Can pragmatic inference benefit from topic prominence? ERP evidence from Mandarin Chinese

This study investigated how pragmatic inference making is modulated by information structure in preceding text. We created three types of two-clause structures in which the interpretation of a critical word in the second clause was dependent on the engagement of pragmatic inference as well as a successful establishment of a referential relation between the target word and an intended antecedent in the preceding text. An enhanced P600 response was elicited by target words when the intended referent was in non-topic position compared to topic position or sub-topic position. Moreover, a reduced N400 was elicited by the target word when the intended referent in the preceding clause was in non-topic position, compared to topic position. These findings suggest that the process of building an inferential relation can benefit from information structural prominence of topicality

Influence of Intrinsic Electronic Properties on Light Transmission through Subwavelength Holes on Gold and MgB2 Thin Films

We show how intrinsic material properties modify light transmission through subwavelength hole arrays on thin metallic films in the THz regime. We compare the temperature-dependent transmittance of Au films and MgB$_{2}$ films. The experimental data is consistent with analytical calculations, and is attributed to the temperature change of the conductivity of both films. The transmission versus conductivity is interpreted within the open resonator model when taking the skin depth into consideration. We also show that the efficiency of this temperature control depends on the ratio of the transmission peak frequency to the superconducting energy gap in MgB$_{2}$ films.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

SAA1 identified as a potential prediction biomarker for metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via multi-omics approaches

BackgroundMetastasis is the major cause of high recurrence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, there are few reports on effective biomarkers of HCC metastasis. Previous studies have reported that SAA1 may be a predictor and prognostic biomarker for multiple malignant tumors. However, the role of SAA1 in HCC has not yet been investigated.MethodsWe applied RNA sequencing and proteomics analysis to investigate the expression landscape of HCC cell lines and patient serum, respectively. SAA1 is a common key gene and listed as a candidate biomarker of HCC metastasis. It was validated in two cell lines, 107 participants serum, and 63 matched HCC and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. Human Protein Atlas (HPA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were integrated to explore SAA1 expression among various cell types and organs. The diagnostic and prognostic value of SAA1 in HCC were determined through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier curves. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed for SAA1, as well as for its co−expressed genes. We further analyzed the correlation between SAA1 and co-expression genes.ResultsWe found 7 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 14 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were related to HCC metastasis. SAA1, a key candidate biomarker, was highly enriched in hepatocytes and liver organ, and it was also highly expressed in HCC cells and the serum and tissues of HCC patients. The results of ROC curve analysis indicated that SAA1 had better predictive values for distinguishing HCC metastasis from non-metastasis. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that HCC patients with higher SAA1 expression had worse overall survival.ConclusionsOur findings provide new insights into HCC metastasis by identifying candidate gene prediction biomarkers for HCC metastasis

Can the Chinese study on the normal range of FeNO in children evaluate standardized asthma treatment efficacy in 6- to 12-year-old children?

ObjectiveBy examining fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and performing pulmonary function testing, this study explored whether the multicenter study on the normal range of FeNO in children in China can be used to evaluate standardized treatment efficacy in 6- to 12-year-old children with asthma.MethodsA total of 115 children aged 6–12 years old who were first diagnosed with asthma and received standardized asthma treatment from April 2018 to July 2022 were selected. According to the FeNO level at the first visit, the subjects were divided into different high- and low-FeNO groups according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and the Chinese multicenter study recommendations. The consistency of the two grouping methods and the differences between the high- and low-FeNO groups were compared after standardized treatment. The grouping method that was the most suitable for children in the cross group was discussed.Results(i) There was fair consistency between the Chinese multicenter study recommendations and the ATS guidelines regarding the classification of high- and low-FeNO groups (Kappa = 0.338). (ii) Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the level of improvement in FVC%, FEV1%, FEF25%, FEF50%, and FeNO in the American high- and low-FeNO groups differed with the duration of therapy (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference between the Chinese groups. (iii) FEV1% and FeNO improved more after treatment in the fixed high-FeNO group than in the cross group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe Chinese multicenter study on the normal range of FeNO in children in China has a limited role in evaluating standardized asthma treatment efficacy in 6- to 12-year-old children. The ATS guidelines are currently recommended for clinical assessment of asthma treatment efficacy

Assessment of the Health Effects of Heavy Metals Pollution of Agricultural Soils in the Iron Ore Mining Area of the Northern Piedmont of Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province, China

We have measured the concentrations of toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, and Hg) in 29 samples from agricultural soils in an iron ore mining area in the northern piedmont of Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, China. The aim was to evaluate the potential health risks to local inhabitants based on the health risk assessment model derived from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The results show that the concentrations of the four heavy metals exceed their background values, especially in the case of Hg. The pollution level of the four heavy metals can be ordered as follows: Hg > Cd > Pb > As. The spatial distribution of the concentrations of the four heavy metals was uneven: pollution levels were lowest in the basin of the E River, and centered on the E River there was an increasing trend towards the Yukou River in the west and the Yangyan River in the east. In terms of the degree of pollution, this trend can be summarized as: Qingyang River > Yangyan River > Yukou River > E River. The main form of ingestion of the metals was via mouth and nose, and the risk to children is higher than for adults. Iron ore mining was the main cause of the increased concentrations of As and Cd, which represent a cancer risk for humans

Isolation and Identification of Porcine Deltacoronavirus and Alteration of Immunoglobulin Transport Receptors in the Intestinal Mucosa of PDCoV-Infected Piglets

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a porcine enteropathogenic coronavirus that causes watery diarrhea, vomiting, and frequently death in piglets, causing serious economic losses to the pig industry. The strain CHN-JS-2017 was isolated and identified by cytopathology, immunofluorescence assays, transmission electron microscopy, and sequence analysis. A nucleotide sequence alignment showed that the whole genome of CHN-JS-2017 is 97.4%–99.6% identical to other PDCoV strains. The pathogenicity of the CHN-JS-2017 strain was investigated in orally inoculated five-day-old piglets; the piglets developed acute, watery diarrhea, but all recovered and survived. CHN-JS-2017 infection-induced microscopic lesions were observed, and viral antigens were detected mainly by immunohistochemical staining in the small intestine. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) are crucial immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors for the transcytosis ofimmunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, or IgM. Importantly, CHN-JS-2017 infected five-day-old piglets could significantly down-regulate the expression of FcRn, pIgR, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)in the intestinal mucosa. Note that the level of FcRn mRNA in the intestinal mucosa of normal piglets is positively correlated with pIgR and NF-κB. At the same time, the expressions of FcRn, pIgR, and NF-κB mRNA are also positively correlated in infected piglets. These results may help explain the immunological and pathological changes associated with porcine deltacorononirus infection

Lichen-Derived Actinomycetota: Novel Taxa and Bioactive Metabolites

Actinomycetes are essential sources of numerous bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse chemical and bioactive properties. Lichen ecosystems have piqued the interest of the research community due to their distinct characteristics. Lichen is a symbiont of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. This review focuses on the novel taxa and diverse bioactive secondary metabolites identified between 1995 and 2022 from cultivable actinomycetota associated with lichens. A total of 25 novel actinomycetota species were reported following studies of lichens. The chemical structures and biological activities of 114 compounds derived from the lichen-associated actinomycetota are also summarized. These secondary metabolites were classified into aromatic amides and amines, diketopiperazines, furanones, indole, isoflavonoids, linear esters and macrolides, peptides, phenolic derivatives, pyridine derivatives, pyrrole derivatives, quinones, and sterols. Their biological activities included anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, cytotoxic, and enzyme-inhibitory actions. In addition, the biosynthetic pathways of several potent bioactive compounds are summarized. Thus, lichen actinomycetes demonstrate exceptional abilities in the discovery of new drug candidates