Unveiling complete natural reductive dechlorination mechanisms of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater: Insights from functional gene analysis

Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) of chlorinated ethenes (CEs) has proven to be a cost-effective and environment-friendly approach for groundwater remediation. In this study, the complete dechlorination of CEs with formation of ethene under natural conditions, were observed at two CE-contaminated sites, including a pesticide manufacturing facility (PMF) and a fluorochemical plant (FCP), particularly in the deeply weathered bedrock aquifer at the FCP site. Additionally, a higher abundance of CE-degrading bacteria was identified with heightened dechlorination activities at the PMF site, compared to the FCP site. The reductive dehalogenase genes and Dhc 16 S rRNA gene were prevalent at both sites, even in groundwater where no CE dechlorination was observed. vcrA and bvcA was responsible for the complete dechlorination at the PMF and FCP site, respectively, indicating the distinct contributions of functional microbial species at each site. The correlation analyses suggested that Sediminibacterium has the potential to achieve the complete dechlorination at the FCP site. Moreover, the profiles of CE-degrading bacteria suggested that dechlorination occurred under Fe3+/sulfate-reducing and nitrate-reducing conditions at the PMF and FCP site, respectively. Overall these findings provided multi-lines of evidence on the diverse mechanisms of CE-dechlorination under natural conditions, which can provide valuable guidance for MNA strategies implementation.

Quantifying isotope parameters associated with carbonyl-water oxygen exchange during sucrose translocation in tree phloem

Stable oxygen isotope ratio of tree-ring α-cellulose (δ18Ocel) yields valuable information on many aspects of tree-climate interactions. However, our current understanding of the mechanistic controls on δ18Ocel is incomplete, with a knowledge gap existent regarding the fractionation effect characterizing carbonyl-water oxygen exchange during sucrose translocation from leaf to phloem. To address this insufficiency, we set up an experimental system integrating a vapor 18O-labeling feature to manipulate leaf-level isotopic signatures in tree saplings enclosed within whole-canopy gas-exchange cuvettes. We applied this experimental system to three different tree species to determine their respective relationships between 18O enrichment of sucrose in leaf lamina (Δ18Ol_suc) and petiole phloem (Δ18Ophl_suc) under environmentally/physiologically stable conditions. Based on the determined Δ18Ophl_suc-Δ18Ol_suc relationships, we estimated that on average, at least 25% of the oxygen atoms in sucrose undergo isotopic exchange with water along the leaf-to-phloem translocation path and that the biochemical fractionation factor accounting for such exchange is c. 34‰, markedly higher than the conventionally assumed value of 27‰. Our study represents a significant step toward quantitative elucidation of the oxygen isotope dynamics during sucrose translocation in trees. This has important implications with respect to improving the δ18Ocel model and its related applications in paleoclimatic and ecophysiological contexts.

Axon-like aligned conductive CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers combined with electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury recovery

Rehabilitation and regenerative medicine are two promising approaches for spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery, but their combination has been limited. Conductive biomaterials could bridge regenerative scaffolds with electrical stimulation by inducing axon regeneration and supporting physiological electrical signal transmission. Here, we developed aligned conductive hydrogel fibers by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into methacrylate acylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel via rotating liquid bath electrospinning. The electrospun CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers mimicked the micro-scale aligned structure, conductivity, and soft mechanical properties of neural axons. For in vitro studies, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers supported PC12 cell proliferation and aligned adhesion, which was enhanced by electrical stimulation (ES). Similarly, the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES promoted neuronal differentiation and axon-like neurite sprouting in neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers were transplanted into a T9 transection rat spinal cord injury model for in vivo studies. The results showed that the incorporating CNTs could remain at the injury site with the GelMA fibers biodegraded and improve the conductivity of regenerative tissue. The aligned structure of the hydrogel could induce the neural fibers regeneration, and the ES enhanced the remyelination and axonal regeneration. Behavioral assessments and electrophysiological results suggest that the combination of aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers and ES could significantly restore motor function in rats. This study demonstrates that conductive aligned CNT/GelMA hydrogel fibers can not only induce neural regeneration as a scaffold but also support ESto promote spinal cord injury recovery. The conductive hydrogel fibers enable merging regenerative medicine and rehabilitation, showing great potential for satisfactory locomotor recovery after SCI.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction: prevalence and aetiology in patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence, aetiology, and corresponding morbidity of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study included 115 patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia who underwent stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. CMD was assessed visually based on the myocardial perfusion results. The CMR-derived myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) and left ventricular (LV) strain parameters obtained using the post-processing software CVI42 were employed to evaluate LV myocardial perfusion and deformation. LV strain parameters included global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain (GLS, GCS, and GRS), global systolic/diastolic longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain rates (SLSR, SCSR, SRSR, DLSR, DCSR, and DRSR).

RESULTS

Of the 115 patients, 12 patients were excluded and 103 patients were finally included in the study. CMD was observed in 79 % (81 patients, aged 53 ± 12 years) of patients. Regarding aetiology, 91 (88 %) patients had non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), eight (8 %) had obstructive CAD, and four (4 %) had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The incidence of CMD was highest (100 %) in patients with HCM, followed by those with non-obstructive CAD (up to 79 %). There were no statistical differences between CMD and non-CMD groups in GCS, GRS, GLS, SRSR, SCSR, SLSR, DCSR, DRSR and DLSR.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of CMD was higher in patients with signs and symptoms of ischaemia. CMD occurred with non-obstructive CAD, obstructive CAD, and HCM, with the highest prevalence of CMD in HCM.

The Versatile Establishment of Charge Storage in Polymer Solid Electrolyte with Enhanced Charge Transfer for LiF-Rich SEI Generation in Lithium Metal Batteries

The solid-state electrolyte interface (SEI) between the solid-state polymer electrolyte and the lithium metal anode dramatically affects the overall battery performance. Increasing the content of lithium fluoride (LiF) in SEI can help the uniform deposition of lithium and inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites, thus improving the cycle stability performance of lithium batteries. Currently, most methods of constructing LiF SEI involve decomposing the lithium salt by the polar groups of the filler. However, there is a lack of research reports on how to affect the SEI layer of Li-ion batteries by increasing the charge transfer number. In this study, a porous organic polymer with "charge storage" properties was prepared and doped into a polymer composite solid electrolyte to study the effect of sufficient charge transfer on the decomposition of lithium salts. The results show in contrast to porphyrins, the unique structure of POF allows for charge transfer between each individual porphyrin. Therefore, during TFSI- decomposition to the formation of LiF, TFSI- can obtain sufficient charge, thereby promoting the break of C-F and forming the LiF-rich SEI. Compared with single porphyrin (0.423 e-), POF provides 2.7 times more charge transfer to LiTFSI (1.147 e-). The experimental results show that Li//Li symmetric batteries equipped with PEO-POF can be operated stably for more than 2700 h at 60 °C. Even the Li//Li (45 μm) symmetric cells are stable for more than 1100 h at 0.1 mA cm-1. In addition, LiFePO4//PEO-POF//Li batteries have excellent cycling performance at 2 C (80 % capacity retention after 750 cycles). Even LiFePO4//PEO-POF//Li (45 μm) cells have excellent cycling performance at 1 C (96 % capacity retention after 300 cycles). Even when the PEO-base is replaced with a PEG-base and a PVDF-base, the performance of the cell is still significantly improved. Therefore, we believe that the concept of charge transfer offers a novel perspective for the preparation of high-performance assemblies.

Impact of aerosol-boundary layer interactions on PM2.5 pollution during cold air pool events in a semi-arid urban basin

Global emission reductions still must address winter fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in urban basins with enclosed terrains and frequent cold air pool (CAP) events when the temperatures within the basin are colder than above it. The effects of urban basin aerosol-boundary layer interactions on PM2.5 pollution during CAP events remain unclear. Intensive boundary layer observations in January 2021 and numerical models were used to investigate this issue in the semi-arid urban Lanzhou Basin of China. The results showed that CAPs formed because of the synoptic weather system that exacerbated the warming over the basin. The CAPs in this experiment were characterized by stronger temperature inversion (TI) layers in the vertical direction and lower relative humidity, lower wind speed, and weaker turbulence at the bottom of the basin compared to other conditions. The strong TI layers below the top of the basin inhibited the vertical dispersion of pollutants in the basin and concentrated the PM2.5 within a height of 0.3 km from the bottom of the basin. During CAP events, the proportion of elemental carbon in PM2.5 increased, whereas that of secondary inorganic species decreased. Aerosol absorption increased faster than scattering during CAP events. Therefore, the mean single scattering albedo decreased from 0.85 during non-CAP periods to 0.81 during CAP events. Radiosonde-sounding observations and numerical simulations indicated that aerosols accumulating in the lower basin heated the atmosphere during the daytime and facilitated boundary layer development via the "stove effect" (absorption aerosol heats lower atmosphere to promote boundary layer development). No significant "dome effect" (absorption aerosol heats the upper boundary layer to suppress boundary layer development) occurred during the two CAP events. These findings provide a theoretical basis for scientifically-guided PM2.5 pollution control in winter in isolated urban basins.

Characterization of a Panel of Constitutive Promoters from Lactococcus cremoris for Fine-Tuning Gene Expression

Lactococcus cremoris (homotypic synonym: Lactococcus lactis) is receiving increasing attention as a prominent vehicle for the delivery of live vaccines. This can hardly be achieved without developing tools for the genetic manipulation of L. cremoris, and the paucity of studies on L. cremoris endogenous promoters has attracted our attention. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of 29 candidate promoters identified from L. cremoris subsp. cremoris NZ9000 by RNA sequencing analysis. Furthermore, 18 possible constitutive promoters were obtained by RT-qPCR screening from these 29 candidate promoters. Then, these 18 promoters were cloned and characterized by a reporter gene, gusA, encoding β-glucuronidase. Eventually, eight endogenous constitutive promoters of L. cremoris were obtained, which can be applied to genetic manipulation of lactic acid bacteria.

Harnessing photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination dynamics under leaf water nonsteady state to estimate mesophyll conductance: a new, regression-based method

Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a crucial plant trait that can significantly limit photosynthesis. Measurement of photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination (Δ18O) has proved to be the only viable means of resolving gm in both C3 and C4 plants. However, the currently available methods to exploit Δ18O for gm estimation are error prone due to their inadequacy in constraining the degree of oxygen isotope exchange (θ) during mesophyll CO2 hydration. Here, we capitalized on experimental manipulation of leaf water isotopic dynamics to establish a novel, nonsteady state, regression-based approach for simultaneous determination of gm and θ from online Δ18O measurements. We demonstrated the methodological and theoretical robustness of this new Δ18O-gm estimation approach and showed through measurements on several C3 and C4 species that this approach can serve as a benchmark method against which to identify previously-unrecognized biases of the existing Δ18O-gm methods. Our results highlight the unique value of this nonsteady state-based approach for contributing to ongoing efforts toward quantitative understanding of mesophyll conductance for crop yield improvement and carbon cycle modeling.

Targeting microbiota-immune-synaptic plasticity to explore the effect of tea polyphenols on improving memory in the aged type 2 diabetic rat model

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to explore whether TP could improve memory in the aged type 2 diabetic rat model by regulating microbiota-immune-synaptic plasticity axis.

METHODS

The experiment was divided into two parts. Firstly, to investigate the effects of TP on the physiopathology of the aged T2DM model rats, rats were randomly divided into the Normal control group, the aged group, the Aged T2DM model group, the TP 75, 150, 300 mg/kg groups, the 150 mg/kg Piracetam group and the 3 mg/kg Rosiglitazone group. Then, to further verify whether TP improved memory in aged T2DM rat model by regulating intestinal flora, the fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the rats in the 300 mg/kg TP group into the rats in the aged T2DM model group was carried out. Effects on gut microbiota, colonic integrity (epithelial tight junction proteins), and endotoxemia (serum LPS) were examined, along with synaptic structure, synaptic plasticity-related structural proteins and inflammation signaling of the hippocampus in our study.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that TP alleviated memory impairments in the aged T2DM rat model. The specific outcomes were as follows: TP 300 mg/kg corrected the gut dysbacteriosis, alleviated intestinal permeability reduction and peripheral/central inflammation, inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, TP improved the synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of the aged T2DM model rats, whose expressions of SYN, PSD 95, NMDAR1 and GluR1 in hippocampus were significantly up-regulated. Surprisingly, rats of the FMT group displayed the same changes.

DISCUSSION

TP improves the memory in aged T2DM rat model. The mechanism may be related to the alteration of gut flora, which can inhibit hippocampal TLR4/NF-κB signaling to attenuate neuroinflammation, then improve synaptic plasticity. The study proposes that TP interventions aimed at manipulating the gut microbiota may hold great potential as an effective approach for preventing and treating this disease.

Mechanisms of benzene and benzo[a]pyrene biodegradation in the individually and mixed contaminated soils

There is a lack of knowledge on the biodegradation mechanisms of benzene and benzo [a]pyrene (BaP), representative compounds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), under individually and mixed contaminated soils. Therefore, a set of microcosm experiments were conducted to explore the influence of benzene and BaP on biodegradation under individual and mixed contaminated condition, and their subsequent influence on native microbial consortium. The results revealed that the total mass loss of benzene was 56.0% under benzene and BaP mixed contamination, which was less than that of individual benzene contamination (78.3%). On the other hand, the mass loss of BaP was slightly boosted to 17.6% under the condition of benzene mixed contamination with BaP from that of individual BaP contamination (14.4%). The significant differences between the microbial and biocide treatments for both benzene and BaP removal demonstrated that microbial degradation played a crucial role in the mass loss for both contaminants. In addition, the microbial analyses revealed that the contamination of benzene played a major role in the fluctuations of microbial compositions under co-contaminated conditions. Rhodococcus, Nocardioides, Gailla, and norank_c_Gitt-GS-136 performed a major role in benzene biodegradation under individual and mixed contaminated conditions while Rhodococcus, Noviherbaspirillum, and Phenylobacterium were highly involved in BaP biodegradation. Moreover, binary benzene and BaP contamination highly reduced the Rhodococcus abundance, indicating the toxic influence of co-contamination on the functional key genus. Enzymatic activities revealed that catalase, lipase, and dehydrogenase activities proliferated while polyphenol oxidase was reduced with contamination compared to the control treatment. These results provided the fundamental information to facilitate the development of more efficient bioremediation strategies, which can be tailored to specific remediation of different contamination scenarios.

"One-Click Restart" Recycling of Metal-Free Perovskite X-Ray Detectors

Halide perovskites have shown great potential in X-ray detection due to outstanding optoelectronic properties. However, finding a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method for handling end-of-life devices has remained challenging. Here, a "One-Click Restart" eco-friendly recycling strategy is introduced for end-of-life perovskite X-ray detectors. This method, utilizing water, allows for the recapture and reuse of both perovskite and conductor materials. The process is straightforward and environmentally friendly, eliminating the need for further chemical treatment, purification, additional additives or catalysts, and complex equipment. A sustainable device cycle is developed by reconstructing flexible perovskite membranes for wearable electronics from recycled materials. Large-scale, flexible membranes made from metal-free perovskite DABCO-N2H5-I3 (DABCO = N-N'-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octonium) achieve remarkably impressive average sensitivity of 6204 ± 268 µC Gyair -1 cm-2 and a low detection limit of 102.3 nGyair s-1, which makes highly effective for X-ray imaging. The sensitivity of recycled flexible devices not only matches that of single-crystal devices made with fresh materials but also ranks as the highest among all metal-free perovskite X-ray detectors. "One-Click Restart" applies to scalable flexible devices derived from aged single-crystal counterparts, offering significant cost, time, and energy savings compared to their single-crystal equivalents. Such advantages significantly boost future market competitiveness.

[Effect of HBV DNA load on the safety and prognosis of systematic therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To study the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on the occurrence of liver damage, HBV reactivation (HBVr) and the influence of HBVr on the prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving systemic therapy. Methods: The clinical data of 403 patients with HBV-related HCC at the Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University et al, from July 2018 to December 2020 were collected. The incidence of liver damage and HBVr during systematic therapy, and the influence of HBVr on survival prognosis were analyzed. Results: Of the 403 patients, 89.1% were male (n=359), with a median age of 51 years (51.5±12.1). Before propensity score matching (PSM), the proportion of patients with cirrhosis, TNM and advanced BCLC stage was higher in high HBV-DNA (baseline HBV-DNA>1000 U/ml, n=147) group comparing with the low HBV-DNA (baseline HBV DNA≤1000 u/ml, n=256) group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in baseline indexes between the two groups after PSM. In 290 patients after PSM, there was no significant difference in the incidence of liver damage and HBVr between high HBV-DNA group and low HBV-DNA group (P>0.05). Survival analysis was performed on 169 patients with survival data, the median overall survival (OS) was found to be 11.49 months (95%CI: 7.77-12.89) and 16.65 months (95%CI: 10.54-21.99, P=0.008) in the high and low HBV-DNA groups, respectively. And median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.41 months (95%CI: 5.06-8.67) and 10.55 months (95%CI: 6.72-13.54, P=0.038), respectively, with a statistically significant difference. There were no differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between patients with and without HBVr and those with or without liver damage (P>0.05). Conclusions: HBV-DNA levels above 1 000 U/ml before systemic therapy do not increase the risk of liver damage or HBVr during systemic therapy in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, and such patients can safely receive systemic therapy.

The BAS chromatin remodeler determines brassinosteroid-induced transcriptional activation and plant growth in Arabidopsis

Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling leads to the nuclear accumulation of the BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) transcription factor, which plays dual roles in activating or repressing the expression of thousands of genes. BZR1 represses gene expression by recruiting histone deacetylases, but how it activates transcription of BR-induced genes remains unclear. Here, we show that BR reshapes the genome-wide chromatin accessibility landscape, increasing the accessibility of BR-induced genes and reducing the accessibility of BR-repressed genes in Arabidopsis. BZR1 physically interacts with the BRAHMA-associated SWI/SNF (BAS)-chromatin-remodeling complex on the genome and selectively recruits the BAS complex to BR-activated genes. Depletion of BAS abrogates the capacities of BZR1 to increase chromatin accessibility, activate gene expression, and promote cell elongation without affecting BZR1's ability to reduce chromatin accessibility and expression of BR-repressed genes. Together, these data identify that BZR1 recruits the BAS complex to open chromatin and to mediate BR-induced transcriptional activation of growth-promoting genes.

Novel insights into TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms: optimizing adoptive immunotherapy

Adoptive immunotherapy in the T cell landscape exhibits efficacy in cancer treatment. Over the past few decades, genetically modified T cells, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have enabled remarkable strides in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Besides, extensive exploration of multiple antigens for the treatment of solid tumors has led to clinical interest in the potential of T cells expressing the engineered T cell receptor (TCR). TCR-T cells possess the capacity to recognize intracellular antigen families and maintain the intrinsic properties of TCRs in terms of affinity to target epitopes and signal transduction. Recent research has provided critical insight into their capability and therapeutic targets for multiple refractory solid tumors, but also exposes some challenges for durable efficacy. In this review, we describe the screening and identification of available tumor antigens, and the acquisition and optimization of TCRs for TCR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the complete flow from  laboratory to clinical applications of TCR-T cells. Last, we emerge future prospects for improving therapeutic efficacy in cancer world with combination therapies or TCR-T derived products. In conclusion, this review depicts our current understanding of TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms, and provides new perspectives for expanding its clinical applications and improving therapeutic efficacy.

Antiviral effect of palmatine against infectious bronchitis virus through regulation of NF-κB/IRF7/JAK-STAT signalling pathway and apoptosis

1. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a gamma-coronavirus, can infect chickens of all ages and leads to an acute contact respiratory infection. This study evaluated the anti-viral activity of palmatine, a natural non-flavonoid alkaloid, against IBV in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells.2. The half toxic concentration (CC50) of palmatine was 672.92 μM, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of palmatine against IBV was 7.76 μM and the selection index (SI) was 86.74.3. Mode of action assay showed that palmatine was able to directly inactivate IBV and inhibited the adsorption, penetration and intracellular replication of IBV.4. Palmatine significantly upregulated TRAF6, TAB1 and IKK-β compared with the IBV-infected group, leading to the increased expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in the downstream NF-κB signalling pathway.5. Palmatine significantly up-regulated the levels of MDA5, MAVS, IRF7, IFN-α and IFN-β in the IRF7 pathway, inducing type I interferon production. It up-regulated the expression of 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthase (OAS) in the JAK-STAT pathway.6. IBV infection induced cell apoptosis and palmatine-treatment delayed the process of apoptosis by regulation of the expression of apoptosis-related genes (BAX, BCL-2, CASPASE-3 and CASPASE-8).7. Palmatine could exert anti-IBV activity through regulation of NF-κB/IRF7/JAK-STAT signalling pathways and apoptosis, providing a theoretical basis for the utilisation of palmatine to treat IBV infection.

Unveiling the inhibitory mechanisms of chromium exposure on microbial reductive dechlorination: Kinetics and microbial responses

Chromium and organochlorine solvents, particularly trichloroethene (TCE), are pervasive co-existing contaminants in subsurface aquifers due to their extensive industrial use and improper disposal practices. In this study, we investigated the microbial dechlorination kinetics under different TCE-Cr(Ⅲ/VI) composite pollution conditions and elucidated microbial response mechanisms based on community shift patterns and metagenomic analysis. Our results revealed that the reductive dechlorinating consortium had high resistance to Cr(III) but extreme sensitivity to Cr(VI) disturbance, resulting in a persistent inhibitory effect on subsequent dechlorination. Interestingly, the vinyl chloride-respiring organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) was notably more susceptible to Cr(III/VI) exposure than the trichloroethene-respiring one, possibly due to inferior competition for growth substrates, such as electron donors. In terms of synergistic non-OHRB populations, Cr(III/VI) exposure had limited impacts on lactate fermentation but significantly interfered with H2-producing acetogenesis, leading to inhibited microbial dechlorination due to electron donor deficiencies. However, this inhibition can be effectively mitigated by the amendment of exogenous H2 supply. Furthermore, being the predominant OHRB, Dehalococcoides have inherent Cr(VI) resistance defects and collaborate with synergistic non-OHRB populations to achieve concurrent bio-detoxication of Cr(VI) and TCE. Our findings expand the understanding of the response patterns of different functional populations towards Cr(III/VI) stress, and provide valuable insights for the development of in situ bioremediation strategies for sites co-contaminated with chloroethene and chromium.

Structural/surface characterization of transition metal element-doped H-ZSM-5 adsorbent for CH3SH removal: identification of active adsorption sites and deactivation mechanism

CH3SH is a potential hazard to both chemical production and human health, so controlling its emissions is an urgent priority. In this work, a series of transition metal-loaded H-ZSM-5 adsorbents (Si/Al = 25) (Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn) were synthesized through the wet impregnation method and tested for CH3SH physicochemical adsorption at 60 °C. It was shown that the Cu-modified H-ZSM-5 adsorbent was much more active for CH3SH removal due to its abundant strong acid sites than other transition metal-modified H-ZSM-5 adsorbents. The detailed physicochemical properties of various modified H-ZSM-5 adsorbents were characterized by SEM, XRD, N2 physisorption, XPS, H2-TPR, and NH3-TPD. The effects of metal loading mass ratio, calcination temperature, and acid or alkali modification on the performance of the adsorbent were also investigated, and finally 20% Cu/ZSM-5 was found to have the best adsorption capacity after calcined at 350 °C. Additionally, the Cu/ZSM-5 adsorbent modified by sodium bicarbonate could expose more active components, which improved the adsorbent's stability. However, the consumption and reduction of the active component Cu2+ and the accumulation of sulfate during the adsorption process are the main reasons for the deactivation of the adsorbent. In addition, the simultaneous purging of N2 + O2 can effectively restore the adsorption capacity of the deactivated adsorbent and can be used as a potential strategy to regenerate the adsorbent.

Investigating the Role of β-Disodium Glycerophosphate and Urea in Promoting Growth of Streptococcus thermophilus from Omics-Integrated Genome-Scale Models

This study investigates the impact of urea and β-GP on the growth of Streptococcus thermophilus S-3, a bacterium commonly used in industrial fermentation processes. Through a series of growth experiments, transcriptome, metabolome, and omics-based analyses, the research demonstrates that both urea and β-GP can enhance the biomass of S. thermophilus, with urea showing a more significant effect. The optimal urea concentration for growth was determined to be 3 g/L in M17 medium. The study also highlights the metabolic pathways influenced by urea and β-GP, particularly the galactose metabolism pathway, which is crucial for cell growth when lactose is the substrate. The integration of omics data into the genome-scale metabolic model of S. thermophilus, iCH502, allowed for a more accurate prediction of metabolic fluxes and growth rates. The study concludes that urea can serve as a viable substitute for β-GP in the cultivation of S. thermophilus, offering potential cost and efficiency benefits in industrial fermentation processes. The findings are supported by validation experiments with 11 additional strains of S. thermophilus, which showed increased biomass in UM17 medium.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Glasses of Atomically Precise Nanoclusters

Organic-inorganic atomically precise nanoclusters provide indispensable building blocks for establishing structure-property links in hybrid condensed matter. However, robust glasses of ligand-protected nanocluster solids have yet to be demonstrated. Herein, we show [Cu4I4(PR3)4] cubane nanoclusters coordinated by phosphine ligands (PR3) form robust melt-quenched glasses in air with reversible crystal-liquid-glass transitions. Protective phosphine ligands critically influence the glass formation mechanism, modulating the glasses' physical properties. A hybrid glass utilizing ethyldiphenylphosphine-based nanoclusters, [Cu4I4(PPh2Et)4], exhibits superb optical properties, including >90% transmission in both visible and near-infrared wavelengths, negligible self-absorption, near-unity quantum yield, and high light yield. Experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate the structural integrity of the [Cu4I4(PPh2Et)4] nanocluster, i.e., iodine-bridged tetranuclear cubane, has been fully preserved in the glass state. The strong internanocluster CH-π interactions found in the [Cu4I4(PPh2Et)4] glass and subsequently reduced structural vibration account for its enhanced luminescence properties. Moreover, this highly transparent glass enables performant X-ray imaging and low-loss waveguiding in fibers drawn above the glass transition. The discovery of "nanocluster glass" opens avenues for unraveling glass formation mechanisms and designing novel luminescent glasses of well-defined building blocks for advanced photonics.

Metabolites, flavor profiles and ripening characteristics of Monascus-ripened cheese enhanced by Ligilactobacillus salivarius AR809 as adjunct culture

Adjunct cultures strongly determined the distinguishing sensorial and nutritional characteristics of cheeses. Metabolites, flavor profiles and ripening characteristics of Monascus-ripened cheese enhanced by the co-fermentation of Ligilactobacillus salivarius AR809 were investigated. The AR809 significantly increased the contents of soluble nitrogen, small peptides (<1200 Da), free amino acids, and casein degradation degree in the resulting cheese. Furthermore, AR809 significantly promoted the formation of methyl ketones during cheese maturation. Based on untargeted metabolomics analysis, metabolites related to fatty acids metabolism and lysine degradation were highly enriched in Monascus-rich region of cheese. AR809 was primarily engaged in amino acid metabolism, promoting the synthesis of amino acids and dipeptide. L. salivarius and Monascus co-fermentation produced more beneficial bioactive metabolites involved in amino acids and lipid metabolisms than Monascus used alone in cheese ripening. Therefore, as adjunct culture, L. salivarius AR809 exhibited tremendous potential in improving nutrition and flavor quality during cheese ripening.

The salt-tolerance of perennial ryegrass is linked with root exudate profiles and microflora recruitment

Salinity poses a significant threat to plant growth and development. The root microbiota plays a key role in plant adaptation to saline environments. Nevertheless, it remains poorly understood whether and how perennial grass plants accumulate specific root-derived bacteria when exposed to salinity. Here, we systematically analyzed the composition and variation of rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria, as well as root exudates in perennial ryegrass differing in salt tolerance grown in unsterilized soils with and without salt. Both salt-sensitive (P1) and salt-tolerant (P2) perennial ryegrass genotypes grew better in unsterilized soils compared to sterilized soils under salt stress. The rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria of both P1 and P2 had lower alpha-diversity under salt treatment compared to control. The reduction of alpha-diversity was more pronounced for P1 than for P2. The specific root-derived bacteria, particularly the genus Pseudomonas, were enriched in rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria under salt stress. Changes in bacterial functionality induced by salt stress differed in P1 and P2. Additionally, more root exudates were altered under salt stress in P2 than in P1. The content of important root exudates, mainly including phenylpropanoids, benzenoids, organic acids, had a significantly positive correlation with the abundance of rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria under salt stress. The results indicate that the interactions between root-derived bacteria and root exudates are crucial for the salt tolerance of perennial ryegrass, which provides a potential strategy to manipulate root microbiome for improved stress tolerance of perennial grass species.

Microbial defluorination of TFA, PFOA, and HFPO-DA by a native microbial consortium under anoxic conditions

In this study, the biodegradability of trifluoroacetate (TFA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (HFPO-DA) by a native microbial community was evaluated over a 10-month incubation period. The observed microbial defluorination ratios and removal efficiency were 3.46 ( ± 2.73) % and 8.03 ( ± 3.03) %, 8.44 ( ± 1.88) % and 13.52 ( ± 4.96) %, 3.02 ( ± 0.62) % and 5.45 ( ± 2.99) % for TFA, PFOA and HFPO-DA, respectively. The biodegradation intermediate products, TFA and pentafluoropropionic acid (PFA), of PFOA and HFPO-DA were detected in their biodegradation treatment groups. Furthermore, the concentrations of the PFOA metabolites, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), in the aqueous solutions after incubation were quantified to be 0.21 and 4.14 µg/L. TFA, PFOA and HFPO-DA significantly reduced the microbial diversity and changed the structure of the community. The co-occurrence network analysis showed that low abundance species, such as Flexilinea flocculi, Bacteriovorax stolpii, and g_Sphingomonas, are positively correlated with the generation of fluoride ion, implying their potential collaborative functions contributing to the observed biodefluorination. The findings in this study can provide insights for the biodegradation of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and their emerging alternatives by indigenous microorganisms in the environment.

Enhanced absorption of SO2 from phosphogypsum decomposition by phosphate slurry for phosphoric acid production

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a major industrial by-product of wet process phosphoric acid production, and untreated PG stockpiled on land will cause severe environmental pollution. Thermal treatment of PG is currently the mainstream treatment method PG can be thermally decomposed to produce CaO, and the decomposition process produces large amounts of SO2. In this paper, phosphate slurry was used to absorb SO2 generated during the PG decomposition to produce phosphoric acid. The effects of operating conditions such as pressure, inlet SO2 concentration, and additive content on the desulfurization efficiency, as well as phosphoric acid yield, were investigated. Under the optimal experimental parameters, the desulfurization efficiency was 100% in the first 3 h, and decreased to 67.42% after 5 h, the maximum phosphate concentration in the solution was 1445.92 mg/L. The Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that SO2 and O2 adsorbed on the surface of P2O5 underwent to generate SO3, which can react with H2O to produce H2SO4. Moreover, it was found that Fe3+ could enhance the catalytic oxidation process of SO2 and O2 by decreasing the reaction energy barrier. This study should be helpful for the recycling of phosphorus resources.

[The cutoff value of small airway dysfunction in children with bronchial asthma]

Objective: To explore the cutoff value for assessing small airway dysfunction in children with asthma. Methods: A total of 364 asthmatic children aged 5 to 14 years, with normal ventilatory function, followed up at the Asthma Clinic of the Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2017 to January 2018, were selected as the case group. Concurrently, 403 healthy children of the same age range and without any symptoms in the community were chosen as the control group, and pulmonary function tests were conducted. The values of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (FEF50), forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC (FEF75) and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) were compared between case group and control group. Statistical tests such as t-test, χ2 test, or Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the differences between the groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and the maximum Youden Index was utilized to determine the optimal cutoff values and thresholds for identifying small airway dysfunction in asthmatic children. Results: This study comprised 364 children in the case group (220 boys and 144 girls) and 403 children in the control group (198 boys and 205 girls). The small airway parameters (FEF50%pred, FEF75%pred, MMEF%pred) in the asthmatic group were significantly lower than in the control group (77% (69%, 91%) vs. 95% (83%, 109%), 67% (54%, 82%) vs. 84% (70%, 102%), 76% (66%, 90%) vs. 97% (86%, 113%), Z=12.03, 11.35, 13.66, all P<0.001). The ROC curve area under the curve for FEF50%pred, FEF75%pred, MMEF%pred was 0.75, 0.74, and 0.79, respectively. Using a cutoff value of 80% for FEF50%pred achieved a sensitivity of 56.9% and specificity of 81.4%. A cutoff value of 74% for FEF75%pred resulted in a sensitivity of 67.3% and specificity of 69.2%. Finally, using a cutoff value of 84% for MMEF%pred achieved a sensitivity of 67.9% and specificity of 77.2%. Conclusion: In the presence of normal ventilatory function, utilizing FEF50<80% predicted or MMEF<84% predicted can accurately serve as criteria for identifying small airway dysfunction in children with controlled asthma.

Targeting ERS-mitophagy in hippocampal neurons to explore the improvement of memory by tea polyphenols in aged type 2 diabetic rats

Increasing evidence demonstrated that mitophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) was closely associated with memory decline in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tea polyphenols (TP), an excellent natural antioxidant, has been reported to have neuroprotective properties in aging and diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This study targets ERS-mitophagy in hippocampal neurons to investigate the improvement effect of memory in aged T2DM rats by TP. Rats were randomly divided into the control group, the aged group, the aged T2DM model group, the TP 75, 150, 300 mg/kg groups. TP 300 mg/kg ameliorated mitophagy by decreasing the levels of p-mTOR (S2448), P62 and HSP60 and increasing the levels of PINK1 and Parkin, the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ, co-localization of LC3 and HSP60 and the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. TP 300 mg/kg attenuated ERS by downregulating the levels of p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, GRP78 and restoring the ER structure. To further verify epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is the main active component of TP, enhanced mitophagy by inhibiting ERS, PC12 cells were pretreated with ERS activator tunicamycin (TM) or ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA). The results showed that the improvement of mitophagy by EGCG was inhibited by TM and promoted by 4-PBA. Collectively, ERS-mitophagy in hippocampal neurons plays a key role in the improvement of memory by TP in aged T2DM rats. This study will provide a new perspective and strategy for the prevention of memory decline in elderly with T2DM.

A modified sling mid-urethral suspension + subcutaneous tunnel-double point fixation technique for male stress urinary incontinence: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a modified sling mid-urethral suspension + subcutaneous tunnel-double point fixation technique for the treatment of male urinary incontinence and to preliminarily evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of this technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical data of patients treated with the modified sling mid-urethral suspension + subcutaneous tunnel-double point fixation technique using a Pelvimesh pelvic floor repair patch as a sling were collected. The primary evaluation criteria were surgery-related indicators and daily urinal pad usage before and after treatment, and the secondary evaluation criteria were the corresponding incontinence scores and the results of surgery-related questionnaires.

RESULTS

After 1-12 months of follow-up, seven patients were clinically cured. Follow-up 1 month after surgery showed that one patient (14.3%) used one pad daily, and six patients (85.7%) did not need pads. The incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL) scores at 3 days and 1 month postoperatively were 89.4 ± 2.5 and 88.1 ± 6.7, respectively, which were significantly higher than the preoperative scores (31.5 ± 18.9) (P < 0.05). The scores of the International Continence Control Association Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF) at 3 days and 1 month postoperatively were 3.2 ± 0.9 and 4.2 ± 1.7, respectively, which were significantly lower than the preoperative scores of 19.4 ± 5.0 (P < 0.05). In addition, the results of the surgery-related questionnaires were positive. No serious complications occurred in any of the patients.

CONCLUSION

The modified sling mid-urethral suspension + subcutaneous tunnel-double point fixation technique for the treatment of male urinary incontinence patients is safe, effective, minimally invasive, and has few complications. However, further validation in large sample, randomized, comparative, and longer-term follow-up studies is still needed.

Novel metabolic biomarker for early detection and diagnosis to the patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) is classified as Siewert type II adenocarcinoma at the esophagogastric junction in Western countries. The majority of GCA patients do not exhibit early warning symptoms, leading to over 90% of diagnoses at an advanced stage, resulting in a grim prognosis, with less than a 20% 5-year survival rate.

METHOD

Metabolic features of 276 GCA and 588 healthy controls were characterized through a widely-targeted metabolomics by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. This study encompasses a joint pathway analysis utilizing identified metabolites, survival analysis in both early and advanced stages, as well as high and negative and low expression of HER2 immunohistochemistry staining. Machine learning techniques and Cox regression models were employed to construct a diagnostic panel.

RESULTS

A total of 25 differential metabolites were consistently identified in both discovery and validation sets based on criteria of p < 0.05, (VIP) ≥ 1, and FC ≥ 2 or FC ≤ 0.5. Early-stage GCA patients exhibited a more favorable prognosis compared to those in advanced stages. HER2 overexpression was associated with a more positive outcome compared to the negative and low expression groups. Metabolite panel demonstrated a robust diagnostic performance with AUC of 0.869 in discovery set and 0.900 in validation set.

CONCLUSIONS

A total of 25 common and stable differential metabolites may hold promise as liquid non-invasive indicators for GCA diagnosis. HER2 may function as a tumor suppressor gene in GCA, as its overexpression is associated with improved survival. The downregulation of bile acid metabolism in GCA may offer valuable theoretical insights and innovative approaches for precision-targeted treatments in GCA patients.

Effect of plasma exosome lncRNA on isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Isoprenaline hydrochloride (IH) is a β-adrenergic receptor agonist commonly used in the treatment of hypotension, shock, asthma, and other diseases. However, IH-induced cardiotoxicity limits its application. A large number of studies have shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulates the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether abnormal lncRNA expression is involved in IH-mediated cardiotoxicity. First, the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat myocardial injury model was established. Circulating exosomes were extracted from the plasma of rats and identified. In total, 108 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 150 DE mRNAs were identified by sequencing. These results indicate that these lncRNAs and mRNAs are substantially involved in chemical cardiotoxicity. Further signaling pathway and functional studies indicated that lncRNAs and mRNAs regulate several biological processes, such as selective mRNA splicing through spliceosomes, participate in sphingolipid metabolic pathways, and play a certain role in the circulatory system. Finally, we obtained 3 upregulated lncRNAs through reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) verification and selected target lncRNA-mRNA pairs according to the regulatory relationship of lncRNA/mRNA, some of which were associated with myocardial injury. This study provides valuable insights into the role of lncRNAs as novel biomarkers of chemical-induced cardiotoxicity.

Study on the production of Sophorolipid by Starmerella bombicola yeast using fried waste oil fermentation

Sophorolipids (SLs) are surface active compounds that have excellent surface-lowering properties. SLs were produced by Starmerella bombicola (CGMCC1576) yeast with sunflower seed oil, fried waste oil, cooked tung oil and raw tung oil used as hydrophobic carbon sources. The results showed that the strain could use sunflower seed oil and fried waste oil as hydrophobic carbon sources to produce SLs, and the yields were 44.52 and 39.09 gl-1. It could not be used as cooked tung oil and raw tung oil. The analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) showed that the main composition and structure of SLs produced by fermentation using fried waste oil were similar to that of sunflower seed oil as hydrophobic carbon source. The yield of SLs was the highest when the fried waste oil was used as hydrophobic carbon source, glucose (8%), waste oil (6%) and yeast (0.3%). When fried waste oil was used as a hydrophobic carbon source in a parallel 4-strand fermentation tank (FT), the combination with the largest yield and the most cost saving was that 3% of fried waste oil was added into the initial medium, and another 3% was again added after 72 h of fermentation. The total yield of SLs was 121.28 gl-1, and the yield of lactone SLs was 48.07 gl-1.

The impact of HIV self-testing on risk behaviors among men who have sex with men: a mixed-methods study

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a high prevalence of HIV and a low rate of HIV testing in China. HIV self-testing (HIVST) presents a viable strategy for expanding HIV testing among MSM. However, the impact of HIVST on risk behaviors among MSM remains controversial. Our study sought to ascertain this impact.

Methods

From April 2021 to January 2022, a mixed-methods study was conducted in Qingdao City, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative component entailed a cohort study among MSM who had used HIVST. Generalized estimating equations fitting Poisson regressions were used to analyze the changes in risk behaviors of MSM in short time after HIVST (ST-HIVST) and longer time after HIVST (LT-HIVST) compared to before HIVST. Subsequently, we conducted in-depth interviews with 18 MSM who completed the follow-up to delve deeper into the impact of HIVST on MSM.

Results

A total of 410 MSM were recruited in the cohort, of whom 83 were lost to follow-up. Compared to before HIVST, there were no significant changes in risk behaviors in ST-HIVST (p > 0.05), while the proportion of recreational drugs abuse (20.7% vs. 33.3%), commercial sex (14.6% vs. 22.9%), and unprotected anal sex (95.9% vs. 98.5%) increased significantly in LT-HIVST (p < 0.05). Specific changes varied across demographic characteristics. According to qualitative interviews, MSM might have decreased risk perception and increased risk behaviors after HIVST.

Conclusion

The use of HIVST may promote MSM to engage in risk behaviors. In the future, customized HIVST promotion programs need to be developed to expand HIV testing among MSM and simultaneously control their risk behaviors.

Pharmacokinetic Study of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles HY-088 in Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

HY-088 injection is an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (USPIOs) composed of iron oxide crystals coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) on the surface. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and mass balance of HY-088 injection.

METHODS

The pharmacokinetics of [55Fe]-HY-088 and [14C]-HY-088 were investigated in 48 SD rats by intravenous injection of 8.5 (low-dose group), 25.5 (medium-dose group), and 85 (high-dose group) mg/100 μCi/kg. Tissue distribution was studied by intravenous injection of 35 mg/100 μCi/kg in 48 SD rats, and its tissue distribution in vivo was obtained by ex vivo tissue assay. At the same time, [14C]-HY-088 was injected intravenously at a dose of 25.5 mg/100 μCi/kg into 16 SD rats, and its tissue distribution in vivo was studied by quantitative whole-body autoradiography. [14C]-HY-088 and [55Fe]-HY-088 were injected intravenously into 24 SD rats at a dose of 35 mg/100 μCi/kg, and their metabolism was observed.

RESULTS

In the pharmacokinetic study, [55Fe]-HY-088 reached the maximum observed concentration (Cmax) at 0.08 h in the low- and medium-dose groups of SD rats. [14C]-HY-088 reached Cmax at 0.08 h in the three groups of SD rats. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of [55Fe]-HY-088 and [14C]-HY-088 increased with increasing dose. In the tissue distribution study, [55Fe]-HY-088 and [14C]-HY-088 were primarily distributed in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes of both female and male rats. In the mass balance study conducted over 57 days, the radioactive content of 55Fe from [55Fe]-HY-088 was primarily found in the carcass, accounting for 86.42 ± 4.18% in females and 95.46 ± 6.42% in males. The radioactive recovery rates of [14C]-HY-088 in the urine of female and male rats were 52.99 ± 5.48% and 60.66 ± 2.23%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Following single intravenous administration of [55Fe]-HY-088 and [14C]-HY-088 in SD rats, rapid absorption was observed. Both [55Fe]-HY-088 and [14C]-HY-088 were primarily distributed in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. During metabolism, the radioactivity of [55Fe]-HY-088 is mainly present in the carcass, whereas the 14C-labeled [14C]-HY-088 shell PAA is eliminated from the body mainly through the urine.

Effects of short and long-term thermal exposure on microbial compositions in soils contaminated with mixed benzene and benzo[a]pyrene: A short communication

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are the most persistent and toxic organic contaminants often found co-contaminated in anthropogenic and petrochemical industrial sites. Therefore, an experiment was performed for the safe biodegradation of benzene and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) through thermally-enhanced biodegradation, and to explore the influence of elevated thermal treatments on microbial diversity and composition. The results revealed that elevated thermal treatments (15 to 45 °C) significantly enhanced the diversity of both bacteria and fungi. The composition analysis revealed that short-term and long-term elevated temperature conditions can directly enhance the specificity of microorganisms that play a crucial role in the biodegradation of benzene and BaP co-contaminated soil. Moreover, the indirect role of elevated temperature conditions on microbial compositions was through the fluctuations of soil properties, especially soil pH, moisture, TOC, potassium, phosphorous, total Fe, Fe(II), and Fe(III). In addition, the correlation analyses revealed that thermal exposure enhances the synergistic association (fungal-fungal, fungal-bacterial, bacterial-bacterial) of microbes to degrade the toxic contaminants and to cope with harsh environmental conditions. These results concluded that the biodegradation of benzene and BaP co-contamination was efficiently enhanced under the thermally-enhanced biodegradation approach and the elevation of temperature can affect the microbial compositions directly via microbial specificity or indirectly by influencing the soil properties.

Efficacy and safety of intrathecal pemetrexed for TKI-failed leptomeningeal metastases from EGFR+ NSCLC: an expanded, single-arm, phase II clinical trial

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal pemetrexed (IP) for treating patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM) from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progressed from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in an expanded, prospective, single-arm, phase II clinical study (ChiCTR1800016615).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with confirmed NSCLC-LM who progressed from TKI received IP (50 mg, day 1/day 5 for 1 week, then every 3 weeks for four cycles, and then once monthly) until disease progression or intolerance. Objectives were to assess overall survival (OS), response rate, and safety. Measurable lesions were assessed by investigator according to RECIST version 1.1. LM were assessed according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria.

RESULTS

The study included 132 patients; 68% were female and median age was 52 years (31-74 years). The median OS was 12 months (95% confidence interval 10.4-13.6 months), RANO-assessed response rate was 80.3% (106/132), and the most common adverse event was myelosuppression (n = 42; 31.8%), which reversed after symptomatic treatment. The results of subgroup analysis showed that absence of brain parenchymal metastasis, good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, good response to IP treatment, negative cytology after treatment, and patients without neck/back pain/difficult defecation had longer survival. Gender, age, previous intrathecal methotrexate/cytarabine, and whole-brain radiotherapy had no significant influence on OS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study further showed that IP is an effective and safe treatment method for the EGFR-TKI-failed NSCLC-LM, and should be recommended for these patients in clinical practice and guidelines.

High-Efficiency Circularly Polarized Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Chiral Metal Nanoclusters

Circularly polarized light-emitting diodes (CP-LEDs) are critical for next-generation optical technologies, ranging from holography to quantum information processing. Currently deployed chiral luminescent materials, with their intricate synthesis and processing and limited efficiency, are the main bottleneck for CP-LEDs. Chiral metal nanoclusters (MNCs) are potential CP-LED materials, given their ease of synthesis and processability as well as diverse structures and excited states. However, their films are usually plagued by inferior electronic quality and aggregation-caused photoluminescence quenching, necessitating their incorporation into host materials; without such a scheme, MNC-based LEDs exhibit external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) < 10%. Herein, we achieve an efficiency leap for both CP-LEDs and cluster-based LEDs by using novel chiral MNCs with aggregation-induced emission enhancement. CP-LEDs using enantiopure MNC films attain EQEs of up to 23.5%. Furthermore, by incorporating host materials, the devices yield record EQEs of up to 36.5% for both CP-LEDs and cluster-based LEDs, along with electroluminescence dissymmetry factors (|gEL|) of around 1.0 × 10-3. These findings open a new avenue for advancing chiral light sources for next-generation optoelectronics.

GNSS Spoofing Detection via the Intersection Angle between Two Directions of Arrival in a Single Rotating Antenna

Spoofing against the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is an attack with strong concealment, posing a significant threat to the security of the GNSS. Many strategies have been developed to prevent such attacks, but current detection methods based on signal direction for multi-agent spoofing require multiple antennas/receivers, leading to increased cost and complexity in implementation. Additionally, methods utilizing a moving single antenna cannot effectively detect multi-agent spoofing. Therefore, we introduce a novel spoofing-detection technique based on the intersection angle between two directions of arrival (IA-DOA) using a single rotating antenna. The essence of this approach lies in estimating the IA-DOA between a pair of signals by utilizing the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) and carrier phase single difference (CPSD) of the received signal. The estimation of IA-DOA should be consistent with the prediction when there is no spoofing. With spoofing, it is difficult to accurately simulate the directionality of navigation signals, which can disrupt the consistency between the estimation and prediction of IA-DOA. Therefore, estimations and predictions of IA-DOA can be used to establish detection variables through generalized likelihood ratio testing (GLRT) to detect multi-agent spoofing. We conducted a simulation to analyze the impact of the antenna's parameters on the detection performance and evaluated it through on-site experiments. The results indicate that the method proposed in this article can efficiently achieve real-time detection of multi-agent spoofing.

A phase 1/2 clinical trial of invariant natural killer T cell therapy in moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, a unique T cell population, lend themselves for use as adoptive therapy due to diverse roles in orchestrating immune responses. Originally developed for use in cancer, agenT-797 is a donor-unrestricted allogeneic ex vivo expanded iNKT cell therapy. We conducted an open-label study in virally induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 virus (trial registration NCT04582201). Here we show that agenT-797 rescues exhausted T cells and rapidly activates both innate and adaptive immunity. In 21 ventilated patients including 5 individuals receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), there are no dose-limiting toxicities. We observe an anti-inflammatory systemic cytokine response and infused iNKT cells are persistent during follow-up, inducing only transient donor-specific antibodies. Clinical signals of associated survival and prevention of secondary infections are evident. Cellular therapy using off-the-shelf iNKT cells is safe, can be rapidly scaled and is associated with an anti-inflammatory response. The safety and therapeutic potential of iNKT cells across diseases including infections and cancer, warrants randomized-controlled trials.

Cumulative expression of heterologous XlnR regulatory modules and AraRA731V in Penicillium oxalicum enhances saccharification efficiency of corn stover and corn fiber

Penicillium oxalicum engineered strain DB2 and its mutant strains with multiple regulatory modules were constructed. Mutant strain RE-4-2 with two regulatory modules showed a significant increase in the reducing sugar released from corn stover and corn fiber as well as in the conversion of cellulose than DB2. RE-5-2 with three regulatory modules showed a further increase in reducing sugar released from corn stover and the conversion of cellulose on the basis of RE-4-2. RE-4-2-AraRA731V constructed by overexpressing AraRA731V in RE-4-2 showed an increase of 7.2 times and 1.2 times in arabinofuranosidase and xylosidase activities, respectively. Reducing sugar yield and cellulose conversion of corn stover and corn fiber by RE-4-2-AraRA731V were further increased.

The Simons Observatory: Cryogenic half wave plate rotation mechanism for the small aperture telescopes

We present the requirements, design, and evaluation of the cryogenic continuously rotating half-wave plate (CHWP) for the Simons Observatory (SO). SO is a cosmic microwave background polarization experiment at Parque Astronómico de Atacama in northern Chile that covers a wide range of angular scales using both small (⌀0.42 m) and large (⌀6 m) aperture telescopes. In particular, the small aperture telescopes (SATs) focus on large angular scales for primordial B-mode polarization. To this end, the SATs employ a CHWP to modulate the polarization of the incident light at 8 Hz, suppressing atmospheric 1/f noise and mitigating systematic uncertainties that would otherwise arise due to the differential response of detectors sensitive to orthogonal polarizations. The CHWP consists of a 505 mm diameter achromatic sapphire HWP and a cryogenic rotation mechanism, both of which are cooled down to ∼50 K to reduce detector thermal loading. Under normal operation, the HWP is suspended by a superconducting magnetic bearing and rotates with a constant 2 Hz frequency, controlled by an electromagnetic synchronous motor. We find that the number of superconductors and the number of magnets that make up the superconducting magnetic bearing are important design parameters, especially for the rotation mechanism's vibration performance. The rotation angle is detected through an angular encoder with a noise level of 0.07 μrad s. During a cooldown process, the rotor is held in place by a grip-and-release mechanism that serves as both an alignment device and a thermal path. In this paper, we provide an overview of the SO SAT CHWP: its requirements, hardware design, and laboratory performance.

Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation predicts outcome of percutaneous intervention for chronic total occlusion

AIM

To investigate the association between pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation (PCATA) and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to establish a clinical model that can be easily generalised to predict the outcomes of PCI-CTO.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between September 2015 and September 2019, patients from two centres were enrolled retrospectively. The primary endpoint was a procedural success (defined as achieving residual stenosis of <30% and a grade 3 thrombolysis in myocardial infarction [TIMI] flow). The new predictive model was generated by factors that were determined by multivariate analysis. The PCATA of CTO (PCATA-CTO) score was developed by assigning 1 point for each independent predictor, and then summing all points accrued. In addition, the predictive efficacy and interobserver and intraobserver agreement of PCATA-CTO and other scoring systems based on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 201 patients (mean age 58.9 ± 10.8 years, 85% male) were enrolled. The PCI success was achieved in 76% of the lesions. PCAT was higher in the PCI success group (-72.44 ± 10.45HU versus -76.76 ± 10.54 HU, p<0.05). Multivariable analysis yielded severe calcification, lesion length ≥15 mm, and perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) ≤-69.5HU as independent negative predictors for procedural success. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the PCATA-CTO score was 0.72. Comparing the PCATA-CTO score with other predictive scores, the PCATA-CTO score showed the highest interobserver (kappa = 0.74) and intraobserver agreement (kappa = 0.90, all p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

FAI ≤-69.5HU is an independent negative predictor of procedural success. The PCATA-CTO score improved the reliability of the prediction model. Its potential for clinical implementation requires evaluation.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus genotype 4 of probable human origin in Tibetan pigs from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. In 2018-2022, we investigated the presence of HEV RNA in 1233 stool samples collected in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, including humans (16), Tibetan pigs (624), yaks (312), sheep (267), and dogs (14). HEV RNA was only detected in Tibetan pig faecal samples (18.27%, 114/624). To perform molecular characterization of HEV strains in Tibetan pigs, we obtained 21 complete HEV genome sequences between 2018 and 2022. Sequence comparisons showed that 21 HEV strains from Tibetan pigs shared the mean nucleotide identities with the reference HEV strains ranging between 82.9% and 94.9% and 89.3% and 92.1% similarities with human HEV strains. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that all HEV strains were genotype 4, closely related to human HEV strains. Sequence recombinant analysis showed five potential recombinant strains identified in this study, of which SWU/D18/2018 (GenBank No. MK410044) was recombinant with human and swine HEV strains, located 6509-6878 nt from the recombination point. Based on the Bayesian evolutionary trees, we found that most HEV strains diverged later than human HEV (16 Tibetan pig HEV strains diverged later than 1979, and seven human HEV strains diverged earlier than 1979). Therefore, we speculated that the prevalence of HEV 4 in Tibetan pigs possibly originated from humans in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Genome-scale reconstruction of the metabolic network in Streptococcus thermophilus S-3 and assess urea metabolism

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus thermophilus is an important strain widely used in dairy fermentation, with distinct urea metabolism characteristics compared to other lactic acid bacteria. The conversion of urea by S. thermophilus has been shown to affect the flavor and acidification characteristics of milk. Additionally, urea metabolism has been found to significantly increase the number of cells and reduce cell damage under acidic pH conditions, resulting in higher activity. However, the physiological role of urea metabolism in S. thermophilus has not been fully evaluated. A deep understanding of this metabolic feature is of great significance for its production and application. Genome-scale metabolic network models (GEMs) are effective tools for investigating the metabolic network of organisms using computational biology methods. Constructing an organism-specific GEM can assist us in comprehending its characteristic metabolism at a systemic level.

RESULTS

In the present study, we reconstructed a high-quality GEM of S. thermophilus S-3 (iCH492), which contains 492 genes, 608 metabolites and 642 reactions. Growth phenotyping experiments were employed to validate the model both qualitatively and quantitatively, yielding satisfactory predictive accuracy (95.83%), sensitivity (93.33%) and specificity (100%). Subsequently, a systematic evaluation of urea metabolism in S. thermophilus was performed using iCH492. The results showed that urea metabolism reduces intracellular hydrogen ions and creates membrane potential by producing and transporting ammonium ions. This activation of glycolytic fluxes and ATP synthase produces more ATP for biomass synthesis. The regulation of fluxes of reactions involving NAD(P)H by urea metabolism improves redox balance.

CONCLUSION

Model iCH492 represents the most comprehensive knowledge-base of S. thermophilus to date, serving as a potent tool. The evaluation of urea metabolism led to novel insights regarding the role of urease. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Field test of thermally activated persulfate for remediation of PFASs co-contaminated with chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in groundwater

The co-occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) in groundwater has drawn increased attention in recent years. No studies have been conducted concerning the oxidative degradation of PFASs and/or CAHs by in situ thermally activated persulfate (TAP) in groundwater, primarily due to the difficulty in cost-effectively achieving the desired temperature in the field. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of PFASs degradation by in situ TAP at a site with PFASs and CAHs co-contaminants were investigated. The target temperature of 40.0-70.0 °C was achieved in groundwater, and persulfate was effectively distributed in the demonstration area - the combination of which ensured the degradation of PFASs and CAHs co-contaminants by in situ TAP. It was demonstrated that the reductions of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) concentration in all monitoring wells were in the range of 43.7 %-66.0 % by in situ TAP compared to those maximum rebound values in groundwater, whereas no effective perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) degradation was observed. The conversion of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) precursors was one of the main factors leading to the increase in PFCAs concentrations in groundwater during in situ TAP. CAHs were effectively degraded in most monitoring wells, and furthermore, no inhibitory effects of CAHs and Cl- on the degradation of PFASs were observed due to the presence of sufficient persulfate. Additionally, there were significant increases in SO42- concentrations and reductions of pH values in groundwater due to in situ TAP, warranting their long-term monitoring in groundwater. The integrated field and laboratory investigations demonstrated that the reductions in PFCAs and CAHs concentrations can be achieved by the oxidative degradation of in situ TAP.

Survival benefit of liver resection following complete response to transarterial chemoembolization for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study

BACKGROUND

High rate of tumor recurrence jeopardized the long-term survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with complete response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This study aims to evaluate the survival benefit of liver resection (LR) following the complete response to TACE for intermediate-stage HCC.

METHODS

A total of 281 intermediate-stage HCC patients with complete response to TACE followed by persistent observation (TACE group) or LR (TLR group) from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2021 from three institutions in China were included. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients were compared between the two groups by propensity score-matching (PSM).

RESULTS

After PSM, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates were 91.4, 71.5, and 57.1% in the TACE group, and 96.6, 81.8, and 72.1% in the TLR group. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year DFS rates were 50.6, 22.6, and 6.8% in the TACE group, and 77.3, 56.3, and 38.7% in the TLR group. Compared with the TACE group, the TLR group showed significantly longer OS (HR, 0.528; 95% CI: 0.315-0.887; P =0.014) and DFS (HR, 0.388; 95% CI: 0.260-0.580; P <0.001). In patients beyond up-to-seven criterion, no difference was observed with OS (HR, 0.708; 95% CI: 0.354-1.419; P =0.329). LR following the complete response to TACE was safety.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that intermediate-stage HCC patients could benefit from LR following the complete response to TACE, resulting in longer OS and DFS. In addition, patients beyond up-to-seven could not benefit from the LR treatments.

Effects of biochar layer position on treatment performance and microbial community in subsurface flow constructed wetlands for removal of cadmium and lead

Levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) correspond to common composition in acid mine wastewater of Hunan Province of China. The removal path of Cd and Pb and the structure of microbial community were investigated by developing constructed wetlands (CWs) with different layer positions of biochar. The biochar as a layer at the bottom of CW (BCW) system exhibited maximum Cd and Pb removal efficiencies of 96.6-98.6% and 97.2-98.9%, respectively. Compared with original soil, BCW increased the relative proportions of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteriota, Verrucomicrobiota, Desulfobacterota, Armatimonadota, Bacteroidota, Patescibacteria, Basidiomycota (phylum level) and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Citrifermentans, Chthonomonadales, Cellulomonas, Geothrix, Terracidiphilus, Gallionellaceae, Microbacterium, Vanrija, Apiotrichum, Saitozyma, Fusarium (genus level). The concentrations of Cd and Pb were positively correlated with the abundance of Verrucomicrobiota, Basidiomycota (phylum level), and Methylacidiphilaceae, Meyerozyma, Vanrija (genus level). This study demonstrates that BCW system can improve removal performance toward Cd and Pb, as well as alter microbial community.

Bayesian Decision-Making Under Uncertainty in Borderline Personality Disorder

Bayesian decision theory suggests that optimal decision-making should use and weigh prior beliefs with current information, according to their relative uncertainties. However, some characteristics of borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients, such as fast, drastic changes in the overall perception of themselves and others, suggest they may be underrelying on priors. Here, we investigated if BPD patients have a general deficit in relying on or combining prior with current information. We analyzed this by having BPD patients (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 18) perform a coin-catching sensorimotor task with varying levels of prior and current information uncertainty. Our results indicate that BPD patients learned and used prior information and combined it with current information in a qualitatively Bayesian-like way. Our results show that, at least in a lower-level, nonsocial sensorimotor task, BPD patients can appropriately use both prior and current information, illustrating that potential deficits using priors may not be widespread or domain-general.

Spirometry in the diagnosis of cough variant asthma in children

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of spirometry, particularly focusing on small airway parameters, in children with cough variant asthma (CVA).

METHODS

This study included children aged 5-12 years with a diagnosis of CVA. Pre- and postbronchodilation spirometry parameters, including FEV1 %pred, FVC%pred, FEV1 /FVC%pred, PEF%pred, FEF25 %pred, FEF50 %pred, FEF75 %pred, MMEF%pred, were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the discriminatory potential of these spirometry parameters for CVA. A prediction model based on logistic regression (LR) was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients with CVA and 73 control subjects were included. Baseline spirometry parameters in the CVA group, except for FVC%pred, were significantly lower compared to the control group. After inhalation of salbutamol sulfate, all parameters showed significant improvement in the CVA group. However, these parameters, except for FEV1 %pred and FVC%pred, remained lower in the CVA group compared to the control group. The improvement rate of each parameter in the CVA group, except for ∆ FVC%, was significantly higher than that in the control group. △ MMEF% achieved the highest AUC of 0.797 with a threshold value of 16.09%, followed by △ FEF75 % (0.792), △ FEV1 % (0.756), and △ FEF50 % (0.747) with threshold values of 19.01%, 4.48%, and 19.4%, respectively. The clinical prediction model included four variables (age, △ FEF25 %, △ FEF75 %, and △ MMEF%) and demonstrated excellent performance distinguishing patients with and without CVA (AUC = 0.850). In the CVA group, the △ FEV1 % showed a positive correlation with small airway parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights that children with CVA exhibit lower pulmonary function parameters compared to healthy children. Changes in small airway parameters during bronchodilator tests can be valuable in diagnosing CVA, and the LR prediction model incorporating age and several pulmonary parameters can assist physicians in accurately identifying CVA in clinical practice.

BCL7A and BCL7B potentiate SWI/SNF-complex-mediated chromatin accessibility to regulate gene expression and vegetative phase transition in plants

Switch defective/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complexes are multi-subunit machineries that establish and maintain chromatin accessibility and gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. However, how the remodeling activities of SWI/SNF complexes are regulated in eukaryotes remains elusive. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia protein 7 A/B/C (BCL7A/B/C) have been reported as subunits of SWI/SNF complexes for decades in animals and recently in plants; however, the role of BCL7 subunits in SWI/SNF function remains undefined. Here, we identify a unique role for plant BCL7A and BCL7B homologous subunits in potentiating the genome-wide chromatin remodeling activities of SWI/SNF complexes in plants. BCL7A/B require the catalytic ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) to assemble with the signature subunits of the BRM-Associated SWI/SNF complexes (BAS) and for genomic binding at a subset of target genes. Loss of BCL7A and BCL7B diminishes BAS-mediated genome-wide chromatin accessibility without changing the stability and genomic targeting of the BAS complex, highlighting the specialized role of BCL7A/B in regulating remodeling activity. We further show that BCL7A/B fine-tune the remodeling activity of BAS complexes to generate accessible chromatin at the juvenility resetting region (JRR) of the microRNAs MIR156A/C for plant juvenile identity maintenance. In summary, our work uncovers the function of previously elusive SWI/SNF subunits in multicellular eukaryotes and provides insights into the mechanisms whereby plants memorize the juvenile identity through SWI/SNF-mediated control of chromatin accessibility.

4D Multimaterial Printing of Soft Actuators with Spatial and Temporal Control

Soft actuators (SAs) are devices which can interact with delicate objects in a manner not achievable with traditional robotics. While it is possible to design a SA whose actuation is triggered via an external stimulus, the use of a single stimulus creates challenges in the spatial and temporal control of the actuation. Herein, a 4D printed multimaterial soft actuator design (MMSA) whose actuation is only initiated by a combination of triggers (i.e., pH and temperature) is presented. Using 3D printing, a multilayered soft actuator with a hydrophilic pH-sensitive layer, and a hydrophobic magnetic and temperature-responsive shape-memory polymer layer, is designed. The hydrogel responds to environmental pH conditions by swelling or shrinking, while the shape-memory polymer can resist the shape deformation of the hydrogel until triggered by temperature or light. The combination of these stimuli-responsive layers allows for a high level of spatiotemporal control of the actuation. The utility of the 4D MMSA is demonstrated via a series of cargo capture and release experiments, validating its ability to demonstrate active spatiotemporal control. The MMSA concept provides a promising research direction to develop multifunctional soft devices with potential applications in biomedical engineering and environmental engineering.