Quantifying the contributions of meteorology, emissions, and transport to ground-level ozone in the Pearl River Delta, China

Ozone pollution presents a growing air quality threat in urban agglomerations in China. It remains challenge to distinguish the roles of emissions of precursors, chemical production and transportations in shaping the ground-level ozone trends, largely due to complicated interactions among these 3 major processes. This study elucidates the formation factors of ozone pollution and categorizes them into local emissions (anthropogenic and biogenic emissions), transport (precursor transport and direct transport from various regions), and meteorology. Particularly, we attribute meteorology, which affects biogenic emissions and chemical formation as well as transportation, to a perturbation term with fluctuating ranges. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model was utilized to implement this framework, using the Pearl River Delta region as a case study, to simulate a severe ozone pollution episode in autumn 2019 that affected the entire country. Our findings demonstrate that the average impact of meteorological conditions changed consistently with the variation of ozone pollution levels, indicating that meteorological conditions can exert significant control over the degree of ozone pollution. As the maximum daily 8-hour average (MDA8) ozone concentrations increased from 20 % below to 30 % above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard II, contributions from emissions and precursor transport were enhanced. Concurrently, direct transport within Guangdong province rose from 13.8 % to 22.7 %, underscoring the importance of regional joint prevention and control measures under adverse weather conditions. Regarding biogenic emissions and precursor transport that cannot be directly controlled, we found that their contributions were generally greater in urban areas with high nitrogen oxides (NOx) levels, primarily due to the stronger atmospheric oxidation capacity facilitating ozone formation. Our results indicate that not only local anthropogenic emissions can be controlled in urban areas, but also the impacts of local biogenic emissions and precursor transport can be potentially regulated through reducing atmospheric oxidation capacity.

Breastfeeding and risk of food allergy and allergic rhinitis in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

The association between breastfeeding and the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and food allergy (FA) in offspring remains inconclusive. This review aims to comprehensively explore the potential relationships between various patterns and durations of breastfeeding and allergic diseases in offspring. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, WOS databases, and Google Scholar for observational studies published up to March 30, 2023, that investigated the link between breastfeeding and allergies in offspring. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated employing an appropriate model based on the degree of heterogeneity. A total of 68 studies, encompassing 772,142 children, were ultimately included. The findings indicated that breastfeeding for more than 6 months was associated with a reduced risk of AR (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.98) but posed a risk for FA (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.25). Exclusive breastfeeding exhibited a protective effect against AR (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90 to 0.97), whereas non-breastfeeding was identified as a risk factor for AR (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.12). No significant association was observed between breastfeeding patterns and FA.

CONCLUSION

Breastfeeding for more than 6 months proves to be an effective preventive measure against AR. However, large prospective high-quality studies are needed to investigate the potential risk of FA in children with prolonged breastfeeding.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• The impact of breastfeeding on allergic rhinitis and food allergy in offspring is controversial. • Previous meta-analyses fail to prove the effect of breastfeeding on food allergy in offspring of all ages.

WHAT IS NEW

• Breastfeeding for more than 6 months proves to be an effective preventive measure against AR. However, it potentially elevates the risk of FA in children. Non-breastfeeding is linked to an increased risk of AR in children, but there is no evidence of an association between breastfeeding patterns and FA in children. • The impact of breastfeeding on allergic rhinitis and food allergy in offspring may vary with the time and pattern of breastfeeding.

Ultrathin TiS2@N,S-Doped Carbon Hybrid Nanosheets as Highly Efficient Photoresponsive Antibacterial Agents

Nanobactericides are employed as a promising class of nanomaterials for eradicating microbial infections, considering the rapid resistance risks of conventional antibiotics. Herein, we present a pioneering approach, reporting the synthesis of two-dimensional titanium disulfide nanosheets coated by nitrogen/sulfur-codoped carbon nanosheets (2D-TiS2@NSCLAA hybrid NSs) using a rapid l-ascorbic acid-assisted sulfurization of Ti3C2Tx-MXene to achieve efficient alternative bactericides. The as-developed materials were systematically characterized using a suite of different spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, in which the X-ray diffraction/Raman spectroscopy/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirm the existence of TiS2 and C, while the morphological investigation reveals single- to few-layered TiS2 NSs confined by N,S-doped C, suggesting the successful synthesis of the ultrathin hybrid NSs. From in vitro evaluation, the resultant product demonstrates impressive bactericidal potential against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria, achieving a substantial decrease in the bacterial viability under a 1.2 J dose of visible-light irradiation at the lowest concentration of 5 μg·mL-1 compared to Ti3C2Tx (15 μg·mL-1), TiS2-C (10 μg·mL-1), and standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin (15 μg·mL-1), respectively. The enhanced degradation efficiency is attributed to the ultrathin TiS2 NSs encapsulated within heteroatom N,S-doped C, facilitating effective photogenerated charge-carrier separation that generates multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced physical stress as well as piercing action due to its ultrathin structure, resulting in multimechanistic cytotoxicity and damage to bacterial cells. Furthermore, the obtained results from molecular docking studies conducted via computational simulation (in silico) of the as-synthesized materials against selected proteins (β-lactamasE. coli/DNA-GyrasE. coli) are well-consistent with the in vitro antibacterial results, providing strong and consistent validation. Thus, this sophisticated study presents a simple and effective synthesis technique for the structural engineering of metal sulfide-based hybrids as functionalized synthetic bactericides.

An innovative molecular approach towards the cost-effective entomological authentication of honey

Honey authentication and traceability are crucial not only for economic purposes but also for ensuring safety. However, the widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies in practical applications has been hampered by complex, time-consuming sample pre-treatment processes, the need for skilled personnel, and substantial associated expenses. This study aimed to develop a simple and cost-effective molecular technique to verify the entomological source of honey. By utilizing newly designed primers, we successfully amplified the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene of honey bees from honey, confirming the high quality of the extracted DNA. Employing RFLP analysis with AseI endonuclease, species-specific restriction patterns were generated for honey derived from six closely related honey bees of the Apis genus. Remarkably, this method was proven equally effective in identifying heat-treated and aged honey by presenting the same RFLP profiles as raw honey. As far as we know, this is the initial research of the simultaneous differentiation of honey from closely related honey bee species using the restriction endonuclease AseI and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragments. As a result, it holds tremendous potential as a standardized guideline for regulatory agencies to ascertain the insect origins of honey and achieve comprehensive traceability.

Machine vision model for detection of foreign substances at the bottom of empty large volume parenteral

Empty large volume parenteral (LVP) bottle has irregular shape and narrow opening, and its detection accuracy of the foreign substances at the bottom is higher than that of ordinary packaging bottles. The current traditional detection method for the bottom of LVP bottles is to directly use manual visual inspection, which involves high labor intensity and is prone to visual fatigue and quality fluctuations, resulting in limited applicability for the detection of the bottom of LVP bottles. A geometric constraint-based detection model (GCBDM) has been proposed, which combines the imaging model and the shape characteristics of the bottle to construct a constraint model of the imaging parameters, according to the detection accuracy and the field of view. Then, the imaging model is designed and optimized for the detection. Further, the generalized GCBDM has been adopted to different bottle bottom detection scenarios, such as cough syrup and capsule medicine bottles by changing the target parameters of the model. The GCBDM, on the one hand, can avoid the information at the bottom being blocked by the narrow opening in the imaging optical path. On the other hand, by calculating the maximum position deviation between the center of visual inspection and the center of the bottom, it can provide the basis for the accuracy design of the transmission mechanism in the inspection, thus further ensuring the stability of the detection.

Highly Stable Mo-NiO@NiFe-Layered Double Hydroxide Heterojunction Anode Catalyst for Alkaline Electrolyzers with Porous Membrane

Heterostructure catalysts are considered as promising candidates for promoting the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process due to their strong electron coupling. However, the inevitable dissolution and detachment of the heterostructure catalysts are caused by the severe reconstruction, dramatically limiting their industrial application. Herein, the NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets attached on Mo-NiO microrods (Mo-NiO@NiFe LDH) by the preoxidation strategy of the core NiMoN layer are synthesized for ensuring the high catalytic performance and stability. Owing to the enhanced electron coupling and preoxidation process, the obtained Mo-NiO@NiFe LDH exhibits a superlow overpotential of 253 mV to achieve a practically relevant current density of 1000 mA cm-2 for OER with exceptional stability over 1200 h. Notably, the overall water splitting system based on Mo-NiO@NiFe LDH reveals remarkable stability, maintaining the catalytic activity at a current density of 1000 mA cm-2 for 140 h under industrial harsh conditions. Furthermore, the Mo-NiO@NiFe LDH demonstrates outstanding activity and long-term durability in a practical alkaline electrolyzer assembly with a porous membrane, even surpassing the performance of IrO2. This work provides a new sight for designing and synthesizing highly stable heterojunction electrocatalysts, further promoting and realizing the industrial electrocatalytic OER.

Factors Associated With Radiological Lung Growth Rate After Lobectomy in Patients With Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

This study is a retrospective study. This study aims to explore the association between lobectomy in lung cancer patients and subsequent compensatory lung growth (CLG), and to identify factors that may be associated with variations in CLG.

METHODS

207 lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy at Yunnan Cancer Hospital between January 2020 and December 2020. All patients had stage IA primary lung cancer and were performed by the same surgical team. And computed tomography examinations were performed before and 1 y postoperatively. Based on computed tomography images, the volume of each lung lobe was measured using computer software and manual, the radiological lung weight was calculated. And multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the factors related to the increase in postoperative lung weight.

RESULTS

One year after lobectomy, the radiological lung weight increased by an average of 112.4 ± 20.8%. Smoking history, number of resected lung segments, preoperative low attenuation volume, intraoperative arterial oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio and postoperative visual analog scale scores at 48 h were significantly associated with postoperative radiological lung weight gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that CLG have occurred after lobectomy in adults. In addition, anesthetists should maintain high arterial oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio during one-lung ventilation and improve acute postoperative pain to benefit CLG.

The relationship of MITF gene expression and promoter methylation with plumage colour in quail

1. This study focused on the relationship between MITF mRNA expression and plumage colour in quail and the effect of promoter methylation on the expression of MITF mRNA.2. The CDS region of MITF mRNA was cloned by RT-PCR, followed by DNA sequencing. The RT-qPCR method was used to analyse the expression levels of MITF mRNA in dorsal skin tissue in Korean quail and Beijing white quail. The promoter region of the MITF gene was cloned, and the CpG island was predicted by the CpGplot program. The methylation levels of the CpG island were analysed using BS-PCR technology.3. Quail MITF mRNA contains a 1,476 bp complete ORF, which encodes a 492 amino acid residue protein. The MITF protein has no signal peptide or transmembrane region. The expression of MITF mRNA in dorsal tissue of Korean quail was significantly higher than that in Beijing white quail (p < 0.01). Abundant cis-elements and a 346 bp CpG island were found in the promoter region of the MITF gene. The average methylation level of the CpG island was 22 (22%) in Korean quail, and 46 (30%) in Beijing white quail (p < 0.05).4. The hypermethylation of the MITF gene promoter region in Beijing white quail resulted in a decrease in expression level, which was related to white feather colour.

Universal Approximation Abilities of a Modular Differentiable Neural Network

Approximation ability is one of the most important topics in the field of neural networks (NNs). Feedforward NNs, activated by rectified linear units and some of their specific smoothed versions, provide universal approximators to convex as well as continuous functions. However, most of these networks are investigated empirically, or their characteristics are analyzed based on specific operation rules. Moreover, an adequate level of interpretability of the networks is missing as well. In this work, we propose a class of new network architecture, built with reusable neural modules (functional blocks), to supply differentiable and interpretable approximators for convex and continuous target functions. Specifically, first, we introduce a concrete model construction mechanism with particular blocks based on differentiable programming and the composition essence of the max operator, extending the scope of existing activation functions. Moreover, explicit block diagrams are provided for a clear understanding of the external architecture and the internal processing mechanism. Subsequently, the approximation behavior of the proposed network to convex functions and continuous functions is rigorously proved as well, by virtue of mathematical induction. Finally, plenty of numerical experiments are conducted on a wide variety of problems, which exhibit the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed model over some existing ones.

Fecal calprotectin is a novel biomarker to predict the clinical outcomes of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a common cerebrovascular disease and the leading cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. Recent evidence suggests that gut microbiota is involved in the pathophysiological process of IA through the gut-brain axis. However, the role of gut inflammation in the development of IA has yet to be clarified. Our study aimed to investigate whether fecal calprotectin (FC) level, a sensitive marker of gut inflammation, is correlated with the development of IA and the prognosis of patients with ruptured IA (RIA).

METHODS

182 patients were collected from January 2022 to January 2023, including 151 patients with IA and 31 healthy individuals. 151 IA patients included 109 patients with unruptured IA (UIA) and 42 patients with RIA. The FC level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Other detailed information was obtained from an electronic medical record system.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, the FC levels in patients with IA were increased (P < 0.0001). Patients with RIA had significantly higher FC levels than UIA patients (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the FC level in RIA patients with unfavorable outcomes was higher than in RIA patients with favorable outcomes. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elevated FC level was an independent risk factor for a 3-month poor prognosis in patients with RIA (OR=1.005, 95% CI = 1.000 -1.009, P = 0.044).

CONCLUSION

Fecal calprotectin level is significantly elevated in IA patients, especially those with RIA. FC is a novel biomarker of 3-month poor outcomes in RIA patients.

Programmable DNA Interphase Layers for High-Performance Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

Anode-free lithium (Li) metal batteries are promising candidates for advanced energy storage, attributed to their appealing characteristics such as high energy density, low cost, and convenient production. However, their major challenges lie in the poor cycling and rate performance owing to the inferior reversibility and kinetics of Li plating and stripping, which significantly hinder their real-world applications. Here, it is demonstrated that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the most important genetic material in nature, can serve as a highly programmable interphase layer for innovation of anode-free Li metal batteries. It is found that the abundant base pairs in DNA can contribute transient Li-N bonds that facilitate homogeneous Li+ flux, thus resulting in excellent Li plating/stripping kinetics and reversibility even at a harsh areal current of 15 mA cm-2. The anode-free LiFePO4 full batteries based on an ultrathin (0.12 µm) and ultralight (≈0.01 mg cm-2) DNA interphase layer show high CEs (≈99.1%) over 400 cycles, corresponding to an increase of ≈186% compared with bare copper (Cu) foil. These results shed light on the excellent programmability of DNA as a new family of interphase materials for anode-free batteries, and provide a new paradigm for future battery innovation toward high programmability, high sustainability, and remarkable electrochemical performance.

Plumbagin Regulates Snail to Inhibit Hepatocellular Carcinoma Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in vivo and in vitro

Background/Aims

Plumbagin (PL) has been shown to effe ctively inhibit autophagy, suppressing invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PL on tumor growth factor (TGF)-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC.

Methods

Huh-7 cells were cultured, and in vivo models of EMT and HCC-associated lung metastasis were developed through tail vein and in situ injections of tumor cells. In vivo imaging and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate HCC modeling and lung metastasis. After PL intervention, the expression levels of Snail, vimentin, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in the liver were evaluated through immunohistochemistry and Western blot. An in vitro TGF-β-induced cell EMT model was used to detect Snail, vimentin, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin mRNA levels through a polymerase chain reaction. Their protein levels were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.

Results

In vivo experiments demonstrated that PL significantly reduced the expression of Snail, vimentin, and N-cadherin, while increasing the expression of E-cadherin at the protein levels, effectively inhibiting HCC and lung metastasis. In vitro experiments confirmed that PL up-regulated epithelial cell markers, down-regulated mesenchymal cell markers, and inhibited EMT levels in HCC cells.

Conclusion

PL inhibits Snail expression, up-regulates E-cadherin expression, and down-regulates N-cadherin and vimentin expression, preventing EMT in HCC cells and reducing lung metastasis.

MiR-181a protects the heart against myocardial infarction by regulating mitochondrial fission via targeting programmed cell death protein 4

Worldwide, myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years lost. Recent researches explored new methods of detecting biomarkers that can predict the risk of developing myocardial infarction, which includes identifying genetic markers associated with increased risk. We induced myocardial infarction in mice by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery and performed TTC staining to assess cell death. Next, we performed ChIP assays to measure the enrichment of histone modifications at the promoter regions of key genes involved in mitochondrial fission. We used qPCR and western blot to measure expression levels of relative apoptotic indicators. We report that miR-181a inhibits myocardial ischemia-induced apoptosis and preserves left ventricular function after MI. We show that programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) is the target gene involved in miR-181a-mediated anti-ischemic injury, which enhanced BID recruitment to the mitochondria. In addition, we discovered that p53 inhibits the expression of miR-181a via transcriptional regulation. Here, we discovered for the first time a mitochondrial fission and apoptosis pathway which is controlled by miR-181a and involves PDCD4 and BID. This pathway may be controlled by p53 transcriptionally, and we presume that miR-181a may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic and preventive targets for ischemic heart diseases.

ABT199/venetoclax synergism with thiotepa enhances the cytotoxicity of fludarabine, cladribine and busulfan in AML cells

ABT199/venetoclax, an inhibitor of the pro-survival BCL-2 protein, has improved AML treatment. Its efficacy in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), when combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs, has not been thoroughly investigated. The present study demonstrates the synergistic cytotoxicity of ABT199/venetoclax with the DNA alkylator thiotepa (Thio) in AML cells. Cleavage of Caspase 3, PARP1 and HSP90, as well as increased Annexin V positivity, suggest potent activation of apoptosis by this two-drug combination; increased levels of γ-H2AX, P-CHK1 (S317), P-CHK2 (S19) and P-SMC1 (S957) indicate an enhanced DNA damage response. Likewise, the increased level of P-SAPK/JNK (T183/Y185) and decreased P-PI3Kp85 (Y458) suggest enhanced activation of stress signaling pathways. These molecular readouts were synergistically enhanced when ABT199/venetoclax and Thio were combined with fludarabine, cladribine and busulfan. The five-drug combination decreased the levels of BCL-2, BCL-xL and MCL-1, suggesting its potential clinical relevance in overcoming ABT199/venetoclax resistance. Moreover, this combination is active against P53-negative and FLT3-ITD-positive cell lines. Enhanced activation of apoptosis was observed in leukemia patient-derived cell samples exposed to the five-drug combination, suggesting a clinical relevance. The results provide a rationale for clinical trials using these two- and five-drug combinations as part of a conditioning regimen for AML patients undergoing HSCT.

Progress of Polymer Electrolytes Worked in Solid-State Lithium Batteries for Wide-Temperature Application

Solid-state Li-ion batteries have emerged as the most promising next-generation energy storage systems, offering theoretical advantages such as superior safety and higher energy density. However, polymer-based solid-state Li-ion batteries face challenges across wide temperature ranges. The primary issue lies in the fact that most polymer electrolytes exhibit relatively low ionic conductivity at or below room temperature. This sensitivity to temperature variations poses challenges in operating solid-state lithium batteries at sub-zero temperatures. Moreover, elevated working temperatures lead to polymer shrinkage and deformation, ultimately resulting in battery failure. To address this challenge of polymer-based solid-state batteries, this review presents an overview of various promising polymer electrolyte systems. The review provides insights into the temperature-dependent physical and electrochemical properties of polymers, aiming to expand the temperature range of operation. The review also further summarizes modification strategies for polymer electrolytes suited to diverse temperatures. The final section summarizes the performance of various polymer-based solid-state batteries at different temperatures. Valuable insights and potential future research directions for designing wide-temperature polymer electrolytes are presented based on the differences in battery performance. This information is intended to inspire practical applications of wide-temperature polymer-based solid-state batteries.

Thermal-Responsive Gel-Based Overheat Limiter Enabled Intelligent Photothermal Therapy

Uncontrolled and excessive photothermal heating in photothermal therapy (PTT) inevitably causes thermal damage to surrounding normal tissues, severely limiting the universality and safety of PTT. To address this issue, an intelligent cooling thermal-responsive (ICTR) gel containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) (P(NIPAM-AM))microgel is applied onto the skin to realize intelligent PTT, which can avoid excessive heating and accidental injury. The high near-infrared (NIR) light transmittance (> 95%) of the ICTR gel ensures effective light delivery at low temperatures, while the refractive index of the P(NIPAM-AM) microgel increases remarkably when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, resulting in progressively enhanced light scattering and weakened photothermal conversion. In animal studies, the negative feedback regulation of ICTR gel on light transmittance and photothermal heating allows the photothermal temperature in the lesion site to be stabilized within the effective therapeutic range (45 °C) while ensuring that the skin surface temperature does not exceed 35 °C. Compared with the severe skin thermal damage found in the histological staining of mice skin receiving conventional PTT, the mice skin receiving the ICTR gel-enabled intelligent PTT remains in good condition. This study establishes an intelligent and universal paradigm for PTT thermal regulation, which is of great significance for achieving safe and effective PTT.

Sources of elevated organic acids in the mountainous background atmosphere of southern China

Formic acid (FA) and acetic acid (AA) are pivotal organic acids in the troposphere, significantly influencing atmospheric chemistry. However, their abundance and sources in the mountainous background atmosphere remain underexplored. We undertook continuous measurements of FA and AA in Nanling mountains, southern China, during autumn 2020 using a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS). Both acids registered higher concentrations than in other global high-altitude or forested locations, averaging at 0.89 (max: 3.91) and 0.95 (max: 3.52) ppbv for FA and AA, respectively. High concentrations of FA and AA in this forested background area arose from secondary formation and biomass burning, collectively contributing 71 % to 89 %. During episodes, FA and AA concentrations surged 2-3 times, owing to the enhanced atmospheric oxidation capacity. The secondary FA production was predominantly due to isoprene oxidation among the VOC precursors studied. However, observed inconsistencies between calculated and actual FA concentrations suggest overlooked precursors or mechanisms warranting further investigation. Our findings can enhance the understanding of organic acid characteristics and the interplay of biogenic and anthropogenic sources in the background atmosphere.

Investigation of HO2 uptake mechanisms onto multiple-component ambient aerosols collected in summer and winter time in Yokohama, Japan

The heterogeneous loss of HO2 radicals onto ambient aerosols plays an important role in tropospheric chemistry. However, sparse investigation of the dominating parameters controlling the HO2 uptake coefficients onto ambient aerosols (γHO2) has largely hindered the application of the measured γHO2 to the global spatial prediction. Here we induced an offline method using LFP-LIF technique to measure the kinetics of HO2 uptake onto ambient aerosols collected in summertime and wintertime in Yokohama city, a regional urban site near Tokyo, Japan. By controlling the dominating parameters which influence γHO2, we were able to investigate the detailed HO2 uptake mechanism. We characterized the chemical composition of the collected ambient aerosols, including organics, inorganics, transition metals ions, etc. and modeled γHO2 using different mechanisms. Results show that γHO2 increased with the increase in RH, and the aerosol states ("dry" or wet/aqueous) have large effects on γHO2. With fixed RH and aerosol chemical composition, γHO2was highly dependent on pH and inversely correlated with [HO2]0. By combing the measured γHO2 values with the modeled ones, we found that both the HO2 self-reaction and transition metal-catalyzed reactions should be accounted for to yield a single parameterization to predict γHO2, and different chemical compositions may have collective effects on γHO2. Results may serve for extending the γHO2 values measured at one observation site to different environmental conditions, which will help us to achieve more accurate modeling results concerning secondary pollutant formation (i.e., ozone).

The degree of population aging and living carbon emissions: Evidence from China

Population aging and global warming have become everyday concerns of all countries. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2019, this paper uses the panel fixed effect model and two-stage least square method to analyze the effect of population aging on domestic energy carbon emissions of urban and rural residents. On this basis, the threshold regression model is introduced to explore the heterogeneity of the effect under different aging levels. The results show that (1) the progress of population aging at the overall level will significantly increase the level of carbon emissions from household energy consumption. At the regional level, the effect of population aging on carbon emissions from household energy consumption in rural areas is higher than in urban areas. (2) Population aging has a nonlinear effect on the carbon emissions of residential energy consumption. For urban areas, when the level of population aging crosses the threshold, its marginal impact on living carbon emissions in urban areas is further enhanced. In contrast, the opposite is true in rural areas. (3) Heterogeneity analysis results show that the impact of population aging on residential energy carbon emissions differs in different regions at the national and rural levels but does not show regional heterogeneity at the urban level.

TREM2 Alleviates Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Injury through Attenuating Neuroinflammation and Programmed Cell Death in Vivo and in Vitro

BACKGROUND

Apoptosis and pyroptosis are two types of programmed cell death related to the neuroinflammatory reaction after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Research indicates that triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) can regulate the SAH-induced inflammatory response. However, whether TREM2 regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis and pyroptosis) remains to be clarified. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TREM2 on cell death in SAH.

METHODS

SAH was induced in adult male C57BL/6J mice by endovascular perforation. An in-vitro cellular model of SAH was established by treating cocultured BV2 microglia and HT22 neuronal cells with oxyhemoglobin. TREM2 overexpression or knockdown was carried out by intraventricular lentivirus injection at 7 d before SAH induction in mice or lentiviral transfection, respectively. Neurobehavioral tests as well as western blot, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence, Evans blue (EB) staining, Nissl staining, and flow cytometry assays were performed to investigate the neuroprotective role of TREM2 after SAH.

RESULTS

After SAH, the TREM2 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in SAH mice, exhibiting a peak at 72 h. TREM2 overexpression improved the SAH-induced neurological deficits in mice, while TREM2 knockdown worsened them. In the brains of mice with TREM2 overexpression, less neuronal death and more neuronal survival were detected at 72 h post SAH. Meanwhile, TREM2 overexpression showed an inhibitory effect on microglial activation, neutrophil infiltration, and the expression of cell death marker proteins. Consistent results were obtained in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research indicates the important role of TREM2 on cell death after SAH, suggesting that targeting TREM2 might be an effective approach for treating SAH.

Rechargeable Li/Cl2 Battery Down to -80 °C

Low temperature rechargeable batteries are important to life in cold climates, polar/deep-sea expeditions, and space explorations. Here, this work reports 3.5-4 V rechargeable lithium/chlorine (Li/Cl2 ) batteries operating down to -80 °C, employing Li metal negative electrode, a novel carbon dioxide (CO2 ) activated porous carbon (KJCO2 ) as the positive electrode, and a high ionic conductivity (≈5-20 mS cm-1 from -80 °C to room-temperature) electrolyte comprised of aluminum chloride (AlCl3 ), lithium chloride (LiCl), and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in low-melting-point (-104.5 °C) thionyl chloride (SOCl2 ). Between room-temperature and -80 °C, the Li/Cl2 battery delivers up to ≈29 100-4500 mAh g-1 first discharge capacity (based on carbon mass) and a 1200-5000 mAh g-1 reversible capacity over up to 130 charge-discharge cycles. Mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy probe Cl2 trapped in the porous carbon upon LiCl electro-oxidation during charging. At -80 °C, Cl2 /SCl2 /S2 Cl2 generated by electro-oxidation in the charging step are trapped in porous KJCO2 carbon, allowing for reversible reduction to afford a high discharge voltage plateau near ≈4 V with up to ≈1000 mAh g-1 capacity for SCl2 /S2 Cl2 reduction and up to ≈4000 mAh g-1 capacity at ≈3.1 V plateau for Cl2 reduction.

A rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery

Rechargeable calcium (Ca) metal batteries are promising candidates for sustainable energy storage due to the abundance of Ca in Earth's crust and the advantageous theoretical capacity and voltage of these batteries. However, the development of practical Ca metal batteries has been severely hampered by the current cathode chemistries, which limit the available energy and power densities, as well as their insufficient capacity retention and low-temperature capability. Here, we describe the rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery based on a reversible cathode redox reaction between CaCl2 and Cl2, which is enabled by the use of lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate as a key electrolyte mediator to facilitate the dissociation and distribution of Cl-based species and Ca2+. Our rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery can deliver discharge voltages of 3 V and exhibits remarkable specific capacity (1000 mAh g-1) and rate capability (500 mA g-1). In addition, the excellent capacity retention (96.5% after 30 days) and low-temperature capability (down to 0 °C) allow us to overcome the long-standing bottleneck of rechargeable Ca metal batteries.

[Medicinal Characteristics of Shao Jiu in Compendium of Materia Medica]

Modern Bai Jiu(liquor) was called Shao Jiu in ancient times.By consulting ancient books, it was found that there was a distillation and preparation process of Shao Jiu before the Ming Dynasty, but due to its high toxicity, the scope of application was limited, and there were few records of its medicinal use.However many records of its medicinal use was found in the Compendium of Materia Medica(«»).By comparing the medical books that recorded Shao Jiu in previous dynasties, it is found that the Compendium of Materia Medica comprehensively records the relevant cognition and application of the medicinal use of Shao Jiu for the first time. The book lists in detail the causes of the toxicity of Shao Jiu and the methods to avoid it, comprehensively expounds its characteristics, efficacy and indications, lists a variety of ways to use it, skillfully uses Shao Jiu to treat syphilis sores, and proposes that high-concentration Shao Jiu can be used as a solvent for medical liquor.The record of Shao Jiu in the Compendium of Materia Medica had a profound impact on the medical liquor of later generations.The use of Shao Jiu in the Qing Dynasty continued to expand, and the types of medicinal liquor were also constantly enriched. The record of Shao Jiu in the Compendium of Materia Medica can also provide a reference for the medicinal use of modern liquor.

Association of cuproptosis-related signature with the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a poor prognosis because of their high recurrence and metastasis rates. Cuproptosis is a novel type of copper-dependent cell death that differs from apoptosis, necroptosis, and cytosolic scorch death. We designed and validated an individualized cuproptosis-related gene (CRG) signature for risk evaluation and prognostic prediction in HNSCC patients. Ninety differentially expressed CRGs were found in HNSCC. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to investigate the functional involvement of CRGs in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC cohort. A CRG signature was created using 10 genes after univariate and multivariate analysis. Kaplan Meier (KM) analysis showed that the survival rate of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the low-risk group. Multivariate regression analysis identified risk scores based on prognostic characteristics as independent prognostic indicators of HNSCC. Moreover, risk models are related to tumor mutational burden (TMB), tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs), immune checkpoints, clinical characteristics, and antitumor drug susceptibility. Furthermore, we found that CuCl2 treatment promoted cuproptosis in HNSCC cells, and that the expression levels of cuproptosis-related genes were altered by different doses of CuCl2. In summary, understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms of cuproptosis and its impact on overall survival (OS), and identifying potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC will provide potential insights for treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The significant contribution of nitrate to a severe haze event in the winter of Guangzhou, China

A severe haze pollution occurred in Guangzhou from January 14 to 16, 2021, during which the mass concentration of PM2.5 ranged from 76 to 243 μg m-3. This level of pollution was rarely observed in recent years considering the improved air quality in Guangzhou. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively study the formation mechanisms of this severe haze pollution to prevent its reoccurrence. During the haze period, the concentrations of NO and NO2 sharply increased by 7.4 and 3.8 times, respectively, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) increased 7 times, suggesting enhanced primary emissions from vehicles due to stagnant meteorological conditions. Nitrate concentration (43 ± 20 μg m-3) increased 6.7 times and became the dominant species in PM2.5 during the haze period. Notably, gaseous NH3, HONO and HNO3 also exhibited a sharp increase, suggesting the important role of nitrate chemistry in the evolution of haze pollution. The simulation results from chemical box model revealed that the OH + NO2 reaction was the dominant formation pathway for nitrate production (82 %) during the haze period. The net production rate of ROx radicals (including OH, HO2 and RO2) was 4.4 times higher during the haze period (5.8 ppb h-1) compared to the pre-haze period (1.3 ppb h-1). This was mainly attributed to the enhanced HONO and OVOCs photolysis, which increased from 0.6 ppb h-1 to 3.1 ppb h-1 and 0.4 ppb h-1 to 2.1 ppb h-1, respectively. Furthermore, the sensitivity tests demonstrated the reductions in VOCs and NOx were both beneficial for controlling nitrate production by influencing OH production and N2O5 uptake rate. These findings provide insights into the formation mechanisms of nitrate production during severe haze pollution and suggest that joint mitigation of PM2.5 and O3 can be achieved through the control of VOCs emission.

Luteolin-7-O-glucoside promotes macrophage release of IFN-β by maintaining mitochondrial function and corrects the disorder of glucose metabolism during RSV infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia is the main cause of acute bronchiolitis in infants. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (LUT-7G) is a natural flavonoid, which exists in a variety of plants and has the potential to treat viral pneumonia. We established RSV pneumonia mouse models and RSV-infected cell models. Clodronate liposomes were used to deplete macrophages. We used HE staining and immunohistochemistry to determine inflammatory damage and virus replication. We detected the expression levels of inflammatory factors and IFN-β through qPCR and ELISA. JC-1 kit was used for detecting the cell mitochondrial Membrane potential (MMP). ROS, SOD, and MDA kits were used for detecting intracellular oxidative stress damage. Metabolites of TCA in lung tissue and serum of mice were detected by GC-MS. Pharmacodynamic studies have shown that intervention with LUT-7G can alleviate lung tissue damage caused by RSV infection, inhibit RSV replication, and downregulate TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expression. LUT-7G upregulated the IFN-β content and the expression of IFN-β, ISG15, and OAS1 mRNA. In vitro, LUT-7G inhibited RSV-induced cell death, reversed the RSV-induced decrease of MMP and decreased intracellular oxidative stress. Target metabonomics showed that RSV infection upregulated the levels of glycolysis and TCA metabolites in lung tissue and serum, while LUT-7G could improve the disorder of glucose metabolism. The results indicate that LUT-7G can promote the release of IFN-β in the lung, alleviate inflammatory damage, and inhibit RSV replication during RSV infection. These effects may be achieved by protecting the mitochondrial function of alveolar macrophages and correcting the disorder of glucose metabolism.

Superhydrophilic and Antifriction Thin Hydrogel Formed under Mild Conditions for Medical Bare Metal Guide Wires

Medical guide wires play a crucial role in the process of intravascular interventional therapy. However, it is essential for bare metal guide wires to possess both hydrophilic lubricity and coating durability, avoiding tissue damage caused by friction inside the blood vessel during the interventional procedure. Additionally, it is still a huge challenge for diverse metal materials to bind with polymer coatings easily. Herein, we present a hydrogel coating scheme and its preparation method for various wires under mild conditions for environmental protection purposes. The preparation process involves surface pretreatment, including low-temperature heating and silanization, followed by a two-step dip coating and ultraviolet polymerization. The whole process leads to the formation of an interpenetrating cross-linked hydrogel network from the substrate to the surface section. This study confirms the superhydrophilicity and lubricity of three metal wires with the designed coating, especially reducing the friction significantly by ≥ 95%. The thin coating (average thickness <6.2 μm) demonstrates strong adhesion with various substrates and exhibits resistance to 25 or even 125 cycles of friction, indicating excellent stability and preventing easy detachment. The finally prepared composite nickel-titanium (NiTi) guide wire with stainless steel (SS) and platinum-tungsten (Pt-W) coils (overall diameter of ∼0.36 mm) shows satisfactory performance with a friction of 0.183 N for 25 cycles, meeting the clinical requirements (average friction ≤0.2 N) for interventional operation. These findings highlight the potential of this study in advancing the development of medical devices, particularly in the field of intravascular interventional therapy.

Deepened Photodynamic Therapy through Skin Optical Clearing Technology in the Visible Light Window

The trade-off that shorter wavelength light facilitates the efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from photosensitizer (PS) while facing the drawback of limited penetration depth through skin tissue restricts the further development of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, we address this contradiction and achieve visible-light-tailored deep PDT combined with the skin optical clearing technology. With the help of the prepared skin optical clearing gel, the refractive index inhomogeneity between skin tissue components is greatly attenuated, and the light scattering effect within the skin tissue is remarkably reduced. As a consequence, the transmittance of visible light at 600 nm through in vitro porcine skin and in vivo mouse skin after treatment increases from approximately 10 and 40 to 70 and 70%, respectively. Furthermore, in the tumor cell eradication experiment, the local ROS generation efficiency in the experimental group is several times higher than that in the control group owing to improved visible transmittance, which is thus responsible for the complete eradication of tumor cells, even when shaded by skin tissue. The results suggest that this strategy may serve as a valuable supplement to the current deep PDT strategies.

TP-0184 inhibits FLT3/ACVR1 to overcome FLT3 inhibitor resistance and hinder AML growth synergistically with venetoclax

We identified activin A receptor type I (ACVR1), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, as a factor favoring acute myeloid leukemia (AML) growth and a new potential therapeutic target. ACVR1 is overexpressed in FLT3-mutated AML and inhibition of ACVR1 expression sensitized AML cells to FLT3 inhibitors. We developed a novel ACVR1 inhibitor, TP-0184, which selectively caused growth arrest in FLT3-mutated AML cell lines. Molecular docking and in vitro kinase assays revealed that TP-0184 binds to both ACVR1 and FLT3 with high affinity and inhibits FLT3/ACVR1 downstream signaling. Treatment with TP-0184 or in combination with BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax dramatically inhibited leukemia growth in FLT3-mutated AML cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that ACVR1 is a novel biomarker and plays a role in AML resistance to FLT3 inhibitors and that FLT3/ACVR1 dual inhibitor TP-0184 is a novel potential therapeutic tool for AML with FLT3 mutations.

Revealing the Subzero-Temperature Electrochemical Kinetics Behaviors in Ni-Rich Cathode

The sluggish kinetics in Ni-rich cathodes at subzero temperatures causes decreased specific capacity and poor rate capability, resulting in slow and unstable charge storage. So far, the driving force of this phenomenon remains a mystery. Herein, with the help of in-situ X-ray diffraction and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques, the continuous accumulation of both the cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film formation and the incomplete structure evolution during cycling under subzero temperature are proposed. It is presented that excessively uniform and thick CEI film generated at subzero temperatures would block the diffusion of Li+ -ions, resulting in incomplete phase evolution and clear charge potential delay. The incomplete phase evolution throughout the Li+ -ion intercalation/de-intercalation processes would further cause low depth of discharge and poor electrochemical reversibility with low initial Coulombic efficiency, as well. In addition, the formation of the thick and uniform CEI film would also consume Li+ -ions during the charging process. This discovery highlights the effects of the CEI film formation behavior and incomplete phase evolution in restricting electrochemical kinetics under subzero temperatures, which the authors believe would promote the further application of the Ni-rich cathodes.

Comprehensive analysis of senescence-related genes and immune infiltration in intervertebral disc degeneration: a meta-data approach utilizing bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data

Objectives: This study aims to identify the key senescence genes and potential regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the etiology of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Method: We analyzed GSE34095 and GSE70362 datasets, identifying key senescence-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in IDD using lasso regression. Risk scores classified patients into high- and low-risk groups. We compared pathways, functions, and immune infiltration between these groups. Diagnostic ability was assessed using ROC curves and a nomogram predicted IDD incidence. In single-cell dataset GSE165722, we evaluated expression of key senescence-related DEGs. Results: We identified 12 key senescence-related DEGs distinguishing high- and low-risk IDD patients. Enrichment analysis revealed cellular stress response, apoptotic signaling pathway, and protein kinase activation differences. Immune cell analysis showed elevated eosinophils in low-risk group and increased effector memory CD8 T, central memory CD4 T, myeloid-derived suppressor, natural killer, monocyte, Type 1 T helper, plasmacytoid dendritic, and natural killer T cells in high-risk group. A nomogram using AUC >0.75 genes (CXCL8, MAP4K4, MINK1, and TNIK) predicted IDD incidence with good diagnostic power. High senescence scores were observed in neutrophils. Conclusion: Our diagnostic model, based on key senescence-related DEGs and immune cell infiltration, offers new insights into IDD pathogenesis and immunotherapy strategies.

A Supramolecular Reinforced Gel Fracturing Fluid with Low Permeability Damage Applied in Deep Reservoir Hydraulic Fracturing

Gel fracturing fluid is the optimum fracturing fluid for proppant suspension, which is commonly applied in deep reservoir hydraulic fracturing. The content of polymers and crosslinkers in gel fracturing fluid is usually high to meet the needs of high-temperature resistance, leading to high costs and reservoir permeability damage caused by incomplete gel-breaking. In this paper, a supramolecular reinforced gel (SRG) fracturing fluid was constructed by strengthening the supramolecular force between polymers. Compared with single network gel (SNG) fracturing fluid, SRG fracturing fluid could possess high elasticity modulus (G' = 12.20 Pa) at lower polymer (0.4 wt%) and crosslinker (0.1 wt%) concentrations. The final viscosity of SRG fracturing fluid was 72.35 mPa·s, meeting the temperature resistance requirement of gel fracturing fluid at 200 °C. The gel-breaking time could be extended to 90-120 min using an encapsulated gel breaker. Gel particles are formed after the gel fracturing fluid is broken. The median particle size of gel particles in the SRG-breaking solution was 126 nm, which was much smaller than that in the industrial gel (IDG) breaking fluid (587 nm). The damage of the SRG-breaking solution to the core permeability was much less than the IDG-breaking solution. The permeability damage of cores caused by the SRG-breaking solutions was only about half that of IDG-breaking solutions at 1 mD.

Meiosis in an asymmetric dikaryotic genome of Tremella fuciformis Tr01 facilitates new chromosome formation

BACKGROUND

The dikaryotic stage dominates most of the life cycle in basidiomycetes, and each cell carries two different haploid nuclei. Accurate phasing of these two nuclear genomes and their interactions have long been of interest.

RESULTS

We combine PacBio HiFi reads, Nanopore ultra-long reads, and Hi-C data to generate a complete, high-quality asymmetric dikaryotic genome of Tremella fuciformis Tr01, including Haplotypes A and B genomes. We assemble a meiotic haploid DBZ04 genome and detect three recombination events in these two haplotypes. We identify several chromosomal rearrangements that lead to differences in chromosome number, length, content, and sequence arrangement between these two haplotypes. Each nucleus contains a two-speed genome, harboring three accessory chromosomes and two accessory compartments that affect horizontal chromatin transfer between nuclei. We find few basidiospores are ejected from fruiting bodies of Tr01. Most monospore isolates sequenced belong to Tr01-Haplotype A genome architecture. More than one-third of monospore isolates carry one or two extra chromosomes including Chr12B and two new chromosomes ChrN1 and ChrN2. We hypothesize that homologous regions of seven sister chromatids pair into a large complex during meiosis, followed by inter-chromosomal recombination at physical contact sites and formation of new chromosomes.

CONCLUSION

We assemble two haplotype genomes of T. fuciformis Tr01 and provide the first overview of basidiomycetous genomes with discrete genomic architecture. Meiotic activities of asymmetric dikaryotic genomes result in formation of new chromosomes, aneuploidy of some daughter cells, and inviability of most other daughter cells. We propose a new approach for breeding of sporeless mushroom.

Occurrence rates and risk factors of in-hospital venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and death in patients receiving fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery

AIM

Fondaparinux is a synthetic anticoagulant that inhibits thrombosis by suppressing factor Xa. The efficacy of fondaparinux for orthopedic surgeries has been revealed by several foreign studies; however, relevant evidence in Chinese patients is lacking. This study intended to investigate the occurrence rate and risk factors of in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE), major bleeding, and death in patients receiving fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery.

METHODS

Totally, 1258 patients who received fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery were retrospectively enrolled. Meanwhile, in-hospital VTE, major bleeding, and death were obtained for assessment. Besides, adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS

The occurrence rates of in-hospital VTE, major bleeding, and death were 2.5%, 21.8%, and 0.0%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only age (> 60 years vs. ≤ 60 years) (odd ratios (OR) = 3.380, P = 0.013) was independently correlated with increased risk of in-hospital VTE. Additionally, osteoarthritis diagnosis (OR = 3.826, P < 0.001), femoral head necrosis diagnosis (OR = 1.809, P = 0.034), hip replacement (vs. internal fracture fixation) (OR = 2.199, P = 0.007), knee replacement (vs. internal fracture fixation) (OR = 2.781, P = 0.002), and serum creatinine (abnormal vs. normal) (OR = 1.677, P = 0.012) were independently linked to a higher risk of in-hospital major bleeding. Moreover, the common adverse events included pain (56.6%), wound bleeding (23.0%), increased drainage (5.2%), etc. CONCLUSION: Fondaparinux realizes low occurrence rates of in-hospital VTE and major bleeding with tolerable adverse events in patients receiving orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery.

3D Assembly of MXene Networks using a Ceramic Backbone with Controlled Porosity

Transition metal carbides (MXenes) are novel 2D nanomaterials with exceptional properties, promising significant impact in applications such as energy storage, catalysis, and energy conversion. A major barrier preventing the widespread use of MXenes is the lack of methods for assembling MXene in 3D space without significant restacking, which degrades their performance. Here, this challenge is successfully overcome by introducing a novel material system: a 3D network of MXene formed on a porous ceramic backbone. The backbone dictates the network's 3D architecture while providing mechanical strength, gas/liquid permeability, and other beneficial properties. Freeze casting is used to fabricate a silica backbone with open pores and controlled porosity. Next, capilary flow is used to infiltrate MXene into the backbone from a dispersion. The system is then dried to conformally coat the pore walls with MXene, creating an interconnected 3D-MXene network. The fabrication approach is reproducible, and the MXene-infiltrated porous silica (MX-PS) system is highly conductive (e.g., 340 S m-1 ). The electrical conductivity of MX-PS is controlled by the porosity distribution, MXene concentration, and the number of infiltration cycles. Sandwich-type supercapacitors with MX-PS electrodes are shown to produce excellent areal capacitance (7.24 F cm-2 ) and energy density (0.32 mWh cm-2 ) with only 6% added MXene mass. This approach of creating 3D architectures of 2D nanomaterials will significantly impact many engineering applications.

Synergistic cytotoxicity of fludarabine, clofarabine, busulfan, vorinostat and olaparib in AML cells

Combinations of nucleoside analog(s) and DNA alkylating agent(s) are used for cancer treatment as components of pre-transplant regimens used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Their efficacies are enhanced by combining drugs with different mechanisms of action, which also allows a reduction in the individual drug dosages and thus potentially in toxicity to the patient. We hypothesized that addition of SAHA and olaparib, an HDAC- and a PARP-inhibitor, respectively, to the established combination of fludarabine, clofarabine and busulfan would enhance AML cell cytotoxicity. Exposure of the AML cell lines KBM3/Bu2506, MV4-11, MOLM14 and OCI-AML3 to the 5-drug combination resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity with combination indexes < 1. Increased protein acetylation and decreased poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation were observed, as expected. Activation of apoptosis was suggested by cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP1, DNA fragmentation, increased reactive oxygen species, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. The reduction in poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation was independent of caspase activation. Several proteins involved in DNA damage response and repair were downregulated, which may be contributing factors for the observed synergism. The increased phosphorylation of DNAPKcs suggests inhibition of its kinase activity and diminution of its role in DNA repair. A similar synergism was observed in patient-derived cell samples. These findings will be important in designing clinical trials using these drug combinations as pre-transplant conditioning regimens for AML patients.

Direct identification of total and missing OH reactivities from light-duty gasoline vehicle exhaust in China based on LP-LIF measurement

Considerable efforts have been devoted to characterising the chemical components of vehicle exhaust. However, these components may not accurately reflect the contribution of vehicle exhaust to atmospheric reactivity because of the presence of species not accounted for ("missing species") given the limitations of analytical instruments. In this study, we improved the laser photolysis-laser-induced fluorescence (LP-LIF) technique and applied it to directly measure the total OH reactivity (TOR) in exhaust gas from light-duty gasoline vehicles in China. The TOR for China I to VI-a vehicles was 15.6, 16.3, 8.4, 2.6, 1.5, and 1.6 × 10⁴ sec^-1, respectively, reflecting a notable drop as emission standards were upgraded. The TOR was comparable between cold and warm starts. The missing OH reactivity (MOR) values for China I to IV vehicles were close to zero with a cold start but were much higher with a warm start. The variations in oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) under different emission standards and for the two start conditions were similar to those of the MOR, indicating that OVOCs and the missing species may have similar production processes. Online measurement revealed that the duration of the stable driving stage was the primary factor leading to the production of OVOCs and missing species. Our findings underscore the importance of direct measurement of TOR from vehicle exhaust and highlight the necessity of adding OVOCs and other organic reactive gases in future upgrades of emission standards, such that the vehicular contribution to atmospheric reactivity can be more effectively controlled.

[Analysis of the correlation between media meniscus displacement index and medial tibiofemoral articular cartilage damage]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between the medial meniscal indentation index (MDI) and medial tibiofemoral articular cartilage damage more than 3 degrees in patients aged 40 to 60 years old with suspected or complicated knee osteoarthritis at non-weight-bearing position, and to determine the predictive threshold.

METHODS

From June 2016 to June 2020, a total of 308 patients who underwent initial knee arthroscopic exploration for chronic knee pain were collected. The age ranged from 36 to 71 years old with an average of(56.40±1.82) years old, including 105 males and 203 females. And patients with extra-articular malformations (abnormal force lines), a history of trauma, inflammatory arthritis and other specific arthritis were excluded. Finally, 89 eligible cases were obtained, aged from 42 to 60 years old with an average of (59.50±0.71) years old, including 45 males and 44 females. The degree of cartilage damage in the medial compartment of the knee joint was recorded, which was divided into two groups(≥degree 3 and

RESULTS

A total of 89 eligible patients were obtained. Univariate analysis showed age, BMI, MDI and meniscus injury may be the independent risk factors for cartilage damage of more than 3 degrees, further binary Logistic regression analysis confirmed that MDI[OR=1.66, 95%CI(1.64, 1.69), P=0.01]and BMI [OR=1.58, 95%CI(1.17, 2.15), P=0.03] were independent risk factors for cartilage injury of more than degree 3 in enrolled patients. ROC analysis showed that MDI had more diagnostic value than BMI, and the critical value was 0.355 with a sensitivity of 89.1% and a specificity of 88.2%.

CONCLUSION

In doubt or accompanied by 40 to 60 years old patients with knee osteoarthritis, the MDI measured by non-weight-bearing knee MRI has predictive value for cartilage injury of more than degree 3 in medial tibiofemoral joint, and the critical value for diagnosis of cartilage injury of more than degree 3 is 0.355.

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Key Words

• Joint arthroscopy
• Meniscus
• Osteoarthritis

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MESH Headings

• Male
• Female
• Humans
• Adult
• Middle Aged
• Aged
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery
• Cartilage, Articular/diagnostic imaging
• Cartilage, Articular/surgery
• Knee Joint/surgery
• Meniscus
• Menisci, Tibial/diagnostic imaging
• Menisci, Tibial/surgery
• Cartilage Diseases
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging/adverse effects

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Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Bin Yuan Department of Orthopedics, Xinyi People's Hospital, Xuzhou 221400, Jiangsu, China
Wei Zhang Department of Orthopedics, Xinyi People's Hospital, Xuzhou 221400, Jiangsu, China

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The application of policy composite indicators to predicting the health risk and recovery: a global comparative investigation

OBJECTIVES

There emerges increasing doubt regarding whether the policy composite indicators are applicable to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few early studies demonstrate that the association between some composite indicators of policy preparedness and the risk of COVID-19 is statistically insignificant, and the relation between any composite indicators and recovery process (e.g., vaccination coverage) remains unexplored. To examine the relation between composite indicators and pandemic risk (as well as the vaccination coverage) with robustness, this study applies different policy preparedness indicators by using data from multi-sources.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional analysis was performed.

METHOD

Regression analysis is adopted to examine the relation between four policy preparedness indicators (i.e., [1] International Health Regulations core capacity index, [2] Global Health Security Index, [3] epidemic preparedness index, and [4] World Governance Index) and COVID-19-confirmed cases/death/vaccination coverage at different time points. The linear regression is performed, and the spatial distribution of indicators are illustrated.

RESULTS

Countries with higher ranking in policy preparedness indexes can experience less severity of pandemic risk (e.g., confirmed cases and mortality) and faster recovery process (e.g., higher vaccination coverage). However, slight disparity in effectiveness exists across different indicators.

CONCLUSION

Results show that the policy preparedness indicators have predictive value of the confirmed cases, mortality, and vaccination coverage of COVID-19 pandemic, given sufficiently long-time span is observed.

Exploring HONO formation and its role in driving secondary pollutants formation during winter in the North China Plain

Daytime HONO photolysis is an important source of atmospheric hydroxyl radicals (OH). Knowledge of HONO formation chemistry under typical haze conditions, however, is still limited. In the Multiphase chemistry experiment in Fogs and Aerosols in the North China Plain in 2018, we investigated the wintertime HONO formation and its atmospheric implications at a rural site Gucheng. Three different episodes based on atmospheric aerosol loading levels were classified: clean periods (CPs), moderately polluted periods (MPPs) and severely polluted periods (SPPs). Correlation analysis revealed that HONO formation via heterogeneous conversion of NO₂ was more efficient on aerosol surfaces than on ground, highlighting the important role of aerosols in promoting HONO formation. Daytime HONO budget analysis indicated a large missing source (with an average production rate of 0.66 ± 0.26, 0.97 ± 0.47 and 1.45 ± 0.55 ppbV/hr for CPs, MPPs and SPPs, respectively), which strongly correlated with photo-enhanced reactions (NO₂ heterogeneous reaction and particulate nitrate photolysis). Average OH formation derived from HONO photolysis reached up to (0.92 ± 0.71), (1.75 ± 1.26) and (1.82 ± 1.47) ppbV/hr in CPs, MPPs and SPPs respectively, much higher than that from O₃ photolysis (i.e., (0.004 ± 0.004), (0.006 ± 0.007) and (0.0035 ± 0.0034) ppbV/hr). Such high OH production rates could markedly regulate the atmospheric oxidation capacity and hence promote the formation of secondary aerosols and pollutants.

Molecular mechanism of de novo replication by the Ebola virus polymerase

Non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV), rabies virus, human respiratory syncytial virus and pneumoviruses, can cause respiratory infections, haemorrhagic fever and encephalitis in humans and animals, and are considered a substantial health and economic burden worldwide1. Replication and transcription of the viral genome are executed by the large (L) polymerase, which is a promising target for the development of antiviral drugs. Here, using the L polymerase of EBOV as a representative, we show that de novo replication of L polymerase is controlled by the specific 3' leader sequence of the EBOV genome in an enzymatic assay, and that formation of at least three base pairs can effectively drive the elongation process of RNA synthesis independent of the specific RNA sequence. We present the high-resolution structures of the EBOV L-VP35-RNA complex and show that the 3' leader RNA binds in the template entry channel with a distinctive stable bend conformation. Using mutagenesis assays, we confirm that the bend conformation of the RNA is required for the de novo replication activity and reveal the key residues of the L protein that stabilize the RNA conformation. These findings provide a new mechanistic understanding of RNA synthesis for polymerases of non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses, and reveal important targets for the development of antiviral drugs.

Low-NO-like Oxidation Pathway Makes a Significant Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol in Polluted Urban Air

Anthropogenic pollutants can greatly mediate formation pathways and chemical compositions of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in urban atmospheres. We investigated the molecular tracers for different types of SOA in PM2.5 under varying NO/NO2 conditions in Guangzhou using source analysis of particle-phase speciated organics obtained from an iodide chemical ionization mass spectrometer with a Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO-I-CIMS). Results show that low-NO-like pathways (when NO/NO2 < 0.2) explained ∼75% of the total measured FIGAERO-OA during regional transport periods, which was enriched in more-oxidized C4-C6 non-nitrogenous compounds over ozone accumulation. Daytime high-NO chemistry played larger roles (38%) in local pollution episodes, with organic nitrates (ONs) and nitrophenols increasing with enhanced aerosol water content and nitrate fraction. Nighttime NO3-initiated oxidation, characterized by monoterpene-derived ONs, accounted for comparable percentages (10-12%) of FIGAERO-OA for both two periods. Furthermore, the presence of organosulfates (OSs) improves the understanding of the roles of aqueous-phase processes in SOA production. Carbonyl-derived OSs exhibited a preferential formation under conditions of high aerosol acidity and/or abundant sulfate, which correlated well with low-NO-like SOA. Our results demonstrate the importance of NO/NO2 ratios in controlling SOA compositions, as well as interactions between water content, aerosol acidity, and inorganic salts in gas-to-particle partitioning of condensable organics.

Unlocking Reversible Silicon Redox for High-Performing Chlorine Batteries

Chlorine (Cl)-based batteries such as Li/Cl2 batteries are recognized as promising candidates for energy storage with low cost and high performance. However, the current use of Li metal anodes in Cl-based batteries has raised serious concerns regarding safety, cost, and production complexity. More importantly, the well-documented parasitic reactions between Li metal and Cl-based electrolytes require a large excess of Li metal, which inevitably sacrifices the electrochemical performance of the full cell. Therefore, it is crucial but challenging to establish new anode chemistry, particularly with electrochemical reversibility, for Cl-based batteries. Here we show, for the first time, reversible Si redox in Cl-based batteries through efficient electrolyte dilution and anode/electrolyte interface passivation using 1,2-dichloroethane and cyclized polyacrylonitrile as key mediators. Our Si anode chemistry enables significantly increased cycling stability and shelf lives compared with conventional Li metal anodes. It also avoids the use of a large excess of anode materials, thus enabling the first rechargeable Cl2 full battery with remarkable energy and power densities of 809 Wh kg-1 and 4,277 W kg-1 , respectively. The Si anode chemistry affords fast kinetics with remarkable rate capability and low-temperature electrochemical performance, indicating its great potential in practical applications.

Unlocking Deep and Fast Potassium-Ion Storage through Phosphorus Heterostructure

Potassium-ion battery represents a promising alternative of conventional lithium-ion batteries in sustainable and grid-scale energy storage. Among various anode materials, elemental phosphorus (P) has been actively pursued owing to the ideal natural abundance, theoretical capacity, and electrode potential. However, the sluggish redox kinetics of elemental P has hindered fast and deep potassiation process toward the formation of final potassiation product (K3 P), which leads to inferior reversible capacity and rate performance. Here, it is shown that rational design on black/red P heterostructure can significantly improve K-ion adsorption, injection and immigration, thus for the first time unlocking K3 P as the reversible potassiation product for elemental P anodes. Density functional theory calculations reveal the fast adsorption and diffusion kinetics of K-ion at the heterostructure interface, which delivers a highly reversible specific capacity of 923 mAh g-1 at 0.05 A g-1 , excellent rate capability (335 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 ), and cycling performance (83.3% capacity retention at 0.8 A g-1 after 300 cycles). These results can unlock other sluggish and irreversible battery chemistries toward sustainable and high-performing energy storage.

The impact of retirement on body mass index in China: An empirical study based on regression discontinuity design

An aging population is an important trend of social development, and it will be China's basic national condition for a long time. However, the pressure on domestic pension payments and economic operations will increase daily. The delayed retirement policy is gradually implemented as a critical initiative to improve capital and labor force allocation. The impact of retirement on residents' Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight has become a focus issue. This paper investigates the mechanism of the impact of retirement on residents' BMI using microdata from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2018, combined with a fuzzy regression discontinuity design to measure the potential health impact of China's current retirement policy on residents. The study finds that: (1) Retirement has a significant negative effect on BMI for women, with retirement leading to a significantly increased risk of deviation from normal BMI levels and significantly increasing the weight of retired women. However, retirement does not have a significant effect on men. (2) Retirement policies affect residents' BMI to different degrees depending on their family size, with the negative effect on women being more pronounced in smaller family sizes. (3) Female residents who retire to help their children with intergenerational care are more likely to maintain normal BMI levels, significantly positively affecting their potential health. (4) Retirement negatively affects BMI through channels such as significantly reducing exercise frequency among female residents. The study demonstrates that retirement policy impacts the BMI and weight of female residents, so the formulation and implementation of delayed retirement policy should be flexible, and family factors such as family sizes and intergenerational care should be considered appropriately.

SARS-CoV-2 main protease cleaves MAGED2 to antagonize host antiviral defense

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent causing the global pandemic of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes a main protease (nsp5, also called Mpro) and a papain-like protease (nsp3, also called PLpro), which are responsible for processing viral polyproteins to assemble a functional replicase complex. In this study, we found that Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 can cleave human MAGED2 and other mammalian orthologs at Gln-263. Moreover, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Mpro can also cleave human MAGED2, suggesting MAGED2 cleavage by Mpro is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of coronavirus infection in mammals. Intriguingly, Mpro from Beta variant cleaves MAGED2 more efficiently than wild type, but Omicron Mpro is opposite. Further studies show that MAGED2 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection at viral replication step. Mechanistically, MAGED2 is associated with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein through its N-terminal region in an RNA-dependent manner, and this disrupts the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and viral genome, thus inhibiting viral replication. When MAGED2 is cleaved by Mpro, the N-terminal of MAGED2 will translocate into the nucleus, and the truncated MAGED2 is unable to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. This work not only discovers the antiviral function of MAGED2 but also provides new insights into how SARS-CoV-2 Mpro antagonizes host antiviral response. IMPORTANCE Host factors that restrict severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain elusive. Here, we found that MAGED2 can be cleaved by SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) at Gln-263. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Mpro can also cleave MAGED2, and MAGED2 from multiple species can be cleaved by SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Mpro from Beta variant cleaves MAGED2 more efficiently efficiently than wild type, but Omicron is the opposite. MAGED2 depletion enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting its inhibitory role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mechanistically, MAGED2 restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication by disrupting the interaction between nucleocapsid and viral genomes. When MAGED2 is cleaved, its N-terminal will translocate into the nucleus. In this way, Mpro relieves MAGED2' inhibition on viral replication. This study improves our understanding of complex viral-host interaction and provides novel targets to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Activated Expression of Rice DMR6-like Gene OsS3H Partially Explores the Susceptibility to Bacterial Leaf Streak Mediated by Knock-Out OsF3H04g

Downy Mildew Resistance 6-like (DMR6-like) genes are identified as salicylic acid (SA) hydroxylases and negative regulators of plant immunity. Previously, we identified two rice DMR6-like genes, OsF3H03g, and OsF3H04g, that act as susceptible targets of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which causes bacterial leaf streak (BLS) in rice. Furthermore, all four homologs of rice DMR6-like proteins were identified to predominantly carry the enzyme activity of SA 5-hydroxylase (S5H), negatively regulate rice broad-spectrum resistance, and cause the loss of function of these OsDMR6s, leading to increased resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight (BB). Here, we curiously found that an OsF3H04g knock-out mutant created by T-DNA insertion, osf3h04g, was remarkedly susceptible to BLS and BB and showed an extreme reduction in SA content. OsF3H04g knock-out rice lines produced by gene-editing were mildly susceptible to BLS and reduced content of SA. To explore the susceptibility mechanism in OsF3H04g loss-of-function rice lines, transcriptome sequencing revealed that another homolog, OsS3H, had induced expression in the loss-of-function OsF3H04g rice lines. Furthermore, we confirmed that a great induction of OsS3H downstream and genomically adjacent to OsF3H04g in osf3h04g was primarily related to the inserted T-DNA carrying quadruple enhancer elements of 35S, while a slight induction was caused by an unknown mechanism in gene-editing lines. Then, we found that the overexpression of OsS3H increased rice susceptibility to BLS, while gene-editing mediated the loss-of-function OsS3H enhanced rice resistance to BLS. However, the knock-out of both OsF3H04g and OsS3H by gene-editing only neutralized rice resistance to BLS. Thus, we concluded that the knock-out of OsF3H04g activated the expression of the OsS3H, partially participating in the susceptibility to BLS in rice.

Qingfei Formula Protects against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus-induced Lung Inflammatory Injury by Regulating the MAPK Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

Qingfei formula (QF) is an empirical formula that shows good clinical efficacy in treating human respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia (RSVP). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study explores the possible pharmacological actions of QF in RSVP treatment.

METHODS

We used a network pharmacology approach to identify the active ingredients of QF, forecast possible therapeutic targets, and analyze biological processes and pathways. Molecular docking simulation was used to evaluate the binding capability of active ingredients and therapeutic targets. Finally, in vivo experiments confirmed the reliability of network pharmacology-based prediction of underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

The study identified 92 potential therapeutic targets and corresponding 131 active ingredients. Enrichment analysis showed that QF downregulated the MAPK signaling pathway and suppressed the inflammatory injury to the lungs induced by the RSV virus. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated that the core active ingredients of QF could stably bind to genes associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. QF had a protective effect against pneumonia in RSV-infected mice. The QF group exhibited a significant reduction in the levels of inflammatory mediators, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (CXCL8, IL-8), and P-STAT3, compared to the RSV-induced group. The QF group showed remarkably inhibited MAPK1+3(P-ERK1+2) and MAPK8(P-JNK) protein expression.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed that QF downregulated the MAPK signaling pathway, which inhibited pulmonary inflammation triggered by RSV infection. This study recommends the appropriate use of QF in the clinical management of RSVP.