Screening and Phenotyping of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Boza.

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from a traditional fermented beverage, Boza, and to conduct an in-depth study on their fermentation and probiotic properties. The fermentation (acid production rate, acid tolerance, salt tolerance, amino acid decarboxylase activity) and probiotic properties (gastrointestinal tolerance, bile salt tolerance, hydrophobicity, self-aggregation, drug resistance, bacteriostatic properties) of the 16 isolated LAB were systematically analyzed by morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests and 16S rDNA molecular biology. This analysis utilized principal component analysis (PCA) to comprehensively evaluate the biological properties of the strains.

Enhanced secure encryption scheme using dual chaotic models for OFDM-VLC system with HD-MMIM.

This paper innovatively proposes a physical-layer security-enhanced scheme for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing visible light communication (OFDM-VLC) based on high-dimensional multi-mode index modulation (HD-MMIM). The scheme deeply integrates a 1D Logistic chaos model and the 4D hyperchaotic model, establishing a multi-level and all-around dynamic protection framework including bit stream XOR encryption, index table encryption, and HD constellation rotation. Experimental results show that HD-MMIM effectively improves the transmission performance of the VLC system.

A dual-mode electrochemical and fluorescence aptasensor based on CDs@Cu/Al-MOF and TiC for the detection of kanamycin in milk.

A dual-mode electrochemical and fluorescent sensing platform for the highly sensitive detection of kanamycin (KANA) in milk was constructed, which leveraged the synergistic effects of carbon dots (CDs)-loaded metal-organic frameworks (CDs@Cu/Al-MOF) and TiC, along with the competitive binding of complementary DNA (cDNA) strands to KANA-specific aptamers. Loading CDs onto Cu/Al-MOF effectively prevented the aggregation of CDs and shielded the fluorescent signals from environmental interference, significantly enhancing signal stability. When a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) functionalized with TiC and aptamers was immersed in a solution of cDNA-functionalized CDs@Cu/Al-MOF, the aptamers hybridized with the cDNA, anchoring the CDs@Cu/Al-MOF onto the GCE surface.

Smart contours: deep learning-driven internal gross tumor volume delineation in non-small cell lung cancer using 4D CT maximum and average intensity projections.

Background: Delineating the internal gross tumor volume (IGTV) is crucial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Deep learning (DL) enables the automation of this process; however, current studies focus mainly on multiple phases of four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT), which leads to indirect results. This study proposed a DL-based method for automatic IGTV delineation using maximum and average intensity projections (MIP and AIP, respectively) from 4D CT.

A simple self-assembly aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of kanamycin based on carbon dots and TiC MXene nanocomposite.

Antibiotics play an excellent role in preventing and treating animal diseases, but their improper use poses a potential threat to public health. Designing a sensing platform to detect trace amounts of antibiotic residues in actual samples is a significant challenge. To achieve this objective, a self-assembly aptasensor based on a two-round signal amplification strategy for kanamycin (KANA) trace detection was demonstrated by employing carbon dot (CD) decorated TiC MXene as electrode modification material and the complex of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and methylene blue (MB) as probes, where dsDNA was composed of complementary DNA (cDNA) and aptamers.

Boundary information-guided adversarial diffusion model for efficient unsupervised synthetic CT generation.

Background: The absence of tissue electron density information derived from greyscale Hounsfield units (HUs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) limits its further clinical application in radiotherapy (RT). The use of synthetic computed tomography (sCT) with MRI simplifies RT treatment and improves positioning accuracy by eliminating the need for computed tomography (CT) simulation with radiation dose and error-prone image registration. Although CycleGAN and its variants can obtain verisimilar sCT through unsupervised learning, ensuring perfect structural consistency of the synthesized images in this approach remains challenging, and thus limiting the quality and diversity of the images synthesized for a given application.

Speed of Light in Hollow-Core Photonic Bandgap Fiber Approaching That in Vacuum.

A Fresnel mirror is introduced at a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber end by fusion splicing a short single-mode fiber segment, to reflect the light backward to an optical frequency domain reflectometry. The backward Fresnel reflection is used as a probe light to achieve light speed measurement with a high resolution and a high signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, its group velocity is obtained with the round-trip time delay as well as the beat frequency at the reflection peak.

Improvement of plan quality in whole-breast radiation following BCS using feasibility DVH by less-experienced planners.

Variability in plan quality of radiotherapy is commonly attributed to the planner's skill rather than technological parameters. While experienced planners can set reasonable parameters before optimization, less experienced planners face challenges. This study aimed to assess the quality of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with left-sided breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery.

Overexpression of ESYT3 improves radioimmune responses through activating cGAS-STING pathway in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Radiotherapy can modulate systemic antitumor immunity, while immune status in the tumor microenvironment also influences the efficacy of radiotherapy, but relevant molecular mechanisms are poorly understood in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: In this study, we innovatively proposed a radiotherapy response classification for LUAD, and discovered ESYT3 served as a tumor suppressor and radioimmune response sensitizer. ESYT3 expression was measured both in radioresistant and radiosensitive LUAD tissues and cells.

The role of fungi in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent tumour with high morbidity rates worldwide, and its incidence among younger populations is rising. Early diagnosis of CRC can help control the associated mortality. Fungi are common microorganisms in nature.

Channel-wise attention enhanced and structural similarity constrained cycleGAN for effective synthetic CT generation from head and neck MRI images.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an increasingly important role in radiotherapy, enhancing the accuracy of target and organs at risk delineation, but the absence of electron density information limits its further clinical application. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a novel unsupervised network (cycleSimulationGAN) for unpaired MR-to-CT synthesis.

Methods: The proposed cycleSimulationGAN in this work integrates contour consistency loss function and channel-wise attention mechanism to synthesize high-quality CT-like images.

Prevalence of depressive tendencies among college students and the influence of attributional styles on depressive tendencies in the post-pandemic era.

Introduction: Depression symptoms are prevalent globally, including China, with a notable impact on college students. This study aims to not only estimate the prevalence of depressive tendencies and attributional styles among college students in the post-pandemic era but also explore the relationship between the two factors. The findings of this study can provide new insights into early intervention and support services for individuals exhibiting tendencies toward depression.

Birefringence characterization in a dual-hole microstructured optical fiber using an OFDR method.

The birefringence in a dual-hole microstructured optical fiber is numerically calculated and characterized with an optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) method. Due to the asymmetric dual air holes in the cross-section, the polarized 01 and 01 modes propagate with different group velocities and time delays. Through a polarized coherent OFDR system in experiment, the Fresnel reflection peaks for each mode are separated in the frequency domain with their corresponding beat frequency.

Highly efficient and stable CsMnZnBr@SiO for wide color gamut backlight displays.

Mn-based perovskites have become a new candidate material for backlight display applications. However, low efficiency and poor stability are the key problems limiting the application of Mn-based perovskites. In this work, Zn-doped and SiO-encapsulated CsMnBr, denoted as CsMnZnBr@SiO (CMZBS), was successfully synthesized to improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and stability.

Metal-Ion-Doped Manganese Halide Hybrids with Tunable Emission for Advanced Anti-Counterfeiting.

Stimuli-responsive luminescent materials have received great attention for their potential application in anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. Manganese halide hybrids have been considered an efficient stimuli-responsive luminescent material due to their low price and adjustable photoluminescence (PL). However, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of PEAMnBr is relatively low.

A novel dammarane triterpenoid alleviates atherosclerosis by activating the LXRα pathway.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that ginsenoside compound K can attenuate the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, ginsenoside compound K has potential for atherosclerosis therapy. How to improve the druggability and enhance the antiatherosclerotic activity of ginsenoside compound K are the core problems in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Comparative dosimetric and radiobiological assessment of left-sided whole breast and regional nodes with advanced radiotherapy techniques.

The aim of this study was to analyze the dosimetric and radiobiologic differences of the left-sided whole breast and regional nodes in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and helical tomotherapy (HT).  The IMRT, VMAT, and HT plans in this study were generated for thirty-five left-sided breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). The planning target volume (PTV) included the whole breast and supraclavicular nodes.

Observation and characterization of the high order modes in a six-mode fiber using an OFDR method.

High order modes in a six-mode fiber are separately observed and characterized using an Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) method. Due to the difference in group refractive index between fundamental mode and the high order modes, Fresnel reflection peaks for each mode can be separated in beat frequency domain with their corresponding time delay. In the experiment, the fundamental mode and high order modes are excited in turn and observed at a 6.

M6A RNA Methylation Regulator HNRNPC Contributes to Tumorigenesis and Predicts Prognosis in Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant glioma with a high death rate. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays an increasingly important role in tumors. The current study aimed to determine the function of the regulators of m6A RNA methylation in GBM.

Identification and Estimation of Solute Storage and Release in Karst Water Systems, South China.

Solute storage and release in groundwater are key processes in solute transport for groundwater remediation and protection. In karst areas where concentrated recharge conditions exist, pollution incidents can easily occur in springs that are hydraulically connected to densely inhabited karst depressions. The intrinsic heterogeneity common in karst media makes modeling solute transport very difficult with great uncertainty.

Numerical Analysis and Recursive Compensation of Position Deviation for a Sub-Millimeter Resolution OFDR.

We analyze the source of the position deviation and propose a demodulation recursive compensation algorithm to ensure a sub-millimeter resolution in improved optical frequency domain reflectometry. The position deviation between the geometric path and optical path changes with the temperature or strain, due to the elastic-optic and thermal-optic effects. It accumulates along the fiber and becomes large enough to affect the spectral correlation between the measured and reference spectra at the fiber end.

Fluorinated Polyimide-Film Based Temperature and Humidity Sensor Utilizing Fiber Bragg Grating.

We propose and demonstrate a temperature and humidity sensor based on a fluorinated polyimide film and fiber Bragg grating. Moisture-induced film expansion or contraction causes an extra strain, which is transferred to the fiber Bragg grating and leads to a humidity-dependent wavelength shift. The hydrophobic fluoride doping in the polyimide film helps to restrain its humidity hysteresis and provides a short moisture breathing time less than 2 min.

Theoretical Calculation of Different Reaction Mechanisms for CO Oxidation on MnN-Doped Graphene.

In recent decades, great expectation has always been placed on catalysts that can convert toxic CO into CO under mild conditions. The catalytic mechanism of CO oxidation by Mn-coordinated N-doped graphene with a single vacancy (MnN-SV) and a double vacancy (MnN-DV) was studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that CO on MnN-SV could not be desorbed from the substrate and MnN-SV was not suitable for use as a CO oxidation catalyst.

Nitrate distribution under the influence of seasonal hydrodynamic changes and human activities in Huixian karst wetland, South China.

Karst wetland is a special, complex and fragile type of wetland. With increasing economic and agricultural activities, the negative impacts of human activities on water quality particularly on karst wetland is also increasing. In this paper multiple datasets and methods including hydrological, hydrochemical and stable isotope data were used to elucidate the distribution and transport of nitrate pollution in Huixian karst wetland under the influence of seasonal hydrodynamic changes and human activities.