Deep Diversity-Enhanced Feature Representation of Hyperspectral Images.

In this paper, we study the problem of efficiently and effectively embedding the high-dimensional spatio-spectral information of hyperspectral (HS) images, guided by feature diversity. Specifically, based on the theoretical formulation that feature diversity is correlated with the rank of the unfolded kernel matrix, we rectify 3D convolution by modifying its topology to enhance the rank upper-bound. This modification yields a rank-enhanced spatial-spectral symmetrical convolution set (ReS 3-ConvSet), which not only learns diverse and powerful feature representations but also saves network parameters. Additionally, we also propose a novel diversity-aware regularization (DA-Reg) term that directly acts on the feature maps to maximize independence among elements. To demonstrate the superiority of the proposed ReS 3-ConvSet and DA-Reg, we apply them to various HS image processing and analysis tasks, including denoising, spatial super-resolution, and classification. Extensive experiments show that the proposed approaches outperform state-of-the-art methods both quantitatively and qualitatively to a significant extent. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/jinnh/ReSSS-ConvSet.

Observation on Efficacy of Selective Malposition Ligation Combined with Hemorrhoid and Fistula I in Complex Mixed Hemorrhoid.

Objective: The efficacy of selective malposition ligation combined with hemorrhoid and fistula I prescription and the improvement of complications were assessed to improve surgical efficiency and safety. Methods: 423 patients undergoing complex mixed hemorrhoid surgery at different time points were included as research objects and enrolled into group A (malposition ligation), group B (selective malposition ligation), and group C (selective malposition ligation and hemorrhoid and fistula I), each with 141 cases. Results: The scores for visual analogue scale (VAS), edema, and hemorrhage of group C 8h, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after surgery were all inferior to those in groups A and B, while that of group B was inferior to that in group A (P < .05). The duration of wound healing of group C (15.33 ± 2.78 days) was shorter than that of groups A (21.78 ± 3.22 days) and B (18.34 ± 3.01 days), and this duration of group B was shorter than that of group A (P < .05). The total effective rate of group C (96.45%) was superior to that of groups B (96.45%) and A (82.27%). The total effective rate of group B was superior to that of group A. The falling-off rate of the rubber ring in groups C and B was inferior to that in group A. The incidence of total complications in group C (9.93%) was inferior to that in groups B (30.50%) and A (30.50%), while that of group B was inferior to that in group A (P < .05). Conclusion: After selective malposition ligation, the oral intake of hemorrhoid and fistula I could promote the recovery of wounds among patients with complex mixed hemorrhoids and reduce the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage and edema. Hence, it has significant clinical application values.

Hash Encoding and Brightness Correction in 3D Industrial and Environmental Reconstruction of Tidal Flat Neural Radiation.

We present an innovative approach to mitigating brightness variations in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based 3D reconstruction of tidal flat environments, emphasizing industrial applications. Our work focuses on enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of neural radiance fields (NeRF) for 3D scene synthesis. We introduce a novel luminance correction technique to address challenging illumination conditions, employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) for image enhancement in cases of overexposure and underexposure. Additionally, we propose a hash encoding method to optimize the spatial position encoding efficiency of NeRF. The efficacy of our method is validated using diverse datasets, including a custom tidal flat dataset and the Mip-NeRF 360 dataset, demonstrating superior performance across various lighting scenarios.

Exploring the heterogeneity of community and function and correspondence of "species-enzymes" among three types of Daqu with different fermentation peak-temperature via high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics.

The enzyme activity of Daqu is an important prerequisite for defining it as a Baijiu starter. However, little is known about the functional species related to enzymes in different types of Daqu at the metagenomic level. Therefore, we analyzed the differences in enzymatic properties, microbial composition and metabolic function of three types of Daqu, namely high-, medium- and low-temperature Daqus (HTD, MTD and LTD), by combining chemical feature and multi-dimensional sequencing. The results showed that both liquefaction, saccharification, fermentation and esterification powers were remarkably weaker in HTD compared to MTD and LTD. Totally, 30 bacterial and 5 fungal phyla were identified and significant differences in community structures were also observed among samples, with Brevibacterium/Microascus, Pseudomonas, and Lactobacillus/Saccharomycopsis identified as biomarkers for HTD, MTD and LTD, respectively. Additionally, the importance of deterministic assembly in bacterial communities was proportional to the fermentation peak-temperature, while stochastic assembly dominated in fungal ones. Metagenomics analysis indicated eukaryota (>80 %, mainly Ascomycota) predominated in HTD and MTD while bacteria (54.3 %, mainly Actinobacteriota) were more abundant in LTD. However, the functional profiles and pathways of MTD and LTD were more similar, and the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids were the crucial biological functions of all samples. Finally, the relationship between species and enzymes in different samples was constructed and the functional species in LTD and MTD were more diverse than HTD, which elucidated the functional species associated with enzyme activity in each type of Daqu. These results will greatly enrich our understanding of the core functional species in three typical Daqu, which provide available information for rational regulation of Daqu quality and the Baijiu fermentation.

Zinc Transporters Serve as Prognostic Predictors and their Expression Correlates with Immune Cell Infiltration in Specific Cancer: A Pan-cancer Analysis.

The disruption of zinc (Zn) homeostasis has been implicated in cancer development and progression through various signaling pathways. Maintaining intracellular zinc balance is crucial in the context of cancer. Human cells rely on two families of transmembrane transporters, SLC30A/ZNT and SLC39A/ZIP, to coordinate zinc homeostasis. While some ZNTs and ZIPs have been linked to cancer progression, limited information is available regarding the expression patterns of zinc homeostasis-related genes and their potential roles in predicting prognosis and developing therapeutic strategies for specific cancers. In this study, a systematic analysis was conducted to examine the expression of all genes from the SLC30A and SLC39A families at both mRNA and protein levels across different cancers. As a result, three SLC39A genes (SLC39A1, SLC39A4, and SLC39A8) were found to be significantly dysregulated in specific cancers, including cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP). Moreover, the dysregulation of these genes was tightly associated with the prognosis of patients with those cancers. Furthermore, we found that the gene SLC39A8 exhibited the lowest mutation frequency in KIRP, whereas mutations in SLC39A4 were found to significantly impact overall survival (OS), disease-free (DF), and progress-free survival (PFS) in cancer patients, particularly in those with PAAD. Additionally, immune infiltration analysis revealed that SLC39A1, SLC39A4, and SLC39A8 may function as immune regulators in cancers. This provides new insights into understanding the complex relationship between zinc homeostasis and cancer progression.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide promotes the immunoprotective effects of a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum vaccine expressing the Trichinella spiralis cathepsin F-like protease 1 gene.

Trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) is a zoonotic disease that poses a substantial risk to human health. At present, vaccines used to prevent trichinellosis are effective, but the production of antibody levels and immunogenicity are low. Adjuvants can increase antibody levels and vaccine immunogenicity. As a result, it is critical to develop an effective adjuvant for the T. spiralis vaccine. Recent research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides with low-toxicity and biodegradability can act as adjuvants in vaccines. In this study, BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) vaccine expressing the T. spiralis cathepsin F-like protease 1 gene (rTs-CPF1), which was given three times at 10-day intervals. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) was administered orally for 37 days. At 37 days after the first immunization, mice were infected with 350 T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML). Specific IgG and sIgA antibody levels against the T. spiralis CPF1 protein were increased in mice immunized with rTs-CPF1+LBP compared to those immunized with rTs-CPF1 alone. Furthermore, LBP increased IFN-γ and IL-4 expression levels, and the number of intestinal and intramuscular worms was significantly reduced in the rTs-CPF1+LBP group compared to that in the rTs-CPF1 group. In the rTs-CPF1+LBP group, the reduction rates of adult worms and muscle larvae were 47.31 % and 68.88 %, respectively. To summarize, LBP promotes the immunoprotective effects of the T. spiralis vaccine and may be considered as a novel adjuvant in parasitic vaccines.

Manganese Enhances the Osteogenic Effect of Silicon-Hydroxyapatite Nanowires by Targeting T Lymphocyte Polarization.

Biomaterials encounter considerable challenges in extensive bone defect regeneration. The amelioration of outcomes may be attainable through the orchestrated modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity. Silicon-hydroxyapatite, for instance, which solely focuses on regulating innate immunity, is inadequate for long-term bone regeneration. Herein, extra manganese (Mn)-doping is utilized for enhancing the osteogenic ability by mediating adaptive immunity. Intriguingly, Mn-doping engenders heightened recruitment of CD4+ T cells to the bone defect site, concurrently manifesting escalated T helper (Th) 2 polarization and an abatement in Th1 cell polarization. This consequential immune milieu yields a collaborative elevation of interleukin 4, secreted by Th2 cells, coupled with attenuated interferon gamma, secreted by Th1 cells. This orchestrated interplay distinctly fosters the osteogenesis of bone marrow stromal cells and effectuates consequential regeneration of the mandibular bone defect. The modulatory mechanism of Th1/Th2 balance lies primarily in the indispensable role of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and the phosphorylation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In conclusion, this study highlights the transformative potential of Mn-doping in amplifying the osteogenic efficacy of silicon-hydroxyapatite nanowires by regulating T cell-mediated adaptive immunity via the MnSOD/AMPK pathway, thereby creating an anti-inflammatory milieu favorable for bone regeneration.

Target identification, and optimization of dioxygenated amide derivatives as potent antibacterial agents with FabH inhibitory activity.

The enzyme FabH plays a critical role in the initial step of fatty acid biosynthesis, which is vital for the survival of bacteria. As a result, FabH has emerged as an appealing target for the development of novel antibacterial agents. In this study, employing the chemical proteomics method, we validated the previously identified skeleton amide derivatives bearing dioxygenated rings, potentially formed through metabolic processes. Building upon the proteomics findings, we then synthesized and evaluated 32 compounds containing N-heterocyclic amides for their antimicrobial activity for future optimizing the deoxygenated amides. Several compounds demonstrated potent antimicrobial properties with low toxicity, particularly compound 25, which exhibited remarkable potential as an agent with an MIC range of 1.25-3.13 µg/mL against the tested bacterial strains and an IC50 of 2.0 µM against E. coli-derived FabH. Furthermore, we evaluated nine analogues with relatively low MIC values through cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity assessments, Lipinski's rule-of-five criteria, and in silico ADMET predictions to ascertain their druggability potential. Notably, a detailed docking simulation was performed to investigate the binding interactions of compound 25 within the binding pocket of E. coli FabH, which encouragingly revealed strong binding interactions. Based on our findings, compound 25 emerges as the optimal candidate for in vivo therapy aimed at treating infected skin defects. Remarkably, the application of compound 25 demonstrated a significant reduction in the duration of wound infection and notably accelerated the healing process of infected wounds, achieving an impressive 94 % healing rate by day 10.

Diosbulbin C, a novel active ingredient in Dioscorea bulbifera L. extract, inhibits lung cancer cell proliferation by inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest.

BACKGROUND: Despite the critical progress of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapeutic approaches, the clinical outcomes remain considerably poor. The requirement of developing novel therapeutic interventions is still urgent. In this study, we showed for the first time that diosbulbin C, a natural diterpene lactone component extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Dioscorea bulbifera L., possesses high anticancer activity in NSCLC. METHODS: A549 and NCI-H1299 cells were used. The inhibitory effects of the diosbulbin C on NSCLC cell proliferation were evaluated using cytotoxicity, clone formation, EdU assay, and flow cytometry. Network pharmacology methods were used to explore the targets through which the diosbulbin C inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation. Molecular docking, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were used to validate the molecular targets and regulated molecules of diosbulbin C in NSCLC. RESULTS: Diosbulbin C treatment in NSCLC cells results in a remarkable reduction in cell proliferation and induces significant G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. AKT1, DHFR, and TYMS were identified as the potential targets of diosbulbin C. Diosbulbin C may inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation by downregulating the expression/activation of AKT, DHFR, and TYMS. In addition, diosbulbin C was predicted to exhibit high drug-likeness properties with good water solubility and intestinal absorption, highlighting its potential value in the discovery and development of anti-lung cancer drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Diosbulbin C induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits the proliferation of NSCLC cells, possibly by downregulating the expression/activation of AKT, DHFR, and TYMS.

Multisensory stimulation bundles on sleep and neurobehavioral development in the first year after birth in very preterm infants: a randomized crossover controlled study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Disrupted sleep is believed to contribute to short- and long-term neurodevelopmental problems in very preterm infants (VPIs). This study presents a protocol for an evaluator-blinded, randomized crossover trial. It aims to assess the sleep efficiency of hospitalized VPIs by providing multisensory stimulation bundles. Furthermore, it aims to observe the intervention impacts on sleep during hospitalization of the VPIs and their sleep and neurodevelopmental outcomes during the first year of post-discharge follow-up. METHODS: The study will be conducted in the neonatology department of a tertiary pediatric teaching hospital. All the eligible VPIs will undergo two types of care in random order: "standard care" (2 weeks) and "standard care plus multisensory stimulation bundles," each lasting 2 weeks. A generated list of random numbers will be used for case sequence allocation. Sleep outcomes will be evaluated using the Actiwatch-2 Actigraph. Moreover, the amplitude-integrated electroencephalography and the Griffiths Mental Development Scales will be used to measure the neurodevelopmental outcomes during hospitalization and in the first year of follow-up of the VPIs. DISCUSSION: The intervention protocol of this study differs from that of other traditional interventions by producing precise and consistent supportive stimulations, similar to maternal tactile, auditory, posture, and visual effects for hospitalized VPIs. This protocol could be an effective measure to facilitate sleep and early neurodevelopment of VPIs. The expected outcomes will help confirm the implementation and generalization of the multisensory stimulation bundles' care protocol in neonatology departments. We expect that the study will positively impact hospitalized VPIs, especially in their sleep and early neurodevelopmental outcomes. It will also provide a new perspective regarding parent and infant interaction strategies, particularly for newborn intensive care units that limit visits because of the global spread of COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR 2200059099. Registered on 25 April 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=166980 ; the Hospital Research Ethics Committee (approval number: SCMCIRB-K2021086-1, Version 01), approved on 21 January 2022.

Research on composite fault diagnosis technology of underwater vehicle actuator with positioning error constraint.

When diagnosing the composite fault of the actuator, the characteristics of the motion force of the underwater vehicle are not analyzed, and there are diagnostic errors, resulting in the low accuracy of the diagnosis technology. In order to solve this problem and improve the operation safety of underwater vehicle actuators, this paper proposes a compound fault diagnosis technology for underwater vehicle actuators under positioning error constraints. Analyze the motion force of the underwater robot actuator, control the motion of the underwater robot actuator according to the analysis results, and extract real-time data parameters according to the control results. Under the constraint of positioning error, the composite fault features of the underwater robot actuator are divided, and the diagnosis model is built according to the deep fusion of the features to complete the fault diagnosis. The experimental results show that the technology can diagnose the composite fault data of the actuator, and the positioning error of the horizontal axis and the horizontal axis can be significantly improved, which can improve the diagnosis effect of the composite fault of the actuator and to the improvement of underwater robot running safety of actuators provide certain reference.

A Robust and Integrated Visual Odometry Framework Exploiting the Optical Flow and Feature Point Method.

In this paper, we propose a robust and integrated visual odometry framework exploiting the optical flow and feature point method that achieves faster pose estimate and considerable accuracy and robustness during the odometry process. Our method utilizes optical flow tracking to accelerate the feature point matching process. In the odometry, two visual odometry methods are used: global feature point method and local feature point method. When there is good optical flow tracking and enough key points optical flow tracking matching is successful, the local feature point method utilizes prior information from the optical flow to estimate relative pose transformation information. In cases where there is poor optical flow tracking and only a small number of key points successfully match, the feature point method with a filtering mechanism is used for posing estimation. By coupling and correlating the two aforementioned methods, this visual odometry greatly accelerates the computation time for relative pose estimation. It reduces the computation time of relative pose estimation to 40% of that of the ORB_SLAM3 front-end odometry, while ensuring that it is not too different from the ORB_SLAM3 front-end odometry in terms of accuracy and robustness. The effectiveness of this method was validated and analyzed using the EUROC dataset within the ORB_SLAM3 open-source framework. The experimental results serve as supporting evidence for the efficacy of the proposed approach.

Supramolecular Transistors with Quantum Interference Effect.

The charge transport through supramolecular junctions exhibits unique quantum interference (QI) effects, which provide an opportunity for the design of supramolecular transistors. Benefiting from the configuration dependence of QI, configuration control of the supramolecular assemblies to demonstrate the QI features is a key but challenging step. In this work, we fabricated the supramolecular transistors and investigated the charge transport through the conducting channel of the individual π-stacked thiophene/phenylene co-oligomers (TPCOs) using the electrochemically gated scanning tunneling microscope break junction technique. We controlled the configuration of the supramolecular channel and switched the QI features between the anti-resonance and resonance states of the supramolecular channels. We observed the supramolecular transistor with its on/off ratio above 103 (∼1300), a high gating efficiency of ∼165 mV/dec, a low off-state leakage current of ∼30 pA, and the channel length scaled down to <2.0 nm. Density functional theory calculations suggested that the QI features in π-stacked TPCOs vary depending on the supramolecular architecture and can be manipulated efficiently by fine-tuning the supramolecular configurations. This work reveals the potential of the supramolecular channels for molecular electronics and provides a fundamental understanding of intermolecular charge transport.

Mineralization of Few-Layer Graphene Made It Bioavailable in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Numerous studies have emphasized the toxicity of graphene-based nanomaterials to algae, however, the fundamental behavior and processes of graphene in biological hosts, including its transportation, metabolization, and bioavailability, are still not well understood. As photosynthetic organisms, algae are key contributors to carbon fixation and may play an important role in the fate of graphene. This study investigated the biological fate of 14C-labeled few-layer graphene (14C-FLG) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii). The results showed that 14C-FLG was taken up by C. reinhardtii and then translocated into its chloroplast. Metabolomic analysis revealed that 14C-FLG altered the metabolic profiles (including sugar metabolism, fatty acid, and tricarboxylic acid cycle) of C. reinhardtii, which promoted the photosynthesis of C. reinhardtii and then enhanced their growth. More importantly, the internalized 14C-FLG was metabolized into 14CO2, which was then used to participate in the metabolic processes required for life. Approximately 61.63%, 25.31%, and 13.06% of the total radioactivity (from 14CO2) was detected in carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins of algae, respectively. Overall, these results reveal the role of algae in the fate of graphene and highlight the potential of available graphene in bringing biological effects to algae, which helps to better assess the environmental risks of graphene.

Expression of Ferroptosis-Related Proteins Glutathione Peroxidase 4, Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2, and Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ferroptosis-related targets glutathione peroxidase 4, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and solute carrier family 7 member 11 in gastric cancer and the correlation between their expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two gastric cancer samples and paracancerous samples were included, and all cases were detected with glutathione peroxidase 4, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and solute carrier family 7 member 11 by immunohistochemistry. Six gastric cancer cell lines and 1 normal gastric epithelial cell were stably cultured, and the expression of target genes of different cell lines was detected using western blot and polymerase chain reaction. Public data were downloaded from the database, and analyses were performed by software including Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Prism. RESULTS: A high glutathione peroxidase 4 expression level was found in 7 (16.67%) cancer tissues and 0 (0.00%) paracancerous tissues (P = .012). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 was upregulated in 23 (54.76%) cancer tissues and 2 (4.76%) paracancerous tissues (P < .001). Solute carrier family 7 member 11 showed increased expression in 4 (9.52%) cancer tissues and 1 (2.38%) paracancerous tissue (P = .356). No significant association existed between their expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Glutathione peroxidase 4 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expressions were higher in all 6 gastric cancer cell lines compared to normal gastric epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: Glutathione peroxidase 4 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expressions were significantly higher in gastric cancer, which may be potential biomarkers of gastric cancer.

Treatment of pregnant mice with ABZ had no effect on the immune response of their offspring infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinellosis is a food-borne parasitic disease with a worldwide distribution that not only endangers human health but also leads to economic loss. Infection of pregnant animals with Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) may lead to abortion and other adverse consequences, so it is necessary to treat the infection during pregnancy. Albendazole (ABZ) is an effective therapeutic drug for adult T. spiralis worms. The safety of this drug during pregnancy, especially whether it has any effect on offspring, should be fully evaluated. A change in the immune response to T. spiralis in the offspring of pregnant mice treated with ABZ may lead to a difference in susceptibility to T. spiralis compared to that of the offspring of normal mice. However, the safety of ABZ treatment in pregnant mice and the effects on the immune response and susceptibility of their offspring to T. spiralis are poorly understood. Therefore, we assessed whether maternal ABZ treatment during pregnancy affects the immune response or susceptibility to T. spiralis in infected offspring. In this study, mice were infected with T. spiralis at 10 days of pregnancy and treated with ABZ at 3 days post infection (dpi), and the specific immune response in the pregnant mice and the survival rate and worm burden of their 6-week-old offspring after T. spiralis infection were examined. The results showed that the antiparasitic immune response in pregnant mice was activated by T. spiralis infection. Treatment of pregnant mice with ABZ increased the percentage of CD4 + T cells. The percentages of Th2 and Treg cells in the PP, MLN and spleen of pregnant mice in the infection group were significantly increased compared with those of normal mice. ABZ treatment during pregnancy promoted the Th2 and Treg immune responses in pregnant mice infected with T. spiralis. The transcriptional levels of the Th2 and Treg cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and TGF-ß in the small intestine, MLN and spleen of pregnant mice in the treatment group were significantly higher than those of pregnant mice in the T. spiralis infection only group. The results indicated that ABZ treatment did not cause abortion in pregnant mice or affect the survival rate of their offspring. Furthermore, treatment of pregnant mice with ABZ had no significant effect on the above immune responses in their T. spiralis-infected offspring compared to those of T. spiralis-infected offspring of mice in the normal group. The results also indicated that treatment of pregnant mice infected with T. spiralis with ABZ shifted the immune response to a Th2- and Treg-skewed immune response and that this drug had no effects on the offspring survival rate, immune response or worm burden after T. spiralis infection. This study further indicated that ABZ administration to treat T. spiralis infection in pregnant mice is safe for the select immune response and susceptibility of their offspring.

Investigation of Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of CLEC4M of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Associated with Immune Microenvironment.

Purpose: C-type lectin domain family 4 member M (CLEC4M) has been found to be involved in the occurrence and development of cancer, but its role in NSCLC remains to be fully explored. Our work aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CLEC4M in NSCLC and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of CLEC4M in the immune microenvironment of NSCLC. Methods: Integrating publicly accessible data and clinical tissue samples to verify the expression of CLEC4M in NSCLC. The diagnostic value of CLEC4M was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, nomogram plot, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to evaluate the prognostic impact of CLEC4M on NSCLC patients. The correlation between CLEC4M and tumor immune infiltration was estimated using TIMER and UALCAN databases. Functional assessments including GO, KEGG pathway and GSEA analyses were implemented to illustrate the potential mechanisms of CLEC4M in NSCLC. Results: CLEC4M was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissue, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry of clinical tissues. The high AUC value of ROC curves demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of CLEC4M in NSCLC. Additionally, low CLEC4M expression was associated with poor survival in NSCLC patients. Furthermore, CLEC4M was found to be significantly associated with tumor immune infiltration, and CLEC4M may be involved in immune activation and proliferation inhibition through the functional assessment, suggesting that CLEC4M may be a therapeutic target for NSCLC patients. Conclusion: Our findings reveal CLEC4M is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues, and illustrate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CLEC4M in NSCLC, as well as its potential serve as an immune-related therapeutic target.

NLRP3 Plays a Key Role in Antihelminth Immunity in the Enteral and Parenteral Stages of Trichinella spiralis-Infected Mice.

Trichinellosis is an important foodborne zoonosis, and no effective treatments are yet available. Nod-like receptor (NLR) plays a critical role in the host response against nematodes. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3) during the adult, migrating, and encysted stages of Trichinella spiralis infection. The mice were treated with the specific NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 after inoculation with T. spiralis. Then, the role that NLRP3 plays during T. spiralis infection of mice was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, flow cytometry, histopathological evaluation, bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) stimulation, and immunofluorescence. The in vivo results showed that NLRP3 enhanced the Th1 immune response in the adult and migrating stages and weakened the Th2 immune response in the encysted stage. NLRP3 promoted the release of proinflammatory factors (interferon gamma [IFN-γ]) and suppressed the release of anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin 4 [IL-4]). Pathological changes were also improved in the absence of NLRP3 in mice during T. spiralis infection. Importantly, a significant reduction in adult worm burden and muscle larvae burden at 7 and 35 days postinfection was observed in mice treated with the specific NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. In vitro, we first demonstrated that NLRP3 in macrophages can be activated by T. spiralis proteins and promotes IL-1ß and IL-18 release. This study revealed that NLRP3 is involved in the host response to T. spiralis infection and that targeted inhibition of NLRP3 enhanced the Th2 response and accelerated T. spiralis expulsion. These findings may help in the development of protocols for controlling trichinellosis.

Interaction of Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Cell Membranes: Probing Phospholipid Extraction and Lipid Bilayer Destruction.

Understanding how nanomaterials interact with cell membranes has important implications for ecotoxicology and human health. Here, we investigated the interactions between graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) and red blood cells, a plausible contact target for nanoparticles when they enter the bloodstream. Through a hemolysis assay, the cytotoxicity of CN derived from different precursors was quantitatively assessed, which is highly related to the surface area of CN. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation detection confirmed that CN causes rapid cell membrane rupture by a physical interaction mechanism rather than ROS-related chemical oxidation. Dye leakage assay and theoretical simulation indicated that the less-layered CN is prone to folding inward to wrap and extract lipid molecules from cell membranes. The electron-rich inherent pores of CN play a dominant role in capturing the headgroups of phospholipids, whereas the hydrophobic interaction is critical for the anchoring of lipid tails. Our further experimental evidence demonstrated that the destructive extraction of phospholipids from cell membranes by CN occurs primarily in the outer leaflet, and phosphatidylcholine is the most easily extracted lipid. Moreover, the formation of protein corona on CN was found to decrease the nonspecific interactions but increase steric repulsion, thus mitigating CN cytotoxicity. Overall, our data provide a molecular basis for CN's cytotoxicity.

Transcriptomic analysis of succulent stem development of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey) and its synthetic allotetraploid via RNA sequencing.

Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey, CC) is a succulent stem vegetable in the Brassica family. Its allotetraploid (AACC) vegetable germplasm, which was synthesized via distant hybridization with the colloquially named 'yellow turnip' (B. rapa L. ssp. rapifera Matzg., AA), has a swelling stem similar to CC. To address the molecular mechanism of stem development for CC and AACC, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to investigate transcriptional regulation of their stem development at three key stages including 28 days, 42 days and the bolting stage (BS) after sowing. As a result, 32,642, 32,665, 33,816, 32,147, 32,293 and 32,275 genes were identified in six corresponding cDNA libraries. Among them, 25,459 genes were co-expressed, while 7,183, 7,206, 8,357, 6,688, 6,834 and 6,814 genes were specifically expressed. Additionally, a total of 29,222 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found for functional enrichment as well as many genes involved in plant hormones including gibberellin (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin (CTK) and auxin (AUX). Based on gene expression consistency between CC and AACC, the gene families including DELLA, GID, PYR/PYL, PP2C, A-ARR and AUX/IAA might be related to stem development. Among these, eight genes including Bo00834s040, Bo5g093140, Bo6g086770, Bo9g070200, Bo7g116570, Bo3g054410, Bo7g093470 and Bo5g136600 may play important roles in stem development based on their remarkable expression levels as confirmed by qRT-PCR. These findings provide a new theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of stem development in Brassica vegetable stem breeding.