Cell membrane camouflaged Cu-doped mesoporous polydopamine for combined CT/PTT/CDT synergistic treatment of breast cancer.

Currently, traditional monotherapy for cancer often results in indiscriminate attacks on the body, leading to the emergence of new health problems. To confront these challenges, multimodal combination therapy has become necessary. However, how to develop new smart nanomaterials through green synthesis methods, delivering drugs while simultaneously synergizing multimodal combination therapies for tumor treatment, remains a topic of great significance. In this study, a biomimetic composite nanomaterial (RM-Cu/P) composed of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) as the core and red blood cell membranes (RBCMs) as the shell was synthesized as a drug carrier to deliver doxorubicin (DOX) while achieving synergistic chemotherapy, photothermal and chemodynamic therapy (CT/PTT/CDT). Herein, the nanoparticles were extensively characterized to examine their morphological characteristics, elemental composition, and drug-carrying capacity. Notably, the coating of RBCM reduced the toxicity of the RM-Cu/P@DOX nanoparticles, improved their targeting ability and prolonged their circulation time in vivo. The Cu-doped nanoparticles were capable of initiating a Fenton-like reaction to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for CDT, while the photothermal conversion efficiency (η) reached 45.20 % under NIR laser irradiation. Subsequently, the particles were examined by in vivo and in vitro experimental studies in cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, ROS levels, lysosomal escape, and mouse tumor model to evaluate their potential application in antitumor. Compared with monotherapy, the RM-Cu/P@DOX nanoparticles had multiple-stimulation response properties under redox, pH, and NIR, which exhibited the advantage of combined trimodal therapy, resulting in remarkable synergistic antitumor efficacy. In conclusion, this innovative platform exhibited promising applications in smart drug delivery and synergistic treatment of cancer.

Retrospective analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with human immunodeficiency virus infection after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with a 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 18%. The similarity between incidence and mortality (830000 deaths per year) underscores the bleak prognosis associated with the disease. HCC is the fourth most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in China. Most patients with HCC have a history of chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alcoholism or alcoholic steatohepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are the keys to improving the prognosis of patients with HCC. Although the total number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is declining globally the incidence of HCC is increasing in HIV-infected patients, especially those who are coinfected with HBV or HCV. As a result, people infected with HIV still face unique challenges in terms of their risk of developing HCC. AIM: To investigate the survival prognosis and clinical efficacy of surgical resection in patients with HCC complicated with HIV infection. METHODS: The clinical data of 56 patients with HCC complicated with HIV admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2013 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among these, 27 patients underwent hepatectomy (operation group) and 29 patients received conservative treatment (nonoperation group). All patients signed informed consents in line with the provisions of medical ethics. The general data, clinicopathological features and prognoses for the patients in the two groups were analyzed and the risk factors related to the prognoses of the patients in the operation group were identified. RESULTS: The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of HIV-HCC patients in the surgical group were 13 months and 17 months, respectively, and the median OS of patients in the nonsurgical group was 12 months. The OS of the surgical group was significantly longer than that of the control group (17 months vs 12 months, respectively; P < 0.05). The risk factors associated with DFS and OS in the surgical group were initial HIV diagnosis, postoperative microvascular invasion (MVI), a CD4+ T-cell count < 200/µL, Barcelona stage C-D, and men who have sex with men (MSM; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy can effectively prolong the survival of patients with HIV-HCC but MVI identified during postoperative pathological examination, late tumor detection, late BCLC stage, CD4+ T < 200/µL and MSM are risk factors affecting the survival and prognosis of patients undergoing hepatectomy. In addition, there were significant differences between the surgical group and the nonsurgical group in terms of the initial diagnosis of HIV, Child-Pugh score, alpha-fetoprotein measurement value, and HART-efficient antiretroviral therapy after the diagnosis of HIV (P < 0.05). Therefore, these factors may also affect the survival and prognosis of patients.

Regulation of tillage on grain matter accumulation in maize.

Introduction: To address issues related to shallow soil tillage, low soil nutrient content, and single tillage method in maize production in the Western Inner Mongolia Region, this study implemented various tillage and straw return techniques, including strip cultivation, subsoiling, deep tillage, no-tillage, straw incorporation with strip cultivation, straw incorporation with subsoiling, straw incorporation with deep tillage, and straw incorporation with no tillage, while using conventional shallow spinning by farmers as the control. Methods: We employed Xianyu 696 (XY696) and Ximeng 6 (XM6) as experimental materials to assess maize 100-grains weight, grain filling rate parameters, and grain nutrient quality. This investigation aimed to elucidate how tillage and straw return influence the accumulation of grain material in different maize varieties. Results and discussion: The results indicated that proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the 100-grains weight of both varieties. In comparison to CK (farmer's rotary rotation), the most notable rise in 100-grains weight was observed under the DPR treatment (straw incorporation with deep tillage), with a maximum increase of 4.84% for XY696 and 6.28% for XM6. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return in the field resulted in discernible differences in the stages of improving the grain filling rates of different maize varieties. Specifically, XY696 showed a predominant increase in the filling rate during the early stage (V1), while XM6 exhibited an increase in the filling rates during the middle and late stages (V2 and V3). In comparison to CK, V1 increased by 1.54% to 27.56% in XY696, and V2 and V3 increased by 0.41% to 10.42% in XM6 under various tillage and straw return practices. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the nutritional quality of the grains in each variety. In comparison to CK, the DPR treatment resulted in the most pronounced decrease in the soluble sugar content of grains by 25.43% and the greatest increase in the crude fat content of grains by 9.67%. Conclusion: Ultimately, the proper implementation of soil tillage and straw return facilitated an increase in grain crude fat content and significantly boosted grain weight by improving the grouting rate parameters at all stages for various maize varieties. Additionally, the utilization of DPR treatment proved to be more effective. Overall, DPR is the most promising strategy to improve maize yield and the nutritional quality of grain in the long term in the Western Inner Mongolia Region.

Designing Organic Spin-Gapless Semiconductors via Molecular Adsorption on C4N3 Monolayer.

Spin-gapless semiconductor (SGS), a class of zero-gap materials with fully spin-polarized electrons and holes, offers significant potential for high-speed, low-energy consumption applications in spintronics, electronics, and optoelectronics. Our first-principles calculations revealed that the Pca21 C4N3 monolayer exhibits a ferromagnetic ground state. Its band structure displays SGS-like characteristics, with the energy gap between the valence and conduction bands near the Fermi level in the spin-down channel much smaller than the one in the other spin channel. To enhance its SGS properties, we introduced electrons into the Pca21 C4N3 monolayer by adsorbing the CO gas molecule on its surface. Stable gas adsorption (CO@C4N3) effectively narrowed the band gap in the spin-down channel without changing the band gap in the spin-up channel obviously. Moreover, injecting holes into the CO@C4N3 system could increase the net magnetic moments and induce an SGS-to-metallic phase transition, while injecting electrons into the CO@C4N3 system is able to lower the net magnetic moments and cause an SGS-to-half-metallic phase transition. Our findings not only underscore a new promising material for practical metal-free spintronics applications but also illustrate a viable pathway for designing SGSs.

Sc-Modified C3N4 Nanotubes for High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage: A Theoretical Prediction.

Utilizing hydrogen as a viable substitute for fossil fuels requires the exploration of hydrogen storage materials with high capacity, high quality, and effective reversibility at room temperature. In this study, the stability and capacity for hydrogen storage in the Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube are thoroughly examined through the application of density functional theory (DFT). Our finding indicates that a strong coupling between the Sc-3d orbitals and N-2p orbitals stabilizes the Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube at a high temperature (500 K), and the high migration barrier (5.10 eV) between adjacent Sc atoms prevents the creation of metal clusters. Particularly, it has been found that each Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube is capable of adsorbing up to nine H2 molecules, and the gravimetric hydrogen storage density is calculated to be 7.29 wt%. It reveals an average adsorption energy of -0.20 eV, with an estimated average desorption temperature of 258 K. This shows that a Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube can store hydrogen at low temperatures and harness it at room temperature, which will reduce energy consumption and protect the system from high desorption temperatures. Moreover, charge donation and reverse transfer from the Sc-3d orbital to the H-1s orbital suggest the presence of the Kubas effect between the Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube and H2 molecules. We draw the conclusion that a Sc-modified C3N4 nanotube exhibits exceptional potential as a stable and efficient hydrogen storage substrate.

Recent Progress of Ion-Modified TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Harnessing solar energy to produce hydrogen through semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic water splitting is a promising avenue to address the challenges of energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Ever since Fujishima and Honda's groundbreaking work in photocatalytic water splitting, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has garnered significant interest as a semiconductor photocatalyst, prized for its non-toxicity, affordability, superior photocatalytic activity, and robust chemical stability. Nonetheless, the efficacy of solar energy conversion is hampered by TiO2's wide bandgap and the swift recombination of photogenerated carriers. In pursuit of enhancing TiO2's photocatalytic prowess, a panoply of modification techniques has been explored over recent years. This work provides an extensive review of the strategies employed to augment TiO2's performance in photocatalytic hydrogen production, with a special emphasis on foreign dopant incorporation. Firstly, we delve into metal doping as a key tactic to boost TiO2's capacity for efficient hydrogen generation via water splitting. We elaborate on the premise that metal doping introduces discrete energy states within TiO2's bandgap, thereby elevating its visible light photocatalytic activity. Following that, we evaluate the role of metal nanoparticles in modifying TiO2, hailed as one of the most effective strategies. Metal nanoparticles, serving as both photosensitizers and co-catalysts, display a pronounced affinity for visible light absorption and enhance the segregation and conveyance of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to remarkable photocatalytic outcomes. Furthermore, we consolidate perspectives on the nonmetal doping of TiO2, which tailors the material to harness visible light more efficiently and bolsters the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. The incorporation of various anions is summarized for their potential to propel TiO2's photocatalytic capabilities. This review aspires to compile contemporary insights on ion-doped TiO2, propelling the efficacy of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and anticipating forthcoming advancements. Our work aims to furnish an informative scaffold for crafting advanced TiO2-based photocatalysts tailored for water-splitting applications.

KP177R-based visual assay integrating RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a for the detection of African swine fever virus.

Introduction: Early detection of the virus in the environment or in infected pigs is a critical step to stop African swine fever virus (ASFV) transmission. The p22 protein encoded by ASFV KP177R gene has been shown to have no effect on viral replication and virulence and can serve as a molecular marker for distinguishing field virus strains from future candidate KP177R deletion vaccine strains. Methods: This study established an ASFV detection assay specific for the highly conserved ASFV KP177R gene based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and the CRISPR/Cas12 reaction system. The KP177R gene served as the initial template for the RPA reaction to generate amplicons, which were recognized by guide RNA to activate the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a protein, thereby leading to non-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNA as well as corresponding color reaction. The viral detection in this assay could be determined by visualizing the results of fluorescence or lateral flow dipstick (LFD) biotin blotting for color development, and was respectively referred to as fluorescein-labeled RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a and biotin-labeled LFD RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a. The clinical samples were simultaneously subjected to the aforementioned assay, while real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed as a control for determining the diagnostic concordance rate between both assays. Results: The results showed that fluorescein- and biotin-labeled LFD KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assays specifically detected ASFV, did not cross-react with other swine pathogens including PCV2, PEDV, PDCoV, and PRV. The detection assay established in this study had a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.8 copies/µL, and both assays were completed in 30 min. The KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assay demonstrated a diagnostic coincidence rate of 100% and a kappa value of 1.000 (p < 0.001), with six out of ten clinical samples testing positive for ASFV using both KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a and RT-qPCR, while four samples tested negative in both assays. Discussion: The rapid, sensitive and visual detection assay for ASFV developed in this study is suitable for field application in swine farms, particularly for future differentiation of field virus strains from candidate KP177R gene-deleted ASFV vaccines, which may be a valuable screening tool for ASF eradication.

Functional Photocatalysts: Material Design, Synthesis and Applications.

Rapid industrial and economic growth, experienced on a global scale, has been greatly facilitated by the extensive use and exploitation of traditional energy resources [...].

An aquaporin and an aquaglyceroporin have roles in low temperature adaptation of mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis).

Mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis), widely geographically distributed in Asia including China, are the primary vector of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax and other parasitic diseases such as Malayan filariasis. An. sinensis can survive through low winter temperatures. Aquaporin channels are found in all life forms, where they facilitate environmental adaptation by allowing rapid trans-cellular movement of water (classical aquaporins) or water and solutes such as glycerol (aquaglyceroporins). Here, we identified and characterized 2 aquaporin (AQP) homologs in An. sinensis: AsAQP2 (An. sinensis aquaglyceroporin) and AsAQP4 (An. sinensis aquaporin). When expressed in frog (Xenopus laevis) oocytes, AsAQP2 transported water, glycerol, and urea; AsAQP4 transported only water. Water permeation through AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 was inhibited by mercuric chloride. AsAQP2 expression was slightly higher in adult female mosquitoes than in males, and AsAQP4 expression was significantly higher in adult males. The 2 AsAQPs were highly expressed in Malpighian tubules and midgut. AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 expression was up-regulated by blood feeding compared with sugar feeding. At freezing point (0 °C), the AsAQP4 expression level increased and An. sinensis survival time reduced compared with those at normal temperature (26 °C). At low temperature (8 °C), the AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 expression levels decreased and survival time was significantly longer compared with those at 26 °C. These results suggest that AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 have roles in water homeostasis during blood digestion and in low temperature adaptation of A. sinensis. Together, our results show that the 2 AQPs are important for mosquito diuresis after blood feeding and when exposed to low temperatures.

Hsa_circ_0005397 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through EIF4A3.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the expression and potential mechanism of hsa_circ_0005397 in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression level of hsa_circ_0005397 and EIF4A3 from paired HCC tissues and cell lines. Western Blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to verify the protein level of EIF4A3. The specificity of primers was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve was drawn to analyze diagnostic value. Actinomycin D and nuclear and cytoplasmic extraction assays were utilized to evaluate the characteristics of hsa_circ_0005397. Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were performed to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the cell cycle. Transwell assay was performed to determine migration and invasion ability. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) of hsa_circ_0005397 in HCC were explored using bioinformatics websites. The relationship between hsa_circ_0005397 and Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) was verified by RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, correlation and rescue experiments. RESULTS: In this study, hsa_circ_0005397 was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC, and the good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity shown a potential diagnostic capability. Upregulated expression of hsa_circ_0005397 was significantly related to tumor size and stage. Hsa_circ_0005397 was circular structure which more stable than liner mRNA, and mostly distributed in the cytoplasm. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0005397 generally resulted in stronger proliferative ability, clonality, and metastatic potency of HCC cells; its downregulation yielded the opposite results. EIF4A3 is an RNA-binding protein of hsa_circ_0005397, which overexpressed in paired HCC tissues and cell lines. In addition, expression of hsa_circ_0005397 decreased equally when EIF4A3 was depleted. RIP assays and correlation assay estimated that EIF4A3 could interacted with hsa_circ_0005397. Knockdown of EIF4A3 could reverse hsa_circ_0005397 function in HCC progression. CONCLUSIONS: Hsa_circ_0005397 promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through EIF4A3. These research findings may provide novel clinical value for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Effect of Intrinsic Ferroelectric Phase Transition on Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis.

Heterogeneous electrocatalysis closely relies on the electronic structure of the catalytic materials. The ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition of the materials also involves a change in the state of electrons that could impact the electrocatalytic activity, but such correlation remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity could be regulated as exampled by hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis over two-dimensional ferroelectric CuInP2S6. The obvious discontinuity in the overpotential and apparent activation energy values for CuInP2S6 electrode are illustrated during the ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition caused by copper displacement around Tc point (318 K), revealing the ferroelectro-catalytic effect on thermodynamics and kinetics of electrocatalysis. When loading Pt single atom on the CuInP2S6, the paraelectric phase one showed an improved hydrogen evolution activity with smaller apparent activation energy over the ferroelectric phase counterpart. This is attributed to the copper hopping between two sulfur planes, which alternate between strong and weak H adsorption at the Pt sites to simultaneously promote H+ reactant adsorption and H2 product desorption.

Clinical study of standard residual liver volume and transient elastography in predicting poor prognosis of patients after hemihepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer resection, especially in patients with hemihepatectomy or extended hemihepatectomy, often leads to poor prognosis, such as liver insufficiency and even liver failure and death, because the standard residual liver volume (SRLV) cannot be fully compensated after surgery. AIM: To explore the risk factors of poor prognosis after hemihepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma and evaluate the application value of related prognostic approaches. METHODS: The clinical data of 35 patients with primary liver cancer in Nantong Third People's Hospital from February 2016 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curve was created using medcac19.0.4 to compare the critical values of the SRLV in different stages of liver fibrosis after hemihepatectomy with those of liver dysfunction after hemihepatectomy. It was constructed by combining the Child-Pugh score to evaluate its application value in predicting liver function compensation. RESULTS: The liver stiffness measure (LSM) value and SRLV were associated with liver dysfunction after hemihepatectomy. Logistic regression analysis showed that an LSM value ≥ 25 kPa [odds ratio (OR) = 6.254, P < 0.05] and SRLV ≤ 0.290 L/m2 (OR = 5.686, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for postoperative liver dysfunction. The accuracy of the new liver reserve evaluation model for predicting postoperative liver function was higher than that of the Child-Pugh score (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SRLV and LSM values can be used to evaluate the safety of hemihepatectomy. The new liver reserve evaluation model has good application potential in the evaluation of liver reserve function after hemihepatectomy.

Effects of straw return with potassium fertilizer on the stem lodging resistance, grain quality and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.).

This experiment aimed to study the effects of straw return combined with potassium fertilizer on stem lodging resistance, grain quality, and yield of spring maize. The objective was to provide a scientific basis for the rational utilization of Inner Mongolia spring maize straw and potassium fertilizer resources. The test material used was 'Xianyu 335', and the study was conducted in three ecological regions from east to west of Inner Mongolia (Tumochuan Plain Irrigation Area, Hetao Plain Irrigation Area, and Lingnan Warm Dry Zone). A split-plot design was employed, with the straw return method as the main plot and potassium fertilizer dosage as the secondary plot. We determined the stem resistance index, grain quality, and yield. The results showed that both straw return and potassium application improved stem lodging resistance, grain quality, and maize yield. Combining straw return with the reasonable application of potassium fertilizer enhanced the effectiveness of potassium fertilizer, increased lodging resistance, maize yield, and improved grain quality and yield stability. Under the straw return treatment, with potassium application compared to no potassium application, significant increases were observed in maize plant height, stem diameter, dry weight of stems, stem compressive strength, stem bending strength, grain protein content, yield, straw potassium accumulation content, and soil available potassium content. These increases were up to 30.79 cm, 2.63 mm, 15.40 g, 74.93 N/mm2, 99.65 N/mm2, 13.68%, 3142.43 kg/hm2, 57.97 kg/hm2, and 19.80 mg/kg, respectively. Therefore, the interaction of straw return and potassium fertilizer was found to be the most effective measure for maintaining high-yield and stress-resistant cultivation, improving grain quality, and optimizing the management of straw and potassium fertilizer resources. This approach is suitable for promotion and application in the spring maize growing areas of Inner Mongolia.

Controllable Electrocatalytic to Photocatalytic Conversion in Ferroelectric Heterostructures.

Photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reactions to produce value-added chemicals offer promising solutions for addressing the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Photocatalysis is driven by light excitation and charge separation and relies on semiconducting catalysts, while electrocatalysis is driven by external electric current and is mostly based on metallic catalysts with high electrical conductivity. Due to the distinct reaction mechanism, the conversion between the two catalytic types has remained largely unexplored. Herein, by means of density functional theory (DFT) simulations, we demonstrated that the ferroelectric heterostructures Mo-BN@In2Se3 and WSe2@In2Se3 can exhibit semiconducting or metallic features depending on the polarization direction as a result of the built-in field and electron transfer. Using the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as examples, the metallic heterostructures act as excellent electrocatalysts for these reactions, while the semiconducting heterostructures serve as the corresponding photocatalysts with improved optical absorption, enhanced charge separation, and low Gibbs free energy change. The findings not only bridge physical phenomena of the electronic phase transition with chemical reactions but also offer a new and feasible approach to significantly improve the catalytic efficiency.

Two-dimensional InTeClO3: an ultrawide-bandgap material with potential application in a deep ultraviolet photodetector.

Ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors, possessing bandgaps distinctly larger than the 3.4 eV of GaN, have emerged as a promising class capable of achieving deep ultraviolet (UV) light detection. Based on first-principles calculations, we propose an unexplored two-dimensional (2D) InTeClO3 layered system with ultrawide bandgaps ranging from 4.34 eV of bulk to 4.54 eV of monolayer. Our calculations demonstrate that 2D InTeClO3 monolayer can be exfoliated from its bulk counterpart and maintain good thermal and dynamic stability at room temperature. The ultrawide bandgaps may be modulated by the small in-plane strains and layer thickness in a certain range. Furthermore, the 2D InTeClO3 monolayer shows promising electron transport behavior and strong optical absorption capacity in the deep UV range. A two-probe InTeClO3-based photodetection device has been constructed for evaluating the photocurrent. Remarkably, the effective photocurrent (5.7 A m-2 at photon energy of 4.2 eV) generation under polarized light has been observed in such a photodetector. Our results indicate that 2D InTeClO3 systems have strong photoresponse capacity in the deep UV region, accompanying the remarkable polarization sensitivity and high extinction ratio. These distinctive characteristics highlight the promising application prospects of InTeClO3 materials in the field of deep UV optoelectronics.

DLAT is a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on public databases.

Cuproptosis is a new mechanism of cell death that differs from previously identified regulatory cell death mechanisms. Cuproptosis induction holds promise as a new tumour treatment. Therefore, we investigated the value of cuproptosis-related genes in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The cuproptosis-related gene Dihydrolipoamide S-Acetyltransferase (DLAT) were significantly upregulated in liver cancer tissues. High levels of DLAT were an independent prognostic factor for shorter overallsurvival (OS) time. DLAT and its related genes were mainly involved in cell metabolism, tumor progression and immune regulation. DLAT was significantly associated with the level of immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints in HCC. HCC with high DLAT expression was predicted to be more sensitive to sorafenib treatment. The risk prognostic signature established based on DLAT and its related genes had a good prognostic value. The cuproptosis-related gene DLAT is a promising independent prognostic marker and therapeutic target in HCC. The new prognostic signature can effectively predict the prognosis of HCC patients.

[Pollution Characteristics and Sources of Heavy Metals in Soil of a Typical Pyrite Concentrated Mining Area in Anhui Province].

To identify the characteristics and sources of heavy metal pollution in the surrounding soil of a typical pyrite concentrated mining area in Anhui Province, the pH value and the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Hg, and As in 42 surface soil samples and 16 soil samples from two vertical sections in the study area were collected and measured. The distribution characteristics, pollution assessment, and source analysis of heavy metal elements were conducted using the ArcGis inverse distance weight interpolation method, Nemero comprehensive index method, principal component analysis method, and absolute factor score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model. The results showed that the average concentration of the eight heavy metals was 1.03-13.14 times the background value in the Tongling area. The local enrichment of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, and As was obvious, and the spatial distribution was basically consistent with the location of man-made mining activities. The single-factor pollution index evaluation showed that Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and As had different degrees of pollution risk, and the pollution degree of Cd and Cu was the most serious, accounting for 47.62% and 42.86% of moderate pollution, respectively. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index evaluation showed that 61.90% of the soil samples in the study area were moderately polluted. The ground accumulation index evaluation showed that the pollution degree of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, and As in the study area was mainly from light pollution to strong pollution. In the vertical soil profile variation, heavy metals were easily enriched in the surface layer of the soil but migrated slowly to the deep layer, with concentrations mainly above 1 m. The results of source analysis showed that the high geological background and mining contribution rates of Zn, Pb, and As were 37.82%, 43.49%, and 46.63%, respectively. The natural contribution rates of weathering of parent material were 34.02%, 40.88%, and 38.52%, respectively. The sources of Cr and Ni were mainly natural sources of weathering of the parent material, with contribution rates of 91.95% and 73.68%, respectively. Geological high background and mining activities contributed 41.91% of the Cu sources, and atmospheric sedimentation and agricultural comprehensive sources contributed 41.30%. There were many sources of Hg. The natural source of weathering of soil parent material contributed 35.60%, geological high background and mining activities contributed 29.87%, and unknown sources contributed 34.05%. The main source of Cd was atmospheric sedimentation and agricultural comprehensive sources, contributing 81.81%.

Optical performance evaluation of an infrared system of a hypersonic vehicle in an aero-thermal environment.

At hypersonic velocities, the turbulent flow field generated by an aircraft, along with its temperature distribution, leads to significant aerodynamic optical effects that severely impede the performance of internal optical systems. This study proposes a method for analyzing the temporal characteristics of imaging degradation in a detector window infrared imaging system under different field angles of hypersonic velocity. Based on heat transfer theory, a method for solving the transient temperature field in the optical window of a high-speed aircraft is derived and established, considering unsteady thermal conduction-radiation coupling. Additionally, an optical window radiation tracing method is introduced, which directly determines the initial direction vector of light reaching the detector. This method reduces the workload of radiation transmission, significantly enhancing the efficiency of radiation calculations. The time characteristics of image degradation caused by aero-optical effects in high-speed aircraft are analyzed using metrics such as peak signal-to-noise ratio, wave aberration, and point diffusion function. The results demonstrate that as working time increases and the viewing angle widens, the impact of aero-optics on the aircraft imaging system becomes more severe. Moreover, compared to the aerodynamic light transmission effect, the aerodynamic thermal radiation effect has a more detrimental influence on imaging quality.

PIWIL1 interacting RNA piR-017724 inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration, and inhibits the development of HCC by silencing PLIN3.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers. Worldwide, liver cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Recent studies have found that PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) participate in the occurrence and development of various tumors and are closely related to the growth, invasion, metastasis and prognosis of malignant tumors. Studies on the role and functional mechanism of piRNAs in HCC development and progression are limited. Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the expression of piR-017724 in both HCC tissues and cells. Based on the clinical data of HCC patients, the clinical and prognostic value of piR-017724 was further analyzed. Then, targeted silencing and overexpressing of piR-017724 in HCC cells was further used to examine the biological functions of piR-017724. In addition, the downstream target protein of piR-017724 was predicted and validated through high-throughput sequencing and public databases. Results: The piR-017724 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and cells, and the downregulation of piR-017724 was associated with tumor stage and poor prognosis in HCC. The piR-017724 inhibitor promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, while the piR-017724 mimic had the opposite effect. However, the piR-017724 did not affect apoptosis of HCC cells. High-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR confirmed a reciprocal relationship between piR-017724 and PLIN3. Therefore, we speculate that piR-017724 may inhibit the development and progression of HCC by affecting the downstream protein PLIN3. Conclusions: Our study shows that piR-017724, which is lowly expressed in HCC, inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells and may affect the development of hepatocellular liver cancer through PLIN3, which provides new insights into the clinical application of piR-017724 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adaptive optimization technology of a conformal infrared dome based on the Von Karman surface under hypersonic conditions.

With the advent of the hypersonic era, diverse combat methods of hypersonic precision-guided weapons have been gradually developed. This study focuses on the precise design of a conformal infrared dome to accommodate different working conditions. To achieve this, an adaptive optimization technology for configuring conformal infrared domes is proposed, employing a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The technology enables the dome to dynamically balance its aerodynamic and imaging performance, taking into account the specific characteristics of each working condition. Moreover, it streamlines the design process of the conformal infrared domes. By optimizing the design with von Karman surfaces, we can overcome the limitations associated with the traditional quadric configuration. In order to evaluate its performance, a comparison was made with a conventional ellipsoid dome. The results indicate that, under the same working conditions, the air drag coefficient of the optimized infrared dome is reduced by 34.29% and that the peak signal-to-noise ratio of the distorted image from the infrared detection system is increased by 1.7%. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of the optimization method to balance aerodynamic performance and optical performance. Hopefully, our new method will improve the comprehensive performance of the infrared dome as well as the guidance capability of infrared detection technology.