runHiC: A user-friendly Hi-C data processing software based on hiclib

<p>An archived release for generating Zenodo DOI.</p

Datasheet1_Patient perceptions and preferences of minimally invasive treatment modalities in varicose veins: a cross-sectional survey.docx

PurposeMinimally invasive therapies (MIT) have gained popularity due to their capacity to reduce trauma, enhance aesthetic outcomes, and shorten recovery periods. This article explores patients’ perceptions and preferences regarding MIT for varicose veins (VVs) while analyzing associated influencing factors to provide a better understanding.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional survey at Zhejiang Rongjun Hospital was performed from January 2022 to June 2023, involving 305 participants with VVs. The questionnaire assessed patient demographics, VVs severity, prior treatment experiences, and treatment preferences. Statistical analyses, including chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, were conducted to explore the correlations between patient characteristics, treatment preferences, and factors influencing these choices.ResultsNearly half of the participants (44.3%) lacked information on any surgical options, whereas a slight majority (55.7%) possessed familiarity with at least one treatment modality, and only 9.8% knew of all six treatment methods presented. Patient surveys discerned that the majority (68.5%) declared an inadequate grasp of treatment methodologies to articulate a treatment preference. Among the 96 patients who made a treatment choice, 24.0% opted for traditional surgery, while 76.0% chose MIT and a higher preference for MIT among male patients compared to female patients (p = 0.006). The patients preferred treatment options for VVs significantly affected by vascular surgeon recommendations and the number of follow-up visits (r = 0.129, p = 0.024; r = 0.122, p = 0.033).ConclusionThe study highlights limited awareness of MIT among Chinese patients with VVs. The insights emphasize the influential role of vascular surgeons’ recommendations and suggest a growing predilection for less invasive treatments due to their advantages in recovery and aesthetics. Provider-patient communication, including education about available treatments and shared decision-making, is essential to align treatment plans with patient expectations and improve outcomes.</p

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Construction of a Microbial Optimal Growth Temperature Database and Its Impact on Enzyme Optimal Temperature Prediction

Accurate prediction of enzyme optimal temperature (Topt) is crucial for identifying enzymes suitable for catalytic functions under extreme bioprocessing conditions. The optimal growth temperature (OGT) of microorganisms serves as a key indicator for estimating enzyme Topt, reflecting an evolutionary temperature balance between enzyme-catalyzed reactions and the organism’s growth environments. Existing OGT databases, collected from culture collection centers, often fall short as culture temperature does not precisely represent the OGT. Models trained on such databases yield inadequate accuracy in enzyme Topt prediction, underscoring the need for a high-quality OGT database. Herein, we developed AI-based models to extract the OGT information from the scientific literature, constructing a comprehensive OGT database with 1155 unique organisms and 2142 OGT values. The top-performing model, BioLinkBERT, demonstrated exceptional information extraction ability with an EM score of 91.00 and an F1 score of 91.91 for OGT. Notably, applying this OGT database in enzyme Topt prediction achieved an R2 value of 0.698, outperforming the R2 value of 0.686 obtained using culture temperature. This emphasizes the superiority of the OGT database in predicting the enzyme Topt and underscores its pivotal role in identifying enzymes with optimal catalytic temperatures

Photomechanically Controlled Encapsulation and Release from pH-Responsive and Photoresponsive Microcapsules

Poly­(acrylic acid)/azobenzene microcapsules were obtained through distillation precipitation polymerization and the selective removal of silica templates by hydrofluoric acid etching. The uniform, robust, and monodisperse microcapsules, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, had reversible photoisomerization under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. Under UV irradiation, azobenzene cross-linking sites in the main chain transformed from the trans to cis isomer, which induced the shrinkage of microcapsules. These photomechanical effects of azobenzene moieties were applied to the encapsulation and release of model molecules. After loading with rhodamine B (RhB), the release behaviors were completely distinct. Under steady UV irradiation, the shrinkage adjusted the permeability of the capsule, providing a novel way to encapsulate RhB molecules. Under alternate UV/visible light irradiation, a maximal release amount was reached due to the continual movement of shell networks by cyclic trans–cis photoisomerization. Also, microcapsules had absolute pH responsiveness. The diffusion rate and the final release percentage of RhB both increased with pH. The release behaviors under different irradiation modes and pH values were in excellent agreement with the Baker–Lonsdale model, indicating a diffusion-controlled release behavior. Important applications are expected in the development of photocontrolled encapsulation and release systems as well as in pH-sensitive materials and membranes

Origin of Adamantanes and Diamantanes in Marine Source Rock

Thermal maturation-related variations in the yields of lower diamondoids (adamantanes and diamantanes) in source rock were investigated by thermal simulation experiments based on a marine shale and kerogens obtained from the shale via isolation and artificial maturation, representing different maturity stages of the oil generation window. The simulations show that lower diamondoids are formed and destroyed during thermal maturation of the shale. For example, adamantanes are generated mainly in the maturity range of 0.8%–1.8% EasyRo, then they begin to degrade at 1.8% EasyRo. Diamantanes are produced mainly during the maturity range of 1.0%–2.2% EasyRo and begin to degrade at 2.2% EasyRo. The mineral matrix of shale may have a strong effect on the destruction of diamondoids, leading to a reduction in the peak yield and a reduction in the maturity level corresponding to the peak yield of diamondoids. A comparison of the diamondoid yields from four kerogens at different maturity levels indicates that the lower diamondoids are derived mainly from secondary cracking of extractable organic matter (bitumens) occurring in the source rock. For instance, at the peak stage of adamantane formation (2.1% EasyRo), 75.6% of the total adamantanes is generated from the cracking of bitumens and the remaining 24.4% is from the primary cracking of kerogens. Similarly, the yield of diamantanes generated from the secondary cracking of bitumens accounts for 87.8% of the total diamantanes at the peak stage of diamantane formation (2.5% EasyRo). Almost no diamondoids are detected in the pyrolysates of more mature kerogen (1.3%EasyRo), suggesting that 1.3% EasyRo is the upper limit of maturity for the generation of diamondoids from kerogen. Diamondoid isomerization ratios are maintained at relatively constant levels during the formation stage of diamondoids, whereas a linear correlation with maturity occurs during the destruction stage, suggesting that isomerization ratios of diamondoids are controlled by their thermal stability just in the destruction stage and are unaffected by hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of source rock at early thermal stages. This finding indicates that these diamondoid indices are a potential tool for evaluating the thermal maturity of source rocks at highly mature stages

Controlled Encapsulation and Release of Substances Based on Temperature and Photoresponsive Nanocapsules

In this study, dual-responsive polymeric nanocapsules, in which the state (swelling or collapse) can be repeatedly controlled by external stimuli (i.e., temperature and light), have been designed and prepared through distillation–precipitation polymerization. Temperature sensitive monomers of <i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide are cross-linked by photoresponsive bis­(methacryloylamino) onto a silica nanospherical template to form a core–shell (SiO₂–PNIPAM/Azo) structure. The silica core is then removed by hydrofluoric acid to produce PNIPAM/Azo nanocapsules (P/ANCs) of diameter ∼238 nm at ∼25 °C. The size of the nanocapsule is temperature responsive and, as such, its diameter could be reduced to ∼182 nm on increasing the temperature to 40 °C. In addition, the permeability of nanocapsules can be adjusted by UV irradiation. The <i>cis–trans</i> transformation of modified azobenzene allowed us to perform both the encapsulation and controlled release of molecules. Rhodamine B (RhB) was successfully encapsulated using the photomechanical method. In controlled release experiments, after the majority of RhB (∼45%) was released from the P/ANCs using temperature (∼40 °C) and UV light, a second stage of release could be triggered by lowering the temperature (∼18.4%) and applying UV–visible lighting cycles (∼29.4%), respectively. We found that the diffusion coefficient, <i>D</i>, was 45% larger under alternate irradiation than UV light alone. Our results demonstrate considerable potential for customizable delivery systems for a variety of drugs