WeChat usage and preservation of cognitive functions in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: indications from a nationally representative survey, 2018-2020.

PURPOSE: To investigate the associations between the most popular social media platform WeChat usage and cognitive performance among the middle-aged and older Chinese population using data from a nationally representative survey. METHODS: In total, 17,472 participants (≥ 45 years old) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, Wave 4, 2018) were analyzed. Cognitive performance including episodic memory and executive function was assessed using Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Other confounding variables included socio-economic characteristics, medical status, and lifestyle-related information. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association between cognitive performance and WeChat usage by introducing covariates hierarchically. Subgroup analyses of age and gender were conducted to estimate the robustness of the primary findings. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple confounders across all linear models, WeChat usage is significantly associated with executive function, episodic memory, and global cognitive performance (all p values<0.05). Such results remained robust in subgroup analyses, stratified by age and gender, and also verified according to longitudinal analyses. Compared to 'Chat-only' users who only used WeChat for online interpersonal communication, further usage of WeChat functions such as using 'Moments' appeared to be significantly associated with better cognitive performance, especially for episodic memory. CONCLUSION: Social media usage is significantly and positively associated with better cognitive performance among the middle-aged and older Chinese population. Along with point-to-point messaging, using 'Moments' and extended social media platform functions may correlate to better cognitive performance.

Resistance Analysis of Crack Propagation in Concrete Subjected to Hydraulic Pressure.

The KR resistance curve for hydraulic crack propagation in a concrete beam was determined and discussed. A semi-analytical method was introduced to calculate the hydraulic crack propagation in concrete. A series of concrete beams with various hydraulic pressures and initial crack depths were tested, and the hydraulic crack propagation in these beams was calculated. The calculated P-CMOD curves were first verified, and then the calculated KR resistance curve for hydraulic crack propagation was determined. Based on the test results and calculation results, the following conclusions can be drawn: The proposed analysis method can accurately predict the hydraulic crack propagation process in concrete. The KR resistance to hydraulic crack propagation in concrete decreases with the increase in hydraulic pressure but is less influenced by the initial crack depth of the test beams. In addition, the concrete beams collapse immediately under hydraulic fracturing once the KIw curve reaches the KR resistance curve. This indicates that the failure of concrete structures under hydraulic fracturing occurs immediately once the driving force of crack propagation, dominated by the hydraulic pressure in the crack, becomes significant.

Bimetallic PtAu-Decorated SnO2 Nanospheres Exhibiting Enhanced Gas Sensitivity for Ppb-Level Acetone Detection.

Acetone is a biomarker found in the expired air of patients suffering from diabetes. Therefore, early and accurate detection of its concentration in the breath of such patients is extremely important. We prepared Tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) nanospheres via hydrothermal treatment and then decorated them with bimetallic PtAu nanoparticles (NPs) employing the approach of in situ reduction. The topology, elemental composition, as well as crystal structure of the prepared materials were studied via field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The findings revealed that bimetallic PtAu-decorated SnO2 nanospheres (PtAu/SnO2) were effectively synthesized as well as PtAu NPs evenly deposited onto the surface of the SnO2 nanospheres. Pure SnO2 nanospheres and PtAu/SnO2 sensors were prepared, and their acetone gas sensitivity was explored. The findings demonstrated that in comparison to pristine SnO2 nanosphere sensors, the sensors based on PtAu/SnO2 displayed superior sensitivity to acetone of 0.166-100 ppm at 300 °C, providing a low theoretical limit of detection equal to 158 ppm. Moreover, the PtAu/SnO2 sensors showed excellent gas response (Ra/Rg = 492.3 to 100 ppm), along with fast response and recovery (14 s/13 s to 10 ppm), good linearity of correlation, excellent repeatability, long-term stability, and satisfactory selectivity at 300 °C. This improved gas sensitivity was because of the electron sensitization of the Pt NPs, the chemical sensitization of the Au NPs, as well as the synergistic effects of bimetallic PtAu. The PtAu/SnO2 sensors have considerable potential for the early diagnosis and screening of diabetes.

A Review of Wearable Optical Fiber Sensors for Rehabilitation Monitoring.

As the global aging population increases, the demand for rehabilitation of elderly hand conditions has attracted increased attention in the field of wearable sensors. Owing to their distinctive anti-electromagnetic interference properties, high sensitivity, and excellent biocompatibility, optical fiber sensors exhibit substantial potential for applications in monitoring finger movements, physiological parameters, and tactile responses during rehabilitation. This review provides a brief introduction to the principles and technologies of various fiber sensors, including the Fiber Bragg Grating sensor, self-luminescent stretchable optical fiber sensor, and optic fiber Fabry-Perot sensor. In addition, specific applications are discussed within the rehabilitation field. Furthermore, challenges inherent to current optical fiber sensing technology, such as enhancing the sensitivity and flexibility of the sensors, reducing their cost, and refining system integration, are also addressed. Due to technological developments and greater efforts by researchers, it is likely that wearable optical fiber sensors will become commercially available and extensively utilized for rehabilitation.

DNA methylation of IFI44L as a potential blood biomarker for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: IFN-induced protein 44-like (IFI44L) promoter methylation has been demonstrated to serve as an effective blood diagnostic biomarker for adult-onset SLE. However, its utility as a diagnostic marker for childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) remains to be verified. METHODS: Initially, we conducted a differential analysis of gene methylation and mRNA expression patterns in cSLE whole blood samples obtained from the public GEO database to determine IFI44L gene expression and assess the methylation status at its CpG sites. Subsequently, we collected clinical whole blood samples from 49 cSLE patients and 12 healthy children, employing an HRM-qPCR-based IFI44L methylation detection technique to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy in pediatric clinical practice. RESULTS: A total of 26 hypomethylated, highly expressed genes in cSLE were identified by intersecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylation genes (DMGs). GO enrichment analysis for these 26 genes indicated a robust association with type I IFN. Among the overlapping genes, IFI44L exhibited the most pronounced differential expression and methylation. In subsequent clinical validation experiments, IFI44L methylation was confirmed as an effective blood-based diagnostic biomarker for cSLE, achieving an AUC of 0.867, a sensitivity of 0.753, and a specificity of 1.000. CONCLUSIONS: IFI44L methylation is a promising blood biomarker for cSLE. IMPACT: IFI44L promoter methylation was reported to serve as a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic marker for adult-onset SLE. However, the diagnostic efficacy of IFI44L in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) still remains to be confirmed. In this study, we utilized bioinformatics analysis and conducted clinical experiments to demonstrate that IFI44L methylation can also serve as a promising blood biomarker for cSLE. The findings of this study can facilitate the diagnosis of cSLE and broaden our understanding of its molecular mechanisms, with a particular focus on those related to type I interferons.

Study on numerical simulation and mechanical properties of anchor cable with C-shaped tube subjected to shearing.

To examine the disparity in deformation behavior and mechanical qualities between anchor cables with C-shaped tubes and regular anchor cables under shear conditions. The double-sided shear tests of free-section anchor cables and anchor cables with C-shaped tubes were conducted utilizing the indoor large-scale double-shear test equipment with varying pretension loads. The indoor double-shear tests indicate that the inclusion of the C-shaped tube alters the stress distribution of the anchor cables inside the anchor cables with C-shaped tubes and mitigates the impact of stress concentration. Moreover, it facilitates the transition of the anchor cable's failure mode from a mix of tensile and shear breaking to mainly tensile breakage. In addition, ABAQUS finite element analysis software was used to establish a double shear test model of the anchor cable with C-shaped tube to accurately simulate the interaction and stress distribution among the anchor cable, C-shaped tube, and concrete block in the double shear test. The findings of the simulation results reveal that the numerical model can adequately depict the evolution of the stress distribution in the prestressed anchored structure and the damage of the concrete block with increasing shear displacement. The relational equation for the yield state of the anchor cable with C-shaped tube under combined tensile and shear loads is found by integrating the experimental and simulation data, the static beam theory, and the concept of minimal potential energy.

Improving Blood Pressure Control and Pregnancy Outcomes: The Impact of Evidence-Based Care and Aerobic Exercise in Patients with Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy.

Objective: To explore the effect of evidence-based care plus aerobic exercise on blood pressure control and pregnancy outcome in patients with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with hypertensive disorder in pregnancy treated in our hospital between February 2020 and November 2021 were recruited, analyzed and assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to receive routine nursing (control group) or evidence-based care plus aerobic exercise (experimental group) via random number table method. Outcome measures included blood pressure, negative emotions, sleep duration, and pregnancy outcome. Results: The blood pressure of both groups decreased after nursing, and the diastolic and systolic blood pressure of patients in the experimental group (79.84±5.18 mmHg, 111.62±7.96 mmHg) were lower than those in the control group (88.65±5.69 mmHg, 132.15±8.14 mmHg) (P < .05). After the completion of the nursing period, assessments using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale were conducted. The results revealed significantly lower scores in the experimental group, which received evidence-based care along with aerobic exercise, compared to the control patients who received routine care. The sleep duration was prolonged in both groups after nursing, and patients in the experimental group got longer sleep duration than those in the control group (P < .05). The experimental group showed a significantly lower incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the control group (P < .05). Limitations: While our study demonstrates the positive impact of evidence-based care combined with moderate aerobic exercise on patients with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, it is essential to acknowledge some notable limitations. First, the sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of our findings to a larger population. Furthermore, our study primarily focused on short-term outcomes, and future research could explore the sustained benefits of this approach. Finally, individual variations in exercise tolerance and compliance may also affect the effectiveness of the intervention. Despite these limitations, our findings hold promise and provide a foundation for further research in this area. Conclusion: Evidence-based care combined with moderate aerobic exercise has proven to be an effective approach in enhancing the overall management of patients with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. This combined intervention not only effectively regulates blood pressure levels but also mitigates adverse emotional states, enhances sleep quality, and ultimately leads to improved pregnancy outcomes. These findings hold significant promise for clinical application. Healthcare providers may consider implementing this approach to improve the well-being of pregnant individuals with hypertensive disorders, potentially reducing the risk of complications and enhancing the overall quality of care. Pregnant individuals, on the other hand, can benefit from a more comprehensive and holistic approach to their care, which may result in better health and pregnancy outcomes. Future research in this area could explore the long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness of this intervention, as well as its potential applicability to diverse patient populations and healthcare settings.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with sarcopenia among middle-aged and older adults in China.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the role of outdoor air pollution exposure in sarcopenia in Asia. We aimed to investigate the association of outdoor air pollutants exposure with sarcopenia among Chinese adults. METHODS: This nationally population-representative study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2015, 11,700 participants at least 45 years old from 125 Chinese cities were included. Sarcopenia status was identified according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) criteria. Ambient annual average air pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particles (PM10), coarse particulate matter (PMcoarse), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were estimated by satellite models and ground-based measurements. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of air pollutants exposure with different status of sarcopenia (including possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia). Stratified analyses were utilized to assess the effect modifiers. RESULTS: Among the 11,700 participants (52.6% women), the average age was 61.0 years. Each 10 µg/m3 increment of annual PMcoarse was associated with a higher risk of possible sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.11). Stratified analyses showed a positive risk of possible sarcopenia in women after exposure to PM10, PMcoarse, and NO2. Ambient NO2 exposure was positively associated with sarcopenia (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22) in those aged 65 years and older. However, we have not observed differences by sex, age, residence, smoking, and drinking. Robustness results were found for PMcoarse in the sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: This nationwide study suggested that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, especially for PMcoarse, was associated with the risk of sarcopenia among Chinese adults. Our findings provide epidemiological implications for protecting healthy ageing by improving air quality.

Efficacy of Quality Care on Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Patients with Hypertensive Disorders Complicating Pregnancy Complicated with Cerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of quality care on maternal and infant outcomes in patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: From February 2020 to September 2021, 68 women with HDCP complicated by cerebral hemorrhage hospitalized at our hospital were included and divided into a routine group (standard care) and a quality group (quality care). Outcome measures included National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, blood pressure, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores, self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores, and maternal and infant outcomes. Results: Patients in the quality group (3.22±1.89) had significantly lower NIHSS scores aftercare than those in the routine group (6.15±3.24) (P < .05). Quality care resulted in lower diastolic blood pressure (Quality group:81.23±6.15; Routine: 90.58±7.98), systolic blood pressure (Quality group:125.49±13.37; Routine: 139.74±16.67), SAS scores (Quality group: 48.42±2.65; Routine: 58.15±2.43), and SDS scores versus routine care (Quality group:48.42±2.65; Routine: 58.15±2.43)(P < .05). The quality group showed a lower incidence of adverse maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes than the routine group (P < .05). Conclusion: The findings underscore the positive impact of quality care in reducing adverse maternal and newborn pregnancy outcomes. This reduction is particularly significant for clinical practice, as it is achieved through the amelioration of various factors, such as neurological impairments, blood pressure regulation, and the alleviation of negative emotions, including anxiety and depression, in patients with HDCP complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. The practical implications of these findings for healthcare providers and patients are substantial. They highlight the potential to improve patient outcomes, enhance the overall quality of care, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. By addressing these factors, healthcare providers can enhance the well-being of both mothers and newborns, leading to improved clinical outcomes and increased patient satisfaction.

Progress of Mesoporous Silica Coated Gold Nanorods for Biological Imaging and Cancer Therapy.

For unique surface plasmon absorption and fluorescence characteristics, gold nanorods have been developed and widely employed in the biomedical field. However, limitations still exist due their low specific surface area, instability and tendency agglomerate in cytoplasm. Mesoporous silica materials have been broadly applied in field of catalysts, adsorbents, nanoreactors, and drug carriers due to its unique mesoporous structure, highly comparative surface area, good stability and biocompatibility. Therefore, coating gold nanorods with a dendritic mesopore channels can effectively prevent particle agglomeration, while increasing the specific surface area and drug loading efficiency. This review discusses the advancements of GNR@MSN in synthetic process, bio-imaging technique and tumor therapy. Additionally, the further application of GNR@MSN in imaging-guided treatment modalities is explored, while its promising superior application prospect is highlighted. Finally, the issues related to in vivo studies are critically examined for facilitating the transition of this promising nanoplatform into clinical trials.

Nutritional status associated with clinical outcomes in children with solid tumors: A retrospective cohort study from China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term changes in nutritional status in children with solid tumors during treatment and the relationship between nutritional status and clinical outcomes. METHODS: This study was a retrospective medical records review of data from children who were diagnosed with solid tumors and followed up for more than 3 months from January 2016 to December 2021 in China. Patient demographics and clinical information, including nutritional status, parenteral nutrition use, intensive care unit (ICU) transfers, infection during hospitalization, hospitalization frequency, length of stay, hospitalization costs and antibiotic costs, were collected to analyze the nutritional status of children with different types of solid tumors, the dynamic changes in nutritional status during treatment, and the relationship between nutritional status and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 764 patients (383 males (50.1%); 381 females (49.9%); mean age: 2.58 years), 41.6% of the solid tumors were neuroblastomas, 17.1% were hepatoblastomas, and Wilms tumors as the third most common solid tumors (8.9%). The median follow-up duration was 6 months (range: 3-40 months). At diagnosis, the proportion of children who were undernourished (underweight and wasting) versus overweight or obese were 26.71% versus 5.21% (25.86% vs. 2.89% in the third month; 29.77% vs. 2.28% in the sixth month; 24.77% vs. 3.27% in the 12th month). The body mass index Z scores decreased from the initial values after the first month (-0.56 (-1.47, 0.23) vs. -0.44 (-1.29, 0.41)) but improved later and decreased again at 6 months. The children in the undernutrition group had longer hospital stays (p < 0.001), higher hospitalization costs (p < 0.001), higher antibiotic costs (p < 0.001), a higher risk of neutropenia (OR = 4.781 (95% CI: 1.571-14.553), p = 0.006), and a higher risk of ICU transfers (OR = 1.498 (95% CI: 1.010-2.224), p = 0.044). No significant differences in those associations by malnutrition and infection, ICU duration, or length of parenteral nutrition were observed. CONCLUSION: There is a considerable prevalence of malnutrition in children with solid tumors. Malnutrition is related to adverse clinical outcomes and increases in total hospital expenses and antibiotic costs.

Ultrafast All-Optical Switching Modulation of Terahertz Polarization Conversion Metasurfaces Based on Silicon.

With the development of ultrafast optics, all-optical control of terahertz wave modulation based on semiconductors has become an important technology of terahertz wave regulation. In this article, an ultrawideband terahertz linear polarization converter consisting of a double-layered metasurface is first proposed. The polarization conversion ratio of the device is ∼ 100% at 0.2-2.2 THz, and the transmission of copolarization approaches zero in the full band, which demonstrates the ability of high-purity output with rotating input linear polarization of 90° over an ultrawideband. By analysis of the surface current and electric field distribution, the physical mechanism of polarization conversion is elucidated. In addition, the influence of important geometric parameters on the device is discussed and analyzed in detail, which provides theoretical support for the design of high-performance polarization converters. More importantly, by introducing semiconductor silicon to construct an actively controllable metasurface, we design all-optical polarization converters based on a meta-atomic molecularization metasurface and all-dielectric metasurface; the dynamically tunable ultrawideband linear polarization conversion is realized under optical pumping, which solves the inherent problem of the performance of the metasurface polarization converters. Numerical simulation shows that the switching response of the two types of actively controllable devices under optical pumping is about 700 and 1800 ps, respectively, and can manipulate polarized wave conversion ultrafast, which brings new opportunities for all-optical controlled ultrafast terahertz polarization converters. Our results provide a feasible scheme for the development of state-of-the-art active and controllable ultrafast terahertz metasurface polarization converters, which have great application potential in short-range wireless terahertz communication, ultrafast optical switches, the transient spectrum, and optical polarization control devices.

Large-scale genome-wide association study to identify causal relationships and potential mediators between education and autoimmune diseases.

Objectives: Epidemiological studies suggested a potential connection between education and autoimmune disorders. This study investigated the possible cause-and-effect relationship using a Mendelian randomization approach. Methods: We explored the causality between four education traits (n = 257,841~1,131,881) and 22 autoimmune diseases. The mediating role of smoking (632,802 individuals), BMI (681,275 individuals), alcohol (335,394 individuals), and income (397,751 individuals) was also investigated. Transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and enriched signaling pathways analysis were used to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms. Results: Especially, higher cognitive performance was protective for psoriasis (odds ratio (OR) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.60-0.79, p = 6.12×10-8), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.67-0.83, p = 4.62×10-6), and hypothyroidism (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.77-0.90, p = 9.82×10-6). Higher levels of educational attainment decreased risks of psoriasis (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.52-0.72, p = 1.12×10-9), RA (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.59-0.79, p = 1.56×10-7), and hypothyroidism (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.72-0.88, p = 5.00×10-6). The completion of highest-level math class genetically downregulates the incidence of psoriasis (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.58-0.76, p = 2.47×10-9), RA (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.63-0.81, p = 5.28×10-8), and hypothyroidism (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.79-0.92, p = 8.88×10-5). Higher self-reported math ability showed protective effects on Crohn's disease (CD) (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.55-0.81, p = 4.96×10-5), RA (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.67-0.87, p = 5.21×10-5), and psoriasis (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.65-0.88, p = 4.08×10-4). Protein modification and localization, response to arsenic-containing substances may participate in the genetic association of cognitive performance on UC, RA, psoriasis, and hypothyroidism. According to mediation analyses, BMI, smoking, and income served as significant mediators in the causal connection between educational traits and autoimmune diseases. Conclusion: Higher levels of education-related factors have a protective effect on the risk of several autoimmune disorders. Reducing smoking and BMI and promoting income equality can mitigate health risks associated with low education levels.

Recent Advances of Graphene Quantum Dots in Chemiresistive Gas Sensors.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), as 0D graphene nanomaterials, have aroused increasing interest in chemiresistive gas sensors owing to their remarkable physicochemical properties and tunable electronic structures. Research on GQDs has been booming over the past decades, and a number of excellent review articles have been provided on various other sensing principles of GQDs, such as fluorescence-based ion-sensing, bio-sensing, bio-imaging, and electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemiluminescence sensing, and therapeutic, energy and catalysis applications. However, so far, there is no single review article on the application of GQDs in the field of chemiresistive gas sensing. This is our primary inspiration for writing this review, with a focus on the chemiresistive gas sensors reported using GQD-based composites. In this review, the various synthesized strategies of GQDs and its composites, gas sensing enhancement mechanisms, and the resulting sensing characteristics are presented. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of GQDs in the abovementioned application filed have been discussed for the more rational design of advanced GQDs-based gas-sensing materials and innovative gas sensors with novel functionalities.

Comparative genomic analysis of Halomonas campaniensis wild-type and ultraviolet radiation-mutated strains reveal genomic differences associated with increased ectoine production / El análisis genómico comparativo de cepas mutadas por radiación ultravioleta y de tipo salvaje de Halomonas campaniensis revela diferencias genómicas asociadas con una mayor producción de ectoína

Ectoine is a natural amino acid derivative and one of the most widely used compatible solutes produced by Halomonas species that affects both cellular growth and osmotic equilibrium. The positive effects of UV mutagenesis on both biomass and ectoine content production in ectoine-producing strains have yet to be reported. In this study, the wild-type H. campaniensis strain XH26 (CCTCCM2019776) was subjected to UV mutagenesis to increase ectoine production. Eight rounds of mutagenesis were used to generate mutated XH26 strains with different UV-irradiation exposure times. Ectoine extract concentrations were then evaluated among all strains using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, alongside whole genome sequencing with the PacBio RS II platform and comparison of the wild-type strain XH26 and the mutant strain G8-52 genomes. The mutant strain G8-52 (CCTCCM2019777) exhibited the highest cell growth rate and ectoine yields among mutated strains in comparison with strain XH26. Further, ectoine levels in the aforementioned strain significantly increased to 1.51 ± 0.01 g L−1 (0.65 g g−1 of cell dry weight), representing a twofold increase compared to wild-type cells (0.51 ± 0.01 g L−1) when grown in culture medium for ectoine accumulation. Concomitantly, electron microscopy revealed that mutated strain G8-52 cells were obviously shorter than wild-type strain XH26 cells. Moreover, strain G8-52 produced a relatively stable ectoine yield (1.50 g L−1) after 40 days of continuous subculture. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that strain XH26 harbored 24 mutations, including 10 nucleotide insertions, 10 nucleotide deletions, and unique single nucleotide polymorphisms. Notably, the genes orf00723 and orf02403 (lipA) of the wild-type strain mutated to davT and gabD in strain G8-52 that encoded for 4-aminobutyrate-2-oxoglutarate transaminase and NAD-dependent succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, respectively. Consequently, these genes may be involved in increased ectoine yields. These results suggest that continuous multiple rounds of UV mutation represent a successful strategy for increasing ectoine production, and that the mutant strain G8-52 is suitable for large-scale fermentation applications.(AU)

The pentraxin family in autoimmune disease.

The pentraxins represent a family of multifunctional proteins composed of long and short pentamers. The latter includes serum amyloid P component (SAP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) whereas the former includes neuronal PTX1 and PTX2 (NPTX1 and NPTX2, respectively), PTX3 and PTX4. These serve as a bridge between adaptive immunity and innate immunity and a link between inflammation and immunity. Similarities and differences between long and short pentamers are examined and their roles in autoimmune disease are discussed. Increased CRP and PTX3 could indicate the activity of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or other autoimmune diseases. Mechanistically, CRP and PTX3 may predict target organ injury, regulate bone metabolic immunity and maintain homeostasis as well as participate in vascular endothelial remodeling. Interestingly, PTX3 is pleiotropic, being involved in inflammation and tissue repair. Given the therapeutic potential of PTX3 and CRP, targeting these factors to exert a beneficial effect is the focus of research efforts. Unfortunately, studies on NPTX1, NPTX2, PTX4 and SAP are scarce and more research is clearly needed to elaborate their potential roles in autoimmune disease.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems, presenting a complex and diverse clinical manifestation. The heterogeneous treatment response and prognosis of SLE pose significant challenges to its diagnosis, classification, and homogeneous treatment. The emergence of new technologies and fields, such as synthetic biology, genomics, and proteomics, has contributed to a deeper exploration of the pathogenesis and biomarkers of SLE, facilitating precision diagnosis and treatment. This review summarizes the latest research data and achievements in SLE for the years 2021-2022, providing an overview and summary of relevant studies conducted in the past two years.

Design and Development of a Hair-like Sensor with Bridge-Type Flexible Amplification Mechanisms.

Compared with lever-type amplification mechanisms, bridge-type flexible amplification mechanisms have advantages in terms of amplification ratio and structural compactness. Therefore, they can effectively replace the lever-type amplification mechanism in the existing hair-like sensors and realize the development of miniature hair-like sensors with high sensitivity. With that in mind, a highly sensitive hair-like sensor based on a bridge-type amplification mechanism with distributed flexibility is presented to measure the airflow rate. First, the structural composition and operating principle of the hair-like sensor are described. Then, detailed design and analysis of the hair-like sensor are carried out, focusing on the design of the hair post structure, amplification mechanism, and resonator. Furthermore, the designed hair-like sensor is processed and prepared, and some experimental studies are conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed hair-like sensor can measure the airflow rate with high sensitivity up to 8.56 Hz/(m/s)2. This provides a new concept for the structural design of hair-like sensors and expands the application of bridge-type flexible amplification mechanisms in the field of micro/nano sensors.