High-resolution 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and post-processing for 3-dimensional reconstruction of the membranous labyrinth in healthy adults.

The membranous labyrinth of the inner ear is a complex network of endolymph-filled structures critical for auditory and vestibular function. Pathological distension of these spaces, termed endolymphatic hydrops (EH), is associated with disorders such as Ménière's disease (MD). However, diagnosing inner ear pathologies remains challenging due to limitations in traditional imaging techniques, which lack the spatial resolution required to assess these intricate structures.

Water Soluble Thermoresponsive Single-Chain Cyclized/Knotted Polymers from Intramolecular Cyclization Dominated Homopolymerization of PEG Diacrylate.

A series of water-soluble, PEG-based single-chain cyclized/knotted polymers are successfully synthesized through the homopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) (M  = 575 and 700 g mol, respectively) via enhanced intramolecular cyclization. The homopolymerization of the diacrylate macromers first proceeds through linear propagation, followed by self-cyclization. Under high monomer-to-initiator ratios (e.

Unsupervised Non-Rigid Human Point Cloud Registration Based on Deformation Field Fusion.

Human point cloud registration is a critical problem in the fields of computer vision and computer graphics applications. Currently, due to the presence of joint hinges and limb occlusions in human point clouds, point cloud alignment is challenging. To address these two limits, this paper proposes an unsupervised non-rigid human point cloud registration method based on deformation field fusion.

Size Effect of Surface Defects Dictates Reactivity for Nitrogen Electrofixation.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) offers a sustainable pathway for ammonia (NH3) production. Defect engineering has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance eNRR activity; however, it can concurrently amplify the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), posing challenges for achieving high selectivity. Herein, VOx with systematically tuned defect sizes was engineered to establish a structure-activity relationship between defect size and eNRR performance.

Highly branched poly β-amino ester/CpG-depleted plasmid nanoparticles for non-viral gene therapy in lung cystic fibrosis disease.

Lung cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal inherited disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator () gene, leading to a dysfunctional CFTR protein. Gene therapy offers promise for the treatment of lung CF. However, the development and clinical application of CF gene therapy have long been hampered by the absence of safe and highly efficient delivery vectors.

Second metatarsophalangeal joint dislocation in hallux valgus: a radiographic study using a two-dimensional coordinate system.

Background: Hallux valgus (HV) poses additional challenges when accompanied by second metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint dislocation, often requiring complex surgical intervention. This study aimed to analyze HV feet with second MTP joint dislocation using a 2-dimensional coordinate system to better understand the anatomical structure of this condition.

Methods: Weightbearing foot radiographs of 49 HV feet with second MTP joint dislocation (group D), 68 HV feet without second MTP joint dislocation (group W), and 54 control feet (group N) were analyzed.

Leptin Enhances M1 Macrophage Polarization and Impairs Tendon-Bone Healing in Rotator Cuff Repair: A Rat Model.

Background: Rotator cuff tears are common, affecting more than 60% of individuals older than 80 years, and they have been implicated in 70% of patients with shoulder pain. M1 polarization-related inflammation has been reported to be associated with poor healing outcomes of rotator cuff injury, and leptin, an adipokine, has been reported to be a potential activator of inflammation. However, whether leptin affects rotator cuff repair remains unknown.

Assessing Glenoid Defects in Anterior Shoulder Instability: Comparison of a Simple Linear Formula Method With Traditional Methods Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

Background: Anterior glenoid bone defects significantly influence surgical outcomes in shoulder instability cases. Various measurement methods based on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) have been developed. Recently, the simple linear formula method, which establishes a correlation between glenoid height and width, has emerged as a promising technique.

Effects of continuous cropping and application of bio-organic fertilizer on photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation and distribution of sugar beet.

One of the major problem in the cultivation of sugar beets is continuous cropping obstacle in China. In order to evaluate the effects of continuous cropping year on the photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation, and distribution of sugar beet, this study was conducted in the 2020-2021 crop season at the Agriculture and Forestry Sciences of Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. A split plot system arrangement with three replications was set up to carry out the field testing.

Spatiotemporal distributions, co-occurrence networks, and assembly mechanisms of the bacterial community in sediments of the Yangtze River: comprehensive insights into abundant and rare taxa.

Sediments are key reservoirs for rare bacterial biospheres that provide broad ecological services and resilience in riverine ecosystems. Compared with planktons, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the ecological differences between abundant and rare taxa in benthic bacteria along a large river. Here, we offer comprehensive insights into the spatiotemporal distributions, co-occurrence networks, and assembly processes of three divided categories namely always rare taxa (ART), conditionally rare taxa (CRT), and conditionally rare and abundant taxa (CRAT) in sediments covering a distance of 4,300 km in the Yangtze River.

Medial opening low tibial osteotomy shifts the load laterally not only at the ankle joint but also at the knee joint.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of medial opening low tibial osteotomy (LTO) on lower limb alignment, including the knee joint, 1 year after low tibial osteotomy.

Methods: This study included 20 legs of 20 patients (mean age, 66.8 ± 5.

Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 2 May Be Associated With Decreased M1 Macrophage Production and Increased Histologic and Biomechanical Tendon-Bone Healing Properties in a Rat Rotator Cuff Tear Model.

Purpose: To explore the potential of growth hormone-releasing peptide 2 (GHRP-2) for tendon-bone healing in a rat rotator cuff tear (RCT) model.

Methods: The impact of GHRP-2 on M1 macrophage polarization in vitro was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. GHRP-2 was then applied in a rat RCT model, and the healing of the tendon-bone interface was systemically evaluated by histologic staining, radiologic assessments, gait analysis, and biomechanical tests.

Operando elucidation of hydrogen production mechanisms on sub-nanometric high-entropy metallenes.

Precise morphological control and identification of structure-property relationships pose formidable challenges for high-entropy alloys, severely limiting their rational design and application in multistep and tandem reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of sub-nanometric high-entropy metallenes with up to eight metallic elements via a one-pot wet-chemical approach. The PdRhMoFeMn high-entropy metallenes exhibit high electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performances with 6, 23, and 26 mV overpotentials at -10 mA cm in acidic, neutral, and alkaline media, respectively, and high stability.

Direct parallel electrosynthesis of high-value chemicals from atmospheric components on symmetry-breaking indium sites.

To tackle significant environmental and energy challenges from increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, we propose a method that synergistically combines cost-efficient integrated systems with parallel catalysis to produce high-value chemicals from CO, NO, and other gases. We employed asymmetrically stretched InOS with symmetry-breaking indium sites as a highly efficient trifunctional catalysts for NO reduction, CO reduction, and O reduction. Mechanistic studies reveal that the symmetry-breaking at indium sites substantially improves d-band center interactions and adsorption of intermediates, thereby enhancing trifunctional catalytic activity.

Heat shock protein 27 downregulation attenuates isoprenaline-induced myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction by modulating the endothelial-mesenchymal transition.

Heart failure (HF), an end-stage clinical syndrome secondary to cardiac impairment, significantly affects patients' quality of life and long-term prognosis. Myocardial fibrosis leads to systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and promotes the progression of HF. Several studies involving the modulation of myocardial fibrosis have been conducted in an effort to improve cardiac function.

Impact of exercise intervention with or without curcumin supplementation on body fat composition, glucose, and lipid metabolism in obese adults: A meta-analysis.

This study was carried out to systematically review and evaluate the influence of exercise with and without curcumin on body fat composition, glucose, and lipid metabolism in obese adults. Search for eligible studies through four databases, and then proceed with screening. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) obese adults; (2) randomized controlled trial (RCT); (3) classified the exercise intervention with curcumin supplementation as the exercise with curcumin (CU) group and without curcumin supplementation as the exercise without curcumin (EX) group; (4) Conducted pre- and post-training assessments, which include body fat composition, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters.

Antibiotic biotransformation potential of biofilms in streams receiving treated wastewater effluent: Biodegradation mechanism and bacterial community structure.

Antibiotics are a widely distributed and effective antibacterial agents. Human medical treatment and livestock aquaculture are major sources of antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems, potentially damaging the biofilms that are the foundation of stream food webs. In this study, we conducted antibiotic biotransformation experiments using biofilms cultured in streams upstream and downstream of a wastewater treatment plant outlet to distinguish different fate processes of antibiotics in biofilms.

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A 3-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Although there has been some amount of research into the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, most studies have not fully demonstrated its benefits. In addition, PRP formulations containing different concentrations of leukocytes have not been directly compared for rotator cuff repair.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this article was to determine whether arthroscopic rotator cuff repair combined with PRP injection, either leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) or leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP), is superior to the control.

Effects of different ratios of nitrogen base fertilizer to topdressing on soil nitrogen form and enzyme activity in sugar beet under shallow drip irrigation.

Sugar beets account for 30% of global sugar production each year, and their byproducts are an important source of bioethanol and animal feed. Sugar beet is an important cash crop in Inner Mongolia, China. To achieve high yields and sugar content, it is essential to supply nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the growth characteristics of sugar beet, thereby enhancing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer utilization.

Neuregulin-1 reduces Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by upregulating YAP to inhibit senescence.

The cardiotoxicity of Doxorubicin (Dox) limits its clinical application, creating an urgent need to investigate its underlying mechanism and develop effective therapies. Senescence plays an important role in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Recently, Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) was found to regulate Yes-associated protein (YAP), which was reported to inhibit senescence, suggesting that NRG1 might be used to treat DIC by inhibiting senescence through YAP regulation.

Vitamin K2 alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis via inflammatory responses, gut barrier integrity, and the gut microbiota in mice.

Vitamin K2 (VK2) has been shown to have potential benefits in improving intestinal integrity, but its potential and mechanisms for alleviating intestinal inflammation are still unclear. The present results showed that VK2 supplementation significantly alleviated the symptoms of colitis and maintained the intestinal barrier integrity. In addition, VK2 significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while up-regulated the mRNA expression level of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10.

Rapid imaging of intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) entering ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the choroid plexus in healthy human subjects.

Background: Pathways for intravenously administered gadolinium-based-contrast-agents (GBCAs) entering cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) circulation in the human brain are not well-understood. The blood-CSF-barrier (BCSFB) in choroid-plexus (CP) has long been hypothesized to be a main entry-point for intravenous-GBCAs into CSF. Most existing studies on this topic were performed in animals and human patients with various diseases.

Imaging arterial and venous vessels using Iron Dextran enhanced multi-echo 3D gradient echo MRI at 7T.

Iron Dextran is a widely used iron oxide compound to treat iron-deficiency anemia patients in the clinic. Similar to other iron oxide compounds such as Ferumoxytol, it can also be used off-label as an intravascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent due to its strong iron-induced T2 and T2* shortening effects. In this study, we seek to evaluate the feasibility of using Iron Dextran enhanced multi-echo susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) MRI at 7T to image arterial and venous blood vessels in the human brain.