U.S. Fortune 500's stakeholders engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for proactive approaches

In times of a national crisis such as COVID-19, it is important for organizations to show that they are good corporate citizens. At the same time, organizations should carefully select the type of messages that resonate with stakeholders so as to reduce stakeholder skepticism. This study examines how U.S. Fortune 500 companies discussed their COVID-19 pandemic CSR actions on Facebook over 15 months and how the public responded to such messages. We identified three CSR themes: internal stakeholder proactive CSR, external stakeholder proactive CSR, and external stakeholder accommodative CSR. When publics engaged, external stakeholder proactive CSR was significantly associated with better behavioral engagement outcomes, more positive emotional engagement outcomes, and less negative emotions. However, such effects are moderated by industry type. Our findings inform public relations theory and practice and suggest that in times of major crises, organizations should prioritize proactive approaches to engage external stakeholders while being mindful of specific institutional contexts.

A mixed acid treatment for the prevention of Ulva prolifera attachment to Neopyropia aquaculture rafts: Laboratory experimentation

The sessile green macroalgae in the Neopyropia aquaculture areas of the Subei Shoal are a confirmed source of green tides in the Southern Yellow Sea (SYS) of China. The green tides have a significant impact on local economic development (tourism, aquaculture, etc.) and ecological stability. In order to develop an effective method for eliminating the green macroalgae attached to Neopyropia aquaculture rafts, this study investigated the effects of mixed acid solutions (0.0475 % hydrochloric acid [HCl] and pH 2.0 citric acid) on cell damage, chlorophyll composition, phycobiliprotein content, and the photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of Ulva prolifera and Neopyropia yezoensis. The chlorophyll contents of U. prolifera and N. yezoensis were significantly affected by the mixed acid solutions. After treatment with a mixed acid solution (4:3 volume ratio of HCl to citric acid) for 5 s, the photosynthetic pigment content of U. prolifera was significantly different from that of normal U. prolifera. However, photosynthetic pigment content in the treated N. yezoensis increased significantly. In addition, mixed acid solution treatment had a significant effect on the Fv/Fm of U. prolifera and N. yezoensis. After mixed acid treatment (4:3 HCl to citric acid), U. prolifera completely died, but the Fv/Fm of N. yezoensis was restored after 3 d. Therefore, a mixed acid solution comprising 0.0475 % HCl and pH 2.0 citric acid (at a volume ratio of 4:3) can be used as an agent for the removal of green macroalgae from Neopyropia aquaculture areas.

Interfacial reactions of catalytic ozone membranes resulting in the release and degradation of irreversible foulants

An efficient in-situ self-cleaning catalytic ceramic-membrane tailored with MnO₂-Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (Mn-Co-CM) was fabricated. Density functional theory calculations result substantiated that molecular ozone could be effectively adsorbed by oxygen vacancies (OV) on the Mn-Co-CM surface and then direct activated into a surface-bound atomic oxygen (*O_ad) and a peroxide (*O_{2, ad}), ultimately producing ^·OH. Mn-Co-CM coupling with ozone efficiently removed foulants from the permeate and the membrane surface simultaneously and leading to in-situ formation of ^·OH that changed the nature of the irreversible foulants and ultimately resulted in the rapid release and degradation of humic acid-like substances causing irreversible fouling. However, the commercial CM with ozone mainly removed cake layer fouling including protein-like and fulvic acid-like substances, followed by the slow release and degradation of irreversible foulant, resulting in many humic acid-like substances remain on the membrane surface as irreversible fouling. Based on these, the flux growth rate of Mn-Co-CM was 3.5 times higher than that of CM with ozone. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of in-situ membrane fouling mitigation, when using an efficient catalytic ceramic-membrane. This will facilitate the development of membrane antifouling strategies.

Rapid magnetic separation: An immunoassay platform for the SERS-based detection of subarachnoid hemorrhage biomarkers

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is of vital importance to the progression and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The construction of a simple, sensitive, and accurate detection assay for measuring the biomarkers associated with BBB injury is still an urgent need owing to the complex pathogenesis of SAH and low expression levels of pathological molecules. Herein, we introduced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) label-embedded Fe₃O₄@Au core-shell nanoparticles as ideal SERS sensors for quantitative double detection of MMP-9 and occludin in SAH patients. Meanwhile, utilizing the SERS signals to dynamically estimate MMP-9 and occludin concentration in the rat SAH model is the first application in exploring the relationship of pathological MMP-9 and occludin molecular levels with neurobehavioral score. This method warrants reliable detection toward MMP-9 and occludin with a wide recognition range and a low detection limit in blood samples. Furthermore, the results monitored by the SERS assay exactly matched with those obtained through a traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The aforementioned results demonstrated this novel biosensor strategy has extensive application prospects in the quantitative measurement of multiple types of biomolecules in body fluid samples.

An updated analysis of the association between CD2-associated protein gene rs9349407 polymorphism and Alzheimer’s disease in Chinese population

Background

Since 2011, three large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have confirmed that the CD2AP rs9349407 polymorphism is significantly connected with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in individuals of European descent. Subsequently, this association has been replicated in European populations, but is unclear whether it can be replicated in Chinese. Recently, the correlation between rs9349407 and AD in the Chinese population has become a research hotspot.

Objective

To explore the association between rs9349407 polymorphism and AD in the Chinese population.

Materials and methods

Firstly, based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria, we selected 11 independent studies from 8 articles exploring the correlation between rs9349407 variation and AD in Chinese. Secondly, we conducted a meta-analysis based on fixed and random effect models and conducted a heterogeneity test. Thirdly, we used the additive model, dominant model, and recessive model for subgroup analysis.

Results

We demonstrated that the CD2AP rs9349407 polymorphism increases AD susceptibility in Chinese populations (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.08–1.64, P = 7.45E-03), which is consistent with the effect observed in Caucasian populations. Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that rs9349407 under the additive model (GG + CC vs. GC, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61–0.97, P = 2.04E-02) and dominant model (GG + GC vs. CC, OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32–0.74, P = 8.51E-04) were also significantly correlated with AD susceptibility, but not under the recessive model (GG vs. GC + CC, OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.58–1.03, P = 7.44E-02).

Conclusion

These existing data suggest that rs9349307 is significantly correlated with the susceptibility to AD in the Chinese population, but future studies with large samples are needed to confirm our findings.

Functional characterization of a Colchicum autumnale L. double-bond reductase (CaDBR1) in colchicine biosynthesis

An alkenal double-bond reductase enzyme (CaDBR1) was cloned from Colchicum autumnale L. The encoded enzyme catalysed 4-coumaraldehyde to 4-hydroxydihydrocinnamaldehyde (4-HDCA). Its functional characterization increased the understanding of colchicine biosynthesis. As a traditional medical plant, Colchicum autumnale L. is famous for producing colchicine, a widely used drug for alleviating gout attacks. The biosynthetic pathway of colchicine was revealed most recently, and 4-hydroxydihydrocinnamaldehyde (4-HDCA) has been verified as a crucial intermediate derived from L-phenylalanine. However, the functional gene that catalyses the formation of 4-HDCA remains controversial. In this study, the alkenal double-bond reductase (DBR) gene member CaDBR1 was cloned and characterized from C. autumnale. Bioinformatics analysis predicted and characterized the basic physicochemical properties of CaDBR1. Recombinant CaDBR1 protein was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by a Ni-NTA column. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that CaDBR1 could catalyse 4-coumaraldehyde to form 4-HDCA but could not generate 4-HDCA by taking cinnamaldehyde as a substrate. Stable transformation into tobacco BY-2 cells revealed that CaDBR1 localized in the cytoplasm, and tissue-specific expression results showed that CaDBR1 had the highest expression in bulbs. All these results verify and confirm the participation and contribution of CaDBR1 in the biosynthesis pathway of 4-HDCA and colchicine alkaloids in C. autumnale.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Oral Fluid Using a Magnetic Particle-Based Chemiluminescence Immunoassay - Beijing Municipality, China, 2021

Introduction

Oral fluids (OFs) have been broadly used as non-invasive samples for evaluating protective IgG antibodies from natural infection or vaccination, especially in pediatric populations.

Methods

Paired OF and serum were collected from both individuals who received a booster dose of the inactive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine as well as those who did not have a history of COVID-19 vaccination and infection (as the control group). The total human IgG antibody (HIgG) content was evaluated as a marker of OF sampling quality. An in-house adapted magnetic particle-based chemiluminescence immunoassay was used for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG antibody detection in the OF. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in the serum samples was detected using a commercial immunoassay.

Results

In total, 579 paired OF and serum samples were collected. An additional 172 OF samples were collected from preschool children. The results indicated that the HIgG concentration in qualified OF samples should be higher than 0.3 µg/mL. Compared to the serum assay, the in-house OF immunoassay for detecting IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 had 95.06% accuracy, 95.03% sensitivity, and 100% specificity.

Conclusions

Overall, the in-house immunoassay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in OF showed high potential for application towards serological surveillance and immunization effect assessment after large-scale, inactive COVID-19 vaccination in China.

How Public Health Agencies Break through COVID-19 Conversations: A Strategic Network Approach to Public Engagement

In times of public health emergencies, health agencies need to engage and communicate with the public in real-time to share updates and accurate information. This is especially the case for the COVID-19 pandemic where public engagement can potentially save lives and flatten the curve. This paper considers how the use of interactive features and strategic network positions of health agencies on social media influenced their public engagement outcomes. Specifically, we analyzed 203 U.S. public health agencies' Twitter activity and the public engagement they received by extracting data from a large-scale Twitter dataset collected from January 21st to May 31st, 2020. Results show that health agencies' network position in addition to their two-way communication strategy greatly influenced the level of public engagement with their COVID-19 related content on Twitter. Findings highlight the benefits of strategic social media communication of public health agencies resides not only in how agencies use social media but also in their formation of network position to amplify their visibility. As official sources of health and risk information, public health agencies should coordinate their social media communication efforts to strategically position themselves in advantageous network positions to augment public engagement outcomes.

MicroRNA-223 downregulation promotes HBx-induced podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its related protein, HBV X (HBx), play an important role in podocyte injury in HBV-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN). The microRNA MiR-223 is expressed in several diseases, including HBV-associated disease, while the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a major role in pyroptosis. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of action of miR-223 in HBx-induced podocyte pyroptosis. A quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay showed that miR-223 was downregulated in HBx-transfected podocytes. Transfection with an miR-223 mimic abolished the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the cytokines that are released as a result of NLRP3 overexpression. Moreover, transfection with HBx and NLRP3 overexpression plasmids increased the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, especially in the presence of miR-223 inhibitors. Thus, miR-223 downregulation plays an important role in HBx-induced podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that miR-223 is a potential therapeutic target for alleviating HBV-GN inflammation.

Quantitative and Noninvasive Detection of SAH-Related MiRNA in Cerebrospinal Fluids In Vivo Using SERS Sensors Based on Acupuncture-Based Technology

Quantitative analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a noninvasive manner is of vital importance for disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. However, conventional strategies for realizing accurate, simple, and sensitive detection of target molecules are still a challenge, especially for miRNAs due to their low abundance and susceptibility in the complex biological environment. Here, a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) strategy was established for quantitative detection and monitoring of miRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) in living cells and in vivo cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by applying hairpin DNA (hpDNA)-conjugated gold nanostars (GNSs) SERS probes combined with acupuncture-based technology. This strategy enabled ultrasensitive exploration toward miR-21-5p in a wide range from 1 fM to 100 pM in cell lysates. Moreover, SERS analysis facilitated the detection and long-term monitoring for in vivo miR-21-5p noninvasively. This developed strategy promises to offer a powerful method for the analysis of multiple biomolecules in single cells and living bodies.

Two-dimensional layered carbon-based catalytic ozonation for water purification: Rational design of catalysts and an in-depth understanding of the interfacial reaction mechanism

This review renewed insight into the existing complex and contradictory mechanisms of catalytic ozonation by two-dimensional layered carbon-based materials (2D-LCMs) for degradation toxic refractory organics in aqueous solution. Migration and capture of active electrons are central to catalytic ozonation reactions, which was not studied or reviewed more clearly. Based on this perspective, the catalytic ozonation potential of 2D-LCMs synthesized by numerous methods is firstly contrasted to guide the design of subsequent carbon based-catalysts, and not limited to 2D-LCMs. Matching ROS to active sites is a key step in understanding the catalytic mechanism. The structure-activity relationships between reported numerous active sites and ROS evolution is then constructed. Result showed that OH could be produced by -OH, -C=O, -COOH groups, defective sites, immobilized metal atoms, doped heteroatoms and photo-induced electrons; and O₂^- could be produced by -OH groups and sp²-bonded carbon. The normalized model further be used to visually compare the contribution degree of various regulatory methods to performance improvement. More importantly, this review calls for 2D-LCMs-based catalytic ozonation to be studied without circumventing the issue of structural stability, which would lead to many proposals of catalysts and its involved catalytic reaction mechanism being meaningless.

Boron Removal from Reverse Osmosis Permeate Using an Electrosorption Process: Feasibility, Kinetics, and Mechanism

Boron is present in the form of boric acid (B(OH)₃ or H₃BO₃) in seawater, geothermal waters, and some industrial wastewaters but is toxic at elevated concentrations to both plants and humans. Effective removal of boron from solutions at circumneutral pH by existing technologies such as reverse osmosis is constrained by high energy consumption and low removal efficiency. In this work, we present an asymmetric, membrane-containing flow-by electrosorption system for boron removal. Upon charging, the catholyte pH rapidly increases to above ∼10.7 as a result of water electrolysis and other Faradaic reactions with resultant deprotonation of boric acid to form B(OH)₄^- and subsequent removal from solution by electrosorption to the anode. Results also show that the asymmetric flow-by electrosorption system is capable of treating feed streams with high concentrations of boron and RO permeate containing multiple competing ionic species. On the basis of the experimental results obtained, a mathematical model has been developed that adequately describes the kinetics and mechanism of boron removal by the asymmetric electrosorption system. Overall, this study not only provides new insights into boron removal mechanisms by electrosorption but also opens up a new pathway to eliminate amphoteric pollutants from contaminated source waters.

Unbalanced ER-mitochondrial calcium homeostasis promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and associated apoptotic pathways activation in methylmercury exposed rat cortical neurons

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a cumulative environmental pollutant that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and cause damage to the brain, mainly targeting the central nervous system. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of calcium ion (Ca²⁺ ) homeostasis between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity. Rat primary cortical neurons exposed to MeHg (0.25-1 μm) underwent dose-dependent cell damage, accompanied by increased Ca²⁺ release from the ER and elevated levels of free Ca²⁺ in cytoplasm and mitochondria. MeHg also increased the protein and messenger RNA expressions of the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, ryanodine receptor 2, and mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Ca²⁺ channel inhibitors 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate and procaine reduced the release of Ca²⁺ from ER, while RR and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate inhibited Ca²⁺ uptake from mitochondria. In addition, pretreatment with Ca²⁺ chelator BAPTA-AM effectively restored mitochondrial membrane potential levels, inhibited over opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and maintained mitochondrial function stability. Meanwhile, the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins recovered to some extent, along with the reduction of the early apoptosis ratio. These results suggest that Ca²⁺ homeostasis plays an essential role in mitochondrial damage and apoptosis induced by MeHg, which may be one of the important mechanisms of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.

Mating-Type Genes Control Sexual Reproduction, Conidial Germination, and Virulence in Cochliobolus lunatus

Cochliobolus lunatus (anamorph: Curvularia lunata) is a major pathogenic fungus that causes the Curvularia leaf spot of maize. ClMAT1-1-1 and ClMAT1-2-1, the C. lunatus orthologs of C. heterostrophus ChMAT1-1-1 and ChMAT1-2-1, were investigated in the present study to uncover their functions in C. lunatus. Southern blot analysis showed that these mating-type MAT genes exist in the C. lunatus genome as a single copy. ClMAT1-1-1 and ClMAT1-2-1 were knocked out and complemented to generate ΔClmat1-1-1 and ΔClmat1-2-1 and ΔClmat1-1-1-C and ΔClmat1-2-1-C, respectively. The mutant strains had defective sexual development and failed to produce pseudothecia. There were no significant differences in growth rate or conidia production between the mutant and wild-type strains. However, the aerial mycelia and mycelial dry weight of ΔClmat1-1-1 and ΔClmat1-2-1 were lower than those of wild type, suggesting that MAT genes affect asexual development. ClMAT genes were involved in the responses to cell wall integrity and osmotic adaptation. ΔClmat1-2-1 had a lower conidial germination rate than the wild-type strain CX-3. The virulence of ΔClmat1-2-1 and ΔClmat1-1-1 was also reduced compared with the wild-type. Complementary strains could restore all the phenotypes.

TAT-HSP27 Peptide Improves Neurologic Deficits via Reducing Apoptosis After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Cell apoptosis plays an important role in early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a member of the small heat shock protein (HSP) family, is induced by various stress factors and exerts protective role on cells. However, the role of HSP27 in brain injury after SAH needs to be further clarified. Here, we reported that HSP27 level of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is increased obviously at day 1 in patients with aneurysmal SAH (aSAH) and related to the grades of Hunt and Hess (HH), World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS), and Fisher score. In rat SAH model, HSP27 of CSF is first increased and then obviously declined; overexpression of HSP27, not knockdown of HSP27, attenuates SAH-induced neurological deficit and cell apoptosis in the basal cortex; and overexpression of HSP27 effectively suppresses SAH-elevated activation of mitogen-activated protein Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4), the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), c-Jun, and caspase-3. In an in vitro hemolysate-damaged cortical neuron model, HSP27₆₅₋₉₀ peptide effectively inhibits hemolysate-induced neuron death. Furthermore, TAT-HSP27₆₅₋₉₀ peptide, a fusion peptide consisting of trans-activating regulatory protein (TAT) of HIV and HSP27₆₅₋₉₀ peptide, effectively attenuates SAH-induced neurological deficit and cell apoptosis in the basal cortex of rats. Altogether, our results suggest that TAT-HSP27 peptide improves neurologic deficits via reducing apoptosis.

A Nodule-Localized Small Heat Shock Protein GmHSP17.1 Confers Nodule Development and Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are ubiquitous proteins present in all organisms. The sHSPs are not only upregulated under heat shock as well as other stresses but also are expressed in unstressed cells, indicating quite diverse functions of sHSPs. However, there is little known about the role of sHSPs in nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean. In this study, we cloned a candidate protein of sHSP, GmHSP17.1, from proteome of nodule and analyzed its function in soybean nodulation. We found that GmHSP17.1 was a cytosolic protein and preferentially expressed during nodule development. An overexpression of GmHSP17.1 in composite transgenic plants showed increases in nodule number, fresh weight, nodule size, area of infection cells, and nitrogenase activity, and subsequently promoted the content of nitrogen and growth of soybean plants. While GmHSP17.1 RNA interference (RNAi) lines showed significantly impaired nodule development and nitrogen fixation efficiency. Through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), GmRIP1 was identified as the first potential target of GmHSP17.1, and was shown to be specifically expressed in soybean nodules. The interaction between GmHSP17.1 and GmRIP1 was further confirmed by yeast-two hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) in vivo and pull-down assay in vitro. Furthermore, peroxidase activity was markedly increased in GmHSP17.1 overexpressed nodules and decreased in RNAi lines. As a result, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content greatly decreased in GmHSP17.1 overexpression lines and increased in suppression lines. Taken together, we conclude that GmHSP17.1 plays an important role in soybean nodulation through interacting with GmRIP1. Our results provide foundation for studying the mechanism of nitrogen fixation and for the genetics improvement of legume plants.

[Application of oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection]

This study aimed to explore the application value of new biological specimen oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection. Oral fluid and paired respiratory and blood specimens from 7 confirmed cases of two COVID-19 cluster epidemic were collected in Beijing from October to November 2021. SARS-CoV-2 virus and IgG antibody were detected by real time PCR kits and serum antibody detection reagents, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in oral fluids was detected by a new established method of magnetic particle chemiluminescence. The results showed that the nucleic acid amplification test of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs and oral fluid specimens from 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was positive, among which the Ct value for ORF1a/b and N gene of oral fluid samples in 2 cases was close to that of throat swab, and the Ct value of oral fluid sample for 1 case was higher than that of throat swab. The complete genome sequence of one oral fluid specimen was obtained, which belonged to the VOC/Delta variant strain. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies of the paired oral fluid and serum were all positive, and the S/CO values of oral fluid were all lower than those of serum. The series of oral fluid results showed that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody level increased from 11 to 32 days after the onset of the disease.

[Application of acellular bovine pericardium patch in implant based immediate breast reconstruction]

Objective: To examine the clinical effect of acellular bovine pericardium patch in implant based immediate breast reconstruction. Methods: The clinicopathological information of 141 breast cancer patients, who admitted to Department of Breast Reconstruction and Oncoplastic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital, underwent immediate mammoplasty with implants combined with acellular bovine pericardium patches were analyzed from June 2016 to October 2019. All patients were female, with the age of (38.8±8.5) years (range: 13 to 60 years). The body mass index was (21.9±2.5) kg/m² (range: 16.0 to 32.3 kg/m²). There were 39 cases of duct carcinoma in situ, 46 cases of stage Ⅰ, 40 cases of stage Ⅱ and 16 cases of stage Ⅲ. All patients received nipple-areola-sparing mastectomy or skin-sparing mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection, and prosthesis implantation with sub-pectoralis combined with breast patch. The correlation of clinicopathological characters and complications was assessed by t test, χ² test, Fisher's exact probability method and Logistic regression. Pre-and post-operative aesthetic, quality of life scores were recorded. Results: The operation time (M(IQR)) was 3.6(1.5) hours (range: 3.0 to 6.5 hours). The early postoperative complication rate was 22.0% (31/141), prosthesis removal was the main postoperative complication, accounting for 64.5% (20/31) of the total complications, of which 15 cases occurred in the first 30 patients. The follow-up time was 28(8) months (range: 20 to 53 months), The most frequent long-term complications were capsular contracture and implant displacement, with the incidence of 11.2% (14/125) and 10.4% (13/125), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that prosthesis volume ≥300 ml (OR=8.173, 95%CI: 1.302 to 51.315, P=0.021) and peri-areolar incision (OR=7.809, 95%CI: 2.162 to 28.211, P<0.01) were independent relative factors for the occurrence of short-term postoperative local complications. After 2 years of operation, the score of breast appearance satisfaction was 71.7±15.5, postoperative effect satisfaction was 90.4±9.5, psychological satisfaction was 90.7±17.1, sexual satisfaction was 70.1±25.1. The immediate postoperative satisfaction rate at discharge was 95.4% (134/141), and 17.6% (22/125) of patients had the intention to received revision surgery. Conclusions: Prosthesis volume ≥300 ml and peri-areolar incision were independent realtive factors for short-term local complications after bovine pericardium patch combined with prosthesis implantation in the immediate breast reconstruction. After completing the learning curve, the postoperative complications of the procedure could be decreased.

Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals the Molecular Anatomy of Sheep Hair Follicle Heterogeneity and Wool Curvature

Wool is the critical textile raw material which is produced by the hair follicle of sheep. Therefore, it has important implications to investigate the molecular mechanism governing hair follicle development. Due to high cellular heterogeneity as well as the insufficient cellular, molecular, and spatial characterization of hair follicles on sheep, the molecular mechanisms involved in hair follicle development and wool curvature of sheep remains largely unknown. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have made it possible to comprehensively dissect the cellular composition of complex skin tissues and unveil the differentiation and spatial signatures of epidermal and hair follicle development. However, such studies are lacking so far in sheep. Here, single-cell suspensions from the curly wool and straight wool lambskins were prepared for unbiased scRNA-seq. Based on UAMP dimension reduction analysis, we identified 19 distinct cell populations from 15,830 single-cell transcriptomes and characterized their cellular identity according to specific gene expression profiles. Furthermore, novel marker gene was applied in identifying dermal papilla cells isolated in vitro. By using pseudotime ordering analysis, we constructed the matrix cell lineage differentiation trajectory and revealed the dynamic gene expression profiles of matrix progenitors' commitment to the hair shaft and inner root sheath (IRS) cells. Meanwhile, intercellular communication between mesenchymal and epithelial cells was inferred based on CellChat and the prior knowledge of ligand–receptor pairs. As a result, strong intercellular communication and associated signaling pathways were revealed. Besides, to clarify the molecular mechanism of wool curvature, differentially expressed genes in specific cells between straight wool and curly wool were identified and analyzed. Our findings here provided an unbiased and systematic view of the molecular anatomy of sheep hair follicle comprising 19 clusters; revealed the differentiation, spatial signatures, and intercellular communication underlying sheep hair follicle development; and at the same time revealed the potential molecular mechanism of wool curvature, which will give important new insights into the biology of the sheep hair follicle and has implications for sheep breeding.

Powdered activated carbon doping improves the mechanical and adsorption properties of cementitious microfiltration membrane

Cementitious membrane (CM) is a promising microfiltration membrane with low cost for raw materials and low energy consumption of non-sintering fabrication process. A novel carbon-cementitious microfiltration membrane (CCM) was fabricated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) as an additive based on CM, to solve the low mechanical strength of CM during multiple practical uses. While maintaining adequate pure water flux and porosity, the mechanical strength of the membrane was greatly improved to ensure the stability of the membrane in the filtration process. The bending strength of the CCM was 2-3 times higher than that of CM. 10 wt% CCM has the smallest critical pore size and optimal permeability, which was chosen to be the optimal PAC doping ratio. The X-ray diffraction and FT-IR results indicated that the addition of PAC did not change the mineral composition of cement hydration products, and the appropriate amount of PAC acted as a nucleation site and accelerated hydration. The effect of size effect on bending strength was more obvious with the decrease of membrane thickness. In the membrane adsorption experiments of benzophenone-4, nitrobenzene and p-chloronitrobenzene, the CCM exhibited prominent adsorption properties than CM. These results broaden the application scope of microfiltration membranes in water treatment process.

Hepatitis B virus X mediates podocyte pyroptosis by regulating the ROS/NLRP3 signaling pathway in hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis

Objective(s):

This study was designed to investigate whether HBx-induced podocyte injury is related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the specific mechanism of the oxidative stress pathway in hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN).

Materials and Methods:

The HBx gene was overexpressed in renal podocytes to mimic HBV-GN. Podocyte morphology was observed under a scanning electron microscope. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was detected by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The podocytes in each group were treated with Hoechst 33342 and subjected to immunofluorescence staining. Caspase-1 activity and LDH levels were assessed with a Caspase-1 Activity Assay Kit and an LDH ELISA Kit, respectively. The expression of all pyroptosis-related proteins was examined by Western blot analysis.

Results:

Pyroptosis-related proteins, including NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing card (ASC), caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.05), were up-regulated upon HBx overexpression, and caspase-1 enzyme activity and LDH and Desmin expression were also enhanced (P<0.05). NLRP3 knockdown attenuated the increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins upon HBx overexpression (P<0.05), which was also achieved by the addition of an ROS inhibitor (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

HBx regulates podocyte pyroptosis in HBV-GN by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, and mitochondrial oxidative stress plays an important role in this process.

Ulva macroalgae within local aquaculture ponds along the estuary of Dagu River, Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao

Green macroalgal blooms caused by Ulva species have influenced the Shandong Province for 15 consecutive years since 2007, leading to serious damage to the marine environment. Great biomasses of attached Ulva prolifera on Neopyropia aquaculture rafts in the Yellow Sea were considered as sources of blooms. However, it is still unclear whether U. prolifera could survive and settle in the Qingdao coastal environment, Shandong, thus leading to local Ulva blooms in the future. In this research, sampling of Ulva macroalgae in seven Portunus trituberculatus aquaculture ponds along the coast of Qingdao was conducted on August 21, 2019. In total, 24 samples collected from the ponds were analyzed through methods of molecular biological identification (ITS, 5S, and rps2-trnL sequences) and genetic analysis. All the aquaculture ponds contained large amounts of floating Ulva macroalgae, which consisted of three species: U. prolifera, Ulva meridionalis, and Ulva pertusa. Among these species, U. meridionalis, which is usually found in southern Japan, also causes the green tide. In addition, all Ulva macroalgae floated on the surfaces of aquaculture ponds, and were discarded into the local coastal area by aquaculturist. This research raised our awareness of the importance of controlling the spread of the green tide related macroalgae.

Application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic system for the highly sensitive monitoring of the evolution of subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced complications

A novel SERS biosensor to detect the development of SAH and its induced complications from cerebrospinal fluid is reported.

Effects of air pollutant exposure on lung function in exercisers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate the effect of air pollutant exposure on lung function in exercisers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Computer search Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO and Cochrane Library, MINORS scale for literature quality evaluation, and Stata 12.0 software for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

According to the literature inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 14 pieces of literature were screened and included in the Meta-analysis, and the literature quality was relatively high. Meta-analysis shows that air pollutant exposure has no significant effect on FVC, FEV1 and PEF of exercisers (p>0.05); but it can significantly increase the FeNO level of exercisers [Z=2.26, p = 0.024, SMD=-0.228, 95% CI= (-0.426, -0.031)]. Egger linear regression analysis shows that FVC [β=-4.64, p = 0.004, 95% CI= (-7.32,-1.95)] has the possibility of publication bias; FEV1, PEF and FeNO p>0.05 and 95% CI contains 0, there is no publication bias in the included literature. There is no sensitivity problem in the included literature, and the combined result is robust and reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to air pollutants may cause allergic airway inflammation by increasing FeNO levels in exercised populations, and adversely affecting human health.