Imaging tunable Luttinger liquid systems in van der Waals heterostructures.

One-dimensional (1D) interacting electrons are often described as a Luttinger liquid1-4 having properties that are intrinsically different from those of Fermi liquids in higher dimensions5,6. In materials systems, 1D electrons exhibit exotic quantum phenomena that can be tuned by both intra- and inter-1D-chain electronic interactions, but their experimental characterization can be challenging. Here we demonstrate that layer-stacking domain walls (DWs) in van der Waals heterostructures form a broadly tunable Luttinger liquid system, including both isolated and coupled arrays. We have imaged the evolution of DW Luttinger liquids under different interaction regimes tuned by electron density using scanning tunnelling microscopy. Single DWs at low carrier density are highly susceptible to Wigner crystallization consistent with a spin-incoherent Luttinger liquid, whereas at intermediate densities dimerized Wigner crystals form because of an enhanced magneto-elastic coupling. Periodic arrays of DWs exhibit an interplay between intra- and inter-chain interactions that gives rise to new quantum phases. At low electron densities, inter-chain interactions are dominant and induce a 2D electron crystal composed of phased-locked 1D Wigner crystal in a staggered configuration. Increased electron density causes intra-chain fluctuation potentials to dominate, leading to an electronic smectic liquid crystal phase in which electrons are ordered with algebraical correlation decay along the chain direction but disordered between chains. Our work shows that layer-stacking DWs in 2D heterostructures provides opportunities to explore Luttinger liquid physics.

Rapid Yet Efficient Reduction of Graphene Oxide Triggered by Semi-Molten Metals.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has garnered extensive attention as electrodes, sensors, and membranes, necessitating the efficient reduction of graphene oxide (GO) for optimal performance. In this work, a swift reduction of GO that involves bringing GO foam in contact with semi-molten metals like tin (Sn) and lithium (Li) is presented. These findings reveal that the electrical resistance of GO foam is significantly diminished by its interaction with these metals, even in dry air. Taking inspiration from this technique, Sn foil is employed to encase the GO foam, followed by a calcination in 15 vol% H2 /Ar environment at 235 °C to fabricate the rGO, which demonstrates a remarkably lower electrical resistivity of 0.42 Ω cm when compared to the chemically reduced GO via hydrazine hydrate (650 Ω cm). The reduction mechanism entails the migration of Sn on GO and its subsequent reaction with oxygen functional groups. SnO/Sn(OH)2 formed from the reaction can be subsequently reversed through reduction by H2 to Sn. Utilizing this rGO as the host material for a sulfur cathode, a lithium-sulfur battery is constructed that displays a specific capacity of 1146 mAh g-1 and maintains a capacity retention of 68.4% after 300 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C.

Research progress in the mechanisms and functions of specialized pro-resolving mediators in neurological diseases.

The nervous system interacts with the immune system through a variety of cellular regulators, signaling pathways, and molecular mechanisms. Disruptions in these interactions lead to the development of multiple neurological diseases. Recent studies have identified that specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) play a regulatory role in the neuroimmune system. This study reviews recent research on the function of SPMs in the inflammatory process and their association with the nervous system. The review aims to provide new perspectives for studying the pathogenesis of neurological diseases and identify novel targets for clinical therapy.

Short-term glycemic variability and intracranial atherosclerotic plaque stability assessed by high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between short-term glycemic variability in patients with T2DM and the vulnerability of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques using HR-MR-VWI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 203 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transient ischemia (TIA) combined with T2DM were enrolled. All of them underwent HR-MR-VWI during the period between July 2020 and July 2023. 203 patients were divided into groups with higher (1,5-AG≤ 30.7 µmol/L) and lower (1,5-AG> 30.7 µmol/L) short-term glycemic variability. Patients were also divided into the T1WI and non-T1WI hyperintensity groups. Associated factors(FBG, HbA1c, and 1,5-AG)for the T1WI hyperintensity were analyzed by binary logistic regression. We used the area under the curve (AUC), while the sensitivity and specificity were calculated at the optimal threshold. The Delong test was employed to compare the quality of the AUC of the predictors. RESULTS: The group with higher short-term glycemic variability had a higher incidence of the hyperintensity on T1WI, higher degree of enhancement, higher degree of stenosis and smaller lumen area (P < 0.05). The T1WI hyperintensity group had higher HbA1c levels, higher hemoglobin levels and lower 1,5-AG levels(P < 0.05). 1,5-AG (OR = 0.971, 95 % CI: 0.954∼0.988, P = 0.001), HbA1c (OR=1.305, 95 % CI: 1.065∼1.598, P = 0.01) and male sex (OR = 2.048, 95 % CI: 1.016∼4.128, P = 0.045)/(OR=2.102, 95 % CI: 1.058∼4.177, P = 0.034) were independent risk factors for the hyperintensity on T1WI. 1,5-AG demonstrated enhanced performance and yielded the highest AUC of the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC = 0.726), with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.727 and 0.635 respectively. CONCLUSION: 1,5-AG, HbA1c and male sex are independent predictors of intracranial plaques with T1WI hyperintensity, the greater short-term glycemic variability, the higher incidence of vulnerable plaques.

Identification of BBX gene family and its function in the regulation of microtuber formation in yam.

BBX proteins play important roles in all of the major light-regulated developmental processes. However, no systematic analysis of BBX gene family regarding the regulation of photoperiodic microtuber formation has been previously performed in yam. In this study, a systematic analysis on the BBX gene family was conducted in three yam species, with the results, indicating that this gene plays a role in regulating photoperiodic microtuber formation. These analyses included identification the BBX gene family in three yam species, their evolutionary relationships, conserved domains, motifs, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and expressional patterns. Based on these analyses, DoBBX2/DoCOL5 and DoBBX8/DoCOL8 showing the most opposite pattern of expression during microtuber formation were selected as candidate genes for further investigation. Gene expression analysis showed DoBBX2/DoCOL5 and DoBBX8/DoCOL8 were highest expressed in leaves and exhibited photoperiod responsive expression patterns. Besides, the overexpression of DoBBX2/DoCOL5 and DoBBX8/DoCOL8 in potato accelerated tuber formation under short-day (SD) conditions, whereas only the overexpression of DoBBX8/DoCOL8 enhanced the accelerating effect of dark conditions on tuber induction. Tuber number was increased in DoBBX8/DoCOL8 overexpressing plants under dark, as well as in DoBBX2/DoCOL5 overexpressing plants under SD. Overall, the data generated in this study may form the basis of future functional characterizations of BBX genes in yam, especially regarding their regulation of microtuber formation via the photoperiodic response pathway.

Design of Size-Controlled Sulfur Nanoparticle Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Aviation Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery has been considered as a strong contender for commercial aerospace battery, but the commercialization requires Ah-level pouch cells with both efficient discharge at high rates and ultra-high energy density. In this paper, the application of lithium-sulfur batteries for powering drones by using the cathode of highly dispersed sulfur nanoparticles with well-controlled particle sizes have been realized. The sulfur nanoparticles are prepared by a precipitation method in an eco-friendly and efficient way, and loaded on graphene oxide-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by molecular grafting to realize a large-scale fabrication of sulfur-based cathodes with superior electrochemical performance. A button cell based on the cathode exhibits an excellent discharge capacity of 62.8 mAh cm-2 at a high sulfur loading of 60 mg cm-2 (i.e., 1046.7 mAh g-1 ). The assembled miniature pouch cell (PCmini) shows a discharge capacity of 130 mAh g-1 , while the formed Ah-level pouch cell (PCAh) achieves energy density of 307 Wh kg-1 at 0.3C and 92 Wh kg-1 at 4C. Especially, a four-axis propeller drone powered by the PC has successfully completed a long flight (>3 min) at high altitudes, demonstrating the practical applicability as aviation batteries.

Ratiometric Fluorescence Assay for Pyrophosphate Based on Sulfur Nanodots Decorated Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Selective and sensitive detection of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) are of great significance both for clinical applications and fundamental research. In this work, a ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed by decorating a porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (PCN-224) with sulfur nanodots (S-dots). The red-fluorescence of PCN-224 was significantly promoted (more than 6-fold) by S-dots through inhibiting molecular motion of porphyrin ligand, which also provided active sites for the detection of Cu2+ and PPi. Cu2+ could selectively quench the red-fluorescence of PCN-224 through coordination with porphyrin ligand, and the competition reaction between PPi and Cu2+ resulted in the decomposing of coordination and recovery of red-fluorescence. The blue-fluorescence from S-dots was deemed as effective reference, which provided a built-in correction in complex environments. Based on these photophysical properties, a ratiometric fluorescence assay was developed for the quantitative detection of Cu2+ and PPi, with a limit of detection of 0.11 and 2.66 µM, respectively. The accuracy and practical applications of assays were also demonstrated by detection in tap water and human serum samples.

Silane Effects on Adhesion Enhancement of 2K Polyurethane Adhesives.

With excellent properties such as great flexibility, outstanding chemical resistance, and superb mechanical strength, two-part polyurethane (2K PU) adhesives have been widely applied in many applications, including those in transportation and construction. Despite the extensive use, their adhesion to nonpolar polymer substrates still needs to be improved and has been widely studied. The incorporation of silane molecules and the use of plasma treatment on substrate surfaces are two popular methods to increase the adhesion of 2K PU adhesives, but their detailed adhesion enhancement mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this research, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to probe the influence of added or coated silanes on the interfacial structure at the buried polypropylene (PP)/2K PU adhesive interface in situ. How plasma treatment on PP could improve adhesion was also investigated. To achieve maximum adhesion, two methods to involve silanes were studied. In the first method, silanes were directly mixed with the 2K PU adhesive before use. In the second method, silane molecules were spin-coated onto the PP substrate before the PU adhesive applied. It was found that the first method could not improve the 2K PU adhesion to PP, while the second method could substantially enhance such adhesion. SFG studies demonstrated that with the second method silane molecules chemically reacted at the interface to connect PP and 2K PU adhesive to improve the adhesion. With the first method, silane molecules could not effectively diffuse to the interface to enhance adhesion. In this research, plasma treatment was also found to be a useful method to improve the adhesion of the 2K PU adhesive to nonpolar polymer materials.

Molecular Behavior of 1K Polyurethane Adhesive at Buried Interfaces: Plasma Treatment, Annealing, and Adhesion.

One-part (1K) polyurethane (PU) adhesive has excellent bulk strength and environmental resistance. It is therefore widely used in many fields, such as construction, transportation, and flexible lamination. However, when contacting non-polar polymer materials, the poor adhesion of 1K PU adhesive may not be able to support its outdoor applications. To solve this problem, plasma treatment of the non-polar polymer surface has been utilized to improve adhesion between the polymer and 1K PU adhesive. The detailed mechanisms of adhesion enhancement of the 1K PU adhesive caused by plasma treatment on polymer substrates have not been studied extensively because adhesion is a property of buried interfaces which are difficult to probe. In this study, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to investigate the buried PU/polypropylene (PP) interfaces in situ nondestructively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the X-ray diffraction technique, and adhesion tests were used as supplemental methods to SFG in the study. The 1K PU adhesive is a moisture-curing adhesive and usually needs several days to be fully cured. Here, time-dependent SFG experiments were conducted to monitor the molecular behaviors at the buried 1K PU adhesive/PP interfaces during the curing process. It was found that the PU adhesives underwent rearrangement during the curing process with functional groups gradually becoming ordered at the interface. Stronger adhesion between the plasma-treated PP substrate and the 1K PU adhesive was observed, which was achieved by the interfacial chemical reactions and a more rigid interface. Annealing the samples increased the reaction speed and enhanced the bulk PU strength with higher crystallinity. In this research, molecular mechanisms of adhesion enhancement of the 1K PU adhesive caused by the plasma treatment on PP and by annealing the PU/PP samples were elucidated.

PRMT5 Prevents Dilated Cardiomyopathy via Suppression of Protein O-GlcNAcylation.

[Figure: see text].

Clot-based radiomics model for cardioembolic stroke prediction with CT imaging before recanalization: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a clot-based radiomics model using CT imaging radiomic features and machine learning to identify cardioembolic (CE) stroke before mechanical thrombectomy (MTB) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective four-center study consecutively included 403 patients with AIS who sequentially underwent CT and MTB between April 2016 and July 2021. These were grouped into training, testing, and external validation cohorts. Thrombus-extracted radiomic features and basic information were gathered to construct a machine learning model to predict CE stroke. The radiological characteristics and basic information were used to build a routine radiological model. A combined radiomics and radiological features model was also developed. The performances of all models were evaluated and compared in the validation cohort. A histological analysis helped further assess the proposed model in all patients. RESULTS: The radiomics model yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.838 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.771-0.891) for predicting CE stroke in the validation cohort, significantly higher than the radiological model (AUC, 0.713; 95% CI, 0.636-0.781; p = 0.007) but similar to the combined model (AUC, 0.855; 95% CI, 0.791-0.906; p = 0.14). The thrombus radiomic features achieved stronger correlations with red blood cells (|rmax|, 0.74 vs. 0.32) and fibrin and platelet (|rmax|, 0.68 vs. 0.18) than radiological characteristics. CONCLUSION: The proposed CT-based radiomics model could reliably predict CE stroke in AIS, performing better than the routine radiological method. KEY POINTS: • Admission CT imaging could offer valuable information to identify the acute ischemic stroke source by radiomics analysis. • The proposed CT imaging-based radiomics model yielded a higher area under the curve (0.838) than the routine radiological method (0.713; p = 0.007). • Several radiomic features showed significantly stronger correlations with two main thrombus constituents (red blood cells, |rmax|, 0.74; fibrin and platelet, |rmax|, 0.68) than routine radiological characteristics.

Predictive value of the combination between the intracranial arterial culprit plaque characteristics and the Essen Stroke Risk Score for short-term stroke recurrence.

AIM: In the current study we aim the identification of the culprit plaque characteristics of intracranial arteries using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MR-VWI). Moreover, we target the evaluation of the predictive value of culprit plaque characteristics for short-term stroke recurrence combined with ESRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 342 patients diagnosed with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (sICAS), out of which 243 were men and 99 were women with an average age of 64 ± 12 years. 184 cases of anterior circulation ischemia (ACIS) and 158 cases of posterior circulation ischemia (PCIS) were included in the study. All of them underwent HR-MR-VWI during the period between February 2020 and June 2021 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China. The culprit vessel and culprit plaque characteristics were assessed based on HR-MR-VWI images, and the patients' ESRS were obtained from the electronic medical records of the hospital. Concerning the obtained results from the 6-month follow-up, the patients were divided into the non-recurrence group and the recurrence group, and the differences in the above-mentioned features between the two groups were compared. The univariate Cox regression analysis combined with ESRS was performed to screen out the independent risk factors associated with recurrent stroke with P < 0.1. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) were plotted to analyze the predictive performance of the culprit plaque characteristics, ESRS and combined variables for stroke recurrence. We used the area under the curve (AUC) ROC, while the sensitivity and specificity were calculated at the optimal threshold. The Delong test was employed to compare the quality of the AUC of the predictors. RESULTS: A total of 15.5% (53/342) of patients had a stroke recurrence within six months, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups regarding the ESRS, medical history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, data for previous acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack(TIA), history of peripheral vascular disease, and serum brain natriuretic peptide level. In the patients with ACIS, the incidence of hyperintensity on the T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) was significantly different between the recurrence and the non-recurrence groups (P < 0.05). In the patients with PCIS, statistically significant differences between the recurrence and the non-recurrence group were detected in the culprit plaque burden, degree of enhancement, and incidence of hyperintensity on T1WI (P < 0.05). The ESRS (hazard ratios [HR], 1.598, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.193-2.141, P = 0.002) ,degree of enhancement (HR = 1.764, 95% CI 0.985-3.087, P = 0.047) and hyperintensity on T1WI (HR = 2.745, 95% CI 1.373-5.488, P = 0.004) proved to be independent risk factors for stroke recurrence. The ESRS predicted stroke recurrence with AUC = 0.618 (95% CI 0.564-0.670), while the best cut-off value was 2 points. Furthermore, the registered sensitivity and specificity were 60.4% and 58.5%, respectively. Regarding the degree of enhancement in the culprit plaque, the prediction of stroke recurrence was with AUC = 0.628 (95% CI 0.574-0.679) as well as with sensitivities and specificities of 58.5% and 64.4%, respectively. Regarding the hyperintensity on T1WI in culprit plaque, the prediction of stroke recurrence was with AUC = 0.678 (95% CI 0.626-0.727) as well as with sensitivities and specificities of 66.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The ESRS combined with the degree of enhancement predicted stroke recurrence with an AUC = 0.685 (95CI% 0.633-0.734), while the recorded sensitivity and specificity were 56.6% and 73.4%, respectively. The ESRS combined with hyperintensity on the T1WI predicted stroke recurrence with an AUC = 0.745 (95CI% 0.696-0.791). The recorded sensitivity and specificity were 64.2% and 76.8%, respectively. The AUC quality of the ESRS combined with hyperintensity on T1WI was higher than that of other indices (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The hyperintensity on T1WI of the culprit plaque in intracranial arteries combined with ESRS demonstrated better predictive ability for short-term stroke recurrence. We consider this of high importance for clinical application since it provides an easier way of obtaining data for precise diagnosis.

Relationship between annular calcification of plaques in the carotid sinus and perioperative hemodynamic disorder in carotid angioplasty and stenting.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between annular plaque calcification in the carotid sinus and perioperative hemodynamic disorder (HD) in carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). METHODS: The clinical data of 49 patients undergoing CAS due to narrowing of the carotid sinus were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had preoperative carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA) and were divided into HD and non-HD groups based on the occurrence of HD in the perioperative period of CAS. HD was defined as persistent bradycardia (heart rate < 60 beats per min) or persistent hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg) in the perioperative period and lasting for at least 1 h. The baseline data, including the degree of carotid artery stenosis, plaque length, plaque thickness, calcified plaque morphologies (i.e., plaque circumferential angle: < 90° defined as dotted calcification; 90°-180° defined as arcuate calcification; > 180° defined as annular calcification), contralateral carotid artery conditions, balloon diameter, and stent types, were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of HD. RESULTS: Among the 49 patients undergoing CAS, 14 (28.57%) developed perioperative HD, and 35 did not. Annular calcification was more common in the patients in the HD group than in the non-HD group. No significant differences in the probabilities of dotted and arcuate calcifications were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). The duration of continuous dopamine consumption in the HD group was 9-71 h. The average hospital stay of the HD group (10.14 ± 4.17 days) was significantly longer than that of the non-HD group (6.57 ± 1.9 days; p < 0.001). Patients in the HD group had significantly more pronounced lumen stenosis (p = 0.033) and longer plaque length (p = 0.034) than those in the non-HD group. After adjusting for age and sex, multivariate regression analysis showed that the presence of annular plaque calcification was an independent predictor of HD (odds ratio: 7.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.46-40.37, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of annular plaque calcification in the carotid sinus was an independent risk factor for perioperative HD in CAS. Preoperative carotid CTA assists with the early identification of high-risk patients who may develop HD.

CmNF-YB8 affects drought resistance in chrysanthemum by altering stomatal status and leaf cuticle thickness.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits plant growth and development. Adaptive mechanisms have evolved to mitigate drought stress, including the capacity to adjust water loss rate and to modify the morphology and structure of the epidermis. Here, we show that the expression of CmNF-YB8, encoding a nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) B-type subunit, is lower under drought conditions in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Transgenic chrysanthemum lines in which transcript levels of CmNF-YB8 were reduced by RNA interference (CmNF-YB8-RNAi) exhibited enhanced drought resistance relative to control lines, whereas lines overexpressing CmNF-YB8 (CmNF-YB8-OX) were less tolerant to drought. Compared to wild type (WT), CmNF-YB8-RNAi plants showed reduced stomatal opening and a thicker epidermal cuticle that correlated with their water loss rate. We also identified genes involved in stomatal adjustment (CBL-interacting protein kinase 6, CmCIPK6) and cuticle biosynthesis (CmSHN3) that are more highly expressed in CmNF-YB8-RNAi lines than in WT, CmCIPK6 being a direct downstream target of CmNF-YB8. Virus-induced gene silencing of CmCIPK6 or CmSHN3 in the CmNF-YB8-RNAi background abolished the effects of CmNF-YB8-RNAi on stomatal closure and cuticle deposition, respectively. CmNF-YB8 thus regulates CmCIPK6 and CmSHN3 expression to alter stomatal movement and cuticle thickness in the leaf epidermis, thereby affecting drought resistance.

Causal association of adipokines with osteoarthritis: a Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: This two-sample Mendelian randomization study aimed to delve into the effects of genetically predicted adipokine levels on OA. METHODS: Summary statistic data for OA originated from a meta-analysis of a genome-wide association study with an overall 50 508 subjects of European ancestry. Publicly available summary data from four genome-wide association studies were exploited to respectively identify instrumental variables of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, chemerin and retinol-blinding protein 4. Subsequently, Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted with inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median and Mendelian randomization-Egger regression. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were then conducted to assess the robustness of our results. RESULTS: The positive causality between genetically predicted leptin level and risk of total OA was indicated by IVW [odds ratio (OR): 2.40, 95% CI: 1.13-5.09] and weighted median (OR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.23-6.99). In subgroup analyses, evidence of potential harmful effects of higher level of adiponectin (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01-1.61 using IVW), leptin (OR: 3.44, 95% CI: 1.18-10.03 using IVW) and resistin (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36 using IVW) on risk of knee OA were acquired. However, the mentioned effects on risk of hip OA were not statistically significant. Slight evidence was identified supporting causality of chemerin and retinol-blinding protein 4 for OA. The findings of this study were verified by the results from sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: An association between genetically predicted leptin level and risk of total OA was identified. Furthermore, association of genetically predicted levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin with risk of knee OA were reported.

The prognosis prediction significance of Hounsfield unit value for stroke patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is a rapid and effective treatment in the early stage of ischemic stroke patients and the purpose of this work is to explore the significance of Hounsfield unit (HU) value in Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) for predicting the clinical prognosis of stroke patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) treated by IVT. METHODS: The 84 stroke patients with MCAO treated by IVT were divided into good prognosis group (48 cases) and poor prognosis group (36 cases). HU ratio and HU difference calculated from non-contrast computed tomography between groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The HU ratio of good prognosis group was higher than that in poor prognosis group and the HU difference of good prognosis group was lower than that in poor prognosis group (P < 0.05). The HU ratio and ASPECTS were negatively correlated with the infarct volume, and the HU difference was positively correlated with the infarct volume (P < 0.05). HU difference was an independent risk factor for prognosis of patients with MCAO treated by IVT. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of HU ratio and HU difference for prognosis was 0.743 and 0.833 respectively. CONCLUSION: The HU value changes are related to the clinical prognosis of stroke patients with MCAO treated by IVT, HU value may be a prognostic indicator for stroke patients with MCAO treated by IVT.

Crystal structure and biochemical studies of the bifunctional DNA primase-polymerase from phage NrS-1.

A novel DNA polymerase found in the deep-sea vent phage NrS-1, was confirmed to have both DNA polymerase and primase activities. In this polymerase, the N-terminal residues 1-300 (referred to as N300) are the core region required for polymerizing DNA and catalyzing de novo DNA synthesis. Here, the crystal structure of N300 was solved at a resolution of 1.80 Å. The overall structure consists of a prim/pol domain and a helix bundle domain, which are separated by a 14-residue-long flexible tether (residues 177-190). Both the prim/pol domain of N300 and other primase-polymerases (prim-pol) encompass an analogous fold with conserved catalytic residues. Mutagenesis and enzymatic activity assays show that the acidic active-site residue E139 is required for both polymerase and primase activities. Functional assays confirm the essentiality of the helix bundle domain for primase activity. Furthermore, we identified a mutant (N300-Y261A) of the helix bundle domain, which probably plays an indispensable role in the primer initiation and recognition of template DNA.

Experimental observation of negative capacitance in ferroelectrics at room temperature.

Effective negative capacitance has been postulated in ferroelectrics because there is a hysteresis in plots of polarization-electric field. Compelling experimental evidence of effective negative capacitance is presented here at room temperature in engineered devices, where it is stabilized by the presence of a paraelectric material. In future integrated circuits, the incorporation of such negative capacitance into MOSFET gate stacks would reduce the subthreshold slope, enabling low power operation and reduced self-heating.

Effects of increasing drip irrigation at different maize growth stages on soil microorganisms.

Introduction: To investigate the effects of different drip irrigation periods on soil microbial communities and functions. Methods: Increasing drip irrigation amount at the seedling (S), jointing (J), bell (B), tasseling (T) and grain filling (G) stages of maize were studied using no increase in irrigation amount as control (CK). Principal component analysis was conducted to comprehensively evaluate soil microbial quality following the different drip irrigation treatments. In addition, the characteristics of the community structure and the potential functional composition of soil bacteria and fungi were comparatively analyzed by combining amplicon sequencing and functional prediction methods. Results: The results indicated that MBNT15 was the most important genus for the classification of soil bacterial samples, Saitozyma was the most important genus for the classification of soil fungal samples, and fungi were more important than bacteria for the classification of soil microbial samples. Compared with fungal communities, bacterial communities exhibited high levels of functional diversity. The proportion of metabolism was the highest in the prediction of bacterial primary functions, and carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism were important functions in the prediction of bacterial secondary functions. BugBase phenotype prediction results showed that soil bacteria under B treatment had a higher number of aerobic bacteria and greater resistance to disease and stress. The J treatment had the highest number of bacteria with biofilm forms, and the J, S, and G treatments contained more potentially pathogenic bacteria but fewer stress-tolerant bacteria compared with the CK treatment. The number of Saprotroph was the largest and the number of Symbiotroph was the least. The relative abundances of Saprotroph, Pathotroph and Symbiotroph were 68.60%~74.33%, 15.76%~20.60% and 9.16%~11.13%, respectively. Discussion: The findings provide a reference for conserving water resources, improving maize yield, and predicting soil microbial metabolic potential and function by reflecting the richness of the soil microbial community structure in maize fields.