Unraveling the Roles of UBE3A in Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration.

The ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A, aka E6-AP), an E3 ligase belonging to the HECT family, plays crucial roles in the stability of various proteins through the proteasomal degradation system. Abnormal UBE3A activity is essential for the initiation and progression of several cancers. A gain of function and an overdosage of maternal UBE3A is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders.

Neural correlates of memory deficits in premanifest -repeat expansions.

Background: The premanifest stage in carriers of hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the gene (C9RE) is associated with memory impairment. The present study examines whether the impairment is general across domains or disproportionately affects specific stimulus categories such as socioemotional events, and its underlying functional neuroanatomy.

Methods: This task-based fMRI-study included 21 premanifest C9RE (preC9RE) carriers and 24 controls.

Dynamic Graph Representation Learning for Spatio-Temporal Neuroimaging Analysis.

Neuroimaging analysis aims to reveal the information-processing mechanisms of the human brain in a noninvasive manner. In the past, graph neural networks (GNNs) have shown promise in capturing the non-Euclidean structure of brain networks. However, existing neuroimaging studies focused primarily on spatial functional connectivity, despite temporal dynamics in complex brain networks.

Anti-Confounding Hashing: Enhancing Radiological Image Retrieval via Debiased Weighting and Counterfactual Reasoning.

Content-based medical image retrieval (CBMIR) enables physicians to make evidence-based diagnoses by retrieving similar medical images and recalling previous cases stored in databases. However, existing CBMIR models are prone to capturing superficial correlations due to confounding factors such as complex host organs and lesions, imaging discrepancies, artifacts, and inconsistent protocols. To address this issue, we propose a plug-and-play anti-confounding hashing (ACH) method, which uses debiased sample weighting and lesion counterfactual reasoning (LCR) to directly capture the natural direct effect (NDE) of lesions on query medical images without bias.

Brown Algae Polysaccharides Alleviate Diquat-Induced Oxidative Stress in Piglets and IPEC-J2 Cells via Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway.

This study investigated the effect of Brown algae polysaccharides (BAPs) on diquat-induced oxidative stress in piglets and IPEC-J2 cells through Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. In the in vivo model, 24 male piglets of the Duroc × Landrace × Large White breed were selected and divided into 4 groups (n = 6), including the CON group (basal diet), DIQ group (10 mg/kg Diquat), BAP group (1000 mg/kg BAP), and BAP+DIQ group (1000 mg/kg BAP + 10 mg/kg Diquat). Compared with the DIQ group, BAP improved growth performance and the BAP+DIQ group reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and DAO in plasma, increased VH and VCR, improved jejunal tissue morphology, decreased MDA levels, and increased T-AOC ( < 0.

 (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae), a new species from the Daba Mountains of Chongqing, China.

, a new species discovered in the Dabashan of northeast Chongqing (China), is described and illustrated. The novelty morphologically resembles , and in having a glabrous and smooth epichile. but can be distinguished by the unique obovate shape of the leaves, smaller epichile, and flower color.

Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in hospitalized pediatric patients presenting with acute lower respiratory tract infections utilizing targeted next-generation sequencing.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a prevalent pathogen in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia. Currently, limited literature exists on the clinical utilization of pathogen-targeted sequencing technologies.

Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) technology was employed to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 1,070 hospitalized pediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections.

Complete Breakup of Liquids into Ultrafine Droplets by Grid Turbulence.

Ultrafine droplets are crucial in materials processing and nanotechnology, with applications in nanoparticle preparation, water evaporation, nanodrug delivery, nanocoating, among numerous others. While the potential of turbulent gas flow to enhance liquid breakup is acknowledged, constructing turbulence-driven atomizers for ultrafine droplets remains challenging. Herein, we report the innovation of grid-turbulence atomization (GTA), which employs a rotating mesh to deliver liquid and an air knife to spray ultrafine droplets.

Clinical and prognostic insights into Chlamydia trachomatis in pediatric acute respiratory infections: evidence from targeted next-generation sequencing of 5,021 cases.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a major cause of respiratory tract infections in children. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the infection status and clinical manifestations associated with C. trachomatis in these pediatric patients.

Atomic-Level Tin Regulation for High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries.

The trade-off between the performances of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) presents a challenge in designing high-performance aqueous rechargeable zinc-air batteries (a-r-ZABs) due to sluggish kinetics and differing reaction requirements. Accurate control of the atomic and electronic structures is crucial for the rational design of efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. Herein, we designed a Sn-Co/RuO trimetallic oxide utilizing dual-active sites and tin (Sn) regulation strategy by dispersing Co (for ORR) and auxiliary Sn into the near-surface and surface of RuO (for OER) to enhance both ORR and OER performances.

Desired Color Diversity of Carbon Fiber with Excellent Environmental Super-Durability and Remarkable Flame Retardancy.

Carbon fiber (CF) has been widely used in aerospace, military, infrastructure, sports, and leisure fields owing to its excellent mechanical properties, superior corrosion and friction resistances, excellent thermal stability, and lightweight. However, the ultrablack appearance derived from the extremely strong absorption of light throughout the entire visible region makes it difficult to satisfy the aesthetic and pleasurable demands of the colorful world and limits their applications in a broader field. Herein, inspired by the , a double-layer ultrathin AlO/TiO composite structure was fabricated on CFs by the atomic layer deposition method.

Consensus representation of multiple cell-cell graphs from gene signaling pathways for cell type annotation.

Background: Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing have greatly expanded our knowledge of the heterogeneous nature of tissues. However, robust and accurate cell type annotation continues to be a major challenge, hindered by issues such as marker specificity, batch effects, and a lack of comprehensive spatial and interaction data. Traditional annotation methods often fail to adequately address the complexity of cellular interactions and gene regulatory networks.

C9ORF72 poly-PR induces TDP-43 nuclear condensation via NEAT1 and is modulated by HSP70 activity.

The toxicity of C9ORF72-encoded polyproline-arginine (poly-PR) dipeptide is associated with its ability to disrupt the liquid-liquid phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins participating in the formation of membraneless organelles, such as the nucleolus and paraspeckles. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) also undergoes phase separation to form nuclear condensates (NCs) in response to stress. However, whether poly-PR alters the nuclear condensation of TDP-43 in ALS remains unclear.

The Chemical Structure and Pharmacological Activity of Sesquiterpenoids in Sw.

is one of the most important orchids with high medicinal value. The diverse pharmacological activities of are attributed to its rich content of secondary metabolites. Due to the high variety and content of sesquiterpenoids in , more studies on their pharmacological activities have been reported.

Breaking the Stability-Activity Trade-off of Oxygen Electrocatalyst by Gallium Bilateral-Regulation for High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries.

The rational design of metal oxide catalysts with enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance is crucial for the practical application of aqueous rechargeable zinc-air batteries (a-r-ZABs). Precisely regulating the electronic environment of metal-oxygen (M-O) active species is critical yet challenging for improving their activity and stability toward OER and ORR. Herein, we propose an atomic-level bilateral regulation strategy by introducing atomically dispersed Ga for continuously tuning the electronic environment of Ru-O and Mn-O in the Ga/MnRuO catalyst.

Uptake of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Medicare Beneficiaries-United States, 2014-2021.

Background: Previous studies have estimated preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among persons with commercial health insurance and Medicaid. However, data are lacking regarding PrEP use among those with Medicare.

Methods: Using a previously developed algorithm, we estimated the number of Medicare beneficiaries (MBs) with fee-for-service claims who were prescribed PrEP from 2014 to 2021.

Advancements in Immunity and Dementia Research: Highlights from the 2023 AAIC Advancements: Immunity Conference.

The immune system is a key player in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. While brain resident immune cell-mediated neuroinflammation and peripheral immune cell (eg, T cell) infiltration into the brain have been shown to significantly contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, the nature and extent of immune responses in the brain in the context of AD and related dementias (ADRD) remain unclear. Furthermore, the roles of the peripheral immune system in driving ADRD pathology remain incompletely elucidated.

Brief Report: Preexposure Prophylaxis Use Among U.S. Veterans Using Veterans Health Administration Services, 2014─2022.

Objectives: It is important to monitor national HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use in the United States. However, PrEP use data in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system are not included in the current monitoring surveillance. To address this gap, we examined the trends in PrEP use among U.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of key sesquiterpene glycosides in Dendrobium nobile analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Trap-MS/MS.

Dendrobium nobile (D. nobile), a traditional herb known for its immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties, contains characteristic alkaloids and sesquiterpene glycosides. While alkaloids have been extensively studied, research on sesquiterpene glycosides remains limited.

Mormyroidea-inspired electronic skin for active non-contact three-dimensional tracking and sensing.

The capacity to discern and locate positions in three-dimensional space is crucial for human-machine interfaces and robotic perception. However, current soft electronics can only obtain two-dimensional spatial locations through physical contact. In this study, we report a non-contact position targeting concept enabled by transparent and thin soft electronic skin (E-skin) with three-dimensional sensing capabilities.

Bilateral erector spinae plane block on opioid-sparing effect in upper abdominal surgery: study protocol for a bi-center prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a promising technique for effective analgesia. It is still uncertain if ESPB offers the same opioid-sparing effect as thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) in midline incision for upper abdominal surgery.

Methods: The study is a prospective, bi-center, randomized, controlled, non-inferior trial.