Novel alternative tools for metastatic pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas prediction

OBJECTIVE

The existing prediction models for metastasis in pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs) showed high heterogeneity in different centers. Therefore, this study aimed to establish new prediction models integrating multiple variables based on different algorithms.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Data of patients with PPGLs undergoing surgical resection at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2007 to 2022 were collected retrospectively. Patients were randomly divided into the training and testing sets in a ratio of 7:3. Subsequently, decision trees, random forest, and logistic models were constructed for metastasis prediction with the training set and Cox models for metastasis-free survival (MFS) prediction with the total population. Additionally, Ki-67 index and tumor size were transformed into categorical variables for adjusting models. The testing set was used to assess the discrimination and calibration of models and the optimal models were visualized as nomograms. Clinical characteristics and MFS were compared between patients with and without risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 198 patients with 59 cases of metastasis were included and classified into the training set (n = 138) and testing set (n = 60). Among all models, the logistic regression model showed the best discrimination for metastasis prediction with an AUC of 0.891 (95% CI, 0.793-0.990), integrating SDHB germline mutations [OR: 96.72 (95% CI, 16.61-940.79)], S-100 (-) [OR: 11.22 (95% CI, 3.04-58.51)], ATRX (-) [OR: 8.42 (95% CI, 2.73-29.24)] and Ki-67 ≥ 3% [OR: 7.98 (95% CI, 2.27-32.24)] evaluated through immunohistochemistry (IHC), and tumor size ≥ 5 cm [OR: 4.59 (95% CI, 1.34-19.13)]. The multivariate Cox model including the above risk factors also showed a high C-index of 0.860 (95% CI, 0.810-0.911) in predicting MFS after surgery. Furthermore, patients with the above risk factors showed a significantly poorer MFS (P ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Models established in this study provided alternative and reliable tools for clinicians to predict PPGLs patients' metastasis and MFS. More importantly, this study revealed for the first time that IHC of ATRX could act as an independent predictor of metastasis in PPGLs.

Claudin 18.2 expression in digestive neuroendocrine neoplasms: a clinicopathological study

BACKGROUND

Claudin 18.2-targeted therapy has shown significant efficacy in treating claudin 18.2-positive cancers. However, limited systematic studies have investigated characteristics of claudin 18.2 expression in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).

METHODS

Data and specimens from 403 cases of digestive NENs were retrospectively collected, and claudin 18.2 expression was detected using immunochemical staining.

RESULTS

Claudin 18.2 was positive in 19.6% (79/403) of the digestive NENs. The highest positive rate of claudin 18.2 was observed in gastric NENs (72/259, 27.8%), accounting for 91.1% (72/79) of all positive cases. The positivity rate was significantly higher in gastric NENs compared to pancreatic (2/78, 2.6%) or colorectal NENs (2/38, 5.3%; p < 0.05). For digestive NENs, claudin 18.2 positivity was significantly higher in neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) (37/144, 25.7%) than in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs; 14/160, 8.8%; p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between gastric NECs (59/213, 27.7%) and gastric NETs (13/46, 28.3%; p > 0.05). The positivity was significantly higher in large-cell NECs (LCNECs; 28/79, 35.4%) and MiNEN (mixed neuroendocrine-non- neuroendocrine neoplasms)-LCNECs (23/66, 34.8%) compared to small-cell NECs (SCNECs; 9/65, 13.8%) and MiNEN-SCNECs (5/33, 15.2%; p < 0.05). Claudin 18.2 expression was more prevalent in gastric NENs than in pancreatic (12.5 ×; p = 0.001) and colorectal NENs (5.9 ×; p = 0.021). Claudin 18.2 staining was a useful method for identify the gastric origins of NETs, with a sensitivity of 28.3% and a specificity of 99.1%.

CONCLUSION

The expression characteristics of claudin 18.2 in NENs were characterized, which may provide a clinicopathological reference for targeted therapies in patients with NENs.

CBX7C⋅PHC2 interaction facilitates PRC1 assembly and modulates its phase separation properties

CBX7 is a key component of PRC1 complex. Cbx7C is an uncharacterized Cbx7 splicing isoform specifically expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We demonstrate that CBX7C functions as an epigenetic repressor at the classic PRC1 targets in mESCs, and its preferential interaction to PHC2 facilitates PRC1 assembly. Both Cbx7C and Phc2 are significantly upregulated during cell differentiation, and knockdown of Cbx7C abolishes the differentiation of mESCs to embryoid bodies. Interestingly, CBX7C⋅PHC2 interaction at low levels efficiently undergoes the formation of functional Polycomb bodies with high mobility, whereas the coordination of the two factors at high doses results in the formation of large, low-mobility, chromatin-free aggregates. Overall, these findings uncover the unique roles and molecular basis of the CBX7C⋅PHC2 interaction in PRC1 assembly on chromatin and Pc body formation and open a new avenue of controlling PRC1 activities via modulation of its phase separation properties.

A high resolution reaction microscope with universal two-region time-focusing method

This paper presents a novel reaction microscope designed for ion-atom collision investigations, established at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China. Its time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometer employs an innovative flight-time focusing method consisting of two acceleration regions, providing optimal time focusing conditions for charged fragments with diverse initial velocities. The TOF spectrometer's axis intentionally tilts by 12° relative to the ion beam direction, preventing potential obstructions from the TOF grid electrodes. The introduced focusing method allows for a flexible time-focusing TOF spectrometer design without restricting the length ratio of the two regions. In addition, this configuration in our case significantly suppresses noise on the recoil ion detector produced by residual gas in the ion beam trajectory, which is a considerable challenge in longitudinal spectrometers. In a test experiment on the single electron capture reaction involving 62.5 keV/u He2+ ions and a helium atomic beam, the recoil longitudinal momentum resolution achieved 0.068 atomic units. This novel configuration and successful test run show excellent precision for ion-atom collision studies.

Canagliflozin regulates metabolic reprogramming in diabetic kidney disease by inducing fasting-like and aestivation-like metabolic patterns

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) are antihyperglycaemic drugs that protect the kidneys of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating the renal benefits of SGLT2i are not fully understood. Considering the fuel switches that occur during therapeutic SGLT2 inhibition, we hypothesised that SGLT2i induce fasting-like and aestivation-like metabolic patterns, both of which contribute to the regulation of metabolic reprogramming in diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

METHODS

Untargeted and targeted metabolomics assays were performed on plasma samples from participants with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease (n=35, 11 women) receiving canagliflozin (CANA) 100 mg/day at baseline and 12 week follow-up. Next, a systematic snapshot of the effect of CANA on key metabolites and pathways in the kidney was obtained using db/db mice. Moreover, the effects of glycine supplementation in db/db mice and human proximal tubular epithelial cells (human kidney-2 [HK-2]) cells were studied.

RESULTS

Treatment of DKD patients with CANA for 12 weeks significantly reduced HbA1c from a median (interquartile range 25-75%) of 49.0 (44.0-57.0) mmol/mol (7.9%, [7.10-9.20%]) to 42.2 (39.7-47.7) mmol/mol (6.8%, [6.40-7.70%]), and reduced urinary albumin/creatinine ratio from 67.8 (45.9-159.0) mg/mmol to 47.0 (26.0-93.6) mg/mmol. The untargeted metabolomics assay showed downregulated glycolysis and upregulated fatty acid oxidation. The targeted metabolomics assay revealed significant upregulation of glycine. The kidneys of db/db mice undergo significant metabolic reprogramming, with changes in sugar, lipid and amino acid metabolism; CANA regulated the metabolic reprogramming in the kidneys of db/db mice. In particular, the pathways for glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, as well as the metabolite of glycine, were significantly upregulated in CANA-treated kidneys. Glycine supplementation ameliorated renal lesions in db/db mice by inhibiting food intake, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing blood glucose levels. Glycine supplementation improved apoptosis of human proximal tubule cells via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In conclusion, our study shows that CANA ameliorates DKD by inducing fasting-like and aestivation-like metabolic patterns. Furthermore, DKD was ameliorated by glycine supplementation, and the beneficial effects of glycine were probably due to the activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Exhalomics as a noninvasive method for assessing rumen fermentation in dairy cows: Can exhaled-breath metabolomics replace rumen sampling?

Previously, we used secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS) to investigate the diurnal patterns and signal intensities of exhaled (EX) volatile fatty acids (VFA) of dairy cows. The current study aimed to validate the potential of an exhalomics approach for evaluating rumen fermentation. The experiment was conducted in a switchback design, with 3 periods of 9 d each, including 7 d for adaptation and 2 d for sampling. Four rumen-cannulated original Swiss Brown (Braunvieh) cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 diet sequences (ABA or BAB): (A) low starch (LS; 6.31% starch on a dry matter basis) and (B) high starch (HS; 16.2% starch on a dry matter basis). Feeding was once per day at 0830 h. Exhalome (with the GreenFeed System), and rumen samples were collected 8 times to represent every 3 h of a day, and EX-VFA and ruminal (RM)-VFA were analyzed using SESI-MS and HPLC, respectively. Furthermore, the VFA concentration in the gas phase (HR-VFA) was predicted based on RM-VFA and Henry's Law (HR) constants. No interactions were identified between the types of diets (HS vs. LS) and the measurement methods on daily average VFA profiles (RM vs. EX or HR vs. EX), suggesting a consistent performance among the methods. Additionally, when the 3-h interval VFA data from HS and LS diets were analyzed separately, no interactions were observed between methods and time of day, indicating that the relative daily pattern of VFA molar proportions was similar regardless of the VFA measurement method used. The results revealed that the levels of acetate sharply increased immediately after feeding, trailed by an increase in the acetate:propionate ratio and a steady increase for propionate (2 h after feeding the HS diet, 4 h for LS), and butyrate. This change was more pronounced for the HS diet than the LS diet. However, there was no overall diet effect on the VFA molar proportions, although the measurement methods affected the molar proportions. Furthermore, we observed a strong positive correlation between the levels of RM and EX acetate for both diets (HS: r = 0.84; LS: r = 0.85), RM and EX propionate (r = 0.74), and RM and EX acetate:propionate ratio (r = 0.80). Both EX-VFA and RM-VFA exhibited similar responses to feeding and dietary treatments, suggesting that EX-VFA could serve as a useful proxy for characterizing RM-VFA molar proportions to evaluate rumen fermentation. Similar relationships were observed between RM-VFA and HR-VFA. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of exhalomics as a reliable approach for assessing rumen fermentation. Moving forward, research should further explore the depth of exhalomics in ruminant studies to provide a comprehensive insight into rumen fermentation metabolites, especially across diverse dietary conditions.

Losses of low-germinating, slow-growing species prevent grassland composition recovery from nutrient amendment

Nutrient enrichment often alters the biomass and species composition of plant communities, but the extent to which these changes are reversible after the cessation of nutrient addition is not well-understood. Our 22-year experiment (15 years for nutrient addition and 7 years for recovery), conducted in an alpine meadow, showed that soil nitrogen concentration and pH recovered rapidly after cessation of nutrient addition. However, this was not accompanied by a full recovery of plant community composition. An incomplete recovery in plant diversity and a directional shift in species composition from grass dominance to forb dominance were observed 7 years after the nutrient addition ended. Strikingy, the historically dominant sedges with low germination rate and slow growth rate and nitrogen-fixing legumes with low germination rate were unable to re-establish after nutrient addition ceased. By contrast, rapid recovery of aboveground biomass was observed after nutrient cessation as the increase in forb biomass only partially compensated for the decline in grass biomass. These results indicate that anthropogenic nutrient input can have long-lasting effects on the structure, but not the soil chemistry and plant biomass, of grassland communities, and that the recovery of soil chemical properties and plant biomass does not necessarily guarantee the restoration of plant community structure. These findings have important implications for the management and recovery of grassland communities, many of which are experiencing alterations in resource input.

First report of the within-farm prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis in Chinese Holstein dairy cows in Jiangsu, China: A Bayesian modelling approach

Digital dermatitis is one of the most important causes of lameness in dairy cattle, particularly in housed, intensively-managed cattle. The number of modern intensive dairy farms in China has increased markedly in recent years; however, we lack research on digital dermatitis in Chinese dairy cattle. This preliminary study aimed to estimate the prevalence of digital dermatitis on three conveniently selected farms in Jiangsu, China. The washed hind feet of all lactating cows on all three farms were examined during milking with the aid of a mobile phone light source. True prevalence was then estimated from the apparent prevalence using a Bayesian superpopulation approach to account for the imperfect nature of identifying digital dermatitis in cows during milking. Despite none of the farms having thought it necessary to implement routine digital dermatitis monitoring or control, the disease was found on all three sampled farms. All lesions observed were either chronic M4 or M4.1 type-lesions, with no M2 lesions (i.e. acute ulcerated lesions) observed. The estimated true prevalences on the farms were 7.3% (95% credible interval [CrI]: 5.4%-9.6%), 8.3% (95%CrI: 6.3%-10.8%), and 29.8% (95%CrI: 22.9%-37.2%).

[Analysis of 9 patients with adolescence-onset methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency]

Objective: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of adolescence-onset methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency. Methods: This was a retrospective case study. Nine patients with adolescence-onset MTHFR deficiency were diagnosed at Peking University First Hospital from January 2016 to December 2022, and followed up for more than 1 year. Their general information, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, cranial images, MTHFR gene variants, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The 9 patients came from 8 families. They had symptoms at age of 8.0 years to 17.0 years and diagnosed at 9.0 years to 17.5 years. Eight were male and 1 was female. Two patients were brothers, the elder brother developed abnormal gait at 17.0 years; and the younger brother was then diagnosed at 15.0 years of age and treated at the asymptomatic stage, who was 18.0 years old with normal condition during this study. The main manifestations of the 8 symptomatic patients included progressive dyskinesia and spastic paralysis of the lower limbs, with or without intellectual decline, cognitive impairment and behavioral abnormalities. Totally, 15 variants of MTHFR gene were identified in the 9 patients, including 8 novel variants. Five patients had brain image abnormalities. Increased plasma total homocysteine level (65-221 μmol/L) was found in all patients, and decreased to 20-70 μmol/L after treatment with betaine and calcium folinate. Besides, the 8 symptomatic patients had their behavior and cognitive problems significantly improved, with a legacy of lower limb motor disorders. Conclusions: Late-onset MTHFR deficiency can occur in adolescence. The diagnosis is usually delayed because of non-specific clinical symptoms. The test of blood total homocysteine could be used as a selective screening test. Eight novel varients of MTHFR gene were identified. Timely treatment can improve clinical condition significantly, and pre-symptomatic treatment may prevent brain damage.

Mendelian randomization suggests a causal relationship between gut microbiota and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans

Targeting the gut microbiota is an emerging strategy to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonetheless, the causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and NAFLD remains unclear. We first obtained genome-wide association study statistics on gut microbiota and NAFLD from publicly available databases. We then performed the Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine the potential causal relationship between the gut microbiota and NAFLD by 5 different methods, and conducted a series of sensitivity analyses to validate the robustness of the MR analysis results. Furthermore, we investigated the direction of causality by bidirectional MR analysis. For 211 gut microbiota, 2 MR methods confirmed that phylum Tenericutes, class Deltaproteobacteria and class Mollicutes were significantly associated with the risk of NAFLD. Heterogeneity (P > .05) and pleiotropy (P > .05) analyses validated the robustness of the MR results. There was no causal effect of NAFLD on these bacterial taxa in the reverse MR analysis. We identified specific gut microbiota with causal effects on NAFLD through gene prediction, which may provide useful guidance for targeting the gut microbiota to intervene and treat NAFLD.

Enhanced survival with lymphadenectomy in early-stage metachronous second primary lung cancer: A retrospective analysis

INTRODUCTION

Lymphadenectomy is a cornerstone in the surgical management of resectable primary lung cancer. However, its prognostic significance in early-stage metachronous second primary lung cancer(MSPLC) remains poorly understood. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the prognostic impact of lymphadenectomy in these patients using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the SEER Database for patients surgically treated for stage I MSPLC between 2004 and 2015. Propensity score matching was employed to create comparable cohorts, and the Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival after lymphadenectomy compared to non-lymphadenectomy. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Among 920 identified patients with MSPLC, 574 (62.4%) underwent lymphadenectomy. Propensity score matching yielded 255 patients in both the lymphadenectomy and non-lymphadenectomy groups. Over a median follow-up of 38 months, the 5-year overall survival probability after a diagnosis of MSPLC was 58.7% in the lymphadenectomy group and 43.9% among in the non-lymphadenectomy group (HR 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.64-0.90; P=0.002).

CONCLUSION

In this population-based study, lymphadenectomy is associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with stage I MSPLC. These findings suggests the potential benefit of incorporating lymphadenectomy into the surgical management of MSPLC, providing valuable guidance for thoracic surgeons in clinical decision-making.

Digital cholangioscopy-assisted, direct visualization-guided, radiation-free, endoscopic retrograde intervention for cholelithiasis: technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety

BACKGROUND

Nonradiation, digital cholangioscope (DCS)-assisted endoscopic intervention for cholelithiasis has not been widely performed. For this study, we aimed to report the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of an established DCS-guided lithotomy procedure.

METHODS

Data relating to biliary exploration, stone clearance, adverse events, and follow-up were obtained from 289 patients. The choledocholithiasis-related outcomes via the DCS-guided procedure were subsequently compared to those via conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

RESULTS

Biliary access was achieved in 285 patients. The technical success rate for the exploration of the common bile duct, the cystic stump, the hilar ducts, and secondary radicals was 100%. Moreover, the success rates were 98.4%, 61.7%, and 20.7%, for the exploration of the cystic duct, complete cystic duct, and gallbladder, respectively. Suspicious or confirmed suppurative cholecystitis, cholesterol polyps, and hyperplastic polyps were detected in 42, 23, and 5 patients, respectively. Stone clearance was achieved in one session in 285 (100%), 11 (100%), 13 (100%), 7 (100%), 6 (100%), and 3 (14.3%) patients with choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis, cystic duct stump stones, nondiffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, a single cystic duct stone, a single gallbladder stone, and diffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, respectively. Complete stone clearance for diffuse intrahepatic lithiasis was achieved in 19 (90.5%) patients, and fractioned re-lithotomy was performed in 16 (76.2%) patients. One patient developed mild acute cholangitis, and 12 developed mild pancreatitis. Stones recurred in one patient. Compared with conventional ERCP, DCS-guided lithotomy has the advantages of clearing difficult-to-treat choledocholithiasis and revealing concomitant biliary lesions, and this technique has fewer complications and a decreased risk of stone recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The technical profile, efficacy, and safety of nonradiation-guided and DCS-guided lithotomy are shown in this study. We provide a feasible modality for the endoscopic removal of cholelithiasis.

The clinical efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, emerging as a significant health issue on a global scale. Berberine exhibits potential for treating NAFLD, but clinical evidence remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine for treating NAFLD.

METHODS

This study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023462338). Identification of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involved searching 6 databases covering the period from their initiation to 9 September 2023. The primary outcomes comprised liver function markers such as glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lipid indices including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index (BMI). Review Manager 5.4 and STATA 17.0 were applied for analysis.

RESULTS

Among 10 RCTs involving 811 patients, berberine demonstrated significant reductions in various parameters: ALT (standardized mean difference (SMD) = - 0.72), 95% confidence interval (Cl) [- 1.01, - 0.44], P < 0.00001), AST (SMD = - 0.79, 95% CI [- 1.17, - 0.40], P < 0.0001), GGT (SMD = - 0.62, 95% CI [- 0.95, - 0.29], P = 0.0002), TG (SMD = - 0.59, 95% CI [- 0.86, - 0.31], P < 0.0001), TC(SMD = - 0.74, 95% CI [- 1.00, - 0.49], P < 0.00001), LDL-C (SMD = - 0.53, 95% CI [- 0.88, - 0.18], P = 0.003), HDL-C (SMD = - 0.51, 95% CI [- 0.12, 1.15], P = 0.11), HOMA-IR (SMD = - 1.56, 95% CI [- 2.54, - 0.58], P = 0.002), and BMI (SMD = - 0.58, 95% CI [- 0.77, - 0.38], P < 0.00001). Importantly, Berberine exhibited a favorable safety profile, with only mild gastrointestinal adverse events reported.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrates berberine's efficacy in improving liver enzymes, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD patients. These results indicate that berberine shows promise as an adjunct therapy for NAFLD. Trial registration The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023462338). Registered on September 27, 2023.

Flexible Composite Electrolyte Membranes with Fast Ion Transport Channels for Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Numerous endeavors have been dedicated to the development of composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) membranes for all-solid-state batteries (SSBs). However, insufficient ionic conductivity and mechanical properties still pose great challenges in practical applications. In this study, a flexible composite electrolyte membrane (FCPE) with fast ion transport channels was prepared using a phase conversion process combined with in situ polymerization. The polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene (PVDF-HFP) polymer matrix incorporated with lithium lanthanum zirconate (LLZTO) formed a 3D net-like structure, and the in situ polymerized polyvinyl ethylene carbonate (PVEC) enhanced the interface connection. This 3D network, with multiple rapid pathways for Li+ that effectively control Li+ flux, led to uniform lithium deposition. Moreover, the symmetrical lithium cells that used FCPE exhibited high stability after 1200 h of cycling at 0.1 mA cm-2. Specifically, all-solid-state lithium batteries coupled with LiFePO4 cathodes can stably cycle for over 100 cycles at room temperature with high Coulombic efficiencies. Furthermore, after 100 cycles, the infrared spectrum shows that the structure of FCPE remains stable. This work demonstrates a novel insight for designing a flexible composite electrolyte for highly safe SSBs.

[Haploidentical donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using third-party cord blood compared with matched unrelated donor transplantation for patients with hematologic malignancies]

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of cord blood-assisted haploid peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-cord-PBSCT) versus unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (UD-PBSCT) in the treatment of malignant hematological diseases. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on one hundred and four patients with malignant hematological diseases who underwent haplo-cord-PBSCT and fifty-two patients who underwent UD-PBSCT at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2016 and December 2021. Results: ①The median implantation time for neutrophils in the haplo-cord-PBSCT and UD-PBSCT groups was 13 (9-22) days and 13 (10-24) days, respectively (P=0.834), whereas the median implantation time for platelets was 15 (7-103) days and 14 (8-38) days, respectively (P=0.816). The cumulative implantation rate of neutrophils at 30 days after transplantation in the haplo-cord-PBSCT group and the UD-PBSCT group was 100% (P=0.314), and the cumulative platelet implantation rate at 100 days after transplantation was 95.2% (95% CI 88.3% - 98.1% ) and 100% (P=0.927), respectively. 30 days after transplantation, both groups of patients achieved complete donor chimerism, and no umbilical cord blood stem cells were implanted. ②The cumulative incidence rates of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD within 100 days after transplantation in the haplo-cord-PBSCT group and the UD-PBSCT group were 29.1% (95% CI 20.1% -38.1% ) and 28.8% (95% CI 17.2% -41.6% (P=0.965), respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ acute GVHD were 7.8% (95% CI 3.6% -14.0% ) and 9.6% (95% CI 3.5% -19.5% ) (P=0.725). The cumulative incidence rates of 2-year chronic GVHD in the haplo-cord-PBSCT group and the UD-PBSCT group were 45.3% (95% CI 36.1% -56.1% ) and 35.1% (95% CI 21.6% -44.1% ), respectively (P=0.237). The cumulative incidence rates of severe chronic GVHD at 2 years after transplantation were 13.6% (95% CI 7.6% -21.3% ) and 12.9% (95% CI 5.1% -24.3% ), respectively (P=0.840). ③The 2-year CIR after transplantation in the haplo-cord-PBSCT group and UD-PBSCT group were 12.8% (95% CI 7.0% -20.5% ) and 10.0% (95% CI 3.6% -20.2% ), respectively (P=0.341), and the NRM were 14.7% (95% CI 8.4% -22.6% ) and 16.2% (95% CI 7.4% -28.0% ), respectively (P=0.681). ④The 2-year OS rates in the haplo-cord-PBSCT and UD-PBSCT groups after transplantation were 82.2% (95% CI 74.8% -90.3% ) and 75.5% (95% CI 64.2% -88.7% ), respectively (P=0.276). The 2-year DFS rates were 69.9% (95% CI 61.2% -79.8% ) and 73.8% (95% CI 62.4% -87.3% ), respectively (P=0.551). The 2-year rates of GVHD-free/recurrence-free survival (GRFS) were 55.3% (95% CI 44.8% -64.8% ) and 64.7% (95% CI 52.8% -79.3% ), respectively (P=0.284) . Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that haplo-cord-PBSCT and UD-PBSCT have comparable efficacy and safety in the treatment of malignant hematological diseases and can be used as an alternative treatment options.

Biosynthesis of poly(β-L-malic acid) from rubberwood enzymatic hydrolysates in co-fermentation by Aureobasidium pullulans

Co-fermentation of multiple substrates has emerged as the most effective method to improve the yield of bioproducts. Herein, sustainable rubberwood enzymatic hydrolysates (RWH) were co-fermented by Aureobasidium pullulans to produce poly(β-L-malic acid) (PMA), and RWH + glucose/xylose was also investigated as co-substrates. Owing to low inhibitor concentration and abundant natural nitrogen source content of RWH, a high PMA yield of 0.45 g/g and a productivity of 0.32 g/L/h were obtained by RWH substrate fermentation. After optimization, PMA yields following the fermentation of RWH + glucose and RWH + xylose reached 59.92 g/L and 53.71 g/L, respectively, which were 52 % and 36 % higher than that after the fermentation of RWH. RWH + glucose more significantly affected the correlation between PMA yield and substrate concentration than RWH + xylose. The results demonstrated that the co-fermentation of RWH co-substrate is a promising method for the synthesis of bioproducts.

The pathogenicity and immune effects of different generations of Mycoplasma synoviae on chicken embryos

1. Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is the primary causative agent of synovitis in avian species. In order to investigate the pathogenicity and immunological responses associated with MS in specific pathogen-free chicken embryos, a series of generations (F1, F95, F120, F160 and F200) of MS were introduced into 7-day-old SPF chicken embryos and subsequent mortality rates were recorded and analysed2. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect expression of heat shock proteins HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 and inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the tracheal tissue.3. The results showed that the mortality rate of SPF chicken embryos decreased with an increase in the number of passages, with the highest being 80% (8/10) for F1 generation and the lowest being 10% (1/10) for F200. The expression of HSP27, IL-1β, HSP40, caspase-1, HSP70 and HSP90 showed a significant downregulation trend with an increase in the generation (except IL-18; P < 0.05). The HSP60 expression was significantly upregulated with increasing generations (P < 0.05).4. A relationship between pathogenicity and the number of passages was observed and the decrease in pathogenicity appeared to be associated with HSP and genes related to inflammatory factors. The present work offers a scientific foundation for screening potential MS strains that might be employed to develop attenuated vaccines.

Bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumour: advancing clinical, pathological, and imaging insights for future perspectives

Bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumour (BA/CMPT) is a benign peripheral lung tumour composed of bilayered bronchiolar-type epithelium containing a continuous basal cell layer; however, the similarities in imaging and tissue biopsy findings at histopathology between BA/CMPT and malignant tumours, including lung adenocarcinoma, pose significant challenges in accurately diagnosing BA/CMPT preoperatively. This difficulty in differentiation often results in misdiagnosis and unnecessary overtreatment. The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of BA/CMPT, encompassing its clinical manifestations, pathological basis, imaging features, and differential diagnosis. By enhancing healthcare professionals' understanding of this disease, we aim to improve the accuracy of preoperative BA/CMPT diagnosis. This improvement is crucial for the development of appropriate therapeutic strategies and the overall improvement of patient prognosis.

Molecular Ionization Dissociation Induced by Interatomic Coulombic Decay in an ArCH_{4}-Electron Collision System

Interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) is a significant fragmentation mechanism observed in weakly bound systems. It has been widely accepted that ICD-induced molecular fragmentation occurs through a two-step process, involving ICD as the first step and dissociative-electron attachment (DEA) as the second step. In this study, we conducted a fragmentation experiment of ArCH_{4} by electron impact, utilizing the coincident detection of one electron and two ions. In addition to the well-known decay pathway that induces pure ionization of CH_{4}, we observed a new channel where ICD triggers the ionization dissociation of CH_{4}, resulting in the cleavage of the C-H bond and the formation of the CH_{3}^{+} and H ion pair. The high efficiency of this channel, as indicated by the relative yield of the Ar^{+}/CH_{3}^{+} ion pair, agrees with the theoretical prediction [L. S. Cederbaum, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 11, 8964 (2020).JPCLCD1948-718510.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02259; Y. C. Chiang et al., Phys. Rev. A 100, 052701 (2019).PLRAAN2469-992610.1103/PhysRevA.100.052701]. These results suggest that ICD can directly break covalent bonds with high efficiency, bypassing the need for DEA. This finding introduces a novel approach to enhance the fragmentation efficiency of molecules containing covalent bonds, such as DNA backbone.

Upregulation of UHRF1 Promotes PINK1-mediated Mitophagy to Alleviates Ferroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common diabetic complication. Studies show that mitophagy inhibition induced-ferroptosis plays a crucial role in DN progression. UHRF1 is associated with mitophagy and is highly expression in DN patients, however, the effect of UHRF1 on DN is still unclear. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether UHRF1 involves DN development by the mitophagy/ferroptosis pathway. We overexpressed UHRF1 using an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) system in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Renal function index, pathological changes, mitophagy factors, and ferroptosis factors were detected in vivo. High-glucose cultured human renal proximal tubular (HK-2) cells were used as in vitro models to investigate the mechanism of UHRF1 in DN. We found that diabetic mice exhibited kidney damage, which was alleviated by UHRF1 overexpression. UHRF1 overexpression promoted PINK1-mediated mitophagy and inhibited the expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), a factor associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, UHRF1 overexpression alleviated lipid peroxidation and free iron accumulation, and upregulated the expression of GPX4 and Slc7a11, indicating the inhibition effect of UHRF1 overexpression on ferroptosis. We further investigated the mechanism of UHRF1 in the mitophagy/ferroptosis pathway in DN. We found that UHRF1 overexpression promoted PINK1-mediated mitophagy via inhibiting TXNIP expression, thus suppressing ferroptosis. These findings confirmed that upregulation of UHRF1 expression alleviates DN, indicating that UHRF1 has a reno-protective effect against DN.

Decomposition and decoupling analysis of carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin: evidence from urban agglomerations

A comprehensive understanding of carbon emission reduction and decoupling in urban agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) has significant theoretical and practical value for formulating precise carbon reduction policies and achieving ecological conservation and high-quality development in the region. This study utilized a generalized Divisia index decomposition model to identify the primary driving factors behind carbon emission changes in urban agglomerations of the YRB. Based on this, a model measuring decoupling efforts was constructed to systematically investigate the decoupling relationship between carbon emissions. The research findings indicate that technological progress and output scale are two primary drivers of carbon emission increases in the YRB and its urban agglomerations, whereas technological carbon intensity, output carbon intensity, and energy carbon intensity play key roles in reducing carbon emissions. Except for a few years, the YRB and Jiziwan metropolitan area (JWMA) did not exhibit decoupling effects on carbon emissions. The Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration (SPUA) and Central Plains Urban Agglomeration (CPUA) showed strong decoupling effects from 2016 to 2019. The Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration (GPUA) demonstrated a strong decoupling effect from 2013 to 2019 (except from 2016 to 2017). The Lanxi Urban Agglomeration (LXUA) exhibited a strong decoupling effect from 2014 to 2019. Technological carbon intensity plays a decisive role in the transition from non-decoupling to decoupling. Therefore, the government must increase investments in green and low-carbon technologies and strictly implement carbon reduction measures. Thus, the YRB and its urban agglomerations have considerable potential for carbon emission reduction and strong decoupling effects.

Efficacies of different ovarian hyperstimulation protocols in elderly patients with poor ovarian response

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to explore which controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol is most suitable for elderly patients with poor ovarian response (POR) undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study evaluated clinical data from 2,660 patients from January 2017 and October 2020. The patients were divided into three groups: modified Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol (1,225 patients), GnRH antagonist protocol (1,038 patients), and Mild stimulation protocol (397 patients). Clinical variables and pregnancy outcomes were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

The GnRH agonist protocol was associated with a higher number of oocyte number (3.99±2.82 vs. 3.02±1.34 vs. 2.51±1.14, p<0.001), a higher number of transferable embryos (1.39±1.32 vs. 1.24±1.24 vs. 1.18±1.11, p = 0.035), higher cumulative live birth rate [26.53% (323/1,225) vs. 22.44% (233/1,038) vs. 21.66% (86/397), p = 0.043], lower OHSS rate [5.14% (63/1,225) vs. 3.08% (32/1,038) vs. 2.02% (8/397), p = 0.005] than GnRH antagonist protocol and Mild stimulation protocol, the Mild stimulation protocol was associated with higher miscarriage rates [30.4% (24/71) vs. 25.0% (33/192) vs. 29.6% (35/168), p = 0.014] than the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The three protocols can be used in elderly patients with POR; however, if patients require more frozen-thawed embryo transfers to achieve better cumulative live birth rates, the modified GnRH agonist protocol may be the better choice. It should be emphasized that the mild stimulation had a slightly higher miscarriage rate than the other two groups.

Occupational stress, respect, and the need for psychological counselling in Chinese nurses: a nationwide cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore occupational stress, perceived respect, and the need for psychological counselling among nurses in China.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a nationwide cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Chinese nurses from 311 cities were randomly selected through a simple random sampling method. Occupational stress, perceived respect, and psychological counselling need were assessed using an online questionnaire validated by experts. The underlying associated factors were analysed using multiple logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

We collected and analysed 51,406 valid online questionnaires. Family factors and low income were the most commonly cited sources of occupational stress, and 91.9% and 80.0% of nurses, respectively, perceived that individuals in society and patients did not give adequate respect. Furthermore, 75.5% and 79.7%, respectively, believed they were not respected by clinical managers and doctors. As a result, 64.7% nurses believed they had a moderate or high need for psychological counselling. However, 80.7% indicated that receiving adequate respect could decrease the need for stress-related psychological counselling. Indeed, multiple logistic regression analyses showed that lower respect perceived by nurses was associated with higher need for psychological counselling, particularly regarding criticism that nurses perceived from nursing managers (a little: odds ratio [OR], 1.597; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.176-2.170; P = 0.003; moderately: OR, 1.433; 95% CI, 1.180-1.741; P < 0.001) and the difficulty of receiving respect from patients and their families (a little: OR, 1.389; 95% CI, 1.044-1.850; P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses in China perceive high levels of occupational stress and low levels of respect and often seek psychological counselling.

Live-cell three-dimensional single-molecule tracking reveals modulation of enhancer dynamics by NuRD

To understand how the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex regulates enhancers and enhancer-promoter interactions, we have developed an approach to segment and extract key biophysical parameters from live-cell three-dimensional single-molecule trajectories. Unexpectedly, this has revealed that NuRD binds to chromatin for minutes, decompacts chromatin structure and increases enhancer dynamics. We also uncovered a rare fast-diffusing state of enhancers and found that NuRD restricts the time spent in this state. Hi-C and Cut&Run experiments revealed that NuRD modulates enhancer-promoter interactions in active chromatin, allowing them to contact each other over longer distances. Furthermore, NuRD leads to a marked redistribution of CTCF and, in particular, cohesin. We propose that NuRD promotes a decondensed chromatin environment, where enhancers and promoters can contact each other over longer distances, and where the resetting of enhancer-promoter interactions brought about by the fast decondensed chromatin motions is reduced, leading to more stable, long-lived enhancer-promoter relationships.

Comparison of the Time and Accuracy of Intraoral Scans Performed by Dentists, Nurses, Postgraduates, and Undergraduates

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the scanning time (ST) and accuracy of 10 repeated upper and lower dentition scans by four groups of operators with different professional backgrounds.

METHODS

There were a total of 32 participants, including dentists, nurses, postgraduates, and undergraduates (n=8). They received the same training about intraoral scanning and then performed 10 repeat scans on the plaster maxillary and mandibular dentition models in a manikin head, with the first five scans being the T1 phase and the last five scans being the T2 phase. Each ST was recorded. Trueness and precision were evaluated by root mean square (RMS) value gained from alignments of corresponding virtual models. For statistical analysis, the paired-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation tests were employed (α=0.05).

RESULTS

Limiting the comparison in scan phase and scan target the sequence of STs for the four groups was the same (p<0.05), by which undergraduates, postgraduates, nurses, and dentists were in descending order. Undergraduates gained the best precision, followed by postgraduates, dentists, and nurses, in both maxillary and mandibular scanning (p<0.05). Compared with corresponding items of the T1 phase, the trueness of the T2 phase was much higher (p<0.05), while the ST of the T2 phase was much shorter (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The operator's professional background affects the precision and scanning time but not the trueness. Most dental personnel have good access to the intraoral scanner. As the number of scans increased, the accuracy and scanning efficiency also improved.

Exhaled volatile fatty acids, ruminal methane emission, and their diurnal patterns in lactating dairy cows

To date, the commonly used methods to assess rumen fermentation are invasive. Exhaled breath contains hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOC) that can reflect animal physiological processes. In the present study, for the first time, we aimed to use a noninvasive metabolomics approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify rumen fermentation parameters in dairy cows. Enteric methane (CH4) production from 7 lactating cows was measured 8 times over 3 consecutive days using the GreenFeed system (C-Lock Technology Inc.). Simultaneously, exhalome samples were collected in Tedlar gas sampling bags and analyzed offline using a secondary electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry system. In total, 1,298 features were detected, among them targeted exhaled volatile fatty acids (eVFA; i.e., acetate, propionate, butyrate), which were putatively annotated using their exact mass-to-charge ratio. The intensity of eVFA, in particular acetate, increased immediately after feeding and followed a similar pattern to that observed for ruminal CH4 production. The average total eVFA concentration was 35.5 count per second (CPS), and among the individual eVFA, acetate had the greatest concentration, averaging 21.3 CPS, followed by propionate at 11.5 CPS, and butyrate at 2.67 CPS. Further, exhaled acetate was on average the most abundant of the individual eVFA at around 59.3%, followed by 32.5 and 7.9% of the total eVFA for propionate and butyrate, respectively. This corresponds well with the previously reported proportions of these VFA in the rumen. The diurnal patterns of ruminal CH4 emission and individual eVFA were characterized using a linear mixed model with cosine function fit. The model characterized similar diurnal patterns for eVFA and ruminal CH4 and H2 production. Regarding the diurnal patterns of eVFA, the phase (time of peak) of butyrate occurred first, followed by that of acetate and propionate. Importantly, the phase of total eVFA occurred around 1 h before that of ruminal CH4. This corresponds well with existing data on the relationship between rumen VFA production and CH4 formation. Results from the present study revealed a great potential to assess the rumen fermentation of dairy cows using exhaled metabolites as a noninvasive proxy for rumen VFA. Further validation, with comparisons to rumen fluid, and establishment of the proposed method are required.

Inter-fraction Dynamics during Adaptive Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases with a MR LINAC

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study examined the displacement and deformation in brain metastases (BMs) during adaptive hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) on a magnetic resonance imaging linear accelerator (MR LINAC). In addition, the contouring variability between enhanced T1 (T1+c) and T2/FLAIR (T2f) sequence to define gross tumor volume (GTV) was compared.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with 1-3 BMs and treated with MR LINAC were enrolled. T1+c sequence was acquired at initial planning, while T2/T2f was acquired during each fraction. GTV at initial planning (GTVi) and fraction 1-n (GTV1-n) were contoured in all images. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to quantify the contouring variability between different sequences at initial planning. The three-dimensional coordinate values of geometric centers of GTVi and GTV1-n were recorded and the distance was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using two-sided paired t-test.

RESULTS

Between December 2019 and October 2022, 19 patients with 22 BMs were analyzed. The median age was 64 y (37-84 y) and the major primary tumor was lung cancer (89.5%). The median dose was 52 Gy in 13 fractions (30 Gy/5f- 60 Gy/20 f). The median GTVi on T1c, T2f and T2 sequences were 6.70cc (0.41-84.85 cc), 6.70 cc (0.35-84.14 cc, p = 0.924) and 6.16 cc (0.32-79.44 cc, p = 0.117), respectively. The mean DSC was 0.95 (0.76-1.00) and 0.86 (0.64-0.97) when comparing GTVi on T1c/T2f and T1c/T2, respectively. All of the lesions achieved volume reduction during HFRT and the mean reduction rate was 28.8% (4.8%-71.0%) at the end of HFRT. 54.5% of the BMs were reduced by more than 20%. The median treatment course and BED to get 20% reduction was 2/3 (40%-93%) and 40.8 Gy (24.5-67.5 Gy), respectively. The median shift of center of GTV1-n was 0.8 mm (0-2.5mm). The center of 7 lesions (31.8%) deviated more than 1mm from GTVi.

CONCLUSION

GTV contouring variability was seen between T1c, T2f and T2 sequences. The coincidence of T1+c and T2f was better than T1+c and T2 in BMs. Since reductions in volume and changes of lesion center was observed during HFRT, the use of MR-guided radiation therapy (RT) and treatment adaptation is needed. The optimal timing for treatment plan modification might be when the course of treatment reaches 2/3 for most large BMs. Further research to find out patients who may benefit form MR-guided adaptive RT is ongoing.

Self-reported sleep disorders and the risk of all cancer types: evidence from the Kailuan Cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies that focussed on sleep disturbance have primarily examined specific aspects of sleep disorders rather than considering overall sleep quality. We aimed to investigate different sleep disorders and their combination as risk factors for different types of cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, we included 78,232 participants. A self-reported questionnaire was used to address insomnia, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and sleep duration. Overall sleep quality was evaluated by summarising these four sleep parameters. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for determining the effect of the overall sleep-quality score and its components on the risk of incident cancer.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 5.67 years, 1266 participants were diagnosed with incident cancer. Compared to participants in the best sleep-quality score group, participants in the worst sleep-quality score group had a higher subsequent risk of overall cancer, and colorectal, breast, uterine or uterine cervical, prostatic, kidney, and bladder cancer. Participants with insomnia and snoring status had an elevated risk of head and neck, breast, uterine or uterine cervical, prostatic, kidney, bladder cancer, and lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor overall sleep-quality scores as well as poor scores for the scale's components, including insomnia and snoring status, elevated the risk of overall and several specific-site cancers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Kailuan Study, ChiCTR2000029767. Registered 12 February, 2020-Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=48316.

[Surveillance on dengue vector Aedes albopictus in Ningbo City in 2021]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the density, distribution and insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus in Ningbo City in 2021, so as to provide insights into formulation of dengue fever control strategies.

METHODS

Four administrative villages were randomly selected from each county (district) in Ningbo City from April to November, 2021, to investigate the indoor population density of Aedes larvae, and the Breteau index (BI) was calculated. The population density of adult mosquitoes was investigated in residential areas, parks/bamboo forests, waste tire stacking sites/waste stations/construction sites in each county (district). On June 2021, larvae of the natural strain A. albopictus were collected from epidemic sites of dengue fever in Ningbo City in 2018, and raised in laboratory. Then, larvae and female mosquitoes without blood feeding were selected for insecticide resistance bioassays, while insecticide-sensitive strains of A. albopictus served as controls. The resistance of A. albopictus larvae to deltamethrin, beta-cypermethrin, propoxur, temephos and dichlorvos using the impregnation method, and the medium lethal concentration (LC50) and resistance ratio (RR) were calculated. The resistance of adult A. albopictus to beta-cypermethrin, permethrin, deltamethrin, propoxur and malathion was determined using the tube bioassay, and the mosquito mortality was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 10 072 small water containers from 9 935 households were investigated in Ningbo City in 2021, and there were 1 276 containers with Aedes larvae detected, with an average BI of 12.89. Totally 1 422 mosquito nets were allocated and 954 female A. albopictus were captured, with an average net trapping index of 1.34 mosquitoes/(net·hour). Both larval and adult A. albopictus mosquitoes were found from April to November, and the density of larval A. albopictus peaked in September (BI = 21.21), while the density of adult A. albopictus peaked in August, with a net trapping index of 2.38 mosquitoes/(net·hour). The LC50 values of delta-methrin, beta-cypermethrin, propoxur, temephos and dichlorvos were 0.017 4, 0.000 9, 0.364 1, 0.038 1 mg/L and 0.001 6 mg/L against larvae of natural strains of A. albopicchus, with RRs of 49.66, 25.53, 9.65, 2.24 and 6.06, and the mortality rates of adult mosquitoes were 66.00% (66/100), 69.39% (68/98), 25.00% (25/100), 98.97% (96/97) and 100.00% (98/98) 24 hours post-treatment with 0.08% beta-cypermethrin, 0.03% deltamethrin, 0.4% permethrin, 0.05% propoxur, and 0.5% malathion for 24 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A. albopictus is widely distributed in Ningbo City, with a high population density and presents high-level resistance to common pyrethroid insecticides. The population density and insecticide resistance of A. albopictus requires to be reinforced.

A Photocurable Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogel Delivery of Polydeoxyribonucleotide-Loaded Vectors for Wound Treatment

The wounds caused by war, accidents, and diseases require timely and effective treatment. Polysaccharides, as natural macromolecules, have good biocompatibility and unique functions, and are excellent substrates for constructing new wound dressings. Short-chain chitosan (SCS) has good water solubility and, importantly, retains a large number of active amino groups. We first introduce double bonds to SCS. This chitosan derivative can be entangled with sodium alginate (SA) through electrostatic interaction. The flowing sol can be applied to a wound with an irregular shape. Under the initiation of a photoinitiator, the internal double bonds are broken and cross-linked to form a gel. The prepared hydrogel wound dressing exhibited good antibacterial properties and can provide a microenvironment conducive to wound repair. A polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) has been proven to have encouraging therapeutic effects for wound healing. PDRN can be condensed by branched polyethylenimine (PEI) to form a nucleic acid delivery system, which can be efficiently uptaken by cells. The cooperation of hydrogel and nucleic-acid-based therapy presented good results in a mouse full-thickness skin wound model.

Residue of Chlormequat and Regulatory Effects on the Specialized Metabolites of Astragali Radix

Presently, the utilization of chlormequat in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Leguminosae) cultivation is prevalent for augmenting rhizome (Astragali Radix) yield. However, indiscriminate and excessive chlormequat employment can detrimentally influence Astragali Radix quality and safety. This research aimed to comprehensively comprehend chlormequat risks and its influence on Astragali Radix metabolites. Diverse chlormequat concentrations were employed in Astragalus mongholicus cultivation, with subsequent analysis of residual chlormequat levels in Astragali Radix across treatment groups. Astragali Radix metabolic profiling was conducted through UPLC-QTOF-MS, and thirteen principal active components were quantified via UFLC-MS/MS. Findings revealed a direct correlation between chlormequat residue levels in Astragali Radix and application concentration, with high-dose residue surpassing 5.0 mg/kg. Metabolomics analysis identified twenty-six distinct saponin and flavonoid metabolites. Notably, the application of chlormequat led to the upregulation of seven saponins (e.g., astragaloside I and II) and downregulation of six flavonoids (e.g., methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside and astraisoflavan-7-O-β-d-glucoside). Quantitative analysis demonstrated variable contents of active ingredients due to differing chlormequat concentrations, leading to astragaloside I increase (14.59-62.55%) and isoastragaloside II increase (4.8-55.63%), while methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside decreased (22.18-41.69%), as did astraisoflavan-7-O-β-d-glucoside (21.09-47.78%). In conclusion, chlormequat application influenced multiple active components in Astragali Radix, causing constituent proportion variations. Elevated chlormequat concentrations led to increased active components alongside heightened chlormequat residues in Astragali Radix. Consequently, prudent chlormequat application during Astragali Radix production is imperative to avert potential detriments to its quality and safety.

[Clinical effects of pedicled omental flap transplantation in repairing secondary rejection wounds after brain pacemaker implantation]

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of pedicled omental flap transplantation in repairing secondary rejection wounds after brain pacemaker implantation. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January to August 2021, 5 patients with secondary rejection wounds after brain pacemaker implantation who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Wound Repair Center of Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, including 3 males and 2 females, aged 56-69 years, with the wound developed at the pulse generator implantation site in the chest in 2 cases, at the connection site of the wire and electrode behind the ear in 2 cases, and at both the chest and the back of the ear in 1 case. All the wounds were repaired by pedicled omental flap transplantation. The wound area after debridement was 2-15 cm2. After operation, the wound healing and related complications (pain, infection, incisional hernia, omental flap necrosis, etc.) were observed. During follow-up, the recurrence of the wound was observed. Results: The wounds of all 5 patients healed within 2 weeks after operation, without related complications. During follow up of 12-18 months, 1 patient got a recurrence of rejection wound behind the left ear 4 months after surgery and eventually had the brain pacemaker removed; the other 4 patients had no recurrence of wounds. Conclusions: Pedicled omental flap transplantation can repair the secondary rejection wounds after brain pacemaker implantation safely and effectively, with few postoperative complications.

Titanium Carbide MXene Quantum Dots-Modified Hydroxyapatite Hollow Microspheres as pH/Near-Infrared Dual-Response Drug Carriers

Titanium carbide MXene quantum dots (MQDs) possess intrinsic regulatory properties and selective toxicity to cancer cells. Here, MDQs were selected for the modification of hydroxyapatite (HA) microspheres, and MXene quantum dots-modified hydroxyapatite (MQDs-HA) hollow microspheres with controllable shapes and sizes were prepared as bone drug carriers. The results show that the prepared MQDs-HA hollow microspheres had a large BET surface area (231.2 m2/g), good fluorescence, and low toxicity. In addition, MQDs-HA showed a mild storage-release behavior and good responsiveness of pH and near-infrared (NIR). Thus, the MQDs-HA hollow microspheres have broad application prospects in the field of drug delivery and photothermal therapy.

Synthesis of Crocin I and Crocin II by Multigene Stacking in Nicotiana benthamiana

Crocins are a group of highly valuable water-soluble carotenoids that are reported to have many pharmacological activities, such as anticancer properties, and the potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Crocins are mainly biosynthesized in the stigmas of food-medicine herbs Crocus sativus L. and Gardenia jasminoides fruits. The distribution is narrow in nature and deficient in resources, which are scarce and expensive. Recently, the synthesis of metabolites in the heterologous host has opened up the potential for large-scale and sustainable production of crocins, especially for the main active compounds crocin I and crocin II. In this study, GjCCD4a, GjALDH2C3, GjUGT74F8, and GjUGT94E13 from G. jasminoides fruits were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. The highest total content of crocins in T1 generation tobacco can reach 78,362 ng/g FW (fresh weight) and the dry weight is expected to reach 1,058,945 ng/g DW (dry weight). Surprisingly, the primary effective constituents crocin I and crocin II can account for 99% of the total crocins in transgenic plants. The strategy mentioned here provides an alternative platform for the scale-up production of crocin I and crocin II in tobacco.

[Humanized anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody as a salvage therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of humanized anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. Methods: A total of 64 patients with SR-aGVHD between June 2019 and October 2020 in Suchow Hopes Hematology Hospital were enrolled in this study. Humanized anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies 1 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) were administered on days 1, 3, and 8, and then once per week according to the disease progression. Efficacy was assessed at days 7, 14, and 28 after humanized anti-CD 25 treatment. Results: Of the 64 patients with a median age of 31 (15-63) years, 38 (59.4%) were male and 26 (40.6%) were female. The overall response (OR) rate of the humanized CD25 monoclonal antibody in 64 patients with SR-aGVHD on days 7, 14, and 28 were 48.4% (31/64), 53.1% (34/64), and 79.7% (51/64), respectively. Liver involvement is an independent risk factor for poor efficacy of humanized CD25 monoclonal antibody for SR-aGVHD at day 28 (OR=9.588, 95% CI 0.004-0.291, P=0.002). The median follow-up time for all patients was 17.1 (0.2-50.8) months from the start of humanized CD25 monoclonal antibody therapy. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 63.2% (95% CI 57.1% -69.3%) and 52.6% (95% CI 46.1% -59.1%), respectively. The 1- and 2-year DFS rates were 58.4% (95% CI 52.1% -64.7%) and 49.8% (95% CI 43.4% -56.2%), respectively. The 1- and 2-year NRM rates were 28.8% (95% CI 23.1% -34.5%) and 32.9% (95% CI 26.8% -39.0%), respectively. The results of the multifactorial analysis showed that liver involvement (OR=0.308, 95% CI 0.108-0.876, P=0.027) and GVHD grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ (OR=9.438, 95% CI 1.211-73.577, P=0.032) were independent risk factors for OS. Conclusion: Humanized CD25 monoclonal antibody has good efficacy and safety for SR-aGVHD. This study shows that SR-aGVHD with pretreatment grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ GVHD and GVHD involving the liver has poor efficacy and prognosis and requires early intervention.

Advances in DNA methylation and demethylation in medicinal plants: a review

DNA methylation and demethylation are widely acknowledged epigenetic phenomena which can cause heritable and phenotypic changes in functional genes without changing the DNA sequence. They can thus affect phenotype formation in medicinal plants. However, a comprehensive review of the literature summarizing current research trends in this field is lacking. Thus, this review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of current methods for the detection of 5-mC DNA methylation, identification and analysis of DNA methyltransferases and demethyltransferases, and regulation of DNA methylation in medicinal plants. The data showed that polyploidy and environmental changes can affect DNA methylation levels in medicinal plants. Changes in DNA methylation can thus regulate plant morphogenesis, growth and development, and formation of secondary metabolites. Future research is required to explore the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates the accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.

Vacancy-Modified Porous g-C3N4 Nanosheets Controlled by Physical Activation for Highly Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution and Organics Degradation

As a promising photocatalyst material, g-C3N4 has great application potential in energy production and environmental improvement. In this work, surface-modified g-C3N4 nanosheets with excellent stability and high photocatalytic activity were successfully synthesized by physical steam activation. The charge transfer rate of carbon nitride was improved due to the synergistic effect of nitrogen defect and oxygen doping caused by steam activation. Meanwhile, the specific surface area and pore volume of the optimized sample reached 124.3 m2 g-1 and 0.42 cm3 g-1, respectively, which increased the exposed reaction sites of reactants, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. In addition, this novel g-C3N4 displayed a great H2 evolution rate of 5889.39 μmol h-1 g-1 with a methylene blue degradation rate up to 6.52 × 10-3 min-1, which was 3.7 and 2.1 times of original g-C3N4, respectively. This study provided a simple and economical method to develop a highly efficient g-C3N4 photocatalyst for solar energy conversion.

Efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure on NT-pro-BNP in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and BNP are well-known markers for the diagnosis and prognostic of heart failure. Until now, it was not clear whether BNP levels are influenced by events occurring within Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

METHODS

A thorough search in PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases up to October 24, 2022, and a meta-analysis aimed to explore further accurate estimates of the effects of BNP on OSAHS after CPAP treatment to assess the strength of the evidence.

RESULTS

The forest plot outcome indicated that CPAP therapy did not change the BNP level in patients with OSAHS, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of -0.47 (95% CI: -1.67 to 2.62; P = 0.53] based on the random effect model because of high significant heterogeneity (I² = 80%) among the studies. Subgroup analysis also explored the changes in BNP levels in patients with OSAHS. Begg's test (P = 0.835) and Egger's test (P = 0.245) suggested significant negative publication bias.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that CPAP therapy does not change the BNP level in patients with OSAHS; therefore, it is not accurate to use BNP level as an index to evaluate heart function in patients with OSAHS, but more related research should be conducted.

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of IgM Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of IgM primary plasma cell leukemia.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a case of clinical and laboratory characteristics of IgM primary plasma cell leukemia and review related literature of patient with primary plasma cell leukemia.

RESULTS

Laboratory tests: Alanine aminotransferase 128 U/L, Aspartate aminotransferase 245 U/L, Globulin 47.8 g/L, Lactate dehydrogenase 1,114 U/L, Creatinine 111.7 mol/L, Serum calcium 2.47 mmol/L, β2 microglobulin 8.52 µg/mL, Immunoglobulin G 31.41 g/L, D-dimer 2.34 mg/L, Prothrombin time 13.6 seconds Fibrinogen 2 g/L, White blood cell 7.38 x 109/L, Red blood cell 3.46 x 1012/L, Hemoglobin 115 g/L, Platelet 7 x 109/L, and 12% Primitive naive cells can be seen in peripheral blood smear. Bone marrow smear: Accounted for 52% of original cells, the cell size, shape is irregular, the edge is not neat, the cell quality is rich, stained gray blue, cytoplasmic staining uneven, some devouring blood cells can be seen in the cytoplasm or unknown substance, the nucleus shape is irregular, visible distortion and fold, is visible on the part of the nuclei cavitation sample inclusions, chromatin is meticulous, partly visible large nucleoli. Flow cytometry results showed abnormal cell group held 23.85% of nuclear cells, expression of CD38, CD138, CD117, cKappa, partly CD20, weak expressing CD45, not express CD27, CD19, CD56, CD200, CD81, cLambda. It was a monoclonal plasma cell with an abnormal phenotype, consistent with a plasma cell tumor. Immunofixation electrophoresis results showed that the serum M protein was 22.80 g/L, which was IgG-κ type, the serum free KAP light chain was 232.69 mg/L, the serum free LAM light chain was 5.37 mg/L, and the rFLC (κ-FLC: λFLC) was 43.33. The diagnosis was primary plasmacytic leukemia of light chain type.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is a rare and highly aggressive plasma cell malignancy. Laboratory staff should pay more attention to and recognize the pleomorphic morphology of neoplastic plasma cells, which can enable timely clinical development of bone marrow smear, biopsy, flow cytometry, and cytogenetic tests providing help in early diagnosis and treatment.

Gender-specific association of SLC19A1 and MTHFR genetic polymorphism with oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma folate levels in older adults

BACKGROUND

Plasma folate levels are closely related to antioxidant capacity and are regulated by folate pathway gene polymorphism. However, few studies have explored the gender-specific association of folate pathway gene polymorphism with oxidative stress biomarkers. The present study was designed to explore the gender-specific independent and combined impacts of solute carrier family 19 member 1 (SLC19A1) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genetic polymorphisms on oxidative stress biomarkers in older adults.

METHODS

A total of 401 subjects were recruited, including 145 males and 256 females. Demographic characteristics of the participants were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting venous blood samples were taken for folate pathway gene genotyping, circulating lipids parameters and erythrocyte oxidative stress biomarkers measurement. The difference of genotype distribution and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was calculated by the Chi-square test. The general linear model was applied to compare the plasma folate levels and erythrocyte oxidative stress biomarkers. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the correlation between genetic risk scores and oxidative stress biomarkers. Logistic regression was used to explore the association of genetic risk scores of folate pathway gene with folate deficiency.

RESULTS

The male subjects have lower plasma folate and HDL-C levels than the female ones, and the male carrying MTHFR rs1801133 (CC) or MTHFR rs2274976 (GA) genotypes have higher erythrocyte SOD activity. The plasma folate levels, erythrocyte SOD and GSH-PX activities were negatively correlated with genetic risk scores in the male subjects. A positive correlation between the genetic risk scores and folate deficiency was observed in the male subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

There was association between folate pathway gene polymorphism of Solute Carrier Family 19 Member 1 (SLC19A1) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) with erythrocyte SOD and GSH-PX activities, and folate levels in male but not in female aging subjects. Genetic variant of genes involved in folate metabolism has strong impact on plasma folate levels in the male aging subjects. Our data demonstrated that there was a potential interaction of gender and its genetic background in affecting the body's antioxidant capacity and the risk of folate deficiency in aging subjects.

[The value of cardiac MRI in the risk stratification in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

Objective: To explore the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the risk stratification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: HCM patients who underwent CMR examination in Fuwai Hospital between March 2012 and May 2013 were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline clinical and CMR data were collected and patient follow-up was performed using telephone contact and medical record. The primary composite endpoint was sudden cardiac death (SCD) or and equivalent event. The secondary composite endpoint was all-cause death and heart transplant. Patients were divided into SCD and non-SCD groups. Cox regression was used to explore risk factors of adverse events. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the performance and the optimal cut-off of late gadolinium enhancement percentage (LGE%) for the prediction of endpoints. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare survival differences between groups. Results: A total of 442 patients were enrolled. Mean age was (48.5±12.4) years and 143(32.4%) were female. At (7.6±2.5) years of follow-up, 30 (6.8%) patients met the primary endpoint including 23 SCD and 7 SCD equivalent events, and 36 (8.1%) patients met the secondary endpoint including 33 all-cause death and 3 heart transplant. In multivariate Cox regression, syncope(HR=4.531, 95%CI 2.033-10.099, P<0.001), LGE% (HR=1.075, 95%CI 1.032-1.120, P=0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR=0.956, 95%CI 0.923-0.991, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for primary endpoint; Age (HR=1.032, 95%CI 1.001-1.064, P=0.046), atrial fibrillation (HR=2.977, 95%CI 1.446-6.131, P=0.003),LGE% (HR=1.075, 95%CI 1.035-1.116, P<0.001) and LVEF (HR=0.968, 95%CI 0.937-1.000, P=0.047) were independent risk factors for secondary endpoint. ROC curve showed the optimal LGE% cut-offs were 5.1% and 5.8% for the prediction of primary and secondary endpoint, respectively. Patients were further divided into LGE%=0, 0<LGE%<5%, 5%≤LGE%<15% and LGE%≥15% groups. There were significant survival differences between these 4 groups whether for primary endpoint or secondary endpoint (all P<0.001) and the accumulated incidence of primary endpoint was 1.2% (2/161), 2.2% (2/89), 10.5% (16/152) and 25.0% (10/40), respectively. Conclusion: LGE is an independent risk factor for SCD events as well as all-cause death and heart transplant. LGE is of important value in the risk stratification in patients with HCM.

Custom-made semi-joint prosthesis replacement combined ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS) ligament reconstruction for the limb salvage surgery of malignant tumors in the distal femur in skeletal immature children

Purpose

To explore the application of Custom-made Semi-joint prosthesis replacement combined with Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) ligament reconstruction for the limb salvage surgery (LSS) of malignant tumors in the distal femur and provide selections for the LSS of malignant tumors in skeletal immature children.

Methods

A total of 8 children with malignant tumors in the distal femur who underwent Custom-made Semi-joint prosthesis replacement combined LARS ligament reconstruction for LSS from January, 2018 until December, 2019 in our bone and soft tissue tumor center were retrospectively recruited. The prosthesis related complications, oncological prognosis and knee function were observed, and the surgical efficacy was comprehensively evaluated.

Results

The average follow-up time was 36.6 months (30-50 months). The average osteotomy length was 13.2 cm (8-20 cm) according to the preoperative imaging results and the length of the customized prosthesis. Two years after operation, the average MSTS-93 score was 24.4 (16-29) which indicated good limb functions. The range of motion of the knee was 0°-120°, with an maximum average of 100°. At last follow-up, the average height of the children increased by 8.4 cm (6-13 cm), and the average limb shortening was 2.7 cm (1.8-4.6 cm). One patient had wound complications in the early postoperative period, wound scab fell off to form superficial ulcer, in whom debridement and suturing were performed. One patient developed hematogenous disseminated prosthesis infection 2 years after surgery, and the prosthesis is now in situ with anti-infection treatment. One patient developed pulmonary metastasis during follow-up, and received chemotherapy and targeted therapy with lesion well controlled. At the last follow-up, there was no local tumor recurrence or prosthesis loosening.

Conclusion

Under the premise of appropriate case selection, customized semi-joint prosthesis replacement combined with LARS ligament reconstruction provides a new option for LSS in children with distal femur malignant tumors. LARS ligament reconstruction ensures the stability and range of motion of the knee joint, which maximally preserves the epiphysis of the tibia side and the growth function of the tibia side, reduces the complications of limb length inequality in the long term and creates conditions for limb lengthening or total joint replacement in adults.

Post-Ripening and Key Glycosyltransferase Catalysis to Promote Sweet Mogrosides Accumulation of Siraitia grosvenorii Fruits

Sweet mogrosides are not only the primary bioactive ingredient in Siraitia grosvenorii fruits that exhibit anti-tussive properties and expectorate phlegm, but they are also responsible for the fruit's sweetness. Increasing the content or proportion of sweet mogrosides in Siraitia grosvenorii fruits is significant for improving their quality and industrial production. Post-ripening is an essential step in the post-harvest processing of Siraitia grosvenorii fruits, but the underlying mechanism and condition of post-ripening on Siraitia grosvenorii quality improvement need to be studied systematically. Therefore, this study analyzed the mogroside metabolism in Siraitia grosvenorii fruits under different post-ripening conditions. We further examined the catalytic activity of glycosyltransferase UGT94-289-3 in vitro. The results showed that the post-ripening process of fruits could catalyze the glycosylation of bitter-tasting mogroside IIE and III to form sweet mogrosides containing four to six glucose units. After ripening at 35 °C for two weeks, the content of mogroside V changed significantly, with a maximum increase of 80%, while the increase in mogroside VI was over twice its initial amount. Furthermore, under the suitable catalytic condition, UGT94-289-3 could efficiently convert the mogrosides with less than three glucose units into structurally diverse sweet mogrosides, i.e., with mogroside III as the substrate, 95% of it can converted into sweet mogrosides. These findings suggest that controlling the temperature and related catalytic conditions may activate UGT94-289-3 and promote the accumulation of sweet mogrosides. This study provides an effective method for improving the quality of Siraitia grosvenorii fruits and the accumulation of sweet mogrosides, as well as a new economical, green, and efficient method for producing sweet mogrosides.

Carbon and water footprint analysis of pig farm buildings in Northeast China using building-information-modeling enabled assessment

Environmental impact evaluation of buildings is critical for further analysis and optimization of pig farms for sustainable pork production. This study is the first attempt to quantify the carbon and water footprints of a standard intensive pig farm building using building information modeling (BIM) and operation simulation model. The model was constructed with carbon emission and water consumption coefficients, and a database was built. The results showed that the operational stage of pig farm accounted for most of the carbon footprint (49.3-84.9 %) and water footprint (65.5-92.5 %). Building materials production ranked second in carbon (12.0-42.5 %) and water footprints (4.4-24.9 %), and pig farm maintenance ranked third in carbon (1.7-5.7 %) and water footprints (0.7-3.6 %). Notably, the mining and production stages of building materials contributed the largest carbon and water footprints of pig farm construction. Masonry materials have a significant impact on the overall carbon and water footprints of the pig farm. Pig farm using aerated concrete could reduce 41.1 % of the total carbon footprint and 58.9 % of the total water footprint compared to that using coal gangue sintered brick and autoclaved fly ash brick. This study presented a BIM-enabled method for carbon and water footprint analysis of pig farms and illustrated how the model can be used to facilitate the low carbon design of agricultural buildings.

NiS Nanosheets Decorated on Hollow Carbon Spheres from Liquefied Wood for Supercapacitors

Carbon-based supercapacitors with high performance have a wide foreground among various energy storage devices. In this work, wood-based hollow carbon spheres (WHCS) were prepared from liquefied wood through the processes of emulsification, curing, carbonization, and activation. Then, the hydrodeposition method was used to introduce nickel sulfide (NiS) to the surface of the microspheres, obtaining NiS/WHCS as the supercapacitor electrode. The results show that NiS/WHCS microspheres exhibited a core-shell structure and flower-like morphology with a specific surface (307.55 m² g^-1) and a large total pore volume (0.14 cm³ g^-1). Also, the capacitance could be up to 1533.6 F g^-1 at a current density of 1 A g^-1. In addition, after 1000 charge/discharge cycles, the specific capacitance remained at 72.8% at the initial current density of 5 A g^-1. Hence, NiS/WHCS with excellent durability and high specific capacitance is a potential candidate for electrode materials.