Perfluorobutanesulfonate Interfering with the Intestinal Remodeling During Metamorphosis via the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis.

The intestinal remodeling during amphibian metamorphosis is essential for adapting to various ecological niches of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. However, whether and how the widespread contaminant, perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) affects intestinal remodeling remains unknown. In this study, tadpoles () at the G26 stage were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFBS (0, 1, 3, and 10 μg/L) until the end of metamorphosis.

Perfluorobutanesulfonate Induces Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Disruption and Gonadal Dysplasia of Tadpoles.

It is uncertain whether exposure to environmental concentrations of perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) disrupts the reproductive endocrine system in amphibian tadpoles. In this study, tadpoles () in G26 stage were treated with different levels of PFBS (0, 1, 3, and 10 μg/L) for 60 days to investigate whether and how PFBS affects the reproductive endocrine system and gonadal development in tadpoles. Tadpole testes exhibited structural damage to germ cells and significantly fewer spermatogonia following PFBS exposure, but the sex ratio remained unaffected.

Ultrafast on-site adulteration detection and quantification in Asian black truffle using smartphone-based computer vision.

Asian black truffle Tuber sinense (BT) is a premium edible fungus with medicinal value, but it is often prone to adulteration. This study aims to develop a fast, non-destructive, automatic, and intelligent method for identifying BT. A novel lightweight convolutional neural network model incorporates knowledge distillation (FastBTNet) to improve model efficiency on smartphones while maintaining higher performance.

Comparison of different osteotomy schemes in the repair and treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus deformities.

To explore the application efficacy and safety of different osteotomy schemes in the repair and treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus deformities. A sum of 117 patients with moderate to severe acute hallux valgus who underwent treatment at our hospital from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected. The envelope method was used to group the patients.

CircUCK2(2,3) promotes cancer progression and enhances synergistic cytotoxicity of lenvatinib with EGFR inhibitors via activating CNIH4-TGFα-EGFR signaling.

Background: Circular (circ)RNAs have emerged as crucial contributors to cancer progression. Nonetheless, the expression regulation, biological functions, and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in mediating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remain insufficiently elucidated.

Methods: We identified circUCK2(2,3) through circRNA sequencing, RT-PCR, and Sanger sequencing.

A new sexual selection pattern in a frog () with ultrasonic communication.

The current study has revealed a unique sexual selection pattern in , a species renowned for its ultrasonic communication, which differs from the patterns observed in other anuran taxa. Typically, females listen to male vocalizations and exhibit phonotaxis towards preferred traits for mate selection. In contrast, female do not actively approach displaying males for mate selection; instead, they use courtship calls to attract potential mates and incite male competition for access to them.

Alteration of intestinal microbiota-intestinal barrier interaction interferes with intestinal health after microcystin-LR exposure in Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles.

There remains uncertainty regarding the influence of microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) on amphibian intestinal health, specifically how MC-LR interferes with intestinal microbiota following exposure to environmental concentrations. In this study, Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles were exposed to varying MC-LR concentrations (0, 0.5, and 2 µg/L) over a 30-day period.

NIRFluor: A Deep Learning Platform for Rapid Screening of Small Molecule Near-Infrared Fluorophores with Desired Optical Properties.

Small molecule near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores play a critical role in disease diagnosis and early detection of various markers in living organisms. To accelerate their development and design, a deep learning platform, NIRFluor, was established to rapidly screen small molecule NIR fluorophores with the desired optical properties. The core component of NIRFluor is a state-of-the-art deep learning model trained on 5179 experimental big data.

Noble metal (Pd, Pt)-functionalized WSe monolayer for adsorbing and sensing thermal runaway gases in LIBs: A first-principles investigation.

This research using the first-principles theory introduces Pd- and Pt-functionalized WSe monolayers as promising materials for detecting three critical gases (H, CO, and CH), to evaluate the health of Li-ion battery (LIBs). Various sites on the pristine WSe monolayer are considered for the functionalization with Pd and Pt atoms. The adsorption performances of the determined Pd- and Pt-WSe monolayers upon the three gases are analyzed by the comparative highlight of the adsorption energy, bonding behavior and electron transfer.

Butterfly plasmon: a plasmon capable of diverse focus modulation.

In this Letter, we propose a class of plasmon that exhibits properties such as autofocusing and self-bending. In a butterfly plasmon, several new dimensions of focus modulation are introduced. By adjusting its initial phase, the position, the length, the intensity, and the bending direction of the plasmonic focus can be precisely controlled, demonstrating a high degree of tunability.

Comparison of the smiley face rod method versus intervertebral fusion for the treatment of L5 spondylolysis in adults.

Purpose: For patients who suffered from L5 spondylolysis and fail to improve using conservative treatment, the best surgical strategy remains controversial. This study compares the efficacy of the treatment of L5 spondylolysis using the smiley face rod (SFR) method versus intervertebral fusion (IF).

Methods: We analyzed 38 patients with L5 spondylolysis who underwent surgery in our department between January 2017 and June 2019.

Effectiveness of the clinical nursing pathway model in nursing mild acute pancreatitis: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical nursing pathway model in the care of patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP). We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records for 80 patients diagnosed with MAP at our hospital between September 2021 and March 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the control group, which received routine nursing care, and the observation group, which followed the clinical nursing pathway.

Identification of lu'an Guapian at different picking periods by using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics.

Lu'an Guapian (LAGP) is a renowned green tea, with its price significantly higher when picked before the Qingming Festival compared to after, posing risks of confusion and counterfeiting. This study proposed using an excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence method combined with chemometrics for rapid identification of tea picked before and after Qingming Festival. Firstly, the differences among the EEM fingerprints of different tea samples were analyzed using the alternating trilinear decomposition (ATLD) algorithm.

Improvement of Electric Fish Optimization Algorithm for Standstill Label Combined with Levy Flight Strategy.

The Electric Fish Optimization (EFO) algorithm is inspired by the predation behavior and communication of weak electric fish. It is a novel meta-heuristic algorithm that attracts researchers because it has few tunable parameters, high robustness, and strong global search capabilities. Nevertheless, when operating in complex environments, the EFO algorithm encounters several challenges including premature convergence, susceptibility to local optima, and issues related to passive electric field localization stagnation.

The molecular mechanism of PLD2-mediated regulation of apoptosis and cell edema in pancreatic cells via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway.

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PLD2 controls apoptosis and edema in pancreatic cells via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway. AR42J rat pancreatic cells were treated with 10 nM mitomycin to create an in vitro pancreatitis model (model group), with a control group receiving phosphate-buffered saline. Cells were transfected with a PLD2 overexpression plasmid using Lipofectamine 3000, forming the PLD2 overexpression group.

Research progress on anti-tumor mechanism of TAOK kinases.

Thousand and one amino-acid protein kinases(TAOKs), as a key member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, has recently attracted widespread attention in the field of anti-cancer research. There are three members of this subfamily: TAOK1, TAOK2, and TAOK3. Studies have shown that members of the TAOK family participate in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion through various pathways, thereby playing an important role in tumorigenesis and progression.

Benzophenone-4 inhibition in marine diatoms: Physiological and molecular perspectives.

Benzophenone-4 (BP-4), a widely utilized organic ultraviolet (UV) filter, is recognized as a pseudo-persistent contaminant in aquatic environments. To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of BP-4 on marine diatoms, an investigation was conducted on the growth rate, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, cellular structure, and transcriptome profile of the model species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The results showed a pronounced inhibition of algal growth upon exposure to BP-4, with a 144 h-EC value of 201 mg·L.

Pearcey Talbot-like plasmon: a plasmonic bottle array generation scheme.

In this Letter, a surface wave, the Pearcey Talbot-like plasmon, which has the properties of self-imaging and multiple autofocusing, is presented as a novel, to the best of our knowledge, plasmonic bottle array generation scheme. With originality, the overall structure and the partial intensity of the plasmonic bottle array can be adjusted through the initial input, and modifying the Pearcey function enables the plasmonic bottle array to exhibit self-bending characteristics, which makes particle capture and manipulation easier and more flexible. A scheme to generate the plasmon is proposed, and we prove it by the finite-difference time-domain numerical simulations.

Vat Photopolymerization of Ceramic Parts: Effects of Carbon Fiber Additives on Microstructure and Mechanical Performance.

Vat photopolymerization (VPP), as an additive manufacturing (AM) technology, can conveniently produce ceramic parts with high resolution and excellent surface quality. However, due to the inherent brittleness and low toughness of ceramic materials, manufacturing defect-free ceramic parts remains a challenge. Many researchers have attempted to use carbon fibers as additives to enhance the performance of ceramic parts, but these methods are mostly applied in processes like fused deposition modeling and hot pressing.

Vat Photopolymerization of Sepiolite Fiber and 316L Stainless Steel-Reinforced Alumina with Functionally Graded Structures.

Alumina (AlO) ceramics are widely used in electronics, machinery, healthcare, and other fields due to their excellent hardness and high temperature stability. However, their high brittleness limits further applications, such as artificial ceramic implants and highly flexible protective gear. To address the limitations of single-phase toughening in AlO ceramics, some researchers have introduced a second phase to enhance these ceramics.

Electroacupuncture Promotes Liver Regeneration by Activating DMV Acetylcholinergic Neurons-Vagus-Macrophage Axis in 70% Partial Hepatectomy of Mice.

Lack of liver regenerative capacity is the primary cause of hepatic failure and even mortality in patients undergoing hepatectomy, with no effective intervention strategies currently available. Therefore, identifying efficacious interventions to enhance liver regeneration is pivotal for optimizing clinical outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated that vagotomy exerts an inhibitory effect on liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy, thereby substantiating the pivotal role played by the vagus nerve in the process of liver regeneration.

Osteopontin Depletion in Nonhematopoietic Cells Improves Outcomes in Septic Mice by Enhancing Antimicrobial Peptide Production.

Osteopontin (Opn) depletion can improve septic outcomes, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that nonhematopoietic but not hematopoietic Opn depletion improved septic outcomes. When compared with wild type mice, cohoused Opn-/- mice displayed enhanced production of antibacterial peptides (AMPs), decreased bacterial loads, and a distinct bacterial composition of gut microbiota.

t-SMILES: a fragment-based molecular representation framework for de novo ligand design.

Effective representation of molecules is a crucial factor affecting the performance of artificial intelligence models. This study introduces a flexible, fragment-based, multiscale molecular representation framework called t-SMILES (tree-based SMILES) with three code algorithms: TSSA (t-SMILES with shared atom), TSDY (t-SMILES with dummy atom but without ID) and TSID (t-SMILES with ID and dummy atom). It describes molecules using SMILES-type strings obtained by performing a breadth-first search on a full binary tree formed from a fragmented molecular graph.