Explore the vast range of titles available.

The thermal physiological and psychological responses in vehicles, influenced by gender and age, play a crucial role in ensuring passengers’ comfort. However, these differences have often been overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively examine passengers’ thermal comfort and investigate gender and age disparities based on their physiological and psychological responses. Experiments were conducted inside a vehicle placed in a climate chamber under cooling and heating conditions, with the collected data subjected to statistical analysis. The findings reveal that males had significantly higher mean skin temperatures in cooling conditions and lower skin temperatures in heating conditions than females. However, overall thermal sensation and comfort did not significantly differ between genders. Interestingly, age-related differences were observed to a limited extent in both conditions. This study provides valuable insights into passengers’ thermal responses in vehicles, considering the factors of gender and age, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding of thermal comfort in a vehicle environment.

Sarcopenia is prevalent as the aging population grows. Therefore, the need for supplements for the elderly is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of a Panax ginseng berry extract (GBE) and soluble whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) mixture on a sarcopenia-related muscular deterioration in aged mice. Ten-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were administered three different doses of the GBE + WPH mixture for 8 weeks; 700 mg/kg, 900 mg/kg, and 1100 mg/kg. Grip strength, serum inflammatory cytokines level, and mass of muscle tissues were estimated. The deteriorating function of aging muscle was investigated via protein or gene expression. Grip strength and mass of three muscle tissues were increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine alleviated systemic inflammatory state. The mixture resolved the imbalance of muscle protein turnover through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and increased gene expression of the muscle regeneration-related factors, while decreasing myostatin, which interferes with muscle protein synthesis and regeneration. Furthermore, we confirmed that increased mitochondria number in muscle with the improvement of mitochondrial biogenesis. These physiological changes were similar to the effects of exercise.

L -Arginine is an important amino acid for diverse industrial and health product applications. Here we report the development of metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 21831 for the production of L -arginine. Random mutagenesis is first performed to increase the tolerance of C. glutamicum to L -arginine analogues, followed by systems metabolic engineering for further strain improvement, involving removal of regulatory repressors of arginine operon, optimization of NADPH level, disruption of L -glutamate exporter to increase L -arginine precursor and flux optimization of rate-limiting L -arginine biosynthetic reactions. Fed-batch fermentation of the final strain in 5 l and large-scale 1,500 l bioreactors allows production of 92.5 and 81.2 g l −1 of L -arginine with the yields of 0.40 and 0.35 g L -arginine per gram carbon source (glucose plus sucrose), respectively. The systems metabolic engineering strategy described here will be useful for engineering Corynebacteria strains for the industrial production of L -arginine and related products. The amino acid, L -arginine, has important applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Here the authors systematically engineer a Corynebacterium glutamicum strain for the production of L -arginine, and show that their metabolic engineering approach can be used for the industrial production of valuable chemicals.

This paper focuses on the design of a thinned array antenna using microstrip patch, which is a novel task in recent years. The aim of thinned array antenna synthesis is to obtain a desired radiation pattern with a minimum number of antenna elements. For uniform spacing array antenna, a certain number of elements can be removed, while maintaining a desired radiation pattern using genetic algorithm optimization. Parameters such as beamwidth and side lobe level are evaluated for proposed thinned array antenna by comparison with those obtained for different types of uniform array antennas. Numerical examples are presented to show the high energy efficiency of the proposed thinned array antenna.

GITR signaling inhibits tumor growth by inducing T H 9 cell differentiation, increasing IL-9–dependent dendritic cell function and enhancing cytotoxic T cell responses. T cell stimulation via glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-related protein (GITR) elicits antitumor activity in various tumor models; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we demonstrate a crucial role for interleukin (IL)-9 in antitumor immunity generated by the GITR agonistic antibody DTA-1. IL-4 receptor knockout ( Il4ra −/− ) mice, which have reduced expression of IL-9, were resistant to tumor growth inhibition by DTA-1. Notably, neutralization of IL-9 considerably impaired tumor rejection induced by DTA-1. In particular, DTA-1–induced IL-9 promoted tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses by enhancing the function of dendritic cells in vivo . Furthermore, GITR signaling enhanced the differentiation of IL-9–producing CD4 + T-helper (T H 9) cells in a TNFR-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)- and NF-κB–dependent manner and inhibited the generation of induced regulatory T cells in vitro . Our findings demonstrate that GITR co-stimulation mediates antitumor immunity by promoting T H 9 cell differentiation and enhancing CTL responses and thus provide a mechanism of action for GITR agonist–mediated cancer immunotherapies.

Background Although early rehabilitation programs have been reported to be effective after laparoscopic colectomy, there is no report of the efficacy of rehabilitation programs after rectal cancer surgery. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an early rehabilitation program after laparoscopic low anterior resection for mid or low rectal cancer in a randomized, controlled trial. Methods Ninety-eight patients who had undergone a laparoscopic low anterior resection with defunctioning ileostomy were randomized on a 1:1 basis to an early rehabilitation program ( n  = 52) or conventional care ( n  = 46). The primary endpoint was recovery rate at 4 days postoperatively. The secondary endpoints were recovery time, postoperative hospital stay, complications, readmission rates, pain on a visual analogue scale, and quality of life (QOL) according to Short Form 36. Results The recovery rates were not different in both groups (rehabilitation, 25 % vs. conventional, 13 %, p  = 0.135). Recovery time and postoperative hospital stay was similar between the groups (rehabilitation, 137 h [107–188] vs. conventional, 146.5 h [115–183], p  = 0.47; 7.5 days [7–11] vs. 8.0 days [7–10], p  = 0.882). The complication rates did not differ between the two groups, but more complications were noted in the rehabilitation program group (42.3 vs. 24.0 %, p   =  0.054), which was related to postoperative ileus (28.8 vs. 13.0 %, p   =  0.057) and acute voiding difficulty (19.6 vs. 4.7 %, p   =  0.032). There was no readmission within 1 month of surgery. Pain and QOL were similar in both groups. Conclusions This randomized trial did not show that an early rehabilitation program is beneficial after laparoscopic low anterior resection. Our results confirm that postoperative ileus and acute voiding difficulty are major obstacles to fast-track surgery for mid or low rectal cancer. This study was registered (registration number NCT00606944).

FoxP3⁺ T regulatory (Treg) cells are central elements of immunologic tolerance. They are abundant in many tumors, where they restrict potentially favorable antitumor responses. We used a three-pronged strategy to identify genes related to the presence and function of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment. Gene expression profiles were generated from tumor-infiltrating Tregs (TITRs) of both human and mouse tumors and were compared with those of Tregs of lymphoid organs or normal tissues from the same individuals. A computational deconvolution of whole-tumor datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was performed to identify transcripts specifically associated with Tregs across thousands of tumors from different stages and locations. We identified a set of TITR-differential transcripts with striking reproducibility between tumor types in mice, between mice and humans, and between different human patients spanning tumor stages. Many of the TITR-preferential transcripts were shared with “tissue Tregs” residing in nonlymphoid tissues, but a tumor-preferential segment could be identified. Many of these TITR signature transcripts were confirmed by mining of TCGA datasets, which also brought forth transcript modules likely representing the parenchymal attraction of, or response to, tumor Tregs. Importantly, the TITR signature included several genes encoding effective targets of tumor immunotherapy. A number of other targets were validated by CRISPR-based gene inactivation in mouse Tregs. These results confirm the validity of the signature, generating a wealth of leads for understanding the role of Tregs in tumor progression and identifying potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of robot-assisted right colectomy (RAC) with those for conventional laparoscopy-assisted right surgery (LAC) for treating right-sided colon cancer.BackgroundThe enthusiasm for the robotic techniques has gained increasing interest in colorectal malignancies. However, the role of robotic surgery in the oncologic safety has not yet been defined.MethodsFrom September 2009 to July 2011, 71 patients with right-sided colonic cancer were randomized in the study. Adjuvant therapy and postoperative follow-up were similar in both groups. The primary and secondary endpoints of the study were hospital stay and survival, respectively. Data were analyzed by intention-to-treat principle.ResultsThe RAC and LAC groups did not differ significantly in terms of baseline clinical characteristics. Compared with the LAC group, RAC was associated with longer operation times (195 min vs. 129 min, P < 0.001) and higher cost ($12,235 vs. $10,319, P = 0.013). The median follow-up was 49.23 months (interquartile range 40.63–56.20). The combined 5-year disease-free rate for all tumor stages was 77.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60.6–92.1%) in the RAC group and 83.6% (95% CI 72.1–0.97.0%) in the LAC group (P = 0.442). The combined 5-year overall survival rates for all stages were 91.1% (95% CI 78.8–100%) in the RAC group and 91.0% (95% CI 81.3–100%) in the LAC group (P = 0.678). Using multivariate analysis, RAC was not a predictor of recurrence.ConclusionsRAC appears to similar long-term survival as compared with LAC. However, we did not observe any clinical benefits of RAC which could translate to a decrease in expenditures.Trial registry: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00470951.Graphical abstract

Autophagy is a vital process that enables plants to adapt to various environmental changes. During heat stress (HS), misfolded and denatured proteins accumulate in cells, necessitating autophagy for their removal. Here, we show that a core autophagy component ATG8a is targeted for degradation via the Arg/N-degron pathway. ATG8a is expressed as two alternatively spliced transcripts encoding ATG8a isoforms, namely ATG8a(S) and ATG8a(L), with distinct N-termini. While ATG8a(S) remains stable, ATG8a(L) is N-terminally processed to expose the Arg/N-degron, leading to its degradation. Ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component N-recognin 7 (UBR7), identified as an N-recognin, is responsible for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of ATG8a(L). Notably, ATG8a ( S ) and ATG8a ( L ) show dynamic expression patterns, fluctuating ATG8a levels during the HS and recovery periods. Our findings highlight the crucial role of ATG8a turnover in conferring thermotolerance, which is governed by Arg/N-degron-mediated regulation. Understanding the molecular basis of ATG8a stability will provide valuable insights into plant resilience to HS under changing climatic conditions. This study uncovers a UBR7-mediated Arg/N-degron pathway that regulates autophagy through selective degradation of ATG8a during heat stress recovery, providing insights into plant resilience to heat stress under changing climatic conditions.

Purpose The aim of this study is to compare short-term outcomes and surgical quality of robot-assisted (RAP) and laparoscopic (LAP) total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients with low rectal cancer. Methods From December 2007 to June 2009, 41 consecutive patients with low rectal cancer underwent TME by robot-assisted procedures. The lowest tumor margins were below peritoneal reflection and 1.0–8.0 cm above the anal verge. These patients were matched 1:2 by age, gender, body mass index, date of surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and tumor stage, with 82 patients who underwent conventional LAP. Macroscopic quality of the specimens and operative and postoperative outcomes were compared. Results Mean operation time was 168.0 ± 49.3 min for LAP group and 231.9 ± 61.4 min for RAP group ( P  < 0.001). Time to regular diet (RAP, 6.7 days vs. LAP, 6.6 days) and length of stay (RAP, 9.9 days vs. LAP, 9.4 days) were similar. The proportion of surgeries performed with the modified natural orifice techniques (totally intracorporeal procedures with transanal or transvaginal retrieval of specimens) was significantly higher in the RAP group (RAP, 48.8% vs. LAP, 13.4%; P  < 0.001). There were no between-group differences in specimen quality, including distal resection margins, harvested lymph nodes, and circumferential margins. The overall major complication rates were similar (RAP, 9.8% vs. LAP, 7.3%; P  = 0.641). Conclusions RAP was safe and effective for patients with low rectal cancer. Furthermore, the technical advantages of robot surgical systems may allow a novel approach using hybrid natural orifice surgery.