Identity, pathogenicity and genetic diversity of Lasiodiplodia associated with stem-end rot of avocado in China.

Stem-end rot (SER) causes brown necrotic lesions in the pulp near the base of the fruit pedicel and is one of the most devastating postharvest diseases of avocados in all avocado growing regions of the world. China's avocado industry is growing very rapidly, and the planting area is expanding, but little is known about the pathogens and genetic diversity of avocado SER. To determine the causal agents of SER, avocado fruits were sampled from the main avocado-producing areas in China during 2020 and 2021. Fungal isolates were obtained from SER symptomatic avocado fruits and identified by morphology combined with phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) and ß-tubulin (TUB2) gene sequences. All 101 isolates belonged to Lasiodiplodia spp., and four Lasiodiplodia species were identified, namely L. pseudotheobromae (59.41%), L. theobromae (24.75%), L. mahajangana (7.92%), L. euphorbiaceicola (1.98%), and six others are classified as Lasiodiplodia sp. (5.94%). There were only slight morphological differences in colonies and conidia of these four species of Lasiodiplodia. The pathogenicity tests showed symptoms of SER, and the 92.08% of the isolates exhibited a high level of virulence on avocado (disease index > 70), related to the disease severity on avocado fruit. All tested isolates grew well under conditions from 23 to 33℃. There was a significant difference in mycelial growth between the four species of Lasiodiplodia after treatment with high temperature or low temperature. L. pseudotheobromae growth was the fastest at 13 to 18℃, but was the lowest at 38℃ (P < 0.05). Red pigment could be produced by all tested isolates after culturing for 7 days at 38℃. The mycelial growth rate was the fastest on PDA medium, and the slowest on OMA medium but promoted spore formation (P < 0.05). In addition, was determined the genetic diversity of Lasiodiplodia pathogenic species associated with SER collected from avocado, mango, guava and soursop fruits was determined. A total of 74 isolates were clustered into 4 main ISSR groups by unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) analysis, and the classification of this group was related to the host. Extensive diversity was detected in the Lasiodiplodia populations. The diverse geographical origins and host species significantly influenced the population differentiation, and most of the genetic variation occurred within populations (P < 0.001). This is the first study to identify the major pathogens of avocado SER in China and to survey their occurrence, pathogenicity and include a comparative analysis of genetic diversity with Lasiodiplodia spp. causing SER on other fruit hosts. Collectively, the Lasiodiplodia species complex affecting avocado showed high pathogenicity and diversity, while L. pseudotheobromae was the most frequently isolated species in China. The results of this study provide insights into the aspects of epidemic of SER disease caused by Lasiodiplodia species, which will help in developing strategies for the management and control of stem end-rot in avocado.

Cu-II-directed self-assembly of fullerenols to ameliorate copper stress in maize seedlings.

Widespread use of copper-based agrochemical may cause copper excessive accumulation in agricultural soil to seriously threaten crop production. Recently, fullerenols are playing important roles in helping crops build resistance to abiotic stresses by giving ingenious and successful resolutions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on their beneficial effects in crops under stresses induced by heavy metals. Herein, the visual observation of Cu2+-mediated assembly of fullerenols via electrostatic and coordination actions was carried out in vitro, showing that water-soluble nanocomplexes and water-insoluble cross-linking nanohybrids were selectively fabricated by precisely adjusting feeding ratios of fullerenols and CuSO4. Furthermore, maize simultaneous exposure of fullerenols and CuSO4 solutions was tested to investigate the comparative effects of seed germination and seedling growth relative to exposure of CuSO4 alone. Under moderate Cu2+ stresses (40 and 80 µM), fullerenols significantly mitigated the detrimental effects of seedlings, including phenotype, root and shoot elongation, biomass accumulation, antioxidant capacity, and Cu2+ uptake and copper transporter-related gene expressions in roots. Under 160 µM of Cu2+ as a stressor, fullerenols also accelerated germination of Cu2+-stressed seeds eventually up to the level of the control. Summarily, fullerenols can enhance tolerance of Cu2+-stressed maize mainly due to direct detoxification through fullerenol-Cu2+ interactions restraining the Cu2+ intake into roots and reducing free Cu2+ content in vivo, as well as fullerenol-maize interactions to enhance resistance by maintaining balance of reactive oxygen species and optimizing the excretion and transport of Cu2+. This will unveil valuable insights into the beneficial roles of fullerenols and its mechanism mode in alleviating heavy metal stress on crop plants.

Influence of microplastics and environmentally persistent free radicals on the ability of biochar components to promote degradation of antibiotics by activated peroxymonosulfate.

Microplastics (MPs) in sludge can affect the ability of biochar-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade antibiotics. In this work, biochar was prepared by mixing sludge and polystyrene (PS) through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and high-temperature pyrolysis processes. The resulting biochar was used to activate PMS to degrade ofloxacin (OFX), levofloxacin (LEV), and pefloxacin (PFX). The addition of PS significantly enhanced the ability of biochar/PMS to degrade antibiotics and the levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs, 4.59 × 1020 spin/g) due to the decomposition of PS. The addition of PS resulted in a slight decrease in the specific surface area of biochar (2-3 m2/g on average), but a significant increase in the concentration of EPFRs increased the removal efficiency. The activation of PMS by biochar is dominated by free radicals, accounting for about 70%, in which SO4•- and •OH contribute the most and O2•- the least. However, 1O2 contributes 15-20% to the degradation of antibiotics in non-free radical processes. Overall, the process of biochar/PMS degradation of antibiotics is mainly dominated by free radicals, and the effect of non-free radicals is not obvious. Both hydrochar and pyrocarbon samples showed good hydrophilicity, and this property should improve the ability of active sites on biochar to degrade antibiotics. In the HTC process, PS can decompose during hydrochar preparation, with a maximum reduction value of 40.09%. The three-dimension excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) and total organic carbon (TOC) results show that the protein content in sludge plays a major role in reducing PS, with little effect of polysaccharide and SiO2. There are six to seven degradation intermediates of quinolone antibiotics, which are eventually degraded into CO2, H2O, and inorganic substances. The regeneration experiment showed good reusability of hydrochar and pyrocarbon, further demonstrating the suitability of biochar for the degradation of antibiotics.

Multilevel Information Encryption Based on Thermochromic Perovskite Microcapsules via Orthogonal Photic and Thermal Stimuli Responses.

Increasing modal variations of stimulus-responsive materials ensure the high capacity and confidentiality of information storage and encryption systems that are crucial to information security. Herein, thermochromic perovskite microcapsules (TPMs) with dual-variable and quadruple-modal reversible properties are designed and prepared on the original oil-in-fluorine (O/F) emulsion system. The TPMs respond to the orthogonal variations of external UV and thermal stimuli in four reversible switchable modes and exhibit excellent thermal, air, and water stability due to the protection of perovskites by the core-shell structure. Benefiting from the high-density information storage TPMs, multiple information encryptions and decryptions are demonstrated. Moreover, a set of devices are assembled for a multilevel information encryption system. By taking advantage of TPMs as a "private key" for decryption, the signal can be identified as the corresponding binary ASCII code and converted to the real message. The results demonstrate a breakthrough in high-density information storage materials as well as a multilevel information encryption system based on switchable quadruple-modal TPMs.

Activated Clec4nhi Neutrophils Aggravate Lung Injury in an Endothelial IGFBP7 Dependent Manner.

The role of endothelial cells in Acute lung injury (ALI) has been widely elaborated, but little is known about the role of different subtypes of endothelial cells in ALI. ALI models were established by lipopolysaccharide. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to identify differential molecules in endothelial subtypes and heterogeneity of lung immune cells. Specific antibodies were used to block IGFBP7 protein, and AAVshIGP7 was used to specifically knock down IGFBP7. Here, we found that Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) was the most differentially expressed molecule in diverse subsets of endothelial cells and that IGFBP7 was strongly associated with inflammatory responses. Elevated IGFBP7 significantly exacerbated barrier dysfunction in ALI, whereas blockade of IGFBP7 partially reversed barrier damage. General capillary cells (gCap) are the primary source of elevated serum IGFBP7 after ALI. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified significantly increased Clec4nhi neutrophils in ALI mice, whereas IGFBP7 knockdown significantly reduced infiltration of Clec4nhi cells and mitigated barrier dysfunction in ALI. In addition, we found that IGFBP7 activated the NFκB signaling axis by promoting phosphorylation and ubiquitination degradation of F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 2 (FBXW2), thereby exacerbating barrier dysfunction in ALI. Taken together, our data indicate that blockade of serum IGFBP7 or IGFBP7 depletion in gCap reversed barrier damage in ALI. Therefore, targeting the IGFBP7 depletion could be a novel strategy for treating ALI.

Interactions between MDSCs and the Autonomic Nervous System: Opportunities and Challenges in Cancer Neuroscience.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a population of heterogeneous immune cells that are involved in precancerous conditions and neoplasms. The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is composed of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, is an important component of the tumor microenvironment that responds to changes in the internal and external environment mainly through adrenergic and cholinergic signaling. An abnormal increase of autonomic nerve density has been associated with cancer progression. As we discuss in this review, growing evidence indicates that sympathetic and parasympathetic signals directly affect the expansion, mobilization, and redistribution of MDSCs. Dysregulated autonomic signaling recruits MDSCs to form an immunosuppressive microenvironment in chronically inflamed tissues, resulting in abnormal proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells. The two components of the ANS may also be responsible for the seemingly contradictory behaviors of MDSCs. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms has the potential to provide more insights into the complex roles of MDSCs in tumor development and lay the foundation for the development of novel MDSC-targeted anticancer strategies.

An umbrella review of the diagnostic value of next-generation sequencing in infectious diseases.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of systematic reviews (SRs) have evaluated the diagnostic values of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in infectious diseases (IDs). AIM: This umbrella analysis aimed to assess the potential risk of bias in existing SRs and to summarize the published diagnostic values of NGS in different IDs. METHOD: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until September 2023 for SRs assessing the diagnostic validity of NGS for IDs. Two investigators independently determined review eligibility, extracted data, and evaluated reporting quality, risk of bias, methodological quality, and evidence certainty in the included SRs. RESULTS: Eleven SRs were analyzed. Most SRs exhibited a moderate level of reporting quality, while a serious risk of bias was observed in all SRs. The diagnostic performance of NGS in detecting pneumocystis pneumonia and periprosthetic/prosthetic joint infection was notably robust, showing excellent sensitivity (pneumocystis pneumonia: 0.96, 95% CI 0.90-0.99, very low certainty; periprosthetic/prosthetic joint infection: 0.93, 95% CI 0.83-0.97, very low certainty) and specificity (pneumocystis pneumonia: 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, very low certainty; periprosthetic/prosthetic joint infection: 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.97, very low certainty). NGS exhibited high specificity for central nervous system infection, bacterial meningoencephalitis, and tuberculous meningitis. The sensitivity to these infectious diseases was moderate. NGS demonstrated moderate sensitivity and specificity for multiple infections and pulmonary infections. CONCLUSION: This umbrella analysis indicates that NGS is a promising technique for diagnosing pneumocystis pneumonia and periprosthetic/prosthetic joint infection with excellent sensitivity and specificity. More high-quality original research and SRs are needed to verify the current findings.

The Inhibitory Effects of Propofol on Colorectal Cancer Progression through the NF-κB/HIF-1α Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a neoplastic disease that gradually develops due to genetic variations and epigenetic changes. Surgical excision is the first-line treatment for CRC. Accumulating evidence has shown that total intravenous anesthesia has beneficial effects for CRC patients as it decreases the probability of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Propofol is one of the most frequently used intravenous anesthetics in clinical practice. However, it remains unknown whether it can reduce recurrence and metastasis after surgery in cancer patients. METHODS: CRC cell lines (HCT116 and SW480) were cultured in vitro, and different concentrations of propofol were added to the cell culture medium. The proliferation effect of propofol on CRC cell lines was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. The effect of propofol on the migration and invasion of CRC cells was evaluated by scratch healing and Transwell experiments. The inhibitory effects of propofol on NF-κB and HIF-1α expressions in CRC cell lines were determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays to further clarify the regulatory effects of propofol on NF-κB and HIF-1α. RESULTS: Compared to the control, propofol significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CRC cells (HCT116 and SW480) (P < 0.0001). The expression levels of NF-κB and HIF-1α gradually decreased with increasing propofol concentration in both cell lines. After activation and inhibition of NF-κB, the expression of HIF-1α changed. Further studies showed that propofol inhibited LPS-activated NF-κB-induced expression of HIF-1α, similar to the NF-κB inhibitor Bay17083 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In vitro, propofol inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells (HCT116 and SW480) in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by participating in the regulation of the NF-κB/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Study of the mandibular canal and its surrounding canals by multi-view cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the mandibular anatomical structures by observing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) from multiple angles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1593 consecutive CBCT images. Ultimately, 95 CBCTs met the inclusion criteria. The mandibular, inferior lingual, and bony canals at the tooth apex were studied by multi-angle observation CBCT. Descriptive statistics were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: It is beneficial to further observe the anastomosis of the mandibular, lingual, and mandibular canals when the course of the mandibular lingual canal is observed on CBCT cross-section. The frequency of the inferior lingual canal anastomosis with the mandibular canal was 43.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 33, 53.3) in the sample. The mental foramen was located below the long axis of the tooth in a few samples, with an occurrence rate of 29.5% (95% CI 20.1, 38.8). The occurrence rate of various types of the bony canal at the apex of the tooth in canines, first premolars, second premolars, first molars, and second molars under the root apex was recorded through the multi-angle observation of the dental volume reformat (DVR) and three-dimensional (3D) levels in CBCT. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the utility of CBCT imaging in examining mandibular anatomy from multiple angles, providing valuable insights into anatomical variations, and enhancing our understanding of mandibular structures. This research emphasizes the crucial role of meticulous CBCT examination in precisely identifying and understanding key anatomical structures, ultimately reducing the risk of surgical complications. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: By examining cone-beam computed tomography scans from various perspectives, it is possible to determine the precise position of anatomical structures within the jaw. This allows for a more accurate assessment, reducing the risk of harm to these structures during treatment. KEY POINTS: • It is crucial to utilize image data effectively to enhance the comprehension of human anatomy. • We captured detailed images of the mandible from different angles and orientations utilizing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). • This study provides essential anatomical information for procedural planning to ensure optimal outcomes and patient safety.

Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis contributes to chronic NaAsO2 exposure-induced fibrotic changes and dysfunction in the liver of SD rats.

The metalloid arsenic, known for its toxic properties, is widespread presence in the environment. Our previous research has confirmed that prolonged exposure to arsenic can lead to liver fibrosis injury in rats, while the precise pathogenic mechanism still requires further investigation. In the past few years, the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been found to play a pivotal role in the occurrence and development of liver injury. In this study, we administered varying doses of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and 10 mg/kg.bw MCC950 (a particular tiny molecular inhibitor targeting NLRP3) to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 36 weeks to explore the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in NaAsO2-induced liver injury. The findings suggested that prolonged exposure to NaAsO2 resulted in pyroptosis in liver tissue of SD rats, accompanied by the fibrotic injury, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and liver dysfunction. Moreover, long-term NaAsO2 exposure activated NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in liver tissue. After treatment with MCC950, the induction of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly attenuated, leading to a decrease in the severity of liver fibrosis and an improvement in liver function. To summarize, those results clearly indicate that hepatic fibrosis and liver dysfunction induced by NaAsO2 occur through the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, shedding new light on the potential mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced liver damage.

Custom-tailored hole transport layer using oxalic acid for high-quality tin-lead perovskites and efficient all-perovskite tandems.

All-perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs) have exhibited higher efficiencies than single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but still suffer from the unsatisfactory performance of low-bandgap (LBG) tin-lead (Sn-Pb) subcells. The inherent properties of PEDOT:PSS are crucial to high-performance Sn-Pb perovskite films and devices; however, the underlying mechanism has not been fully explored and revealed. Here, we report a facile oxalic acid treatment of PEDOT:PSS (OA-PEDOT:PSS) to precisely regulate its work function and surface morphology. OA-PEDOT:PSS shows a larger work function and an ordered reorientation and fiber-shaped film morphology with efficient hole transport pathways, leading to the formation of more ideal hole-selective contact with Sn-Pb perovskite for suppressing interfacial nonradiative recombination losses. Moreover, OA-PEDOT:PSS induces (100) preferred orientation growth of perovskite for higher-quality Sn-Pb films. Last, the OA-PEDOT:PSS-tailored LBG PSC yields an impressive efficiency of up to 22.56% (certified 21.88%), enabling 27.81% efficient all-perovskite TSC with enhanced operational stability.

A combination of resistance genes confers high and durable resistance against stripe rust in wheat cultivar Lantian 26.

Lantian 26, a leading elite winter wheat cultivar in Gansu Province since its release in 2010, exhibits high resistance or immunization to stripe rust in adult-plant stage under a high disease pressure in Longnan (southeastern Gansu). Identifying the resistance genes in Lantian 26 could provide a basis for enhanced durability and high levels of resistance in wheat cultivars. Here, a segregating population was developed from a cross between a highly susceptible wheat cv. Mingxian 169 and the highly stripe rust-resistant cv. Lantian 26. The F2 and F2:3 progenies of the cross were inoculated with multiple prevalent virulent races of stripe rust for adult plant-stage resistance evaluation in two different environments. Exon sequence alignment analysis revealed that a stripe rust resistance gene on the 718.4-721.2 Mb region of chromosome 7BL, tentatively named as YrLT26, and a co-segregation STS marker GY17 was developed and validated using the F2:3 population and 103 wheat cultivars. The other two resistance genes, Yr9 and Yr30, were also identified in Lantian 26 using molecular markers. Therefore, the key to high and durable resistance to stripe rust at adult stage is the combination of Yr9, Yr30 and YrLT26 genes in Lantian 26. This could be a considerable strategy for improving the wheat cultivars with effective and durable resistance in the high-pressure region for stripe rust.

Eye Plaque Brachytherapy for Choroidal Malignant Melanoma: A Case Report on the Use of Innovative Technology to Expand Access, Improve Practice, and Enhance Outcomes.

Our institute established an eye plaque interstitial brachytherapy (EPIBT) program in 2007 using the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) eye plaque. In this case report, we demonstrated an eye plaque treatment planned and executed using Eye Physics Plaque (Los Alamitos, CA) for a 72-year-old male patient with an extra-large tumor with a maximum width of 18.6 mm and height of 13.7 mm. The use of a customized eye plaque, manufactured through three-dimensional (3D) printing, has empowered us to plan and administer treatment for this patient with uveal melanoma. Without this option, enucleation, an option declined by the patient, or proton beam therapy (PBT), which the patient was unwilling to pursue in another state, would have been the alternative course of action. We were able to use more than one activity of the I-125 seeds, which enabled us to shape and reduce the dose to normal surrounding structures at risk within the orbit and in the vicinity of the orbital cavity. Using the dose evaluation tools available with the modern treatment planning system, we reduced the prescription dose from 85 to 70 Gy, with D90 of 140 Gy, thereby providing effective treatment and limiting risk organ doses. In summary, we were able to dose-deescalate without compromising the chances of controlling retinal/scleral tumors. The patient is doing well from a recent follow-up visit 12 months after the eye plaque brachytherapy treatment. The tumor was 4.80 mm high, 1/3 of the original height, and vision is back to 20/60, demonstrating a successful treatment.

Quasi van der Waals Epitaxy of Single Crystalline GaN on Amorphous SiO2/Si(100) for Monolithic Optoelectronic Integration.

The realization of high quality (0001) GaN on Si(100) is paramount importance for the monolithic integration of Si-based integrated circuits and GaN-enabled optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, thorny issues including large thermal mismatch and distinct crystal symmetries typically bring about uncontrollable polycrystalline GaN formation with considerable surface roughness on standard Si(100). Here a breakthrough of high-quality single-crystalline GaN film on polycrystalline SiO2/Si(100) is presented by quasi van der Waals epitaxy and fabricate the monolithically integrated photonic chips. The in-plane orientation of epilayer is aligned throughout a slip and rotation of high density AlN nuclei due to weak interfacial forces, while the out-of-plane orientation of GaN can be guided by multi-step growth on transfer-free graphene. For the first time, the monolithic integration of light-emitting diode (LED) and photodetector (PD) devices are accomplished on CMOS-compatible SiO2/Si(100). Remarkably, the self-powered PD affords a rapid response below 250 µs under adjacent LED radiation, demonstrating the responsivity and detectivity of 2.01 × 105 A/W and 4.64 × 1013 Jones, respectively. This work breaks a bottleneck of synthesizing large area single-crystal GaN on Si(100), which is anticipated to motivate the disruptive developments in Si-integrated optoelectronic devices.

Reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transition in Gd(III) metal-organic frameworks induced by heat and solvents with a significant magnetocaloric effect.

The design and synthesis of a Gd(III) metal-organic framework with the formula [Gd4(BTDI)3(DMF)4]n (JXUST-40, H4BTDI = 5,5'-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)diisophthalic acid) are reported hererin. Interestingly, a reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transition between JXUST-40 and {[Gd4(BTDI)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n (JXUST-40a) was achieved under the stimulation of heat and solvents. Both JXUST-40 and JXUST-40a exhibited good stability when soaked in common solvents and aqueous solutions with pH values of 1-12. Magnetic studies showed that JXUST-40a has a larger magnetocaloric effect with -ΔSmaxm = 26.65 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K and 7 T than JXUST-40 due to its larger magnetic density. Structural analyses indicated that the coordinated solvent molecules play a crucial role in the coordination environment around the Gd(III) ions and the change in the framework, ultimately leading to the changes in the pore size and magnetism between JXUST-40 and JXUST-40a. In addition, both isomorphic [Dy4(BTDI)3(DMF)4]n (JXUST-41) and {[Dy4(BTDI)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n (JXUST-41a) displayed slow magnetic relaxation behaviour.

The methodological quality of systematic reviews regarding the Core Outcome Set (COS) development.

BACKGROUND: The Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) working group proposed core outcome sets (COS) to address the heterogeneity in outcome measures in clinical studies. According to the recommendations of COMET, performing systematic reviews (SRs) usually was the first step for COS development. However, the SRs that serve as a basis for COS are not specifically appraised by organizations such as COMET regarding their quality. Here, we investigated the status of SRs related to development of COS and evaluated their methodological quality. METHODS: We conducted a search on PubMed to identify SRs related to COS development published from inception to May 2022. We qualitatively summarized the disease included in SR topics, and the studies included in the SRs. We evaluated the methodological quality of the SRs using AMSTAR 2.0 and compared the overall quality of SRs with and without protocols using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: We included 175 SRs from 23 different countries or regions, and they mainly focused on five diseases: musculoskeletal system or connective tissue disease (n = 19, 10.86%), injury, poisoning, or certain other consequences of external causes (n = 18, 10.29%), digestive system disease (n = 16, 9.14%), nervous system disease (n = 15, 8.57%), and genitourinary system disease (n = 15, 8.57%). Although 88.00% of SRs included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), only a few SRs (23.38%) employed appropriate tools to assess the risk of bias in RCTs. The assessment results on the basis of AMSTAR 2.0 indicated that most SRs (93.71%) were rated as ''critically low'' to ''low'' in terms of overall confidence. The overall confidence of SRs with protocols was significantly higher than that without protocols (P <.001). Compared to the SRs with protocols on Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET), SRs with protocols on PROSPERO were of better overall confidence (P = .017). CONCLUSION: The overall quality of published SRs regarding COS development was poor. Our findings emphasize the need for researchers to carefully select the disease topic and strictly adhere to the requirements of optimal methodology when conducting a SR for the establishment of a COS.

Spin-orbit exciton-induced phonon chirality in a quantum magnet.

The interplay of charge, spin, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom in correlated materials often leads to rich and exotic properties. Recent studies have brought new perspectives to bosonic collective excitations in correlated materials. For example, inelastic neutron scattering experiments revealed non-trivial band topology for magnons and spin-orbit excitons (SOEs) in a quantum magnet CoTiO3 (CTO). Here, we report phonon properties resulting from a combination of strong spin-orbit coupling, large crystal field splitting, and trigonal distortion in CTO. Specifically, the interaction between SOEs and phonons endows chirality to two [Formula: see text] phonon modes and leads to large phonon magnetic moments observed in magneto-Raman spectra. The remarkably strong magneto-phononic effect originates from the hybridization of SOEs and phonons due to their close energy proximity. While chiral phonons have been associated with electronic topology in some materials, our work suggests opportunities may arise by exploring chiral phonons coupled to topological bosons.

The chemerin-CMKLR1 axis in keratinocytes impairs innate host defense against cutaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection.

The skin is the most common site of Staphylococcus aureus infection, which can lead to various diseases, including invasive and life-threatening infections, through evasion of host defense. However, little is known about the host factors that facilitate the innate immune evasion of S. aureus in the skin. Chemerin, which is abundantly expressed in the skin and can be activated by proteases derived from S. aureus, has both direct bacteria-killing activity and immunomodulatory effects via interactions with its receptor CMKLR1. Here, we demonstrate that a lack of the chemerin/CMKLR1 axis increases the neutrophil-mediated host defense against S. aureus in a mouse model of cutaneous infection, whereas chemerin overexpression, which mimics high levels of chemerin in obese individuals, exacerbates S. aureus cutaneous infection. Mechanistically, we identified keratinocytes that express CMKLR1 as the main target of chemerin to suppress S. aureus-induced IL-33 expression, leading to impaired skin neutrophilia and bacterial clearance. CMKLR1 signaling specifically inhibits IL-33 expression induced by cell wall components but not secreted proteins of S. aureus by inhibiting Akt activation in mouse keratinocytes. Thus, our study revealed that the immunomodulatory effect of the chemerin/CMKLR1 axis mediates innate immune evasion of S. aureus in vivo and likely increases susceptibility to S. aureus infection in obese individuals.