Search Results (5,401)

This study investigates the impact of network structural characteristics on sustainable innovation performance within regional collaborative networks in China’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Provincial-level innovation networks were constructed and analyzed using social network analysis to trace their evolutionary pathways using patent application data from 2010 to 2024. The findings reveal that China’s AI innovation network has developed into a multi-tiered, polycentric structure with Beijing as the primary hub. An inverted U-shaped relationship was identified between network centrality, structural holes, and regional collaborative innovation performance at various developmental stages. The external institutional environment, particularly through government R&D subsidies and intellectual property protection, plays a significant moderating role, generally diminishing the effect of centrality while enhancing that of structural holes during the rapid expansion phase. Regional heterogeneity analyses confirmed these patterns in eastern, central, and western China, whereas in the northeast, only centrality showed a significant association with performance. By integrating network location theory with an institutional perspective, this study offers a dual-perspective framework for understanding how sustainable innovation ecosystems can be fostered through network governance and policy interventions. The results provide evidence-based policy implications aimed at enhancing collaborative innovation capacity, mitigating regional disparities, and advancing sustainable development. Full article

The cellular prion protein (PrP^C) displays a functional repertoire that extends well beyond its classical link to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Abundant in the nervous system and localized within lipid raft microdomains, PrP^C has emerged as a multifunctional signaling platform that regulates cell differentiation, neurogenesis, neuroprotection, and synaptic plasticity. Recent evidence highlights its dynamic expression in stem cell populations, where it participates in multimolecular complexes that control lineage commitment, particularly during neuronal differentiation. PrP^C expression tightly correlates with stem cell status, making it a promising biomarker of stemness and developmental progression. Through interactions with growth factors, extracellular matrix components, and synaptic proteins, PrP^C functions as a molecular integrator of signals essential for tissue repair and regeneration. Preclinical studies demonstrate that recombinant PrP^C can stimulate neurogenesis and tissue repair, while monoclonal antibodies modulate its physiological and pathological functions. Likewise, cell-based therapies leveraging PrP^C-enriched stem cells or PrP^C-dependent signaling profiles have shown promise in models of neurodegeneration and ischemia. Conversely, dysregulated PrP^C expression has also been observed in solid tumors, where it contributes to cancer cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and therapy resistance, reinforcing its role as a regulator of cell fate and an oncological target. This review integrates stem cell biology, tissue regeneration, and oncology into a unified framework, offering a novel perspective in which PrP^C emerges as a shared molecular hub governing both physiological repair and pathological tumor behavior, opening previously unrecognized conceptual and translational opportunities. Full article

Dental pain often arises from the compromised integrity of the tooth pulp due to dental injury or caries. The dentin–pulp complex has long been considered to be central to the unique biology of dental pain. Most trigeminal ganglion afferents projecting into tooth pulp are myelinated neurons, which lose their myelination at the site of peripheral dentin innervation. The pulpal afferents likely combine multiple internal and external stimuli to mediate nociception and maintain pulp homeostasis. Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in neurons and odontoblasts, along with mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo, form a key molecular hub for pulpal nociception by sensing thermal, chemical, and hydrodynamic stimuli. Among these, TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) mediates nociception and the release of calcitonin-gene-related peptides (CGRPs), while TRP canonical 5 (TRPC5) mediates cold pain. TRP melastatin 8 (TRPM8) mediates the transduction of hyperosmotic stimuli. Pulpitis elevates endogenous TRPV1 and TRPA1 agonists, while inflammatory mediators sensitize TRP channels, amplifying pain. CGRP recruits immune cells and promotes bacterial clearance and reparative dentinogenesis, yet the roles of TRP channels in these processes remain unclear. Future studies should use advanced multi-omics and in vivo or organotypic models in animal and human teeth to define TRP channel contributions to pain, immune responses, and regeneration. Understanding neuronal and non-neuronal TRP channel interactions and their integration with other ion channels may enable novel analgesic and regenerative strategies in dentistry. Full article

Ovarian cancer (OC) remains one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies due to late diagnosis, rapid progression, and frequent chemoresistance. Despite advances in targeted therapy, durable responses are uncommon, underscoring the need for novel multitarget agents capable of modulating key oncogenic networks. Medicarpin, a natural pterocarpan phytoalexin, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities; however, its molecular mechanisms in OC are poorly defined. This study employed an integrative in silico framework combining network pharmacology, pathway enrichment, molecular docking, and survival analysis to elucidate medicarpin’s therapeutic landscape in OC. A total of 107 overlapping targets were identified, resulting in a dense protein–protein interaction network enriched in kinase-mediated and apoptotic signaling pathways. Ten hub genes were emphasized: CASP3, ESR1, mTOR, PIK3CA, CCND1, GSK3B, CDK4, PARP1, CHEK1, and ABL1. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses demonstrated substantial enrichment in the PI3K–Akt/mTOR and prolactin signaling pathways. Docking revealed the stable binding of medicarpin to CASP3 (−6.13 kcal/mol) and ESR1 (−7.68 kcal/mol), supporting its dual regulation of hormonal and apoptotic processes. Although CASP3 and ESR1 expression alone lacked prognostic significance, their network interplay suggests synergistic relevance. Medicarpin exhibits multitarget anticancer potential in OC by modulating kinase-driven and hormone-dependent pathways, warranting further experimental validation. Full article

Celebrity worship has become a pervasive phenomenon among Chinese undergraduates, yet its psychological mechanisms remain unclear. This cross-sectional study recruited 1103 Chinese undergraduate students via convenience sampling. Data on celebrity worship and subjective well-being were collected using the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). To investigate the internal structure of celebrity worship and its relationship with subjective well-being, a network analysis approach was employed. The resulting networks revealed that 72.33% of possible edges among worship items were non-zero, indicating dense interconnectivity. Entertainment–social behaviors—particularly “obsessed by details of the celebrity’s life”—formed the most central nodes, whereas borderline-pathological beliefs emerged as the pivotal hub when well-being variables were integrated. BP displayed the strongest negative connection with shame and served as the primary bridge linking worship to reduced life satisfaction and heightened negative affect. Bootstrap analyses confirmed robust stability. These findings shift research from a global “total-score” to a “systems” paradigm, highlighting BP cognitions as high-priority targets for cognitive-reappraisal interventions to prevent the escalation from healthy enthusiasm to pathological obsession. Full article

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) serve as the signaling hub regulating hair follicle (HF) development and cyclical growth. This study aims to investigate the biological function and molecular mechanisms of TGFBR1 (transforming growth factor β receptor 1), a differentially expressed gene identified through single-cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) in the DPCs from fine-wool sheep. Primary DPCs were isolated and purified using a combination of enzymatic digestion and mechanical dissociation, followed by immunofluorescence identification (α-SMA and SOX2-positive). Following successful transfection with constructed TGFBR1 overexpression plasmids and siRNA interference vectors, cell proliferation was assessed via EDU staining and CCK-8 assays. mRNA expression of key genes in Wnt/β-catenin, BMP, and Notch signaling pathways (PCNA, CCND1, CTNNB1, SFRP2, BMP2, NOTCH3, SMAD4, etc.) was validated by RT-qPCR. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed significant downregulation of TGFBR1 in DPCs from fine-wool sheep. Functional validation demonstrated that TGFBR1 overexpression markedly suppressed DPC proliferation, whereas knockdown of TGFBR1 expression promoted DPC proliferation. Molecular mechanism studies showed that TGFBR1 overexpression significantly downregulated PCNA, CCND1, CTNNB1, NOTCH3, and SMAD4 while upregulating SFRP2, BMP2, and TGFB1 expression. These findings demonstrate that TGFBR1 acts as a negative regulator of DPCs proliferation by modulating the activity of multiple signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, BMP, and Notch, thereby suppressing the proliferative capacity of DPCs. This study not only provides new theoretical support for elucidating the role of the TGF-β signaling pathway in H development but also offers theoretical reference for in-depth research on molecular breeding in ultra -fine-wool sheep and the molecular mechanisms underlying HF development. Full article

Objective: Although Las Vegas is a major tourist hub, it is not among the counties that are under CDC surveillance for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), a major nosocomial infection. To determine the distribution of C. difficile ribotypes in the Las Vegas area, we collected stool samples from CDI-positive patients at the University Medical Center (UMC). Methods: We included adult patients diagnosed with CDI and provided informed consent. C. difficile was isolated from the stool samples and ribotyped. Demographic information was also obtained and analyzed. All information was compared to the surveillance data from the CDC. Results: We identified more frequently in male patients than in the CDC data. Less than half of the patients used antibiotics prior to the infection. We observed several comorbidities in our patient sample pool, with cardiovascular disease and diabetes being the most prevalent comorbidities. Hypervirulent C. difficile strain 027 was the most prevalent ribotype. Except for two samples of ribotype 076, all other samples represented unique singlet ribotypes. Four of these ribotypes (160, 302, 363, and 813) have not been explicitly reported in humans. Conclusions: Due to the unique environment created by the tourism industry in Las Vegas, this population is exposed to national and international visitors. This study shows the pre-COVID landscape of C. difficile ribotypes in Las Vegas and offers valuable insights into the varieties of C. difficile that are currently infecting this community. Full article

Global air transport has become the dominant mode of long-distance travel, carrying more than four billion passengers in 2019 and projected to exceed 8 billion by 2040. Nevertheless, limited demand and economic inefficiencies often make direct connections unfeasible, forcing many passengers to rely on transfers. In such cases, synchronizing arrivals and departures at hub airports is crucial to minimizing transfer times and maximizing passenger retention. This study investigates the synchronization problem at Istanbul Airport, one of the world’s largest hubs, using metaheuristic optimization. Three algorithms—Genetic Algorithms (GA), Modified Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (MDPSO), and Evolutionary Strategies (ES)—were applied in parallel to optimize arrival and departure schedules for a major airline. The proposed chromosome-based framework was tested through parameter tuning and validated with statistical analyses, including ANOVA and Games–Howell pairwise comparisons. The results show that MDPSO achieved strong improvements, while ES consistently outperformed both GA and MDPSO, increasing successful passenger transfers by more than 200% compared to the original schedule. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of evolutionary metaheuristics for large-scale airline scheduling and highlight their potential for improving hub connectivity. This framework is generalizable to other hub airports and airlines, and future research could extend it by integrating hybrid metaheuristics or applying enhanced forecasting methods and more dynamic scheduling approaches. Full article

Objective: Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the corpus spongiosum may contribute to abnormal urethral development in hypospadias, but the underlying molecular regulators remain unclear. This study aimed to identify hub genes associated with VSMCs phenotypic switching in the corpus spongiosum using RNA sequencing and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and to functionally characterize the top candidate gene CDKN2B. Methods: Corpus spongiosum tissue samples were collected from seven patients with proximal hypospadias and five patients with urethral stricture (control group). The expression of the VSMCs contractile markers Calponin 1 and α-SMA, and the secretory marker OPN, was evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting to assess VSMCs phenotypic state. RNA sequencing and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were performed to identify hub genes, which were then validated by qRT-PCR. Primary VSMCs were isolated from corpus spongiosum tissue and transduced with lentiviral vectors to either suppress or overexpress CDKN2B. Changes in VSMC marker expression and in key signaling pathways associated with phenotypic switching—specifically TGF/Smad and SRF/MYOCD—were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: In hypospadias tissue, the decreased expression of α-SMA and Calponin 1, together with increased OPN, indicated a shift in VSMCs from a contractile to a secretory phenotype. RNA-seq and WGCNA identified 11 differentially expressed genes, among which CDKN2B showed a marked downregulation in hypospadias samples. In control VSMCs, CDKN2B inhibition led to reduced α-SMA and Calponin 1, elevated OPN, and suppressed activity of TGF/Smad and SRF/MYOCD signaling. Conversely, CDKN2B overexpression in VSMCs from hypospadias samples restored α-SMA and Calponin 1 expression, decreased OPN, and enhanced TGF/Smad and SRF/MYOCD pathway activation. Conclusions: VSMCs in the corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethral plate in hypospadias undergo a transition from a contractile to a secretory phenotype. CDKN2B emerges from unbiased transcriptomic screening as a key hub gene and functions as a critical regulator of this process, maintaining the contractile phenotype by modulating canonical TGF/Smad and SRF/MYOCD signaling. The CDKN2B–TGF/Smad axis may represent a central pathway linking VSMC phenotypic switching to abnormal vascular remodeling in hypospadias. Full article

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of death and disability in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the shared molecular mechanisms linking T2DM and atherosclerosis have not been fully elucidated. We analyzed AS- and T2DM-related gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify overlapping differentially expressed genes and co-expression signatures. Functional enrichment (Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)) and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were then used to describe the pathways and interaction modules associated with these shared signatures, We next applied the cytoHubba algorithm together with several machine learning methods to prioritize hub genes and evaluate their diagnostic potential and combined CIBERSORT-based immune cell infiltration analysis with single-cell RNA sequencing data to examine cell types and the expression patterns of the shared genes in specific cell populations. We identified 72 shared feature genes. Functional enrichment analysis of these genes revealed significant enrichment of inflammatory- and metabolism-related pathways. Three genes—IL1B, MMP9, and P2RY13—emerged as shared hub genes and yielded robust ANN-based predictive performance across datasets. Immune deconvolution and single-cell analyses consistently indicated inflammatory amplification and an imbalance of macrophage polarization in both conditions. Biology mapped to the hubs suggests IL1B drives inflammatory signaling, MMP9 reflects extracellular-matrix remodeling, and P2RY13 implicates cholesterol transport. Collectively, these findings indicate that T2DM and AS converge on immune and inflammatory processes with macrophage dysregulation as a central axis; IL1B, MMP9, and P2RY13 represent potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets and may influence disease progression by regulating macrophage states, supporting translational application to diagnosis and treatment of T2DM-related atherosclerosis. These findings are preliminary. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to confirm their validity, given the limitations of the present study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Music engages multiple brain networks simultaneously, yet most studies examine these networks in isolation. Methods: We investigated functional connectivity among the auditory, motor, and reward networks during music listening in different contexts using fMRI data from two samples (N = 39 each): focused music listening and background music during cognitive tasks. ROI-to-ROI, seed-based, and graph theory analyses examined connectivity patterns among 46 regions spanning the three networks. Results: Both contexts showed enhanced within-auditory network connectivity compared to rest, suggesting that this is fundamental to music processing. However, between-network patterns diverged markedly. Background music listening during cognitive tasks preserved reward-motor coupling while reducing auditory-motor and auditory-reward connectivity. Focused music listening produced widespread negative correlations between motor regions and both the auditory and reward networks, potentially reflecting motor suppression in the scanner environment. Graph theory measures revealed context-specific hub reorganization: reward regions (nucleus accumbens, caudate) showed increased centrality during background music listening, while the amygdala and frontal orbital cortex were selectively enhanced during focused listening. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that music engagement involves context-dependent network reorganization beyond simple attention effects. The same musical stimulus engages different neural mechanisms depending on concurrent cognitive demands, motor requirements, and listening goals. Enhanced within-auditory connectivity appears consistent across contexts, but between-network interactions are shaped by the broader cognitive-behavioral context. These results highlight the importance of considering ecological context when studying music processing and designing music-based interventions, as network connectivity patterns during music listening reflect complex interactions between task demands, attentional resources, and musical engagement rather than music processing alone. Full article

Vegetation segmentation in Very High-Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery has become an essential task for ecological monitoring, supporting diverse applications such as large-scale vegetation conservation and detailed segmentation of small local areas. In particular, multi-class vegetation segmentation, which distinguishes various vegetation types beyond simple binary segmentation of vegetation and non-vegetation, enables detailed analysis of subtle ecosystem changes and has gained increasing importance. However, the annotation of VHR satellite imagery requires extensive time and effort, resulting in a lack of datasets for vegetation segmentation, especially those including multi-class annotations. To address this limitation, this study proposes MultiVeg, a deep learning dataset based on VHR satellite imagery for detailed multi-class vegetation segmentation. MultiVeg includes preprocessed 0.5 m resolution images collected by the KOMPSAT-3 and 3A satellites from 2014 to 2023, covering diverse environments such as urban, agricultural, and forest regions. Each image was carefully annotated by experts into three semantic classes, which are Background, Tree, and Low Vegetation, and validated through a structured quality check process. To verify the effectiveness of MultiVeg, seven representative semantic segmentation models, including convolutional neural network and Transformer-based architectures, were trained and comparatively analyzed. The results demonstrated consistent segmentation performance across all classes, confirming that MultiVeg is a high-quality and reliable dataset for deep learning-based multi-class vegetation segmentation research using VHR satellite imagery. The MultiVeg will be publicly available through GitHub (release v1.0), serving as a valuable resource for advancing deep leaning-based vegetation segmentation research in the remote sensing field. Full article

Objective: This study aims to investigate the functional role of lncRNA STX17-DT, which was previously found to be upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PBC patients, by examining its impact on gene expression and cellular behavior in a human monocyte model. Methods: STX17-DT was overexpressed in THP-1 cells, which was assessed via plasmid transfection. Transcriptomic changes were analyzed by RNA sequencing, followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analyses including differential expression, functional enrichment, transcription factor network, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Functional validation was performed using CCK-8 and TUNEL assays to assess proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Results: Overexpression of STX17-DT led to 1973 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 1201 upregulated and 772 downregulated. Key upregulated genes included interferon-stimulated genes (e.g., interferon induced protein 44 like (IFI44L), interferon induced protein 44 (IFI44), guanylate binding protein 1(GBP1)) and chemokines (CCL4, CCL8). Upregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways such as NF-κB signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, TNF signaling, and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. Downregulated genes were involved in metabolic and signaling pathways such as PI3K–Akt, cAMP, and butanoate metabolism. Transcription factor analysis revealed significant alterations in regulators like Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator(YAP1), nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1(NR4A1), and MAF bZIP transcription factor B(MAFB). PPI network analysis suggested TNF, TLR4, TLR6, and STAT2 as central hubs. Functionally, STX17-DT overexpression enhanced THP-1 cell proliferation and significantly reduced apoptosis. Conclusions: STX17-DT promoted a pro-inflammatory transcriptomic profile and enhanced monocyte survival in our study, suggesting a potential role in PBC immunopathology. It may represent a potential biomarker and therapeutic target, particularly for patients with advanced disease or suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid. Further studies in primary cells, animal models, and histological samples are warranted to validate its role in PBC pathogenesis. Full article

The growing necessity to decarbonize the global energy system has positioned green hydrogen as a central enabler of a secure and sustainable future. Among various production paths, water electrolysis has emerged as the most developed route for generating high purity hydrogen from renewable power. The paper includes a broad and comparative overview of four leading electrolyzer technologies: Alkaline Water Electrolyzers (AWE), Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEM), Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOEC), and new Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (AEM). Key technical parameters, operating principles, system level properties, and innovation trends are discussed, with a particular emphasis on their deployment and application in different regions of Canada. The study also highlights Canada’s growing role in the global hydrogen economy, supported by vast renewable resources, a favorable policy environment, and a dense network of research facilities and technology hubs. By combining comparative insights and tying them to national energy strategy, this survey establishes the agenda for driving adoption and innovation in electrolyzers in Canada’s clean energy shift. Full article