Macronutrient and PFOS bioavailability manipulated by aeration-driven rhizospheric organic nanocapsular assembly

Ubiquitous presence of the extremely persistent pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is drawing ever-increasing concerns for their high eco-environmental risks which, however, are insufficiently considered based on the assembly characteristics of those amphiphilic molecules in environment. This study investigated the re-organization and self-assembly of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and macronutrient molecules from rhizospheric organic (RhO) matter induced with a common operation of aeration. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) with infrared spectroscopy (IR)-mapping clearly showed that, after aeration and stabilization, RhO nanocapsules (∼ 1000 nm or smaller) with a core of PFOS-protein complexes coated by "lipid-carbohydrate" layers were observed whereas the capsule structure with a lipid core surrounded by "protein-carbohydrate-protein" multilayers was obtained in the absence of PFOS. It is aeration that exerted the disassociation of pristine RhO components, after which the environmental concentration PFOS restructured the self-assembly structure in a conspicuous "disorder-to-order" transition. AFM IR-mapping analysis of faeces combined with quantification of component uptake denoted the decreased ingestion and utilization of both PFOS and proteins compared with lipids and carbohydrates when Daphnia magna were fed with RhO nanocapsules. RhO nanocapsules acted as double-edged swords via simultaneously impeding the bioaccessibility of hazardous PFOS molecules and macronutrient proteins; and the latter might be more significant, which caused a malnutrition status within merely 48 h. Elucidating the assembly structure of natural organic matter and environmental concentration PFOS, the finding of this work could be a crucial supplementation to the high-dose-dependent eco-effect investigations on PFOS.

Changes over time in the course of advanced pancreatic cancer treatment with systemic chemotherapy: a pooled analysis of five clinical trials from two decades of the German AIO study group

BACKGROUND

Over the past two decades, our group has conducted five multicenter trials focusing on first-line systemic therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The current pooled analysis was designed to evaluate prognosis over time and the impact of clinical characteristics on survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Individual patient data were derived from five prospective, controlled, multicenter trials conducted by the 'Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie' (AIO): 'Gem/Cis', 'Ro96', 'RC57', 'ACCEPT' and 'RASH', which recruited patients between December 1997 and January 2017.

RESULTS

Overall, 912 patients were included. The median overall survival (OS) for all assessable patients was 7.1 months. OS significantly improved over time, with a median OS of 8.6 months for patients treated from 2012 to 2017 compared with 7.0 months from 1997 to 2006 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.06; P < 0.004]. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (HR 1.48; P < 0.001), use of second-line treatment (HR 1.51; P < 0.001), and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage (III versus IV) (HR 1.34, P = 0.002) had a significant impact on OS. By contrast, no influence of age and gender on OS was detectable. Comparing combination therapy with single-agent chemotherapy did not demonstrate a survival benefit, nor did regimens containing epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) such as afatinib or erlotinib, compared with chemotherapy-only arms. Patients with early-onset pancreatic cancer (age at study entry of ≤50 years, n = 102) had a similar OS compared with those >50 years (7.1 versus 7.0 months; HR 1.13; P = 0.273). The use of a platinum-containing regimen was not associated with better outcomes in patients with early-onset pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Within this selected group of patients treated within prospective clinical trials, survival has shown improvement over two decades. This effect is likely attributable to the availability of more effective combination therapies and treatment lines, rather than to any specific regimen, such as those containing EGFR-TKIs. In addition, concerning age and sex subgroups, the dataset did not provide evidence for distinct clinical behavior.

[The impact of modified T3 sub-staging on the prognosis of gallbladder cancer patients]

Objective: To explore the value of a new modified T3 sub-staging for the prognosis evaluation in gallbladder cancer patients. Methods: This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of patients with pathologically confirmed stage T3 gallbladder cancer who were admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2011 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 190 patients were enrolled in this study, 67 males and 123 females, with an age (M(IQR)) of 63(14) years (range:17 to 88 years). The stage T3 was divided into four sub-stages according to the site of tumor invasion: (1) T3a:tumor perforates the serosa,but not invading the liver and one other adjacent structure; (2) T3b:tumor perforates the serosa and invades one other adjacent structure,but not the liver; (3) T3c:tumor perforates the serosa and invades the liver,but not one other adjacent structure; (4) T3d:tumor perforates the serosa,invades the liver and one other adjacent structure. To evaluate the application value of this modified sub-staging,the Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve,univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were done using the Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model respectively. Results: According to the modified T3 sub-staging method,34 patients (17.9%) were in stage T3a,24 cases(12.6%) were in stage T3b, 97 cases (51.1%) were in stage T3c, and 35 cases (18.4%) were in stage T3d. The median survival time of patients in stages T3a,T3b,T3c and T3d after radical resection was 72.0 months, 32.0 months, 12.0 months and 10.0 months, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of patients in stage T3a, T3b, T3c and T3d were 79.4%, 53.3%, and 53.3%; 79.2%, 44.6%, and 26.0%;49.5%,27.5%,and 18.1%;42.9%,15.9%, and 15.9% (χ2=18.349,P<0.01),respectively. Univariate analysis showed that gallbladder stones,pathological differentiation,perineural invasion, N stage,postoperative adjuvant therapy and modified T3 substage were factors affecting patient prognosis(all P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that modified sub-stages with T3c (HR=2.043, 95%CI:1.176 to 3.549) and T3d(HR=2.419, 95%CI:1.284 to 4.555), accompanied by gallbladder stones (HR=1.661,95%CI:1.150 to 2.398),pathological differentiation with poorly differentiated(HR=1.709,95%CI:1.198 to 2.438), and the N stage with N1 and N2(HR=1.602, 95%CI:1.090 to 2.355, 2.714, 95%CI: 1.621 to 4.544) were independent prognostic risk factors for patients in stage T3,while postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy(HR=0.351) was a protective factor for prognosis. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients with stage T3a and T3b who underwent hepatic wedge resection and liver segment or major resection (P=0.402). For patients with stage T3c and T3d with liver invasion,the survival difference after hepatic wedge resection and segmental or major resection was statistically significant (P=0.008). Conclusion: The modified T3 sub-staging system based on the depth and direction of tumor invasion maybe helpful to further stratify the prognosis of patients with gallbladder cancer.

Microbial antagonistic mechanisms of Hg(II) and Se(IV) in efficient wastewater treatment using granular sludge

The antagonistic effects of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) have been extensively studied in higher animals and plants. In this study, the microbial antagonistic effects of Hg and Se were utilized for wastewater treatment. We developed and optimized a new granular sludge approach to efficiently remove Hg(II) and Se(IV) from wastewater. Under anaerobic-oxic-anaerobic (AOA) conditions, the removal rates of Hg(II) and Se(IV) reached up to 99.91±0.07 % and 97.7 ± 0.8 %, respectively. The wastewater Hg(II) was mostly (97.43±0.01 %) converted to an inert mineral called tiemannite (HgSe) in the sludge, and no methylmercury (MeHg) was detected. The HgSe in sludge is less toxic, with almost no risk of secondary release, and it can be recovered with high purity. An inhibition experiment of mercury reduction and the high expression of the mer operon indicated that most Hg(II) (∼71 %) was first reduced to Hg0, and then Hg0 reacted with Se0 to synthesize HgSe. Metagenomic results showed that the final sludge (day 182) was dominated by two unclassified bacteria in the orders Rhodospirillales (27.7 %) and Xanthomonadales (6.3 %). Their metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered, suggesting that both of them can reduce Hg(II) and Se(IV). Metatranscriptomic analyses indicate that they can independently and cooperatively synthesize HgSe. In summary, granular sludge under AOA conditions is an efficient method for removing and recovering Hg from wastewater. The microbial transformation of Hg2+to Hg0 to HgSe may occur widely in both engineering and natural ecosystems.

Amplitude Analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} Decay

An amplitude analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} decay is presented using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7  fb^{-1} of pp collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. For the first time, the coefficients associated to short-distance physics effects, sensitive to processes beyond the standard model, are extracted directly from the data through a q^{2}-unbinned amplitude analysis, where q^{2} is the μ^{+}μ^{-} invariant mass squared. Long-distance contributions, which originate from nonfactorizable QCD processes, are systematically investigated, and the most accurate assessment to date of their impact on the physical observables is obtained. The pattern of measured corrections to the short-distance couplings is found to be consistent with previous analyses of b- to s-quark transitions, with the largest discrepancy from the standard model predictions found to be at the level of 1.8 standard deviations. The global significance of the observed differences in the decay is 1.4 standard deviations.

Suppression of microRNA-320 Induces Cerebral Protection Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Targeting HMGB1/NF-kappaB Axis

MicroRNAs have been shown to potentially function in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. This study aimed to examine the expression of microRNA-320 (miR-320) in cerebral IR injury and its involvement in cerebral mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses by targeting the HMGB1/NF-kappaB axis. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion to simulate cerebral IR injury. The cerebral expression of miR-320 was assessed using qRT-PCR. Neurological function, cerebral infarct volume, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated using relevant methods, including staining, fluorometry, and ELISA. HMGB1 expression was analyzed through Western blotting. The levels of miR-320, HMGB1, neurological deficits, and cerebral infarction were significantly higher after IR induction. Intracerebral overexpression of miR-320 resulted in substantial neurological deficits, increased infarct volume, elevated levels of 8-isoprostane, NF-kappaBp65, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and HMGB1 expression. It also promoted the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS levels while reducing MnSOD and GSH levels. Downregulation of miR-320 and inhibition of HMGB1 activity significantly reversed the outcomes of cerebral IR injury. MiR-320 plays a negative role in regulating cerebral inflammatory/oxidative reactions induced by IR injury by enhancing HMGB1 activity and modulating mitochondrial function.

Fraction of χ_{c} Decays in Prompt J/ψ Production Measured in pPb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV

The fraction of χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} decays in the prompt J/ψ yield, F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}=σ_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}/σ_{J/ψ}, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV. The study covers the forward (1.5 Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Deterioration of single-use biodegradable plastics in high-humidity air and freshwaters over one year: Significant disparities in surface physicochemical characteristics and degradation rates

More single-use plastics are accumulating in the environment, and likewise biodegradable plastics (BPs), which are being vigorously promoted, cannot escape the fate. Currently, studies on the actual degradation of BPs in open-air and freshwaters are underrepresented despite they are potentially headmost leakage and contamination sites for disposable BPs. Herein, we compared the degradation behavior of six BP materials and non-degradable polypropylene (PP) plastics over a 1-year in situ suspension in the high-humidity air, a eutrophic river, and an oligotrophic lake. Moreover, a 3-months laboratory incubation was performed to detect the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from BPs. In both air and freshwaters, poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) degraded significantly while PP and polylactic acid (PLA) showed no signs of degradation. The average degradation rates of three poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-based films varied: 100% in river, 55% in lake, and 10% in air. In addition to PLA, surface chemical groups, hydrophilicity, and thermal stability of BPs changed, and microplastics were found on their surfaces. Correspondingly, BPs with faster degradation rates released relatively higher amounts of DOC. Environmental microbial and chemical characteristics may contribute to differences in BP degradation besides polymer specificity. Altogether, our results indicate the need for appropriate monitoring of BPs.

Polysaccharide preferred minority-dominant community assembly and exoenzyme enrichment in transparent exopolymer particles: Implication for global carbon cycle in water

The ubiquitous transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) are an important organic carbon pool and an ideal microhabitat for bacteria in aquatic environments. They play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Organic matter transformation and carbon turnover in TEPs strongly depend on the assembly of their associated bacterial communities and enzyme activity. However, the mechanisms of bacterial community assembly and their potential effects on the organic carbon cycle in TEPs are still unclear. In this study, we comparatively explored the community assembly of TEP-associated bacteria and bacterioplankton from surface freshwater using metagenomics. It was found that the bacterial community assembly in TEPs followed a minority-dominant rule and was governed by homogeneous selection. Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota, which are responsible for polysaccharide degradation, serve as taxon-specific biomarkers among the abundant and diverse bacteria in TEPs. The network of TEP-associated bacteria displayed stronger robustness than that of bacterioplankton. Bin 76 (majorly Acinetobacter) was the overwhelmingly dominant taxa in TEPs, whereas there was no clearly dominant taxa in TEP-free water. Exoenzyme analysis showed that 64 out of 71 identified polysaccharide hydrolases were markedly linked with the dominant bin 76 in TEPs, while no such linkage was observed for bacterioplankton. Generally, Acinetobacter, which is capable of utilizing polysaccharides, is preferred to be assembled in TEPs together with high polysaccharide hydrolase activity. This may significantly accelerate the turnover of organic carbon in the giant global TEP pool. These findings are important for a deep understanding of the carbon cycle in water.

Blood cell count-derived inflammation indices as predictors of the osteoporotic risk of postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the associations between osteoporosis (OP) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in postmenopausal women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 966 postmenopausal women. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were applied to explore the relationships between SII, NLR, MLR, and PLR with the bone mineral density (BMD) and risk of OP.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analyses showed that SII, PLR, NLR, and MLR had independent negative associations with the OP risk. The ROC curve analysis showed that SII, NLR, and MLR predicted a low BMD, with NLR having the highest predictive value (area under the curve = 0.624). SII > 504.09, PLR > 131.87, NLR > 2.02, and MLR > 0.12 correlated with a particularly high OP risk.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of SII, PLR, NLR, and MLR were associated with a high OP risk. In particular, NLR > 2.02 strongly predicted the risk of OP, thereby representing a valuable and convenient inflammatory marker of the OP risk.

Observation of Cabibbo-Suppressed Two-Body Hadronic Decays and Precision Mass Measurement of the Ω_{c}^{0} Baryon

The first observation of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+} and Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} decays is reported, using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector between 2016 and 2018. The branching fraction ratios are measured to be B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[6.08±0.51(stat)±0.40(syst)]%,B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[15.81±0.87(stat)±0.44(syst)±0.16(ext)]%. In addition, using the Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+} decay channel, the Ω_{c}^{0} baryon mass is measured to be M(Ω_{c}^{0})=2695.28±0.07(stat)±0.27(syst)±0.30(ext)  MeV, improving the precision of the previous world average by a factor of 4.

[Ultrasonographic features of thyroid carcinoma of different sizes: comparison between medullary thyroid carcinomas and papillary thyroid carcinomas]

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) of different sizes and supply valid information for separating MTCs from papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Methods: There were 87 patients with MTC and 220 patients with PTC detected by ultrasonography and confirmed by pathology at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from June 2018 to March 2022. Nodules were divided into the large nodule group (the maximum diameter of the tumor was＞1 cm) and the small nodule group (the maximum diameter of the tumor was ≤1 cm). There were 97 cases in the small nodule group, including 28 cases of MTC and 69 cases of PTC. There were 210 cases in the large nodule group, including 59 cases of MTC and 151 cases of PTC. After stratification by thyroid nodules, ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules and metastatic lymph nodes, preoperative serum calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were compared between MTC and PTC patients. Results: In the small nodule group, the proportion of MTCs exhibiting hypoecho, smooth margins, and having blood flow signals was higher than that of PTCs, with statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05). In the large nodule group, the proportion of MTCs showing cystic solidity, hypoecho, smooth margins, blood flow, and the type Ⅳvascular distribution was higher than PTCs, and the difference of calcification type between them was also statistically significant (all P＜0.05). In contrast, the differences in the number of lesions and aspect ratio between MTCs and PTCs were not statistically significant regardless of nodule size (all P＞0.05). In the small nodule group,6 metastatic lymph nodes of medullary thyroid carcinoma (LNM-MTC) and 11 metastatic lymph nodes of papillary thyroid carcinoma (LNM-PTC) were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, respectively. The diagnostic compliance rate of ultrasound was 78.6% (22/28) and 78.3% (54/69), respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.973). In the large nodule group, 28 LNM-MTC and 11 LNM-PTC were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, respectively. The diagnostic compliance of ultrasound was 88.1% (52/59) and 73.5% (111/151), respectively, which was statistically significant (P=0.022). Among them, 82.1% of LNM-MTC and 56.6% of LNM-PTC showed abnormal blood flow signals, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.016). There were significant differences in preoperative serum CT and CEA levels of different sizes of MTCs (all P＜0.05). Conclusions: Different sizes of MTCs require diverse demonstrative criteria. Abnormal blood flow signal is of great significance in the diagnosis of LNM-MTC. Within the absence of ultrasonic characteristics, preoperative serum CT test can provide confidence for the diagnosis of MTC.

Enhanced Production of Λ_{b}^{0} Baryons in High-Multiplicity pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The production rate of Λ_{b}^{0} baryons relative to B^{0} mesons in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment. The ratio of Λ_{b}^{0} to B^{0} production cross sections shows a significant dependence on both the transverse momentum and the measured charged-particle multiplicity. At low multiplicity, the ratio measured at LHCb is consistent with the value measured in e^{+}e^{-} collisions, and increases by a factor of ∼2 with increasing multiplicity. At relatively low transverse momentum, the ratio of Λ_{b}^{0} to B^{0} cross sections is higher than what is measured in e^{+}e^{-} collisions, but converges with the e^{+}e^{-} ratio as the momentum increases. These results imply that the evolution of heavy b quarks into final-state hadrons is influenced by the density of the hadronic environment produced in the collision. Comparisons with several models and implications for the mechanisms enforcing quark confinement are discussed.

Improved Measurement of CP Violation Parameters in B_{s}^{0}→J/ψK^{+}K^{-} Decays in the Vicinity of the ϕ(1020) Resonance

The decay-time-dependent CP asymmetry in B_{s}^{0}→J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K^{+}K^{-} decays is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Using a sample of approximately 349 000 B_{s}^{0} signal decays with an invariant K^{+}K^{-} mass in the vicinity of the ϕ(1020) resonance, the CP-violating phase ϕ_{s} is measured, along with the difference in decay widths of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the B_{s}^{0}-B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} system, ΔΓ_{s}, and the difference of the average B_{s}^{0} and B^{0} meson decay widths, Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}. The values obtained are ϕ_{s}=-0.039±0.022±0.006  rad, ΔΓ_{s}=0.0845±0.0044±0.0024  ps^{-1}, and Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}=-0.0056_{-0.0015}^{+0.0013}±0.0014  ps^{-1}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise single measurements to date and are consistent with expectations based on the Standard Model and with the previous LHCb analyses of this decay. These results are combined with previous independent LHCb measurements. The phase ϕ_{s} is also measured independently for each polarization state of the K^{+}K^{-} system and shows no evidence for polarization dependence.

Efficient and synergistic treatment of selenium (IV)-contaminated wastewater and mercury (II)-contaminated soil by anaerobic granular sludge: Performance and mechanisms

Wastewater containing selenium (Se) and soil contaminated by mercury (Hg) are two environmental problems, but they are rarely considered for synergistic treatment. In this work, anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS) was used to address both of the aforementioned issues simultaneously. The performance and mechanisms of Se(IV) removal from wastewater and Hg(II) immobilization in soil were investigated using various technologies. The results of the reactor operation indicated that the AnGS efficiently removed Se from wastewater, with a removal rate of 99.94 ± 0.05%. The microbial communities in the AnGS could rapidly reduce Se(IV) to Se0 nanoparticles (SeNPs). However, the AnGS lost the ability to reduce Se(IV) once the Se0 content reached the saturation value of 5.68 g Se/L. The excess sludge of Se0-rich AnGS was applied to remediate soil contaminated with Hg(II). The Se0-rich AnGS largely decreased the percentage of soil Hg in the mobile, extractable phase, with up to 99.1 ± 0.3% immobilization. Soil Hg(II) and Hg0 can react with Se (-II) and Se0, respectively, to form HgSe. The formation of inert HgSe was an important pathway for immobilizing Hg. Subsequently, the pot experiments indicated that soil remediation using Se0-rich AnGS significantly decreased the Hg content in pea plants. Especially, the content of Hg decreased from 555 ± 100 to 24 ± 3 μg/kg in roots after remediation. In summary, AnGS is an efficient and cost-effective material for synergistically treating Se-contaminated wastewater and Hg-contaminated soil.

Ultrafast electron dynamics in excited states of conjugated thiophene-fluorene organic polymer (pF8T2) thin films

The electronic states of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-alt-bithiophene) pF8T2 on H/Si(100) substrates, prototypical for organic photovoltaics, were investigated by ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy and by time-resolved fluorescence studies. Occupied and unoccupied electronic states were analysed by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), static and dynamic femtosecond two-photon photoemission (2PPE), and time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC). Time-resolved measurements allow assessment of population lifetimes of intermediate states. The combination of time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and fluorescence excitation allows following the electronic dynamics in excited states from the femtosecond to the nanosecond time scale. For this prototypical material the electron kinetic energy resolved lifetimes range from about a few tens of femtoseconds up to hundreds of picoseconds. After annealing these types of organic thin films the efficiency of organic solar cells usually increases. We show that annealing does not influence the initial ultrafast charge generation processes, but the long-lived states. However, the nanosecond scale fluorescence lifetimes measured by TCSPC are prolonged after annealing, which therefore is identified as the cause of a greater exciton diffusion range and thus is beneficial for charge carrier extraction.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→ψ(→ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-})K_{S}^{0}(→π^{+}π^{-}) Decays

A measurement of time-dependent CP violation in the decays of B^{0} and B[over ¯]^{0} mesons to the final states J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0}, ψ(2S)(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0} and J/ψ(→e^{+}e^{-})K_{S}^{0} with K_{S}^{0}→π^{+}π^{-} is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the LHCb detector. The CP-violation parameters are measured to be S_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.717±0.013(stat)±0.008(syst) and C_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.008±0.012(stat)±0.003(syst). This measurement of S_{ψK_{S}^{0}} represents the most precise single measurement of the CKM angle β to date and is more precise than the current world average. In addition, measurements of the CP-violation parameters of the individual channels are reported and a combination with the LHCb Run 1 measurements is performed.

[Mitigating metal artifacts from cobalt-chromium alloy crowns in cone-beam CT images through deep learning techniques]

Objective: To develop and evaluate metal artifact removal systems (MARS) based on deep learning to assess their effectiveness in removing artifacts caused by different thicknesses of metals in cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. Methods: A full-mouth standard model (60 mm×75 mm×110 mm) was three-dimensional (3D) printed using photosensitive resin. The model included a removable and replaceable target tooth position where cobalt-chromium alloy crowns with varying thicknesses were inserted to generate matched CBCT images. The artifacts resulting from cobalt-chromium alloys with different thicknesses were evaluated using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS were developed using a convolutional neural network and U-net architecture, respectively. The effectiveness of both MARSs were assessed through visualization and by measuring SSIM and PSNR values. The SSIM and PSNR values were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results: Significant differences were observed in the range of artifacts produced by different thicknesses of cobalt-chromium alloys (all P<0.05), with 1 mm resulting in the least artifacts. The SSIM values for specimens with thicknesses of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm were 0.916±0.019, 0.873±0.010, and 0.833±0.010, respectively (F=447.89, P<0.001). The corresponding PSNR values were 20.834±1.176, 17.002±0.427, and 14.673±0.429, respectively (F=796.51, P<0.001). After applying CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS to artifact removal, the SSIM and PSNR values significantly increased for images with the same thickness of metal (both P<0.05). When using the CNN-MARS for artifact removal, the SSIM values for 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm were 0.938±0.023, 0.930±0.029, and 0.928±0.020 (F=2.22, P=0.112), while the PSNR values were 30.938±1.495, 30.578±2.154 and 30.553±2.355 (F=0.54, P=0.585). When using the U-net-MARS for artifact removal, the SSIM values for 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm were 0.930±0.024, 0.932±0.017 and 0.930±0.012 (F=0.24, P=0.788), and the PSNR values were 30.291±0.934, 30.351±1.002 and 30.271±1.143 (F=0.07, P=0.929). No significant differences were found in SSIM and PSNR values after artifact removal using CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS for different thicknesses of cobalt-chromium alloys (all P>0.05). Visualization demonstrated a high degree of similarity between the images before and after artifact removal using both MARS. However, CNN-MARS displayed clearer metal edges and preserved more tissue details when compared with U-net-MARS. Conclusions: Both the CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS models developed in this study effectively remove the metal artifacts and enhance the image quality. CNN-MARS exhibited an advantage in restoring tissue structure information around the artifacts compared to U-net-MARS.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatopulmonary syndrome: a case report and literature review]

Objective: To summarize the clinical features and prognosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in children. Methods: The clinical data of a child who had Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS treated at the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in December 2016 was analyzed retrospectively. Taking "Budd-Chiari syndrome" and "hepatopulmonary syndrome" in Chinese or English as the keywords, literature was searched at CNKI, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database and PubMed up to July 2023. Combined with this case, the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS in children under the age of 18 were summarized. Results: A 13-year-old boy, presented with cyanosis and chest tightness after activities for 6 months, and yellow staining of the skin for 1 week. Physical examination at admission not only found mild yellow staining of the skin and sclera, but also found cyanosis of the lips, periocular skin, and extremities. Laboratory examination showed abnormal liver function with total bilirubin 53 μmol/L, direct bilirubin 14 μmol/L, and indirect bilirubin 39 μmol/L, and abnormal blood gas analysis with the partial pressure of oxygen of 54 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), the partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 31 mmHg, and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient of 57 mmHg. Hepatic vein-type Budd-Chiari syndrome, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension were indicated by abdominal CT venography. Contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (CE-TTE) was positive. After symptomatic and supportive treatment, this patient was discharged and received oxygen therapy outside the hospital. At follow-up until March 2023, there was no significant improvement in hypoxemia, accompanied by limited daily activities. Based on the literature, there were 3 reports in English while none in Chinese, 3 cases were reported. Among a total of 4 children, the chief complaints were dyspnea, cyanosis, or hypoxemia in 3 cases, and unknown in 1 case. There were 2 cases diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS at the same time due to respiratory symptoms, and 2 cases developed HPS 1.5 years and 8.0 years after the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome respectively. CE-TTE was positive in 2 cases and pulmonary perfusion imaging was positive in 2 cases. Liver transplantation was performed in 2 cases and their respiratory function recovered well; 1 case received oxygen therapy, with no improvement in hypoxemia; 1 case was waiting for liver transplantation. Conclusions: The onset of Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS is insidious. The most common clinical manifestations are dyspnea and cyanosis. It can reduce misdiagnosis to confirm intrapulmonary vascular dilatations with CE-TTE at an early stage. Liver transplantation is helpful in improving the prognosis.

[Mitigating metal artifacts in cone-beam CT images through deep learning techniques]

Objective: To develop and evaluate metal artifact removal systems (MARSs) based on deep learning to assess their effectiveness in removing artifacts caused by different thicknesses of metals in cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. Methods: A full-mouth standard model (60 mm×75 mm×110 mm) was three-dimensional (3D) printed using photosensitive resin. The model included a removable and replaceable target tooth position where cobalt-chromium alloy crowns with varying thicknesses were inserted to generate matched CBCT images. The artifacts resulting from cobalt-chromium alloys with different thicknesses were evaluated using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS were developed using a convolutional neural network and U-net architecture, respectively. The effectiveness of both MARSs were assessed through visualization and by measuring SSIM and PSNR values. The SSIM and PSNR values were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results: Significant differences were observed in the range of artifacts produced by different thicknesses of cobalt-chromium alloys (all P<0.05), with 1 mm resulting in the least artifacts. The SSIM values for specimens with thicknesses of 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2.0 mm were 0.916±0.019, 0.873±0.010, and 0.833±0.010, respectively (F=447.89, P<0.001). The corresponding PSNR values were 20.834±1.176, 17.002±0.427, and 14.673±0.429, respectively (F=796.51, P<0.001). After applying CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS to artifact removal, the SSIM and PSNR values significantly increased for images with the same thickness of metal (both P<0.05). When using the CNN-MARS for artifact removal, the SSIM values for 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm were 0.938±0.023, 0.930±0.029, and 0.928±0.020 (F=2.22, P=0.112), while the PSNR values were 30.938±1.495, 30.578±2.154 and 30.553±2.355 (F=0.54, P=0.585). When using the U-net-MARS for artifact removal, the SSIM values for 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm were 0.930±0.024, 0.932±0.017 and 0.930±0.012 (F=0.24, P=0.788), and the PSNR values were 30.291±0.934, 30.351±1.002 and 30.271±1.143 (F=0.07, P=0.929). No significant differences were found in SSIM and PSNR values after artifact removal using CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS for different thicknesses of cobalt-chromium alloys (all P>0.05). Visualization demonstrated a high degree of similarity between the images before and after artifact removal using both MARSs. However, CNN-MARS displayed clearer metal edges and preserved more tissue details when compared with U-net-MARS. Conclusions: Both the CNN-MARS and U-net-MARS models developed in this study effectively remove the metal artifacts and enhance the image quality. CNN-MARS exhibited an advantage in restoring tissue structure information around the artifacts compared to U-net-MARS.

Silicon nanowire FET biosensor and its application in acute myocardial infarction

Over the last two decades, silicon nanowire field-effect transistors (SiNW-FETs) with prominent merits of high surface-to-volume ratio, excellent biocompatibility and mature fabrication with standard silicon technology, have been widely studied as ultrahigh sensitive biosensors for the detection of target biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, cells and viruses so on. Herein we present a comprehensive review of the fundamental aspects of SiNW-FET biosensors, involving the working principle and the device fabrication, surface functionalization, and system integration with fluid exchange and electrical detection. Futhermore, we emphatically discuss the electrical detection of cardiac-specific biomarkers related to acute myocardial infarction disease. SiNW-FET biosensors are being increasingly exploited as promising diagnostic devices, which provide high sensitivity, high integration density, high speed sampling, strong specificity, and real-time and label-free detection for simple and cheap clinical testing.

[Intraoperative cochlear nerve monitoring in microvascular decompression of hemifacial spasm and resection of vestibular schwannoma]

Objective: To analyze the application of direct cochlear nerve monitoring technology-cochlear nerve action potential (CNAP) monitoring in resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and to compare with which in microvascular decompression (MVD) of hemifacial spasm (HFS), in order to provide reference for identification of the cochlear nerve during VS resection surgery and predicting postoperative hearing preservation. Methods: From June 2018 to March 2022, patients with facial spasm and vestibular schwannoma who underwent retrosigmoid approach surgery at the Chinese PLA General Hospital were collected. Before surgery, there were a total of 11 HFS patients and 30 VS patients. Before surgery, the former had hearing level of class A(AAO-HNS), while the latter had serviceable hearing (AAO-HNS class A-B), with a maximum tumor diameter of≤20 mm. CNAP combined with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) monitoring was performed during surgery. SPSS 23.0 software was used to analyze the differences of ABR and CNAP parameters between the two groups. Results: The preoperative ABR test in the VS group showed that the latency of wave V and I-V interval were significantly prolonged compared to the HFS group (t=8.36, P<0.001; t=4.61, P<0.001).In VS group, all tumors were totally removed with preserved facial nerve function (House-Brackmann grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ). The serviceable hearing preservation rate was 63.3%. In the HFS group, the initial CNAP waveforms were triphasic and biphasic, with N1 wave latency of (4.32±0.37) ms and amplitude of 25.20 [15.63, 35.40]μV. The distribution of CNAP waveforms before tumor resection in the VS group was the same as that in the HFS group, and which in the hearing preservation group after surgery was also the same. Compared with the HFS group, the latency of N1 wave was prolonged (t=2.670, P=0.011;t=4.584, P<0.001), and the amplitude of N1 wavein the VS group before tumor resection was lower (Z=-3.001, P=0.003). The amplitude of N1 wave in the hearing preservation group after surgery was 20.20 [6.23, 40.90] μV,which was significantly higher than that before tumor resection (Z=-2.133, P=0.033), but there was no statistically significant difference compared to the HFS group (Z=-0.495, P=0.621). Conclusions: The reference range of CNAP in normal hearing population can be preliminarily obtained by the analysis of CNAP in MVD surgery. The latency of N1 wave in VS patients is prolonged and the amplitude of N1 wave is decreased due to tumor compression. The CNAP waveform combined with the change of N1 wave amplitude can provide reference for intraoperative mapping of the cochlear nerve and prediction of postoperative hearing preservation.

Towards industrial biological hydrogen production: a review

Increased production of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly needed. Amidst other strategies, one promising technology that could help achieve this goal is biological hydrogen production. This technology uses micro-organisms to convert organic matter into hydrogen gas, a clean and versatile fuel that can be used in a wide range of applications. While biohydrogen production is in its early stages, several challenges must be addressed for biological hydrogen production to become a viable commercial solution. From an experimental perspective, the need to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production, the optimization strategy of the microbial consortia, and the reduction in costs associated with the process is still required. From a scale-up perspective, novel strategies (such as modelling and experimental validation) need to be discussed to facilitate this hydrogen production process. Hence, this review considers hydrogen production, not within the framework of a particular production method or technique, but rather outlines the work (bioreactor modes and configurations, modelling, and techno-economic and life cycle assessment) that has been done in the field as a whole. This type of analysis allows for the abstraction of the biohydrogen production technology industrially, giving insights into novel applications, cross-pollination of separate lines of inquiry, and giving a reference point for researchers and industrial developers in the field of biohydrogen production.

[Clinical and imaging features of infective sacroiliitis in children]

Objective: To summarize the clinical, radiological characteristics, and prognosis of infectious sacroiliitis in children. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, including 12 cases of infectious sacroiliitis diagnosed in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Children's Hospital affiliated with the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from June 2018 to June 2023. These cases comprised the case group. Concurrently, 28 cases of pediatric idiopathic arthritis involving the sacroiliac joint in the same department served as the control group. Basic patient information, clinical features, laboratory parameters, and clinical treatment outcomes for both groups were collected and analyzed. Independent sample t-tests and chi-squared tests were used for inter-group comparisons. Results: Among the 12 cases in the case group, there were 5 males and 7 females, with a disease duration of 0.8 (0.5, 1.2) months. Nine patients presented with fever, and 1 patient had limping gait. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 positivity was observed in 1 case, and there was no family history of ankylosing spondylitis. In the control group of 28 cases, there were 19 males and 9 females, with a disease duration of 7.0 (3.0, 17.0) months. One patient (4%) had fever, and 14 cases (50%) exhibited limping gait. HLA-B27 positivity was found in 18 cases (64%), and 18 cases (64%) had a family history of ankylosing spondylitis. The case group had higher white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil ratio, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, as well as a higher proportion of unilateral involvement on magnetic resonance imaging and bone destruction on CT compared to the control group ((11.1±6.2)×109 vs. (7.3±2.3)×109/L, 0.64±0.10 vs. 0.55±0.12, 72 (34, 86) vs. 18 (5, 41) mm/1 h, 24.6 (10.1, 67.3) mg/L vs. 3.6 (0.8, 15.0) mg/L, 11/12 vs. 36% (10/28), 9/12 vs. 11% (3/28), t=2.90, 3.07, Z=-2.94, -3.28, χ2=10.55, 16.53, all P<0.05). Conclusions: Pediatric infectious sacroiliitis often presents as unilateral involvement with a short disease history. Elevated WBC, CRP, and ESR, as well as a high rate of bone destruction, are also common characteristics.

[Analysis of 9 cases of pediatric-type follicular lymphoma]

Objective: To summarize the pathological diagnosis, clinical features, treatment methods and outcomes of pediatric-type follicular lymphoma (PTFL). Methods: Clinical data including the pathology, clinical features, treatment methods, and follow-up results of 9 PTFL patients admitted to Henan Cancer Hospital from February 2017 to February 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The age of onset in 9 children was 6 to 18 years, all the patients were males. The clinical manifestation was local painless lymph node enlargement in the head and neck, with a stage of Ⅰ-Ⅱ. The histomorphological characteristics of PTFL were similar to those of classic follicular lymphoma (FL). The germinal center of most follicles were enlarged, the mantle zone disappeared, centroblasts were easily visible, and the histological grade were mostly grade Ⅲ, which may be accompanied by the "starry sky" phenomenon. Monoclonal peaks can be seen in B cell clonal rearrangements (BCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed CD20 positive, CD10 positive, Bcl-6 positive, Bcl-2 negative, C-myc negative, and Ki-67 was 70%-95%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test was negative for t (14, 18), Bcl-2 translocation, and C-myc translocation. Six cases underwent surgical resection, and 3 cases underwent surgical resection combined with chemotherapy. Up to February 2023, with a follow-up time of 45 to 72 months, all children survived without any recurrence and were in a complete remission state. Conclusions: PTFL is mainly characterized by adolescent male onset, with early clinical manifestations and pathological manifestations of high-level histological status, high proliferation index, and lack of t (14; 18)/Bcl-2 translocation and Bcl-2 expression. It is mainly treated by localized surgical excision and has a good prognosis.

Production of extracellular superoxide radical in microorganisms and its environmental implications: A review

Extracellular superoxide radical (O2•-) is ubiquitous in microbial environments and has significant implications for pollutant transformation. Microbial extracellular O2•- can be produced through multiple pathways, including electron leakage from the respiratory electron transport chain (ETC), NADPH oxidation by the transmembrane NADPH oxidase (NOX), and extracellular reactions. Extracellular O2•- significantly influences the geochemical processes of various substances, including toxic metals and refractory organic pollutants. On one hand, extracellular O2•- can react with variable-valence metals and detoxify certain highly toxic metals, such as As(III), Cr(VI), and Hg(II). On the other hand, extracellular O2•- can directly or indirectly (via Bio-Fenton) degrade many organic pollutants, including a variety of emerging contaminants. In this work, we summarize the production mechanisms of microbial extracellular O2•-, review its roles in the transformation of environmental pollutants, and discuss the potential applications, limiting factors, and future research directions in this field.

Effectiveness and safeties of hemocoagulase and tranexamic acid to reduce perioperative blood loss in intertrochanteric fracture PFNA fixation

This study evaluated the efficacy of hemocoagulase and tranexamic acid (TXA) in minimizing perioperative blood loss in perioperative period of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) repair. 99 patients having intertrochanteric fracture PFNA fixation were randomly assigned to the hemocoagulase, TXA, and control groups (n=33 per group). In the hemocoagulase group, 1 KU of hemocoagulase was injected preoperatively and postoperatively local sprayed, respectively; in the TXA group, 0.5g TXA was injected preoperatively and postoperatively local sprayed, respectively; and in the control group, 100 mL of physiological saline was injected before surgery and was used by postoperative local spraying, respectively. The hemocoagulase and TXA groups exhibited significant differences in preoperative hemoglobin (HB) and hematocrit (HCT) levels on postoperative days 1 and 3, intraoperative bleeding, 24-hour postoperative drainage, total perioperative bleeding, transfusion rate, and postoperative hospitalization duration compared to the control group. Furthermore, the hemocoagulase and TXA groups showed significant differences in postoperative day 3 HB and HCT levels and postoperative hospitalization duration compared to each other. In conclusions, the combined use of systemic preoperative and local postoperative hemocoagulase and TXA spraying is found to significantly decrease perioperative blood loss in intertrochanteric fracture patients undergoing PFNA. Hemocoagulase is observed to have a superior effect compared to TXA.

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals in China: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals can potentially impair patient care and result in significant financial expenses. There is currently limited information on hospital norovirus outbreaks in the Chinese mainland.

AIM

To systematically review the published literature to describe the characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in Chinese mainland hospitals to facilitate prompt identification and control of outbreaks.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis standards. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Journals Online databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Wan Fang digital database (WANFANG) were searched from inception to July 18th, 2022.

FINDINGS

A total of 41 norovirus Chinese hospital outbreaks occurring before July 18th, 2022 were reported in 32 articles. Most reported outbreaks were from Shanghai and Beijing, and occurred in December and January. Cases were mainly adults. The male:female ratio was 1.22:1. The majority of cases in norovirus outbreaks were hospitalized patients (56.82%); medical staff were affected in 15 outbreaks. Norovirus outbreaks occurred in both private and public hospitals, and in secondary and tertiary care centres, and occurred mainly in internal medicine and geriatric departments. Person-to-person transmission was the primary transmission mode and GII was more prevalent.

CONCLUSION

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals can affect both patients and healthcare workers, sometimes causing serious financial losses. In order to have a more complete understanding of the disease burden caused by norovirus outbreaks, surveillance needs to be established in hospitals.

Impact of COVID-19 infection experience on mental health status of intensive care unit patients' family members: a real-world study

PURPOSE

Family members of patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) are susceptible to adverse psychological outcomes. However, there is a paucity of studies specifically examining the mental health symptoms in ICU patients' family members with a prior history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate mental health status and its influencing factors of ICU patients' family members with previous COVID-19 infection experience in China.

DESIGN

Nationwide, cross-sectional cohort of consecutive participants of family members of ICU patients from 10 provinces randomly selected in mainland China conducted between October 2022 and May 2023.

METHODS

The basic information scale, Self-rating depression scale, Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Perceived Stress Scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire were employed to explore mental health status among participants.

RESULTS

A total of 463 participants, comprising 156 individuals in Covid-19 family member cohort (infection group) and 307 individuals in control family member cohort (control group), met inclusion criteria. The infection group exhibited significantly higher incidence of composite mental health symptoms compared to control group (P = 0.017). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that being female, engaging in physical/mental labor, residing in rural areas, and having children were identified as risk factors for the development of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, while medical history of surgery was protective factor. A predictive model demonstrated a favorable discriminative ability and excellent calibration.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 infection experience regarded as new traumatic stressors worsen mental health status of ICU patients' family members.

Hyperon Polarization along the Beam Direction Relative to the Second and Third Harmonic Event Planes in Isobar Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild p_{T} dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagrees with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and p_{T} dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.

Iron colloidal transport mechanisms and sequestration of As, Ni, and Cu along AMD-induced environmental gradients

Colloids are common in mine waters and their chemistry and interactions are critical aspects of metal(loid)s cycling. Previous studies mostly focus on the colloidal transport of metal(loid)s in zones where rivers and soil profiles receive acid mine drainage (AMD). However, there is limited knowledge of the colloid and the associated toxic element behavior as the effluent flows through the coal waste dump, where a geochemical gradient is produced due to AMD reacting with waste rocks which have high acid-neutralization effects. Here, we investigated the geochemistry of Fe and co-occurring elements As, Ni, and Cu along the coal waste dump, in aqueous, colloidal, and precipitate phases, using micro/ultrafiltration combined with STEM, AFM-nanoIR, SEM-EDS, XRD, and FTIR analysis. The results demonstrated that a fast attenuation of H+, SO42-, and metal(loid)s happened as the effluent flowed through the waste-rock dump. The Fe, As, Ni, and Cu were distributed across all colloidal sizes and primarily transported in the nano-colloidal phase (3 kDa-0.1 μm). An increasing pH induced a higher percentage of large Fe colloid fractions (> 0.1 μm) associated with greater sequestration of trace metals, and the values for As from 39.5 % to 54.4 %, Ni from 40.8 % to 75.7 %, and Cu from 43.7 % to 56.0 %, respectively. The Fe-bearing colloids in AMD upstream (pH ≤ 3.0) were primarily composed of Fe-O-S and Fe-O-C with minor Al-Si-O and Ca-O-S, while in less acidic and alkaline sections (pH ≥ 4.1), they were composed of Fe-O with minor Ca-O-S. The iron colloid agglomerates associated with As, Ni, and Cu precipitated coupling the transformation of jarosite, and schwertmannite to ferrihydrite, goethite, and gypsum. These results demonstrate that the formation and transformation of Fe-bearing colloids response to this unique geochemical gradient help to understand the natural metal(loid)s attenuation along the coal waste dump.

Serum CTRP3 concentrations are positively correlated with disease severity in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Osteoporosis is a leading public health problem that contributes to increasingly high rates of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures among older adults. This study was developed with the goal of assessing serum C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients and exploring the correlations between these levels and PMOP severity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study of old women with osteoporosis was conducted. All women underwent both clinical and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examinations. Serum CTRP3, procollagen type I N propeptide (P1NP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1) concentrations in these patients were measured via ELISA. Bone tumor markers were additionally assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were utilized to assess the diagnostic performance of CTRP3 when identifying PMOP.

RESULTS

This study included 54 PMOP patients, 62 patients with osteopenia, and 60 age-matched patients without PMOP. Serum CTRP3 concentrations in PMOP patients were significantly lower than in the other two groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) was positively correlated with serum CTRP3 levels in all study participants, whereas it was negatively correlated with levels of P1NP and CTX-1. ROC analyses also suggested that reductions in serum CTRP3 levels may offer value as a diagnostic indicator of PMOP.

CONCLUSIONS

Present data highlight a close relationship between CTRP3 and PMOP, with lower serum CTRP3 levels being closely associated with BMD, such that they may represent a protective marker for PMOP.

Observation of New Baryons in the Ξ_{b}^{-}π^{+}π^{-} and Ξ_{b}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} Systems

The first observation and study of two new baryonic structures in the final state Ξ_{b}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} and the confirmation of the Ξ_{b}(6100)^{-} state in the Ξ_{b}^{-}π^{+}π^{-} decay mode are reported using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. In addition, the properties of the known Ξ_{b}^{*0}, Ξ_{b}^{'-} and Ξ_{b}^{*-} resonances are measured with improved precision. The new decay mode of the Ξ_{b}^{0} baryon to the Ξ_{c}^{+} π^{-} π^{+} π^{-} final state is observed and exploited for the first time in these measurements.

Precision Measurement of CP Violation in the Penguin-Mediated Decay B_{s}^{0}→ϕϕ

A flavor-tagged time-dependent angular analysis of the decay B_{s}^{0}→ϕϕ is performed using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at the center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1}. The CP-violating phase and direct CP-violation parameter are measured to be ϕ_{s}^{ss[over ¯]s}=-0.042±0.075±0.009  rad and |λ|=1.004±0.030±0.009, respectively, assuming the same values for all polarization states of the ϕϕ system. In these results, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These parameters are also determined separately for each polarization state, showing no evidence for polarization dependence. The results are combined with previous LHCb measurements using pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, yielding ϕ_{s}^{ss[over ¯]s}=-0.074±0.069  rad and |λ|=1.009±0.030. This is the most precise study of time-dependent CP violation in a penguin-dominated B meson decay. The results are consistent with CP symmetry and with the standard model predictions.

Micron-confined microcapturer-triggered Fenton as efficient and environmentally-friendly method for simultaneously capturing bloom-forming cyanobacteria, inhibiting cell-regrowth and degrading microcystins

The frequent outbreak and continuous expansion of harmful cyanobacteria blooms (HCBs) have become important environmental concerns and public health issues globally. In this study, the "micron-confined Fe(II)-modified-microcapturer (FMC)-triggered Fenton" technology was established as advanced process adaptable to the HCB treatment. Results show that 95.7-99.4% of cyanobacteria cells were captured and separated from the HCB water at the optimum doses of Fe(II) and H2O2 within only 30 s. The chain-like cyanobacteria of A. flos-aquae were easier to be collected by FMCs compared with the unicellular M. aeruginosa. It was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic observation and fluorescence staining flow cytometry measurement that the FMC-carrying Fe(II) played the roles of both cell-gripper and Fenton catalyst. During the one-step process, the FMC-triggered Fenton effectively inhibited the cyanobacteria regrowth via inactivating the cells, and meanwhile, the microcystins of LR and RR were removed. The analyses by continuous flow chemiluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy denote that FMCs performed efficiently in capture and Fe(II)-catalytic oxidation through increasing mass transfer, exposing sufficient active reactive oxygen species active-sites on the FMC surface and accelerating electron transfer. The micron-field-confined cascade processes retained the robust performance of Fenton against the high pH of bulk HCB water. This novel interface-dependent Fenton method is a promising tool for HCB treatment owing to its great efficiency, versatility, rapidness and eco-environmental friendliness.

[Clinical analysis of long-term survival and influencing factors of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in relapsed/refractory acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia]

Objective: To analyze the survival and influencing factors of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in relapsed/refractory acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL) . Methods: Clinical information of patients who received CAR-T-cell therapy and achieved complete remission of R/R B-ALL between May 2015 and June 2018 at the Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital was obtained. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) times of patients, and Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the prognostic factors that affect patient survival after CAR-T therapy. Results: Among the 38 patients with R/R B-ALL, 21 were men, with a median age of 25 (6-59) years and a median OS time of 18 (95% CI 3-33) months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that positive MLL-AF4 fusion gene expression was an independent risk factor for OS and LFS (OS: HR=4.888, 95% CI 1.375-17.374, P=0.014; LFS: HR=6.683, 95% CI 1.815-24.608, P=0.004). Maintenance therapy was a protective factor for OS and LFS (OS: HR=0.153, 95% CI 0.054-0.432, P<0.001; LFS: HR=0.138, 95% CI 0.050-0.382, P<0.001). In patients with MRD negative conversion, LFS benefit (HR=0.209, 95% CI 0.055-0.797, P=0.022) and OS difference was statistically insignificant (P=0.111). Moreover, patients with high tumor burden were risk factors for OS and LFS at the level of 0.1 (OS: HR=2.662, 95% CI 0.987-7.184, P=0.053; LFS: HR=2.452, 95% CI 0.949-6.339, P=0.064) . Conclusion: High tumor burden and high-risk genetics may affect the long-term survival rate of patients with R/R B-ALL receiving CAR-T, and lenalidomide-based maintenance therapy may improve their prognosis.

Measurement of the Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ(1520)μ^{+}μ^{-} Differential Branching Fraction

The branching fraction of the rare decay Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ(1520)μ^{+}μ^{-} is measured for the first time, in the squared dimuon mass intervals q^{2}, excluding the J/ψ and ψ(2S) regions. The data sample analyzed was collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. The result in the highest q^{2} interval, q^{2}>15.0  GeV^{2}/c^{4}, where theoretical predictions have the smallest model dependence, agrees with the predictions.

Challenges of Treating Lung Cancer Patients at MR-Linac Using MR-Based Synthetic CT Calculation in the Adaptive Workflow

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Magnetic Resonance guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) allows plan adaptation according to the new patient anatomy; the contours of the structures are adjusted based on the patient's daily MRI, and in the adapt to shape (ATS) workflow, the adapted plan is recalculated on the MRI-based synthetic CT (sCT) generated by bulk density assignment. For sites where there is a high electronic density (ED) gradient between the target and surrounding tissues, such as in lung cancer treatments, the assignment of an average ED may not be able to reproduce an accurate dose calculation. This study evaluates the accuracy of the sCT adapted plan calculation for lung cancer patients and assesses whether the assignment of an optimized ED can reduce dosimetric differences should they arise MATERIALS/METHODS: Nine lung cancer patients treated at Unity 1.5 MR-Linac were selected for this retrospective study. The patient's target and organs at risk (OARs) were contoured, and a CT reference plan containing the ED bulk assignment information i.e., the contours to use in the ATS workflow, and their corresponding average ED was generated. To assess the accuracy of the dosimetry of the adapted plan calculated on the sCT, the plan was recalculated on an ideal sCT (sCTref) obtained from the reference CT by forcing the drawn contours to the average ED as defined on the CT reference plan. Targets and OARs dose-volume histogram (DVH) of the CT and sCTref plans and the dose distributions using gamma (γ) analysis with 2%-2mm criteria were compared. In the case of a discrepancy between the DVHs, the average Eds used for the recalculation on the sCTref were adjusted by several attempts to obtain a sCT optimized (sCTopt) for which a superposition of DVHs on CT and sCTopt was achieved.

RESULTS

For 7 of the 9 patients CT and sCTref target DVHs were not comparable, with a mean dosimetric difference of 5.55% (range 2.35%-7.46%) in the target volume receiving the prescription dose (VDpre), while OARs DVH dose differences remained below 1% for the nine patients. The adjustment of the ED of the homolateral lung in the sCTopt, reduced the mean target VDpre dosimetric difference between CT and sCTopt to 0.66% (range 0.17%-1.64%). In addition, the results of the gamma analysis increased from values ranging between 39.5%-70.3% to 88.5%-93.2%, as shown in the Table.

CONCLUSION

Dosimetric errors in the use of the sCT calculation for targets in high ED gradient areas may arise; the use of optimized ED for sCT calculation may be a promising strand to investigate in order to proceed with MR-based sCT plan adaptation for lung cancer treatment.

Analysis of prognostic factors for vocal fold leukoplakia based on 344 cases at a two-year follow up

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate risk factors for poor prognosis in vocal fold leukoplakia.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected for 344 patients with vocal fold leukoplakia who received surgical treatment in our otolaryngology department from October 2010 to June 2019. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the relevant factors were conducted.

RESULTS

Among the 344 patients, 98 exhibited recurrence and 30 underwent a malignant change. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that size of the lesion (p = 0.03, odds ratio = 2.14), form of the lesion under white light (p < 0.001), surgical method (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 0.28) and pathological type (p < 0.001) were independent factors that affected the recurrence of vocal fold leukoplakia. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the sole independent risk factor for malignant transformation of vocal fold leukoplakia was pathological type (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The outlook for vocal fold leukoplakia depends on several clinical factors, especially pathological type. The more severe the pathological type, the more likely it is to recur or become cancerous.

Observation of New Ω_{c}^{0} States Decaying to the Ξ_{c}^{+}K^{-} Final State

Two new excited states, Ω_{c}(3185)^{0} and Ω_{c}(3327)^{0}, are observed in the Ξ_{c}^{+}K^{-} invariant-mass spectrum using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Five previously observed excited Ω_{c}^{0} states are confirmed, namely Ω_{c}(3000)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3050)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3065)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3090)^{0}, and Ω_{c}(3119)^{0}. The masses and widths of these seven states are measured with the highest precision to date.

Evidence of a J/ψK_{S}^{0} Structure in B^{0}→J/ψϕK_{S}^{0} Decays

An amplitude analysis of B^{0}→J/ψϕK_{S}^{0} decays is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Evidence with a significance of 4.0 standard deviations of a structure in the J/ψK_{S}^{0} system, named T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{0}, is seen, with its mass and width measured to be 3991_{-10}^{+12} _{-17}^{+9}  MeV/c^{2} and 105_{-25}^{+29} _{-23}^{+17}  MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{0} state is likely to be the isospin partner of the T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{+} state, previously observed in the J/ψK^{+} system of the B^{+}→J/ψϕK^{+} decay. When isospin symmetry for the charged and neutral T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000) states is assumed, the signal significance increases to 5.4 standard deviations.

Measurement of the Ratios of Branching Fractions R(D^{*}) and R(D^{0})

The ratios of branching fractions R(D^{*})≡B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}) and R(D^{0})≡B(B^{-}→D^{0}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B^{-}→D^{0}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}) are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode τ^{-}→μ^{-}ν_{τ}ν[over ¯]_{μ}. The measured values are R(D^{*})=0.281±0.018±0.024 and R(D^{0})=0.441±0.060±0.066, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is ρ=-0.43. The results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the standard model.

Measurement of the Prompt D^{0} Nuclear Modification Factor in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV

The production of prompt D^{0} mesons in proton-lead collisions in both the forward and backward rapidity regions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment. The nuclear modification factor of prompt D^{0} mesons is determined as a function of the transverse momentum p_{T}, and the rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass frame y^{*}. In the forward rapidity region, significantly suppressed production with respect to pp collisions is measured, which provides significant constraints on models of nuclear parton distributions and hadron production down to the very low Bjorken-x region of ∼10^{-5}. In the backward rapidity region, a suppression with a significance of 2.0-3.8 standard deviations compared to parton distribution functions in a nuclear environment expectations is found in the kinematic region of p_{T}>6  GeV/c and -3.25 Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Measurement of the Time-Integrated CP Asymmetry in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} Decays

The time-integrated CP asymmetry in the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.7  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the LHCb detector. The D^{0} mesons are required to originate from promptly produced D^{*+}→D^{0}π^{+} decays, and the charge of the companion pion is used to determine the flavor of the charm meson at production. The time-integrated CP asymmetry is measured to be A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+})=[6.8±5.4±1.6]×10^{-4} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The direct CP asymmetries in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays, a_{K^{-}K^{+}}^{d} and a_{π^{-}π^{+}}^{d}, are derived by combining A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+}) with the time-integrated CP asymmetry difference, ΔA_{CP}=A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+})-A_{CP}(π^{-}π^{+}), and other inputs, giving a_{K^{-}K^{+}}^{d}=(7.7±5.7)×10^{-4},a_{π^{-}π^{+}}^{d}=(23.2±6.1)×10^{-4},with a correlation coefficient corresponding to ρ=0.88. The compatibility of these results with CP symmetry is 1.4 and 3.8 standard deviations for D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays, respectively. This is the first evidence for direct CP violation in a specific D^{0} decay.

[The value of transanal multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy in determining the response degree of rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy: a prospective multicenter study]

Objective: To verify the feasibility and accuracy of the transanal multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy (TMFP) technique in determining the residual status of cancer foci after neoadjuvant therapy (nCRT) in rectal cancer. Methods: Between April 2020 and November 2022, a total of 78 patients from the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University, the Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University, the Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University with advanced rectal cancer received TMFP after nCRT participated in this prospective multicenter trial. There were 53 males and 25 females, aged (M(IQR)) 61 (13) years (range: 35 to 77 years). The tumor distance from the anal verge was 5 (3) cm (range: 2 to 10 cm). The waiting time between nCRT and TMFP was 73 (26) days (range: 33 to 330 days). 13-point transanal puncture was performed with a 16 G tissue biopsy needle with the residual lesion as the center. The specimens were submitted for independent examination and the complications of the puncture were recorded. The consistency of TMFP and radical operation specimen was compared. The consistency of TMPF with clinical remission rates for the diagnosis of complete pathological remission was compared by sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy. Statistical analysis between groups was performed using the χ2 analysis, and a paired χ2 test was used to compare diagnostic validity. Results: Before TMFP, clinical complete response (cCR) was evaluated in 27 cases. Thirty-six cases received in vivo puncture, the number of punctures in each patient was 13 (8) (range: 4 to 20), 24 cases of tumor residue were found in the puncture specimens. The sensitivity to judgment (100% vs. 60%, χ2=17.500, P<0.01) and accuracy (88.5% vs. 74.4%, χ2=5.125, P=0.024) of TMFP for the pathologic complete response (pCR) were significantly higher than those of cCR. Implement TMFP based on cCR judgment, the accuracy increased from 74.4% to 92.6% (χ2=4.026, P=0.045). The accuracy of the in vivo puncture was 94.4%, which was 83.3% of the in vitro puncture (χ2=1.382, P=0.240). Overall, the accuracy of TMFP improved gradually with an increasing number of cases (χ2=7.112, P=0.029). Conclusion: TMFP is safe and feasible, which improves the sensitivity and accuracy of rectal cancer pCR determination after nCRT, provides a pathological basis for cCR determination, and contributes to the safe development of the watch and wait policy.

Measurement of the Branching Fractions B(B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯]) and B(B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])

Searches for the rare hadronic decays B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] and B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] are performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Significances of 9.3σ and 4.0σ, including statistical and systematic uncertainties, are obtained for the B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] and B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] signals, respectively. The branching fractions are measured relative to the topologically similar normalization decays B^{0}→J/ψ(→pp[over ¯])K^{*0}(→K^{+}π^{-}) and B_{s}^{0}→J/ψ(→pp[over ¯])⁢ϕ(→K^{+}K^{-}). The branching fractions are measured to be B(B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])=(2.2±0.4±0.1±0.1)×10^{-8} and B(B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])=(2.3±1.0±0.2±0.1)×10^{-8}. In these measurements, the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third one is due to the external branching fraction of the normalization channel.

Curcumin in vitro Neuroprotective Effects Are Mediated by p62/keap-1/Nrf2 and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway and Autophagy Inhibition

Oxidative stress and autophagy are potential mechanisms associated with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and is usually linked to inflammatory responses and apoptosis. Curcumin has recently been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and autophagy regulation properties. However, mechanism of curcumin on IRI-induced oxidative stress and autophagy remains not well understood. We evaluated the protective effects and potential mechanisms of curcumin on cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) and neuronal cells (HT22) against oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro models that mimic in vivo cerebral IRI. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assays revealed that curcumin attenuated the OGD/R-induced injury in a dose-specific manner. OGD/R induced elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6 as well as IL-1beta, and these effects were notably reduced by curcumin. OGD/R-mediated apoptosis was suppressed by curcumin via upregulating B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and downregulating Bcl-associated X (Bax), cleaved-caspase3 and TUNEL apoptosis marker. Additionally, curcumin increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), but suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content. Curcumin inhibited the levels of autophagic biomarkers such as LC3 II/LC3 I and Beclin1. Particularly, curcumin induced p62 accumulation and its interactions with keap1 and promoted NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) translocation to nucleus, accompanied by increased NADPH quinone dehydrogenase (Nqo1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Treatment of curcumin increased phosphorylation-phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (p-PI3K) and p-protein kinase B (p-AKT). The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) activated the keap-1/Nrf2 and PI3K/AKT pathways. This study highlights the neuroprotective effects of curcumin on cerebral IRI.

Erratum: Global Polarization of Ξ and Ω Hyperons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 162301 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.162301.

Observation of a Resonant Structure near the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} Threshold in the B^{+}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-}K^{+} Decay

An amplitude analysis of the B^{+}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-}K^{+} decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as X(3960), is observed in the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width, and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be 3956±5±10  MeV, 43±13±8  MeV, and J^{PC}=0^{++}, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of cc[over ¯]ss[over ¯] quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the 0^{++} assignment or by a J/ψϕ↔D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} coupled-channel effect.

Microbiome recognition of virulence-factor-governed interfacial mechanisms in antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity removal by functionalized microbubbles

The frequent occurrence of epidemics around the world gives rise to increasing concerns of the pollution of pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria in water. This study investigated the impacts of virulence factors (VFs) on the removal of antibiotic resistant and pathogenic bacteria from municipal wastewater by ozone-free or ozone-encapsulated Fe(III)-coagulant-modified colloidal microbubbles (O3_free-CCMBs or O3-CCMBs). The highly interface-dependent process was initiated with cell-capture on the microbubble surface where the as-collected cells could be further inactivated with the bubble-released ozone and oxidative species if O3-CCMBs were used. The microbiome sequencing analyses denote that the O3_free-CCMB performance of antibiotic resistant and pathogenic bacteria removal was dependent on the virulence phenotypes related to cell-surface properties or structures. The adhesion-related VFs facilitated the effective attachment between cells and the coagulant-modified bubble-surface, which further enhanced cell inactivation by bubble-released ozone. On the contrary, the motility-related VFs might help cells to escape from the bubble capture by locomotion; however, this could be overcome by O3-CCMB-induced oxidative demolition of the movement structures. Besides, the microbubble performance was also impacted with the cell-membrane structure related to antibiotic resistance (i.e., efflux pumps) and the dissolved organic matter through promoting the surface-capture and decreasing the oxidation efficacy. The ozone-encapsulated microbubbles with surface functionalization are robust and promising tools in hampering antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity dissemination from wastewater to surface water environment; and awareness should be raised for the influence of virulence signatures on its performance.