Preparation of an injectable and photocurable carboxymethyl cellulose/hydroxyapatite composite and its application in cranial regeneration

Limited bone regeneration, uncontrollable degradation rate, mismatched defect zone and poor operability have plagued the reconstruction of irregular bone defect by tissue-engineered materials. A combination of biomimetic scaffolds with hydroxyapatite has gained great popularity in promoting bone regeneration. Therefore, we designed an injectable, photocurable and in-situ curing hydrogel by methacrylic anhydride -modified carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-MA) loading with spherical hydroxyapatite (HA) to highly simulate the natural bony matrix and match any shape of damaged tissue. The prepared carboxymethyl cellulose-methacrylate/ hydroxyapatite(CMC-MA/HA) composite presented good rheological behavior, swelling ratio and mechanical property under light illumination. Meanwhile, this composite hydrogel promoted effectively proliferation, supported adhesion and upregulated the osteogenic-related genes expression of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro, as well as the activity of the osteogenic critical protein, Integrin α1, β1, Myosin 9, Myosin 10, BMP-2 and Smad 1 in Integrin/BMP-2 signal pathway. Together, the composite hydrogels realized promotion of bone regeneration, deformity improvement, and the enhanced new bone strength in skull defect. It also displayed a good histocompatibility and stability of subcutaneous implantation in vivo. Overall, this study laid the groundwork for future research into developing a novel biomaterial and a minimally invasive therapeutic strategies for reconstructing bone defects and contour deficiencies.

Reshaping the QM Region On-the-Fly: Adaptive-Shape QM/MM Dynamic Simulations of a Hydrated Proton in Bulk Water

Adaptive quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) reclassifies on-the-fly a molecule or molecular fragment as QM or MM during dynamics simulations without abrupt changes in the energy or forces. Notably, the permuted adaptive-partitioning (PAP) algorithms have been applied to simulate a hydrated proton, with a mobile QM zone anchored at a pseudoatom called a proton indicator. The position of the proton indicator approximates the location of the delocalized excess proton, yielding a smooth trajectory of the proton diffusing via the Grotthuss mechanism in aqueous solutions. The mobile QM zone, which has been taken to be a sphere with a preset radius, follows the proton wherever it goes. Although the simulations are successful, the use of a spherical QM zone has one disadvantage: A large preset radius must be utilized to minimize the chance of missing water molecules that are important to proton translocation. A large radius leads to a large QM zone, which is computationally expensive. In this work, we report a new way to set up the QM zone, where one includes only the water molecules important to proton transfer. The importance of a given water molecule is quantified by its "weight" that depends on its relation to the reaction path of proton transfer. The weight varies smoothly, ensuring that a water molecule gradually appears in or disappears from the QM zone without abrupt changes, as required by the PAP method. Consequently, the shape of the QM zone evolves on-the-fly, keeping the QM zone as small as possible and as large as necessary. Test simulations demonstrate that the new algorithm significantly improves the computation efficiency while maintaining the proper descriptions of proton transfer in bulk water.

Increased SERPINB2 potentiates 15LO1 expression via STAT6 signalling in epithelial cells in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

BACKGROUND

SERPINB2, a biomarker of Type-2 (T2) inflammatory processes, has been described in the context of asthma. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is also correlated with T2 inflammation and elevated 15LO1 induced by IL-4/13 in nasal epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and location of SERPINB2 in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) and determine whether SERPINB2 regulates 15LO1 and downstream T2 markers in NECs via STAT6 signalling.

METHODS

SERPINB2 gene expression in bulk and single-cell RNAseq database was analysed by bioinformatics analysis. SERPINB2, 15LO1 and other T2 markers were evaluated from CRSwNP and HCs NECs. The colocalization of SERPINB2 and 15LO1 was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Fresh NECs were cultured at an air-liquid interface with or without IL-13, SERPINB2 Dicer-substrate short interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) transfection, exogenous SERPINB2, 15-HETE recombinant protein and pSTAT6 inhibitors. 15LO1, 15-HETE and downstream T2 markers were analysed by qRT-PCR, western blot and ELISA.

RESULTS

SERPINB2 expression was increased in eosinophilic nasal polyps compared with that in noneosinophilic nasal polyps and control tissues and positively correlated with 15LO1 and other downstream T2 markers. SERPINB2 was predominantly expressed by epithelial cells in NP tissue and was colocalized with 15LO1. In primary NECs in vitro, SERPINB2 expression was induced by IL-13. Knockdown or overexpression SERPINB2 decreased or enhanced expression of 15LO1 and 15-HETE in NECs, respectively, in a STAT6-dependent manner. SERPINB2 siRNA also inhibited the expression of the 15LO1 downstream genes, such as CCL26, POSTN and NOS2. STAT6 inhibition similarly decreased SERPINB2-induced 15LO1.

CONCLUSIONS

SERPINB2 is increased in NP epithelial cells of eosinophilic CRSwNP (eCRSwNP) and contributes to T2 inflammation via STAT6 signalling. SERPINB2 could be considered a novel therapeutic target for eCRSwNP.

Characterisation of the mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Toxocara apodemi (Nematoda: Ascarididae)

We first sequenced and characterised the complete mitochondrial genome of Toxocara apodeme, then studied the evolutionary relationship of the species within Toxocaridae. The complete mitochondrial genome was amplified using PCR with 14 specific primers. The mitogenome length was 14303 bp in size, including 12 PCGs (encoding 3,423 amino acids), 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 2 NCRs, with 68.38% A+T contents. The mt genomes of T. apodemi had relatively compact structures with 11 intergenic spacers and 5 overlaps. Comparative analyses of the nucleotide sequences of complete mt genomes showed that T. apodemi had higher identities with T. canis than other congeners. A sliding window analysis of 12 PCGs among 5 Toxocara species indicated that nad4 had the highest sequence divergence, and cox1 was the least variable gene. Relative synonymous codon usage showed that UUG, ACU, CCU, CGU, and UCU most frequently occurred in the complete genomes of T. apodemi. The Ka/Ks ratio showed that all Toxocara mt genes were subject to purification selection. The largest genetic distance between T. apodemi and the other 4 congeneric species was found in nad2, and the smallest was found in cox2. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 PCGs demonstrated that T. apodemi formed a distinct branch and was always a sister taxon to other congeneric species. The present study determined the complete mt genome sequences of T. apodemi, which provide novel genetic markers for further studies of the taxonomy, population genetics, and systematics of the Toxocaridae nematodes.

Electricity-Driven Strategies for Bioinspired Multifunctional Swimming Marangoni Robots Based on Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Composites

Marangoni actuators that are propelled by surface tension gradients hold significant potential in small-scale swimming robots. Nevertheless, the release of "fuel" for conventional chemical Marangoni actuators is not easily controllable, and the single swimming function also limits application areas. Constructing controllable Marangoni robots with multifunctions is still a huge challenge. Herein, inspired by water striders, electricity-driven strategies are proposed for a multifunctional swimming Marangoni robot (MSMR), which is fabricated by super-aligned carbon nanotube (SACNT) and polyimide (PI) composite. The MSMR consists of a Marangoni actuator and air-ambient actuators. Owing to the temperature gradient generated by the electrical stimulation on the water surface, the Marangoni actuators can swim controllably with linear, turning, and rotary motions, mimicking the walking motion of water striders. In addition, the Marangoni actuators can also be driven by light. Importantly, the air-ambient actuators fabricated by SACNT/PI bilayer structures demonstrate the function of grasping objects on the water surface when electrically Joule-heated, mimicking the predation behavior of water striders. With the synergistic effect of the Marangoni actuator and air-ambient actuators, the MSMR can navigate mazes with tunnels and grasp objects. This research will provide a new inspiration for smart actuators and swimming robots.

Daily feeding frequency affects feed intake and body weight management of growing layers

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding behavior on feed intake and body weight in growing layers and the underlying mechanisms, thereby providing a scientific foundation for optimal feeding practices in growing layers' management. A total of 144 Hy-line brown growing layers of 10 wk old and similar body weight, were divided into 3 treatment groups with different feeding frequency and equal cumulative daily feeding amount: the once-a-day feeding group (F1) was fed at 9:00 am every day, with feeding amount of 150 g/layer; the twice-a-day feeding group (F2) were fed at 9:00 am and 13:00 pm every day, with each feeding amount of 75 g/layer; the 4 times-a-day feeding group (F4) were fed at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 13:00 pm, and 15:00 pm every day, with each feeding amount of 37.5 g/layer. Pre-experiment lasted for 1 wk and formal experiment lasted for 8 wk. The results indicated that the daily feed intake and body weight were decreased (P < 0.05) while feed conversion ratio was not affected (P > 0.05) as daily feeding times increased. The glandular stomach proportion was significantly increased in twice-a-day feeding group, while liver proportion and ileum length were significantly increased in 4 times-feeding group (P < 0.05). Additionally, 4 times-feeding daily resulted in a significant elevation of blood glucose levels, which may have suppressed feed intake (P < 0.05). In 4 times-feeding group, the plasma triglyceride levels increased as feeding times, accompanied by a notable up-regulation in the mRNA level of appetite-suppressing gene, hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and glandular stomach ghrelin. This modulation effectively suppressed the subsequent feed intake and body weight. Therefore, 4 times feeding daily is recommended in growing layers' management, because it reduced the feed cost without affecting the feed conversion efficiency.

Paradoxical herniation associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy after decompressive craniectomy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can cause paradoxical herniation is still unclear.

CASE SUMMARY

A 65-year-old patient who was comatose due to brain trauma underwent decompressive craniotomy and gradually regained consciousness after surgery. HBOT was administered 22 d after surgery due to speech impairment. Paradoxical herniation appeared on the second day after treatment, and the patient's condition worsened after receiving mannitol treatment at the rehabilitation hospital. After timely skull repair, the paradoxical herniation was resolved, and the patient regained consciousness and had a good recovery as observed at the follow-up visit.

CONCLUSION

Paradoxical herniation is rare and may be caused by HBOT. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown, and the understanding of this phenomenon is insufficient. The use of mannitol may worsen this condition. Timely skull repair can treat paradoxical herniation and prevent serious complications.

Current examining methods and mathematical models of horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment has garnered significant attention due to their health risk to human beings. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is considered as an important way for ARG dissemination. There are four general routes of HGT, including conjugation, transformation, transduction and vesiduction. Selection of appropriate examining methods is crucial for comprehensively understanding characteristics and mechanisms of different HGT ways. Moreover, combined with the results obtained from different experimental methods, mathematical models could be established and serve as a powerful tool for predicting ARG transfer dynamics and frequencies. However, current reviews of HGT for ARG spread mainly focus on its influencing factors and mechanisms, overlooking the important roles of examining methods and models. This review, therefore, delineated four pathways of HGT, summarized the strengths and limitations of current examining methods, and provided a comprehensive summing-up of mathematical models pertaining to three main HGT ways of conjugation, transformation and transduction. Finally, deficiencies in current studies were discussed, and proposed the future perspectives to better understand and assess the risks of ARG dissemination through HGT.

Research Note: Effect of fasting time on the fasting heat production, blood metabolites, and body components of layer-type pullets

Fasting heat production (FHP) is used to assess the maintenance net energy requirement of animals. Herein, the FHP of layer-type pullets was estimated. In trial 1, 16 40-day-old Jingfen layer-type pullets were divided into 4 groups of 4 chickens and placed in 4 respiratory chambers. Pullets had free access to feed and water. After 4-d acclimatization, feed was withdrawn, and chickens were measured for FHP for 3 consecutive days. In trial 2, twenty-four 40-day-old pullets were placed in 4 respiratory calorimetry chambers, with 6 pullets per chamber. After 4-d acclimatization, one chamber was randomly selected and all pullets in the chamber was sampled at 5, 25, 50, or 65 h after feed withdrawal. The result showed that FHP declined with fasting time and reached the lowest level between 48 and 72 h. Respiratory quotient was decreased (P < 0.05) between 24 and 48 h compared with that in the first 24 h after fasting. The FHP in the light period showed a significant to decline with fasting time (P < 0.01), whereas the FHP in the dark period was decreased (P < 0.01) 24 h after fasting. Body weight, thigh mass, and abdominal fat decreased (P < 0.05) at 25 h after fasting. Serum glucose were increased (P < 0.01) and while triglycerides were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) at 50 h compared with that at 5 and 25 h time point. The result suggests that the adequate measuring period for FHP for layer-type pullets is from 24 to 48 h after fasting. The FHP of 7-wk-old layer-type pullets was 562.20 kJ/kg of BW0.75/d under a 10-h light and 14-h dark lighting regime.

Insights from bioinformatics analysis reveal that lipopolysaccharide induces activation of chemokine-related signaling pathways in human nasal epithelial cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known to elicit a robust immune response. This study aimed to investigate the impact of LPS on the transcriptome of human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC). HNEpC were cultured and stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) or an equivalent amount of normal culture medium. Subsequently, total RNA was extracted, purified, and sequenced using next-generation RNA sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to functional enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed, followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify molecular pathways influenced by LPS exposure on HNEpC. Validation of key genes was performed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). A total of 97 DEGs, comprising 48 up-regulated genes and 49 down-regulated genes, were identified. Results from functional enrichment analysis, PPI, and IPA indicated that DEGs were predominantly enriched in chemokine-related signaling pathways. Subsequent qRT-PCR validation demonstrated significant upregulation of key genes in these pathways in LPS-treated HNEpC compared to control cells. In conclusion, LPS intervention profoundly altered the transcriptome of HNEpC, potentially exacerbating inflammatory responses through the activation of chemokine-related signaling pathways.

MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels for antibiotic pollutants removal from wastewater by photocatalytic degradation process: A review

Photocatalytic technologies based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) catalysts are effective, eco-friendly, and promising for antibiotic pollutants treatment. The technologies used by MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels for efficient degradation of antibiotics are reviewed in detail for the first time in this paper. The fundamental aspects of MoS2 were comprehensively scrutinized, encompassing crystal structure, optical properties, and photocatalytic principle. Then, the main synthesized methods and advantages/disadvantages for the preparation of MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels were systematically presented. Besides, a comprehensive overview of diverse MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels photo-degradation systems that enhanced the degradation of antibiotic pollutants were revealed. Meanwhile, the photo-degradation mechanism concentrated on the photoelectron transfer pathways and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were systematically evaluated. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for deeply development of MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels were discussed. This review may help researchers to deeply understand the research status of MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels for antibiotics removal, and makes clear the photo-degradation mechanism from photoelectron transfer pathways and ROS aspects of MoS2-based nanocomposites and aerogels.

The Imipridone ONC213 Targets α-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase to Induce Mitochondrial Stress and Suppress Oxidative Phosphorylation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Eradication of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is therapeutically challenging; many patients succumb to AML despite initially responding to conventional treatments. Here, we showed that the imipridone ONC213 elicits potent antileukemia activity in a subset of AML cell lines and primary patient samples, particularly in leukemia stem cells, while producing negligible toxicity in normal hematopoietic cells. ONC213 suppressed mitochondrial respiration and elevated α-ketoglutarate by suppressing α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (αKGDH) activity. Deletion of OGDH, which encodes αKGDH, suppressed AML fitness and impaired oxidative phosphorylation, highlighting the key role for αKGDH inhibition in ONC213-induced death. ONC213 treatment induced a unique mitochondrial stress response and suppressed de novo protein synthesis in AML cells. Additionally, ONC213 reduced the translation of MCL1, which contributed to ONC213-induced apoptosis. Importantly, a patient-derived xenograft from a relapsed AML patient was sensitive to ONC213 in vivo. Collectively, these findings support further development of ONC213 for treating AML.

SIGNIFICANCE

In AML cells, ONC213 suppresses αKGDH, which induces a unique mitochondrial stress response, and reduces MCL1 to decrease oxidative phosphorylation and elicit potent antileukemia activity. See related commentary by Boët and Sarry, p. 950.

Protein succinylation, hepatic metabolism, and liver diseases

Succinylation is a highly conserved post-translational modification that is processed via enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. Succinylation exhibits strong effects on protein stability, enzyme activity, and transcriptional regulation. Protein succinylation is extensively present in the liver, and increasing evidence has demonstrated that succinylation is closely related to hepatic metabolism. For instance, histone acetyltransferase 1 promotes liver glycolysis, and the sirtuin 5-induced desuccinylation is involved in the regulation of the hepatic urea cycle and lipid metabolism. Therefore, the effects of succinylation on hepatic glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism under the action of various enzymes will be discussed in this work. In addition, how succinylases regulate the progression of different liver diseases will be reviewed, including the desuccinylation activity of sirtuin 7, which is closely associated with fatty liver disease and hepatitis, and the actions of lysine acetyltransferase 2A and histone acetyltransferase 1 that act as succinyltransferases to regulate the succinylation of target genes that influence the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In view of the diversity and significance of protein succinylation, targeting the succinylation pathway may serve as an attractive direction for the treatment of liver diseases.

Fluoride Ion Binding and Translocation in the CLCF Fluoride/Proton Antiporter: Molecular Insights from Combined Quantum-Mechanical/Molecular-Mechanical Modeling

CLCF fluoride/proton antiporters move fluoride ions out of bacterial cells, leading to fluoride resistance in these bacteria. However, many details about their operating mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report a combined quantum-mechanical/molecular-mechanical (QM/MM) study of a CLCF homologue from Enterococci casseliflavus (Eca), in accord with the previously proposed windmill mechanism. Our multiscale modeling sheds light on two critical steps in the transport cycle: (i) the external gating residue E118 pushing a fluoride in the external binding site into the extracellular vestibule and (ii) an incoming fluoride reconquering the external binding site by forcing out E118. Both steps feature competitions for the external binding site between the negatively charged carboxylate of E118 and the fluoride. Remarkably, the displaced E118 by fluoride accepts a proton from the nearby R117, initiating the next transport cycle. We also demonstrate the importance of accurate quantum descriptions of fluoride solvation. Our results provide clues to the mysterious E318 residue near the central binding site, suggesting that the transport activities are unlikely to be disrupted by the glutamate interacting with a well-solvated fluoride at the central binding site. This differs significantly from the structurally similar CLC chloride/proton antiporters, where a fluoride trapped deep in the hydrophobic pore causes the transporter to be locked down. A free-energy barrier of 10-15 kcal/mol was estimated via umbrella sampling for a fluoride ion traveling through the pore to repopulate the external binding site.

Consolidating Organometallic Complex Empowers Mitochondria-Directed Chemotherapy against Resistant Cancer via Stemness and Metastasis Inhibition

Cancer treatment has faced severe obstacles due to the smart biological system of cancer cells. Herein, we report a three-in-one agent Ir-CA via attenuation of cancer cell stemness with the down-regulated biomarker CD133 expression from the mitochondria-directed chemotherapy. Over 80% of Ir-CA could accumulate in mitochondria, result in severe mitochondrial dysfunctions, and subsequently initiate mitophagy and cell cycle arrest to kill cisplatin-resistant A549R cells. In vitro and in vivo antimetastatic experiments demonstrated that Ir-CA can effectively inhibit metastasis with down-regulated MMP-2/MMP-9. RNA seq analysis and Western blotting indicated that Ir-CA also suppresses the GSTP1 expression to decrease the intracellular Pt-GS adducts, resulting in the detoxification and resensitization to cisplatin of A549R cells. In vivo evaluation indicated that Ir-CA restrains the tumor growth and has minimal side effects and superior biocompatibility. This work not only provides the first three-in-one agent to attenuate cancer cell stemness and simultaneously realize anticancer, antimetastasis, and conquer metallodrug resistance but also demonstrates the effectiveness of the mitochondria-directed strategy in cancer treatment.

An enhancement algorithm for head characteristics of caged chickens detection based on cyclic consistent migration neural network

The enclosed multistory poultry housing is a type of poultry enclosure widely used in industrial caged chicken breeding. Accurate identification and detection of the comb and eyes of caged chickens in poultry farms using this type of enclosure can enhance managers' understanding of the health of caged chickens. However, the accuracy of image detection of caged chickens will be affected by the enclosure's entrance, which will reduce the precision. Therefore, this paper proposes a cage-gate removal algorithm based on big data and deep learning Cyclic Consistent Migration Neural Network (CCMNN). The method achieves automatic elimination and restoration of some key information in the image through the CCMNN network. The Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) between the recovered and original images on the test set is 91.14%. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is 25.34dB. To verify the practicability of the proposed method, the performance of the target detection algorithm is analyzed both before and after applying the CCMNN network in detecting the combs and eyes of caged chickens. Different YOLOv8 detection algorithms, including YOLOv8s, YOLOv8n, YOLOv8m, and YOLOv8x, were used to verify the algorithm proposed in this paper. The experimental results demonstrate that compared to images without CCMNN processing, the precision of comb detection of caged chickens is improved by 11, 11.3, 12.8, and 10.2%. Similarly, the precision of eye detection for caged chickens is improved by 2.4, 10.2, 6.8, and 9%. Therefore, more complete outline images of caged chickens can be obtained using this algorithm and the precision in detecting the comb and eyes of caged chickens can be enhanced. These advancements in the algorithm offer valuable insights for future poultry researchers aiming to deploy enhanced detection equipment, thereby contributing to the accurate assessment of poultry production and farm conditions.

Epidemiology and Prognostic Nomogram for Predicting Long-Term Disease-Specific Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Carcinoid Tumor: A SEER-Based Study

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic carcinoid tumor (PCT) is described as a malignant form of carcinoid tumors. However, the epidemiology and prognostic factors for PCT are poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 2447 PCT patients were included in this study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and randomly divided into a training cohort (1959) and a validation cohort (488). The epidemiology of PCT was calculated, and independent prognostic factors were identified to construct a prognostic nomogram for predicting long-term disease-specific survival (DSS) among PCT patients.

RESULTS

The incidence of PCT increased remarkably from 2000 to 2018. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year DSS rates were 96.4%, 90.3%, and 86.5%, respectively. Age at diagnosis, stage, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were identified as independent prognostic factors to construct a prognostic nomogram. The C-indices; area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting 1-, 5-, and 10-year DSS, and calibration plots of the nomogram in both cohorts indicated a high discriminatory accuracy, preferable survival predictive ability, and optimal concordances, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of PCT has increased rapidly since 2000. In addition, we established a practical, effective, and accurate prognostic nomogram for predicting the long-term DSS of PCT patients.

Control of Polarity in Kagome-NiAs Bismuthides

A 2×2×1 superstructure of the P63/mmc NiAs structure is reported in which kagome nets are stabilized in the octahedral transition metal layers of the compounds Ni0.7Pd0.2Bi, Ni0.6Pt0.4Bi, and Mn0.99Pd0.01Bi. The ordered vacancies that yield the true hexagonal kagome motif lead to filling of trigonal bipyramidal interstitial sites with the transition metal in this family of "kagome-NiAs" type materials. Further ordering of vacancies within these interstitial layers can be compositionally driven to simultaneously yield kagome-connected layers and a net polarization along the c axes in Ni0.9Bi and Ni0.79Pd0.08Bi, which adopt Fmm2 symmetry. The polar and non-polar materials exhibit different electronic transport behaviour, reflecting the tuneability of both structure and properties within the NiAs-type bismuthide materials family.

A rapid multi-parametric quantitative MR imaging method to assess Parkinson's disease: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

MULTIPLEX is a single-scan three-dimensional multi-parametric MRI technique that provides 1 mm isotropic T1-, T2*-, proton density- and susceptibility-weighted images and the corresponding quantitative maps. This study aimed to investigate its feasibility of clinical application in Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

27 PD patients and 23 healthy control (HC) were recruited and underwent a MULTIPLEX scanning. All image reconstruction and processing were automatically performed with in-house C + + programs on the Automatic Differentiation using Expression Template platform. According to the HybraPD atlas consisting of 12 human brain subcortical nuclei, the region-of-interest (ROI) based analysis was conducted to extract quantitative parameters, then identify PD-related abnormalities from the T1, T2* and proton density maps and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), by comparing patients and HCs.

RESULTS

The ROI-based analysis revealed significantly decreased mean T1 values in substantia nigra pars compacta and habenular nuclei, mean T2* value in subthalamic nucleus and increased mean QSM value in subthalamic nucleus in PD patients, compared to HCs (all p values < 0.05 after FDR correction). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed all these four quantitative parameters significantly contributed to PD diagnosis (all p values < 0.01 after FDR correction). Furthermore, the two quantitative parameters in subthalamic nucleus showed hemicerebral differences in regard to the clinically dominant side among PD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

MULTIPLEX might be feasible for clinical application to assist in PD diagnosis and provide possible pathological information of PD patients' subcortical nucleus and dopaminergic midbrain regions.

Allicin Promotes Glucose Uptake by Activating AMPK through CSE/H2S-Induced S-Sulfhydration in a Muscle-Fiber Dependent Way in Broiler Chickens

SCOPE

Allicin, a product of enzymatic reaction when garlic is injured, plays an important role in maintaining glucose homeostasis in mammals. However, the effect of allicin on glucose homeostasis in the state of insulin resistance remains to be elucidated. This study investigates the effect of allicin on glucose metabolism using different muscle fibers in a chicken model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Day-old male Arbor Acres broilers are randomly divided into three groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 150, or 300 mg kg-1 allicin for 42 days. Results show that allicin improves the zootechnical performance of broilers at the finishing stage. The glucose loading test (2 g kg-1 body mass) indicates the regulatory role of allicin on glucose homeostasis. In vitro results demonstrate allicin increases glutathione (GSH) level and the expression of cystathionine γ lyase (CSE), leading to endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production in M. pectoralis major (PM) muscle-derived myotubes. Allicin stimulates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) S-sulfhydration and AMPK phosphorylation to promote glucose uptake, which is suppressed in the presence of d,l-propargylglycine (PAG, a CSE inhibitor).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that allicin induces AMPK S-sulfhydration and AMPK phosphorylation to promote glucose uptake via the CSE/H2S system in a muscle fiber-dependent manner.

Isoegomaketone alleviates inflammatory response and oxidative stress in sepsis lung injury

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute organ dysfunction, which frequently leads to acute lung injury (ALI) in approximately 40% of cases. Isoegomaketone (IK) is a constituent of essential oil found in P. frutescens, known for its diverse biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. However, the regulatory impact of IK on ALI in the context of sepsis remains poorly understood.

METHODS

Pathological alterations in lung tissues were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Enumeration of total leukocytes and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed using a hematocytometer, while the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17 in BALF were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serological assay. In addition, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) in lung tissues were assessed using respective commercial kits; cell apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotide transferase--mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, and protein expressions were determined through Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) treatment in mice induced severe lung injury, characterized by increased lung injury scores, significant bleeding, neutrophil infiltration, and alveolar edema. However, treatment with IK at a dose of 10 mg/kg ameliorated CLP-induced lung injury, while IK dose of 5 mg/kg showed no significant effect. Additionally, IK treatment at 10 mg/kg reduced CLP-induced inflammation by decreasing levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17. Furthermore, IK at 10 mg/kg attenuated CLP-induced oxidative stress by modulating levels of MDA, MPO, SOD, and GSH. Moreover, IK treatment with a dose of 10 mg/kg activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2-HO-1) pathway by enhancing the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that IK could mitigate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress associated with sepsis-induced ALI, supporting IK as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of sepsis-associated ALI.

Rapid anaerobic culture and reaction kinetic study of anammox bacteria on microfluidic chip

Anammox bacteria are being increasingly investigated as part of an emerging nitrogen removal technology. However, due to the difficulty in culturing, current understanding of their behavior is limited. In this study, anaerobic microfluidic chips were used to study anammox bacteria, showing great advantages over reactors. On-chip fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed the relative abundance of free form anammox bacteria increased by 56.1 % after one week's culture, an increase that is three times higher than that of bioreactor (17.1 %). For granular form cultures, the nitrogen removal load reached 2.34 ∼ 2.51 kg-N/(m3·d), which was also substantially higher than the bioreactor (∼1.22 kg-N/(m3·d)). Furthermore, studying the kinetics of nitrite inhibition of granular sludge with different particle sizes (100-900 μm) showed that the maximum ammonia load and the nitrite semi-saturation coefficient noticeably decreased for smaller particle sizes. These results illustrate the usefulness of the microfluidic method for in-depth understanding anammox process and its implementation.

[Diagnostic value of high frequency oscillation in localization of type Ⅱ focal cortical dysplasia epilepsy]

Retrospective analysis was conducted on 9 patients with type Ⅱ focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) who underwent stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) implantation in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from November 2020 to February 2023. The onset area, onset time, and frequency of high-frequency oscillations (HFO) were analyzed and the correlation of HFOs with interictal, preictal, and ictal periods. SEEG recordings of 80-500 Hz HFOs were observed in both interictal and ictal periods in 9 patients, with 6 patients exhibiting fast ripples (FR) in the range of 250-500 Hz. Surgical resection of the seizure onset area and FR-generating electrodes was performed, and postoperative follow-up for over 2 years indicated Engel I in 5 cases. 6 patients showed continuous discharge during the preictal period, and the distribution index of continuous discharge was positively correlated with seizure frequency. HFOs in the range of 80-500 Hz were present in all four seizure onset patterns during the ictal period. The onset area and FR-emitting electrode were surgically removed in 6 patients with continuous discharge and overlapping HFOs during the preictal period, with 5 cases of Engel I. Type Ⅱ FCD discharges exhibited complexity, high discharge indices, and a close association with HFOs. Compared with the spike wave, the electrode range of HF is more limited, and the incidence of HF before attack is significantly increased, which is closely correlated with the onset area. The simultaneous occurrence of HFO and the spike waves has higher diagnostic value than the individual occurrence, effectively enhancing surgical efficacy.

Prevotella and succinate treatments altered gut microbiota, increased laying performance, and suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation in laying hens

BACKGROUND

This work aimed to investigate the potential benefits of administering Prevotella and its primary metabolite succinate on performance, hepatic lipid accumulation and gut microbiota in laying hens.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty 58-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens, with laying rate below 80% and plasma triglyceride (TG) exceeding 5 mmol/L, were used in this study. The hens were randomly allocated into 5 groups and subjected to one of the following treatments: fed with a basal diet (negative control, NC), oral gavage of 3 mL/hen saline every other day (positive control, PC), gavage of 3 mL/hen Prevotella melaninogenica (107 CFU/mL, PM) or 3 mL/hen Prevotella copri (107 CFU/mL, P. copri) every other day, and basal diet supplemented with 0.25% sodium succinate (Succinate). The results showed that PM and P. copri treatments significantly improved laying rate compared to the PC (P < 0.05). The amount of lipid droplet was notably decreased by PM, P. copri, and Succinate treatments at week 4 and decreased by P. copri at week 8 (P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the plasma TG level in Succinate group was lower than that of PC (P < 0.05). Hepatic TG content, however, was not significantly influenced at week 4 and 8 (P > 0.05). PM treatment increased (P < 0.05) the mRNA levels of genes PGC-1β and APB-5B at week 4, and ACC and CPT-1 at week 8. The results indicated enhanced antioxidant activities at week 8, as evidenced by reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level and improved antioxidant enzymes activities in PM and Succinate groups (P < 0.05). Supplementing with Prevotella or succinate can alter the cecal microbiota. Specifically, the abundance of Prevotella in the Succinate group was significantly higher than that in the other 4 groups at the family and genus levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Oral intake of Prevotella and dietary supplementation of succinate can ameliorate lipid metabolism of laying hens. The beneficial effect of Prevotella is consistent across different species. The finding highlights that succinate, the primary metabolite of Prevotella, represents a more feasible feed additive for alleviating fatty liver in laying hens.

Effects of microcystin-LR on purification efficiency of simulating drinking water source by Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) backer

The safety of drinking water source directly affects human health. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a toxic and common pollutant in drinking water source, is released by algae and can impede the in-situ remediation effect of aquatic plant. Finding out the effect mechanism of MC-LR on the purification of drinking water by aquatic plant is the key to its application. This study aims to explore the performance and mechanism of MC-LR on drinking water source purification by Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) backer. The optimum removal efficiency of NH4+-N, TP and COD were 90.7%, 93.2% and 77.3% at MC-LR concentration of 0.5 μg L-1, respectively. With the increase of MC-LR concentration, the pollutants removal rate was obviously inhibited causing by concentration-dependent. Furthermore, the growth and development of the Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) backer roots were significantly promoted at the concentration of 0.1 μg L-1. The length, tips, surface area, and average diameter of the root increased by 71.3%, 271.4%, 265.5%, and 113.0%, respectively. Chlorophyll contents under low-concentration MC-LR show a 14.5%-15.7% promoting effect compared with the control group. The activities of POD and CAT were also stimulated with the MC-LR increasing (<1.0 μg L-1). Notably, the MDA contents increased with increasing MC-LR concentration (p < 0.01). This study indicates the effect mechanism of MC-LR on Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) backer purification performance relies on the increased growth and enzyme activity of Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) backer.

Constructing an orderly electron transport channel on boron regulated biomass carbon fiber for selective ROS generation and water decontamination

Antibiotic pollution has raised widely attention due to the difficult biodegradation and lasting toxicity to public health, metal-free material based heterogeneous catalysis is a highly-promise and eco-friendly technology for organics elimination. Herein, boron doped biomass carbon fiber (B-CF) was synthesized to construct orderly electron transport channels for enhancing catalytic performance and deeply purifying organics polluted water. Integrating systematical quenching experiments and EPR detection, O2·- and 1O2 are found to be dominating reactive oxygen species (ROS) for norfloxacin (NOR) degradation rather than ∙OH or SO4∙-. Adsorption, catalytic degradation in pristine CF/peroxodisulfate (PDS) and B-CF/PDS systems, electrochemical tests, and theory calculations were compared and the results suggested B-CF surface can trigger intense electron transfer via simultaneous activating NOR and PDS, and electrons transferred from NOR to B-CF-PDS compound, resulting in selective and remarkably enhanced ROS generation. Moreover, it was found that B-CF exhibited surprising adsorption capacity for NOR (834.4 mg g-1), and it can also remove SO42- from the solution through electrostatic attraction. This B-CF/PDS system is efficient within a wide operation pH from 3 to 11 and exhibits long lasting activity (> 274 h maintaining over 80% efficiency). This study unveils the highly selective formation of O2-· and 1O2 and solves the short lifetime of catalysts in persulfate-based catalysis, which provides feasible technology for advanced water purification.

PM2.5 activates IL-17 signaling pathway in human nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) represents a prevalent environmental pollutant in the atmosphere, capable of exerting deleterious effects on human health. Numerous studies have indicated a correlation between PM2.5 exposure and the development of chronic upper airway inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of PM2.5 on the transcriptome of fibroblasts derived from nasal mucosa. Initially, nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts were isolated, cultured, and subsequently stimulated with PM2.5 (100 μg/mL) or an equivalent volume of normal culture medium for a duration of 24 h. Following this, total RNA from these cells was extracted, purified, and subjected to sequencing using next-generation RNA sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then identified and utilized for functional enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed, and validation of key genes and proteins was carried out using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA methods. Results revealed 426 DEGs, comprising 276 up-regulated genes and 150 down-regulated genes in nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts treated with PM2.5 compared to control cells. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were predominantly associated with inflammation-related pathways, including the IL-17 signaling pathway. In alignment with this, PPI analysis highlighted that hub genes were primarily involved in the regulation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. Subsequent validation through quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA confirmed significant alterations in the relative expressions of IL-17 signaling pathway-related genes and concentrations of IL-17 signaling pathway related proteins in nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts treated with PM2.5 compared to control cells. In conclusion, PM2.5 intervention substantially altered the transcriptome of nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts. Furthermore, PM2.5 has the potential to exacerbate the inflammatory responses of these fibroblasts by modulating the expression of key genes in the IL-17 signaling pathway.

Comparison of the Efficacy Among Nilotinib, Dasatinib, Flumatinib and Imatinib in Newly Diagnosed Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients: A Real-World Multi-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

There are limited data comprehensively comparing therapy responses and outcomes among nilotinib, dasatinib, flumatinib and imatinib for newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia in a real-world setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from patients with chronic-phase CML receiving initial a second-generation tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (2G-TKI, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib) or imatinib therapy from 77 Chinese centers were retrospectively interrogated. Propensity-score matching (PSM) analyses were performed to to compare therapy responses and outcomes among these 4 TKIs.

RESULTS

2,496 patients receiving initial nilotinib (n = 512), dasatinib (n = 134), flumatinib (n = 411) or imatinib (n = 1,439) therapy were retrospectively interrogated in this study. PSM analyses indicated that patients receiving initial nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib therapy had comparable cytogenetic and molecular responses (p = .28-.91) and survival outcomes including failure-free survival (FFS, p = .28-.43), progression-free survival (PFS, p = .19-.93) and overall survival (OS) (p values = .76-.78) but had significantly higher cumulative incidences of cytogenetic and molecular responses (all p values < .001) and higher probabilities of FFS (p < .001-.01) than those receiving imatinib therapy, despite comparable PFS (p = .18-.89) and OS (p = .23-.30).

CONCLUSION

Nilotinib, dasatinib and flumatinib had comparable efficacy, and significantly higher therapy responses and higher FFS rates than imatinib in newly diagnosed CML patients. However, there were no significant differences in PFS and OS among these 4 TKIs. These real-world data may provide additional evidence for routine clinical assessments to identify more appropriate therapies.

Comprehensive analysis of prognostic value and immune infiltration of Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 2 in lung adenocarcinoma

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) incidence and mortality take the leading place of most malignancies. Previous studies have revealed the regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) family members played an essential role during tumorigenesis. However, its biological functions in LUAD still need further investigation. Methods: Several databases were applied to explore potential effects of RCC1 family members on LUAD, such as Oncomine, GEPIA, and cBioPortal. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to verify the expression of RCC2 in stage I LUAD. H1975 and A549 were selected to explore the biological function of RCC2 in cellular malignant phenotype. Results: The expressions of RCC1 and RCC2 showed marked differences in malignant tissue compared to lung tissue. The higher the expression levels of RCC1 or RCC2 in LUAD patients, the shorter their overall survival (OS). In normal lung tissues, RCC1 expression was highly enriched in alveolar cells and endothelial cells. Compare with RCC1, RCC2 expression in normal lung tissue was significantly enriched in macrophages, B cells and granulocytes. Additionally, RCC2 expression level was correlated with multiple immune cell infiltration in LUAD. Moreover, the mutation or different sCNA status of RCC2 exerted influence on multiple immune cell infiltration distribution. We found that the upregulation of RCC1 and RCC2 were obviously related to TP53 mutation. GSEA analysis revealed that RCC2 was involved in the process of DNA replication, nucleotide excision repair and cell cycle, which might affect tumor progression through P53 signaling pathway. We further elucidated that downregulation of RCC2 could dramatically repress the migration and invasion of LUAD cells. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that RCC1 and RCC2 expression were markedly increased in early-stage of LUAD. Patients with high expression of RCC1 or RCC2 had a worse prognosis. Based on our analysis, RCC1 and RCC2 might exert influence on LUAD process through DNA replication, nucleotide excision repair and cell cycle, as well as cells migration and invasion. Different from RCC1, RCC2 also involved in immune infiltration. These analyses provided a novel insight into the identification of diagnostic biomarker.

NGS-determined molecular markers and disease burden metrics from ctDNA correlate with PFS in previously untreated DLBCL

Personalized risk stratification and treatment may help improve outcomes among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We developed a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based method to assess a range of potential prognostic indicators, and evaluated it using pretreatment plasma samples from 310 patients with previously untreated DLBCL from the GOYA trial (NCT01287741). Variant calls and DLBCL subtyping with the plasma-based method were concordant with corresponding tissue-based methods. Patients with a tumor burden greater than the median (p = .003) and non-germinal center B-cell-like (non-GCB) DLBCL (p = .049) had worse progression-free survival than patients with a tumor burden less than the median or GCB DLBCL. Multi-factor assessment combining orthogonal features from a single pretreatment plasma sample has promise as a prognostic indicator in this setting (p = .085). This minimally invasive plasma-based NGS assay could enable comprehensive prognostic assessment of patients in a clinical setting, with greater accessibility than current methods.

Predictive values of ultrasonic diaphragm thickening fraction combined with integrative weaning index in weaning patients with mechanical ventilation: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to explore the predictive values of ultrasonic diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) combined with integrative weaning index (IWI) in weaning patients with mechanical ventilation.

METHODS

Patients with mechanical ventilation who received oral endotracheal intubation from September 2020 to September 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Before the start of the spontaneous breathing test (SBT), IWI was calculated according to the blood gas analysis parameters and parameters read in volume control mode. After the start of SBT, DTF was calculated according to the end-expiratory thickness and end-inspiratory thickness of the right diaphragm. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of DTF and IWI for successful weaning, and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to the best critical value.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of DTF to predict successful weaning was 0.772, 0.727, and 0.293, respectively, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.72 (95%CI 0.59-0.86, p = 0.003). The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of IWI to predict successful weaning was 0.614, 0.909, 53.00, respectively, and AUC was 0.82 (95%CI 0.72-0.91, p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of the combination of DTF and IWI to predict successful weaning was 0.614, 0.909, 17.848, respectively, and AUC was 0.84 (95%CI 0.75-0.93, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

DTF and IWI can guide the selection of weaning, while DTF combined with IWI can improve the effect of weaning prediction and provide support for patients' weaning safety.

Interpretable deep learning model for major depressive disorder assessment based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects a substantial number of individuals worldwide. New approaches are required to improve the diagnosis of MDD, which relies heavily on subjective reports of depression-related symptoms.

AIM

Establish an objective measurement and evaluation of MDD.

METHODS

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to investigate the brain activity of MDD patients and healthy controls (HCs). Leveraging a sizeable fNIRS dataset of 263 HCs and 251 patients with MDD, including mild to moderate MDD (mMDD; n = 139) and severe MDD (sMDD; n = 77), we developed an interpretable deep learning model for screening MDD and staging its severity.

RESULTS

The proposed deep learning model achieved an accuracy of 80.9% in diagnostic classification and 78.6% in severity staging for MDD. We discerned five channels with the most significant contribution to MDD identification through Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), located in the right medial prefrontal cortex, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right superior temporal gyrus, and left posterior superior frontal cortex. The findings corresponded closely to the features of haemoglobin responses between HCs and individuals with MDD, as we obtained a good discriminative ability for MDD using cortical channels that are related to the disorder, namely the frontal and temporal cortical channels with areas under the curve of 0.78 and 0.81, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the potential of integrating the fNIRS system with artificial intelligence algorithms to classify and stage MDD in clinical settings using a large dataset. This approach can potentially enhance MDD assessment and provide insights for clinical diagnosis and intervention.

Effects of BC on metal uptake by crops (availability) and the vertical migration behavior in soil: A 3-year field experiments of crop rotation

Biochar (BC) has been substantiated to effectively reduce the available content of heavy metals (HMs) in soil-plant system; however, the risk of biochar (BC)derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) induced metal vertical migration has not been well documented, especially in the long-term field conditions. Therefore, this study investigated HM vertical migration ecological risks and the long-term effectiveness of the amendment of biochar in the three successive years of field trials during the rotation system. The results revealed that biochar application could increase soil pH and DOM with a decrease in soil CaCl2 extractable pool for Pb, Cu, and Cd. Furthermore, the results indicated a significant decrease in acid phosphatase activities and an increase in urease and catalase activities in the soil. Cucumber was shown to be safe during a three-year rotation system in the field. These results suggest that BC has the potential to enhance soil environment and crop yields. BC derived DOM-specific substances were identified using parallel factor analysis of excitation-emission matrix in deep soil (0-60 cm). The study incorporated HM concentration fluctuations in deep soils, providing an additional interpretation of DOM and co-migration of HMs.The environmental risk associated with the increase in DOM hydrophobicity should not be ignored by employing BC for soil HM remediation applications. The study enhances understanding of biochar-derived DOM's migration and stabilization mechanisms on heavy metals, providing guidelines for its use as a soil amendment.

Comprehensive study on the spatial distribution of heavy metals and their environmental risks in high-sulfur coal gangue dumps in China

The accumulation of coal gangue (CG) from coal mining is an important source of heavy metals (HMs) in soil. Its spatial distribution and environment risk assessment are extremely important for the management and remediation of HMs. Eighty soil samples were collected from the high-sulfur CG site in northern China and analyzed for six HMs. The results showed that the soil was heavily contaminated by Mn, Cr and Ni based on the Nemerow index, and posed seriously ecological risk depended on the geo-accumulation index, potential ecological risk index and risk assessment code. The semi-variogram model and ordinary kriging interpolation accurately portrayed the spatial distribution of HMs. Fe, Mn, and Cr were distributed by band diffusion, Ni was distributed by core, the distribution of Cu had obvious patchiness and Zn was more uniform. The spatial autocorrelation indicated that all HMs had strong spatial heterogeneity. The BCR sequential extraction was employed to qualify the geochemical fractions of HMs. The data indicated that Fe and Cr were dominated by residual fraction; Cu, Ni and Zn were dominated by reducible and oxidizable fractions; Mn was dominated by reducible and acid-extractable (25.38%-44.67%) fractions. Pearson correlation analysis showed that pH was the main control factor affecting the non-residue fractions of HMs. Therefore, acid production from high sulfur CG reduced soil pH by 2-3, which indirectly promoted the activity of HMs. Finally, the conceptual model of HMs contamination at the CG site was proposed, which can be useful for the development of ecological remediation strategies.

A novel single-phase color tunable LiYGeO4:Dy3+, Eu3+ phosphor exhibiting warm white light and excellent thermal stability

LiYGeO4 phosphors doped with Dy3+ and Eu3+ ions were synthesized using the solid phase method, and their color characteristics were adjustable. The bandgap value of LiYGeO4 calculated by diffuse reflection data is very close to the theoretical value of 3.669 eV, indicating that LiYGeO4 is an ideal candidate for doped rare earth activated ions. The analysis of the emission spectra and fluorescence attenuation curves of Dy3+ and Eu3+ co-doped LiYGeO4 phosphors revealed a clear energy transfer process: energy transfer from Dy3+ to Eu3+. Analysis of emission spectra and fluorescence attenuation curves revealed a transfer of energy from Dy3+ to Eu3+. This transfer mechanism is attributed to the dipole-dipole interactions. In addition, by constantly adjusting the doping levels of Dy3+ and Eu3+, a warm white phosphor with a color temperature of 3881 K was obtained. Finally, the emission intensity of the LiYGeO4:0.015Dy3+,0.02Eu3+ phosphor at 423 K was 86%, indicating that the phosphor has excellent thermal stability and 40% internal quantum efficiency, which proves the potential application of the LiYGeO4 phosphor in white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs).

Swallowed Embedding of Nanopetal-Rich Microflowers in Flexible Photocatalytic and Thermoresponsive Functional Composite Fibers

Developing efficient catalysts to degrade pollutants in water is a very important way to alleviate water pollution. However, it is crucial but challenging to broaden the functions of conventional photocatalysts and improve their environmental adaptability. In this paper, Bi(Er3+/Yb3+)OBr/polyacrylonitrile (BOB-EY/PAN) composite fibers with a swallowed-embedded structure assembled with nanopetal-rich microflowers were designed and fabricated, integrating photocatalytic and temperature-monitoring functions simultaneously. Their unique structure brings a large specific surface area, and the doping of rare earth ions improves the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs, which enhances the photocatalytic efficiency and endows the fibers with a temperature-monitoring function at the same time. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the nanofibers show a maximum degradation efficiency of 99.2% for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) with a degradation constant of K as high as 0.078 min-1. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR), the two thermally coupled levels of Er3+ in the nanofibers, 2H11/2 and 4S3/2, provide real-time temperature feedback, displaying a maximum relative sensitivity as high as 0.0215 K-1 at 303 K. Dual-functional BOB-EY/PAN composite nanofibers show great potential for industrial wastewater disposition, providing solutions for wastewater purification in special scenarios.

scGIR: deciphering cellular heterogeneity via gene ranking in single-cell weighted gene correlation networks

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating cellular heterogeneity through high-throughput analysis of individual cells. Nevertheless, challenges arise from prevalent sequencing dropout events and noise effects, impacting subsequent analyses. Here, we introduce a novel algorithm, Single-cell Gene Importance Ranking (scGIR), which utilizes a single-cell gene correlation network to evaluate gene importance. The algorithm transforms single-cell sequencing data into a robust gene correlation network through statistical independence, with correlation edges weighted by gene expression levels. We then constructed a random walk model on the resulting weighted gene correlation network to rank the importance of genes. Our analysis of gene importance using PageRank algorithm across nine authentic scRNA-seq datasets indicates that scGIR can effectively surmount technical noise, enabling the identification of cell types and inference of developmental trajectories. We demonstrated that the edges of gene correlation, weighted by expression, play a critical role in enhancing the algorithm's performance. Our findings emphasize that scGIR outperforms in enhancing the clustering of cell subtypes, reverse identifying differentially expressed marker genes, and uncovering genes with potential differential importance. Overall, we proposed a promising method capable of extracting more information from single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, potentially shedding new lights on cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Garnet Structure-Activated Warm White Light Phosphors Ca3Al2Ge3O12: Dy3+, Eu3+ with Ultrahigh Thermal Stability and Tunable Luminescence

A series of Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+, yEu3+ phosphors were successfully prepared by the high-temperature solid-phase method. The phase and morphology of the phosphors were studied by means of Rietveld refinement and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the phase is pure, and the crystal structure is the Ia3̅d space group. In the Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+ phosphors, using 380 nm excitation, phosphors showed blue (4F9/2 → 6H15/2) and yellow (4F9/2 → 6H13/2) emission peaks at 481 and 581 nm, respectively. In Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+, yEu3+ phosphors, the energy transfer was inferred by the spectrum overlap of Dy3+ and Eu3+, and the lifetime attenuation was analyzed from the perspective of dynamics; finally, the band gap structure of the phosphors was analyzed by combining diffuse reflection spectra with the first principle, and the energy transfer mechanism and luminescence mechanism were elaborated by combining theory and practice. The transition from blue white light to red light can be achieved by tuning the range of y in Ca3Al2Ge3O12: 0.015Dy3+, yEu3+. Wherein, when y = 0.07, phosphors, the chromaticity coordinate of warm white CIE is (0.3932, 0.3203), the color temperature is 3093 K, and the warm white light is synthesized. The thermal stability of the synthesized warm white phosphors is 90.1% (423 K), the thermal sensing factors are Samax = 5.51 × 10-4 K-1 (303 K) and Srmax = 0.0359% K-1 (303 K), and the actual quantum efficiency is IQE = 52.48%. These results prove that Ca3Al2Ge3O12: Dy3+, Eu3+ have good application prospects as single-component warm w-LED devices.

[Research progress on the prevalence and harm of heated tobacco products]

Heated tobacco products (HTP) are a new type of tobacco product, also known as heat-not-burn (HnB) tobacco products. They are devices that use an electronic heat source to heat tobacco and produce aerosols containing nicotine for smokers to inhale. Currently, traditional combustible cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasingly being regulated under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Tobacco companies have responded by actively promoting heated tobacco products worldwide, which pose new challenges to global tobacco control efforts and may become a challenge for tobacco control work in China. In reviewing the situation and the potential harm of heated tobacco products, it was noted that HTP are rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, and that their harmfulness may be underestimated. Compared to combustible cigarettes (CC) and ENDS, the long-term health effects of HTP are not fully understood, and they may pose new health risks. Potential health risks include an increase in smoking prevalence, the presence of harmful and potentially harmful compounds not found in CC, and the potential gateway effect on non-smokers. Due to differences in laws, regulations, health policies, institutions, and cultural factors related to the tobacco industry in different countries and regions, attitudes, and regulatory measures towards HTP also vary. It is essential for countries and regions around the world to develop appropriate policies to strengthen control of HTP and prevent their widespread use.

Synaptotagmin 7 C2 domains induce membrane curvature stress via electrostatic interactions and the wedge mechanism

Synaptotagmin 7 (Syt-7) is part of the synaptotagmin protein family that regulates exocytotic lipid membrane fusion. Among the family, Syt-7 stands out by its membrane binding strength and stabilization of long-lived membrane fusion pores. Given that Syt-7 vesicles form long-lived fusion pores, we hypothesize that its interactions with the membrane stabilize the specific curvatures, thicknesses, and lipid compositions that support a metastable fusion pore. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and FRET-based assays of Syt-7's membrane-binding C2 domains (C2A and C2B), we found that Syt-7 C2 domains sequester anionic lipids, are sensitive to cholesterol, thin membranes, and generate lipid membrane curvature by two competing, but related mechanisms. First, Syt-7 forms strong electrostatic contacts with the membrane, generating negative curvature stress. Second, Syt-7's calcium binding loops embed in the membrane surface, acting as a wedge to thin the membrane and induce positive curvature stress. These curvature mechanisms are linked by the protein insertion depth as well as the resulting protein tilt. Simplified quantitative models of the curvature-generating mechanisms link simulation observables to their membrane-reshaping effectiveness.

Brain connectome-based imaging markers for identifiable signature of migraine with and without aura

Background

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been considered the prominent theory for migraine with aura (MwA). However, it is also argued that CSD can exist in patients in a silent state, and not manifest as aura. Thus, the MwA classification based on aura may be questionable. This study aimed to capture whole-brain connectome-based imaging markers with identifiable signatures for MwA and migraine without aura (MwoA).

Methods

A total of 88 migraine patients (32 MwA) and 49 healthy controls (HC) underwent a diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. The whole-brain structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) analysis was employed to extract imaging features. The extracted features were subjected to an all-relevant feature selection process within cross-validation loops to pinpoint attributes demonstrating substantial efficacy for patient categorization. Based on the identified features, the predictive ability of the random forest classifiers constructed with the 88 migraine patients' sample was tested using an independent sample of 32 migraine patients (eight MwA).

Results

Compared to MwoA and HC, MwA showed two reduced SC and six FC (five increased and one reduced) features [all P<0.01, after false discovery rate (FDR) correction], involving frontal areas, temporal areas, visual areas, amygdala, and thalamus. A total of four imaging features were significantly correlated with clinical rating scales in all patients (r=-0.38 to 0.47, P<0.01, after FDR correction). The predictive ability of the random forest classifiers achieved an accuracy of 78.1% in the external sample to identify MwA.

Conclusions

The whole-brain connectivity features in our results may serve as connectome-based imaging markers for MwA identification. The alterations of SC and FC strength provide possible evidence in further understanding the heterogeneity and mechanism of MwA which may help for patient-specific decision-making.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

A conserved electrostatic membrane-binding surface in synaptotagmin-like proteins revealed using molecular phylogenetic analysis and homology modeling

Protein structure prediction has emerged as a core technology for understanding biomolecules and their interactions. Here, we combine homology-based structure prediction with molecular phylogenetic analysis to study the evolution of electrostatic membrane binding among the vertebrate synaptotagmin-like protein (Slp) family. Slp family proteins play key roles in the membrane trafficking of large dense-core secretory vesicles. Our previous experimental and computational study found that the C2A domain of Slp-4 (also called granuphilin) binds with high affinity to anionic phospholipids in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane through a large positively charged protein surface centered on a cluster of phosphoinositide-binding lysine residues. Because this surface contributes greatly to Slp-4 C2A domain membrane binding, we hypothesized that the net charge on the surface might be evolutionarily conserved. To test this hypothesis, the known C2A sequences of Slp-4 among vertebrates were organized by class (from mammalia to pisces) using molecular phylogenetic analysis. Consensus sequences for each class were then identified and used to generate homology structures, from which Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic potentials were calculated. For comparison, homology structures and electrostatic potentials were also calculated for the five human Slp protein family members. The results demonstrate that the charge on the membrane-binding surface is highly conserved throughout the evolution of Slp-4, and more highly conserved than many individual residues among the human Slp family paralogs. Such molecular phylogenetic-driven computational analysis can help to describe the evolution of electrostatic interactions between proteins and membranes which are crucial for their function.

18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics model for predicting the degree of pathological differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer: a multicentre study

AIM

To explore the value of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model for predicting the degree of pathological differentiation in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical characteristics of 182 NSCLC patients from four centres were collected, and radiomics features were extracted from 18F-FDG PET/CT images. Three logistic regression prediction models were established: clinical model; radiomics model; and nomogram combining radiomics signatures and clinical features. The predictive ability of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.

RESULTS

Patients from centre 1 were assigned randomly to the training and internal validation cohorts (7:3 ratio); patients from centres 2-4 served as the external validation cohort. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the clinical model in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohort were 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-0.84), 0.64 (95% CI = 0.46-0.81), and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.60-0.88), respectively. In the training (AUC: 0.84 [95% CI = 0.77-0.92]), internal validation (AUC: 0.81 [95% CI = 0.67-0.95]), and external validation cohorts (AUC: 0.74 [95% CI = 0.58-0.89]), the radiomics model showed good predictive ability for differentiation. Compared to the clinical and radiomics models, the nomogram has relatively better diagnostic performance, and the AUC values for nomogram in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohort were 0.86 (95% CI = 0.78-0.93), 0.83 (95% CI = 0.70-0.96), and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.62-0.92), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The 18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics model showed good ability for predicting the degree of differentiation of NSCLC. The nomogram combining the radiomics signature and clinical features has relatively better diagnostic performance.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

Insight into the impacts of pyrolysis time on adsorption behavior of Pb2+ and Cd2+ by Mg modified biochar: Performance and modification mechanism

Co-pyrolysis biomass and alkaline metals can effectively improve the adsorption performance of heavy metals (HM). Nevertheless, the researchers have ignored the relationship between the change of alkaline metal morphology and adsorption during pyrolysis. In this article, according to control the pyrolysis time (30, 60, and 180 min) synthesized Magnesium (Mg) modified biochar (MBCX) by using MgCl2·6H2O and soybean straw under 400 °C. The sorption capacities of MBC60 and MBC180 for Pb2+/Cd2+ increased by 38.65%/213.29%, 44.57%/230.36%, and the selectivity coefficient of Pb2+/Cd2+ increased by 113.28%/209.49%, 213.58%/253.62%, respectively, compared with MBC30. Additionally, the characterization results demonstrated that MgO dominated the surface phases of MBC60 and MBC180, whereas MgCl2 dominated the surface phases of MBC30. Moreover, according to the results of DFT calculation, the adsorption energy (Eads) of MgO for Pb2+ (-0.537 eV) and Cd2+ (-0.347 eV) was lower than that of MgCl2 (Pb2+: 0.37 eV, Cd2+: -0.185 eV), so that, MBC60 and MBC180 had higher sorption capacities for Pb2+ and Cd2+ than MBC30. Therefore, this work provides a new sight to clear the mechanism for modified biochar by alkali metal oxide and practical and theoretical guidance for adsorbent preparation with high adsorption ability for HMs.

Recovery of precious metals from waste printed circuit boards though bioleaching route: A review of the recent progress and perspective

The rapid proliferation of electronic waste (e-waste), including waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), has exerted immense pressure on the environment. The recovery of precious metals from WPCBs not only serves as an effective means of alleviating this environmental burden but also generates economic value. This review focuses on bioleaching, an environmentally friendly method for extracting precious metals from WPCBs. Under various conditions, this method has achieved leaching rates of 30%-73% for Au and 33.8%-90% for Ag. However, there is a relative scarcity of studies on the bioleaching of precious metals from WPCBs. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current status of bioleaching for precious metals from WPCBs and describe the underlying mechanisms. We also briefly outline the influence of various process factors on leaching efficiency. While this review underscores the considerable potential of bioleaching in WPCBs applications, certain limitations hinder the engineering-scale application of the technology. Consequently, this paper describes the current enhanced processes for enhancing leaching efficiency. Overall, this review can serve as a valuable reference for future research endeavors, ultimately promoting the widespread utilization of bioleaching for the recovery of precious metals from WPCBs.

Deep learning downscaled high-resolution daily near surface meteorological datasets over East Asia

U-Net, a deep-learning convolutional neural network, is used to downscale coarse meteorological data. Based on 19 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and the Multi-Source Weather (MSWX) dataset, bias correction and UNet downscaling approaches are used to develop high resolution dataset over the East Asian region, referred to as Climate Change for East Asia with Bias corrected UNet Dataset (CLIMEA-BCUD). CLIMEA-BCUD provides nine meteorological variables including 2-m air temperature, 2-m daily maximum air temperature, 2-m daily minimum air temperature, precipitation, 10-m wind speed, 2-m relative humidity, 2-m specific humidity, downward shortwave radiation and downward longwave radiation with 0.1° horizontal resolution at daily intervals over the historical period of 1950-2014 and three future scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) of 2015-2100. Validation against MSWX indicates that CLIMEA-BCUD shows reasonable performance in terms of climatology, and it is capable of simulating seasonal cycles and future changes well. It is suggested that CLIMEA-BCUD can promote the application of deep learning in climate research in the areas of climate change, hydrology, etc.

Adaptive-Partitioning Multilayer Dynamics Simulations: 2. Implementations of the Permuted and Interpolated Adaptive-Partitioning Gradients

Recently, an adaptive-partitioning multilayer Q1/Q2/MM method was proposed, where Q1 and Q2 denote, respectively, two distinct quantum-mechanical levels of theory and MM, the molecular-mechanical force fields. Such a multilayer model resembles the ONIOM (our own N-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics) model by Morokuma and co-workers, but it is distinguished by on-the-fly reclassifying atoms to be Q1, Q2, or MM in dynamics simulations. To smoothly blend the levels of descriptions of the atoms, buffer zones are introduced between adjacent layers, and the energy is smoothly interpolated. In particular, the Q1/Q2 interaction energy was expressed in two different formalisms: permuted and interpolated adaptive-partitioning (PAP and IAP), respectively. While the PAP energy is based on a weighted many-body expansion, the IAP energy is derived via alchemical quantum calculations with interpolated Fock and overlap matrices. In this article, we examine in-depth the irregularities in the IAP energy near the boundary between the buffer and Q2 zones, which were found prominent in some calculations. These irregularities are due to basis-set linear dependencies, which can be effectively suppressed using a cutoff for the weighted atomic orbital coefficients. Furthermore, we derived and implemented the gradients for both PAP and IAP. Test calculations on a series of water cluster models show perfectly smooth gradients in PAP, while a minor discontinuity occurs in IAP gradients at the buffer/Q2 boundary. The energy and gradient discontinuities in IAP become smaller when moving the buffer/Q2 boundary further away from the Q1 center and when increasing the size of the basis sets used. Overall, those discontinuities are controllable, and possible ways to further diminish them are discussed.