Resveratrol inhibits pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis by depleting senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer, a formidable gastrointestinal neoplasm, is characterized by its insidious onset, rapid progression, and resistance to treatment, which often lead to a grim prognosis. While the complex pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer is well recognized, recent attention has focused on the oncogenic roles of senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts. However, their precise role in pancreatic cancer remains unknown. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol known for its multifaceted biological actions, including antioxidative and neuroprotective properties, as well as its potential to inhibit tumor proliferation and migration. Our current investigation builds on prior research and reveals the remarkable ability of resveratrol to inhibit pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis. AIM: To explore the potential of resveratrol in inhibiting pancreatic cancer by targeting senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts. METHODS: Immunofluorescence staining of pancreatic cancer tissues revealed prominent coexpression of α-SMA and p16. HP-1 expression was determined using immunohistochemistry. Cells were treated with the senescence-inducing factors known as 3CKs. Long-term growth assays confirmed that 3CKs significantly decreased the CAF growth rate. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression levels of p16 and p21. Immunofluorescence was performed to assess LaminB1 expression. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the levels of several senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors, including IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, MMP-2, MMP-9, CXCL1, and CXCL12. A scratch assay was used to assess the migratory capacity of the cells, whereas Transwell assays were used to evaluate their invasive potential. RESULTS: Specifically, we identified the presence of senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts within pancreatic cancer tissues, linking their abundance to cancer progression. Intriguingly, Resveratrol effectively eradicated these fibroblasts and hindered their senescence, which consequently impeded pancreatic cancer progression. CONCLUSION: This groundbreaking discovery reinforces Resveratrol's stature as a potential antitumor agent and positions senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts as pivotal contenders in future therapeutic strategies against pancreatic cancer.

Ultrasound-Responsive Nanocarriers Delivering siRNA and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Reprogram Macrophages and Inhibit M2 Polarization for Enhanced NSCLC Immunotherapy.

Lung cancer has emerged as the second most common type of malignant tumor worldwide, and it has the highest mortality rate. The overall 5-year survival rate stands at less than 20%, which is primarily related to the limited therapeutic options and the complexity of the tumor immune microenvironment. In the tumor microenvironment, M1 macrophages are known for their tumor-killing capabilities. Although they are less numerous, they play an important role in tumor immunity. Therefore, increasing M1 macrophages' presence is considered a strategy to enhance targeted phagocytosis and antitumor efficacy in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study introduces the development of folic acid (FA)-conjugated liposomal nanobubbles for precise delivery of PFH, STAT3 siRNA, and Fe3O4 to the tumor microenvironment. These encapsulated PFH liposomal nanobubbles exhibit significant visualization potential and underwent phase transition when exposed to low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU). The release of Fe3O4 activates the IRF5 signaling pathway, converting M2-like macrophages to M1. In addition, STAT3 siRNA effectively interrupts the JAK-STAT3 pathway, inhibiting the polarization of M2-like macrophages in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This dual-action therapy facilitates T-cell activation and proliferation, thereby enhancing the immune response against NSCLC.

Cardiac-derived CTRP9 mediates the protection of empagliflozin against diabetes-induced male subfertility in mice.

Previous studies have shown beneficial effects of empagliflozin (Empa), a selective inhibitor of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), on diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes. However, whether Empa could ameliorate diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced male spermatogenesis dysfunction remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Empa in the development of DM-induced male spermatogenesis dysfunction and to reveal the molecular mechanisms. DM mice were orally treated with Empa to investigate the effects of Empa on DM-induced male mice spermatogenesis dysfunction. We employed a cardiac-specific C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9)-deficient mouse model and a cardiac-specific CTRP9 overexpression mouse model to investigate its role in the protection of Empa against diabetes-induced male subfertility. We found that Empa treatment could improve DM-induced male mice subfertility. Interestingly, we discovered that cardiac-derived CTRP9 was decreased in DM mice and this decrease was prevented by Empa treatment. A CTRP9 blocking antibody or cardiac-specific depletion of CTRP9 abolished the protection of Empa on DM-induced male subfertility. Cardiac-specific CTRP9 overexpression ameliorated DM-induced male subfertility. Mechanistically, we identified that cardiac-derived CTRP9 increased steroidogenesis in mice with diabetes in a PKA-dependent manner. We also provided direct evidence that activation of AMP activated protein kinase α (AMPKα)/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway by CTRP9 was responsible for the attenuation of ferroptosis in Leydig cells. In conclusions, we supposed that Empa was a potential therapeutic agent against DM-induced male mice spermatogenesis dysfunction.

Electronic communications between active sites on individual metallic nanoparticles in catalysis.

Catalytic activity of metal particles is reported to originate from the appearance of nonmetallic states, but conductive metallic particles, as an electron reservoir, should render electron delivery between reactants more favorably so as to have higher activity. We present that metallic rhodium particle catalysts are highly active in the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide, whereas nonmetallic rhodium clusters or monoatoms on alumina remain catalytically inert. Experimental and theoretical results evidence the presence of electronic communications in between vertex atom active sites of individual metallic particles in the reaction. The electronic communications dramatically lower apparent activation energies via coupling two electrochemical-like half-reactions occurring on different active sites, which enable the metallic particles to show turnover frequencies at least four orders of magnitude higher than the nonmetallic clusters or monoatoms. Similar results are found for other metallic particle catalysts, implying the importance of electronic communications between active sites in heterogeneous catalysis.

Ultrasound-responsive nanocarriers with siRNA and Fe3O4 regulate macrophage polarization and phagocytosis for augmented non-small cell lung cancer immunotherapy.

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly inhibits the effective anti-tumor immune response, greatly affecting the efficacy of immunotherapy. Most tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) belong to the M2 phenotype, which contributes significantly to the immunosuppressive effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) TME. The interaction between signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) expressed on macrophages and CD47, a transmembrane protein overexpressed on cancer cells, activates the "eat-me-not" signaling pathway, inhibiting phagocytosis. In this study, a folic acid (FA)-modified ultrasound responsive gene/drugs delivery system, named FA@ PFP @ Fe3O4 @LNB-SIRPα siRNA (FA-PFNB-SIRPα siRNA), was developed using 1,2-dioleoacyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), FA-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N- [amino (polyethylene glycol)2000] (DSPE-PEG2000-FA), cholesterol, and perfluoropentane (PFP), for the delivery of siRNA encoding SIRPα mRNA and immune adjuvant Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Under ultrasound conditions, the nanobubbles effectively transfected macrophages, inhibiting SIRPα mRNA and protein expression, promoting the phagocytosis of TAMs, and synergistically reversing M2 polarization. This system promotes the infiltration of T cells, enhances the proliferation and activation of cytotoxic T cells, and inhibits the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells in tumor tissues. Administration of FA-PFNB-SIRPα siRNA combined with ultrasound significantly inhibits NSCLC progression. The study highlights the potential of ultrasound nanotechnology-enabled delivery of SIRPα siRNA and Fe3O4 as an effective strategy for macrophage-based immunotherapy to reshape the immunosuppressive TME for cancer therapy.

Exploring spontaneous brain activity changes in high-altitude smokers: Insights from ALFF/fALFF analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to explore the impact of smoking on intrinsic brain activity among high-altitude (HA) populations. Smoking is associated with various neural alterations, but it remains unclear whether smokers in HA environments exhibit specific neural characteristics. METHODS: We employed ALFF and fALFF methods across different frequency bands to investigate differences in brain functional activity between high-altitude smokers and non-smokers. 31 smokers and 31 non-smokers from HA regions participated, undergoing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans. ALFF/fALFF values were compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses explored relationships between brain activity and clinical data. RESULTS: Smokers showed increased ALFF values in the right superior frontal gyrus (R-SFG), right middle frontal gyrus (R-MFG), right anterior cingulate cortex (R-ACC), right inferior frontal gyrus (R-IFG), right superior/medial frontal gyrus (R-MSFG), and left SFG compared to non-smokers in HA. In sub-frequency bands (0.01-0.027 Hz and 0.027-0.073 Hz), smokers showed increased ALFF values in R-SFG, R-MFG, right middle cingulate cortex (R-MCC), R-MSFG, Right precentral gyrus and L-SFG while decreased fALFF values were noted in the right postcentral and precentral gyrus in the 0.01-0.027 Hz band. Negative correlations were found between ALFF values in the R-SFG and smoking years. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals the neural characteristics of smokers in high-altitude environments, highlighting the potential impact of smoking on brain function. These results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of high-altitude smoking addiction and may inform the development of relevant intervention measures.

Hetero-Nucleation Induced [111]-Oriented Mixed Halide Perovskite for Stable Pure Red Light-Emitting Diodes.

Mixed halide 3D perovskites are promising for bright, efficient, and wide-color gamut light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their excellent carrier transport, high luminescence, and easily tunable bandgaps. However, serious halide ion migration inside mixed halide 3D perovskite results in poor operational and spectral stability of the as-fabricated LEDs. Here, a hetero-nucleation crystallization strategy is reported to grow [111]-orientation preferred mixed halide 3D perovskite CsPbI3-xBrx thin films for stable pure red LEDs. This hetero-nucleation crystallization is enabled by the addition of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) complexation, which promotes the growth of small perovskite grains into large grains with uniform [111]-orientation. The obtained [111]-orientation preferred film exhibits excellent stability under light or electric field stimulus as revealed by model analysis and experimental results compared to that of [001]-orientation preferred film. Thus, based on the [111]-orientation preferred film, the fabricated LED exhibits an external quantum efficiency of 22.8%, a maximum brightness of 12 000 cd m-2, and a half-life time of 4080 min under 1.5 mA cm-2. More importantly, the electroluminescence spectrum of the device remains stable during the continuous operation of 4080 min, showcasing the significant spectral stability improvement enabled by the hetero-nucleation induced [111]-orientation strategy.

Blood Lead Testing and Follow-up Testing Among Children Hospitalized for Lead Poisoning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: US children experience lead poisoning, which has detrimental health effects and significant individual and societal costs. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and hospitalization characteristics of children hospitalized for lead poisoning and assess the proportion of inpatients who received blood lead testing and appropriate follow-up testing before hospitalization. METHODS: 2015-2021 hospital discharge data were linked to lead surveillance data for Pennsylvania children aged 0 to 5 years. Demographics, hospitalization characteristics, and lead testing data from children with a primary diagnosis code of lead poisoning were used. The number of hospitalizations, associated hospital length of stay and charges, and the proportion of inpatients who received lead testing and follow-up testing after identification of high blood lead levels before hospitalization were analyzed by selected characteristics. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 93 children hospitalized for lead poisoning, incurring 443 inpatient days and approximately 6 million dollars in inpatient charges. Of these inpatients, 69.9% were males, 36.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 67.7% were aged 0 to 2 years, 14% had repeated admissions, and 88.2% of admissions were paid by Medicaid. In addition, 20.4% did not have lead testing, and 34.4% had appropriate follow-up testing before hospitalization. Non-Hispanic whites and children with developmental, behavioral, and emotional disorders had relatively low proportions of having appropriate follow-up testing. CONCLUSIONS: Severe childhood lead poisoning is a significant health and economic burden, especially among children with Medicaid. Further improvements in blood lead testing and follow-up testing can help prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Altered Resting-State Electroencephalogram Microstate Characteristics in Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains a leading cause of disability globally and movement impairment is the most common complication in stroke patients. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) microstate analysis is a non-invasive approach of whole-brain imaging based on the spatiotemporal pattern of the entire cerebral cortex. The present study aims to investigate microstate alterations in stroke patients. METHODS: Resting-state EEG data collected from 24 stroke patients and 19 healthy controls matched by age and gender were subjected to microstate analysis. For four classic microstates labeled as class A, B, C and D, their temporal characteristics (duration, occurrence and coverage) and transition probabilities (TP) were extracted and compared between the two groups. Furthermore, we explored their correlations with clinical outcomes including the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the action research arm test (ARAT) scores in stroke patients. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between the temporal characteristics and spectral power in frequency bands. False discovery rate (FDR) method was applied for correction of multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Microstate analysis revealed that the stroke group had lower occurrence of microstate A which was regarded as the sensorimotor network (SMN) compared with the control group (p = 0.003, adjusted p = 0.036, t = -2.959). The TP from microstate A to microstate D had a significant positive correlation with the Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity (FMA-LE) scores (p = 0.049, r = 0.406), but this finding did not survive FDR adjustment (adjusted p = 0.432). Additionally, the occurrence and the coverage of microstate B were negatively correlated with the power of delta band in the stroke group, which did not pass adjustment (p = 0.033, adjusted p = 0.790, r = -0.436; p = 0.026, adjusted p = 0.790, r = -0.454, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the abnormal temporal dynamics of brain activity in stroke patients. The study provides further electrophysiological evidence for understanding the mechanism of brain motor functional reorganization after stroke.

Multi-omics analysis reveals flavor differences in Xinjiang brown beef with varying intramuscular fat contents.

Beef flavor plays a crucial role in consumer preference, yet research on this trait has been limited by past technological constraints. Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a key determinant of beef quality, influencing taste, marbling, and overall flavor. Xinjiang brown cattle (XBC), an indigenous breed from northern Xinjiang, China, presents significant variation in meat quality, with IMF content ranging from 0.2 % to 4.3 % within the population. This variation suggests strong potential for breeding improvement. In this study, we selected 82 XBC for slaughter and meat quality analysis, categorizing them based on IMF content. Using two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS), we analyzed volatile flavor compounds across different beef cuts (Longissimus dorsi, Semitendinosus, Supraspinatus). Our results showed that beef with higher IMF levels exhibited enhanced flavor profiles, characterized by sweet, green, fruity, and waxy notes, while castrated bulls displayed the weakest flavor intensity. Metabolomic analysis further revealed significant differences in flavor substances between high and low IMF content beef. RNA-Seq analysis identified key genes (AQP4, FZD2, FADS1, BPG1, CEBPD, FABP4) associated with flavor formation, offering valuable insights for breeding strategies aimed at improving XBC meat quality. This comprehensive study provides a robust theoretical foundation for advancing the genetic improvement of XBC.

A Survey on Multi-Sensor Fusion Perimeter Intrusion Detection in High-Speed Railways.

In recent years, the safety issues of high-speed railways have remained severe. The intrusion of personnel or obstacles into the perimeter has often occurred in the past, causing derailment or parking, especially in the case of bad weather such as fog, haze, rain, etc. According to previous research, it is difficult for a single sensor to meet the application needs of all scenario, all weather, and all time domains. Due to the complementary advantages of multi-sensor data such as images and point clouds, multi-sensor fusion detection technology for high-speed railway perimeter intrusion is becoming a research hotspot. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no review of research on multi-sensor fusion detection technology for high-speed railway perimeter intrusion. To make up for this deficiency and stimulate future research, this article first analyzes the situation of high-speed railway technical defense measures and summarizes the research status of single sensor detection. Secondly, based on the analysis of typical intrusion scenarios in high-speed railways, we introduce the research status of multi-sensor data fusion detection algorithms and data. Then, we discuss risk assessment of railway safety. Finally, the trends and challenges of multi-sensor fusion detection algorithms in the railway field are discussed. This provides effective theoretical support and technical guidance for high-speed rail perimeter intrusion monitoring.

A machine learning model for early candidemia prediction in the intensive care unit: Clinical application.

Candidemia often poses a diagnostic challenge due to the lack of specific clinical features, and delayed antifungal therapy can significantly increase mortality rates, particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aims to develop a machine learning predictive model for early candidemia diagnosis in ICU patients, leveraging their clinical information and findings. We conducted this study with a cohort of 334 patients admitted to the ICU unit at Ji Ning NO.1 people's hospital in China from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2022. To ensure the model's reliability, we validated this model with an external group consisting of 77 patients from other sources. The candidemia to bacteremia ratio is 1:1. We collected relevant clinical procedures and eighteen key examinations or tests features to support the recursive feature elimination (RFE) algorithm. These features included total bilirubin, age, platelet count, hemoglobin, CVC, lymphocyte, Duration of stay in ICU and so on. To construct the candidemia diagnosis model, we employed random forest (RF) algorithm alongside other machine learning methods and conducted internal and external validation with training and testing sets allocated in a 7:3 ratio. The RF model demonstrated the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) with values of 0.87 and 0.83 for internal and external validation, respectively. To evaluate the importance of features in predicting candidemia, Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values were calculated and results revealed that total bilirubin and age were the most important factors in the prediction model. This advancement in candidemia prediction holds significant promise for early intervention and improved patient outcomes in the ICU setting, where timely diagnosis is of paramount crucial.

[Pollution Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Topsoil of Counties Along the Shandong Section of the Yellow River].

The 25 counties along the Shandong section of the Yellow River are the core areas for promoting the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River in Shandong Province. Moreover, it is of great significance to study the current situation, sources, and potential risks of heavy metal pollution in the topsoil in this region. In this study, 103 soil samples were collected from the 25 counties along the Shandong section of the Yellow River, and the contents of eight heavy metals （As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Hg） were determined. The pollution characteristics of heavy metals were analyzed and evaluated using the geological accumulation index and potential ecological risk index. Correlation analysis and the positive matrix factorization （PMF） model were used to analyze the sources of heavy metals. The results showed that the average contents of Cu and Cr were lower than that of the background values of soils, whereas the average contents of As, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Hg were 1.16, 1.42, 1.05, 1.14, 2.29, and 1.85 times higher than that of the background values, respectively, and the average contents of all eight elements were lower than the screening value of soil pollution risk in agricultural land. In terms of different heavy metal variations, the coefficient of variation （CV） of Cu and Cd was higher than 0.500, indicating high variations, whereas As, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, and Hg showed moderate variation. Cd and Hg were slightly polluted, whereas the other six elements were not polluted. Cd and Hg had a moderate potential ecological risk level, whereas the other six elements were at a low level. Correlation analysis and PMF model showed that the sources of heavy metals in the study area were influenced by four factors, i.e., agricultural activities, natural sources, industrial emissions, and atmospheric dust from coal combustion and vehicle exhaust emissions, and the relative contribution rates were 32.4%, 34.9%, 16.5%, and 16.2%, respectively.

Case report: is necrotizing fasciitis in a rectal cancer patient after targeted systemic therapy related to the tumor site? - evidence from a hepatocellular carcinoma patient.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening serious infectious disease, characterized by acute onset and rapid progress, leading to extensive necrosis of skin, soft tissue as well as fascia by a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, localized on external genitalia, scrotum, groin and perianal areas in males. There exist numerous common etiologies for NF, yet NF induced by malignant neoplasms is exceedingly rare. Several studies have reported that NF may be associated with tumor site (rectal/sigmoid colon cancer) and blood supply dysfunction caused by targeted therapy drugs (bevacizumab, aflibercept, ramucirumab). The perforation of colorectal cancer poses a unique risk factor for NF. However, in our two cases, the patient with rectal cancer received CapeOX (oxaliplatin + capecitabine) + bevacizumab + tislelizumab for 3 cycles without perforation but did develop NF. One month after debridement, the patient continued immunotherapy with tislelizumab alone for the fourth cycle and maintained for an additional 3 cycles without any recurrence of NF. Therefore, does the occurrence of NF correlate with the tumor site (rectum) and targeted immunotherapy? Another patient with hepatocellular carcinoma also developed NF after receiving 2 cycles of lenvatinib + sintilimab treatment. The third cycle of sintilimab immunotherapy was administered on the 13th day after operation, which was subsequently maintained for an additional 2 cycles without recurrence of NF. The absence of a direct correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma and rectal tumor location as well as immunotherapy, suggests that NF may be closely linked to targeted therapy.

Full-Color Emissive Zirconium-Organic Frameworks Constructed via in situ "One-Pot" Single-Site Modification for Tryptophan Detection and Energy Transfer.

Organic linker-based luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) have received extensive studies due to the unlimited species of emissive organic linkers and tunable structure of MOFs. However, the multiple-step organic synthesis is always a great challenge for the development of LMOFs. As an alternative strategy, in situ "one-pot" strategy, in which the generation of emissive organic linkers and sequential construction of LMOFs happen in one reaction condition, can avoid time-consuming pre-synthesis of organic linkers. In the present work, we demonstrate the successful utilization of in situ "one-pot" strategy to construct a series of LMOFs via the single-site modification between the reaction of aldehydes and o-phenylenediamine-based tetratopic carboxylic acid. The resultant MOFs possess csq topology with emission covering blue to near-infrared. The nanosized LMOFs exhibit excellent sensitivity and selectivity for tryptophan detection. In addition, two component-based LMOFs can also be prepared via the in situ "one-pot" strategy and used to study energy transfer. This work not only reports the construction of LMOFs with full-color emissions, which can be utilized for various applications, but also indicates that in situ "one-pot" strategy indeed is a useful and powerful method to complement the traditional MOFs construction method for preparing porous materials with tunable functionalities and properties.

Reticular Chemistry and In Situ "One-Pot" Strategy: A Dream Combination to Construct Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The establishment of reticular chemistry has significantly facilitated the development of porous materials, especially for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). On the other hand, as an alternative approach, in situ "one-pot" strategy has been explored as a promising approach to constructing MOFs, in which the synthesis of organic linkers and the sequential construction of MOFs are integrated into one solvothermal condition. This strategy can efficiently avoid the limitations faced in the traditional construction method, such as time-consuming organic synthesis and multiple separation and purification. Herein, inspired by the reaction of aldehydes and o-phenylenediamine and deep structural analysis of UiO-68, a series of tetra-, hexa-, and octa-topic carboxylic acids are synthesized using 2',3'-diamino-[1,1':4',1'"-terphenyl]-4,4'"-dicarboxylic acid and di-, tri-, and tetra-topic aldehydes as precursor. Then nine multicarboxylate-based zirconium MOFs (Zr-MOFs) are successfully constructed via the combination of reticular chemistry and in situ "one-pot" strategy. The resultant Zr-MOFs can be regarded as the partial face decoration of UiO-68. More importantly, the emission properties of resultant Zr-MOFs can be well controlled using aldehydes with tunable electronic structures. This work provides a new path to rational design and construction of porous materials with specific structures guided by reticular chemistry and conducted using in situ "one-pot" strategy.

Molecular detection, subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in migratory birds from nature reserves in northeastern China.

Migratory birds play an important role in the cross-regional transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Assessing the presence of zoonotic pathogens carried by migratory birds is critical for disease control. However, information about Blastocystis infection in the migratory birds is very limited. Thus, we conducted this study with the aim to explore the occurrence, prevalence and subtyping of Blastocystis in four breeds of migratory birds in northeastern China. From October 2022 to April 2023, a total of 427 fresh fecal samples were obtained from four breeds of migratory birds in five nature reserves in northeastern China, and screened for Blastocystis by PCR amplification. Twenty-one (4.92 %) of the studied samples were confirmed Blastocystis-positive, and two known zoonotic subtypes ST6 and ST7 were founded, with ST7 being the major subtype. Until now, we firstly reported the infection status and subtyping of Blastocystis in the migratory Greater White-Fronted Goose, White Stork, Oriental White Stork and Bean Goose in China. More importantly, these findings present further data on the genetic diversity and transmission routes of Blastocystis and further arouse public health concerns about this organism.

Mechanical and Lattice Thermal Properties of Si-Ge Lateral Heterostructures.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have drawn extensive attention due to their exceptional characteristics and potential uses in electronics and energy storage. This investigation employs simulations using molecular dynamics to examine the mechanical and thermal transport attributes of the 2D silicene-germanene (Si-Ge) lateral heterostructure. The pre-existing cracks of the Si-Ge lateral heterostructure are addressed with external strain. Then, the effect of vacancy defects and temperature on the mechanical attributes is also investigated. By manipulating temperature and incorporating vacancy defects and pre-fabricated cracks, the mechanical behaviors of the Si-Ge heterostructure can be significantly modulated. In order to investigate the heat transport performance of the Si-Ge lateral heterostructure, a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics approach is employed. The efficient phonon average free path is obtained as 136.09 nm and 194.34 nm, respectively, in the Si-Ge heterostructure with a zigzag and armchair interface. Our results present the design and application of thermal management devices based on the Si-Ge lateral heterostructure.

Identification and validation of potential biomarkers related to oxidative stress in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic interstitial pneumonia with a poor prognosis and a pathogenesis that has not been fully elucidated. Oxidative stress is closely associated with IPF. In this research, we aimed to identify reliable diagnostic biomarkers associated with the oxidative stress through bioinformatics techniques. The gene expression profile data from the GSE70866 dataset was retrieved from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. We extracted 437 oxidative stress-related genes (ORGs) from gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The GSE141939 dataset was used for single-cell RNA-seq analysis to identify the expression of diagnostic genes in different cell clusters. A total of 10 differentially expressed oxidative stress-related genes (DE-ORGs) were screened. Subsequently, SOD3, CD36, ACOX2, RBM11, CYP1B1, SNCA, and MPO from the 10 DE-ORGs were identified as diagnostic genes based on random forest algorithm with randomized least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. A nomogram was constructed to evaluate the risk of disease. The decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curves indicated that the nomogram based on these seven biomarkers had extraordinary predictive power. Immune cell infiltration analysis results revealed that DE-ORGs were closely related to various immune cells, especially CYP1B1 was in positive correlation with monocytes and negative correlation with macrophages M1. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis showed that CYP1B1 was mainly associated with macrophages, and SNCA was mainly associated with basal cells. CYP1B1 and SNCA were diagnostic genes associated with oxidative stress in IPF.

Evolution of multi-scale structure and microbiota metabolism of lentil resistant starch during the dynamic fermentation in vitro.

This study investigated the structural changes of resistant starch (RS) derived from autoclaved lentil starch (ALRS) and untreated lentil starch (ULRS) during in vitro colonic fermentation, as well as their regulatory effects on the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Following in vitro fermentation, both RS samples exhibited a progressive decrease in molecular weight and a gradual increase in double helix/order. Bifidobacterium was more abundant in ULRS during the initial period of fermentation, while ALRS showed higher abundance in the later stage. ALRS demonstrated greater production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) compared to ULRS, likely attributed to its higher structural order and faster fermentation pattern. The distinct surface morphologies of ULRS and ALRS played a crucial role in determining the accessibility of RS substrates for microbial fermentation. These different structural patterns also influenced the shifts in microbial composition in fecal cultures, leading to variations in SCFAs production through anaerobic fermentation.