Surrogate optimization of variational quantum circuits.

Variational quantum eigensolvers are touted as a near-term algorithm capable of impacting many applications. However, the potential has not yet been realized, with few claims of quantum advantage and high resource estimates, especially due to the need for optimization in the presence of noise. Finding algorithms and methods to improve convergence is important to accelerate the capabilities of near-term hardware for variational quantum eigensolver or more broad applications of hybrid methods in which optimization is required.

The protective effect of sodium selenite against silver nanoparticles induced oxidative stress and autophagy in cardiomyocytes is associated with AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Selenite(Se) is a trace mineral that is essential for cardiac health. This study aims to investigate the beneficial effects of Se on cardiomyocyte damage induced by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to explore the underlying protective mechanisms. H9C2 cells were incubated with AgNPs with or without Se .

Photo-/Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO Based on Ferroelectrics.

Converting CO into sustainable fuels or useful carbon-derived substances offers an effective strategy for tackling the energy crisis and combating global warming. Photo-/electrocatalytic CO reduction provides a simple, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly route compared to existing technologies. Ferroelectric materials, characterized by their unique spontaneous and switchable polarization, have emerged as promising candidate catalysts due to their controllable surface physical and chemical properties.

Constitutive heterochromatin controls nuclear mechanics, morphology, and integrity through H3K9me3 mediated chromocenter compaction.

Aberrant nuclear morphology is a hallmark of human disease and causes nuclear dysfunction. Perturbed nuclear mechanics via reduced heterochromatin weakens the nucleus resulting in nuclear blebbing and rupture. While the role of heterochromatin is known, the separate roles of constitutive heterochromatin methylation states remains elusive.

Digital Design Workflow for Individualized 2-DOF Ankle Exoskeletons.

Gait rehabilitation programs aid individuals recovering from brain injury or severe lower-leg trauma. While robotic exoskeletons may offer advantages over traditional exercise-based interventions, their high cost and lack of personalized fit limit their clinical utility. In this paper, we present a new efficient design workflow for individualized 2-DOF ankle exoskeletons.

When Neisseria meningitidis Strikes an Immunocompetent Host and Purpura Fulminans Results.

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rapidly progressive, life-threatening condition marked by ecchymotic, tender, and symmetric skin lesions, often resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) secondary to infectious or non-infectious etiologies. PF usually occurs in immunocompromised hosts and is associated with a high mortality rate. Here, we highlight a case of an elderly immunocompetent woman with DIC and subsequent PF.

Transcriptional activity generates chromatin motion that drives nuclear blebbing.

Abnormal nuclear morphology is a hallmark of human diseases, including cancers and age-related disorders. Previously, maintenance of nuclear morphology and integrity was thought to be solely dependent on a force balance between nuclear mechanical resistance and actin antagonism. However, our recent work revealed that inhibiting RNA polymerase II suppresses nuclear blebbing independent of altering force balance, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Quercetin alleviates cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in hyperglycemic animals by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress through activating SIRT1.

Hyperglycemia aggravates cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury (CIRI). Neuroprotective drugs that are effective in reducing CIRI in animals with normoglycemic condition are ineffective in ameliorating CIRI under hyperglycemic condition. This study investigated whether quercetin alleviates hyperglycemic CIRI by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) through modulating the SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Machine learning analysis of gene expression profiles of pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes in ischemic stroke revealed potential targets for drug repurposing.

The relationship between ischemic stroke (IS) and pyroptosis centers on the inflammatory response elicited by cerebral tissue damage during an ischemic stroke event. However, an in-depth mechanistic understanding of their connection remains limited. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the gene expression patterns of pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (PRDEGs) by employing integrated IS datasets and machine learning techniques.

Understanding Experiences of Telehealth in Palliative Care: Photo Interview Study.

Background: It is widely accepted that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the era of online health care delivery, including within community palliative care. This study was part of a larger project involving a collaboration between universities, health care services, government agencies, and software developers that sought to enhance an existing telehealth (video call) platform with additional features to improve both patient and health care professional (HCP) experience in a palliative care context.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand palliative care patients' and HCPs' experiences of telehealth delivery in a palliative care context in Victoria, Australia.

Embedding AI-Enabled Data Infrastructures for Sustainability in Agri-Food: Soft-Fruit and Brewery Use Case Perspectives.

The agri-food sector is undergoing a comprehensive transformation as it transitions towards net zero. To achieve this, fundamental changes and innovations are required, including changes in how food is produced and delivered to customers, new technologies, data and physical infrastructures, and algorithmic advancements. In this paper, we explore the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI-based data infrastructures for sustainability in the agri-food sector by focusing on two case studies: soft-fruit production and brewery operations.

Exploring the opportunities of large language models for summarizing palliative care consultations: A pilot comparative study.

Introduction: Recent developments in the field of large language models have showcased impressive achievements in their ability to perform natural language processing tasks, opening up possibilities for use in critical domains like telehealth. We conducted a pilot study on the opportunities of utilizing large language models, specifically GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and LLaMA 2, in the context of zero-shot summarization of doctor-patient conversation during a palliative care teleconsultation.

B355252 Suppresses LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation in the Mouse Brain.

B355252 is a small molecular compound known for potentiating neural growth factor and protecting against neuronal cell death induced by glutamate in vitro and cerebral ischemia in vivo. However, its other biological functions remain unclear. This study aims to investigate whether B355252 suppresses neuroinflammatory responses and cell death in the brain.

The secreted micropeptide C4orf48 enhances renal fibrosis via an RNA-binding mechanism.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is an important mechanism in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney disease. However, we lack specific treatments to slow or halt renal fibrosis. Ribosome profiling identified upregulation of a secreted micropeptide, C4orf48 (Cf48), in mouse diabetic nephropathy.

N6022 attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced microglia ferroptosis by promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation and inhibiting the GSNOR/GSTP1 axis.

Stroke poses a significant risk of mortality, particularly among the elderly population. The pathophysiological process of ischemic stroke is complex, and it is crucial to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and explore potential protective drugs. Ferroptosis, a newly recognized form of programmed cell death distinct from necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy, is closely associated with the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke.

Hyperglycemia exacerbates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by up-regulating autophagy through p53-Sesn2-AMPK pathway.

Hyperglycemia exacerbates ischemic brain injury by up-regulating autophagy. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This study aims to determine whether hyperglycemia activates autophagy through the p53-Sesn2-AMPK signaling pathway.

Milton assembles large mitochondrial clusters, mitoballs, to sustain spermatogenesis.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo frequent remodeling to accommodate developmental needs. Here, we describe a striking organization of mitochondria into a large ball-like structure adjacent to the nucleus in premeiotic spermatocytes, which we term "mitoball". Mitoballs are transient structures that colocalize with the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and the fusome.

Immp2l Mutation Induces Mitochondrial Membrane Depolarization and Complex III Activity Suppression after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice.

Objective: We previously reported that mutations in inner mitochondrial membrane peptidase 2-like (Immp2l) increase infarct volume, enhance superoxide production, and suppress mitochondrial respiration after transient cerebral focal ischemia and reperfusion injury. The present study investigated the impact of heterozygous Immp2l mutation on mitochondria function after ischemia and reperfusion injury in mice.

Methods: Mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 h followed by 0, 1, 5, and 24 h of reperfusion.

Effects of varying blood flow rate during peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygen (V-A ECMO) on left ventricular function measured by two-dimensional strain.

Background: We evaluated the effects of varying blood flow rate during peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygen (V-A ECMO) on left ventricular function measured by two-dimensional strain.

Methods: Adult patients who were supported by peripheral V-A ECMO were recruited. Serial hemodynamic and cardiac performance parameters were measured by transthoracic echocardiogram within the first 48 h after implementation of V-A ECMO.

Asialo-rhuEPO as a Potential Neuroprotectant for Ischemic Stroke Treatment.

Neuroprotective drugs to protect the brain against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury are urgently needed. Mammalian cell-produced recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) has been demonstrated to have excellent neuroprotective functions in preclinical studies, but its neuroprotective properties could not be consistently translated in clinical trials. The clinical failure of rhuEPO was thought to be mainly due to its erythropoietic activity-associated side effects.

Advancing workforce diversity by leveraging the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program.

Clinical trials continue to disproportionately underrepresent people of color. Increasing representation of diverse backgrounds among clinical research personnel has the potential to yield greater representation in clinical trials and more efficacious medical interventions by addressing medical mistrust. In 2019, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a Historically Black College and University with a more than 80% underrepresented student population, established the Clinical Research Sciences Program with support from the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program at neighboring Duke University.

Mitochondrial micropeptide MOXI promotes fibrotic gene transcription by translocation to the nucleus and bridging N-acetyltransferase 14 with transcription factor c-Jun.

Progressive fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease, but we lack effective treatments to halt this destructive process. Micropeptides (peptides of no more than 100 amino acids) encoded by small open reading frames represent a new class of eukaryotic regulators. Here, we describe that the micropeptide regulator of β-oxidation (MOXI) regulates kidney fibrosis.