Captive environments reshape the compositions of carbohydrate active enzymes and virulence factors in wolf gut microbiome.

Species in the family Canidae occupy different spatial ecological niches, and some (e.g., wolf) can be kept in zoos.

Modified Conditional Borrowing-By-Part Power Prior for Dynamic and Parameter-Specific Information Borrowing of the Gaussian Endpoint.

Borrowing external controls to augment the concurrent control arm is a popular topic in clinical trials. Bayesian dynamic borrowing methods adaptively discount external controls according to prior-data conflict. For the Gaussian endpoint, parameter-specific information borrowing enables differential discounting between the population mean and variance.

Bioinformatics analysis reveals novel tumor antigens and immune subtypes of skin cutaneous melanoma contributing to mRNA vaccine development.

Introduction: Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a common malignant skin cancer with high mortality and recurrence rates. Although the mRNA vaccine is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, its application against SKCM remains confusing. In this study, we employed computational bioinformatics analysis to explore SKCM-associated antigens for an mRNA vaccine and suitable populations for vaccination.

Polytect: an automatic clustering and labeling method for multicolor digital PCR data.

Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) is a state-of-the-art targeted quantification method of nucleic acids. The technology is based on massive partitioning of a reaction mixture into individual PCR reactions. The resulting partition-level end-point fluorescence intensities are used to classify partitions as positive or negative, i.

Application of construction waste residue-based compositing fillers in bioretention facility: Intensified nitrogen removal and mitigated by-product effects.

Bioretention facilities (BRF) are widely utilized in sponge cities for stormwater management, but they face challenges in effectively controlling nitrogen due to the instability of traditional fillers. Pyrite has been extensively employed as an electron donor to enhance nitrogen removal; however, it generates by-products such as H, SO, and Fe/Fe that can pose environmental issues. Construction waste residues (CWR), consisting of waste brick and concrete, have been explored as alternative fillers, but they suffer from alkaline leaching problems.

Analysis of the two-component system gene family and the positive role of CsRR5 in cold stress response in tea plants.

The two-component system (TCS), a ubiquitous signaling network consisting of histidine kinases (HKs), phosphotransfers (HPs), and response regulator proteins (RRs), participates in various functions, including responses to abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive identification of TCS genes in tea plants is still lacking. Here, we identified 60 CsTCS members in tea plants, including 23 HKs, 10 HPs, and 27 RRs.

Hand X-rays findings and a disease screening for Turner syndrome through deep learning model.

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is one of the important causes of short stature in girls, but there are cases of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in clinical practice. Our aim is to analyze the hand skeletal characteristics of TS patients and establish a disease screening model using deep learning.

Methods: A total of 101 pediatric patients with TS were included in this retrospective case-control study.

Evaluation of the current methods for assigning molecular formulas to dissolved organic matter using high resolution mass spectrometry.

Understanding DOM composition is essential for investigating the biogeochemical carbon cycle and related elements. However, methods for assigning molecular formulas (MF) in high-resolution mass spectrometry remain poorly defined, which often resulting in the misidentification of DOM components. In this study, we established a metrics evaluation framework for assessing the assignment results of each method based on similarity, accuracy and correctness.

Miscellaneous salt management based on saline-microbial interaction mechanisms: Technology salt reduction strategies.

Fluctuations in salinity have a significant impact on the ability of microorganisms to degrade target pollutants during water treatment. However, the interactions between salinity and microorganisms in industrial wastewater treatment have been explored in only a limited number of studies. Therefore, taking the actual coking wastewater treatment project as an example, the internal relationship between salinity, microbial community and pollutant removal was explored, and the technology salt reduction strategy was put forward.

Dynamic STING repression orchestrates immune cell development and function.

STING is an essential component of the innate immune system, yet homeostatic STING expression patterns and regulation are unknown. Using reporter and conditional transgenic mice, we found that regulation of STING expression is critical for immune cell development and functionality. STING expression was repressed in neutrophils, and forced STING expression or signaling drove systemic inflammatory disease.

Advances in acute respiratory distress syndrome: focusing on heterogeneity, pathophysiology, and therapeutic strategies.

In recent years, the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been gradually increasing. Despite advances in supportive care, ARDS remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. ARDS is characterized by acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure with diffuse pulmonary inflammation and bilateral edema due to excessive alveolocapillary permeability in patients with non-cardiogenic pulmonary diseases.

Long Term Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Retrograde Ascending Aortic Dissection.

Objective: The optimal treatment for retrograde ascending aortic dissection (rAAD) remains unclear. In this study, the long term clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment for rAAD were retrospectively investigated, and haemodynamic remodelling of the ascending aorta was analysed.

Methods: This retrospective, single centre study analysed clinical data of rAAD cases treated with endovascular therapy from 2001 - 2020.

Mitochondria- and nucleus-targeted fluorescent probe for chemometrics-enhanced detection of cysteine.

The detection and imaging of cysteine (Cys) are vital for clinical applications, given its critical role as a biomarker in various diseases. In this study, a cationic fluorescent probe (probe T) was synthesized, featuring benzothiazole as a fluorescent group and acrylate as a Cys recognition site. Compared to other biothiols, probe T specifically detects Cys while targeting mitochondria and nuclei.

Polygala crotalarioides attenuates erectile dysfunction through improving Rho/ROCK signaling pathway mediated thyroid and gonadal function in kidney Yang deficiency ED rat.

This study aimed to explore effectiveness and related mechanisms of Polygala crotalarioides in treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Hydrocortisone was used to establish a kidney-Yang deficiency ED rat model. Levels of triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), testosterone(T), estradiol(E2) and expressions of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 were determined.

The Recurrent U-Net for Needle Segmentation in Ultrasound Image-Guided Surgery.

In minimally invasive surgery, poor needle visualization under ultrasound has been one of the challenges of the surgery. To improve the resulting puncture error, it is effective to use deep learning from the image level to assist the surgeon in locating the needle tip position and presenting the needle trajectory angle. In this paper, a network structure based on the U-shaped network and convolutional gated recurrent unit is proposed, which could capture the information about the movement of the needle and improve the accuracy of the needle segmentation.

Spike Neural Network of Motor Cortex Model for Arm Reaching Control.

Motor cortex modeling is crucial for understanding movement planning and execution. While interconnected recurrent neural networks have successfully described the dynamics of neural population activity, most existing methods utilize continuous signal-based neural networks, which do not reflect the biological spike neural signal. To address this limitation, we propose a recurrent spike neural network to simulate motor cortical activity during an arm-reaching task.

Enhancing visual perception: The independent and additive effects of temporal and feature-based attention.

Researchers often study selective attention in the temporal domain in isolation, but in real-life situations, it typically works together with other types of attention. The interplay between temporal attention (focusing on when) and feature-based attention (focusing on what) is one important aspect of attention that remains poorly understood. To investigate this, we asked subjects to report the orientation of one of the two stimuli sequentially presented at the same position.

Chrysin ameliorates dextran sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by modulating inflammation and gut microbiota.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum, posing significant health challenges. Previous studies have shown potential therapeutic effects of natural compounds on IBD. Chrysin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, has been suggested to modulate inflammatory pathways and gut microbiota, but its comprehensive impact on ulcerative colitis remains inadequately explored.

SETD1B-mediated broad H3K4me3 controls proper temporal patterns of gene expression critical for spermatid development.

Epigenetic programming governs cell fate determination during development through intricately controlling sequential gene activation and repression. Although H3K4me3 is widely recognized as a hallmark of gene activation, its role in modulating transcription output and timing within a continuously developing system remains poorly understood. In this study, we provide a detailed characterization of the epigenomic landscapes in developing male germ cells.

Revealing the Mechanism of Ni Vacancies on Ion Storage, Diffusion Kinetics, and Electrochromic Performance of Nickel Oxide Electrodes.

Solar radiation can be dynamically regulated by the electrochromic smart window, showing great potential in reducing building energy consumption. As one of the most paramount inorganic electrochromic materials, NiO remains the elusive intricacies of the electrochromic process, particularly regarding the functional mechanisms of defects. Here, the mechanism of Ni vacancies (V) on the ionic storage, diffusion kinetics, and electrochromic performance are systematically investigated.

Meg3-NONO-RAR axis mediates RA pathway activation in TCDD-induced cleft palate.

Dioxins, a group of environmental pollutants, can cause developmental toxicity through interaction with the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Retinoic acid (RA) functions via binding to retinoic acid receptor (RAR)/retinoid X receptor (RXR). Both AHR and RA pathways can be activated by dioxins.

Tracing impacts of prenatal exposure to bisphenol analogues on child anogenital distance development: A birth-cohort study.

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol analogues (BPs) is increasingly common and may affect children's reproductive development. However, human evidence is limited and inconsistent. Based on the Shanghai-Minhang Birth Cohort Study that enrolled participants in 2012 at Minhang Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Shanghai, China, we measured BPs in maternal urine samples collected during late pregnancy and children's anogenital distance (AGD: boys, AGD (anus-penis), AGD (anus-scrotum); girls, AGD (anus-clitoris), AGD (anus-fourchette)) from birth to 48 months as an indicator of reproductive development.

PPARα regulates YAP protein levels and activity by affecting its ubiquitination modification.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) plays a crucial role in liver physiological and pathological processes. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a key effector in regulating cell growth and organ size. Ubiquitination is known to modulate YAP protein expression, stability, and nuclear localization.

Unfolded protein response-activated NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to pyroptotic and apoptotic podocyte injury in diabetic kidney disease via the CHOP-TXNIP axis.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease worldwide. Podocyte injury and death is a key event in DKD progression. Emerging evidence has indicated that crosstalk between unfolded protein response (UPR) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays an essential role in DKD progression.