A causal relationship between particulate matter 2.5 and obesity and its related indicators: a Mendelian randomization study of European ancestry.

Background: In recent years, the prevalence of obesity has continued to increase as a global health concern. Numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed the long-term effects of exposure to ambient air pollutant particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) on obesity, but their relationship remains ambiguous. Methods: Utilizing large-scale publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we conducted univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess the causal effect of PM2.5 exposure on obesity and its related indicators. The primary outcome given for both univariate MR (UVMR) and multivariate MR (MVMR) is the estimation utilizing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. The weighted median, MR-Egger, and maximum likelihood techniques were employed for UVMR, while the MVMR-Lasso method was applied for MVMR in the supplementary analyses. In addition, we conducted a series of thorough sensitivity studies to determine the accuracy of our MR findings. Results: The UVMR analysis demonstrated a significant association between PM2.5 exposure and an increased risk of obesity, as indicated by the IVW model (odds ratio [OR]: 6.427; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.881-21.968; P FDR = 0.005). Additionally, PM2.5 concentrations were positively associated with fat distribution metrics, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (OR: 1.861; 95% CI: 1.244-2.776; P FDR = 0.004), particularly pancreatic fat (OR: 3.499; 95% CI: 2.092-5.855; PFDR =1.28E-05), and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) volume (OR: 1.773; 95% CI: 1.106-2.841; P FDR = 0.019). Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure correlated positively with markers of glucose and lipid metabolism, specifically triglycerides (TG) (OR: 19.959; 95% CI: 1.269-3.022; P FDR = 0.004) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR: 2.462; 95% CI: 1.34-4.649; P FDR = 0.007). Finally, a significant negative association was observed between PM2.5 concentrations and levels of the novel obesity-related biomarker fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) (OR: 0.148; 95% CI: 0.025-0.89; P FDR = 0.037). After adjusting for confounding factors, including external smoke exposure, physical activity, educational attainment (EA), participation in sports clubs or gym leisure activities, and Townsend deprivation index at recruitment (TDI), the MVMR analysis revealed that PM2.5 levels maintained significant associations with pancreatic fat, HbA1c, and FGF-21. Conclusion: Our MR study demonstrates conclusively that higher PM2.5 concentrations are associated with an increased risk of obesity-related indicators such as pancreatic fat content, HbA1c, and FGF-21. The potential mechanisms require additional investigation.

Association Between Gestational Weight Gain and Delayed Onset of Lactogenesis II: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gestational weight gain (GWG) may be associated with delayed onset of lactogenesis II (DOL II), but it is still unclear and controversial. Object: The study aims to evaluate the relationship between GWG and DOL II. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in 10 electronic databases from inception to May 21, 2023, for studies that reported outcomes in breastfeeding. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled estimates of association using random-effect models with Review Manager (RevMan) software version 5.4. The primary outcome was the rate of DOL II. Results: In this study, 248,515 women were included in 16 eligible articles. Women with excessive GWG have a higher risk of DOL II (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.43). Specifically, prepregnancy overweight and obese women with GWG above recommendations (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.38-6.57) and underweight women with excessive GWG before pregnancy have a higher risk of DOL II (OR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.69-6.53). Nonetheless, there is no distinction between women with inadequate GWG and those with adequate GWG in DOL II(OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.88-1.33). In addition, the women whose GWG is above the recommendations also tend to stop exclusive breastfeeding 1 month postpartum (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.80-0.85). Conclusion: Excessive GWG has a negative influence on the timing of the onset of lactogenesis and exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum.

Benefits of Hepatitis C Viral Eradication: A Real-World Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) increases the risk of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nationwide cohort study assessed the effectiveness of viral eradication of CHC. METHODS: The Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort and Taiwan hepatitis C virus (HCV) registry are nationwide HCV registry cohorts incorporating data from 23 and 53 hospitals in Taiwan, respectively. This study included 27,577 individuals from these cohorts that were given a diagnosis of CHC and with data linked to the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients received either pegylated interferon and ribavirin or direct-acting antiviral agent therapy for > 4 weeks for new-onset LC and liver-related events. RESULTS: Among the 27,577 analyzed patients, 25,461 (92.3%) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The mean follow-up duration was 51.2 ± 48.4 months, totaling 118,567 person-years. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident HCC was 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.95, p = 0.052) among noncirrhotic patients without SVR compared with those with SVR and 1.82 (95% CI 1.34-2.48) among cirrhotic patients without SVR. The HR for liver-related events, including HCC and decompensated LC, was 1.70 (95% CI 1.30-2.24) among cirrhotic patients without SVR. Patients with SVR had a lower 10-year cumulative incidence of new-onset HCC than those without SVR did (21.7 vs. 38.7% in patients with LC, p < 0.001; 6.0 vs. 18.4% in patients without LC, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HCV eradication reduced the incidence of HCC in patients with and without LC and reduced the incidence of liver-related events in patients with LC.

Humidity-Responsive Amorphous Calcium-Magnesium Pyrophosphate/Cassava Starch Scaffold for Enhanced Neurovascular Bone Regeneration.

Developing a neurovascular bone repair scaffold with an appropriate mechanical strength remains a challenge. Calcium phosphate (CaP) is similar to human bone, but its scaffolds are inherently brittle and inactive, which require recombination with active ions and polymers for bioactivity and suitable strength. This work discussed the synthesis of amorphous magnesium-calcium pyrophosphate (AMCP) and the subsequent development of a humidity-responsive AMCP/cassava starch (CS) scaffold. The scaffold demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties by strengthening the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds between AMCP and CS during the gelatinization and freeze-thawing processes. The release of active ions was rapid initially and stabilized into a long-term stable release after 3 days, which is well-matched with new bone growth. The release of pyrophosphate ions endowed the scaffold with antibacterial properties. At the cellular level, the released active ions simultaneously promoted the proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts, the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and the proliferation of Schwann cells. At the animal level, the scaffold was demonstrated to promote vascular growth and peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat skull defect experiment, ultimately resulting in the significant and rapid repair of bone defects. The construction of the AMCP/CS scaffold offers practical suggestions and references for neurovascular bone repair.

One-pot conversion of xylose to 1,2-pentanediol catalyzed by an organic acid-assisted Pt/NC in aqueous phase.

The direct synthesis of 1,2-pentanediol (1,2-PeD) from renewable xylose and its derivatives derived from hemicellulose is appealing yet challenging due to its low selectivity for the target product. In this study, one-pot catalytic conversion of xylose to 1,2-PeD was performed by using nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) supported Pt catalysts with the assistance of organic acids. A remarkable yield of 49.3% for 1,2-PeD was achieved by reacting 0.1869 g xylose in 30 mL water at 200 °C under a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa for 8 h in the presence of 0.1 g of 2.5Pt/NC600 catalyst and 0.1869 g propanoic acid co-catalyst. The presence of vicinal Pt-acid pair sites on the surface of the 2.5Pt/NC600 catalyst exhibited a synergistic effect in promoting the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol intermediate and subsequent hydrogenation and ring-opening reactions leading to the formation of 1,2-PeD. The addition of organic acids, may serve as both acid catalyst for dehydration of xylose and hydrogen donor for hydrogenation of furfural and furfuryl alcohol, thereby promoting the one-pot conversion of xylose to 1,2-PeD. Remarkably, the 2.5Pt/NC600 catalyst demonstrated outstanding catalytic performance and good reusability over five consecutive cycles without significant deactivation.

Double-Phase-Networking Polyimide Hybrid Aerogel with Exceptional Dimensional Stability for Superior Thermal Protection System.

Polyimide aerogels have been extensively used in thermal protection domain because they possess a combination of intrinsic characteristics of aerogels and unique features of polyimide. However, polyimide aerogels still suffer significant thermally induced shrinkage at temperatures above 200 °C, restricting their application at high temperature. Here, a novel "double-phase-networking" strategy is proposed for fabricating a lightweight and mechanically robust polyimide hybrid aerogel by forming silica-zirconia-phase networking skeletons, which possess exceptional dimensional stability in high-temperature environments and superior thermal insulation. The rational mechanism responsible for the formation of double-phase-networking aerogel is further explained, generally attributing to chemical crosslinking reactions and supramolecular hydrogen bond interactions derived from the main chains of polyimide and silane/zirconia precursor/sol. The as-prepared aerogels exhibit excellent high-temperature (270 °C) dimensional stability (5.09% ± 0.16%), anti-thermal-shock properties, and low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the hydrophobic treatment provides aerogels high water resistance with water contact angle of 136.9°, further suggestive of low moisture content of 3.6% after exposure to 70 °C and 85% relative humidity for 64 h. The proposed solution for significantly enhancing high-temperature dimensional stability and thermal insulation provides a great supporting foundation for fabricating high-performance organic aerogels as thermal protection materials in aerospace.

Membrane Curvature Promotes ER-PM Contact Formation via Junctophilin-EHD Interactions.

Contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM) play a crucial role in governing calcium regulation and lipid homeostasis. Despite their significance, the factors regulating their spatial distribution on the PM remain elusive. Inspired by observations in cardiomyocytes, where ER-PM contact sites concentrate on tubular PM invaginations known as transverse tubules (T-tubules), we hypothesize that the PM curvature plays a role in ER-PM contact formation. Through precise control of PM invaginations, we show that PM curvatures locally induce the formation of ER-PM contacts in cardiomyocytes. Intriguingly, the junctophilin family of ER-PM tethering proteins, specifically expressed in excitable cells, is the key player in this process, while the ubiquitously expressed extended synaptotagmin 2 does not show a preference for PM curvature. At the mechanistic level, we find that the low complexity region (LCR) and the MORN motifs of junctophilins can independently bind to the PM, but both the LCR and MORN motifs are required for targeting PM curvatures. By examining the junctophilin interactome, we identify a family of curvature-sensing proteins, Eps15-homology domain containing proteins (EHDs), that interact with the MORN_LCR motifs and facilitate junctophilins' preferential tethering to curved PM. These findings highlight the pivotal role of PM curvature in the formation of ER-PM contacts in cardiomyocytes and unveil a novel mechanism for the spatial regulation of ER-PM contacts through PM curvature modulation.

Coaxial Electrospun Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Nanofiber Membrane Loaded with Salidroside and Cryptotanshinone Synergistically Promotes Vascularization and Osteogenesis.

Background: Salidroside (SAL) is the most effective component of Rhodiola rosea, a traditional Chinese medicine. Cryptotanshinone (CT) is the main fat-soluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibiting considerable potential for application in osteogenesis. Herein, a polycaprolactone/gelatin nanofiber membrane loaded with CT and SAL (PSGC membrane) was successfully fabricated via coaxial electrospinning and characterized. Methods and Results: This membrane capable of sustained and controlled drug release was employed in this study. Co-culturing the membrane with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells revealed excellent biocompatibility and demonstrated osteogenic and angiogenic capabilities. Furthermore, drug release from the PSGC membrane activated the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and promoted osteogenic differentiation and vascularization. Evaluation of the membrane's vascularization and osteogenic capacities involved transplantation onto a rat's subcutaneous area and assessing rat cranium defects for bone regeneration, respectively. Microcomputed tomography, histological tests, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the membrane's outstanding angiogenic capacity two weeks post-operation, with a higher incidence of osteogenesis observed in rat cranial defects eight weeks post-surgery. Conclusion: Overall, the SAL- and CT-loaded coaxial electrospun nanofiber membrane synergistically enhances bone repair and regeneration.

The Clinical Characteristics and Manifestation of Anxious Depression Among Patients With Major Depressive Disorders-Results From a Taiwan Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: Anxious depression is a prevalent characteristic observed in Asian psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and clinical presentation of anxious depression in Taiwanese individuals diagnosed with MDD. METHODS: We recruited psychiatric outpatients aged over 18 who had been diagnosed with MDD through clinical interviews. This recruitment took place at five hospitals located in northern Taiwan. We gathered baseline clinical and demographic information from the participants. Anxious depression was identified using a threshold of an anxiety/somatization factor score ≥7 on the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). RESULTS: In our study of 399 patients (84.21% female), 64.16% met the criteria for anxious depression. They tended to be older, married, less educated, with more children, and an older age of onset. Anxious depression patients had higher HAM-D and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale score, more panic disorder (without agoraphobia), and exhibited symptoms like agitation, irritability, concentration difficulties, psychological and somatic anxiety, somatic complaints, hypochondriasis, weight loss, and increased insight. Surprisingly, their suicide rates did not significantly differ from non-anxious depression patients. This highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing these unique characteristics. CONCLUSION: Our study findings unveiled that the prevalence of anxious depression among Taiwanese outpatients diagnosed with MDD was lower compared to inpatients but substantially higher than the reported rates in European countries and the United States. Furthermore, patients with anxious depression exhibited a greater occurrence of somatic symptoms.

Objective sleep enhancement in Parkinson's disease: A sham-controlled trial of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, impacting patients' quality of life. While repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) shows promise in improving self-reported sleep quality, its effects on objective sleep architecture in PD remain understudied. Sleep disturbances, including rapid eye movement (REM) and slow-wave sleep disturbances, correlate with cognitive decline and motor symptoms. This study investigated the effect of low-frequency rTMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) modifying objective sleep architecture and explored symptom improvement mechanisms in PD patients. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 67 PD patients received 10 consecutive days of 1-Hz rTMS over the right DLPFC. Polysomnography assessed sleep microstructure, while electroencephalogram recordings evaluated power spectral density and sleep spindle activity. Clinical scales measured sleep quality, motor symptoms, and cognition at baseline, post-treatment, and 3 months post-rTMS. RESULTS: The rTMS group exhibited improvements in sleep quality, motor symptoms, and cognition post-treatment, persisting at the 3-month follow-up. There was a notable increase in the REM sleep proportion post-rTMS. The rTMS group exhibited elevated low-frequency (0.5-2 Hz) slow-wave electroencephalogram spectral density during non-REM sleep. Cognitive enhancement correlated with increased lower delta power, while motor symptom progression correlated with spindle frequency and slow-wave sleep percentage changes. CONCLUSION: Low-frequency rTMS targeting the right DLPFC holds promise for improving clinical symptoms and modulating sleep architecture in PD. These findings suggest a link between symptom improvement and sleep structure enhancement, highlighting the need for further investigation into the therapeutic potential of rTMS in PD management.

SIRT6 suppresses colon cancer growth by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through transcriptionally down-regulating Survivin.

SIRT6, an evolutionarily conserved histone deacetylase, has been identified as a novel direct downstream target of Akt/FoxO3a and a tumor suppressor in colon cancer in our previous research. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which SIRT6 hinders tumor development remain unclear. To ascertain whether SIRT6 directly impacts Survivin transcription, a ChIP assay was conducted using an anti-SIRT6 antibody to isolate DNA. YM155 was synthesized to explore Survivin's role in mitochondrial apoptosis, autophagy and tumor progression. Our investigation into the regulation of Survivin involved real-time fluorescence imaging in living cells, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse assays. In this current study, we delved into the role of SIRT6 in colon cancer and established that activated SIRT6 triggers mitochondrial apoptosis by reducing Survivin expression. Subsequent examinations revealed that SIRT6 directly binds to the Survivin promoter, impeding its transcription. Notably, direct inhibition of Survivin significantly impeded colon cancer proliferation by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. More interestingly, Survivin inhibition reactivated the Akt/FoxO3a pathway and elevated SIRT6 levels, establishing a positive feedback loop. Our results identify Survivin as a novel downstream transcriptional target of SIRT6 that fosters tumor growth and holds promise as a prospective target for colon cancer therapy.

Serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer dynamics in patients achieving sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Understanding the dynamics of serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) remains pivotal for hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients' post-sustained virologic response (SVR12) through direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). METHODS: We compared areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of M2BPGi, FIB-4, and APRI and assess M2BPGi cutoff levels in predicting fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 utilizing transient elastography in 638 patients. Variations in M2BPGi levels from pretreatment to SVR12 and their association with pretreatment alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and fibrosis stage were investigated. RESULTS: The AUROCs of M2BPGi were comparable to FIB-4 in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.902, P = 0.48) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.915, P = 0.05) but were superior to APRI in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.851, P = 0.001) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.857, P < 0.001). Using M2BPGi cutoff values of 2.83 and 3.98, fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 were confirmed with a positive likelihood ratio ≥10. The median M2BPGi change was -0.55. Patients with ALT levels ≥5 times ULN or ≥F3 demonstrated more pronounced median decreases in M2BPGi level compared to those with ALT levels 2-5 times ULN and <2 times ULN (-0.97 vs -0.68 and -0.44; P < 0.001) or with < F3 (-1.52 vs -0.44; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum M2BPGi is a reliable marker for advanced hepatic fibrosis. Following viral clearance, there is a notable M2BPGi decrease, with the extent of reduction influenced by ALT levels and fibrosis stage.

Population structure and selection signal analysis of indigenous sheep from the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.

Analyzing the genetic diversity and selection characteristics of sheep (Ovis aries) holds significant value in understanding their environmental adaptability, enhancing breeding efficiency, and achieving effective conservation and rational utilization of genetic resources. In this study, we utilized Illumina Ovine SNP 50 K BeadChip data from four indigenous sheep breeds from the southern margin of the Taklamakan Desert (Duolang sheep: n = 36, Hetian sheep: n = 74, Kunlun sheep: n = 27, Qira black sheep: n = 178) and three foreign meat sheep breeds (Poll Dorset sheep: n = 105, Suffolk sheep: n = 153, Texel sheep: n = 150) to investigate the population structure, genetic diversity, and genomic signals of positive selection within the indigenous sheep. According to the Principal component analysis (PCA), the Neighbor-Joining tree (NJ tree), and Admixture, we revealed distinct clustering patterns of these seven sheep breeds based on their geographical distribution. Then used Cross Population Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (XP-EHH), Fixation Index (FST), and Integrated Haplotype Score (iHS), we identified a collective set of 32 overlapping genes under positive selection across four indigenous sheep breeds. These genes are associated with wool follicle development and wool traits, desert environmental adaptability, disease resistance, reproduction, and high-altitude adaptability. This study reveals the population structure and genomic selection characteristics in the extreme desert environments of native sheep breeds from the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, providing new insights into the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous sheep genetic resources in extreme environments. Additionally, these findings offer valuable genetic resources for sheep and other mammals to adapt to global climate change.

Cigarette smoke promotes IL-6-dependent lung cancer migration and osteolytic bone metastasis.

Lung cancer stands as a major contributor to cancer-related fatalities globally, with cigarette smoke playing a pivotal role in its development and metastasis. Cigarette smoke is also recognized as a risk factor for bone loss disorders like osteoporosis. However, the association between cigarette smoke and another bone loss disorder, lung cancer osteolytic bone metastasis, remains largely uncertain. Our Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicated that smokers among lung cancer patients exhibited higher expression levels of bone turnover gene sets. Both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and our clinic samples demonstrated elevated expression of the osteolytic factor IL-6 in ever-smokers with bone metastasis among lung cancer patients. Our cellular experiments revealed that benzo[α]pyrene (B[α]P) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) promoted IL-6 production and cell migration in lung cancer. Activation of the PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways was involved in cigarette smoke-augmented IL-6-dependent migration. Additionally, cigarette smoke lung cancer-secreted IL-6 promoted osteoclast formation. Importantly, blocking IL-6 abolished cigarette smoke-facilitated lung cancer osteolytic bone metastasis in vivo. Our findings provide evidence that cigarette smoke is a risk factor for osteolytic bone metastasis. Thus, inhibiting IL-6 may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for managing osteolytic bone metastasis in lung cancer patients who smoke.

Discovery of a Series of 4-Amide-thiophene-2-carboxyl Derivatives as Highly Potent P2Y14 Receptor Antagonists for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment.

The P2Y14 receptor has been proven to be a potential target for IBD. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of 4-amide-thiophene-2-carboxyl derivatives as novel potent P2Y14 receptor antagonists based on the scaffold hopping strategy. The optimized compound 39 (5-((5-fluoropyridin-2-yl)oxy)-4-(4-methylbenzamido)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid) exhibited subnanomolar antagonistic activity (IC50: 0.40 nM). Moreover, compound 39 demonstrated notably improved solubility, liver microsomal stability, and oral bioavailability. Fluorescent ligand binding assay confirmed that 39 has the binding ability to the P2Y14 receptor, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the formation of a unique intramolecular hydrogen bond (IMHB) in the binding conformation. In the experimental colitis mouse model, compound 39 showed a remarkable anti-IBD effect even at low doses. Compound 39, with a potent anti-IBD effect and favorable druggability, can be a promising candidate for further research. In addition, this work lays a strong foundation for the development of P2Y14 receptor antagonists and the therapeutic strategy for IBD.

A two-site Kitaev chain in a two-dimensional electron gas.

Artificial Kitaev chains can be used to engineer Majorana bound states (MBSs) in superconductor-semiconductor hybrids1-4. In this work, we realize a two-site Kitaev chain in a two-dimensional electron gas by coupling two quantum dots through a region proximitized by a superconductor. We demonstrate systematic control over inter-dot couplings through in-plane rotations of the magnetic field and via electrostatic gating of the proximitized region. This allows us to tune the system to sweet spots in parameter space, where robust correlated zero-bias conductance peaks are observed in tunnelling spectroscopy. To study the extent of hybridization between localized MBSs, we probe the evolution of the energy spectrum with magnetic field and estimate the Majorana polarization, an important metric for Majorana-based qubits5,6. The implementation of a Kitaev chain on a scalable and flexible two-dimensional platform provides a realistic path towards more advanced experiments that require manipulation and readout of multiple MBSs.

Identification and validation of immune-related gene signature models for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study seeks to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of clinical diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as to optimize the assessment of immunotherapy response. Methods: A training set comprising 305 HCC cases was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Initially, a screening process was undertaken to identify prognostically significant immune-related genes (IRGs), followed by the application of logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression methods for gene modeling. Subsequently, the final model was constructed using support vector machines-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE). Following model evaluation, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to examine the gene expression profiles in tissue samples obtained from our cohort of 54 patients with HCC and an independent cohort of 231 patients, and the prognostic relevance of the model was substantiated. Thereafter, the association of the model with the immune responses was examined, and its predictive value regarding the efficacy of immunotherapy was corroborated through studies involving three cohorts undergoing immunotherapy. Finally, the study uncovered the potential mechanism by which the model contributed to prognosticating HCC outcomes and assessing immunotherapy effectiveness. Results: SVM-RFE modeling was applied to develop an OS prognostic model based on six IRGs (CMTM7, HDAC1, HRAS, PSMD1, RAET1E, and TXLNA). The performance of the model was assessed by AUC values on the ROC curves, resulting in values of 0.83, 0.73, and 0.75 for the predictions at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. A marked difference in OS outcomes was noted when comparing the high-risk group (HRG) with the low-risk group (LRG), as demonstrated in both the initial training set (P <0.0001) and the subsequent validation cohort (P <0.0001). Additionally, the SVMRS in the HRG demonstrated a notable positive correlation with key immune checkpoint genes (CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1). The results obtained from the examination of three cohorts undergoing immunotherapy affirmed the potential capability of this model in predicting immunotherapy effectiveness. Conclusions: The HCC predictive model developed in this study, comprising six genes, demonstrates a robust capability to predict the OS of patients with HCC and immunotherapy effectiveness in tumor management.

Multi-chamber membrane capacitive deionization coupled with peroxymonosulfate to achieve simultaneous removal of tetracycline and peroxymonosulfate reaction byproducts.

Advanced oxidation technologies based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) have been extensively applied for the degradation of antibiotics. However, the degradation process inevitably introduces SO42- and other sulfur-containing anions, these pollutants pose a huge threat to the water and soil environment. Addressing these concerns, this study introduced PMS oxidation into a multi-chamber membrane capacitive deionization (MC-MCDI) device to achieve simultaneous tetracycline (TC) degradation and removal of PMS reaction byproduct ions. The experimental results demonstrated that when the TC solution (40 mg L-1) was pre-adsorbed for 10 min, the voltage was 1.2 V and the concentration of PMS solution added was 4 mg mL-1, the removal efficiency of TC and ion can reach 77.4 % and 46.5 % respectively. Furthermore, the activation process of PMS in MC-MCDI/PMS system and the reactive oxygen (ROS) that mainly produce degradation were deeply investigated. Finally, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to identify intermediates of TC degradation, propose potential degradation pathways, and analyze the toxicities of the intermediates. In addition, in five cycles, the MC-MCDI/PMS system demonstrated excellent stability. This study provides an effective strategy for treating TC wastewater and a novel approach for simultaneous TC degradation and desalination.

An Integrated Method for Microwave Absorption and External Thermal Flow Simulation in SAR Antenna Vacuum Thermal Tests.

The simulation of microwave absorption and external thermal flow is an essential aspect of the vacuum thermal testing process for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna. This paper proposes a novel integrated method for simulating microwave absorption and external thermal flow, specifically designed for vacuum thermal testing. The method employs a non-woven fabric square pyramid assembly as the primary structure to establish a low electromagnetic scattering environment. External heat flow simulation is achieved by arranging carbon fiber heating wires between square cones. Through numerical analysis and experimental tests, the influence of the position of the carbon fiber heating wire on the uniformity of heat flow and reflectivity was revealed. A prototype system is developed based on these findings. The external thermal flow is adjustable in the range of 80-550 W/m2, with a uniformity better than 5%. The reflectivity in the L to X microwave frequency band is basically better than -25 dB, and in local frequency bands, it is better than -30 dB. The system has been successfully applied in SAR antenna component and satellite vacuum thermal tests, meeting all ground simulation test requirements and exhibiting significant potential for widespread application.

Interaction of anthocyanins, soluble dietary fiber and waxy rice starch: Their effect on freeze-thaw stability, water migration, and pasting, rheological and microstructural properties of starch gels.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the interaction of black rice anthocyanins (BRA), soluble dietary fiber from extruded rice bran (ES) and waxy rice starch (WRS) on the physicochemical properties of starch gels, including gelatinization properties, rheological properties, freeze-thaw stability, water migration, molecular structure and gel microstructure. The results showed that the pasting temperature (PT) of the mixtures was increased, and the peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), final viscosity (FV) and setback viscosity (SV) were significantly reduced when ES and BRA were added to WRS in different proportions (ES:BRA, 4:0, 4:0.4, 4:1, 4:2, 8:0, 8:0.8, 8:2, 8:4). Both ES and BRA could enhance the viscosity of WRS gels, and ES exhibited strong ability on improving the strength of gels. The presence of ES and BRA improved the water retaining capacity of WRS gels, but weakened the freeze-thaw stability. ES, BRA and WRS formed non-covalent bonds (hydrogen bonds) through hydrophilic groups during gelatinization, which improved the gel properties. In addition, the steric hindrance formed by ES and BRA inhibited starch retrogradation. These results might contribute to the development of starch-based food formulations with good quality.