A Composite Pulse Excitation Technique for Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Detection of Defects in Wood.

To overcome the problems of the low signal-to-noise ratio and poor performance of wood ultrasonic images caused by ring-down vibrations during the ultrasonic quality detection of wood, a composite pulse excitation technique using a wood air-coupled ultrasonic detection system is proposed. Through a mathematical analysis of the output of the ultrasonic transducer, the conditions necessary for implementing composite pulse excitation were analyzed and established, and its feasibility was verified through COMSOL simulations. Firstly, wood samples with knot and pit defects were used as experimental samples.

Hybridization chain reaction and magnetic beads-assisted highly sensitive detection of microRNA-21 with helical gold nanorods as dark-filed light scattering optical probe.

As a promising cancer biomarker, microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) has attracted great attention. However, the assay sensitivity of miRNA-21 is highly demanded due to its low abundance. In this work, a highly sensitive sensing platform for miRNA-21 detection was developed based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and magnetic beads (MBs)-assisted cascade signal amplification strategy with helical gold nanorods (HGNRs) as dark-field light scattering probes.

Identification of the Novel HLA-DQA1*05:01:16 Allele by Next Generation Sequencing in a Chinese Individual.

HLA-DQA1*05:01:16 differs from DQA1*05:01:01:01 by two nucleotide substitutions, one in exon 4 and one in intron 1.

The novel non-classical HLA-G*01:55 identified in a Chinese individual.

The non-classical HLA-G*01:55 allele differs from G*01:01:12 at one position in exon 4.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing and targeted metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing pulmonary infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology has been widely used to diagnose various infections. Based on the most common pathogen profiles, targeted mNGS (tNGS) using multiplex PCR has been developed to detect pathogens with predesigned primers in the panel, significantly improving sensitivity and reducing economic burden on patients. However, there are few studies on summarizing pathogen profiles of pulmonary infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients in Jilin Province of China on large scale.

MICB*002:06, a novel exonic variant of MICB (MHC class I chain-related gene B).

MICB*002:06 differs from MICB*002:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 33 in exon 1 from C to T.

3D Brain Vascular Niche Model Captures Invasive Behavior and Gene Signatures of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain cancer with no effective treatment; understanding how GBM cells respond to tumor microenvironment remains challenging as conventional cell cultures lack proper cytoarchitecture while animal models present complexity all at once. Developing a culture system to bridge the gap is thus crucial. Here, we employed a multicellular approach using human glia and vascular cells to optimize a 3-dimensional (3D) brain vascular niche model that enabled not only long-term culture of patient derived GBM cells but also recapitulation of key features of GBM heterogeneity, in particular invasion behavior and vascular association.

Regulation of cell distancing in peri-plaque glial nets by Plexin-B1 affects glial activation and amyloid compaction in Alzheimer's disease.

Communication between glial cells has a profound impact on the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We reveal here that reactive astrocytes control cell distancing in peri-plaque glial nets, which restricts microglial access to amyloid deposits. This process is governed by guidance receptor Plexin-B1 (PLXNB1), a network hub gene in individuals with late-onset AD that is upregulated in plaque-associated astrocytes.

[The Polymorphism Analysis of HLA Class II Alleles Based on Next-Generation Sequencing and Prevention Strategy for Allele Dropout].

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of next-generation sequencing technology (NGS) in detecting the polymorphisms of and alleles in randomly-selected unrelated healthy individuals from Shenzhen Han population, investigate the potential reason for allele dropout in routine NGS, and establish an internal quality control system.

Methods: NGS-based HLA class II genotyping was performed on 1 012 samples using the MiSeqDx platform. The suspected missed alleles indicated by the quality control software and homozygotes were confirmed by PCR-SSOP or PCR-SBT methods.

Combination of metagenomic next-generation sequencing and conventional tests unraveled pathogen profiles in infected patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Jilin Province of China.

Background: Infection is the main cause of death for patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, pathogen profiles still have not been reported in detail due to their heterogeneity caused by geographic region.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and summarize regional pathogen profiles of infected patients after HSCT.

Hypoxia drives shared and distinct transcriptomic changes in two invasive glioma stem cell lines.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant cancer of the central nervous system. Insufficient oxygenation (hypoxia) has been linked to GBM invasion and aggression, leading to poor patient outcomes. Hypoxia induces gene expression for cellular adaptations.

Catalytic hairpin assembly triggering amplified DNAzyme-feedback for sensitive detection of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.

Developing a simple, reliable, and sensitive hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic sensing platform is of great significance for diagnosing diseases and selecting appropriate antiviral treatments. Herein, a tandem nucleic acid amplification strategy for sensitive detection of HCV genotype 1b (HCV-1b) was developed by stringing the catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and the triggered DNAzyme amplifier. The hairpin reactants were initiated by the target to produce lots of triggering double-stranded DNA sequences which can efficiently activate the subsequent blocked DNAzyme.

Full-length sequence of the novel HLA-A*02:1103 allele by next generation sequencing in a Chinese individual.

HLA-A*02:1103 differs from HLA-A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 811 in exon 4 from G to A.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor restricts axon regeneration of DRG neurons in response to injury.

Injured neurons sense environmental cues to balance neural protection and axon regeneration, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we unveil aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated bHLH-PAS transcription factor, as a molecular sensor and key regulator of acute stress response at the expense of axon regeneration. We demonstrate responsiveness of DRG sensory neurons to AhR signaling, which functions to inhibit axon regeneration.

Circadian clock regulator Bmal1 gates axon regeneration via Tet3 epigenetics in mouse sensory neurons.

Axon regeneration of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons after peripheral axotomy involves reconfiguration of gene regulatory circuits to establish regenerative gene programs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, through an unbiased survey, we show that the binding motif of Bmal1, a central transcription factor of the circadian clock, is enriched in differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) of mouse DRG after peripheral lesion.

Hypoxic niches attract and sequester tumor-associated macrophages and cytotoxic T cells and reprogram them for immunosuppression.

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly lethal brain cancer, is notorious for immunosuppression, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we documented a temporospatial patterning of tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMs) corresponding to vascular changes during GBM progression. As tumor vessels transitioned from the initial dense regular network to later scant and engorged vasculature, TAMs shifted away from perivascular regions and trafficked to vascular-poor areas.

The novel HLA-B*13:179 variant detected by next generation sequencing in a Chinese individual.

HLA-B*13:179 differs from HLA-B*13:99 by one nucleotide substitution at position 829(A>G) in exon 4.

Characterization of a novel variant allele, HLA-B*56:04:05, identified in a Chinese Han individual.

The novel HLA-B *56:04:05 allele differs from its most closely related allele B*56:04:01:01 in exon 4.