A Facile Approach to Construct Novel Polyesters as Soft Midblock for Thermoplastic Elastomers.

The development of innovative synthetic strategies to create functional polycaprolactones is highly demanded for advanced material applications. In this contribution, we reported a facile synthetic strategy to prepare a class of CL-based monomers (R-TO) derived from epoxides. They readily polymerize via well-controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to afford a series of polyesters P(R-TO) with high molecular weight (Mn up to 350 kDa). Sequential addition copolymerization of MTO and L-lactide (L-LA) allowed to access of a series of ABA triblock copolymers with composition-dependent mechanical properties. Notably, P(L-LA)100-b-P(MTO)500-b-P(L-LA)100 containing the amorphous P(MTO) segment as a soft midblock and crystalline P(L-LA) domain as hard end block behaved as an excellent thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with high elongation at break (1438 ± 204%), tensile strength (23.5 ± 1.7 MPa), and outstanding elastic recovery (>88%).

Design of PDMS/PAN composite membranes with ultra-interfacial stability via layer integration.

The interfacial interaction between the selective layer and porous substrate directly determines the separation performance and service lifetime of functional composite membranes. Till now, almost all reported polymeric selective layers are physically in contact with the substrate, which is unsatisfactory for long-term operation. Herein, we introduced a functional composite membrane with ultra-interfacial stability via layer integration between the polydimethylsiloxane selective layer and polyacrylonitrile substrate, where a facile light-triggered copolymerization achieved their covalent bonding. The critical load for the failure of the selective layer is 45.73 mN when testing the interfacial adhesion, i.e., 5.8 times higher than that before modification and significantly higher than previous reports. It also achieves superior pervaporation performance with a separation factor of 9.54 and membrane flux of 1245.6 g m-2 h-1 feeding a 1000 ppm phenol/water solution at 60 °C that is significantly higher than the same type of polymeric ones. Not limited to pervaporation, such a strategy sheds light on the design of highly stable composite membranes with different purposes, while the facile photo-trigged technique shows enormous scalability.

High flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Although cumulative studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNC) in acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, randomized trials to compare HFNC with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as initial treatment in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure are limited. The aim of this randomized, open label, non-inferiority trial was to compare treatment failure rates between HFNC and NIV in such patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AECOPD with a baseline arterial blood gas pH between 7.25 and 7.35 and PaCO2 ≥ 50 mmHg admitted to two intensive care units (ICUs) at a large tertiary academic teaching hospital between March 2018 and December 2022 were randomly assigned to HFNC or NIV. The primary endpoint was the rate of treatment failure, defined as endotracheal intubation or a switch to the other study treatment modality. Secondary endpoints were rates of intubation or treatment change, blood gas values, vital signs at one, 12, and 48 h, 28-day mortality, as well as ICU and hospital lengths of stay. RESULTS: 225 total patients (113 in the HFNC group and 112 in the NIV group) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The failure rate of the HFNC group was 25.7%, while the NIV group was 14.3%. The failure rate risk difference between the two groups was 11.38% (95% CI 0.25-21.20, P = 0.033), which was higher than the non-inferiority cut-off of 9%. In the per-protocol analysis, treatment failure occurred in 28 of 110 patients (25.5%) in the HFNC group and 15 of 109 patients (13.8%) in the NIV group (risk difference, 11.69%; 95% CI 0.48-22.60). The intubation rate in the HFNC group was higher than in the NIV group (14.2% vs 5.4%, P = 0.026). The treatment switch rate, ICU and hospital length of stay or 28-day mortality in the HFNC group were not statistically different from the NIV group (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: HFNC was not shown to be non-inferior to NIV and resulted in a higher incidence of treatment failure than NIV when used as the initial respiratory support for AECOPD patients with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org (ChiCTR1800014553). Registered 21 January 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn.

Hydrogen Sulfide Delivery System Based on Salting-Out Effect for Enhancing Synergistic Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapies.

The simultaneous application of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers substantial advantages in cancer treatment. However, their synergistic anticancer efficacy is often limited by tumor hypoxia, and thermotolerance induced by high expression of heat shock proteins (HSP). Fortunately, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), known for its direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, has been recognized for its ability to enhance PTT and PDT. The effectiveness of H2S in these therapies is challenged by its low loading efficiency, poor stability, and short diffusion distance. To address these issues, a nanoscale emulsion drop template created through the salting-out effect is employed to construct a robust H2S delivery system. Polydopamine (PDA), chosen for its interfacial polymerization tendency and excellent photothermal conversion rate, is utilized as a carrier for the H2S donor (ADT) and Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) to fabricate a novel nanomedicine termed APZ NPs. The temperature-responsive APZ NPs are designed to release H2S during the PTT process. Elevated H2S levels promoted vasodilation, thereby enhancing the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) of APZ NPs within solid tumors. This strategy effectively alleviated tumor hypoxia by disrupting the mitochondrial respiratory chain and mitigated tumor cell heat tolerance by inhibiting HSP expression.

The Identification of Kabatiella zeae as a Causal Agent of Northern Anthracnose of Sorghum in China and Estimation of Host Resistance.

Sorghum northern anthracnose is a leaf disease affecting sorghum, which results in plant death and substantial yield loss. This study aimed to effectively understand the disease, clarify its biological characteristics, and evaluate the resistance of germplasm resources. A field sample was collected to isolate and purify the pathogen. The pathogen, identified as Kabatiella zeae Narita et Hiratsuka using both morphological and molecular techniques, was further confirmed as the causative agent of northern anthracnose of sorghum following Robert Koch's principles. The results revealed the optimal culture temperature to be 25 °C, preferred dark culture conditions, and the best growth on potato glucose agar medium with sucrose and L-leucine as the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. A total of 138 sorghum germplasm resources were inoculated and evaluated using the isolated pathogen, with 20 lines (14.49%) exhibiting high resistance, 18 lines (13.04%) showing disease resistance, 27 lines (19.57%) demonstrating medium resistance, 37 lines (26.81%) being susceptible, and 36 lines (26.09%) classified as highly susceptible. The indoor fungicide screening was conducted through pathogen medium application, and enilconazole, pyraclostrobin, methylthiophanate, and flusilazole were screened for the best fungicide inhibition with a 100% inhibition rate compared with the control. This study provides reference for field pharmaceutical control in sorghum production.

Osteoporosis and coronary heart disease: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are major global public health issues, especially exacerbated by the challenges of an aging population. As these problems intensify, the associated burden on global health is expected to increase significantly. Despite extensive epidemiological investigations into the potential association between OP and CVD, establishing a clear causal relationship remains elusive. Methods: Instrumental variables were selected from summary statistics of the IEU GWAS database. Five different components of BMD (heel BMD, LS BMD, FA BMD, FN BMD, and TB BMD) were used as OP phenotypes. CHD, MI, and stroke were selected to represent CVD. Multiple analysis methods were used to evaluate the causal relationship between CVD and OP comprehensively. In addition, sensitivity analyses(Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and "leave one out" analysis) were performed to verify the reliability of the results. Results: The MR showed a significant causal relationship between CHD on heel BMD and TB BMD; in the reverse analysis, there was no evidence that OP has a significant causal effect on CVD. The reliability of the results was confirmed through sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: The study results revealed that CHD was causally associated with Heel BMD and TB BMD, while in the reverse MR analysis, the causal relationship between OP and CVD was not supported. This result posits CHD as a potential etiological factor for OP and prompts that routine bone density assessment at traditional sites (forearm, femoral neck, lumbar spine) using DAX may inadequately discern underlying osteoporosis issues in CHD patients. The recommendation is to synergistically incorporate heel ultrasound or DAX for total body bone density examinations, ensuring clinical diagnostics are both precise and reliable. Moreover, these findings provide valuable insights for public health, contributing to the development of pertinent prevention and treatment strategies.

Distinct glutamatergic projections of the posteroventral medial amygdala play different roles in arousal and anxiety.

Sleep disturbance usually accompanies anxiety disorders and exacerbates their incidence rates. The precise circuit mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we found that glutamatergic neurons in the posteroventral medial amygdala (MePVGlu) are involved in arousal and anxiety-like behaviors. Excitation of MePVGlu neurons not only promoted wakefulness but also increased anxiety-like behaviors. Different projections of MePVGlu neurons played various roles in regulating anxiety-like behaviors and sleep-wakefulness. MePVGlu neurons promoted wakefulness through the MePVGlu-posteromedial cortical amygdaloid area (PMCo) pathway and the MePVGlu-bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BNST) pathway. In contrast, MePVGlu neurons increased anxiety-like behaviors through the MePVGlu-ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) pathway. Chronic sleep disturbance increased anxiety levels and reduced reparative sleep, accompanied by the enhanced excitability of MePVGlu-PMCo and MePVGlu-VMH circuits but suppressed responses of glutamatergic neurons in the BNST. Inhibition of the MePVGlu neurons could rescue chronic sleep deprivation-induced phenotypes. Our findings provide important circuit mechanisms for chronic sleep disturbance-induced hyperarousal response and obsessive anxiety-like behavior, and are expected to provide a promising strategy for treating sleep-related psychiatric disorders and insomnia.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Carbonyl Addition of Aryl Chlorides and Bromides to Aldehydes.

The Ni-catalyzed enantioselective addition reaction of aryl halides to aldehydes was studied with cyanobis(oxazoline) as chiral ligands and Mn as reductant. Aryl and heteroaryl bromides reacted with phenyl aldehyde at room temperature to produce dibenzyl alcohols in 16-99% yields with 53-92% ees. Moreover, the coupling of phenyl chloride with a variety of aryl, heteroaryl and alkyl aldehydes was demonstrated in the presence of cyanobis(oxazoline)/Ni(II) at 60 oC in generally high yields with moderate enantioselectivities.

Epigallocatechin gallate modulates ferroptosis through downregulation of tsRNA-13502 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death mechanism, holds significant promise as a therapeutic strategy in oncology. In the current study, we explored the regulatory effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a prominent polyphenol in green tea, on ferroptosis and its potential therapeutic implications for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Treatment of NSCLC cell lines with varying concentrations of EGCG resulted in a notable suppression of cell proliferation, as evidenced by a reduction in Ki67 immunofluorescence staining. Western blot analyses demonstrated that EGCG treatment led to a decrease in the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) while increasing the levels of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4). These molecular changes were accompanied by an increase in intracellular iron, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), alongside ultrastructural alterations characteristic of ferroptosis. Through small RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR, transfer RNA-derived small RNA 13502 (tsRNA-13502) was identified as a significant target of EGCG action, with its expression being upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared to adjacent non-tumorous tissues. EGCG was found to modulate the ferroptosis pathway by downregulating tsRNA-13502 and altering the expression of key ferroptosis regulators (GPX4/SLC7A11 and ACSL4), thereby promoting the accumulation of iron, MDA, and ROS, and ultimately inducing ferroptosis in NSCLC cells. This study elucidates EGCG's multifaceted mechanisms of action, underscoring the modulation of ferroptosis as a viable therapeutic approach for enhancing NSCLC treatment outcomes.

Saiga antelope horn suppresses febrile seizures in rats by regulating neurotransmitters and the arachidonic acid pathway.

BACKGROUND: Saiga antelope horn (SAH) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating febrile seizure (FS) with precise efficacy, but its mechanism of action and functional substances are still unclear. Given the need for further research on SAH, our group conducted studies to elucidate its mechanisms and active substances. METHODS: An FS rat pup model was constructed through intraperitoneal injection of LPS and hyperthermia induction. Behavioural indicators of seizures, hippocampal histopathological alterations, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and hippocampal levels of neurotransmitters were observed and measured to investigate the effects of SAH on FS model rats. Hippocampal metabolomics and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to reveal the differential metabolites, key peptides and pathways involved in the suppression of FS by SAH. RESULTS: SAH suppressed FS, decreased the inflammatory response and regulated the Glu-GABA balance. Metabolomic analysis revealed 13 biomarkers of FS, of which SAH improved the levels of 8 differential metabolites. Combined with network pharmacology, a "biomarker-core target-key peptide" network was constructed. The peptides of SAH, such as YGQL and LTGGF, could exert therapeutic effects via the arachidonic acid pathway. Molecular docking and ELISA results indicated that functional peptides of SAH could bind to PTGS2 target, inhibiting the generation of AA and its metabolites in hippocampal samples. CONCLUSION: In summary, the functional peptides contained in SAH are the main material basis for the treatment of FS, potentially acting through neurotransmitter regulation and the arachidonic acid pathway.

KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy based on tepotinib and omeprazole combination.

BACKGROUND: KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) shows a relatively low response rate to chemotherapy, immunotherapy and KRAS-G12C selective inhibitors, leading to short median progression-free survival, and overall survival. The MET receptor tyrosine kinase (c-MET), the cognate receptor of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), was reported to be overexpressed in KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells leading to tumor-growth in anchorage-independent conditions. METHODS: Cell viability assay and synergy analysis were carried out in native, sotorasib and trametinib-resistant KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines. Colony formation assays and Western blot analysis were also performed. RNA isolation from tumors of KRAS-mutant NSCLC patients was performed and KRAS and MET mRNA expression was determined by real-time RT-qPCR. In vivo studies were conducted in NSCLC (NCI-H358) cell-derived tumor xenograft model. RESULTS: Our research has shown promising activity of omeprazole, a V-ATPase-driven proton pump inhibitor with potential anti-cancer properties, in combination with the MET inhibitor tepotinib in KRAS-mutant G12C and non-G12C NSCLC cell lines, as well as in G12C inhibitor (AMG510, sotorasib) and MEK inhibitor (trametinib)-resistant cell lines. Moreover, in a xenograft mouse model, combination of omeprazole plus tepotinib caused tumor growth regression. We observed that the combination of these two drugs downregulates phosphorylation of the glycolytic enzyme enolase 1 (ENO1) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5/6 in the H358 KRAS G12C cell line, but not in the H358 sotorasib resistant, indicating that the effect of the combination could be independent of ENO1. In addition, we examined the probability of recurrence-free survival and overall survival in 40 early lung adenocarcinoma patients with KRAS G12C mutation stratified by KRAS and MET mRNA levels. Significant differences were observed in recurrence-free survival according to high levels of KRAS mRNA expression. Hazard ratio (HR) of recurrence-free survival was 7.291 (p = 0.014) for high levels of KRAS mRNA expression and 3.742 (p = 0.052) for high MET mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: We posit that the combination of the V-ATPase inhibitor omeprazole plus tepotinib warrants further assessment in KRAS-mutant G12C and non G12C cell lines, including those resistant to the covalent KRAS G12C inhibitors.

Freeze-Thaw Cycle Durability and Mechanism Analysis of Zeolite Powder-Modified Recycled Concrete.

The inferior mechanical performance and freeze-thaw (FT) resistance of recycled concrete are mostly due to the significant water absorption and porosity of recycled coarse particles. In this study, different dosages of zeolite powder were used in recycled concrete. A series of macroscopic tests were used to evaluate the workability and FT durability of zeolite powder-modified recycled concrete (ZPRC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to reveal the micro-mechanisms of FT resistance in ZPRC. The results show that the increase in zeolite powder content leads to a decrease in the slump and water absorption of ZPRC. Additionally, ZPRC with 10% zeolite powder has superior mechanical characteristics and tolerance to FT conditions. The higher strength and FT resistance of the ZPRC can be attributed to the particle-filling effect, water storage function, and pozzolanic reaction of zeolite powder, which results in a denser microstructure. The particle-filling effect of zeolite powder promotes the reduction of surface pores in recycled coarse aggregates (RCAs). The water storage function of zeolite powder can provide water for the secondary hydration of cement particles while reducing the free water content in ZPRC. The pozzolanic reaction of zeolite powder can also promote the generation of hydrated calcium silicate and anorthite, thereby making the microstructure of ZPRC more compact. These results provide theoretical guidance for the engineering application of recycled concrete in cold regions.

Historic dog Furs Unravel the Origin and Artificial Selection of Modern Nordic Lapphund and Elkhound dog Breeds.

The origins and extreme morphological evolution of the modern dog breeds are poorly studied because the founder populations are extinct. Here, we analyse eight 100 to 200 years old dog fur samples obtained from traditional North Swedish clothing, to explore the origin and artificial selection of the modern Nordic Lapphund and Elkhound dog breeds. Population genomic analysis confirmed the Lapphund and Elkhound breeds to originate from the local dog population, and showed a distinct decrease in genetic diversity in agreement with intense breeding. We identified eleven genes under positive selection during the breed development. In particular, the MSRB3 gene, associated with breed-related ear morphology, was selected in all Lapphund and Elkhound breeds, and functional assays showed that a SNP mutation in the 3'UTR region suppresses its expression through miRNA regulation. Our findings demonstrate analysis of near-modern dog artifacts as an effective tool for interpreting the origin and artificial selection of the modern dog breeds.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Chroman Derivatives as PD-1/PD-L1 Antagonists.

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for various cancers due to its crucial role in promoting tumor immune evasion. Here, we report a novel class of chroman-like small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitors exhibiting significant activity in inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Employing a "ring-close" strategy for conformational restriction, we have achieved compound C27, which demonstrates superior PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory activity compared to the positive control. Molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation predict that (R)-C27 with inhibitory activity surpassed (S)-C27. The experimental results from bioassay and X-ray structural analysis corroborate these findings. All these results collectively indicate that (R)-C27 is a promising lead compound deserving further exploration.

Unlocking the potential: T1-weighed MRI as a powerful predictor of levodopa response in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of levodopa, the most crucial metric for Parkinson's disease diagnosis and treatment, is traditionally gauged through the levodopa challenge test, which lacks a predictive model. This study aims to probe the predictive power of T1-weighted MRI, the most accessible modality for levodopa response. METHODS: This retrospective study used two datasets: from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (219 records) and the external clinical dataset from Ruijin Hospital (217 records). A novel feature extraction method using MedicalNet, a pre-trained deep learning network, along with three previous approaches was applied. Three machine learning models were trained and tested on the PPMI dataset and included clinical features, imaging features, and their union set, using the area under the curve (AUC) as the metric. The most significant brain regions were visualized. The external clinical dataset was further evaluated using trained models. A paired one-tailed t-test was performed between the two sets; statistical significance was set at p < 0.001. RESULTS: For 46 test set records (mean age, 62 ± 9 years, 28 men), MedicalNet-extracted features demonstrated a consistent improvement in all three machine learning models (SVM 0.83 ± 0.01 versus 0.73 ± 0.01, XgBoost 0.80 ± 0.04 versus 0.74 ± 0.02, MLP 0.80 ± 0.03 versus 0.70 ± 0.07, p < 0.001). Both feature sets were validated on the clinical dataset using SVM, where MedicalNet features alone achieved an AUC of 0.64 ± 0.03. Key responsible brain regions were visualized. CONCLUSION: The T1-weighed MRI features were more robust and generalizable than the clinical features in prediction; their combination provided the best results. T1-weighed MRI provided insights on specific regions responsible for levodopa response prediction. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study demonstrated that T1w MRI features extracted by a deep learning model have the potential to predict the levodopa response of PD patients and are more robust than widely used clinical information, which might help in determining treatment strategy. KEY POINTS: This study investigated the predictive value of T1w features for levodopa response. MedicalNet extractor outperformed all other previously published methods with key region visualization. T1w features are more effective than clinical information in levodopa response prediction.

Homologous polydopamine ameliorates haemolysis of melittin for enhancing its anticancer efficacy.

Despite exhibiting potent anticancer activity, the strong hemolytic properties of melittin (MEL) significantly restrict its delivery efficiency and clinical applications. To address this issue, we have devised a strategy wherein homologous dopamine (DA), an essential component of bee venom, is harnessed as a vehicle for the synthesis of MEL-polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles (MP NPs). The ingenious approach lies in the fact that MEL is a basic polypeptide, and the polymerization of DA is also conducted under alkaline conditions, indicating the distinctive advantages of PDA in MEL encapsulation. Furthermore, MP NPs are modified with folic acid to fabricate tumor-targeted nanomedicine (MPF NPs). MPF NPs can ameliorate the hemolysis of MEL in drug delivery and undergo degradation triggered by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within solid tumors, thereby facilitating MEL release and subsequent restoration of anticancer activity. After cellular uptake, MPF NPs induce cell apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt-mediated p53 signaling pathway. The tumor growth inhibitory rate of MPF NPs in FA receptor-positive 4T1 and CT26 xenograft mice reached 78.04% and 81.66%, which was significantly higher compared to that in FA receptor-negative HepG2 xenograft mice (45.79%). Homologous vehicles provide a new perspective for nanomedicine design.

Ancient genomes revealed the complex human interactions of the ancient western Tibetans.

The western Tibetan Plateau is the crossroad between the Tibetan Plateau, Central Asia, and South Asia, and it is a potential human migration pathway connecting these regions. However, the population history of the western Tibetan Plateau remains largely unexplored due to the lack of ancient genomes covering a long-time interval from this area. Here, we reported genome-wide data of 65 individuals dated to 3,500-300 years before present (BP) in the Ngari prefecture. The ancient western Tibetan Plateau populations share the majority of their genetic components with the southern Tibetan Plateau populations and have maintained genetic continuity since 3,500 BP while maintaining interactions with populations within and outside the Tibetan Plateau. Within the Tibetan Plateau, the ancient western Tibetan Plateau populations were influenced by the additional expansion from the south to the southwest plateau before 1,800 BP. Outside the Tibetan Plateau, the western Tibetan Plateau populations interacted with both South and Central Asian populations at least 2,000 years ago, and the South Asian-related genetic influence, despite being very limited, was from the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) migrants in Central Asia instead of the IVC populations from the Indus Valley. In light of the new genetic data, our study revealed the complex population interconnections across and within the Tibetan Plateau.

BrainDAS: Structure-aware domain adaptation network for multi-site brain network analysis.

In the medical field, datasets are mostly integrated across sites due to difficult data acquisition and insufficient data at a single site. The domain shift problem caused by the heterogeneous distribution among multi-site data makes autism spectrum disorder (ASD) hard to identify. Recently, domain adaptation has received considerable attention as a promising solution. However, domain adaptation on graph data like brain networks has not been fully studied. It faces two major challenges: (1) complex graph structure; and (2) multiple source domains. To overcome the issues, we propose an end-to-end structure-aware domain adaptation framework for brain network analysis (BrainDAS) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The proposed approach contains two stages: supervision-guided multi-site graph domain adaptation with dynamic kernel generation and graph classification with attention-based graph pooling. We evaluate our BrainDAS on a public dataset provided by Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) which includes 871 subjects from 17 different sites, surpassing state-of-the-art algorithms in several different evaluation settings. Furthermore, our promising results demonstrate the interpretability and generalization of the proposed method. Our code is available at https://github.com/songruoxian/BrainDAS.

Fabrication of Microgel-Modified Hydrogel Flexible Strain Sensors Using Electrohydrodynamic Direct Printing Method.

Hydrogel flexible strain sensors, renowned for their high stretchability, flexibility, and wearable comfort, have been employed in various applications in the field of human motion monitoring. However, the predominant method for fabricating hydrogels is the template method, which is particularly inefficient and costly for hydrogels with complex structural requirements, thereby limiting the development of flexible hydrogel electronic devices. Herein, we propose a novel method that involves using microgels to modify a hydrogel solution, printing the hydrogel ink using an electrohydrodynamic printing device, and subsequently forming the hydrogel under UV illumination. The resulting hydrogel exhibited a high tensile ratio (639.73%), high tensile strength (0.4243 MPa), and an ionic conductivity of 0.2256 S/m, along with excellent electrochemical properties. Moreover, its high linearity and sensitivity enabled the monitoring of a wide range of subtle changes in human movement. This novel approach offers a promising pathway for the development of high-performance, complexly structured hydrogel flexible sensors.

Functional Characterization of Double Mutations T929I/K1774N in the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel of Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) Related to Pyrethroid Resistance.

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall), the main pest on legume vegetables, is controlled by pyrethroids in the field. Field strains of M. usitatus resistant to pyrethroids were collected from three areas in Hainan Province (Haikou, Ledong, and Sanya City), and two mutations, T929I and K1774N, were detected in the voltage-gated sodium channel. In this study, the sodium channel in M. usitatus was first subcloned and successfully expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The single mutation (T929I or K1774N) and double mutation (T929I/K1774N) shifted the voltage dependence of activation in the hyperpolarization direction. The three mutants all reduced the amplitude of tail currents induced by type I (permethrin and bifenthrin) and type II (deltamethrin and λ-cyhalothrin) pyrethroids. Homology modeling analysis of these two mutations shows that they may change the local hydrophobicity and positive charge of the sodium channel. Our data can be used to reveal the causes of the resistance of M. usitatus to pyrethroids and provide guidance for the comprehensive control of M. usitatus in the future.