Visible-light-promoted regioselective hydrocarboxylation of allenes with formate salt and CO2.

Visible-light-promoted hydrocarboxylation of allenes with formate salt and CO2 was developed for the first time using commercially available [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]PF6 as a photocatalyst. This strategy provides an efficient and practical method to access ß,γ-unsaturated linear carboxylic acids in moderate yields with complete regioselectivity.

DNA-functionalized cryogel based colorimetric biosensor for sensitive on-site detection of aflatoxin B1 in food samples.

Hydrogel biosensors present numerous advantages in food safety analysis owing to their remarkable biocompatibility, cargo-loading capabilities and optical properties. However, the current drawbacks (slow target responsiveness and poor mechanical strength) restricted their further utilization at on-site detection of targets. To address these challenges, a DNA-functionalized cryogel with hierarchical pore structures is constructed to improve the reaction rate and the robustness of hydrogel biosensor. During cryogel preparation, ice crystals serve as templates, shaping interconnected hierarchical microporous structures to enhance mass transfer for faster responses. Meanwhile, in the non-freezing zone, concentrated monomers create a dense cross-linked network, strengthening cryogel matrix strength. Accordingly, a colorimetric biosensor based on DNA cryogel has been developed as a proof of concept for rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in food samples, and an excellent analytical performance was obtained under the optimized conditions with a low detection limit (1 nM), broad detection range (5-100 nM), satisfactory accuracy and precision (recoveries, 81.2-112.6 %; CV, 2.75-5.53 %). Furthermore, by integrating with a smartphone sensing platform, a portable device was created for rapid on-site measurement of target within 45 min, which provided some insight for hydrogel biosensors design.

Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract masquerading as gynecological malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a rare malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, with a low incidence and few clinical reports. The aim of this study is to report our institutional experience with this rare malignancy and emphasize the need for increasing the awareness about PLFGT presenting with gynecologic symptoms. METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed with PLFGT from March 2014 to November 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College were reviewed. Histological classification and staging were based on the World Health Organization and Ann Arbor systems, respectively. RESULTS: There were 13 patients with diagnosis of PLFGT and the median length of follow-up was 31 months (0-102 months). The main clinical symptoms included postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, pelvic mass and abdominal pain. Serum LDH increased in 10 patients and serum CA125 elevated in 2 patients. The tumor of ovarian or uterine presented as solid masses in CT or MRI, and ascites was rare. The histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell (n = 12) and follicular (n = 1) lymphoma. Tumors were located in ovary (n = 8), uterus (n = 3), and cervix (n = 2). According to the Ann Arbor staging system, 6 cases were classified as stage II and 7 cases were classified as stage IV, respectively. A total of 10 patients underwent surgery. Combination chemotherapy was used in 10 patients. Eight patients had tumor-free survival, 1 patient had recurrent disease, 3 patients died and 1 patient lost to follow-up. The median survival time was 32 months (1-102 months). CONCLUSION: PLFGT usually presents as gynecological symptoms and solid masses in pelvis. Surgery or biopsy was the way to obtain the pathologic diagnosis, and combination chemotherapy is the efficient method for PLFGT. Making an accurate preoperative diagnosis is of paramount importance to avoid radical gynecologic surgery.

Inhibition of survivin by 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate-modified steric-blocking antisense oligonucleotides.

Chemically modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) has been established as a successful therapeutic strategy for treating various human diseases. To date, ten ASO drugs, which are capable of either inducing mRNA degradation via RNase H recruitment (fomivirsen, mipomersen, inotersen, volanesorsen and tofersen) or splice modulation (eteplirsen, nusinersen, golodirsen, viltolarsen and casimersen), have been approved by the regulatory agencies for market entry. Nonetheless, none of these approved drugs are prescribed as cancer therapy. Towards this, we have developed steric-blocking ASOs targeting BIRC5 - a well-validated oncogene. Initial screening was performed by transfection of HepG2 cells with seven BIRC5 exon-2 targeting, uniformly 2'-OMe-PS modified ASOs at 400 nM respectively, leading to the identification of two best-performing candidates ASO-2 and ASO-7 in reducing the production of BIRC5 mRNA. Subsequent dose-response assay was conducted via transfection of HepG2 cells by different concentrations (400, 200, 100, 50, 25 nM) of ASO-2 and ASO-7 respectively, showing that both ASOs consistently and efficiently inhibited BIRC5 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis confirmed that ASO-7 could significantly repress survivin production on protein level. Based on our preliminary results, we believe that ASO-7 could be a useful BIRC5 inhibitor for both research purpose and therapeutic development.

Inhibition Effect of Non-Host Plant Volatile Extracts on Reproductive Behaviors in the Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus).

The pest management of Plutella xylostella, the global pest of cruciferous plants, is primarily dependent upon continued applications of insecticides, which has led to severe insecticide resistance and a series of ecological concerns. The essential oils (EOs) of non-host plants are considered to have a high application potential in pest behavioral control. In P. xylostella, the insecticidal properties, antifeeding activities, and oviposition inhibition effects of many EOs have been studied in larvae and female moths. However, less focus has been placed on the inhibitory effect on sex pheromone communication during courtship, which is vital for the reproduction of the offspring. In this study, by combining electrophysiological studies, laboratory behavioral assays, and field traps, we demonstrated that non-host plant EOs significantly inhibited the reproductive behaviors of both sexes. Notably, the calamus (Acorus gramineus) EO inhibited the preference of male moths for synthetic sex pheromone blends and reduced the egg-laying number of female moths on host plants, with the highest inhibition rates of 72% and 100%, respectively, suggesting a great application prospect of calamus and its EO on the behavioral control strategies of P. xylostella.

Upcycling Low-Quality Cotton Fibers into Mulch Gel Films in a Fast Closed Carbon Cycle.

Low-quality cotton fibers, often overlooked as low-value materials, constitute a marginalized waste stream in the cotton industry. This study endeavored to repurpose these fibers into mulch gel films, specifically exploring their efficacy in covering moisture-controlled soil beds. Through a meticulously designed series of processing methods, cellulose/glycerol film was successfully fabricated by regenerating cellulose hydrogels in N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride solutions, followed by plasticization in glycerol/water solutions and hot pressing. The film was then employed to cover soil beds for a duration of up to 252 days, followed by soil burial assessments. Despite expectations of degradation, the film maintained structural integrity throughout the soil covering period but underwent complete biodegradation after 80 days of soil burial, thereby completing a closed carbon cycle. Intriguingly, both tensile strength and modulus exhibited no diminishment but instead increased after soil covering, contrary to expectations given the usual role of degradation. Mechanistic insights revealed that the removal of glycerol contributed to the mechanical enhancement, while microbial activity predominately decomposed the amorphous regions in soil covering and targeted the crystalline portions in soil burial, elucidating the main biodegradation mechanisms. In summary, this study presents, for the first time, the potential of upcycling low-quality cotton fibers into high-value mulch gel films for agricultural practices within a closed carbon cycle.

Universal Synthesis of Single-Atom Catalysts by Direct Thermal Decomposition of Molten Salts for Boosting Acidic Water Splitting.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are considered prominent materials in the field of catalysis due to their high metal atom utilization and selectivity. However, the wide-ranging applications of SACs remain a significant challenge due to their complex preparation processes. Here, we report a universal strategy to prepare a series of noble metal single atoms on different non-noble metal oxides through a facile one-step thermal decomposition of molten salts. By using a mixture of non-noble metal nitrate and a small-amount noble metal chloride as the precursor, noble metal single atoms can be easily introduced into the non-noble metal oxide lattice owing to the cation-exchange in the in-situ formed molten salt, followed by the thermal decomposition of nitrate anions during the heating process. Analyses using aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirm the formation of the finely dispersed single atoms. Specially, the as-synthesized Ir single atoms (10.97 wt%) and Pt single atoms (4.60 wt%) on the Co3O4 support demonstrate outstanding electrocatalytic activities for oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, respectively. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Application of Specific N2H4 Fluorescent Probes with AIE Effect Based on Pyrazole Structure.

Two fluorescent probes, Y1-2 were synthesized from 2-acetonaphthone, 4-acetylbiphenyl, and phenyl hydrazine by Vilsmeier-Haack reaction and Knoevenagel condensation. Their recognition efficacies for N2H4 were tested by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The recognition mechanism were studies by density-functional theory calculations, and the effect of pH on N2H4 recognition was also studied. The results showed that the probe Y1-2 has high selectivity and a low detection limit for N2H4, and the recognition of N2H4 can be accomplished at physiological pH. The probes have had obvious aggregation-induced luminescence effect, large Stokes shift, high sensitivity, and can be successfully applied to live cell imaging.

Full-body pose reconstruction and correction in virtual reality for rehabilitation training.

Existing statistical data indicates that an increasing number of people now require rehabilitation to restore compromised physical mobility. During the rehabilitation process, physical therapists evaluate and guide the movements of patients, aiding them in a more effective recovery of rehabilitation and preventing secondary injuries. However, the immutability of mobility and the expensive price of rehabilitation training hinder some patients from timely access to rehabilitation. Utilizing virtual reality for rehabilitation training might offer a potential alleviation to these issues. However, prevalent pose reconstruction algorithms in rehabilitation primarily rely on images, limiting their applicability to virtual reality. Furthermore, existing pose evaluation and correction methods in the field of rehabilitation focus on providing clinical metrics for doctors, and failed to offer patients efficient movement guidance. In this paper, a virtual reality-based rehabilitation training method is proposed. The sparse motion signals from virtual reality devices, specifically head-mounted displays hand controllers, is used to reconstruct full body poses. Subsequently, the reconstructed poses and the standard poses are fed into a natural language processing model, which contrasts the difference between the two poses and provides effective pose correction guidance in the form of natural language. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate that the proposed method can accurately reconstruct full body poses from sparse motion signals in real-time. By referencing standard poses, the model generates professional motion correction guidance text. This approach facilitates virtual reality-based rehabilitation training, reducing the cost of rehabilitation training and enhancing the efficiency of self-rehabilitation training.

[Evaluation of chemical constituents of Draconis Sanguis and its protective effect on renal tubular injury in diabetic kidney disease].

The chemical constituents of Draconis Sanguis were preliminarily studied by macroporous resin, silica gel, dextran gel, and high-performance liquid chromatography. One retro-dihydrochalcone, four flavonoids, and one stilbene were isolated. Their chemical structures were identified as 4-hydroxy-2,6-dimethoxy-3-methyldihydrochalcone(1), 4'-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-8-methylflavan(2), 7-hydroxy-4',5-dimethoxyflavan(3),(2S)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-methylflavan(4),(2S)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavan(5), and pterostilbene(6) by modern spectroscopy, physicochemical properties, and literature comparison. Compound 1 was a new compound. Compounds 2 and 6 were first found in the Arecaceae family. Compound 5 had the potential to prevent and treat diabetic kidney disease.

Adaptive Individual Q-Learning-A Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Method for Coordination Optimization.

Multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) has been extensively applied to coordination optimization for its task distribution and scalability. The goal of the MARL algorithms for coordination optimization is to learn the optimal joint strategy that maximizes the expected cumulative reward of all agents. Some cooperative MARL algorithms exhibit exciting characteristics in empirical studies. However, the majority of the convergence results are confined to repeated games. Moreover, few MARL algorithms consider adaptation to the switched environments such as the alternation between peak hours and off-peak hours of urban traffic flow or an obstacle suddenly appearing on the planned route for the automated guided vehicle. To this end, we propose a cooperative MARL algorithm known as adaptive individual Q-learning (A-IQL). Each agent updates the Q -function of its own action with period T to adapt to the switched environments. Convergence analysis shows that the optimal joint strategy can be obtained in stochastic games with deterministic state transitions occurring in chronological order. The influence of period T on convergence is studied through a fictitious stochastic game. The efficacy of the A-IQL algorithm is validated through two switched environments-the distributed sensor network (DSN) task and the target transportation task.

Coaxial dual-path electrochemical biosensing and logic strategy-based detection of lung cancer-derived exosomal PD-L1.

Exosomal programmed death ligand-1 (ExoPD-L1) is a vital marker of immune activation in the early stages of tumor therapy and it can inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. However, due to the low expression of ExoPD-L1 in cancer cells, it is difficult to perform highly sensitive assays and accurately differentiate cancer sources. Therefore, we constructed a coaxial dual-path electrochemical biosensor for highly accurate identification and detection of ExoPD-L1 from lung cancer based on chemical-biological coaxial nanomaterials and nucleic acid molecular signal amplification strategies. The measurements showed that the detected ExoPD-L1 concentrations ranged from 6 × 102 particles per mL to 6 × 108 particles per mL, and the detection limit was 310 particles per mL. Compared to other sensors, the electrochemical biosensor designed in this study has a lower detection limit and a wider detection range. Furthermore, we also successfully identified lung cancer-derived ExoPD-L1 by analyzing multiple protein biomarkers expressed on exosomes through the "AND" logic strategy. This sensor platform is expected to realize highly sensitive detection and accurate analysis of multiple sources of ExoPD-L1 and provide ideas for the clinical detection of ExoPD-L1.

FedDUS: Lung tumor segmentation on CT images through federated semi-supervised with dynamic update strategy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung tumor annotation is a key upstream task for further diagnosis and prognosis. Although deep learning techniques have promoted automation of lung tumor segmentation, there remain challenges impeding its application in clinical practice, such as a lack of prior annotation for model training and data-sharing among centers. METHODS: In this paper, we use data from six centers to design a novel federated semi-supervised learning (FSSL) framework with dynamic model aggregation and improve segmentation performance for lung tumors. To be specific, we propose a dynamically updated algorithm to deal with model parameter aggregation in FSSL, which takes advantage of both the quality and quantity of client data. Moreover, to increase the accessibility of data in the federated learning (FL) network, we explore the FAIR data principle while the previous federated methods never involve. RESULT: The experimental results show that the segmentation performance of our model in six centers is 0.9348, 0.8436, 0.8328, 0.7776, 0.8870 and 0.8460 respectively, which is superior to traditional deep learning methods and recent federated semi-supervised learning methods. CONCLUSION: The experimental results demonstrate that our method is superior to the existing FSSL methods. In addition, our proposed dynamic update strategy effectively utilizes the quality and quantity information of client data and shows efficiency in lung tumor segmentation. The source code is released on (https://github.com/GDPHMediaLab/FedDUS).

The first bioactive (angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory) peptide isolated from pearl matrix protein.

In this research, we unveil the medical potential of pearls by identifying a novel bioactive peptide within them for the first time. The peptide, termed KKCHFWPFPW, emerges as a pioneering angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, originating from the pearl matrix of Pinctada fucata. Employing quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, this peptide was meticulously selected and pinpointed. With a molecular weight of 1417.5 Da and a theoretical isoelectric point of 9.31, its inhibitory potency was demonstrated through a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 4.17 µM, established via high-performance liquid chromatography. The inhibition of ACE by this peptide was found to be competitive, as revealed by Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis, where an increase in peptide concentration correlated with an enhanced rate of ACE inhibition. To delve into the interaction between KKCHFWPFPW and ACE, molecular docking simulations were conducted using the Maestro 2022-1 Glide software, shedding light on the inhibitory mechanism. This investigation suggests that peptides derived from the P. martensii pearl matrix hold promise as a novel source for antihypertensive agents.

Factors affecting long-term myopic regression after corneal refractive surgery for civilian pilots in southwest China.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze myopic regression after corneal refractive surgery (CRS) in civilian pilots and to explore the factors that may cause long-term myopic regression. METHODS: We included civilian pilots who had undergone CRS to correct their myopia and who had at least 5 years of follow-up. We collected retrospective data and completed eye examinations and a questionnaire to assess their eye habits. RESULTS: A total of 236 eyes were evaluated in this study. 211 eyes had Intrastromal ablations (167 eyes had laser in situ keratomileusis, LASIK, 44 eyes had small incision lenticule extraction, SMILE) and 25 eyes had subepithelial ablations (15 eyes had laser epithelial keratomileusis, LASEK and 10 eyes had photorefractive keratectomy, PRK). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was - 2.92 ± 1.11 D (range from - 1.00 to -5.00 D). A total of 56 eyes (23.6%) suffered from myopic regression after CRS. Comparisons of individual and eye characteristics between the regression and non-regression groups revealed statistically significant differences in age, cumulative flight time, postoperative SE (at 6 months and current), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), accommodative amplitude (AA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), postoperative period, types of CRS and eye habits. Generalized propensity score weighting (GPSW) was used to balance the distribution of covariates among different age levels, types of CRS, cumulative flying time, postoperative period and continuous near-work time. The results of GPS weighted logistic regression demonstrated that the associations between age and myopic regression, types of CRS and myopic regression, continuous near-work time and myopic regression were significant. Cumulative flying time and myopic regression, postoperative period and myopic regression were no significant. Specifically, the odds ratio (OR) for age was 1.151 (P = 0.022), and the OR for type of CRS was 2.769 (P < 0.001). The OR for continuous near-work time was 0.635 with a P value of 0.038. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to analyze myopic regression after CRS in civilian pilots. Our study found that for each year increase in age, the risk of civilian pilots experiencing myopic regression was increased. Intrastromal ablations had a lower risk of long-term myopia regression than subepithelial ablations. There is a higher risk of myopic progression with continuous near-work time > 45 min and poor accommodative function may be related factors in this specific population.

Biomass Solid-State Electrolyte with Abundant Ion and Water Channels for Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries.

Flexible zinc-air batteries are the leading candidates as the next-generation power source for flexible/wearable electronics. However, constructing the safe and high-performance solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with intrinsic hydroxide ion (OH-) conduction remains a fundamental challenge. Herein, by adopting the natural and robust cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as building blocks, the biomass SSEs with penetrating ion and water channels are constructed by knitting the OH--conductive CNFs and water-retentive CNFs together via an energy-efficient tape casting. Benefiting from the abundant ion and water channels with interconnected hydrated OH- wires for fast OH- conduction under nanoconfined environment, the biomass SSEs reveal the high water-uptake, impressive OH- conductivity of 175 mS·cm-1 and mechanical robustness simultaneously, which overcomes the commonly existed dilemma between ion conductivity and mechanical property. Remarkably, the flexible zinc-air batteries assembled with biomass SSEs deliver exceptional cycle lifespan of 310 hours and power density of 126 mW·cm-2. The design methodology for water and ion channels opens a new avenue to design high-performance SSEs for batteries. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Polychromatic photonic Floquet-Bloch oscillations.

Photonic Floquet-Bloch oscillations (FBOs), a new type of Bloch-like oscillations in photonic Floquet lattices, have recently been observed as a typical discrete self-imaging effect. Here, we theoretically investigate the spectral range of approximate photonic Floquet-Bloch oscillations in arrays of evanescently coupled optical waveguides and show the adjustability of the spectral range. At an appropriate amplitude of the Floquet modulation, we have demonstrated approximate photonic FBOs over a broad spectral range, termed "polychromatic photonic Floquet-Bloch oscillations," which manifest as approximate self-imaging of polychromatic beams. Furthermore, by designing the functional form of the Floquet modulation, we can cascade two polychromatic photonic FBOs and further enhance the performance of polychromatic self-imaging. Our results provide a simple and novel mechanism for achieving polychromatic self-imaging in waveguide arrays and may find applications in polychromatic beam shaping and broadband optical signal processing.

Increased miR-6132 promotes deep vein thrombosis formation by downregulating FOXP3 expression.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with aberrant gene expression that is a common peripheral vascular disease. Here, we aimed to elucidate that the epigenetic modification of forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) at the post-transcriptional level, which might be the key trigger leading to the down-regulation of FOXP3 expression in DVT. Methods: In order to explore the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and FOXP3, mRNA and microRNA microarray analysis were performed. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the upstream miRNAs of FOXP3. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry and Western blot were used to detect the relative expression of miR-6132 and FOXP3. Additionally, DVT models were established to investigate the role of miR-6132 by Murine Doppler Ultrasound and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Results: Microarray and flow cytometry results showed that the FOXP3 expression was decreased while miR-6132 level was increased substantially in DVT, and there was significant negative correlation between miR-6132 and FOXP3. Moreover, we discovered that overexpressed miR-6132 reduced FOXP3 expression and aggravated DVT formation, while miR-6132 knockdown increased FOXP3 expression and alleviated DVT formation. Dual luciferase reporter assay validated the direct binding of miR-6132 to FOXP3. Conclusion: Collectively, our data elucidate a new avenue through which up-regulated miR-6132 contributes to the formation and progression of DVT by inhibiting FOXP3 expression.

A long-term cohort study: the immune evasion and decreasing neutralization dominated the SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection.

Most of vaccinees and COVID-19 convalescents can build effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity, which helps preventing infection and alleviating symptoms. However, breakthrough viral infections caused by emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially Omicron subvariants, still pose a serious threat to global health. By monitoring the viral infections and the sera neutralization ability of a long-tracked cohort, we found out that the immune evasion of emerging Omicron subvariants and the decreasing neutralization led to the mini-wave of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections. Meanwhile, no significant difference had been found in the infectivity of tested SARS-CoV-2 variants, even though the affinity between human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and receptor-binding domain (RBDs) of tested variants showed an increasing trend. Notably, the immune imprinting of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine can be relieved by infections of BA.5.2 and XBB.1.5 variants sequentially. Our data reveal the rising reinfection risk of immune evasion variants like Omicron JN.1 in China, suggesting the importance of booster with updated vaccines.

Fine Optimization of Colloidal Photonic Crystal Structural Color for Physically Unclonable Multiplex Encryption and Anti-Counterfeiting.

Robust anti-counterfeiting techniques aim for easy identification while remaining difficult to forge, especially for high-value items such as currency and passports. However, many existing anti-counterfeiting techniques rely on deterministic processes, resulting in loopholes for duplication and counterfeiting. Therefore, achieving high-level encryption and easy authentication through conventional anti-counterfeiting techniques has remained a significant challenge. To address this, this work proposes a solution that combined fluorescence and structural colors, creating a physically unclonable multiplex encryption system (PUMES). In this study, the physicochemical properties of colloidal photonic inks are systematically adjusted to construct a comprehensive printing phase diagram, revealing the printable region. Furthermore, the brightness and color saturation of inkjet-printed colloidal photonic crystal structural colors are optimized by controlling the substrate's hydrophobicity, printed droplet volume, and the addition of noble metals. Finally, fluorescence is incorporated to build PUMES, including macroscopic fluorescence and structural color patterns, as well as microscopic physically unclonable fluorescence patterns. The PUMES with intrinsic randomness and high encoding capacity are authenticated by a deep learning algorithm, which proved to be reliable and efficient under various observation conditions. This approach can provide easy identification and formidable resistance against counterfeiting, making it highly promising for the next-generation anti-counterfeiting of currency and passports.