Inhibition of miR-450b-5p ameliorates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury via targeting CRYAB.

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an unavoidable course in liver transplantation, during which the immune response of inflammation plays a leading part. MicroRNA-450b-5p (miR-450b-5p), which has been reported to participate in several inflammatory diseases, was investigated in this study. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential function of miR-450b-5p toward remission of hepatic IRI and elucidate the specific mechanism.

Prevalence and subtype diversity of Blastocystis in human and nonhuman primates in North China.

Blastocystis is of public health concern due to its global distribution in diverse animals including humans. Here, fecal specimens sampled from human and nonhuman primates were examined for Blastocystis by PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Among age cohorts, the parasite was positive only for three of 126 (2.

Successful use of plasma exchange in fulminant lupus myocarditis coexisting with pneumonia: A case report.

Background: Fulminant lupus myocarditis is a rare but fatal manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Aggressive immunosuppressive treatments are important in its successful management. However, they can significantly damage the immunity and are associated with a considerable risk of infection development and spread.

Clinical characteristics and survival of Chinese patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension who carry BMPR2 or EIF2KAK4 variants.

Background: Variants in the gene encoding bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2) are the most common genetic cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), whereas biallelic variants in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 4 gene (EIF2AK4) are described in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis (PVOD/PCH). Racial background may influence the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with PAH or PVOD/PCH. Here, we compared the clinical characteristics and survival between patients with BMPR2 variants or EIF2AK4 variants in a Chinese population.

Investigating inhibition deficit in schizophrenia using task-modulated brain networks.

Schizophrenia subjects have shown deficits of inhibition in conditions such as a stop signal task. The stop signal response time (SSRT) is consistently longer compared with healthy controls, and is accompanied by decreased brain activations in the right inferior frontal gyrus. However, as to how the response inhibition function is supported by distributed brain networks, and whether such networks are altered in schizophrenia are largely unknown.

Native Oxide Seeded Spontaneous Integration of Dielectrics on Exfoliated Black Phosphorus.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have been a central focus for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics owing to their great potential to extend the scaling limits in a silicon transistor. However, due to the lack of surface dangling bonds in most 2D semiconductors, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), the direct growth of the high-κ film on these 2D materials via an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique often produces dielectrics with poor quality, which hinders their integration in the modern semiconductor industry. Here, we comprehensively investigate the ALD growth of the AlO layer on 2D exfoliated black phosphorus (BP).

Strategies for Designing Antithermal-Quenching Red Phosphors.

Nowadays, red phosphor plays a key role in improving the lighting quality and color rendering index of phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs). However, the development of thermally stable and highly efficient red phosphor is still a pivotal challenge. Herein, a new strategy to design antithermal-quenching red emission in Eu, Mn-codoped phosphors is proposed.

Transmission Potential of Asymptomatic and Paucisymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections: A 3-Family Cluster Study in China.

Data concerning the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in asymptomatic and paucisymptomatic patients are lacking. We report a 3-family cluster of infections involving asymptomatic and paucisymptomatic transmission. Eight of 15 (53%) members from 3 families were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

TMT-based proteomics analysis reveals the protective effects of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription. It is effective in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Study of Humic Acid Adsorption Character on Natural Maifan Stone: Characterization, Kinetics, Adsorption Isotherm, and Thermodynamics.

In this paper, the adsorption of humic acid (HA) on natural maifan stone (MS) in aqueous medium was investigated. The changes in MS after adsorption have been characterized explicitly. The adsorption behavior was studied by varying the factors of pH (5-10), reaction time (10-180 min), initial HA concentration (5-50 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.

Potential biomarkers in septic shock besides lactate.

Elevated lactate has been commonly considered as a biomarker and a useful prognostic tool for resuscitation in septic shock, facilitating physician more rapid intervention and treatment. However, it can be initiated by hypoxia, but persistent hyperlactatemia may not represent persistent hypoxia only. In the article, it is the first time to review potential biomarkers in septic shock from the point of view of energy metabolism including intermediates of TCA cycle, MAS, the NAD/NADH ratio, NAD, NADH, malate, and MDH.

Facile Synthesis of Luffa Sponge Activated Carbon Fiber Based Carbon Quantum Dots with Green Fluorescence and Their Application in Cr(VI) Determination.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were prepared by a chemical oxidation method using luffa sponge based activated carbon fiber as the raw material. The obtained CQDs were well characterized. The fluorescence quenching effect of Cr(VI) ion on CQDs was investigated.

Decode-seq: a practical approach to improve differential gene expression analysis.

Many differential gene expression analyses are conducted with an inadequate number of biological replicates. We describe an easy and effective RNA-seq approach using molecular barcoding to enable profiling of a large number of replicates simultaneously. This approach significantly improves the performance of differential gene expression analysis.

The value of high-resolution HLA in the perioperative period of non-sensitized lung transplant recipients.

Background: The importance of HLA antigen matching is widely recognized and accepted worldwide. With the improvement of diagnostic methods, recent studies have shown that eplet mismatched for organ transplantation is essential. In the field of lung transplantation, eplet mismatch (MM) is closely related to chronic rejection after lung transplantation.

Neural network decoder of polar codes with tanh-based modified LLR over FSO turbulence channel.

The deep learning-based decoder of polar codes is investigated over free space optical (FSO) turbulence channel for the first time. The feedforward neural networks (NN) are adopted to establish the decoder and some custom layers are designed to train the NN decoder over the turbulence channel. The tanh-based modified log-likelihood ratio (LLR) is proposed as the input of NN decoder, which has faster convergence and better bit error rate (BER) performance compared with the standard LLR input.

Adaptive over-the-air RF self-interference cancellation using a signal-of-interest driven regular triangle algorithm.

An optically-enabled radio frquency (RF) self-interference cancellation system is demonstrated for over-the-air in-band full duplex transmission, based on a signal-of-interest (SOI) driven regular triangle algorithm. Since the goal of a self-interference cancellation system is to retrieve the SOI that is masked by the in-band interference signal, using the SOI quality as the driven parameter for optimizing the self-interference cancellation performance is a natural and effective way to allow the system to adapt to changes and obtain the best cancellation performance. Since regular triangle algorithm has short iteration time, bursts of pseudo-random binary sequence would be used between real data transmission for optimizing the self-interference cancellation performance.

The Organization of the Human Corpus Callosum Estimated by Intrinsic Functional Connectivity with White-Matter Functional Networks.

The corpus callosum is the commissural bridge of white-matter bundles important for the human brain functions. Previous studies have analyzed the structural links between cortical gray-matter networks and subregions of corpus callosum. While meaningful white-matter functional networks (WM-FNs) were recently reported, how these networks functionally link with distinct subregions of corpus callosum remained unknown.

Hypericin attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and abnormal lipid metabolism via the PKA-mediated AMPK signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and constitutes a major risk factor for progression to cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The occurrence of NAFLD is closely associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and implies a high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, specific and effective drugs for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD are necessary.

Resting-state EEG reveals global network deficiency in dyslexic children.

Developmental dyslexia is known to involve dysfunctions in multiple brain regions; however, a clear understanding of the brain networks behind this disorder is still lacking. The present study examined the functional network connectivity in Chinese dyslexic children with resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. EEG data were recorded from 27 dyslexic children and 40 age-matched controls, and a minimum spanning tree (MST) analysis was performed to examine the network connectivity in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands.

Cholangiocyte-Derived Exosomal lncRNA H19 Promotes Macrophage Activation and Hepatic Inflammation under Cholestatic Conditions.

Activation of hepatic macrophages represents the critical driving force to promote cholestatic liver injury. Exosomes, as important small extracellular vesicles released by almost all types of cells, contribute to intercellular communication. We previously reported that cholangiocyte-derived exosomal long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 plays a vital role in disrupting bile acid homeostasis in hepatocytes and promoting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Genetic profiling and cardiovascular phenotypic spectrum in a Chinese cohort of Loeys-Dietz syndrome patients.

Background: Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder for which 6 genes in the TGF-β pathway have been identified as causative. With the widespread use of genetic testing, the range of known clinical and genetic profiles has broadened, but these features have not been fully elucidated thus far.

Methods And Results: Using gene panel sequencing or whole exome sequencing, we identified 54 unique rare variants in LDS genes in 57 patients with thoracic aneurysms/dissections, including 27 pathogenic mutations (P + LP) and 27 variants of unknown significance (VUS + VUS).

Synthesis of Monolayer MoSe with Controlled Nucleation via Reverse-Flow Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Two-dimensional (2D) layered semiconductor materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), have attracted considerable interests because of their intriguing optical and electronic properties. Controlled growth of TMDC crystals with large grain size and atomically smooth surface is indeed desirable but remains challenging due to excessive nucleation. Here, we have synthesized high-quality monolayer, bilayer MoSe triangular crystals, and continuous thin films with controlled nucleation density via reverse-flow chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (NCCDFWi001-A) from a Marfan syndrome patient carrying two FBN1 variants (c.2613A > C and c.684_736 + 4del).

The human induced pluripotent stem cell line NCCDFWi001-A was derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a 26-year-old female Marfan syndrome patient carrying two compound heterozygous variants FBN1c.2613A > C, (p.Leu871Phe) and c.

Efficient and rapid removal of Pb from water by magnetic FeO@MnO core-shell nanoflower attached to carbon microtube: Adsorption behavior and process study.

Designing highly efficient, recyclable and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater plays a key role in sewage treatment system. In this study, a magnetic FeO@MnO core-shell nanoflower attached to Aspergillus niger carbon microtube was developed as a perfect adsorbent for the removal of Pb from water solution. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of high adsorption capacity of metal oxides, magnetism of FeO and large size of Aspergillus niger carbon, the synthesized adsorbent achieves an extremely high adsorption capacity of 934 mg/g and a faster adsorption speed of 5 min, which is a splendid performance among reported adsorbent of Pb from water solution.