Integrative bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput sequencing and in vitro functional analysis leads to uncovering key hub genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) is a type of cancer that starts in the cells lining the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat to the stomach. It is known for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Understanding the key factors that drive this cancer is crucial for developing better diagnostic tools and treatments.

Dual-optical-path coded aperture compressive temporal imaging.

Coded aperture compressive temporal imaging (CACTI) enables the capture of complex dynamic scenes in a single exposure. In this Letter, we introduce a dual-optical-path (DoP) system with conjugate masks employing a single digital micromirror device (DMD) to simultaneously capture the original and complementary measurements to enhance the reconstruction quality. Our findings demonstrate that combining these measurements improves spatial resolution, while their differential values provide temporal information and cancel out noise.

A data driven approach to urban area delineation using multi source geospatial data.

This study introduces a data-driven, bottom-up approach to urban delineation, integrating feature engineering with the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm, which represents a significant improvement in precision and methodology compared to traditional approaches that rely on simplistic OpenStreetMap (OSM) road node data aggregations. By employing a broad array of OSM categories and refining data selection through feature engineering, our research significantly enhances the precision and relevance of urban clustering. Using Bavaria, Germany, as a case study, we demonstrate that feature engineering effectively reduces noise and mitigates common DBSCAN clustering pitfalls by filtering out irrelevant and autocorrelated data.

Development of a Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay Using Phage-Displayed Antigen-Binding Fragments for Zearalenone Detection in Cereal Samples.

Zearalenone (ZEN), a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin, contaminates animal feed and grain crops, thereby entering the food chain and posing a significant threat to human health. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a sensitive and rapid method for detecting trace levels of ZEN. In this study, we developed a phage-displayed antigen-binding fragment (Fab-phage) and established a Fab-phage-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Fab-pELISA) for ZEN detection.

Genetic evidence for the suppressive role of zebrafish vhl targeting mavs in antiviral innate immunity during RNA virus infection.

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene VHL is a classic tumor suppressor that has been identified in family members with clear cell renal cell carcinomas, central nervous system and retinal hemangioblastomas, phaeochromocytomas, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The well-defined function of VHL is to mediate proteasomal degradation of hydroxylated hypoxia-inducible factor α proteins, resulting in the downregulation of hypoxia-responsive gene expression. Previously, we reported that VHL inhibits antiviral signaling by targeting mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) for proteasomal degradation.

Method for reconstructing safety and arming motion process by integrating Kalman filter and KCF.

This paper addresses the challenge of reconstructing the motion process of the safety and arming (S&A) mechanism in fuze by transforming the problem into a target detection and tracking problem. A novel tracking method, which fuses an improved Kalman filter with a temporal scale-adaptive KCF (AKF-CF), is proposed. The methodology introduces key innovations: (1) Extraction of grayscale images and directional gradient histogram (HOG) features of the target, followed by the use of an Adaptive Wave PCA-Autoencoder (AWPA) method to accurately capture multi-modal and multi-scale features of the target; (2) Application of bilinear interpolation and hybrid filtering techniques to generate a spatial and temporal scale-adaptive bounding box for the filtered target, enabling dynamic adjustment of the tracking box size; (3) Integration of an occlusion-aware mechanism using average peak correlation energy (APCE) to trigger Kalman-based position prediction when the target is occluded, thus mitigating tracking drift.

High sediment load weakens the effects of nitrogen nutrients on zooplankton diversity in a continental-scale river.

Suspended sediment is a major factor driving biodiversity in sediment-laden rivers. However, the composition of aquatic communities and their diversity responses to sediment-nutrient interactions in large-scale sediment-laden rivers are largely unexplored. This study investigated the distribution patterns of zooplankton communities in the main stream of the Yellow River, China.

Paternal heroin self-administration in rats increases drug-seeking behavior in male offspring via miR-19b downregulation in the nucleus accumbens.

Accumulating evidence indicates that drug addiction may lead to adaptive behavioral changes in offspring, potentially due to epigenetic modifications in parental germline. However, the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. In this study, we show that paternal heroin self-administration (SA) increased heroin-seeking behavior in the F1 generation, when compared with offspring sired by yoke-infused control males, indicating cross-generational impact of paternal voluntary heroin seeking behavior.

Novel Clean-Background Coffee Ring SERS Platform for Trace Toxin Analysis.

Biotoxins, known for their ubiquity and potent toxicity, pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the urgency the development of robust detection methods. Despite the significant potential of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in analytical science, challenges emerge when dealing with low Raman active molecules, such as biotoxins. Our study addresses this by introducing an innovative, ultrasensitive, clean-background coffee ring SERS (CC-SERS) platform, specifically designed for the detection of neo-saxitoxin (neo-STX), saxitoxin (STX), microcystin-LR (MC-LR), and microcystin-RR (MC-RR) using the AgNPs@AgO@AgCl coffee rings.

Prognostic model for log odds of negative lymph node in locally advanced rectal cancer via interpretable machine learning.

No studies have examined the prognostic value of the log odds of negative lymph nodes/T stage (LONT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). We aimed to assess the prognostic value of LONT and develop a machine learning model to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in LARC patients treated with nCRT. The study included 820 LARC patients who received nCRT between September 2010 and October 2017.

Integrated Multi-Omics and Whole Slide Images for Survival Prediction in Glioblastoma Using Multiple Instance Learning and Co-Attention.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive adult brain tumor and presents significant treatment challenges due to its poor prognosis and heterogeneity. Despite the rapid development of deep learning, integrating multi-omics with whole slide images (WSIs) for survival prediction remains difficult. This study aims to improve GBM prognosis by integrating WSIs with multi-omic data through the incorporation of biological pathway knowledge.

Development and validation of a novel UV-TOF MS method for real-time exhaled propofol analysis in Beagles.

Propofol, a fast-acting anesthetic, requires precise titration to minimize adverse effects. While plasma-based monitoring is slow, exhaled propofol offers a real-time, non-invasive alternative, though its clinical application remains limited. This study evaluates ultraviolet time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UV-TOF MS) for real-time monitoring, presenting its calibration and validation in Beagle dogs.

Developing a PK-PD model for propofol in exhaled air and the BIS following fospropofol disodium in beagles.

Background: Fospropofol, a water-soluble prodrug of propofol, is metabolized into propofol by alkaline phosphatase after administration. This study aimed to develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model that correlates the propofol concentration in exhaled air (Ce-pro-f) with its anesthetic effects, as measured by the bispectral index (BIS) in beagles.

Methods: Beagles receiving a single intravenous infusion of fospropofol at varying doses were divided into three groups (n = 6): the DBL-fospro group (15 mg/kg), the DBM-fospro group (30 mg/kg), and the DBH-fospro group (60 mg/kg).

Exhaled propofol monitoring for plasma drug prediction in rats.

While propofol can be detected in exhaled breath in rats, robust evidence supporting its correlation with plasma concentrations or its use in predicting plasma levels remains lacking. In this study, eighteen mechanically ventilated rats were divided into three groups and injected with low (Group BL, = 6), medium (Group BM, = 6), or high (Group BH, = 6) doses of propofol. The propofol concentration in exhaled breath (Ce-pro) was determined online using vacuum ultraviolet time-of-flight mass spectrometry (VUV-TOF MS), while the propofol concentration in plasma (Cp-pro) were measured using high-performance liquid chromatograph.

Molecular mechanisms of CAND2 in regulating SCF ubiquitin ligases.

Protein degradation orchestrated by SKP1·CUL1·F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligases is a fundamental process essential for cellular and organismal function. The dynamic assembly of SCFs, facilitated by CAND1, ensures timely ubiquitination of diverse SCF target proteins. As a homolog of CAND1, CAND2 alone has been implicated in various human diseases, yet its functional mechanisms remain elusive.

Renal dysplasia development and chronic kidney disease.

Renal dysplasia is a common congenital birth defect in childhood, caused by fetal genetic defects, epigenetic modification disorders, or environmental factors. Maternal malnutrition, placental insufficiency, and exposure to harmful substances such as alcohol, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and cocaine during pregnancy increase the risk of fetal renal dysplasia. The pathogenesis of this disease involves abnormal formation of renal units, leading to structural and functional abnormalities of the kidney.

Platelet membrane-camouflaged PLGA loaded natamycin improve the prognosis of fungal keratitis.

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a severe infectious corneal disease and a common cause of blindness. At present, natamycin (NATA) is the most commonly prescribed drug for fungal keratitis. However, these disadvantages, including poor water solubility, poor stability, and significant corneal irritation, limit its effect in clinical application.

Identification of Biomarkers for Response to Interferon in Chronic Hepatitis B Based on Bioinformatics Analysis and Machine Learning.

Interferon (IFN) is a pivotal agent against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in clinic, but there is a lack of accurate biomarkers to predict the response to IFN therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Our study aimed to investigate potential targets for IFN therapy and to explore the network of interactions associated with IFN response. MicroRNA (miRNA) (GSE29911) and messenger RNA (GSE27555) datasets were used to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction on Inflammatory Factors and the NF-kappaB Signaling Pathway in Rats Model of Radicular Pain.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) on radicular pain in rats with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: Rat models of radicular pain were established and randomly divided into five groups: a control group, a model group, and three groups receiving low, medium, and high doses of XFZYD, with 12 rats per group. The rats in the treatment groups received different doses of XFZYD via oral administration, while the control and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline once daily for 7 days.

Sources, transport and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a typical river-estuary system in the North China: From a new perspective of PAHs loading.

Sediment particles and organic carbon regulate the transport and burial of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the suspended particle matter (SPM) of rivers and estuarine sediments. In this study, we assessed the source, biological and health risks of the PAHs, and examined the riverine transport and burial of PAHs based on their spatial distributions and sediment surface area (SSA) in river SPM and estuarine sediments in the North China. The results showed that the river SPM was dominated by low molecular weight PAHs (LMW, 2-3 rings; 59.

Performance of ultrasound in detecting fetal hypospadias during pregnancy: a pooled analysis.

Background: Opinions regarding the role and value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of prenatal hypospadias are diverse. Although hypospadias is not a fatal malformation, a higher degree of severity exerts a significant impact on children's physiology and psychology. On the other hand, hypospadias may be accompanied by accompanying anomalies, syndromic conditions, and fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Recent Advances of Multidentate Ligand-Based Anion-Pillared MOFs for Enhanced Separation and Purification Processes.

As an important subclass of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), anion-pillars MOFs (APMOFs) have recently exhibited exceptional performances in separation and purification processes. The adjustment of pore sizes and environments of APMOFs can be finely tuned through judicious combination of organic ligands, anion pillars, and metal ions. Compared to widely investigated anion pillars, organic ligands are more crucial as they allow for a broader range of pore sizes and environments at the nanometer scale.

Multivalent interactions of Septin 6 promote the establishment of epithelial cell polarity.

Septins, components of the fourth cytoskeleton, play an indispensable role in establishing and maintaining epithelial cell polarity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic assembly of higher-order septin structures and the establishment of epithelial cell polarity remain elusive. Here, we show that septins form a previously unrecognized dynamic structure with liquid-like properties in polarized MDCK cells.

Enpp1 ameliorates MAFLD by regulating hepatocyte lipid metabolism through the AMPK/PPARα signaling pathway.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become the leading chronic liver disease globally, and there are no approved pharmacotherapies to treat this disease. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (Enpp1) has been found to be related to insulin resistance and lipid accumulation. However, the role and mechanism of Enpp1 in the development of MAFLD remain unknown.