Activin A receptor type 1C single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk in Chinese population

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)superfamily plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis.Activin A receptor type 1C(ACVR1C)is a TGF-βtype I receptor that is involved in tumorigenesis through binding to dif-ferent ligands.AIM To evaluate the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of ACVR1C and susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in Chinese Han population.METHODS In this hospital-based cohort study,1043 ESCC patients and 1143 healthy controls were enrolled.Five SNPs(rs4664229,rs4556933,rs77886248,rs77263459,rs6734630)of ACVR1C were assessed by the ligation detection reaction method.Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test,genetic model analysis,stratified analysis,linkage disequi-librium test,and haplotype analysis were conducted.RESULTS Participants carrying ACVR1C rs4556933 GA mutant had significantly decreased risk of ESCC,and those with rs77886248 TA mutant were related with higher risk,especially in older male smokers.In the haplotype analysis,ACVR1C Trs4664229Ars4556933Trs77886248Crs77263459Ars6734630 increased risk of ESCC,while Trs4664229Grs4556933Trs77886248Crs77263459Ars6734630 was associated with lower susceptibility to ESCC.CONCLUSION ACVR1C rs4556933 and rs77886248 SNPs were associated with the susceptibility to ESCC,which could provide a potential target for early diagnosis and treatment of ESCC in Chinese Han population.

Effect of lanthanum on microstructure of a nickel-based single crystal superalloy

To enhance the high-temperature oxidation resistance and mechanical properties of a secondgeneration nickel-based superalloy,various concentrations of lanthanum(La)ranging from 5.0×10^(-5)wt.%to 3.4×10^(-4)wt.%are added to the alloy.The microstructure of the nickel-based single crystal superalloy with trace of La was examined by means of SEM,EDS and TEM.Results show the addition of La decreases the segregation of elements and increases the amount ofγ/γ′eutectics of the as-cast alloy,and in the interdendritic region,the growth of eutectics is accompanied by the growth of strip clusters composed of Ni_(5)La and Ni_(3)Ta.As the La content in the alloy increases,the proportion of Ni_(5)La in the cluster increases.After heat treatment,incipient melting occurs in the cluster regions,leading to an increase in microporosity compared to the original as-cast samples.Furthermore,the heat treatment alters the shape of the clusters from a strip morphology to an elliptical one,and it changes their composition from Ni_(5)La and Ni_(3)Ta to a combination of Ni_(5)La,Ni_(3)Ta,and MC carbides.

Atmospheric neutron single event effects for multiple convolutional neural networks based on 28-nm and 16-nm SoC

The single event effects(SEEs)evaluations caused by atmospheric neutrons were conducted on three different convolutional neural network(CNN)models(Yolov3,MNIST,and ResNet50)in the atmospheric neutron irradiation spectrometer(ANIS)at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).The Yolov3 and MNIST models were implemented on the XILINX28-nm system-on-chip(So C).Meanwhile,the Yolov3 and ResNet50 models were deployed on the XILINX 16-nm Fin FET Ultra Scale+MPSoC.The atmospheric neutron SEEs on the tested CNN systems were comprehensively evaluated from six aspects,including chip type,network architecture,deployment methods,inference time,datasets,and the position of the anchor boxes.The various types of SEE soft errors,SEE cross-sections,and their distribution were analyzed to explore the radiation sensitivities and rules of 28-nm and 16-nm SoC.The current research can provide the technology support of radiation-resistant design of CNN system for developing and applying high-reliability,long-lifespan domestic artificial intelligence chips.

Single-atom Pt on carbon nanotubes for selective electrocatalysis

Utilizing supported single atoms as catalysts presents an opportunity to reduce the usage of critical raw materials such as platinum,which are essential for electrochemical reactions such as hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).Herein,we describe the synthesis of a Pt single electrocatalyst inside single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs)via a redox reaction.Characterizations via electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron microscopy,and X-ray absorption spectroscopy show the single-atom nature of the Pt.The electrochemical behavior of the sample to hydrogen and oxygen was investigated using the advanced floating electrode technique,which minimizes mass transport limitations and gives a thorough insight into the activity of the electrocatalyst.The single-atom samples showed higher HOR activity than state-of-the-art 30%Pt/C while almost no oxygen reduction reaction activity in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell operating range.The selective activity toward HOR arose as the main fingerprint of the catalyst confinement in the SWCNTs.

Metal-organic framework-based single-atom electro-/ photocatalysts: Synthesis, energy applications, and opportunities

Single-atom catalysts(SACs)have gained substantial attention because of their exceptional catalytic properties.However,the high surface energy limits their synthesis,thus creating significant challenges for further development.In the last few years,metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)have received significant consideration as ideal candidates for synthesizing SACs due to their tailorable chemistry,tunable morphologies,high porosity,and chemical/thermal stability.From this perspective,this review thoroughly summarizes the previously reported methods and possible future approaches for constructing MOF-based(MOF-derived-supported and MOF-supported)SACs.Then,MOF-based SAC's identification techniques are briefly assessed to understand their coordination environments,local electronic structures,spatial distributions,and catalytic/electrochemical reaction mechanisms.This review systematically highlights several photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications of MOF-based SACs for energy conversion and storage,including hydrogen evolution reactions,oxygen evolution reactions,O_(2)/CO_(2)/N_(2) reduction reactions,fuel cells,and rechargeable batteries.Some light is also shed on the future development of this highly exciting field by highlighting the advantages and limitations of MOF-based SACs.

Studies on Single Chain Structure of Konjac Glucomannan

The simulation is carried out by employing the method of molecular dynamics with the single chain of konjac glucomannan （KGM） in vacuum as the structural model to discuss the factors that affect the single chain structure, the dynamic structure of the chain and the acting forces that maintain the chain structure. The results show that the shape and stability of the chain are affected by the degree of polymerization. As for the KGM with high degree of polymerization, its chain presents random coiling state and its stability declines. Both before and after deacetylation in the process of dynamic motion, the chain of KGM presents random coiling state with periodic variation of extension and coil and demonstrates favorable flexibility, indicating acetyl is not the main factor that affects the shape of chain, whereas dihedral angle and static actions are respectively the key bonding and nonbonding acting forces that influence the single chain conformations in vacuum.

Phase-locked single-mode terahertz quantum cascade lasers array

We demonstrated a scheme of phase-locked terahertz quantum cascade lasers(THz QCLs)array,with a single-mode pulse power of 108 mW at 13 K.The device utilizes a Talbot cavity to achieve phase locking among five ridge lasers with first-order buried distributed feedback(DFB)grating,resulting in nearly five times amplification of the single-mode power.Due to the optimum length of Talbot cavity depends on wavelength,the combination of Talbot cavity with the DFB grating leads to better power amplification than the combination with multimode Fabry-Perot(F-P)cavities.The Talbot cavity facet reflects light back to the ridge array direction and achieves self-imaging in the array,enabling phase-locked operation of ridges.We set the spacing between adjacent elements to be 220μm,much larger than the free-space wavelength,ensuring the operation of the fundamental supermode throughout the laser's dynamic range and obtaining a high-brightness far-field distribution.This scheme provides a new approach for enhancing the single-mode power of THz QCLs.

Optimizing high-coordination shell of Co-based single-atom catalysts for efficient ORR and zinc-air batteries

Atom-level modulation of the coordination environment for single-atom catalysts(SACs)is considered as an effective strategy for elevating the catalytic performance.For the MNxsite,breaking the symmetrical geometry and charge distribution by introducing relatively weak electronegative atoms into the first/second shell is an efficient way,but it remains challenging for elucidating the underlying mechanism of interaction.Herein,a practical strategy was reported to rationally design single cobalt atoms coordinated with both phosphorus and nitrogen atoms in a hierarchically porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks.X-ray absorption spectrum reveals that atomically dispersed Co sites are coordinated with four N atoms in the first shell and varying numbers of P atoms in the second shell(denoted as Co-N/P-C).The prepared catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity as well as zinc-air battery performance.The introduction of P atoms in the Co-SACs weakens the interaction between Co and N,significantly promoting the adsorption process of ^(*)OOH,resulting in the acceleration of reaction kinetics and reduction of thermodynamic barrier,responsible for the increased intrinsic activity.Our discovery provides insights into an ultimate design of single-atom catalysts with adjustable electrocatalytic activities for efficient electrochemical energy conversion.

Construction of single chain Fv antibody against transferrin receptor and its protein fusion with alkaline phosphatase

AIM: To construct fusion protein of a single-chain antibody (scFv) against transferrin receptor (TfR) with alkaline phosphatase(AP). METHODS: The VH-linker-VL,namely scFv gene,was prepared by amplifying the VH and VL genes from plasmid pGEM-T-VH and pGEM-T-VL with splicing overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (SOE PCR). After the ScFv gene was modified by 5/71 and Not I,it was subcloned into the secretory expression vector pUC19/119, and then was transformed into E.coli TG1.The positive colonies were screened by colony PCR and their expressions were induced by IPTG.ScFv gene was gained by digesting ScFv expression vector pUC19/119 with 5/71 and NotI restriction enzymes, then subcloned into expression vector pDAP2, followed by transformation in E.coli TG1.The positive colonies were selected by bacterial colony PCR.The expression of fusion protein (scFv-AP) was induced by IPTG.Its activity was detected by enzyme immunoassay. The molecular weights of scFv and scFv-AP were measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). RESULTS: The product of SOE PCR formed a band of 700 bp in agarose gel electrophoresis. SDS-PAGE demonstrated the molecular weight of scFv was 27 ku.Immunofluorescent assay (IFA) demonstrated its reactivity with TfR.The molecular weight of scFv-AP was 75 ku.Enzyme immunoassay showed that scFv-AP could specifically bind to human TfR and play AP activity. CONCLUSION: We have successfully prepared the anti-human TfR scFv and constructed the fusion protein of scFv and AP.It is promising for immunological experiments.

Single nucleus/cell RNA-seq of the chicken hypothalamicpituitaryovarian axis offers new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of ovarian development

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian(HPO)axis represents a central neuroendocrine network essential for reproductive function.Despite its critical role,the intrinsic heterogeneity within the HPO axis across vertebrates and the complex intercellular interactions remain poorly defined.This study provides the first comprehensive,unbiased,cell type-specific molecular profiling of all three components of the HPO axis in adult Lohmann layers and Liangshan Yanying chickens.Within the hypothalamus,pituitary,and ovary,seven,12,and 13 distinct cell types were identified,respectively.Results indicated that the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide(PACAP),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),and prolactin(PRL)signaling pathways may modulate the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH),FSH,and luteinizing hormone(LH)within the hypothalamus and pituitary.In the ovary,interactions between granulosa cells and oocytes involved the KIT,CD99,LIFR,FN1,and ANGPTL signaling pathways,which collectively regulate follicular maturation.The SEMA4 signaling pathway emerged as a critical mediator across all three tissues of the HPO axis.Additionally,gene expression analysis revealed that relaxin 3(RLN3),gastrin-releasing peptide(GRP),and cocaine-and amphetamine regulated transcripts(CART,also known as CARTPT)may function as novel endocrine hormones,influencing the HPO axis through autocrine,paracrine,and endocrine pathways.Comparative analyses between Lohmann layers and Liangshan Yanying chickens demonstrated higher expression levels of GRP,RLN3,CARTPT,LHCGR,FSHR,and GRPR in the ovaries of Lohmann layers,potentially contributing to their superior reproductive performance.In conclusion,this study provides a detailed molecular characterization of the HPO axis,offering novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying reproductive biology.

Superparticles Formed by Amphiphilic Tadpole-like Single Chain Polymeric Nanoparticles and Their Application as an Ultrasonic Responsive Drug Carrier

Herein, we report self-assembly of tadpole-like single chain polymeric nanoparticles （TPPs） and the ultrasonic response of the resultant superparticles. The TPPs are with an intramolecularly crosslinked poly（2-（methacryloyloxy）ethyl pent-4-ynoate）-rpoly（hydroxyethyl methacrylate） （PMAEP-r-PHEMA） chain as the ＂head＂ and a poly（2- （dimethylamino）ethyl methacrylate （PDMAEMA） linear chain as the ＂tail＂, and are pre- pared simply and emciently by Glaser-coupling of the pendant alkynes in the PMAEP-r- PHEMA block in the common solvent methanol. The formation of the TPPs was confirmed by gel permeation chromatograph, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, static dynamic scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. In aqueous solution, the amphiphilic TPPs could self-assemble into regular superparticles, driven by aggregation of the hydrophobic ＂heads＂. Since in the structure there is no chain entanglement and the embedding of PDMAEMA chains disturb close-packing of the ＂heads＂, the superpartieles are responsive to a low-energy ultrasonic vibration, as evidenced by greatly enhanced release of the functional molecules from the superparticles by treatment of a low-energy ultrasound. Therefore, the superparticles should be very promising in the use as the drug carriers that can be manipulated from a long distance, considering that ultrasonic energy can be focused at a small area in a relatively long distance from the ultrasound-radiating source.

Precise construction of RuPt dual single-atomic sites to optimize oxygen electrocatalytic behaviors for high-performance Zn-air batteries

The development of redox bifunctional electrocatalysts with high performance,low cost,and long lifetimes is essential for achieving clean energy goals.This study proposed an atom capture strategy for anchoring dual single atoms(DSAs)in a zinc-zeolitic imidazolate framework(Zn-ZIF),followed by calcination under an N_(2) atmosphere to synthesize ruthenium-platinum DSAs supported on a nitrogendoped carbon substrate(RuPt DSAs-NC).Theoretical calculations showed that the degree of Ru 5dxz-~*O 2p_x orbital hybridization was high when^(*)O was adsorbed at the Ru site,indicating enhanced covalent hybridization of metal sites and oxygen ligands,which benefited the adsorption of intermediate species.The presence of the RuPtN_6 active center optimized the absorption-desorption behavior of intermediates,improving the electrocatalytic performance of the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and the oxygen evolution reaction(DER),RuPt DSAs-NC exhibited a 0.87 V high half-wave potential and a 268 mV low overpotential at 10 mA cm^(-2)in an alkaline environment.Furthermore,rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)achieved a peak power density of 171 MW cm^(-2).The RuPt DSAs-NC demonstrated long-term cycling for up to 500 h with superior round-trip efficiency.This study provided an effective structural design strategy to construct DSAs active sites for enhanced electrocata lytic performance.

MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION IN PTFE AS A FUNCTION OF MELT TIME AND TEMPERATURE——Ⅰ.HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT SINGLE-AND MULTI-MOLECULE FOLDED CHAIN SINGLE CRYSTALS AND BAND STRUCTURES

The effect of sintering dispersed dispersion and nano-emulsion particles of high molecular weightpolytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)on a substrate as a function of“melt”time and temperature is described.Folded chain singlecrystals parallel to the substrate and as ribbons on-edge(with double striations),as well as bands,are produced for longersintering times;particle merger and diffusion of individual molecules,crystallizing as folded chain,single(or few)molecule,single crystals when“trapped”on the substrate by cooling occur for shorter sintering times.It is suggested the observedstructures develop with sintering time,in a mesomorphic melt.The structure of the nascent particles is also discussed.

Identification and epitope mapping of anti-p72 single-chain antibody against African swine fever virus based on phage display antibody library

African swine fever virus(ASFV)is a lethal pathogen that causes severe threats to the global swine industry and it has already had catastrophic socio-economic effects.To date,no licensed prophylactic vaccine exists.Limited knowledge exists about the major immunogens of ASFV and the epitope mapping of the key antigens.As such,there is a considerable requirement to understand the functional monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)and the epitope mapping may be of utmost importance in our understanding of immune responses and designing improved vaccines,therapeutics,and diagnostics.In this study,we generated an ASFV antibody phage-display library from ASFV convalescent swine PBMCs,further screened a specific ASFV major capsid protein(p72)single-chain antibody and fused with an IgG Fc fragment(scFv-83-Fc),which is a specific recognition antibody against ASFV Pig/HLJ/2018 strain.Using the scFv-83-Fc mAb,we selected a conserved epitope peptide(221MTGYKH226)of p72 retrieved from a phage-displayed random peptide library.Moreover,flow cytometry and cell uptake experiments demonstrated that the epitope peptide can significantly promote BMDCs maturation in vitro and could be effectively uptaken by DCs,which indicated its potential application in vaccine and diagnostic reagent development.Overall,this study provided a valuable platform for identifying targets for ASFV vaccine development,as well as to facilitate the optimization design of subunit vaccine and diagnostic reagents.

Correlation of p53 over-expression and alteration in p53 gene detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism in adenocarcinoma of gastric cancer patients from India

AIM： To study the alterations in p53 gene among Indian gastric cancer patients and to correlate them with the various clinicopathological parameters. METHODS： A total of 103 gastric cancer patients were included in this study. The p53 alterations were studied by both immunohistochemical method as well as polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-single strand conformation polymorphism （SSCP） analysis. We only studied four （exon 5, 6, 7, and 8） of the 11 ,p53 exons. The alterations in p53 were also correlated with respect to various clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS： Among 103 cases, p53 over-expression and alteration were detected in 37 （35.92%） and 19 （18.44%） cases, respectively. Most of the ,p53 alterations were found at exon 5 （31.54%）, followed by exon 6 （26.31%）, exon 7 （21.04%） and exon 8 （21.04%）. A significant correlation of p53 overexpression was found with p53 alteration （P = 0.000）. Concordance between ,p53 alteration （as detected by SSCP） and over-expression [as detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）] was found in 75% cases. We found that IHC-positive/SSCP-negative cases accounted for 21% of cases and IHC-negative/SSCP- positive cases accounted for remaining 4% cases. CONCLUSION： Our results show that p53 gene mutations are significantly correlated with p53 protein over-expression, with 75% concordance in over-expression and alteration in the p53 gene, but 25% disconcordance also cautions against the assumption that p53 over-expression is always associated with a gene mutation. There may be other mechanisms responsible for stabilization and accumulation of p53 protein with no evidence of gene mutation that reflect an accumulation of a non-mutated protein, or a false negative SSCP result.

Correctness and accuracy of template-based modeled single chain fragment variable (scFv) protein anti-breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)

Multiple sequence alignments can be used in the template-based modelling of protein structures to build fragment-based assembly models. Therefore, useful functional information on the 3D structure of the anti-MCF-7 scFv protein can be obtained using available bioinformatics tools. This paper utilises several commonly-used bioinformatics tools and databases, including BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool), GenBank, PDB (Protein Data Bank), KABAT numbering and SWISS-MODEL, to gain specific functional insights into the anti-MCF-7 scFv protein and the assembly of single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies, which consist of a variable heavy chain (VH) and a variable light chain (VL) connected by the linker (Gly4-Ser)3. The linker has been built as a loop structure using the Insight II software. The accuracy of the loop structure has been evaluated using Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD). The accuracies of the VL and VH template-based structures are enhanced by using the evaluation methods Verify3D, ERRAT and Ramchandran plotting, which measure the error in the residues. In the results, 100% of the light-chain residues scored above 0.2, whereas 88.5% of the heavy-chain residues’ scored above 0.15 in the Verify3D evaluation method. Meanwhile, using ERRAT, the alignments of both chains scored more than 70% in space. Additionally, the Ramchandran plot evaluation method showed large numbers of residues in the favoured areas in both chains;these findings demonstrated that all of the chosen templates were the best candidates.

Single Ventricle in a 40-Year-Old Male Patient “Natural Evolution and Single Ventricle-Associated Complications in Adults: A Case Report”

Single ventricle is an uncommon congenital cardiac pathology with high mortality at early ages. However, due to new strategies and timely surgical treatment, it is increasingly seen in adults, which has increased the survival rate. This condition is characterized by a heart with a single functional ventricular cavity. The aim of this article is to report the case of a 40-year-old male with single ventricle, who underwent several surgeries in his childhood. After these surgical procedures, the patient lost medical follow-up and presented complications derived from the disease itself. Heart Failure is a common complication in people with single ventricle, and pharmacological heart failure therapies have been ineffective in mitigating the need of the heart transplantation. That’s why it is essential to develop and apply new pharmacological techniques for the management of these patients in childhood as well as in adulthood. This would allow not only to avoid various comorbidities, but also to improve the quality of life of the patients.

Temperature dependence of the P-hit single event transient pulse width in a three-transistor inverter chain

A comparison of the temperature dependence of the P-hit single event transient （SET） in a two-transistor （2T） inverter with that in a three-transistor （3T） inverter is carried out based on a three-dimensional numerical simulation. Due to the significantly distinct mechanisms of the single event change collection in the 2T and the 3T inverters, the temperature plays different roles in the SET production and propagation. The SET pulse will be significantly broadened in the 2T inverter chain while will be compressed in the 3T inverter chain as temperature increases. The investigation provides a new insight into the SET mitigation under the extreme environment, where both the high temperature and the single event effects should be considered. The 3T inverter layout structure （or similar layout structures） will be a better solution for spaceborne integrated circuit design for extreme environments.

Dyson–Maleev theory of an X X Z ferrimagnetic spin chain with single-ion anisotropy

We use the mean-field approximation of Dyson–Maleev representation to study an XXZ Heisenberg ferrimagnetic spin chain with single-ion anisotropy. By solving the self-consistent equations with different anisotropies, λ and D respectively,the energy spectrums, internal energy, static susceptibility and specific heat are calculated. Especially, the quantum phase transition of the magnetization plateau induced by single-ion anisotropy D is obtained in the model of the ferrimagnetic spin chain by using Dyson–Maleev mean-field theory.

Feasibility of Integrating Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis with Single-Dose Rifampicin (LPEP) into Routine Leprosy Control Program in Bukedi and Teso Regions in Uganda

Background: World Health Organization recommends the implementation of contact tracing and Leprosy Post Exposure prophylaxis (LPEP) to interrupt the chain of transmission. To accelerate the uptake of this recommendation, a cross-sectional study among contacts of leprosy patients was conducted to investigate the feasibility of integrating leprosy systematic contact tracing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) into the routine leprosy control program. Methods: This was a mixed methods cross-sectional study. The study was implemented in Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Soroti, Budaka and Kibuku Districts. Results: The 45 enrolled index patients (97.8% of the registered) identified a total of 135 contacts, of which 134 (99·2%) consented and were screened. Among them, one new leprosy patient was identified and started on treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT). All the eligible contacts, received the prophylactic treatment with Single Dose Rifampicin (SDR). Overall, SDR was administered to 133(98.5% of the listed contacts) with no adverse event reported. Factors associated with successful contact investigation and management included: Involvement of index patients, health care workers during the contact screening and SDR A administration, counselling of the index patients and contacts by the health care works, LPEP being administered as Directly observed Therapy (DOT) among others. Results Interpretation: The integration of leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with administration of SDR and contact tracing is feasible, generally accepted by the patient, their contacts and health workers and can be integrated into the National Leprosy control programmes with minimal additional efforts once contact tracing has been established. Therefore, we recommend integration of administration of SDR in to the routine leprosy control program.