An InDel variant in the promoter of the NAC transcription factor MdNAC18.1 plays a major role in apple fruit ripening.

A complex regulatory network governs fruit ripening, but natural variations and functional differentiation of fruit ripening genes remain largely unknown. Utilizing a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified the NAC family transcription factor MdNAC18.1, whose expression is closely associated with fruit ripening in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.

Insights on Fabrication Strategies and Energy Storage Mechanisms of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Cathodes for Aqueous Zn-Based Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-based batteries (AZBs) are gaining widespread attention owing to their intrinsic safety, relatively low electrode potential, and high theoretical capacity. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have convenient 2D ion diffusion channels, so they have been identified as promising host materials for AZBs, but face several key challenges such as the narrow interlayer spacing and the lack of in-deep understanding energy storage mechanisms. This review presents a comprehensive summary and discussion of the intrinsic structure, charge storage mechanisms, and key fabrication strategies of TMD-based cathodes for AZBs.

Rapid Development of High Concentration Protein Formulation Driven by High-Throughput Technologies.

Background: High concentration protein formulation (HCPF) development needs to balance protein stability attributes such as conformational/colloidal stability, chemical stability, and solution properties such as viscosity and osmolality.

Methodology: A three-phase design is established in this work. In Phase 1, conformational and colloidal stability are measured by 384-well-based high-throughput (HT) biophysical screening while viscosity reduction screening is performed with HT viscosity screening.

A Global Collaborative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity Across 15 Laboratories.

Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

Daily activities change is linked to acute angle closure occurrence in COVID-19 co-infected patients.

Objectives: To analyze the influence of daily activity-related factors associated with COVID-19 infection on the occurrence of acute angle closure (AAC).

Methods: A multicenter hospital-based study was conducted at 23 ophthalmic centers in 17 provincial-level regions across China to recruit patients with confirmed AAC during the post-lockdown time of COVID-19 (P-TOC) from Dec 7, 2022, to Jan 17, 2023, and three lockdown time of COVID-19 (TOC) periods, which included the TOC-2022 (Sep 7, 2022 - Dec 6, 2022), TOC-2021(Sep 7, 2021 - Jan 6, 2022) and TOC-2020 (Sep 7, 2020 - Jan 6, 2021). Patient information, including demographic, a questionnaire on daily activity changes during the AAC period, COVID-19 history, and eye examination results, was collected.

Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Sawtooth Waves During Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse and obstruction, leading to reduced or absent breathing during sleep, especially rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and continuous positive airway pressure treatment (CPAP) is often used for treatment of OSA. Sawtooth waves (STWs) are a characteristic of REM sleep.

Objective: To examine effects of CPAP treatment on STWs during REM sleep in the OSA patients.

A Linear Rehabilitative Motion Planning Method with a Multi-Posture Lower-Limb Rehabilitation Robot.

In rehabilitation, physicians plan lower-limb exercises via linear guidance. Ensuring efficacy and safety, they design patient-specific paths, carefully plotting smooth trajectories to minimize jerks. Replicating their precision in robotics is a major challenge.

The Glutamate-Serine-Glycine Index as a Biomarker to Monitor the Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objective: Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery.

Exploring the Impact of Niacin Intake on Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Comprehensive Analysis Using NHANES Data (2003-2018).

Background: The relationship between cardiovascular outcomes and niacin consumption levels remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the correlation between niacin intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, as well as the mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Methods: From 2003 to 2018, we continually investigated updated information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation for organic decontamination by Ni-doped δ-FeOOH under visible-light assistance.

There is an urgent need for efficient and cost-effective methods without secondary pollution to decompose pollutants from contaminated water in the face of severe water pollution caused by the extensive use of synthetic dye in industry. In this work, Ni-doped δ-FeOOH was synthesized using co-precipitation method at room temperature and was applied as the catalyst in a visible-light-assisted peroxymonosulfate system for assessing its catalytic performance in RhB removal. An optimum RhB degradation of 99.

Multimodal MRI and H-MRS for Preoperative Stratification of High-Risk Molecular Subtype in Adult-Type Diffuse Gliomas.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) genes are critical molecular markers in determining treatment options and predicting the prognosis of adult-type diffuse gliomas. : this study aimed to investigate whether multimodal MRI enables the differentiation of genotypes in adult-type diffuse gliomas. : a total of 116 adult-type diffuse glioma patients (61 males, 51.

Scalable Slot-Die Coating of Passivation Layers for Improved Performance of Perovskite Solar Cell Modules.

Upscaling the perovskite solar cell (PSC) while avoiding losses in the power conversion efficiency presents a substantial challenge, especially when transitioning from ≤1 cm cells to ≥10 cm modules. In addition to the fabrication of key functional layers, scalable technologies for surface passivation, considered indispensable for achieving high-performance PSCs, are urgently required. However, studies on this topic remain limited.

TRPM8 Mutations Associated With Persistent Pain After Surgical Injury of Corneal Trigeminal Axons.

Background And Objectives: Despite extensive efforts, the mechanisms underlying pain after axonal injury remain incompletely understood. Pain following corneal refractive surgery offers a valuable human model for investigating trigeminal axonal injury because laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) severs axons of trigeminal ganglion neurons innervating the cornea. While the majority of patients are pain-free shortly after surgery, a minority endure persistent postoperative ocular pain.

Evaluating Diagnostic Concordance in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Academic Glaucoma Subspecialists.

The study aimed to evaluate the interobserver agreement among glaucoma subspecialists in diagnosing glaucoma and to explore the causes of diagnostic discrepancies. Three experienced glaucoma subspecialists independently assessed frequency domain optical coherence tomography, fundus color photographs, and static perimetry results from 464 eyes of 275 participants, adhering to unified glaucoma diagnostic criteria. All data were collected from the Wenzhou Glaucoma Progression Study between August 2014 and June 2021.

Chiral Nematic Graphene Films with a mesoporous Structure.

Ordering a crucial material like pure-graphene into the chiral nematic structure can potentially revolutionize the fields of photonics, chiral separation, and energy storage. However, the controlled fabrication of highly ordered graphene films with a long-range chiral nematic mesoporous structure is very challenging and as such, has not been achieved. Here, a chiral-template-directed chemical vapor deposition growth strategy is presented for the precise fabrication of mesoporous chiral nematic graphene films by using nanocrystalline cellulose as templates.

Novel combined pharmacological strategy to alleviate acute phase response following zoledronic acid treatment.

Unlabelled: Brief rationale: Zoledronic acid treatment against osteoporosis is limited by APR. Main result: Combination therapy (hydrocortisone plus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, and prednisolone) reduced intolerable APR levels and provided complete symptom relief in most patients. Significance of the paper: Combination therapy can enhance patient outcomes in osteoporosis management.

Analysis of poor work postures during morning care operations of intensive care unit nurses: a field research.

Background: Poor working postures in morning care operations contribute significantly to work-related muscle fatigue and low back pain among ICU (Intensive Care Unit, ICU) nurses. However,there are few field studies on the relationship between Poor working postures and work-related muscle fatigue, low back pain among ICU nurses.

Objective: This study aims to assess the frequency and degree of posture hazards associated with poor working postures during morning care operations of ICU nurses.

Network Analysis of Women in Otolaryngology and Demographic Trends.

Objective: This study analyzes gender disparities between men and women otolaryngology faculty in the top 20 otolaryngology departments ranked by research output and discusses the implications of these disparities.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of all articles published by faculty from January 2020 to December 2021 at the top 20 otolaryngology departments as ranked by Doximity's 2022 research output report. Integrated data from Web of Science, faculty directories, and NIH RePORT were used to collect data on faculty.

System analysis based on T-cell exhaustion-related genes identifies PTPRT as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

Multiple investigations have demonstrated the crucial involvement of T-cell exhaustion (TEX) in anti-tumor immune response and their strong correlation with prognosis. This study aimed at creating a strong signature using TEX for gastric cancer through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. We utilized data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases to retrieve RNA-seq data from patients with stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD).

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Asians: a retrospective dual-center study.

Background: There have been limited data on idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in Asians and there remain uncertainties whether a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of 250 mm CSF is an optimum diagnostic cutoff. The aims of the present study included (1) characterization of IIH patients in Taiwan, (2) comparisons among different diagnostic criteria for IIH, and (3) comparisons between patients with CSF pressures of > 250 and 200-250 mm CSF.

Methods: This retrospective study involved IIH patients based on the modified Dandy criteria from two tertiary medical centers in Taiwan.

NT-pro-BNP Level is Related to Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism.

Aims: To assess the relationship between the left ventricular remodeling parameters of cardiac magnetic resonance and NT-pro-BNP in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA).

Methods: Seventy-four PA and 39 essential hypertension patients were prospectively recruited and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance. Plasma NT-pro-BNP was measured before patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance.

Geochronology, geochemistry, and geological significance of early Jurassic intrusive rocks in the Lesser Xing'an- Zhangguangcai Range, northeast China.

The Lesser Xing'an-Zhangguangcai Range of northeast China is located in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), which records intense magmatism during the Mesozoic. The petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of the Early Jurassic intrusive rocks in this region are unclear. In this paper, we present new zircon U-Pb age and whole-rock geochemical data for these intrusive rocks to investigate their origins and tectonic setting.

Stretchable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Liquid Metal with Varying Phases.

Stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a new class of energy-harvesting devices for powering wearable devices. However, most of them are associated with poor stretchability, low stability, and limited substrate material choices. This work presents the design and demonstration of highly stretchable and stable TENGs based on liquid metalel ectrodes with different phases.