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Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant, nearly accounting for 30–50% of stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment. TAMs exhibit an immunosuppressive M2-like phenotype in advanced cancer, which plays a crucial role in tumor growth, invasion and migration, angiogenesis and immunosuppression. Consequently, the TAM-targeting therapies are particularly of significance in anti-cancer strategies. The application of TAMs as anti-cancer targets is expected to break through traditional tumor-associated therapies and achieves favorable clinical effect. However, the heterogeneity of TAMs makes the strategy of targeting TAMs variable and uncertain. Discovering the subset specificity of TAMs might be a future option for targeting TAMs therapy. Herein, the review focuses on highlighting the different modalities to modulate TAM’s functions, including promoting the phagocytosis of TAMs, TAMs depletion, blocking TAMs recruitment, TAMs reprogramming and suppressing immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We also discuss about several ways to improve the efficacy of TAM-targeting therapy from the perspective of combination therapy and specificity of TAMs subgroups.

The water components affecting turbidity are complex and changeable, and the spectral response mechanism of each water quality parameter is different. Therefore, this study mainly aimed at the turbidity monitoring by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hyperspectral technology, and establishes a set of turbidity retrieval models through the artificial control experiment, and verifies the model’s accuracy through UAV flight and water sample data in the same period. The results of this experiment can also be extended to different inland waters for turbidity retrieval. Retrieval of turbidity values of small inland water bodies can provide support for the study of the degree of water pollution. We collected the images and data of aquaculture ponds and irrigation ditches in Dawa District, Panjin City, Liaoning Province. Twenty-nine standard turbidity solutions with different concentration gradients (concentration from 0 to 360 NTU—the abbreviation of Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, which stands for scattered turbidity.) were established through manual control and we simultaneously collected hyperspectral data from the spectral values of standard solutions. The sensitive band to turbidity was obtained after analyzing the spectral information. We established four kinds of retrieval, including the single band, band ratio, normalized ratio, and the partial least squares (PLS) models. We selected the two models with the highest R2 for accuracy verification. The band ratio model and PLS model had the highest accuracy, and R2 was, respectively, 0.65 and 0.72. The hyperspectral image data obtained by UAV were combined with the PLS model, which had the highest R2 to estimate the spatial distribution of water turbidity. The turbidity of the water areas in the study area was 5–300 NTU, and most of which are 5–80 NTU. It shows that the PLS models can retrieve the turbidity with high accuracy of aquaculture ponds, irrigation canals, and reservoirs in Dawa District of Panjin City, Liaoning Province. The experimental results are consistent with the conclusions of the field investigation.

This study explores how people appraise the use of contact tracing apps during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in South Korea. Despite increasing attention paid to digital tracing for health disasters, few studies have empirically examined user appraisal, emotion, and their continuance intention to use contact tracing apps for disaster management during an infectious disease outbreak. A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative inquiries was employed. In the qualitative study, by conducting interviews with 25 people who have used mobile apps for contact tracing, the way users appraise contact tracing apps for COVID-19 was explored. In the quantitative study, using data collected from 506 users of the apps, the interplay among cognitive appraisal (threats and opportunities) and its association with user emotion, and continuance intention was examined. The findings indicate that once users experience loss emotions, such as anger, frustration, and disgust, they are not willing to continue using the apps. App designers should consider providing technological affordances that enable users to have a sense of control over the technology so that they do not experience loss emotions. Public policymakers should also consider developing measures that can balance public health and personal privacy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy and there is a lack of effective biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. Living organisms are complex, and different omics molecules interact with each other to implement various biological functions. Genomics and metabolomics, which are the top and bottom of systems biology, play an important role in HCC clinical management. Fatty acid metabolism is associated with malignancy, prognosis, and immune phenotype in cancer, which is a potential hallmark in malignant tumors. In this study, the genes and metabolites related to fatty acid metabolism were thoroughly investigated by a dynamic network construction algorithm named EWS-DDA for the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Three gene ratios and eight metabolite ratios were identified by EWS-DDA as potential biomarkers for HCC clinical management. Further analysis using biological analysis, statistical analysis and document validation in the discovery and validation sets suggested that the selected potential biomarkers had great clinical prognostic value and helped to achieve effective early diagnosis of HCC. Experimental results suggested that in-depth evaluation of fatty acid metabolism from different omics viewpoints can facilitate the further understanding of pathological alterations associated with HCC characteristics, improving the performance of early diagnosis and clinical prognosis.

The growth of lithium (Li) dendrites and the accumulation of dead Li (i.e., Li metal regions which are electronically disconnected from the current collector) significantly undermine the safety and performance of Li metal batteries. This study employs kilogram–scale atomic layer deposition technology to construct zinc oxide with a preferential (002) crystal orientation, which homogeneously forms on commercial carbon nanotube papers. Our approach emphasizes the importance of achieving a moderate Li adsorption energy and low Li migration energy barriers to suppress Li dendrite growth. In this work, we introduce the concept of “catalytic” effect for dead Li reconversion, as validated through time–of–flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, leading to a Li plating/stripping efficiency of 99.89%. The Ah–level Li metal pouch cells with high–nickel positive electrodes achieve a specific energy of 380 Wh kg −1 (based on the mass of the whole pouch cell) and demonstrate stable cycling under demanding conditions. Analysis of the cycled pouch cells confirms the structural integrity and provides insights into the mechanism of the dead Li “catalytic” conversion. The growth of Li dendrites and the accumulation of dead Li significantly undermine the safety and performance of Li metal batteries. Here, authors introduce the concept of “catalytic” effect for dead Li reconversion, leading to a Li plating/stripping efficiency of 99.89%.

Background Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are increasingly gaining attention due to its characteristics of low toxicity, high activity, and stability. Additionally, Bacillus licheniformis , as a probiotic, has achieved remarkable research outcomes in diverse fields such as medicine, feed processing, and pesticides, attracting widespread attention. Consequently, evaluating the activity of probiotics and SeNPs is paramount. The utilization of probiotics to synthesize SeNPs, achieving large-scale industrialization, is a current hotspot in the field of SeNPs synthesis and is currently the most promising synthetic method. To minimize production costs and maximize yield of SeNPs, this study selected agricultural by-products that are nutrient-rich, cost-effective, and readily available as culture medium components. This approach not only fulfills industrial production requirements but also mitigates the impact on downstream processes. Results The experimental findings revealed that SeNPs synthesized by B. licheniformis F1 exhibited a spherical morphology with diameters ranging from 110 to 170 nm and demonstrating high stability. Both the secondary metabolites of B. licheniformis F1 and the synthesized SeNPs possessed significant free radical scavenging ability. To provide a more robust foundation for acquiring large quantities of SeNPs via fermentation with B. licheniformis F1, key factors were identified through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) include a 2% seed liquid inoculum, a temperature of 37 ℃, and agitation at 180 rpm. Additionally, critical factors during the optimization process were corn powder (11.18 g/L), soybean meal (10.34 g/L), and NaCl (10.68 g/L). Upon validating the optimized conditions and culture medium, B. licheniformis F1 can synthesize nearly 100.00% SeNPs from 5 mmol/L sodium selenite. Subsequently, pilot-scale verification in a 5 L fermentor using the optimized medium resulted in a shortened fermentation time, significantly reducing production costs. Conclusion In this study, the efficient production of SeNPs by the probiotic B. licheniformis F1 was successfully achieved, leading to a significant reduction in fermentation costs. The exploration of the practical applications of this strain holds significant potential and provides valuable guidance for facilitating the industrial-scale implementation of microbial synthesis of SeNPs.

Background MYB-CC transcription factors (TFs) genes have been demonstrated to be involved in the response to inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation and regulate some Pi-starvation-inducible genes. However, their role in drought stress has not been investigated in bread wheat. In this study, the TaMYBsm3 genes, including TaMYBsm3-A , TaMYBsm3-B , and TaMYBsm3-D , encoding MYB-CC TF proteins in bread wheat, were isolated to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms related to drought-tolerance in plants. Results TaMYBsm3-A , TaMYBsm3 - B , and TaMYBsm3 - D were mapped on chromosomes 6A, 6B, and 6D in wheat, respectively. TaMYBsm3 genes belonged to MYB-CC TFs, containing a conserved MYB DNA-binding domain and a conserved coiled–coil domain. TaMYBsm3-D was localized in the nucleus, and the N-terminal region was a transcriptional activation domain. T aMYBsm3 genes were ubiquitously expressed in different tissues of wheat, and especially highly expressed in the stamen and pistil. Under drought stress, transgenic plants exhibited milder wilting symptoms, higher germination rates, higher proline content, and lower MDA content comparing with the wild type plants. P5CS1 , DREB2A , and RD29A had significantly higher expression in transgenic plants than in wild type plants. Conclusion TaMYBsm3-A , TaMYBsm3 - B , and TaMYBsm3 - D were associated with enhanced drought tolerance in bread wheat. Overexpression of TaMYBsm3-D increases the drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis through up-regulating P5CS1 , DREB2A , and RD29A .

Periodontitis drives irreversible destruction of periodontal tissue and is prone to exacerbating inflammatory disorders. Systemic immunomodulatory management continues to be an attractive approach in periodontal care, particularly within the context of ‘predictive, preventive, and personalized’ periodontics. The present study incorporated genetic proxies identified through genome-wide association studies for circulating immune cells and periodontitis into a comprehensive Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. Univariable MR, multivariable MR, subgroup analysis, reverse MR, and Bayesian model averaging (MR-BMA) were utilized to investigate the causal relationships. Furthermore, transcriptome-wide association study and colocalization analysis were deployed to pinpoint the underlying genes. Consequently, the MR study indicated a causal association between circulating neutrophils, natural killer T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and an elevated risk of periodontitis. MR-BMA analysis revealed that neutrophils were the primary contributors to periodontitis. The high-confidence genes S100A9 and S100A12 , located on 1q21.3, could potentially serve as immunomodulatory targets for neutrophil-mediated periodontitis. These findings hold promise for early diagnosis, risk assessment, targeted prevention, and personalized treatment of periodontitis. Considering the marginal association observed in our study, further research is required to comprehend the biological underpinnings and ascertain the clinical relevance thoroughly.

Research advances in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have resulted in intelligent and humanlike AI-enabled technology (AIET). The concept of anthropomorphism—the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman beings or entities—has received increasing attention from academia and industries. However, research on anthropomorphism in the AIET context is relatively new and fragmented, with limited efforts to evaluate current research or consolidate existing knowledge. To bridge this gap, this descriptive literature review of 55 studies seeks to identify research trends, AIET types, theoretical foundations, and methods. The study also analyzes how anthropomorphism has been conceptualized and operationalized in the AIET context, and the thematic analysis identifies research gaps and suggests future explorations. The proposed conceptual framework for exploring the interplay of anthropomorphism with its antecedents and consequences provides a nomological network for future research.

The chemical weathering of Earth's silicate rocks regulates the global climate. However, the exact role of continental weathering with orogenic building and island arc weathering with arc‐continent collisions remains unclear. Here, we established a seawater neodymium isotopic composition (εNd) record for the northern South China Sea (SCS) since 28 Ma, retrieving from planktonic foraminifera at International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1501. The progressively restricted SCS connection from the Pacific Ocean and intensified weathering inputs from the East Asian Continent correspond to an unradiogenic trend of εNd records between 17 and 9 Ma. The radiogenic trend of εNd records since 9 Ma could be induced by enhanced tropical island arc weathering inputs in the context of the Luzon Arc‐Eurasian Continent collision, which resulted in significant atmospheric CO2 consumption. This study highlights that enhanced weathering of tropical island arc potentially significantly contributed to global cooling since the late Miocene. Plain Language Summary Silicate weathering of continents and island arcs are key processes in impacting the Earth's climate through removing CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the exact roles of these two weathering systems during different geological periods remain poorly understood. This study presents new seawater neodymium isotopic records in the northern South China Sea (SCS) since 28 Ma. These seawater fingerprints could examine the evolution of weathering inputs from East Asian continental rocks and tropical volcanic island arc that have influenced the northern SCS since the late Oligocene. Between 17 and 9 Ma, the unradiogenic trend of εNd values indicates the gradual isolation of the SCS basin and intensified weathering inputs from the East Asian Continent. In contrast, the more radiogenic trend in εNd values since 9 Ma, corresponds to the collision of the Luzon Arc and the Eurasian Continent during this period, which led to rapid weathering of the tropical island arc. The enhanced weathering of the tropical island arc could have increased CO2 consumption, potentially contributing to global cooling. These findings highlight the important role of tropical volcanic island arc in climate regulation and provide new insights into how tectonic evolution has shaped the seawater Nd isotopic composition in the deep SCS basin. Key Points First planktonic foraminiferal Nd isotopic record in the South China Sea since the late Oligocene was established Enhanced weathering inputs from the Asian Continent led to an unradiogenic trend of εNd records between 17 and 9 Ma Radiogenic trend of εNd since 9 Ma indicates increased tropical island arc weathering due to the Luzon Arc‐Eurasian Continent collision