Interpretable machine learning for predicting the response duration to Sintilimab plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Background: Sintilimab plus chemotherapy has proven effective as a combination immunotherapy for patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC). A multi-center study conducted in China revealed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.1 months. However, the prediction of response duration to this immunotherapy has not been thoroughly investigated. Additionally, the potential of baseline laboratory features in predicting PFS remains largely unexplored. Therefore, we developed an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework, iPFS-SC, aimed at predicting PFS using baseline (pre-treatment) laboratory features and providing interpretations of the predictions. Materials and methods: A cohort of 146 patients with advanced GC/GEJC, along with their baseline laboratory features, was included in the iPFS-SC framework. Through a forward feature selection process, predictive baseline features were identified, and four ML algorithms were developed to categorize PFS duration based on a threshold of 7.1 months. Furthermore, we employed explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methodologies to elucidate the relationship between features and model predictions. Results: The findings demonstrated that LightGBM achieved an accuracy of 0.70 in predicting PFS for advanced GC/GEJC patients. Furthermore, an F1-score of 0.77 was attained for identifying patients with PFS durations shorter than 7.1 months. Through the feature selection process, we identified 11 predictive features. Additionally, our framework facilitated the discovery of relationships between laboratory features and PFS. Conclusion: A ML-based framework was developed to predict Sintilimab plus chemotherapy response duration with high accuracy. The suggested predictive features are easily accessible through routine laboratory tests. Furthermore, XAI techniques offer comprehensive explanations, both at the global and individual level, regarding PFS predictions. This framework enables patients to better understand their treatment plans, while clinicians can customize therapeutic approaches based on the explanations provided by the model.

Effect of Low-Temperature Plasma-Modified Carbon Fibers on Impact Load Damage of Low-Density Oil-Well Cement.

After large-scale exploitation of conventional oil and gas resources, most remaining resources are in highly depleted zones, where the fracture pressure of the formations is greatly reduced. Low-density oil-well cement prevents wellbore and formation fractures by reducing annular liquid column pressure and is one of the most commonly used cements in the oil and gas industry. However, cement sheaths made of low-density oil-well cement can be easily damaged due to the impact load generated during the well completion process. Incorporating carbon fibers into the cement matrix can effectively enhance the performance of cement sheaths. To ensure that carbon fibers can be closely combined with the cement matrix, low-temperature plasma modification technology was used in this study to pretreat the fibers. The mechanical properties of low-density oil-well cement incorporated with unmodified or modified carbon fibers were studied in detail under an impact load. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the content of hydrophilic groups on the surface increased from 18.3 to 60.3% after the plasma treatment. The impact test results showed that the peak strengths of the cements cured at 60 °C for 14 days with 0.3% unmodified and modified carbon fibers could reach 37.01 ± 1.7 and 62.27 ± 1.7 MPa, respectively, under the impact load, i.e., an increase of 68.25% after the carbon fibers were treated with low-temperature plasma. Similarly, the absorbed energy increased from 15.59 to 44.31 J, and the energy absorption rate increased from 25.98 to 73.85%. Low-temperature plasma modification provided hydrophilic functional groups on the surface, significantly improving the interfacial bonding between the carbon fibers and cement matrix. The strengthened interaction was beneficial to extending the bearing time under the impact load and demonstrated a positive influence on the mechanical properties related to the impact resistance.

Remediation of crude oil contaminated soil through an integrated biological-chemical-biological strategy.

A plausible approach to remediating petroleum contaminated soil is the integration of chemical and biological treatments. Using appropriate chemical oxidation, the integrated remediation can be effectively achieved to stimulate the biodegradation process, consequently bolstering the overall remediation effect. In this study, an integrated biological-chemical-biological strategy was proposed. Both conventional microbial degradation techniques and a modified Fenton method were employed, and the efficacy of this strategy on crude oil contaminated soil, as well as its impact on pollutant composition, soil environment, and soil microorganism, was assessed. The results showed that this integrated remediation realized an overall 68.3 % removal rate, a performance 1.7 times superior to bioremediation alone and 2.1 times more effective than chemical oxidation alone, elucidating that the biodegradation which had become sluggish was invigorated by the judicious application of chemical oxidation. By optimizing the positioning of chemical treatment, the oxidization was allowed to act predominantly on refractory substances like resins, thus effectively enhancing pollutant biodegradability. Concurrently, this oxidating maneuver contributed to a significant increase in concentrations of dissolvable nutrients while maintaining appropriate soil pH levels, thereby generating favorable growth conditions for microorganism. Moreover, attributed to the proliferation and accumulation of degrading bacteria during the initial bioremediation phase, the microbial growth subsequent to oxidation showed rapid resurgence and the relative abundance of typical petroleum-degrading bacteria, particularly Proteobacteria, was substantially increased, which played a significant role in enhancing overall remediation effect. Our research validated the feasibility of biological-chemical-biological strategy and elucidated its correlating mechanisms, presenting a salient reference for the further studies concerning the integrated remediation of petroleum contaminated soil.

Enhanced TRPC3 transcription through AT1R/PKA/CREB signaling contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular epithelial cells in D-galactose-induced accelerated aging mice.

Aging-associated renal dysfunction promotes the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular epithelial cells is a hallmark of senescence and leads to accelerated progression of renal disorders. Dysregulated calcium profiles in mitochondria contribute to aging-associated disorders, but the detailed mechanism of this process is not clear. In this study, modulation of the sirtuin 1/angiotensin II type 1 receptor (Sirt1/AT1R) pathway partially attenuated renal glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced accelerated aging mice. Moreover, modulation of the Sirt1/AT1R pathway improved mitochondrial dysfunction induced by D-gal treatment. Transient receptor potential channel, subtype C, member 3 (TRPC3) upregulation mediated dysregulated cellular and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis during aging. Furthermore, knockdown or knockout (KO) of Trpc3 in mice ameliorated D-gal-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, membrane potential deterioration, and energy metabolism disorder. Mechanistically, activation of the AT1R/PKA pathway promoted CREB phosphorylation and nucleation of CRE2 binding to the Trpc3 promoter (-1659 to -1648 bp) to enhance transcription. Trpc3 KO significantly improved the renal disorder and cell senescence in D-gal-induced mice. Taken together, these results indicate that TRPC3 upregulation mediates age-related renal disorder and is associated with mitochondrial calcium overload and dysfunction. TRPC3 is a promising therapeutic target for aging-associated renal disorders.

Associations of dietary inflammatory index with low estimated glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria and chronic kidney disease in U.S adults: Results from the NHANES 2011-2018.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by a high inflammation status with ever-increasing prevalence, and defined as low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or albuminuria. Both low eGFR and albuminuria can have independent effects on the body. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a validated tool used to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. We aim to explore not only the association between DII and CKD, but also the associations of DII with low eGFR and albuminuria, respectively. In addition, their associations in different subgroups remain to be explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: 18,070 participants from the 2011-2018 NHANES with complete data of dietary intake and laboratory data were involved in our study. The data of 24-hour dietary recall interview was used to calculate DII, CKD could be reflected by laboratory data of creatinine and albumin. Then weighted multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analyses were performed. The prevalence of low eGFR, albuminuria and CKD were 6.8%, 9.8% and 14.5%, respectively. A positive association between DII and low eGFR was observed (OR=1.12, 95%CI: 1.05-1.21), Q2, Q3 and Q4 are positively associated with a significant 39%, 65% and 71% increased risk of low eGFR compared with Q1 (P for trend<0.05). DII was also associated with CKD (OR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.01-1.11). CONCLUSION: Significant positive associations of DII with CKD and low eGFR were observed. But we didn't find such association between DII and albuminuria.

Adverse childhood experiences and human immunodeficiency virus testing among adults with human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviours.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with poor HIV testing in adulthood yet, they have not been extensively described in those at increased risk for HIV. Cross-sectional analysis data (n = 204,231) on ACEs and HIV testing were obtained from the 2019-2020 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Weighted logistic regression models were used to access the association of ACEs exposure, ACEs score, and ACEs type with HIV testing among adults with HIV risk behaviours, and stratified analysis was also performed to examine gender differences. The results indicated the overall rate of HIV testing was 38.8% and was higher among those with HIV risk behaviours (64.6%) than those without (37.2%). In populations with HIV risk behaviours, the negative association of HIV testing with ACEs exposure, ACEs score, and ACEs type was identified. Relative to those without ACEs, adults who were exposed to ACEs might decrease the rate of HIV testing, participants with ≥4 ACEs scores were less likely to have HIV testing, and childhood exposure to sexual abuse had the greatest impact on HIV testing. For both males and females, childhood exposure to ACEs was associated with lower odds of HIV testing and ACEs score ≥4 had the most robust associations with HIV testing. For males, those who experienced witnessed domestic violence had the lowest odds of HIV testing but the odds of engaging in HIV testing for females were the lowest among those who experienced childhood sexual abuse.

MPP7 is a potential prognostic marker and is associated with cancer metabolism and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a bioinformatics analysis based on the TCGA database.

Background: Metastasis is a major negative prognostic marker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Membrane palmitoylated proteins (MPPs) are a class of cell polarity-associated proteins that function in both cell-cell junction and adhesion. However, the relationship between MPP7 and the prognosis of ccRCC remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations between MPP7 expression with clinical prognosis of ccRCC using bioinformatics analyses. Methods: The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression patterns of MPP7 in different cancer types were examined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, with key clinical characteristics (TNM and pathological stages, pathological grade, survival status) included. A nomogram model using MPP7 expressions and other clinical factors was built to predict the survival probability. The Kaplan-Meier plotter and Cox regression were employed to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of MPP7 in ccRCC. MPP7 expression-associated signaling pathways with were analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) tools. The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database was used to investigate the correlation between MPP7 and the infiltration patterns of immune cells. Results: By analyzing TCGA-kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (TCGA-KIRC) and HPA databases, we found that MPP7 was differentially expressed in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues (P<0.001). The MPP7 expression patterns were associated with pathological stage (P<0.001), histological grade (P<0.01), and survival status (P<0.001). Using nomogram model, Cox regression and survival analysis, it showed that MPP7 expressions combined with key clinical factors could accurately predict the clinical prognosis. The promoter methylation patterns of MPP7 were correlated with the clinical factors of ccRCC patients. Furthermore, the KEGG and GO analyses demonstrated that MPP7 is associated with mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. MPP7 expression was associated with multiple types of immune cells and correlated with the enrichment of these cells. Conclusions: MPP7 is a critical gene links with ccRCC prognosis and is associated with tumor immune status and metabolism. MPP7 could become a potential biomarker and important therapeutic target for ccRCC patients.

Adverse childhood experiences and sleep duration among U.S. 65 years and older: results from the 2020 BRFSS.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a risk factor for many chronic diseases and health behaviors. This study explores the relationship between ACEs and sleep duration in elderly populations in 22 U.S. states in 2020. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of aged 65 years or older in the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Database (BRFSS). The weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of ACEs status, ACEs type, and ACE scores with sleep duration. Subgroup analysis was used to estimate differences based on covariates. RESULTS: Among the 42,786 participants (55.8 % female) included in this analysis, 50.5 % reported at least one ACE, and 7.3 % reported 4 or more ACEs. Adjusting for confounding factors, experiencing ACEs was associated with short and long sleep duration (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.03, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 1.51,2.73; OR:1.78, 95%CI:1.34,2.36). Older adults who experienced sexual abuse in children were 146 % more likely to short sleep (OR:2.46,95%CI:1.84,3.31) and 99 % more likely to long sleep (OR:1.99, 95%CI:1.35,2.92). There was a dose-response gradient between ACEs scores and sleep duration, reporting ≥ 4 ACEs had 3.10 (OR:3.10,95%CI:2.12,4.53) and 2.13 (OR:2.13, 95%CI:1.33,3.40) times the risk for short-sleep and long-sleep duration compared to respondents reporting no ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the association between ACEs and a high risk of sleep duration, which increased with increasing ACEs scores.

Mechanical metamaterials made of freestanding quasi-BCC nanolattices of gold and copper with ultra-high energy absorption capacity.

Nanolattices exhibit attractive mechanical properties such as high strength, high specific strength, and high energy absorption. However, at present, such materials cannot achieve effective fusion of the above properties and scalable production, which hinders their applications in energy conversion and other fields. Herein, we report gold and copper quasi-body centered cubic (quasi-BCC) nanolattices with the diameter of the nanobeams as small as 34 nm. We show that the compressive yield strengths of quasi-BCC nanolattices even exceed those of their bulk counterparts, despite their relative densities below 0.5. Simultaneously, these quasi-BCC nanolattices exhibit ultrahigh energy absorption capacities, i.e., 100 ± 6 MJ m-3 for gold quasi-BCC nanolattice and 110 ± 10 MJ m-3 for copper quasi-BCC nanolattice. Finite element simulations and theoretical calculations reveal that the deformation of quasi-BCC nanolattice is dominated by nanobeam bending. And the anomalous energy absorption capacities substantially stem from the synergy of the naturally high mechanical strength and plasticity of metals, the size reduction-induced mechanical enhancement, and the quasi-BCC nanolattice architecture. Since the sample size can be scaled up to macroscale at high efficiency and affordable cost, the quasi-BCC nanolattices with ultrahigh energy absorption capacity reported in this work may find great potentials in heat transfer, electric conduction, catalysis applications.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Norovirus Outbreaks in Shenyang from 2017 to 2021.

Norovirus is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. This study aimed to identify the epidemiological characteristics of norovirus outbreaks and to provide evidence for public health entities. Specimens and epidemiological survey data were collected to determine if there were differences in the attack rate of norovirus in terms of the year, season, transmission route, exposure setting, and region and to determine whether there were relationships between the reporting interval, the number of illnesses in a single outbreak and the duration of the outbreak. Norovirus outbreaks were reported throughout the year, with seasonal characteristics (i.e., high rates in spring and winter). Among all regions in Shenyang with the exception of Huanggu and Liaozhong, norovirus outbreaks had been reported, and the primary genotype was GII.2[P16]. Vomiting was the most common symptom. The main places of occurrence were childcare institutions and schools. The person-to-person route was the main transmission route. The median duration of norovirus was 3 days (IQR [interquartile range]: 2-6 days), the median reporting interval was 2 days (IQR: 1-4 days), the median number of illnesses in a single outbreak was 16 (IQR: 10-25); there was a positive correlation between these parameters. Norovirus surveillance and genotyping studies still need to be further strengthened to increase knowledge regarding the pathogens and their variant characteristics, to better characterize the patterns of norovirus outbreaks and to provide information for outbreak prevention. Norovirus outbreaks should be detected, reported and handled early. Public health entities and the government should develop corresponding measures for different seasons, transmission routes, exposure settings, and regions.

Mechanical Properties of Calcium Aluminate Cement Reinforced with Plasma-Treated Basalt Fibers for In Situ Combustion.

Brittleness and poor tensile/flexural properties restrict the application of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) in oil and gas wells. Reinforcing CAC with fibers is an effective method for improving its strength and toughness and overcoming the shortcomings of its mechanical properties. In this article, as an auxiliary cementing material, slag does not affect the thickening time of CAC. After adding slag, the cement slurry meets the thickening time during cementing construction, and basalt fiber is selected as the toughening material. The enhancement effect of basalt fiber on the mechanical properties of CAC slag composites is studied, including the evaluation of the macroscopic mechanical properties and microstructure at a high temperature (500 °C). The optimum composition of basalt and fiber-reinforced CAC was determined. Basalt fibers were added to CAC at different contents of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% based on the weight of the cement. All the results showed that the introduction of basalt fibers could significantly enhance the strength of the cement at high temperatures. Compared with the control samples, an additional increase in the compressive and tensile strengths of the samples of 35.1 and 85.2%, respectively, was achieved at high temperature with approximately 0.4% fiber content. Plasma treatment further improved the reinforcing effect of the basalt fibers, where the high-temperature compressive and tensile strengths of the samples increased from 28.88 and 1.52 to 35.23 and 1.87 MPa, respectively, an increase of 21.98 and 20.6%, respectively, compared with the untreated basalt fibers. When the cement paste is cured by simulated curing for 28 d, the high-temperature compressive strength and tensile strength with plasma modification increased from 28.26 and 1.5 to 29.1 and 2.15 MPa, respectively, an increase of 3.0 and 43.3%, respectively. The structure of the formed hydrates was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, toughening of the basalt fiber-reinforced CAC-based composites resulted mainly from crack bridging and fiber pull-out.

Association of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Copper Intakes with Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetics: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2018.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intakes and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in US diabetes adults. METHODS: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. Multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to examine the associations between total calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intakes and diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: A total of 3794 adults aged 40 years or older were included. Higher quartile intake of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper was associated with a lower occurrence of DR, the multivariate adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 0.57 (0.38-0.86), 0.48 (0.32-0.73), 0.58 (0.39-0.88), and 0.48 (0.30-0.77), respectively. U-shaped dose-response relationships were found between calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper intake, and the risk of DR. CONCLUSION: Higher total calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intake were inversely associated with the risk of DR in US diabetes adults.

Resource Utilization of Red Mud from the Solid Waste of Aluminum Industry Used in Geothermal Wells.

It is difficult for the commonly used Class G oil well cement to withstand the high-temperature environment of geothermal wells, and it is easy to deteriorate the mechanical properties and damage the integrity of the cement sheath. Industrial solid waste red mud can be used as supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) to improve its mechanical properties at high temperatures. In addition, compared to Class G oil well cement, high belite cement (HBC) has lower energy consumption and better mechanical properties at high temperatures. In this study, the mechanical properties of HBC as a gel material and quartz sand and red mud as SCMs were studied at high temperatures. The ratio of HBC to SCMs and the ratio of quartz sand to red mud in SCMs were optimized using the response surface method (RSM). The response surface was established using the three-level factorial design model, which fit well with the experimental data. The optimization results show that the best mass ratio of SCMs/HBC is 37.5% and that the best quality ratio of quartz sand/red mud is 9 under the curing conditions of 180 °C. However, the best mass ratio of SCMs/HBC is 49.3%, and the best quality ratio of quartz sand/red mud is 7 under 220 °C. With the addition of SCMs, the silicon-to-calcium ratio of HBC hydration products decreases, and high-temperature-stable xonotlite and tobermorite can be formed. After adding SCMs, the cement sample is denser without obvious cracks.

Evaluation of Combined use of Fecal Multigene Mutation Test and Fecal Immunochemical Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the value of concomitant use of fecal KRAS-APC-p53-BRAF mutation test and a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. METHODS: Stool samples of 279 subjects were collected from the Fujian provincial hospital and divided into five groups: CRC (n = 82); advanced adenoma (AA, n = 76); non-advanced adenoma (NAA, n = 24); healthy control (n = 85); and interference group (n = 12). All stool samples were tested using a fecal multigene mutation (KRAS-APC-p53-BRAF) Kit and FIT. RESULTS: The sensitivity of combined use of fecal multigene mutation test and FIT for detecting CRC [84.15% (69/ 82)] was significantly higher than that of fecal multigene mutation test [47.56% (39/82), p < 0.001] or FIT [71.95% (59/82), p < 0.001] alone. The sensitivity of combined use for detection of AA [48.68% (37/76)] was also significantly higher than that of multigene mutation test [26.32% (20/76), p < 0.001] or FIT [28.95% (22/76), p < 0.001] alone. The specificity of combined use for detection of NAA and healthy control was 87.16%. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of fecal multigene (KRAS-APC-p53-BRAF) mutation test and FIT has greater sensitivity than alone and may be a useful noninvasive method for CRC screening.

Functionalization of Mesoporous Semiconductor Metal Oxides for Gas Sensing: Recent Advances and Emerging Challenges.

With the emerging of the Internet of Things, chemiresistive gas sensors have been extensively applied in industrial production, food safety, medical diagnosis, and environment detection, etc. Considerable efforts have been devoted to improving the gas-sensing performance through tailoring the structure, functions, defects and electrical conductivity of sensitive materials. Among the numerous sensitive materials, mesoporous semiconductor metal oxides possess unparalleled properties, including tunable pore size, high specific surface area, abundant metal-oxygen bonds, and rapid mass transfer/diffusion behavior (Knudsen diffusion), which have been regarded as the most potential sensitive materials. Herein, the synthesis strategies for mesoporous metal oxides are overviewed, the classical functionalization techniques of sensitive materials are also systemically summarized as a highlight, including construction of mesoporous structure, regulation of micro-nano structure (i.e., heterojunctions), noble metal sensitization (e.g., Au, Pt, Ag, Pd) and heteroatomic doping (e.g., C, N, Si, S). In addition, the structure-function relationship of sensitive materials has been discussed at molecular-atomic level, especially for the chemical sensitization effect, elucidating the interface adsorption/catalytic mechanism. Moreover, the challenges and perspectives are proposed, which will open a new door for the development of intelligent gas sensor in various applications.

Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Rolled Thin-Walled Steel Plates (TWSPs) Used for W-Beam Guardrails under Low and Medium Strain Rates.

Accurately considering the dynamic mechanical properties of rolled thin-walled steel plates (TWSPs) under low and medium strain rates is the basis of numerical simulations of W-beam guardrails subjected to vehicle impact. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on specimens extracted from different locations (flat TWSPs without cold rolling treatment, and the cross-sectional centers and slopes of rolled TWSPs) and under different strain rates (ε˙ = 0.00025, 0.01, and 50 s-1). Based on experimental and numerical results, the cross-sectional center of a rolled TWSP is recommended as the representative sampling location for uniaxial tensile tests. Additional uniaxial tensile tests with wider strain rates of 10, 100, and 200 s-1 were also conducted on specimens at the recommended sampling location (cross-sectional center) of rolled TWSPs. It was found that the Cowper-Symonds model with parameters of C = 40 s-1 and p = 5 recommend by Symonds significantly overestimated the strain rate effects of the rolled TWSP material in the low and medium strain-rate region. The model with calibrated parameters of C = 4814 s-1 and p = 2.9 was recommended for considering the influences of strain rate effects on the dynamic mechanical properties of rolled TWSP at low to medium strain rates.

Taxifolin increased semen quality of Duroc boars by improving gut microbes and blood metabolites.

Taxifolin (TAX), as a natural flavonoid, has been widely focused on due to its strong anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-virus, and even anti-tumor activity. However, the effect of TAX on semen quality was unknown. The purpose of this study was to analyze the beneficial influences of adding feed additive TAX to boar semen in terms of its quality and potential mechanisms. We discovered that TAX increased sperm motility significantly in Duroc boars by the elevation of the protein levels such as ZAG, PKA, CatSper, and p-ERK for sperm quality. TAX increased the blood concentration of testosterone derivatives, antioxidants such as melatonin and betaine, unsaturated fatty acids such as DHA, and beneficial amino acids such as proline. Conversely, TAX decreased 10 different kinds of bile acids in the plasma. Moreover, TAX increased "beneficial" microbes such as Intestinimonas, Coprococcus, Butyrivibrio, and Clostridium_XlVa at the Genus level. However, TAX reduced the "harmful" intestinal bacteria such as Prevotella, Howardella, Mogibacterium, and Enterococcus. There was a very close correlation between fecal microbes, plasma metabolites, and semen parameters by the spearman correlation analysis. Therefore, the data suggest that TAX increases the semen quality of Duroc boars by benefiting the gut microbes and blood metabolites. It is supposed that TAX could be used as a kind of feed additive to increase the semen quality of boars to enhance production performance.

Modeling Interfacial Interaction between Gas Molecules and Semiconductor Metal Oxides: A New View Angle on Gas Sensing.

With the development of internet of things and artificial intelligence electronics, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-based sensing materials have attracted increasing attention from both fundamental research and practical applications. MOS materials possess intrinsic physicochemical properties, tunable compositions, and electronic structure, and are particularly suitable for integration and miniaturization in developing chemiresistive gas sensors. During sensing processes, the dynamic gas-solid interface interactions play crucial roles in improving sensors' performance, and most studies emphasize the gas-MOS chemical reactions. Herein, from a new view angle focusing more on physical gas-solid interactions during gas sensing, basic theory overview and latest progress for the dynamic process of gas molecules including adsorption, desorption, and diffusion, are systematically summarized and elucidated. The unique electronic sensing mechanisms are also discussed from various aspects including molecular interaction models, gas diffusion mechanism, and interfacial reaction behaviors, where structure-activity relationship and diffusion behavior are overviewed in detail. Especially, the surface adsorption-desorption dynamics are discussed and evaluated, and their potential effects on sensing performance are elucidated from the gas-solid interfacial regulation perspective. Finally, the prospect for further research directions in improving gas dynamic processes in MOS gas sensors is discussed, aiming to supplement the approaches for the development of high-performance MOS gas sensors.

PANK1 associates with cancer metabolism and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective prognostic study based on the TCGA database.

Background: Identify key biomarkers to improve the clinical prognosis of patients with advanced and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains an important research topic. Recently, ccRCC has been regarded as a metabolic disease. Pantothenate kinase-1 (PANK1) has been shown to play an important regulatory role in global metabolism and associates with the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of PANK1 in the prognosis of ccRCC and in metabolism and immunity. Methods: PANK1 messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression patterns in ccRCC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The clinical prognostic significance of PANK1 in ccRCC and a Cox regression was performed to evaluate the clinical factors associated with prognosis with confounding factors adjusted. The signaling pathways related to PANK1 expression were identified by Gene Ontology (GO) investigation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource database was used to analyze the correlation between PANK1 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Results: A total of 539 ccRCC patients and corresponding clinical samples and data from TCGA were included in this analysis. Significant differences were observed in PANK1 expression levels between tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues in both TCGA-Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma cohort (4.40 vs. 2.94, P<0.001). PANK1 expression was found to be correlated with pathological stage, histological grade, age, sex, and clinical prognosis. Specifically, the low expression of PANK1 was found to be closely related to poor overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and the progression-free survival (PFS) in ccRCC patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested that PANK1 could be a potential prognostic biomarker (area under the curve =0.880), and that the promoter methylation levels of PANK1 were correlated with clinical factors. Further, PANK1 expression was found to be associated with multiple immune cell types and correlated with the enrichment of these cells. Finally, we further investigated the role of PANK1 in tumor growth and mitochondrial metabolism using ccRCC cells. Conclusions: PANK1 correlates with ccRCC prognosis, tumor immune status and metabolism using the TCGA data. PANK1 might be a prognostic marker of clinical prognosis for ccRCC patients.

Transition of Metabolic Phenotypes and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation According to BMI: Kailuan Study.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with both obesity and its metabolic consequences. However, there is a paucity of information on whether the dynamic change of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes affect the risk of AF. We aimed to prospectively examine the association between metabolic health and its change over time and AF risk across body mass index (BMI) categories. Methods: A total of 58,483 participants without history of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases from the Kailuan study were included in the present study. Transition of metabolic phenotypes was evaluated between 1st survey (2006-2007) and the 2nd survey (2008-2009). The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for AF were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: During a median follow-up of 3 years, we documented 580 cases of AF. Compared with metabolically healthy individuals with normal weight, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for metabolically healthy and unhealthy overweight/obese were 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.59) and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.72), respectively. However, when transition was taken into account, overweight/obese people who maintained metabolically healthy status were not associated with increased long-term risk (HR, 1.11;95% CI: 0.70, 1.78), whereas participants who converted from metabolically healthy overweight/obese status to an unhealthy phenotype had higher AF risk than those who maintained metabolically healthy normal weight (HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.26). When BMI and metabolically healthy status were updated over the course of the study, significant short-term elevations in AF risk were associated with individuals with stable MU-OW/OB status. Conclusion: In this community-based cohort study, metabolically healthy overweight/obese individuals have increased risks of AF. Obesity remains a risk factor for AF independent of major metabolic factors. Our data further suggested that metabolic phenotype was a dynamic condition, and maintenance of metabolic health and normal weight might alleviate the risk of AF.