A late-Ediacaran crown-group sponge animal.

Sponges are the most basal metazoan phylum1 and may have played important roles in modulating the redox architecture of Neoproterozoic oceans2. Although molecular clocks predict that sponges diverged in the Neoproterozoic era3,4, their fossils have not been unequivocally demonstrated before the Cambrian period5-8, possibly because Precambrian sponges were aspiculate and non-biomineralized9. Here we describe a late-Ediacaran fossil, Helicolocellus cantori gen. et sp. nov., from the Dengying Formation (around 551-539 million years ago) of South China. This fossil is reconstructed as a large, stemmed benthic organism with a goblet-shaped body more than 0.4 m in height, with a body wall consisting of at least three orders of nested grids defined by quadrate fields, resembling a Cantor dust fractal pattern. The resulting lattice is interpreted as an organic skeleton comprising orthogonally arranged cruciform elements, architecturally similar to some hexactinellid sponges, although the latter are built with biomineralized spicules. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis resolves H. cantori as a crown-group sponge related to the Hexactinellida. H. cantori confirms that sponges diverged and existed in the Precambrian as non-biomineralizing animals with an organic skeleton. Considering that siliceous biomineralization may have evolved independently among sponge classes10-13, we question the validity of biomineralized spicules as a necessary criterion for the identification of Precambrian sponge fossils.

Pivotal role of reversible NiO6 geometric conversion in oxygen evolution.

Realizing an efficient electron transfer process in the oxygen evolution reaction by modifying the electronic states around the Fermi level is crucial in developing high-performing and robust electrocatalysts1-3. Typically, electron transfer proceeds solely through either a metal redox chemistry (an adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), with metal bands around the Fermi level) or an oxygen redox chemistry (a lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM), with oxygen bands around the Fermi level), without the concurrent occurrence of both metal and oxygen redox chemistries in the same electron transfer pathway1-15. Here we report an electron transfer mechanism that involves a switchable metal and oxygen redox chemistry in nickel-oxyhydroxide-based materials with light as the trigger. In contrast to the traditional AEM and LOM, the proposed light-triggered coupled oxygen evolution mechanism requires the unit cell to undergo reversible geometric conversion between octahedron (NiO6) and square planar (NiO4) to achieve electronic states (around the Fermi level) with alternative metal and oxygen characters throughout the oxygen evolution process. Utilizing this electron transfer pathway can bypass the potential limiting steps, that is, oxygen-oxygen bonding in AEM and deprotonation in LOM1-5,8. As a result, the electrocatalysts that operate through this route show superior activity compared with previously reported electrocatalysts. Thus, it is expected that the proposed light-triggered coupled oxygen evolution mechanism adds a layer of understanding to the oxygen evolution research scene.

ALKBH5-mediated upregulation of CPT1A promotes macrophage fatty acid metabolism and M2 macrophage polarization, facilitating malignant progression of colorectal cancer.

m6A modification has been studied in tumors, but its role in host anti-tumor immune response and TAMs polarization remains unclear. The fatty acid oxidation (FAO) process of TAMs is also attracting attention. A co-culture model of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and macrophages was used to simulate the tumor microenvironment. Expression changes of m6A demethylase genes FTO and ALKBH5 were screened. ALKBH5 was further investigated. Gain-of-function experiments were conducted to study ALKBH5's effects on macrophage M2 polarization, CRC cell viability, proliferation, migration, and more. Me-RIP and Actinomycin D assays were performed to study ALKBH5's influence on CPT1A, the FAO rate-limiting enzyme. AMP, ADP, and ATP content detection, OCR measurement, and ECAR measurement were used to explore ALKBH5's impact on macrophage FAO level. Rescue experiments validated ALKBH5's mechanistic role in macrophage M2 polarization and CRC malignant development. In co-culture, CRC cells enhance macrophage FAO and suppress m6A modification in M2 macrophages. ALKBH5 was selected as the gene for further investigation. ALKBH5 mediates CPT1A upregulation by removing m6A modification, promoting M2 macrophage polarization and facilitating CRC development. These findings indicate that ALKBH5 enhances fatty acid metabolism and M2 polarization of macrophages by upregulating CPT1A, thereby promoting CRC development.

Identification of RRM2 as a key ferroptosis-related gene in sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis and sepsis-associated organ failure are devastating conditions for which there are no effective therapeutic agent. Several studies have demonstrated the significance of ferroptosis in sepsis. The study aimed to identify ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in sepsis, providing potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to screen sepsis-associated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to explore gene functions. Three machine learning methods were employed to identify sepsis-related hub genes. Survival and multivariate Cox regression analysis allowed further screening for the key gene RRM2 associated with prognosis. The immune infiltration analysis of the screened sepsis key genes was performed. Additionally, a cecum ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced mouse sepsis model was constructed to validate the expression of key gene in the sepsis. RESULTS: Six sepsis-associated differentially expressed FRGs (RRM2, RPL7A, HNRNPA1, PEBP1, MYL8B and TXNIP) were screened by WGCNA and three machine learning methods analysis. Survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that RRM2 was a key gene in sepsis and an independent prognostic factor associated with clinicopathological and molecular features of sepsis. Immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated that RRM2 had a connection to various immune cells, such as CD4 T cells and neutrophils. Furthermore, animal experiment demonstrated that RRM2 was highly expressed in CLP-induced septic mice, and the use of Fer-1 significantly inhibited RRM2 expression, inhibited serum inflammatory factor TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß expression, ameliorated intestinal injury and improved survival in septic mice. CONCLUSION: RRM2 plays an important role in sepsis and may contribute to sepsis through the ferroptosis pathway. This study provides potential therapeutic targets for sepsis.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy in patients with functional anorectal pain: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Some Chinese scholars have initially explored the efficacy of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint in patients with functional anorectal pain (FAP). However, their studies are performed in a single center, or the sample size is small. Therefore, we aim to further explore the efficacy of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint on the treatment of FAP. METHODS: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, 136 eligible FAP patients will be randomly allocated into an electroacupuncture group or sham electroacupuncture group at a 1:1 ratio. This trial will last for 34 weeks, with 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Outcome assessors and statisticians will be blind. The primary outcome will be clinical treatment efficacy, and secondary outcomes will be pain days per month, quality of life, psychological state assessment, anorectal manometry, pelvic floor electromyography, and patient satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Results of this trial will be contributed to further clarify the value of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint as a treatment for FAP in the clinic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry  https://www.chictr.org.cn/  (ChiCTR2300069757) on March 24, 2023.

Nail psoriasis in China: A prospective multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Data on nail psoriasis (PsO) in China are scarce. OBJECTIVES: To provide nail PsO-related data regarding epidemiologic characteristics, manifestations, fungal infections, arthritic complaints and treatments that may facilitate improved patient management globally. METHODS: From August 2021 to August 2022, patients with nail PsO were enrolled in a prospective multicentre observational study at 25 hospitals in China. We collected and analysed data concerning nail PsO demography, clinical signs, fungal detection, arthritic symptoms and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 817 patients with nail PsO were involved, with a mean body mass index of 24.13 ± 2.93. In addition, 71.41% of the patients were male. The Nail PsO Severity Index score was weakly positively correlated with body surface area. The percentage of nail involvement was 95.29% for fingernails and 57.18% for toenails, with pitting (67.11%) and subungual hyperkeratosis (60.40%) being the most prevalent manifestations, respectively. Toenails showed a significantly higher frequency of nailfold scales, subungual hyperkeratosis and nail plate crumbling and a lower frequency of splinter haemorrhages, pitting and erythema of the lunula. A total of 13.26% of the PsO patients had onychomycosis, and 77.08% were observed in the toenails. Articular symptoms were reported by 12.17% of the patients, with the peripheral type being predominant. Significant associations between articular symptoms and nailfold swelling, subungual hyperkeratosis, nailfold scales, onycholysis and longitudinal ridges were found. Only 2.30% (20 out of 871) of patients with nail PsO received treatment. The most frequently employed therapy for cutaneous PsO with nail involvement was biologic therapy (n = 366). CONCLUSIONS: PsO showed distinct manifestations in the toenails and fingernails. Additionally, toenail PsO combined with onychomycosis requires special attention. Articular symptoms in psoriatic patients are associated with specific nail changes. It is important to research and advocate for more potent treatments for nail PsO.

Integrative transcriptome and metabolome analysis of fluoride exposure induced developmental neurotoxicity in mouse brain.

Fluoride could cause developmental neurotoxicity and significantly affect the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children. However, the systematic mechanism of neuronal damage caused by excessive fluoride administration in offspring is largely unknown. Here, we present a comprehensive integrative transcriptome and metabolome analysis to study the mechanism of developmental neurotoxicity caused by chronic fluoride exposure. Comparing the different doses of fluoride treatments in two generations revealed the exclusive signature of metabolism pathways and gene expression profiles. In particular, neuronal development and synaptic ion transport are significantly altered at the gene expression and metabolite accumulation levels for both generations, which could act as messengers and enhancers of fluoride-induced systemic neuronal injury. Choline and arachidonic acid metabolism, which highlighted in the integrative analysis, exhibited different regulatory patterns between the two generations, particularly for synaptic vesicle formation and inflammatory factor transport. It may suggest that choline and arachidonic acid metabolism play important roles in developmental neurotoxic responses for offspring mice. Our study provides comprehensive insights into the metabolomic and transcriptomic regulation of fluoride stress responses in the mechanistic explanation of fluoride-induced developmental neurotoxicity.

First Report of Leaf Spot on Taraxacum mongolicum Caused by Alternaria solani in China.

Taraxacum mongolicum is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae, with a high edible and medicinal value and is widely planted in China. In August 2022, leaf spots were found on T. mongolicum in Tianjiazhai Town, Xining City, Qinghai Province, China (36°27'17.65″N, 101°47'19.65E, elevation: 2,408 m). The plants exhibited round or irregular brown spots, and the centers of some of the spots were gray (Fig. S1A). An investigation was performed over a hectare area, and the incidence of leaf spot reached 15%-30%, seriously affecting the quality and yield of T. mongolicum. Eleven T. mongolicum leaf spot samples were collected. To isolate the pathogenic fungus, approximately 0.5 cm×0.5 cm pieces of tissues were obtained using sterile scissors from the junction of infected and healthy tissues. The symptomatic leaves were surface-disinfected with 3% NaClO for 1.5 min and washed three times with sterile water. The disinfected pieces were dried and placed on water agar plates in an incubator for 2 days at 25°C. Subsequently, the leaf surface exhibited conidiophores and conidia. Eleven isolates were obtained by single spore isolation. The sparse aerial mycelia were dark grey to black brown in color on potato dextrose agar (PDA) (Fig. S2A), and produced dark, multi-septate conidia with 7-11 transverse septa and 1-2 longitudinal septa (Fig. S2C). Conidia with one or two beaks were long-ovoid, with an average length and width of 103.4 × 21.2 µm, and 80.7 × 3.9 µm of the beaks. One hundred and ten conidia were measured. The identification of 11 isolates was confirmed by multilocus sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA ITS) (White et al. 1990), and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Xu et al. 2022), actin (ACT) (Yang et al. 2020), histone 3 (HIS3) (Zheng et al. 2015), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) (Carbone. 1999), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) (Liu et al. 1999) genes. The sequences of all the isolates were deposited in Genbank (NCBI Accession Nos. ITS: OR105029-OR105039, ACT: OR135220-OR135230, GAPDH: OR135231-OR135241, HIS3: OR122992-OR123002, TEF1-α: PP055972-PP055982, and RPB2: PP055983-PP055993), and the sequence similarity of ITS, ACT, GAPDH, HIS3，TEF1-α and RPB2 were 100%, 98%, 100%, 99%, 100%, and 99% to the sequences of Alternaria solani, respectively. Combined sequences of ITS, GAPDH, TEF1-α, and RPB2 genes were concatenated and a maximum parsimony tree was constructed with PAUP* v. 4.0 alpha. The results indicated that 11 isolates were clustered together with A. solani (Fig. S2D). Therefore, 11 isolates were identified as A. solani based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. Eleven isolates were inoculated on their host to perform Koch's postulates. The isolates were grown on PDA for six days. Healthy one month old T. mongolicum seedlings were planted in 10 cm flowerpots (Fig. S1B) or the seedlings were moved to Petri dish (Fig. S1C), and their leaves were inoculated with 5 mL of hyphae suspension by smearing method. In addition, seedlings of the same age were treated with sterile water to serve as the control. The inoculated seedlings were moved into an artificial climatic box at 25℃, relative humidity was 70%, with 12 h light/12 h dark condition. Totally 80 seedlings were inoculated with isolates and 15 were used as the control. After 7 days, similar symptoms were observed on the plants inoculated with isolates, while control plants did not produce symptoms. The assays were conducted three times. Furthermore, isolates were re-isolated from the symptomatic leaves, and the colonial morphology was the same as the original isolates (Fig S2 A and B). The recovered isolates were identified as A. solani by amplifying and sequencing a portion of the HIS3 gene. Alternaria solani has been previously reported to cause early blight of potato and other Solanum crops (van der Waals et al. 2004; Zheng et al. 2015). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. solani causing leaf spot of T. mongolicum in China. This disease must be considered in management practices, and our finding provided a basis for disease prevention and management.

Integrating chemical similarity and bioequivalence: an overall evaluation of the quality consistency of traditional decoction and dispensing granule decoction of Amomum villosum.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the quality consistency between traditional decoction (TD) of Amomum villosum and its dispensing granule decoction (DGD). Fifteen batches of TD and nine batches of dispensing granules (manufactured by A, B, and C) were prepared and evaluated for their consistency. METHODS: Firstly, The chemical similarity of TD and DGD was examined using GC and HPLC, coupled with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), criteria importance though intercrieria correlation(CRITIC) weighting method, and principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly, the gastrointestinal motility experiments in mice, along with the CRITIC weighting method, were employed to assess the bioequivalence of TD and DGD of Amomum villosum. Finally, the entropy weight technique-gray relative analysis(GRA) method was used to compare the quality of Amomum villosum decoctions. RESULTS: ①The CRITIC weighting method indicated significantly higher scores for TD than DGD (p < 0.01). HCA and PCA results demonstrated a clear distinction between TD and DGD. ②Gastrointestinal motility test results revealed no significant difference between TD and DGD in other indicators (p > 0.05).③Gray relative analysis results showed that the relative correlation of TD was more significant than that of DGD. CONCLUSION: The chemical composition of DGD and TD differed. The biological activity of DGD-A/B was consistent with that of TD, while the difference between DGD-C and TD was significant. A comprehensive evaluation showed that TD exhibited better quality than DGD. DGD manufacturers should optimize the preparation process to enhance product quality.

Unveiling the Pivotal Role of dx2-y2 Electronic States in Nickel-Based Hydroxide Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation.

The anodic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) plays a crucial role in coupling with the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and enables the sustainable production of the high-valued formate. Nickel-based hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) as MOR electrocatalyst has attracted enormous attention. However, the key factor determining the intrinsic catalytic activity remains unknown, which significantly hinders the further development of Ni(OH)2 electrocatalyst. Here, we found that the d x 2 - y 2 ${{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}}$ electronic state within antibonding bands plays a decisive role in the whole MOR process. The onset potential depends on the deprotonation ability (Ni2+ to Ni3+), which was closely related to the band center of d x 2 - y 2 ${{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}}$ orbital. The closer of d x 2 - y 2 ${{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}}$ orbital to the Fermi level showed the stronger the deprotonation ability. Meanwhile, in the high potential region, the broadening of d x 2 - y 2 ${{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}}$ orbital would facilitate the electron transfer from methanol to catalysts (Ni3+ to Ni2+), further enhancing the catalytic properties. Our work for the first time clarifies the intrinsic relationship between d x 2 - y 2 ${{d}_{{x}^{2}-{y}^{2}}}$ electronic state and the MOR activities, which adds a new layer of understanding to the methanol electrooxidation research scene.

Human anterior thalamic stimulation evoked cortical potentials align with intrinsic functional connectivity.

Characterizing human thalamocortical network is fundamental for understanding a vast array of human behaviors since the thalamus plays a central role in cortico-subcortical communication. Over the past few decades, advances in functional magnetic resonance imaging have allowed for spatial mapping of intrinsic resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between both cortical regions and in cortico-subcortical networks. Despite these advances, identifying the electrophysiological basis of human thalamocortical network architecture remains challenging. By leveraging stereoelectroencephalography electrodes temporarily implanted into distributed cortical regions and the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) of 10 patients with refractory focal epilepsy, we tested whether ANT stimulation evoked cortical potentials align with RSFC from the stimulation site, derived from a normative functional connectome (n = 1000). Our study identifies spatial convergence of ANT stimulation evoked cortical potentials and normative RSFC. Other than connections to the Papez circuit, the ANT was found to be closely connected to several distinct higher-order association cortices, including the precuneus, angular gyrus, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula. Remarkably, we found that the spatial distribution and magnitude of cortical-evoked responses to single-pulse electrical stimulation of the ANT aligned with the spatial pattern and strength of normative RSFC of the stimulation site. The present study provides electrophysiological evidence that stimulation evoked electrical activity flows along intrinsic brain networks connected on a thalamocortical level.

Mutations in SREBF1, Encoding Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Transcription Factor 1, Cause Autosomal-Dominant IFAP Syndrome.

IFAP syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by ichthyosis follicularis, atrichia, and photophobia. Previous research found that mutations in MBTPS2, encoding site-2-protease (S2P), underlie X-linked IFAP syndrome. The present report describes the identification via whole-exome sequencing of three heterozygous mutations in SREBF1 in 11 unrelated, ethnically diverse individuals with autosomal-dominant IFAP syndrome. SREBF1 encodes sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), which promotes the transcription of lipogenes involved in the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterols. This process requires cleavage of SREBP1 by site-1-protease (S1P) and S2P and subsequent translocation into the nucleus where it binds to sterol regulatory elements (SRE). The three detected SREBF1 mutations caused substitution or deletion of residues 527, 528, and 530, which are crucial for S1P cleavage. In vitro investigation of SREBP1 variants demonstrated impaired S1P cleavage, which prohibited nuclear translocation of the transcriptionally active form of SREBP1. As a result, SREBP1 variants exhibited significantly lower transcriptional activity compared to the wild-type, as demonstrated via luciferase reporter assay. RNA sequencing of the scalp skin from IFAP-affected individuals revealed a dramatic reduction in transcript levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and of keratin genes known to be expressed in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. An increased rate of in situ keratinocyte apoptosis, which might contribute to skin hyperkeratosis and hypotrichosis, was also detected in scalp samples from affected individuals. Together with previous research, the present findings suggest that SREBP signaling plays an essential role in epidermal differentiation, skin barrier formation, hair growth, and eye function.

Effective protection: the embryonic development and clinical outcomes of emergency vitrification of 1246 oocytes and Day 0-Day 5 embryos in a natural disaster.

STUDY QUESTION: Can emergency vitrification protect embryos and oocytes during natural disasters or other events that prevent normal practice to achieve satisfactory embryonic development and clinical outcomes at a later time? SUMMARY ANSWER: Emergency vitrification of oocytes and Day 0-Day 5 (D0-D5) embryos during disasters is a safe and effective protective measure. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: When some destructive events such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other accidents occur, emergency vitrification in embryo laboratories to protect human embryos, oocytes, and sperm is one of the important measures of an IVF emergency plan. However, there are few detailed reports on emergency vitrification in a state of disaster, especially about oocytes and D0 zygotes. Therefore, the effectiveness and safety of emergency vitrification of oocytes and D0-D5 embryos in disaster states are still unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A retrospective study was made in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to November 2022. The record rainstorms in Zhengzhou, China, caused severe flooding, traffic disruptions, and power outages. From 17:30, 20 July 2021 to 17:30, 21 July 2021, 1246 oocytes and D0-D5 embryos of 155 patients were vitrified whilst the laboratory had only an emergency power supply. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: As of 21 December 2021, 1149 emergency vitrified oocytes and D0-D5 embryos of 124 patients underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). They were divided into the following four groups according to the days of embryo culture in vitro: oocyte group, Day 0-Day 1 (D0-D1) group, Day 2-Day 3 (D2-D3) group, and Day 4-Day 5 (D4-D5) group. Control groups for each were selected from fresh cycle patients who underwent IVF/ICSI from January 2018 to October 2021. Control and emergency vitrification patients were matched on criteria that included age, fertilization method, days of embryonic development, and number and grade of transferred embryos. A total of 493 control patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients and matched with the emergency vitrification groups in a ratio of 4:1. The results of assisted reproduction and follow-up of pregnancy were analyzed. The embryonic development, clinical outcomes, and birth outcomes in each group were statistically analyzed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A significant difference was observed in fertilization rate (81% versus 72%, P = 0.022) between the oocyte group and the control group. Significant differences were also observed in the monozygotic twin pregnancy rate (10% versus 0%, P = 0.038) and ectopic pregnancy rate (5% versus 0%, P = 0.039) between the D0-D1 group and the control group. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between vitrified oocytes/D0-D1 embryos/D2-D3 embryos and the control group on the number of high-quality embryos (3.17 ± 3.00 versus 3.84 ± 3.01, P = 0.346; 5.04 ± 3.66 versus 4.56 ± 2.87, P = 0.346; 4.85 ± 5.36 versus 5.04 ± 4.64, P = 0.839), the number of usable blastocysts (1.22 ± 1.78 versus 1.21 ± 2.03, P = 0.981; 2.16 ± 2.26 versus 1.55 ± 2.08, P = 0.090; 2.82 ± 3.23 versus 2.58 ± 3.32, P = 0.706), clinical pregnancy rate (56% versus 57%, P = 0.915; 55% versus 55%, P = 1.000; 40% versus 50%, P = 0.488), miscarriage rate (30% versus 15%, P = 0.496; 5% versus 11%, P = 0.678; 17% versus 20%, P = 1.000), and live birth rate (39% versus 49%, P = 0.460; 53% versus 50%, P = 0.772; 33% versus 40%, P = 0.635). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the D4-D5 group and the control group on clinical pregnancy rate (40% versus 55%, P = 0.645), miscarriage rate (0% versus 18%, P = 1.000), and live birth rate (40% versus 45%, P = 1.000). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective study design is a limitation. The timing and extent of natural disasters are unpredictable, so the sample size of vitrified oocytes, zygotes, and embryos is beyond experimental control. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study is the first study analyzing embryonic development, clinical outcomes, and birth outcomes of large samples of oocytes, D0 zygotes, and D1-D5 embryos after emergency vitrification under the disaster conditions. The results show that emergency vitrification is a safe and effective protective measure applicable to oocytes and D0-D5 embryos. The embryology laboratories need to be equipped with an emergency uninterrupted power supply capable of delivering for 6-8 h at full load. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 81871206). The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. All authors have completed the ICMJE Disclosure form. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Electromagnetic induction for reinforced concrete bursting: principles, simulations, experiments, and applications.

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are widely used in the field of architecture. With the rapid development of highway construction all over the world, some such buildings need to be demolished. However, various traditional dismantling methods are either time-consuming and labor-intensive, or cause pollution and present certain safety hazards. In this research, COMSOL simulation and experimental verification of various schemes of electromagnetic heating used for bursting RC was carried out. Also, the conducted bursting experiments using electromagnetic waves-including microwaves-were further processed to verify their infeasibility. Finally, we proposed a feasible electromagnetic heating device for bursting RC. Compared with the traditional bursting technology, the device has the advantages of high efficiency, environmental protection, safety, and convenience, and has high social and practical value.

Identification of four metabolic subtypes and key prognostic markers in lung adenocarcinoma based on glycolytic and glutaminolytic pathways.

BACKGROUND: Glucose and glutamine are the main energy sources for tumor cells. Whether glycolysis and glutaminolysis play a critical role in driving the molecular subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unknown. This study attempts to identify LUAD metabolic subtypes with different characteristics and key genes based on gene transcription profiling data related to glycolysis and glutaminolysis, and to construct prognostic models to facilitate patient outcome prediction. METHODS: LUAD related data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, including TCGA-LUAD, GSE42127, GSE68465, GSE72094, GSE29013, GSE31210, GSE30219, GSE37745, GSE50081. Unsupervised consensus clustering was used for the identification of LUAD subtypes. Differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and CytoNCA App in Cytoscape 3.9.0 were used for the screening of key genes. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for the construction of the prognostic risk model. Finally, qPCR analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence colocalization were used to validate the core genes of the model. RESULT: This study identified four distinct characterized LUAD metabolic subtypes, glycolytic, glutaminolytic, mixed and quiescent types. The glycolytic type had a worse prognosis than the glutaminolytic type. Nine genes (CXCL8, CNR1, AGER, ALB, S100A7, SLC2A1, TH, SPP1, LEP) were identified as hub genes driving the glycolytic/glutaminolytic LUAD. In addition, the risk assessment model constructed based on three genes (SPP1, SLC2A1 and AGER) had good predictive performance and could be validated in multiple independent external LUAD cohorts. These three genes were differentially expressed in LUAD and lung normal tissues, and might be potential prognostic markers for LUAD. CONCLUSION: LUAD can be classified into four different characteristic metabolic subtypes based on the glycolysis- and glutaminolysis-related genes. Nine genes (CXCL8, CNR1, AGER, ALB, S100A7, SLC2A1, TH, SPP1, LEP) may play an important role in the subtype-intrinsic drive. This metabolic subtype classification, provides new biological insights into the previously established LUAD subtypes.

Causal associations between sleep traits and brain structure: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests bidirectional causal relationships between sleep disturbance and psychiatric disorders, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Understanding the bidirectional causality between sleep traits and brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) will help elucidate the mechanisms. Although previous studies have identified a range of structural differences in the brains of individuals with sleep disorders, it is still uncertain whether grey matter (GM) volume alterations precede or rather follow from the development of sleep disorders. RESULTS: After Bonferroni correction, the forward MR analysis showed that insomnia complaint remained positively associated with the surface area (SA) of medial orbitofrontal cortex (ß, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.37; P = 5.27 × 10-6). In the inverse MR analysis, higher global cortical SA predisposed individuals less prone to suffering insomnia complaint (OR, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.85-0.94; P = 1.51 × 10-5) and short sleep (≤ 6 h; OR, 0.98; 95%CI, 0.97-0.99; P = 1.51 × 10-5), while higher SA in posterior cingulate cortex resulted in a vulnerability to shorter sleep durations (ß, - 0.09; 95%CI, - 0.13 to - 0.05; P = 1.21 × 10-5). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep habits not only result from but also contribute to alterations in brain structure, which may shed light on the possible mechanisms linking sleep behaviours with neuropsychiatric disorders, and offer new strategies for prevention and intervention in psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbance.

Comparison of the safety and effectiveness of different surgical timing for acute cholecystitis after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis (AC) at different time points after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from database inception to 1 May 2022. The last date of search was the May 30, 2022. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to conduct quality assessments, and RevMan (Version 5.4) was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies and 4379 patients were analyzed. Compared with the < 2-week group, the ≥ 2-week group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower rate of conversion to laparotomy, and fewer complications. There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding bile duct injury, bile leakage, and total cost. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence indicates that the ≥ 2-week group has the advantage in less intraoperative blood loss, minor tissue damage, quick recovery, and sound healing in treating AC. It can be seen that LC after 2 weeks is safe and effective for AC patients who have already undergone PTGBD and is recommended, but further confirmation is needed in a larger sample of randomized controlled studies.

Transglutaminase, glucono-δ-lactone, and citric acid-induced whey protein isolation-milk fat emulsion gel embedding lutein and its application in processed cheese.

In this study, transglutaminase (TG), glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), and citric acid (CA) were used to induce the formation of whey protein isolate (WPI)-milk fat emulsion gels to embed lutein, and the emulsion gels induced in different ways were used for the preparation of processed cheese. The protective effect of emulsion gels induced in different ways on lutein was investigated, and the stability of lutein in emulsion gels and processed cheese was analyzed. The results showed that the acidification rate of CA was higher than that of GDL, which was the key step in acid-induced gels, and that the difference in acidification rate led to differences in gel structure. Compared with the 2 acid inducers (GDL and CA), TG exhibited greater potential for forming gel structures with high strength. The TG-induced emulsion gels showed the best physical stability and the highest embedding efficiency for lutein. After heat treatment (85°C), the GDL-induced emulsion gels had higher retention rate of lutein and showed good thermal stability compared with the CA-induced emulsion gels. The processed cheese added with the TG-induced emulsion gel had higher hardness and springiness compared with the processed cheese added with the other 2 kinds of emulsion gels, whereas the processed cheese added with the CA-induced emulsion gel had a lower density of network structure, showing porosity and a larger aggregated structure, but the highest bioavailability of lutein. These results provide valuable information for the formation of cold-set emulsion gel and provide the possibility for the application of emulsion gel embedding active substances in processed cheese.

The acoustic performances of a subwavelength hierarchical honeycomb structure: Analytical, numerical, and experimental investigations.

This paper proposes a subwavelength hierarchical honeycomb structure (SHHS) with a compact lateral dimension and double-band perfect absorption in low frequencies. Unlike the conventional micro-perforated panel (MPP)-honeycomb sandwich absorber, this structure has an additional internal honeycomb with a perforated wall. Therefore, there are two resonant cavities in the SHHS to realize multiple absorption peaks. Analytical, numerical, and experimental investigations are performed to study the proposed system's acoustic performance in absorption. The SSHS is simplified into four parts and its analytical model is constructed by combining various analytical models by acoustic-electro analogy. The analytical model is presented to explore the physical properties of sound absorption and the influence of parameters, which has been validated by comparisons with the numerical model, and the experimental data is measured by an impedance tube. It is found that the main incident energy is lost by the inside hole, which is different from the conventional absorbers with surface MPP. Moreover, the side length of the internal honeycomb can adjust the resonant frequencies to achieve an absorber with the subwavelength. A SSHS is designed with a perfect absorption at 320 Hz whose thickness is 1/31 of the resonant frequency wavelength. The SHHS has excellent potential for noise control engineering applications.

Defining Fungicide Resistance Mechanisms in the Corynespora cassiicola Population from Mississippi Soybean.

Target spot, caused by Corynespora cassiicola, is a common lower canopy soybean disease in the southern United States. Recently, target spot has resurged in importance especially following the identification of resistance to the quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. As a result, a survey of C. cassiicola from soybean throughout Mississippi began in 2018. A total of 819 C. cassiicola monoconidial isolates were obtained from 228 fields in 75 counties. The molecular mechanism of QoI resistance was determined, which resulted from an amino acid substitution from glycine (G) to alanine (A) at position 143 using a PCR-RFLP method and comparing nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b gene. Five previously defined geographic regions were used to present the distribution of the G143A substitution and included the Capital, Coast, Delta, Hills, and Pines. The Capital had the greatest proportion of G143A-containing isolates (95.0%), followed by the Coast (92.9%), Delta (89.8%), Pines (78.8%), and Hills (69.4%). In all, 85.8% of the C. cassiicola isolates carried the G143A substitution. In addition, the effective fungicide concentration (EC50) of randomly selected C. cassiicola isolates to azoxystrobin was used to characterize isolates as resistant (n = 14) (based on the presence of the G143A substitution and EC50 values >52 µg/ml) or sensitive (n = 11) (based on the absence of the G143A substitution and EC50 values <46 µg/ml). The EC50 values varied among isolates (P < 0.0001), with QoI-sensitive isolates exhibiting lower EC50 values than QoI-resistant isolates. The current study revealed that a reduction in sensitivity to QoI fungicides has likely resulted based on the percentage of C. cassiicola isolates containing the G143A substitution identified in Mississippi.