Experimental Demonstration of Inequivalent Mutually Unbiased Bases.

Quantum measurements based on mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) play crucial roles in foundational studies and quantum information processing. It is known that there exist inequivalent MUBs, but little is known about their operational distinctions, not to say experimental demonstration. In this Letter, by virtue of a simple estimation problem, we experimentally demonstrate the operational distinctions between inequivalent triples of MUBs in dimension 4 based on high-precision photonic systems. The experimental estimation fidelities coincide well with the theoretical predictions with only 0.16% average deviation, which is 25 times less than the difference (4.1%) between the maximum estimation fidelity and the minimum estimation fidelity. Our experiments clearly demonstrate that inequivalent MUBs have different information extraction capabilities and different merits for quantum information processing.

Ferroelectric and Relaxor-Ferroelectric Phases Coexisting Boosts Energy Storage Performance in (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-Based Ceramics.

With the intensification of the energy crisis, it is urgent to vigorously develop new environment-friendly energy storage materials. In this work, coexisting ferroelectric and relaxor-ferroelectric phases at a nanoscale were constructed in Sr(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (SZN)-modified (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 (BNBT) ceramics, simultaneously contributing to large polarization and breakdown electric field and giving rise to a superior energy storage performance. Herein, a high recoverable energy density (Wrec) of 5.0 J/cm3 with a conversion efficiency of 82% at 370 kV/cm, a practical discharged energy density (Wd) of 1.74 J/cm3 at 230 kV/cm, a large power density (PD) of 157.84 MW/cm3, and an ultrafast discharge speed (t0.9) of 40 ns were achieved in the 0.85BNBT-0.15SZN ceramics characterized by the coexistence of a rhombohedral-tetragonal phase (ferroelectric state) and a pseudo-cubic phase (relaxor-ferroelectric state). Furthermore, the 0.85BNBT-0.15SZN ceramics also exhibited excellent temperature stability (25-120 °C) and cycling stability (104 cycles) of their energy storage properties. These results demonstrate the great application potential of 0.85BNBT-0.15SZN ceramics in capacitive pulse energy storage devices.

Emerging technologies for preservation and quality evaluation of postharvest edible mushrooms: A review.

Edible mushrooms are the highly demanded foods of which production and consumption have been steadily increasing globally. Owing to the quality loss and short shelf-life in harvested mushrooms, it is necessary for the implementation of effective preservation and intelligent evaluation technologies to alleviate this issue. The aim of this review was to analyze the development and innovation thematic lines, topics, and trends by bibliometric analysis and review of the literature methods. The challenges faced in researching these topics were proposed and the mechanisms of quality loss in mushrooms during storage were updated. This review summarized the effects of chemical processing (antioxidants, ozone, and coatings), physical treatments (non-thermal plasma, packaging and latent thermal storage) and other emerging application on the quality of fresh mushrooms while discussing the efficiency in extending the shelf-life. It also discussed the emerging evaluation techniques based on the various chemometric methods and computer vision system in monitoring the freshness and predicting the shelf-life of mushrooms which have been developed. Preservation technology optimization and dynamic quality evaluation are vital for achieving mushroom quality control. This review can provide a comprehensive research reference for reducing mushroom quality loss and extending shelf-life, along with optimizing efficiency of storage and transportation operations.

Triamcinolone Acetonide Suppresses Keloid Formation Through Enhancing Apoptosis in a Nude Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND: Current understanding of steroid treatments for keloids is in regards to modulation of inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis, with no in vivo study on the latter. Using a nude mouse model, we investigated whether triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections induce keloids regression through enhancing apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six keloid specimens (1 × 1 cm) were harvested from 6 patients and separated into sets of 2 from the same patient: no treatment and intralesional TA injection (0.4 mg/mL/kg) at 8 weeks of postimplantation. One set was implanted in each of 18 randomly selected nude mice, which were separated into 3 groups based on time of keloid harvesting after treatment: group A, 2 weeks; group B, 8 weeks; and group C, 14 weeks. Each group had 1 set of specimen from each patient. Histological staining was performed with hematoxylin and eosin stain. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed for human-prolyl 4-hydroxylase (hPH4) and caspase 3 protein, along with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: All keloid specimens survived, with no noted overgrowth. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed dense extracellular matrix and viable fibroblasts, and hPH4 immunohistochemistry revealed strong expression, demonstrating keloid viability. Caspase 3 protein and TUNEL expressions were significantly increased in the treatment versus control groups, demonstrating that TA injections induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injections significantly increased apoptosis in keloids, represented by increased caspase 3 protein and TUNEL expressions, supporting that steroids suppress keloids in part owing to enhancement of apoptosis.

Comparisons of two serious air pollution episodes in winter and summer in Beijing.

Characteristics of two serious air pollution episodes (9-15 January, as the winter case; and 30 June to 1 July, as the summer case), which occurred in Beijing in 2013 were investigated and compared using multi-method observations and numerical simulations. During these two air pollution episodes, PM2.5 concentrations varied significantly within Beijing, with PM2.5 concentrations in southern parts of Beijing being significantly higher than in northern areas. Typically, heavy air pollution episodes begin in the southern parts and disperse towards the northern parts of Beijing. Clearly, synoptic patterns and the stability of atmospheric circulation patterns were the main factors controlling air pollution in Beijing. During the winter case, a warm center above 900hPa occurred over Beijing. Meanwhile, in the summer case, although there was only a weak inversion, the convective inhibition energy was strong (over 200J/kG). This clearly influenced the duration of the air pollution event. Except for the local accumulation and secondary atmospheric reactions in both cases, regional straw burnings contributed a lot to the PM2.5 concentrations in summer case. Using the CAMx model, we established that regional transport contributed almost 59% to the PM2.5 averaged concentration in Beijing in the winter case, but only 31% in the summer case. Thus, the winter case was a typical regional air pollution episode, while the summer case resulted from local accumulation straw burnings transportation and strong secondary atmospheric reactions. Given that air pollution is a regional problem in China, consistent and simultaneous implementation of regional prevention and control strategies is necessary to improve regional air quality.

Performance improvement of power-over-fiber system using noise-modulated laser diode.

In a power-over-fiber system, the key limiting factor for transmission light power is the stimulated Brillouin scattering effect, which leads to a decrease in transmission light power at the end of the optical fiber. Therefore, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a broadband laser generated by a noise-modulated distributed-feedback laser diode to suppress the stimulated Brillouin scattering effect in the optical fiber. Experimental results show that the linewidth of the noise-modulated distributed-feedback laser diode broadens from 2.43 to 379.89 MHz when the noise modulation amplitude is increased from 0 to 400 mV. Due to the broadening of the laser linewidth, the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold raises 7.19 dB, and the peak power of the Brillouin Stokes light is reduced by 40.90 dB. At the same time, the output electrical power at the end of the optical fiber increases 13.55 dB.

[Karyotype and evolutionary trend analysis of Scutellaria species in Jinyun mountain, Chongqing].

Traditional squash method was used to analyze chromosome number and karyotypes of four Scutellaria species in Chongqing Jinyun Mountain Natural Reserve： Scutellaria tsinyunensis, S.yunnanensis, S.franchetiana and S.indica.The result showed that the chromosome numbers were 26 except for S.franchetiana, which had 24 chromosomes.These species were all diploid with metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes.Their karyotypes were symmetrical and primitive.The karyotype formula of S.tsinyunensis is 2n=2x=26=24m+2sm, 1B type, As.k=55.28%; the karyotype formula of S.yunnanensis var.salicifolia is 2n=2x=26=26m, 1B type, As.k=56.11%; the karyotype formula of S.franchetiana is 2n=2x=24=20m+4sm, 2B type, As.k=58.50%; the karyotype formula of S.indica is 2n=2x=24=20m+4sm, 2B type, As.k=58.41%.The results were compared with the reported data of S.baicalensis and S.alaschanica.S.alaschanica is expected to be the most advanced one whereas S.tsinyunensis, and S.yunnanensis var. salicifolia primitive.These results are expected to provide some references to the origin and differentiation of genus Scutellaria.

Method for pan-tilt camera calibration using single control point.

The pan-tilt (PT) camera is widely used in video surveillance systems due to its rotatable property and low cost. The rough output of a PT camera may not satisfy the demand of practical applications; hence an accurate calibration method of a PT camera is desired. However, high-precision camera calibration methods usually require sufficient control points not guaranteed in some practical cases of a PT camera. In this paper, we present a novel method to online calibrate the rotation angles of a PT camera by using only one control point. This is achieved by assuming that the intrinsic parameters and position of the camera are known in advance. More specifically, we first build a nonlinear PT camera model with respect to two parameters Pan and Tilt. We then convert the nonlinear model into a linear model according to sine and cosine of Tilt, where each element in the augmented coefficient matrix is a function of the single variable Pan. A closed-form solution of Pan and Tilt can then be derived by solving a quadratic equation of tangent of Pan. Our method is noniterative and does not need features matching; thus its time efficiency is better. We evaluate our calibration method on various synthetic and real data. The quantitative results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods if the intrinsic parameters and position of the camera are known in advance.

Sodium butyrate alleviates lead-induced neuroinflammation and improves cognitive and memory impairment through the ACSS2/H3K9ac/BDNF pathway.

Lead is an environmentally widespread neurotoxic pollutant. Although the neurotoxicity of lead has been found to be closely associated with metabolic disorders, the effects of short-chain fatty acids on the neurotoxicity of lead and its mechanisms have not yet been explored. In this study, the results of open field tests and Morris water maze tests demonstrated that chronic lead exposure caused learning and memory deficits and anxiety-like symptoms in mice. The serum butyric acid content of lead-treated mice decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and oral administration of butyrate significantly improved cognitive memory impairment and anxiety symptoms in lead-exposed mice. Moreover, butyrate alleviated neuroinflammation caused by lead exposure by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling in microglia. Butyrate also promoted the expression of acetyl-CoA synthetase ACSS2 in hippocampal neurons, thereby increasing the content of acetyl-CoA and restoring the expression of both histone H3K9ac and the downstream BDNF. We also found that the median butyric acid concentration in high-lead exposure humans was remarkably lower than that in the low-lead exposure humans (45.16 µg/L vs. 60.92 µg/L, P < 0.01), and that butyric acid significantly mediated the relationship of lead exposure with the Montreal cognitive assessment scores, with a contribution rate of 27.57 %. In conclusion, our results suggest that butyrate supplementation is a possible therapeutic strategy for lead-induced neurotoxicity.

Bile acid metabolism is altered in learning and memory impairment induced by chronic lead exposure.

Lead is a neurotoxic contaminant that exists widely in the environment. Although lead neurotoxicity has been found to be tightly linked to gut microbiota disturbance, the effect of host metabolic disorders caused by gut microbiota disturbance on lead neurotoxicity has not been investigated. In this work, the results of new object recognition tests and Morris water maze tests showed that chronic low-dose lead exposure caused learning and memory dysfunction in mice. The results of 16 S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents and fecal microbiota transplantation showed that the neurotoxicity of lead could be transmitted through gut microbiota. The results of untargeted metabolomics and bile acid targeted metabolism analysis showed that the serum bile acid metabolism profile of lead-exposed mice was significantly changed. In addition, supplementation with TUDCA or INT-777 significantly alleviated chronic lead exposure-induced learning and memory impairment, primarily through inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus to relieve neuroinflammation. In conclusion, our findings suggested that dysregulation of host bile acid metabolism may be one of the mechanisms of lead-induced neurotoxicity, and supplementation of specific bile acids may be a possible therapeutic strategy for lead-induced neurotoxicity.

Efficient molecular conformation generation with quantum-inspired algorithm.

CONTEXT: Conformation generation, also known as molecular unfolding (MU), is a crucial step in structure-based drug design, remaining a challenging combinatorial optimization problem. Quantum annealing (QA) has shown great potential for solving certain combinatorial optimization problems over traditional classical methods such as simulated annealing (SA). However, a recent study showed that a 2000-qubit QA hardware was still unable to outperform SA for the MU problem. Here, we propose the use of quantum-inspired algorithm to solve the MU problem, in order to go beyond traditional SA. We introduce a highly compact phase encoding method which can exponentially reduce the representation space, compared with the previous one-hot encoding method. For benchmarking, we tested this new approach on the public QM9 dataset generated by density functional theory (DFT). The root-mean-square deviation between the conformation determined by our approach and DFT is negligible (less than about 0.5Å), which underpins the validity of our approach. Furthermore, the median time-to-target metric can be reduced by a factor of five compared to SA. Additionally, we demonstrate a simulation experiment by MindQuantum using quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) to reach optimal results. These results indicate that quantum-inspired algorithms can be applied to solve practical problems even before quantum hardware becomes mature. METHODS: The objective function of MU is defined as the sum of all internal distances between atoms in the molecule, which is a high-order unconstrained binary optimization (HUBO) problem. The degree of freedom of variables is discretized and encoded with binary variables by the phase encoding method. We employ the quantum-inspired simulated bifurcation algorithm for optimization. The public QM9 dataset is generated by DFT. The simulation experiment of quantum computation is implemented by MindQuantum using QAOA.

Metabolic reprogramming in tumor immune microenvironment: Impact on immune cell function and therapeutic implications.

Understanding of the metabolic reprogramming has revolutionized our insights into tumor progression and potential treatment. This review concentrates on the aberrant metabolic pathways in cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells differ from normal cells in their metabolic processing of glucose, amino acids, and lipids in order to adapt to heightened biosynthetic and energy needs. These metabolic shifts, which crucially alter lactic acid, amino acid and lipid metabolism, affect not only tumor cell proliferation but also TME dynamics. This review also explores the reprogramming of various immune cells in the TME. From a therapeutic standpoint, targeting these metabolic alterations represents a novel cancer treatment strategy. This review also discusses approaches targeting the regulation of metabolism of different nutrients in tumor cells and influencing the tumor microenvironment to enhance the immune response. In summary, this review summarizes metabolic reprogramming in cancer and its potential as a target for innovative therapeutic strategies, offering fresh perspectives on cancer treatment.

[Analysis of the Jumping Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Ozone Pollution in Beijing].

Based on environmental monitoring data and meteorological observation data from 2016 to 2022 in Beijing, combined with backward trajectory clustering and potential source area contribution analysis, the characteristics, meteorological impacts, and potential source areas of ozone (O3) pollution were analyzed. The results showed that there was a total of 41 O3 pollution processes with jumping characteristics in Beijing from 2016 to 2022, with an average of 5.9 times a year. The occurrence time was concentrated in May to July, and the day of the jump (OJD2) was higher than the day before the jump (OJD1). The average value of ρ(O3-8h) was 78.3% higher, and the peak concentration was 78.9% higher. The high O3 concentration zone in the OJD2 region exhibited a characteristic of advancing from south to north. The main reasons for the occurrence of jumped O3 pollution in Beijing could be summarized as local accumulation caused by unfavorable meteorological conditions and regional transmission impact. The occurrence of jump-type ozone pollution was characterized by an increase in southerly wind frequency, temperature rise, pressure decrease, and precipitation decrease. The increase in southerly wind frequency provided conditions for the transport of O3 and its precursors, and rapid photochemical reactions occurred under local high temperatures, with less superimposed precipitation, comprehensively pushing up the ozone concentration level of OJD2. Six air mass transporting pathways were identified through clustering analysis; the air mass from the direction north of OJD2 decreased by 11.2%, whereas the air mass from the south and east directions increased by 6.7% and 4.4%, respectively, with the air masses mainly transmitting over short distances. The ozone concentration corresponding to the south and east directions was relatively high, making a significant contribution to Beijing's pollution. The analysis of potential source areas revealed that the main potential source areas of OJD2 ozone pollution were the central, southern, and eastern parts of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, which contributed 82.6% to the pollution trajectory. There was a significant contribution of regional transport during jump-type ozone pollution, and it is necessary to strengthen joint prevention and control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region.

Key components, formation pathways, affecting factors, and emerging analytical strategies for edible mushrooms aroma: A review.

Aroma is one of the decisive factors affecting the quality and consumer acceptance of edible mushrooms. This review summarized the key components and formation pathways of edible mushroom aroma. It also elaborated on the affecting factors and emerging analytical strategies of edible mushroom aroma. A total of 1308 volatile organic compounds identified in edible mushrooms, 61 were key components. The formation of these compounds is closely related to fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lentinic acid metabolism, and terpenoid metabolism. The aroma profiles of edible mushrooms were affected by genetic background, preharvest factors, and preservation methods. Molecular sensory science and omics techniques are emerging analytical strategies to reveal aroma information of edible mushrooms. This review would provide valuable data and insights for future research on edible mushroom aroma.

Stanniocalcin 1 promotes lung metastasis of breast cancer by enhancing EGFR-ERK-S100A4 signaling.

Lung metastasis is the leading cause of breast cancer-related death. The tumor microenvironment contributes to the metastatic colonization of tumor cells in the lungs. Tumor secretory factors are important mediators for the adaptation of cancer cells to foreign microenvironments. Here, we report that tumor-secreted stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) promotes the pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer by enhancing the invasiveness of tumor cells and promoting angiogenesis and lung fibroblast activation in the metastatic microenvironment. The results show that STC1 modifies the metastatic microenvironment through its autocrine action on breast cancer cells. Specifically, STC1 upregulates the expression of S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) by facilitating the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK signaling in breast cancer cells. S100A4 mediates the effect of STC1 on angiogenesis and lung fibroblasts. Importantly, S100A4 knockdown diminishes STC1-induced lung metastasis of breast cancer. Moreover, activated JNK signaling upregulates STC1 expression in breast cancer cells with lung-tropism. Overall, our findings reveal that STC1 plays important role in breast cancer lung metastasis.

NLRP3 activation in microglia contributes to learning and memory impairment induced by chronic lead exposure in mice.

Lead (Pb)-induced microglial activation and neuroinflammation has been considered as one of the main pathological events of Pb neurotoxicity. The NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway is a major contributor to the neuroinflammatory process in the central nervous system. However, the relationship between chronic Pb exposure and neurogenic NLRP3 inflammasome is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation during the chronic Pb exposure using in vitro and in vivo models. Our results showed that chronic Pb exposure induce learning and memory impairment in mice, mainly related to the activation of microglia and NLRP3 inflammasome. This phenomenon was reversed in mice by treating with the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 and using NLRP3-/- mice. In addition, Pb caused the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, the production of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS), and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload in BV2 cells. Amelioration of mtROS abolished Pb-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, after regulation of Ca2+ redistribution, mtROS and NLRP3 inflammasome activation was restored. In conclusion, NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia plays a vital role in Pb neurotoxicity, by a novel mechanism of enhancing mtROS production and Ca2+ redistribution.

Effects of different monochromatic lights on umami and aroma of dried Suillus granulatus.

Dried edible mushrooms have a unique flavor which is worth exploring to preserve and improve their flavor.Light can improve flavor for dried edible mushrooms, but there are few reports about monochromatic light. In this study, effects of red-light, yellow-light, green-light, blue-light and white-light on the umami taste and aroma of dried Suillus granulatus were investigated. The results showed that contents of umami amino acids and 5-nucleotides, equivalent umami concentration (EUC) and electronic tongue umami scores were higher under blue-light treatment. Principal component analysis (PCA) of volatiles showed that comprehensive scores under blue-light treatment were higher. The flavor was better under five light treatments at 6 and 9 days. Partial least squares-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) further revealed the detailed differences between various light treatments, which were mainly caused by umami amino acids, alcohols, ketones and pyrazines. Collectively,blue-light treatment can be used as a processing technology to improve the flavor quality of dried edible mushrooms.

The synergistic effect of full-spectrum light therapy and transient immunosuppressants prolonged allotransplant survival.

BACKGROUND: The lifelong administration of immunosuppressants remains its largest drawback in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Therefore, developing alternative strategies to minimize the long-term use of immunosuppressive agents is crucial. This study investigated whether full-spectrum bright light therapy (FBLT) combined with short-term immunosuppressant therapy could prolong VCA survival in a rodent hindlimb model. METHODS: Hindlimb allotransplantation was conducted from Brown-Norway to Lewis rats, and the rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 did not receive treatment as a rejection control. Group 2 received FBLT alone. Group 3 was treated with short-term anti-lymphocyte serum and cyclosporine-A. Group 4 was administered short-term ALS/CsA combined with FBLT for 8 weeks. Peripheral blood and transplanted tissues were collected for analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed median survival time of FBLT alone (group 2) did not increase allograft survival compared to the control (group 1). However, group 4 with FBLT combined with short-term ALS/CsA significantly prolonged median composite tissue allograft survival time (266 days) compared with groups 1 (11 days), 2 (10 days), and 3 (41 days) (p<0.01). Group 4 also showed a significant increase in Treg cells (p = 0.04) and TGF-ß1 levels (p = 0.02), and a trend toward a decrease in IL-1ß levels (p = 0.03) at 16 weeks after transplantation as compared to control Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: FBLT combined with short-term immunosuppressants prolonged allotransplant survival by modulating T-cell regulatory functions and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. This approach could be a potential strategy to increase VCA survival.

Application strategy and effect analysis of nutritional support nursing for critically ill patients in intensive care units.

We investigate nutritional support and nursing status of critical patients in intensive care units (ICUs) to understand the latest nutritional support guidelines' implementation by clinical medical staff; identify problems in nutritional support and nursing for these patients, analyze causes, and present suggestions; and provide a clinical/theoretical bases to improve nutritional support implementation and nursing strategies for them. Clinical case information of 304 critically ill ICU patients admitted from July 2017 to July 2021 was analyzed. They were divided into the experimental (nutritional support) and control (no nutritional support) groups to compare their laboratory indicators, 28-day case fatality rate, and infection incidence. Least significant difference was used for postanalysis of statistically significant items to obtain pairwise comparisons. Nutrition support strategies for ICU patients are consistent with guidelines but have an implementation gap. No statistically significant differences were found in hemoglobin (HB), total serum protein (TP), serum albumin (ALB), transferrin (TF), prealbumin (PA), and total lymphocyte count (TLC) in experimental group patients compared with the control group within 24 hours (before nutritional support, P > .05). No statistically significant differences were also found in HB, TP, TLC, and ALB between the enteral nutrition + parenteral nutrition (EN + PN), total EN (TEN), total PN (TPN), and control groups on admission day 7 (after nutritional support, P > .05), while statistically significant differences existed between PA and TF (P < .05). TF of patients supported by TEN was higher (statistically significant difference, P < .05). PA in patients receiving TEN and EN + PN support was higher than in control group patients (statistically significant difference, P < .05). Compared with the control group, in experimental group patients, infection incidence was significantly lower (40.2% vs 62.9%, P < .05); incidence of complications was lower, but not statistically significant (40.2% vs 57.1%, P > .05); and 28-day mortalities were significantly lower (26.7% vs 45.7%, P < .05). Nutritional support can reduce hospitalization complications and 28-day mortality in critical patients, but its implementation must be standardized. Especially for patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, personalized/standardized nutrition strategies and nursing procedures are needed when PN support is applied, and training of clinical medical staff should be strengthened to improve nutrition support's efficiency.