Electro-Conductive Modification of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane for Electrified Wastewater Treatment: Optimization and Antifouling Performance.

Electro-conductive membranes coupled with a low-voltage electric field can enhance pollutant removal and mitigate membrane fouling, demonstrating significant potential for electrified wastewater treatment. However, efficient fabrication of conductive membranes poses challenges. An in situ oxidative polymerization approach was applied to prepare PVDF-based conductive membranes (PVDF-CMs) and response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to optimize modification conditions enhancing membrane performance.

The potential of MRI radiomics based on extrapulmonary metastases in predicting EGFR mutations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations can lead to distant metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). When the primary NSCLC lesions are removed or cannot be sampled, the EGFR status of the metastatic lesions are the potential alternative method to reflect EGFR mutations in the primary NSCLC lesions. This review aimed to evaluate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics based on extrapulmonary metastases in predicting EGFR mutations through a systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Identification of alternative splicing regulatory patterns and characteristic splicing factors in heart failure using RNA-seq data and machine learning.

Heart failure (HF) represents the advanced stage of several cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to build an alternative splicing regulatory network and identify potential splicing factors involved in HF utilizing RNA-seq data and machine learning algorithms. We performed bioinformatics analysis on RNA-seq datasets containing samples from HF patients and normal individuals to obtain gene expression matrices and identify differently regulated alternative splicing events in HF.

Comprehensive Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Predicting PD-L1 Expression and EGFR Mutations in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the methodological quality and the predictive performance of artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) mutations in lung cancer (LC) based on systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: AI studies based on PET/CT, CT, PET, and immunohistochemistry (IHC)-whole-slide image (WSI) were included to predict PD-L1 expression or EGFR mutations in LC. The modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality.

Ultrasound-based deep learning radiomics nomogram for differentiating mass mastitis from invasive breast cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the potential value of the deep learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) based on ultrasound to differentiate mass mastitis (MM) and invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: 50 cases of MM and 180 cases of IBC with ultrasound Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 4 category were recruited (training cohort, n = 161, validation cohort, n = 69). Based on PyRadiomics and ResNet50 extractors, radiomics and deep learning features were extracted, respectively.

Ablation of Fatty Acid Transport Protein-4 Enhances Cone Survival, M-cone Vision, and Synthesis of Cone-Tropic 9--Retinal in 12 Mouse Model of Leber Congenital Amaurosis.

The canonical visual cycle employing RPE65 as the retinoid isomerase regenerates 11--retinal to support both rod- and cone-mediated vision. Mutations of are associated with Leber congenital amaurosis that results in rod and cone photoreceptor degeneration and vision loss of affected patients at an early age. Dark-reared mouse has been known to form isorhodopsin that employs 9--retinal as the photosensitive chromophore.

Abnormal expression of PRKAG2-AS1 in endothelial cells induced inflammation and apoptosis by reducing PRKAG2 expression.

PRKAG2 is required for the maintenance of cellular energy balance. PRKAG2-AS1, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), was found within the promoter region of PRKAG2. Despite the extensive expression of PRKAG2-AS1 in endothelial cells, the precise function and mechanism of this gene in endothelial cells have yet to be elucidated.

Comparison of the structure-function of five newly members of the calcin family.

Calcins are a group of scorpion toxin peptides specifically binding to ryanodine receptors (RyRs) with high affinity, and have the ability to activate and stabilize RyR in a long-lasting subconductance state. Five newly calcins synthesized compounds exhibit typical structural characteristics of a specific family through chemical synthesis and virtual analysis. As the calcins from the same species, Petersiicalcin1 and Petersiicalcin2, Jendekicalcin2 and Jendekicalcin3, have only one residue difference.

Causal relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus and primary liver cirrhosis based on two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization and transcriptome overlap analysis.

Background: Overlapping cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are rare and have not yet been fully proven to be accidental or have a common genetic basis.

Methods: Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was applied to explore the potential causal relationship between SLE and PBC. The heterogeneity and reliability of MR analysis were evaluated through Cochran's Q-test and sensitivity test, respectively.

Abnormal expression of PRKAG2-AS results in dysfunction of cardiomyocytes through regulating PRKAG2 transcription by interacting with PPARG.

The role of PRKAG2 in the maintenance of heart function is well established, but little is known about how PRKAG2 is regulated in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of the lncRNA PRKAG2-AS, which is present at the PRKAG2 promoter, in the regulation of PRKAG2 expression. PRKAG2-AS expression was predominantly nuclear, as determined by RNA nucleoplasmic separation and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Compensation Method for the Nonlinear Characteristics with Starting Error of a Piezoelectric Actuator in Open-Loop Controls Based on the DSPI Model.

Nanopositioning stages with piezoelectric actuators have been widely used in fields such as precision mechanical engineering, but the nonlinear start-up accuracy problem under open-loop control has still not been solved, and more errors will accumulate, especially under open-loop control. This paper first analyzes the causes of the starting errors from both the physical properties of materials and voltages: the starting errors are affected by the material properties of piezoelectric ceramics, and the magnitude of the voltage determines the magnitude of the starting errors. Then, this paper adopts an image-only model of the data separated by a Prandtl-Ishlinskii model (DSPI) based on the classical Prandtl-Ishlinskii model (CPI), which can improve the positioning accuracy of the nanopositioning platform after separating the data based on the start-up error characteristics.

Cryo-EM analysis of scorpion toxin binding to Ryanodine Receptors reveals subconductance that is abolished by PKA phosphorylation.

Calcins are peptides from scorpion venom with the unique ability to cross cell membranes, gaining access to intracellular targets. Ryanodine Receptors (RyR) are intracellular ion channels that control release of Ca from the endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcins target RyRs and induce long-lived subconductance states, whereby single-channel currents are decreased.

Downregulation of NUP93 aggravates hypoxia-induced death of cardiomyocytes in vitro through abnormal regulation of gene transcription.

Nuclear pore complex in the nuclear envelope plays an important role in controlling the transportation of RNAs, proteins and other macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The relationship between abnormal expression of nucleoporins and cardiovascular diseases is unclear. In this study we investigated how myocardial infarction affected the expression and function of nucleoporins in cardiomyocytes.

Rapamycin Inhibits Light-Induced Necrosome Activation Occurring in Wild-Type, but not RPE65-Null, Mouse Retina.

Purpose: Both photodamage and aberrant visual cycle contribute to disease progress of many retinal degenerative disorders, whereas the signaling pathways causing photoreceptor death remain unclear. Here we investigated the effects of intense photo-stress on (1) necrosome activation in wild-type and RPE65-null mice, (2) interaction of p62/Sequestosome-1 with the necrosome proteins, and (3) the effects of rapamycin on photodamage-induced necrosome activation and retinal degeneration in wild-type mice.

Methods: Dark-adapted rd12 mice and 129S2/Sv mice with or without rapamycin treatment were exposed to 15,000 lux light for different times.

Combined effects of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol on oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity, apoptosis, and inflammation in zebrafish embryos.

Co-existence of mycotoxins may pose a greater risk. It remains less known about the toxic effect of co-exposure of zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) on aquatic life. In the present study, the toxic effects of the combine treatment of ZEA and DON on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were investigated.

Cardiovascular-specific PSEN1 deletion leads to abnormalities in calcium homeostasis.

Mutations of PSEN1 have been reported in dilated cardiomyopathy pedigrees. Understanding the effects and mechanisms of PSEN1 in cardiomyocytes might have important implications for treatment of heart diseases. Here, we showed that PSEN1 was downregulated in ischemia-induced failing hearts.

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Thin-Walled Curved Rectangular Box Beam under In-Plane Bending.

Thin-walled curved box beam structures especially rectangular members are widely used in mechanical and architectural structures and other engineering fields because of their high strength-to-weight ratios. In this paper, we present experimental and theoretical analysis methods for the static analysis of thin-walled curved rectangular-box beams under in-plane bending based on 11 feature deformation modes. As to the numerical investigations, we explored the convergence and accuracy analysis by normal finite element analysis, higher-order assumed strain plane element, deep collocation method element, and inverse finite element method, respectively.

A Mass Spectrometry Based Metabolite Profiling Workflow for Selecting Abundant Specific Markers and Their Structurally Related Multi-Component Signatures in Traditional Chinese Medicine Multi-Herb Formulae.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal preparations often consist of a mixture of herbs. Their quality control is challenging because every single herb contains hundreds of components (secondary metabolites). A typical 10 herb TCM formula was selected to develop an innovative strategy for its comprehensive chemical characterization and to study the specific contribution of each herb to the formula in an exploratory manner.

Inverse correlation between fatty acid transport protein 4 and vision in Leber congenital amaurosis associated with RPE65 mutation.

Fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), a transmembrane protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is a recently identified negative regulator of the ER-associated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)65 isomerase necessary for recycling 11--retinal, the light-sensitive chromophore of both rod and cone opsin visual pigments. The role of FATP4 in the disease progression of retinal dystrophies associated with RPE65 mutations is completely unknown. Here we show that FATP4-deficiency in the RPE results in 2.

Impacts of deletion and ichthyosis prematurity syndrome-associated mutations in fatty acid transport protein 4 on the function of RPE65.

The retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 kDa (RPE65) isomerase plays a pivotal role in photoreceptor survival and function. RPE65-catalyzed synthesis of 11-cis-retinol from all-trans-retinyl esters in the visual cycle is negatively regulated, through a heretofore unknown mechanism, by the fatty acid transport protein FATP4, mutations in which are associated with ichthyosis prematurity syndrome (IPS). Here, we analyzed the interaction between deletion mutants of FATP4 and RPE65 and the impacts of IPS-associated FATP4 mutations on RPE65 expression, 11-cis-retinol synthesis, and all-trans-retinyl ester synthesis.

HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG effectively alleviated the progress of thoracic aortic dissection by suppressing smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a highly lethal vascular disease characterized by medial degeneration. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) had been proved as a potential target for a variety of diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of HSP90 inhibitor on TAD progress, and to explore the potential utility of HSP90 inhibitors as therapeutic avenue for TAD.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) protects retinal cone and rod photoreceptors by suppressing excessive formation of the visual pigments.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-dependent visual cycle provides 11--retinal to opsins in the photoreceptor outer segments to generate functional visual pigments that initiate phototransduction in response to light stimuli. Both RPE65 isomerase of the visual cycle and the rhodopsin visual pigment have recently been identified as critical players in mediating light-induced retinal degeneration. These findings suggest that the expression and function of RPE65 and rhodopsin need to be coordinately controlled to sustain normal vision and to protect the retina from photodamage.