Induction of Interleukin-9-Producing Mucosal Mast Cells Promotes Susceptibility to IgE-Mediated Experimental Food Allergy.

Experimental IgE-mediated food allergy depends on intestinal anaphylaxis driven by interleukin-9 (IL-9). However, the primary cellular source of IL-9 and the mechanisms underlying the susceptibility to food-induced intestinal anaphylaxis remain unclear. Herein, we have reported the identification of multifunctional IL-9-producing mucosal mast cells (MMC9s) that can secrete prodigious amounts of IL-9 and IL-13 in response to IL-33, and mast cell protease-1 (MCPt-1) in response to antigen and IgE complex crosslinking, respectively. Repeated intragastric antigen challenge induced MMC9 development that required T cells, IL-4, and STAT6 transcription factor, but not IL-9 signals. Mice ablated of MMC9 induction failed to develop intestinal mastocytosis, which resulted in decreased food allergy symptoms that could be restored by adoptively transferred MMC9s. Finally, atopic patients that developed food allergy displayed increased intestinal expression of Il9- and MC-specific transcripts. Thus, the induction of MMC9s is a pivotal step to acquire the susceptibility to IgE-mediated food allergy.

Cavity-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Detection of Trace Gaseous Impurities in Hydrogen for Fuel Cells.

Gaseous impurities contained in hydrogen (H2) profoundly affect the performance of hydrogen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. We demonstrate the utility of cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as a unique approach for detection of gaseous impurities. A dense-pattern multipass cavity which is composed of four spherical mirrors placed in a Z-shaped configuration is used to enhance the Raman signal by extending the laser-gas interaction length. A total of 85 spots are identified on the 2-inch-diameter front (or rear) mirror, which indicates that 510 beams exist in the cavity. Detection limits of the impurity gases, including oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), reach sub-ppm- and ppb-levels at a total pressure of 0.1 and 2.5 MPa, respectively. This satisfies the detection requirements according to the maximum allowable concentration for these gases. Our cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) apparatus can simultaneously measure multiple gases with high sensitivity and selectivity with no sample destruction. It has excellent application prospects in gaseous impurity analysis for the quality assessment of gaseous energy.

Fluorescence Noise Eliminating Fiber-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Simultaneous and Multiprocess Analysis of Intermediate Compositions for C2H2 and H2 Production.

C2H2 and H2, as important chemical and energy raw materials, can be produced effectively and environmentally friendly by the partial oxidation (POX) of CH4. Simultaneous analysis of intermediate gas compositions in the multiprocess (cracking, recovery, degassing, etc) of POX can regulate product generation and improve production efficiency. To overcome the disadvantage of common gas chromatography, we propose a fluorescence noise eliminating fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FNEFERS) technique for simultaneous and multiprocess analysis of the POX process, in which the fluorescence noise eliminating (FNE) method can effectively eliminate the horizontal and vertical spatial noise to ensure ppm level limits of detection (LOD). The vibration modes of gas compositions related to each POX process such as cracked gas, synthesis gas, and product acetylene are analyzed. Meanwhile, the composition of three-process intermediate sample gases from Sinopec Chongqing SVW Chemical Co., Ltd is quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed simultaneously, along with the ppm level LODs (H2: 11.2 ppm, C2H2: 3.1 ppm, CO2: 9.4 ppm, C2H4: 4.8 ppm, CH4: 1.5 ppm, CO: 17.9 ppm, allene: 1.5 ppm, methyl acetylene: 2.6 ppm, 1,3-butadiene: 2.8 ppm) with a laser power of 180 mW, exposure time of 30 s, and accuracy of higher than 95.2%. This study fully demonstrates the ability of FNEFERS to replace gas chromatography to achieve simultaneous and multiprocess analysis of intermediate compositions for C2H2 and H2 production and to monitor other chemical and energy production processes.

The Role of Macrophages in Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Focusing on Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Treatment Strategies.

Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a severe manifestation of CTD that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, ILD can occur in diverse CTDs. Pathologically, CTD-ILD is characterized by various histologic patterns, such as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and usual interstitial pneumonia. Abnormal immune system responses have traditionally been instrumental in its pathophysiology, and various changes in immune cells have been described, especially in macrophages. This article first briefly overviews the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, impacts, and histopathologic changes associated with CTD-ILD. Next, it summarizes the roles of various signaling pathways in macrophages or products of macrophages in ILD, helped by insights gained from animal models. In the following sections, this review returns to studies of macrophages in CTD-ILD in humans for an overall picture of the current understanding. Finally, we direct attention to potential therapies targeting macrophages in CTD-ILD in investigation or in clinical trials, as well as the future directions regarding macrophages in the context of CTD-ILD. Although the field of macrophages in CTD-ILD is still in its infancy, several lines of evidence suggest the potential of this area.

Dense-pattern multi-pass cavity based on spherical mirrors in a Z-shaped configuration for Raman gas sensing.

We report a dense-pattern multi-pass cavity (MPC) based on four spherical mirrors placed in a Z-shaped cavity configuration for improving the Raman signals from gases. The folding structure of the cavity causes dense patterns of spots, and at least 420 beams are reflected in the cavity. Raman spectra of ambient air, methane, and ethylene are recorded to demonstrate the performance of our apparatus. At atmospheric pressure, ppm-level detection limits of the gases are achieved with 10 s of exposure time. The Raman signal intensities of the gases show excellent linearity with the gases' partial pressures, which means that high-accuracy detection is also feasible.

Vibrational Spectra and Molecular Vibrational Behaviors of Dibenzyl Disulfide, Dibenzyl Sulphide and Bibenzyl.

The vibration spectroscopy (Raman and infrared) of widely concerned molecules in sulfur corrosion phenomenon (Dibenzyl Disulfide, Dibenzyl Sulphide, and Bibenzyl) is detailedly analyzed based on density functional theory and experimental measurement. The dominant conformations of these molecules are determined according to Boltzmann distribution in relative Gibbs free energy. Additionally, noncovalent interaction analysis is conducted to indicate intramolecular interaction. Vibration normal mode is assigned based on potential energy distribution, which comprehensively reveals the molecular vibrational behaviors. Conformations weighted spectra are obtained and compared with experimentally measured spectra. We found that experimental spectra are in good agreement with the theoretical spectra in B3LYP-D3(BJ)/6-311G** level with a frequency correction factor. Furthermore, the divergence among these molecules is discussed. The vibrational behavior of the methylene group in the molecule shows a trend with the presence of the sulfur atom.

School resources, self-control and problem behaviors in Chinese adolescents: a longitudinal study in the post-pandemic era.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought many challenges to youth development. During this specific period, adolescents have suffered from numerous behavioral problems, which will lead to more maladaptive consequences. It is necessary to explore several protective factors to prevent or reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors in adolescence. The current study combined school resources and self-control to evaluate the multiple protective effects on adolescents' problematic behaviors in a two-wave longitudinal study. A sample of 789 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.00 years, SD = 2.05, 418 boys) were recruited via the random cluster sampling method to participate in the survey. The results confirmed the assumptions about the multiple protective effects of school resources and self-control on adolescents' problem behaviors. Specifically, school resources could negatively predict IGD and victimization, and self-control mediated these associations. Moreover, one problematic behavior could also mediate the associations between self-control and another problematic behavior. This is the first study to focus on the multiple protective effects of positive factors on adolescents' problem behaviors during the post-pandemic period, which has made several contributions to the literature and practice.

Hazardous Gas Detection by Cavity-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Environmental Safety Monitoring.

We demonstrate the practicability of cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) with a folded multipass cavity as a unique tool for the detection of hazardous gases in the atmosphere. A four-mirror Z-sharped multipass cavity results in a greatly extended laser-gas interaction length to improve the Raman signal intensity of gases. For Raman intensity maximization, the optimal number of intracavity beams of a single reflection cycle is calculated and then the cavity parameters are designed. A total of 360 intracavity beams are realized, which are circulated four times in the cavity based on the polarization. ppb-Level Raman gas sensing at atmospheric pressure for several typical explosive gases and toxic gases in ambient air, including hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and chlorine (Cl2), is achieved at 300 s exposure time. Our CERS apparatus, which can detect multiple gases simultaneously with ultrahigh sensitivity and high selectivity, is powerful for detecting hazardous gases in the atmosphere, and it has excellent potential for environmental safety monitoring.

Fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for highly sensitive H2 and SO2 sensing with a hollow-core anti-resonant fiber.

An innovative fiber-enhanced Raman gas sensing system with a hollow-core anti-resonant fiber is introduced. Two iris diaphragms are implemented for spatial filtering, and a reflecting mirror is attached to one fiber end that provides a highly improved Raman signal enhancement over 2.9 times than the typical bare fiber system. The analytical performance for multigas compositions is thoroughly demonstrated by recording the Raman spectra of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) with limits of detection down to low-ppm levels as well as a long-term instability < 1.05%. The excellent linear relationship between Raman signal intensity (peak height) and gas concentrations indicates a promising potential for accurate quantification.

Multigas Analysis by Cavity-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Power Transformer Diagnosis.

We demonstrate the utility of cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) as a unique multigas analysis tool for power transformer diagnosis. For this purpose, improvements have been added to our recently introduced CERS apparatus. Based on optical feedback frequency-locking, laser radiation is coupled into a high-finesse optical cavity, thus resulting in huge intracavity laser power. With 20 s exposure time, ppm-level gas sensing at 1 bar total pressure is achieved, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), ethylene (C2H4), acetylene (C2H2), nitrogen (N2), and oxygen (O2). By using the internal standard gas (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6), the quantification of multigas with high accuracy is also realized, which is confirmed by the measurement of calibration gases. For fault diagnosis, transformer oil is sampled from a 110 kV power transformer in service. Dissolved gases are extracted and analyzed by the CERS apparatus. Then the transformer is diagnosed according to the measurement results. CERS has the ability to analyze multigas with high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy, it has great potential in gas sensing fields.

Chronic disorders of consciousness: a case report with longitudinal evaluation of disease progression using 7 T magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Outcome prediction for patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) is essential yet challenging. Evidence showed that patients with DOC lasting 1 year or longer after a brain injury were less likely to recover. However, the reasons why outcomes of DOC patients differ greatly remain unclear. With a variety of analytical methods and through quantitative behavioral assessments, we aimed to track the progression of a patient with severe brain injury, in order to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of DOC. CASE PRESENTATION: We performed a longitudinal study for a 52-year-old male DOC patient who has remained in the state for 1.5 years with comprehensive rehabilitative therapies. The patient underwent 3 times of assessments of Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and ultra-high-field 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Both topologic properties and brain microstructure were analyzed to track disease progression. We observed dynamic increases of fiber densities with measurements at three time points (t1:1.5 M, t2:7.5 M t3:17.5 M). Specifically, fiber densities of the superior longitudinal fasciculus and arcuate fasciculus nerve fiber bundles improved mostly in the visual, verbal, and auditory subscales, which was consistent with the CRS-R scores. Moreover, the graph-theory analyses demonstrated that network topologic properties showed an improvement although the disease duration exceeded 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: DOC patients with a course longer than 1 year remain possible to improve, and including evaluation methods such as WM connectome analysis and graph theory could be potentially valuable for a more precise assessment of patients with a longer course of DOC.

Cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with optical feedback frequency-locking for gas sensing.

A cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) gas-sensing method is introduced. Using optical feedback frequency-locking, laser radiation provided by a diode laser is coupled into a three-mirror V-shaped optical cavity. An intracavity laser power of 92 W is realized, yielding a power gain factor of 2200. Raman spectrums of air, carbon dioxide, and acetylene are recorded as a demonstration. Multicomponent gas mixtures including isotopic gases can be simultaneously sensed by CERS. With 200 s exposure time, detection limits of 5.35 Pa for N2, 5.07 Pa for O2, 1.74 Pa for CO2, and 0.58 Pa for C2H2 are achieved. CERS is a powerful gas-sensing method with high selectivity and sensitivity, which also has the potential for quantitative analysis of gases with high accuracy.

VEGF blockade enables oncolytic cancer virotherapy in part by modulating intratumoral myeloid cells.

Understanding the host response to oncolytic viruses is important to maximize their antitumor efficacy. Despite robust cytotoxicity and high virus production of an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) in cultured human sarcoma cells, intratumoral (ITu) virus injection resulted in only mild antitumor effects in some xenograft models, prompting us to characterize the host inflammatory response. Virotherapy induced an acute neutrophilic infiltrate, a relative decrease of ITu macrophages, and a myeloid cell-dependent upregulation of host-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Anti-VEGF antibodies, bevacizumab and r84, the latter of which binds VEGF and selectively inhibits binding to VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) but not VEGFR1, enhanced the antitumor effects of virotherapy, in part due to decreased angiogenesis but not increased virus production. Neither antibody affected neutrophilic infiltration but both partially mitigated virus-induced depletion of macrophages. Enhancement of virotherapy-mediated antitumor effects by anti-VEGF antibodies could largely be recapitulated by systemic depletion of CD11b(+) cells. These data suggest the combined effect of oHSV virotherapy and anti-VEGF antibodies is in part due to modulation of a host inflammatory reaction to virus. Our data provide strong preclinical support for combined oHSV and anti-VEGF antibody therapy and suggest that understanding and counteracting the innate host response may help enable the full antitumor potential of oncolytic virotherapy.

Clinical significance of abdominal computed tomography and colonoscopy in the evaluation of phlebosclerotic colitis.

Clinical manifestations of phlebosclerotic colitis (PC) exhibit significant variability, necessitating diverse treatment strategies depending on disease severity. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between imaging findings and disease severity. Hence, this retrospective study aimed to analyze the correlation between computed tomography (CT) findings, colonoscopic features, and disease severity. This study compared the abdominal CT characteristics, colonoscopy findings, and treatment modalities of 45 PC patients. CT images were assessed for the severity of mesenteric venous calcification, maximum colonic wall thickness, number of involved colonic segments, and presence of pericolic inflammation. Colonoscopic images were assessed for dark purple discoloration mucosa, erosive and ulcerative lesions, mucosal edema, luminal narrowing, and the number of involved colonic segments. In addition, patients were categorized into three groups: the observation (n = 15), medical treatment (n = 19), and operation (n = 11) groups. In CT images, a significant difference in pericolic inflammation (p = 0.039) was observed among groups. Further, significant differences in dark purple discoloration mucosa (p = 0.033), erosive or ulcerative lesions (p < 0.001), mucosal edema (p < 0.001), luminal narrowing (p = 0.012), and the number of involved colonic segments (p = 0.001) were observed in colonoscopy. Moreover, we found positive correlations between CT and colonoscopy features. In conclusion, CT manifestations and colonoscopy findings exhibited correlation with disease severity in PC. When limited to one diagnostic tool, observations from that tool can infer potential manifestations of the alternative tool.

Trabectedin Enhances Oncolytic Virotherapy by Reducing Barriers to Virus Spread and Cytotoxic Immunity in Preclinical Pediatric Bone Sarcoma.

We previously reported that the DNA alkylator and transcriptional-blocking chemotherapeutic agent trabectedin enhances oncolytic herpes simplex viroimmunotherapy in human sarcoma xenograft models, though the mechanism remained to be elucidated. Here we report trabectedin disrupts the intrinsic cellular anti-viral response which increases viral transcript spread throughout the human tumor cells. We also extended our synergy findings to syngeneic murine sarcoma models, which are poorly susceptible to virus infection. In the absence of robust virus replication, we found trabectedin enhanced viroimmunotherapy efficacy by reducing immunosuppressive macrophages and stimulating granzyme expression in infiltrating T and NK cells to cause immune-mediated tumor regressions. Thus, trabectedin enhances both the direct virus-mediated killing of tumor cells and the viral-induced activation of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes to cause tumor regressions across models. Our data provide a strong rationale for clinical translation as both mechanisms should be simultaneously active in human patients.

Positive youth development attributes and cyberbullying victimization among Chinese middle school students: A longitudinal moderated mediation model involving internet gaming disorder and depression.

As an extension of traditional bullying, cyberbullying emerges with the increasing popularity of the internet, and seriously affects the health of students. However, fewer studies have explored the potential influencing mechanisms of cyberbullying victimization from a positive psychology perspective. Therefore, based on the positive youth development theory, this study will explore the potential mediator and moderator in the relationship between positive youth development (PYD) attributes and cyberbullying victimization through a longitudinal design. 719 students (Mage = 15.95 years, SD = 0.76, 45.2% boy) participated in the study and completed self-report questionnaires on relevant variables. The result found that students' level of PYD significantly and negatively predicted the level of cyberbullying victimization. Meanwhile, SEM analysis showed that PYD influenced individuals' cyberbullying victimization by affecting their internet gaming disorder (IGD), while depression levels moderated the relationship between PYD and IGD. This study examines cyberbullying victimization from a positive psychology orientation, with potential prevention and intervention value.

Parental marital conflict and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: The multiple mediating roles of deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship.

A considerable amount of evidence suggests that parental marital conflict is an important factor in adolescents' internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, the mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between parental marital conflict and IGD among Chinese adolescents, and whether this relationship is mediated by deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship. There were 698 Chinese adolescents that took part in the study (51.58% male; Mage = 13.52). They completed self-report questionnaires regarding perception of parental marital conflict, deviant peer affiliation, teacher-student relationship and IGD. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between parental marital conflict and adolescents' IGD, as well as the mediating roles of deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between parental marital conflict, deviant peer affiliation, and IGD, as well as a negative correlation between them and teacher-student relationship. The results of the SEM showed that parental marital conflict not only predicts adolescent IGD directly, but also through the mediation effects of deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship. Additionally, deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship not only play an independent but also a sequential mediating effect in the relationship between parental marital conflict and IGD. The relationship between parental marital conflict and IGD is mediated by deviant peer affiliation and teacher-student relationship, which has potential prevention and intervention value for adolescent IGD.

Periosteal distraction for foot preservation contributes to favorable clinical effects and prognosis in a foot ulcer patient with critical limb ischemia after multiple operations.

This paper presents the challenges faced by a patient undergoing limb-sparing treatment due to chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) complicated with long-standing nonhealing foot ulcer and intense pain. However, after multiple vascular surgeries, the foot wound continued to worsen, which could lead to transfemoral amputation and even death. We report a case of an aged male patient admitted after complaining of "pain and ulceration in his left foot for ten months". The patient was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower limbs with critical limb ischemia, which improved little after the drug therapy. This patient had undergone three endovascular procedures with a medical history of myocardial infarction and stenting. The main artery could not be directly connected to the foot by open or endovascular surgery due to severe vascular occlusion below the knee. In addition, foot ulcers made it impossible to walk, which induced angina pectoris. After coordination and discussion, we determined to perform a 2-week lateral tibial periosteum distraction (LTPD). The procedure significantly improved the foot wound and relieved the pain. After the two-week personalized wound management, the wound healed, and the pain disappeared. Consequently, the patient was able to walk independently, without recurrence during the 3-month follow-up period. Periosteal distraction has rarely been reported in previous literature and is mainly used to treat patients with diabetic foot, rather than those who have undergone repeated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for CLTI combined with foot ulcers. As most CLTI patients are suffering from cardiac, cerebral, and renal diseases, their blood vessels are difficult to open, with high re-occlusion and recurrence rates and low limb salvage rate. Therefore, we present our case herein so that the CLTI patients whose inferior genicular arteries cannot be opened due to severe infrapopliteal arterial occlusion complicated with nonhealing foot ulcers or intractable pain can be treated with LTPD, thus providing them with the "last kilometer" bloodstream towards the foot.

Chemotaxis of Meloidogyne incognita Response to Rhizosphere Bacteria.

Rhizosphere microorganisms and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by them take part in the regulation of the chemotaxis of nematodes. A total of 150 strains of rhizosphere bacteria were screened via a chemotaxis experiment with Meloidogyne incognita. Some isolates affected the behavior of the nematodes, including attraction, randomness, and repulsion. Volatile metabolites produced via the selected bacteria were associated with the chemotaxis of nematodes. M. incognita was highly attracted to decanal. In addition, dimethyl disulfide, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, pentadecanoic acid, and palmitic acid were found to attract weakly M. incognita. Furthermore, the chemotaxis of M. incognita was tested in a pot experiment. The bacteria Bacillus sp. 1-50, Brevibacillus brevis 2-35, B. cereus 5-14, Chryseobacterium indologens 6-4, and VOC decanal could regulate the movement of M. incognita in the pot with or without plants. The results provide insights into rhizosphere microorganisms and their VOCs and how they regulate the chemotaxis of the nematodes.