Partial inhibition of class III PI3K VPS-34 ameliorates motor aging and prolongs health span.

Global increase of life expectancy is rarely accompanied by increased health span, calling for a greater understanding of age-associated behavioral decline. Motor independence is strongly associated with the quality of life of elderly people, yet the regulators for motor aging have not been systematically explored. Here, we designed a fast and efficient genome-wide screening assay in Caenorhabditis elegans and identified 34 consistent genes as potential regulators of motor aging. Among the top hits, we found VPS-34, the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase that phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol (PI) to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P), regulates motor function in aged but not young worms. It primarily functions in aged motor neurons by inhibiting PI(3)P-PI-PI(4)P conversion to reduce neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of VPS-34 improve neurotransmission and muscle integrity, ameliorating motor aging in both worms and mice. Thus, our genome-wide screening revealed an evolutionarily conserved, actionable target to delay motor aging and prolong health span.

Gene expression and methylation profiles show the involvement of POMC in primary hyperparathyroidsm.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is mainly caused by parathyroid adenoma, which produces excess parathyroid hormones. Its pathogenic mechanisms have not yet been fully understood. To investigate the mechanism in the pathogenesis of PHPT, the transcriptome and genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of parathyroid adenoma were analyzed. The candidate genes that may be involved in the PHPT were verified via qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and methylation-specific PCR. A total of 1650 differentially expressed genes and 2373 differentially methylated regions were identified. After the integration of its transcriptome and DNA methylation data, IL6, SYP, GNA01, and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) were the candidate genes that demonstrated a similar pattern between their mRNA expression and DNA methylation status. Of the 4 candidate genes, POMC, a pro-peptide which is processed to a range of bioactive peptide products like ACTH, was further confirmed to be expressed at low levels at both the mRNA and protein levels, which may be due to POMC promoter hypermethylation. Hypermethylation of the POMC promoter may contribute to its low expression, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PHPT.

Frequent KRAS mutations in oncocytic papillary renal neoplasm with inverted nuclei.

AIMS: Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) is a newly documented rare tumour type. Its molecular pathological features have thus far been very little studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: There were 13 PRNRP cases including 3 The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cases and our 10 cases in this study. The 3 TCGA cases were found by a combined analysis of GATA3 mRNA expression levels and digital slides from the TCGA papillary renal cell carcinoma project. KRAS codon 12 mutations were identified in the three PRNRPs from TCGA. Of our 10 PRNRP cases, the mutations were also discovered using Sanger sequencing in seven (77.8%) of nine cases with available DNA, where KRAS p.G12V (n = 3), p.G12D (n = 2), p.G12R (n = 1) and p.G12C (n = 1) alterations were found. PRNRP shared similar gene expression profiles with renal distal tubules via an interprofile correlation analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that genes involved in 'KEGG aldosterone regulated sodium reabsorption' or 'hallmark apical surface' were enriched in PRNRP. Moreover, polarised immunostaining patterns for L1CAM and EMA in the distal tubule were maintained in PRNRP. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that the tumour potentially originates from the distal tubule, especially from the cortical collecting duct, and probably retains its cell polarity, except for nuclear inversion. We therefore propose that oncocytic papillary renal neoplasm with inverted nuclei (OPRNIN) is a better name for this tumour type. OPRNIN is a kidney site-specific KRAS mutation neoplasm different from conventional papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Gliosarcoma: a clinical and radiological analysis of 48 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively review the radiological and clinicopathological features of gliosarcoma (GSM) and differentiate it from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). METHODS: The clinicopathological data and imaging findings (including VASARI analysis) of 48 surgically and pathologically confirmed GSM patients (group 1) were reviewed in detail, and were compared with that of other glioblastoma (GBM) cases in our hospital (group 2). RESULTS: There were 28 men and 20 women GSM patients with a median age of 52.5 years (range, 24-80 years) in this study. Haemorrhage (n = 21), a salt-and-pepper sign on T2-weighted images (n = 36), unevenly thickened wall (n = 36) even appearing as a paliform pattern (n = 32), an intra-tumoural large feeding artery (n = 32) and an eccentric cystic portion (ECP) (n = 19) were more commonly observed in the GSM group than in GBM patients. Based on our experience, GSM can be divided into four subtypes according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. When compared to GBM (group 2), there were more patients designated with type III lesions (having very unevenly thickened walls) and IV (solid) lesions among the GSM cases (group 1). On univariate prognostic analysis, adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiochemotherapy) and existence of an eccentric cyst region were prognostic factors. However, Cox's regression model showed only adjuvant therapy as a prognostic factor for GSM. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to GBM, certain imaging features are more likely to occur in GSM, which may help raise the possibility of this disease. All GSM patients are recommended to receive adjuvant therapy to achieve a better prognosis with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy all as options. KEY POINTS: • Diagnosis of gliosarcoma can be suggested preoperatively by imaging. • Gliosarcoma can be divided into four subtypes based on MRI. • Paliform pattern and ECP tend to present in gliosarcoma more than GBM. • The cystic subtype of gliosarcoma may predict a more dismal prognosis. • All gliosarcoma patients should receive adjuvant therapy to achieve better prognosis.

Nanoparticle Assisted EOR during Sand-Pack Flooding: Electrical Tomography to Assess Flow Dynamics and Oil Recovery.

Silica nanoparticles have been shown to exhibit many characteristics that allow for additional oil to be recovered during sand-pack flooding experiments. Additionally various imaging techniques have been employed in the past to visually compare flooding procedures including x-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; however, these techniques require the sample to be destroyed or sliced after the flooding experiment finishes. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) overcomes these limitations by offering a non-destructive visualization method allowing for online images to be taken during the flooding process by the determination of spatial distribution of electrical resistivity, thus making it suitable for sand-packs. During the scope of this research a new sand-pack system and methodology was created which utilized ERT as a monitoring tool. Two concentrations, 0.5 wt% and 1.0 wt%, of SiO2 nanoparticles were compared with runs using only brine to compare the recovery efficiency and explore the ability of ERT to monitor the flooding process. Electrical resistance tomography was found to be an effective tool in monitoring local recovery efficiency revealing 1.0 wt% SiO2 to be more effective than 0.5 wt% and brine only runs during the scope of this research. A new method involving the slope function in excel was used to compare the effects of nanofluids on resistivity trends also revealing information about the rate of recovery against time. SiO2 nanofluid recovery mechanisms such interfacial tension reduction and viscosity enhancement were then considered to explain why the nanofluids resulted in greater oil recovery.

Preparation and antioxidant properties of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) By-products protein hydrolysates and ultra filtration fractions.

Protein isolate from crayfish by-products (CBPI) were hydrolyzed using Alcalase, neutrase, pancreatin and bromelain. Hydrolysis by Alcalase had more remarkable digesting efficiency on crayfish by-products protein than that by the other enzymes. Therefore, protein hydrolysate from Alcalase digestion (CBPHa) was selected to be fractionated by ultrafiltration according to molecular weight into three fractions F1 (MW <1kDa), F2 (MW 1-3kDa) and F3 (MW 3-10kDa). The amino acid determination revealed that CBPI had essential amino acid (EAA) close to that required for human protein synthesis. In vitro activity experiments showed that CBPHa and its fractions possessed considerable antioxidant activity. F1 exhibited the highest DPPH, superoxide radicals scavenging activities and Fe2+ chelating ability, whereas F2 showed the best hydroxyl radicals scavenging capacity and reducing power. In addition, all the fractions showed higher super oxide radical scavenging activity than the crude hydrolysates. Our findings suggest that CBPHa and their ultra filtration fractions have the potential for use in nutraceutical and functional food industries to maximize the use of crayfish processing by-products.

Two Methods for Intercalation of Surfactants into Graphite Oxide.

The intercalation properties of graphite oxide are important; however, the specific processes and mechanisms associated with intercalation have rarely been elucidated. In this paper, two types of surfactants, polyvinylpyrrolidone and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, were used to thoroughly explore the intercalation properties of graphite oxide. The polyvinylpyrrolidone and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide-intercalated graphite oxide composites were synthesized under different conditions and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that polyvinylpyrrolidone could be directly intercalated into the graphite oxide layers and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide could not effectively react with the waterdispersed graphite oxide. With a low quantity of polyvinylpyrrolidone, only a part of the graphite oxide was intercalated, and the interlayer spacing of the polyvinylpyrrolidone-intercalated composites increased as the polyvinylpyrrolidone: graphite oxide mass ratio increased. When the graphite oxide was dispersed in a 0.05 N NaOH solution, the tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide rapidly reacted with the graphite oxide, while the mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and graphite oxide could not be effectively separated. The intercalated spacing of the tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromideintercalated graphite oxide increased with the tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide: graphite oxide mass ratio, but its crystalline structure was not as ordered as the polyvinylpyrrolidone-intercalated graphite oxide prepared in the water solution. The infrared spectra of the two surfactant-intercalated graphite oxide samples revealed that the polyvinylpyrrolidone is bonded to the graphite oxide via hydrogen bonding, while the tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide is bonded via ionic bonding. The mechanism analysis indicated that the polyvinylpyrrolidone could directly enter the graphite oxide layers in the water solution because of the driving force of hydrogen bonding. However, processes such as graphite oxide exfoliation, reactions between the graphite oxide and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and reaggregation of the graphite oxide sheets are necessary for the formation of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide-intercalated graphite oxide.

Enhanced nonlinear optical response of Se-doped MoS2 nanosheets for passively Q-switched fiber laser application.

An enhanced nonlinear optical (NLO) performance was observed in Se-doped MoS2 nanosheets synthesized through a facile annealing process. Se-doped MoS2 nanosheets with a large saturable intensity and high modulation depth generated stable passively Q-switched fiber laser pulses at 1559 nm. In comparison with the Q-switched fiber laser utilizing the pristine MoS2 nanosheets as a saturable absorber, the passive Q-switching operation based on Se-doped MoS2 nanosheets could be conducted at a lower threshold power of 50 mW, a wider range of repetition rates from 28.97 to 130 kHz, and a higher SNR of 56 dB. More importantly, the shortest pulse duration of 1.502 µs was realized and the output power and pulse energy reached 17.2 mW and 133.07 nJ, respectively. These results indicate that tailoring the chemical composition of optical nanomaterials by introducing a dopant is a feasible method of improving the NLO response of the MoS2 nanosheets and realizing excellent ultrafast pulse generation.

Valproic Acid Promotes Human Glioma U87 Cells Apoptosis and Inhibits Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3ß Through ERK/Akt Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid (VPA), an established antiepileptic drug, was assessed for antitumor activity, including its effects on glioblastoma, but its role has not been determined. METHODS: In the present study, we investigated VPA-induced apoptosis effects on human U87 cells by cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, TUNEL/Hoechst staining and flow cytometric in vitro, then we further explored the underlying molecular mechanisms using the selective antagonists PD98059, LY294002 and SB216763. RESULTS: The data showed that VPA dose-dependent induction of glioma U87 cells to undergo apoptosis through the mitochondria-dependent pathway in vitro. VPA activated the ERK/Akt pathways by increasing their protein phosphorylation and in turn inhibited GKS3ß activation by the induction of GKS3ß phosphorylation. However, the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 and/or PI3K inhibitor LY294002 were able to antagonize the effects of VPA by abolishing ERK/Akt activations and cancelling GSK3ß suppression, thus it impaired VPA apoptosis-inducing effects on glioma cells. Furthermore, the GSK3ß inhibitor SB216763 caused a strong suppression of GSK3ß activity, which showed similar effects of VPA on regulation of protein expression and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that GSK3ß may be the central hub for VPA-induced apoptosis and VPA can be further evaluated as a novel agent for glioma therapy.

Vertically standing layered MoS2 nanosheets on TiO2 nanofibers for enhanced nonlinear optical property.

Vertical layered MoS2 nanosheets rooting into TiO2 nanofibers were successfully prepared by a facile two-step method: prefabrication of porous TiO2 nanofibers based on an electrospinning technique, and assembly of MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets through a simple hydrothermal reaction. Significant enhancement of nonlinear optical response of the MoS2/TiO2 nanocomposite was confirmed by an open-aperture z-scan measurement. The nanocomposite displayed strong optical limiting (OL) effects to ultrafast laser pulses with a low OL threshold of ~22.3 mJ/cm2, which is lower than that of pristine TiO2 nanofibers and MoS2 nanosheets. In addition to the contribution of the strong nonlinear absorption of MoS2 nanosheets and TiO2 nanofibers, such phenomenon is also attributed to the unique structure of vertically standing layered MoS2 nanosheets on TiO2 nanofibers with a large amount of exposed edge states, large surface areas and fast electron transfer between TiO2 and MoS2. This work broadens our vision to engineering novel hierarchical MoS2-based nanocomposite for efficiently enhanced nonlinear light-matter interaction.

Ultra-broadband nonlinear saturable absorption of high-yield MoS2 nanosheets.

High-yield MoS2 nanosheets with strong nonlinear optical (NLO) responses in a broad near-infrared range were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The observation of saturable absorption, which was excited by the light with photon energy smaller than the gap energy of MoS2, can be attributed to the enhancement of the hybridization between the Mo d-orbital and S p-orbital by the oxygen incorporation into MoS2. High-yield MoS2 nanosheets with high modulation depth and large saturable intensity generated a stable, passively Q-switched fiber laser pulse at 1.56 µm. The high output power of 1.08 mW can be attained under a very low pump power of 30.87 mW. Compared to recently reported passively Q-switched fiber lasers utilizing exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets, the efficiency of the laser for our passive Q-switching operation is larger and reaches 3.50%. This research may extend the understanding on the NLO properties of MoS2 and indicate the feasibility of the high-yield MoS2 nanosheets to passively Q-switched fiber laser effectively at low pump strengths.

Composite film polarizer based on the oriented assembly of electrospun nanofibers.

Polarizers are widely applied in antiglare glasses, planner displays, photography filters and optical communications, etc. In this investigation, we propose a new strategy for the preparation of a flexible film polarizer based on the electrospinning technique. An aligned assembly of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) nanofibers was electrospun and collected by a fast-rotating drum, then soaked in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solution and dried thoroughly to obtain a transparent PVA-PMMA composite film polarizer. The morphology, structure and optical performance of the PVA nanofibers and the film polarizers were characterized with a scanning electron microscope, UV-vis-IR spectrometer and polarized Raman spectra, etc. The PVA-PMMA film polarizer demonstrated efficient polarizing activity toward visible and near-infrared light, while keeping fair transparency in the range of 400-1400 nm. Due to the protection from the hydrophobic PMMA matrix, the PVA-PMMA film polarizers show high moisture resistance, making it applicable in a humid environment. Considering the scalability and versatility of the strategy employed here, the PVA-PMMA film polarizer prepared could replace the conventional film polarizers in a wide range of applications.

A novel prediction model for human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using p16 and subcellular ß-catenin expression.

BACKGROUND: p16 overexpression is a highly sensitive yet moderately specific biomarker for predicting human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Nuclear ß-catenin translocation has been linked to HPV-positive OPSCC. However, whether the strategy of combining ß-catenin with p16 can better predict HPV-associated OPSCC remains unknown. METHODS: We evaluated the expression of p16 and ß-catenin (nuclear and membrane) by immunohistochemistry staining in 101 OPSCC tissues and HPV status by HPV DNA in situ hybridization. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate single or multiple biomarkers for HPV prediction. The prediction power, sensitivity, and specificity were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. RESULTS: Our data showed that upon univariate analysis, p16 and nuclear ß-catenin were positively correlated with HPV status, while membrane ß-catenin was inversely correlated with HPV status (P < 0.01). p16 showed the highest HPV predictive power, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9074 compared to 0.6762 for nuclear ß-catenin and 0.7635 for membrane ß-catenin, respectively, indicating differential accuracies for HPV prediction. Multivariable analysis showed that p16 was significantly correlated with HPV, while nuclear and membrane ß-catenin showed marginal significance. The three-biomarker model was similarly sensitive (98.9% vs. 100%) but more specific (88.9% vs. 81%) than p16 alone, which also showed a good predictive value for overall (P = 0.0002) survival and disease-free (P = 0.0158) survival. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests a novel model of combining p16 and subcellular ß-catenin for prediction of HPV-associatred OPSCC, and this finding deserves further validation.

Human papillomavirus 16 oncoprotein regulates the translocation of ß-catenin via the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor.

BACKGROUND: To understand the mechanism of frequent and early lymph node metastasis in high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), this study investigated whether ß-catenin is regulated by the HPV oncoprotein and contributes to OPSCC metastasis. METHODS: Expression levels of p16, ß-catenin, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were examined in OPSCC samples (n = 208) by immunohistochemistry. The expression and subcellular localization of ß-catenin and EGFR activation were also studied in HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines with western blot analysis. HPV16 E6 small interfering RNA was used to elucidate the effect of the HPV oncoprotein on ß-catenin translocation. The involvement of EGFR in ß-catenin translocation was confirmed by treatment with erlotinib. Moreover, the invasive capacity was evaluated after HPV16 E6/E7 repression. RESULTS: The results showed that the membrane weighted index of ß-catenin was inversely correlated with p16 positivity (P < .001) and lymph node metastasis (P = .026), whereas nuclear staining of ß-catenin was associated with p16-positive OPSCC (P < .001). A low level of membrane ß-catenin expression was significantly associated with disease-free and overall survival (P < .0001 in both cases). Furthermore, the membrane weighted index of EGFR was inversely correlated with p16 positivity (P < .001) and positively correlated with membrane ß-catenin (P < .001). The in vitro study showed that HPV16 E6 repression led to reductions of phospho-EGFR and nuclear ß-catenin, which were also observed after erlotinib treatment, and inhibition of invasion. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that HPV16 E6 mediates the translocation of ß-catenin to the nucleus, which may be regulated by activated EGFR.

Manufacturing a durable superhydrophobic polypropylene coating on aluminum alloy substrate by adding nano-titania nanoparticles.

A superhydrophobic polypropylene (PP) coating on the surface of aluminum alloy coupons is unstable because of the existence of metastable state in curing process. Nano-titania particles were added into PP solution to form hierarchical micro- and nano-structures of PP coatings on the surface of aluminum alloy coupons. The morphology of the coatings was observed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the corresponding structure and components were investigated with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The results indicated that nano-TiO2 particles are the main nucleation cores in the curing of the coatings; PP in solution is enclosed in these cores and crystallizes gradually. The coatings can preserve the stable micro- and nano-structure on six months due to the nucleation action of nano-TiO2 particles, and its durable water contact angle (WCA) is about 164 +/- 1.5 degrees.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine retention enema combined with perineal massage (THREM): a promising therapeutic strategy for refractory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Background: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a debilitating condition characterized by lower urinary tract symptoms and persistent pelvic pain or discomfort lasting for more than three months. Currently available oral drug therapies exhibit limited efficacy in the treatment of CP/CPPS. Therefore, personalized and combination therapies are recommended by Chinese CP/CPPS guidelines, which primarily include traditional Chinese medicine, radiofrequency therapy, urethral lavage, transrectal prostate massage, extracorporeal shock wave therapy. However, a significant number of patients do not respond well to all types of these therapeutic methods. Among those who have sequentially or simultaneously undergone at least three different treatment modalities, in addition to oral medications, for more than 1 year, they are defined as patients with refractory CP/CPPS. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of traditional Chinese herbal medicine retention enema combined with perineal massage (THREM) in managing refractory CP/CPPS. Methods: A total of 20 patients with refractory CP/CPPS, who did not show significant improvement despite receiving multiple conventional treatments, including oral medications, were included in this study. Following THREM therapy, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) quality of life (QoL) score were used to assess treatment efficacy. Results: Six months after THREM therapy, a significant decrease in IPSS, VAS, and QoL scores was observed (P<0.01). Importantly, 85% of the patients experienced a reduction in symptoms of ≥60%, with an average degree of alleviation reaching 70.25%±24.20%. Conclusions: THREM treatment demonstrated excellent efficacy in managing refractory CP/CPPS at least for 6 months. It has promising clinical application prospects. Further research is warranted to validate these results and explore the underlying mechanisms of THREM therapy.

TGF-ß1 alters microRNA profile in human gastric cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators that play a key role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) is involved in invasion and metastasis in many tumors. In this study, we investigated the microRNAs (miRNA) profiles altered by TGF-ß1 in gastric cancer (GC) cells. METHODS: We detected the expression profiles of miRNA by miRNA microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Migration and invasion, wound-healing assay, prediction of miRNA targets, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were carried out to determine the role of one selected miRNA, namely miR-193b, in affecting the biological behaviors of GC BGC823 cells. RESULTS: Among 847 human miRNAs in the microarray, three miRNAs (miR-27a, miR-29b-1 and miR-194) were up-regulated and three (miR-574-3p, miR-193b and miR-130b) were down-regulated in BGC823 cells treated with TGF-ß1 compared with control. miR-193b suppressed the invasion and metastasis of GC cells in vivo and in vitro, and down-regulated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) protein in GC cells. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-ß1 altered miRNA expression profile in BGC823 cells. Among the altered miRNAs, TGF-ß1 induced the down-regulation of miR-193b, which inhibited cell invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro, and down-regulated uPA protein in GC cells.

The migration and loss of water in emulsified surimi gels prepared with different phase states of lipids: Effect of freeze-thawing treatments.

The freeze-thawing (FT) stability generally correlates well with the economic value and acceptability of frozen surimi-based products. However, quality changes of emulsified surimi gels under FT conditions are still unclear. Therefore, the gel properties of samples with different phase states of lipids (lard, lard + soybean oil, and soybean oil) were investigated at FT conditions. Results showed that the soybean oil evidently improved the rheological behaviors of sols/gels compared to the lard group. The moisture content of samples with different lipids decreased by 2.40%-2.71% after 4 FT cycles. With increasing FT cycles, the water-holding capacity decreased accompanied by the increase of cooking loss. Spin-spin relaxation spectra and hydrogen proton density images proved the occurrence of water migration of gels during these processes. Better gel integrity was observed in samples consisting of soybean oil, where the proportion of pores was lower than those with lard regardless of FT treatments. Additionally, the intermolecular forces of gels also changed under FT treatments. There results suggested that the lipids with different phase states affected the migration and loss of water in emulsified surimi gels under FT cycles. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The quality changes of heating-induced surimi gel products under frozen storage have been ignored, especially the emulsified surimi gels. This study discloses the changes of the gel properties in emulsified gel products with different phase states of lipids after FT treatments, which provides critical insights into the quality improvement of this novel emulsified surimi product during processing, storage, and transportation.

High-efficiency and reliable same-parent thermoelectric modules using Mg3Sb2-based compounds.

Thermoelectric modules can convert waste heat directly into useful electricity, providing a clean and sustainable way to use fossil energy more efficiently. Mg3Sb2-based alloys have recently attracted considerable interest from the thermoelectric community due to their nontoxic nature, abundance of constituent elements and excellent mechanical and thermoelectric properties. However, robust modules based on Mg3Sb2 have progressed less rapidly. Here, we develop multiple-pair thermoelectric modules consisting of both n-type and p-type Mg3Sb2-based alloys. Thermoelectric legs based on the same parent fit into each other in terms of thermomechanical properties, facilitating module fabrication and ensuring low thermal stress. By adopting a suitable diffusion barrier layer and developing a new joining technique, an integrated all-Mg3Sb2-based module demonstrates a high efficiency of 7.5% at a temperature difference of 380 K, exceeding the state-of-the-art same-parent thermoelectric modules. Moreover, the efficiency remains stable during 150 thermal cycling shocks (∼225 h), demonstrating excellent module reliability.

Prognostic analysis and nomogram construction for older patients with IDH-wild-type glioblastoma.

As many countries face an ageing population, the number of older patients with glioblastoma (GB) is increasing. Thus, there is an urgent need for prognostic models to aid in treatment decision-making and life planning. A total of 98 patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type GB aged ≥65 years were analysed from January 2012 to January 2020. Independent prognostic factors were identified by prognostic analysis. Using the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), a nomogram was constructed by R software to predict the prognosis of older patients with IDH-wild-type GB. The concordance index (C-index) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess model discrimination, and the calibration curve was used to assess model calibration. Prognostic analysis showed that the extent of resection (EOR), adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI), O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status, postoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS. MGMT methylation status and subventricular zone (SVZ) involvement were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS). A nomogram was constructed based on EOR, ACCI, MGMT methylation status, postoperative radiotherapy and postoperative TMZ chemotherapy to predict the 6-month, 12-month and 18-month OS of older patients with IDH-wild-type GB. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.72, and the ROC curves showed that the areas under the curve (AUCs) at 6, 12 and 18 months were 0.874, 0.739 and 0.779, respectively. The calibration plots showed that the nomogram was in good agreement with the actual observations in predicting the OS of older patients with IDH-wild-type GB. Older patients with IDH-wild-type GB can benefit from gross total resection (GTR), postoperative radiotherapy and postoperative TMZ chemotherapy. A high ACCI score and MGMT nonmethylation are poor prognostic factors. We constructed a nomogram including the ACCI to facilitate clinical decision-making and follow-up interval selection.