Expected Eight-Week Prenatal Versus Twelve-Week Perinatal Tenofovir Alafenamide Prophylaxis to Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus: A Multicenter, Prospective, Open-label, Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The course of maternal antiviral prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV-MTCT) varies greatly, and it has not been demonstrated in a randomized controlled study. METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, eligible pregnant women with HBV DNA of 5.3-9.0 log10 IU/mL who received tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) from the first day of 33 gestational weeks to delivery (expected eight-week) or to four-week postpartum (expected twelve-week) were randomly enrolled at a 1:1 ratio and followed until six-month postpartum. All infants received standard immunoprophylaxis (hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine). The primary endpoint was the safety of mothers and infants. The secondary endpoint was infants' HBV-MTCT rate at seven months of age. RESULTS: Among 119 and 120 intention-to-treat pregnant women, 115 and 116 women were followed until delivery, and 110 and 112 per-protocol mother-infant dyads in two groups completed the study. Overall, TAF was well tolerated, no one discontinued therapy due to adverse events (0/239, 0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0%-1.6%), and no infant had congenital defects or malformations at delivery (0/231, 0%, 95% CI 0%-1.6%). The infants' physical development at birth (n=231) and at seven months (n=222) were normal. Furthermore, 97.0% (224/231, 95% CI 93.9%-98.5%) of women achieved HBV DNA <5.3 log10 IU/mL at delivery. The intention-to-treat and per-protocol infants' HBV-MTCT rates were 7.1% (17/239, 95% CI 4.5%-11.1%) and 0% (0/222, 95% CI 0%-1.7%) at seven months of age. Comparatively, 15.1% (18/119, 95% CI 9.8%-22.7%) versus 18.3% (22/120, 95% CI 12.4%-26.2%) of women in the two groups had mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase levels at three-month and six-month postpartum, respectively (P=0.507); notably, no one experienced alanine aminotransferase flare (0% [0/119, 95% CI 0%-3.1%] versus 0% [0/120, 0%-3.1%]). DISCUSSION: Maternal TAF prophylaxis to prevent HBV-MTCT is generally safe and effective, and expected eight-week prenatal duration is feasible. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04850950.

Association study reveals a susceptibility locus with male pattern baldness in the Han Chinese population.

Introduction: Male pattern baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, represents the most prevalent form of progressive hair loss in humans. It is characterized by a distinctive pattern of hair loss progression from the scalp; however, its underlying mechanism remains elusive and is influenced by hereditary, immune, and environmental factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have uncovered numerous risk genes/loci among European individuals with MPB. However, the validation of these susceptibility genes/loci within Han Chinese men remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the 71 susceptibility loci identified in a recent GWAS among European men also confer risk for MPB in Chinese men. Methods: Forty-seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously reported in GWASs of MPB were selected and genotyped in independent individuals comprising 499 Han Chinese cases and 1,489 controls using the Sequenom MassArray system. After stringent quality control measures, 25 SNPs were subjected to statistical analyses. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate the association between SNPs and disease susceptibility. To address multiple tests, Bonferroni correction was conducted, setting the threshold for statistical significance at a p-value <2 × 10-3 (0.05/25). Results: The rs13405699 SNP located at 2q31.1 exhibited a significant association with MPB in Han Chinese men (p = 4.84 × 10-5, OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.18-1.59). Moreover, the difference in rs13405699 genotype distribution between MPB cases and controls was statistically significant (p = 7.00 × 10-5). Genotype-based association analysis suggested that the recessive model provided the best fit for the rs13405699 polymorphism. Conclusion: This study represents the first confirmation of the association between the rs13405699 SNP at 2q31.1 and MPB within the Han Chinese population, thereby enhancing our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of MPB.

Precursor Ink Engineering to Implement Vacuum Extraction Method for Scalable Production of Perovskite Solar Cells.

Engineering perovskite precursor ink to widen the processing window is crucial to obtaining uniform, compact, and pinhole-free perovskite films at scale using industrially relevant solution coating techniques. Here, we introduce a ternary solvent system and systematically investigate the impacts of coordinating solvents, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N'-dimethylpropyleneurea (DMPU), on the physical properties of the slot-die-coated perovskite films and on the corresponding device performance. Tailoring NMP and DMPU concentrations in the precursor ink allows us to control the perovskite intermediate phase formation and widen the processing window, enabling the reproducible production of perovskite films with high photoelectrical quality at scale. Using the optimized precursor ink, we demonstrate slot-die-coated perovskite minimodules with power conversion efficiencies of 19 and 16% on 56 and 100 cm2 substrates, respectively.

The pivotal role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in enhancing plant biomass and nutrient availability under drought stress conditions: A global meta-analysis.

Drought is a serious threat to crop productivity and global food security. About 40 % of the worldwide land is considered arid dryland soil because of a lack of rainfall, high solar radiation, and temperature fluctuations. Though rhizobacteria, particularly mycorrhizal fungi (MF), assist plants in coping with drought stress, an intensive quantitative assessment of their effects on plant growth and nutrient availability is still limited. We systematically carried out a global meta-analysis using 122 peer-reviewed publications comprising 3534 observations to investigate the effects of MF on plant biomass (PB) and nutrient availability (nitrogen: N and phosphorus: P) under drought-stress conditions. The results show that the MF inoculation significantly increased mycorrhizal colonization (MC), N and P uptakes, and plant biomass (PB) at a C:N ratio > 15 by 2171.44 %, 23.74 %, 135.61 %, and 220.91 %, respectively. The MF species Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Glomus significantly influenced the MC, N, and PB concentrations by 2541.68 %, 40.35 %, and 110.85 %, respectively. Moreover, the concentrations of MC, N, and PB were considerably affected by the soil texture categories, with the maximum levels of 4940.04 %, 127.05 %, and 84.04 % found in sandy, clay, and clay loam soils, respectively. In addition, soil pH, crop types, soil textural class, and MF species were identified as vital pedologic factors affecting plant growth and nutrient availability during fungal inoculation. Overall, this meta-analysis addresses gaps in understanding the effects of MF inoculation on plant development and nutrient availability under drought stress.

A comprehensive framework for trans-ancestry pathway analysis using GWAS summary data from diverse populations.

As more multi-ancestry GWAS summary data become available, we have developed a comprehensive trans-ancestry pathway analysis framework that effectively utilizes this diverse genetic information. Within this framework, we evaluated various strategies for integrating genetic data at different levels-SNP, gene, and pathway-from multiple ancestry groups. Through extensive simulation studies, we have identified robust strategies that demonstrate superior performance across diverse scenarios. Applying these methods, we analyzed 6,970 pathways for their association with schizophrenia, incorporating data from African, East Asian, and European populations. Our analysis identified over 200 pathways significantly associated with schizophrenia, even after excluding genes near genome-wide significant loci. This approach substantially enhances detection efficiency compared to traditional single-ancestry pathway analysis and the conventional approach that amalgamates single-ancestry pathway analysis results across different ancestry groups. Our framework provides a flexible and effective tool for leveraging the expanding pool of multi-ancestry GWAS summary data, thereby improving our ability to identify biologically relevant pathways that contribute to disease susceptibility.

Compressed Sr superconducting transition temperature up to 17.65 K.

Due to the simplicity of their composition, the study of the superconducting properties of elemental substances holds significant importance for understanding the mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity. This work involves simulated calculations to investigate the phase transition sequence and superconducting properties of Sr under pressure. The stability range of the Sr-IV phase C2/c was redefined, determining that it can extend up to 150 GPa, and the phase transition sequence of Sr under high pressure was studied. It was discovered that the d-electrons in the Sr-IV phase significantly contribute to the Fermi surface, a phenomenon closely related to the Van Hove singularity (VHS) near the saddle points. The increase in Tc of Sr under pressure is attributed to phonon softening and strong coupling resulting from the gradual overlap of VHS with the Fermi level, which is associated with the incomplete saturation of s-d electron transfer. Ultimately, the Tc of Sr reaches 17.65 K at 150 GPa, with a λ value of 1.26. This strong EPC is contributed by the interaction between d-electrons and medium-high-frequency phonons. This study extends new pathways for investigating the superconductivity of high-pressure phases of Sr and provides new insights for the theoretical study of elemental superconductors.

Outcomes of Multiorgan Heart Transplant Between Donation After Circulatory Death and Brain Death.

There is insufficient data on the outcomes of donation after circulatory death (DCD) multiorgan transplant that includes heart. The primary objective of this study is to compare the overall survival outcomes of DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) multiorgan transplants. We identified all heart transplant patients from 2019 to June of 2023 using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Database who also received an additional organ (kidney, liver, and lungs). A total of 1,844 DBD and 91 DCD multiorgan transplants occurred within the study period, the majority being combined heart-kidney transplantation. More patients were listed at a higher status in the DBD group (p < 0.05) and were in the intensive care unit (ICU) before transplant (p < 0.05). Despite the higher ischemia time in the DCD group (p < 0.05), the overall unmatched survival did not differ between the two groups (p < 0.05). Within the heart-kidney transplants, the overall survival between DBD and DCD heart-kidney transplants did not differ in either unmatched or matched groups (unmatched p = 0.5, matched p = 0.5). In conclusion, the data on the outcomes of DCD multiorgan transplants are limited. Still, our analysis of the currently available data suggests that the overall survival is comparable in the DCD multiorgan transplants.

Ligand-Enabled Copper-Catalyzed Ullmann-Type S-C Bond Formation to Access Sulfilimines.

A copper-catalyzed Ullmann-type cross-coupling reaction of sulfenamides with aryl iodides is developed. The key to success is the use of a 2-methylnaphthalen-1-amine-derived amide ligand, which enables the formation of an S-C bond to access functionalized sulfilimines in good to excellent yields at room temperature. This method has the advantages of mild conditions, a broad substrate scope, good functional group compatibility, and high chemoselectivity. The utility of this protocol is highlighted through late-stage modification of drug-relevant molecules and sulfilimine product derivatization.

Genomic insights into adaptive evolution of the species-rich cosmopolitan plant genus Rhododendron.

The species-rich cosmopolitan genus Rhododendron offers a good system for exploring the genomic mechanisms underlying adaptation to diverse habitats. Here, we report high-quality chromosomal-level genome assemblies of nine species, representing all five subgenera, different altitudinal distributions, and all flower color types of this genus. Further comprehensive genomic analyses indicate diverse adaptive strategies employed by Rhododendron, particularly adaptation to alpine and subalpine habitats by expansion/contraction of gene families involved in pathogen defense and oxidative phosphorylation, genomic convergent evolution, and gene copy-number variation. The convergent adaptation to high altitudes is further shown by population genomic analysis of R. nivale from the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains. Moreover, we identify the genes involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and carotenoids, which play a crucial role in shaping flower color diversity and environmental adaptation. Our study is significant for comprehending plant adaptive evolution and the uneven distribution of species diversity across different geographical regions.

The Relationship between Smoking and Susceptibility to HIV Infection: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Smoking is prevalent among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and it increases morbidity and mortality in this population. However, due to ethical constraints, there is limited information on the effects of smoking on susceptibility to HIV infection. To investigate whether smoking is associated with an increased susceptibility to HIV infection, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of individuals of European ancestry who have ever smoked (n = 99,996) and have HIV (n = 412,130). The random-effects inverse-variance weighted estimation method was used as the study's primary approach, with the MR-Egger regression and the weighted-median method as complementary approaches. Using 100 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of genome-wide significance as instrumental variables for smoking, we observed a significant association between smoking and HIV infection (odds ratio 5.790, 95% confidence interval [1.785, 18.787], and p = 0.003). Comparable results were obtained using the weighted-median method. Our findings implied that smoking is probably associated with increased susceptibility to HIV infection. Given the exploratory nature of this study, further research is needed to confirm this relationship.

Structural, mechanical, electronic, vibrational properties and hydrogen bonding of a novel energetic ionic 5, 5'-dinitroamino-3, 3'-azo-oxadiazole 4, 7-diaminopyridazino [4, 5-c] furoxan salt.

CONTEXT AND RESULTS: The structure, mechanical, electronic, vibration, and hydrogen bonding properties of a novel high-energy and low-sensitivity 5, 5'-dinitroamino-3, 3'-azo-oxadiazole 4, 7-diaminopyridazino [4, 5-c] furoxan salt have been studied by density functional theory. The calculated vibrational properties show that the low-frequency mode is mainly contributed by the vibration of the -NO2 group, and the high-frequency mode is mainly contributed by the vibration of the -NH2 group and the N7-H3 bond which protonates the cation. In addition, it is analyzed that the first bond to break may be the N-NO2 bond. The calculated hydrogen bond properties indicate that the hydrogen bond between water molecules and cations is N7-H3… O5 (1.563 Å), which is the shortest hydrogen bond among all hydrogen bonds. The presence of this exceptionally short hydrogen bond renders the N7-H3 and H6-O5 bonds resistant to disruption at high frequencies, underscoring the pivotal role of hydrogen bonding in stabilizing the structure of energetic materials. Given the absence of experimental and theoretical data on the electronic, mechanical, and vibrational properties of the material thus far, our calculations offer valuable theoretical insights into the ionic salts of high energy and low sensitivity. COMPUTATIONAL METHODS: All calculations have been carried out based on density functional theory (DFT) and implemented in the CASTEP code. The mode-conserving pseudopotential is utilized to describe the plane wave expansion function, while the PBE functional within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is employed to characterize the exchange-correlation interaction. Additionally, dispersion correction is applied using Grimme's DFT-D method.

Biogeochemical process governing cadmium availability in sediments of typical coastal wetlands driven by drying-wetting alternation.

Fluctuations in water levels within coastal wetlands can significantly affect cadmium (Cd) cycling and behavior in sediments. Understanding the effects of drying-wetting cycles on Cd availability and binding mechanisms is crucial. However, information regarding this subject remains limited. This study conducted incubation experiments employing chemical extraction, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and microbiological analysis to investigate the Cd behavior under these conditions. The results from a 40-day anaerobic incubation followed by a 20-day aerobic phase indicated that the drying-wetting cycles triggered fluctuations in physicochemical parameters (e.g., pH, EC, and reactive iron (Fed)), affecting Cd mobility. The mobility of Cd was closely linked to nanozyme activity (R2=0.63), exhibiting a strong correlation with Fed (R2=0.51). This suggested that the drying-wetting cycles induced Fed changes, which regulated the nanozyme activity, thereby affecting Cd availability. The changes in Cd availability were strongly linked to transformations in iron oxides and organic functional groups (carboxylic-OH and aliphatic C-H), whereas the bacterial community composition, particularly Bacilli and Clostridia, notably influenced Cd accessibility. These findings offer valuable insights into the geochemical dynamics of Cd in coastal wetland sediments under alternating drying-wetting cycles, enhancing our understanding of its biogeochemical cycling and potential risks.

[Retracted] Fundamental research on the action mechanism of the 800 nm semiconductor laser on skin blackheads and coarse pores.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3937.].

Inherent symmetry and flexibility in hepatitis B virus subviral particles.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a major global health challenge with massive morbidity and mortality. Despite a preventive vaccine, current treatments provide limited virus clearance, necessitating lifelong commitment. The HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is crucial for diagnosis and prognosis, yet its high-resolution structure and assembly on the virus envelope remain elusive. Utilizing extensive datasets and advanced cryo-electron microscopy analysis, we present structural insights into HBsAg at a near-atomic resolution of 3.7 angstroms. HBsAg homodimers assemble into subviral particles with D2- and D4-like quasisymmetry, elucidating the dense-packing rules and structural adaptability of HBsAg. These findings provide insights into how HBsAg assembles into higher-order filaments and interacts with the capsid to form virions.

Implications of accumulation of clonally expanded and senescent CD4+GNLY+ T cells in immunological non-responders of HIV-1 infection.

Increased CD4+GNLY+ T cells have been confirmed to be inversely associated with CD4+ T cell count in immunological non-responders (INRs), however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of CD4+GNLY+ T cells and their relationship with immune restoration. Single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell TCR sequencing, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the frequency, phenotypes, and function of CD4+GNLY+ T cells. Moreover, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect plasma cytokines production in patients. CD4+GNLY+ T cells were found to be highly clonally expanded, characterized by higher levels of cytotoxicity, senescence, P24, and HIV-1 DNA than CD4+GNLY- T cells. Additionally, the frequency of CD4+GNLY+ T cells increased after ART, and further increased in INRs, and were positively associated with the antiretroviral therapy duration in INR. Furthermore, increased IL-15 levels in INRs positively correlated with the frequency and senescence of CD4+GNLY+ T cells, suggesting that CD4+GNLY+ T cells may provide new insights for understanding the poor immune reconstitution of INRs. In conclusion, increased, highly clonally expanded, and senescent CD4+GNLY+ T cells may contribute to poor immune reconstitution in HIV-1 infection.

Clinicopathologic and prognostic characteristics of tumor budding-like in giant cell tumor of bone.

BACKGROUND: Currently, tumor budding (TB) is defined as an important factor for a poor prognosis in various types of cancers. The authors identified a significant presence of TB-like structures at the tumor invasive front in giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB), which may have the same biologic function as TB. The objective of this report was to describe the distribution of TB in GCTB and investigate its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics, the immune microenvironment, survival prognosis, and response to denosumab treatment. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study included 426 patients with GCTB who received treatment between 2012 and 2021 at four centers. Two independent pathologists performed visual assessments of TBL structures in hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained tumor sections. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte subtypes (CD3-positive, CD4-positive, CD8-positive, CD20-positive, programmed cell death protein-1-positive, programmed cell death-ligand 1positive, and FoxP3-positive) as well as Ki-67 expression levels in 426 tissue samples. These parameters were then analyzed for associations with patient outcomes (local recurrence-free survival [LRFS] and overall survival [OS]), clinicopathologic characteristics, and response to denosumab treatment. RESULTS: High-grade TB was associated with poorer LRFS and OS in both patient groups. In addition, TB was correlated with various clinicopathologic features, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expression, and response to denosumab treatment. TB outperformed the traditional Enneking and Campanacci staging systems in predicting patient LRFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: The current data support the assessment of TBL structures as a reliable prognostic tool in GCTB, potentially aiding in the development of personalized treatment strategies for patients.

Enhancing the magnetic properties of Dy(III) single-molecule magnets in octahedral coordination symmetry by tuning the equatorial ligands.

Conventionally, octahedral (Oh) coordination symmetry of lanthanide centers is not ideal for constructing high-performance single-molecule magnets (SMMs). However, introducing a strong ligand field in the axial direction to increase crystal field splitting can potentially overcome this limitation. Herein, we successfully obtained two dysprosium(III) single-molecule magnets, [Dy(OCtBu3)X2(py)3] (X = Cl (1), I (2), py = pyridine), in Oh coordination symmetry. The two complexes differ only in the coordinating anions on the equatorial plane, yet their magnetic performances are distinctly different. When chloride is replaced by a weaker donor iodide, the energy barrier is dramatically improved from 29 cm-1 (1) to 860 cm-1 (2), highlighting the importance of weakening the transverse ligand field and maximizing the axial ligand field for high-performance SMMs.

First-principle calculations of the electronic, vibrational, and thermodynamic properties of nitrogen-rich salt of 3,6-dinitramino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine [(NH4)2(DNAT)].

CONTEXT: Energy-containing materials such as explosives have attracted considerable interest recently. In the field of high-energy materials, tetrazine and its derivatives can largely meet the requirements of high nitrogen content and oxygen balance. Nitrogen-rich energetic salts are important research subjects. Nitrogen-rich salt of 3,6-dinitramino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine is a high-energy nitrogen-rich material, but there are few related studies. This paper systematically studies the crystal structure and electronic, vibrational, and thermodynamic properties of (NH4)2(DNAT). The lattice parameters of (NH4)2(DNAT) are observed to align well with the experimental values. The properties of electrons are analyzed by band structure and density of states (DOS). The phonon dispersion curves indicate that the compound is dynamically stable. The vibrational modes of bonds and chemical groups are described in detail, and the peaks in the Raman and infrared spectra are assigned to different vibration modes. Based on the vibration characteristics, thermodynamic properties such as enthalpy (H), Helmholtz free energy (F), entropy (S), Gibbs free energy (G), constant volume heat capacity (CV), and Debye temperature (Θ) are analyzed. This article can pave the way for subsequent work or provide data support to other researchers, promoting further research. METHODS: In this study, we utilized the density functional theory (DFT) for our calculations. The exchange-correlation potential and van der Waals interactions were characterized based on the GGA-PBE + G function calculation. We obtained Brillouin zone integrals using Monkhorst-Pack k-point grids, with the k-point of the Brillouin zone set to a 2 × 2 × 2 grid. During the self-consistent field operation, we set the total energy convergence tolerance to 5 × 10-6 eV per atom. The cut-off energy for the calculation was established at 830 eV. Additionally, the states of H (1s1), C (2s2 2p2), N (2s2 2p3), and O (2s2 2p4) were treated as valence electrons in our study.

The effect of convalescent plasma therapy on the rate of nucleic acid negative conversion in patients with persistent COVID-19 test positivity.

Objective: This study investigates the association between convalescent plasma therapy and the negative conversion rate in patients with persistent COVID-19 test positivity. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with severe or mild to moderate COVID-19 whose viral nucleic acid tests remained positive for over 30 days. Patients were categorized into two groups: those who administered convalescent plasma therapy and those who were not. Data collected included information on therapy strategies used (convalescent plasma, corticosteroids, interferons, etc.), patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic medications, and nucleic acid testing results. Patients in the convalescent plasma therapy group were matched 1:2 ratio with those in the non-convalescent plasma therapy group. Cumulative negative conversion rates on the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth days post-therapy initiation were analyzed as dependent variables. Independent variables included therapy strategies, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and therapeutic medication usage. Univariate analysis was conducted, and factors with a p-value (P) less than 0.2 were included in a paired Cox proportional hazards model. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the cumulative negative conversion rate between the convalescent plasma therapy group and the non-convalescent plasma therapy group on the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth days. Specifically, on day the fifth, the negative conversion rate was 41.46% in the convalescent plasma therapy group compared to 34.15% in the non-convalescent plasma therapy group (HR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.82-3.61, P = 0.15). On the tenth day, it was 63.41% in the convalescent plasma therapy group and 63.41% in the non-convalescent plasma therapy group (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.69∼2.26, P = 0.46). On the fifteenth day, the negative conversion rate was 85.37% in the convalescent plasma therapy group and 75.61% in the non-convalescent plasma therapy group (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.71-1.97, P = 0.51). Conclusion: Our finding does not support the hypothesis that convalescent plasma therapy could accelerate the time to negative conversion in patients who consistently test positive for COVID-19.