Heterothermic Cataluminescence Sensor System for Efficient Determination of Aldehyde Molecules.

A simple and stable cataluminescence (CTL) sensing platform based on a single sensing material for effective and rapid detection of aldehydes is an urgent need due to growing concerns for the environment, security, and health. Here, an effective and user-friendly identification method is successfully proposed to determine six common aldehydes of homologous compounds via a heterothermic CTL sensor system. Using Gd2O3 with excellent catalytic activity as a sensing material, thermodynamic and kinetic insights into the interactions between Gd2O3 and aldehydes at different temperatures were extracted and integrated to generate a unique constellation profile for each tested aldehyde, whereby achieving their effective and prompt determination. Moreover, the sensor system allowed the quantitative analysis of aldehydes with detection limits of 0.001, 0.009, 0.011, 0.011, 0.007, and 0.003 µg mL-1. Significantly, the sensor system had an excellent stability of up to 30 days. The CTL sensing platform was constructed based on a thermal regulation strategy that can provide a new approach to chemical agent identification.

Integrated Optimization of Crystal Facets and Nanoscale Spatial Confinement toward the Boosted Catalytic Performance of Pd Nanocrystals.

Tuning the surface chemical property and the local environment of nanocrystals is crucial for realizing a high catalytic performance in various reactions. Herein, we aim to elucidate the structure sensitivity of Pd facets on the surface catalytic hydrogenation reaction and to identify what role the nanoconfinement effect plays in the catalytic properties of Pd nanocrystal catalysts. By controlling the coating structures of mesoporous silica (mSiO2) on Pd nanocrystals with different exposed facets that include {100}, {111}, and {hk0}, we present a series of Pd@mSiO2 nanoreactors in core-shell and yolk-shell structures and the discovery of a partial-coated structure, which can provide different types of nanoconfinement, and we propose a seed size-dominated growth mechanism. We demonstrate that a superior activity was exhibited in Pd nanocrystals enclosed by the {hk0} facet as compared to the Pd{100} and Pd{111} facets, and substantially enhanced efficiency and stability were achieved in Pd@mSiO2 particles with yolk-shell structures, indicating a crucial superiority of optimizing the configuration of crystal facets and nanoconfinement. Our study provides an efficient strategy to rationally design and optimize nanocatalysts for promoting catalytic performance.

Instant Fingerprint Discrimination for Military Explosive Vapors by Dy3+ Doping a La2O3-Based Cataluminescence Sensor System.

With the intensification of explosive-based terrorism attack and environmental concerns, the innovation of high-efficiency and portable sensors for facile, rapid, and reliable monitoring of explosives has become one of the major demands in societies. Herein, a reliable and easy-to-use cataluminescence sensor system based on Dy3+ doping La2O3 nanorod catalysts has been developed for the identification and detection of six types of military explosive vapors, including homologous compounds and even isomers. The efficient discrimination is to make full use of the thermodynamic and kinetic information that can be extracted from the catalytic oxidation process of explosive molecules on various sensing materials, that is, the response signal and response time to generate the fingerprint of each target compound, while the rapid detection of the strategy can be manifested in response toward six military explosive vapors within 2.5 s and recover within 4 s. Meanwhile, the quantitative analysis of the explosives by the sensor system was realized based on 0.8%Dy:La2O3 with optimal catalytic activity, and the detection limits of NB, m-MNT, m-DNB, PNT, DNT, and TNT can reach 0.62, 0.49, 0.63, 0.38, 0.023, and 0.067 µg mL-1. In this research, we also constructed a novel sensor device and detection platform for explosive monitoring, which is of great significance for providing a new sensing principle for the efficient identification of explosives.

Tandem catalysis with double-shelled hollow spheres.

Metal-zeolite composites with metal (oxide) and acid sites are promising catalysts for integrating multiple reactions in tandem to produce a wide variety of wanted products without separating or purifying the intermediates. However, the conventional design of such materials often leads to uncontrolled and non-ideal spatial distributions of the metal inside/on the zeolites, limiting their catalytic performance. Here we demonstrate a simple strategy for synthesizing double-shelled, contiguous metal oxide@zeolite hollow spheres (denoted as MO@ZEO DSHSs) with controllable structural parameters and chemical compositions. This involves the self-assembly of zeolite nanocrystals onto the surface of metal ion-containing carbon spheres followed by calcination and zeolite growth steps. The step-by-step formation mechanism of the material is revealed using mainly in situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction and ex situ electron microscopy. We demonstrate that it is due to this structure that an Fe2O3@H-ZSM-5 DSHSs-showcase catalyst exhibits superior performance compared with various conventionally structured Fe2O3-H-ZSM-5 catalysts in gasoline production by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This work is expected to advance the rational synthesis and research of hierarchically hollow, core-shell, multifunctional catalyst materials.

Diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging versus 18F-FDG PET/CT in differentiating pulmonary lesions: an updated meta-analysis of comparative studies.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for differentiating pulmonary nodules and masses. METHODS: We systematically searched six databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and three Chinese databases, to identify studies that used both DWI and PET/CT to differentiate pulmonary nodules. The diagnostic performance of DWI and PET/CT was compared and pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and STATA 16.0 software was utilized to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 10 studies that enrolled a total of 871 patients with 948 pulmonary nodules were included in this meta-analysis. DWI had greater pooled sensitivity (0.85 [95% CI 0.77-0.90]) and specificity (0.91 [95% CI 0.82-0.96]) than PET/CT (sensitivity, 0.82 [95% CI 0.70-0.90]); specificity, (0.81, [95% CI 0.72-0.87]). The area under the curve of DWI and PET/CT were 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.96) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.84-0.90) (Z = 1.58, P > 0.05), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio of DWI (54.46, [95% CI 17.98-164.99]) was superior to that of PET/CT (15.77, [95% CI 8.19-30.37]). The Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test showed no publication bias. The Spearman correlation coefficient test revealed no significant threshold effect. Lesion diameter and reference standard could be potential causes for the heterogeneity of both DWI and PET/CT studies, and quantitative or semi-quantitative parameters used would be a potential source of bias for PET/CT studies. CONCLUSION: As a radiation-free technique, DWI may have similar performance compare with PET/CT in differentiating malignant pulmonary nodules or masses from benign ones.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Predicting and Monitoring the Response of Anti-Angiogenic Treatment in the Orthotopic Nude Mouse Model of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The treatment efficacy of angiogenesis inhibitor could be underestimated at an early stage based on tumor volume changes. Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) can quantitatively assess tumors at the cellular level, but it is unclear whether it can provide useful information for assessing treatment response of anti-angiogenic treatment for lung adenocarcinoma. PURPOSE: To determine the use of IVIM-DWI for non-invasive monitoring of the early response to anti-angiogenic treatment in the orthotopic transplantation of lung adenocarcinoma model. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Thirty-seven nude mice were randomized into two groups: treatment group (received bevacizumab + cisplatin, N = 20) and control group (received saline, N = 17). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Single-shot turbo spin-echo (TSE) IVIM-DWI, TSE T2-weighted imaging at 3.0 T. ASSESSMENT: Tumor volume, IVIM parameters (apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC], diffusivity [D], perfusion fraction [f], and pseudo-diffusion coefficient [D*]) were measured before and 2 hours, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after treatment. Regions of interest were manually drawn along the inner edge of the tumor by two radiologists with 5 and 10-year experience in magnetic resonance imaging. Pathological examinations (hematoxylin and eosin stain, cluster of differentiation 34) were performed. STATISTICAL TESTS: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, repeated-measure two-way analysis of variance test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The tumor volume of the two groups was significantly different only on day 14 (control group vs. treatment group, 43.15 ± 18.28 mm3 vs. 28.41 ± 1.71 mm3 ). ADC2h , ADC10d , D2h , D7d , D10d , and D14d were significantly higher, while f10d and f14d were significantly lower in the treatment group compared to those of the control group. Both the △ADC2h (r = -0.631) and △D2h (r = -0.700) showed moderate correlations with the relative tumor volume on day 14. DATA CONCLUSION: IVIM has the potential to predict and monitor the early response to anti-angiogenic treatment, earlier than size changes, for lung adenocarcinoma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 4.

Evaluation of peripheral nerve acute crush injury in rabbits: comparison among diffusion kurtosis imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and electromyography.

OBJECTIVE: Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) has been proven to provide additional value for assessing many central nervous system diseases compared with conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); however, whether it has the same value in peripheral nerve injury is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the performance of DKI, DTI, and electromyography (EMG) in evaluating peripheral nerve crush injury (PNCI) in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 27 New Zealand white rabbits were selected to establish a PNCI model. Longitudinal DTI, DKI, and EMG were evaluated before surgery and 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery. At each time point, two rabbits were randomly selected for pathological examination. RESULTS: The results showed that fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from both DKI and DTI demonstrated a significant difference between injured and control nerves at all time points (all P < 0.005) mean kurtosis of the injured nerve was lower than that on the control side after 2-8 weeks (all P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in radial kurtosis, axial kurtosis, and apparent diffusion coefficient at almost every time point. The difference in compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the bilateral gastrocnemius at each time point was statistically significant (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CMAP was a sensitive and reliable method to assess acute PNCI without being affected by perineural edema. DKI may not be superior to DTI in evaluating peripheral nerves, DTI with a shorter scanning time was preferred as an effective choice for evaluating acute peripheral nerve traumatic injury.

Natural food intake patterns have little synchronizing effect on peripheral circadian clocks.

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms across mammalian tissues are coordinated by a master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that is principally entrained by light-dark cycles. Prior investigations have shown, however, that time-restricted feeding (TRF)-daily alternation of fasting and food availability-synchronizes peripheral clocks independent of the light-dark cycle and of the SCN. This has led to the idea that downstream peripheral clocks are entrained indirectly by food intake rhythms. However, TRF is not a normal eating pattern, and it imposes non-physiologic long fasts that rodents do not typically experience. Therefore, we tested whether normal feeding patterns can phase-shift or entrain peripheral tissues by measuring circadian rhythms of the liver, kidney, and submandibular gland in mPer2Luc mice under different food schedules. RESULTS: We employed home cage feeders to first measure ad libitum food intake and then to dispense 20-mg pellets on a schedule mimicking that pattern. In both conditions, PER2::LUC bioluminescence peaked during the night as expected. Surprisingly, shifting the scheduled feeding by 12 h advanced peripheral clocks by only 0-3 h, much less than predicted from TRF protocols. To isolate the effects of feeding from the light-dark cycle, clock phase was then measured in mice acclimated to scheduled feeding over the course of 3 months in constant darkness. In these conditions, peripheral clock phases were better predicted by the rest-activity cycle than by the food schedule, contrary to expectation based on TRF studies. At the end of both experiments, mice were exposed to a modified TRF with food provided in eight equally sized meals over 12 h. In the light-dark cycle, this advanced the phase of the liver and kidney, though less so than in TRF with ad libitum access; in darkness, this entrained the liver and kidney but had little effect on the submandibular gland or the rest-activity cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that natural feeding patterns can only weakly affect circadian clocks. Instead, in normally feeding mice, the central pacemaker in the brain may set the phase of peripheral organs via pathways that are independent of feeding behavior.

Cellular and cytoskeletal alterations of scleral fibroblasts in response to glucocorticoid steroids.

Steroid-induced ocular hypertension can be seen even after trabecular meshwork (TM) bypass/ablation. Thus, the purpose was to investigate steroid-response in cells distal to the TM by using primary scleral fibroblasts. Primary scleral cell cultures were generated using mid-depth scleral wedges from human donor corneo-scleral rims (n = 5) after corneal transplantation. Cells were treated with dexamethasone (DEX; 100 nM) and compared to media (MED)/vehicle (DMSO) controls. Cell size, shape, and migration were studied using the IncuCyte Live-Cell Analysis System. Cytoskeleton was compared using Alexa Fluor-568 Phalloidin and senescence tested by evaluating beta-galactosidase. Western blot comparison was performed for α-SMA, FKBP-51, fibronectin, phospho-myosin light chain, and myocilin. Scleral fibroblasts upregulated FKBP-51 in response to DEX indicating the existence of steroid-responsive pathways. Compared to controls, DEX-treated cells proliferated slower (~50%; p < 0.01-0.02), grew larger (~1.3-fold; p < 0.001), and migrated less (p = 0.01-0.006). Alexa Fluor 568 Phalloidin actin stress fiber labeling was more diffuse in DEX-treated cells (p = 0.001-0.004). DEX-treated cells showed more senescence compared to controls (~1.7-fold; p = 0.01-0.02). However, DEX-treated cells did not show increased cross-linked actin network formation or elevated myocilin/fibronectin/α-SMA/phospho-myosin light chain protein expression. For all parameters, MED- and DMSO-treated control cells were not significantly different. Primary scleral fibroblasts, grown from tissue collected immediately distal to the TM, demonstrated scleral-response behaviors that were similar to, but not identical with, classic TM steroid-response. Further study is needed to understand how these scleral cellular alterations may contribute to steroid-response IOP elevation after TM bypass/ablation surgery.

Circadian disruption of food availability significantly reduces reproductive success in mice.

Circadian disruptions impair reproductive health in human populations and in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that mistimed food, a common disruptive feature of shift work, impairs reproductive success in mice. Male and female mPer2Luc mice on a C57BL/6 background were fed during the light or dark phase in two experiments. Food-induced internal misalignment of the liver clock was verified by in vivo bioluminescence in anesthetized mice in both experiments. In Experiment 1, food-restricted pairs were monitored for litters for 18 weeks. In the light-fed group, birth of the first litter was significantly delayed, and total reproductive output was significantly reduced by 38%. In Experiment 2, estrous cycling was monitored for 3 weeks, and then after pairing, copulatory plugs, pregnancy, litter sizes, and uterine implantation sites were measured. Fewer light-fed females birthed litters (25% versus 73%). This was attributable to a difference in behavior as mating success was significantly reduced in light-fed mice: 42% were observed with a copulatory plug compared to 82% for dark-fed mice. The proportion of mice displaying uterine implantation sites was the same as the proportion observed with copulatory plugs, suggesting no deficit in initiating pregnancy after mating. Estrous cycling and pregnancy maintenance did not differ between the groups. We conclude that mistimed feeding inhibits reproduction in mice by reducing successful mating behavior.

Bio-Inspired Growth of Silver Nanoparticles on 2D Material's Scaffolds as Heterostructures with Their Enhanced Antibacterial Property.

We developed a facile and green bio-inspired strategy to fabricate silver nano-particles growth in-situ on different scaffolds materials, building novel heterostructures for promoting their antibacterial activities and durability. Firstly, fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) nanosheets, layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and layered tungsten disulfide (WS2) were exfoliated by chemical liquid with intense sonication. And silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano-spheres were prepared via wet chemical method. Then, silver nanoparticles were grown onto those surfaces of layered nanosheets and nano-spheres, hybridizing three dimensional hetero-architectures. The obtained silver-hybridized nanoarchitechtures were further analyzed by TEM and EDS. Additionally, three bacteria were applied to evaluate their antibacterial property, illustrating distinctive antibacterial effects, expecting to explore more applications in water disinfection and food packing fields.

Taxifolin protects RPE cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress-induced damage to RPE cells has been suggested to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Taxifolin, a flavonol, has been shown to exhibit significant antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of taxifolin on RPE cells cultured under oxidative stress conditions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Human RPE (ARPE-19) cells were treated with different concentrations of taxifolin and 0.4 mM of H2O2 for 24 h. Cell viability was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was quantitatively measured by annexin V/propidium iodide double staining, and the expression levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were evaluated by western blotting. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using a commercially available ROS detection system. The expressions of phase II enzymes, including NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier (GCLM) and catalytic (GCLC) subunits, were examined using real-time PCR and western blotting. The nuclear localization of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) protein was detected by western blotting. Results: Taxifolin clearly inhibited the decrease in H2O2-induced cell viability, cell apoptosis, and intracellular ROS generation. In addition, taxifolin inhibited the H2O2-induced PARP cleavage. Moreover, treatment with taxifolin activated mRNA and the protein expression of NRF2 by inducing the translocation of NRF2 to the nucleus. Consequently, the mRNA and protein levels of the phase II enzymes NQO1, HO-1, GCLM, and GCLC increased. Conclusions: Taxifolin was shown to protect RPE cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. The potential mechanism appears to involve the activation of NRF2 and the phase II antioxidant enzyme system.

Toward hybrid Au nanorods @ M (Au, Ag, Pd and Pt) core-shell heterostructures for ultrasensitive SERS probes.

Being able to precisely control the morphologies of noble metallic nanostructures is of essential significance for promoting the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. Herein, we demonstrate an overgrowth strategy for synthesizing Au @ M (M = Au, Ag, Pd, Pt) core-shell heterogeneous nanocrystals with an orientated structural evolution and highly improved properties by using Au nanorods as seeds. With the same reaction condition system applied, we obtain four well-designed heterostructures with diverse shapes, including Au concave nanocuboids (Au CNs), Au @ Ag crystalizing face central cube nanopeanuts, Au @ Pd porous nanocuboids and Au @ Pt nanotrepangs. Subsequently, the exact overgrowth mechanism of the above heterostructural building blocks is further analysed via the systematic optimiziation of a series of fabrications. Remarkably, the well-defined Au CNs and Au @ Ag nanopeanuts both exhibit highly promoted SERS activity. We expect to be able to supply a facile strategy for the fabrication of multimetallic heterogeneous nanostructures, exploring the high SERS effect and catalytic activities.

High-Temperature-Induced Differential Expression of miRNA Mediates Liver Inflammatory Response in Tsinling Lenok Trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis).

High-temperature stress poses a significant environmental challenge for aquatic organisms, including tsinling lenok trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis). This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in inducing liver inflammation in tsinling lenok trout under high-temperature stress. Tsinling lenok trout were exposed to high-temperature conditions (24 °C) for 8 h, and liver samples were collected for analysis. Through small RNA sequencing, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the liver of high-temperature-stressed tsinling lenok trout compared to the control group (maintained at 16 °C). Several miRNAs, including novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x, showed significant changes in expression levels. Additionally, we conducted bioinformatics analysis to explore the potential target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs. Our findings revealed that these miRNA target genes are involved in inflammatory response pathways, such as NFKB1 and MAP3K5. The downregulation of novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x in the liver of high-temperature-stressed tsinling lenok trout suggests their role in regulating liver inflammatory responses. To validate this, we performed a dual-luciferase reporter assay to confirm the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and target genes. Our results demonstrated that novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x enhance the inflammatory response of hepatocytes by promoting the expression of NFKB1 and MAP3K5, respectively. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that high-temperature stress induces liver inflammation in tsinling lenok trout through dysregulation of miRNAs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response in tsinling lenok trout under high-temperature stress is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental stressors on fish health and aquaculture production.

Unexpectedly high thermal stability of Au nanotriangle@mSiO2 yolk-shell nanoparticles.

The shape of Au nanoparticles (NPs) plays a crucial role for applications in, amongst others, catalysis, electronic devices, biomedicine, and sensing. Typically, the deformation of the morphology of Au NPs is the most significant cause of loss of functionality. Here, we systematically investigate the thermal stability of Au nanotriangles (NTs) coated with (mesoporous) silica shells with different morphologies (core-shell (CS): Au NT@mSiO2/yolk-shell (YS): Au NT@mSiO2) and compare these to 'bare' nanoparticles (Au NTs), by a combination of in situ and/or ex situ TEM techniques and spectroscopy methods. Au NTs with a mesoporous silica (mSiO2) coating were found to show much higher thermal stability than those without a mSiO2 coating, as the mSiO2 shell restricts the (self-)diffusion of surface atoms. For the Au NT@mSiO2 CS and YS NPs, a thicker mSiO2 shell provides better protection than uncoated Au NTs. Surprisingly, the Au NT@mSiO2 YS NPs were found to be as stable as Au NT@mSiO2 CS NPs with a core-shell morphology. We hypothesize that the only explanation for this unexpected finding was the thicker and higher density SiO2 shell of YS NPs that prevents diffusion of Au surface atoms to more thermodynamically favorable positions.

Effects of PM2.5 exposure on clock gene BMAL1 and cell cycle in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has been closely associated with cardiovascular diseases, which are relevant to cell cycle arrest. Brain and muscle aryl-hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein 1 (BMAL1) not only participates in regulating the circadian clock but also plays a role in modulating cell cycle. However, the precise contribution of the circadian clock gene BMAL1 to PM2.5-induced cell cycle change remains unclear. This study aims to explore the impact of PM2.5 exposure on BMAL1 expression and the cell cycle in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: HUVECs was exposed to PM2.5 for 24 hours at different concentrations ((0, 12.5, 25, 75 and 100 µg.mL-1) to elucidate the potential toxic mechanism. Following exposure to PM2.5, cell viability, ROS, cell cycle, and the expression of key genes and proteins were detected. Results: A remarkable decrease in cell viability is observed in the PM2.5-exposed HUVECs, as well as a significant increase in ROS production. In addition, PM2.5-exposed HUVECs have cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, and the gene expression of p27 is also markedly increased. The protein expression of BMAL1 and the gene expression of BMAL1 are increased significantly. Moreover, the protein expressions of p-p38 MAPK and p-ERK1/2 exhibit a marked increase in the PM2.5-exposed HUVECs. Furthermore, following the transfection of HUVECs with siBMAL1 to suppress BMAL1 expression, we observed a reduction in both the protein and gene expression of the MAPK/ERK pathway in HUVECs exposed to PM2.5. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate that PM2.5 exposure significantly upregulates the circadian clock gene expression of BMAL1 and regulates G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HUVECs through the MAPK/ERK pathway, which may provide new insights into the potential molecular mechanism regarding BMAL1 on PM2.5-induced cardiovascular diseases.

Distinctive Imaging Characteristics of Retinal and Cerebral Vessels between Central and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion by MRI and AI-Based Image Analyzer.

Retinal vessels have been good predictive and prognostic imaging biomarkers for systemic or eye diseases. Numerous studies have shown that the two retinal vein occlusion entities may correlate with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events or primary open-angle glaucoma. This study aims to investigate if there is a disparity in the correlations between branch RVO (BRVO) and central RVO (CRVO) with systemic disorders or POAG, thus explaining the pathogenic difference between BRVO and CRVO. This retrospective case-control study enrolled 59 RVO subjects (118 eyes), including 25 CRVO and 34 BRVO subjects, who received routine eye and brain MRI examinations. The geometric characteristics of the caliber of the retinal and cerebral blood vessels and the optic nerve subarachnoid space width (ONSASW) were measured. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ONSASW at 3 mm behind the globe (p = 0.044) and the relative retinal venular calibers (p = 0.031) were independent risk factors for the CRVO-affected eyes group in comparison with the BRVO-affected eyes group after adjusting for age, duration of hypertension, BMI, and IOP. In the CRVO-affected eyes, narrower relative retinal arteriolar calibers (p = 0.041) and wider relative venular calibers (p = 0.011) were independent risk factors compared with the CRVO-contralateral normal eyes when adjusting for IOP. We concluded that BRVO may be more associated with cerebrovascular diseases, and CRVO may be correlated with primary angle glaucoma. The geometric characteristics difference between the retinal and cerebrovascular may explain the pathological difference between CRVO and BRVO.

Ecological drivers of nesting behavior in a subtropical city: An observational study on spotted doves.

Due to rapid homogenization in habitat types as a result of urbanization, some urban birds adapt their nesting strategies to changes in local habitat characteristics. Bird nesting decisions might have been mainly linked to resource constraints and ensuring reproductive success. In this study, we examined patterns of nesting behavior by spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) in a rapidly urbanizing area of Nanchang, China using ArcGIS 10.8, satellite tracking, camera traps, and field survey. To explore the mechanisms underlying nesting behavior in urban habitats, we assessed the correlations between nest reuse and reproductive success, and between nest reuse and nest predation. From December 2018 to December 2021, a total of 302 breeding nests were surveyed. The results revealed that the nest reuse rate was 38.08% (n = 115). Nests closer to trunk, with lower nest position and higher large-scale urbanization score tended to have higher reuse rate. In addition, nests with the higher the nest height and percent of canopy cover, and the lower small-scale urbanization score were more likely to reproduce successfully, and the reused nests also reproduce more successfully. The reproductive success associated with nest reuse was significantly higher than that associated with new nests (χ 2 = 8.461, p = .004). High degree of urbanization promoted nest reuse of spotted doves (large-scale urbanization score, z = 2.094, p = .036), which apparently enhanced their reproductive success (nest reuse, z = 2.737, p = .006). In conclusion, a nest structure with good permeability is the material basis for the nest reuse in spotted dove, while the relatively low risk of predation in urban habitat and the scarcity of nest site resources due to urbanization increase the tendency of birds to reuse old nests, which is associated with their reproductive success and evolutionary fitness.

Noninvasive intracranial pressure estimation by orbital subarachnoid space measurement: the Beijing Intracranial and Intraocular Pressure (iCOP) study.

INTRODUCTION: The orbital subarachnoid space surrounding the optic nerve is continuous with the circulation system for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and can be visualized by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that the orbital subarachnoid space width (OSASW) is correlated with and can serve as a surrogate for intracranial pressure (ICP). Our aim was to develop a method for a noninvasive measurement of the intracranial CSF-pressure (CSF-P) based on MRI-assisted OSASW. METHODS: The prospective observational comparative study included neurology patients who underwent lumbar CSF-P measurement and 3.0-Tesla orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for other clinical reasons. The width of the orbital subarachnoid space (OSASW) around the optic nerve was measured with MRI at 3, 9, and 15 mm behind the globe. The study population was randomly divided into a training group and a test group. After adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), algorithms for the associations between CSF-P and OSASW were calculated in the training group. The algorithms were subsequently verified in the test group. Main outcome measures were the width of the orbital subarachnoid space (OSASW) and the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSF-P). RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included in the study. In the training group, the algorithms for the associations between CSF-P and OSASW were as follows: (a) CSF-P = 9.31 × OSASW (at 3 mm) + 0.48 × BMI + 0.14 × MABP-19.94; (b) CSF-P = 16.95 × OSASW (at 9 mm) + 0.39 × BMI + 0.14 × MABP-20.90; and (c) CSF-P = 17.54 × OSASW (at 15 mm) + 0.47 × BMI + 0.13 × MABP-21.52. Applying these algorithms in the independent test group, the measured lumbar CSF-P (13.6 ± 5.1 mm Hg) did not differ significantly from the calculated MRI-derived CSF-P (OSASW at 3 mm: 12.7 ± 4.2 mm Hg (P = 0.07); at 9 mm: 13.4 ± 5.1 mm Hg (P = 0.35); and at 15 mm: 14.0 ± 4.9 mm Hg (P = 0.87)). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were higher for the CSF-P assessment based on OSASW at 9 mm and at 15 mm behind the globe (all ICCs, 0.87) than for OSASW measurements at 3 mm (ICC, 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with normal, moderately decreased or elevated ICP, MRI-assisted measurement of the OSASW appears to be useful for the noninvasive quantitative estimation of ICP, if BMI and MABP as contributing parameters are taken into account. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-OCC-11001271.

Morphology-Controlled Growth of Crystalline Ag-Pt-Alloyed Shells onto Au Nanotriangles and Their Plasmonic Properties.

The surface plasmon resonance of noble-metal nanoparticles depends on nanoscale size, morphology, and composition, and provides great opportunities for applications in biomedicine, optoelectronics, (photo)catalysis, photovoltaics, and sensing. Here, we present the results of synthesizing ternary metallic or trimetallic nanoparticles, Au nanotriangles (Au NTs) with crystalline Ag-Pt alloyed shells, the morphology of which can be adjusted from a yolk-shell to a core-shell structure by changing the concentration of AgNO3 or the concentration of Au NT seeds, while the shell thickness can be precisely controlled by adjusting the concentration of K2PtCl4. By monitoring the growth process with UV-vis spectra and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), the shells on the Au NT-Ag-Pt yolk-shell nanoparticles were found to grow via a galvanic replacement synergistic route. The plasmonic properties of the as-synthesized nanoparticles were investigated by optical absorbance measurements.