Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Porous Graphene Bubbles as Host Materials for Advanced Lithium Sulfur Battery Cathode

The serious shuttle effect, low conductivity, and large volume expansion have been regarded as persistent obstacles for lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries in its practical application. Carbon materials, such as graphene, are considered as promising cathode hosts to alleviate those critical defects and be possibly coupled with other reinforcement methods to further improve the battery performance. However, the open structure of graphene and the weak interaction with sulfur species restrict its further development for hosting sulfur. Herein, a rational geometrical design of hierarchical porous graphene-like bubbles (PGBs) as a cathode host of the Li-S system was prepared by employing magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles as templates for carbonization, potassium hydroxide (KOH) as activation agent, and car tal pitch as a carbon source. The synthesized PGBs owns a very thin carbon layer around 5 nm that can be comparable to graphite nanosheets. Its high content of mesoporous and interconnected curved structure can effectively entrap sulfur species and impose restrictions on their diffusion and shuttle effect, leading to a much stable electrochemical performance. The reversible capacity of PGBs@S 0.3 C still can be maintained at 831 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles and 512 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles.
Ants’ Personality and Its Dependence on Foraging Styles: Research Perspectives

The paper is devoted to analyzing consistent individual differences in behavior, also known as “personalities,” in the context of a vital ant task—the detection and transportation of food. I am trying to elucidate the extent to which collective cognition is individual-based and whether a single individual’s actions can suffice to direct the entire colony or colony units. The review analyzes personalities in various insects with different life cycles and provides new insights into the role of individuals in directing group actions in ants. Although it is widely accepted that, in eusocial insects, colony personality emerges from the workers’ personalities, there are only a few examples of investigations of personality at the individual level. The central question of the review is how the distribution of behavioral types and cognitive responsibilities within ant colonies depends on a species’ foraging style. In the context of how workers’ behavioral traits display during foraging, a crucial question is what makes an ant a scout that discovers a new food source and mobilizes its nestmates. In mass recruiting, tandem-running, and even in group-recruiting species displaying leadership, the division of labor between scouts and recruits appears to be ephemeral. There is only little, if any, evidence of ants’ careers and behavioral consistency as leaders. Personal traits characterize groups of individuals at the colony level but not performers of functional roles during foraging. The leader-scouting seems to be the only known system that is based on a consistent personal difference between scouting and foraging individuals.
The Therapeutic Potential of Galectin-3 in the Treatment of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patients and Those Compromised With COVID-19

The novel coronavirus pneumonia COVID-19 is characterized by all age susceptibility, which imposes a dramatic threat to the human species all over the world. According to current available data, the cytokine storm appears to be the most life-threatening symptom of severe COVID-19 cases accompanied with lung fibrosis. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a member of soluble β-galactoside-binding lectin families, has been implicated as a key regulator in various inflammation conditions in addition to its well-documented roles in cancer. The pro-inflammatory activity of Gal-3 in the inflammatory response and lung fibrosis of COVID-19 has been proposed by emerging studies, which suggested that inhibition of Gal-3 may represent a novel treatment approach for COVID-19 patients. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. ICC accounts for 10–25% of primary liver cancers with limited therapeutic options, which has higher incidence in Asian countries, particularly in China. Cancer patients, including ICC patients, are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their impaired immune system. It is thus undoubtedly a challenge for our oncology department to establish effective treatment strategies under the influence of the COVID-19 crisis. According to our management procedures in the COVID-19 era, emergency treatment will be applied to ICC patients who are under life-threatening conditions, despite the COVID-19 infection. To the best of our knowledge, the modulatory function of Gal-3 in ICC is still barely explored to date. In order to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Gal-3 for ICC patients or those comprised with COVID-19, we herein report our preliminary investigation into roles of Gal-3 in ICC. Our results exhibited that the expression of Gal-3 was significantly up-regulated in ICC tissues, and a significant correlation was observed between its overexpression and malignant progression of ICC cells. We further discussed the activity and possible molecular mechanisms of Gal-3 in ICC, which may pave the ways for further exploring the possibility of Gal-3 as a potential therapeutic target for treating ICC patients or those with COVID-19-related conditions.
Is There Any Association Between Neurodegenerative Diseases and Periodontitis? A Systematic Review

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of progressive disorders that affect the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis. Inflammation plays a critical role in the onset and progression of these injuries. Periodontitis is considered an inflammatory disease caused by oral biofilms around the tooth-supporting tissues, leading to a systemic and chronic inflammatory condition. Thus, this systematic review aimed to search for evidence in the association between neurodegenerative disorders and periodontitis. Methods: This systematic review was registered at International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the code CRD 42016038327. The search strategy was performed in three electronic databases and one gray literature source—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and OpenGrey, based on the PECO acronym: observational studies in humans (P) in which a neurodegenerative disease was present (E) or absent (C) to observe an association with periodontitis (O). The Fowkes and Fulton checklist was used to critically appraise the methodological quality and the risk of bias of individual studies. The quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: From 534 articles found, 12 were included, of which eight were case–control, three were cross-sectional, and one was a cohort, giving a total of 3,460 participants. All the included studies reported an association between some neurodegenerative diseases and periodontitis and presented a low risk of bias. According to the GRADE approach, the level of evidence of probing pocket depth was considered very low due to the significant heterogeneity across the studies' upgrading imprecision and inconsistency. Conclusions: Although all the included studies in this review reported an association between neurodegenerative diseases and periodontitis, the level of evidence was classified to be very low, which suggests a cautious interpretation of the results.
Kidney Biopsy in Patients With Monoclonal Gammopathy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and renal pathological manifestations of patients with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) and kidney injury. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted at four tertiary hospitals in China. The study population comprised patients with MG admitted from January 1 2013 to December 31 2020. Hospitalization records, laboratory data, and kidney biopsy reports of all patients were collected from the electronic hospital information systems. The study outcomes included kidney disease progression and major hemorrhagic complications after kidney biopsy. Results: We identified 1,164 patients with MG, 782 (67.2%) of whom had underlying kidney injury. Of 101 patients who underwent kidney biopsy, 16 had malignant neoplasms. Amyloid nephropathy was the most common finding (n = 34, 33.7%), followed by membranous nephropathy (n = 18, 17.8%) and membranoproliferative nephritis (n = 8, 7.9%). Among 85 patients with non-malignant hematologic conditions who underwent kidney biopsy, 43 had MG of renal significance (MGRS) related lesions and 42 had MG-unrelated lesions. The risk of kidney disease progression was higher in patients with kidney injury than in patients without kidney injury. Conclusion: Among patients with MG and kidney injury, only 12.9% underwent kidney biopsy and more than 40% of these patients had MG-unrelated lesions. A kidney biopsy is safe and essential to maximize the possibility of correct diagnosis for patients with clinically suspected MG of renal significance (MGRS).
Variation in Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Defense Among Norway Spruce Clones and Trade-Offs in Resistance Against a Fungal and an Insect Pest

An essential component of plant defense is the change that occurs from a constitutive to an induced state following damage or infection. Exogenous application of the plant hormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has shown great potential to be used as a defense inducer prior to pest exposure, and could be used as a plant protection measure. Here, we examined (1) the importance of MeJA-mediated induction for Norway spruce (Picea abies) resistance against damage by the pine weevil Hylobius abietis, which poses a threat to seedling survival, and infection by the spruce bark beetle-associated blue-stain fungus Endoconidiophora polonica, (2) genotypic variation in MeJA-induced defense (terpene chemistry), and (3) correlations among resistance to each pest. In a semi-field experiment, we exposed rooted-cuttings from nine different Norway spruce clones to insect damage and fungal infection separately. Plants were treated with 0, 25, or 50 mM MeJA, and planted in blocks where only pine weevils were released, or in a separate block in which plants were fungus-inoculated or not (control group). As measures of resistance, stem area debarked and fungal lesion lengths were assessed, and as a measure of defensive capacity, terpene chemistry was examined. We found that MeJA treatment increased resistance to H. abietis and E. polonica, but effects varied with clone. Norway spruce clones that exhibited high constitutive resistance did not show large changes in area debarked or lesion length when MeJA-treated, and vice versa. Moreover, insect damage negatively correlated with fungal infection. Clones receiving little pine weevil damage experienced larger lesion lengths, and vice versa, both in the constitutive and induced states. Changes in absolute terpene concentrations occurred with MeJA treatment (but not on proportional terpene concentrations), however, variation in chemistry was mostly explained by differences between clones. We conclude that MeJA can enhance protection against H. abietis and E. polonica, but the extent of protection will depend on the importance of constitutive and induced resistance for the Norway spruce clone in question. Trade-offs among resistances do not necessarily hinder the use of MeJA, as clones that are constitutively more resistant to either pest, should show greater MeJA-induced resistance against the other.
Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing vs. Biventricular Pacing for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a recently proposed method for conduction system pacing. We performed a meta-analysis of controlled studies to compare the clinical outcome in patients who received LBBAP vs. biventricular pacing (BVP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane's Library databases were searched for relevant controlled studies. A random-effect model incorporating the potential heterogeneity was used to synthesize the results. Results: Four non-randomized controlled studies including 249 patients with heart failure (HF) for CRT were included, and the patients were followed for 6–12 months. Compared with BVP, LBBAP was associated with significantly shortened QRS duration [mean difference (MD): −29.18 ms, 95% confidence interval (CI): −33.55–24.80, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001], improved left ventricular ejection fraction (MD: 6.93%, 95% CI: 4.69–9.17, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), reduced left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (MD: −2.96 mm, 95% CI: −5.48 to −0.44, I2 = 0%, P = 0.02), and improved New York Heart Association class (MD: −0.54, 95% CI: −0.84 to −0.24, I2 = 65%, P < 0.001). Moreover, patients who received LBBAP were more likely to achieve echocardiographic [odds ratio (OR): 5.04, 95% CI: 2.17–11.69, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001] and clinical (OR: 7.33, 95% CI: 1.62–33.16, I2 = 0%, P = 0.01) CRT responses. Conclusion: Current evidence from non-randomized studies suggests that LBBAP appears to be a promising method for CRT, which is associated with more remarkable improvements of symptoms and cardiac function in HF patients with indication for CRT.
Training Executive Functions to Improve Academic Achievement: Tackling Avenues to Far Transfer

The aim of training executive functions is usually to improve the ability to attain real-life goals such as academic achievement, that is, far transfer. Although many executive function trainings are successful in improving executive functions, far transfer is more difficult to achieve (cf. Diamond and Lee, 2011; Sala and Gobet, 2020). In this perspective article, we focus on the transfer of executive function training to academic performance. First, we disentangle possible sources of transfer problems. We argue that executive functions can facilitate academic performance via two specific pathways, namely learning-related behaviors and learning-related cognitions. Further, we discuss how domain-specific factors (e.g., task-specific demands and prior knowledge) may influence the successful application of executive functions to learning in this domain. Second, we discuss how the school setting can be used to enhance executive function training with approaches to facilitating far transfer to academic achievement. Specifically, we suggest that training executive functions as a means to improve academic performance is most promising in young students, for whom both behavioral and domain-specific cognitive demands of formal schooling are quite novel challenges. Furthermore, we outline that students could be supported in far transfer of trained executive functions by being informed of the specific relevance of these skills for learning-related behaviors and by having them practice executive functions under such authentic conditions. Moreover, we suggest that in order to promote ongoing effects of executive function training beyond short-term interventions, teachers should be equipped to consider the specific executive function components that might facilitate and support students’ acquisition of a particular subject matter.
Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization of Early-Stage Multiple Primary Lung Cancer by Large-Panel Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis

Objective The incidence of early stage multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) has been increasing in recent years, while the ideal strategy for its diagnosis and treatment remains controversial. The present study conducted genomic analysis to identify a new molecular classification method for accurately predicting the diagnosis and therapy for patients with early stage MPLC. Methods A total of 240 tissue samples from 203 patients with multiple-non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) (n = 30), early stage single-NSCLC (Group A, n = 94), and advanced-stage NSCLC (Group B, n = 79) were subjected to targeted multigene panel sequencing. Results Thirty patients for whom next-generation sequencing was performed on >1 tumor were identified, yielding 45 tumor pairs. The frequencies of EGFR, TP53, RBM10, ERBB2, and CDKN2A mutations exhibited significant differences between early and advanced-stage NSCLCs. The prevalence of the EGFR L858R mutation in early stage NSCLC was remarkably higher than that in advanced-stage NSCLC (P = 0.047). The molecular method classified tumor pairs into 26 definite MPLC tumors and four intrapulmonary metastasis (IM) tumors. A high rate of discordance in driver genetic alterations was found in the different tumor lesions of MPLC patients. The prospective Martini histologic prediction of MPLC was discordant with the molecular method for three patients (16.7%), particularly in the prediction of IM (91.7% discordant). Conclusions Comprehensive molecular evaluation allows the unambiguous delineation of clonal relationships among tumors. In comparison, the Martini and Melamed criteria have notable limitations in the recognition of IM. Our results support the adoption of a large panel to supplement histology for strongly discriminating NSCLC clonal relationships in clinical practice.
Programmed Cell Death 10 Mediated CXCL2-CXCR2 Signaling in Regulating Tumor-Associated Microglia/Macrophages Recruitment in Glioblastoma

Background Programmed cell death 10 (PDCD10) plays a crucial role in regulating tumor phenotyping, especially in glioblastoma (GBM). Glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) in tumor pathological microenvironment contribute to GBM progression. We previously found that the infiltration of GAMs was associated with PDCD10 expression in GBM patients. The present study aims to further explore the regulation of PDCD10 on GAMs in GBM. Methods Overexpression of PDCD10 in human- and murine-GBM cells was established by lentiviral transduction. Cell behaviors and polarization of primary microglia, microglia- and macrophage-like cells were investigated through indirect co-culture with GBM cells in vitro respectively. The PDCD10-induced release of chemokines was identified by a chemokine protein array. The cross-talk between GBM and microglia as well as macrophages was further studied using selective antagonist SB225002. Finally, an orthotopic homograft mouse model was employed to verify the results of in vitro experiments. Results Indirect co-culture with PDCD10-overexpressed GBM cells promoted proliferation and migration of microglia- and macrophage-like cells, and stimulated pro-tumorigenic polarization of primary microglia, microglia- and macrophage-like cells. Pdcd10-upregulated GBM cells triggered a nearly 6-fold increase of CXC motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) release, which in turn activated CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and downstream Erk1/2 and Akt signaling in primary microglia, microglia- and macrophage-like cells. The blockage of CXCR2 signaling with specific inhibitor (SB225002) abolished microglia- and macrophage-like cell migration induced by PDCD10-upregulated GBM cells. Moreover, Pdcd10-upregulated GL261 cells promoted GAMs recruitment and tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that overexpression of PDCD10 in GBM recruits and activates microglia/macrophages, which in turn promotes tumor progression. CXCL2-CXCR2 signaling mediated by PDCD10 is potentially involved in the crosstalk between GBM cells and GAMs.
Case Report: A Severe and Multi-Site Nocardia farcinica Infection Rapidly and Precisely Identified by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing

Nocardia genus is an aerobic, gram-positive, and opportunistic pathogen, which mainly affects cell-mediated immunosuppressed patients. Early diagnosis and treatment greatly improve prognosis. However, the limitation of golden standard-bacterial culture exists. Here, we report a 61-year-old male with pneumonia, sepsis and intermuscular abscesses induced by Nocardia farcinica. Venous blood culture reported negative results. Former improper diagnosis and treatment did not improve his condition. With the assistant of metagenomic next-generation sequencing, the pathogen was identified as Nocardia farcinica. He was then applied with accurate treatment and had a remarkable clinical and radiological improvement.
Silver Nanoparticles Enhanced Upconversion Luminescence in Er3+/Yb3+ Codoped Bismuth-Germanate Glasses

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) fostered a new area of nanophotonics, especially in the selective photon absorption and scattering. The precipitation of Ag NPs in glass would enhance the emission efficiency. Here, we studied the effects of annealing temperature (resulted in the increased Ag NPs’ concentration) or AgCl concentration on the luminescence properties of Er3+/Yb3+ codoped bismuth-germanate glasses which were synthesized by a single-step melting–quenching technique. The SPR peak of Ag NPs appears around 600 nm, and the size of precipitated Ag NPs (spherical, hexagonal) ranges from 5 to 15 nm. With the precipitation of the Ag NPs, more intense green (527 nm, 548 nm) and red (661 nm) upconversion (UC) emission bands are observed up to 7.7, 10.1, and 6.5 folds in the glass containing 1 wt % AgCl annealed at 480 °C for 24 h, respectively. The Ag NPs embedded glasses showed significantly local field change that allowed for more bright UC emission by SPR.
Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis rat model attenuated by a remote ischemic preconditioning in the pregnant.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (r-IPC) administered to pregnant rats, in the ileum of newborn rats subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. Methods: We used three pregnant rats and their newborn rats distributed in three groups: 1) Control (C) - Newborn rats born from a pregnant rat which did not undergo any intervention; 2) Hypoxia-Reoxygenation (H/R) - Newborn rats born from a pregnant rat which did not undergo any intervention, and were subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation; 3) Remote Ischemic Preconditioning (r-IPC) - newborn rats born from a pregnant rat which was subjected to remote ischemic preconditioning twenty-four hours before giving birth and the newborn rats were subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation. Segments of ileum were prepared for histological analysis by HE and immunohistochemistry by the Ki67 to evaluate cell proliferation, crypt depth and villus height and evaluation of apoptosis by cleaved caspase-3. Results: The intensity of the lesions was lower in the r-IPC than in the H/R group, showing significant difference (p<0.01). The r-IPC group showed a higher proliferative activity compared to the H/R group (p<0.01), with deeper crypts (r-IPC > H/R - p < 0.05), and higher villi, showing significant difference (r-IPC > H/R - (p <0.01). The occurrence of apoptosis in the H/R group was lower in comparison to groups C and r-IPC, with significant difference (H/R < r-IPC; p<0.05). Conclusion: The remote ischemic preconditioning applied to the pregnant rat protected the ileum of newborn rats subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation, with decreased intensity of the lesions in the ileum mucosa and preservation of proliferative activity, keeping the villus height and crypt depth similar to group C.