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Silica fiber under high pressure increases the risk of fiber breakage or permanent deformation, which may cause sensor failure due to mechanical strength limitations. High pressure can also induce birefringence in optical fiber. In this study, we present a simple design and low-cost high pressure sensor using polymer optical fiber (POF) based on the intensity-variation technique. A side-coupling mechanism in the sensor structure is adopted, which varies the intensity with applied pressure. Two POFs are twisted together to create a sensing region where the light is launched in the first fiber and measurement is taken from the second fiber. In sensing phenomena, cladding mode frustrated total internal reflection occurs when pressure increases. Silicone gel is used in the pressure chamber for sealing and preventing leakage. The sensor structure is able to detect high pressure in the MPa range, where we tested up to 4 MPa. For higher sensitivity, twisted and bend structure is analyzed, and sensitivity is achieved at about 432.21 nW/MPa. However, twisted helical structure is adopted to enhance sensing range which is about 50 cm. The proposed high-pressure sensor structure is easier to fabricate and has high stability because it doesn't require any destructive method as compared to other conventional methods.
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Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric illness with complex clinical manifestations. Cognitive dysfunction may underlie OC symptoms. The frontoparietal network (FPN) is a key region involved in cognitive control. However, the findings of impaired FPN regions have been inconsistent. We employed meta-analysis to identify the fMRI-specific abnormalities of the FPN in OCD. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost were searched to screen resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies exploring dysfunction in the FPN of OCD patients using three indicators: the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation/fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF/fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC). We compared all patients with OCD and control group in a primary analysis, and divided the studies by medication in secondary meta-analyses with the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm. Results: A total of 31 eligible studies with 1359 OCD patients (756 men) and 1360 healthy controls (733 men) were included in the primary meta-analysis. We concluded specific changes in brain regions of FPN, mainly in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, BA9), left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, BA47), left superior temporal gyrus (STG, BA38), right posterior cingulate cortex (PCC, BA29), right inferior parietal lobule (IPL, BA40) and bilateral caudate. Additionally, altered connectivity within- and between-FPN were observed in the bilateral DLPFC, right cingulate gyrus and right thalamus. The secondary analyses showed improved convergence relative to the primary analysis. Conclusion: OCD patients showed dysfunction FPN, including impaired local important nodal brain regions and hypoconnectivity within the FPN (mainly in the bilateral DLPFC), during the resting state. Moreover, FPN appears to interact with the salience network (SN) and default mode network (DMN) through pivotal brain regions. Consistent with the hypothesis of fronto-striatal circuit dysfunction, especially in the dorsal cognitive circuit, these findings provide strong evidence for integrating two pathophysiological models of OCD.
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It is increasingly evident that structural and functional changes in brain regions associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are often related to the development of the disease. However, limited research has been conducted on how the progression of OCD may lead to an imbalance between goal-directed and habit-learning systems. This study employs resting-state functional imaging to examine the relationship between illness duration and abnormal brain function in goal-directed/habitual-learning systems. Demographic, clinical, and multimodal fMRI data were collected from participants. Our findings suggest that, compared to healthy controls, individuals with OCD exhibit abnormal brain functional indicators in both goal-directed and habit-learning brain regions, with a more pronounced reduction observed in the goal-directed regions. Additionally, abnormal brain activity is associated with illness duration, and the abnormalities observed in goal-directed regions are more effective in distinguishing different courses of OCD patients. Patients with different durations of OCD have functional abnormalities in the goal-directed and habitual-learning brain regions. There are differences in the degree of abnormality in different brain regions, and these abnormalities may disrupt the balance between goal-directed and habitual-learning systems, leading to increasing reliance on repetitive behaviors.
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Encéfalo , Objetivos , Hábitos , Aprendizagem , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo , Humanos , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/fisiopatologia , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/diagnóstico por imagem , Masculino , Feminino , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Aprendizagem/fisiologia , Adulto Jovem , Mapeamento Encefálico , Progressão da Doença , Descanso/fisiologiaRESUMO
Grain size is a crucial agronomic trait that determines grain weight and final yield. Although several genes have been reported to regulate grain size in rice (Oryza sativa), the function of Wall-Associated Kinase family genes affecting grain size is still largely unknown. In this study, we identified GRAIN WEIGHT AND NUMBER 1 (GWN1) using map-based cloning. GWN1 encodes the OsWAK74 protein kinase, which is conserved in plants. GWN1 negatively regulates grain length and weight by regulating cell proliferation in spikelet hulls. We also found that GWN1 negatively influenced grain number by influencing secondary branch numbers and finally increased plant grain yield. The GWN1 gene was highly expressed in inflorescences and its encoded protein is located at the cell membrane and cell wall. Moreover, we identified three haplotypes of GWN1 in the germplasm. GWN1hap1 showing longer grain, has not been widely utilized in modern rice varieties. In summary, GWN1 played a very important role in regulating grain length, weight and number, thereby exhibiting application potential in molecular breeding for longer grain and higher yield.
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Grão Comestível , Oryza , Proteínas de Plantas , Sementes , Oryza/genética , Oryza/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Oryza/enzimologia , Grão Comestível/genética , Grão Comestível/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sementes/genética , Fenótipo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Clonagem Molecular , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Haplótipos , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases/genética , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Genes de PlantasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Treatment of acute stroke, before a distinction can be made between ischemic and hemorrhagic types, is challenging. Whether very early blood-pressure control in the ambulance improves outcomes among patients with undifferentiated acute stroke is uncertain. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with suspected acute stroke that caused a motor deficit and with elevated systolic blood pressure (≥150 mm Hg), who were assessed in the ambulance within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms, to receive immediate treatment to lower the systolic blood pressure (target range, 130 to 140 mm Hg) (intervention group) or usual blood-pressure management (usual-care group). The primary efficacy outcome was functional status as assessed by the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days after randomization. The primary safety outcome was any serious adverse event. RESULTS: A total of 2404 patients (mean age, 70 years) in China underwent randomization and provided consent for the trial: 1205 in the intervention group and 1199 in the usual-care group. The median time between symptom onset and randomization was 61 minutes (interquartile range, 41 to 93), and the mean blood pressure at randomization was 178/98 mm Hg. Stroke was subsequently confirmed by imaging in 2240 patients, of whom 1041 (46.5%) had a hemorrhagic stroke. At the time of patients' arrival at the hospital, the mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was 159 mm Hg, as compared with 170 mm Hg in the usual-care group. Overall, there was no difference in functional outcome between the two groups (common odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.15), and the incidence of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups. Prehospital reduction of blood pressure was associated with a decrease in the odds of a poor functional outcome among patients with hemorrhagic stroke (common odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.92) but an increase among patients with cerebral ischemia (common odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.60). CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, prehospital blood-pressure reduction did not improve functional outcomes in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated acute stroke, of whom 46.5% subsequently received a diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; INTERACT4 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03790800; Chinese Trial Registry number, ChiCTR1900020534.).
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Anti-Hipertensivos , Pressão Sanguínea , Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Hipertensão , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ambulâncias , Anti-Hipertensivos/administração & dosagem , Anti-Hipertensivos/efeitos adversos , Anti-Hipertensivos/uso terapêutico , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipertensão/complicações , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , AVC Isquêmico/terapia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia , Tempo para o Tratamento , Doença Aguda , Estado Funcional , ChinaRESUMO
CAR-T cell therapy, a novel immunotherapy, has made significant breakthroughs in clinical practice, particularly in treating B-cell-associated leukemia and lymphoma. However, it still faces challenges such as poor persistence, limited proliferation capacity, high manufacturing costs, and suboptimal efficacy. CRISPR/Cas system, an efficient and simple method for precise gene editing, offers new possibilities for optimizing CAR-T cells. It can increase the function of CAR-T cells and reduce manufacturing costs. The combination of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and CAR-T cell therapy may promote the development of this therapy and provide more effective and personalized treatment for cancer patients. Meanwhile, the safety issues surrounding the application of this technology in CAR-T cells require further research and evaluation. Future research should focus on improving the accuracy and safety of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to facilitate the better development and application of CAR-T cell therapy. This review focuses on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in CAR-T cell therapy, including eliminating the inhibitory effect of immune checkpoints, enhancing the ability of CAR-T cells to resist exhaustion, assisting in the construction of universal CAR-T cells, reducing the manufacturing costs of CAR-T cells, and the security problems faced. The objective is to show the revolutionary role of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in CAR-T cell therapy for researchers.
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Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Humanos , Edição de Genes , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Tecnologia , Terapia Baseada em Transplante de Células e TecidosAssuntos
Tumor de Células da Granulosa , Síndrome de Meigs , Neoplasias Ovarianas , Humanos , Feminino , Tumor de Células da Granulosa/patologia , Tumor de Células da Granulosa/cirurgia , Tumor de Células da Granulosa/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Meigs/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Meigs/cirurgia , Síndrome de Meigs/patologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/cirurgia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/patologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/diagnóstico , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , AdultoRESUMO
Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop cultivated in over 30 countries worldwide. We developed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of adzuki bean cultivar Jingnong6 by combining PacBio Sequel long-read sequencing with short-read and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome covers 97.8% of the adzuki bean genome with a contig N50 of approximately 16 Mb and a total of 32 738 protein-coding genes. We also generated a comprehensive genome variation map of adzuki bean by whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) of 322 diverse adzuki beans accessions including both wild and cultivated. Furthermore, we have conducted comparative genomics and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on key agricultural traits to investigate the evolution and domestication. GWAS identified several candidate genes, including VaCycA3;1, VaHB15, VaANR1 and VaBm, that exhibited significant associations with domestication traits. Furthermore, we conducted functional analyses on the roles of VaANR1 and VaBm in regulating seed coat colour. We provided evidence for the highest genetic diversity of wild adzuki (Vigna angularis var. nipponensis) in China with the presence of the most original wild adzuki bean, and the occurrence of domestication process facilitating transition from wild to cultigen. The present study elucidates the genetic basis of adzuki bean domestication traits and provides crucial genomic resources to support future breeding efforts in adzuki bean.
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Genoma de Planta , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Vigna , Genoma de Planta/genética , Vigna/genética , Cromossomos de Plantas/genética , Domesticação , Variação Genética , Genômica , Produtos Agrícolas/genética , FenótipoRESUMO
Identification and manipulation of cellular energy regulation mechanisms may be a strategy to increase productivity in photosynthetic organisms. This work tests the hypothesis that polyphosphate synthesis and degradation play a role in energy management by storing or dissipating energy in the form of ATP. A polyphosphate kinase (ppk) knock-out strain unable to synthesize polyphosphate was generated in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This mutant strain demonstrated higher ATP levels and faster growth than the wildtype strain in high-carbon conditions and had a growth defect under multiple stress conditions. In a strain that combined ppk deletion with heterologous expression of ethylene-forming enzyme, higher ethylene productivity was observed than in the wildtype background. These results support the role of polyphosphate synthesis and degradation as an energy regulation mechanism and suggest that such mechanisms may be effective targets in biocontainment design.
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We report an electro-optic isolator fabricated on thin-film lithium niobate by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching that shows an isolation of 39.50â dB and an overall fiber-to-fiber loss of 2.6â dB.
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As an important forestry pest, Coronaproctus castanopsis (Monophlebidae) has caused serious damage to the globally valuable Gutianshan ecosystem, China. In this study, we assembled the first chromosome-level genome of the female specimen of C. castanopsis by merging BGI reads, HiFi long reads and Hi-C data. The assembled genome size is 700.81 Mb, with a scaffold N50 size of 273.84 Mb and a contig N50 size of 12.37 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding assigned 98.32% (689.03 Mb) of C. Castanopsis genome to three chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis (n = 1,367) showed a completeness of 91.2%, comprising 89.2% of single-copy BUSCOs and 2.0% of multicopy BUSCOs. The mapping ratio of BGI, second-generation RNA, third-generation RNA and HiFi reads are 97.84%, 96.15%, 97.96%, and 99.33%, respectively. We also identified 64.97% (455.3 Mb) repetitive elements, 1,373 non-coding RNAs and 10,542 protein-coding genes. This study assembled a high-quality genome of C. castanopsis, which accumulated valuable molecular data for scale insects.
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Agricultura Florestal , Genoma de Inseto , Hemípteros , Feminino , Cromossomos , Ecossistema , Filogenia , RNA , Hemípteros/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have highlighted the unfavorable prognosis of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who have received prior antiplatelet therapy (PAP). Platelet infusion therapy (PIT) is commonly administered to such patients at many medical institutions, but its efficacy remains a subject of debate. METHODS: To address this uncertainty, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies published before June 30, 2023. Our primary outcomes of interest were favorable functional outcome and mortality, while secondary outcomes included the incidence of hematoma expansion and adverse events associated with PIT. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Our analysis included 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 6 retrospective studies, involving a total of 577 patients. Pooled analysis revealed that PIT did not contribute to a better favorable functional outcome at the 3-month follow-up (ORâ =â 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.89) among ICH patients with PAP. Furthermore, PIT did not significantly reduce the risk of mortality (ORâ =â 0.79, 95% CI 0.40-1.55) or hematoma expansion (ORâ =â 1.15, 95% CI 0.65-2.01). Notably, no significant differences in serious adverse events were observed between patients who underwent PIT and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, there is no indication that PIT can enhance the prognosis of spontaneous ICH patients with prior antiplatelet therapy, although this treatment approach appears to be safe. Therefore, routine recommendation of PIT for ICH patients with prior antiplatelet therapy is not warranted.
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Inibidores da Agregação Plaquetária , Transfusão de Plaquetas , Humanos , Inibidores da Agregação Plaquetária/efeitos adversos , Transfusão de Plaquetas/efeitos adversos , Hemorragia Cerebral/tratamento farmacológico , Prognóstico , Hematoma/etiologia , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como AssuntoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The routine immunization program for children is a primary strategy and a core part of vaccination. Achieving and maintaining high level of vaccination coverage are important to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. In Beijing, annual coverage surveys have been conducted since 2005. It is necessary and possible to assess the level and trend of routine vaccination coverage of children in Beijing as well as the disruption of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and provide the reference for the further improve the vaccination coverage. METHODS: The data of 61,521 children aged 1-3 years in the vaccination coverage surveys during 2005-2021 were analyzed by Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the data and the difference of vaccination coverage within the time period. RESULTS: More than 99 % of participants had immunization cards and electronic immunization records. The concordance rate of both records were also over 99 %. During 2011-2019, the rates of on-time and in-time vaccination of each routine vaccine reached 96 % or more and increased significantly (all P values <0.05), compared with that of 2005-2010. All rates of the investigated vaccine, except for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG) and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB), decreased in 2020-2021 significantly (all P values <0.05). For the causes of failing to vaccinate on time, delayed vaccination accounted for 47.82 %. The top two vaccines to be missed were the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine and the 4th dose of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine, accounting for 21.41 % and 20.79 %, respectively. The main reason for zero-dose/drop-out vaccination was "Guardians regarded the immunization service time as inappropriate", accounting for 72.27 %. CONCLUSION: The coverage level and service quality of routine immunization in Beijing were relatively high. However, as influenced by COVID-19 epidemics, both on-time and in-time vaccination rates decreased significantly, except for BCG and HepB. Under the background of COVID-19 pandemic, the keys to maintain high level of vaccination coverage include flexible immunization service time to ensure the guardians bringing their children for vaccination timely, and more attention from providers to the doses after children's first birthday.
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Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater effluent poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and can spur harmful algal blooms. Revolving algal biofilm (RAB) systems are an emerging technology to recover P from wastewater before discharge into aquatic ecosystems. In RAB systems, a community of microalgae take up and store wastewater P as polyphosphate as they grow in a partially submerged revolving biofilm, which may then be harvested and dried for use as fertilizer in lieu of mined phosphate rock. In this work, we isolated and characterized a total of 101 microalgae strains from active RAB systems across the US Midwest, including 82 green algae, 9 diatoms, and 10 cyanobacteria. Strains were identified by microscopy and 16S/18S ribosomal DNA sequencing, cryopreserved, and screened for elevated P content (as polyphosphate). Seven isolated strains possessed at least 50% more polyphosphate by cell dry weight than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system, with the top strain accumulating nearly threefold more polyphosphate. These top P-hyperaccumulating strains include the green alga Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g and the diatoms Eolimna minima TCF-3d and Craticula molestiformis TCF-8d, possessing 11.4, 12.7, and 14.0% polyphosphate by cell dry weight, respectively. As a preliminary test of strain application for recovering P, Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g was reinoculated into a bench-scale RAB system containing Bold basal medium. The strain successfully recolonized the system and recovered twofold more P from the medium than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system treating municipal wastewater. These isolated P-hyperaccumulating microalgae may have broad applications in resource recovery from various waste streams, including improving P removal from wastewater.
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In this study, superhydrophobic ZnO/Polytetrafluoroethylene (ZnO/PTFE) films with water droplet contact angles (CA) observed as high as 165° and water droplet sliding angles of (SA) <1° have been prepared on glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The PTFE was wrapped on a nano-rod made of a ZnO film with superhydrophobic properties while providing excellent UV resistance compared to hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) hydrophobic agents. The upper surface of the rough ZnO film was coated with PTFE, and most of the underlying coating was bare ZnO, which could well make contact with bacteria. For the Gram-negative strain, E. coli, the cell viability count of the ZnO/PTFE sample (3.5 log reduction, 99.96%) was conspicuously lower than that of the ZnO/HDTMS sample (1.2 log reduction, 93.87%) under 1 h illumination of UV light, which showed that the ZnO/PTFE sample has a better photocatalytic property than the ZnO/ HDTMS films. The ZnO/PTFE films also showed good mechanical robustness, which is an important consideration in their widespread real-world adoption.
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Photosynthetic productivity is limited by low energy conversion efficiency in naturally evolved photosynthetic organisms, via multiple mechanisms that are not fully understood. Here we show evidence that extends recent findings that cyanobacteria use "futile" cycles in the synthesis and degradation of carbon compounds to dissipate ATP. Reduction of the glycogen cycle or the sucrose cycle in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 led to redirection of cellular energy toward faster growth under simulated outdoor light conditions in photobioreactors that was accompanied by higher energy charge [concentration ratio of ATP/(ATP + ADP)]. Such manipulation of energy metabolism may have potential in engineering microalgal chassis cells to increase productivity of biomass or target metabolites.