Large haplotypes highlight a complex age structure within the maize pan-genome.

The genomes of maize and other eukaryotes contain stable haplotypes in regions of low recombination. These regions, including centromeres, long heterochromatic blocks, and rDNA arrays, have been difficult to analyze with respect to their diversity and origin. Greatly improved genome assemblies are now available that enable comparative genomics over these and other nongenic spaces. Using 26 complete maize genomes, we developed methods to align intergenic sequences while excluding genes and regulatory regions. The centromere haplotypes (cenhaps) extend for megabases on either side of the functional centromere regions and appear as evolutionary strata, with haplotype divergence/coalescence times dating as far back as 450 thousand years ago (kya). Application of the same methods to other low recombination regions (heterochromatic knobs and rDNA) and all intergenic spaces revealed that deep coalescence times are ubiquitous across the maize pan-genome. Divergence estimates vary over a broad timescale with peaks at ∼16 and 300 kya, reflecting a complex history of gene flow among diverging populations and changes in population size associated with domestication. Cenhaps and other long haplotypes provide vivid displays of this ancient diversity.

Functional and structural asymmetry suggest a unifying principle for catalysis in membrane-bound pyrophosphatases.

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatases (M-PPases) are homodimeric primary ion pumps that couple the transport of Na+- and/or H+ across membranes to the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate. Their role in the virulence of protist pathogens like Plasmodium falciparum makes them an intriguing target for structural and functional studies. Here, we show the first structure of a K+-independent M-PPase, asymmetric and time-dependent substrate binding in time-resolved structures of a K+-dependent M-PPase and demonstrate pumping-before-hydrolysis by electrometric studies. We suggest how key residues in helix 12, 13, and the exit channel loops affect ion selectivity and K+-activation due to a complex interplay of residues that are involved in subunit-subunit communication. Our findings not only explain ion selectivity in M-PPases but also why they display half-of-the-sites reactivity. Based on this, we propose, for the first time, a unified model for ion-pumping, hydrolysis, and energy coupling in all M-PPases, including those that pump both Na+ and H+.

Risk of kidney and liver diseases after COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

COVID-19 is not only associated with substantial acute liver and kidney injuries, but also with an elevated risk of post-acute sequelae involving the kidney and liver system. We aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 exposure increases the long-term risk of kidney and liver disease, and what are the magnitudes of these associations. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Living Overview of the Evidence COVID-19 Repository for cohort studies estimating the association between COVID-19 and kidney and liver outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to combine the results of the included studies. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Fifteen cohort studies with more than 32 million participants were included in the systematic review COVID-19 was associated with a 35% greater risk of kidney diseases (10 more per 1000 persons; low certainty evidence) and 54% greater risk of liver disease (3 more per 1000 persons; low certainty evidence). The absolute increases due to COVID-19 for acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and liver test abnormality were 3, 8, and 3 per 1000 persons, respectively. Subgroup analyses found no differences between different type of kidney and liver diseases. The findings provide further evidence for the association between COVID-19 and incident kidney and liver conditions. The absolute magnitude of the effect of COVID-19 on kidney and liver outcomes was, however, relatively small.

Visual Sensor with Host-Guest Specific Recognition and Light-Electrical Co-Controlled Switch.

Perception of UV radiation has important applications in medical health, industrial production, electronic communication, etc. In numerous application scenarios, there is an increasing demand for the intuitive and low-cost detection of UV radiation through colorimetric visual behavior, as well as the efficient and multi-functional utilization of UV radiation. However, photodetectors based on photoconductive modes or photosensitive colorimetric materials are not conducive to portable or multi-scene applications owing to their complex and expensive photosensitive components, potential photobleaching, and single-stimulus response behavior. Here, a multifunctional visual sensor based on the "host-guest photo-controlled permutation" strategy and the "lock and key" model is developed. The host-guest specific molecular recognition and electrochromic sensing platform is integrated at the micro-molecular scale, enabling multi-functional and multi-scene applications in the convenient and fast perception of UV radiation, military camouflage, and information erasure at the macro level of human-computer interaction through light-electrical co-controlled visual switching characteristics. This light-electrical co-controlled visual sensor based on an optoelectronic multi-mode sensing system is expected to provide new ideas and paradigms for healthcare, microelectronics manufacturing, and wearable electronic devices owing to its advantages of signal visualization, low energy consumption, low cost, and versatility.

Gradient-metasurface directional photodetectors.

Angle-sensitive photodetectors are a promising device technology for many advanced imaging functionalities, including lensless compound-eye vision, lightfield sensing, optical spatial filtering, and phase imaging. Here we demonstrate the use of plasmonic gradient metasurfaces to tailor the angular response of generic planar photodetectors. The resulting devices rely on the phase-matched coupling of light incident at select geometrically tunable angles into guided plasmonic modes, which are then scattered and absorbed in the underlying photodetector active layer. This approach naturally introduces sharp peaks in the angular response, with smaller footprint and reduced guided-mode radiative losses (and therefore improved spatial resolution and sensitivity) compared to analogous devices based on diffractive coupling. More broadly, these results highlight a promising new application space of flat optics, where gradient metasurfaces are integrated within image sensors to enable unconventional capabilities with enhanced system miniaturization and design flexibility.

Mitigation of reverse osmosis membrane fouling by coagulation pretreatment to remove silica and transparent exopolymer particles.

The dissolution of silica and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) can deposit on the membrane surface and cause serious membrane fouling in reverse osmosis (RO) technology. Coagulation, as a common pretreatment process for RO, can effectively intercept pollutants and alleviate membrane fouling. In this study, FeCl3 and AlCl3 coagulants and polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculants were used to explore the optimal coagulation conditions to reduce the concentration of silica and TEP in the RO process. The results showed that the two coagulants had the best removal effect on pollutants when the pH was 7 and the dosage was 50 mg/L. Considering the proportion of reversible fouling after coagulation, the removal rate of pollutants, and the residual amount of coagulation metal ions, the best PAM dosage was 5 mg/L for FeCl3 and 1 mg/L for AlCl3. After coagulation pretreatment, the Zeta potential decreased, and the particle size distribution increased, making pollutants tend to aggregate, thus effectively removing foulants. The removal mechanisms of pollutants by coagulation pretreatment were determined to be adsorption, electric neutralization and co-precipitation. This study determined the best removal conditions of silica and TEP by coagulation and explored the removal mechanism.

Design of a dual hollow beam optical antenna based on a Fresnel lens-conical lens combination.

To improve the transmission efficiency of Cassegrain antennas and enable the simultaneous transmission of signals with different wavelengths in the antenna system, this study introduces Fresnel lenses and conical lenses in front of the Cassegrain antenna at the transmitting end. Reflective mirrors and focusing lenses are introduced at the receiving end. A detailed description is provided of the design process for the Fresnel lens, as well as the impact of various parameters on the hollow radius when combined with the conical lens. Based on the laws of vector reflection and refraction, simulations are performed to track the propagation of light through the entire communication system and lens pairs, providing transmission efficiency plots of the antenna system under deflection and off-axis conditions. Taking into account practical factors such as lens chamfer, transmittance, Cassegrain antenna reflectance, and material dispersion, the transmission efficiency of the antenna system at 1550 nm wavelength can still reach 93.45%. The proposed method not only improves the transmission efficiency of Cassegrain antennas, but also enables the transmission of different information through the inner and outer layers of the antenna system.

Utilizing Joukowsky transformation in the design of optical fiber for elliptical-to-circular mode conversion.

This study addresses the challenge of enhancing coupling efficiency between optical fibers and elliptical Gaussian beams emitted by semiconductor lasers, particularly in fiber communication systems. We introduce a method for fiber design utilizing the Joukowsky transformation to facilitate efficient mode transformation from elliptical to circular, thereby augmenting the coupling efficiency with both single-mode and multimode fibers. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations demonstrate that the fiber with a structurally transitional core maintains high-efficiency mode transformation across various lengths, and its structure has been optimized accordingly. Additionally, our investigation reveals the designed fiber's ability to preserve polarization states, which could have significant implications in precision optical applications. The proposed design offers an approach to improving performance in optical communication systems, especially in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission systems and fiber lasers.

Dish spliced concentrator with both uniform and focused performance through a variable focal length.

We present a dish spliced concentrator (DSC) featuring hexagonal spherical sub-mirrors of uniform size. The DSC offers advantages over traditional parabolic dish concentrators, including a compact layout, cost-effectiveness, higher concentration ratio, and improved light uniformity. Its versatility allows for both uniform and focused light concentration by adjusting parameters like the focal length of the DSC, making it suitable for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) and concentrating solar thermal (CST) applications. We design the DSC using three-dimensional (3D) vector rotation theory, implementing ray tracing and transmission characteristic analysis based on three-dimensional vector reflection theory. We establish a simulation model to evaluate the impact of geometric parameters on the DSC's optical performance.

Design of a compact off-axis two-mirror freeform optical antenna for shaping and transmitting an elliptical beam emitted by laser diode.

Elliptical Gaussian beams generated by laser diodes (LDs) often exhibit asymmetrical divergence angle distribution, which limits their practical applications. In this study, we propose what we believe is a novel approach to shape and collimate the elliptical output beam from a LD. The design process involves the construction of two freeform reflective surfaces on a reference circle using a three-dimensional point-by-point iterative method, based on the law of conservation of energy, the vector reflection theory, and Fermat's principle. The output beam's maximum divergence angle is effectively compressed to 3.1579 mrad. The design is compact with a folded optical path and antenna size of 368.8c m 3. This paper presents a comprehensive design and optimization process, along with an in-depth analysis of the system's performance, thereby offering novel insights for emerging optical design practitioners.

Oligosaccharides from black ginseng innovatively prepared by low-temperature steam-heating process ameliorate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mice via the Keap-1/Nrf2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oligosaccharides extracted from black ginseng (OSBG), innovatively prepared by a low-temperature steam-heating process, in the improvement of learning and memory impairment in mice, as well as the mechanism(s). RESULTS: Eight carbohydrates involving isomaltose and maltotetraose were detected in black gensing; monosaccharide residues including mannose and rhamnose were also discovered. OSBG-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memory deficits compared to the scopolamine group. OSBG could decrease acetylcholinesterase activity in a tissue-dependent fashion but not in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, in contrast, OSBG administration resulted in significant upregulation superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, downregulation of malondialdehyde and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the tissues. Finally, at the genus level, we observed that the OSBG interventions increased the relative abundance of probiotics (e.g., Barnesiella, Staphylococcus, Clostridium_XlVb) and decreased pernicious bacteria such as Eisenbergiella and Intestinimonas, compared to the Alzheimer's disease mouse model group. Herein, our results demonstrate that OSBG restores the composition of the scopolamine-induced intestinal microbiota in mice, providing homeostasis of gut microbiota and providing evidence for microbiota-regulated therapeutic potential. CONCLUSION: Our results showed for the first time a clear role for OSBG in improving scopolamine-induced memory impairment by inhibiting cholinergic dysfunction in a tissue-dependent manner. Additionally, OSBG administration relieved oxidative stress by activating the Keap-1/Nrf2 pathway and modulating the gut microbiota. Collectively, OSBG may be a promising target for neuroprotective antioxidants for improving memory and cognition in Alzheimer's disease patients. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inductive Effect on Single-Atom Sites.

Single-atom catalysts exhibit promising electrocatalytic activity, a trait that can be further enhanced through the introduction of heteroatom doping within the carbon skeleton. Nonetheless, the intricate relationship between the doping positions and activity remains incompletely elucidated. This contribution sheds light on an inductive effect of single-atom sites, showcasing that the activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can be augmented by reducing the spatial gap between the doped heteroatom and the single-atom sites. Drawing inspiration from this inductive effect, we propose a synthesis strategy involving ligand modification aimed at precisely adjusting the distance between dopants and single-atom sites. This precise synthesis leads to optimized electrocatalytic activity for the ORR. The resultant electrocatalyst, characterized by Fe-N3P1 single-atom sites, demonstrates remarkable ORR activity, thus exhibiting great potential in zinc-air batteries and fuel cells.

Perioperative and Oncological Outcomes of Robotic Versus Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Low-Risk Surgical Candidates: A Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to perform a multicenter comparison between robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). BACKGROUND: Previous comparisons of RPD versus OPD have only been carried out in small, single-center studies of variable quality. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent RPD (n = 1032) or OPD (n = 1154) at 7 centers in China between July 2012 and July 2020 were included. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. RESULTS: After PSM, 982 patients in each group were enrolled. The RPD group had significantly lower estimated blood loss (EBL) (190.0 vs 260.0 mL; P < 0.001), and a shorter postoperative 1length of hospital stay (LOS) (12.0 (9.0-16.0) days vs 14.5 (11.0-19.0) days; P < 0.001) than the OPD group. There were no significant differences in operative time, major morbidity including clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), bile leakage, delayed gastric emptying, postoperative pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), reoperation, readmission or 90-day mortality rates. Multivariable analysis showed R0 resection, CR-POPF, PPH and reoperation to be independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. Subgroup analysis on patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) (n = 326 in each subgroup) showed RPD had advantages over OPD in EBL and postoperative LOS. There were no significant differences in median disease-free survival (15.2 vs 14.3 months, P = 0.94) or median overall survival (24.2 vs 24.1 months, P = 0.88) between the 2 subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: RPD was comparable to OPD in feasibility and safety. For patients with PDAC, RPD resulted in similar oncologic and survival outcomes as OPD.

Integrin Mac1 mediates paraquat and maneb-induced learning and memory impairments in mice through NADPH oxidase-NLRP3 inflammasome axis-dependent microglial activation.

INTRODUCTION: The mechanisms of cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unknown. Accumulating evidence revealed that brain neuroinflammatory response mediated by microglial cells contributes to cognitive deficits in neuropathological conditions and macrophage antigen complex-1 (Mac1) is a key factor in controlling microglial activation. OBJECTIVES: To explore whether Mac1-mediated microglial activation participates in cognitive dysfunction in PD using paraquat and maneb-generated mouse PD model. METHODS: Cognitive performance was measured in wild type and Mac1-/- mice using Morris water maze test. The role and mechanisms of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-NLRP3 inflammasome axis in Mac1-mediated microglial dysfunction, neuronal damage, synaptic degeneration and phosphorylation (Ser129) of α-synuclein were explored by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Genetic deletion of Mac1 significantly ameliorated learning and memory impairments, neuronal damage, synaptic loss and α-synuclein phosphorylation (Ser129) caused by paraquat and maneb in mice. Subsequently, blocking Mac1 activation was found to mitigate paraquat and maneb-elicited microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, stimulating activation of NOX by phorbol myristate acetate abolished the inhibitory effects of Mac1 blocking peptide RGD on paraquat and maneb-provoked NLRP3 inflammasome activation, indicating a key role of NOX in Mac1-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, NOX1 and NOX2, two members of NOX family, and downstream PAK1 and MAPK pathways were recognized to be essential for NOX to regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Finally, a NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor glybenclamide abrogated microglial M1 activation, neurodegeneration and phosphorylation (Ser129) of α-synuclein elicited by paraquat and maneb, which were accompanied by improved cognitive capacity in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Mac1 was involved in cognitive dysfunction in a mouse PD model through NOX-NLRP3 inflammasome axis-dependent microglial activation, providing a novel mechanistic basis of cognitive decline in PD.

Molnupiravir for the treatment of non-severe COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials with 34 570 patients.

BACKGROUND: Molnupiravir has been considered a promising candidate for COVID-19. Its efficacy and safety in non-severe COVID-19 patients and the differences between patients with different risk factors need further evaluation. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that allocated adult patients with non-severe COVID-19 to molnupiravir or a control. We used random-effects models, and conducted subgroup analyses and meta-regression for COVID-19 patients with high-risk factors. The GRADE approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: Fourteen trials with 34 570 patients were included. Moderate- to low-certainty evidence showed that molnupiravir was associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization (relative risk [RR] = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47-0.85), risk of mechanical ventilation (RR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.19-0.72) and time to symptom resolution (mean differences [MD] = -2.91 days, 95% CI: -3.66 to -2.16). However, no significant differences were found in adverse events, all-cause mortality, rate of and time to viral clearance, or duration of hospitalization. For the rate of viral clearance, subgroup effects were found between trials with low and high risk of bias (P = 0.001) and between trials with male or female majority (P < 0.001). For admission to hospital, subgroup effects were also found between trials with ≥50% and <50% of the participants being female (P = 0.04). Meta-regression showed a significant association between higher trial mean age and elevated risk of hospitalization (P = 0.011), and female majority and elevated risk of hospitalization (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Molnupiravir was found to be effective in non-severe COVID-19, but the efficacy varied with age and sex.

Multi-focus composite spiral zone plate to generate focused vortices with the comparable intensity based on genetic algorithm.

In this study, we introduce an optical element, named Multi-focus Composite Spiral Zone Plate (MFCSZP), to generate multi focused vortices with approximately equal intensity along the optical axis. The genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the parameters of the MFCSZP, which avoids manual parameter adjustment and improves computational efficiency. We analyze the focusing properties of the constructed MFCSZP theoretically and experimentally. The results provide evidence for its capability to generate multiple focused vortices with comparable peak intensities verified through experiment. This work shows the powerful ability of intelligent algorithms in the optimization of complex optical elements. The proposed optical element showcases potential applications within research areas of optical trapping and laser machining.

Ultrasensitive assay of O-GlcNAc transferase using capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) is directly associated with the level of O-GlcNAc glycosylation of biomolecules and various diseases, and it is expected to be a promising potential new therapeutic target. Here, we develop a robust and sensitive method for OGT assay based on capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) method. AF-488-modified peptide containing serine active group is designed as substrate for OGT-catalyzed reaction, and nonradioactive UDP-GlcNAc is employed as sugar donor to perform O-GlcNAc glycosylation modification. The enzyme activity of OGT is measured by quantitative determination of glycosylated peptide produced by the reaction. Large volume sample stacking technique for sample injection and a unique fluorescence collection system for LIF detection are adopted to greatly enhance the detection sensitivity, thus a low limit of detection down to 0.23 pM for OGT detection is achieved. The method is successfully applied to detect OGT activity in clinical blood samples with satisfactory accuracy. Our study provides a simple, accurate, and sensitive method with great potential application in clinical diagnosis of O-GlcNAc-related diseases.

Design of a compact optical antenna system with high transmission efficiency utilizing a ring-like VCSEL array.

Vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with gigahertz bandwidth and good beam quality possess great potential for multi-wavelength free-space optical communication. In this Letter, a compact optical antenna system utilizing a ring-like VCSEL array that can realize the parallel transmission of multi-channel and multi-wavelength collimated laser beams and has the advantages of aberration elimination and high transmission efficiency is proposed. Ten different signals can be transmitted simultaneously, greatly increasing the channel capacity. Based on the vector theory of reflection, ray tracing and the performance of the proposed optical antenna system are demonstrated. This design method has a certain reference value for designing complex optical communication systems with high transmission efficiency.

Melatonin enhances biomass, phenolic accumulation, and bioactivities of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in vitro shoots under UV-B stress.

Melatonin is a stress-related hormone that plays a critical role in triggering the plant defence system and regulating secondary metabolism when plants are exposed to stress. To explore the potential roles of melatonin in response to Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, we examined the effects of exogenous melatonin on rosemary in vitro shoots under UV-B stress. The application of melatonin (50 µM) alleviated the adverse effects of UV-B stress on the biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, and membrane lipids of the rosemary in vitro shoots. Melatonin significantly increased superoxide dismutase (1.15.1.1, SOD), peroxidase (1.11.1.7, POD), and catalase (1.11.1.6, CAT) activities by 62%, 99%, and 53%, respectively. The contents of total phenols, rosmarinic acid, and carnosic acid increased under UV-B stress, and they further increased by the melatonin treatment by 41%, 68%, and 67%, respectively, compared with the control group. Under UV-B stress, the increased total phenol content in melatonin-pretreated plants could be attributed to the activation of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (4.3.1.5, PAL) and tyrosine aminotransferase (2.6.1.5, TAT). In addition, melatonin enhanced the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the rosemary in vitro shoots under UV-B stress. These results suggest that melatonin can alleviate the damage caused by UV-B stress and also enhance the secondary metabolism and bioactivity of rosemary in vitro shoots.

Treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy in western China: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy and explore the influencing factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consecutively sampled children with epilepsy from pediatric neurology clinics at West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2022 to April 2023. The scale used to assess treatment access barriers was self-designed and medication adherence was assessed with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Multivariate linear or logistic regression analyses were used to determine influencing factors. RESULTS: This study included 1,847 children with epilepsy. The majority of caregivers of participating children had treatment access barriers, especially for making appointments, obtaining diagnosis and examination results, and response from the care team (scores > 3). Younger age of children, difficulty paying medical expenses, comorbidities, higher frequency of seizures in the past month, and attitude toward seizures were associated with high treatment access barriers scores. Poor medication adherence was observed in 38 % (702/1,847) of the sample. Age, being an only child, place of residence, annual medical expense, being newly diagnosed, and comorbidities were associated with medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Among children with epilepsy, there is high demand for disease treatment but medication adherence is relatively low, and there are a range of influencing factors. We suggest medical personnel strengthen health education and regular follow-ups to improve medication adherence and meet treatment needs in this population.