and provide a new therapeutic strategy for hematopoietic ARS.

Advanced AI and renewable energy sources for unified rotor angle stability control.

Maintaining a reliable electricity supply amidst the integration of diverse energy sources necessitates optimizing the stability of power systems. This paper introduces a groundbreaking method to enhance the efficiency and resilience of power grids. The increasing dependence on renewable energy sources poses significant challenges to traditional power networks, thereby demanding innovative solutions to uphold their stability and security. To address these challenges, we propose an architecture that seamlessly unifies dynamic, transient, and static rotor angle stability (RAS) controls into a single, streamlined system. Utilizing reinforcement learning and real-time decision-making, we present Lazy Deep Q Networks (LDQNs) as a novel approach to RAS control. LDQNs provide real-time rotor angle instructions to RAS devices, enabling precise and efficient stability management. The incorporation of mass-distributed energy storage further augments the system's responsiveness and flexibility, mitigating fluctuations and promoting overall stability. This study advances the application of AI methods to RAS control, building on prior research in frequency and voltage stability frameworks. The proposed system outperforms conventional RAS control methods by integrating LDQNs with mass-distributed energy storage, offering superior performance and adaptability. Case studies validate the effectiveness of the unified RAS framework, demonstrating its advantages over traditional approaches across various power system configurations.

Genetic and Physiological Insights into Salt Resistance in Rice through Analysis of Germination, Seedling Traits, and QTL Identification.

Understanding the genetic basis of salt resistance in crops is crucial for agricultural productivity. This study investigates the phenotypic and genetic basis of salt stress response in rice (Oryza sativa L.), focusing on germination and seedling traits. Under salt stress conditions, significant differences were observed in seed germination and seedling traits between parental LH99 (Indica rice LuHui 99) and SN265 (japonica rice ShenNong 265). Transgressive segregation was evident within the RIL population, indicating complex genetic interactions. Nine QTLs were detected at germination and seedling stages under salt stress, namely qSGE5 and qSGE7 for seed germination energy (SGE); qSGP7 for seed germination percentage (SGP); qSSH7, qSSH9-1, and qSSH9-2 for seeding height (SSH); qSRN6 for root number (SRN); and qSDW6 and qSDW9 for dry weight (SDW). Among them, qSSH9-1 and qSDW9 were localized in the same interval, derived from the salt-resistant parent SN265. PCA revealed distinct trait patterns under salt stress, captured by six PCs explaining 81.12% of the total variance. PC composite scores were used to localize a QTL associated with early salt resistance in rice qESC9, which was located in the same interval as qSSH9-1 and qSDW9, and was subsequently unified under the name qESC9, an important QTL for early-growth salt tolerance in rice. Correlation analysis also confirmed a relationship between alleles of qESC9 and the resistance to salt, underscoring the critical role this locus plays in the determination of overall salt tolerance in rice. Physiological analyses of extreme phenotype lines highlighted the importance of ion exclusion mechanisms in salt-resistant lines, while salt-susceptible lines exhibited elevated oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defense, contributing to cellular damage. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying salt stress response in rice, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at enhancing salt resistance in rice.

Ensemble learning-based pretreatment MRI radiomic model for distinguishing intracranial extraventricular ependymoma from glioblastoma multiforme.

This study aims to develop an ensemble learning (EL) method based on magnetic resonance (MR) radiomic features to preoperatively differentiate intracranial extraventricular ependymoma (IEE) from glioblastoma (GBM). This retrospective study enrolled patients with histopathologically confirmed IEE and GBM from June 2016 to June 2021. Radiomics features were extracted from T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) sequence images, and classification models were constructed using EL methods and logistic regression (LR). The efficiency of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. The combined EL model, based on clinical parameters and radiomic features from T1WI and T2WI images, demonstrated good discriminative ability, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98), a specificity of 0.84, an accuracy of 0.92, and a sensitivity of 0.95 in the training set, and an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.83-0.94), a specificity of 0.83, an accuracy of 0.81, and a sensitivity of 0.74 in the validation set. The discriminative efficacy of the EL model was significantly higher than that of the LR model. Favorable calibration performance and clinical applicability for the EL model were observed. The EL model combining preoperative MR-based tumor radiomics and clinical data showed high accuracy and sensitivity in differentiating IEE from GBM preoperatively, which may potentially assist in clinical management of these brain tumors.

A novel chemiluminescence sensor for alpha-fetoprotein detection based on an aptamer-luminol modified magnetic graphene oxide and copper-based MOF composite.

Herein, an aptamer-luminol modified magnetic graphene oxide and copper-based MOF composite was prepared and used to build a novel target-triggered "turn on" chemiluminescence (CL) sensor for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection. Magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) was functionalized with the complementary sequence of the AFP aptamer (cDNA), and then MGO-cDNA was linked to aptamer modified luminol (Apt-luminol) through the complementary base pairing effect. The functionalized magnetic graphene oxide (MGO-cDNA/Apt-luminol) was prepared as a specific magnetic separation and signal switch material. ZnONPs-Au@CuMOFs shows excellent catalytic performance and was used as a catalyst for the luminol-H2O2 reaction. AFP will specifically recognize and bind to Apt on MGO-cDNA/Apt-luminol when AFP is present, which causes luminol release and triggers the CL reaction. The released luminol encounters ZnONPs-Au@CuMOFs and produces strong CL intensity. Therefore, a novel target-triggered "turn on" CL method with high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting AFP has been established. The linear range and detection limit were 1.0 × 10-4-50 ng mL-1 and 4.2 × 10-5 ng mL-1, respectively. The sensor also exhibited good selectivity, reproducibility and stability, and was finally used for AFP detection in serum samples.