Melamine Polymerization Promotes Compact Phosphorus/Carbon Composite for High-Performance and Safe Lithium Storage.

Phosphorus is regarded as a promising material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity, appropriate lithiation potential, and low lithium-ion diffusion barrier. Phosphorus/carbon composites (PC) are engineered to serve as high-capacity high-rate anodes; the interaction between phosphorus and carbon, long-term capacity retention, and safety problems are important issues that must be well addressed simultaneously. Herein, an in situ polymerization approach to fabricate a poly-melamine-hybridized (pMA) phosphorus/carbon composite (pMA-PC) is employed. The pMA hybridization enhances the density and electrical conductivity of the PC, improves the structural integrity, and facilitates stable electron transfer within the pMA-PC composite. Moreover, the pMA-PC composite exhibits efficient adsorption of lithium polysulfides, enabling stable transport of Li+ ions. Therefore, the pMA-PC anode demonstrates a high specific charging capacity of 1,381 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1, and a great capacity retention of 86.7% at 1 A g-1 over 500 cycles. The synergistic effect of phosphorus and nitrogen further confers excellent flame retardant properties to the pMA-PC anode, including self-extinguishing in 2.5 s, and a much lower combustion temperature than PC. The enhanced capacity and safety performance of pMA-PC show potential in future high-capacity and high-rate LIBs.

A cleaved adhesin DNA vaccine targeting dendritic cell against Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: Arg-gingipain A (RgpA) is the primary virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis and contains hemagglutinin adhesin (HA), which helps bacteria adhere to cells and proteins. Hemagglutinin's functional domains include cleaved adhesin (CA), which acts as a hemagglutination and hemoglobin-binding actor. Here, we confirmed that the HA and CA genes are immunogenic, and using adjuvant chemokine to target dendritic cells (DCs) enhanced protective autoimmunity against P. gingivalis-induced periodontal disease. METHODS: C57 mice were immunized prophylactically with pVAX1-CA, pVAX1-HA, pVAX1, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) through intramuscular injection every 2 weeks for a total of three administrations before P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis. The DCs were analyzed using flow cytometry and ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-seq) transcriptomic assays following transfection with CA lentivirus. The efficacy of the co-delivered molecular adjuvant CA DNA vaccine was evaluated in vivo using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence techniques, and micro-computed tomography. RESULTS: After the immunization, both the pVAX1-CA and pVAX1-HA groups exhibited significantly elevated P. gingivalis-specific IgG and IgG1, as well as a reduction in bone loss around periodontitis-affected teeth, compared to the pVAX1 and PBS groups (p < 0.05). The expression of CA promoted the secretion of HLA, CD86, CD83, and DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) in DCs. Furthermore, the RNA-seq analysis revealed a significant increase in the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19 (p < 0.05). A notable elevation in the quantities of DCs co-labeled with CD11c and major histocompatibility complex class II, along with an increase in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) cells, was observed in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice subjected to CCL19-CA immunization. This outcome effectively illustrated the preservation of peri-implant bone mass in rats afflicted with P. gingivalis-induced peri-implantitis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The co-administration of a CCL19-conjugated CA DNA vaccine holds promise as an innovative and targeted immunization strategy against P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis and peri-implantitis.

A 4D-Printable Photocurable Resin Derived from Waste Cooking Oil with Enhanced Tensile Strength.

In pursuit of enhancing the mechanical properties, especially the tensile strength, of 4D-printable consumables derived from waste cooking oil (WCO), we initiated the production of acrylate-modified WCO, which encompasses epoxy waste oil methacrylate (EWOMA) and epoxy waste oil acrylate (EWOA). Subsequently, a series of WCO-based 4D-printable photocurable resins were obtained by introducing a suitable diacrylate molecule as the second monomer, coupled with a composite photoinitiator system comprising Irgacure 819 and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB). These materials were amenable to molding using an LCD light-curing 3D printer. Our findings underscored the pivotal role of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) among the array of diacrylate molecules in enhancing the mechanical properties of WCO-based 4D-printable resins. Notably, the 4D-printable material, composed of EWOA and TEGDMA in an equal mass ratio, exhibited nice mechanical strength comparable to that of mainstream petroleum-based 4D-printable materials, boasting a tensile strength of 9.17 MPa and an elongation at break of 15.39%. These figures significantly outperformed the mechanical characteristics of pure EWOA or TEGDMA resins. Furthermore, the EWOA-TEGDMA resin demonstrated impressive thermally induced shape memory performance, enabling deformation and recovery at room temperature and retaining its shape at -60 °C. This resin also demonstrated favorable biodegradability, with an 8.34% weight loss after 45 days of soil degradation. As a result, this 4D-printable photocurable resin derived from WCO holds immense potential for the creation of a wide spectrum of high-performance intelligent devices, brackets, mold, folding structures, and personalized products.

Decoding Gastric Cancer: Machine Learning Insights Into the Significance of COMMDs Family in Immunotherapy and Diagnosis.

Copper, an indispensable trace element for the human body, serves not only as a crucial auxiliary factor in redox reactions within the organism but also as a significant constituent of numerous key metabolic enzymes. The COMMD family plays a vital role in regulating copper at both the cellular and systemic levels, particularly in the realm of tumor research, an area notably deficient in gastric cancer investigations. With the advancement of precision medical techniques, individualized and precise screening and treatment have become paramount considerations in the contemporary medical landscape for gastric cancer therapy. In light of this, we meticulously scrutinized existing transcriptomic datasets for gastric cancer, validating the expression levels and prognostic value of COMMD family genes. Simultaneously, employing the ssGSEA algorithm, we devised the COMMDs score. Enrichment analysis, gene mutations, and clinical features were incorporated into the assessment of this score. Furthermore, we contextualized the COMMDs score within the framework of the immune microenvironment, evaluating the relationship between the COMMDs family and immune factors as well as immune cells. The results suggest a correlation between the COMMDs score and various immune-related features. Based on this foundation, multiple machine learning approaches indicated Logistic Regression, with a remarkable ROC of 0.972, as the optimal diagnostic model. To accentuate the translational medical value of the COMMDs family, we selected COMMD10 as a differential gene in gastric cancer for further validation. Functional experiments revealed a decline in the proliferative and migratory capabilities of gastric cancer cells upon silencing COMMD10. Additionally, through pathway intervention, we unveiled the PI3K-AKT pathway as a potential mechanism through which COMMD10 influences gastric cancer activity. In summary, our study affirms the prospective role of the COMMDs family as potential markers for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer in the future.

Analysis the molecular similarity of least common amino acid sites in ACE2 receptor to predict the potential susceptible species for SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals have been reported globally. However, the understanding of the complete spectrum of animals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 remains limited. The virus's dynamic nature and its potential to infect a wide range of animals are crucial considerations for a One Health approach that integrates both human and animal health. This study introduces a bioinformatic approach to predict potential susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in both domestic and wild animals. By examining genomic sequencing, we establish phylogenetic relationships between the virus and its potential hosts. We focus on the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence and specific regions of the host species' ACE2 receptor. We analyzed and compared ACE2 receptor sequences from 29 species known to be infected, selecting 10 least common amino acid sites (LCAS) from key binding domains based on similarity patterns. Our analysis included 49 species across primates, carnivores, rodents, and artiodactyls, revealing complete consistency in the LCAS and identifying them as potentially susceptible. We employed the LCAS similarity pattern to predict the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection in unexamined species. This method serves as a valuable screening tool for assessing infection risks in domestic and wild animals, aiding in the prevention of disease outbreaks.

AN698/40746067 suppresses bone marrow adiposity to ameliorate hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis through targeted inhibition of ENTR1.

Hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis is marked by increased bone marrow adiposity, and treatment with statins for hyperlipidemia often leads to new-onset osteoporosis. Endosome-associated trafficking regulator 1 (ENTR1) has been found to interact with different proteins in pathophysiology, but its exact role in adipogenesis is not yet understood. This research aimed to explore the role of ENTR1 in adipogenesis and to discover a new small molecule that targets ENTR1 for evaluating its effectiveness in treating hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis. We found that ENTR1 expression increased during the adipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMSCs). ENTR1 gain- and loss-of-function assays significantly enhanced lipid droplets formation. Mechanistically, ENTR1 binds peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and enhances its expression, thereby elevating adipogenic markers including C/EBPα and LDLR. Therapeutically, AN698/40746067 attenuated adipogenesis by targeting ENTR1 to suppress PPARγ. In vivo, AN698/40746067 reduced bone marrow adiposity and bone loss, as well as prevented lipogenesis-related obesity, inflammation, steatohepatitis, and abnormal serum lipid levels during hyperlipidemia. Together, these findings suggest that ENTR1 facilitates adipogenesis by PPARγ involved in BMSCs' differentiation, and targeted inhibition of ENTR1 by AN698/40746067 may offer a promising therapy for addressing lipogenesis-related challenges and alleviating osteoporosis following hyperlipidemia.

Advanced ethylene-absorbing and cushioning depending on the 3D porous-structured fruit packaging: Toward polyurethane foam manipulation using zein and soybean oil polyol substrates.

Fruits are essential sources of nutrients in our daily diet; however, their spoilage is often intensified by mechanical damage and the ethylene phytohormone, resulting in significant economic losses and exacerbating hunger issues. To address these challenges, this study presented a straightforward in situ synthesis protocol for producing Z/SOPPU foam, a 3D porous-structured fruit packaging. This innovative packaging material offered advanced ethylene-adsorbing and cushioning capabilities achieved through stirring, heating, and standing treatments. The results demonstrated that the Z/SOPPU foam, with its porous structure, served as an excellent packaging material for fruits, maintaining the intact appearance of tomatoes even after being thrown 72 times from a height of 1.5 m. Additionally, it exhibited desirable hydrophobicity (contact angle of 114.31 ± 0.82°), degradability (2.73 ± 0.88 % per 4 weeks), and efficient ethylene adsorption (adsorption rate of 13.2 ± 1.7 mg/m3/h). These remarkable characteristics could be attributed to the unique 3D micron-porous configuration, consisting of soybean oil polyol polyurethane foam for mechanical strain cushioning and zein for enhanced ethylene adsorption efficiency. Overall, this research offers an effective and original approach to the rational design and fabrication of advanced bio-based fruit packaging.

Complex genotype-phenotype correlation of MYH11: new insights from monozygotic twins with highly variable expressivity and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection (TAAD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are serious autosomal-dominant diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. They are mainly caused by variants in the MYH11 gene, which encodes the heavy chain of myosin 11. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotype-phenotype correlation of MYH11 from a distinctive perspective based on a pair of monozygotic twins. METHODS: The detailed phenotypic characteristics of the monozygotic twins from the early fetal stage to the infancy stage were traced and compared with each other and with those of previously documented cases. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing techniques were used to identify and validate the candidate variants, facilitating the analysis of the genotype-phenotype correlation of MYH11. RESULTS: The monozygotic twins were premature and presented with PDA, pulmonary hypoplasia, and pulmonary hypertension. The proband developed heart and brain abnormalities during the fetal stage and died at 18 days after birth, whereas his sibling was discharged after being cured and developed normally post follow-up. A novel variant c.766 A > G p. (Ile256Val) in MYH11 (NM_002474.2) was identified in the monozygotic twins and classified as a likely pathogenic variant according to the American College of Medical Genetics/Association for Molecular Pathology guidelines. Reviewing the reported cases (n = 102) showed that the penetrance of MYH11 was 82.35%, and the most common feature was TAAD (41.18%), followed by PDA (22.55%), compound TAAD and PDA (9.80%), and other vascular abnormalities (8.82%). The constituent ratios of null variants among the cases with TAAD (8.60%), PDA (43.8%), or compound TAAD and PDA (28.6%) were significantly different (P = 0.01). Further pairwise comparison of the ratios among these groups showed that there were significant differences between the TAAD and PDA groups (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: This study expands the mutational spectrum of MYH11 and provides new insights into the genotype-phenotype correlation of MYH11 based on the monozygotic twins with variable clinical features and outcomes, indicating that cryptic modifiers and complex mechanisms beside the genetic variants may be involved in the condition.

Simultaneous electrocoagulation and E-peroxone coupled with ultrafiltration membrane for shale gas produced water treatment.

Membrane fouling caused by the organics-coated particles was the main obstacle for the highly efficient shale gas produced water (SGPW) treatment and recycling. In this study, a novel hybrid electrocoagulation (EC) and E-peroxone process coupled with UF (ECP-UF) process was proposed to examine the efficacy and elucidate the mechanism for UF fouling mitigation in assisting SGPW reuse. Compared to the TMP (transmembrane pressure) increase of -15 kPa in the EC-UF process, TMP in ECP-UF system marginally increased to -1.4 kPa for 3 filtration cycles under the current density of 15 mA/cm2. Both the total fouling index and hydraulically irreversible fouling index of the ECP-UF process were significantly lower than those of EC-UF process. According to the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory, the potential barriers was the highest for ECP-UF processes due to the substantial increase of the acid-base interaction energy in ECP-UF process, which was well consistent with the TMP and SEM results. Turbidity and TOC of ECP-UF process were 63.6% and 45.8% lower than those of EC-UF process, respectively. According to the MW distribution, the variations of compounds and their relative contents were probably due to the oxidation and decomposing products of the macromolecular organics. The number of aromatic compound decreased, while the number of open-chain compounds (i.e., alkenes, alkanes and alcohols) increased in the permeate of ECP-UF process. Notably, the substantial decrease in the relative abundance of di-phthalate compounds was attributed to the high reactivity of these compounds with ·OH. Mechanism study indicated that ECP could realize the simultaneous coagulation, H2O2 generation and activation by O3, facilitating the enhancement of ·OH and Alb production and therefore beneficial for the improved water quality and UF fouling mitigation. Therefore, the ECP-UF process emerges as a high-efficient and space-saving approach, yielding a synergistic effect in mitigating UF fouling for SGPW recycling.

Wnt5a deficiency in osteocalcin-expressing cells could not alleviate the osteoarthritic phenotype in a mouse model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Wnt5a, which regulates the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, is reportedly overexpressed in osteoarthritis (OA) tissues. The purpose of this study was to elucidate its role in the development of OA by deleting Wnt5a in osteocalcin (OCN)-expressing cells. Materials and Methods: Knee OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in OCN-Cre;Wnt5afl/fl knockout (Wnt5a-cKO) mice and control littermates. Eight weeks after surgery, histological changes, cell apoptosis, and matrix metabolism of cartilage were evaluated by toluidine blue, TUNEL staining, and im-immunohistochemistry analyses, respectively. In addition, the subchondral bone microarchitecture of mice was examined by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Results: Histological scores show substantial cartilage degeneration occurred in ACLT knees, coupled with decreased collagen type II expression and enhanced matrix metalloproteinase 13 expression, as well as higher proportions of apoptotic cells. Micro-CT results show that ACLT resulted in decreased bone mineral density, bone volume/trabecular volume, trabecular number, and structure model index of subchondral bones in both Wnt5a-cKO and control littermates; although Wnt5a-cKO mice display lower BMD and BV/TV values, no significant difference was observed between Wnt5a-cKO and control mice for any of these values. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Wnt5a deficiency in OCN-expressing cells could not prevent an osteoarthritic phenotype in a mouse model of post-traumatic OA.

Enhanced hydrolysis and methane yield of temperature-phased dewatered sludge anaerobic digestion by microbial electrolysis cell.

Temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) are both able to improve hydrolysis and methane yield during anaerobic digestion (AD) of dewatered sludge. However, the effect of TPAD and MEC integration at different temperatures and different phases is unclear. This study investigated the effect of the integration of intermittent energization MEC in different phases of TPAD on the digestion of dewatered sludge. Thermophilic and MEC hydrolysis could release higher total ammonia nitrogen of 186.0% and 10.3% than control, mesophilic methanogenesis phase integrated with MEC relieved the ammonia inhibition and accelerated the acid utilization leading to the relief of acid accumulation. The ultimate methane yield of the TPAD integrated with MEC was increased by 118.9%, in which the relative abundance of Methanothermobacteria and Methanosarcina was increased. Therefore, intermittent energization MEC integrated TPAD synchronously improved the hydrolysis and methane yield.

Pentanary Oxythiogermanates Ba3MGe3O2S8 (M = Ca, Zn) Featuring [Ge3O2S8]8- Trimers and {[MGe3O2S8]6-}∞ Chains: Structural Chemistry and Physical Properties.

Oxychalcogenides are increasingly attracting wide attention because they contain multiple anions that may combine the advantages of oxides and chalcogenides. In this work, two new pentanary oxythiogermanates, Ba3MGe3O2S8 [M = Ca (1), Zn (2)], were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction. They crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma, and their structures contain isolated [Ge3O2S8]8- units constructed by one [GeO2S2] and two [GeOS3] tetrahedra that link with M2+ ions to build the {[MGe3O2S8]6-}∞ chain, representing a new type of oxythiogermanate. Notably, a [ZnS5] square pyramid exists in 2. Their structural chemistry and relationship with relevant structures are analyzed. 1 and 2 exhibit wide band gaps of 3.93 and 2.63 eV, birefringences of 0.100 and 0.089 at 2100 nm, respectively, and also obvious photocurrent responses. This work may be extended to a family of AE3MIIMIV3O2Q8 (AE = alkali-earth metal; MII = Ca, Zn, Cd, Hg; MIV = Si, Ge, Sn; Q = S, Se), and further systematic survey on them can be performed to enrich the study of multifunctional oxychalcogenides.

Molecular mechanism of color deepening of ready-to-eat shrimp during storage.

Color deepening occurs during storage of ready-to-eat (RTE) shrimps, which seriously affects their marketing cycle. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of color deterioration in RTE shrimps during accelerated storage, shedding light on the pattern of change in colored products and content. The findings revealed significant occurrences of phenolic oxidation, lipid oxidation, and Maillard browning reactions during accelerated storage. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted on the colored products resulting from these chemical reactions. Multivariate mathematical models were employed to analyze the phenolic oxidation products (2-methylanthraquinone and p-benzoquinone), lipid oxidation products (lipofuscin-like pigments and hydrophobic pyrroles), and Maillard browning products (pyrazines and melanoidins). These products were identified as the main contributors to the deepening of the color of RTE shrimps during storage. The outcomes of this research could enhance our understanding of the color change mechanism in thermally processed marine foods, providing valuable insights for quality maintenance and industrial advancement.

Monolithic Interphase Enables Fast Kinetics for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries at Subzero Temperature.

In spite of the competitive performance at room temperature, the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still hindered by sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics and unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase under subzero environments. Herein, a low-concentration electrolyte, consisting of 0.5M NaPF6 dissolving in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether solvent, is proposed for SIBs working at low temperature. Such an electrolyte generates a thin, amorphous, and homogeneous cathode/electrolyte interphase at low temperature. The interphase is monolithic and rich in organic components, reducing the limitation of Na+ migration through inorganic crystals, thereby facilitating the interfacial Na+ dynamics at low temperature. Furthermore, it effectively blocks the unfavorable side reactions between active materials and electrolytes, improving the structural stability. Consequently, Na0.7Li0.03Mg0.03Ni0.27Mn0.6Ti0.07O2//Na and hard carbon//Na cells deliver a high capacity retention of 90.8 % after 900 cycles at 1C, a capacity over 310 mAh g-1 under -30 °C, respectively, showing long-term cycling stability and great rate capability at low temperature.

In-Situ Cyclized Polyacrylonitrile as an Electron Selective Layer for n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cell with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability.

In situ cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) is developed to replace n-type metal oxide semiconductors (TiO2 or SnO2) as an electron selective layer (ESL) for highly efficient and stable n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The CPAN layer is fabricated via facile in situ cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) coated on a conducting glass substrate. The CPAN layer is robust and insoluble in common solvents, and possesses n-type semiconductor properties with a high electron mobility of 4.13×10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1. With the CPAN as an ESL, the PSC affords a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.12 %, which is the highest for the n-i-p PSCs with organic ESLs. Moreover, the device with the CPAN layer holds superior operational stability, maintaining over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 500 h continuous light soaking. These results confirm that the CPAN layer would be a desirable low-cost and efficient ESL for n-i-p PSCs and other photoelectronic devices with high performance and stability.

The Effect of Radioiodine Therapy on the Prognosis of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer with Lung Metastases.

Lung metastasis substantially influences the survival of thyroid cancer (TC) patients. This study sought to investigate factors impacting the survival of differentiated thyroid cancer patients with lung metastases (DTC-LM) undergoing radioiodine therapy (RAI) after thyroid surgery. The retrospective study encompassed 609 TC patients with lung metastases. Survival outcomes-specifically, overall survival (OS) and thyroid cancer-specific survival (TCSS)-were examined through both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Radioiodine therapy (RAI)'s impact on DTC-LM patient survival was further assessed with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Of the 609 TC patients with lung metastases, 434 (71.3%) were found to have undergone thyroid surgery after a median follow-up of 59 months. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), stage IV, and lung metastases associated with other metastases were identified as risk factors for OS and TCSS in TCLM patients. RAI therapy significantly enhances survival in DTC-LM patients followed by primary site surgery under the age of 55, PTC patients, and those with single organ metastases at lung.

Novel biomarkers related to oxidative stress and immunity in chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing in recent years, gradually becoming a global health crisis. Due to limited treatment options, novel molecular pathways are urgently required to advance the treatment and diagnosis of CKD. Materials and methods: The characteristics of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CKD patients were analyzed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and genes related to oxidative stress were retrieved from the Genecard database. Subsequently, a comprehensive approach was applied, including immune infiltration analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, to identify hub genes among differentially expressed immune-related oxidative stress genes (DEIOSGs). Validation of hub genes was performed using an external data set, and diagnostic potential capability was evaluated through receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. In animal experiments, the expression of hub genes in CKD was confirmed by inducing a CKD model through a 5/6 nephrectomy procedure. Finally, the relationship between these hub genes and clinical characteristics were assessed using the Nephroseq v5 database. Results: 29 DEIOSGs were identified by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. PPI analysis screened the hub genes NCF2, S100A9, and SELL. ROC analysis demonstrated excellent diagnostic efficacy. Further validation from other databases and animal experiments confirmed a substantial upregulation in the expression of hub genes in CKD. Additionally, clinical correlation analysis established a clear link between hub gene expression and renal function deterioration. Conclusions: Our study confirms NCF2, S100A9, and SELL as diagnostic biomarkers associated with immune response and oxidative stress in CKD, suggesting their potential as novel targets for CKD diagnosis and treatment.

The RNA-binding protein sorbin and SH3 domain-containing 2 are transcriptionally regulated by specificity protein 1 and function as tumor suppressors in bladder cancer by stabilizing tissue factor pathway inhibitor.

Sorbin and SH3 domain-containing 2 (SORBS2) is an RNA-binding protein and has been implicated in the development of some cancers. However, its role in bladder cancer (BC) is yet to be established. The expression of SORBS2 in BC tissues was determined from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis databases and collected paired tumor/normal samples. The effects of SORBS2 on BC cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell, dual-luciferase, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and DNA pull-down assays. In vivo, BC cell growth and metastasis were studied by a xenograft subcutaneous model and a tail-vein metastasis model. The results showed that SORBS2 expression was significantly decreased in BC tissues and cells. SORBS2 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo, while silencing SORBS2 produced the opposite effect. Mechanistically, we found that SORBS2 enhanced the stability of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) mRNA via direct binding to its 3' UTR. Restoration of TFPI expression reversed SORBS2 knockdown-induced malignant phenotypes of BC cells. In addition, SORBS2 expression was negatively regulated by the transcription factor specificity protein 1 (SP1). Conversely, SORBS2 can be transcriptionally regulated by SP1 and inhibit BC cell growth and metastasis via stabilization of TFPI mRNA, indicating SORBS2 may be a promising therapeutic target for BC.

A Task-guided, Implicitly-searched and Metainitialized Deep Model for Image Fusion.

Image fusion plays a key role in a variety of multi-sensor-based vision systems, especially for enhancing visual quality and/or extracting aggregated features for perception. However, most existing methods just consider image fusion as an individual task, thus ignoring its underlying relationship with these downstream vision problems. Furthermore, designing proper fusion architectures often requires huge engineering labor. It also lacks mechanisms to improve the flexibility and generalization ability of current fusion approaches. To mitigate these issues, we establish a Task-guided, Implicit-searched and Meta-initialized (TIM) deep model to address the image fusion problem in a challenging real-world scenario. Specifically, we first propose a constrained strategy to incorporate information from downstream tasks to guide the unsupervised learning process of image fusion. Within this framework, we then design an implicit search scheme to automatically discover compact architectures for our fusion model with high efficiency. In addition, a pretext meta initialization technique is introduced to leverage divergence fusion data to support fast adaptation for different kinds of image fusion tasks. Qualitative and quantitative experimental results on different categories of image fusion problems and related downstream tasks (e.g., visual enhancement and semantic understanding) substantiate the flexibility and effectiveness of our TIM.

DNAJA1­knockout alleviates heat stroke­induced endothelial barrier disruption via improving thermal tolerance and suppressing the MLCK­MLC signaling pathway.

Endothelial barrier disruption plays a key role in the pathophysiology of heat stroke (HS). Knockout of DNAJA1 (DNAJA1­KO) is thought to be protective against HS based on a genome­wide CRISPR­Cas9 screen experiment. The present study aimed to illustrate the function of DNAJA1­KO against HS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. DNAJA1­KO cells were infected using a lentivirus to investigate the role of DNAJA1­KO in HS­induced endothelial barrier disruption. It was shown that DNAJA1­KO could ameliorate decreased cell viability and increased cell injury, according to the results of Cell Counting Kit­8 and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Moreover, HS­induced endothelial cell apoptosis was inhibited by DNAJA1­KO, as indicated by Annexin V­FITC/PI staining and cleaved­caspase­3 expression using flow cytometry and western blotting, respectively. Furthermore, the endothelial barrier function, as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance and FITC­Dextran, was sustained during HS. DNAJA1­KO was not found to have a significant effect on the expression and distribution of cell junction proteins under normal conditions without HS. However, DNAJA1­KO could effectively protect the HS­induced decrease in the expression and distribution of cell junction proteins, including zonula occludens­1, claudin­5, junctional adhesion molecule A and occludin. A total of 4,394 proteins were identified using proteomic analysis, of which 102 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were activated in HS­induced wild­type cells and inhibited by DNAJA1­KO. DEPs were investigated by enrichment analysis, which demonstrated significant enrichment in the 'calcium signaling pathway' and associations with vascular­barrier regulation. Furthermore, the 'myosin light­chain kinase (MLCK)­MLC signaling pathway' was proven to be activated by HS and inhibited by DNAJA1­KO, as expected. Moreover, DNAJA1­KO mice and a HS mouse model were established to demonstrate the protective effects on endothelial barrier in vivo. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that DNAJA1­KO alleviates HS­induced endothelial barrier disruption by improving thermal tolerance and suppressing the MLCK­MLC signaling pathway.