Atomic-Scale Mechanistic Insights into the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Elemental Sulfur.

A detailed understanding of the composition and polymerization mechanism of elemental sulfur remains a decades long unresolved question for modern chemistry. However, the dynamic nature of molten sulfur significantly complicates its accurate characterization. To overcome this challenge, we performed the first comprehensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using a ReaxFF reactive force field specifically parameterized to capture the complex ring-opening polymerization dynamics of elemental sulfur.

The N-terminal region of HASPIN regulates phosphorylation of AURKA and meiotic progression in spermatocytes.

Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that plays a critical regulatory role in meiosis. HASPIN, a kinase highly conserved from yeast to mammals, is required for male fertility. In this study, we found that the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of HASPIN is also required for this function.

Association between serum osmolality and the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation: a retrospective cohort study from MIMIC-IV database.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum osmolality with the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and in-hospital mortality in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV).

Method: This study was a retrospective cohort study with data derived from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database. Patients were categorized into two groups based on a serum osmolality cutoff of 295 mmol/L, with the reference group having values below 295 mmol/L.

Graphitized Biochar Derived from Agricultural Wastes Enhances Methanogenesis via Conductivity-Driven Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer.

Biochar has emerged as a promising conductor for facilitating direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in anaerobic digestion (AD), yet the mechanisms linking its structural features to methanogenic performance remain unclear. Here, how feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions modulate biochar conductivity and consequently shape methanogenic pathways is investigated. Using straw, wood, and nutshell-derived biochars, nutshell biochar pyrolyzed at 550 °C(CC550) is demonstrated to achieve the highest methane yield, enhancing production by 59% compared to the control and outperforming straw and wood-based biochars by 12% and 5% respectively.

Twice-daily administration improves the effectiveness of 0.01% atropine for controlling myopia in slowing axial elongation and refractive progression.

Purpose: It remains unclear whether increasing the frequency of administration of 0.01% atropine improves its effectiveness in slowing axial elongation or refractive progression. This study compared twice-daily 0.

Long-Term Environmental Pyrethroid Exposure, Pregnane X Receptor, and Glucose Dyshomeostasis: Unveiling Relationship and Potential Mechanism via Integrated Approaches.

Pyrethroids are extensively used in agriculture and environmental sanitation, but the associations of long-term pyrethroid exposure with glucose dyshomeostasis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This repeated-measures prospective study, comprising 6160 observations (4098 participants at baseline and 2062 participants at the six-year follow-up) from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort, measured serum pyrethroids and glucose metabolic traits to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of pyrethroid exposure with glucose dyshomeostasis. Network toxicological analyses and gene-environment interaction analyses were integrated to identify the underlying targets and mechanisms.

Growth Arrest and DNA Damage Protein 45A Promotes PPRV Replication via the Downregulation of TBK1 Expression to Inhibit IFN-β Signaling Pathway.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly contagious pathogen that severely impacts goats and sheep due to its high contagiousness and pathogenicity. Viruses rely on host proteins for their pathogenicity and replication, but the specific mechanisms facilitating PPRV replication by host proteins remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified goat growth arrest and DNA damage protein 45A (GADD45A) as a positive regulator of PPRV replication.

An Interpretable Quantum Adjoint Convolutional Layer for Image Classification.

The interpretability of quantum machine learning (QML) refers to the capability to provide clear and understandable explanations for the predictions and decision-making processes of QML models. However, most quantum convolutional layers (QCLs) utilize closed-box structures that are inherently devoid of interpretability, leading to the opacity of principles and the suboptimal mapping of classical data. This significantly undermines the reliability of QML models.

Causal relationships between depression, anxiety, and myopia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: To investigate the causal relationship between depression, anxiety, and myopia.

Methods: The multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) design using summary statistics from independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) was employed. The anxiety and depression, were used as exposures, and myopia was used as the outcome.

Myopia Control Efficacy of Asymmetric Multipoint Defocus Technique Spectacle Lenses: One-Year Double-Masked Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the 12-month myopia control efficacy of an asymmetric multipoint defocus technique (AMDT) spectacle lens.

Design: Double-masked randomized controlled trial.

Participants: One hundred forty participants completed all visits (mean age, 10.

From molecular design to clinical translation: dual-targeted CAR-T strategies in cancer immunotherapy.

The pathogenesis of tumors involves various abnormalities at both the cellular and genetic levels. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative treatment strategy that effectively addresses these challenges. While CAR-T therapy has shown remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies, limitations have been identified, particularly in single antigen-targeting CAR-T therapies.

Close atomic surface on aluminum alloy achieved by a near-neutral novel green chemical mechanical polishing method with high material removal rate.

Scratches, embedding of abrasives, and corrosion pits easily occur on the surface of aluminum (Al) alloy during traditional mechanical and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). To achieve a close atomic surface on Al alloy, the material removal rate (MRR) is generally extremely low. To address these challenges, a near-neutral, novel green CMP slurry with a pH value of 6 was developed for Al alloy, consisting of silica, praseodymia, hydrogen peroxide, triethanolamine, and niacin.

Association between movement impairments and glymphatic system dysfunction in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy using DTI-ALPS.

Background: The role of the glymphatic system in occult cerebral palsy (CP) remains unclear. In this study, glymphatic system function and its association with motor impairment in occult CP patients was investigated using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS).

Methods: This retrospective study used DTI to calculate the diffusivity values along the x-, y-, and z-axes in 27 occult CP patients and 27 matched controls.

Analysis of the Expression Patterns of piRNAs in Response to Microsporidian Invasion in Midgut of Workers ().

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) play an essential part in transposon suppression, DNA methylation, and antiviral responses. The current understanding of the roles of piRNAs in honeybees is very limited. This study aims to analyze the expression pattern and regulatory role of piRNAs in the Asian honeybee () responding to infection by , based on previously gained small RNA-seq data.

Dinitroaniline herbicide exposure, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A community-based cohort study.

Dinitroaniline herbicides are widely used to control weed resistance, but their effects on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are unknown. Serum trifluralin and pendimethalin, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), and predictors of 10-year ASCVD risk were measured in participants from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Linear mixed model, restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model were used for association analyses.

Primary exploration of cell-free DNA in the plasma of patients with parathyroid neoplasms using next-generation sequencing.

Background And Aims: Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been used to monitor gene mutations and diagnose tumors. Discriminating parathyroid carcinoma (PC) from parathyroid adenoma (PA) before surgery is difficult because of the overlap in clinical features between parathyroid neoplasms. We aimed to detect cfDNA mutations in plasma samples from PC and PA patients before surgery to predict the CDC73 status in tumor tissue and help in the differential diagnosis of parathyroid neoplasms.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and type 2 diabetes among older adults: Synthesizing cross-sectional population study and meta-analysis.

The effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain unclear. We aimed to explore the effects of PFASs exposure on glucose metabolism disorders in older adults. We enrolled 704 elderly individuals aged over 65 years from Wuhan, China.

Gallbladder and liver miliary nodules: a surprising diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis during emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) presenting as miliary nodules on the gallbladder and liver is extremely rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges. This report describes a case of disseminated TB discovered during emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old male presented with decreased appetite, weight loss, and fever.

Evaluating dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for differentiating HER2-zero, HER2-low, and HER2-positive breast cancers in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives: To quantitatively assess the differences in parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in HER2-zero, HER2-low, or HER2-positive tumors, and to build optimal model for early prediction of HER2-low breast cancer (BC).

Materials And Methods: Clinical and DCE-MRI data from 220 BC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) were retrospectively analyzed. Quantitative and semi-quantitative DCE-MRI parameters were compared in the HER2-zero, HER2-low, or HER2-positive groups before and after early NACT.

GABPα inhibits tumor progression and angiogenesis via a novel 18-bp indel within promoter in breast cancer.

Background: Pathological angiogenesis is crucial for tumor progression, thus targeting neovascularization is regarded as an effective strategy for cancer therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a specific pro-vascular endothelial regulator, contributes to aberrant tumor angiogenesis.

Objective: To identify sequence polymorphisms of VEGF gene and the effects on breast cancer.

GABPα targeted by miR-378a-5p inhibits the growth and angiogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.

Considering the high degree of malignancy, recurrence rate and poor prognosis, exploring promising targets is an imperious strategy for colorectal carcinoma therapy. Recent studies have indicated that GABPα plays a role in cancer aggressiveness, but its exact function and regulatory mechanisms in colorectal cancer progression remain unclear. This study aims to explore the biological role of GABPα and its upstream regulator, miR-378a-5p, in modulating cancer progression.

Impaired Iron-Sulfur Cluster Synthesis Induces Mitochondrial PARthanatos in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe complication of diabetes, is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Despite its severity, the intrinsic factors governing cardiomyocyte damage in DCM remain unclear. It is hypothesized that impaired iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster synthesis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of DCM.

Longitudinal joint effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and genetic susceptibility on fasting plasma glucose: A prospective cohort study of general Chinese urban adults.

The effects of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure on glycemic regulation and the underlying genetic mechanism were still unclear. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal joint effects of PAHs exposure and genetic susceptibility on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) through a longitudinal study. We included 4104 observations (2383 baseline participants and 1721 6-year follow-up participants) from Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort.