Elevating Discharge Voltage of Li2CO3-routine Li-CO2 Battery over 2.9 V at an Ultra-wide Temperature Window.

The Li-CO2 batteries utilizing greenhouse gas CO2 possess advantages of high energy density and environmental friendliness. However, these batteries following Li2CO3-product route typically exhibit low work voltage (<2.5 V) and energy efficiency. Herein, we have demonstrated for the first time that cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) as homogeneous catalyst can elevate the work plateau towards 2.98 V, which is higher than its theoretical discharge voltage without changing the Li2CO3-product route. This unprecedented discharge voltage is illustrated by mass spectrum and electrochemical analyses that CoPc has powerful adsorption capability with CO2 (-7.484 kJ/mol) and forms discharge intermediate of C33H16CoN8O2. Besides high discharge capacity of 18724 mAh/g and robust cyclability over 1600 hours (1000 mAh/g cut-off) at a current density of 100 mA/g , the batteries show high temperature adaptability (-30~80 °C). Our work is paving a promising avenue for the progress of high-efficiency Li-CO2 batteries.

LINE-1 transcription activates long-range gene expression.

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is a retrotransposon group that constitutes 17% of the human genome and shows variable expression across cell types. However, the control of L1 expression and its function in gene regulation are incompletely understood. Here we show that L1 transcription activates long-range gene expression. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening using a reporter driven by the L1 5' UTR in human cells identifies functionally diverse genes affecting L1 expression. Unexpectedly, altering L1 expression by knockout of regulatory genes impacts distant gene expression. L1s can physically contact their distal target genes, with these interactions becoming stronger upon L1 activation and weaker when L1 is silenced. Remarkably, L1s contact and activate genes essential for zygotic genome activation (ZGA), and L1 knockdown impairs ZGA, leading to developmental arrest in mouse embryos. These results characterize the regulation and function of L1 in long-range gene activation and reveal its importance in mammalian ZGA.

Effect of acupuncture on tic disorder: a randomized controlled clinical trial based on energy metabolomics and infrared thermography.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a method for treating tic disorder. However, there is a lack of sufficient clinical objective basis in regards of its treatment efficacy. Indeed, there are structural abnormalities present in energy metabolism and infrared thermography in children with tic disorder. Therefore, this study proposes a clinical trial scheme to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in treating tic disorder. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial will recruit a total of 90 children, in which they will be divided into non-intervention group and intervention group. The non-intervention group consists of 30 healthy children while the intervention group consists of 60 children with tic disorder. The intervention group will be randomly allocated into either the treatment group or the control group, with 30 children randomly assigned in each group. Children either received acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (treatment group) or sham acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (control group), 3 treatment sessions per week for a period of 12 weeks, with a total of 36 treatment sessions. Outcome measures include YGTSS, urinary and fecal metabolomics, infrared thermography of body surface including governor vessel. For the intervention group, these outcome measures will be collected at the baseline and 90th day prior to intervention. Whereas for the non-intervention group, outcome measures (excluding YGTSS) will be collected at the baseline. DISCUSSION: The main outcome will be to observe the changes of the severity of tic condition, the secondary outcome will be to observe the changes of structural characteristic of infrared thermography of body surface/acupoints along the governor vessel and to evaluate the changes of urinary and fecal metabolomics at the end of the treatment, so as to analyze the relationship between them and to provide further knowledge in understanding the possible mechanism of acupuncture in improving the clinical symptoms via regulating and restoring the body metabolomics network, which in future it can develop as a set of clinical guideline (diagnosis, treatment, assessment, prognosis) in treating tic disorder. ChiCTR2300075188(Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn , registered on 29 August 2023).

Classification of peanut pod rot based on improved YOLOv5s.

Peanut pod rot is one of the major plant diseases affecting peanut production and quality over China, which causes large productivity losses and is challenging to control. To improve the disease resistance of peanuts, breeding is one significant strategy. Crucial preventative and management measures include grading peanut pod rot and screening high-contributed genes that are highly resistant to pod rot should be carried out. A machine vision-based grading approach for individual cases of peanut pod rot was proposed in this study, which avoids time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inaccurate manual categorization and provides dependable technical assistance for breeding studies and peanut pod rot resistance. The Shuffle Attention module has been added to the YOLOv5s (You Only Look Once version 5 small) feature extraction backbone network to overcome occlusion, overlap, and adhesions in complex backgrounds. Additionally, to reduce missing and false identification of peanut pods, the loss function CIoU (Complete Intersection over Union) was replaced with EIoU (Enhanced Intersection over Union). The recognition results can be further improved by introducing grade classification module, which can read the information from the identified RGB images and output data like numbers of non-rotted and rotten peanut pods, the rotten pod rate, and the pod rot grade. The Precision value of the improved YOLOv5s reached 93.8%, which was 7.8%, 8.4%, and 7.3% higher than YOLOv5s, YOLOv8n, and YOLOv8s, respectively; the mAP (mean Average Precision) value was 92.4%, which increased by 6.7%, 7.7%, and 6.5%, respectively. Improved YOLOv5s has an average improvement of 6.26% over YOLOv5s in terms of recognition accuracy: that was 95.7% for non-rotted peanut pods and 90.8% for rotten peanut pods. This article presented a machine vision- based grade classification method for peanut pod rot, which offered technological guidance for selecting high-quality cultivars with high resistance to pod rot in peanut.

Correlation between Disc Imaging Observations and Clinical Efficacy after Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A 1-Year Follow-up Study.

OBJECTIVE: The connection between alterations in the disc structure following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and symptoms in patients postsurgery has not been reported yet. The purpose of the present study was to discuss the potential correlation between the changes in the morphological characteristics of various reference surfaces of the intervertebral disc after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and clinical outcomes, to identify the morphological parameters that affect efficacy and provide an evidence-based foundation for assessing postoperative efficacy. METHODS: From October 2019 to October 2021, after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), 98 individuals were enrolled. MRI DICOM data of the lumbar spine were obtained before and after surgery, specifically around 3 months. The morphological parameters of the operated and adjacent segments of the discs were measured using T2-weighted images from three reference planes. Outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue pain scores for the back and leg (VAS-back/VAS-leg), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and recovery rates. Postoperative changes in disc parameters and outcomes were compared between patients with different severity and types of LDH based on the MSU staging. Patients completed the questionnaire during outpatient follow-up appointments 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. The follow-up period was 14.69 ± 4.21 months, ranging from 12 to 24 months. RESULTS: Parameters such as area and circumference of intervertebral discs in the cross-section were not associated with the change in the efficacy index. Postoperatively, a negative correlation between the variation of the disc height, disc height index, and protrusion distance and the difference in VAS scores for low back pain at 3 and 6 months was observed among the two sagittal change parameters. Differences between changes in disc imaging parameters and postoperative efficacy were not statistically significant between various types of lumbar disc herniation. CONCLUSION: For the patients after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, the changes in parameters such as disc area and circumference in the cross-sectional plane are not associated with efficacy, and the changes in disc height and herniation distance in the sagittal plane provide a morphologic basis for the assessment of short-term postoperative efficacy. In addition, the changes in disc morphologic parameters and postoperative efficacy do not differ between various types of lumbar disc herniation.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Tomato Growth Status under Aerated Drip Irrigation Based on Critical Nitrogen Concentration and Nitrogen Nutrient Diagnosis.

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the rational application of nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes under aerated drip irrigation, a model of the critical nitrogen dilution curve was established in this study, and the feasibility of the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) for the real-time diagnosis and evaluation of the nitrogen nutrient status was explored. The tomato variety "FENOUYA" was used as the test crop, and aerated drip irrigation was adopted by setting three levels of aeration rates, namely, A1 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 5 mg L-1), A2 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 15 mg L-1), and A3 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 40 mg L-1), and three levels of nitrogen rates, namely, N1 (120 kg ha-1), N2 (180 kg ha-1) and N3 (240 kg ha-1). The model of the critical nitrogen concentration dilution of tomatoes under different aerated treatments was established. The results showed that (1) the dry matter accumulation of tomatoes increased with the increase in the nitrogen application rate in a certain range and it showed a trend of first increase and then decrease with the increase in aeration rate. (2) As the reproductive period progressed, the nitrogen concentration in tomato plants showed a decreasing trend. (3) There was a power exponential relationship between the critical nitrogen concentration of tomato plant growth and above-ground biomass under different levels of aeration and nitrogen application rate, but the power exponential curves were characterized by A1 (Nc = 15.674DM-0.658), A2 (Nc = 101.116DM-0.455), A3 (Nc = 119.527DM-0.535), N1 (Nc = 33.819DM-0.153), N2 (Nc = 127.759DM-0.555) and N3 (Nc = 209.696DM-0.683). The standardized root mean square error (n-RMSE) values were 0.08%, 3.68%, 3.79% 0.50%, 1.08%, and 0.55%, which were less than 10%, and the model has good stability. (4) The effect of an increased nitrogen application rate on the critical nitrogen concentration dilution curve was more significant than that of the increase in aeration rate. (5) A nitrogen nutrition index model was built based on the critical nitrogen concentration model to evaluate the nitrogen nutritional status of tomatoes, whereby 180 kg ha-1 was the optimal nitrogen application rate, and 15 mg L-1 dissolved oxygen of irrigation water was the optimal aeration rate for tomatoes.

NLRP3 regulates CIITA/MHC II axis and interferon-γ-inducible chemokines in Malassezia globosa-infected keratinocytes.

CIITA, a member of NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, is the major MHC II trans-activator and mediator of Th1 immunity, but its function and interaction with NLRP3 have been little studied. We found activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, increased expression of CIITA, CBP, pSTAT1, STAT1, MHC II, IFN-γ and IFN-γ-inducible chemokines (CCL1 and CXCL8), and colocalisation of NLRP3 with CIITA in Malassezia folliculitis lesions, Malassezia globosa-infected HaCaT cells and mouse skin. CoIP with anti-CIITA or anti-NLRP3 antibody pulled down NLRP3 or both CIITA and ASC. NLRP3 silencing or knockout caused CIITA downexpression and their colocalisation disappearance in HaCaT cells and mouse skin of Nlrp3-/- mice, while CIITA knockdown had no effect on NLRP3, ASC, IL-1ß and IL-18 expression. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors and knockdown significantly suppressed IFN-γ, CCL1, CXCL8 and CXCL10 levels in M. globosa-infected HaCaT cells. CCL1 and CXCL8 expression was elevated in Malassezia folliculitis lesions and reduced in Nlrp3-/- mice. These results demonstrate that M. globosa can activate NLRP3 inflammasome, CIITA/MHC II signalling and IFN-γ-inducible chemokines in human keratinocytes and mouse skin. NLRP3 may regulate CIITA by their binding and trigger Th1 immunity by secreting CCL1 and CXCL8/IL-8, contributing to the pathogenesis of Malassezia-associated skin diseases.

Effects of ACEI/ARB or CCB use on atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients following permanent pacemaker implantation.

Aims: Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) combined with hypertension leads to a higher risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) for patients. Hence, it is essential to study how to reduce this risk. Currently, the effects of the two common anti-hypertensive drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and calcium channel blockers (CCB), on the risk of NOAF for such patients remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate this association. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included hypertensive patients with PPI and without prior history of AF/atrial flutter, heart valve disease, hyperthyroidism, etc. Patients were classified into ACEI/ARB group and CCB group based on their exposure drug information. The primary outcome was NOAF events that occurred within 12 months after PPI. The secondary efficacy assessments were the changes from baseline to follow-up in blood pressure and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to verify our aim. Results: A total of 69 patients were finally included (51 on ACEI/ARB and 18 on CCB). Both univariate analysis [odds ratio (OR) 0.241, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.078-0.745] and multivariate analysis (OR: 0.246, 95% CI: 0.077-0.792) demonstrated that ACEI/ARB were associated with a lower risk of NOAF compared to CCB. The mean reduction in left atrial diameter (LAD) from baseline was greater in ACEI/ARB group than in CCB group (P = 0.034). There was no statistical difference between groups in blood pressure and other TTE parameters after treatment. Conclusion: For patients with PPI combined with hypertension, ACEI/ARB may be superior to CCB in selecting anti-hypertensive drugs, as ACEI/ARB further reduces the risk of NOAF. One reason for this may be that ACEI/ARB improves left atrial remodelling such as LAD better.

Comparative study on inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on human pancreatic lipase and porcine pancreatic lipase: structure-activity relationships and inhibitory mechanism.

The inhibitory effects of twenty-six ginsenosides on human pancreatic lipase (hPL) and porcine pancreatic lipase (pPL) were studied. Study reveals that nine ginsenosides have moderate inhibitory effects against hPL, and good selectivity over pPL. By contrast, (S)-Rh2 showed good inhibitory effects on pPL over hPL. SAR analysis indicated that introduction of the O-glycosyl group(s) at C-3/C-7 site is unbeneficial for hPL inhibition, ginsenosides with A-skeleton is more beneficial than ginsenosides with B-/C-skeleton. Inhibition kinetic analysis indicated that Rg3 and (S)-Rh2 inhibited hPL-catalyzed DDAO-ol hydrolysis in a mixed manner. Molecular docking studies have confirmed that Rg3 and (S)-Rh2 inhibit hPL via many Pi-hydrogen interactions and hydrogen bonds with catalytic residues of hPL. These results indicated that pPL as an enzyme source could not fully represent the inhibitory effect of the tested compounds on hPL, and hPL should be used as far as possible to evaluate the inhibitory effect of PL.

Emerging Pharmacotherapeutic Strategies to Overcome Undruggable Proteins in Cancer.

Targeted therapies in cancer treatment can improve in vivo efficacy and reduce adverse effects by altering the tissue exposure of specific biomolecules. However, there are still large number of target proteins in cancer are still undruggable, owing to the following factors including (1) lack of ligand-binding pockets, (2) function based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs), (3) the highly specific conserved active sites among protein family members, and (4) the variability of tertiary docking structures. The current status of undruggable targets proteins such as KRAS, TP53, C-MYC, PTP, are carefully introduced in this review. Some novel techniques and drug designing strategies have been applicated for overcoming these undruggable proteins, and the most classic and well-known technology is proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). In this review, the novel drug development strategies including targeting protein degradation, targeting PPI, targeting intrinsically disordered regions, as well as targeting protein-DNA binding are described, and we also discuss the potential of these strategies for overcoming the undruggable targets. Besides, intelligence-assisted technologies like Alpha-Fold help us a lot to predict the protein structure, which is beneficial for drug development. The discovery of new targets and the development of drugs targeting them, especially those undruggable targets, remain a huge challenge. New drug development strategies, better extraction processes that do not disrupt protein-protein interactions, and more precise artificial intelligence technologies may provide significant assistance in overcoming these undruggable targets.

The semi-analytic solution to the magnetic field of frequency-band-selecting eddy current testing for local corrosion flaw in large diameter pipeline.

Local corrosion flaws (LCFs) widely exist in large diameter pipelines (LDPs) (e.g. steam, oil/gas pipeline) due to flow-accelerated corrosion, environmental corrosion, and material aging. Frequency-band-selecting eddy current testing (FBS-ECT), as an improved eddy current technique (ECT), has rich harmonic components in exciting signals as a pulsed eddy current technique (PECT), as well as more effective utilization of electromagnetic energy by selecting a frequency band. It is expected that FBS-ECT has promising applications in detecting and evaluating the LCFs in LDP. Therefore, a solution to the magnetic field of FBS-ECT for LCF detection in LDP is of great concern to reveal the features of the FBS-ECT signal and the parameters of the LCF. Extending our previous work, the semi-analytic expression of the magnetic flux density for FBS-ECT in regions 1 and 2 (where the magnetic sensor is located) is deduced according to the superposition principle and TREE, the computation accuracy is validated by numerical simulation; next, a semi-analytic solution to the magnetic field of FBS-ECT for LCF in LDP is proposed; then, the sampling distance in FBS-ECT is optimized by considering the magnitude of △Bz and the sensitivity of △Bz with the LCF depth; finally, a case study is carried out to verify the optimal strategy and find the mapping relationship between the radius/depth and the FBS-ECT signal. The proposed semi-analytic solution for the magnetic field of FBS-ECT is not only helpful to understand the theoretical relationship of the magnetic field and LCFs with higher computation efficiency but also lays a theoretical foundation to promote FBS-ECT to apply in the characterization of other flaws in metal components.

A Hump-like Neck Mass in a Child.

A 7-year-old boy with no medical history of trauma, infection, or surgery presented with a slowly growing, asymptomatic lump on his left lower neck since birth. What is your diagnosis?