Browse Articles

Fault localization for automatic train operation based on the adaptive error locating array algorithm

Global-optimized energy storage performance in multilayer ferroelectric ceramic capacitors

Exploring the structure and properties of $$\alpha$$-sheet based bilayer borophenes

Abstract Recent experimental realizations of bilayer boron materials motivated us to study the structure and properties of $$\alpha$$ -sheet-based bilayer borophenes with interlayer covalent bonds. As shown here, at least three stacking variations are possible: AA, AB, and $$\hbox {AB}'$$ . The on-top AA-stacking has been obtained experimentally supported on a metallic substrate. The AB-stacking is the most stable among neutral freestanding structures, whereas the AA and $$\hbox {AB}'$$ stacking sequences are very close in energy, both for neutral and negatively charged cases. The studied bilayer borophenes exhibit extraordinarily high electric conductivity with values as high as $${\sim } 10^7\mathrm {~S}/\textrm{m}$$ for the experimentally observed AA-stacking. The highly stable AB-stacking bilayer, reported here for the first time, exhibits an anisotropic conductivity with an average value of $$6.0 \times 10^6~\mathrm {~S}/\textrm{m}$$ . Contrary to the AA-stacking bilayer that retains the 6-fold fold rotational symmetry of the $$\alpha$$ -sheet, the AB-stacking structure has 2-fold symmetry, which leads to the anisotropic transport properties.

Perioperative ultrasound screening of lower extremity veins is effective in the prevention of fatal pulmonary embolism in orthopedic patients

STAT1 regulates immune-mediated intestinal stem cell proliferation and epithelial regeneration

AbstractThe role of the immune system in regulating tissue stem cells remains poorly understood, as does the relationship between immune-mediated tissue damage and regeneration. Graft vs. host disease (GVHD) occurring after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) involves immune-mediated damage to the intestinal epithelium and its stem cell compartment. To assess impacts of T-cell-driven injury on distinct epithelial constituents, we have performed single cell RNA sequencing on intestinal crypts following experimental BMT. Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) from GVHD mice have exhibited global transcriptomic changes associated with a substantial Interferon-γ response and upregulation of STAT1. To determine its role in crypt function, STAT1 has been deleted within murine intestinal epithelium. Following allo-BMT, STAT1 deficiency has resulted in reduced epithelial proliferation and impaired ISC recovery. Similarly, epithelial Interferon-γ receptor deletion has also attenuated proliferation and ISC recovery post-transplant. Investigating the mechanistic basis underlying this epithelial response, ISC STAT1 expression in GVHD has been found to correlate with upregulation of ISC c-Myc. Furthermore, activated T cells have stimulated Interferon-γ-dependent epithelial regeneration in co-cultured organoids, and Interferon-γ has directly induced STAT1-dependent c-Myc expression and ISC proliferation. These findings illustrate immunologic regulation of a core tissue stem cell program after damage and support a role for Interferon-γ as a direct contributor to epithelial regeneration.

Extended PROMETHEE method with (p,q)-rung linear Diophantine fuzzy sets for robot selection problem

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram model for severe osteomyelitis patients

Many-body van der Waals interactions in multilayer structures studied by atomic force microscopy

Heterozygous mutation in BRCA2 induces accelerated age-dependent decline in sperm quality with male subfertility in rats

Exosomes derived from hUC-MSCs exhibit ameliorative efficacy upon previous cesarean scar defect via orchestrating β-TrCP/CHK1 axis

Radiocarbon monoxide indicates increasing atmospheric oxidizing capacity

Data mining and analysis of adverse events of Vedolizumab based on the FAERS database

Genome-scale evolution in local populations of wild chimpanzees

Chemical looping synthesis of amines from N2 via iron nitride as a mediator

Study on the evolution characteristics and influencing factors of frost heave on kaolin clay during the horizontal freezing process

Validity and reliability of the step test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption in pediatric population

Deep learning and genome-wide association meta-analyses of bone marrow adiposity in the UK Biobank

Abstract Bone marrow adipose tissue is a distinct adipose subtype comprising more than 10% of fat mass in healthy humans. However, the functions and pathophysiological correlates of this tissue are unclear, and its genetic determinants remain unknown. Here, we use deep learning to measure bone marrow adiposity in the femoral head, total hip, femoral diaphysis, and spine from MRI scans of approximately 47,000 UK Biobank participants, including over 41,000 white and over 6300 non-white participants. We then establish the heritability and genome-wide significant associations for bone marrow adiposity at each site. Our meta-GWAS in the white population finds 67, 147, 134, and 174 independent significant single nucleotide polymorphisms, which map to 54, 90, 43, and 100 genes for the femoral head, total hip, femoral diaphysis, and spine, respectively. Transcriptome-wide association studies, colocalization analyses, and sex-stratified meta-GWASes in the white participants further resolve functional and sex-specific genes associated with bone marrow adiposity at each site. Finally, we perform a multi-ancestry meta-GWAS to identify genes associated with bone marrow adiposity across the different bone regions and across ancestry groups. Our findings provide insights into BMAT formation and function and provide a basis to study the impact of BMAT on human health and disease.

Harnessing CRISPR interference to resensitize laboratory strains and clinical isolates to last resort antibiotics

AbstractThe global race against antimicrobial resistance requires novel antimicrobials that are not only effective in killing specific bacteria, but also minimize the emergence of new resistances. Recently, CRISPR/Cas-based antimicrobials were proposed to address killing specificity with encouraging results. However, the emergence of target sequence mutations triggered by Cas-cleavage was identified as an escape strategy, posing the risk of generating new antibiotic-resistance gene (ARG) variants. Here, we evaluated an antibiotic re-sensitization strategy based on CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), which inhibits gene expression without damaging target DNA. The resistance to four antibiotics, including last resort drugs, was significantly reduced by individual and multi-gene targeting of ARGs in low- to high-copy numbers in recombinant E. coli. Escaper analysis confirmed the absence of mutations in target sequence, corroborating the harmless role of CRISPRi in the selection of new resistances. E. coli clinical isolates carrying ARGs of severe clinical concern were then used to assess the robustness of CRISPRi under different growth conditions. Meropenem, colistin and cefotaxime susceptibility was successfully increased in terms of MIC (up to > 4-fold) and growth delay (up to 11 h) in a medium-dependent fashion. ARG repression also worked in a pathogenic strain grown in human urine, as a demonstration of CRISPRi-mediated re-sensitization in host-mimicking media. This study laid the foundations for further leveraging CRISPRi as antimicrobial agent or research tool to selectively repress ARGs and investigate resistance mechanisms.

Study on discrete prediction model for mechanical behavior of buried pipelines under the influence of differential frost heave

One-year mortality and re-admission rate by disease etiology in National Heart Failure Registry of India