Human-unique brain cell clusters are associated with learning disorders and human episodic memory activity.

The advanced evolution of the human cerebral cortex forms the basis for our high-level cognitive functions. Through a comparative analysis of single-nucleus transcriptome data from the human neocortex and that of chimpanzees, macaques, and marmosets, we discovered 20 subgroups of cell types unique to the human brain, which include 11 types of excitatory neurons. Many of these human-unique cell clusters exhibit significant overexpression of genes regulated by human-specific enhancers. Notably, these specific cell clusters also express genes associated with disease risk, particularly those related to brain dysfunctions like learning disorders. Furthermore, genes linked to cortical thickness and human episodic memory encoding activities show heightened expression within these cell subgroups. These findings underscore the critical role of human brain-unique cell clusters in the evolution of human brain functions.

Filicinic acid based meroterpenoids from Hypericum elodeoides and their anti-Alzheimer's disease effects.

(±)-Elodeoidileons A-L (1-12), 12 pairs of previously undescribed filicinic acid based meroterpenoids were isolated from Hypericum elodeoides with unique linear or angular 6/6/6 ring core. Modern spectroscopic techniques, modified Mosher's method and quantum chemical calculations were used to identify the planner structures and configurations of 1-12. Additionally, the potential biosynthetic pathways for 1-12 were anticipated. Moreover, biological activity assessments suggested that 1a, 5a, and 11b could activate Retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα) transcription and enhance the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) protein's expression. Fluorescence titration assay suggested that 1a might have a direct interaction with the RXRα-LBD protein, with an estimated Kd value of 5.85 µM. Moreover, molecular docking study confirmed the binding of 1a to RXRα and further validated by cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). Thus, compound 1a may promote ß-amyloid (Aß) clearance by targeting RXRα and upregulating the expression of the ABCA1 protein, showing promise as anti-Alzheimer's agent.

Combination of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and ibuprofen to reduce pain in femoral head necrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The combinative effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and ibuprofen on pain in patients with femoral head necrosis were discussed and analyzed. METHOD: This retrospective study analyzed data of 60 patients with femoral head necrosis hospitalized during Oct. 2020 to Oct. 2021. According to different treatment methods, the patients were divided into an observation group and a control group (30 cases in each group). The control group took oral ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, and the observation group was treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in addition to ibuprofen. Both groups received a 4-week treatment course. The therapeutic efficacy, Harris scale scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, MRI hip imaging stage, SF-36 scale score, serum plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), leptin and osteopontin levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the overall response rate in the observation group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The post-treatment scores of Harris scale were higher in both groups than those pre-treatment (P<0.05), and were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were decreased in both groups (P<0.05), and the decrease was more significant in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, there were more patients with 0-I MRI hip imaging stage in the two groups than before treatment (P<0.05), and more in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The SF-36 scores in both groups were increased (P<0.05), and the increase was more significant in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of PAI-1, leptin and osteopontin were decreased in both groups (P<0.05), and the decreases were more significant in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combinative treatment of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and ibuprofen has a significant effect on patients with femoral head necrosis. The treatment can remarkably reduce patients' pain, improve their hip function and quality of life, and decrease the PAI-1, leptin and osteopontin levels.

Realization of chiral two-mode Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick models via acoustics.

Thechirality-controlled two-mode Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick (LMG) modelsare mimicked in a potential hybrid quantum system, involving two ensembles of solid-state spins coupled to a pair of interconnected surface-acoustic-wave cavities. With the assistance of dichromatic classical optical drives featuring chiral designs, it can simulate two-mode LMG-type long-range spin-spin interactions with left-right asymmetry. For applications, this unconventional LMG model can not only engineer both ensembles of collective spins into two-mode spin-squeezed states but also simulate novel quantum critical phenomena and time crystal behaviors, among others. Since this acoustic-based system can generate ion-trap-like interactions without requiring any additional trapping techniques, our work is considered a fresh attempt at realizing chiral quantum manipulation of spin-spin interactions using acoustic hybrid systems.

Lewis base promoted [4 + 2] annulation of o-acylamino-aryl MBH carbonates with isatin.

The first example of Lewis base promoted [4 + 2] annulation between o-acylamino-aryl MBH carbonates and isatin has been developed. This methodology exhibits excellent substrate applicability and has synthesized 1,4-dihydrospiro benzo[d][1,3]oxazine-oxindoles with yields up to 98%. The practical value of this method is underscored by its successful application in a 50-fold scale-up.

Preparation and Properties of Lightweight Amphiphobic Proppant for Hydraulic Fracturing.

The wettability of the proppant is crucial in optimizing the flowback of fracturing fluids and improving the recovery of the produced hydrocarbons. Neutral wet proppants have been proven to improve the fluid flow by reducing the interaction between the fluid and the proppant surface. In this study, a lightweight amphiphobic proppant (LWAP) was prepared by coating a lightweight ceramic proppant (LWCP) with phenolic resin, epoxy resin, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and trimethoxy(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)silane (TMHFS) using a layer-by-layer method. The results indicated that the LWAP exhibited a breakage ratio of 2% under 52 MPa (7.5 K) closure stress, with an apparent density of 2.12 g/cm3 and a bulk density of 1.21 g/cm3. The contact angles of water and olive oil were 125° and 104°, respectively, changing to 124° and 96° after displacement by water and diesel oil. A comparison showed that the LWAP could transport over a significantly longer distance than the LWCP, with the length increasing by more than 80%. Meanwhile, the LWAP displayed notable resistance to scale deposition on the proppant surface compared to the LWCP. Furthermore, the maintained conductivity of the LWAP was higher than that of the LWCP after displacement by water and oil phases alternately. The modified proppant could minimize production declines during hydrocarbon extraction in unconventional reservoirs.

Lymph node metastasis diagnosis of postoperative OSCC patients by analyzing extracellular vesicles in drainage fluid based on microfluidic isolation.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a typical marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) indicating poor prognosis. Pathological examination by artificial image acquisition and analysis, as the main diagnostic method for LNM, often takes a week or longer which may cause great anxiety of the patient and also retard timely treatment. However, there are few efficient fast LNM diagnosis methods in clinical applications currently. Our previous study profiled the proteomics of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from postoperative drainage fluid (PDF) and showed the potential of detecting specific EVs that expressed aspartate ß-hydroxylase (ASPH) for LNM diagnosis in OSCC patients. Considering that the analysis of ASPH+ PDF-EVs is challenging due to their low abundance (counting less than 10% of total EVs in PDF) and the complex EV isolation process of ultra-centrifugation, we developed a facile platform containing two microfluidic chips filled with antibody-modified microbeads to isolate ASPH+ PDF-EVs, with both the capture and retrieval rate reaching around 90%. Clinical sample analysis based on our method revealed that a mean of 6 × 106 /mL ASPH+ PDF-EVs could be isolated from LNM+ OSCC patients compared to 2.5 × 106 /mL in LNM- OSCC ones. When combined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique that was commonly used in clinical laboratories in hospitals, this microfluidic platform could precisely distinguish postoperative OSCC patients with LNM or not in several hours, which were validated by a double-blind test containing 6 OSCC patients. We believe this strategy has promise for early diagnosis of LNM in postoperative OSCC patients and finally helps guiding timely and reasonable treatment in clinic.

Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of autophagy-related proteins in nucleus pulposus of cervical spondylosis rabbits. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹é¢ˆæ¤Žç— å®¶å ”é«“æ ¸ç»†èƒžè‡ªå™¬ç›¸å ³è›‹ç™½è¡¨è¾¾çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the morphological changes of intervertebral disc tissues, apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells, and the protein expression of Unc-51 like autophagy-activated kinase 1 (ULK1), homologous series of yeast Atg6 (Beclin1), and light chain protease complication 3 type (LC3) in nucleus pulposus tissue of cervical spondylosis rabbits, so as to explore the role of cellular autophagy in EA treatment of cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A total of 24 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into blank, model and EA groups, with 8 rabbits in each group. In the EA group, both sides of the cervical (C)3-C6 "Jiaji" (EX-B2) were stimulated by EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1 mA) for 25 min, once daily for 5 days in a course, with a 2-day interval between courses, totaling 4 treatment courses. X-ray was used to assess cervical spine radiographic changes and evaluate radiographic scores；transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrastructural changes in nucleus pulposus cells；HE staining was used to observe morphological changes of intervertebral disc tissues and conduct pathological scoring；TUNEL staining was used to observe apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells；Western blot was performed to detect protein expression levels of ULK1, Beclin1, and LC3 in nucleus pulposus tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, rabbits in the model group showed significantly higher cervical spine radiographic scores (P<0.01), higher pathological scores of intervertebral disc tissues (P<0.05), increased apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells (P<0.01), and decreased expression levels of ULK1, Beclin1, and LC3Ⅱ proteins in nucleus pulposus tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the EA group showed significantly lower pathological scores of intervertebral discs (P<0.05), lower apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells (P<0.01), and higher protein expression levels of ULK1, Beclin1, and LC3Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus tissue (P<0.01). Rabbits in the blank control group exhibited generally normal organelle structures in nucleus pulposus tissues with few autophagic vacuoles, indicative of early stages of autophagy；while those in the model group showed disrupted organelle structures with cytoplasmic condensation and those in the EA group exhibited autophagosomes with double-membrane structures in nucleus pulposus tissues. CONCLUSIONS: EA promotes the expression of ULK1, Beclin1, and LC3Ⅱ proteins in nucleus pulposus tissues, reduces apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells, and improves intervertebral disc degeneration.

Construction of an Efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Based Transformation System in the Entomopathogenic fungus Metahizium rileyi.

Metarhizium rileyi is a filamentous entomopathogenic fungus that is highly pathogenic to lepidopteran insects. In our study, we constructed an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transgene system using the hygromycin resistance gene (Hyg R) as a selection marker in M. rileyi through homologous recombination. Binary knockout vectors for two genes (NOR_03501, longevity assurance gene, and NOR_03153, ATP-binding domain protein domain gene) in the M. rileyi strain SZCY201010 were successfully developed. We compared the genetic transformation efficiency using five kinds of asexual spores. The initial genetic transformation rates using a competent blastospore for NOR_03501 and NOR_03153 were 54.35 and 47.19%, respectively. Subsequently, both genes were successfully knocked out, and the transformed fungi were verified by PCR, RT-qPCR, and green fluorescent protein labeling. The biological phenotypes of the two genes were analyzed. The NOR_03501 gene plays a crucial role in carbon source utilization, stress resistance, and cuticle infection of fungal mycelium growth, while the NOR_03153 gene is significant for conidial production, stress resistance, and body wall infection. This study provides a promising tool for gene manipulation in M. rileyi, enhancing research in functional genomics and the exploration of fungal gene resources.

Reciprocal or nonreciprocal bimolecular interface and quantum entanglement.

We study a hybrid system of a plasmonic cavity coupled to a pair of different molecular vibration modes with the strong optomechanical-like interactions. Here, this plasmonic cavity is considered as a quantum data bus and then assist several applications. For instance, it can first establish a bimolecular interface to ensure the reciprocal or non-reciprocal information transmission, and then engineer both molecules into the steady-state quantum entanglement of the continuous variable through the dissipative method. In contrast to the traditional optomechanical system, this hybrid system can provide the stronger optomechanical-like interactions and more convenient controls to the molecular quantum units. This investigation is believed to be able to further expand the practical application range of quantum technology. .

Research on Acid Aging and Damage Pattern Recognition of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Oil and Gas Gathering Pipelines Based on Acoustic Emission.

Pipelines extend thousands of kilometers to transport and distribute oil and gas. Given the challenges often faced with corrosion, fatigue, and other issues in steel pipes, the demand for glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) pipes is increasing in oil and gas gathering and transmission systems. However, the medium that is transported through these pipelines contains multiple acid gases such as CO2 and H2S, as well as ions including Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, CO32-, and HCO3-. These substances can cause a series of problems, such as aging, debonding, delamination, and fracture. In this study, a series of aging damage experiments were conducted on V-shaped defect GFRP pipes with depths of 2 mm and 5 mm. The aging and failure of GFRP were studied under the combined effects of external force and acidic solution using acoustic emission (AE) techniques. It was found that the acidic aging solution promoted matrix damage, fiber/matrix desorption, and delamination damage in GFRP pipes over a short period. However, the overall aging effect was relatively weak. Based on the experimental data, the SSA-LSSVM algorithm was proposed and applied to the damage pattern recognition of GFRP. An average recognition rate of up to 90% was achieved, indicating that this method is highly suitable for analyzing AE signals related to GFRP damage.

Oleic Acid and Linoleic Acid Enhances the Biocontrol Potential of Metarhizium rileyi.

Metarhizium rileyi is a wide spread insect fungi with a good biocontrol potentiality to various pests, particularly noctuid insects. However, it is characterized by its slow growth, its sensitivity to abiotic stress, and the slow speed of kill to pests, which hinder its use compared with other entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, the responses of M. rileyi to eight types of lipids were observed; among the lipids, oleic acid and linoleic acid significantly promoted the growth and development of M. rileyi and enhanced its stress tolerances and virulence. An additional mechanistic study demonstrated that exogenous oleic acid and linoleic acid significantly improved the conidial germination, appressorium formation, cuticle degradation, and cuticle infection, which appear to be largely dependent on the up-regulation of gene expression in growth, development, protective, and cuticle-degrading enzymes. In conclusion, exogenous oleic acid and linoleic acid enhanced the stress tolerances and virulence of M. rileyi via protecting conidial germination and promoting cuticle infection. These results provide new insights for the biopesticide development of M. rileyi.

TSH is independently associated with remnant cholesterol in euthyroid adults: a cross-sectional study based on 29,708 individuals.

PURPOSE: The study aims to investigate the relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and remnant cholesterol (RC) in euthyroid adults. METHODS: The adults who were recruited for the study had undergone physical examination at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital. High RC levels were defined as the upper quartile of RC levels in males and females, respectively. The relationship between TSH and RC was assessed using the logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: A total of 29,708 adults (14,347 males and 15,361 females) were enrolled in this study. RC ≥ 0.77 mmol/L in males and RC ≥ 0.60 mmol/L in females were defined as high RC levels. With increasing serum TSH levels, the percentage of adults with high RC levels increased. The odds ratios (ORs (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for high RC levels increased as TSH quartiles (Q) rose after full adjustments [males: Q2 1.11 (1.00-1.24), P < 0.05; Q3 1.03 (0.92-1.15), P > 0.05; Q4 1.25 (1.12-1.40), P < 0.001; and females: Q2 1.07 (0.96-1.20), P > 0.05; Q3 1.17 (1.05-1.31), P < 0.01, Q4 1.33 (1.20-1.48), P < 0.001, all P for trend < 0.001], using Q1 as the reference. CONCLUSION: Higher TSH levels were independently associated with higher RC levels in euthyroid adults, this underscoring the significance of regulating TSH levels appropriately.

Planetary gearbox fault classification based on tooth root strain and GAF pseudo images.

Traditional signal processing methods based on acceleration signals can determine whether a fault has occurred in a planetary gearbox. However, acceleration signals are severely affected by interference, causing difficulties in fault identification. This study proposes a gear fault classification method based on root strain and pseudo images. Firstly, fiber optic sensors are employed to directly acquire strain data from the ring gear root. Next, the strain signals are preprocessed using resampling and a time-domain synchronous averaging algorithm. The processed signals are encoded into two-dimensional images using Gramian Angular Fields (GAF). Then, CN-EfficientNet with contrast learning is proposed to analyze and extract deeper fault features from the image texture features. In the classification experiments for different types of faults, the accuracy reached 96.84%. The results indicate that the method can effectively accomplish the task of fault classification in planetary gearboxes. Comparative experiments with other common classification models further indicate the superior performance of the proposed learning model. Visualization based on Grad-CAM provides interpretability for the fault recognition network's results and reveals the underlying mechanism for its excellent classification performance.

Current development and structure-activity relationship study of berberine derivatives.

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium isoquinoline alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese medicines Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron chinense. It has many pharmacological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Through structural modifications at various sites of berberine, the introduction of different groups can change berberine's physical and chemical properties, thereby improving the biological activity and clinical efficacy, and expanding the scope of application. This paper reviews the research progress and structure-activity relationships of berberine in recent years, aiming to provide valuable insights for the exploration of novel berberine derivatives.

Suicide among patients with oral cancer: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with oral cancer usually experience disfigurement and dysfunction which are shared risk factors of suicide. The aim of the study was to comprehensively assess the characteristics of suicide and risk factors for suicide in patients with oral cancer. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to acquire information of patients with common malignant tumors including oral cancer from 1975 to 2020. The aim was to explore the incidence of suicide, and timing of suicide among patients with oral cancer. A Fine-Gray competing risks regression model was employed to analyze risk factors associated with suicide among patients with various demographic and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Totally, 7685 patients with different malignant tumors committed suicide. Among them, 203 patients with oral cancer died due to suicide, presenting a suicide rate of 54.5/100,000 person-years, which was almost 3.5 times that of the US general population and 1.5 times that of the overall US patients with cancer in our study. Approximately 18 %, 40 %, and 55 % of suicides occurred in first year, first 3 years, and first 5 years after diagnosis. Being male, White race, and having a single primary tumor might be regarded as the risk factors for suicide. CONCLUSION: As oral cavity is closely associated with appearance, pronunciation and ingestion, patients with oral cancer have a significant high risk of suicide. Tremendous attention needs to be paid to patients with oral cancer particularly those exhibiting characteristics associated with a high risk of suicide.

Associations between sensitivity to thyroid hormones and insulin resistance in euthyroid adults with obesity.

Background: Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormones (TH) was associated with metabolic syndrome. The study aimed to explore the association between central TH sensitivity indices and insulin resistance (IR) in euthyroid adults with obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 293 euthyroid outpatients with obesity in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital. We used the thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), thyroid stimulating hormone index (TSHI), and thyrotrophic T4 resistance index (TT4RI) to indicate central TH sensitivity. IR was assessed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), hepatic insulin resistance index (hepatic-IR), the Matsuda index, and the adipose tissue insulin resistance index (Adipo-IR). Participants were categorized according to tertiles of TH sensitivity indices. We used multiple linear regressions to explore the associations. Results: There was a significant stepwise increase in HOMA-IR and Adipo-IR from the lowest to the highest tertiles of TH sensitivity indices (all P<0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, only Adipo-IR was significantly associated with TH sensitivity indices. On average, each unit increased in TFQI, TSHI, and TT4RI was associated with 1.19 (P=0.053), 1.16 (P=0.04), and 1.01 (P=0.03) units increased in Adipo-IR, respectively. There was no significant association between TH sensitivity indices and HOMA-IR, hepatic-IR, and the Matsuda index after adjustment for other risk factors. Conclusions: Reduced central TH sensitivity was associated with increased adipose tissue insulin resistance in euthyroid adults with obesity. The results further confirmed the importance of TH sensitivity on metabolic diseases.

MiR-322-5p is involved in regulating chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation in offspring's growth plate of maternal gestational diabetes.

Pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) has an impact on fetal bone formation, but the underlying mechanism is still obscure. Although miRNAs have been extensively investigated throughout bone formation, their effects on fetal bone development caused by PGDM still need clarification. This study intends to examine the mechanism by which hyperglycemia impairs the bone formation of offspring via miR-322-5p (miR-322). In this study, miR-322 was selected by systemically screening utilizing bioinformatics and subsequent validation experiments. Using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and ATDC5 cell lines, we found that miR-322 was abundantly expressed in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones of the growth plate, and its expression pattern was disturbed in the presence of hyperglycemia, suggesting that miR-322 is involved in the chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation in absence/presence of hyperglycemia. This observation was proved by manipulating miR-322 expression in ATDC5 cells by transfecting mimic and inhibitor of miR-322. Furthermore, Adamts5, Col12a1, and Cbx6 were identified as the potential target genes of miR-322, verified by the co-transfection of miR-322 inhibitor and the siRNAs, respectively. The evaluation criteria are the chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation and their relevant key gene expressions (proliferation: Sox9 and PthIh; differentiation: Runx2 and Col10a1) after manipulating the gene expressions in ATDC5 cells. This study revealed the regulative role miR-322 on chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation of growth plate by targeting Adamts5, Col12a1, and Cbx6 in hyperglycemia during pregnancy. This translational potential represents a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of bone-related complications in diabetic pregnancy and mitigating bone deficiencies in diabetic pregnant individuals, improving maternal and fetal outcomes.

Hierarchically porous and flexible chitin-fiber/melamine-sponge composite filter with high-loading of PdAu nanoparticles for effective hydrodechlorination of chlorophenols.

Hydrodechlorination has emerged as a promising technique for detoxifying chlorophenols (CPs) in wastewater, but it suffers from sluggish reaction kinetics and limited durability due to the lack of effective and stable catalysts. Herein, a composite filter consisting of melamine-sponge (MS), chitin fiber (CF) and ultrafine PdAu nanoparticles (PdAu/CF-MS) has been designed for continuous hydrodechlorination of CPs by using formic acid as a H-donor and sodium formate as a promoter. Benefitting from the dense active sites, rich porosity, and synergetic interaction of Pd/Au, the PdAu/CF-MS filter exhibits excellent hydrodechlorination performance (∼ 100 % conversion) towards 4-chlorophenol (1 mM, fluxes below 6100 mL·h-1·g-1) and outstanding durability (over 500 h at 61 mL·h-1·g-1), surpassing most reported counterparts (usually deactivated within 200 h or several cycles). Moreover, other CPs can also be effectively dechlorinated by the PdAu/CF-MS filter. The catalytic system proposed herein will provide a promising candidate for the detoxification of wastewater containing toxic CPs.