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Protective function of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv11.3 in a mouse model of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury
Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels contribute to repolarization in excitable tissues such as nerves and cardiac muscle; consequently, they control the firing frequency and duration of action potential. Their dysfunction can thus cause neurological disorders and cardiac disorders with arrhythmias. The dysfunction of Kv11.3 is associated with bipolar disorder, but no reports have linked it to heart disease. Kv11.3-knocked out (KO) mice exhibit behavioral abnormalities, but they do not have cardiac abnormalities. Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) experiments were performed on the hearts of Kv11.3 KO mice to determine whether they would differ from wild-type mice when exposed to stimuli that could induce sudden cardiac death. The mortality rates and infarct size of the Kv11.3 KO mice increased after cardiac I/R. The corrected QT interval was shortened in the wild-type mice after cardiac I/R, but it remained nearly unchanged in Kv11.3 KO mice with alterations in heart rate variability. These phenotypes could be reproduced by administering high-dose NS-1643, a Kv11.3 channel antagonist, after cardiac I/R. The infarct size had no significant difference in the ex vivo cardiac I/R experiment in contrast to the in vivo cardiac I/R experiment. Our study indicated that Kv11.3 protects the myocardium from I/R injury through neural pathways.
Research on the improvement of CPI basic classification index compilation method in digital economy
Information and communication technology (ICT) products are the core of the digital economy, and their classified price index plays an important role in the compilation of CPI index. This paper starts from the characteristics of ICT products that have a fast update rate and do not necessarily meet the unit substitution elasticity between products, and improves the traditional product price index model by considering the mismatch item processing and product substitution elasticity and chain drift factors to construct the Hedonic-SV-RYGEKS price index model in this paper. Using the weekly data of Jingdong mobile phone price on whale staff platform and the monthly data of notebook computer on magic mirror insight platform, after processing, a total of 1586 sets of mobile phone data and 136 sets of notebook computer data are obtained. By writing SPSS macro program and python program, the weekly price index of mobile phone and the monthly price index of notebook computer are calculated, and the ring price index and fixed base price index of mobile phone and notebook computer are compiled respectively. The chain ring price index based on model calculation is compared with the fixed base price index to investigate the rationality of the model. The results show that: Firstly, based on the principle of the quality adjustment model, the characteristic variables that can reflect the characteristics of the product are selected, and a Hedonic quality adjustment model is established between them and the product price. Through the actual data test, the model is suitable for fitting the price of mismatched products. Secondly, from the perspective of reflecting the elasticity of substitution of products, the evaluation criteria of the price index, and the adjustment of product quality, this paper constructs the Hedonic-SV-RYGEKS price index based on the Hedonic model and SV index, which avoids the incomparability of samples caused by the low matching degree of inter-temporal samples, and effectively inhibits the chain drift of chain price index caused by the rapid update of products. Finally, it is hoped that the research content of this paper can provide a reference for improving and innovating the processing method of mismatched projects in the compilation of price index.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Methane to Methylamine
Air traffic controller work state recognition based on improved xception network
In the current context of rapid development of air traffic, the long-time and high-intensity working environment can easily lead to controllers’ fatigue state, which in turn affects flight safety. Different from the traditional Mini-Xception pre-training network oriented to the classification task, the study improves it so that it can effectively process multi-dimensional time-series data of air traffic controllers’ facial expressions and emotional changes. On its basis, a dynamic time-series data processing module is introduced and combined with a multi-task learning framework and a technique that combines multi-level feature extraction and emotional state analysis to realize the joint recognition of facial expressions and work states, such as fatigue and stress. The experiment findings denotes that the new model has the highest accuracy of 94.36% in detecting eye fatigue, the highest recall rate of 91.68%, and the maximum area under the curve test value of 93.02%. Compared to similar detection models, its average detection time is shortened by 1.9 seconds, with the highest accuracy of 95% in detecting 180 human eye images and an average fatigue detection of 91%. The innovation of the research is to utilize Mini-Xception network for real-time analysis of dynamic features of facial expressions and correlate them with the actual work performance of the controllers, which proposes a new multi-task learning framework, improves the accuracy and stability of the recognition, and provides a new idea and technical support for intelligent monitoring and control of air traffic management system.
Asymmetric CO–CHO Coupling over Pr Single-Atom Alloy Enables Industrial-Level Electrosynthesis of Ethylene
Urban environmental noise and depression causal pathway: Potential role of chronic conditions as mediator
Background Accepting the fact of a growing urban population and associated health risks, such as increased exposure to pollutants, and considering the high prevalence of chronic diseases, this study aims to investigate the relationship between exposure to environmental noise and depression. The primary objective is to determine the potential mediating role of chronic diseases in this relationship. This study is part of the European H2020 URBANOME project, designed to explore the relationship between the environment and health in urban settings. The main goal of the project is to promote urban health, well-being, and liveability by systematically integrating health concerns into urban policies and civic activities. Materials and methods We obtained the data for this study from the Madrid City Health Survey, conducted through computer-assisted telephone interviews. Outcome variables assessed through self-reports included depression, exposure to environmental noise, and the presence of chronic diseases. We used a counterfactual mediation framework, implemented by the R package multimediate, to evaluate the potential mediating role of chronic diseases in the relationship between exposure to environmental noise and depression. Results The study included 8,445 interviews, with a higher percentage of women (54.67%) than men. 23.29% were over 65, and 17.17% under 30. Notably, 7.82% reported depression, 39.53% had chronic diseases, and 35.43% acknowledged noise exposure. In our regression models, those exposed to environmental noise were 1.24 times more likely to have a chronic disease, and individuals with a chronic disease were 2.93 times more likely to suffer from depression. Participants exposed to environmental noise had 1.03 times more depression, being the 13% of the noise health effect mediated by the presence of chronic illness. Conclusion Our findings suggest a link between environmental noise exposure and depression, potentially mediated by chronic diseases. This points out the need for public health interventions to reduce urban noise exposure and improve mental health. Furthermore, prospective studies are needed for confirmation, incorporating noise level measurements and temporal data on the onset of chronic diseases and depression.
“Clicked” Hydrazone Photoswitches
Effect of Qingjin Huatan decoction on pulmonary function and inflammatory mediators in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The inflammatory response is the main pathophysiological basis of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a key factor that leads to frequent exacerbations and disease progression. Suppressing the inflammatory response can improve pulmonary function, prognosis, and quality of life in stable COPD patients. Objective To evaluate the effect of Qingjin Huatan decoction (QJHTD) on pulmonary function and inflammatory mediators in stable COPD patients. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of stable COPD with QJHTD were retrieved from nine Chinese and English electronic databases up to June 30, 2024. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the modified Jadad scale. Statistical analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were performed using Stata 17.0 software. Results A total of 16 RCTs involving 1,228 stable COPD patients were included. Compared to standard treatment, QJHTD significantly improved pulmonary function, with increases in FEV1 (MD = 0.32, 95% CI [0.25, 0.38], p = 0.000), FVC (MD = 0.30, 95% CI [0.22, 0.37], p = 0.000), FEV1/FVC (MD = 5.58, 95% CI [4.81, 6.34], p = 0.000), and PaO2 (MD = 9.62, 95% CI [6.17, 13.08], p = 0.000), and a decrease in PaCO2 (MD = -9.12, 95% CI [–11.96, –6.28], p = 0.000). QJHTD also significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α (MD = –7.47, 95% CI [–10.59, –4.34], p = 0.000), IL-6 (MD = -4.33, 95% CI [–6.17, –2.48], p = 0.000), and hs-CRP (MD = –9.11, 95% CI [–11.02, –7.20], p = 0.000). Additionally, QJHTD improved clinical efficacy (RR = 4.60, 95% CI [3.09, 6.86], p = 0.000) without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 1.60, 95% CI [0.69, 2.46], p = 0.42). Conclusion The current evidence suggests that QJHTD, as an adjunct therapy to standard treatment, may significantly improve pulmonary function, reduce inflammatory mediators, and enhance clinical efficacy in patients with stable COPD, with a favorable safety profile. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to several limitations, including small sample sizes, high heterogeneity among studies, and methodological weaknesses such as lack of blinding. More rigorously designed, high-quality, multicenter trials are needed to confirm these results.
Formation of Ground-State Intermediate during Electronic Relaxation of Pyrimidine Nucleobases
Karst-environments of the southeastern Yucatan Peninsula: Hotspots for modern freshwater microbialites
Modern microbialites are sedimentary structures that offer a window into Earth’s geologic history and the intricate interplay between geology and microorganisms. Microbialites are formed by the interaction between microbial communities and the environment leading to mineral precipitation. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the bacterial and archaeal composition (using the V4 region of the 16S rRNA), along with mineralogy, geochemistry, and hydrogeochemical characterizations of microbialites of five aquatic systems (Bacalar, Muyil, Chichancanab, Azul and Cenote Azul) in southeastern Yucatan Peninsula, México. Dominant taxa were distributed within Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteriota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexota, and Planctomycetota, while NB1-j, Myxoscoccota, Verrucomicrobiota, Acidobacteriota, and Crenarchaeota (Archaea) were less abundant. Microbialites from Cenote Azul, a deep sinkhole, were the most different and biodiverse. Notably, potential new families of Cyanobacteriota were observed in all microbialite sites. The primary mineral constituents in microbialites were calcite, magnesian calcite, and gypsum. Hydrogeochemical conditions differed among sites despite their hydrological connectivity. Overall, the karstic ecosystem, hydrogeochemical conditions, tropical climate, and shallow coastal landscapes have favored the occurrence of microbialites in the Yucatan Peninsula, a hotspot region for the formation of these communities. However, their safeguarding becomes crucial, emphasizing the urgency of our role in environmental conservation, in the face of challenging conditions associated with climate change and increased anthropogenic activities detrimental to the environment.
Synergizing Catalysis with Post-catalysis Pseudo-Iron Release by Building Dynamic Catalytic Active Sites in Diatomic Nanozymes for Boosting Cancer Therapy
Association between neutrophil count and the risk of cardiovascular disease: A community-based cohort study in Taiwan
Background Neutrophil count is associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As previous studies have been predominantly conducted in Caucasians, the significance of neutrophil count as a clinical factor in CVD in other ethnicities remain unclear. Methods A total of 2,955 participants from the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Study(CCCC), who had no established CVD diagnosis and missing data, were enrolled in this study and followed from 1990–1991–2013. We use Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate the association between neutrophil count and CVD risk. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex and age, while sensitivity analyses were conducted by excluding participants with extreme values. Results Over a median follow-up period of 22 years, 400 cases of new-onset CVD were recorded. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that a higher neutrophil count was independently associated with CVD incidence in Taiwanese adults, with an HR of 1.42 (95% CI 1.03–1.94) after adjusting for multiple covariates. This association remained consistent in both the subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that, in the Taiwanese population, a higher neutrophil count was associated with a higher incidence of CVD over an average 22-year follow-up in individuals without preexisting CVD.
Oxoisoaporphine Alkaloid Iridium(III) Derivative: An Immunogenic Cell Death Inducer That Engages the Autophagy-Dependent Regulator Cathepsin D
Characterization of halotolerant Kushneria isolates that stimulate growth of alfalfa in saline conditions
A key barrier to crop production is soil salinity, which is a serious and growing problem world-wide due to inadequate water drainage, saline ground water, or inadequate rainfall to wash away soil salts. There is substantial promise for plant-associated microbes isolated from halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) to enhance growth of salt-sensitive crop plants in salty soils. The objective of this study was to identify salt-tolerant bacteria from native halophytes and characterize their ability to stimulate the growth of alfalfa in salty soil conditions. Several halotolerant bacteria, including Kushneria, Halomonas, and Bacillus, were identified from the rhizosphere or roots of three halophyte species (Salicornia rubra, Sarcocornia utahensis, and Allenrolfea occidentalis) in a saline area south of Utah Lake, Utah, USA. Biochemical properties, including indole acetic acid production, biofilm formation, phosphate solubilization and siderophore production activities, which have been associated with plant growth promoting (PGP) activity, were characterized for several isolates. Selected strains were screened for the ability to stimulate growth of alfalfa in controlled laboratory experiments. Among these strains, two independent isolates of the genus Kushneria were found to have significant growth-promoting activity for inoculated alfalfa plants grown under saline conditions (0.205 M or 1.2% NaCl) that mimic common salinity levels of affected soils. Plants inoculated with a combination of two Kushneria strains that have salt-tolerant PGP (ST-PGP) properties exhibited a statistically significant increase in plant growth over uninoculated plants. A GFP marker confirmed presence of Kushneria in the roots of inoculated plants. Bacteria with ST-PGP activity will be a key resource to facilitate increased crop yield from land affected by salinity, and the data presented here for two Kushneria isolates are promising.
Tail-Assisted Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (<i>ta</i>-ESIPT) Fluorophores: A Universal Ratiometric Platform for Hydration-Sensitive Biomolecular Imaging and Sensing
Analyzing the keys to the design of a mobile application for physical activity for school and out-of-school use from the perspective of adolescents, teachers, coaches, managers, and experts
No previous research has analyzed the opinion of adolescents, teachers, coaches, managers, and mobile app experts, on the usefulness and functionality of mobile apps for use by adolescents. For this reason, the objectives of this research were: to discover their opinion about the physical activity apps currently available; and to determine the elements and characteristics that they consider most relevant to find in a physical activity app that can be used for a longer period of time. Eight focus groups were carried out in which a total of 38 adolescents (mean age: 13.74 ± 1.24 years old), 29 teachers, coaches, and managers (mean age: 35.27 ± 2.81 years old), and 10 experts (mean age: 43.18 ± 4.22 years old) participated. The most relevant results regarding the apps available include limitations in their functionality and design, as well as in the information provided and the requirements, which means that they are not designed exclusively for adolescents. Regarding the demands for a specific app for adolescents, the participants highlighted gamification as the main element, as it is key to user engagement, as well as the possibility of recording physical activity along with other healthy habits. Challenges, competitions or the possibility of observing progress should also be present in the application as they also influence user engagement and motivation. Adolescents also highlighted a multimedia section, privacy and rewards, while for professionals the inclusion of feedback, the facilitation of work and a fast interface for use in the school environment were key.
Natural Spy Chaperone Mimic: Tailored Nanochaperone with Electrostatic–Hydrophobic Synergy To Enhance Protein Folding Regulation
Curiosity across the adult lifespan: Age-related differences in state and trait curiosity
Maintaining curiosity in older age may be a key predictor of successful aging, but prior research on the relationship between curiosity and age is mixed, with mounting evidence showing that curiosity declines with age. However, there is evidence suggesting that state curiosity – a situational feeling of curiosity in response to information – may increase with age. Prior work has largely not adequately differentiated state and trait curiosity when examining its relationship with age. In a large lifespan sample (pilot study N = 193; preregistered main study N = 1,218), we assess trait curiosity and state curiosity (using a trivia rating task) to examine the relationship between each construct and age. The results show that, in line with prior work, trait curiosity shows a negative relationship with age, but state curiosity shows a positive relationship with age, while controlling for demographic variables. The results suggest that curiosity may have a more complex relationship with age than previously considered, which can have implications for engagement in cognitive activities in everyday life.