Energy-Efficient Aerial STAR-RIS-Aided Computing Offloading and Content Caching for Wireless Sensor Networks.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs) hold great promise for supporting ground-based sensors due to the mobility of UAVs and the ease of establishing line-of-sight links. UAV-based WSNs equipped with mobile edge computing (MEC) servers effectively mitigate challenges associated with long-distance transmission and the limited coverage of edge base stations (BSs), emerging as a powerful paradigm for both communication and computing services. Furthermore, incorporating simultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (STAR-RISs) as passive relays significantly enhances the propagation environment and service quality of UAV-based WSNs.

Novel candidate genes and genetic basis analysis of kernel starch content in tropical maize.

Background: Starch is the most abundant carbohydrate in maize grains, serving as a primary energy source for both humans and animals, and playing a crucial role in various industrial applications. Increasing the starch content of maize grains is beneficial for improving the grain yield and quality. To gain insight into the genetic basis of starch content in maize kernels, a multiparent population (MPP) was constructed and evaluated for starch content in three different environments.

Mechanistic insight into human milk extracellular vesicle-intestinal barrier interactions.

Human milk extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial mother-to-baby messengers that transfer biological signals. These EVs are reported to survive digestion and transport across the intestine. The mechanisms of interaction between human milk EVs and the intestinal mucosa, including epithelial uptake remain unclear.

Icariin targets PDE5A to regulate viability, DNA synthesis and DNA damage of spermatogonial stem cells and improves reproductive capacity.

Icariin is a pure compound derived from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim, and it helps the regulation of male reproduction. Nevertheless, the role and underlying mechanisms of Icariin in mediating male germ cell development remain to be clarified. Here, we have demonstrated that Icariin promoted proliferation and DNA synthesis of mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs).

Novel Ultrasonic Pretreatment for Improving Drying Performance and Physicochemical Properties of Slices During Radio Frequency Vacuum Drying.

To enhance the physicochemical quality, drying efficiency, and nutrient retention of dried products, this study investigated the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment on the radio frequency vacuum (RFV) drying characteristics, microstructure, and retention of natural active substances in slices. The ultrasonic time, power, and frequency were considered as experimental factors. The results showed that, compared with conventional RFV drying, ultrasonic pretreatment reduced the drying time of slices by 20-60 min.

Integration analysis of microRNAs as potential biomarkers in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma: the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of miR-183-3p.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) poses a significant therapeutic challenge, primarily due to delayed diagnosis and the limited efficacy of existing treatments.

Methods: To understand the pathogenesis and identify diagnostic biomarkers for LUAD in the early stage, we investigated differential miRNA expression in 33 stage I LUAD patients between tumor and matched paracancerous tissues by Illumina Sequencing. Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using TargetScan and miRDB databases and further analyzed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.

Aneurysm Is Restricted by CD34 Cell-Formed Fibrous Collars Through the PDGFRb-PI3K Axis.

Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening disease caused by progressive dilation of the aorta and weakened aortic walls. Its pathogenesis involves an imbalance between connective tissue repair and degradation. CD34 cells comprise a heterogeneous population that exhibits stem cell and progenitor cell properties.

Evaluation and comparison of efficacy and safety of tirzepatide, liraglutide and SGLT2i in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a network meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective is to assess the effectiveness and safety of tirzepatide, liraglutide, and SGLT2i in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: An inquiry was undertaken within the electronic database spanning from its inception to February 11th, 2024, aimed at identifying randomized controlled trials that assess the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide, liraglutide, canagliflozin, ertugliflozin, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and henagliflozin. Perform a network meta-analysis to examine the distinctions among them (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024537006).

Identification and validation of an immune-related miRNA signature for predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNAs play a significant role in the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, their roles in immune regulation of HCC remain unclear. Our study aimed to identify an immune-related miRNA signature and explore its impact on the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment HCC. Initially, we identified 48 differentially expressed immune-related miRNAs.

Sotorasib inhibits ubiquitination degradation of TXNIP and suppresses glucose metabolism in mutant bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Currently, treatment strategies for bladder cancer remain limited, highlighting the urgent need to explore novel therapeutic approaches. Sotorasib, the first successful small molecule drug targeting KRAS, has been approved for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it has not yet been studied in bladder cancer.

Inflammation in Areas of Fibrosis Precedes Loss of Kidney Function in Lupus Nephritis.

Background: Interstitial fibrosis in lupus nephritis (LN) is often infiltrated by immune cells but typically regarded as nonspecific "scar reaction." This study aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory fibrosis and kidney disease progression in LN.

Methods: Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) were scored in 124 LN kidney biopsies.

Fructans with various molecular weights from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua differentially ameliorate intestinal inflammation by regulating the gut microbiota and maintaining intestinal barrier.

Polysaccharides are recognized as the predominant active constituents of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, conferring a broad spectrum of benefits. However, the structure-activity relationship of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCP) and oligosaccharides (PCOP) remains underexplored. In this study, we aimed to compare the chemical properties and biological activities of PCP and PCOP.

1.25(OH)2D3 decreases PCNA and mTOR expression and alleviates renal injury in Thy-1 nephritis rat model.

Objective: This study investigated the role and mechanisms of 1.25(OH)2D3 in proliferative glomerulonephritis and its effect on the regulation of mesangial cells.

Methods: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CG), nephritis (NG), nephritis + 1.

Realization of Hydrogel Electrolytes with High Thermoelectric Properties: Utilization of the Hofmeister Effect.

Ionic thermoelectric materials, renowned for their high Seebeck coefficients, are gaining prominence for their potential in harvesting low-grade waste heat. However, the theoretical underpinnings for enhancing the performance of these materials remain underexplored. In this study, the Hoffmeister effect was leveraged to augment the thermoelectric properties of hydrogel-based ionic thermoelectric materials.

PACS2/CPT1A/DHODH signaling promotes cardiomyocyte ferroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The pathophysiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a phenomenon of great interest, but its clinical problems have not yet been effectively addressed. Recently, the mechanism of ferroptosis in the pathophysiology of various diseases, including DCM, has attracted widespread attention. Here, we explored the role of PACS2 in ferroptosis in DCM through its downregulation of PACS2 expression.

Different Pretreatment Methods to Strengthen the Microwave Vacuum Drying of : Effects on the Moisture Migration and Physicochemical Quality.

In this study, we analyzed the effects of three pretreatment methods-microwave, steam, and blanching-on the quality of to determine the optimal pretreatment method; we then investigated the influence of different drying temperatures, vacuum levels, and rotation speeds on the drying characteristics, color, and active ingredient content of the that was pretreated by the optimal pretreatment method during rotary microwave vacuum drying. The results indicated that a microwave pretreatment for 75 s was the optimal pretreatment method, which enhanced the retention of active ingredients and effectively improved the browning of the material. During the process of rotary microwave vacuum drying, as the temperature increased, the vacuum level rose, and the rotation speed increased, the drying rate gradually increased.

Discovery of candidate genes enhancing kernel protein content in tropical maize introgression lines.

Background: In this study, tropical maize germplasms were used to construct a multiparent population (MPP) to identify novel genes associated with kernel protein content. The kernel protein content was quantified using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the MPP, which was evaluated in three different environments.

Results: QTL mapping revealed 23 significant QTLs tightly linked to kernel protein content, with phenotypic variation ranging from 8.

Qualitative and Quantitative Luminescence Detection of 2,6-Dipicolinic Acid and Levofloxacin Based on a High-Nuclearity Eu(III) Nanomolecular Sensor.

Rapid and accurate testing of 2,6-dipicolinic acid (DPA) and levofloxacin (LFX) has been attracting much attention due to the fact that the former is an important biomarker of anthrax spores and the latter is a third-generation fluoroquinolone drug and has been recognized as an important environmental pollutant. Herein, we report the preparation of a 13-metal Eu(III) nanomolecular sensor (molecular sizes: 2.0 × 2.

Rapid and sensitive detection of vanillylmandelic acid based on a luminescent fourteen-metal Tb(III) planar nanocluster.

A 14-metal Tb(III) nanocluster with four CO anions as templates was constructed for the quantitative and qualitative detection of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The luminescence response time to VMA is less than ten seconds, and the limit of detection is as low as 0.32 nM in CHCN.

Suppressed Nonreciprocal Second-Harmonic Generation of Antiferromagnet MnPSe in the MnPSe/Graphene Heterostructure Due to Interfacial Magnon-Plasmon Coupling.

Interfacial coupling is one of the keys to manipulating magnetic/nonmagnetic two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures for novel functionalities. The MnPSe/graphene heterostructure is a prospective platform for quantum information and metrology. However, how graphene affects MnPSe through interfacial coupling is still poorly understood.

Peri-ictal yawning: A potential lateralizing sign in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: The primary objective of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the incidence and lateralization value of peri-ictal yawning (PY) in people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). PY has only occasionally been reported as a manifestation of focal epilepsy. We aimed to determine whether PY could serve as an indicator to help lateralize seizure onset during epileptic seizures.

Comprehensive structure-function analysis reveals gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms impacting oncogenic KRAS activity.

To dissect variant-function relationships in the KRAS oncoprotein, we performed deep mutational scanning (DMS) screens for both wild-type and KRAS mutant alleles. We defined the spectrum of oncogenic potential for nearly all possible variants, identifying several novel transforming alleles and elucidating a model to describe the frequency of mutations in human cancer as a function of transforming potential, mutational probability, and tissue-specific mutational signatures. Biochemical and structural analyses of variants identified in a KRAS second-site suppressor DMS screen revealed that attenuation of oncogenic KRAS can be mediated by protein instability and conformational rigidity, resulting in reduced binding affinity to effector proteins, such as RAF and PI3-kinases, or reduced SOS-mediated nucleotide exchange activity.