Baseline systolic blood pressure, hypertension history, and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a post hoc exploratory analysis of Remote Ischemic Conditioning for Acute Moderate Ischemic Stroke (RICAMIS) to determine whether hypertension history and baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) affect the efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC). METHODS: Based on the full analysis set of RICAMIS, patients were divided into hypertension versus non-hypertension group, or <140 mmHg versus ≥140 mmHg group. Each group was further subdivided into RIC and control subgroups. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1 at 90 days. Efficacy of RIC was compared among patients with hypertension versus nonhypertension history and SBP of <140 mmHg versus ≥140 mmHg. Furthermore, the interaction effect of treatment with hypertension and SBP was assessed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, RIC produced a significantly higher proportion of patients with excellent functional outcome in the nonhypertension group (RIC vs. control: 65.7% vs. 57.0%, OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.06-1.98; p = 0.02), but no significant difference was observed in the hypertension group (RIC vs. control: 69.1% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.17). Similar results were observed in SBP ≥140 mmHg group (RIC vs. control: 68.0% vs. 61.2%, p = 0.009) and SBP <140 mmHg group (RIC vs. control: 65.6% vs. 64.7%, p = 0.77). No interaction effect of RIC on primary outcome was identified. INTERPRETATION: Hypertension and baseline SBP did not affect the neuroprotective effect of RIC, but they were associated with higher probability of excellent functional outcome in patients with acute moderate ischemic stroke who received RIC treatment.

Altering electronic structure of nickel foam supported CoNi-based oxide through Al ions modulation for efficient oxygen evolution reaction.

Developing highly active and durable non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial in achieving efficient energy conversion. Herein, we reported a CoNiAl0.5O/NF nanofilament that exhibits higher OER activity than previously reported IrO2-based catalysts in alkaline solution. The as-synthesized CoNiAl0.5O/NF catalyst demonstrates a low overpotential of 230 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm-2, indicating its high catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits a Tafel slope of 26 mV dec-1, suggesting favorable reaction kinetics. The CoNiAl0.5O/NF catalyst exhibits impressive stability, ensuring its potential for practical applications. Detailed characterizations reveal that the enhanced activity of CoNiAl0.5O/NF can be attributed to the electronic modulation achieved through Al3+ incorporation, which promotes the emergence of higher-valence Ni metal, facilitating nanofilament formation and improving mass transport and charge transfer processes. The synergistic effect between nanofilaments and porous nickel foam (NF) substrate significantly enhances the electrical conductivity of this catalyst material. This study highlights the significance of electronic structures for improving the activity of cost-effective and non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts for the OER.

Conversion of C8 aromatics over a dual-bed catalyst.

A dual-bed catalyst was prepared for the conversion of C8 aromatics. The upper bed layer consisted of ZSM-5 covered with SiO2, primarily utilized for ethylbenzene dealkylation. By employing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a deposition agent through the chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method, the modified ZSM-5 catalyst exhibited optimal catalytic performance at a TEOS addition of 0.6 g per gram of catalyst. The lower bed layer contained ZSM-39 catalyst, mainly employed for xylene isomerization reaction. ZSM-39 was synthesized using pyrrolidine as the template, and the best catalytic performance was achieved when the OH-/SiO2 molar ratio in the synthesis system was 0.05. The mass ratio between the upper and lower agents was maintained at 1 : 1. Compared to traditional single-bed ZSM-5 catalysts, the dual-bed catalyst demonstrated enhanced activity and selectivity.

Simultaneously Strengthening and Toughening All-Natural Structural Materials via 3D Nanofiber Network Interfacial Design.

Constructing structural materials from sustainable raw materials is considered an efficient way to reduce the potential threat posed by plastics. Nevertheless, challenges remain regarding combining excellent mechanical and thermal properties, especially the balance of strength and toughness. Here, we report a 3D nanofiber network interfacial design strategy to strengthen and toughen all-natural structural materials simultaneously. The introduced protonated chitosan at the interface between the surface oxidized 3D nanonetwork of bacterial cellulose forms the interfacial interlocking structure of nanonetworks, achieving a robust physical connection and providing enough physical contact sites for chemical crosslinking. The obtained sustainable structural material successfully integrates excellent mechanical and thermal properties on the nanoscale of cellulose nanofibers, such as light weight, high strength, and superior thermal expansion coefficient. The relationship between structural design and comprehensive mechanical property improvement is analyzed in detail, providing a universal perspective to design sustainable high-performance structural materials from nanoscale building blocks.

Characteristics and immune functions of the endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems in myxobacteria.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and their associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) system widely occurs in prokaryotic organisms to recognize and destruct genetic invaders. Systematic collation and characterization of endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems are conducive to our understanding and potential utilization of this natural genetic machinery. In this study, we screened 39 complete and 692 incomplete genomes of myxobacteria using a combined strategy to dispose of the abridged genome information and revealed at least 19 CRISPR-Cas subtypes, which were distributed with a taxonomic difference and often lost stochastically in intraspecies strains. The cas genes in each subtype were evolutionarily clustered but deeply separated, while most of the CRISPRs were divided into four types based on the motif characteristics of repeat sequences. The spacers recorded in myxobacterial CRISPRs were in high G+C content, matching lots of phages, tiny amounts of plasmids, and, surprisingly, massive organismic genomes. We experimentally demonstrated the immune and self-target immune activities of three endogenous systems in Myxococcus xanthus DK1622 against artificial genetic invaders and revealed the microhomology-mediated end-joining mechanism for the immunity-induced DNA repair but not homology-directed repair. The panoramic view and immune activities imply potential omnipotent immune functions and applications of the endogenous CRISPR-Cas machinery. IMPORTANCE: Serving as an adaptive immune system, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and their associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) empower prokaryotes to fend off the intrusion of external genetic materials. Myxobacteria are a collective of swarming Gram-stain-negative predatory bacteria distinguished by intricate multicellular social behavior. An in-depth analysis of their intrinsic CRISPR-Cas systems is beneficial for our understanding of the survival strategies employed by host cells within their environmental niches. Moreover, the experimental findings presented in this study not only suggest the robust immune functions of CRISPR-Cas in myxobacteria but also their potential applications.

RHC genotyping in Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: The Rh blood group system is characterized by its complexity and polymorphism, encompassing 56 different antigens. Accurately predicting the presence of the C antigen using genotyping methods has been challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of various genotyping methods for predicting the Rh C and to identify a suitable method for the Chinese Han population. METHODS: In total, 317 donors, consisting 223 D+ (including 20 with the Del phenotype) and 94 D- were randomly selected. For RHC genotyping, 48C and 109bp insertion were detected on the Real-time PCR platform and -292 substitution was analyzed via restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Moreover, the promoter region of the RHCE gene was sequenced to search for other nucleotide substitutions between RHC and RHc. Agreement between prediction methods was evaluated using the Kappa statistic, and comparisons between methods were conducted via the χ2 test. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that the 48C allele, 109bp insertion, a specific pattern observed in RFLP results, and wild-type alleles of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were in strong agreement with the Rh C, with Kappa coefficients exceeding 0.8. However, there were instances of false positives or false negatives (0.6% false negative rate for 109bp insertion and 5.4-8.2% false positive rates for other methods). The 109bp insertion method exhibited the highest accuracy in predicting the Rh C, at 99.4%, compared to other methods (P values≤0.001). Although no statistical differences were found among other methods for predicting Rh C (P values>0.05), the accuracies in descending order were 48C (94.6%) > rs586178 (92.7%) > rs4649082, rs2375313, rs2281179, rs2072933, rs2072932, and RFLP (92.4%) > rs2072931 (91.8%). CONCLUSIONS: None of the methods examined can independently and accurately predict the Rh C. However, the 109bp insertion test demonstrated the highest accuracy for predicting the Rh C in the Chinese Han population. Utilizing the 109bp insertion test in combination with other methods may enhance the accuracy of Rh C prediction.

Correction: Suppression of Mitochondrial Complex I Influences Cell Metastatic Properties.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061677.].

Ascorbic acid potentiates photodynamic inactivation mediated by octyl gallate and blue light for rapid eradication of planktonic bacteria and biofilms.

This study reported for the first time that Ascorbic acid (AA) could appreciably boost the efficiency of Octyl gallate (OG)-mediated photodynamic inactivation (PDI) on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in planktonic and biofilm states. The combination of OG (0.075 mM) and AA (200 mM) with 420 nm blue light (212 mW/cm2) led to a >6 Log killing within only 5 min for E. coli and S. aureus and rapid eradication of biofilms. The mechanism of action appears to be the generation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) via photochemical pathways. OG was exposed to BL irradiation to generate various reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) and the addition of AA could transform singlet oxygen (1O2) into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which could further react with AA to generate enormous •OH. These ROS jeopardized bacteria and biofilms by nonspecifically attacking various biomacromolecules. Overall, this PDI strategy provides a powerful microbiological decontamination modality to guarantee safe food products.

Ordered mesoporous nanofibers mimicking vascular bundles for lithium metal batteries.

Hierarchical self-assembly with long-range order above centimeters widely exists in nature. Mimicking similar structures to promote reaction kinetics of electrochemical energy devices is of immense interest, yet remains challenging. Here, we report a bottom-up self-assembly approach to constructing ordered mesoporous nanofibers with a structure resembling vascular bundles via electrospinning. The synthesis involves self-assembling polystyrene (PS) homopolymer, amphiphilic diblock copolymer, and precursors into supramolecular micelles. Elongational dynamics of viscoelastic micelle solution together with fast solvent evaporation during electrospinning cause simultaneous close packing and uniaxial stretching of micelles, consequently producing polymer nanofibers consisting of oriented micelles. The method is versatile for the fabrication of large-scale ordered mesoporous nanofibers with adjustable pore diameter and various compositions such as carbon, SiO2, TiO2 and WO3. The aligned longitudinal mesopores connected side-by-side by tiny pores offer highly exposed active sites and expedite electron/ion transport. The assembled electrodes deliver outstanding performance for lithium metal batteries.

Determination of the chromosomal position effects for plug-and-play application in the Myxococcus xanthus chassis cells.

The chromosomal position effect can significantly affect the transgene expression, which may provide an efficient strategy for the inauguration of alien genes in new hosts, but has been less explored rationally. The bacterium Myxococcus xanthus harbors a large circular high-GC genome, and the position effect in this chassis may result in a thousand-fold expression variation of alien natural products. In this study, we conducted transposon insertion at TA sites on the M. xanthus genome, and used enrichment and dilution indexes to respectively appraise high and low expression potentials of alien genes at insertion sites. The enrichment sites are characteristically distributed along the genome, and the dilution sites are overlapped well with the horizontal transfer genes. We experimentally demonstrated the enrichment sites as high expression integration sites (HEISs), and the dilution sites unsuitable for gene integration expression. This work highlights that HEISs are the plug-and-play sites for efficient expression of integrated genes.

Multivitamin Use Among Hispanic Women of Reproductive Age in the United States, 2013-2022.

Background: The U.S. Public Health Service and the Institute of Medicine recommend that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily to help prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Hispanic women are at higher risk of having babies with NTDs than non-Hispanic White women. This study assessed multivitamin (MV) use, a main source of folic acid, among Hispanic women of reproductive age using a survey of solely U.S. Hispanic adults. Materials and Methods: MV use was assessed as part of Porter Novelli's Estilos survey, fielded annually through the largest online U.S. Hispanic panel, Offerwise's QueOpinas. During the study period of 2013-2022, 9,999 surveys were completed; selection was weighted to match the U.S. Census American Community Survey proportions. Log-binomial regression models were applied to estimate MV use trends by age groups, acculturation levels, and pregnancy intention. Results: Among 3,700 Hispanic women of reproductive age, overall no MV use increased from 39.3% in 2013 to 54.7% in 2022 (p for trend <0.0001), especially among Hispanic women aged 18-34 years and those classified as acculturated. Among women planning to get pregnant, daily MV use was 31.1% in 2013 compared with 18.7% in 2020-2022 (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Given the increase in no MV use among Hispanic women of reproductive age, targeted interventions may help reach at-risk groups for NTDs prevention.

Effects of forest regeneration types on phosphorus fractions of soil aggregates in subtropical forest.

Soil aggregates are important for the storage and availability of phosphorus in the soil. However, how forest regeneration types affect phosphorus fractions of soil aggregates remains unclear. In this study, we examined the composition of aggregate particle size, phosphorus fractions, phosphorus sorption capacity index (PSOR), legacy phosphorus index (PLGC) and degree of phosphorus saturation by Mehlich 3 (DPSM3) in bulk soils and soil aggregates of Castanopsis carlesii secondary forest (slight disturbance), C. carlesii human-assisted regeneration forest (moderate disturbance), and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation (severe disturbance), aiming to explore the impact of forest regeneration types on phosphorus availability and supply potential of bulk soils and soil aggregates. The results showed that forest regeneration types significantly influenced the composition of soil aggregates. The proportion of coarse macroaggregates (>2 mm) in the soil of C. carlesii secondary forest and human-assisted regeneration forest was significantly higher than that in the C. lanceolata plantation, while the proportion of silt and clay fraction (<0.053 mm) showed an opposite trend. The composition of soil aggregates significantly affected the contents of different phosphorus fractions. The contents of soil labile phosphorus fractions (PSOL and PM3) decreased as aggregate particle size decreased. The contents of soil total phosphorus (TP), total organic phosphorus (Po), mode-rately labile phosphorus fractions (PiOH and PoOH), and occluded phosphorus (POCL), as well as PSOR and PLGC, exhibited a trend of decreasing at the beginning and then increasing as particle size decreased. The contents of TP, Po, and PiOH in coarse and silt macroaggregates was significantly higher than that in fine macroaggregates (0.25-2 mm) and microaggregates (0.053-0.25 mm). Forest regeneration types significantly influenced the contents of phosphorus fractions of bulk soils and soil aggregates. The contents of TP, Po, PSOL, and PM3 in the soil of C. carlesii secondary forests was significantly higher than that in C. carlesii human-assisted regeneration forest and C. lanceolata plantation. The contents of PSOL and PM3 in different-sized aggregates of C. carlesii secondary forests were significantly higher than that in the C. lanceolata plantation. Forest regeneration types significantly influenced the composition and supply potential of phosphorus fractions in soil aggregates. The proportions of PSOL, and PM3 to TP in different-sized soil aggregates were significantly lower in C. carlesii human-assisted regeneration forest compared with C. carlesii secondary forest. PSOR and DPSM3 in different-sized soil aggregates were significantly lower in C. lanceolata plantation than that in C. carlesii secondary forest. Overall, our results indicated that natural regeneration is more favorable for maintaining soil phosphorus availability, and that forest regeneration affects soil phosphorus availa-bility and its supply potential by altering the composition of soil aggregates.

Orbital Magneto-Nonlinear Anomalous Hall Effect in Kagome Magnet Fe_{3}Sn_{2}.

It has been theoretically predicted that perturbation of the Berry curvature by electromagnetic fields gives rise to intrinsic nonlinear anomalous Hall effects that are independent of scattering. Two types of nonlinear anomalous Hall effects are expected. The electric nonlinear Hall effect has recently begun to receive attention, while very few studies are concerned with the magneto-nonlinear Hall effect. Here, we combine experiment and first-principles calculations to show that the kagome ferromagnet Fe_{3}Sn_{2} displays such a magneto-nonlinear Hall effect. By systematic field angular and temperature-dependent transport measurements, we unambiguously identify a large anomalous Hall current that is linear in both applied in-plane electric and magnetic fields, utilizing a unique in-plane configuration. We clarify its dominant orbital origin and connect it to the magneto-nonlinear Hall effect. The effect is governed by the intrinsic quantum geometric properties of Bloch electrons. Our results demonstrate the significance of the quantum geometry of electron wave functions from the orbital degree of freedom and open up a new direction in Hall transport effects.

Visible-Light-Driven Inactivation of Bacteria and H2 Generation Catalyzed by Oxygen-Vacancy-Rich One-Dimensional/Two-Dimensional W18O49/g-C3N4 Z-Scheme Heterostructures.

Z-scheme heterostructure-based photocatalysts consist of a reduction photocatalyst and an oxidation photocatalyst, enabling them to possess a high capacity for both reduction and oxidation. However, the coupling reaction between photocatalytic H2 generation through water reduction and sterilization using Z-scheme systems has been rarely reported. Herein, 1D W18O49 nanowires embedded over 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets are well-constructed as an integrated Z-scheme heterojunction. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations not only demonstrate the achievement of efficient interfacial charge separation and transport, leading to prolonged lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers, but also directly confirm the mechanism of Z-scheme charge transfer. As expected, the optimized W18O49/g-C3N4 nanostructure exhibits superior photocatalytic sterilization activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well as excellent H2 generation performance under visible-light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). Due to its nontoxic nature, W18O49/g-C3N4 holds great potential in eradicating bacterial infections in living organisms.

Effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on metaphase II oocyte rates in IVF cycles with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study was designed to explore the effects of flaxseed oil on the metaphase II (MII) oocyte rates in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). Methods: The women with DOR were divided into a study group (n = 108, flaxseed oil treatment) and a control group (n = 110, no treatment). All patients were treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Subsequently, the ART stimulation cycle parameters, embryo transfer (ET) results, and clinical reproductive outcomes were recorded. The influencing factors affecting the MII oocyte rate were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Results: Flaxseed oil reduced the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) dosage and stimulation time and increased the peak estradiol (E2) concentration in DOR women during ART treatment. The MII oocyte rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high-quality embryo rate, and blastocyst formation rate were increased after flaxseed oil intervention. The embryo implantation rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (p = 0.05). Additionally, the female age [odds ratio (OR): 0.609, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.72, p < 0.01] was the hindering factor of MII oocyte rate, while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; OR: 100, 95% CI: 20.31-495, p < 0.01), peak E2 concentration (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p = 0.01), and the intake of flaxseed oil (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.06-5.93, p = 0.04) were the promoting factors for MII oocyte rate. Conclusion: Flaxseed oil improved ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, thereby increasing the fertilization rate and high-quality embryo rate in DOR patients. The use of flaxseed oil was positively correlated with MII oocyte rate in women with DOR. Clinical trial number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300073785.

Transcriptomic insights into vibrio-induced mortality in the clam Meretrix petechialis under high temperature.

In this study, we investigate the mortality of the clam Meretrix petechialis facing a vibrio challenge under different temperatures and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our experiment distinctly revealed that clam mortality was predominantly observed under high temperature, highlighting the critical impact of thermal stress on clam susceptibility to infection. Using RNA-seq, we further compared the global transcriptional response to vibrio in clam gills between high and low temperatures. Compared to other groups, the differentially expressed genes in vibrio-challenged group at high temperature associated with immunity, oxidative stress, and membrane transport. Key results show a weakened immune response in clams at high temperature, especially in the TNF signaling pathway, and a decrease in membrane transport efficiency, notably in SLC proteins. Additionally, high temperature enhanced pro-inflammatory related unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, leading to increased oxidative damage. This was further evidenced by our biochemical assays, which showed significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in clams at high temperature, indicating heightened oxidative damage. RT-PCR validation of selected DEGs corroborated the RNA-seq findings. Our findings contribute to the understanding of more frequent shellfish mortality in summer, emphasizing the role of temperature in pathogen response, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the synergistic effect of pathogen and high temperature stresses. The key genes identified provide potential targets for resistance-assisted breeding. This research has significant implications for bivalve aquaculture and their physiology, particularly in light of global climate changes affecting marine ecosystems.

Comprehensive Multi-omics Approaches Provide Insights to Summer Mortality in the Clam Meretrix petechialis.

Bivalve mass mortalities have been reported worldwide, which not only can be explained as a result of pathogen infection, but may reflect changes in environments. Although these episodes were often reported, there was limited information concerning the molecular responses to various stressors leading to summer mortality. In the present work, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), tandem mass tagging (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics, and 16S rRNA sequencing were used to explore the natural outbreak of summer mortality in the clam Meretrix petechialis. We identified a total of 172 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 222 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the diseased group compared to the normal group. The inconsistent expression profiles of immune DEGs/DEPs may be due to the immune dysregulation of the diseased clams. Notably, 11 solute carrier family genes were found among the top 20 down-regulated genes in the diseased group, indicating that weakened transmembrane transport ability might occur in the diseased clams. Integration analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic results showed that many metabolic processes such as "arginine and proline metabolism" and "tyrosine metabolism" were inhibited in the diseased group, suggesting metabolic inhibition. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the microbial composition of clam hepatopancreas was disordered in the diseased group. The comparison of DEGs expression between the natural summer mortality event and an artificial challenge experiment involving both Vibrio infection and heat stress revealed 9/15 genes showing similar expression trends between the two conditions, suggesting that the summer mortality might be caused by a combination of high temperature and Vibrio infection. These results would deepen our understanding of summer mortality and provide candidate resistance markers for clam resistance breeding.