An ultrasensitive dual-mode stagey for 17ß-estradiol assay: Photoelectrochemical and colorimetric biosensor based on a WSe2/TiO2-modified electrode coupled with nucleic acid amplification.

BACKGROUND: The abuse of 17ß-estradiol(E2) has aroused wide concern in environmental and biomedical fields, which severely affects the endocrine function of human and animals. Therefore, an ultrasensitive and accurate assay of E2 is critically important. Traditional chromatography or immunoassay techniques exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity, but expensive instruments and antibodies may pose cost and stability issues, as well as difficulties in meeting on-site detection requirements. Ultrasensitive, reliable, and on-site detection of E2 at trace level remains a challenge. Hence, developing a simple, ultrasensitive assay to simultaneously achieve accurate detection and rapid visual analysis of E2 is extremely crucial. RESULTS: We developed a versatile dual-mode photoelectrochemical (PEC) and colorimetric biosensor based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy for the ultrasensitive and accurate detection of E2. The method modified titanium dioxide (TiO2) with tungsten selenide (WSe2) nanoflowers to synthesize WSe2/TiO2 heterostructures as a substrate for signal amplification and nanoprobe modification. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy has been proven to be a powerful tool for strong signal amplification. The presence of a target triggered the nucleic acid amplification reaction, and produced a large amount of tDNA that competed with G-quadruplex immobilized on the electrode surface. The remaining G-quadruplex/hemin catalyzed the 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) to form biocatalytic precipitation (BCP) and ABTS-H2O2 chromogenic reaction, thus, the dual-mode platform was capable of achieving PEC-colorimetric ultrasensitive detection based on the catalytic activity of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme. Within optimal conditions, the dual-mode biosensor exhibited a remarkable detection limit as low as 0.026 pM. SIGNIFICANCE: Benefiting from the superior performance of WSe2/TiO2 and the power signal amplification of isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy, this aptasensor achieved the ultrasensitive detection of E2. The independent transmission paths of photoelectrochemical and colorimetric provide mutual support and flexible switching, significantly enhancing the overall sensitivity and accuracy of the detection strategy, which can meet the needs for E2 precise quantification and rapid on-site detection.

Asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes with aryl iodides and amino acids enabled by chiral aldehyde/palladium combined catalysis.

Even though catalytic asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes has been extensively studied, almost all of the reported examples have been achieved in a two-component manner. In this study, we report a highly efficient asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes with iodohydrocarbons and NH2-unprotected amino acid esters. The adopted chiral aldehyde/palladium combined catalytic system precisely governs the chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of this three-component reaction. A wide range of substituted aryl iodides, allenes and amino acid esters can well participate in this reaction and deliver structurally diverse α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid esters with excellent experimental outcomes. One of the resulting products is utilized for the total synthesis of the molecule (S,R)-VPC01091.

Risk assessment of infection of COVID-19 contacts based on scenario simulation.

We constructed a rapid infection risk assessment model for contacts of COVID-19. The improved Wells-Riley model was used to estimate the probability of infection for contacts of COVID-19 in the same place and evaluate their risk grades. We used COVID-19 outbreaks that were documented to validate the accuracy of the model. We analyzed the relationship between controllable factors and infection probability and constructed common scenarios to analyze the infection risk of contacts in different scenarios. The model showed the robustness of the fitting (mean relative error = 5.89%, mean absolute error = 2.03%, root mean squared error = 2.03%, R2 = 0.991). We found that improving ventilation from poorly ventilated to naturally ventilated and wearing masks can reduce the probability of infection by about two times. Contacts in places of light activity, loud talking or singing, and heavy exercise, oral breathing (e.g., gyms, KTV, choirs) were at higher risk of infection. The model constructed in this study can quickly and accurately assess the infection risk grades of COVID-19 contacts. Simply opening doors and windows for ventilation can significantly reduce the risk of infection in certain places. The places of light activity, loud talking or singing, and heavy exercise, oral breathing, should pay more attention to prevent and control transmission of the epidemic.

Biomechanical analysis of an absorbable material for treating fractures of the inferior orbital wall.

AIM: To investigate the biomechanical properties and practical application of absorbable materials in orbital fracture repair. METHODS: The three-dimensional (3D) model of orbital blowout fractures was reconstructed using Mimics21.0 software. The repair guide plate model for inferior orbital wall fracture was designed using 3-matic13.0 and Geomagic wrap 21.0 software. The finite element model of orbital blowout fracture and absorbable repair plate was established using 3-matic13.0 and ANSYS Workbench 21.0 software. The mechanical response of absorbable plates, with thicknesses of 0.6 and 1.2 mm, was modeled after their placement in the orbit. Two patients with inferior orbital wall fractures volunteered to receive single-layer and double-layer absorbable plates combined with 3D printing technology to facilitate surgical treatment of orbital wall fractures. RESULTS: The finite element models of orbital blowout fracture and absorbable plate were successfully established. Finite element analysis (FEA) showed that when the Young's modulus of the absorbable plate decreases to 3.15 MPa, the repair material with a thickness of 0.6 mm was influenced by the gravitational forces of the orbital contents, resulting in a maximum total deformation of approximately 3.3 mm. Conversely, when the absorbable plate was 1.2 mm thick, the overall maximum total deformation was around 0.4 mm. The half-year follow-up results of the clinical cases confirmed that the absorbable plate with a thickness of 1.2 mm had smaller maximum total deformation and better clinical efficacy. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical analysis observations in this study are largely consistent with the clinical situation. The use of double-layer absorbable plates in conjunction with 3D printing technology is recommended to support surgical treatment of infraorbital wall blowout fractures.

Management and classification of the fracture of lateral process of talus: An overview and literature update.

Fracture of the lateral process of the talus (FLPT) is uncommon in clinical practice and can be easily missed or misdiagnosed. In recent years, as researchers from all over the world have further deepened their research on FLPT, there has been a breakthrough in the classification, and the methods and principles of clinical management have changed accordingly; however, there is still no standardized guideline for the diagnosis and management of FLPT, and there have been few relevant literature review articles related to this kind of fracture in the past at least 5 years. In this article, we review the clinical classification, classification-based therapeutic recommendations, and prognosis of FLPT, with the aim of providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and management of this infrequent fracture.

Self-calibrated atom-interferometer gyroscope by modulating atomic velocities.

Atom-interferometer gyroscopes have attracted much attention for their long-term stability and extremely low drift. For such high-precision instruments, self-calibration to achieve an absolute rotation measurement is critical. In this work, we propose and demonstrate the self-calibration of an atom-interferometer gyroscope. This calibration is realized by using the detuning of the laser frequency to control the atomic velocity, thus modulating the scale factor of the gyroscope. The modulation determines the order and the initial phase of the interference stripe, thus eliminating the ambiguity caused by the periodicity of the interferometric signal. This self-calibration method is validated through a measurement of the Earth's rotation rate, and a relative uncertainty of 162 ppm is achieved. Long-term stable and self-calibrated atom-interferometer gyroscopes have important applications in the fields of fundamental physics, geophysics, and long-time navigation.

[Water-soluble Inorganic Ion Content of PM2.5 and Its Change Characteristics in Urban Area of Beijing in 2022].

To explore the content and variation characteristics of water-soluble ions of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) in a Beijing urban area and put forward the pollution prevention and control scheme, the water-soluble ions, gaseous precursors (SO2, NO2), and meteorological factors (temperature, RH) of PM2.5 in 2022 were analyzed and determined. The results showed that the water-soluble ions with the highest proportion in PM2.5 in the Beijing City urban area were NO3-, NH4+, and SO42-, accounting for 52.7% of PM2.5. The mass concentrations of PM2.5 and SNA were lower than the historical results, whereas the proportion of SNA, SOR, and NOR was higher than the historical results. This showed that the fine particulate matter pollution in Beijing has been significantly improved, but it still has strong secondary pollution characteristics. NO3-/SO42-(2.2) was higher than those of historical and nearby provinces and cities, reflecting the expanding influence of mobile sources. In terms of seasonal variation, PM2.5 showed the characteristic of high in autumn and low in summer. The proportion of NO3- was the highest in autumn, spring, and winter; the proportion of SO42- was the highest in summer; and the proportion of NH4+ changed little in each season. The seasonal variation rules of NOR and SOR were almost opposite, which reflected the difference in transformation factors between NOR and SOR. The main forms of SNA in the Beijing urban area were NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4. The neutralization degree of cations and anions was the highest in winter, the cation NH4+ was slightly insufficient in summer, and NH4+ was in excess in spring and autumn. The Beijing urban area was an ammonia-rich environment. In terms of pollution level, RH, particulate matter moisture, and water-soluble ions mass concentration all increased with the increase in pollution level, and SNA increased fastest, with its proportion in PM2.5 increasing first and then stabilizing, whereas the contribution rate of other water-soluble ions decreased gradually. In terms of spatial distribution, the mass concentration relationship of SNA at the central urban area and suburbs was NO3- > SO42- > NH4+, which reflected the pollution characteristics dominated by NO3-. The highest contribution rate of SNA to PM2.5 occurred in the eastern region, the central urban area, and the transmission point, indicating that the secondary reaction was relatively active in the central urban area and the eastern region, and the regional transport was also an important source of secondary ions.

Evaluating the Demand for Nucleic Acid Testing in Different Scenarios of COVID-19 Transmission: A Simulation Study.

INTRODUCTION: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been recognized as the most severe human infectious disease pandemic in the past century. To enhance our ability to control potential infectious diseases in the future, this study simulated the influence of nucleic acid testing on the transmission of COVID-19 across varied scenarios. Additionally, it assessed the demand for nucleic acid testing under different circumstances, aiming to furnish a decision-making foundation for the implementation of nucleic acid screening measures, the provision of emergency materials, and the allocation of human resources. METHODS: Considering the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and the preventive measures implemented by countries, we explored three distinct levels of epidemic intensity: community transmission, outbreak, and sporadic cases. Integrating the theory of scenario analysis, we formulated six hypothetical epidemic scenarios, each corresponding to possible occurrences during different phases of the pandemic. We developed an improved SEIR model, validated its accuracy using real-world data, and conducted a comprehensive analysis and prediction of COVID-19 infections under these six scenarios. Simultaneously, we assessed the testing resource requirements associated with each scenario. RESULTS: We compared the predicted number of infections simulated by the modified SEIR model with the actual reported cases in Israel to validate the model. The root mean square error (RMSE) was 350.09, and the R-squared (R2) was 0.99, indicating a well-fitted model. Scenario 4 demonstrated the most effective prevention and control outcomes. Strengthening non-pharmaceutical interventions and increasing nucleic acid testing frequency, even under low testing capacity, resulted in a delayed epidemic peak by 78 days. The proportion of undetected cases decreased from 77.83% to 31.21%, and the overall testing demand significantly decreased, meeting maximum demand even with low testing capacity. The initiation of testing influenced case detection probability. Under high testing capacity, increasing testing frequency elevated the detection rate from 36.40% to 77.83%. Nucleic acid screening proved effective in reducing the demand for testing resources under diverse epidemic prevention and control strategies. While effective interventions and nucleic acid screening measures substantially diminished the demand for testing-related resources, varying degrees of insufficient testing capacity may still persist. CONCLUSIONS: The nucleic acid detection strategy proves effective in promptly identifying and isolating infected individuals, thereby mitigating the infection peak and extending the time to peak. In situations with constrained testing capacity, implementing more stringent measures can notably decrease the number of infections and alleviate resource demands. The improved SEIR model demonstrates proficiency in predicting both reported and unreported cases, offering valuable insights for future infection risk assessments. Rapid evaluations of testing requirements across diverse scenarios can aptly address resource limitations in specific regions, offering substantial evidence for the formulation of future infectious disease testing strategies.

Vitexin enhances radiosensitivity of mouse subcutaneous xenograft glioma by affecting the miR-17-5p/miR-130b-3p/PTEN/HIF-1α pathway.

PURPOSE: Vitexin can cooperate with hyperbaric oxygen to sensitize the radiotherapy of glioma by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. However, whether vitexin has a direct radiosensitization and how it affects the HIF-1α expression remain unclear. This study investigated these issues. METHODS: The SU3 cells-inoculated nude mice were divided into control, radiation, and vitexin + radiation groups. The vitexin + radiation-treated mice were intraperitoneally injected with 75 mg/kg vitexin daily for 21 days. On the 3rd, 10th, and 17th days during the vitexin treatment, the radiation-treated mice were locally irradiated with 10 Gy, respectively. In vitro, the microRNA (miR)-17-5p or miR-130b-3p mimics-transfected SU3 cells were used to examine the effects of vitexin plus radiation on expression of miR-17-5p- or miR-130b-3p-induced radioresistance-related pathway proteins. The effects of vitexin on miR-17-5p and miR-130b-3p expression in SU3 cells were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the radiation group, the tumor volume, tumor weight, and expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and glucose transporter-1/3 proteins, miR-17-5p, and miR-130b-3p in tumor tissues in the vitexin + radiation group decreased, whereas the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein increased. After treatment of miR-17-5p or miR-130b-3p mimics-transfected SU3 cells with vitexin plus radiation, the PTEN protein expression also increased, the HIF-1α protein expression decreased correspondingly. Moreover, vitexin decreased the miR-17-5p and miR-130b-3p expression in SU3 cells. CONCLUSION: Vitexin can enhance the radiosensitivity of glioma, and its mechanism may partly be related to the attenuation of HIF-1α pathway after lowering the inhibitory effect of miR-17-5p and miR-130b-3p on PTEN.

Optimal resource allocation model for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A lack of health resources is a common problem after the outbreak of infectious diseases, and resource optimization is an important means to solve the lack of prevention and control capacity caused by resource constraints. This study systematically evaluated the similarities and differences in the application of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resource allocation models and analyzed the effects of different optimal resource allocations on epidemic control. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted of CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBD, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase for articles published from January 1, 2019, through November 23, 2023. Two reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the included studies, extracted and cross-checked the data. Moreover, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 22 articles were included for systematic review; in the application of optimal allocation models, 59.09% of the studies used propagation dynamics models to simulate the allocation of various resources, and some scholars also used mathematical optimization functions (36.36%) and machine learning algorithms (31.82%) to solve the problem of resource allocation; the results of the systematic review show that differential equation modeling was more considered when testing resources optimization, the optimization function or machine learning algorithm were mostly used to optimize the bed resources; the meta-analysis results showed that the epidemic trend was obviously effectively controlled through the optimal allocation of resources, and the average control efficiency was 0.38(95%CI 0.25-0.51); Subgroup analysis revealed that the average control efficiency from high to low was health specialists 0.48(95%CI 0.37-0.59), vaccines 0.47(95%CI 0.11-0.82), testing 0.38(95%CI 0.19-0.57), personal protective equipment (PPE) 0.38(95%CI 0.06-0.70), beds 0.34(95%CI 0.14-0.53), medicines and equipment for treatment 0.32(95%CI 0.12-0.51); Funnel plots and Egger's test showed no publication bias, and sensitivity analysis suggested robust results. CONCLUSION: When the data are insufficient and the simulation time is short, the researchers mostly use the constructor for research; When the data are relatively sufficient and the simulation time is long, researchers choose differential equations or machine learning algorithms for research. In addition, our study showed that control efficiency is an important indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of epidemic prevention and control. Through the optimization of medical staff and vaccine allocation, greater prevention and control effects can be achieved.

Core Structure-Oriented Asymmetric α-Allenylic Alkylation of Amino Acid Esters Enabled by Chiral Aldehyde/Palladium Catalysis.

Aiming at the reported chiral synthons leading to manzacidins A and D, here we report a highly efficient catalytic asymmetric α-allenylic alkylation reaction of NH2-unprotected amino acid esters that is promoted by combined chiral aldehyde/palladium catalysis. Fifty examples of unnatural α,α-disubstituted amino acid esters are reported with good-to-excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Based on this methodology, a key intermediate leading to manzacidin C and its other three stereoisomers is prepared accordingly.

A network meta-analysis of risk factors of infection among close contacts of COVID-19.

Objective: We aimed to use network meta-analysis to compare the impact of infection risk factors of close contacts with COVID-19, identify the most influential factors and rank their subgroups. It can provide a theoretical basis for the rapid and accurate tracking and management of close contacts. Methods: We searched nine databases from December 1, 2019 to August 2, 2023, which only took Chinese and English studies into consideration. Odd ratios (ORs) were calculated from traditional meta-estimated secondary attack rates (SARs) for different risk factors, and risk ranking of these risk factors was calculated by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Results: 25 studies with 152647 participants identified. Among all risk factors, the SUCRA of type of contact was 69.6 % and ranked first. Among six types of contact, compared with transportation contact, medical contact, social contact and other, daily contact increased risk of infection by 12.11 (OR: 12.11, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 6.51-22.55), 7.76 (OR: 7.76, 95 % CI: 4.09-14.73), 4.65 (OR: 4.65, 95 % CI: 2.66-8.51) and 8.23 OR: 8.23, 95 % CI: 4.23-16.01) times, respectively. Overall, SUCRA ranks from highest to lowest as daily contact (94.7 %), contact with pollution subjects (78.4 %), social contact (60.8 %), medical contact (31.8 %), other (27.9 %), transportation contact (6.4 %). Conclusion: The type of contact had the greatest impact on COVID-19 close contacts infection among the risk factors we included. Daily contact carried the greatest risk of infection among six types of contact, followed by contact with pollution subjects, social contact, other, medical contact and transportation contact. The results can provide scientific basis for rapid assess the risk of infection among close contacts based on fewer risk factors and pay attention to high-risk close contacts during management, thereby reducing tracking and management costs.

Compact multi-channel radio frequency pulse-sequence generator with fast-switching capability for cold-atom interferometers.

Cold-atom interferometers have matured into a powerful tool for fundamental physics research, and they are currently moving from realizations in the laboratory to applications in the field. A radio frequency (RF) generator is an indispensable component of these devices for controlling lasers and manipulating atoms. In this work, we developed a compact RF generator for fast switching and sweeping the frequencies and amplitudes of atomic-interference pulse sequences. In this generator, multi-channel RF signals are generated using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to control eight direct digital synthesizers (DDSs). We further propose and demonstrate a method for pre-loading the parameters of all the RF pulse sequences to the DDS registers before their execution, which eliminates the need for data transfer between the FPGA and DDSs to change RF signals. This sharply decreases the frequency-switching time when the pulse sequences are running. Performance characterization showed that the generated RF signals achieve a 100 ns frequency-switching time and a 40 dB harmonic-rejection ratio. The generated RF pulse sequences were applied to a cold-atom-interferometer gyroscope, and the contrast of atomic interference fringes was found to reach 38%. This compact multi-channel generator with fast frequency/amplitude switching and/or sweeping capability will be beneficial for applications in field-portable atom interferometers.

Crassaminicella indica sp. nov., a novel thermophilic anaerobic bacterium isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.

A novel moderately thermophilic heterotrophic bacterium, designated strain 143-21T, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal chimney sample collected from the Central Indian Ridge at a depth of 2 440 m. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain 143-21T belongs to the genus Crassaminicella. It was most closely related to Crassaminicella thermophila SY095T (96.79 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Crassaminicella profunda Ra1766HT (96.52 %). Genomic analysis showed that strain 143-21T shares 79.79-84.45 % average nucleotide identity and 23.50-29.20 % digital DNA-DNA hybridization with the species of the genus Crassaminicella, respectively. Cells were rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-positive-staining. Terminal endospores were observed in stationary-phase cells when strain 143-21T was grown on Thermococcales rich medium. Strain 143-21T was able to grow at 30-60 °C (optimum, 50 °C), pH 6.5-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in 1.0-7.0 % NaCl (w/v; optimum 2.0 %, w/v). Strain 143-21T utilized fructose, glucose, maltose, mannose, ribose, N-acetyl-d-(+)-glucosamine and casamino acids, as well as amino acids including glutamate, lysine, histidine and cysteine. The main fermentation products from glucose were acetate (2.07 mM), H2 and CO2. It did not reduce elemental sulphur, sulphate, thiosulphate, sulphite, fumarate, nitrate, nitrite and Fe (III). The predominant cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0 (48.8 %), C16 : 0 (12.9 %), and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c; 10.2 %). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, as well as two unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified aminolipids. No respiratory quinones were detected. Based on its phylogenetic analysis and physiological characteristics, strain 143-21T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Crassaminicella, for which the name Crassaminicella indica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain 143-21T (=DSM 114408T= MCCC 1K06400T).

Development of a Growth-Dependent System to Regulate Cell Growth and Keratinase Production in B. subtilis.

Keratinases specifically degrade insoluble keratin waste, thus contributing to environmental protection and sustainable biomass development. However, their industrial application is hindered by inefficient enzyme production and poor biomass generation. In this study, the heterologous expression of keratinase was found to have cytotoxicity and might block host cell growth due to its proteolytic property. To address this problem, an autoregulatory expression system based on quorum sensing was developed to synergistically regulate cell growth and keratinase production in Bacillus subtilis. The growth-dependent promoter PaprE was chosen and shown to be effective in delaying keratinase production while promoting host cell proliferation. Copy number screening and core region mutations further balanced the two states. Carbon supplement optimization indicated that addition of 2% glucose facilitated biomass accumulation during the early stage of fermentation. Cell density increased to 15.6 (OD600 nm) from 8 with keratinase activity raised to 4200 U·mL-1 from 1162 U·mL-1. Keratinase was then utilized in the bioconversion of feather waste to prepare soluble keratins, polypeptides, and amino acids. This study provides a powerful system for efficient production of keratinase and paves the way for keratin waste recycling.

Solar X-ray and EUV imager on board the FY-3E satellite.

The solar X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (X-EUVI), developed by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIOMP), is the first space-based solar X-ray and Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imager of China loaded on the Fengyun-3E (FY-3E) satellite supported by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) for solar observation. Since started work on July 11, 2021, X-EUVI has obtained many solar images. The instrument employs an innovative dual-band design to monitor a much larger temperature range on the Sun, which covers 0.6-8.0 nm in the X-ray region with six channels and 19.5 nm in the EUV region. X-EUVI has a field of view of 42', an angular resolution of 2.5″ per pixel in the EUV band and an angular resolution of 4.1″ per pixel in the X-ray band. The instrument also includes an X-ray and EUV irradiance sensor (X-EUVS) with the same bands as its imaging optics, which measures the solar irradiance and regularly calibrates the solar images. The radiometric calibration of X-EUVS on the ground has been completed, with a calibration accuracy of 12%. X-EUVI is loaded on the FY-3E satellite and rotates relative to the Sun at a uniform rate. Flat-field calibration is conducted by utilizing successive rotation solar images. The agreement between preliminarily processed X-EUVI images and SDO/AIA and Hinode/XRT images indicates that X-EUVI and the data processing algorithm operate properly and that the data from X-EUVI can be applied to the space weather forecast system of CMA and scientific investigations on solar activity.

Quantitative Evaluation of a Cross-Sectional Area of the Fetal Straight Sinus by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Clinical Value.

Objective: The intracranial venous system plays an important role in ensuring blood circulation and a stable blood supply to the fetal brain. In the present study, a cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus was quantitatively evaluated by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the method's clinical value. Methods: The clinical and MRI data of 126 normal fetuses in mid-to-late stage pregnancies were retrospectively analyzed. The "dominant" sequence of the fetal straight sinus was selected, and the cross-sectional area of the lumen was measured at each gestational age to obtain the normal range at different ages and to analyze the developmental pattern and characteristics of the fetal straight sinus. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus among different gestational ages (P < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus was positively correlated with gestational age (coefficient of determination = 0.6892, P < 0.05). That is, the cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus grew with increasing gestational age, and the regression equation was y = 0.27 x - 2.14 (P < 0.05). Additionally, there were five fetuses with cerebral venous abnormalities, including four with heart failure and one with venous sinus thrombosis. Conclusion: Quantitative measurement of a cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus by MRI enhanced understanding of the anatomical features and developmental pattern of fetal cerebral veins and provided a reference for the clinical diagnosis of related diseases and investigation concerning pathogenesis.

Effect of body mass index on postoperative mechanical alignment and long-term outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study of 671 knees.

Background: A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased rates of complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, no study has examined the effect of BMI on lower limb alignment using the World Health Organization's (WHO) BMI classification. We believe that the WHO's BMI classification allows a uniform standard worldwide. We sought to investigate the potential association between a high BMI and the incidence of postoperative misalignment. We also evaluated whether a higher BMI is associated with worse clinical function. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 671 patients who underwent primary TKA for varus osteoarthritis between January 2010 and December 2015. The patients were divided into the following 5 groups based on their BMI: normal weight (<25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), class I obese (30.0-34.9 kg/m2), class II obese (35-39.9 kg/m2), and class III obese (>40 kg/m2). Both weight and height were measured by nurses on admission. Patients' preoperative HKA, gender, age, and side of surgery were collected as baseline. All the patients underwent standing, weight-bearing, full-length radiography before and after surgery to measure the mechanical hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA). We followed up patients by telephone. Among the BMI subgroups, we compared the knee function scores, including the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, Knee Society-Knee Score (KS-KS), Knee Society-Function Score (KS-FS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), and range of motion (ROM). A multivariate linear regression analysis and a logistic regression was conducted to examine the outcomes. Results: The study had a mean follow-up period of 8.16 years. The multivariate and logistic regression analyses revealed that preoperative alignment (P=0.002) and a higher BMI (P=0.015) were associated with a higher risk of postoperative misalignment. The WOMAC scores were higher in the normal and overweight groups than the other groups (P=0.022). The FJS and KS-KS gradually decreased as BMI increased. Conclusions: A higher BMI is associated with a greater risk of misalignment and worse long-term clinical outcome after TKA. When treating patients with high BMI, we should pay more attention to the adjustment of lower limb alignment intraoperatively.

Orphan gene PpARDT positively involved in drought tolerance potentially by enhancing ABA response in Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens.

Almost all genomes have orphan genes, the majority of which are not functionally annotated. There is growing evidence showed that orphan genes may play important roles in the environmental stress response of Physcomitrium patens. We identified PpARDT (ABA-responsive drought tolerance) as a moss-specific and ABA-responsive orphan gene in P. patens. PpARDT is mainly expressed during the gametophytic stage of the life cycle, and the expression was induced by different abiotic stresses. A PpARDT knockout (Ppardt) mutant showed reduced dehydration-rehydration tolerance, and the phenotype could be rescued by exogenous ABA. Meanwhile, transgenic Arabidopsis lines exhibiting heterologous expression of PpARDT were more sensitive to exogenous ABA than wild-type (Col-0) plants and showed enhanced drought tolerance. These indicate that PpARDT confers drought tolerance among land plants potentially by enhancing ABA response. Further, we identified genes encoding abscisic acid receptor PYR/PYL family proteins, and ADP-ribosylation factors (Arf) as hub genes associated with the Ppardt phenotype. Given the lineage-specific characteristics of PpARDT, our results provide insights into the roles of orphan gene in shaping lineage-specific adaptation possibly by recruiting common pre-existed pathway components.

Complete genome sequence of Crassaminicella sp. 143-21，isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.

Crassaminicella sp. 143-21, a putative new species isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney on the Central Indian Ridge (CIR), is an anaerobic, thermophilic and rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the family Clostridiaceae. In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of strain 143-21, comprising 2,756,133 bp with a G + C content of 31.1%. In total, 2427 protein coding genes, 121 tRNA genes and 33 rRNA genes were obtained. Genomic analysis of strain 143-21 revealed that numerous genes related to organic matter transport and catabolism, including peptide transport, amino acid transport, saccharide transport, ethanolamine transport and corresponding metabolic pathways. Further, the genome contains a large proportion of genes involved in translation, ribosomal structure, and signal transduction. These genes might facilitate microbial survival in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environment. The genome of strain 143-21 will be helpful for further understanding its adaptive strategies in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent environment.