Comparison of near-infrared imaging with cone-beam computed tomography for proximal caries detection in permanent dentition: An in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of near-infrared imaging (NIRI) and unaided visual examination (UVE) in detecting proximal caries in permanent dentition in comparison with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: Patients who underwent NIRI, UVE, and CBCT imaging within 1 week were enrolled. Using CBCT as the reference test, the positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and overall percent agreement (OPA) of NIRI, UVE, and a combination of the two for detecting proximal caries at different depths and in different tooth locations were assessed. Additionally, the consistency of these diagnostic methods with CBCT was evaluated. RESULTS: We evaluated 6,084 proximal surfaces and identified 177 CBCT-positive sites. NIRI had a PPA, NPA, and OPA of 68.93 %, 99.09 %, and 98.21 %, respectively, with a substantial agreement with CBCT. When combined with UVE, the PPA increased by approximately 50 % compared with that of UVE alone. Regarding caries at different depths, NIRI outperformed UVE in detecting initial caries (ICDAS 1-2) over moderate-to-advanced caries (ICDAS 3-6). However, the combined use of NIRI and UVE improved the detection of moderate-to-advanced caries. In the anterior teeth region, NIRI exhibited excellent agreement with CBCT, surpassing its performance in the posterior region. CONCLUSIONS: Although NIRI cannot fully replace radiographic methods, the substantial agreement of NIRI with CBCT in detecting proximal caries highlights its potential as a complementary tool in routine caries screening, especially when combined with UVE. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the potential of NIRI as a radiation-free method for detecting proximal caries in permanent teeth. Early detection through regular NIRI scanning can lead to timely intervention, improved patient outcomes, and reduced overall disease burden.

The alterations of functional brain networks and its relationship with sport decision-making and training duration in soccer players across different skill levels.

Studies have indicated that skilled soccer players possess superior decision-making abilities compared to their less-skilled counterparts. However, the underlying neural mechanism for this phenomenon remains incompletely understood. In our investigation, we explored distinctions in the topology of functional brain networks between skilled and less-skilled soccer players. Employing mediating analysis, we scrutinized the relationships among functional brain network parameters, training duration, and decision-making accuracy. Our findings revealed that skilled soccer players demonstrated significantly higher decision-making accuracy compared to their less-skilled counterparts. Skilled players also exhibited increased values in the cluster coefficient, characteristic path length and local efficiency but lower global efficiency. Moreover, we observed enhanced functional brain connectivity within the occipital and cingulo-opercular networks, as well as between the fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular networks in skilled soccer players. Cluster coefficient and functional connectivity between fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular networks had positive mediating effects on the association between training duration and sport decision-making accuracy. In conclusion, our study provides initial evidence for distinctions in functional brain network parameters between soccer players with varying skill levels and their relationship with sport decision-making accuracy.

Novel biomimetic peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles improve dentin bonding via promoting dentin remineralization and inhibiting endogenous matrix metalloproteinases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to synthesize novel chitosan nanoparticles loaded with an amelogenin-derived peptide QP5 (TMC-QP5/NPs), investigate their remineralization capability and inhibitory effects on endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and evaluate the dentin bonding properties of remineralized dentin regulated by TMC-QP5/NPs. METHODS: TMC-QP5/NPs were prepared by ionic crosslinking method and characterized by dynamic light scattering method, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The encapsulation and loading efficiency of TMC-QP5/NPs and the release of QP5 were examined. To evaluate the remineralization capability of TMC-QP5/NPs, the mechanical properties, and the changes in structure and composition of differently conditioned dentin were characterized. The MMPs inhibitory effects of TMC-QP5/NPs were explored by MMP Activity Assay and in-situ zymography. The dentin bonding performance was detected by interfacial microleakage and microshear bond strength (µSBS). RESULTS: TMC-QP5/NPs were successfully synthesized, with uniform size, good stability and biosafety. The encapsulation and loading efficiency of TMC-QP5/NPs was respectively 69.63 ± 2.22% and 13.21 ± 0.73%, with a sustained release of QP5. TMC-QP5/NPs could induce mineral deposits on demineralized collagen fibers and partial occlusion of dentin tubules, and recover the surface microhardness of dentin, showing better remineralization effects than QP5. Besides, TMC-QP5/NPs significantly inhibited the endogenous MMPs activity. The remineralized dentin induced by TMC-QP5/NPs exhibited less interfacial microleakage and higher µSBS, greatly improved dentin bonding. SIGNIFICANCE: This novel peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles improved resin-dentin bonding by promoting dentin remineralization and inactivating MMPs, suggesting a promising strategy for optimizing dentin adhesive restorations.

Unveiling the mechanism of an amelogenin-derived peptide in promoting enamel biomimetic remineralization.

Amelogenin and its derived peptides have exhibited excellent efficacy in promoting enamel biomimetic remineralization. However, little is known about their specific action mechanisms. Herein, by combining experiments and computer simulation, the mechanism of an amelogenin-derived peptide QP5 in regulating enamel biomimetic remineralization is unveiled for the first time. In experiments, peptide QP5 was separated into (QPX)5 and C-tail domains, the interactions of peptide-minerals in nucleation solution and the regulation of peptide on enamel biomimetic remineralization were explored. QP5 exhibited an unordered conformation when mineral ions existed, and it could adsorb on minerals through its two domains, thereby inhibiting spontaneous nucleation. The remineralized enamel regulated by C-tail showed better mechanical properties and formed more biomimetic crystals than that of (QPX)5, indicating the C-tail domain of QP5 played an important role in forming enamel-like crystals. The simulation results showed that the conformation of QP5 changed greatly, mainly exhibiting ß-bend, ß-turn, and coil structures, and it eventually adsorbed on enamel through negatively charged residues of the C-tail domain, then captured Ca2+ from solution to promote enamel remineralization. This study improved the evaluation methods of the mechanism of biomimetic peptides, and laid a theoretical basis for the amelioration and clinical transformation of peptide QP5.

Engineering P-Fe2O3-CoP nanosheets for overall freshwater and seawater splitting.

Tailoring surface composition and coordinative environment of catalysts in a nano-meter region often influence their chemical performance. It is reported that CoP exhibits a low dissociation ability of H-OH, originating from the poor desorption of intermediate species. Herein, we provide a feasible method to construct P-Fe2O3-CoP nanosheets through a gas-phase phosphorization process. P doping induces the formation of interfacial structure between Fe2O3 and CoP and the generation of defective structures. The resulting P-Fe2O3-CoP nanosheets afford high freshwater/seawater oxidation activity (250/270 mV@10 mA/cm2) in 1 mol/L (M) KOH, which is even lower than commercial RuO2. Compared with CoP||CoP, P-Fe2O3||P-Fe2O3, and Co3O4||Co3O4, the assembled P-Fe2O3-CoP||P-Fe2O3-CoP exhibits the superior water/seawater electrolysis performance with 1.61/1.65 V@10 mA/cm2. The synergistic effect of P doping, defective structure, and heterojunction leads to high water oxidation efficiency and water splitting efficiency.

N-doped carbon sheets supported P-Fe3O4-MoO2 for freshwater and seawater electrolysis.

Electric-driven freshwater/seawater splitting is an attractive and sustainable route to realize the generation of H2 and O2. Molybdenum-based oxides exhibit poor activity toward freshwater/seawater electrolysis. Herein, we adjusted the electronic structure of MoO2 by constructing N-doped carbon sheets supported P-Fe3O4-MoO2 nanosheets (P-Fe3O4-MoO2/NC). P-Fe3O4-MoO2/N-doped carbon sheets were precisely prepared by pyrolysis of Schiff base Fe complex and MoO3 nanosheets through phosphorization. Benefiting from the unique structures of the samples, it required 119/145 mV to drive freshwater/seawater reduction reaction at 10 mA/cm2. P-Fe3O4-MoO2/NC catalysts exhibited superior freshwater/seawater oxidation reactivity with 180/189 mV at 10 mA/cm2 compared with commercial RuO2. The low cell voltages for P-Fe3O4-MoO2/NC were 1.47 and 1.59 V towards freshwater and seawater electrolysis, respectively. Our work might shed light on the structural modulation of Mo-based oxides for enhancing freshwater and seawater electrolysis activity.

Performance Evaluation and Action Mechanism Analysis of a Controllable Release Nanocapsule Profile Control and Displacement Agent.

With the acceleration in oilfield developments, reservoir advantage channels have been gradually developed. This has led to ineffective circulation in the oilfield injection system and a significant decrease in production. The profile control and displacement technology of low-permeability and heterogeneous reservoirs are in urgent need of updating. In this paper, an intelligent profile control and displacement agent is proposed. The controlled release mechanism and profile control and displacement mechanism is clarified by physical simulation experiments. The profile control agent is a nanocapsule with environmental response and controlled release. The structure of the capsule is a core-shell structure, which is composed of an amphiphilic copolymer AP-g-PNIPAAM and Janus functional particles. The surface chemical stability of the micro/nanocapsule is analyzed by a potentiometric method. The study shows that a temperature at 45 °C causes a potential change in the micro/nanocapsule, indicating that the micro/nanocapsule has a slow release at this temperature. When the temperature is in the range of 40 to 45 °C, the absorbance greatly increases; therefore, it is considered that the capsule wall LCST is about 45 °C. Heating causes the surface contraction of the capsule wall to intensify, the micropores in the capsule wall to increase, the release amount to increase and the release rate per unit time to increase. The release time increases proportionally with the increase in capsule wall thickness. When the release time is the same, an alkaline or acidic environment can improve the release rate of the nanocapsule. The effect of profile control and flooding is evaluated through different differential core models. The research shows that the controlled release micro/nanocapsule has a good environmental response and the internal components can be effectively controlled by adjusting the temperature or pH value. This research has shown that the nanocapsules have good application prospects in low-permeability heterogeneous reservoirs.

Mineralization promotion and protection effect of carboxymethyl chitosan biomodification in biomimetic mineralization.

Biomimetic mineralization emphasizes reversing the process of dental caries through bio-inspired strategies, in which mineralization promotion and collagen protection are equally important. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) was deemed as an analog of glycosaminoglycan for biomimetic modification of collagen, both of the mineralization facilitation and collagen protection effect were evaluated. Experiments were carried out simultaneously on two-dimensional monolayer reconstituted collagen model, three-dimensional reconstituted collagen model and demineralized dentin model. In three models, CMC was successfully cross-linked onto collagen utilizing biocompatible 1-Ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxy sulfosuccinimide sodium salt to achieve biomodification. Results showed that CMC biomodification increased collagen's hydrophilicity, calcium absorption capacity and thermal degradation resistance. In demineralized dentin model, the activity of endogenous matrix metalloproteinases was significantly inhibited by CMC biomodification. Furthermore, CMC biomodification significantly improved cross-linking and intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen, especially in the two-dimensional monolayer reconstituted collagen model. This study provided a biomimetic mineralization strategy with comprehensive consideration of collagen protection, and enriched the application of chitosan-based materials in dentistry.

Fabrication of Ru/WO3-W2N/N-doped carbon sheets for hydrogen evolution reaction.

Recent experimental analysis indicates WO3-based nanostructures exhibit poor hydrogen evolution reactivity, particularly in alkaline medium, arising from the low electron transfer rate. It is imperative to tune the composition and structure of WO3 to boost the cleavage of H-OH bond. Here, we construct Ru/WO3-W2N/N-doped carbon sheets (Ru/WO3-W2N/NC) using m-WO3 nanosheets as precursors with the aid of RuCl3, Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane, and dopamine. Structural investigation reveals the formation of N-doped carbon sheets, Ru nanoparticles, and WO3-W2N. As a result, hydrogen evolution reactivity is greatly improved on Ru/WO3-W2N/N-doped carbon sheets with 64 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in 1 mol/L (M) KOH, outperforming most of WO3-based electrocatalysts in previous literatures. Meanwhile, it facilitates the generation of H2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 with the excellent activity of 110 mV at 10 mA/cm2. Our work provides an efficient strategy to tailor the electronic structure of WO3 to catalyze acidic and alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.

Promoting effect of a calcium-responsive self-assembly ß-sheet peptide on collagen intrafibrillar mineralization.

Recently, a de novo synthetic calcium-responsive self-assembly ß-sheet peptide ID8 (Ile-Asp-Ile-Asp-Ile-Asp-Ile-Asp) has been developed to serve as the template inducing hydroxyapatite nucleation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ID8 on intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen making full use of its self-assembly ability. The mineralization experiments were carried out in vitro on both bare Type I collagen and fully demineralized dentin samples. The calcium-responsive self-assembly of ID8 was revealed by circular dichroism spectrum, 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt hydrate assay, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrum (ATR-FTIR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Polyacrylic acid (450 kDa) with a concentration of 100 µg ml-1 was selected as the nucleation inhibitor based on the determination of turbidimetry and TEM with selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED). The results showed that collagen intrafibrillar mineralization was significantly promoted with the pretreatment of self-assembly ID8 detected by TEM-SAED, SEM, X-ray diffraction and ATR-FTIR. The pretreatment of collagen utilizing self-assembly ID8 not only enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding but also contributed to calcium retention inside collagen and significantly increased the hydrophilicity of collagen. These results indicated that peptides with self-assembly properties like ID8 are expected to be potential tools for biomimetic mineralization of collagen.

An optimal selection method of wells for secondary fracturing in a single coal seam and its application.

At present, methods including mathematical modeling, physical or numerical simulation, and in-situ monitoring have been generally adopted to determine evaluation parameters for coalbed methane (CBM) wells for secondary fracturing. These conventional methods either entail many assumptions, or some parameters are difficult to obtain, resulting in a certain deviation between the evaluation results and reality, or the application cost is high, preventing the monitoring of each CBM well. In view of this, an evaluation index system for the gas production potential, effective length of cracks formed by fracturing, and supporting length of proppant in cracks was established based on the system theory. The evaluation indices were characterized through production data, such as logging, fracturing and drainage, which could avoid potential bias in evaluation when only considering a certain parameter and ensured accuracy and practicability of the evaluation parameters for each well. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the entropy weight method (EWM) were used to obtain weights of evaluation parameters, which avoided the contradiction of contributions of various parameters to optimal selection and the rationalized results. In this way, a method for step-wise optimal selection of wells for secondary fracturing integrating construction of evaluation parameters, determination of critical values, and entropy evaluation was proposed. The results of an evaluation of the Shizhuang South Block of Qinshui Basin (Shanxi Province, China) indicate that wells whose three evaluation indices are satisfied are most preferable; wells that only meet the effective length of cracks formed by fracturing or effective supporting length of proppant in cracks can be selected; wells which do not meet the gas production potential or all of the three parameters cannot be selected.

Stroke 120 or FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time): Which is Better in Stroke Awareness Promotion for Older Residents Living in Shanghai?

BACKGROUND: To make a parallel comparison regarding the effectiveness of Stroke 120 and FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) in stroke knowledge promotion among community-living older residents in Shanghai. METHODS: This is a prospective community-based study. Between 1 February 2021 and 31 July 2021, we conducted a community-based stroke education program among older residents living in two communities in Minhang district, Shanghai. Residents aged over 60 years were educated with FAST and Stroke 120 separately. We defined the community educated with FAST as FAST-Community, the other one educated with Stroke 120 as Stroke 120-Community. Pre- and post-education survey were collected. The ability to recall the meanings of FAST and Stroke 120 in pre- and post-education survey was compared. The awareness of stroke risk factors and symptoms was also compared. RESULTS: There were 466 responders in pre-education survey (231 from FAST-community, 235 from Stroke 120-community) and 456 responders in post-education survey (230 from FAST-community, 226 from Stroke 120-community). The mean age of responders in Stroke 120-community was 76 years (40% male) and in FAST-community was 71 years (52% male). Of the common stroke symptoms, we only found significant improvement in the awareness of Face drop (61.7% versus 34.6%, P<0.001) and Dizziness (45.7% versus 27.7%, P<0.001) in post-education survey for responders living in FAST-community. However, for responders living in Stroke 120-community, significant improvement was observed in all stroke symptoms (all P<0.05). As for the ability to recall the meanings of stroke awareness tools, the number of responders who can recall all the meanings of Stroke 120 increased from 0 in pre-education survey to 44 (21.5%) in post-education survey (P<0.001) for responders living in Stroke 120-community. However, among responders living in FAST-community, only 4 (5%) can recall all the meanings of FAST in post-education survey (5% versus 0%, P = 0.47). In the meantime, the proportion of responders who can recall part or all the meanings of them was also higher in Stroke 120-community in post-education survey. CONCLUSION: Among community-living older residents in Shanghai, Stroke 120 seems to be more suitable than FAST in stroke knowledge promotion.

Characterization of phonon thermal transport of Ti3C2TxMXene thin film.

Two-dimensional MXene materials with high electrotonic conductivity, good chemical stability, and unique laminar structure show great potential in the field of electrochemistry. In contrast to the widely concerned electrical properties, studies on the thermal properties of MXene materials are very limited. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the thermal properties of Ti3C2TxMXene thin film. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of Ti3C2Txfilms are characterized by the transient electro-thermal technique. The experimental results show a 16% enhancement in thermal conductivity when the temperature is increased from 307 K to 352 K. The phonon transport contributes substantially to thermal conductivity compared with electron transport. Molecular dynamic simulation is employed to further investigate the role of phonon thermal transport of Ti3C2layer. It is found that the combined effect of specific heat capacity, stacking structure and internal stress states is responsible for the thermal transport performance of Ti3C2TxMXene thin film.

Poor awareness of stroke educational tools among older adults in China.

BACKGROUND: Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) are two popular stroke educational tools that have been used in many stroke promotion campaigns. However, few researchers have investigated awareness of these tools among older adults in communities. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of community-living older adults. Two family physicians conducted face-to-face interviews with older adults living in Minhang district, Shanghai, between October 1, 2020 and November 31, 2020. The survey comprised three parts: basic information, prior medical history, and stroke awareness knowledge. We focused on the awareness of FAST and Stroke 1-2-0 and investigated factors associated with awareness of these stroke educational tools. RESULTS: The sample of this study was 466 older adults. Their mean age was 73.45 years. Male respondents accounted for 46.14% of the total sample. More than half of the older adults surveyed had an educational background of less than 6 years. Over 90% of the older adults surveyed had never heard about Stroke 1-2-0 or FAST. The awareness rate of Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST was 7.94%, with awareness of Stroke 1-2-0 being higher than that of FAST (6.01% vs. 0.43%, p < .05). None of the respondents who had heard about the two stroke educational tools could explain the utility of either tool fully. Having a background in higher education was associated with awareness of stroke educational tools independently, with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.7-27.4, p < .001. In addition, Wechat (OR 6.57, 95%CI 2.65-16.27, p < .001) and the community bulletin board (OR 2.95, 95%CI 1.37-6.33, p = .005) were found to be important sources for acquiring knowledge of stroke awareness tools. CONCLUSION: The limited awareness of Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST displayed among older adults in the community indicates that we must take action to improve education on stroke among the elderly.

Age-Related Disparities in Stroke Knowledge Among Community Older Adults.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the disparities in stroke knowledge between older adults and the oldest old. Methods: Family physicians conducted a cross-sectional survey through face-to-face interviews with the older and oldest old adults of two suburban communities in the Minhang district, Shanghai between October 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020. All participants were classified as oldest old (age ≥80 years) and older adults (age 60-79 years). Between-group differences in stroke knowledge were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 466 older adults including 101 (21.67%) oldest old persons were qualified. Older adults were more familiar with the risk factors and symptoms of stroke than the oldest old. By multivariable logistic regression analysis, older adults were more familiar with the following risk factors: smoking [odds ratio (OR) 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.61], alcohol abuse (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.87), dyslipidemia (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.85), and obesity (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.53) than the oldest old. Regarding stroke symptoms, older adults were more aware regarding vision alteration (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.25-0.69) and face-drop (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.95) than the oldest old. The oldest old were less aware of acute stroke therapy (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.48) and calling the emergency medical service (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.70) than older adults. Finally, the older adults used television (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28-1.0), WeChat (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.89), and the community bulletin board (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.80) as knowledge sources more than the oldest old. Conclusion: The older adults and the oldest old had significantly high disparities in stroke knowledge. Given the aging population across China, the life expectancy is expected to be longer in future decades. These differences should be addressed in stroke educational campaigns targeting the oldest old.

Distribution Characteristics of C-N-S Microorganism Genes in Different Hydraulic Zones of High-Rank Coal Reservoirs in Southern Qinshui Basin.

Microbial decomposition of carbon and biogenic methane in coal is one of the most important issues in CBM exploration. Using metagenomic technologies, the microbial C-N-S functional genes in different hydraulic zones of high-rank coal reservoirs were systematically studied, demonstrating the high sensitivity of this ecosystem to hydrodynamic conditions. The results show that the hydrodynamic strength of coal reservoir #3 in the Shizhuangnan block gradually weakened from east to west, forming a transitional feature from a runoff area to a stagnant area. Compared with runoff areas, stagnant areas have higher reservoir pressure, gas content, and ion concentrations. The relative abundance of genes associated with C, N, and S cycling increased from the runoff area to the stagnant area, including cellulose-degrading genes (e.g., cellulose 1,4-beta-cellobiosidase), methane metabolism genes (e.g., mcr, fwd, mtd, mer, and mtr), N-cycling genes (e.g., nifDKH, amoB, narGHI, napAB, nirK, norC, and nosZ), and S-cycling genes (e.g., dsrAB, sir, cysN, sat, aprAB, and PAPSS). This indicates that the stagnant zone had a more active microbial C-N-S cycle. The machine learning model shows that these significantly different genes could be used as effective indices to distinguish runoff and stagnant areas. Carbon and hydrogen isotopes indicate that methane in the study area was thermally generated. Methanogens compete with anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria to metabolize limited substrates, resulting in a low abundance of methanogens. In addition, the existence of methane-oxidizing bacteria suggests that biogenic methane was consumed by methanotrophic bacteria, which is the main reason why biogenic methane in the study area was not effectively preserved. In addition, weakened hydrodynamic conditions increased genes involved in nutrient cycling, including organic matter decomposition, methanogenesis, denitrification, and sulfate reduction, which contributed to the increase in CO2 and consumption of sulfate and nitrate from runoff areas to stagnant areas.

Panicle Apical Abortion 3 Controls Panicle Development and Seed Size in Rice.

BACKGROUND: In rice, panicle apical abortion is a common phenomenon that usually results in a decreased number of branches and grains per panicle, and consequently a reduced grain yield. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism of panicle abortion is thus critical for maintaining and increasing rice production. RESULTS: We reported a new rice mutant panicle apical abortion 3 (paa3), which exhibited severe abortion of spikelet development on the upper part of the branches as well as decreased grain size over the whole panicle. Using mapping-based clone, the PAA3 was characterized as the LOC_ Os04g56160 gene, encoding an H+-ATPase. The PAA3 was expressed highly in the stem and panicle, and its protein was localized in the plasma membrane. Our data further showed that PAA3 played an important role in maintaining normal panicle development by participating in the removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rice. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies suggested that PAA3 might function to remove ROS, the accumulation of which leads to programmed cell death, and ultimately panicle apical abortion and decreased seed size in the paa3 panicle.

Lactate Modulates Cellular Metabolism Through Histone Lactylation-Mediated Gene Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lactate has been observed to fuel TCA cycle and is associated with cancer progression in human lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, but the effect of lactate on lung cancer metabolism is rarely reported. In this study, disordered metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer was demonstrated by increased G6PD and SDHA protein levels via immunofluorescence, and up-regulated lactate dehydrogenase was found to be associated with poor prognosis. Then flow cytometry and Seahorse XFe analyzer were utilized to detect the effect of lactate on glycolysis and mitochondrial function in non-small cell lung cancer cells. The results show that in non-small cell lung cancer cells lactate attenuates glucose uptake and glycolysis while maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis as indicated by improved mitochondrial membrane potential. Further exploration found that mRNA levels of glycolytic enzymes (HK-1, PKM) and TCA cycle enzymes (SDHA, IDH3G) are respectively down-regulated and up-regulated by lactate, and increased histone lactylation was observed in promoters of HK-1 and IDH3G via chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Taken together, the above results indicate that lactate modulates cellular metabolism at least in part through histone lactylation-mediated gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Expert consensus on resection of chest wall tumors and chest wall reconstruction.

Chest wall tumors are a relatively uncommon disease in clinical practice. Most of the published studies about chest wall tumors are usually single-center retrospective studies, involving few patients. Therefore, evidences regarding clinical conclusions about chest wall tumors are lacking, and some controversial issues have still to be agreed upon. In January 2019, 73 experts in thoracic surgery, plastic surgery, science, and engineering jointly released the Chinese Expert Consensus on Chest Wall Tumor Resection and Chest Wall Reconstruction (2018 edition). After that, numerous experts put forward new perspectives on some academic issues in this version of the consensus, pointing out the necessity to further discuss the points of contention. Thus, we conducted a survey through the administration of a questionnaire among 85 experts in the world. Consensus has been reached on some major points as follows. (I) Wide excision should be performed for desmoid tumor (DT) of chest wall. After excluding the distant metastasis by multi-disciplinary team, solitary sternal plasmacytoma can be treated with extensive resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. (II) Wide excision with above 2 cm margin distance should be attempted to obtain R0 resection margin for chest wall tumor unless the tumor involves vital organs or structures, including the great vessels, heart, trachea, joints, and spine. (III) For patients with chest wall tumors undergoing unplanned excision (UE) for the first time, it is necessary to carry out wide excision as soon as possible within 1-3 months following the previous surgery. (IV) Current Tumor Node Metastasis staging criteria (American Joint Committee on Cancer) of bone tumor and soft tissue sarcoma are not suitable for chest wall sarcomas. (V) It is necessary to use rigid implants for chest wall reconstruction once the maximum diameter of the chest wall defect exceeds 5 cm in adults and adolescents. (VI) For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the chest wall, wide excision with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy are recommended for patients with stage T3-4N0-1M0. As clear guidelines are lacking, these consensus statements on controversial issues on chest wall tumors and resection could possibly serve as further guidance in clinical practice during the upcoming years.

Quantitative optimization of drainage strategy of coalbed methane well based on the dynamic behavior of coal reservoir permeability.

The development of coalbed methane (CBM) is not only affected by geological factors, but also by engineering factors, such as artificial fracturing and drainage strategies. In order to optimize drainage strategies for wells in unique geological conditions, the characteristics of different stages of CBM production are accurately described based on the dynamic behavior of the pressure drop funnel and coal reservoir permeability. Effective depressurization is achieved by extending the pressure propagation radius and gas desorption radius to the well-controlled boundary, in the single-phase water flow stage and the gas-water flow stage, respectively, with inter-well pressure interference accomplished in the single-phase gas flow stage. A mathematic model was developed to quantitatively optimize drainage strategies for each stage, with the maximum bottom hole flow pressure (BHFP) drop rate and the maximum daily gas production calculated to guide the optimization of CBM production. Finally, six wells from the Shizhuangnan Block in the southern Qinshui Basin of China were used as a case study to verify the practical applicability of the model. Calculation results clearly indicate the differences in production characteristics as a result of different drainage strategies. Overall, if the applied drainage strategies do not achieve optimal drainage results, the coal reservoir could be irreversibly damaged, which is not conducive to expansion of the pressure drop funnel. Therefore, this optimization model provides valuable guidance for rational CBM drainage strategy development and efficient CBM production.