Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces
February 2025
Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices represent advanced in vitro models enabling to mimic the human tissue architecture function and physiology, providing a promising alternative to the traditional animal testing methods. These devices combine the microfluidics with soft materials, specifically hydrogel membranes (HMs) for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) and biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Hydrogels are ideal biomaterials for OoC systems because of their tunable properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and microscale self-assembly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Trans Cybern
January 2025
In this article, we introduce a new theory for payoff control in multichannel learning environments, where agents interact with each other over multiple channels and each channel is a repeated normal form game. We propose two payoff control strategies-partial control and full control-that allow a single agent to set an upper bound to the opponent's expected payoffs summed across all channels, even if the opponent is a reinforcement learning agent. We prove that a partial (or full) control strategy can be obtained by solving a system of inequalities, and characterize the conditions under which such a partial (or full) control strategy exists.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranscriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) have the potential to identify susceptibility genes associated with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). We conducted a comprehensive TGCT TWAS by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data with predicted expression models from normal testis, TGCT tissues, and a cross-tissue panel that encompasses shared regulatory features across 22 normal tissues, including the testis. Gene associations were evaluated while accounting for variant-level effects from GWASs, followed by fine-mapping analyses in regions exhibiting multiple TWAS signals, and finally supplemented by colocalization analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Tibetan medicine Wuwei Shaji powder (WWSJ) has been extensively applied to treating lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are significant limitations in its quality control and evaluation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the overall chemical composition of WWSJ and to predict potential quality markers for WWSJ in the treatment of COPD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the emergence and maintenance of cooperation in multiplayer games is a significant challenge across various theoretical disciplines. In this paper, we introduce an innovative model to study the impacts of environmental feedback in systems with critical thresholds. Different from prior studies on public goods games with environmental feedback, we propose that the system holds expectations for collective behavior, and the dynamic incentives are equal for all group members.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study presents a hybrid microfiltration technology designed for high-performance lead (Pb(II)) remediation, especially from aqueous solutions with high Pb(II) concentrations, by utilizing two-dimensional (2D) TiCT-MXene layers deposited on dry mycelium membranes. The hybrid TiCT-MXene/mycelium (MyMX) membranes were fabricated via a single-step electrochemical deposition (ECD) technique, which enabled a uniform coating of 2D TiCT-MXene onto individual hyphal fibers of a prefabricated mycelium membrane. Optimized ECD parameters for high Pb(II) uptake were identified using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) exhibits a poor 5-year survival rate. TNFRSF4 is gaining attention in tumor therapy. The objective of this study was to forecast the expression of TNFRSF4 in HNSCC tissue using analysis of pathological images and investigate its possible molecular mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMyopia is a significant global public health issue. Key interventions for managing myopia include atropine treatment, optical correction, and surgical methods. This study focused on evaluating alterations in retinal protein expression after atropine therapy for myopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
December 2024
Purpose: Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) refer to hospital encounters that could potentially be prevented with improved primary care. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as one of the typical ACSCs, and its hospitalization is considered potentially preventable through the quality primary care. However, the literature on factors influencing Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH) has rarely been conducted from the patient perspective, especially in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGraefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
December 2024
Purpose: In this study, artificial intelligence (AI) was used to deeply learn the classification of the anterior segment-Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) images. This AI systems automatically analyzed the angular structure of the AS-OCT images and automatically classified anterior chamber angle. It would improve the efficiency of AS-OCT image analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFV-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), an inhibitory immune checkpoint present on both immune and tumor cells, has emerged as a highly promising target for cancer therapy due to its potential to overcome resistance encountered with existing immune checkpoint treatments. VSIG-3 is determined as an inhibitory ligand for VISTA, leading to the suppression of T cell proliferation. However, hotspots between VISTA/VSIG-3 protein-protein interaction remain ambiguous, mainly attributed to the lack of the structure of the VISTA/VSIG-3 complex.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFYang, Y-R, Chen, C, Pan, C-H, Yen, S-Y, and Cheng, C-F. Effects of half-time re-warm-up with core strength exercises on subsequent agility and power performance in basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 39(1): 62-69, 2025-This study investigated the effects of half-time re-warm-up (RW) comprising core strength exercise (CSE) on basketball players' subsequent power and change of direction (COD) performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrg Biomol Chem
January 2025
Although there have been various reviews on the asymmetric construction of C3-spirooxindoles, there is a scarcity of reviews focusing on the asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of C3-spiro-cyclopentaneoxindole derivatives. This particular scaffold has garnered significant attention from synthetic chemists due to its relevance in medicinal chemistry. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advancements in the asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of various C3-spiro-cyclopentaneoxindoles using organic catalysts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we aimed to study the mechanism of costunolide (COS) and dehydrocostus lactone (DEH) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and animal experiments. Firstly, network pharmacology was used to predict the target proteins of compounds and diseases. Subsequently, the network analysis was performed, and the key target proteins were screened out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVPS34 is a sole member of class III phosphoinositide 3-kinase involved in endosomal trafficking and autophagosome formation, making it an interesting target for cancer treatment. Here, we investigated 5,774 natural products using structure-based virtual screening against human VPS34. 10 natural products identified by virtual screening were purchased and tested in VPS34 ADP-Glo assay, yielding several potential VPS34 inhibitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWith the popularization of intelligence, the necessity of cooperation between intelligent machines makes the research of collaborative multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) more extensive. Existing approaches typically address this challenge through task decomposition of the environment or role classification of agents. However, these studies may rely on the sharing of parameters between agents, resulting in the homogeneity of agent behavior, which is not effective for complex tasks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cardiovasc Med
October 2024
Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-resistant Kawasaki disease (KD) poses a considerable challenge to patients and their families due to its severe complications. Previous researches have highlighted the critical role of immune disorders in its pathogenesis. However, fragmented studies based on isolated cases hinder a comprehensive understanding of this deadly illness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The novel phthalein component QBT, extracted from Ligusticum chuanxiong, shows promising biological activity against cerebrovascular diseases. This study focused on ferroptosis and pyroptosis to explore the effects of QBT on nerve injury, cognitive dysfunction, and related mechanisms in a rat model of vascular dementia (VaD).
Methods: We established a rat model of VaD and administered QBT as a treatment.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces
January 2025
Adequate blood supply and thorough innervation are essential to the survival of tissue-engineered bones. Though great progress has been created in the application of bone tissue engineering technology to bone defect repair, many challenges remain, such as insufficient vascularisation and deficient innervation in newly regenerated bone. In the present study, we addressed these challenges by manipulating the bone regeneration microenvironment in terms of vascularisation and innervation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Agents Chemother
October 2024
The burgeoning emergence of drug-resistant strains poses a significant challenge to the clinical success of eradication therapies and is primarily attributed to mutations within drug-targeting genes that lead to antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the effect of high salt conditions on the occurrence of drug-resistance mutations in . We found that high salt condition significantly amplifies the frequency of drug resistance mutations in .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study evaluated the clinical utility of continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in critically ill patients.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned critically ill participants with diabetes or stress-induced hyperglycemia to the CGMS group (n = 48) or to the conventional point-of-care monitoring (POCM) group (n = 48). The glucose values and clinical outcome were compared between the two group.