Develop and validate a computable phenotype for the identification of Alzheimer's disease patients using electronic health record data.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often misclassified in electronic health records (EHRs) when relying solely on diagnosis codes. This study aimed to develop a more accurate, computable phenotype (CP) for identifying AD patients using structured and unstructured EHR data. METHODS: We used EHRs from the University of Florida Health (UFHealth) system and created rule-based CPs iteratively through manual chart reviews. The CPs were then validated using data from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Minnesota (UMN). RESULTS: Our best-performing CP was "patient has at least 2 AD diagnoses and AD-related keywords in AD encounters," with an F1-score of 0.817 at UF, 0.961 at UTHealth, and 0.623 at UMN, respectively. DISCUSSION: We developed and validated rule-based CPs for AD identification with good performance, which will be crucial for studies that aim to use real-world data like EHRs. Highlights: Developed a computable phenotype (CP) to identify Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients using EHR data.Utilized both structured and unstructured EHR data to enhance CP accuracy.Achieved a high F1-score of 0.817 at UFHealth, and 0.961 and 0.623 at UTHealth and UMN.Validated the CP across different demographics, ensuring robustness and fairness.

Phytochemicals targeting ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases: Recent advances and therapeutic perspectives.

Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent regulatory cell death that is related to the pathogenesis and progression of various cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmia, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and heart failure. This makes it a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. It is interesting that a significant number of cardiovascular disease treatment drugs derived from phytochemicals have been shown to target ferroptosis, thus producing cardioprotective effects. This study offers a concise overview of the initiation and control mechanisms of ferroptosis. It discusses the core regulatory factors of ferroptosis as potential new therapeutic targets for various cardiovascular diseases, elucidating how ferroptosis influences the progression of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, this review systematically summarizes the regulatory effects of phytochemicals on ferroptosis, emphasizing their potential mechanisms and clinical applications in treating cardiovascular diseases. This study provides a reference for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals in treating cardiovascular diseases. This may accelerate their application in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and is worth further research in this field.

Ectopic expression of the yeast Mn2+ transporter SMF2 enhances tolerance and resistance to cadmium and arsenic in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Vesicular sequestration is a potential strategy for enhancing plant tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). In this study, the ectopic overexpression of yeast-derived ScSMF2 in Arabidopsis thaliana was found to enhance the accumulation and tolerance of Cd and As in transgenic plants. ScSMF2 was localized on vacuole membranes and formed puncta structures in plant cells when agro-infiltrated for transient expression. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed less retardation on root elongation and shoot weight and more accumulation of Cd, As (III) and As (V) when cultured on medium containing Cd or As. Overexpression of ScSMF2 promoted accumulation of Cd and arsenic in transgenic Arabidopsis, which were over twice higher than in WT plants when cultured in soil. This study provides insights into the mechanisms involved in the vesicular sequestration of heavy metals in plant and presents a potential strategy for enhancing the phytoremediation capacity of plants toward heavy metals.

Ectopic overexpression of the yeast Mn²⁺ transporter SMF2 in Arabidopsis thaliana substantially boosts the accumulation and tolerance to Cd and As in plants. This augmentation is attributed to the enhanced efficacy of intracellular vesicle sequestration, thereby bolstering the capacity of plants to sequester and detoxify these toxic heavy metals. This investigation introduces a potential approach for cultivating plants with improved phytoremediation capabilities, thereby advancing eco-friendly and sustainable remediation initiatives against heavy metal pollution.

Synthesis of 2-benzyl N-substituted anilines via imine condensation-isoaromatization of (E)-2-arylidene-3-cyclohexenones and primary amines.

A catalyst- and additive-free synthesis of 2-benzyl N-substituted anilines from (E)-2-arylidene-3-cyclohexenones and primary amines has been reported. The reaction proceeds smoothly through a sequential imine condensation-isoaromatization pathway, affording a series of synthetically useful aniline derivatives in acceptable to high yields. Mild reaction conditions, no requirement of metal catalysts, operational simplicity and the potential for scale-up production are some of the highlighted advantages of this transformation.

Intraoperative application of low-dose dexmedetomidine or lidocaine for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients following craniotomy: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative pain is a common occurrence in pediatric patients following craniotomy, often leading to negative outcomes. Intravenous dexmedetomidine and lidocaine are commonly used adjuvant medicines in general anesthesia to reduce perioperative opioid consumption and relieve postoperative pain in adults. While they show promise for use in pediatrics, the evidence of their application in pediatric craniotomy patients is limited. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine on postoperative pain in pediatric patients following craniotomy. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, single-center trial on children scheduled for craniotomy. The 255 recruited participants aged 1-12 years were randomly assigned to intraoperatively receive a loading intravenous dose of either dexmedetomidine 1 µg·kg-1 or lidocaine 2 mg·kg-1 or normal saline for 15 min followed by dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg·kg-1·h-1 or lidocaine 1 mg·kg-1·h-1 or normal saline until the sutures of endocranium were completed. The primary outcome was the cumulative sufentanil consumption within 24 h post-surgery. Results: A total of 241 patients were included in the statistical analysis. The primary outcome did not show any significant differences among the three groups (median (IQR) lidocaine group: 3.36 (1.32-5.64) µg vs. dexmedetomidine group: 3.12 (1.36-6.39) µg vs. control group 3.46 (1.77-7.62) µg, p = 0.485). Among the secondary outcomes, there was a statistically significant but small reduction in sufentanil consumption within 2 h, postoperative FLACC/WBFS/NRS pain scores within 4 h after surgery and postoperative Ramsay sedation scores in dexmedetomidine group (p < 0.05). Regarding postoperative complications, the incidence of electrolyte disturbance within 24 and 48 h after surgery was significantly higher in control group compared to the other two groups. There were no significant differences in intraoperative opioid consumption, postoperative frequency of remedy medication, or length of hospitalization among the three groups. No adverse events related to lidocaine or dexmedetomidine were observed. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in the primary outcome among the three groups. Although dexmedetomidine showed some benefits in reducing postoperative opioid consumption within the first 2 h and pain intensity within the first 4 h post-surgery, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further research is required to comprehensively assess the outcomes and determine the optimal administration strategy. Clinical Trial Registration: [http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx], identifier [ChiCTR1800019411].

Types of short video addiction among college freshmen: Effects on career adaptability, insomnia, and depressive symptoms.

This study investigated the effects of different types of short video addiction on social adaptation. The aim of this study was to identify the various types of short video addiction among freshmen and the correlations with career adaptability, insomnia, and depressive symptoms. We recruited 931 freshmen and used latent profile analysis to classify participants based on different characteristics of short video addiction. Based on the results of a short video addiction questionnaire, participants were found to exhibit distinct answer patterns, categorized into five types. Class 1 exhibited minimal signs of addiction. Class 2 displayed fluctuations with stronger tendencies towards withdrawal or escape. Class 3 demonstrated a moderate inability to control cravings for short videos. Class 4 showed fluctuations but with less anxiety and feelings of lost. Finally, Class 5 presented the most pronounced symptoms of short video addiction. Freshmen with varying degrees of short video addiction exhibited significant differences in career adaptability, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms. Class 1 students showed strong career adaptability and sound sleep, whereas Class 5 students had the highest depression rates. Overall, our findings suggest that the characteristics of short video addiction in first-year students also indicate poor social adaptation, which is mainly manifested as weak career adaptability, decreased sleep quality, and depressive symptoms. One way to guide first-year students to adapt to campus life is for educators to provide timely interventions for students with severe short video addiction.

The Potential of the lncRNAs ADAMTSL4-AS1, AC067931 and SOCS2-AS1 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) might be closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and could serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers. This study aimed to investigate lncRNA-based diagnostic biomarkers for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC. Materials and Methods: High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was conducted on the liver tissues of 15 patients with HBV-associated liver diseases (5 with chronic hepatitis B [CHB], 5 with liver cirrhosis [LC], and 5 with HCC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze lncRNA expressions. Potential diagnostic performance for HBV-associated HCC screening was evaluated. Results: Through trend analysis and functional analysis, we found that 8 lncRNAs were gradually upregulated and 1 lncRNA was progressively downregulated by regulation of target mRNAs and downstream HCC-associated signaling pathways. The validation of dysregulated lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HCC tissues by qRT-PCR revealed that ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 were significantly increased in HCC compared with CHB and cirrhosis. Moreover, differentially expressed lncRNAs were aberrantly elevated in Huh7, Hep3B, HepG2, and HepG2.215 cells compared with LX2 cells. Furthermore, ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 were identified as novel biomarkers for HBV-associated HCC. For distinguishing HCC from CHB, ADAMTSL4-AS1, AC067931, and SOCS2-AS1 combined with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.945 (sensitivity, 83.9%; specificity, 89.8%). Similarly, for distinguishing HCC from LC, this combination had an AUC of 0.871 (sensitivity, 91.1%; specificity, 68.2%). Furthermore, this combination showed the highest diagnostic ability to distinguish HCC from CHB and LC (AUC, 0.905; sensitivity, 91.1%; specificity, 75.3%). In particular, this combination identified AFP-negative (AFP < 20 ng/mL) (AUC = 0.814), small (AUC = 0.909), and early stage (AUC = 0.863) tumors. Conclusion: ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 combined with AFP in PBMCs may serve as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for HBV-associated HCC, especially AFP-negative, small, and early stage HCC.

Sandwiched-structure fabric-based high-performance moisture-enabled electricity generators for the power supply of small electronics.

In response to the energy crisis caused by the exhaustion of fossil energy sources, as well as to combat global warming and achieve carbon neutrality, a sandwiched-structure fabric-based moisture-enabled electricity generator (SMEG) has been developed. Cotton fabric coated with MWCNT and PEDOT: PSS solution is used as the upper and bottom electrodes, while the acid-treated cotton fabric with coating PVA and HCl hydrogel electrolyte serves as the middle layer. A single SMEG can generate a maximum open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.44 V and a maximum short-circuit current (Isc) of 30 µA. When a drop of LiCl is dripped on one side of SMEGs, the maximum Voc and Isc increases to 0.57 V and 66 µA, respectively. The decline in output performance slows down when LiCl is applied. The Voc increases almost linearly in series and reaches 3.55 V when six SMEGs are connected, while the Isc increases linearly in parallel and reaches 204 µA when six SMEGs are connected. The maximum power density of a single SMEG yields 0.29 µW/cm2 with an external resistance of 1 kΩ. The series connection of six SMEGs successfully lit an LED and a calculator under ambient humidity conditions, demonstrating their potential application in small electronics.

Visualization of the Extracranial Branches of the Trigeminal Nerve Using Improved Motion-Sensitized Driven Equilibrium-Prepared 3D Inversion Recovery TSE Sequence.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Visualization of the extracranial trigeminal nerve is crucial to detect nerve pathologic alterations. This study aimed to evaluate visualization of the extracranial trigeminal nerve using 3D inversion recovery TSE with an improved motion-sensitized driven equilibrium (iMSDE) pulse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 35 subjects underwent imaging of the trigeminal nerve using conventional 3D inversion recovery TSE, 3D inversion recovery TSE with an iMSDE pulse, and contrast-enhanced 3D inversion recovery TSE. The visibility of 7 extracranial branches of the trigeminal nerve, venous/muscle suppression, and identification of the relationship between nerves and lesions were scored on a 5-point scale system. In addition, SNR, nerve-muscle contrast ratio, nerve-venous contrast ratio, nerve-muscle contrast-to-noise ratio, and nerve-venous contrast-to-noise ratio were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Images acquired with iMSDE 3D inversion recovery TSE had significantly higher nerve-muscle contrast ratio, nerve-venous contrast ratio, and nerve-to-venous contrast-to-noise ratio (all P < .001); improved venous/muscle suppression and clearer visualization of the trigeminal nerve branches except the ophthalmic nerve than with conventional 3D inversion recovery TSE (all P < .05). Compared with contrast-enhanced 3D inversion recovery TSE, images acquired with iMSDE 3D inversion recovery TSE had significantly higher SNR, nerve-muscle contrast ratio, and nerve-to-venous contrast-to-noise ratio (all P < .05), and demonstrated comparable diagnostic quality (scores ≥3) of the maxillary nerve, mandibular nerve, inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, and masseteric nerve (P > .05). As for the identification of the relationship between nerves and lesions, iMSDE 3D inversion recovery TSE showed the highest scores among these 3 sequences (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The iMSDE 3D inversion recovery TSE is a promising alternative to conventional 3D inversion recovery TSE and contrast-enhanced 3D inversion recovery TSE for visualization of the extracranial branches of trigeminal nerve in clinical practice.

Establishment and characterization of a novel multidrug-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line, PDAC-X1.

Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The development of drug-resistant cell lines is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms of resistance and developing novel drugs to improve clinical outcomes. Here, a novel pancreatic cancer cell line, PDAC-X1, derived from Chinese patients has been established. PDAC-X1 was characterized by the immune phenotype, biology, genetics, molecular characteristics, and tumorigenicity. In vitro analysis revealed that PDAC-X1 cells exhibited epithelial morphology and cell markers (CK7 and CK19), expressed cancer-associated markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Ki-67, CEA, CA19-9), and produced pancreatic cancer-like organs in suspension culture. In vivo analysis showed that PDAC-X1 cells maintained tumorigenicity with a 100% tumor formation rate. This cell line exhibited a complex karyotype, dominated by subtriploid karyotypes. In addition, PDAC-X1 cells exhibited intrinsic multidrug resistance to multiple drugs, including gemcitabine, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin. In conclusion, the PDAC-X1 cell line has been established and characterized, representing a useful and valuable preclinical model to study the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance and develop novel drug therapeutics to improve patient outcomes.

Effect of metformin on gut microbiota imbalance in patients with T2DM, and the value of probiotic supplementation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of metformin on gut microbiota imbalance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the value of probiotic supplementation. METHODS: A total of 84 newly diagnosed T2DM patients were randomly divided into probiotics group, metformin group, and control group, with 28 patients in each group. The blood glucose control, islet function, gut microbiota, and inflammatory factors were compared between three groups. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2-h PG), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were evidently decreased in both probiotics and metformin groups (P < 0.05) and were lower than that in the control group prior to treatment. Besides, FPG, 2-h PG, and HbA1c were lower in the metformin group than that in the control group. FPG, 2-h PG, and HbA1c were further lower in the probiotic group than in the metformin group (P < 0.05). Fasting insulin (FINS) and islet ß cell (HOMA-ß) -function were dramatically increased in the same group (P < 0.05), while insulin-resistant islet ß cells (HOMA-IR) were significantly lower in the same group (P < 0.05); FINS and HOMA-ß were significantly higher, while HOMA-IR was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in both groups than in the control group prior to treatment. HOMA-IR was also lower in the probiotic group than in the metformin group after treatment (P < 0.05); the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria increased (P < 0.05) in both probiotic and metformin groups than in the control group prior to treatment, and the number of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus was lower in the control group prior to treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was higher and the number of enterobacteria and enterococci was lower in the probiotic group than that in the metformin group after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were lower in both probiotic and metformin groups (P < 0.05). The serum LPS, IL-6, and CRP levels were lower in both probiotic and metformin groups, compared to the control group prior to the treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin while treating T2DM assists in improving the imbalance of gut microbiota.

Post-acute and Chronic Kidney Function Outcomes of COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents: An EHR Cohort Study from the RECOVER Initiative.

We investigated the risks of post-acute and chronic adverse kidney outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population via a retrospective cohort study using data from the RECOVER program. We included 1,864,637 children and adolescents under 21 from 19 children's hospitals and health institutions in the US with at least six months of follow-up time between March 2020 and May 2023. We divided the patients into three strata: patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD), patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) during the acute phase (within 28 days) of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and patients without pre-existing CKD or AKI. We defined a set of adverse kidney outcomes for each stratum and examined the outcomes within the post-acute and chronic phases after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In each stratum, compared with the non-infected group, patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk of adverse kidney outcomes. For patients without pre-existing CKD, there were increased risks of CKD stage 2+ (HR 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13-1.28) and CKD stage 3+ (HR 1.35; 95% CI: 1.15-1.59) during the post-acute phase (28 days to 365 days) after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Within the post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, children and adolescents with pre-existing CKD and those who experienced AKI were at increased risk of progression to a composite outcome defined by at least 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m 2 , End Stage Kidney Disease diagnosis, dialysis, or transplant. Lay abstract: This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on kidney health in children and adolescents under 21 years old in the United States. Using data from the RECOVER program, we analyzed the health records of 1,864,637 young individuals from 19 hospitals and health institutions between March 2020 and May 2023. The study focused on three groups: those with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD), those who experienced acute kidney injury (AKI) during the initial COVID-19 infection, and those without any prior kidney issues. The results showed that children and adolescents who had COVID-19 were at a higher risk of developing serious kidney problems later on, even if they had no previous kidney conditions. This research highlights the long-term effects of COVID-19 on kidney health in young people and underscores the importance of monitoring kidney function in pediatric COVID-19 patients.

Stroke volume variation induced by lung recruitment maneuver to predict fluid responsiveness in patients receiving mechanical ventilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of lung recruitment maneuver induced stroke volume variation (ΔSVLRM) in predicting fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated adult patients by systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search of relevant literature was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Ovid Medline, Embase and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and VIP databases). Review Manager 5.4, Meta-DiSc 1.4 and STATA 16.0 were selected for data analysis, and QUADAS-2 tool was used for quality assessment. Data from selected studies were pooled to obtain sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic likelihood ratio (DLR) of positive and negative, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies with 256 patients were enrolled through March 2024. The risk of bias and applicability concerns for each included study were low, and there was no significant publication bias. There was moderate to substantial heterogeneity for the non-threshold effect, but not for the threshold effect. The combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.90) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70-0.86), respectively. The DOR and the area under the curve (AUC) were 22.15 (95%CI, 7.62-64.34) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87-0.92), respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of DLR were 4.53 (95% CI, 2.50-8.18) and 0.19 (95% CI, 0.11-0.35), respectively. Fagan's nomogram showed that with a pre-test probability of 52%, the post-test probability reached 83% and 17% for the positive and negative tests, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the currently available evidence, ΔSVLRM has a good diagnostic value for predicting the fluid responsiveness in adult patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Given the heterogeneity and limitations of the published data, further studies with large sample sizes and different clinical settings are needed to confirm the diagnostic value of ΔSVLRM in predicting fluid responsiveness. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023490598.

Exogenous autoinducer-2 alleviates intestinal damage in necrotizing enterocolitis via PAR2/MMP3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Imbalanced intestinal microbiota and damage to the intestinal barrier contribute to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) plays a crucial role in repairing intestinal damage and reducing inflammation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of AI-2 on the expression of intestinal zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin proteins in NEC. We evaluated its effects in vivo using NEC mice and in vitro using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated intestinal cells. METHODS: Pathological changes in the intestines of neonatal mice were assessed using histological staining and scoring. Cell proliferation was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to determine the optimal conditions for LPS and AI-2 interventions. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), protease activated receptor-2 (PAR2), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-6. Protein levels of MMP3, PAR2, ZO-1, and occludin were evaluated using western blot, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: AI-2 alleviated NEC-induced intestinal damage (P < 0.05) and enhanced the proliferation of damaged IEC-6 cells (P < 0.05). AI-2 intervention reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP3 and PAR2 in intestinal tissue and cells (P < 0.05). Additionally, it increased the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin (P < 0.05), while reducing IL-1ß and IL-6 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AI-2 intervention enhances the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin), mitigates intestinal damage in NEC neonatal mice and IEC-6 cells, potentially by modulating PAR2 and MMP3 signaling. AI-2 holds promise as a protective intervention for NEC. AI-2 plays a crucial role in repairing intestinal damage and reducing inflammation.

Lanthanide-regulating Ru-O covalency optimizes acidic oxygen evolution electrocatalysis.

Precisely modulating the Ru-O covalency in RuOx for enhanced stability in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis is highly desired. However, transition metals with d-valence electrons, which were doped into or alloyed with RuOx, are inherently susceptible to the influence of coordination environment, making it challenging to modulate the Ru-O covalency in a precise and continuous manner. Here, we first deduce that the introduction of lanthanide with gradually changing electronic configurations can continuously modulate the Ru-O covalency owing to the shielding effect of 5s/5p orbitals. Theoretical calculations confirm that the durability of Ln-RuOx following a volcanic trend as a function of Ru-O covalency. Among various Ln-RuOx, Er-RuOx is identified as the optimal catalyst and possesses a stability 35.5 times higher than that of RuO2. Particularly, the Er-RuOx-based device requires only 1.837 V to reach 3 A cm-2 and shows a long-term stability at 500 mA cm-2 for 100 h with a degradation rate of mere 37 µV h-1.

CBP60b clade proteins are prototypical transcription factors mediating immunity.

Transcriptional reprogramming is critical for plant immunity. Several calmodulin (CaM)-binding protein 60 (CBP60) family transcription factors (TFs) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), including CBP60g, Systemic Acquired Resistance Deficient 1 (SARD1), CBP60a, and CBP60b, are critical for and show distinct roles in immunity. However, there are additional CBP60 members whose function is unclear. We report here that Arabidopsis CBP60c-f, four uncharacterized CBP60 members, play redundant roles with CBP60b in the transcriptional regulation of immunity responses, whose pCBP60b-driven expression compensates the loss of CBP60b. By contrast, neither CBP60g nor SARD1 is inter-changeable with CBP60b, suggesting clade-specific functionalization. We further show that function of CBP60b clade TFs relies on DNA-binding domains (DBDs) and CaM-binding domains, suggesting that they are downstream components of calcium signaling. Importantly, we demonstrate that CBP60s encoded in earliest land plant lineage Physcomitrium patens and Selaginella moellendorffii, are functionally homologous to Arabidopsis CBP60b, suggesting that the CBP60b clade contains the prototype TFs of the CBP60 family. Furthermore, tomato and cucumber CBP60b-like genes rescue the defects of Arabidopsis cbp60b and activate the expression of tomato and cucumber SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIIENT2 (SID2) and ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1) genes, suggesting that immune response pathways centered on CBP60b are also evolutionarily conserved. Together, these findings suggest CBP60b clade transcription factors are functionally conserved in evolution and positively mediate immunity.

Berberine hydrochloride delays citrus sour rot mainly by disrupting carbohydrate and energy metabolism of Geotrichum citri-aurantii spores.

Citrus sour rot is a common postharvest citrus disease caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantiiti, which has led to enormous economic losses, particularly during rainy seasons. In this study, we aimed to clarify the impact of berberine hydrochloride (BH), the hydrochloride form of an isoquinoline alkaloid, on the control efficiency of citrus sour rot and its antifungal mode against G. citri-aurantii. Results demonstrated that BH markedly impede the propagation of G. citri-aurantii by delaying the spores development from dormant stage into swollen and germinating stages, with the MIC and MFC value of 0.08 and 0.16 g L-1, respectively. When the artificially inoculated citrus fruit in control group were totally rotted, the disease incidence of BH-treated groups decreased by 35.00%-73.30%, which effectively delayed the disease progression and almost did not negatively affect fruit quality. SEM observation, CFW and PI staining images revealed that BH caused significant damage to both the cell membrane and cell wall of G. citri-aurantii spores, whereas only the cell membrane of the mycelium was affected. The impact of cell wall was related to the block of chitin and ß-1,3-glucan synthesis. Transcriptome results and further verification proved that 0.5 × MIC BH treatment affected the glycolysis pathway and TCA cycle mainly by inhibiting the production of acetyl-CoA and pyruvate. Subsequently, the activities of key enzymes declined, resulting in a further decrease in ATP levels, ultimately inhibiting the germination of spores. In conlusion, BH delays citrus sour rot mainly by disrupting carbohydrate and energy metabolism of G. citri-aurantii spores.

The Stigma and Infertility-Related Stress of Chinese Infertile Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the stigma status of infertile women in China and to determine the influencing factors. METHODS: 366 infertile women from the gynecological and reproductive departments of two tertiary hospitals completed socio-demographic questionnaires, the Infertility Stigma Scale (ISS) and the Mandarin Fertility Problem Inventory (M-FPI). RESULTS: The scores of stigma and infertility-related stress in infertile women were (52.51 ± 17.74) and (150.03 ± 17.51), respectively. Multiple regression analysis found that location of residence, regarding children as the most important thing in life, talking to others about infertility and infertility-related stress were the main influencing factors of stigma in infertile women, which explained 17.3% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, the level of stigma in women with infertility was at the middle range. Location of residence, regarding children as the most important thing in life, whether to talk with others about infertility and infertility-related stress were the four main influencing factors of stigma.

Superhydrophobic stereocomplex-type polylactide/ultra-fine glass fibers aerogel for passive daytime radiative cooling.

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology offers a green and sustainable strategy for cooling, eliminating the need for external energy sources through its exceptional efficiency in heat radiation and sunlight reflection. Despite its benefits, the widespread usage of non-biodegradable PDRC materials has unfortunately caused environmental pollution and resource wastage. Furthermore, the effectiveness of outdoor PDRC materials can be significantly diminished by rainfall. In this work, a superhydrophobic composite aerogel composed of stereocomplex-type polylactide and ultra-fine glass fiber has been successfully developed through simple physical blending and freeze-drying, which exhibits low thermal conductivity (36.26 mW m-1 K-1) and superhydrophobicity (water contact angle up to 150°). Additionally, its high solar reflectance (91.68 %) and strong infrared emissivity (93.95 %) enable it to effectively lower surface temperatures during daytime, resulting in a cooling effect of approximately 3.8 °C below the ambient temperature during the midday heat of summer, with a cooling power of 68 W/m2. This aerogel offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for the utilization of radiative refrigeration materials, paving the way for environmental protection and sustainable development.