A DIRIGENT Gene GmDIR26 Regulates Pod Dehiscence in Soybean.

Pod dehiscence brings much loss for modern agricultural production, and multiple pod dehiscence components have been identified in many plant species. However, the pod dehiscence regulation factors in soybean are limited. In this study, we investigate the function of GmDIR26, a close homologues gene of pod dehiscence genes GmPdh1, PvPdh1, and CaPdh1, in the regulation of pod dehiscence in soybean. The secondary and tertiary structure analysis reveals that GmDIR26 protein has a similar structure with GmPdh1, PvPdh1, and CaPdh1 proteins. Synteny analysis of soybean and chickpea genomes shows that the genomic region surrounding GmDIR26 and CaPdh1 might be evolved from the same ancestor, and these two genes might have similar function. GmDIR26 shows an increased expression pattern during pod development and reaches a peak at beginning seed stage. Meanwhile, GmDIR26 exhibits high expression levels in dorsal suture and pod wall, but low expression pattern in ventral suture. In addition, GmDIR26 shows higher expression levels in pod dehiscence genotype than that in pod indehiscence accessions. Overexpression of GmDIR26 in soybean increases pod dehiscence in transgenic plants, of which the lignin layer in inner sclerenchyma pods is thicker and looser. The expression levels of several pod dehiscence genes are altered. Our study provides important information for further modification of pod dehiscence resistance soybean and characterization of soybean pod dehiscence regulation network.

Characterization and correlations of dominant microorganisms and volatile compounds in fermentation process of Yangjiang douchi.

BACKGROUND: Yangjiang douchi (YD) is a traditional fermented soybean product, which is popular in Chinese cuisine for its unique flavor. However, due to its high salt content and unstable flavor, its competitiveness in the international market is gradually weakening. Microorganisms have a key role in the production process of YD because it is a fermented food but the effect of microorganisms on the volatile compounds of YD is also not currently clear. RESULTS: In this paper, aroma compounds and microbial diversity in different fermentation stages of YD were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) and IlluminaMiseq system sequencing. A total of 78 aroma-active compounds were detected throughout the fermentation process and they influenced the formation of flavor in YD. Fungi flora were relatively single in YD, and bacteria were rich and varied. A total of 418 species of bacteria were present during fermentation, with unclassified_Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus_kloosii, and Bacillus_velezensis_Bacillus predominating. There were 25 species of fungi at the species level, and Aspergillus minisclerotigenes (OTU 4) played a dominant role in the whole fermentation process. CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus and Bacillus in the bacterial genus were strongly correlated with most flavor compounds detected, and A. minisclerotigenes in the fungi were more relevant to flavor compounds. This research provides a theoretical basis for the enhancement of the flavor of traditional fermented douchi in China. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fractionation of biomass-burning smoke-derived dissolved organic matters on the surface of clay minerals: Variations of molecular properties and components.

Biomass burning (e.g., wildfire) frequently occurs globally, inevitably produces abundant biomass-burning smoke-derived dissolved organic matters (BBS-DOMs) which eventually deposits on the surface environment. The adsorption and fractionation of BBS-DOMs on clays inevitably alter their biogeochemical process and environmental behaviors in the surface environment. It is therefore important to clarify the adsorption and fractionation of BBS-DOM on clay surfaces. This study found that the fractionation of BBS-DOMs on clays (montmorillonite and kaolinite) were controlled by their functional groups, aromaticity, molecular size and organic components. The spectral indexes (SUVA254 and S275-295) of BBS-DOMs in solution after clays adsorption suggested that with the increasing DOC concentration, the primary interaction between BBS-DOMs and clays changed from hydrogen bond to hydrophobic/pore filling effects, and the adsorption ratio of the large molecules increased, which were very different from natural fulvic acid. Furthermore, various BBS-DOMs and fulvic acid had different component fractionation behaviors during clay adsorption, because they had different abundances of protein-like matters (hydrogen bond donors), pyridine-N/pyrimidine-N (positive charge doners of electrostatic interaction), and fulvic-like matters (hydrophobic interaction and pore filling effect). Additionally, the increasing pH weakened the adsorption of bulk BBS-DOMs and enhanced the adsorption ratio of aromatic matters and smaller BBS-DOM molecules. Meanwhile, at a higher pH, the adsorption ratio of protein-like matters increased, while the adsorption ratio of humic- and fulvic-like matters decreased. The result was ascribed to the enhanced hydrogen bond between protein-like matters and clays as well as the enhanced electrostatic repulsion between humic-/fulvic-like matters and clays. This study is helpful for deeply understanding the multimedia-crossing environmental behavior of BBS-DOMs in the surface environment.

Efficacy of a single low dose of esketamine after childbirth for mothers with symptoms of prenatal depression: randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a single low dose of esketamine administered after childbirth reduces postpartum depression in mothers with prenatal depression. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial with two parallel arms. SETTING: Five tertiary care hospitals in China, 19 June 2020 to 3 August 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 364 mothers aged ≥18 years who had at least mild prenatal depression as indicated by Edinburgh postnatal depression scale scores of ≥10 (range 0-30, with higher scores indicating worse depression) and who were admitted to hospital for delivery. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either 0.2 mg/kg esketamine or placebo infused intravenously over 40 minutes after childbirth once the umbilical cord had been clamped. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was prevalence of a major depressive episode at 42 days post partum, diagnosed using the mini-international neuropsychiatric interview. Secondary outcomes included the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score at seven and 42 days post partum and the 17 item Hamilton depression rating scale score at 42 days post partum (range 0-52, with higher scores indicating worse depression). Adverse events were monitored until 24 hours after childbirth. RESULTS: A total of 364 mothers (mean age 31.8 (standard deviation 4.1) years) were enrolled and randomised. At 42 days post partum, a major depressive episode was observed in 6.7% (12/180) of participants in the esketamine group compared with 25.4% (46/181) in the placebo group (relative risk 0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.48; P<0.001). Edinburgh postnatal depression scale scores were lower in the esketamine group at seven days (median difference -3, 95% CI -4 to -2; P<0.001) and 42 days (-3, -4 to -2; P<0.001). Hamilton depression rating scale scores at 42 days post partum were also lower in the esketamine group (-4, -6 to -3; P<0.001). The overall incidence of neuropsychiatric adverse events was higher in the esketamine group (45.1% (82/182) v 22.0% (40/182); P<0.001); however, symptoms lasted less than a day and none required drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: For mothers with prenatal depression, a single low dose of esketamine after childbirth decreases major depressive episodes at 42 days post partum by about three quarters. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were more frequent but transient and did not require drug intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04414943.

Biochar-derived organic carbon promoting the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and its molecular size effects: Synergies of dipole-dipole and conjugate bases.

The environmental effects of biochar-derived organic carbon (BDOC) have attracted increasing attention. Nevertheless, it is unknown how BDOC might affect the natural attenuation of widely distributed chloroalkanes (e.g., 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TeCA)) in aqueous environments. We firstly observed that the kinetic constants (ke) of TeCA dehydrochlorination in the presence of BDOC samples or their different molecular size fractions (<1 kDa, 1∼10 kDa, and >10 kDa) ranged from 9.16×103 to 26.63×103 M-1h-1, which was significantly greater than the ke (3.53×103 M-1h-1) of TeCA dehydrochlorination in the aqueous solution at pH 8.0, indicating that BDOC samples and their different molecular size fractions all could promote TeCA dehydrochlorination. For a given BDOC sample, the kinetic constants (ke) of TeCA dehydrochlorination in the initial pH 9.0 solution was 2∼3 times greater than that in the initial pH 8.0 solution due to more formation of conjugate bases. Interestingly, their DOC concentration normalized kinetic constants (ke/[DOC]) were negatively correlated with SUVA254, and positively correlated with A220/A254 and the abundance of aromatic protein-like/polyphenol-like matters. A novel mechanism was proposed that the CH dipole of BDOC aliphatic structure first bound with the CCl dipole of TeCA to capture the TeCA molecule, then the conjugate bases (-NH-/-NH2 and deprotonated phenol-OH of BDOC) could attack the H atom attached to the ß-C atom of bound TeCA, causing a CCl bond breaking and the trichloroethylene formation. Furthermore, a fraction of >1 kDa had significantly greater ke/[DOC] values of TeCA dehydrochlorination than the fraction of <1 kDa because >1 kDa fraction had higher aliphiticity (more dipole-dipole sites) as well as more N-containing species and aromatic protein-like/polyphenol-like matters (more conjugate bases). The results are helpful for profoundly understanding the BDOC-mediated natural attenuation and fate change of chloroalkanes in the environment.

Predictive value of preoperative CT enhancement rate and CT perfusion parameters in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is a critical step in colorectal cancer growth, progression and metastasization. CT are routine imaging examinations for preoperative clinical evaluation in colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of preoperative CT enhancement rate (CER) and CT perfusion parameters on angiogenesis in colorectal cancer, as well as the association of preoperative CER and CT perfusion parameters with serum markers. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 42 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Median of microvessel density (MVD) as the cut-off value, it divided 42 patients into high-density group (MVD ≥ 35/field, n = 24) and low-density group (MVD < 35/field, n = 18), and 25 patients with benign colorectal lesions were collected as the control group. Statistical analysis of CER, CT perfusion parameters, serum markers were performed in all groups. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of relevant CT perfusion parameters for tumor angiogenesis; Pearson correlation analysis explored potential association between CER, CT perfusion parameters and serum markers. RESULTS: CER, blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), permeability surface (PS) and carbohydrate antigen 19 - 9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in the control group, the parameters in high-density group were significantly higher than those in the low-density group (P < 0.05); however, the time to peak (TTP) of patients in colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the high-density group showed a significantly lower level compared to the low-density group (P < 0.05). The combined parameters BF + TTP + PS and BV + BF + TTP + PS demonstrated the highest area under the curve (AUC), both at 0.991. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the serum levels of CA19-9, CA125, CEA, TFF3, and VEGF in patients showed positive correlations with CER, BV, BF, and PS (P < 0.05), while these indicators exhibited negative correlations with TTP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some single and joint preoperative CT perfusion parameters can accurately predict tumor angiogenesis in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Preoperative CER and CT perfusion parameters have certain association with serum markers.

A simple and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative analysis of VX-548 in monkey plasma: Method validation and application to pharmacokinetic study.

VX-548 is an orally active and highly selective NaV 1.8 inhibitor that is undergoing development for the treatment of acute pain. The aim of this study was to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for the measurement of VX-548 in monkey plasma. VX-548 was extracted from the plasma using acetonitrile-mediated protein precipitation. The quantitative analysis was performed on a Thermo Vantage TSQ mass spectrometer with ibrutinib as an internal standard. Chromatography was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The precursor-to-product ion transitions were m/z 474.2 > 165.0 and m/z 441.2 > 138.1 for VX-548 and internal standard, respectively. This developed method was successfully validated in the concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL. The calibration curve showed excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient of >0.999. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was <8.4%, whereas the accuracy denoted as relative error (RE) ranged from -5.0% to 9.1%. The mean recovery was >84%. VX-548 was stable in monkey plasma after storage under certain conditions. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of VX-548 in monkey plasma after single oral (2 mg/kg) and intravenous (1 mg/kg) administrations.

The Current Status and Trends of Research Related to Vestibular Disorders, Vertigo, and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly Population: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: The vestibular system not only supports reflex function at the brainstem level, but is also associated with higher levels of cognitive function. Vertigo due to vestibular disorders may lead to or be associated with cognitive dysfunction. Patients with deficits of both vestibular as well as cognitive function may be at particularly high risk for events like falls or certain diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Objective: To analyze the current state of research and trends in the global research literature regarding the correlation between vestibular disorders, vertigo, and cognitive impairment. Methods: We utilized Bibliometrix package to search databases including PubMed, Web of Science, etc for search terms. Results: Databases were searched up to December 15, 2022, and a total of 2222 publications were retrieved. Ultimately, 53 studies were included. A total of 261 authors published in 38 journals and conferences with an overall increasing annual growth rate of 6.94%. The most-published journal was Frontiers in Neurology. The most-published country was the United States, followed by Italy and Brazil. The most-published institution was Johns Hopkins University with a total of 13 articles. On performing trend analysis, we found that the most frequent focus of research in this field include the testing of vestibular perception, activation of the brain-related cortex, and the influence of stimulus-triggered vestibular snail reflex on visual space. The potential focal points are the risk of falling and the ability to extract spatial memory information, and the focus of research in recent decades has revolved around balance, falling, and Alzheimer's disease. Conclusions: Vestibular impairment in older adults affects cognitive function, particularly immediate memory, visuospatial cognition, and attention, with spatial cognition being the most significantly affected. In the future, virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation techniques and caloric stimulation could be potential interventions for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

Biofuel production for circular bioeconomy: Present scenario and future scope.

In recent years, biofuel production has attracted considerable attention, especially given the increasing worldwide demand for energy and emissions of greenhouse gases that threaten this planet. In this case, one possible solution is to convert biomass into green and sustainable biofuel, which can enhance the bioeconomy and contribute to sustainable economic development goals. Due to being in large quantities and containing high organic content, various biomass sources such as food waste, textile waste, microalgal waste, agricultural waste and sewage sludge have gained significant attention for biofuel production. Also, biofuel production technologies, including thermochemical processing, anaerobic digestion, fermentation and bioelectrochemical systems, have been extensively reported, which can achieve waste valorization through producing biofuels and re-utilizing wastes. Nevertheless, the commercial feasibility of biofuel production is still being determined, and it is unclear whether biofuel can compete equally with other existing fuels in the market. The concept of a circular economy in biofuel production can promote the environmentally friendly and sustainable valorization of biomass waste. This review comprehensively discusses the state-of-the-art production of biofuel from various biomass sources and the bioeconomy perspectives associated with it. Biofuel production is evaluated within the framework of the bioeconomy. Further perspectives on possible integration approaches to maximizing waste utilization for biofuel production are discussed, and what this could mean for the circular economy. More research related to pretreatment and machine learning of biofuel production should be conducted to optimize the biofuel production process, increase the biofuel yield and make the biofuel prices competitive.

NSUN2 affects diabetic retinopathy progression by regulating MUC1 expression through RNA m5C methylation.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blinding eye disease among working adults and is primarily attributed to the excessive proliferation of microvessels, which leads to vitreous hemorrhage and retinal traction, thereby significantly impairing patient vision. NSUN2-mediated RNA m5C methylation is implicated in various diseases, and in this investigation, we focused on elucidating the impact of NSUN2 on the regulation of the expression of the downstream gene MUC1, specifically through RNA m5C methylation, on the progression of DR. METHOD: Utilizing Microarray analysis, we examined patient vitreous fluid to pinpoint potential therapeutic targets for DR. Differential expression of NSUN2 was validated through qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence in human tissue, animal tissue, and cell model of DR. The relationship between NSUN2 and DR was explored in vitro and in vivo through gene knockdown and overexpression. Various techniques, such as MeRIP-qPCR and dot blot, were applied to reveal the downstream targets and mechanism of action of NSUN2. RESULTS: The levels of both NSUN2 and RNA m5C methylation were significantly elevated in the DR model. Knockdown of NSUN2 mitigated DR lesion formation both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NSUN2 promoted MUC1 expression by binding to the RNA m5C reader ALYREF. Knockdown of ALYREF resulted in DR lesion alterations similar to those observed with NSUN2 knockdown. Moreover, MUC1 overexpression successfully reversed a series of DR alterations induced by NSUN2 silencing. CONCLUSIONS: NSUN2 regulates the expression of MUC1 through ALYREF-mediated RNA m5C methylation, thereby regulating the progression of DR and providing a new option for the treatment of DR in the future.

Characteristics of Different Obesity Metabolic Indexes and their Correlation with Insulin Resistance in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

This study is aimed to investigate the characteristics of different obesity metabolic indexes [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), cardiometabolic index (CMI), body roundness index (BRI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid aggregation products (LAP)] and their correlation with insulin resistance (IR) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study was conducted on 140 subjects with PCOS and 133 control subjects aged 18-44 years. According to insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.69 and HOMA-IR < 2.69, PCOS group members were divided into insulin resistance group and non-insulin resistance group. Anthropometric and serological characteristics of the population with PCOS focused on calculating different obesity metabolic indexes and HOMA-IR. BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, CMI, BRI, VAI, and LAP were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05); In the insulin resistance group of PCOS patients, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, CMI, BRI, VAI, and LAP were significantly higher than in the non-insulin resistance group (P < 0.05). In PCOS patients, BMI (r = 0.658, P < 0.001), WC (r = 0.0.662, P < 0.001), WHR (r = 0.377, P < 0.001), WHtR (r = 0.660, P < 0.001), CMI (r = 0.698, P < 0.001), BRI (r = 0.757, P < 0.001), VAI (r = 0.640, P < 0.001), and LAP (r = 0.767, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with IR. Obesity metabolic indexes associated with PCOS were elevated in the PCOS group compared to the control group, and in the PCOS insulin-resistant group compared to the non-insulin resistant group. Novel obesity metabolic indexes, especially CMI, BRI and LAP, might be more appropriate for evaluating the risk of concurrent IR in PCOS.

The Relationship Between Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Body Composition Components in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome of Reproductive Age.

To investigate and analyze the relationship between body composition components, including Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, and visceral fat index, and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels in patients diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how various aspects of body composition impact AMH levels. This study enrolled 167 women with PCOS of reproductive age. Serum AMH level and body composition were measured, and the correlation between body composition elements and AMH levels was analyzed. AMH level was negatively correlated with body weight, BMI, fat-free mass, body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, and visceral fat level (P < 0.01). And negatively correlated with skeletal muscle ratio ( P = 0.003). AMH level remained significantly associated with BMI ( P = 0.028), body fat percentage ( P = 0.040), waist-hip ratio (P = 0.003), and visceral fat level ( P = 0.040) after age was included and a multiple linear regression model was established. After adjusting for age, BMI was still significantly associated with AMH (P = 0.029). At the same time, there was no obvious linear correlation between BSA and AMH. The results showed that AMH levels were significantly different among the three groups (9.53 ± 5.12 vs 6.98 ± 3.35 vs 6.38 ± 3.38, P < 0.001; ng/mL). The level of AMH in the non-central obesity group was higher than that in the central obesity group (9.68 ± 5.22vs7.09 ± 3.83, P < 0.001; ng/mL). In PCOS patients, those who are more obese have lower AMH levels, indicating poorer Ovarian Reserve. BMI may independently affect AMH levels, apart from age, BSA, and other factors. Ovarian function in centrally obese patients is poorer than in those with non-central obesity.

Dehydroepiandrosterone with a high-fat diet treatment at inducing polycystic ovary syndrome in rat model.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA combined with a high-fat diet (HFD) treatment of reproductive and endocrine metabolism in rats and then identify an ideal model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Three-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with DHEA or oil, fed with or without a HFD, for 21 days, during which body weight, feed intake, and estrous cycle monitoring were carried out. Fasting blood glucose was measured, and serum fasting insulin, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were estimated by ELISA. Serum total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by colorimetric assay. Whereas, histologic changes in rat ovaries were evaluated by H&E staining. Ovarian steroid hormone synthases and their protein levels (StAR, 3ß-HSD2, 17ß-HSD1, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and CYP19A1) were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Both DHEA and DHEA + HFD-treated rats lost a regular estrous cycle; had polycystic ovarian changes, significantly higher serum fasting insulin and testosterone levels; and increased ovarian StAR, 3ß-HSD2, and CYP11A1 protein levels. Additionally, rats in the DHEA + HFD-treated group were obese; had elevated fasting blood glucose, TG, DHT, AMH levels and LH:FSH ratios; increased ovarian 17ß-HSD1 protein levels. CONCLUSION: DHEA combined with HFD treatment is more effective at inducing PCOS than DHEA alone. The reproductive and endocrine metabolic aspects of this method are more consistent with the clinical characteristics of PCOS patients.

Relationship between social support and self-perceived burden in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: an analysis of chain-mediated effects.

OBJECTIVE: To estigate the relationship between social support, self-efficacy, coping style, and self-perceived burden and the mechanisms that underlie the action in Chinese OSA patients. METHODS: Between October 2022 and June 2023,316 OSA patients from two hospitals were surveyed. Data were collected using the General Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-Efficacy for Chronic Disease Scale (SECD6), and Simple Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson correlation. Regression analysis was performed using multiple linear regression analysis. The mediation effect analysis was performed using the Process macro (version 3.4.1) in SPSS. RESULTS: (1)This study confirmed that social support, self-efficacy, and coping styles had significant negative predictions regarding self-perceived burden. (2)The influence of social support on self-perceived burden in OSA patients is mainly through three indirect effects: single mediation effect of self-efficacy and coping style and interlocking mediation effect of self-efficacy→coping style. CONCLUSION: Social support can indirectly predict self-efficacy in OSA patients through the single mediation effect of self-efficacy and coping style and indirectly predict the self-perception burden in OSA patients through the linked mediation effects of self-efficacy and coping style.

Housekeeping U1 snRNA facilitates antiviral innate immunity by promoting TRIM25-mediated RIG-I activation.

U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is an abundant and evolutionarily conserved 164-nucleotide RNA species that functions in pre-mRNA splicing, and it is considered to be a housekeeping non-coding RNA. However, the role of U1 snRNA in regulating host antiviral immunity remains largely unexplored. Here, we find that RNVU1-18, a U1 pseudogene, is significantly upregulated in the host infected with RNA viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Overexpression of U1 snRNA protects cells against RNA viruses, while knockdown of U1 snRNA leads to more viral burden in vitro and in vivo. Knockout of RNVU1-18 is sufficient to impair the type I interferon-dependent antiviral innate immunity. U1 snRNA is required to fully activate the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-dependent antiviral signaling, since it interacts with tripartite motif 25 (TRIM25) and enhances the RIG-I-TRIM25 interaction to trigger K63-linked ubiquitination of RIG-I. Our study reveals the important role of housekeeping U1 snRNA in regulating host antiviral innate immunity and restricting RNA virus infection.

Facial age recognition based on deep manifold learning.

Facial age recognition has been widely used in real-world applications. Most of current facial age recognition methods use deep learning to extract facial features to identify age. However, due to the high dimension features of faces, deep learning methods might extract a lot of redundant features, which is not beneficial for facial age recognition. To improve facial age recognition effectively, this paper proposed the deep manifold learning (DML), a combination of deep learning and manifold learning. In DML, deep learning was used to extract high-dimensional facial features, and manifold learning selected age-related features from these high-dimensional facial features for facial age recognition. Finally, we validated the DML on Multivariate Observations of Reactions and Physical Health (MORPH) and Face and Gesture Recognition Network (FG-NET) datasets. The results indicated that the mean absolute error (MAE) of MORPH is 1.60 and that of FG-NET is 2.48. Moreover, compared with the state of the art facial age recognition methods, the accuracy of DML has been greatly improved.

Relationship between serum apelin, visfatin levels, and body composition in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between body composition and serum visfatin and apelin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: In this prospective observational study, the differences in body composition, levels of gonadal hormone concentrations, glucose metabolism, apelin, and visfatin were compared between PCOS patients and the control group. PCOS patients were further divided into different subgroups according to different obesity criteria and the differences between serum visfatin and apelin levels in different subgroups were compared. Finally, the correlation of serum visfatin levels and apelin levels with body composition, and metabolism-related indicators in PCOS patients was explored. RESULTS: A total collected 178 cases of PCOS patients and 172 cases of healthy women (control group) between 2020 July and 2021 November. In PCOS patients, their weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Rate (WHR), Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI), Percent Body Fat (PBF), Fat mass index (FMI), PBF of Arm, PBF of Leg, PBF of the Trunk, Visceral Fat Level (VFL), fasting insulin (FINS), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly higher than in the control group (all P < 0.001), Percent Skeletal Muscle (PSM), PSM of Leg, and PSM of the Trunk were significantly decreased than in the control group (all P < 0.001). The PCOS patients had significantly higher serum visfatin levels and apelin levels compared with the control group (all P < 0.001). In PBF > 35 % PCOS patients, the apelin and visfatin levels were significantly higher than the PBF ≤ 35 % PCOS patients. In WHR ≥ 0.85 and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 PCOS patients, the visfatin levels were significantly higher than the WHR < 0.85 and BMI < 24 kg/m2 PCOS patients. Serum apelin and visfatin positively correlated with BMI level, WHR, FFMI, PBF, FMI, PBF of arms, PBF of legs, PBF of the trunk, VFL, FBG, HOMA-IR index and negatively correlated with PSM, PSM of legs, and PSM of the trunk (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with healthy women, Patients with PCOS have an increased fat content in various parts of the body, reduced skeletal muscle content, and are often complicated by metabolic abnormalities. Serum visfatin and apelin correlated not only with obesity, fat mass, and fat distribution but also with muscle mass and distribution. It may be possible to reduce the long-term risk of metabolic disease in PCOS through the monitoring and management of the body composition in PCOS patients or to reflect the therapeutic effect of PCOS.

What Breast Cancer Screening Program do Rural Women Prefer? A Discrete Choice Experiment in Jiangsu, China.

BACKGROUND: Chinese rural women aged 35-64 years are encouraged to complete breast cancer screening (BCS) free of charge. However, it is challenging to reach a satisfying BCS uptake rate. In this study, rural women's preferences and preferences heterogeneity were measured for the development of strategies to enhance participation in BCS. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted via convenience sampling via face-to-face interviews in Jiangsu, China. Six DCE attributes were identified through a systematic literature review; our previous study of Chinese rural women's BCS intentions; a qualitative work involving in-depth interviews with rural women (n = 13), medical staff (n = 4), and health care managers (n = 2); and knowledge of realistic and actionable policy. The D-efficient design was generated using Ngene 1.3.0. A mixed logit model (MXL) in Stata 18.0 was used to estimate the main effect of attribute levels on rural women's preferences. The relative importance and willingness to utilize BCS services (WTU) were also estimated. The heterogeneous preferences were analyzed by a latent class model (LCM). Sociodemographic status was used to predict the characteristics of class membership. The WTU for different classes was also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 451 rural women, aged 35-64 years, were recruited. The MXL results revealed that the screening interval (SI) was the most important attribute for rural women with regard to utilizing BCS services, followed by the level of screening, the attitude of medical staff, ways to get knowledge and information, people who recommend screening, and time spent on screening (TSS). Rural women preferred a BCS service with a shorter TSS; access to knowledge and information through multiple approaches; a shorter SI; a recommendation from medical staff or workers from the village or community, and others; the enthusiasm of medical staff; and medical staff with longer tenures in the field. Two classes named "process driven" and "efficiency driven" were identified by the preference heterogeneity analysis of the LCM. CONCLUSION: There is a higher uptake of breast cancer screening when services are tailored to women's preferences. The screening interval was the most important attribute for rural women in China with a preference for a yearly screening interval versus longer intervals.

Safety and efficacy of tight versus loose glycemic control in acute stroke patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia is associated with worse stroke outcomes, but it is uncertain whether tight glycemic control during the acute stroke period is associated with a better outcome. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effect of tight glycemic control versus loose glycemic control in the acute phase of stroke patients. METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials comparing the safety and efficacy of tight glycemic control with a relatively loose control of blood glucose of acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) patients within 24 h after stroke onset. We required that the blood glucose level of the patients should not be lower than 6.11 mmol/L at the time of enrollment, and for the intensive blood glucose control range, we defined the blood glucose level as lower than that of the control group. The primary efficacy outcome measure was deaths from any cause at 90 days. Secondary efficacy outcomes comprised the number of participants with modified Rankin score (mRS). We define mRS scores 0-2 as favorable scores, recurrent stroke, and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale or the European Stroke Scale scores. We defined the number of participants with hypoglycemia as our primary safety outcome. Subgroup analysis was performed according to age, the variety of interventions, maintained glucose level, and status of hypoglycemia on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores or European Stroke Scale (ESS) scores. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 2957 participants meeting the including criteria were identified and included in this meta-analysis, although not all included data on every outcome measure. Data on the primary efficacy endpoint, mortality at 90 days, was available in 11 RCTs, a total of 2575 participants. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups (odds ratio (OR): 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-1.23; P = 0.99). For secondary endpoints, there was no difference between intervention and control groups for a mRS from 0 to 2 (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.80-1.15; P = 0.69; data from 9 RCTs available), or recurrent stroke (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.92-1.96; P = 0.13; data from 3 RCTs available). For NIHSS scores or ESS scores, there was a small difference in favor of intensive controls (standardized mean difference: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.04; P = 0.02). There was a marked increase in hypoglycemia with tight control: (OR of 9.46 (95% CI: 4.59-19.50; P < 0.00001; data from 9 RCTs available). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between tight and loose glycemic control on mortality, independence, or recurrent stroke outcome in acute stroke, but an increase in hypoglycemia. There was a small effect improvement on neurological scales, but the relevance of this needs to be confirmed in future adequately powered studies.

Impacts of User Personality Traits on Their Contributions in Idea Implementation: A Moderated Mediation Model.

In the realm of open innovation, users have emerged as a significant external source of innovation that enterprises cannot afford to overlook. Implemented ideas play a pivotal role in driving the iterative innovation of products within enterprises. However, the existing literature still lacks an exploration of specific impact mechanisms on contributions in idea implementation. This study presents a model that delineates the impact of user personality traits on idea implementation contributions, drawing upon theories such as personality trait theory, user engagement perspective, and trait activation theory. Empirical research was carried out by utilizing user data obtained from the Chinese high-tech company Xiaomi's MIUI community. Personality trait indicators were developed through the application of text mining and machine learning techniques. To evaluate the models, a negative binomial regression model, which is well-suited for handling discrete data, was employed. The findings of this study indicate that user openness and conscientiousness positively influence their idea implementation contribution, whereas neuroticism has a negative impact on implementation contribution. Additionally, it is observed that user engagement plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and idea implementation contribution. Community incentives can positively moderate the impact of user engagement on the relationship between conscientious personality and idea implementation contribution. This study expands the analysis of the impact mechanism of user idea implementation contributions, which has important theoretical guidance and practical implications for accurately identifying leading users in open innovation communities and enhancing user innovation contributions.