TiO2 Nanotube Array Sensor for Detecting the SF6 Decomposition Product SO2

The detection of partial discharge through analysis of SF6 gas components in gas-insulated switchgear, is significant for the diagnosis and assessment of the operating state of power equipment. The present study proposes the use of a TiO2 nanotube array sensor for detecting the SF6 decomposition product SO2, and the application of the anodic oxidation method for the directional growth of highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays. The sensor response of 10–50 ppm SO2 gas is tested, and the sensitive response mechanism is discussed. The test results show that the TiO2 nanotube sensor array has good response to SO2 gas, and by ultraviolet radiation, the sensor can remove attached components very efficiently, shorten recovery time, reduce chemical poisoning, and prolong the life of the components

Chlorimuronethyl Resistance Selectable Marker Unsuited for the transformation of rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe grisea)

Abstract: Chlorimuronethyl resistance gene is increasingly used as a selectable marker for transformation, especially fungal transformation. Magnaporthe grisea is an important model organism for investigating fungal pathogenicity, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) is used for functional mutagenesis of the fungus. However, our results showed that rice blast strains collected from infectious rice fields have highly conserved resistance to chlorimuronethyl, even comparable to transformants which carrying chlorimuronethyl resistance genes as selectable marker in laboratory conditions. PCR results showed that all tested field strains presented the amplified products of the same size as the selectable marker amplified from plasmid carrying chlorimuronethyl gene. Sequence analysis of PCR products amplified from field strains confirmed that field strains harbored the highly identity homolog of chlorimuronethyl resistance gene. Blast search in GenBank suggested that the fragment is presenting in reference genome sequence of 70-15, but it is not a wide-spread gene in other organisms, excepted for Herpetosiphon aurantiacus. Although the origin and reason of the conserved chlorimuronethyl resistance gene in field isolates of blast fungus is unclear, the ecological function of the gene is noteworthy

PD-1 inhibitor-augmented HAIC-TKI therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: real-world survival benefits, safety, and subgroup-specific efficacy

BackgroundPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown efficacy in improving the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in pivotal clinical trials including the landmark IMbrave150 study. However, not all the patients benefit from the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. This study aimed to improve the identification of PVTT-associated HCC patients who may benefit from the combination of PD-1 inhibitor and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment under real-world conditions.MethodsFrom 377 HCC-PVTT patients receiving HAIC-TKI ± PD-1 inhibitors (2016-2023), we compared 76 dual-therapy (HT) and 175 triple-therapy (HTP) cases. Median follow-up period was 34.8 months in the HT group and 33.4 months in the HTP group (P=0.175). Propensity score matching (1:1 caliper=0.2) was used to balance baseline characteristics. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety were evaluated in both groups. Specific subgroups including Vp4 type PVTT, extrahepatic metastases, and patients over 60 years old, were analyzed.ResultsTriple therapy significantly improved median OS (24.6 vs. 13.5 months; HR=0.58, 95%CI:0.42–0.80; P=0.001) and PFS (11.1 vs. 6.4 months; HR=0.56, P<0.001), with a 15% absolute ORR increase (66.3% vs. 51.3%, P=0.034). In subgroup analysis, for patients with Vp4 type PVTT, the addition of PD-1 inhibitor prolonged overall survival by 6.0 months (P=0.04). For patients aged 60 years and above, the addition of PD-1 inhibitor prolonged overall survival by 1.9 months (P=0.363). For patients with extrahepatic metastasis, the addition of PD-1 inhibitor prolonged overall survival by 3.0 months (P=0.913). Grade 3–4 adverse events were comparable (30.9% vs. 19.7%, P=0.09), but two patients experienced immune treatment-related fatalities in the HTP group.ConclusionThe triple therapy (HAIC-TKI-PD-1) demonstrated superior efficacy over HAIC-TKI dual therapy in HCC patients with PVTT, achieving significant improvements in ORR, mOS, and mPFS, with an acceptable safety profile. However, PD-1 inhibitors showed minimal survival benefits in patients aged >60 or with extrahepatic metastases

Trend analysis and age-period-cohort effects on morbidity and mortality of liver cancer from 2010 to 2020 in Guangzhou, China

IntroductionLiver cancer is one of the most common malignant gastrointestinal tumors worldwide. This study intends to provide insight into the epidemiological characteristics and development trends of liver cancer incidence and mortality from 2010 to 2020 in Guangzhou, China.MethodsData were collected from the Cancer Registry and Reporting Office of Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cross-sectional study, Joinpoint regression (JPR) model, and Age-Period-Cohort (APC) model were conducted to analyze the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) trend of liver cancer among the entire study period.ResultsThe age-standardized incidence and mortality of liver cancer in Guangzhou showed an overall decreasing trend. The disparity in risk of morbidity and mortality between the two sexes for liver cancer is increasing. The cohort effect was the most significant among those born in 1965~1969, and the risk of liver cancer incidence and mortality in the total population increased and then decreased with the birth cohort. Compared with the birth cohort born in 1950~1954 (the reference cohort), the risk of liver cancer incidence and mortality in the males born in 1995~1999 decreased by 32% and 41%, respectively, while the risk in the females decreased by 31% and 32%, respectively.ConclusionsThe early detection, prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer in Guangzhou have made remarkable achievements in recent years. However, the risk of liver cancer in the elderly and the middle-aged males is still at a high level. Therefore, the publicity of knowledge related to the prevention and treatment of liver cancer among the relevant population groups should be actively carried out to enhance the rate of early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and to advocate a healthier lifestyle

Entropy Generation Across Earth's Bow Shock

Earth's bow shock is a transition layer that causes an irreversible change in the state of plasma that is stationary in time. Theories predict entropy increases across the bow shock but entropy has never been directly measured. Cluster and Double Star plasma experiments measure 3D plasma distributions upstream and downstream of the bow shock that allow calculation of Boltzmann's entropy function H and his famous H-theorem, dH/dt ~ O. We present the first direct measurements of entropy density changes across Earth's bow shock. We will show that this entropy generation may be part of the processes that produce the non-thermal plasma distributions is consistent with a kinetic entropy flux model derived from the collisionless Boltzmann equation, giving strong support that solar wind's total entropy across the bow shock remains unchanged. As far as we know, our results are not explained by any existing shock models and should be of interests to theorists

Genomic sequencing combined with marker-assisted breeding effectively eliminates potential linkage drag of a target gene: a case study in tobacco

Linkage drag frequently impedes the utilization of beneficial genes from wild species in crop improvement. The N gene from Nicotiana glutinosa confers strong resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) but introduces linkage drag when introgressed into cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). To address this issue, we sequenced the TMV-resistant flue-cured tobacco line 0970A and carried out comparative genomic analysis. Additionally, we used molecular markers to screen a BC4F1 population derived from the cross between 0970A and an elite flue-cured tobacco variety CB-1 (recurrent parent). As a result of sequencing 0970A, the N gene was located at the end of chromosome Nt11. The comparative genomic analysis showed that 0970A inherited approximately 3.74 Mb of N. glutinosa DNA (N-fragment) from its donor, Coker 176. From screening the BC4F1 population with molecular markers, a recombinant was identified. This recombinant had a significantly reduced N-fragment (~270 kb), which minimized the linkage drag while still maintaining resistance to TMV. This research indicates that the combination of genome sequencing and marker-assisted breeding can be successfully applied to reduce linkage drag. The findings offer valuable resources for breeding tobacco with resistance to TMV

Transparent superhydrophobic hollow films (TSHFs) with superior thermal stability and moisture resistance

Transparent superhydrophobic hollow films, (CA &gt; 160°, SA &lt; 5°, transmittance closes to 90%), were prepared by methyltrimethoxysilane CVD, using candle soot as template.</p