Distinctive magnetic resonance imaging features in primary central nervous system lymphoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare malignant tumor originating from the lymphatic hematopoietic system. It exhibits unique imaging manifestations due to its biological characteristics.

CASE SUMMARY

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed. The imaging findings showed multiple space-occupying lesions with low signal on T1-weighted imaging, uniform high signal on T2-weighted imaging, and obvious enhancement on contrast-enhanced scans. DWI revealed diffusion restriction, PWI demonstrated hypoperfusion, and spectroscopy showed elevated choline peak and decreased N-acetylaspartic acid. The patient's condition significantly improved after hormone shock therapy.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the distinctive imaging features of PCNSL and their importance in accurate diagnosis and management.

Establishment of 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 time-resolved immunoassay and application in membranous nephropathy

BACKGROUND

11-Dehydro-thromboxane B2 (11-dehydro-TXB2) is the final stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and is involved in thrombus formation. Patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) are prone to thromboembolism events.

METHODS

Time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) for 11-dehydro-TXB2 was established by indirect competitive method. The coated 11-dehydro-TXB2-BSA conjugate was used to bind the 11-dehydro-TXB2 antibody competitively to the 11-dehydro-TXB2 antigen in the samples, followed by Eu3+-labeled goat anti-mouse IgG antibody, to detect 11-dehydro-TXB2. This study measured 11-dehydro-TXB2 concentrations in serum samples from healthy individuals and patients with MN.

RESULTS

The linear range of TRFIA was 16.38-2000 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 4.70 pg/mL, the average coefficients of variation from intra-assay and inter-assay were 3.50% and 4.95%, respectively, and the recovery was 99.38%. The serum level of 11-dehydro-TXB2 in patients with MN was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.05). The serum 11-dehydro-TXB2 concentration detected by TRFIA was highly consistent with that by ELISA (ρ = 0.900).

DISCUSSION

This study successfully established a new highly sensitive method for the detection of 11-dehydro-TXB2 in serum. 11-Dehydro-TXB2 has great potential in evaluating the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with MN and is expected to be applied to other thromboembolic-related diseases.

Seeded Synthesis of Hollow PdSn Intermetallic Nanomaterials for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation

Intermetallic nanomaterials have shown promising potential as high-performance catalysts in various catalytic reactions due to their unconventional crystal phases with ordered atomic arrangements. However, controlled synthesis of intermetallic nanomaterials with tunable crystal phases and unique hollow morphologies remains a challenge. Here, a seeded method is developed to synthesize hollow PdSn intermetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with two different intermetallic phases, that is, orthorhombic Pd2 Sn and monoclinic Pd3 Sn2 . Benefiting from the rational regulation of the crystal phase and morphology, the obtained hollow orthorhombic Pd2 Sn NPs deliver excellent electrocatalytic performance toward glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), outperforming solid orthorhombic Pd2 Sn NPs, hollow monoclinic Pd3 Sn2 NPs, and commercial Pd/C, which places it among the best reported Pd-based GOR electrocatalysts. The reaction mechanism of GOR using the hollow orthorhombic Pd2 Sn as the catalyst is investigated by operando infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, which reveals that the hollow orthorhombic Pd2 Sn catalyst cleaves the CC bond more easily compared to the commercial Pd/C. This work can pave an appealing route to the controlled synthesis of diverse novel intermetallic nanomaterials with hollow morphology for various promising applications.

Establishment of growth stimulating gene 2 protein time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay and its application in sepsis

AIM

This study aimed to establish a highly sensitive time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay of growth stimulating express gene 2 protein (ST2-TRFIA) and evaluate its application value for sepsis.

METHODS

Two types of ST2 monoclonal specific antibodies against different epitopes of antigen molecule were used as coating and Eu3+-labeled antibodies. The double-antibody sandwich method was used in establishing ST2-TRFIA, and the methodology was evaluated. The established ST2-TRFIA was used in detecting ST2 concentration in the plasma samples of healthy controls and sepsis.

RESULTS

The linear range of ST2-TRFIA was 1.446-500 ng/mL. Plasma ST2 concentrations detected through ST2-TRFIA were consistent with the results of fluorescence quantitative immunochromatography (ρ = 0.946). The plasma ST2 concentrations of patients with sepsis were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study successfully established a highly sensitive ST2-TRFIA, which was highly comparable to commercially available fluorescent quantitative immunochromatographic kits and can facilitate the timely diagnosis of sepsis.

Okadaic Acid Detection through a Rapid and Sensitive Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay

Okadaic acid (OA), a marine biotoxin produced by microalgae, poses a significant threat to mariculture, seafood safety, and human health. The establishment of a novel, highly sensitive detection method for OA would have significant practical and scientific implications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an innovative approach for OA detection. A competitive amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) was developed using the principle of specific antigen-antibody binding based on the energy transfer between chemiluminescent microspheres. The method was non-washable, sensitive, and rapid, which could detect 2 × 10-2-200 ng/mL of OA within 15 min, and the detection limit was 4.55 × 10-3 ng/mL. The average intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 2.54% and 6.26%, respectively. Detection of the actual sample results exhibited a good correlation with high-performance liquid chromatography. In conclusion, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and accurate AlphaLISA method was established for detecting OA and is expected to significantly contribute to marine biotoxin research.

The Combined Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Multiple Meteorological Factors on Unintentional Drowning Mortality: Large Case-Crossover Study

BACKGROUND

Drowning is a serious public health problem worldwide. Previous epidemiological studies on the association between meteorological factors and drowning mainly focused on individual weather factors, and the combined effect of mixed exposure to multiple meteorological factors on drowning is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the combined effects of multiple meteorological factors on unintentional drowning mortality in China and to identify the important meteorological factors contributing to drowning mortality.

METHODS

Unintentional drowning death data (based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, codes W65-74) from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018, were collected from the Disease Surveillance Points System for Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jilin Provinces, China. Daily meteorological data, including daily mean temperature, relative humidity, sunlight duration, and rainfall in the same period were obtained from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science Data Center. We constructed a time-stratified case-crossover design and applied a generalized additive model to examine the effect of individual weather factors on drowning mortality, and then used quantile g-computation to estimate the joint effect of the mixed exposure to meteorological factors.

RESULTS

A total of 46,179 drowning deaths were reported in the 5 provinces in China from 2013 to 2018. In an effect analysis of individual exposure, we observed a positive effect for sunlight duration, a negative effect for relative humidity, and U-shaped associations for temperature and rainfall with drowning mortality. In a joint effect analysis of the above 4 meteorological factors, a 2.99% (95% CI 0.26%-5.80%) increase in drowning mortality was observed per quartile rise in exposure mixture. For the total population, sunlight duration was the most important weather factor for drowning mortality, with a 93.1% positive contribution to the overall effects, while rainfall was mainly a negative factor for drowning deaths (90.5%) and temperature and relative humidity contributed 6.9% and -9.5% to the overall effects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that mixed exposure to temperature, relative humidity, sunlight duration, and rainfall was positively associated with drowning mortality and that sunlight duration, rather than temperature, may be the most important meteorological factor for drowning mortality. These findings imply that it is necessary to incorporate sunshine hours and temperature into early warning systems for drowning prevention in the future.

[Efficacy of CT-guided partial radiofrequency ablation of bilateral responsible cranial nerves in the treatment of Meige syndrome]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided partial radiofrequency ablation of bilateral responsible cranial nerves in the treatment of Meige syndrome. Methods: The Clinical data of 56 patients with Meige syndrome in the Department of Pain Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University from June 2019 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed [19 males and 37 females, aged 42-76 (58.6±8.3) years], including 51 cases of blepharospasm, 3 cases of oromandibular dystonia and 2 cases of blepharospasm concomitant with oromandibular dystonia. CT-guided partial radiofrequency ablation of bilateral responsible cranial nerves was performed on different types of Meige syndrome. And the efficacy and complications of the technique were observed. Results: Fifty-one patients with blepharospasm Meige syndrome underwent CT-guided radiofrequency of facial nerve through bilateral stylomastoid foramen punctures, the symptoms of blepharospasm disappeared completely, leaving bilateral mild and moderate facial paralysis symptoms. Three patients with oral-mandibular dystonia underwent CT-guided radiofrequency therapy by bilateral foramen ovale puncture of mandibular branches of trigeminal nerve, masticatory muscle spasm disappeared, the patients had no difficulty opening the mouth, and the skin numbness in bilateral mandibular nerve innervation area was left. Two cases of Meige syndrome with blepharospasm concomitant with oromandibular dystonia were treated by radiofrequency of facial nerve and mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve, and all symptoms disappeared. The patients were followed up for 1-44 months after the operation, and the symptoms of mild and moderate facial paralysis disappeared at (3.2±0.8) months after the operation, but the numbness did not disappear. Three patients with blepharospasm recurred at the 14, 18 and 22 months after the operation, respectively, while the rest cases did not recur. Conclusions: According to different types of Meige syndrome, CT-guided partial radiofrequency ablation of responsible cranial nerves can effectively treat the corresponding type of Meige syndrome. The complications are only mild and moderate facial paralysis which can be recovered, and/or skin numbness in the mandibular region.

Clinical value of serum pepsinogen in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric diseases

Pepsinogen, secreted from the gastric mucosa, is the precursor of pepsin. It is categorized as pepsinogen 1 and pepsinogen 2 based on its immunogenicity. The pepsinogen content that can enter the blood circulation through the capillaries of the gastric mucosa is approximately 1% and remains stable all the time. The pepsinogen content in serum will change with the pathological changes of gastric mucosa. Therefore, the level of pepsinogen in serum can play a role in serologic biopsy to reflect the function and morphology of different regions of gastric mucosa and serve as an indicator of gastric disease. This study conducts relevant research on serum pepsinogen 1, pepsinogen 2, and the ratio of pepsinogen 1 to pepsinogen 2, and reviews their important value in clinical diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric ulcer, and even gastric carcinoma, providing ideas for other researchers.

Identifying the potential soil pollution areas derived from the metal mining industry in China using MaxEnt with mine reserve scales (MaxEnt_MRS)

Identifying the potential soil pollution areas derived from the metal mining industry usually requires extensive field investigation and laboratory analysis. Moreover, the previous studies mainly focused on a single or a few mining areas, and thus couldn't provide effective spatial decision support for controlling soil pollution derived from the metal mining industry at the national scale. This study first conducted a literature investigation and web crawler for the relevant information on the metal mining areas in China. Next, MaxEnt with mine reserve scales (MaxEnt_MRS) was proposed for spatially predicting the probabilities of soil pollution derived from the metal mining industry in China. Then, MaxEnt_MRS was compared with the basic MaxEnt. Last, the potential soil pollution areas were identified based on the pollution probabilities, and the relationships between the soil pollution probabilities and the main environmental factors were quantitatively assessed. The results showed that: (i) MaxEnt_MRS (AUC = 0.822) obtained a better prediction effect than the basic MaxEnt (AUC = 0.807); (ii) the areas with the soil pollution probabilities higher than 54% were mainly scattered in the eastern, south-western, and south-central parts of China; (iii) GDP (45.7%), population density (30.1%), soil types (15.5%), average annual precipitation (3.9%), and land-use types (3.1%) contributed the most to the prediction of the soil pollution probabilities; and (iv) the soil pollution probabilities in the areas with all the following conditions were higher than 54%: GDP, 7600-2612670 thousand yuan/km²; population density, 152-551 people/km²; precipitation, 924-2869 mm/year; soil types, Ferralisols or Luvisols; and land-use types, townland, mines, and industrial areas. The above-mentioned results provided effective spatial decision support for controlling soil pollution derived from the metal mining industry at the national scale.

Band Gap Engineering Improves Three-Photon Luminescence of Quantum Dots for Deep Brain Imaging

Three-photon fluorescence microscopy (3PFM) has emerged as a promising tool in monitoring the structures and functions of the brain. Compared to the various imaging technologies, 3PFM enables a deep-penetrating depth attributed to tighter excitation confinement and suppressed photon scattering. However, the shortage of three-photon probes with a large absorption cross section (σ₃) substantially limits its uses. Herein, CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with enhanced 3PF performance were synthesized via the band gap engineering strategy. The introduction of a CdS interlayer with optimized thickness between the emitting CdSe core and the ZnS shell significantly enhanced the 3P absorption cross section of QDs, which originated from the intrinsic piezoelectric polarization effect and the change of the core/shell structure from type-I to quasi-type-II. In addition, the outer ZnS layer compensated the poor electronic passivation of CdS, providing a high level of passivation for the improvement of quantum yield as well as the 3P action cross section of QDs. Under the excitation of a 1600 nm femtosecond laser, PEGylated CdSe/CdS/ZnS QDs were used for in vivo 3PFM imaging of cerebral vessels with high resolution. A tiny capillary with a diameter of 0.8 μm could be resolved at the imaging depth of 1550 μm in a mouse brain with an opened skull. A penetration depth of 850 μm beneath the skull was also achieved using a mouse model with an intact skull.

Gas-assisted microfluidic step-emulsification for generating micron- and submicron-sized droplets

Micron- and submicron-sized droplets have extensive applications in biomedical diagnosis and drug delivery. Moreover, accurate high-throughput analysis requires a uniform droplet size distribution and high production rates. Although the previously reported microfluidic coflow step-emulsification method can be used to generate highly monodispersed droplets, the droplet diameter (d) is constrained by the microchannel height (b), d ≳ 3 b , while the production rate is limited by the maximum capillary number of the step-emulsification regime, impeding emulsification of highly viscous liquids. In this paper, we report a novel, gas-assisted coflow step-emulsification method, where air serves as the innermost phase of a precursor hollow-core air/oil/water emulsion. Air gradually diffuses out, producing oil droplets. The size of the hollow-core droplets and the ultrathin oil layer thickness both follow the scaling laws of triphasic step-emulsification. The minimal droplet size attains d ≈ 1.7 b , inaccessible in standard all-liquid biphasic step-emulsification. The production rate per single channel is an order-of-magnitude higher than that in the standard all-liquid biphasic step-emulsification and is also superior to alternative emulsification methods. Due to low gas viscosity, the method can also be used to generate micron- and submicron-sized droplets of high-viscosity fluids, while the inert nature of the auxiliary gas offers high versatility.

Structural Transformation of Unconventional-Phase Materials

The structural transformation of materials, which involves the evolution of different structural features, including phase, composition, morphology, etc., under external conditions, represents an important fundamental phenomenon and has drawn substantial research interest. Recently, materials with unconventional phases that are different from their thermodynamically stable ones have been demonstrated to possess distinct properties and compelling functions and can further serve as starting materials for structural transformation studies. The identification and mechanism study of the structural transformation process of unconventional-phase starting materials can not only provide deep insights into their thermodynamic stability in potential applications but also offer effective approaches for the synthesis of other unconventional structures. Here, we briefly summarize the recent research progress on the structural transformation of some typical starting materials with various unconventional phases, including the metastable crystalline phase, amorphous phase, and heterophase, induced by different approaches. The importance of unconventional-phase starting materials in the structural modulation of resultant intermediates and products will be highlighted. The employment of diverse in situ/operando characterization techniques and theoretical simulations in studying the mechanism of the structural transformation process will also be introduced. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges in this emerging research field and provide some future research directions.

Clinical Value of Combined Detection of Serum sTim-3 and CEA or CA19-9 for Postoperative Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Purpose

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of Combined Detection of serum soluble T-cell immunoglobulin 3 (sTim-3) with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or glycotype antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) for Postoperative Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Diagnosis.

Patients and Methods

The serum sTim-3 was measured by highly sensitivity TRFIA, and serum CEA and CA19-9 were obtained through the collection of clinical data. Quantitative detection of serum sTim-3, CEA, CA19-9 in 90 patients after the CRC surgery (52 postoperative recurrence and 38 no-postoperative recurrence), 21 patients with colorectal benign tumors, and 67 healthy controls. To analyze the clinical diagnostic value of combined detection of sTim-3 with CEA or CA19-9 to test whether patients have recurrence after CRC surgery.

Results

The sTim-3 (15.94±11.24ng/mL) in patients after CRC surgery was significantly higher than in healthy controls (8.95±3.34ng/mL) and colorectal benign tumors (8.39±2.28ng/mL) (P < 0.05), and sTim-3 (20.33±13.04ng/mL) in CRC postoperative recurrent group was significantly higher than in the group without recurrence after CRC surgery (9.94±2.36ng/mL) (P < 0.05). In terms of detecting postoperative recurrence after CRC surgery, combined detection of sTim-3 and CEA (AUC: 0.819, sensitivity: 80.77%, specificity: 65.79%), sTim-3 and CA19-9 test (AUC: 0.813, sensitivity: 69.23%, specificity: 97.30%) was significantly better than the CEA single test (AUC: 0.547, sensitivity: 63.16%, specificity: 48.08%) and CA19-9 single test (AUC: 0.675 sensitivity: 65.38%, specificity: 67.57%), Delong test P < 0.05.

Conclusion

The efficacy of CEA and CA19-9 single test was not optimal, and the combination of sTim-3 in serum could significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity of detecting patient recurrence after CRC surgery.

The Development and Application of a Cost-Effective Cervical Spine Phantom for Use in Fluoroscopically Guided Lateral C1-C2 Spinal Puncture Training

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Lateral C1-C2 spinal punctures are uncommon procedures performed by radiologists for access to CSF and contrast injection when a lumbar approach is contraindicated and an alternate method of access becomes necessary. There are limited opportunities to learn and practice the technique. We aimed to develop and assess the efficacy of a low-cost, reusable cervical spine phantom for training in fluoroscopically guided lateral C1-C2 spinal puncture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The phantom was constructed with a cervical spine model, an outer tube representing the thecal sac, an inner balloon representing the spinal cord, and polyalginate to replicate soft tissue. The total cost of materials was approximately US $70. Workshops were led by neuroradiology faculty experienced in the procedure using the model under fluoroscopy. Survey questions were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Participants were given pre- and postsurveys assessing comfort, confidence, and knowledge of steps.

RESULTS

Twenty-one trainees underwent training sessions. There was significant improvement in comfort level (Δ: 2.00, SD: 1.00, P value < .001); confidence (Δ: 1.52 points, SD: 0.87, P value < .001); and knowledge (Δ: 2.19, SD: 0.93, P value < .001). Eighty-one percent of participants found the model "very helpful" (5/5 on Likert scale), and all participants were "very likely" to recommend this workshop to others.

CONCLUSIONS

This cervical phantom model is affordable and replicable and demonstrates training utility to prepare residents for performing lateral C1-C2 spinal puncture. This is a rare procedure, so the use of a phantom model before patient encounters is invaluable to resident education and training.

[Curative effects of bi-pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in repairing large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs]

Objective: To investigate the curative effects of bi-pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap in repairing large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From February 2016 to June 2020, 16 patients with large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs caused by trauma or after tumor/scar resection were admitted to the Department of Hand Surgery of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, including 9 males and 7 females, aged 25-58 years, with the area of soft tissue defects ranging from 14.0 cm×8.0 cm to 32.0 cm×18.0 cm. Using the abdomen as the donor site, the conjoined abdominal wall flap, i.e., the bi-pedicled DIEP flap (with an area ranging from 15.0 cm×9.0 cm to 32.0 cm×20.0 cm) carrying two sets of the trunk of the deep inferior epigastric artery was designed and resected to repair the wound. The donor site wound was sutured directly. The flap survival and wound healing in the donor and recipient areas were observed after operation. The curative effect was evaluated during the follow-up. At the last follow-up, the American Knee Society score and lower extremity functional scale were used to assess the functions of knee joint and lower limb, respectively. Results: The flaps of 15 patients survived after operation; the flap of one patient had partial infection at the edge after operation but healed after debridement and dressing change. The wounds in the donor and recipient areas of 16 patients all healed well. Follow-up of 16-28 months showed that the recipient area had a good shape and pliable texture, and there was no obvious swollen appearance, hyperpigmentation, or abnormal hair growth; the donor site had linear scar only, with no complications such as abdominal hernia or hyperplastic scar; the functions of knee joint and lower limb were well reconstructed, with no recurrence of tumor. At the last follow-up, among the 4 patients with knee joint injury, 3 cases were excellent and 1 case was good in the evaluation of knee joint function; among the 12 patients with lower limb injury, 9 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good in the evaluation of lower limb function. Conclusions: The donor site of bi-pedicled DIEP flap is concealed with abundant tissue and large area for resection, with which can be used to repair large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs, achieving good short-term results of appearance and function restoration.

Altered distribution of fatty acid exerting lipid metabolism and transport at the maternal-fetal interface in fetal growth restriction

INTRODUCTION

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication of pregnancy. Lipid metabolism and distribution may contribute to the progression of FGR. However, the metabolism-related mechanisms of FGR remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify metabolic profiles associated with FGR, as well as probable genes and signaling pathways.

METHODS

Metabolomic profiles at the maternal-fetal interface (including the placenta, maternal and fetal serum) from pregnant women with (n = 35) and without (n = 35) FGR were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Combined with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE35574 dataset, analysis was performed for differential metabolites, and identified by the Metabo Analyst dataset. Finally, the pathology and screened DEGs were further identified.

RESULTS

The results showed that fatty acids (FAs) accumulated in the placenta and decreased in fetal blood in FGR cases compared to controls. The linoleic acid metabolism was the focus of placental differential metabolites and genes enrichment analysis. In this pathway, phosphatidylcholine can interact with PLA2G2A and PLA2G4C, and 12(13)-EpOME can interact with CYP2J2. PLA2G2A and CYP2J2 were elevated, and PLA2G4C was decreased in the FGR placenta.

DISCUSSION

In conclusion, accumulation of FAs in the placental ischemic environments, may involve linoleic acid metabolism, which may be regulated by PLA2G2A, CYP2J2, and PLA2G4C. This study may contribute to understanding the underlying metabolic and molecular mechanisms of FGR.

Ligand-Assisted Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials

ConspectusThe synthesis of monodisperse colloidal nanomaterials with well-defined structures is important for both fundamental research and practical application. To achieve it, wet-chemical methods with the usage of various ligands have been extensively explored to finely control the structure of nanomaterials. During the synthesis, ligands cap the surface and thus modulate the size, shape, and stability of nanomaterials in solvents. Besides these widely investigated roles of ligands, it has been recently discovered that ligands can affect the phase of nanomaterials, i.e., their atomic arrangement, providing an effective strategy to realize the phase engineering of nanomaterials (PEN) by selecting appropriate ligands. Nanomaterials normally exist in the phases that are thermodynamically stable in their bulk states. Previous studies have shown that under high temperature or high pressure, nanomaterials can exist in unconventional phases which are unattainable in the bulks. Importantly, nanomaterials with unconventional phases exhibit unique properties and functions different from conventional-phase ones. Consequently, it is feasible to utilize the PEN to tune the physicochemical properties and application performance of nanomaterials. During wet-chemical synthesis, ligands binding to the surface of nanomaterials can modify their surface energy, which could significantly affect the Gibbs free energy of nanomaterials and thus determine the stability of different phases, making it possible to obtain nanomaterials with unconventional phases at mild reaction conditions. For instance, a series of Au nanomaterials with unconventional hexagonal phases have been prepared with the assistance of oleylamine. Therefore, the rational design and selection of different ligands and deep understanding of their effect on the phase of nanomaterials would significantly accelerate the development of PEN and the discovery of novel functional nanomaterials for diverse applications.In this Account, we briefly summarize the recent progress in ligand-assisted PEN, elaborating the important roles of different ligands in the direct synthesis of nanomaterials with unconventional crystal phases and amorphous phase as well as the phase transformation of nanomaterials. We first introduce the background of this research topic, highlighting the concept of PEN and why ligands can modulate the phase of nanomaterials. Then we discuss the usage of four kinds of ligands, i.e., amines, fatty acids, sulfur-containing ligands, and phosphorus-containing ligands, in phase engineering of different nanomaterials, especially metal, metal chalcogenide, and metal oxide nanomaterials. Finally, we provide our personal views of the challenges and future promising research directions in this exciting field.

Characterization, stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin nanocomplexes with soy protein isolate and pectin

Curcumin (Cur) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities, but its poor stability, low water solubility and other defects limit the application. Herein, Cur was nanocomposited with soy isolate protein (SPI) and pectin (PE) for the first time and its characterization, bioavailability and antioxidant activity were discussed. The optimal encapsulation process of SPI-Cur-PE was as follow: the addition amount of PE was 4 mg, Cur was 0.6 mg and at pH of 7. It was observed by SEM that SPI-Cur-PE were partially aggregated. The average particle size of SPI-Cur-PE was 210.1 nm and the zeta potential was -31.99 mV. Through XRD, FT-IR and DSC analysis, the SPI-Cur-PE was formed through hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. The SPI-Cur-PE released more slowly in simulated gastrointestinal treatment and displayed higher photostability and thermal stability. SPI-Cur-PE, SPI-Cur and free Cur had scavenging activities for 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.

Double Dynamic Linearization-Based Higher Order Indirect Adaptive Iterative Learning Control

In this article, a higher order indirect adaptive iterative learning control (HO-iAILC) scheme is developed for nonlinear nonaffine systems. The inner loop adopts a P -type controller whose set-point is updated iteratively by learning from the iterations. To this end, an ideal nonlinear learning control law is designed in the outer loop. It is then transferred to a linear parametric-learning controller with a corresponding parameter estimation law by introducing an iterative dynamic linearization (IDL) method. This IDL method is also used to gain an iterative linear data model of the nonlinear system. A parameter iterative updating algorithm is utilized for estimating the unknown parameters of the obtained linear data model. Finally, the HO-iAILC is presented that utilizes additional error information to improve the control performance and employs two iterative adaptive mechanisms to deal with uncertainties. The convergence of the proposed HO-iAILC scheme is proved by using two basic mathematical tools, namely: 1) contraction mapping and 2) mathematical induction. Simulation studies are conducted for the verification of the theoretical results.

Variational Bayesian Inference for Robust Identification of PWARX Systems With Time-Varying Time-Delays

This article presents a robust variational Bayesian (VB) algorithm for identifying piecewise autoregressive exogenous (PWARX) systems with time-varying time-delays. To alleviate the adverse effects caused by outliers, the probability distribution of noise is taken to follow a t -distribution. Meanwhile, a solution strategy for more accurately classifying undecidable data points is proposed, and the hyperplanes used to split data are determined by a support vector machine (SVM). In addition, maximum-likelihood estimation (MLE) is adopted to re-estimate the unknown parameters through the classification results. The time-delay is regarded as a hidden variable and identified through the VB algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by two simulation examples.

Modeling kidney development, disease, and plasticity with clonal expandable nephron progenitor cells and nephron organoids

Nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) self-renew and differentiate into nephrons, the functional units of the kidney. Here we report manipulation of p38 and YAP activity creates a synthetic niche that allows the long-term clonal expansion of primary mouse and human NPCs, and induced NPCs (iNPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells. Cultured iNPCs resemble closely primary human NPCs, generating nephron organoids with abundant distal convoluted tubule cells, which are not observed in published kidney organoids. The synthetic niche reprograms differentiated nephron cells into NPC state, recapitulating the plasticity of developing nephron in vivo. Scalability and ease of genome-editing in the cultured NPCs allow for genome-wide CRISPR screening, identifying novel genes associated with kidney development and disease. A rapid, efficient, and scalable organoid model for polycystic kidney disease was derived directly from genome-edited NPCs, and validated in drug screen. These technological platforms have broad applications to kidney development, disease, plasticity, and regeneration.

Mortality burden based on the associations of ambient PM2.5 with cause-specific mortality in China: Evidence from a death-spectrum wide association study (DWAS)

Although studies have estimated the associations of PM_2.5 with total mortality or cardiopulmonary mortality, few have comprehensively examined cause-specific mortality risk and burden caused by ambient PM_2.5. Thus, this study investigated the association of short-term exposure to PM_2.5 with cause-specific mortality using a death-spectrum wide association study (DWAS). Individual information of 5,450,764 deaths during 2013-2018 were collected from six provinces in China. Daily PM_2.5 concentration in the case and control days were estimated by a random forest model. A time-stratified case-crossover study design was applied to estimate the associations (access risk, ER) of PM_2.5 with cause-specific mortality, which was then used to calculate the population-attributable fraction (PAF) of mortality and the corresponding mortality burden caused by PM_2.5. Each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 concentration (lag03) was associated with a 0.80 % [95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.73 %, 0.86 %] rise in total mortality. We found greater mortality effect at PM_2.5 concentrations < 50 μg/m³. Stratified analyses showed greater ERs in females (1.01 %, 95 %CI: 0.91 %, 1.11 %), children ≤ 5 years (2.17 %, 95 %CI: 0.85 %, 3.51 %), and old people ≥ 70 years. We identified 33 specific causes (level 2) of death which had significant associations with PM_2.5, including 16 circulatory diseases, 9 respiratory diseases, and 8 other causes. The PAF estimated based on the overall association between PM_2.5 and total mortality was 3.16 % (95 %CI: 2.89 %, 3.40 %). However, the PAF was reduced to 2.88 % (95 %CI: 1.88 %, 3.81 %) using the associations of PM_2.5 with 33 level 2 causes of death, based on which 250.15 (95 %CI: 163.29, 330.93) thousand deaths were attributable to short-term PM_2.5 exposure across China in 2019. Overall, this study provided a comprehensive picture on the death-spectrum wide association between PM_2.5 and morality in China. We observed robust positive cause-specific associations of PM_2.5 with mortality risk, which may provide more precise basis in assessing the mortality burden of air pollution.

Sensitive amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay for the quantitative detection of CA242

We here developed a sensitive and stable amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) method for fast quantification of CA242 in human serum. Donor and acceptor beads modified with carboxyl groups could be coupled with CA242 antibodies after activation in the AlphaLISA method. CA242 was rapidly detected by the double antibody sandwich immunoassay. The method yielded good linearity (>0.996) and detection range (0.16-400 U/mL). The intra-assay precisions of CA242-AlphaLISA were between 3.43% and 6.81% (< 10%), and the inter-assay precisions were between 4.06% and 9.56% (< 15%). The relative recoveries ranged from 89.61% to 107.29%. Detection time for the CA242-AlphaLISA method was only 20 min. Moreover, results of CA242-AlphaLISA and time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay had satisfactory correlation and consistency (ρ = 0.9852). The method was successfully applied to the analysis of human serum samples. Meanwhile, serum CA242 has a good detection value in the identification and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the monitoring of disease degree. Furthermore, the proposed AlphaLISA method is expected to be an alternative to traditional detection methods, laying a good foundation for the further development of kits to detect other biomarkers in future studies.

Effects of atmospheric deposition on heavy metals accumulation in agricultural soils: Evidence from field monitoring and Pb isotope analysis

Atmospheric deposition is an essential pathway of heavy metals (HMs) from the atmosphere to soils, while few studies assess the effects and contributions of atmospheric deposition on HMs accumulations in agricultural soils from the field and regional scales. In this study, eleven representative field monitoring sites from industrial areas, agricultural areas, and reference site in a typical rapid industrial development region were selected to determine the effects of atmospheric deposition on soil HMs accumulation. Industrial activities significantly increased the deposited particles flux from atmospheric deposition, with annual particles fluxes in industrial areas being 1.83 and 1.90 times higher than in agricultural areas and reference site, respectively. Although the HMs deposition fluxes had decreased significantly with time by literature comparison, the deposition fluxes of Cd and Pb were still at high levels in this study area. Precipitation was the key factor affecting seasonal variations of atmospheric HMs deposition. Lead isotope analysis indicated that atmospheric Pb originated from coal combustion, and atmospheric deposition was the primary source of Pb contamination in agricultural soil adjacent to industries. This study provided insight into the effects of atmospheric deposition on agricultural soil HMs accumulations at the regional scale and an important theoretical basis for source-preventing soil HMs contamination in industrial developed and other similar areas.

Identification of sources and their potential health risk of potential toxic elements in soils from a mercury‑thallium polymetallic mining area in Southwest China: Insight from mercury isotopes and PMF model

Identification of potential toxic element (PTE) sources and their specific human health risk is critical to the management of PTEs in soils. In this study, multi-medium were collected from a mercury‑thallium polymetallic mining area in Southwestern China. Hg isotope technique together with positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to identify PTE sources and assess their source-oriented health risk. Results showed that among the studied PTEs, this study area presented high pollution of Hg, Tl and As, with higher concentrations than their corresponding background values of Guizhou province, yet their average concentrations in covering soils were significantly lower than those in the natural soils. The Tl in coix grains should also be paid more attention due to its high concentration. Both natural and covering soils had different Hg isotope composition with tailings, while sediments have similar Hg isotope fractionation with covering soils. According to the PMF model, three sources in both natural and covering soils were apportioned and Hg, Tl and As were mainly influenced by the historical mining activities, which also confirmed by their Hg isotope signatures. The contributions of historical mining activities accounted for 40 % and 20 % of the PTEs in natural and covering soils, respectively. The assessment of source-specific health risks suggested that the non-carcinogenic risk of Hg, Tl and As was much higher than other elements. Historical mining activities were regarded as the major contributor to health risks (79 % and 76 % for natural soils and 50 % and 59 % for covering soils, respectively). This indicated that the restoration of coveing soils indeed decreased the health risk in this study area. These findings thus highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring of covering soils in the polymetallic mining area, which is imperative for preferably assessing the health risk of PTEs in similar mining area worldwide.