Transcriptional signatures of secondary hair follicles during annual cashmere growth.

Cashmere grows from the secondary hair follicles (SHFs) that synchronously regenerate and degenerate in a circannual rhythm. Most studies examining factors related to cashmere growth have been performed on goat skin. However, the molecular properties and regulators preferentially expressed in SHFs are less clear.

Integrative transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses yields insights into muscle fiber type in cattle.

Muscle fiber is an important factor in beef quality. Here, we compared fast-type longissimus dorsi muscle and slow-type psoas major muscle from cattle using transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses. A total of 1717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 297 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) and 193 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were identified between LD and PM tissue, respectively.

Reproductive toxicity of bisphenol A and nitro-bisphenol A in male zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting pollutant that poses significant environmental challenges globally. However, the toxicity of nitro-BPA (NBPA), the primary transformation product of BPA, remains poorly understood. This study employs a multi-omics approach, integrating in silico and bioinformatics analyses, to investigate and compare the male reproductive toxicity of BPA and NBPA in male zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations.

Photothermal Upcycling of Waste Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics.

Upgrading the most difficult-to-recycle waste polyvinyl chloride remains a significant challenge due to the potential formation of highly toxic substances, such as polychlorinated biphenyls. Here, we introduce a paradigm shift with a mild photothermal dechlorination-carbonization process that converts waste polyvinyl chloride plastics into valuable carbon materials. Through detailed techno-economic assessment (TEA) process modeling, based on recycling 96,000 tons of plastics, we demonstrate that utilizing clean solar energy for photothermal conversion can save approximately 2.

The characteristics of formula milk marketing on health system: a qualitative study from Beijing and Jinan in China.

Background: Breastmilk is widely regarded as the healthiest choice for both infants and mothers due to its numerous advantages over formula, such as higher concentrations of essential nutrients and antibodies, easier digestion, and superior taste. The World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes was adopted over 40 years ago to mitigate the effects of infant formula marketing on a woman's decision to breastfeed. Yet, the commercial formula milk industry has continued to market their products aggressively and through an increasing variety of social media channels.

SLITRK2 as a prognostic and immunological biomarker in gastric cancer.

Background: SLIT and NTRK-like protein 2 (SLITRK2) encodes a transmembrane protein that regulates neurite outgrowth. Some studies have demonstrated that SLITRK2 overexpressed in glioma. But the expression pattern, prognostic value and immunologic function of SLITRK2 in tumors remains unknown.

EvoAI enables extreme compression and reconstruction of the protein sequence space.

Designing proteins with improved functions requires a deep understanding of how sequence and function are related, a vast space that is hard to explore. The ability to efficiently compress this space by identifying functionally important features is extremely valuable. Here we establish a method called EvoScan to comprehensively segment and scan the high-fitness sequence space to obtain anchor points that capture its essential features, especially in high dimensions.

Innovative theranostic hydrogels for targeted gastrointestinal cancer treatment.

Gastrointestinal tumors are the main causes of death among the patients. These tumors are mainly diagnosed in the advanced stages and their response to therapy is unfavorable. In spite of the development of conventional therapeutics including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the treatment of these tumors is still challenging.

Development of a 17-plex STR typing system for the identification of individuals and parentage testing in cattle.

Accurate identification of animals and the verification of their parentage can be used to pedigree populations and support selective breeding. The International Society for Animal Genetics recommended 16 cattle STRs for individual identification and parentage testing in cattle, but no multiplex STR typing system contains these 16 STRs. Here, we develop an efficient 17-plex multiplex typing system for cattle that contains the 16 ISAG recommend STRs and a sex-determining marker.

Comparative bibliometric analysis of artificial intelligence-assisted polyp diagnosis and AI-assisted digestive endoscopy: trends and growth in AI gastroenterology (2003-2023).

Introduction: Artificial intelligence is already widely utilized in gastroenterology. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the research hotspots and development trends within the field of AI in gastroenterology by employing bibliometric techniques to scrutinize geographical distribution, authorship, affiliated institutions, keyword usage, references, and other pertinent data contained within relevant publications.

Methods: This investigation compiled all pertinent publications related to artificial intelligence in the context of gastrointestinal polyps and digestive endoscopy from 2003 to 2023 within the Web of Science Core Collection database.

Erratum: Adipocytes fuel gastric cancer omental metastasis PITPNC1-mediated fatty acid metabolic reprogramming: Erratum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7150/thno.28219.

Microplastics occurrence and distribution characteristics in mulched agricultural soils of Guizhou province.

Microplastics pollution in agricultural soil is increasingly recognized, but the specific situation varies with geography, climate conditions, and farming practices. The karst landscape, a typical geomorphology in China, demands a deeper understanding of microplastics pollution in such areas. This research zeroes in on Guizhou, a province known for its karst formations, by collecting soil samples from the mulched cultivation layer in ten counties and cities.

Multiple environmental gradients shape the functional structure of macrobenthic communities across the Pacific Arctic shelf.

The Pacific Arctic shelf is undergoing significant environmental changes that are expected to impact the functioning of Arctic benthic ecosystem. By utilizing trait-based methods, we can better understand the effects of environmental changes on the functional structure of macrobenthic communities, offering a more detailed interpretation that complements traditional biodiversity assessments based on community structure. Using Biological Trait Analysis (BTA), we investigated shifts in the functional composition of macrobenthic communities across the subarctic to Arctic regions of the Pacific Arctic shelf, examining how these communities are responding to various environmental gradients.

Multigenerational effects of disperse blue 79 at environmentally relevant concentrations on zebrafish (Danio rerio) fecundity: An integrated approach.

The brominated azo dye (BAD) Disperse Blue (DB79) is a widespread environmental pollutant. The long-term toxicological effects of DB79 and the mechanisms thereof must be understood to allow assessment of the risks of DB79 pollution. A dual-omics approach employing in silico analysis, bioinformatics, and in vitro bioassays was used to investigate the transgenerational (F-F) toxicity of DB79 in zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations and identify molecular initiating events and key events associated with DB79-induced fertility disorders.

Obstructive Tracheobronchitis in Influenza-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

We report a bronchoscopic image of a 36-year-old with significant airway obstruction from obstructive tracheobronchitis secondary to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. It is rare to see such a severe form of obstructive tracheobronchitis, likely caused by the patient'sp immunocompromised status and rapid progression nature of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.

CRISPR perfect adaptation for robust control of cellular immune and apoptotic responses.

A central challenge in the quest for precise gene regulation within mammalian cells is the development of regulatory networks that can achieve perfect adaptation-where outputs consistently return to a set baseline post-stimulus. Here, we present such a system that leverages the CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and anti-CRISPR proteins as two antithetic elements to establish perfect adaptation in mammalian cells and dynamically regulate gene expression. We demonstrate that this system can maintain stable expression levels of target genes in the face of external perturbations, thus providing a robust platform for biological applications.

Effects of fatty acids and glycerides on the structure, cooking quality, and in vitro starch digestibility of extruded buckwheat noodles.

This study aimed to explore the effects of various lipids on the structure, cooking quality, and in vitro starch digestibility of extruded buckwheat noodles (EBNs) with and without 20% high-amylose corn starch (HACS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction revealed that lauric acid bound more strongly to starch than did stearic acid and oleic acid, and the binding capacity of fatty acids with starch was stronger than that of glycerides. The presence of HACS during extrusion facilitated increased formation of starch-lipid complexes.

The association between serum phosphate and length of hospital stay and all-cause mortality in adult patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Data is limited on the prevalence of hypophosphatemia in general hospitalized patients, and its association with length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality remained unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of admission phosphate abnormality and the association between serum phosphate level and length of hospital stay and all-cause mortality in adult patients.

Methods: This was a multi-center retrospective study based on real-world data.