Investigating causal associations between pork intake and multiple sclerosis using Mendelian randomization: Insights from large-scale GWAS data in European populations.

Background: Observational studies propose associations between dietary factors and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the causal nature of these relationships remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether nutritional factors causally influence MS risk through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Short-term efficacy and safety of upadacitinib combined with 308 excimer light versus upadacitinib alone and 308 excimer light alone in patients with progressing facial vitiligo.

Patients with progressing facial vitiligo who had been treated with upadacitinib, 308 nm excimer light and upadacitinib combined with 308 nm excimer light were selected for retrospective analysis and comparison of their efficacy and safety. Efficacy was evaluated using the Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 20 weeks. The progression of skin lesions was monitored through reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), while adverse reactions were documented.

Feature enhanced cascading attention network for lightweight image super-resolution.

Attention mechanisms have been introduced to exploit deep-level information for image restoration by capturing feature dependencies. However, existing attention mechanisms often have limited perceptual capabilities and are incompatible with low-power devices due to computational resource constraints. Therefore, we propose a feature enhanced cascading attention network (FECAN) that introduces a novel feature enhanced cascading attention (FECA) mechanism, consisting of enhanced shuffle attention (ESA) and multi-scale large separable kernel attention (MLSKA).

Integrated Decision and Motion Planning for Highways with Multiple Objects Using a Naturalistic Driving Study.

With the rise in the intelligence levels of automated vehicles, increasing numbers of modules of automated driving systems are being combined to achieve better performance and adaptability by reducing information loss. In this study, an integrated decision and motion planning system is designed for multi-object highways. A two-layer structure is presented to decouple the influence of the traffic environment and the dynamic control of ego vehicles using the cognitive safety area, the size of which is determined by naturalistic driving behavior.

High-sensitivity, high-speed, broadband mid-infrared photodetector enabled by a van der Waals heterostructure with a vertical transport channel.

The realization of room-temperature-operated, high-performance, miniaturized, low-power-consumption and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible mid-infrared photodetectors is highly desirable for next-generation optoelectronic applications, but has thus far remained an outstanding challenge using conventional materials. Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures provide an alternative path toward this goal, yet despite continued efforts, their performance has not matched that of low-temperature HgCdTe photodetectors. Here, we push the detectivity and response speed of a 2D heterostructure-based mid-infrared photodetector to be comparable to, and even superior to, commercial cooled HgCdTe photodetectors by utilizing a vertical transport channel (graphene/black phosphorus/molybdenum disulfide/graphene).

Proline Improves Pullulan Biosynthesis Under High Sugar Stress Condition.

Pullulan is an extracellular polysaccharide produced via the fermentation of . However, high sugar concentrations and hyperosmotic stress limit pullulan biosynthesis during the fermentation process. Therefore, we investigated the effects of proline supplementation on .

Mapping the current trends and hotspots of extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer's disease: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have garnered significant attention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research over the past decade, largely due to their potential in diagnostics and therapeutics. Although the investigation of EVs in AD is a relatively recent endeavor, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this rapidly growing field has yet to be conducted.

Methods: This study aims to elucidate and synthesize the relationship between EVs and AD, offering critical insights to guide future research and expand therapeutic possibilities.

D-ribose-5-phosphate inactivates YAP and functions as a metabolic checkpoint.

Background: Targeting glucose uptake by glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitors is a therapeutic opportunity, but efforts on GLUT inhibitors have not been successful in the clinic and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We aim to identify the key metabolic changes responsible for cancer cell survival from glucose limitation and elucidate its mechanism.

Methods: The level of phosphorylated YAP was analyzed with Western blotting and Phos-tag immunoblotting.

Conference 2024: Building an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health.

The Conference 2024 provides a platform to promote the development of an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health. The four key components - Technology, Research (Biology), Academic journals, and Social media - form a synergistic ecosystem. Advanced technologies drive biological research, which generates novel insights that are disseminated through academic journals.

Health Benefits of Monk Fruit under Traditional Dietary Patterns: Perspective on Immunity and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Functions.

Monk fruit is the mature fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey (SG), which contains mogrosides and various nutrients with diverse benefits as a traditional edible herb. The immunomodulatory effects of the ingredients of monk fruit in daily diets are poorly understood.

The mechanism of discriminative aminoacylation by isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase based on wobble nucleotide recognition.

The faithful charging of amino acids to cognate tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) determines the fidelity of protein translation. Isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS) distinguishes tRNA from tRNA solely based on the nucleotide at wobble position (N34), and a single substitution at N34 could exchange the aminoacylation specificity between two tRNAs. Here, we report the structural and biochemical mechanism of N34 recognition-based tRNA discrimination by Saccharomyces cerevisiae IleRS (ScIleRS).

Individual and joint associations between sleep duration and physical activity with cognitive function: A longitudinal analysis among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Introduction: Studies using cross-sectional data or with a short follow-up period fail to distinguish whether the associations between sleep duration and physical activity with cognitive function result from reverse causation.

Methods: The longitudinal study examined the individual and joint associations, with specific temporality, between sleep duration and physical activity with cognitive function, using time-lagged linear mixed models and generalized additive mixed models.

Results: A total of 14,694 participants aged ≥ 50 years were included, with an average lagged time of 4.

Assessment of Relationship Between Dietary Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Behavioral Factors, Physical Measurement, and Risk of Migraine: A Univariable and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Study.

Objective: Although numerous studies have identified associations between socioeconomic, behavioral, dietary, and physical factors and migraine, the causal nature of these relationships has yet to be adequately established.

Materials And Methods: We utilized 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to elucidate the causal associations of 28 distinct traits for socioeconomic factors, behavioral factors, dietary factors, and physical measurement with migraine. In the univariable MR analysis, the inverse-variance weighted method served as the primary analytic approach.

Effects of surfactin stress on gene expression and pathological changes in Spodoptera litura.

Spodoptera litura (S. litura) is a polyphagous pest of the family Lepidoptera, which causes damage and yields losses to many crops. The long-term use of chemical pesticides for control not only seriously threatens environmental health, but also causes S.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition over environmental surfaces: Insights from mercury isotope fractionation.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition is a vital process that significantly affects the global distribution and cycling of Hg. However, significant knowledge gaps and challenges remain in understanding atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and its subsequent post-deposition processes. Hg isotope fractionation has emerged as the most powerful tool for evaluating the impact of atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and unraveling key processes associated with it.

The Association Between Dietary Iron, the SNP of the JAZF1 rs864745, and Glucose Metabolism in a Chinese Population.

Objectives: Dysglycemia is prevalent in China; previous studies had shown that dietary iron was associated with glucose metabolism, and rs864745 was also related to it. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between dietary iron, the SNP of the rs864745, and glucose metabolism among Chinese adults.

Methods: 3298 participants (1584 males and 1714 females) were recruited and underwent physical measurements, laboratory tests, and genotyping.

Postbiotics From Lactobacillus Johnsonii Activates Gut Innate Immunity to Mitigate Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Prolonged alcohol consumption disrupts the gut microbiota and the immune system, contributing to the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Probiotic-postbiotic intervention strategies can effectively relieve ALD by maintaining gut homeostasis. Herein, the efficacy of heat-killed Lactobacillus johnsonii (HKLJ) in mitigating alcoholic liver damage is demonstrated in mouse models of ALD.

Characterization of intensity correlation via single-photon detection in quantum key distribution.

One of the most significant vulnerabilities in the source unit of quantum key distribution (QKD) is the correlation between quantum states after modulation, which shall be characterized and evaluated for its practical security performance. In this work, we propose a methodology to characterize the intensity correlation according to the single-photon detection results in the measurement unit without modifying the configuration of the QKD system. In contrast to the previous research that employs extra classical optical detector to measure the correlation, our method can directly analyse the detection data generated during the raw key exchange, enabling to characterize the feature of correlation in real-time system operation.

Numerical study of rainfall percolation through a novel capillary barrier cover with a zipper-shape interface between fine- and coarse-grained soils.

The huge amount of leachate generated in landfills causes persistent pollution to soil and groundwater. Landfill cover is vital for reducing leachate generation through reducing rainwater infiltration. Yet, the traditional cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) is only applicable in reducing rainwater percolation at its base in arid or semi-arid region.

Toxic effects of DEHP and MEHP on gut-liver axis in rats via intestinal flora and metabolomics.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an environmental endocrine disruptor and commonly used as a plasticizer. Exposure to DEHP and its active metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) can lead to adverse health consequences; however, the toxic mechanism is remains unclear. In this research, male and female rats were exposed to DEHP and MEHP by oral gavage for 60 consecutive days.

Simultaneous detection and differentiation of classical Muscovy duck reovirus and goose-origin Muscovy duck reovirus by RT-qPCR assay with high-resolution melting analysis.

Introduction: Classical Muscovy duck reovirus (C-MDRV) and goose-origin Muscovy duck reovirus (Go-MDRV) infections cause "Liver white-spots disease" in Muscovy duckling and gosling. It is difficult to differentiate the infections caused by C-MDRV and Go-MDRV using conventional serological methods.

Methods: Specific primers were designed and synthesized according to σNS and λA nucleotide sequences of C-MDRV and Go-MDRV, respectively.