Upgraded durian genome reveals the role of chromosome reshuffling during ancestral karyotype evolution, lignin biosynthesis regulation, and stress tolerance.

Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a tropical fruit that has a unique flavor and aroma. It occupies a significant phylogenetic position within the Malvaceae family. Extant core-eudicot plants are reported to share seven ancestral karyotypes that have undergone reshuffling, resulting in an abundant genomic diversity. However, the ancestral karyotypes of the Malvaceae family, as well as the evolution trajectory leading to the 28 chromosomes in durian, remain poorly understood. Here, we report the high-quality assembly of the durian genome with comprehensive comparative genomic analyses. By analyzing the collinear blocks between cacao and durian, we inferred 11 Malvaceae ancestral karyotypes. These blocks were present in a single-copy form in cacao and mainly in triplicates in durian, possibly resulting from a recent whole genome triplication (WGT) event that led to hexaploidization of the durian genome around 20 (17-24) million years ago. A large proportion of the duplicated genes in durian, such as those involved in the lignin biosynthesis module for phenylpropane biosynthesis, are derived directly from whole genome duplication, which makes it an important force in reshaping its genomic architecture. Transcriptome studies have revealed that genes involved in feruloyl-CoA formations were highly preferentially expressed in fruit peels, indicating that the thorns produced on durian fruit may comprise guaiacyl and syringyl lignins. Among all the analyzed transcription factors (TFs), members of the heat shock factor family (HSF) were the most significantly upregulated under heat stress. All subfamilies of genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the durian genome appear to have undergone expansion. The potential interactions between HSF Dzi05.397 and HSPs were examined and experimentally verified. Our study provides a high-quality durian genome and reveals the reshuffling mechanism of ancestral Malvaceae chromosomes to produce the durian genome. We also provide insights into the mechanism underlying lignin biosynthesis and heat stress tolerance.

Arabidopsis PDLP7 modulated plasmodesmata function is related to BG10-dependent glucosidase activity required for callose degradation.

The microdomains of plasmodesmata, specialized cell-wall channels responsible for communications between neighboring cells, are composed of various plasmodesmata-located proteins (PDLPs) and lipids. Here, we found that, among all PDLP or homologous proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, PDLP5 and PDLP7 possessed a C-terminal sphingolipid-binding motif, with the latter being the only member that was significantly upregulated upon turnip mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus infections. pdlp7 mutant plants exhibited significantly reduced callose deposition, larger plasmodesmata diameters, and faster viral transmission. These plants exhibited increased glucosidase activity but no change in callose synthase activity. PDLP7 interacted specifically with glucan endo-1,3-ß-glucosidase 10 (BG10). Consistently, higher levels of callose deposition and slower virus transmission in bg10 mutants were observed. The interaction between PDLP7 and BG10 was found to depend on the presence of the Gnk2-homologous 1 (GnK2-1) domain at the N terminus of PDLP7 with Asp-35, Cys-42, Gln-44, and Leu-116 being essential. In vitro supplementation of callose was able to change the conformation of the GnK2-1 domain. Our data suggest that the GnK2-1 domain of PDLP7, in conjunction with callose and BG10, plays a key role in plasmodesmata opening and closure, which is necessary for intercellular movement of various molecules.

Dual-signal detection of tannic acid in red wines based on the peroxidase activity of carbon dots.

Herein, a novel type of phosphorus and iron-doped carbon dot (P,Fe-CD) with outstanding peroxidase activity and excellent fluorescence performance was hydrothermally synthesized to colorimetrically and fluorimetrically detect tannic acid (TA). In the presence of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2, the P,Fe-CDs could oxidize colorless TMB to a blue oxidation product (oxTMB) resulting in an increased value of absorbance. Simultaneously, the fluorescence intensity of P,Fe-CDs at 430 nm could be quenched owing to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between P,Fe-CDs and the generated oxTMB. Meanwhile, after adding the TA to the system containing TMB, H2O2 and P,Fe-CDs, the value of absorbance could be decreased and the fluorescence could be recovered because of the reduction reaction between TA and oxTMB. Therefore, fluorescence intensity and value of absorbance could be applied to quantitatively detect TA with good linearities between the concentration of TA and the fluorescence intensity/value of absorbance (0.997 and 0.997 for the colorimetric signal and fluorimetric one, respectively) and low limits of detection (0.093 µmol L-1 and 0.053 µmol L-1 for the colorimetry and the fluorimetry, respectively), which was successfully applied to the detection of TA in red wines. Moreover, we applied a smartphone-assisted method to the point-of-care detection of TA with accurate results, providing a new technique for TA detection and food quality monitoring.

Assessing the Importance of Content Versus Design for Successful Crowdfunding of Health Education Games: Online Survey Study.

Background: Health education games make health-related tasks enjoyable and interactive, thereby encouraging user participation. Entrepreneurs and health educators can leverage online crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter, to transform their innovative ideas into funded projects. Objective: This research focuses on health education game initiatives on Kickstarter. Through an online user survey, it aims to understand user perceptions and evaluate the significance of 8 distinct components that may influence the success of such crowdfunding initiatives. Methods: A total of 75 participants evaluated games using 8 dimensions: game rules, learning objectives, narrative, content organization, motivation, interactivity, skill building, and assessment and feedback. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, exploratory factor analysis, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and multivariate analysis. Results: Exploratory data analysis showed that, among the 8 dimensions, skill building, content organization, and interactivity were the top-ranking dimensions most closely associated with crowdfunding health education game. The 8 dimensions can be grouped into 3 categories from the exploratory factor analysis: game content-, instruction-, and game design-related components. Further statistical analysis confirmed the correlation between these dimensions with the successful crowdfunding of health education games. Conclusions: This empirical analysis identified critical factors for game proposal design that can increase the likelihood of securing crowdfunding support.

Exploring CCL11 in breast cancer: unraveling its anticancer potential and immune modulatory effects involving the Akt-S6 signaling.

BACKGROUND: CCL11, a chemokine known for recruiting immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME), has an unclear role in the context of its expression, patient prognosis, and the presence of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TILs) in breast cancer. METHODS: The expression of CCL11 in invasive breast cancer (BRCA) was analyzed using TCGA database. Survival curve and Cox regression analysis determined the potential of CCL11 as an independent prognostic indicator. GSEA performed functional analysis on genes related to CCL11. CIBERSORT algorithm quantified the infiltration level of immune cells with varying CCL11 expression. Lastly, the correlation between CCL11 expression and anticancer drug sensitivity was examined. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR confirmed CCL11 expression in clinical tissue samples. The anti-tumor efficacy of CCL11 was investigated using CCK-8, plate formation, transwell assay, and Western blot. RESULTS: CCL11 expression was elevated in BRCA tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was longer in patients with high expression of CCL11. Enrichment and co-expression analyses revealed CCL11's association with numerous immune-related signaling pathways and genes. Validation studies confirmed high CCL11 expression in breast cancer tissues. In vitro experiments substantiated CCL11's anticancer effects in BRCA. CONCLUSION: CCL11 expression correlates with immune cell infiltration in breast cancer, indicating its potential as a prognostic biomarker for BRCA.

FUS-Mediated CircFGFR1 Accelerates the Development of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by Stabilizing FGFR1 Protein.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent type of thyroid cancer and its incidence is rising globally. The molecular mechanisms of PTC progression remain unclear, hindering the development of effective treatments. This study focuses on hsa_circ_0008016 (circFGFR1), a circular RNA significantly up-regulated in PTC cells. Silencing circFGFR1 inhibited PTC cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis, suggesting its role in PTC progression. The RNA-binding protein FUS was identified as a promoter of circFGFR1 formation. While circFGFR1 does not influence FGFR1 mRNA translation, it inhibits ubiquitination and degradation of FGFR1 protein, prolonging its half-life. CircFGFR1 also interacts with protein CBL, inhibiting CBL-mediated ubiquitination of FGFR1 proteins. Rescue assays confirmed circFGFR1 promotes PTC cell growth through mediating FGFR1. This study highlights the potential of circFGFR1 as a therapeutic target, offering insights into PTC's molecular mechanisms, and paving the way for novel treatment strategies.

Self-Luminous Probe with One-Step Energy Conversion from Bioluminescence to NIR-IIb.

Self-luminous probes with near-infrared (NIR) emission are powerful tools for deep-penetration and autofluorescence-free imaging, owing to the joint optimization of both excitation and emission. However, the limited emission wavelength and requirement for multistep energy transfer limit its potency. In this study, the concept of direct wavelength conversion is established from visible light (vis) to NIR-IIb using an exquisitely designed sensitizer-activator ion pair. The manipulation of the doping hosts enables a pair of energy levels between the sensitizer and activator. Based on this a class of broadband vis-responsive nanocrystals with intense NIR-II emission is prepared. The stability and quantum yield (up to 7.4%) of the nanocrystals are further enhanced by ZnS passivation via coherent epitaxial growth. By coupling luciferase, the self-luminous probe can convert bioluminescence to NIR-IIb luminescence (>1500 nm) through a one-step energy transfer. A maximum penetrable thickness of 6 mm is achieved in the porcine tissue model. Collectively, the distinctive photon-conversion performance of this probe offers the prospect of high-resolution labeling of deep-seated lesions.

Pictet-Spengler synthesis of twisted quinoline-fused BODIPYs as heavy-atom-free photosensitizers.

Singly and doubly quinoline-fused BODIPYs were effectively synthesized through a reaction sequence consisting of the reduction of nitrophenyl-substituted BODIPYs and subsequent Pictet-Spengler cyclization. The combination of the BODIPY core and fused quinoline rings imposed significantly twisted conformations in the quinoline-fused BODIPYs (around 20.0° deviation from coplanarity obtained from X-ray crystal structure analysis). These twisted BODIPYs showed significantly reduced LUMO, redshifted absorption/emission bands, high molar extinction coefficients and satisfactory reactive oxygen species generation efficiency up to 0.56, indicating potential use as heavy-atom-free photosensitizers.

Super toughened blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) injection-molded foams via enhancing interfacial compatibility and cellular structure.

Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams have drawn increasing attention due to environmental challenges and petroleum crisis. However, it still remains a challenge to prepare PLA foams with fine cellular structures and high impact property, which significantly hinders its widespread application. Herein, phase interface-enhanced PLA/ poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blend foam, modified by a reactive compatibilizer through a simple reactive extrusion, was produced via a core-back foam injection molding technique. The obtained PLA blend foams displayed an impact strength as high as 49.1 kJ/m2, which was 9.3 and 6.4 times that of the unmodified PLA/PBAT blend and its corresponding foam, respectively. It proved that the interfacial adhesion and cell size both strongly affected the impact strength of injection-molded PLA/PBAT foams, and two major conclusions were proposed. First, enhancing interfacial adhesion could cause a brittle-tough transition of PLA/PBAT foams. Additionally, for foams with high interfacial adhesion, small cell size (<12 µm) was more favorable for the stretching of cells and extension of the whitened region in comparison with big cell size (cell size >60 µm), leading to the drastic toughening of PLA blends. This study provides a feasible, industrially scalable and practical strategy to prepare super toughened and fully biodegradable PLA materials.

CD1C is associated with breast cancer prognosis and immune infiltrates.

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) in breast cancer plays a vital role in occurrence, development, and therapeutic responses. However, immune and stroma constituents in the TME are major obstacles to understanding and treating breast cancer. We evaluated the significance of TME-related genes in breast cancer. METHODS: Invasive breast cancer (BRCA) samples were retrieved from the TCGA and GEO databases. Stroma and immune scores of samples as well as the proportion of tumor infiltrating immune cells (TICs) were calculated using the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. TME-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by a protein interaction (PPI) network and univariate Cox regression to determine CD1C as a hub gene. Subsequently, the prognostic value of CD1C, its response to immunotherapy, and its mechanism in the TME were further studied. RESULTS: In BRCA, DEGs were determined to identify CD1C as a hub gene. The expression level of CD1C in BRCA patients was verified based on the TCGA database, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, and western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) results revealed a correlation between prognosis, clinical features, and CD1C expression in BRCA. Enrichment analysis of GSEA and GSVA showed that CD1C participates in immune-associated signaling pathways. CIBERSORT showed that CD1C levels were associated with tumor immune infiltrating cells (TILs), such as different kinds of T cells. Gene co-expression analysis showed that CD1C and the majority of immune-associated genes were co-expressed in BRCA. In renal cell carcinoma, patients with a high expression of CD1C had a better immunotherapy effect. CONCLUSION: CD1C is an important part of the TME and participates in immune activity regulation in breast tumors. CD1C is expected to become a prognostic marker and a new treatment target for breast cancer.

Thermal Regulation Performance of Shape-Stabilized-Phase-Change-Material-Based Prefabricated Wall for Green Grain Storage.

In order to meet the great demand for green grain storage and low carbon emissions, paraffin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and expanded graphite (EG) were used to produce shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) plates, which were then used to reconstruct building walls for existing granaries. A new type of SSPCM plate was then prefabricated with different thermal conductivities and a high latent heat. This plate could be directly adhered to the existing granary walls. In order to evaluate the thermal regulation performance of these phase change granary walls, experiments and numerical methods were established, specifically for the summer condition. The thermal behavior of the SSPCM granary wall was compared with that of the common concrete granary wall to obtain the optimal parameters. It was concluded that increasing the thickness of the SSPCM layer can reduce the temperature rise of the wall. However, the maximum latent heat utilization rate and energy storage effects were obtained when the SSPCM thickness was at an intermediate level of 30 mm. The thermal conductivity of the SSPCM had a controversial effect on the thermal resistance and latent heat utilization behaviors of the SSPCM. Considering the temperature level and energy saving rate, a 30 mm thick SSPCM plate with a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/m·K provided a superior performance. When compared to the common wall, the optimized energy-saving rate was greatly enhanced by 35.83% for the SSPCM granary wall with a thickness of 30 mm and a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/m·K.

Ultra-wideband-responsive photon conversion through co-sensitization in lanthanide nanocrystals.

Distinctive upconversion or downshifting of lanthanide nanocrystals holds promise for biomedical and photonic applications. However, either process requires high-energy lasers at discrete wavelengths for excitation. Here we demonstrate that co-sensitization can break this limitation with ultrawide excitation bands. We achieve co-sensitization by employing Nd3+ and Ho3+ as the co-sensitizers with complementary absorptions from the ultraviolet to infrared region. Symmetric penta-layer core-shell nanostructure enables tunable fluorescence in the visible and the second near-infrared window when incorporating different activators (Er3+, Ho3+, Pr3+, and Tm3+). Transient spectra confirm the directional energy transfer from sensitizers to activators through the bridge of Yb3+. We validate the features of the nanocrystals for low-powered white light-emitting diode-mediated whole-body angiography of mice with a signal-to-noise ratio of 12.3 and excitation-regulated encryption. This co-sensitization strategy paves a new way in lanthanide nanocrystals for multidirectional photon conversion manipulation and excitation-bandwidth-regulated fluorescence applications.

Improved thermal insulation and compressive property of bimodal poly (lactic acid)/cellulose nanocomposite foams.

In this work, an innovative PLA/CNF nanocomposite foam with a bimodal cell structure is prepared by a simple one-step depressurization foaming process using only supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) as the foaming agent. Only at a specific foaming temperature, PLA/CNF nanocomposites foam with a bimodal cell structure could be obtained. According to the different crystallization kinetics and nucleation efficiency of samples, it was inferred that the crystallization rate and phase interface would affect the cell structure. The prepared PLA/CNF nanocomposite foam with a bimodal cell structure had an expansion ratio as high as 20 times and thermal conductivity of 0.041 w m-1 k-1, which exhibited low density and excellent thermal-insulation property. Meanwhile, the PLA/CNF nanocomposite foam exhibited excellent compression performance due to the presence of CNFs, which showed promising application in packaging and construction materials.

Silent region barcode particle arrays for ultrasensitive multiplexed SERS detection.

Suspension arrays are a critical components of next generation multiplexed detection technologies. Current fluorescence suspension arrays are limited by a multiplexed coding ceiling and difficulties with ultrasensitive detection. Raman mode is a promising substitute, but the complex spectral peak distributions and extremely weak intrinsic signal intensity severely diminish Raman signal performance in suspension arrays. To address these limitations, we constructed a Raman suspension array system using plasmonic microbeads as barcode substrates and Au nanoflowers as reporter carriers. The well-designed shell morphology and plasmonic microbead composition enabled significant surface enhancement Raman scattering (SERS) such that we were able to adjust silent region Raman-coding intensity levels. Due to synergistic SERS effects from the plasmonic shell and the multi-branched Au nanoflower nanostructure, the reporting signal was greatly improved, enabling ultrasensitive detection of 5-plexed lung cancer markers. Detection in patient serum samples demonstrated good consistency with the standard electrochemiluminescence method. Thus, this silent region SERS barcode-based suspension array is a developmental advance for modern multiplexed biodetection, potentially providing a powerful early disease screening and diagnosis tool.

Long-Wavelength Photoconvertible Dimeric BODIPYs for Super-Resolution Single-Molecule Localization Imaging in Near-Infrared Emission.

Sulfoxide-bridged dimeric BODIPYs were developed as a new class of long-wavelength photoconvertible fluorophores. Upon visible-light irradiation, a sulfoxide moiety was released to generate the corresponding α,α-directly linked dimeric BODIPYs. The extrusion of SO from sulfoxides was mainly through an intramolecular fashion involving reactive triplet states. By this photoconversion, not only were more than 100 nm red shifts of absorption and emission maxima (up to 648/714 nm) achieved but also stable products with bright fluorescence were produced with high efficiency. The combination of photoactivation and red-shifted excitation/emission offered optimal contrast and eliminated the interference from biological autofluorescence. More importantly, the in situ products of these visible-light-induced reactions demonstrated ideal single-molecule fluorescence properties in the near-infrared region. Therefore, this new photoconversion could be a powerful photoactivation method achieving super-resolution single-molecule localization imaging in a living cell without using UV illumination and cell-toxic additives.

Multifunctional plasmonic micro/nanobeads for sensitive suspension array assay and mass spectrometry analysis.

Plasmonic micro/nanobeads exhibit unique physicochemical properties attributed to their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), enabling use in sensitive suspension array assays and matrix-assisted laser deposition/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis. Herein, we report a facile method for the preparation of magnetic plasmonic micro/nanobeads by the combination of Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification and polydopamine (PDA)-assisted in-situ reduction. The magnetic responsiveness properties endowed by doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles result in easy and complete separation of unwanted components during the preparation and bio-reaction processes. In addition, the coverage degree of the plasmonic shell can be flexibly controlled. As a result of the significant metal-enhanced fluorescence effect, as-prepared plasmonic microbeads enable the sensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and deoxyribonucleotide (DNA) in suspension array with detection limits of 0.11 ng mL-1 and 1.65 fmol mL-1, respectively, 8.6 times and 2 orders of magnitude higher than unmodified microbeads. Furthermore, as-prepared plasmonic nanobeads can be used as a matrix for MALDI-MS to allow the detection of low molecular weight biological molecules. As little as 0.2 pmol of proline and serine can be detected in a sample as small as 0.5 µL. This work provides a general strategy for the design of multifunctional plasmonic micro/nanomaterials that will help promote further advancements in sample analysis.

Recent Progress and Trends in X-ray-Induced Photodynamic Therapy with Low Radiation Doses.

The prominence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating superficial skin cancer inspires innovative solutions for its congenitally deficient shadow penetration of the visible-light excitation. X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) has been proven to be a successful technique in reforming the conventional PDT for deep-seated tumors by creatively utilizing penetrating X-rays as external excitation sources and has witnessed rapid developments over the past several years. Beyond the proof-of-concept demonstration, recent advances in X-PDT have exhibited a trend of minimizing X-ray radiation doses to quite low values. As such, scintillating materials used to bridge X-rays and photosensitizers play a significant role, as do diverse well-designed irradiation modes and smart strategies for improving the tumor microenvironment. Here in this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent achievements in X-PDT and highlight trending efforts using low doses of X-ray radiation. We first describe the concept of X-PDT and its relationships with radiodynamic therapy and radiotherapy and then dissect the mechanism of X-ray absorption and conversion by scintillating materials, reactive oxygen species evaluation for X-PDT, and radiation side effects and clinical concerns on X-ray radiation. Finally, we discuss a detailed overview of recent progress regarding low-dose X-PDT and present perspectives on possible clinical translation. It is expected that the pursuit of low-dose X-PDT will facilitate significant breakthroughs, both fundamentally and clinically, for effective deep-seated cancer treatment in the near future.

Bioinformatics and Experimental Analysis of the Prognostic and Predictive Value of the CHPF Gene on Breast Cancer.

Background: Recent studies in the United States have shown that breast cancer accounts for 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women and has become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Chondroitin Polymerizing Factor (CHPF), is an enzyme involved in chondroitin sulfate (CS) elongation and a novel key molecule in the poor prognosis of many cancers. However, its role in the development and progression of breast cancer remains unclear. Methods: The transcript expression of CHPF in the Cancer Genome Atlas-Breast Cancer (TCGA-BRCA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was analyzed separately using the limma package of R software, and the relationship between CHPF transcriptional expression and CHPF DNA methylation was investigated in TCGA-BRCA. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted using the Survival package to further assess the prognostic impact of CHPF DNA methylation/expression. The association between CHPF transcript expression/DNA methylation and cancer immune infiltration and immune markers was investigated using the TIMER and TISIDB databases. We also performed gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis with the clusterProfiler package. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to verify the protein level and mRNA level of CHPF in breast tissue and cell lines, respectively. Small interfering plasmids and lentiviral plasmids were constructed for transient and stable transfection of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and SUM1315, respectively, followed by proliferation-related functional assays, such as CCK8, EDU, clone formation assays; migration and invasion-related functional assays, such as wound healing assay and transwell assays. We also conducted a preliminary study of the mechanism. Results: We observed that CHPF was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues and correlated with poor prognosis. CHPF gene transcriptional expression and methylation are associated with immune infiltration immune markers. CHPF promotes proliferation, migration, invasion of the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and SUM1315, and is significantly enriched in pathways associated with the ECM-receptor interaction and PI3K-AKT pathway. Conclusion: CHPF transcriptional expression and DNA methylation correlate with immune infiltration and immune markers. Upregulation of CHPF in breast cancer promotes malignant behavior of cancer cells and is associated with poorer survival in breast cancer, possibly through ECM-receptor interactions and the PI3K-AKT pathway.

Fabrication of super-hydrophilic and highly open-porous poly (lactic acid) scaffolds using supercritical carbon dioxide foaming.

Porous poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based scaffolds have been widely used as a promising product in tissue engineering. However, it is still a challenge to prepare the PLA-based scaffolds with high expansion ratio, good hydrophilicity, and excellent cytocompatibility by a green and cost-effective fabrication approach. Herein, we prepared porous PLA-based scaffolds using carbon dioxide (CO2) as the physical foaming agent. To improve the hydrophilicity and foaming behavior of PLA, poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was selected as a good additive to blend with PLA. It revealed that the introduction of PEG could improve the foaming behavior of PLA and promote the formation of opening cells via reducing the matrix strength of PLA. The obtained 3D PLA/PEG scaffolds exhibited high expansion ratio (9.1), high open-cell content (95.2%), and super-hydrophilicity (water contact angle 0°). Additionally, the mouse fibroblast NIH/3T3 cells with live/dead cell fluorescence staining assay was utilized to examine the biocompatibility of PLA/PEG scaffolds. The result demonstrated that the proliferation ratio of NIH/3 T3 cells on the surface of PLA/PEG scaffolds was higher than that of PLA scaffolds, indicating that the highly interconnected cell structure was conducive to cell adhesion and attachment. Consequently, such hydrophilic open-cell structure obtained by adding PEG into PLA possesses great potential for use in tissue engineering.

Synthesizing Personalized Construction Safety Training Scenarios for VR Training.

Construction industry has the largest number of preventable fatal injuries, providing effective safety training practices can play a significant role in reducing the number of fatalities. Building on recent advancements in virtual reality-based training, we devised a novel approach to synthesize construction safety training scenarios to train users on how to proficiently inspect the potential hazards on construction sites in virtual reality. Given the training specifications such as individual training preferences and target training time, we synthesize personalized VR training scenarios through an optimization approach. We validated our approach by conducting user studies where users went through our personalized guidance VR training, free exploration VR training, or slides training. Results suggest that personalized guidance VR training approach can more effectively improve users' construction hazard inspection skills.