Caulerpin suppresses tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor growth via Hippo signaling in cervical cancer.

Caulerpin, a bisindole alkaloid derived from green algae of the genus Caulerpa, has exhibited a promising anti-proliferative effect on various tumor cells in vitro. However, its pharmacological potential has not been intensively explored in cervical cancer. In this study, the antitumor property of caulerpin was assessed in cervical cancer cells (HeLa and SiHa cells) and xenograft mouse models.

Drought-Induced Coordination of Photosynthesis, Stomata, and Hydraulics in Maize Leaves Between Sensitive and Tolerant Varieties.

Identification of drought-tolerant maize varieties in the context of climate change is critical. Although many studies have reported that the coordination of stomatal and hydraulic conductance of plant leaves ensures the net photosynthetic rate, it is unclear whether the arrangement of these three parameters is consistent among maize varieties differing in drought tolerance. Therefore, in this study, gas exchange parameters, hydraulic properties, and stomatal structure of leaves from eight maize varieties under full and deficit irrigation (DI) were determined.

A Novel Peculiarity of TXNIP Reversing the Radioresistance of NPC and Inducing Ferroptosis by xCT-GSH-GPX4-ROS Axis.

Background: Radioresistance is a major problem in clinical treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and molecular mechanisms of radioresistance related to the antioxidant system are unknown. TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein) is an endogenous inhibitor of thioredoxin. The system xCT/GSH/GPX4 axis is an important antioxidant system of ferroptosis in drug-resistant solid tumor therapy.

Optical design of gravitational wave detection telescope based on suppression of tilt to length coupling noise.

Spaceborne telescopes are vital components in space-based gravitational wave (GW) detection observatories, utilized for receiving and emitting laser signals to facilitate heterodyne interferometric displacement measurements. The coupling of wavefront aberrations with tilt-to-length (TTL) noise in space gravitational wave telescopes is a pivotal factor impacting measurement accuracy and warrants thorough attention. This research endeavors to achieve a telescope design with high optical path stability by reducing non-geometric TTL coupling noise, aiming to keep such noise beneath the threshold of 0.

Molecular crossbreeding-engineered self-calibrating probe with large emission shift for dual near-infrared imaging of therapy-induced senescence.

Therapy-induced senescence, a consequence of prolonged exposure to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can complicate cancer prognosis. Herein, we developed a novel near-infrared (NIR) ratiometric fluorescence probe, BTE-Gal, designed using a molecular crossbreeding strategy for dual-channel in vivo imaging of therapy-induced senescence. This probe integrates a dual-emission benzothiazole unit onto an NIR hemicyanine scaffold, resulting in triggerable dual emission with minimal spectral overlap upon exposure to β-galactosidase (β-gal), a widely recognized biomarker for senescent cell detection.

Alignment algorithm for reflective telescopes based on nodal aberration theory and the real-ray-tracing method.

Nodal aberration theory (NAT) serves as a potent tool for investigating the misalignment of reflective telescopes and is commonly employed in alignment algorithms. A vital parameter in NAT is the sigma vector. The traditional method of calculating this vector is based on paraxial ray tracing, which is relatively complicated and faces the challenge in extending NAT to multi-mirror reflective telescopes.

Formation and evaluation of docetaxel and triptolide polymer micelles for anti-cancer activity.

Aim: To develop docetaxel (DTX) and triptolide (TPL) polymer micelles (DTX/TPL-PMs) with synergistic anti-cancer effect and to evaluate their anti-cancer activity.

Methods: DTX/TPL-PMs were prepared by thin-film hydration. The drug loading (DL%), encapsulation efficiency (EE%), and cumulative release rate (CR%) were determined using HPLC.

Metabolic patterns of new psychoactive substances: Methyl-ketamine and 2-oxo-PCE in rats using UHPLC-QTOF analysis.

This study investigated the metabolic profiles of two isomeric psychoactive agents, methyl-ketamine [2-(ortho-tolyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone] and 2-oxo-PCE [2-(phenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone], in rats. Following oral administration, blood, liver, and urine samples were collected at timed intervals and analyzed via ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Metabolomic comparisons revealed distinct metabolic pathways driven by structural differences.

Mixed-Potential-Driven Catalysis: An Electrochemical Mechanism for Room-Temperature CO Oxidation on Gold Catalysts.

Gold is an effective catalyst for low-temperature CO oxidation, yet its mechanism remains debated. Among the various proposed mechanisms, increasing attention has been given to a possible electrochemical pathway in recent studies. Here, experimental evidence is reported that CO oxidation at room temperature in electrolytes proceeds via coupled electrochemical CO oxidation and oxygen reduction half-reactions, i.

Aberration compensation design method of freeform reflection systems based on generalized aberration theory with series expansion.

With the growing demand for high-performance, miniaturized, and lightweight optical systems, off-axis reflective configurations incorporating freeform surfaces have emerged as crucial solutions for reconciling imaging quality with system compactness. However, the intricate mathematical representations and non-rotational symmetry inherent in freeform surfaces present substantial challenges to conventional design methodologies, necessitating innovative direct design approaches. To address these limitations, this paper proposes an advanced aberration compensation method (ACM) rooted in generalized aberration theory (GAT) with series expansion, enabling balanced full-field performance.

Rational Enzyme Evolution by Facilitating Correlated Motion along the Reaction.

Enzymes are highly efficient and specific protein catalysts that play an essential role in regulating metabolic processes in living organisms. By modulating the rates of chemical reactions, enzymes tune fundamental crucial biological functions. Directed evolution is a widely used strategy to enhance protein functionality by selecting variants with desirable traits through random mutation and recombination.

From Digital Divide to Digital Equality: The Role of Learning in Older Singaporeans.

Objectives: The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in later life has received substantial attention, with continuous studies focusing on the digital divide for older persons. Literature usually defines and measures the digital divide by focusing on ICT accessibility, skills, and outcomes. This study attempted to expand this framework by further incorporating the role of learning for a more comprehensive perspective of understanding the digital divide at older ages.

Enhanced Cloud Detection Using a Unified Multimodal Data Fusion Approach in Remote Images.

Aiming at the complexity of network architecture design and the low computational efficiency caused by variations in the number of modalities in multimodal cloud detection tasks, this paper proposes an efficient and unified multimodal cloud detection model, M2Cloud, which can process any number of modal data. The core innovation of M2Cloud lies in its novel multimodal data fusion method. This method avoids architectural changes for new modalities, thereby significantly reducing incremental computing costs and enhancing overall efficiency.

Early antibiotic exposure and necrotizing enterocolitis among preterm infants < 34 weeks' gestation.

Background: To investigate whether use, duration, and types of early antibiotics were associated with the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among preterm infants born at <34 weeks' gestation.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study included all infants with gestational age <34 weeks and admitted to neonatal intensive care units across China. Early antibiotic exposure was defined as the antibiotic treatment initiated within the first three postnatal days.

Metformin in gynecological disorders: pathogenic insights and therapeutic implications.

Metformin, the most widely used anti-diabetic drug, has been demonstrated to exert various effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cardioprotective properties. Due to its affordability and low toxicity profile, metformin is increasingly used to prevent or treat a wide range of gynecological disorders, as evidenced by epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and animal and studies. Trial findings for non-cancer conditions such as endometriosis, premature ovarian failure (POF), and uterine fibroids remain controversial and insufficient.

Paraxial Propagation of Scattered Light Based on the Chirp Z-Transform.

In the simulation of partially coherent light propagation within optical systems utilizing the Wigner function, the constraints imposed by the Fourier transform necessitate that the dimensions of the input and output matrices remain congruent. Consequently, the extent of the image plane is dictated by the dimensions of the light source matrix and the propagation distance. For optical systems of greater complexity, such simulations are highly memory-intensive.

Integrating multi-omics data of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to explore the role of Kynurenine pathway and KYNU as a therapeutic target.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer with poor prognosis. TNBC currently lacks effective therapeutic options, and its molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Thus, identifying novel molecular targets may offer insights to enhance treatment strategies.

Cloud Detection in Remote Sensing Images Based on a Novel Adaptive Feature Aggregation Method.

Cloud detection constitutes a pivotal task in remote sensing preprocessing, yet detecting cloud boundaries and identifying thin clouds under complex scenarios remain formidable challenges. In response to this challenge, we designed a network model, named NFCNet. The network comprises three submodules: the Hybrid Convolutional Attention Module (HCAM), the Spatial Pyramid Fusion Attention (SPFA) module, and the Dual-Stream Convolutional Aggregation (DCA) module.

GRP78 as a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment: an updated review of its role in chemoradiotherapy resistance of cancer cells.

GRP78 (Glucose-related protein 78, BiP/HSPA5) is commonly overexpressed in cancer cells. Acting as an activator of endoplasmic reticulum stress, GRP78 is involved in the resistance of cancer cells to injury. Current evidence suggests that GRP78 plays a significant role in the radiotherapy resistance and chemotherapy resistance of cancers, which is accomplished through a variety of complex pathways.

Machine Learning Boosted Entropy-Engineered Synthesis of CuCo Nanometric Solid Solution Alloys for Near-100% Nitrate-to-Ammonia Selectivity.

Nanometric solid solution alloys are utilized in a broad range of fields, including catalysis, energy storage, medical application, and sensor technology. Unfortunately, the synthesis of these alloys becomes increasingly challenging as the disparity between the metal elements grows, due to differences in atomic sizes, melting points, and chemical affinities. This study utilized a data-driven approach incorporating sample balancing enhancement techniques and multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithms to improve the model's ability to handle imbalanced data, significantly boosting the efficiency of experimental parameter optimization.

Genetic correlation and mendelian randomization reveal the impact of sleep traits on urolithiasis risk.

Urolithiasis is a common and recurrent condition in the urological spectrum. Despite various proposed mechanisms, the causal relationship between sleep traits and the risk of urolithiasis remains unclear. We used publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data from the UK Biobank and FinnGen to perform a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and genetic correlation analysis, evaluating the causal relationship and genetic correlation between sleep traits (chronotype, getting up in the morning, sleep duration, nap during the day, and insomnia) and urolithiasis (calculus of the kidney and ureter, and calculus of the lower urinary tract).

Analysis of immune cell activation in patients with diabetes foot ulcer from the perspective of single cell.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can cause severe complications, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). There is a significant gap in understanding the single-cell ecological atlas of DM and DFU tissues.

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing data were used to create a detailed single-cell ecological landscape of DM and DFU.

Au Ordered Array Substrate for Rapid Detection and Precise Identification of Etomidate in E-Liquid Through Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Etomidate (ET), a medical anesthetic, is increasingly being incorporated into e-liquids for consumption and abuse as a new psychoactive substance (NPS), leading to significant social issues. In this work, large-area Au micro- and nano-structured ordered arrays were engineered as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for fast detection and precise identification of ET and its metabolites. This ordered array, characterized by abundant electromagnetic enhancement hotspots and structural uniformity, imparts unique properties to the SERS substrate, including ultra-sensitivity, spectral signal reproducibility, and precise quantitative capabilities.

Simultaneous detection of dynamic calcium signaling and ERK activity in living cells.

Calcium (Ca) is a universal second messenger in eukaryotic cells, and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) are the core component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. Both are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes, such as organogenesis, tumorigenesis, proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Over the past decade, it has been found that calcium signaling can regulate the ERK activity through multiple mechanisms, and conversely, ERK signaling transduction can also affect the triggering and intensity of calcium signaling.