Genetic and neural mechanisms that inhibit Drosophila from mating with other species.

Genetically hard-wired neural mechanisms must enforce behavioral reproductive isolation because interspecies courtship is rare even in sexually naïve animals of most species. We find that the chemoreceptor Gr32a inhibits male D. melanogaster from courting diverse fruit fly species. Gr32a recognizes nonvolatile aversive cues present on these reproductively dead-end targets, and activity of Gr32a neurons is necessary and sufficient to inhibit interspecies courtship. Male-specific Fruitless (Fru(M)), a master regulator of courtship, also inhibits interspecies courtship. Gr32a and Fru(M) are not coexpressed, but Fru(M) neurons contact Gr32a neurons, suggesting that these genes influence a shared neural circuit that inhibits interspecies courtship. Gr32a and Fru(M) also suppress within-species intermale courtship, but we show that distinct mechanisms preclude sexual displays toward conspecific males and other species. Although this chemosensory pathway does not inhibit interspecies mating in D. melanogaster females, similar mechanisms appear to inhibit this behavior in many other male drosophilids.

Parent-Performed Infant Massage for Improving Parental Mental State Within 18 Months Postpartum: A Systematic Review.

The aim of the current review was to assess whether parent-performed infant massage (PPIM) could effectively improve the mental state of parents during the postpartum period. Several international electronic databases were thoroughly searched for relevant articles. Included studies observed the influence of PPIM on the mental state of parents of healthy full-term infants within 18 months postpartum or medically stable preterm infants during hospitalization after birth. Nine studies were included, which observed one or more aspects of parental mental state, including depression, anxiety, parental stress, or general mood state. Characteristics of participants, massage protocols, and outcome measures were heterogenous; hence, results regarding the influence of PPIM on parental mental state were inconsistent. Upon further investigation, 10-minute, home-based PPIM for at least 4 weeks is advisable for maternal depression within 5 months postpartum. Moreover, PPIM in a neonatal intensive care unit is advisable for improving the general mood of mothers of preterm infants. Additional methodologically rigorous studies are needed to provide stronger evidence. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(4), 52-59.].

[Prevalence Survey of Functional Dyspepsia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Chinese College Students Based on Rome â £ Diagnostic Criteria].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among college students in China. Methods: An online questionnaire survey of college students aged 17-35 from across China was conducted. The online questionnaire survey was supplemented by an offline survey. A total of 2025 valid samples were included for statistical analysis. χ 2 test and logistic regression were performed for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of FD among college students who met the Rome Ⅳ diagnostic criteria was 5.5% (112/2025), with most of them, or 66.1% (74/112), suffering from postprandial discomfort syndrome (PDS). Smoking (odds ratio [ OR]=2.334, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.187-4.589, P=0.014), depression ( OR=2.447, 95% CI: 1.421-4.214, P=0.001), and insomnia ( OR=1.947, 95% CI: 1.291-2.937, P=0.001) were positively correlated with the prevalence of FD. The prevalence of IBS was 1.9% (38/2025), with IBS-diarrhea dominant (IBS-D) being the most important subtype that accounted for 44.7%. Anxiety ( OR=3.63, 95% CI: 1.34-9.88, P=0.012) and insomnia ( OR=2.35, 95% CI: 1.18-4.68, P=0.015) were positively correlated with the prevalence of IBS. Conclusion: Based on Rome Ⅳ criteria, IBS and FD are not uncommon among Chinese university students. Psychological disorders and some related lifestyle factors may be related to the development of the disease. In the future, more series of studies based on different diagnostic criteria, different regions, and multiple factors should be conducted in China.

Increased Hippocampal Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression and Reduced Anxiety-Like Behavior Following Tuina in a Rat Model With Allergic Airway Inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influence mechanism of Tuina on anxiety-like behavior in immature rats with allergic airway inflammation (AAI). METHODS: A total of 27 Sprague-Dawley male rats (aged ∼5 weeks) were divided randomly into control, AAI, and AAI with Tuina groups (9 rats per group). The anxiety-like behavior was assessed by an open field test and elevated plus-maze test. Allergic airway inflammation was assessed based on the pathological score of the lung, plasma ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E, interleukin 4, interleukin 5, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) messenger RNA and protein expression in the hippocampus and lung were detected by polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Meanwhile, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) messenger RNA in the hypothalamus, the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone were also determined respectively by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function. RESULTS: The AAI group had obvious anxiety-like behavior and hyperactive HPA axis, along with decreased GR expression in the hippocampus and lung. Following Tuina, AAI and the anxiety-like behavior were efficiently reduced, and the hyperactivity of HPA axis was efficiently inhibited, along with enhanced GR expression in the hippocampus and lung. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus and lung was enhanced, and anxiety-like behavior was reduced following Tuina in rats with AAI.

Naphthalene-Diimide-Based Ionenes as Universal Interlayers for Efficient Organic Solar Cells.

Self-doping ionene polymers were efficiently synthesized by reacting functional naphthalene diimide (NDI) with 1,3-dibromopropane (NDI-NI) or trans-1,4-dibromo-2-butene (NDI-CI) via quaternization polymerization. These NDI-based ionene polymers are universal interlayers with random molecular orientation, boosting the efficiencies of fullerene-based, non-fullerene-based, and ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) over a wide range of interlayer thicknesses, with a maximum efficiency of 16.9 %. NDI-NI showed a higher interfacial dipole (Δ), conductivity, and electron mobility than NDI-CI, affording solar cells with higher efficiencies. These polymers proved to efficiently lower the work function (WF) of air-stable metals and optimize the contact between metal electrode and organic semiconductor, highlighting their power to overcome energy barriers of electron injection and extraction processes for efficient organic electronics.

Traditional Pediatric Massage Enhanced Hippocampal GR, BDNF and IGF-1 Expressions and Exerted an Anti-depressant Effect in an Adolescent Rat Model of CUMS-induced Depression.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of traditional pediatric massage (TPM) in adolescent rats and its possible mechanism. The adolescent depression model in rats was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). All rats were randomly divided into five groups (seven per group), including the groups of control (CON), CUMS, CUMS with TPM, CUMS with back stroking massage (BSM) and CUMS with fluoxetine (FLX). The tests of sucrose preference, Morris water maze and elevated plus maze were used to evaluate depression-related behaviors. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) level was measured by ELISA. The gene and protein expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by RT-qPCR and IHC respectively. The results showed that CUMS induced depression-related behaviors in the adolescent rats, along with decreased weight gain and reduced hippocampal expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF. TPM could effectively prevent depression-related behaviors in CUMS-exposed adolescent rats, manifested as increasing weight gain, sucrose consumption, ratio of open-arm entry, times of crossing the specific quadrant and shortening escape latency. TPM also decreased CORT level in plasma, together with enhancing expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF in the hippocampus. These results may support the clinical application of TPM to prevent and treat adolescent depression.

Excess non-COVID-19-related mortality among inflammatory bowel disease decedents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted healthcare in the United States. AIM: To investigate COVID-19-related and non-COVID-19-related death and characteristics associated with excess death among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) decedents. METHODS: We performed a register-based study using data from the National Vital Statistics System, which reports death data from over 99% of the United States population, from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2021. IBD-related deaths among adults 25 years and older were stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, place of death, and primary cause of death. Predicted and actual age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100000 persons were compared. RESULTS: 49782 IBD-related deaths occurred during the study period. Non-COVID-19-related deaths increased by 13.14% in 2020 and 18.12% in 2021 [2020 ASMR: 1.55 actual vs 1.37 predicted, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-1.49; 2021 ASMR: 1.63 actual vs 1.38 predicted, 95%CI: 1.26-1.49]. In 2020, non-COVID-19-related mortality increased by 17.65% in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients between the ages of 25 and 65 and 36.36% in non-Hispanic black (NHB) Crohn's disease (CD) patients. During the pandemic, deaths at home or on arrival and at medical facilities as well as deaths due to neoplasms also increased. CONCLUSION: IBD patients suffered excess non-COVID-19-related death during the pandemic. Excess death was associated with younger age among UC patients, and with NHB race among CD patients. Increased death at home or on arrival and due to neoplasms suggests that delayed presentation and difficulty accessing healthcare may have led to increased IBD mortality.

Solution-Processable NiOx:PMMA Hole Transport Layer for Efficient and Stable Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

For organic solar cells (OSCs), nickel oxide (NiOx) is a potential candidate as the hole transport layer (HTL) material. However, due to the interfacial wettability mismatch, developing solution-based fabrication methods of the NiOx HTL is challenging for OSCs with inverted device structures. In this work, by using N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to dissolve poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), the polymer is successfully incorporated into the NiOx nanoparticle (NP) dispersions to modify the solution-processable HTL of the inverted OSCs. Benefiting from the improvements of electrical and surface properties, the inverted PM6:Y6 OSCs based on the PMMA-doped NiOx NP HTL achieves an enhanced power conversion efficiency of 15.11% as well as improved performance stability in ambient conditions. The results demonstrated a viable approach to realize efficient and stable inverted OSCs by tuning the solution-processable HTL.

Are there associations between daily multitasking experience and multitasking performance?

Research showed mixed findings regarding the relationships between daily multitasking experience and laboratory multitasking performance. One measurement issue was the low reliability and validity of using a single measurement for daily multitasking experience. Another measurement issue was the popular use of simple laboratory paradigms that may or may not capture well cognitive processes underlying real-life multitasking. The current study revisited the relationship between daily multitasking experience and multitasking performance with a better design. Multiple measurements were used to ensure good reliability and validity. This included a mobile phone task switching measurement-an arguably better proxy for daily multitasking experience and three realistic multitasking paradigms that mimic real life multitasking situations. The results showed that (1) phone switching was not significantly associated with the media multitasking index, suggesting that they were measuring different aspects of multitasking experience; (2) indicators of the multitasking performance were moderately correlated among themselves, suggesting that different realistic multitasking paradigms were measuring overlapping multitasking abilities; and, intriguingly, (3) no significant association between multitasking experience and performance indicators was found. One possibility is that people can only benefit from daily multitasking practice when they engaged in daily multitasking activities with an intention to improve the performance. Other possibilities and implications were also discussed.

Visual and visual association abilities predict skilled reading performance: The case of music sight-reading.

The role of visual shape processing in skilled reading is an understudied topic. This study focused on the role of visual and visual association skills in a type of skilled reading, music sight-reading, which refers to the ability to play a piece of music when one reads the score for the first time. One hundred and 43 intermediate-to-advanced musicians were assessed on their sight-reading performance as well as visual fluency for notes, general visual fluency, motor dexterity, visual-auditory association for notes, visual-motor association for numbers, working memory capacity, and executive function. Correlation and regression analyses showed that sight-reading performance can be largely explained by three abilities related to vision, including visual fluency for notes, visual-auditory association for notes, and visual-motor association for numbers (9.99, 10.11, and 4.62% respectively). The findings led to a better understanding of music sight-reading that takes into account the long-overlooked association between visual shape processing ability and sight-reading, which has clear educational implications. The importance of visual shape processing ability may also apply to other domains of skilled reading requiring visual perceptual extraction of visual codes, such as word reading. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Glycemic control by umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes effects of fasting-mimicking diet on type 2 diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic steatosis is a big hurdle to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). Fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) has been shown to be an effective intervention in dyslipidemia of T2D. However, fasting may impair the normal glucose metabolism. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation has been discovered to regulate immune reactions and reduce hyperglycemia in diabetes. However, the effect of UC-MSCs on improving the lipid metabolism disorder is not quite satisfactory. We have investigated the efficacy comparison and interaction between FMD and UC-MSC infusion, aiming to establish effective T2D therapies and explore its mechanism. METHODS: C57/BL6 mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model. Leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice were used for follow-up experiments. DIO or db/db mice were divided into 4 groups: phosphate buffer saline (PBS), UC-MSCs, FMD, and UC-MSCs + FMD. At the end of the study period, mice were fasted and sacrificed, with the measurement of physiological and biochemical indexes. In addition, the fresh liver, skin, and white adipose tissue were analyzed by histology. RESULTS: FMD restored the lipid metabolism in DIO mice, whereas its capacity to rescue hyperglycemia was uncertain. Infusion of UC-MSCs was effective in T2D glycemic control but the impact on dyslipidemia was insufficient. Furthermore, both the glucose and the lipid alterations of DIO and db/db mice recovered after UC-MSCs combined with FMD. It was proved that UC-MSCs promoted FMD effects on ameliorating hyperglycemia and restoring the lipid metabolism in T2D mice, while FMD had little promotion effect on UC-MSCs. Mechanistically, we discovered that UC-MSC infusion significantly modulated systematic inflammatory microenvironment, which contributed to concerted actions with FMD. CONCLUSIONS: We established a strategy that combined UC-MSC infusion and FMD and was effective in treating T2D, which provided potential approaches for developing novel clinical T2D therapies.

Transmission patterns of COVID-19 in the mainland of China and the efficacy of different control strategies: a data- and model-driven study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has seriously endangered the health and lives of Chinese people. In this study, we predicted the COVID-19 epidemic trend and estimated the efficacy of several intervention strategies in the mainland of China. METHODS: According to the COVID-19 epidemic status, we constructed a compartmental model. Based on reported data from the National Health Commission of People's Republic of China during January 10-February 17, 2020, we estimated the model parameters. We then predicted the epidemic trend and transmission risk of COVID-19. Using a sensitivity analysis method, we estimated the efficacy of several intervention strategies. RESULTS: The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the mainland of China will be 86 763 (95% CI: 86 067-87 460) on May 2, 2020. Up until March 15, 2020, the case fatality rate increased to 6.42% (95% CI: 6.16-6.68%). On February 23, 2020, the existing confirmed cases reached its peak, with 60 890 cases (95% CI: 60 350-61 431). On January 23, 2020, the effective reproduction number was 2.620 (95% CI: 2.567-2.676) and had dropped below 1.0 since February 5, 2020. Due to governmental intervention, the total number of confirmed cases was reduced by 99.85% on May 2, 2020. Had the isolation been relaxed from February 24, 2020, there might have been a second peak of infection. However, relaxing the isolation after March 16, 2020 greatly reduced the number of existing confirmed cases and deaths. The total number of confirmed cases and deaths would increase by 8.72 and 9.44%, respectively, due to a 1-day delayed diagnosis in non-isolated infected patients. Moreover, if the coverage of close contact tracing was increased to 100%, the cumulative number of confirmed cases would be decreased by 88.26% on May 2, 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The quarantine measures adopted by the Chinese government since January 23, 2020 were necessary and effective. Postponing the relaxation of isolation, early diagnosis, patient isolation, broad close-contact tracing, and strict monitoring of infected persons could effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic. April 1, 2020 would be a reasonable date to lift quarantine in Hubei and Wuhan.

Spleen-Associated Effects on Immunity in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension.

Our study aimed to investigate the histologic and immunological changes of portal hypertension (PH) pre- and postsplenectomy in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and PH at pre- and postsplenectomy time points and from 15 healthy subjects. Spleen tissue specimens were collected from 15 of the patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and from 8 control patients who had undergone splenectomy due to trauma. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the immune effector cells and the expression of negative immune regulators. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the immunophenotypes and percentages. The spleen of cirrhotic patients with PH showed extensive depletion of splenic CD4, CD8, and human leukocyte antigen DR cells along with overexpression of the inhibitory receptors programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 and their ligands (PD-L2 and galectin-9). Peripheral blood of patients with PH showed remarkable decrease in proportions of CD8 T cell and natural killer (NK) cells and increase in regulatory T (Treg) cells, as well as high expression of PD-1 in CD4/8 T cells. Compared with presplenectomy patients, cirrhotic patients with PH showed increased proportions of CD8 and NK cells, decreased proportion of Treg cells, and decreased expression of PD-1 in peripheral blood CD4/8 T cells after splenectomy. PH-spleen could lead to peripheral tolerance and immunosuppression in HBV cirrhotic patients, and splenectomy may cause beneficial immunological changes.

Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells via Interface Engineering with a Nanostructured ITR-GO/PFN Bilayer Cathode Interlayer.

An innovative bilayer cathode interlayer (CIL) with a nanostructure consisting of in situ thermal reduced graphene oxide (ITR-GO) and poly[(9,9-bis(3'-(N,N-dimethylamion)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctyl) fluorene] (PFN) has been fabricated for inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). An approach to prepare a CIL of high electronic quality by using ITR-GO as a template to modulate the morphology of the interface between the active layer and electrode and to further reduce the work function of the electrode has also been realized. This bilayer ITR-GO/PFN CIL is processed by a spray-coating method with facile in situ thermal reduction. Meanwhile, the CIL shows a good charge transport efficiency and less charge recombination, which leads to a significant enhancement of the power conversion efficiency from 6.47% to 8.34% for Poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl} (PTB7):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)-based OSCs. In addition, the long-term stability of the OSC is improved by using the ITR-GO/PFN CIL when compared with the pristine device. These results indicate that the bilayer ITR-GO/PFN CIL is a promising way to realize high-efficiency and stable OSCs by using water-soluble conjugated polymer electrolytes such as PFN.

Preparation of Reduced Graphene Oxide:ZnO Hybrid Cathode Interlayer Using In Situ Thermal Reduction/Annealing for Interconnecting Nanostructure and Its Effect on Organic Solar Cell.

A novel hybrid cathode interlayer (CIL) consisting of reduced graphene oxide and zinc oxide (ZnO) is realized in the inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). A dual-nozzle spray coating system and facile one-step in situ thermal reduction/annealing (ITR/ITA) method are introduced to precisely control the components of the CIL, assemble ZnO with graphene oxide, and reduce graphene oxide into in situ thermal reduced graphene oxide (IT-RGO), simultaneously. The ZnO:IT-RGO hybrid CIL shows high electric conductivity, interconnecting nanostructure, and matched energy level, which leads to a significant enhancement in the power conversion efficiency from 6.16% to 8.04% for PTB7:PC71BM and from 8.02% to 9.49% for PTB7-Th:PC71BM-based OSCs, respectively. This newly developed spray-coated ZnO:IT-RGO hybrid CIL based on one-step ITR/ITA treatment has the high potential to provide a facile pathway to fabricate the large-scale, fast fabrication, and high performance OSCs.

Toward Efficient Thick Active PTB7 Photovoltaic Layers Using Diphenyl Ether as a Solvent Additive.

The development of thick organic photovoltaics (OPV) could increase absorption in the active layer and ease manufacturing constraints in large-scale solar panel production. However, the efficiencies of most low-bandgap OPVs decrease substantially when the active layers exceed ∼100 nm in thickness (because of low crystallinity and a short exciton diffusion length). Herein, we report the use of solvent additive diphenyl ether (DPE) that facilitates the fabrication of thick (180 nm) active layers and triples the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of conventional thienothiophene-co-benzodithiophene polymer (PTB7)-based OPVs from 1.75 to 6.19%. These results demonstrate a PCE 20% higher than those of conventional (PTB7)-based OPV devices using 1,8-diiodooctane. Morphology studies reveal that DPE promotes the formation of nanofibrillar networks and ordered packing of PTB7 in the active layer that facilitate charge transport over longer distances. We further demonstrate that DPE improves the fill factor and photocurrent collection by enhancing the overall optical absorption, reducing the series resistance, and suppressing bimolecular recombination.

[Oestrogen inhibits invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells by regulating the activity of AKT signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitory effect of estrogen against metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells and explore the molecular mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of estrogen on the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells was evaluated with wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Western blotting was used for investigating the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, AKT and p-AKT in the cells treated with estrogen. RESULTS: Estrogen treatment significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogen significantly down-regulated the protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and lowered the phosphorylation level of AKT. CONCLUSION: The anti-metastatic effect of estrogen involves inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MHCC97H cells probably by regulating AKT signal pathway.