Langevin dynamics simulations for the critical adsorption of end-grafted active polymers.

The critical adsorption of end-grafted active polymer chains on an attractive surface is studied using Langevin dynamics simulations. The active polymers are composed of an active Langevin particle located at the head and a sequential passive chain. Results show that the active force exerted by the active head pulls the active polymer away from the surface. Consequently, the adsorption of the active polymer is hindered, and the critical surface attraction strength, , increases proportionally to the square of the active force, Fa2. The increase in depends on the rotation behavior of the active head. Specifically, for the restricted rotating active polymer (RRAP) chain with a longer rotational persistence time as the rotation of the active head is restricted, increases significantly with Fa. On the other hand, for the freely rotating active polymer (FRAP) chain with a shorter rotational persistence time as the rotation of the active head is free, shows a weak dependence on Fa. The results show that the active force has a significantly stronger pulling effect on the RRAP chain than on the FRAP chain. Furthermore, knotted conformations are observed for the adsorbed RRAP chain at large Fa. These knots reduce the adsorption of monomers near the grafted end. In contrast, no knotted conformations are observed for the FRAP chains due to the comparatively weaker pulling effect of the active force.

Boston Naming Test as a Screening Tool for Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients After Major Noncardiac Surgery.

PURPOSE: The Boston naming test (BNT), as a simple, fast, and easily administered neuropsychological test, was demonstrated to be useful in detecting language function. In this study, BNT was investigated whether it could be a screening tool for early postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included 132 major noncardiac surgery patients and 81 nonsurgical controls. All participants underwent a mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and BNT 1 day before and 7 days after surgery. Early POCD was assessed by reliable change index and control group results. RESULTS: Seven days after surgery, among 132 patients, POCD was detected in 30 (22.7%) patients (95% CI, 15.5%-30.0%) based on MMSE, and 45 (34.1%) patients (95% CI, 26.3%-41.9%) were found with postoperative language function decline based on BNT and MMSE. Agreement between the BNT spontaneous naming and MMSE total scoring was moderate (Kappa .523), and the sensitivity of BNT spontaneous naming for detecting early POCD was .767. Further analysis showed that areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) did not show statistically significant differences when BNT spontaneous naming (AUC .862) was compared with MMSE language functional subtests (AUC .889), or non-language functional subtests (AUC .933). CONCLUSION: This study indicates the feasibility of implementing the BNT spontaneous naming test to screen early POCD in elderly patients after major noncardiac surgery.

Histamine-related genes participate in the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment and impact the immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chronic inflammation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Histamine is a biologically active substance that amplifies the inflammatory and immune response and serves as a neurotransmitter. However, knowledge of histamine's role in HCC and its effects on immunotherapy remains lacking. We focused on histamine-related genes to investigate their potential role in HCC. The RNA-seq data and clinical information regarding HCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). After identifying the differentially expressed genes, we constructed a signature using the univariate Cox proportional hazard regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses. The signature's predictive performance was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Furthermore, drug sensitivity, immunotherapy effects, and enrichment analyses were conducted. Histamine-related gene expression in HCC was confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A histamine-related gene prognostic signature (HRGPS) was developed in TCGA. Time-dependent ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses demonstrated the signature's strong predictive power. Importantly, patients in high-risk groups exhibited a higher frequency of TP53 mutations, elevated immune checkpoint-related gene expression, and increased infiltration of immunosuppressive cells-indicating a potentially favorable response to immunotherapy. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the signature could effectively predict chemotherapy efficacy and sensitivity. qRT-PCR results validated histamine-related gene overexpression in HCC. Our findings demonstrate that inhibiting histamine-related genes and signaling pathways can impact the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1. The precise predictive ability of our signature in determining the response to different therapeutic options highlights its potential clinical significance.

Using Mercury Stable Isotopes to Quantify Directional Soil-Atmosphere Hg(0) Exchanges in Rice Paddy Ecosystems: Implications for Hg(0) Emissions to the Atmosphere from Land Surfaces.

Gaseous elemental mercury [Hg(0)] emissions from soils constitute a large fraction of global total Hg(0) emissions. Existing studies do not distinguish biotic- and abiotic-mediated emissions and focus only on photoreduction mediated emissions, resulting in an underestimation of soil Hg(0) emissions into the atmosphere. In this study, directional mercury (Hg) reduction pathways in paddy soils were identified using Hg isotopes. Results showed significantly different isotopic compositions of Hg(0) between those produced from photoreduction (δ202Hg = -0.80 ± 0.67‰, Δ199Hg = -0.38 ± 0.18‰), microbial reduction (δ202Hg = -2.18 ± 0.25‰, Δ199Hg = 0.29 ± 0.38‰), and abiotic dark reduction (δ202Hg = -2.31 ± 0.25‰, Δ199Hg = 0.50 ± 0.22‰). Hg(0) exchange fluxes between the atmosphere and the paddy soils were dominated by emissions, with the average flux ranging from 2.2 ± 5.7 to 16.8 ± 21.7 ng m-2 h-1 during different sampling periods. Using an isotopic signature-based ternary mixing model, we revealed that photoreduction is the most important contributor to Hg(0) emissions from paddy soils. Albeit lower, microbial and abiotic dark reduction contributed up to 36 ± 22 and 25 ± 15%, respectively, to Hg(0) emissions on the 110th day. These novel findings can help improve future estimation of soil Hg(0) emissions from rice paddy ecosystems, which involve complex biotic-, abiotic-, and photoreduction processes.

Low mercury risks in paddy soils across the Pakistan.

Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal. Here, we study Hg concentration and isotopic composition to understand the status of Hg pollution and its sources in Pakistan's paddy soil. The collected paddy soils (n = 500) across the country have an average THg concentration of 22.30 ± 21.74 ng/g. This low mean concentration suggests Hg pollution in Pakistan was not as severe as previously thought. Meanwhile, samples collected near brick kilns and industrial areas were significantly higher in THg than others, suggesting the influence of Hg emitted from point sources in certain areas. Soil physicochemical properties showed typical characteristic of mineral soils due to the study area's arid to semi-arid climate. Hg stable isotopes analysis, depicted mean Δ199Hg of -0.05 ± 0.12‰ and mean δ202Hg -0.45 ± 0.35‰, respectively, for contaminated sites, depicting Hg was primarily sourced from coal combustion by local anthropogenic sources. While uncontaminated sites show mean Δ199Hg of 0.15 ± 0.08‰, mean Δ200Hg of 0.06 ± 0.07‰ and mean δ202Hg of -0.32 ± 0.28‰, implying long-range transboundry Hg transport through wet Hg(II) deposition as a dominant Hg source. This study fills a significant knowledge gap regarding the Hg pollution status in Pakistan and suggests that the Hg risk in Pakistan paddies is generally low.

Translocation of two-dimensional active polymers through nanopores using Langevin dynamics simulations.

The translocation of polymers through nanopores is a complex process influenced by various factors. In this study, the translocation behavior of a two-dimensional active polymer chain, comprised of a head active Brownian particle (ABP) and a tail passive polymer chain, through a nanopore is studied using Langevin dynamics simulations. Results show that the effect of the self-propulsion force of the ABP on the translocation differs significantly from the driving force inside the pore for traditional polymer translocations. Specifically, the translocation time τ initially increases with increasing the magnitude fs of the self-propulsion force and then decreases with a further increase in fs. A small fs lowers the potential barrier for the translocation and thus promotes slow translocations, whereas a large fs directly pulls the polymer chain through the nanopore following the scaling relation τ ∝ fs-1. Moreover, two asymptotic scaling relations between τ and polymer length N, τ ∝ Nα, are found, with the exponent α of about 2.5 for small fs or long N and the exponent α of about 1.4 for short active polymers with large fs. We discover that the slow rotation of the ABP accelerates the translocation process.

Construction and validation of a novel tumor morphology immune inflammatory nutritional score (TIIN score) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Tumor morphology, immune function, inflammatory levels, and nutritional status play critical roles in the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This multicenter study aimed to investigate the association between markers related to tumor morphology, immune function, inflammatory levels, and nutritional status with the prognosis of ICC patients. Additionally, a novel tumor morphology immune inflammatory nutritional score (TIIN score), integrating these factors was constructed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 418 patients who underwent radical surgical resection and had postoperative pathological confirmation of ICC between January 2016 and January 2020 at three medical centers. The cohort was divided into a training set (n = 272) and a validation set (n = 146). The prognostic significance of 16 relevant markers was assessed, and the TIIN score was derived using LASSO regression. Subsequently, the TIIN-nomogram models for OS and RFS were developed based on the TIIN score and the results of multivariate analysis. The predictive performance of the TIIN-nomogram models was evaluated using ROC survival curves, calibration curves, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The TIIN score, derived from albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR), albumin-globulin ratio (AGR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and tumor burden score (TBS), effectively categorized patients into high-risk and low-risk groups using the optimal cutoff value. Compared to individual metrics, the TIIN score demonstrated superior predictive value for both OS and RFS. Furthermore, the TIIN score exhibited strong associations with clinical indicators including obstructive jaundice, CEA, CA19-9, Child-pugh grade, perineural invasion, and 8th edition AJCC N stage. Univariate and multivariate analysis confirmed the TIIN score as an independent risk factor for postoperative OS and RFS in ICC patients (p < 0.05). Notably, the TIIN-nomogram models for OS and RFS, constructed based on the multivariate analysis and incorporating the TIIN score, demonstrated excellent predictive ability for postoperative survival in ICC patients. CONCLUSION: The development and validation of the TIIN score, a comprehensive composite index incorporating tumor morphology, immune function, inflammatory level, and nutritional status, significantly contribute to the prognostic assessment of ICC patients. Furthermore, the successful application of the TIIN-nomogram prediction model underscores its potential as a valuable tool in guiding individualized treatment strategies for ICC patients. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized approaches in improving the clinical management and outcomes of ICC.

Larger nations benefit more than smaller nations from the stabilizing effects of crop diversity.

Crop diversification is increasingly recognized as a strategy to stabilize national food production, yet the benefits of this approach may vary across nations due to the scale dependence of crop diversity and stability. Here we use crop production data from 131 nations from 1961 to 2020 to explore the spatial scale dependence of the crop diversity-stability relationship. Drawing on ecological theory and complementary analytical approaches, we find that as the total national harvested area increases, yield stability increases. Crop diversity stabilizes national yield stability, as does an increase in the number of farms, but these stabilizing effects are weaker in smaller countries. Our findings suggest that enhancing crop diversity at the national level may not provide a de facto universal strategy for increasing yield stability across all countries-with implications for national strategies promoting crop diversification to protect against food system shocks.

Shank3 deficiency elicits autistic-like behaviors by activating p38α in hypothalamic AgRP neurons.

BACKGROUND: SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains protein 3 (SHANK3) monogenic mutations or deficiency leads to excessive stereotypic behavior and impaired sociability, which frequently occur in autism cases. To date, the underlying mechanisms by which Shank3 mutation or deletion causes autism and the part of the brain in which Shank3 mutation leads to the autistic phenotypes are understudied. The hypothalamus is associated with stereotypic behavior and sociability. p38α, a mediator of inflammatory responses in the brain, has been postulated as a potential gene for certain cases of autism occurrence. However, it is unclear whether hypothalamus and p38α are involved in the development of autism caused by Shank3 mutations or deficiency. METHODS: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and immunoblotting were used to assess alternated signaling pathways in the hypothalamus of Shank3 knockout (Shank3-/-) mice. Home-Cage real-time monitoring test was performed to record stereotypic behavior and three-chamber test was used to monitor the sociability of mice. Adeno-associated viruses 9 (AAV9) were used to express p38α in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) or agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons. D176A and F327S mutations expressed constitutively active p38α. T180A and Y182F mutations expressed inactive p38α. RESULTS: We found that Shank3 controls stereotypic behavior and sociability by regulating p38α activity in AgRP neurons. Phosphorylated p38 level in hypothalamus is significantly enhanced in Shank3-/- mice. Consistently, overexpression of p38α in ARC or AgRP neurons elicits excessive stereotypic behavior and impairs sociability in wild-type (WT) mice. Notably, activated p38α in AgRP neurons increases stereotypic behavior and impairs sociability. Conversely, inactivated p38α in AgRP neurons significantly ameliorates autistic behaviors of Shank3-/- mice. In contrast, activated p38α in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons does not affect stereotypic behavior and sociability in mice. LIMITATIONS: We demonstrated that SHANK3 regulates the phosphorylated p38 level in the hypothalamus and inactivated p38α in AgRP neurons significantly ameliorates autistic behaviors of Shank3-/- mice. However, we did not clarify the biochemical mechanism of SHANK3 inhibiting p38α in AgRP neurons. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the Shank3 deficiency caused autistic-like behaviors by activating p38α signaling in AgRP neurons, suggesting that p38α signaling in AgRP neurons is a potential therapeutic target for Shank3 mutant-related autism.

SEAOP: a statistical ensemble approach for outlier detection in quantitative proteomics data.

Quality control in quantitative proteomics is a persistent challenge, particularly in identifying and managing outliers. Unsupervised learning models, which rely on data structure rather than predefined labels, offer potential solutions. However, without clear labels, their effectiveness might be compromised. Single models are susceptible to the randomness of parameters and initialization, which can result in a high rate of false positives. Ensemble models, on the other hand, have shown capabilities in effectively mitigating the impacts of such randomness and assisting in accurately detecting true outliers. Therefore, we introduced SEAOP, a Python toolbox that utilizes an ensemble mechanism by integrating multi-round data management and a statistics-based decision pipeline with multiple models. Specifically, SEAOP uses multi-round resampling to create diverse sub-data spaces and employs outlier detection methods to identify candidate outliers in each space. Candidates are then aggregated as confirmed outliers via a chi-square test, adhering to a 95% confidence level, to ensure the precision of the unsupervised approaches. Additionally, SEAOP introduces a visualization strategy, specifically designed to intuitively and effectively display the distribution of both outlier and non-outlier samples. Optimal hyperparameter models of SEAOP for outlier detection were identified by using a gradient-simulated standard dataset and Mann-Kendall trend test. The performance of the SEAOP toolbox was evaluated using three experimental datasets, confirming its reliability and accuracy in handling quantitative proteomics.

Warming inhibits HgII methylation but stimulates methylmercury demethylation in paddy soils.

Inorganic mercury (HgII) can be transformed into neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) by microorganisms in paddy soils, and the subsequent accumulation in rice grains poses an exposure risk for human health. Warming as an important manifestation of climate change, changes the composition and structure of microbial communities, and regulates the biogeochemical cycles of Hg in natural environments. However, the response of specific HgII methylation/demethylation to the changes in microbial communities caused by warming remain unclear. Here, nationwide sampling of rice paddy soils and a temperature-adjusted incubation experiment coupled with isotope labeling technique (202HgII and Me198Hg) were conducted to investigate the effects of temperature on HgII methylation, MeHg demethylation, and microbial mechanisms in paddy soils along Hg gradients. We showed that increasing temperature significantly inhibited HgII methylation but promoted MeHg demethylation. The reduction in the relative abundance of Hg-methylating microorganisms and increase in the relative abundance of MeHg-demethylating microorganisms are the likely reasons. Consequently, the net Hg methylation production potential in rice paddy soils was largely inhibited under the increasing temperature. Collectively, our findings offer insights into the decrease in net MeHg production potential associated with increasing temperature and highlight the need for further evaluation of climate change for its potential effect on Hg transformation in Hg-sensitive ecosystems.

Na+-Mg2+ ion effects on conformation and translocation dynamics of single-stranded RNA: Cooperation and competition.

The nanopore-based translocation of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) in mixed salt solution has garnered increasing interest for its biological and technological significance. However, it is challenging to comprehensively understand the effects of the mixed ion species on the translocation dynamics due to their cooperation and competition, which can be directly reflected by the ion screening and neutralizing effects, respectively. In this study, Langevin dynamics simulation is employed to investigate the properties of ssRNA conformation and translocation in mixed Na+-Mg2+ ion environments. Simulation results reveal that the ion screening effect dominates the change in the ssRNA conformational size, the ion neutralizing effect controls the capture rate of the ssRNA by the nanopore, and both of them take charge of the different changes in translocation time of the ssRNA under various mixed ion environments. Under high Na+ ion concentration, as Mg2+ concentration increases, the ion neutralizing effect strengthens, weakening the driving force inside the nanopore, leading to longer translocation time. Conversely, at low Na+ concentration, an increase in Mg2+ concentration enhances the ion screening effect, aiding in faster translocation. Furthermore, these simulation results will be explained by quantitative analysis, advancing a deeper understanding of the complicated effects of the mixed Na+-Mg2+ ions.

Vineyard microclimate alterations induced by black inter-row mulch through transcriptome reshaped the flavoromics of cabernet sauvignon grapes.

BACKGROUND: Weed control is essential for agricultural floor management in vineyards and the inter-row mulching is an eco-friendly practice to inhibit weed growth via filtering out photosynthetically active radiation. Besides weed suppression, inter-row mulching can influence grapevine growth and the accumulation of metabolites in grape berries. However, the complex interaction of multiple factors in the field challenges the understanding of molecular mechanisms on the regulated metabolites. In the current study, black geotextile inter-row mulch (M) was applied for two vintages (2016-2017) from anthesis to harvest. Metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis were conducted in two vintages, aiming to provide insights into metabolic and molecular responses of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to M in a semi-arid climate. RESULTS: Upregulation of genes related to photosynthesis and heat shock proteins confirmed that M weakened the total light exposure and grapes suffered heat stress, resulting in lower sugar-acid ratio at harvest. Key genes responsible for enhancements in phenylalanine, glutamine, ornithine, arginine, and C6 alcohol concentrations, and the downward trend in ε-viniferin, anthocyanins, flavonols, terpenes, and norisoprenoids in M grapes were identified. In addition, several modules significantly correlated with the metabolic biomarkers through weighted correlation network analysis, and the potential key transcription factors regulating the above metabolites including VviGATA11, VviHSFA6B, and VviWRKY03 were also identified. CONCLUSION: This study provides a valuable overview of metabolic and transcriptomic responses of M grapes in semi-arid climates, which could facilitate understanding the complex regulatory network of metabolites in response to microclimate changes.

Evolutionary Events Promoted Polymerase Activity of H13N8 Avian Influenza Virus.

Wild birds are considered to be the natural reservoir hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Wild bird-origin AIVs may spill over into new hosts and overcome species barriers after evolutionary adaptation. H13N8 AIVs used to be considered primarily circulated in multispecies gulls but have recently been shown to possess cross-species infectivity. In this study, we analyzed the genetic changes that occurred in the process of the evolution of H13 AIVs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that H13 AIVs underwent complex reassortment events. Based on the full genomic diversity, we divided H13 AIVs into 81 genotypes. Reassortment experiments indicated that basic polymerase 2 (PB2) and nucleoprotein (NP) genes of the H9N2 AIV significantly enhanced the polymerase activity of the H13N8 AIV. Using the replication-incompetent virus screening system, we identified two mutations, PB2-I76T and PB2-I559T, which could enhance the polymerase activity of the H13N8 AIV in mammalian cells. Notably, these mutations had been acquired by circulating H13N8 AIVs in 2015. These findings suggest that H13N8 AIVs are about to cross the host barrier. Occasional genetic reassortments with other AIVs and natural mutation events could promote this process. It is imperative to intensify monitoring efforts for H13N8 AIVs.

Bibliometric and visualized analysis of hydrogels in organoids research.

Over the past decades, there has been ongoing effort to develop complex biomimetic tissue engineering strategies for in vitro cultivation and maintenance of organoids. The defined hydrogels can create organoid models for various organs by changing their properties and various active molecules. An increasing number of researches has been done on the application of hydrogels in organoids, and a large number of articles have been published on the topic. Although there have been existing reviews describing the application of hydrogels in the field of organoids, there is still a lack of comprehensive studies summarizing and analyzing the overall research trends in this field. The citation can be used as an indicator of the scientific influence of an article in its field. This study aims to evaluate the application of hydrogels in organoids through bibliometric analysis, and to predict the hotspots and developing trends in this field.

Long noncoding RNA LRG modulates Drosophila locomotion by sequestering Synaptotagmin 1 protein.

Apparently, the genomes of many organisms are pervasively transcribed, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) make up the majority of cellular transcripts. LncRNAs have been reported to play important roles in many biological processes; however, their effects on locomotion are poorly understood. Here, we presented a novel lncRNA, Locomotion Regulatory Gene (LRG), which participates in locomotion by sequestering Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1). LRG deficiency resulted in higher locomotion speed which could be rescued by pan-neuronal overexpression but not by limited ellipsoid body, motoneuron or muscle-expression of LRG. At the molecular level, the synaptic vesicles (SVs) release and movement-related SYT1 protein was recognized as LRG-interacting protein candidate. Furthermore, LRG had no effects on SYT1 expression. Genetically, the behavioral defects in LRG mutant could be rescued by pan-neuronal knock-down of Syt1. Taken together, all the results suggested LRG exerts regulatory effects on locomotion via sequestering SYT1 thereby blocking its function without affecting its expression. Our work displays a new function of lncRNA and provides insights for revealing the pathogenesis of neurological diseases with motor disorders.

Multimedia distribution, dynamics, and seasonal variation of PAHs in Songhua wetland: Implications for ice-influenced conditions.

The knowledge of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wetlands remains limited. There is a research need for the dynamics between interfaces of multimedia when ice is present in this fragile ecosystem. In this study, sediment, open-water, sub-ice water, and ice samples were collected from the Songhua wetland to study the behaviors of PAHs with and without influences from ice. The concentration of all individual PAHs in sub-ice water (370-1100 ng/L) were higher than the open-water collected from non-ice-covered seasons (50-250 ng/L). Enrichment of PAHs in the ice of wetland was found, particularly for high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW). This could be attributed to the relatively lower polarity of hydrocarbons compounds, making them more likely to remain in the ice layer during freezing. Source assessments reveal common sources for sub-ice water and ice, which differ from those in the open water in non-ice-covered seasons. This difference is primarily attributed to heating activities in the Harbin during winter. The average percentage contributions were 79% for sub-ice water and 36% for ice related to vehicle exhausts and coal combustion. Additionally, wood burning contributed 25% to sub-ice water and 62% to ice. Sediment in the wetland was found to serve as a final deposit particularly for heavier PAHs, especially those with 6 rings. Sediment also has the potential to act as a source for the secondary emission of low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW) congeners into the water. PAHs in wetland displayed low ecological risk, while HMW PAHs with relative higher ecological risk is recommended to be further monitored.

Integrated plasma proteomics and N-glycoproteomics reveals alterations in the N-glycosylation in Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening disease that presents diagnostic challenges due to the absence of reliable biomarkers. Recently, plasma proteomics and glycoproteomics have emerged as powerful tools for identifying potential diagnostic biomarkers for various diseases. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive proteomic and glycoproteomic analysis of plasma samples from 11 HCC patients and 11 healthy control (HC) individuals. We identified 20 differentially expressed (DE) proteins and 32 DE intact glycosylated peptides (IGPs) that can effectively differentiate between HCC patients and HC samples. Our findings demonstrate that IGP profiles had better predictive power than protein profiles for screening HCC. Pathways associated with DE proteins and IGPs were identified. It was reported that the protein expression level of galectin 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) and its N-linked glycosylation at the N398 and N551 sites might serve as valuable candidates for HCC diagnosis. These results highlight the importance of N-glycoproteomics in advancing our understanding of HCC and suggest possible candidates for the future diagnosis of this disease.

Backscattering-Induced Dissipative Solitons in Ring Quantum Cascade Lasers.

Ring quantum cascade lasers have recently gained considerable attention, showing ultrastable frequency comb and soliton operation, thus opening a way to integrated spectrometers in the midinfrared and terahertz fingerprint regions. Thanks to a self-consistent Maxwell-Bloch model, we demonstrate, in excellent agreement with the experimental data, that a small but finite coupling between the counterpropagating waves arising from distributed backscattering is essential to stabilize the soliton solution.

Continuous-wave operation of 1550 nm low-threshold triple-lattice photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers.

Benefitting from narrow beam divergence, photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers are expected to play an essential role in the ever-growing fields of optical communication and light detection and ranging. Lasers operating with 1.55 µm wavelengths have attracted particular attention due to their minimum fiber loss and high eye-safe threshold. However, high interband absorption significantly decreases their performance at this 1.55 µm wavelength. Therefore, stronger optical feedback is needed to reduce their threshold and thus improve the output power. Toward this goal, photonic-crystal resonators with deep holes and high dielectric contrast are often used. Nevertheless, the relevant techniques for high-contrast photonic crystals inevitably complicate fabrication and reduce the final yield. In this paper, we demonstrate the first continuous-wave operation of 1.55 µm photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers by using a 'triple-lattice photonic-crystal resonator', which superimposes three lattice point groups to increase the strength of in-plane optical feedback. Using this geometry, the in-plane 180° coupling can be enhanced threefold compared to the normal single-lattice structure. Detailed theoretical and experimental investigations demonstrate the much lower threshold current density of this structure compared to 'single-lattice' and 'double-lattice' photonic-crystal resonators, verifying our design principles. Our findings provide a new strategy for photonic crystal laser miniaturization, which is crucial for realizing their use in future high-speed applications.