Development and validation of a clinical prediction model for ischemic stroke recurrence after successful stent implantation in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) who underwent successful stent placement and to establish a nomogram prediction model. METHODS: We utilized data from a prospective collection of 430 consecutive patients at Jining NO.1 People's Hospital from November 2021 to November 2022, conducting further analysis on the subset of 400 patients who met the inclusion criteria. They were further divided into training (n=321) and validation (n=79) groups. In the training group, we used univariate and multivariate COX regression to find independent risk factors for recurrent stroke and then created a nomogram. The assessment of the nomogram's discrimination and calibration was performed through the examination of various measures including the Consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC), and the calibration plots. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical utility of the nomogram by quantifying the net benefit to the patient under different threshold probabilities. RESULTS: The nomogram for predicting recurrent ischemic stroke in symptomatic ICAS patients after stent placement utilizes six variables: coronary heart disease (CHD), smoking, multiple ICAS, systolic blood pressure (SBP), in-stent restenosis (ISR), and fasting plasma glucose. The C-index (0.884 for the training cohort and 0.87 for the validation cohort) and the time-dependent AUC (>0.7) indicated satisfactory discriminative ability of the nomogram. Furthermore, DCA indicated a clinical net benefit from the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive model constructed includes six predictive factors: CHD, smoking, multiple ICAS, SBP, ISR and fasting blood glucose. The model demonstrates good predictive ability and can be utilized to predict ischemic stroke recurrence in patients with symptomatic ICAS after successful stent placement.

Data-Driven Insights into Urban Intersections: Visual Analytics of High-Value Scene.

In this paper, we propose TraVis, an interactive system that allows users to explore and analyze complex traffic trajectory data at urban intersections. Trajectory data contains a large amount of spatio-temporal information, and while previous studies have mainly focused on the macroscopic aspects of traffic flow, TraVis employs visualization methods to investigate and analyze microscopic traffic events, i.e., high-value scenes in trajectory data. TraVis contains a novel view design and provides multiple interaction modalities to offer users the most intuitive insights into high-value scenes. With this system, users can gain a better understanding of urban intersection traffic information, identify different types of high-value scenes, explore the reasons behind their occurrence, and gain deeper insights into urban intersection traffic. Through two case studies, we illustrate how to use the system and validate its effectiveness.

Compounds isolation from Syzygium cumini leaf extract against the Vibrio species in shrimp through bioassay-guided fractionation.

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the bioactive compounds from the ethanolic extract of Syzygium cumini leaf against Vibrio species through a bioassay-guided fractionation. The ethanol extract was exposed to silica gel chromatography followed by reversed phase HPLC to isolate the most effective fraction against V. parahaemolyticus. Using further UHPLC-orbitrap-ion trap mass spectrometry, five compounds were isolated with broad-spectrum potency against a range of Vibrio species viz. V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi, V. vulnificus and V. anguillarum. The IC50 values for the compounds ranged from 8 to 48 µg/mL against the most sensitive species V. vulnificus and 58 to >400 µg/mL against V. alginolyticus. The results of the toxicity tests demonstrated that the compounds were not harmful for shrimp. The study's findings indicate that S. cumini leaf extract may contain bioactive molecules that are able to be substituted for antibiotics to treat vibriosis in shrimp farming.

Engineering industrial yeast for improved tolerance and robustness.

As an important cell factory, industrial yeast has been widely used for the production of compounds ranging from bulk chemicals to complex natural products. However, various adverse conditions including toxic products, extreme pH, and hyperosmosis etc., severely restrict microbial growth and metabolic performance, limiting the fermentation efficiency and diminishing its competitiveness. Therefore, enhancing the tolerance and robustness of yeasts is critical to ensure reliable and sustainable production of metabolites in complex industrial production processes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive review of various strategies for improving the tolerance of yeast cells, including random mutagenesis, system metabolic engineering, and material-mediated immobilization cell technology. It is expected that this review will provide a new perspective to realize the response and intelligent regulation of yeast cells to environmental stresses.

Comparative transcriptome and coexpression network analysis reveals key pathways and hub candidate genes associated with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) drought tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Drought severely limits sunflower production especially at the seedling stage. To investigate the response mechanism of sunflowers to drought stress, we utilized two genotypes of sunflower materials with different drought resistances as test materials. The physiological responses were investigated under well-watered (0 h) and drought-stressed conditions (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). RESULTS: ANOVA revealed the greatest differences in physiological indices between 72 h of drought stress and 0 h of drought stress. Transcriptome analysis was performed after 72 h of drought stress. At 0 h, there were 7482 and 5627 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaves of K55 and K58, respectively, and 2150 and 2527 DEGs in the roots of K55 and K58, respectively. A total of 870 transcription factors (TFs) were identified among theDEGs, among which the high-abundance TF families included AP2/ERF, MYB, bHLH,and WRKY. Five modules were screened using weighted gene coexpressionnetwork analysis (WGCNA), three and two of which were positively and negatively, respectively, related to physiological traits. KEGG analysis revealedthat under drought stress, "photosynthesis", "carotenoid biosynthesis", "starch and sucrose metabolism", "ribosome", "carotenoid biosynthesis", "starch and sucrose metabolism", "protein phosphorylation" and "phytohormone signaling" are six important metabolic pathways involved in the response of sunflower to drought stress. Cytoscape software was used to visualize the three key modules, and the hub genes were screened. Finally, a total of 99 important candidate genes that may be associated with the drought response in sunflower plants were obtained, and the homology of these genes was compared with that in Arabidopsis thaliana. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings could lead to a better understanding of drought tolerance in sunflowers and facilitate the selection of drought-tolerant sunflower varieties.

Telecoupling between urban expansion and forest ecosystem service loss through cultivated land displacement: A case study of Zhejiang Province, China.

Urbanization can either directly occupy forests or indirectly lead to forest loss elsewhere through cultivated land displacement, resulting in further forest fragmentation and ecosystem service (ES) loss. However, the effects of urban expansion on forest area and ESs are unknown, and this is especially true for indirect effects. Taking Zhejiang Province, China, a typical deforested province, as an example, this study quantified the direct and indirect effects of urban expansion on forest area and five ESs (timber yield, water yield, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and biodiversity) from 2000 to 2020, explored the relationship between forest structure (forest proportion, mean patch area, edge density, and mean euclidean nearest neighbor distance) change and ESs, and revealed the telecoupling of urban expansion and forest loss and cascade effects among urbanization, deforestation, forest structure, and ESs. The results indicated that the indirect forest loss (4.30%-6.15%) caused by cultivated land displacement due to urban expansion was larger than the direct forest loss (2.42%). Urban expansion has a greater negative impact on carbon sequestration (6.40%-8.20%), water yield (6.08%-7.78%), and biodiversity (5.79%-7.44%) than on timber yield (4.77%-6.17%) and soil conservation (4.43%-5.77%). The indirect forest ES loss was approximately 2.83-4.34 times greater than the direct forest ES loss. Most forest ESs showed a nonlinear significant positive correlation with changes in forest proportion and mean patch area and a significant nonlinear negative correlation with changes in edge density and mean Euclidean nearest neighbor distance (p < 0.05). There is telecoupling between urban expansion in one region and forest ES loss in other distant regions. This study contributes to guiding sustainable forest conservation and management globally.

Strategies for the biological synthesis of D-glucuronic acid and its derivatives.

D-glucuronic acid is a kind of glucose derivative, which has excellent properties such as anti-oxidation, treatment of liver disease and hyperlipidemia, and has been widely used in medicine, cosmetics, food and other fields. The traditional production methods of D-glucuronic acid mainly include natural extraction and chemical synthesis, which can no longer meet the growing market demand. The production of D-glucuronic acid by biocatalysis has become a promising alternative method because of its high efficiency and environmental friendliness. This review describes different production methods of D-glucuronic acid, including single enzyme catalysis, multi-enzyme cascade, whole cell catalysis and co-culture, as well as the intervention of some special catalysts. In addition, some feasible enzyme engineering strategies are provided, including the application of enzyme immobilized scaffold, enzyme mutation and high-throughput screening, which provide good ideas for the research of D-glucuronic acid biocatalysis.

Using the Conditional Process Analysis Model to Characterize the Evolution of Carbon Structure in Taxodium ascendens Biochar with Varied Pyrolysis Temperature and Holding Time.

Temperature determines biochar structure during pyrolysis. However, differences in holding time and feedstock types may affect this relationship. The conditional process analysis model was used in this paper to investigate the potential to affect this mechanism. The branch and leaf parts of Taxodium ascendens were separately pyrolyzed at 350, 450, 650, and 750 °C, and kept for 0.5, 1, and 2 h at each target temperature. We measured the fixed carbon and ash contents and the elemental composition (C, H, O and N) of the raw materials and their char samples. After plotting a Van Krevelen (VK) diagram to determine the aromatization of chars, the changes in the functional groups were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that pyrolysis at temperatures between 450 and 750 °C accounted for the aromatization of biochar because the atomic H/C ratio of branch-based chars (BC) decreased from 0.53-0.59 to 0.15-0.18, and the ratio of leaf-based chars (LC) decreased from 0.56-0.68 to 0.20-0.22; the atomic O/C ratio of BC decreased from 0.22-0.27 to 0.08-0.11, while that of LC decreased from 0.26-0.28 to 0.18-0.21. Moreover, the average contents of N (1.89%) and ash (13%) in LC were evidently greater than that in BC (N:0.62%; Ash: 4%). Therefore, BC was superior to LC in terms of the stability of biochar. In addition, the increasing ID/IG and ID/I(DR+GL) ratios in BC and LC indicated an increasing amount of the amorphous aromatic carbon structure with medium-sized (2~6 rings) fused benzene rings. According to the CPA analysis, an extension of the holding time significantly enhanced the increase in aromatic structures of LC with temperature. But this extension slightly reduced the growth in aromatic structures of BC. All indicate that holding time and feedstock types (branch or leaf feedstock) could significantly affect the variation in biochar aromatic structure with respect to temperature.

Molecular Structure Engineering of Isomeric Additives for Long Lifetime Zn Anodes.

Modulating the solvation structure of hydrated zinc ions using organic additives stands as a pragmatic approach to suppress dendrite formation and corrosion on zinc metal anodes (ZMAs), thereby enhancing the rechargeability of aqueous Zn-ion batteries. However, fundamental screening principles for organic additives with diverse molecular structures remain elusive, especially for isomers with the same molecular formula. This study delves into the impact of three isomeric hexagonal alcohols (mannitol, sorbitol, and galactitol) as additives in adjusting Zn2+ solvation structural behaviors within ZnSO4 baseline electrolytes. Electrical measurements and molecular simulations reveal the specific molecular structure of mannitol, which features interweaving electron clouds between adjacent hydroxyl groups, achieving a high local electron cloud density. This phenomenon significantly enhances desolvation abilities, thus establishing a more stable anode/electrolyte interface chemistry. Even at 5 mA cm-2 for 2.5 mAh cm-2 capacity, Zn||Zn symmetric cells with mannitol-regulated electrolyte display an impressive 1170 h lifespan, far exceeding those with other isomer additives and is nearly tenfold longer than that with a pure ZnSO4 electrolyte (120 h). Rather than strictly adhering to focusing on chemical composition, this study with emphasis on optimizing molecular structure offers a promising untapped dimension to screen more efficient additives to enhance the reversibility of ZMAs.

Disruption of MAM integrity in mutant FUS oligodendroglial progenitors from hiPSCs.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). A number of causative genetic mutations underlie the disease, including mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, which can lead to both juvenile and late-onset ALS. Although ALS results from MN death, there is evidence that dysfunctional glial cells, including oligodendroglia, contribute to neurodegeneration. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a R521H or a P525L mutation in FUS and their isogenic controls to generate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by inducing SOX10 expression from a TET-On SOX10 cassette. Mutant and control iPSCs differentiated efficiently into OPCs. RNA sequencing identified a myelin sheath-related phenotype in mutant OPCs. Lipidomic studies demonstrated defects in myelin-related lipids, with a reduction of glycerophospholipids in mutant OPCs. Interestingly, FUSR521H OPCs displayed a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, known to be associated with maintaining membrane integrity. A proximity ligation assay further indicated that mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) were diminished in both mutant FUS OPCs. Moreover, both mutant FUS OPCs displayed increased susceptibility to ER stress when exposed to thapsigargin, and exhibited impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced Ca2+ signaling from ER Ca2+ stores. Taken together, these results demonstrate a pathological role of mutant FUS in OPCs, causing defects in lipid metabolism associated with MAM disruption manifested by impaired mitochondrial metabolism with increased susceptibility to ER stress and with suppressed physiological Ca2+ signaling. As such, further exploration of the role of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in the demise of MNs is crucial and will provide new insights into the complex cellular mechanisms underlying ALS.

Development of Inverse-Opal-Structured Charge-Deficient Co9 S8 @nitrogen-Doped-Carbon to Catalytically Enable High Energy and High Power for the Two-Electron Transfer I+ /I- Electrode.

The iodine (I) electrode involving two-electron transfer chemistry by converting between I+ and I- , has the potential to deliver theoretically doubled capacity and higher working voltage platforms, thus achieving higher energy density. However, owing to the slow kinetics of the cascade two-electron transfer reactions, the system suffers from large overpotentials and low power density, especially at high working currents and low temperatures. Here, an inverse-opal-structured cobalt sulfide@nitrogen-doped-carbon (Co9 S8 @NC) catalyst with unique charge-deficient states is developed to promote the reaction kinetics of the I- /I+ electrode. The charge-deficient Co9 S8 @NC catalyst not only enables strong physicochemical adsorption with the iodine species but also significantly reduces the activation energy and interfacial charge transfer resistance of the cascade I+ /I0 /I- conversion reaction. Consequently, the prototypical Zn‖I+ /I0 /I- battery equipped with the Co9 S8 @NC catalyst can deliver a high energy density of 554 Wh kg-1 and a stable cycle life of 5000 cycles at 30 °C. Moreover, at a subzero temperature of -30 °C, the battery can exhibit enhanced kinetics and a high power density of 1514 W kg-1 , high energy density of 485 Wh kg-1 .

TransforLearn: Interactive Visual Tutorial for the Transformer Model.

The widespread adoption of Transformers in deep learning, serving as the core framework for numerous large-scale language models, has sparked significant interest in understanding their underlying mechanisms. However, beginners face difficulties in comprehending and learning Transformers due to its complex structure and abstract data representation. We present TransforLearn, the first interactive visual tutorial designed for deep learning beginners and non-experts to comprehensively learn about Transformers. TransforLearn supports interactions for architecture-driven exploration and task-driven exploration, providing insight into different levels of model details and their working processes. It accommodates interactive views of each layer's operation and mathematical formula, helping users to understand the data flow of long text sequences. By altering the current decoder-based recursive prediction results and combining the downstream task abstractions, users can deeply explore model processes. Our user study revealed that the interactions of TransforLearn are positively received. We observe that TransforLearn facilitates users' accomplishment of study tasks and a grasp of key concepts in Transformer effectively.

Compound isolation through bioassay-guided fractionation of Tectona grandis leaf extract against Vibrio pathogens in shrimp.

Tectona grandis Linn, commonly known as teak, is traditionally used to treat a range of diseases, including the common cold, headaches, bronchitis, scabies, diabetes, inflammation, and others. The present study was conducted with the purpose of isolating and identifying the active compounds in T. grandis leaf against a panel of Vibrio spp., which may induce vibriosis in shrimp, using bioassay-guided purification. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the microdilution method, followed by the brine shrimp lethality assay to determine toxicity. Following an initial screening with a number of different solvents, it was established that the acetone extract was the most effective. The acetone extract was then exposed to silica gel chromatography followed by reversed-phase HPLC and further UHPLC-orbitrap-ion trap mass spectrometry to identify the active compounds. Three compounds called 1-hydroxy-2,6,8-trimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone, deoxyanserinone B, and khatmiamycin were identified with substantial anti-microbial action against V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi, V. anguillarum, and V. vulnificus. The IC50 values of the three compounds viz. 1-hydroxy-2,6,8-trimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone, deoxyanserinone B, and khatmiamycin varied between 2 and 28, 7 and 38, and 7 and 56 µg/mL, respectively, which are as good as the standard antibiotics such as amoxicillin and others. The in vivo toxicity test revealed that the compounds were non-toxic to shrimp. The results of the study suggest that T. grandis leaf can be used as a source of bioactive compounds to treat Vibrio species in shrimp farming.

Neuronal MeCP2 in the dentate gyrus regulates mossy fiber sprouting of mice with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Sprouting of mossy fibers, one of the most consistent findings in tissue from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, exhibits several uncommon axonal growth features and has been considered a paradigmatic example of circuit plasticity that occurs in the adult brain. Clarifying the mechanisms responsible may provide new insight into epileptogenesis as well as axon misguidance in the central nervous system. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) binds to methylated genomic DNA to regulate a range of physiological functions implicated in neuronal development and adult synaptic plasticity. However, exploring the potential role of MeCP2 in the documented misguidance of axons in the dentate gyrus has not yet been attempted. In this study, a status epilepticus-induced decrease of neuronal MeCP2 was observed in the dentate gyrus (DG). An essential regulatory role of MeCP2 in the development of functional mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) was confirmed through stereotaxic injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) to up- or down-regulate MeCP2 in the dentate neurons. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed to identify the binding profile of native MeCP2 using micro-dissected dentate tissues. In both dentate tissues and HT22 cell lines, we demonstrated that MeCP2 could act as a transcription repressor on miR-682 with the involvement of the DNA methylation mechanism. Further, we found that miR-682 could bind to mRNA of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in a sequence specific manner, thus leading to the suppression of PTEN and excessive activation of mTOR. This study therefore presents a novel epigenetic mechanism by identifying MeCP2/miR-682/PTEN/mTOR as an essential signal pathway in regulating the formation of MFS in the temporal lobe epileptic (TLE) mice. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding the mechanisms that regulate axon guidance is important for a better comprehension of neural disorders. Sprouting of mossy fibers, one of the most consistent findings in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, has been considered a paradigmatic example of circuit plasticity in the adult brain. Although abnormal regulation of DNA methylation has been observed in both experimental rodents and humans with epilepsy, the potential role of DNA methylation in this well-documented example of sprouting of dentate axon remains elusive. This study demonstrates an essential role of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in the formation of mossy fiber sprouting. The underlying signal pathway has been also identified. The data hence provide new insight into epileptogenesis as well as axon misguidance in the central nervous system.

Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells.

Ultra-thin solar cells enable materials to be saved, reduce deposition time, and promote carrier collection from materials with short diffusion lengths. However, light absorption efficiency in ultra-thin solar panels remains a limiting factor. Most methods to increase light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells are either technically challenging or costly, given the thinness of the functional layers involved. We propose a cost-efficient and lithography-free solution to enhance light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells-a Tsuchime-like self-forming nanocrater (T-NC) aluminum (Al) film. T-NC Al film can be produced by the electrochemical anodization of Al, followed by etching the nanoporous alumina. Theoretical studies show that T-NC film can increase the average absorbance by 80.3%, depending on the active layer's thickness. The wavelength range of increased absorption varies with the active layer thickness, with the peak of absolute absorbance increase moving from 620 nm to 950 nm as the active layer thickness increases from 500 nm to 10 µm. We have also shown that the absorbance increase is retained regardless of the active layer material. Therefore, T-NC Al film significantly boosts absorbance in ultra-thin solar cells without requiring expensive lithography, and regardless of the active layer material.

Recurrence of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with hypoglycemia (Doege-Potter Syndrome): a case report description.

Hypoglycemia has multiple causes, but the most common is a complication of insulin treatment. In addition to insulin therapy, tumors such as insulinomas of pancreatic origin and extrapancreatic tumors causing paraneoplastic syndromes should also be considered. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) is rare tumor, which when associated with hypoglycemia causes Doege-Potter syndrome. This article reports a case of a 69-year-old man with Doege-Potter syndrome and underwent the first surgical resection for SFTP. However, the tumor recurred 9 years later with hypoglycemic symptoms and implant metastasis. This recurrent tumor originated from the visceral pleura, was more aggressive and invaded the diaphragm and parietal pleura. After the second surgical removal of the tumor, the hypoglycemic symptoms disappeared.

d-Band Center Optimization of Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets for Ultrahigh NO2 Gas Sensitivity at Room Temperature.

MXene exhibits numerous advantageous properties such as high electronic conductivity, high surface area, and ease of surface modification via tailoring of functional groups. However, the mechanism by which MXene functionalization enhances gas sensing performance has not yet been well understood, let alone the development of a rational sensor design optimization strategy. This work presents a functionalization methodology for MXene based on d-band center modulation, which can be implemented by introducing Fe onto the surface of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, for significantly improved gas sensing response and selectivity. The strategy is demonstrated in the design of gas sensors. The optimized gas sensor shows a response of 50% toward 10 ppm of NO2 at room temperature, which is over 6-fold improvement from its pristine counterpart, an unprecedented performance level among all reported MXene gas sensors. XPS characterizations, valence band analyses, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations all indicate that the underlying enhancement mechanism can be attributed to the tuning of the d-band center energy toward the Fermi level. This work provides a new design strategy based on the optimization of the d-band center energy and adds a much needed systematic and quantitative method to the design of two-dimensional materials based semiconducting gas sensors.

Recycling waste dolomite powder in cement paste: Early hydration process, microscale characteristics, and life-cycle assessment.

Waste dolomite powder (WDP) is a byproduct obtained from dolomite quarries during the preparation of dolomite products. To study the re-utilisation of WDP, an eco-friendly cement-based material was prepared using WDP as a micro-aggregate. The effects of WDP on the early hydration process, microscale characteristics, and life-cycle assessment of cement paste are discussed in this study. The isothermal calorimetry results showed that the incorporating WDP in cement paste accelerated the early hydration process of cement according to the degree of reaction. In this case, the setting time of the cement pastes with WDP was shortened, and the early compressive strength was significantly improved. The results of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis at early curing ages (1 and 3 d) showed changes in the peak intensity of ettringite and portlandite and a denser microstructure. Mercury intrusion porosimetry tests showed that the middle and large capillary pores were refined by the nucleation and filling effects of WDP. Based on environmental and economic evaluations, the utilisation of WDP reduced energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and economic costs. Compared to the sample without WDP, the energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and economic cost indices were 42 %, 42.69 %, and 39.4 % lower, respectively. Our results may provide valuable references for the re-utilisation of WDP in low-carbonation cement-based materials.