Enhancing the carbon content of coal gangue for composting through sludge amendment: A feasibility study

Cocomposting coal gangue and sludge eliminates the challenge of utilizing coal gangue. However, there is limited understanding about the feasibility of cocomposting sludge and coal gangue, as well as the composting indicators, functional microorganisms, and safety risks involved. Therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility of enhancing carbon composting in coal gangue by incorporating sludge along with sawdust as a conditioner. Three laboratory-scale reactors were designed and labeled as T1 (20 % coal gangue, 60 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust), T2 (40 % coal gangue, 40 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust), and T3 (60 % coal gangue, 20 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust). Seed germination and plant growth assessments were conducted to ensure compost stability and assess phytotoxicity to cabbage (Brassica rapa chinensis L.) in terms of growth and biomass. The results indicated that the temperature, pH, EC and ammonia nitrogen of all three reactor conditions met the requirements for product decomposition. Composting was successfully achieved when the sludge proportion was 20 % (T3). However, when the sludge proportion was markedly high (T1), the harmlessness of the compost was reduced. The germination indices of T1, T2, and T3 reached 95 %, 122 %, and 119 % at maturity, respectively. This confirmed that the harmless cycle, which involved promoting condensation and aromatization, enhancing decay, and reducing composting time, was shorter in T2 and T3 than in T1. Coal gangue can also serve as a beneficial habitat for microorganisms, promoting an increase in their population and activity. Potting experiments in sandy soil revealed that the mechanism of action of compost products in soil included not only the enhancement of soil nutrients but also the improvement of soil texture. The results of this study suggest that using coal gangue as a raw material for composting is an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for producing organic fertilizers.

Impaired local Vitamin D3 metabolism contributes to IL-36g overproduction in epithelial cells in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D (VD) possesses immunomodulatory properties, but its role in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains poorly studied. Herein, we aim to explore the regulation and function of VD3 in CRSwNP.

METHODS

25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25VD3) levels in serum and tissue lysates were detected by ELISA. The expression of VD receptor (VDR) and cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1 (CYP27B1), the enzyme that converts 25VD3 to the active 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25VD3), and their expression regulation in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) were studied by RT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. RNA sequencing was performed to identify genes regulated by 1,25VD3 in HNECs. HNECs and polyp tissue explants were treated with 1,25VD3, 25VD3, and dexamethasone.

RESULTS

25VD3 levels in serum and nasal tissue lysates were decreased in patients with eosinophilic and noneosinophilic CRSwNP than control subjects. The expression of VDR and CYP27B1 were reduced in eosinophilic and noneosinophilic CRSwNP, particularly in nasal epithelial cells. VDR and CYP27B1 expression in HNECs were downregulated by interferon y and poly (I:C). Polyp-derived epithelial cells demonstrated an impaired ability to convert 25VD3 to 1,25VD3 than control tissues. 1,25VD3 and 25VD3 suppressed IL-36y production in HNECs and polyp tissues, and the effect of 25VD3 was abolished by siCYP27B1 treatment. Tissue 25VD3 levels negatively correlated with IL-36y expression and neutrophilic inflammation in CRSwNP.

CONCLUSION

Reduced systemic 25VD3 level, local 1,25VD3 generation and VDR expression result in impaired VD3 signaling activation in nasal epithelial cells, thereby exaggerating IL-36y production and neutrophilic inflammation in CRSwNP.

Immature persimmon residue as a novel biosorbent for efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) from wastewater: Performance and mechanisms

Owing to the powerful affinity of tannin toward heavy metal ions, it is frequently immobilized on adsorbents to enhance their adsorption properties. However, natural adsorbents containing tannin have been overlooked owing to its water solubility. Herein, a novel natural adsorbent based on the immature persimmon residue (IPR) with soluble tannin removed was fabricated to eliminate Pb(II) and Cr(VI) in aquatic environments. The insoluble tannin in IPR endowed it with prosperous properties for eliminating Pb(II) and Cr(VI), and the IPR achieved maximum Pb(II) and Cr(VI) adsorption quantities of 68.79 mg/g and 139.40 mg/g, respectively. Kinetics and isothermal adsorption analysis demonstrated that the removal behavior was controlled by monolayer chemical adsorption. Moreover, the IPR exhibited satisfactory Pb(II) and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies even in the presence of multiple coexisting ions and showed promising regeneration potential after undergoing five consecutive cycles. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis unveiled that the elimination mechanisms were primarily electrostatic attraction, chelation and reduction. Overall, the IPR, as a tannin-containing biosorbent, was verified to possess substantial potential for heavy metal removal, which can provide new insights into the development of novel natural adsorbents from the perspective of waste resource utilization.

Association of serum lipids and abnormal lipid score with cancer risk: a population-based prospective study

BACKGROUND

Serum lipid levels are associated with cancer risk. However, there still have uncertainties about the single and combined effects of low lipid levels on cancer risk.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of 33,773 adults in Shanghai between 2016 and 2017 was conducted. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were measured. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association of single and combined lipids with overall, lung, colon, rectal, thyroid gland, stomach, and female breast cancers. The effect of the combination of abnormal lipid score and lifestyle on cancer was also estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 926 incident cancer cases were identified. In the RCS analysis, hazard ratios (HRs) of overall cancer for individuals with TC < 5.18 mmol/L or with LDL-C < 3.40 mmol/L were higher. Low TC was associated with higher colorectal cancer risk (HR [95% CI] = 1.76 [1.09-2.84]) and low HDL-C increased thyroid cancer risk by 90%. Abnormal lipid score was linearly and positively associated with cancer risk, and smokers with high abnormal lipid scores had a higher cancer risk, compared to non-smokers with low abnormal lipid scores (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Low TC levels were associated with an increased risk of overall and colorectal cancer. More attention should be paid to participants with high abnormal lipid scores and unhealthy lifestyles who may have a higher risk of developing cancer. Determining the specific and comprehensive lipid combinations that affect tumorigenesis remains a valuable challenge.

The Dual Roles of Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) in Inflammation, Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, and Pathogen Infection Responses

Transcription factors are pivotal regulators in the cellular life process. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) family, plays a crucial role as cells respond to various stresses and damage. As a transcription factor, ATF3 significantly influences signal transduction regulation, orchestrating a variety of signaling pathways, including apoptosis, ferroptosis, and cellular differentiation. In addition, ATF3 serves as an essential link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses. This review summarizes the recent advances in research on ATF3 activation and its role in regulating inflammatory responses, cell apoptosis, and ferroptosis while exploring the dual functions of ATF3 in these processes. Additionally, this article discusses the role of ATF3 in diseases related to pathogenic microbial infections. Our review may be helpful to better understand the role of ATF3 in cellular responses and disease progression, thus promoting advancements in clinical treatments for inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases.

[Quantification of antigen of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae by optical assay]

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. Inactivated vaccines and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) indirect hemagglutination reagents are available for prevention and serological detection, but high culture costs and complex antigen quantification have been plagued by production staff. In order to solve these problems in production practice, a sugar fermentation medium with an initial pH value of 7.8, which could improve the production of two antigens simultaneously, was screened out by changing the initial pH value based on previous Mccp metabolomics analysis. Since phenol red can be identified by UV absorption spectrum and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to anionic capsular polysaccharide, a UV spectrum measurement method for analyzing the culture stage reached by Mccp and a CTAB precipitation test for relative quantification of capsular polysaccharide antigen content in the fermentation broth were established. The UV spectrum observation method can guide the production of Mccp according to the growth curve of Mccp, which greatly reduces the monitoring time of the traditional CCU method and improves the accuracy of the original eye-observation method. The established CTAB precipitation test can complete the monitoring of CPS content within 5 hours, which greatly reduces the time required compared with the traditional differential technique, and its accuracy was verified by the phenol-sulfuric acid method. The optimized culture medium and the two correlation comparison methods established in this study can effectively reduce the production cost of Mccp and improve the production efficiency. The two assays have been used in the research at our laboratory, which provides experimental data for further improvement of the production process of CCPP inactivated vaccine and capsular polysaccharide as well as rapid quantification.

Comparative untargeted and targeted metabonomics reveal discriminations in metabolite profiles between Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum

Background

Mycoplasmas are among the smallest prokaryotic microbes that can grow and proliferate on non-living media. They have reduced genomes, which may be associated with a concomitant reduction in their metabolic capacity. Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc), both belong to the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, are significant important pathogenic Mycoplasma species in veterinary research field. They share high degree of genome homology but Mcc grows markedly faster and has higher growth titer than Mccp.

Methods

This study investigated the metabolites of these two pathogenic bacteria from the middle and late stages of the logarithmic growth phase through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and targeted energy metabolomics. The multivariate analysis was conducted to identify significant differences between the two important Mycoplasma species.

Results

A total of 173 metabolites were identified. Of them, 33 and 34 metabolites involved in purine and pyrimidine, pyruvate metabolism, and amino acid synthesis were found to significantly differ in the middle and late stages, respectively. The abundance of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, ADP, and pyruvate was higher in Mcc than in Mccp during the whole logarithmic period. Lactate was upregulated in slow-growing Mccp. The pH buffering agent N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N'-[2-ethanesulfonic acid] added to media effectively prevented pH reduction and increase bacterial viability and protein biomass. The multivariate analysis revealed that the two Mycoplasma species significantly differed in glucose metabolism, growth factor transport and metabolism, cholesterol utilization, and environmental regulation.

Conclusion

The study data are beneficial for understanding the metabolomic characteristics of these two crucial Mycoplasma species and shedding more light on mycoplasma metabolism, and serve as a resource for the pathogenesis and development of related vaccines.

LppA is a novel plasminogen receptor of Mycoplasma bovis that contributes to adhesion by binding the host extracellular matrix and Annexin A2

Mycoplasma bovis is responsible for various inflammatory diseases in cattle. The prevention and control of M. bovis are complicated by the absence of effective vaccines and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, resulting in substantial economic losses worldwide in the cattle industry. Lipoproteins, vital components of the Mycoplasmas cell membrane, are deemed potent antigens for eliciting immune responses in the host upon infection. However, the functions of lipoproteins in M. bovis remain underexplored due to their low sequence similarity with those of other bacteria and the scarcity of genetic manipulation tools for M. bovis. In this study, the lipoprotein LppA was identified in all examined M. bovis strains. Utilizing immunoelectron microscopy and Western blotting, it was observed that LppA localizes to the surface membrane. Recombinant LppA demonstrated dose-dependent adherence to the membrane of embryonic bovine lung (EBL) cells, and this adhesion was inhibited by anti-LppA serum. In vitro binding assays confirmed LppA's ability to associate with fibronectin, collagen IV, laminin, vitronectin, plasminogen, and tPA, thereby facilitating the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. Moreover, LppA was found to bind and enhance the accumulation of Annexin A2 (ANXA2) on the cell membrane. Disrupting LppA in M. bovis significantly diminished the bacterium's capacity to adhere to EBL cells, underscoring LppA's function as a bacterial adhesin. In conclusion, LppA emerges as a novel adhesion protein that interacts with multiple host extracellular matrix proteins and ANXA2, playing a crucial role in M. bovis's adherence to host cells and dissemination. These insights substantially deepen our comprehension of the molecular pathogenesis of M. bovis.

Characteristics of optical properties of DOM and nutrients in rainwater of different ecological areas of a large reservoir in China

Numerous studies have focused on the spectral characteristics and seasonal variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rainwater. However, the relationship between the optical indices of DOM and nutrients in rainwater from different ecological areas of large reservoirs is poorly understood. A one-year monitoring study was conducted between March 2019 and February 2020 in the Danjiangkou Reservoir in Henan Province, China, to compare the composition, spectral characteristic parameters, and relationship between the optical indices of DOM and nutrients in rainwater under different ecological environments. The study showed that the average value of a300 in all samples was 5.29 ± 2.16 m-1 and showed a seasonal trend of higher in spring and winter and lower in summer and autumn as well as a regional difference of agricultural area > urban area > reservoir area. A three-dimensional fluorescence with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) revealed four components of the rainwater: C1 and C2 as UV humic-like substances, and C3 and C4 as protein-like substances. The protein-like components of rainwater from agricultural areas had a high fluorescence intensity, whereas the UV humic-like components of rainfall from urban and reservoir areas had a high fluorescence intensity. Analysis of the fluorescence indices showed that rainwater DOM humification was low and had a strong endogenous character in the Danjiangkou Reservoir. The redundancy analysis revealed that NO3--N, DTN, and SO42- mainly influenced the DOM optical indices of rainwater in urban areas, EC, DTN, and DOC had the highest interpretation of the DOM optical indices of rainwater in agricultural areas, and SO42-, DOC, and DTN had the highest interpretation of the DOM optical indices of rainwater in the reservoir. Overall, understanding the characteristics of rainfall DOM fluorescence and the relationships with nutrients in different ecological regions provides important information for comprehending biogeochemical processes in reservoirs.

Hybrid Path Planning for Unmanned Surface Vehicles in Inland Rivers Based on Collision Avoidance Regulations

In recent years, with the continuous advancement of the construction of the Yangtze River's intelligent waterway system, unmanned surface vehicles have been increasingly used in the river's inland waterways. This article proposes a hybrid path planning method that combines an improved A* algorithm with an improved model predictive control algorithm for the autonomous navigation of the "Jinghai-I" unmanned surface vehicle in inland rivers. To ensure global optimization, the heuristic function was refined in the A* algorithm. Additionally, constraints such as channel boundaries and courses were added to the cost function of A* and the planned path was smoothed to meet the collision avoidance regulations for inland rivers. The model predictive control algorithm incorporated a new path-deviation cost while imposing a cost constraint on the yaw angle, significantly minimizing the path-tracking error. Furthermore, the improved model predictive control algorithm took into account the requirements of rules in the cost function and adopted different collision avoidance parameters for different encounter scenarios, improving the rationality of local path planning. Finally, the proposed algorithm's effectiveness was verified through simulation experiments that closely approximated real-world navigation conditions.

Classes of Amides that Undergo Selective N-C Amide Bond Activation: The Emergence of Ground-State Destabilization

Ground-state destabilization of the N-C(O) linkage represents a powerful tool to functionalize the historically inert amide bond. This burgeoning reaction manifold relies on the availability of amide bond precursors that participate in weakening of the nN → π*C=O conjugation through N-C twisting, N pyramidalization, and nN electronic delocalization. Since 2015, acyl N-C amide bond activation through ground-state destabilization of the amide bond has been achieved by transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative addition of the N-C(O) bond, generation of acyl radicals, and transition-metal-free acyl addition. This Perspective summarizes contributions of our laboratory in the development of new ground-state-destabilized amide precursors enabled by twist and electronic activation of the amide bond and synthetic utility of ground-state-destabilized amides in cross-coupling reactions and acyl addition reactions. The use of ground-state-destabilized amides as electrophiles enables a plethora of previously unknown transformations of the amide bond, such as acyl coupling, decarbonylative coupling, radical coupling, and transition-metal-free coupling to forge new C-C, C-N, C-O, C-S, C-P, and C-B bonds. Structural studies of activated amides and catalytic systems developed in the past decade enable the view of the amide bond to change from the "traditionally inert" to "readily modifiable" functional group with a continuum of reactivity dictated by ground-state destabilization.

Impact of shift work on dementia: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Although shift work has been reported as having a link to dementia, evidence remains inconsistent, and a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis of the association is still lacking. We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to explore the association between shift work and the risk of dementia.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. Fixed or random-effects models were used to estimate the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Generalized least squares regression was used to estimate dose-response associations, and restricted cubic splines were used to examine possible linear or non-linear associations.

RESULTS

Five articles (10 studies) with 72,999 participants and 23,067 cases were eventually included in the meta-analysis. The summary RRs and 95% CIs of dementia risk with shift work and night shift work versus daytime work were 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05-1.21, I2 = 46.70%) and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03-1.24, I2 = 9.20%), respectively. The risk of dementia increased by 1% (RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02, I2 = 41.3%) with each 1-year increase in the duration of shift work. We found a non-linear dose-response association between the duration of shift work and the risk of dementia (Pnon-linearity = 0.006). Though the shape of the curve was steeper with the duration of shift work <7 years, the increase was more gradual after 7 years.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that shift work may be a risk factor for future dementia and that controlling the length of shift work is a feasible measure that may contribute to prevent dementia.

A genome-wide transposon mutagenesis screening identifies LppB as a key factor associated with Mycoplasma bovis colonization and invasion into host cells

Mycoplasma spp., the smallest self-replicating and genome-reduced organisms, have raised a great concern in both the medical and veterinary fields due to their pathogenicity. The molecular determinants of these wall-less bacterium efficiently use their limited genes to ensure successful infection of the host remain unclear. In the present study, we used the ruminant pathogen Mycoplasma bovis as a model to identify the key factors for colonization and invasion into host cells. We constructed a nonredundant fluorescent transposon mutant library of M. bovis using a modified transposon plasmid, and identified 34 novel adhesion-related genes based on a high-throughput screening approach. Among them, the ΔLppB mutant exhibited the most apparent decrease in adhesion to embryonic bovine lung (EBL) cells. The surface-localized lipoprotein LppB, which is highly conserved in Mycoplasma species, was then confirmed as a key factor for M. bovis adhesion with great immunogenicity. LppB interacted with various components (fibronectin, vitronectin, collagen IV, and laminin) of host extracellular matrix (ECM) and promoted plasminogen activation through tPA to degrade ECM. The 439-502 amino acid region of LppB is a critical domain, and F465 and Y493 are important residues for the plasminogen activation activity. We further revealed LppB as a key factor facilitating internalization through clathrin- and lipid raft-mediated endocytosis, which helps the Mycoplasma invade the host cells. Our study indicates that LppB plays a key role in Mycoplasma infection and is a potential new therapeutic and vaccine target for Mycoplasma species.

[Au(Np#)Cl]: Highly Reactive and Broadly Applicable Au(I)─NHC Catalysts for Alkyne π-Activation Reactions

Cationic Au(I)─NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes have become an important class of catalysts for alkyne π-activation reactions in organic synthesis. In particular, these complexes are characterized by high stability of catalytic species engendered by strong σ-donation and metal backbonding. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of well-defined [Au(NHC)Cl] complexes featuring recently discovered IPr# family of ligands that hinge upon modular peralkylation of aniline. These ligands have been commercialized in collaboration with MilliporeSigma (IPr#: 915653; Np#: 915912; BIAN-IPr#: 916420). Evaluation of the [Au(NHC)Cl] complexes in a series of Au(I)─NHC-catalyzed π-functionalizations of alkynes, such as hydrocarboxylation, hydroamination and hydration, resulted in the identification of wingtip-flexible [Au(Np#)Cl] as a highly reactive and broadly applicable catalyst with the re-activity outperforming the classical [Au(IPr)Cl] and [Au(IPr*)Cl] complexes. The utility of this catalyst has been demonstrated in the direct late-stage derivatization of complex pharmaceuticals. Structural and computational studies were conducted to determine steric effects, frontier molecular orbitals and bond orders of this class of catalysts. Considering the attractive features of well-defined Au(I)─NHC complexes, we anticipate that this class of bulky and wingtip-flexible Au(I)─NHCs based on the modular peralkylated naphthylamine scaffold will find broad application in π-functionalization of alkynes in various areas of organic synthesis and catalysis.

[Epidemiological characteristics of incident cases and risk factors of hepatitis C infection in Beijing City from 2004 to 2021]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and related factors of hepatitis C in Beijing City from 2004 to 2021. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological method and Joinpoint regression were used to analyze the trend and other epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Beijing City from 2004 to 2021 in National Notifiable Disease Reporting System. According to a 1∶1 matched case-control study design, logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors of hepatitis C infection in 2021. Results: From 2004 to 2021, the reported incidence of hepatitis C in Beijing City ranged from 2.37/100 000 to 10.46/100 000. The reported cases were mainly aged 30-60 years, and most of them were chronic. The reported incidence of hepatitis C showed an initial increase from 2004 to 2006 (APC=45.37%, 95%CI:-1.56%-114.69%), and declined after 2006 (APC=-9.21%, 95%CI:-10.70%-7.70%). Logistic analysis showed that history of surgery (OR=1.84, 95%CI: 1.08-3.14) and previous blood transfusion (OR=34.22, 95%CI: 8.05-145.41) were risk factors for hepatitis C infection. Conclusion: The reported incidence of hepatitis C in Beijing City increases first and decreases later. It currently remains at a low level. The risk factors of infection are surgery and blood transfusion history. Safe blood supply and preventing iatrogenic transmission should be focused on the prevention of hepatitis C transmission.

A novel peptidoglycan isolated from Semiaquilegia adoxoides inhibits Aβ42 production via activating autophagy

The accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) containing senile plaques is one of the key histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increasing evidences demonstrated the important role of autophagy in Aβ clearance. Recent studies implied that extracts from Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino could ameliorate the memory of D-galactose induced aging mice. However, the bioactive substance and underlying mechanism remains unknown. Thus, the present study sought to explore the effects of a novel homogenous peptidoglycan on Aβ42 secretion and the underlying mechanism. Briefly, we extracted a novel peptidoglycan named SA02C using hot water extraction and alcohol precipitation with the Mw of 13.72 kDa. SA02C contains 73.33% carbohydrate and 27.83% protein. The structure characterization revealed that its glycan part might mainly composed of galacturonic acid with minor rhamnose in backbone, and branched with glucose, galactose, arabinose, xylose and galacturonic acid. The protein or peptide moiety in SA02C was bonded to the polysaccharide via threonine. Bioactivities test showed that SA02C could reduce Aβ42 production in a dose dependent manner with no obvious cytotoxicity. Mechanism study demonstrated that SA02C could modulate APP processing by upregulating the expression of ADAM10, sAPPα and downregulating BACE1, sAPPβ. Furthermore, SA02C also could stimulate autophagy by promoting the expression of the markers of autophagy such as LC3B and ATG5, resulting in the promotion of Aβ42 phagocytosis.

HOXC13 promotes cell proliferation, metastasis and glycolysis in breast cancer by regulating DNMT3A

Breast cancer (BC) is a life-threatening malignant tumor that affects females more commonly than males. The mechanisms underlying BC proliferation, metastasis and glycolysis require further investigation. Homeobox C13 (HOXC13) is highly expressed in BC; however, the specific mechanisms in BC are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of HOXC13 in BC proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. In the present study, the UALCAN database was used to predict the expression levels of HOXC13 in patients with BC. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were used to determine the expression levels of HOXC13 in BC cell lines. Moreover, HOXC13 knockdown was induced using cell transfection, and the viability, proliferation and apoptosis of cells were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining and flow cytometry. Migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were measured using wound healing assay, Transwell assay and western blotting. In addition, XF96 extracellular flux analyzer and corresponding kits were used to detect glycolysis. The JASPAR database was used to predict promoter binding sites for the transcription factors HOXC13 and DNA methyltransferase 3α (DNMT3A). HOXC13 expression was silenced and DNMT3A was simultaneously overexpressed using cell transfection. The results of the present study revealed that HOXC13 expression was significantly elevated in BC tissues and cells. Following HOXC13 knockdown in BC cells, the viability, proliferation, glycolysis, migration, invasion and EMT were significantly decreased, and apoptosis was significantly increased. In addition, HOXC13 positively regulated the transcription of DNMT3A in BC cells, thus playing a regulatory role in the malignant progression of cells. In conclusion, HOXC13 promoted cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT and glycolysis in BC by regulating DNMT3A.

Fluoride contents in commonly used commercial phosphate fertilizers and their potential risks in China

The application of phosphate fertilizer is an important source of anthropogenic fluoride in agricultural soil. However, relatively few studies have examined the fluoride content of phosphate fertilizers, and that has limited our understanding of the phosphate fertilizer contribution to soil fluoride accumulation and distribution. To examine this problem, we first quantified the total fluoride (TF) and water-soluble fluoride (WF) contents of six of the most commonly used commercial phosphate fertilizers in China (potassium dihydrogen phosphate (MKP), calcium superphosphate (SSP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ternary compound fertilizer (NPK), and water-soluble macroelement fertilizer (WSF)). After calculating the [P2O5]/TF ratio for each of those fertilizers, we used those ratios and the average P2O5 application per crop of five typical crops grown in China (apples, greenhouse vegetables, wheat, corn, and rice) to estimate the annual fluoride accumulations in their soils after application of each type of phosphate fertilizer. Among the six fertilizer types, SSP, DAP, and NPK had much higher total fluoride and water-soluble fluoride contents than MKP, MAP, and WSF had. During crop production, the risk of fluoride accumulation was lower with MKP, MAP, and WSF (high [P2O5]/TF ratios) and higher with SSP, DAP, and NPK (low [P2O5]/TF ratios), especially in cash crops (fruit and greenhouse vegetables), which traditionally have unreasonably high P2O5 applications. Based on our findings, we proposed steps that should be taken to help effectively mitigate fluoride accumulation in China's agricultural soils.

[Comparison of aspirin treatment strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: A decision-analytic Markov modelling study]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the expected population impact of benefit and risk of aspirin treatment strategies for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases recommended by different guidelines in the Chinese Electronic Health Records Research in Yinzhou (CHERRY) study.

METHODS

A decision-analytic Markov model was used to simulate and compare different strategies of aspirin treatment, including: Strategy ①: Aspirin treatment for Chinese adults aged 40-69 years with a high 10-year cardiovascular risk, recommended by the 2020 Chinese Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases; Strategy ②: Aspirin treatment for Chinese adults aged 40-59 years with a high 10-year cardiovascular risk, recommended by the 2022 United States Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement on Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease; Strategy ③: Aspirin treatment for Chinese adults aged 40-69 years with a high 10-year cardiovascular risk and blood pressure well-controlled (< 150/90 mmHg), recommended by the 2019 Guideline on the Assessment and Management of Cardio-vascular Risk in China. The high 10-year cardiovascular risk was defined as the 10-year predicted risk over 10% based on the 2019 World Health Organization non-laboratory model. The Markov model simulated different strategies for ten years (cycles) with parameters mainly from the CHERRY study or published literature. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and the number needed to treat (NNT) for each ischemic event (including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke) were calculated to assess the effectiveness of the different strategies. The number needed to harm (NNH) for each bleeding event (including hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding) was calculated to assess the safety. The NNT for each net benefit (i.e., the difference of the number of ischemic events could be prevented and the number of bleeding events would be added) was also calculated. One-way sensitivity analysis on the uncertainty of the incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases and probabilistic sensitivity analysis on the uncertainty of hazard ratios of interventions were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 212 153 Chinese adults, were included in this study. The number of people who were recommended for aspirin treatment Strategies ①-③ was 34 235, 2 813, and 25 111, respectively. The Strategy ③ could gain the most QALY of 403 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 222-511] years. Compared with Strategy ①, Strategy ③ had similar efficiency but better safety, with the extra NNT of 4 (95%UI: 3-4) and NNH of 39 (95%UI: 19-132). The NNT per net benefit was 131 (95%UI: 102-239) for Strategy ①, 256 (95%UI: 181-737) for Strategy ②, and 132 (95%UI: 104-232) for Strategy ③, making Strategy ③ the most favorable option with a better QALY and safety, along with similar efficiency in terms of net benefit. The results were consistent in the sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

The aspirin treatment strategies recommended by the updated guidelines on the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases showed a net benefit for high-risk Chinese adults from developed areas. However, to balance effectiveness and safety, aspirin is suggested to be used for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases with consideration for blood pressure control, resulting in better intervention efficiency.

Hydration Reactions Catalyzed by Transition Metal-NHC (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes

The catalytic addition of water to unsaturated C-C or C-N π bonds represent one of the most important and environmentally sustainable methods to form C-O bonds for the production of synthetic intermediates, medicinal agents and natural products. The traditional acid-catalyzed hydration of unsaturated compounds typically requires strong acids or toxic mercury salts, which limits practical applications and presents safety and environmental concerns. Today, transition-metal-catalyzed hydration supported by NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands has attracted major attention. By rational design of ligands, choice of metals and counterions as well as mechanistic studies and the development of heterogeneous systems, major progress has been achieved for a broad range of hydration processes. In particular, the combination of NHC ligands with gold shows excellent reactivity compared with other catalytic systems; however, other systems based on silver, ruthenium, osmium, platinum, rhodium and nickel have also been discovered. Ancillary NHC ligands provide stabilization of transition metals and ensure high catalytic activity in hydration owing to their unique electronic and steric properties. NHC-Au(I) complexes are particularly favored for hydration of unsaturated hydrocarbons due to soft and carbophilic properties of gold. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of hydration reactions catalyzed by transition metal-NHC complexes and their applications in catalytic hydration of different classes of π-substrates with a focus on the role of NHC ligands, types of metals and counterions.

Characteristics of dissolved N2O and indirect N2O emission factor in the groundwater of high nitrate leaching areas in northwest China

Numerous studies have demonstrated high concentrations of dissolved N₂O and indirect N₂O emission factors in groundwater affected by agriculture. However, the characteristics of seasonal and vertical dimensional difference in groundwater in high nitrate leaching areas are relatively lacking. We monitored the concentrations of dissolved and wellhead N₂O of 23 groundwater wells over a one year period to understand the seasonal characteristics of dissolved and wellhead N₂O concentrations and indirect N₂O emission factors (EF₅) of the shallow and deep groundwater in a high nitrogen leaching area and analyze the reasons for their differences. The mean dissolved N₂O concentration in groundwater was 9.71 (9.03) μg/L, which was 1.5-fold higher during the wet season relative to the dry season. Furthermore, the leaching of soil N₂O caused by rainfall and irrigation could be a pivotal factor affecting seasonal variation in the dissolved N₂O. Shallow wells were found to have higher dissolved and wellhead N₂O concentrations compared with deep wells in all seasons. The low wellhead N₂O concentrations during the dry season were attributed to the seasonal decrease of the groundwater table and dissolved N₂O concentrations. We concluded that indirect N₂O emission factors did not vary in the vertical dimension but were higher during the wet season than that during the dry season. In addition, the mean indirect N₂O emission factor in the groundwater was 0.025 %, which was one order of magnitude below the current IPCC value (0.25 %). Thus, we proposed that such a low indirect N₂O emissions factor could imply a low indirect N₂O emission potential in groundwater with high dissolved oxygen and nitrogen loads. Our study further indicated that seasonal differences in dissolved N₂O concentrations and indirect N₂O emission factors should be considered when estimating the potential emissions of dissolved N₂O in groundwater.

Clinical Relevance of Plaque Distribution for Basilar Artery Stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is no clear association between plaque distribution and postoperative complications in patients with basilar artery atherosclerotic stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether plaque distribution and postoperative complications after endovascular treatment for basilar artery stenosis are related.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study enrolled patients with severe basilar artery stenosis who were scanned with high-resolution MR imaging and followed by DSA before the intervention. According to high-resolution MR imaging, plaques can be classified as ventral, lateral, dorsal, or involved in 2 quadrants. Plaques affecting the proximal, distal, or junctional segments of the basilar artery were classified according to DSA. An experienced independent team assessed ischemic events after the intervention using MR imaging. Further analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between plaque distribution and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

A total of 140 eligible patients were included in the study, with a postoperative complication rate of 11.4%. These patients were an average age of 61.9 (SD, 7.7) years. Dorsal wall plaques accounted for 34.3% of all plaques, and plaques distal to the anterior-inferior cerebellar artery accounted for 60.7%. Postoperative complications of endovascular treatment were associated with plaques located at the lateral wall (OR = 4.00; 95% CI, 1.21-13.23; P = .023), junctional segment (OR = 8.75; 95% CI, 1.16-66.22; P = .036), and plaque burden (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P = .042).

CONCLUSIONS

Plaques with a large burden located at the junctional segment and lateral wall of the basilar artery may increase the likelihood of postoperative complications following endovascular therapy. A larger sample size is needed for future studies.

L-Shaped Heterobidentate Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene (N,C)-Ligands for Oxidant-Free AuI /AuIII Catalysis

In the last decade, major advances have been made in homogeneous gold catalysis. However, Au^I /Au^III catalytic cycle remains much less explored due to the reluctance of Au^I to undergo oxidative addition and the stability of the Au^III intermediate. Herein, we report activation of aryl halides at gold(I) enabled by NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands through the development of a new class of L-shaped heterobidentate ImPy (ImPy=imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene) N,C ligands that feature hemilabile character of the amino group in combination with strong σ-donation of the carbene center in a rigid conformation, imposed by the ligand architecture. Detailed characterization and control studies reveal key ligand features for Au^I /Au^III redox cycle, wherein the hemilabile nitrogen is placed at the coordinating position of a rigid framework. Given the tremendous significance of homogeneous gold catalysis, we anticipate that this ligand platform will find widespread application.

[Application of discrete event simulation model in analysis on cost-effectiveness of epidemiology screening]

Discrete event simulation (DES) model is based on individual data, by which discrete events over time are simulated to reflect disease progression. The effects of individual characteristics on disease progression could be considered in the DES model. Moreover, unlike state-transition models, DES model without setting of fixed cycle can contribute to more accurate estimation of event time, especially in the evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of screening strategies for complex diseases in which time dimension needs to be considered. This article introduces the general principles, construction steps, analytic methods and other relevant issues of the DES model. Based on a research case of estimating the cost-effectiveness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in women aged 65 years and above in the United Kingdom, key points in applications of the DES model in analysis on effectiveness of complex disease screening are discussed in detail, including model construction and analysis and interpretation of the results. DES model can predict occurring time of discrete events accurately by establishing the distribution function of their occurring time and is increasingly used to evaluate the screening strategies for complex diseases in which time dimension needs to be considered. In the construction of DES model, it is necessary to pay close attention to the clear presentation of model structure and simulation process and follow the relevant reporting specification to conduct cost-effectiveness analysis to ensure the transparency and repeatability of the research.

A Facial Landmark Detection Method Based on Deep Knowledge Transfer

Facial landmark detection is a crucial preprocessing step in many applications that process facial images. Deep-learning-based methods have become mainstream and achieved outstanding performance in facial landmark detection. However, accurate models typically have a large number of parameters, which results in high computational complexity and execution time. A simple but effective facial landmark detection model that achieves a balance between accuracy and speed is crucial. To achieve this, a lightweight, efficient, and effective model is proposed called the efficient face alignment network (EfficientFAN) in this article. EfficientFAN adopts the encoder-decoder structure, with a simple backbone EfficientNet-B0 as the encoder and three upsampling layers and convolutional layers as the decoder. Moreover, deep dark knowledge is extracted through feature-aligned distillation and patch similarity distillation on the teacher network, which contains pixel distribution information in the feature space and multiscale structural information in the affinity space of feature maps. The accuracy of EfficientFAN is further improved after it absorbs dark knowledge. Extensive experimental results on public datasets, including 300 Faces in the Wild (300W), Wider Facial Landmarks in the Wild (WFLW), and Caltech Occluded Faces in the Wild (COFW), demonstrate the superiority of EfficientFAN over state-of-the-art methods.

Fluoride accumulation characteristics in a northern China apple orchard that has had long-term phosphate fertilization

Phosphate fertilizer can cause fluoride accumulation in the soil and excessive fluoride poses potential risks to soil and food crop safety. However, the effects of fertilization on soil and fruit fluoride accumulations through long-term positioning trials, especially in high-fertilizer application situations such as apple orchards, have received little attention. To close this knowledge gap, we conducted a field experiment to demonstrate the effects among five long-term (13-year) fertilizer treatments on fluoride accumulations at different soil depths and in the fruits of an apple orchard in Baishui, Shaanxi, China. The five treatments included no fertilization (CK); manure application (M); nitrogen and phosphate fertilization (NP); nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization (NPK); and groundcover with nitrogen and phosphate fertilization (GNP). The results confirmed that all phosphate fertilizer treatments (NP, NPK, and GNP) had significant increases in total fluoride (TF) and water-soluble fluoride (WF) accumulations in the topsoil (0-20 cm). Among the phosphate fertilizer treatments, NP topsoil accumulated the most TF and WF, 79.4 and 7.7 mg kg^-1 more than CK, respectively, and an average annual TF increase of 6 mg kg^-1. However, the M treatment both experienced reduced fluoride content in the topsoil and had TF and WF contents 8.1 and 0.67 mg kg^-1 lower than CK, respectively. There was no significant difference between all fertilizer treatments and CK in apple fluoride content. Furthermore, TF and WF accumulated mainly in the topsoil and the differences in soil fluoride content among the treatments decreased with soil depth. These findings showed that long-term phosphate fertilization increases the risk of fluoride accumulation in orchard topsoil. Altogether, these results improve the understanding of the characterization of soil and fruit fluoride accumulations in apple orchards under long-term fertilizer conditions and provide new insights into the use of manure as a possible alternative fertilization strategy that reduces fluoride accumulation.

The role of available nitrogen in the adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastics on magnetic materials

Several studies have been conducted on nanoplastics (NPs). However, few studies have investigated the complexity of the interactions between NPs and other aqueous pollutants in multi-solute media. In this study, the adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on magnetic materials (MS) in the presence of available nitrogen (AN) was studied. The results demonstrated that the adsorbed amount of PSNPs increased in the presence of ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), whereas no significant difference was detected on the adsorbed amount of PSNPs using nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) as a cosolute. The increase in the adsorbed amount of PSNPs was attributed to the formation of an MS-PSNPs-NH₄⁺-N complex. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential analyses indicated that the PSNPs with NH₄⁺-N as a cosolute can be bound on the MS surfaces. Moreover, the change in the PSNPs amount adsorbed by MS depends on the valence state, electronegativity of the coexisting ions, and the surface properties and functional groups of PSNPs. Additionally, the ionic strength, dissolved organic matter, solution pH, metal cations and the subsequent release of MS-coated PSNPs and NH₄⁺-N changed considerably in different aquatic systems and artificial nitrating fluids. Among different natural aquatic systems, the PSNPs adsorption on MS was excellent in lake water. The results indicate high potential for the attachment of PSNPs to MS in the presence of AN and further deepen the understanding of removing NPs using magnetic materials in aqueous systems with various coexisting contaminants.

Vitamin D supplementation and adverse skeletal and non-skeletal outcomes in individuals at increased cardiovascular risk: Results from the International Polycap Study (TIPS)-3 randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vitamin D has mostly been tested in Western populations. We examined the effect of high dose vitamin D in a population drawn predominantly from outside of Western countries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This randomized trial tested vitamin D 60,000 IU monthly in 5670 participants without vascular disease but at increased CV risk. The primary outcome was fracture. The secondary outcome was the composite of CV death, myocardial infarction stroke, cancer, fracture or fall. Death was a pre-specified outcome. Mean age was 63.9 years, and 3005 (53.0%) were female. 3034 (53.5%) participants resided in South Asia, 1904 (33.6%) in South East Asia, 480 (8.5%) in South America, and 252 (4.4%) in other regions. Mean follow-up was 4.6 years. A fracture occurred in 20 participants (0.2 per 100 person years) assigned to vitamin D, and 19 (0.1 per 100 person years) assigned to placebo (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.57-1.99, p-value = 0.86). The secondary outcome occurred in 222 participants (1.8 per 100 person years) assigned to vitamin D, and 198 (1.6 per 100 person years) assigned to placebo (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.93-1.37, p = 0.22). 172 (1.3 per 100 person years) participants assigned to vitamin D died, compared with 135 (1.0 per 100 person years) assigned to placebo (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.61, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

In a population predominantly from South Asia, South East Asia and South America, high-dose vitamin D did not reduce adverse skeletal or non-skeletal outcomes. Higher mortality was observed in the vitamin D group.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01646437.

Early Introduction and Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant, New York, New York, USA

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become dominant in most countries and has raised significant global health concerns. As a global commerce center, New York, New York, USA, constantly faces the risk for multiple variant introductions of SARS-CoV-2. To elucidate the introduction and transmission of the Omicron variant in the city of New York, we created a comprehensive genomic and epidemiologic analysis of 392 Omicron virus specimens collected during November 25-December 11, 2021. We found evidence of 4 independent introductions of Omicron subclades, including the Omicron subclade BA.1.1 with defining substitution of R346K in the spike protein. The continuous genetic divergence within each Omicron subclade revealed their local community transmission and co-circulation in New York, including both household and workplace transmissions supported by epidemiologic evidence. Our study highlights the urgent need for enhanced genomic surveillance and effective response planning for better prevention and management of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Early Release Science of the exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRSpec PRISM

Transmission spectroscopy1-3 of exoplanets has revealed signatures of water vapour, aerosols and alkali metals in a few dozen exoplanet atmospheres4,5. However, these previous inferences with the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes were hindered by the observations' relatively narrow wavelength range and spectral resolving power, which precluded the unambiguous identification of other chemical species-in particular the primary carbon-bearing molecules6,7. Here we report a broad-wavelength 0.5-5.5 µm atmospheric transmission spectrum of WASP-39b8, a 1,200 K, roughly Saturn-mass, Jupiter-radius exoplanet, measured with the JWST NIRSpec's PRISM mode9 as part of the JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team Program10-12. We robustly detect several chemical species at high significance, including Na (19σ), H2O (33σ), CO2 (28σ) and CO (7σ). The non-detection of CH4, combined with a strong CO2 feature, favours atmospheric models with a super-solar atmospheric metallicity. An unanticipated absorption feature at 4 µm is best explained by SO2 (2.7σ), which could be a tracer of atmospheric photochemistry. These observations demonstrate JWST's sensitivity to a rich diversity of exoplanet compositions and chemical processes.

Well-Defined, Air- and Moisture-Stable Palladium-Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene Complexes: A Versatile Catalyst Platform for Cross-Coupling Reactions by L-Shaped NHC Ligands

We describe the development of [(NHC)Pd(cinnamyl)Cl] complexes of ImPy (ImPy = imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene) as a versatile class of precatalysts for cross-coupling reactions. These precatalysts feature fast activation to monoligated Pd(0) with 1:1 Pd to ligand ratio in a rigid imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene template. Steric matching of the C5-substituent and N2-wingtip in the catalytic pocket of the catalyst framework led to the discovery of ImPyMesDipp as a highly reactive imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene ligand for Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of nitroarenes by challenging C-NO2 activation. Kinetic studies demonstrate fast activation and high reactivity of this class of well-defined ImPy-Pd catalysts. Structural studies provide full characteristics of this new class of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene ligands. Computational studies establish electronic properties of sterically-restricted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene ligands. Finally, a scalable synthesis of C5-substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene ligands through Ni-catalyzed Kumada cross-coupling is disclosed. The method obviates chromatographic purification at any of the steps, resulting in a facile and modular access to ImPy ligands. We anticipate that well-defined [Pd-ImPy] complexes will find broad utility in organic synthesis and catalysis for activation of unreactive bonds.

Interspecific competition between Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas microsphaera stressed by tetracyclines

The extensive use of tetracyclines in human and veterinary medicine causes contamination in the environment that could contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or competition between species of phytoplankton. In this study, Microcystis aeruginosa (a bloom-forming cyanobacterium) and Chlamydomonas microsphaera (common green alga) were selected to test the effects of different concentrations of tetracyclines (tetracycline and oxytetracycline) in monoculture and co-culture. The results showed that compared with monoculture, the cell growth of C. microsphaera decreased significantly in co-culture treated with different concentrations of tetracycline and oxytetracycline. The ratios of inhibition of M. aeruginosa exposed to 0.1, 2, and 10 mg L^-1 of tetracycline varied between 17.7 and 31.37% in co-culture compared with monoculture, while the cell growth of M. aeruginosa was enhanced by treatment with 0.1, 2, and 7.25 mg L^-1 of oxytetracycline in co-culture. However, the cell growth of C. microsphaera was significantly inhibited by all the treatments in co-culture. With the treatment of tetracycline, the specific growth rate of M. aeruginosa was 0.36 to 0.31 day^-1 in monoculture and co-culture, while that of C. microsphaera ranged from 0.38 to 0.26 day^-1 in monoculture, and it decreased from 0.25 day^-1 (0 mg L^-1) to 0.08 day^-1 (10 mg L^-1) in co-culture. With the treatment of oxytetracycline, the specific growth rate of M. aeruginosa was stimulated in co-culture, while that of C. microsphaera was significantly inhibited in co-culture compared with monoculture. Therefore, although M. aeruginosa significantly inhibited C. microsphaera in co-culture with the tetracycline-free treatment, the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa expanded following the addition of low or high concentrations of tetracyclines.

Dissolved greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural groundwater irrigation in the Guanzhong Basin of China

While evidence indicates that groundwater is a potential source for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, information for such emissions in groundwater used for irrigation is lacking. Based on 23 wells in the mid-western Guanzhong Basin of China, we investigated the dissolved CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ distributions in groundwater, their relationships with water indicators, and emission fluxes during flood irrigation. We found zero methane, but CO₂ and N₂O were 30 and 25 times, respectively, supersaturated compared to atmospheric concentrations. Dissolved N₂O in groundwater was positively correlated with NO₃^--N (P = 0.009), while CO₂ depended mainly on low pH and high dissolved inorganic carbon. The CO₂ and N₂O emission fluxes detected in wellheads, especially in shallow wells, implied potential emissions. Flood irrigation experiments showed that 24.55% of dissolved CO₂ and 36.81% of dissolved N₂O in groundwater was degassed immediately (within 12 min of irrigation) to the atmosphere. Our study demonstrates that direct GHG emissions from groundwater used for agricultural irrigation in the Guanzhong Basin are potentially equivalent to about 2-4% of the GHG emissions from 3 years of fertilizer use on these farmlands, so further research should focus on optimizing irrigation strategies to mitigate GHG emissions.

Current diagnosis and potential obstacles for post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis

Despite the guidance of aseptic technology applied, bacterial meningitis seems to be an unavoidable obstacle in the process of neurosurgery, with high rates of disability and mortality. The diagnosis of post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM) mainly depends both on clinical symptoms and laboratory outcomes. Due to the excessive neuro-inflammatory reactions which are evoked by the primary brain disease or the craniotomy operation, the symptoms derived from the infection and aseptic may not be easily distinguished. On the other hand, the low positive rate and time-consuming character restrict the clinical practical values of bacterial culture. Therefore, it is always difficult to make a definite diagnosis of post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis. Here, we reviewed the established literature about the diagnostic biomarkers for the PNBM and analyzed the potential obstacles in both clinical and scientific studies. Given the obstacle which has negative impacts on further investigation about the biology of PNBM, we only find relatively small numbers of study on PNBM. In this review, we summarize the established diagnostic methods and biomarkers for PNBM. Meanwhile, we also propose some potential investigation prospects. This review may help to better understand the character of PNBM in both clinical diagnosis and scientific investigations.

Universal and Stable Slippery Coatings: Chemical Combination Induced Adhesive-Lubricant Cooperation

Liquid lubricant of low affinity makes slippery coatings widely used in lubricating, anti-biofouling, anti-icing, fluid guiding, and drag reduction. Two critical challenges, however, remain in the practical application of slippery coatings consisting of liquid lubricants: (1) universality regardless of roughness and chemical composition of substrates, (2) stability of surface lubricity against evaporation. Herein, a chemical method is reported to create a universal and stable slippery lubricant-adhesive cooperated coating (SLACC) through acid catalyzed dehydration reaction between the phenolic hydroxyl of polydopamine (PDA), with universal (for challenge-1) and strong (for challenge-2) adhesion properties, and liquid-like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with lubricant properties. Through overlying PDMS on PDA, a spatial gradient interpenetration of chemical combined PDA and PDMS leaving lubricant PDMS at the outermost of coating is achieved. This structure contributes to the following performances of SLACC: nearly universality suitable for 100 different abiotic or biotic substrates and stability sustainable for long-term usages, UV radiating, refrigerating, hot air drying, freeze drying, knife scratch and abrasion. This proposed strategy is envisioned anti-fouling from plane to tube and exhibits drag reduction in confined space.

[Effectiveness of statin treatment strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in a community-based Chinese population: A decision-analytic Markov model]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of statin treatment strategies based on risk assessment for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases by the Western guidelines in a community-based Chinese population from economically developed areas using data from the Chinese electronic health records research in Yinzhou (CHERRY) study.

METHODS

A Markov model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the following statin treatment strategies, including: (1) usual care without cardiovascular risk assessment(Strategy 0); (2) using the World Health Organization (WHO) non-laboratory-based risk charts with statin treatment for high-risk group (risk ≥ 20%) (Strategy 1); (3) using the WHO laboratory-based risk charts with statin treatment for high-risk group (risk ≥ 20%) (Strategy 2); and (4) using the Prediction for Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease Risk in China (China-PAR) model with statin treatment for high-risk group (risk ≥ 10%, Strategy 3). According to the guidelines, adults in the medium-risk group received lifestyle intervention, and adults in the high-risk group received life-style intervention and statin treatment under these strategies. The Markov model simulated different strategies for ten years (cycles) using parameters from the CHERRY study, published data, meta-analyses and systematic reviews for Chinese. The number of cardiovascular events or deaths, as well as the number need to treat (NNT) with statin per cardiovascular event or death prevented, were calculated to compare the effectiveness of different strategies. One-way sensitivity analysis on the uncertainty of incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases, and probabilistic sensitivity analysis on the uncertainty of hazard ratios of interventions were conducted.

RESULTS

Totally 225 811 Chinese adults aged 40-79 years without cardiovascular diseases at baseline were enrolled. In contrast to the usual care without risk assessment-based statin treatment strategy, Strategy 1 using the WHO non-laboratory-based risk charts could prevent 3 482 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 2 110-4 661] cardiovascular events, Strategy 2 using the WHO laboratory-based risk charts could prevent 3 685 (95%UI: 2 255-4 912) events, and Strategy 3 using the China-PAR model could prevent 3 895 (95%UI: 2 396-5 181) events. NNTs with statin per cardiovascular event prevented were 22 (95%UI: 14-54), 21 (95%UI: 14-52), and 27 (95%UI: 17-67), respectively. Strategy 3 could prevent more cardiovascular events, while Strategies 1 and 2 required fewer numbers need to treat with statin per cardiovascular event prevented. The results were consistent in the sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

The statin treatment strategies based on risk assessment for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases recommended by the Western guidelines could achieve substantive health benefits in adults from developed areas of China. Using the China-PAR model for cardiovascular risk assessment could prevent more cardiovascular diseases while using the WHO risk charts seems more efficient.

[Applications of microsimulation model for cost-effectiveness analysis on screening in epidemiology]

Microsimulation model simulates individuals and estimates transition probabilities within the population using individual participant data. This approach could deal with the heterogeneous characteristics among the people or personal history of diseases and may be relevant in addressing cost-effectiveness problems of screening for complex conditions in epidemiology. This paper introduces the general principles, basic steps involved in implementation, analytic methods, and other related issues of the microsimulation model. Based on a practical research case of estimating the cost-effectiveness of microalbuminuria screening for chronic kidney disease in the United States, critical points in applications of the microsimulation model for cost-effectiveness analysis of screening were discussed in detail, including model development, model analysis, and the interpretation of the results. The microsimulation model considers the dynamic nature of complex diseases by estimating a broad range of individual characteristics and increasingly used to provide insights into complex problems that the Markov model does not efficiently address. For better supporting evidence-informed decision-making in public health, future studies should be aware of the accuracy of parameters in the decision-analytic model and the transparency of the models and results, as well as complying with the relevant reporting standards.

[Overlap esophagojejunostomy with multi-mode modifications in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy: safety and feasibility of 152 cases from a single center]

Objective: Currently, the Overlap anastomosis is one of the most favored reconstruction methods of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy (EJS). Despite many advantages of the method, it remains some shortcomings to be improved when it comes to the retraction of the esophagus stump, the insertion of the anvil fork of the linear stapler into a "pseudo" lumen, and the closure of the common entry hole. This study aims to investigate the safety and feasibility of a multi-mode modified Overlap anastomosis. Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted. Medical records of 152 consecutive patients who underwent totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) with our multi-mode modified Overlap EJS method by the same surgical team at our department from February 2017 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The multi-mode modified Overlap method mainly included (1) After ensuring the safety of tumor resection margin (proximal margin was at least 3 cm from the tumor), the esophagus was partially transected from left to right (with 5-8 mm width esophagus continuation). The specimen was then placed in a plastic bag which was tied up at the mouth using strings with a part of the esophageal wall poking through. Then the plastic bag containing the specimen was transferred to the right lumbar region, while the patient's body position was adjusted so that the abdominal esophagus could be pulled by the gravity of the specimen. (2) Using the "three-direction traction" method. The esophageal lumen was properly exposed, then guided by the gastric tube, the anvil fork was accurately placed into the esophageal lumen for completing the side-to-side EJS. (3) The 3-0 barbed suture was used in the closure of the common entry hole of the stapler from dorsally to ventrally with simple one-layer continuous suture (the stitch going from inside to inside) followed by continuous Lembert's suture (the stitch going from outside to outside). Combined with clinicopathological characteristics, the perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications of the whole group were analyzed and evaluated. Results: The study cohort included 129 men and 23 women, with a mean age of (60.2±9.1) years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of (23.2±3.1) kg/m(2). Of the 152 patients, 23 patients (15.1%) had a history of previous abdominal surgery; dentate line was invaded by tumor in 21 patients (13.8%). The mean length of the proximal resection margin was (3.3±0.3) cm and the postoperative pathological examination indicated negative resection margin tumor. The mean operative time and anastomotic time were (302.1±39.9) minutes and (29.8±5.4) minutes, respectively. The mean estimated blood loss was (87.9±46.4) ml. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was (12.3±7.3) days. The overall severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ II) occurred in 22 patients (14.5%). Six cases of pancreatic leakage were successfully recovered by adequate drainage, inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretion and nutritional support. Ten cases of pneumonia and three cases of abdominal infection were cured with anti-infection and physical therapy. Two patients developed anastomotic leakage postoperatively. One case was caused by excessive tension of the Roux loop of the jejunum and excessive opening on the side of the jejunum after side-to-side anastomosis, and the other case was caused by an accidental intraoperative occurrence of "nasogastric tube stapled to the side-to-side anastomosis". Both of them recovered after conservative treatment including adequate drainage, anti-infection, and adequate nutritional support. One patient underwent immediate open surgery because of Peterson's hernia 7 days after TLTG, and the patient died due to extensive small bowel necrosis. Conclusions: Multi-mode modified overlap method simplifies the operation and reduces the difficulty of EJS. It is a safe and feasible method for EJS.

[Technical details of gastrointestinal reconstruction using linear stapler in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy]

With the development of instrument, equipment and surgical skills, especially the emergence of a series of high-level medical evidence, the laparoscopic techniques in the field of gastric surgery has been further expanded. Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) has certain technical difficulties, and more challenges are reflected in the digestive tract reconstruction. The use of linear staplers has reduced the difficulty of digestive tract reconstruction to a certain extent and has strongly promoted the transition from laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy to TLTG. However, for TLTG, there are still many details that should be carefully concerned, so as to effectively avoid the surgical pitfalls and ensure the fluency and safety of the procedure. In this article, we discuss the surgical details based on our own experiences, including how to obtain surgical field exposure well, how to manage specific accidents when using linear stapler for esophagojejunostomy, how to prevent intra-abdominal hernias and Roux stasis syndrome, and how to prevent the stapled lines of the esophageal or jejunal stumps from direct contact with aorta.

GDC-0941 activates integrin linked kinase (ILK) expression to cause resistance to GDC-0941 in breast cancer by the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α signaling pathway

Breast cancer is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. GDC-0941 is a PI3K inhibitor with oncogenic effects in breast cancer. However, certain breast cancer cells are insensitive to GDC-0941. Hence, the mechanism of GDC-0941 in breast cancer resistance was investigated in this study. Breast cancer cell lines BT-474, MCF7, Hs-578-T, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453, and MDA-MB-468 were cultured in different medium and then treated with 100 or 500 nM GDC-0941, 100 nM OSU-T315, or TNF-α antibody. Moreover, ILK and shILK were transfected into cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for GDC-0941 were detected using CCK-8 assay. The levels of ILK, AKT, PDK1, S6, and p70S6K expression were detected using western blotting and qPCR. In addition, the mouse model of breast cancer was constructed to measure the tumor size, volume, and weight. The results showed that GDC-0941 decreased cell survival rate, downregulated the phosphorylation of AKT, S6, and p70S6K, and promoted the expression of ILK, while it had little effect on PDK1 expression. GDC-0941 inhibited the increases in p-AKT, p-S6, and p-p70S6K caused by ILK overexpression and promoted ILK knockdown-induced reduction of p-AKT, p-S6, and p-p70S6K. In addition, the combination of OSU-T315 and GDC-0941 decreased p-AKT, p-S6, and p-p70S6K level, tumor volume, and tumor weight. GDC-0941 promoted ILK expression by upregulating TNF-α level. Taken together, GDC-0941 increased ILK level by upregulating TNF-α, thus affecting AKT expression and the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to GDC-0941.

Polydopamine-Induced Modification on the Highly Charged Surface of Asymmetric Nanofluidics: A Strategy for Adjustable Ion Current Rectification Properties

Surface charge effects in nanoconfines is one of the fundamentals in the ion current rectification (ICR) of nanofluidics, which provides entropic driving force by asymmetric surface charges and causes ion enrichment/depletion by the electrostatic interaction of fixed surface charges. However, the surface charge effect causes a significant electrostatic repulsion in nanoconfines, restricting additional like charge or elaborate chemistry on the highly charged confined surface, which limits ICR manipulation. Here, we use polydopamine (PDA), a nearly universal adhesive, that adheres to the highly positive-charged poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) gel network in a nanochannel array. PDA enhances the ICR effect from a low rectification ratio of 9.5 to 92.6 by increasing the surface charge and hydrophobicity of the PEI gel network and, meanwhile, shrinking its gap spacing. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate the determinants of the fixed surface charge in the enrichment/depletion region on ICR properties, which is adjustable by PDA-induced change in a nanoconfined environment. Chemically active PDA brings Au nanoparticles by chloroauric reduction for further hydrophobization and the modification of negative-charged DNA complexes in nanochannels, whereby ICR effects can be manipulated in versatile means. The results describe an adjustable and versatile strategy for adjusting the ICR behaviors of nanofluidics by manipulating local surface charge effects using PDA.