HCA-DAN: hierarchical class-aware domain adaptive network for gastric tumor segmentation in 3D CT images.

BACKGROUND: Accurate segmentation of gastric tumors from CT scans provides useful image information for guiding the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. However, automated gastric tumor segmentation from 3D CT images faces several challenges. The large variation of anisotropic spatial resolution limits the ability of 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to learn features from different views. The background texture of gastric tumor is complex, and its size, shape and intensity distribution are highly variable, which makes it more difficult for deep learning methods to capture the boundary. In particular, while multi-center datasets increase sample size and representation ability, they suffer from inter-center heterogeneity. METHODS: In this study, we propose a new cross-center 3D tumor segmentation method named Hierarchical Class-Aware Domain Adaptive Network (HCA-DAN), which includes a new 3D neural network that efficiently bridges an Anisotropic neural network and a Transformer (AsTr) for extracting multi-scale context features from the CT images with anisotropic resolution, and a hierarchical class-aware domain alignment (HCADA) module for adaptively aligning multi-scale context features across two domains by integrating a class attention map with class-specific information. We evaluate the proposed method on an in-house CT image dataset collected from four medical centers and validate its segmentation performance in both in-center and cross-center test scenarios. RESULTS: Our baseline segmentation network (i.e., AsTr) achieves best results compared to other 3D segmentation models, with a mean dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 59.26%, 55.97%, 48.83% and 67.28% in four in-center test tasks, and with a DSC of 56.42%, 55.94%, 46.54% and 60.62% in four cross-center test tasks. In addition, the proposed cross-center segmentation network (i.e., HCA-DAN) obtains excellent results compared to other unsupervised domain adaptation methods, with a DSC of 58.36%, 56.72%, 49.25%, and 62.20% in four cross-center test tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms compared methods on this multi-center database and is promising for routine clinical workflows.

Peripherally targeted analgesia via AAV-mediated sensory neuron-specific inhibition of multiple pronociceptive sodium channels.

This study reports that targeting intrinsically disordered regions of NaV1.7 protein facilitates discovery of sodium channel inhibitory peptide aptamers (NaViPA) for adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated, sensory neuron-specific analgesia. A multipronged inhibition of INa1.7, INa1.6, INa1.3, and INa1.1. but not INa1.5 and INa1.8 was found for a prototype, named NaViPA1, which was derived from the NaV1.7 intracellular loop 1 and is conserved among the TTXs NaV subtypes. NaViPA1 expression in primary sensory neurons (PSNs) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) produced significant inhibition of TTXs INa but not TTXr INa. DRG injection of AAV6-encoded NaViPA1 significantly attenuated evoked and spontaneous pain behaviors in both male and female rats with neuropathic pain induced by tibial nerve injury (TNI). Whole-cell current clamp of the PSNs showed that NaViPA1 expression normalized PSN excitability in TNI rats, suggesting that NaViPA1 attenuated pain by reversal of injury-induced neuronal hypersensitivity. Immunohistochemistry revealed efficient NaViPA1 expression restricted in PSNs and their central and peripheral terminals, indicating PSN-restricted AAV biodistribution. Inhibition of sodium channels by NaViPA1 was replicated in the human iPSC-derived sensory neurons. These results summate that NaViPA1 is a promising analgesic lead that, combined with AAV-mediated PSN-specific block of multiple TTXs NaVs, has potential as peripheral nerve-restricted analgesic therapeutics.

Assembly of π-conjugated [B3O6] Units by Mer-isomer [YO3F3] octahedra to Design a UV Nonlinear Optical Material, Cs2YB3O6F2.

Achieving the extreme balance of the key performance requirements is the crucial to breakthrough the application bottleneck for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Herein, by assembly of the π-conjugated [B3O6] functional species with the aid of structure-directing property of mer-isomer [YO3F3] octahedra, a new ultraviolet (UV) NLO material, Cs2YB3O6F2 with aligned arrangement of coplanar [B3O6] groups has been synthesized. The polar material exhibits the rare coexistence of the largest second harmonic generation response of 5.6 × KDP, the largest birefringence of 0.091 at 532 nm, the shortest Type I phase-matching down to 200.5 nm and deep-ultraviolet transparency among reported acentric rare-earth borates with [B3O6] groups. Remarkably, benefiting from the enhanced bonding force among functional units [B3O6], a firm three-dimensional framework is constructed, which facilitates the growth of large crystals. This can be proved by a block shape crystal with dimensional of 6 × 5 × 4 mm3, indicating that it was a promising UV NLO crystal. This work provides a powerful strategy to design UV NLO materials with good performances.

Decreased brain iron deposition based on quantitative susceptibility mapping correlates with reduced neurodevelopmental status in children with autism spectrum disorder.

To investigate potential correlations between the susceptibility values of certain brain regions and the severity of disease or neurodevelopmental status in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 18 ASD children and 15 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The neurodevelopmental status was assessed by the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) and the severity of the disease was evaluated by the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Eleven brain regions were selected as regions of interest and the susceptibility values were measured by quantitative susceptibility mapping. To evaluate the diagnostic capacity of susceptibility values in distinguishing ASD and HC, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was computed. Pearson and Spearman partial correlation analysis were used to depict the correlations between the susceptibility values, the ABC scores, and the GDS scores in the ASD group. ROC curves showed that the susceptibility values of the left and right frontal white matter had a larger area under the curve in the ASD group. The susceptibility value of the right globus pallidus was positively correlated with the GDS-fine motor scale score. These findings indicated that the susceptibility value of the right globus pallidus might be a viable imaging biomarker for evaluating the neurodevelopmental status of ASD children.

LaMg6Ga6S16: a chemical stable divalent lanthanide chalcogenide.

Divalent lanthanide inorganic compounds can exhibit unique electronic configurations and physicochemical properties, yet their synthesis remains a great challenge because of the weak chemical stability. To the best of our knowledge, although several lanthanide monoxides epitaxial thin films have been reported, there is no chemically stable crystalline divalent lanthanide chalcogenide synthesized up to now. Herein, by using octahedra coupling tetrahedra single/double chains to construct an octahedral crystal field, we synthesized the stable crystalline La(II)-chalcogenide, LaMg6Ga6S16. The nature of the divalent La2+ cations can be identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge structure and electron paramagnetic resonance, while the stability is confirmed by the differential thermal scanning, in-situ variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction and a series of solid-state reactions. Owing to the particular electronic characteristics of La2+(5d1), LaMg6Ga6S16 displays an ultrabroad-band green emission at 500 nm, which is the inaugural instance of La(II)-based compounds demonstrating luminescent properties. Furthermore, as LaMg6Ga6S16 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group, P-6, it is the second-harmonic generation (SHG) active, possessing a comparable SHG response with classical AgGaS2. In consideration of its wider band gap (Eg = 3.0 eV) and higher laser-induced damage threshold (5×AgGaS2), LaMg6Ga6S16 is also a promising nonlinear optical material.

Macrophage membrane-camouflaged nanoclusters of ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles for precision glioma theranostics.

Developing effective nanomedicines to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for efficient glioma theranostics is still considered to be a challenging task. Here, we describe the development of macrophage membrane (MM)-coated nanoclusters (NCs) of ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (USIO NPs) with dual pH- and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsivenesses for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and chemotherapy/chemodynamic therapy (CDT) of orthotopic glioma. Surface citrate-stabilized USIO NPs were solvothermally synthesized, sequentially modified with ethylenediamine and phenylboronic acid, and cross-linked with gossypol to form gossypol-USIO NCs (G-USIO NCs), which were further coated with MMs. The prepared MM-coated G-USIO NCs (G-USIO@MM NCs) with a mean size of 99.9 nm display tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive gossypol and Fe release to promote intracellular ROS production and glutathione consumption. With the MM-mediated BBB crossing and glioma targeting, the G-USIO@MM NCs can specifically inhibit orthotopic glioma in vivo through the gossypol-mediated chemotherapy and Fe-mediated CDT. Meanwhile, USIO NPs can be dissociated from the NCs under the TME, thus allowing for effective T1-weighted glioma MR imaging. The developed G-USIO@MM NCs with simple components and drug as a crosslinker are promising for glioma theranostics, and may be extended to tackle other cancer types.

Ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles with MRgFUS for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of orthotopic glioblastoma.

Ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (USIO NPs) are expected to become the next generation T1 contrast agents; however, their diagnostic and therapeutic potential for primary brain tumors (such as glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) is yet to be explored. At present, the main challenge is the effective hindering of biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB). Herein, we aimed to investigate whether the USIO NPs, in combination with MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), could intensify MR imaging of GBM. In this study, we presented zwitterionic USIO NPs for enhanced MR imaging of both xenografted and orthotopic GBM mouse models. We first synthesized citric-stabilized USIO NPs with a size of 3.19 ± 0.76 nm, modified with ethylenediamine, and decorated with 1,3-propanesultone (1,3-PS) to form USIO NPs-1,3-PS. The obtained USIO NPs-1,3-PS exhibited good cytocompatibility and cellular uptake efficiency. MRgFUS, in combination with microbubbles, provided a non-invasive and safe technique for BBB opening, which, in turn, promoted the delivery of USIO NPs-1,3-PS in orthotopic GBM. This developed USIO NP nanoplatform may improve the precision imaging of solid tumors and therapeutic efficacy in the central nervous system.

Understanding China's CO2 emission drivers: Insights from random forest analysis and remote sensing data.

China has become the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, putting significant pressure on the government to reduce emissions. This study analyzes the driving factors of carbon emissions in 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019, based on carbon emission data matched with the locations of thermal power stations and nighttime light data. Firstly, we compare the accuracy of multivariate linear regression and random forest models, finding that the random forest regression yields superior results. Then, we rank the impact of various factors using the random forest method, revealing that population, economic development, and industrialization are the top three influencing factors. The interaction between population and economic development explains 68.5% of carbon emissions, with regional variations in the ranking of influencing factors. The main policy implications of this study are as follows: firstly, there is no need to overly concern about the impact of population growth on carbon emissions, and policies regarding fertility can be adjusted flexibly; secondly, controlling urbanization to a certain extent is conducive to achieving efficient low-carbon cities; thirdly, during the process of industrialization, carbon emissions inevitably increase, and it is advisable to accelerate industrialization to reach a turning point as soon as possible.

Pan-evolutionary and regulatory genome architecture delineated by an integrated macro- and microsynteny approach.

The forthcoming massive genome data generated by the Earth BioGenome Project will open up a new era of comparative genomics, for which genome synteny analysis provides an important framework. Profiling genome synteny represents an essential step in elucidating genome architecture, regulatory blocks/elements and their evolutionary history. Here we describe PanSyn, ( https://github.com/yhw320/PanSyn ), the most comprehensive and up-to-date genome synteny pipeline, providing step-by-step instructions and application examples to demonstrate its usage. PanSyn inherits both basic and advanced functions from existing popular tools, offering a user-friendly, highly customized approach for genome macrosynteny analysis and integrated pan-evolutionary and regulatory analysis of genome architecture, which are not yet available in public synteny software or tools. The advantages of PanSyn include: (i) advanced microsynteny analysis by functional profiling of microsynteny genes and associated regulatory elements; (ii) comprehensive macrosynteny analysis, including the inference of karyotype evolution from ancestors to extant species; and (iii) functional integration of microsynteny and macrosynteny for pan-evolutionary profiling of genome architecture and regulatory blocks, as well as integration with external functional genomics datasets from three- or four-dimensional genome and ENCODE projects. PanSyn requires basic knowledge of the Linux environment and Perl programming language and the ability to access a computer cluster, especially for large-scale genomic comparisons. Our protocol can be easily implemented by a competent graduate student or postdoc and takes several days to weeks to execute for dozens to hundreds of genomes. PanSyn provides yet the most comprehensive and powerful tool for integrated evolutionary and functional genomics.

Pb3[O10Pb20](SiO4)4X10 (X = Cl, Br): The First Pb-Containing Halogen Silicates with Mirror-Symmetric Pseudo-Aurivillius Bilayers.

Two new congruently melting Pb-containing halogen silicates, Pb3[O10Pb20](SiO4)4X10 (X = Cl, Br), have been synthesized using a high-temperature solution method. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and both compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmca. In both structures, the mirror-symmetric bilayer composed of Pb-O polyhedra is observed for the first time in Pb-containing silicates and belongs to α-PbO derivatives and is related to the Aurivillius phase. Thermal behavior analysis, UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy were also performed. The Pb3[O10Pb20](SiO4)4Cl10 matrix was doped with Eu3+ ions as a dopant, and its potential application in fluorescence was confirmed from the resulting orange-red emission.

Mechanistic insight into the impact of polystyrene microparticle on submerged plant during asexual propagules germination to seedling: Internalization in functional organs and alterations of physiological phenotypes.

Asexual reproduction is one of the most important propagations in aquatic plants. However, there is a lack of information about the growth-limiting mechanisms induced by microplastics on the submerged plant during asexual propagule germination to seedling. Hence, we investigated the effects of two sizes (2 µm, 0.2 µm) and three concentrations (0.5 mg/L, 5 mg/L, and 50 mg/L) of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) on Potamogeton crispus turion germination and seedling growth. Both PSMPs sizes were found in P. crispus seedling tissues. Metabolic profile alterations were observed in leaves, particularly affecting secondary metabolic pathways and ATP-binding cassette transporters. Metal elements are indispensable cofactors for photosynthesis; however, alterations in the metabolic profile led to varying degrees of reduced concentrations in magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc within P. crispus. Therefore, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II significantly decreased in all concentrations with 0.2 µm-PSMPs, and at 50 mg/L with 2 µm-PSMPs. These findings reveal that internalization of microplastics, nutrient absorption inhibition, and metabolic changes contribute to the negative impact on P. crispus seedlings.

Can "Risk-Sharing" Mechanisms Help Clonal Aquatic Plants Mitigate the Stress of Nanoplastics?

Most aquatic plants applied to ecological restoration have demonstrated a clonal growth pattern. The risk-spreading strategy plays a crucial role in facilitating clonal plant growth under external environmental stresses via clonal integration. However, the effects of different concentrations of nanoplastics (NPs) on the growth traits of clonal aquatic plants are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of NPs exposure on seedlings of parent plants and connected offspring ramets. A dose response experiment (0.1, 1, and 10 mg L-1) showed that the growth of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was affected by 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics after 28 days of exposure. Tracer analysis revealed that NPs are accumulated by parent plants and transferred to offspring ramets through stolon. Quantification analysis showed that when the parent plant was exposed to 10 mg L-1 NPs alone for 28 days, the offspring ramets contained approximately 13 ± 2 µg/g NPs. In the case of connected offspring ramets, leaf and root biomass decreased by 24%-51% and 32%-51%, respectively, when exposed to NP concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg L-1. Excessive enrichment of NPs had a detrimental effect on the photosynthetic system, decreasing the chlorophyll content and nonphotochemical quenching. An imbalance in the antioxidant defense systems, which were unable to cope with the oxidative stress caused by NP concentrations, further damaged various organs. The root system can take up NPs and then transfer them to the offspring through the stolon. Interference effects of NPs were observed in terms of root activity, metabolism, biofilm composition, and the plant's ability to purify water. However, the risk-spreading strategy employed by parent plants (interconnected offspring ramets) offered some relief from NP-induced stress, as it increased their relative growth rate by 1 to 1.38 times compared to individual plants. These findings provide substantial evidence of the high NP enrichment capacity of E. crassipes for ecological remediation. Nevertheless, we must also remain aware of the environmental risk associated with the spread of NPs within the clonal system of E. crassipes, and contaminated cloned individuals need to be precisely removed in a timely manner to maintain normal functions.

Transcription Factor Pdr3p Promotes Carotenoid Biosynthesis by Activating GAL Promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) family proteins have been extensively studied for their roles in transporting hydrophobic substances, including carotenoids. Overexpression of the PDR family regulator Pdr3p was recently found to boost the biosynthesis of carotenoids, which could not be explained by enhanced product secretion due to the meager extracellular proportions. To provide insights into the possible mechanism, comparative transcriptomics, reverse metabolic engineering, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were conducted. Transcriptomic data suggested an unexpected correlation between Pdr3p overexpression and the transcriptional levels of GAL promoter-driven genes. This assumption was verified using mCherry and the lycopene synthetic pathway as the reporters. qRT-PCR and EMSA provided further evidence for the activation of GAL promoters by Pdr3p binding to their upstream activation sequences (UASs). This work gives insight into the mechanism of Pdr3p-promoted carotenoid production and highlights the complicated metabolic networking between transcriptional factors and promoters in yeast.

Insensitivity of oncogenic EGFR R776L mutation to EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) account for 85 % of total lung cancers. Mutation in EGFRdrives the progress of NSCLSs with high mortality rate. Besides the common mutations in EGFR, which together comprise of 85 % of all EGFR mutations and respond to the targeted therapy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), many other low-frequency mutations of EGFR are existed in patients. The oncogenic roles and sensitivity of these mutations to EGFR TKIs are not fully understood yet. Here we described two cases of lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring EGFR R776L missense mutation, showed PD and SD after treatment with third-generation EGFR inhibitor, Almonertinib. Chemotherapy afterward showed PR effect in one patient with PSF of 10 months. We also explored the oncogenic feature of single R776L mutation by Ba/F3 isogenic cells and found that, EGFR R776L mutation activates EGFR-related survival signaling pathway in Ba/F3 cells, and they are insensitive to gefitinib, afatinib, and Almonertinib, which consistent with our clinical observation.

Cs3In(In4Se7)(P2Se6): A Multi-Chromophore Chalcogenide with Excellent Nonlinear Optical Property Designed by Group Grafting.

Non-centrosymmetric (NCS) and polar materials capable of exhibiting many important functional properties are indispensable for electro-optical technologies, yet their rational structural design remains a significant challenge. Here, we report a "group grafting" strategy for designing the first multi-chromophore selenophosphate, Cs3In(In4Se7)(P2Se6), that crystallizes in a NCS and polar space group of Cm. The structure features a unique basic building unit (BBU) [In(In4Se10)(P2Se6)], formed through "grafting [In4Se10] supertetrahedra on the root of [In(P2Se6)2] groups". Theoretical calculations confirm that this [In(In4Se10)(P2Se6)] BBU can achieve a "1+1>2" combination of properties from two chromophores, [In4Se10] supertetrahedron and ethane-like [P2Se6] dimer. That makes Cs3In(In4Se7)(P2Se6) exhibit excellent linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, including a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) response (~6×AgGaS2), a large band gap (2.45 eV), broad infrared (IR) transmission (up to 19.5 µm), a significant birefringence (0.26 @1064 nm) as well as the congruently-melting property at ~700 °C. Therefore, Cs3In(In4Se7)(P2Se6) will be a promising NLO crystal, especially in the IR region, and this research also demonstrates that "group grafting" will be an effective strategy for constructing novel polar BBUs with multi-chromophore to design NCS structures and high-performance IR NLO materials.

Immune-related lncRNAs signature and radiomics signature predict the prognosis and immune microenvironment of glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. This study aimed to construct immune-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) signature and radiomics signature to probe the prognosis and immune infiltration of GBM patients. METHODS: We downloaded GBM RNA-seq data and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project database, and MRI data were obtained from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). Then, we conducted a cox regression analysis to establish the immune-related lncRNAs signature and radiomics signature. Afterward, we employed a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to explore the biological processes and pathways. Besides, we used CIBERSORT to estimate the abundance of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between the immune-related lncRNAs signature, radiomics signature and immune checkpoint genes. Finally, we constructed a multifactors prognostic model and compared it with the clinical prognostic model. RESULTS: We identified four immune-related lncRNAs and two radiomics features, which show the ability to stratify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups with significantly different survival rates. The risk score curves and Kaplan-Meier curves confirmed that the immune-related lncRNAs signature and radiomics signature were a novel independent prognostic factor in GBM patients. The GSEA suggested that the immune-related lncRNAs signature were involved in L1 cell adhesion molecular (L1CAM) interactions and the radiomics signature were involved signaling by Robo receptors. Besides, the two signatures was associated with the infiltration of immune cells. Furthermore, they were linked with the expression of critical immune genes and could predict immunotherapy's clinical response. Finally, the area under the curve (AUC) (0.890,0.887) and C-index (0.737,0.817) of the multifactors prognostic model were greater than those of the clinical prognostic model in both the training and validation sets, indicated significantly improved discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the immune-related lncRNAs signature and tradiomics signature that can predict the outcomes, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapy response in patients with GBM.

Ileum intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma in adult：A case report.

Intussusception in adults is a rare surgical emergency. Unlike in children, most adult intussusceptions arise from a pathological lead point. Ileal intussusception caused by a submucosal liposarcoma is a particularly rare phenomenon. This report describes the diagnosis and management of adult ileal intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma in adult to provide a reference for future clinical work. A 64-year-old female presented to the emergency department with worsening abdominal pain associated with an 8 h history of intermittent vomiting. Based on physical examination, laboratory investigations, and computed tomography, the most likely diagnosis was ileal intussusception secondary to liposarcoma. Thus, emergency laparotomy was performed. During exploration, an ileal invagination was visualised approximately 30 cm from the ileocecal valve, and a flexible polypoid mass was palpable at the lead point of the intussusception. Subsequently, the patient underwent radical resection of pathological tissues with a primary end-to-end ileal anastomosis. Histopathological examination revealed a well-differentiated submucosal liposarcoma. Postoperatively, the patient recovered uneventfully and was doing well at the 6-month follow-up in the outpatient clinic. Thus, clinicians should consider the origin of submucosal liposarcomas in adult with intussusception. Once ileal intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma is diagnosed, timely radical resection is recommended.

From NaGa(IO3)3F to NaGa(IO3)2F2 and NaGa(IO3)4: The Effects of Chemical Substitution between F- Anions and IO3- Groups on the Structures and Properties of Gallium Iodates.

Introducing F- anions or substituting F- anions with IO3- groups has been proven to be ideal strategies for designing novel noncentrosymmetric (NCS) and polar materials, yet systematic investigation into the effect of F- anions or the substitution of IO3- for F- anions on structures and properties remains rarely explored. Herein, two new gallium iodates, NaGa(IO3)2F2 (1) and NaGa(IO3)4 (2), were successfully designed and synthesized based on NaGa(IO3)3F by introducing more F- anions and replacing F- anions with IO3 groups, respectively. Structurally, in compound 1, the adjacent [GaF3(IO3)3]3- polyanions are connected in an antiparallel manner, resulting in a complete cancellation of local polarity. While in compound 2, all IO3 groups in 2D [Ga(IO3)4]∞- layers are aligned, leading to large macroscopic polarization. Additionally, chemical substitution also results in a qualitative improvement in the functional properties of compound 2. It possesses strong SHG response (12 × KDP @1064 nm) and broad optical transparency, coupled with large birefringence (0.21 @1064 nm), showcasing its promise as a promising nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal. The effects of chemical substitution between F- anions and IO3- groups on the structures and properties are discussed in detail.

Impact of knockout of dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 on structural and mechanical properties of rat middle cerebral arteries: implications for vascular aging.

Vascular aging influences hemodynamics, elevating risks for vascular diseases and dementia. We recently demonstrated that knockout (KO) of Dusp5 enhances cerebral and renal hemodynamics and cognitive function. This improvement correlates with elevated pPKC and pERK1/2 levels in the brain and kidneys. Additionally, we observed that Dusp5 KO modulates the passive mechanical properties of cerebral and renal arterioles, associated with increased myogenic tone at low pressure, enhanced distensibility, greater compliance, and reduced stiffness. The present study evaluates the structural and mechanical properties of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in Dusp5 KO rats. We found that vascular smooth muscle cell layers and the collagen content in the MCA wall are comparable between Dusp5 KO and control rats. The internal elastic lamina in the MCA of Dusp5 KO rats exhibits increased thickness, higher autofluorescence intensity, smaller fenestrae areas, and fewer fenestrations. Despite an enhanced myogenic response and tone of the MCA in Dusp5 KO rats, other passive mechanical properties, such as wall thickness, cross-sectional area, wall-to-lumen ratio, distensibility, incremental elasticity, circumferential wall stress, and elastic modulus, do not significantly differ between strains. These findings suggest that while Dusp5 KO has a limited impact on altering the structural and mechanical properties of MCA, its primary role in ameliorating hemodynamics and cognitive functions is likely attributable to its enzymatic activity on cerebral arterioles. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific enzymatic mechanisms and explore potential clinical applications in the context of vascular aging.