Parameter Inference and Nonequilibrium Identification for Markov Networks Based on Coarse-Grained Observations.

Most experiments can only detect a set of coarse-grained clusters of a molecular system, while the internal microstates are often inaccessible. Here, based on an infinitely long coarse-grained trajectory, we obtain a set of sufficient statistics that extracts all statistic information of coarse-grained observations. Based on these sufficient statistics, we set up a theoretical framework of parameter inference and nonequilibrium identification for a general Markov network with an arbitrary number of microstates and arbitrary coarse-grained partitioning.

[Research progress on NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy and related diseases].

Nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) acts as a selective cargo receptor that binds to ferritin, a cytoplasmic iron storage complex. By mediating ferritinophagy, NCOA4 regulates iron metabolism and releases free iron in the body, thus playing a crucial role in a variety of biological processes, including growth, development, and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy is closely associated with the occurrence and development of iron metabolism-related diseases, such as liver fibrosis, renal cell carcinoma, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Inhibition of IL-21/IL-21R Signaling by Fucoxanthin: Structure-Based and Experimental Analysis.

Dysregulated activation of the interleukin-21 (IL-21)/IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) signaling pathway is strongly associated with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, which positions the pathway as a promising therapeutic target. Given the current lack of approved inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-21/IL-21R, we employed a structure-based virtual screening strategy coupled with experimental validation to identify potential IL-21 antagonists from a library of marine natural products provided by TargetMol. Our investigation identified fucoxanthin, a marine-derived carotenoid, as a potent binder to IL-21R, exhibiting a docking score of -8.

HERV-W Env Induces Neuron Pyroptosis via the NLRP3-CASP1-GSDMD Pathway in Recent-Onset Schizophrenia.

HERVs (Human endogenous retroviruses) are remnants of ancient exogenous retroviruses that have integrated into the human genome, particularly in germ-line cells. Among these, the envelope protein gene (Human endogenous retroviruses W family envelope protein), located on chromosome 7 and primarily expressed in the human placenta, has been closely linked to various neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, as well as autoimmune diseases and cancer. Recent studies have highlighted the abnormal expression of cytokines as a key factor in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Fluorine Doping-Assisted Reconstruction of Isolated Cu Sites for CO Electroreduction Toward Multicarbon Products.

The electrocatalytic synthesis of multicarbon compounds from CO is a promising method for storing renewable electricity and addressing global CO issues. Single-atom catalysts are promising candidates for CO reduction, but producing high-value multicarbon (C) products using a single-atom structure remains a significant challenge. In this study, a fluorine doping strategy is proposed to facilitate the reconstruction of isolated Cu atoms, promoting multicarbon generation.

[Characteristics, Health Risks, and Source Analysis of Heavy Metal Pollution in Surface Soil in Shanxian County].

Soil heavy metal （HM） pollution is a prominent global environmental problem. Understanding the risk characteristics and quantitative analysis of potential sources of soil HM pollution is of great significance for accurate prevention and control, scientific management, and safe utilization of soil resources. In the surface soil of Shanxian County, the contents of eight HMs, such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were collected and identified in 330 surface soil samples.

Advanced Mass-Spectra-Based Machine Learning for Predicting the Toxicity of Traditional Chinese Medicines.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been a cornerstone of health care for centuries, valued for its preventive and therapeutic properties. However, recent decades have revealed significant toxicological concerns associated with TCMs due to their complex chemical compositions. Traditional QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships) models, which predict toxicity based on chemical structures, face challenges with the intricate nature of TCM compounds.

Activation of IP10/CXCR3 Signaling is Highly Coincidental with PrP Deposition in the Brains of Scrapie-Infected Mice.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between Chemokine IP10 and its receptor CXCR3 during prion infection.

Methods: We investigated the increases in IP10 signals, primarily localized in neurons within the brains of scrapie-infected mice, using western blotting, ELISA, co-immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assays, and RT-PCR.

Results: Both CXCR3 levels and activation were significantly higher in the brains of scrapie-infected mice and prion-infected SMB-S15 cells.

Development and clinical utility of an ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry assay for monitoring omadacycline and tigecycline in severe bacterial infections.

Objective: We aimed to develop a rapid, simple, and precise ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) technique for simultaneous measurement of omadacycline (OMA) and tigecycline (TGC) in the bloodstream of individuals suffering from serious bacterial infections.

Methods: All analytes were extracted using a 0.2 % formic acid-water dilution and acetonitrile plasma protein precipitation.

Miniaturized silicon-based capacitive six-axis force/torque sensor with large range, high sensitivity, and low crosstalk.

Miniaturized six-axis force/torque sensors have potential applications in robotic tactile sensing, minimally invasive surgery, and other narrow operating spaces, where currently available commercial sensors cannot meet the requirements because of their large size. In this study, a silicon-based capacitive six-axis force/torque sensing chip with a small size of 9.3 × 9.

Tendencies and characteristics of public fitness behavior in the digital era: an Internet ethnography study based on the K Community in China.

Introduction: The deep integration of media technologies into fitness activities in the era of digital intelligence has created a new and evolving landscape for public fitness. This transformation significantly impacts the practices and experiences of fitness.

Methods: This study employs Internet ethnography as a qualitative research methodology, focusing on the daily activities of participants in a digital fitness community known as the K-community.

Neural signatures of default mode network subsystems in first-episode, drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder after 6-week thought induction psychotherapy treatment.

Evidence indicates that the default mode network (DMN) plays a crucial role in the neuropathology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neural signatures of DMN subsystems in MDD after low resistance Thought Induction Psychotherapy (TIP) remain incompletely understood. We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 20 first-episode, drug-naive MDD and 20 healthy controls (HCs).

Facile assembly of flexible, stretchable and attachable symmetric microsupercapacitors with wide working voltage windows and favorable durability.

With the increasing development of intelligent robots and wearable electronics, the demand for high-performance flexible energy storage devices is drastically increasing. In this study, flexible symmetric microsupercapacitors (MSCs) that could operate in a wide working voltage window were developed by combining laser-direct-writing graphene (LG) electrodes with a phosphoric acid-nonionic surfactant liquid crystal (PA-NI LC) gel electrolyte. To increase the flexibility and enhance the conformal ability of the MSC devices to anisotropic surfaces, after the interdigitated LG formed on the polyimide (PI) film surface, the devices were further transferred onto a flexible, stretchable and transparent polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate; this substrate displayed favorable flexibility and mechanical characteristics in the bending test.

Holimap: an accurate and efficient method for solving stochastic gene network dynamics.

Gene-gene interactions are crucial to the control of sub-cellular processes but our understanding of their stochastic dynamics is hindered by the lack of simulation methods that can accurately and efficiently predict how the distributions of gene product numbers vary across parameter space. To overcome these difficulties, here we present Holimap (high-order linear-mapping approximation), an approach that approximates the protein or mRNA number distributions of a complex gene regulatory network by the distributions of a much simpler reaction system. We demonstrate Holimap's computational advantages over conventional methods by applying it to predict the stochastic time-dependent dynamics of various gene networks, including transcriptional networks ranging from simple autoregulatory loops to complex randomly connected networks, post-transcriptional networks, and post-translational networks.

Fabrication and characterization of high-sensitivity, wide-range, and flexible MEMS thermal flow velocity sensors.

With the rapid development of various fields, including aerospace, industrial measurement and control, and medical monitoring, the need to quantify flow velocity measurements is increasing. It is difficult for traditional flow velocity sensors to fulfill accuracy requirements for velocity measurements due to their small ranges, susceptibility to environmental impacts, and instability. Herein, to optimize sensor performance, a flexible microelectromechanical system (MEMS) thermal flow sensor is proposed that combines the working principles of thermal loss and thermal temperature difference and utilizes a flexible cavity substrate made of a low-thermal-conductivity polyimide/SiO (PI/SiO) composite porous film to broaden the measurement range and improve the sensitivity.

Challenges and Opportunities for Single-Atom Electrocatalysts: From Lab-Scale Research to Potential Industry-Level Applications.

Single-atom electrocatalysts (SACs) are a class of promising materials for driving electrochemical energy conversion reactions due to their intrinsic advantages, including maximum metal utilization, well-defined active structures, and strong interface effects. However, SACs have not reached full commercialization for broad industrial applications. This review summarizes recent research achievements in the design of SACs for crucial electrocatalytic reactions on their active sites, coordination, and substrates, as well as the synthesis methods.

Multi-omics study reveals different pathogenesis of the generation of skin lesions in SLE and IDLE patients.

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a heterogeneous, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease. Isolate discoid LE (IDLE) and systematic LE (SLE) are traditionally regarded as the two ends of the spectrum, ranging from skin-limited damage to life-threatening multi-organ involvement. Both belong to LE, but IDLE and SLE differ in appearance of skin lesions, autoantibody panels, pathological changes, treatments, and immunopathogenesis.

Tanshinone IIA Regulates Synaptic Plasticity in Mg-Free-Induced Epileptic Hippocampal Neurons via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Background: Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) is an element of the effective ingredients of Bunge (Labiatae), exhibits a significant therapeutic effect in brain neuroprotection. The focus of this study was the examination of synaptic plasticity of in Mg2+-free-induced epileptic hippocampus neurons and how TSIIA protects against it.

Methods: The purity of the primary hippocampal neurons extracted from Sprague Dawley rats was assessed within 24 hours by microtubule-associated protein (MAP2) immunofluorescence staining.

Solving the time-dependent protein distributions for autoregulated bursty gene expression using spectral decomposition.

In this study, we obtain an exact time-dependent solution of the chemical master equation (CME) of an extension of the two-state telegraph model describing bursty or non-bursty protein expression in the presence of positive or negative autoregulation. Using the method of spectral decomposition, we show that the eigenfunctions of the generating function solution of the CME are Heun functions, while the eigenvalues can be determined by solving a continued fraction equation. Our solution generalizes and corrects a previous time-dependent solution for the CME of a gene circuit describing non-bursty protein expression in the presence of negative autoregulation [Ramos et al.

Fast and Sensitive Detection of Ammonia from Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction Reactions by H NMR with Radiation Damping.

A facile NMR method is reported for analysis of ammonia from the electrochemical reduction of nitrogen, which compares a calibrated colorimetric method, a calibrated H NMR method and two H NMR direct measurements using external reference materials. Unlike spectrophotometric methods, H NMR requires less bench time and does not require separation of ammonia from the electrolyte. A novel approach to the problem of radiation damping in NMR measurements considered the specific role of hardware tuning.