Multiscale topology classifies cells in subcellular spatial transcriptomics.

Spatial transcriptomics measures in situ gene expression at millions of locations within a tissue1, hitherto with some trade-off between transcriptome depth, spatial resolution and sample size2. Although integration of image-based segmentation has enabled impactful work in this context, it is limited by imaging quality and tissue heterogeneity. By contrast, recent array-based technologies offer the ability to measure the entire transcriptome at subcellular resolution across large samples3-6. Presently, there exist no approaches for cell type identification that directly leverage this information to annotate individual cells. Here we propose a multiscale approach to automatically classify cell types at this subcellular level, using both transcriptomic information and spatial context. We showcase this on both targeted and whole-transcriptome spatial platforms, improving cell classification and morphology for human kidney tissue and pinpointing individual sparsely distributed renal mouse immune cells without reliance on image data. By integrating these predictions into a topological pipeline based on multiparameter persistent homology7-9, we identify cell spatial relationships characteristic of a mouse model of lupus nephritis, which we validate experimentally by immunofluorescence. The proposed framework readily generalizes to new platforms, providing a comprehensive pipeline bridging different levels of biological organization from genes through to tissues.

Enterococcus faecalis provides protection during scavenging in carrion crow ( Corvus corone).

The gut microbiota significantly influences host physiology and provides essential ecosystem services. While diet can affect the composition of the gut microbiota, the gut microbiota can also help the host adapt to specific dietary habits. The carrion crow ( Corvus corone), an urban facultative scavenger bird, hosts an abundance of pathogens due to its scavenging behavior. Despite this, carrion crows infrequently exhibit illness, a phenomenon related to their unique physiological adaptability. At present, however, the role of the gut microbiota remains incompletely understood. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology to assess colonic content in carrion crows and 16 other bird species with different diets in Beijing, China. Our findings revealed that the dominant gut microbiota in carrion crows was primarily composed of Proteobacteria (75.51%) and Firmicutes (22.37%). Significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecalis among groups, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of facultative scavenging behavior in carrion crows. Subsequently, E. faecalis isolated from carrion crows was transplanted into model mice to explore the protective effects of this bacterial community against Salmonella enterica infection. Results showed that E. faecalis down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), prevented S. enterica colonization, and regulated the composition of gut microbiota in mice, thereby modulating the host's immune regulatory capacity. Therefore, E. faecalis exerts immunoregulatory and anti-pathogenic functions in carrion crows engaged in scavenging behavior, offering a representative case of how the gut microbiota contributes to the protection of hosts with specialized diets.

Therapeutic role of miR-19a/b protection from influenza virus infection in patients with coronary heart disease.

Patients with pre-existing medical conditions are at a heightened risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), SARS-CoV-2, and influenza viruses, which can result in more severe disease progression and increased mortality rates. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon remained largely unidentified. Here, we found that microRNA-19a/b (miR-19a/b), which is a constituent of the miR-17-92 cluster, exhibits reduced expression levels in patients with coronary heart disease in comparison to healthy individuals. The downregulation of miR-19a/b has been observed to facilitate the replication of influenza A virus (IAV). miR-19a/b can effectively inhibit IAV replication by targeting and reducing the expression of SOCS1, as observed in cell-based and coronary heart disease mouse models. This mechanism leads to the alleviation of the inhibitory effect of SOCS1 on the interferon (IFN)/JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The results indicate that the IAV employs a unique approach to inhibit the host's type I IFN-mediated antiviral immune responses by decreasing miR-19a/b. These findings provide additional insights into the underlying mechanisms of susceptibility to flu in patients with coronary heart disease. miR-19a/b can be considered as a preventative/therapy strategy for patients with coronary heart disease against influenza virus infection.

Impact of Gestational Exposure to Individual and Combined Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on a Placental Structure and Efficiency: Findings from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort.

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is inevitable among pregnant women. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research investigating the connections between prenatal PFAS exposure and the placental structure and efficiency. Based on 712 maternal-fetal dyads in the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort, we analyzed associations between individual and mixed PFAS exposure and placental measures. We repeatedly measured 12 PFAS in the maternal serum during pregnancy. Placental weight, scaling exponent, chorionic disc area, and disc eccentricity were used as the outcome variables. Upon adjusting for confounders and implementing corrections for multiple comparisons, we identified positive associations between branched perfluorohexane sulfonate (br-PFHxS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) with placental weight. Additionally, a positive association was observed between br-PFHxS and the scaling exponent, where a higher scaling exponent signified reduced placental efficiency. Based on neonatal sex stratification, female infants were found to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of PFAS exposure. Mixed exposure modeling revealed that mixed PFAS exposure was positively associated with placental weight and scaling exponent, particularly during the second and third trimesters. Furthermore, br-PFHxS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA played major roles in the placental measures. This study provides the first epidemiological evidence of the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and placental measures.

Associations between serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and thyroid hormones in Chinese adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional study.

Disruption of thyroid homeostasis has been indicated in human studies on the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). However, limited research exists on this topic within the general Chinese population. Based on a substantial and representative sample of the Chinese adult population, our study provides insight into how PFASs specifically affect thyroid homeostasis. The study included 10 853 participants, aged 18 years and above, sampled from nationally representative data provided by the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM). Weighted multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to explore the associations between eight individual PFAS concentrations and total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and the T4/T3 ratio. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) were employed to explore the joint and independent effects of PFASs on thyroid homeostasis. Both individual PFASs and PFAS mixtures exhibited a significant inverse association with serum T3 and T4 levels, and displayed a positive association with the T4/T3 ratio. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) [-0.07 (95 % confidence interval (CI): -0.08, -0.05)] exhibited the largest change in T3 level. PFUnDA also exhibited a higher weight compared to other PFAS compounds in qgcomp models. Additionally, a critical exposure threshold for each PFAS was identified based on nonlinear dose-response associations; beyond these thresholds, the decreases in T3 and T4 levels plateaued. Specifically, for perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA), an initial decline in hormone levels was observed, followed by a slight increase when concentrations surpassed 0.7 ng/mL and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively. Sex-specific effects were more pronounced in females, and significant associations were observed predominantly in younger age groups. These insights contribute to our understanding of how PFAS compounds impact thyroid health and emphasize the need for further research and environmental management measures to address these complexities.

Lymphatic vessel: origin, heterogeneity, biological functions, and therapeutic targets.

Lymphatic vessels, comprising the secondary circulatory system in human body, play a multifaceted role in maintaining homeostasis among various tissues and organs. They are tasked with a serious of responsibilities, including the regulation of lymph absorption and transport, the orchestration of immune surveillance and responses. Lymphatic vessel development undergoes a series of sophisticated regulatory signaling pathways governing heterogeneous-origin cell populations stepwise to assemble into the highly specialized lymphatic vessel networks. Lymphangiogenesis, as defined by new lymphatic vessels sprouting from preexisting lymphatic vessels/embryonic veins, is the main developmental mechanism underlying the formation and expansion of lymphatic vessel networks in an embryo. However, abnormal lymphangiogenesis could be observed in many pathological conditions and has a close relationship with the development and progression of various diseases. Mechanistic studies have revealed a set of lymphangiogenic factors and cascades that may serve as the potential targets for regulating abnormal lymphangiogenesis, to further modulate the progression of diseases. Actually, an increasing number of clinical trials have demonstrated the promising interventions and showed the feasibility of currently available treatments for future clinical translation. Targeting lymphangiogenic promoters or inhibitors not only directly regulates abnormal lymphangiogenesis, but improves the efficacy of diverse treatments. In conclusion, we present a comprehensive overview of lymphatic vessel development and physiological functions, and describe the critical involvement of abnormal lymphangiogenesis in multiple diseases. Moreover, we summarize the targeting therapeutic values of abnormal lymphangiogenesis, providing novel perspectives for treatment strategy of multiple human diseases.

QTL mapping and transcriptomic analysis of fruit length in cucumber.

A total of 151 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were derived from the cross between 'Cucumis sativus L. hardwickii' (HW) and a cultivated Northern Chinese inbred line 'XinTaiMiCi' (XTMC). We used resequencing to construct the genetic map and analyze the genetic background of RIL population, and combined with the phenotypes of RIL population and the analysis of RNA-seq data, we located the major loci controlling the fruit length of cucumber and related analysis. A genetic map containing 600 bin markers was constructed via re-sequencing. Based on the phenotype data collected in two different seasons (spring 2021 and autumn 2022), the major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling cucumber fruit length were located and their transcriptomic analysis carried out. The results revealed three QTLs (Fl2.1, Fl4.1, and Fl6.1) detected repeatedly in the two seasons, of which Fl4.1 was the dominant QTL. From the functional annotation of corresponding genes there, we discovered the gene Csa4G337340 encoding an auxin efflux carrier family protein. The expression of that gene was significantly lower in XTMC and the long-fruit RIL lines than in HW and the short-fruit RIL lines; hence, we speculated the gene could be negatively correlated with the fruit length of cucumber. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 259 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. In addition, among those DEGs, 509 transcription factors were detected, these distributed in several transcription factor gene families, such as bHLH, AP2/ErF -ERF, C2H2, and NAC. Therefore, we concluded that the major gene controlling the fruit length of cucumber is located in the interval of Fl4.1, whose gene Csa4G337340 may be involved in the negative regulation of fruit length. Further, genes related to plant hormone signal transduction and several transcription factors were also found involved in the regulation of cucumber fruit length. Our results provide a reference for the fine mapping of major genes and analyzing the mechanism of cucumber fruit length.

Association between Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Levels and Risk of Central and Peripheral Precocious Puberty in Girls.

Concerns about the endocrine-disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have raised questions about their potential influence on precocious puberty in girls, which is an emerging concern in some populations. However, epidemiological evidence is lacking. In this study, 882 serum samples were collected from girls with central precocious puberty (CPP, n = 226), peripheral precocious puberty (PPP, n = 316), and healthy controls (n = 340) in 2021 in Shanghai, China. The serum levels of 25 legacy and emerging PFASs and 17 steroids were measured. Results showed that PFAS exposure was positively associated with estradiol levels. Eleven PFASs were significantly or marginally associated with the higher odds of the overall precocious puberty. Across subtypes, PFASs were more clearly associated with PPP, while the associations with CPP were consistent in direction but did not reach statistical significance. These findings were consistent with the assessment of PFAS mixtures using quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) and Bayesian kernel machine regression, with perfluorobutane sulfonate and 6:2 polyfluorinated ether sulfonate showing the highest contribution to joint effects. Although changes in serum estradiol could arise from various factors, our results suggest that the PFAS exposure may contribute to the increase in estradiol secretion, thereby increasing the risk of precocious puberty, especially PPP. The potential effects of PFASs on precocious puberty warrant further investigation, given the associated complications of public health concern, including psychological distress and increased risk of multiple diseases.

Study of Generalized Chaotic Synchronization Method Incorporating Error-Feedback Coefficients.

In this paper, taking the generalized synchronization problem of discrete chaotic systems as a starting point, a generalized synchronization method incorporating error-feedback coefficients into the controller based on the generalized chaos synchronization theory and stability theorem for nonlinear systems is proposed. Two discrete chaotic systems with different dimensions are constructed in this paper, the dynamics of the proposed systems are analyzed, and finally, the phase diagrams, Lyapunov exponent diagrams, and bifurcation diagrams of these are shown and described. The experimental results show that the design of the adaptive generalized synchronization system is achievable in cases in which the error-feedback coefficient satisfies certain conditions. Finally, a chaotic hiding image encryption transmission system based on a generalized synchronization approach is proposed, in which an error-feedback coefficient is introduced into the controller.

Gut microbiota facilitates adaptation of the plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) to the plateau living environment.

Gut microbiota not only helps the hosts to perform many key physiological functions such as food digestion, energy harvesting and immune regulation, but also influences host ecology and facilitates adaptation of the host to extreme environments. Plateau zokors epitomize successful physiological adaptation to their living environment in the face of the harsh environment characterized by low temperature, low pressure and hypoxia in the Tibetan plateau region and high concentrations of CO2 in their burrows. Therefore, here we used a metagenomic sequencing approach to explore how gut microbiota contributed to the adaptive evolution of the plateau zokor on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our metagenomic results show that the gut microbiota of plateau zokors on the Tibetan plateau is not only enriched in a large number of species related to energy metabolism and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), but also significantly enriched the KO terms that involve carbohydrate uptake pathways, which well address energy uptake in plateau zokors while also reducing inflammatory responses due to low pressure, hypoxia and high CO2 concentrations. There was also a significant enrichment of tripeptidyl-peptidase II (TPPII) associated with antigen processing, apoptosis, DNA damage repair and cell division, which may facilitate the immune response and tissue damage repair in plateau zokors under extreme conditions. These results suggest that these gut microbiota and their metabolites together contribute to the physiological adaptation of plateau zokors, providing new insights into the contribution of the microbiome to the evolution of mammalian adaptation.

Genetic Characterization and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza Virus H3N8 Isolated from Chinese pond heron in China in 2021.

In October 2021, a wild bird-origin H3N8 influenza virus-A/Chinese pond heron/Jiangxi 5-1/2021 (H3N8)-was isolated from Chinese pond heron in China. Phylogenetic and molecular analyses were performed to characterize the genetic origin of the H3N8 strain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that eight gene segments of this avian influenza virus H3N8 belong to Eurasian lineages. HA gene clustered with avian influenza viruses is circulating in poultry in southern China. The NA gene possibly originated from wild ducks in South Korea and has the highest homology (99.3%) with A/Wild duck/South Korea/KNU2020-104/2020 (H3N8), while other internal genes have a complex and wide range of origins. The HA cleavage site is PEKQTR↓GLF with one basic amino acid, Q226 and T228 at HA preferentially bind to the alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid receptor, non-deletion of the stalk region in the NA gene and no mutations at E627K and D701N of the PB2 protein, indicating that isolate A/Chinese pond heron/Jiangxi 5-1/2021 (H3N8) was a typical avian influenza with low pathogenicity. However, there are some mutations that may increase pathogenicity and transmission in mammals, such as N30D, T215A of M1 protein, and P42S of NS1 protein. In animal studies, A/Chinese pond heron/Jiangxi 5-1/2021 (H3N8) replicates inefficiently in the mouse lung and does not adapt well to the mammalian host. Overall, A/Chinese pond heron/Jiangxi 5-1/2021 (H3N8) is a novel wild bird-origin H3N8 influenza virus reassortant from influenza viruses of poultry and wild birds. This wild bird-origin avian influenza virus is associated with wild birds along the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Therefore, surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild birds should be strengthened to assess their mutation and pandemic risk in advance.

Repercussions of core strength training on soccer players' performance / Repercurssões do treino de resistência do core sobre o desempenho dos jogadores de futebol / Repercusiones del entrenamiento de la resistencia del core en el rendimiento de los futbolistas

ABSTRACT Introduction: Soccer players are athletes who need to develop advanced characteristics of strength and speed. The resistance training of the muscles involved in the core is a new training theory applicable to modern sports that is gaining prominence due to its amazing results. It is of great value for researchers to integrate the strengths of core strengthening into soccer training, improve their protocols, and compensate for their limitations. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between core strength training and physical conditioning in soccer players. At the same time, this article discusses the influence of core muscle strength characteristics on athletes' physical performance. Methods: This article selects advanced soccer players as research subjects. Volunteers were randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental groups). The experimental group received core muscle strength training, while the control group received daily training. This paper analyzed the muscle strength characteristics of the two groups of volunteers. Then, this paper conducts a statistical and mathematical analysis of the muscle strength level data in two groups of athletes. Results: The experimental group showed significant differences in bilateral hip and ankle joint flexors after core muscle strength training (P<0.01). The relative peak moment of flexion and extension of the left hip was lower than that of the right hip, a factor justified by the predominant motor laterality principle on the players. The muscle strength of the left knee and ankle joints was greater than that of the right. Both experimental and control groups showed that the strength of the ankle flexors was better than the ankle extensors (knee toe flexors). The data were very significantly different (P<0.01). Conclusion: Muscular endurance training can help improve the physical conditioning of soccer players. Athletes can reinforce core strength training in their daily training. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: Jogadores de futebol são atletas que necessitam desenvolver características avançadas de força e velocidade. O treinamento de resistência da musculatura envolvida no core é uma nova teoria de treinamento aplicável aos esportes modernos que vem ganhando destaque devido aos surpreendentes resultados. É de grande valor para os pesquisadores integrar os pontos fortes do fortalecimento do core no treinamento de futebol, aprimorar seus protocolos e compensar as suas limitações. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a relação entre o treinamento de resistência do core e o condicionamento físico em jogadores de futebol. Ao mesmo tempo, este artigo discute a influência das características de força muscular do core no desempenho físico dos atletas. Métodos: Este artigo seleciona jogadores avançados de futebol como objetos de pesquisa. Os voluntários foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos (grupos de controle e experimental). O grupo experimental recebeu treinamento de força muscular principal, enquanto o grupo controle recebeu treinamento diário. Este artigo analisou as características de força muscular dos dois grupos de voluntários. Em seguida, este artigo conduz uma análise estatística e matemática dos dados do nível de força muscular em dois grupos de atletas. Resultados: O grupo experimental apresentou diferenças significativas nos flexores bilaterais da articulação do quadril e tornozelo após o treinamento de resistência muscular do core (P<0,01). O momento de pico relativo de flexão e extensão do quadril esquerdo mostrou-se menor do que o do quadril direito, fator justificado pelo princípio de lateralidade motora predominante sobre os jogadores. A força muscular das articulações do joelho esquerdo e tornozelo foi maior que a da direita. Ambos os grupos experimentais e de controle mostraram que a resistência dos flexores do tornozelo era melhor do que os extensores do tornozelo (flexores do dedo do dedo do joelho). Os dados foram muito significativamente diferentes (P<0,01). Conclusão: O treinamento de resistência muscular pode ajudar a melhorar o condicionamento físico dos jogadores de futebol. Os atletas podem reforçar o treinamento de resistência do core em seus treinamentos diários. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: Los jugadores de fútbol son atletas que necesitan desarrollar características avanzadas de fuerza y velocidad. El entrenamiento de resistencia de la musculatura implicada en el core es una nueva teoría de entrenamiento aplicable a los deportes modernos que ha ido ganando protagonismo por sus sorprendentes resultados. Es de gran valor para los investigadores integrar los puntos fuertes del fortalecimiento del core en el entrenamiento del fútbol, mejorar sus protocolos y compensar sus limitaciones. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre el entrenamiento de la fuerza del core y la condición física en jugadores de fútbol. Al mismo tiempo, este artículo analiza la influencia de las características de la fuerza muscular del core en el rendimiento físico de los atletas. Métodos: Este trabajo selecciona como sujetos de investigación a jugadores de fútbol de nivel avanzado. Los voluntarios fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos (grupo de control y grupo experimental). El grupo experimental recibió un entrenamiento de fuerza de los músculos principales, mientras que el grupo de control recibió un entrenamiento diario. Este trabajo analizó las características de la fuerza muscular de los dos grupos de voluntarios. A continuación, este trabajo realiza un análisis estadístico y matemático de los datos del nivel de fuerza muscular en dos grupos de atletas. Resultados: El grupo experimental mostró diferencias significativas en los flexores bilaterales de las articulaciones de la cadera y el tobillo tras el entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular del core (P<0,01). El momento máximo relativo de flexión y extensión de la cadera izquierda fue menor que el de la cadera derecha, factor que se justifica por el principio de lateralidad motora que predomina en los jugadores. La fuerza muscular de las articulaciones de la rodilla y el tobillo izquierdos era mayor que la del derecho. Tanto el grupo experimental como el de control mostraron que la fuerza de los flexores del tobillo era mejor que la de los extensores del tobillo (flexores de los dedos de la rodilla). Los datos fueron significativamente diferentes (P<0,01). Conclusión: El entrenamiento de la resistencia muscular puede ayudar a mejorar la condición física de los futbolistas. Los atletas pueden reforzar el entrenamiento de la fuerza del core en su entrenamiento diario. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Novel genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Enterocytozoon bieneusi detected in plateau zokors (Myospalax baileyi) from the Tibetan Plateau.

The plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) is a small subterranean rodent endemic to China that lives alone in sealed underground burrows at altitudes ranging from 2000 to 4200 m above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau. Due to the unique environmental factors in the Tibetan Plateau, intestinal parasites in the local population may be more likely to develop host-adapted genotypes. We therefore conducted an epidemiological survey of common intestinal parasites in plateau zokors on the Tibetan plateau to estimate their actual gastrointestinal parasite status. Two areas with high populations of plateau zokor in Xunhua County, Qinghai Province were selected as sampling sites, and a total of 98 zokors were trapped. Four parasites, Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia lamblia and Blastocystis hominis, were tested in the faecal samples. The results showed that a new genotype of Cryptosporidium sp. was identified by amplification and sequencing of a portion of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene with an infection rate of 1.0% (1/98), and new genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified by amplification and sequencing of a portion of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene sequences with an infection rate of 4.1% (4/98). Neither of the two intestinal parasites, G. lamblia and B. hominis, was detected.

Both In Situ and Circulating SLC3A2 Could Be Used as Prognostic Markers for Human Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lung Adenocarcinoma.

SLC3A2, the heavy chain of the CD98 protein, is highly expressed in many cancers, including lung cancer. It can regulate the proliferation and the metastasis of cancer cells via the integrin signaling pathway. Liquid biopsy is a novel method for tumor diagnosis. The diagnostic or prognostic roles of serum SLC3A2 in lung cancer are still not clear. In this study, we analyzed SLC3A2 mRNA levels in human lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) using the TCGA database and serum SLC3A2 protein levels using ELISA. We confirmed high SLC3A2 levels in both the serum and tissue of LUAD and LUSC patients. Both serum and tissue SLC3A2 could be used as prognostic markers for overall LUAD and subgroups of LUSC patients. SLC3A2 induced tumorigenesis via the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in LUAD and LUSC cells.

Flavor properties of Chinese noodles processed by dielectric drying.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly impact food flavor. In this work, Electron nose (E-nose), head space solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and head space-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) techniques were applied to analyze different drying effects: microwave, hot air, and radio frequency on the aroma of Chinese noodles. E-nose analysis suggests that aromatic differences are mainly from broad range-methane. HS-SPME-GC-MS and HS-GC-IMS identified 47 and 26 VOCs in the fresh and dried noodles, respectively. The VOCs in the dried noodles were mainly aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. Drying significantly reduced the types of VOCs in Chinese dried noodles. Microwave dried noodles exhibited the strongest aroma after the shortest time of treatment, suggesting microwave drying may be the best drying method for noodles. Using aromatic analysis, this paper provides useful information for understanding the flavor of flour products and offers new ideas for drying noodles.

Causal relationship between bipolar disorder and inflammatory bowel disease: A bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Background: Growing evidence suggests a bidirectional association between bipolar disorder (BD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, observational studies are prone to confounding, making causal inference and directional determination of these associations difficult. Methods: We performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BD and IBD as instrumental variables (IV). SNPs and genetic associations with BD and IBD were obtained from the latest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Europeans (BD: cases/controls: 20352/31358; IBD: 12882/21770; Crohn's disease (CD): 5,956/14927; ulcerative colitis (UC): 6968/20464). The inverse-variance-weighted method was the major method used in MR analyses. MR-Egger, weight mode, simple mode, and weighted median were used for quality control. Results: Genetically predicted BD (per log-odds ratio increase) was significantly positively associated with risk of IBD (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04-1.33), and UC (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.35), but not CD (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.95-1.48). The validation analysis found that combined OR of IBD, CD, and UC increased per log-OR of BD were 1.16(95% CI: 1.02-1.31), 1.20(95% CI: 0.98-1.48) 1.17(95% CI: 1.02-1.35), respectively. In contrast, no causal relationship was identified between genetically influenced IBD and BD. Conclusion: Our results confirm a causal relationship between BD and IBD, which may influence clinical decisions on the management of BD patients with intestinal symptoms. Although the reverse MR results did not support a causal effect of IBD on BD, the effect of the IBD active period on BD remains to be further investigated.

Discrete-Time Memristor Model for Enhancing Chaotic Complexity and Application in Secure Communication.

The physical implementation of the continuous-time memristor makes it widely used in chaotic circuits, whereas the discrete-time memristor has not received much attention. In this paper, the backward-Euler method is used to discretize the TiO2 memristor model, and the discretized model also meets the three fingerprints characteristics of the generalized memristor. The short period phenomenon and uneven output distribution of one-dimensional chaotic systems affect their applications in some fields, so it is necessary to improve the dynamic characteristics of one-dimensional chaotic systems. In this paper, a two-dimensional discrete-time memristor model is obtained by linear coupling of the proposed TiO2 memristor model and one-dimensional chaotic systems. Since the two-dimensional model has infinite fixed points, the stability of these fixed points depends on the coupling parameters and the initial state of the discrete TiO2 memristor model. Furthermore, the dynamic characteristics of one-dimensional chaotic systems can be enhanced by the proposed method. Finally, we apply the generated chaotic sequence to secure communication.

The Effect of Comprehensive Use of PDCA and FMEA Management Tools on the Work Efficiency, Teamwork, and Self-Identity of Medical Staff: A Cohort Study with Zhongda Hospital in China as an Example.

Objective: Taking Zhongda Hospital in China as an example, this study discusses the impact of comprehensive use of PDCA and FMEA management tools on the work efficiency, teamwork, and self-identity of medical staff. Methods: Two hundred medical staff in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the research subjects, and the 200 medical staff were divided into a control group and a research group by the digital table method, with 100 cases in each group. The medical staff in the control group implemented conventional system management methods, while the research group comprehensively used PDCA and FMEA management tools based on implementing conventional system management. The differences in work efficiency, teamwork, and self-identity of medical staff were compared. Results: Before the study, there exhibited no significant difference in the work efficiency, teamwork, and self-identity scores of medical staff (P > 0.05). After an intervention, the work efficiency, teamwork, and self-identity scores of medical staff in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the management quality score of the research group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); after the intervention, the medical staff in the research group had lower work efficiency, insufficient professional ability, and insufficient management system cognitive behaviours than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The comprehensive use of PDCA and FMEA management tools in internal hospital management can remarkably enhance the work efficiency, teamwork, and self-identity of medical staff.

Single-cell transcriptional profiling reveals cellular and molecular divergence in human maternal-fetal interface.

Placenta plays essential role in successful pregnancy, as the most important organ connecting and interplaying between mother and fetus. However, the cellular characteristics and molecular interaction of cell populations within the fetomaternal interface is still poorly understood. Here, we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of human full-term placenta and revealed the heterogeneity of cytotrophoblast cell (CTB) and stromal cell (STR) with the fetal/maternal origin consecutively localized from fetal section (FS), middle section (Mid_S) to maternal section (Mat_S) of maternal-fetal interface. Then, we highlighted a subpopulation of CTB, named trophoblast progenitor-like cells (TPLCs) existed in the full-term placenta and mainly distributed in Mid_S, with high expression of a pool of putative cell surface markers. Further, we revealed the putative key transcription factor PRDM6 that might promote the differentiation of endovascular extravillous trophoblast cells (enEVT) by inhibiting cell proliferation, and down-regulation of PRDM6 might lead to an abnormal enEVT differentiation process in PE. Together, our study offers important resources for better understanding of human placenta and stem cell-based therapy, and provides new insights on the study of tissue heterogeneity, the clinical prevention and control of PE as well as the maternal-fetal interface.

Integrative Single-Cell RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Human Placenta.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells derived from placenta (PMSCs) are an attractive source for regenerative medicine because of their multidifferentiation potential and immunomodulatory capabilities. However, the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of PMSCs has not been fully characterized. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) techniques to cultured PMSCs from human full-term placenta. Based on the inferred characteristics of cell clusters, we identify several distinct subsets of PMSCs with specific characteristics, including immunomodulatory-potential and highly proliferative cell states. Furthermore, integrative analysis of gene expression and chromatin accessibility showed a clearer chromatin accessibility signature than those at the transcriptional level on immunomodulatory-related genes. Cell cycle gene-related heterogeneity can be more easily distinguished at the transcriptional than the chromatin accessibility level in PMSCs. We further reveal putative subset-specific cis-regulatory elements regulating the expression of immunomodulatory- and proliferation-related genes in the immunomodulatory-potential and proliferative subpopulations, respectively. Moreover, we infer a novel transcription factor PRDM1, which might play a crucial role in maintaining immunomodulatory capability by activating PRDM1-regulon loop. Collectively, our study first provides a comprehensive and integrative view of the transcriptomic and epigenomic features of PMSCs, which paves the way for a deeper understanding of cellular heterogeneity and offers fundamental biological insight of PMSC subset-based cell therapy.