Production and decay of K-shell hollow krypton in collisions with 52 - 197 MeV/u bare xenon ions

X-ray spectra of K-shell hollow krypton atoms produced in single collisions with 52 - 197 MeV/u Xe54+ ions are measured in a heavy-ion storage ring equipped with an internal gas-jet target. Energy shifts of the K{\alpha}_1,2^s, K{\alpha}_1,2^(h,s), and K\b{eta}_1,3^s transitions are obtained. Thus, the average number of the spectator L-vacancies presented during the x-ray emission is deduced. From the relative intensities of the K{\alpha}_1,2^s and K{\alpha}_1,2^(h,s) transitions, the ratio of K-shell hollow krypton to singly K-shell ionized atoms is determined to be 14 - 24%. In the considered collisions, the K-vacancies are mainly created by the direct ionization which cannot be calculated within the perturbation descriptions. The experimental results are compared with a relativistic coupled channel calculation performed within the independent particle approximation.Comment: 5 figures, 9 pages. Accepted by Physical Review

Impact of Cordyceps sinensis on coronary computed tomography angiography image quality and renal function in a beagle model of renal impairment

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the protective effects of Cordyceps sinensis against renal injury induced by low-dose contrast medium (CM) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) imaging, and to evaluate its efficacy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).MethodsTwenty Beagle dogs with induced renal insufficiency were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 5 per group). Group A received Cordyceps sinensis for 1 week prior to undergoing heart rate-dependent personalized CM CCTA scanning; Group B received Cordyceps sinensis for 1 week followed by conventional dose CM CCTA scanning; Group C did not receive Cordyceps sinensis but underwent HR-dependent CM CCTA scanning; and Group D did not receive Cordyceps sinensis but underwent conventional dose CM CCTA scanning. Renal function was assessed using MRI before and after the intervention, with IVIM (Intravoxel Incoherent Motion) and BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) imaging of the kidneys. Key parameters, including the pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), and R2*values, were quantified. Laboratory renal function markers were measured multiple times before and after the intervention, and their correlation with fMRI parameters was analyzed.ResultsCCTA imaging revealed that the CT values of the major coronary artery branches in all groups met the international diagnostic criteria for coronary arteries. No statistically significant differences in image quality were observed among the four groups (P > 0.05). In Groups A and D, significant changes were observed in renal function parameters, as well as in D, D*, f, and R2* values, both pre- and post-CCTA (P < 0.05). However, Groups B and C exhibited no significant changes pre- and post-CCTA (P > 0.05). A significant correlation was found between MRI parameters and laboratory renal function markers, with excellent inter- and intra-observer reproducibility, and high repeatability in the measurements.ConclusionHR-dependent personalized CM CCTA imaging did not compromise image quality. Administration of Cordyceps sinensis demonstrated a potential protective effect on renal function. The combination of IVIM and BOLD functional MRI offers a reliable, non-invasive approach to assess the protective effects of Cordyceps sinensis on renal injury induced by low-dose CCTA in Beagle dogs

Screening and validation of atherosclerosis PAN-apoptotic immune-related genes based on single-cell sequencing

BackgroundCarotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is a complication of atherosclerosis (AS). PAN-optosome is an inflammatory programmed cell death pathway event regulated by the PAN-optosome complex. CAS’s PAN-optosome-related genes (PORGs) have yet to be studied. Hence, screening the PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes for treating CAS was vital.MethodsWe introduced transcriptome data to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CAS. Subsequently, WGCNA analysis was utilized to mine module genes about PANoptosis score. We performed differential expression analysis (CAS samples vs. standard samples) to obtain CAS-related differentially expressed genes at the single-cell level. Venn diagram was executed to identify PAN-optosome-related differential genes (POR-DEGs) associated with CAS. Further, LASSO regression and RF algorithm were implemented to were executed to build a diagnostic model. We additionally performed immune infiltration and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) based on diagnostic genes. We verified the accuracy of the model genes by single-cell nuclear sequencing and RT-qPCR validation of clinical samples, as well as in vitro cellular experiments.ResultsWe identified 785 DEGs associated with CAS. Then, 4296 module genes about PANoptosis score were obtained. We obtained the 7365 and 1631 CAS-related DEGs at the single-cell level, respectively. 67 POR-DEGs were retained Venn diagram. Subsequently, 4 PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) were identified via machine learning. Cellular function tests on four genes showed that these genes have essential roles in maintaining arterial cell viability and resisting cellular senescence.ConclusionWe obtained four PANoptosis-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) associated with CAS, laying a theoretical foundation for treating CAS

Novel delivery systems for phages and lysins in the topical management of wound infections: a narrative review

Currently, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial wound infections (WIs) are an extremely challenging clinical problem for physicians. Recently, compared to traditional single liquid delivery drugs, the study of five novel drug delivery systems (i.e., hydrogel, liposomes, electrospun fibers, nanoparticles and nanoemulsion) for phages and their encoded lysins in WI management has become a hot topic. To assess the current landscape of these emerging technologies, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science up to July 2024, using terms such as “phage,” “lysin,” “wound,” “hydrogel,” “liposomes,” “fibers,” “nanoparticles,” and “nanoemulsion.” The criteria included original studies of five novel delivery systems for phages and lysins in WI management. The findings highlighted the positive effects of the five novel delivery systems for phages and lysins in WI management, significantly reducing wound bacterial populations, and accelerating healing at the injury site. However, the available literature on novel delivery systems for phages and lysins remains limited, particularly for lysins. In conclusion, the application of novel drug delivery systems for phages and lysins showed great potential in combating MDR bacterial WIs

The Ninth Visual Object Tracking VOT2021 Challenge Results

acceptedVersionPeer reviewe