High-Energy and Thermally Stable Energetic Materials Based on an Azo-Fused Dinitramino Compound.

Here, azo-fused dinitramino energetic compound 5,5'-dinitramino-8,8'-azo-1,2,5-oxadiazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine (4) and its energetic salts 5-7 have been prepared. Azo-fused dinitramino compound 4 exhibits excellent detonation performance (P = 36.13 GPa, and Dv = 9126 m s-1), which is obviously better than that of RDX (Dv = 8796 m s-1, and P = 33.60 GPa). In addition, the thermal stability of carbonyl compound 2 (Td = 325 °C) is similar to that of HNS (Td = 318 °C) and 2 exhibits better energy properties. These properties indicate that azo-dinitramino compound 4 has potential as a new secondary explosive, while carbonyl compound 2 also has potential as a new type of heat-resistant explosive.

The anabolism of volatile compounds during the pasteurization process of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) pulp.

Pasteurization (PS) causes the abnormal changes in volatiles and off-flavors in juices and limit the commercial production of juices. Herein, the first study on the biochemical reaction of volatile and nonvolatile compounds in response to PS factors during the process of sea buckthorn pulp (SBP) was evaluated. Processing conditions (mainly 80 °C for 20 min) had significant effects on the volatile and nonvolatile compounds. The restricted unsaturated fatty acid metabolism led to the greatest decrease of 20.25% in esters with fruity odor, and furans, smelling like caramel and toast, exhibited the highest increase of 136.40% because of the enhancement of the Maillard reaction. Dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl trisulfide elicited a cooked onion-like off-flavor, generated mainly from Strecker degradation of sulfur-containing amino acids, strengthened by the high pH and sufficient substrates due to the highest consumption rates of 4.66% and 12.01% for organic acids and sugars. Reasonable temperature and time control are crucial to the improvement of the process for PS for the SBP industry. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05943-z.

Association of triglyceride-glucose-body mass index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among individuals with chronic kidney disease.

There is still a paucity of research on the relationship between triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and long-term all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the TyG-BMI index and mortality rate and to determine valuable predictive factors for the survival status of this population. Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2001-2018) and the National Death Index (NDI). We used multivariate Cox regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) to analyze the link between the TyG-BMI index and all-cause and CVD mortality. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to age, gender, race, education and poverty. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to assess the differentiation of the TyG-BMI index in predicting mortality. A total of 3089 individuals were enrolled. Over a median follow-up period of 81 months, 1097 individuals passed away. The RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped link between the TyG-BMI index and all-cause and CVD mortality. The ROC curve indicated that the TyG-BMI index has a stronger diagnostic effect than the TyG index. Subgroup analysis results demonstrated that the TyG-BMI index was more significantly correlated with all-cause and CVD mortality rates in elderly patients. In the American population, a U-shaped association was discovered between the baseline TyG-BMI index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates in CKD patients. The thresholds for all-cause and CVD mortality were found to be 299.31 and 294.85, respectively.

Transcranial photobiomodulation on the left inferior frontal gyrus enhances Mandarin Chinese L1 and L2 complex sentence processing performances.

This study investigated the causal enhancing effect of transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) over the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) on syntactically complex Mandarin Chinese first language (L1) and second language (L2) sentence processing performances. Two (L1 and L2) groups of participants (thirty per group) were recruited to receive the double-blind, sham-controlled tPBM intervention via LIFG, followed by the sentence processing, the verbal working memory (WM), and the visual WM tasks. Results revealed a consistent pattern for both groups: (a) tPBM enhanced sentence processing performance but not verbal WM for linear processing of unstructured sequences and visual WM performances; (b) Participants with lower sentence processing performances under sham tPBM benefited more from active tPBM. Taken together, the current study substantiated that tPBM enhanced L1 and L2 sentence processing, and would serve as a promising and cost-effective noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) tool for future applications on upregulating the human language faculty.

Machine Learning-based Nomograms for Predicting Clinical Stages of Initial Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To construct and externally validate machine learning-based nomograms for predicting progression stages of initial prostate cancer (PCa) using biomarkers and clinicopathologic features. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-two inpatients diagnosed with PCa at the First Affiliated Hospital were randomly assigned to training and testing sets in a 3:7 ratio, while 136 PCa patients from People's Hospital formed the external validation set. Imaging and clinicopathologic information were collected. Optimal features distinguishing advanced prostate cancer (APC) and metastatic PCa (mPCa) were identified through logistic regression (LR). ML algorithms were employed to build and compare ML models. The best-performing algorithm established models for PCa progression stage. Models performance was evaluated using metrics, ROC curves, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in training, testing, and external validation sets. RESULTS: Following LR analyses, PSA (P = .001), maximum tumor diameter (P = .026), Gleason score (P <.001), and RNF41 (P <.001) were optimal features for predicting APC, while ALP (P <.001), PSA (P <.001), and GS score (P = .024) were for mPCa. Among ML models, the LR models exhibited superior performance. Consequently, the LR algorithm was used for the APC-risk-nomogram and mPCa-risk-nomogram construction, with AUC values of 0.848, 0.814, 0.810, and 0.940, 0.913, 0.910, in the training, testing, and external validation sets, respectively. Calibration and DCA curves affirmed nomograms' consistency and net benefits for clinical decision-making. CONCLUSION: In summary, ML-based APC-risk-nomogram and mPCa-risk-nomogram exhibit outstanding predictive performance for PCa progression stages. These nomograms can assist clinicians in finely categorizing newly diagnosed PCa patients, facilitating personalized treatment plans and prognosis assessment.

Antimicrobial guar gum films optimized with Pickering emulsions of zein-gum arabic nanoparticle-stabilized composite essential oil for food preservation.

In this study, composite essential oil Pickering emulsion stabilized with zein-gum arabic (GA) nanoparticles (ZGCEO) was prepared to improve the characteristics of guar gum (GG) films. ZGCEO exhibited commendable stability and compatibility with GG, while leading to a noticeable improvement in the light barrier (from 3.98 A mm-1 to 17.09 A mm-1) and water vapor barrier characteristics of GG films, concomitantly mitigating their hydrophilic nature, with decreasing moisture content (from 17.70 % to 10.50 %), water solubility (from 84.41 % to 71.79 %), water vapor permeability (from 5.64 × 10-11 g (m s Pa)-1 to 4.97 × 10-11 g (m s Pa)-1), and an increasing water contact angle (from 69.8° to 94.2°). The addition of 2 % ZGCEO yielded a notable increase in the tensile strength of the GG-ZGCEO films, but the elongation at break decreased with increasing ZGCEO concentration. Moreover, the incorporated ZGCEO demonstrated outstanding antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics, featuring a slow-release behavior of essential oil. The GG-ZGCEO coating also showed an excellent preservation effect in pork and "Huangguan" pears during storage. Collectively, we substantiated the efficacy of ZGCEO in augmenting the functional attributes of GG films, thereby establishing their potential utility as antimicrobial packaging materials conducive to food preservation.

Gstp1 negatively regulates blood pressure in hypertensive rat via promoting APLNR ubiquitination degradation mediated by Nedd4.

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for disease burden worldwide. Vascular contraction and remodeling contribute to the development of hypertension. Glutathione S-transferase P1 (Gstp1) plays several critical roles in both normal and neoplastic cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of Gstp1 on hypertension as well as on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction and phenotypic switching. We identified the higher level of Gstp1 in arteries and VSMCs from hypertensive rats compared with normotensive rats for the first time. We then developed Adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) mediated Gstp1 down-regulation and overexpression in rats and measured rat blood pressure by using the tail-cuff and the carotid catheter method. We found that the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) rose significantly with Gstp1 down-regulation and reduced apparently after Gstp1 overexpression. Similar results were obtained from the observations of 2-kidney-1-clip renovascular (2K1C) hypertensive rats. Gstp1 did not influence blood pressure of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Further in vitro study indicated that Gstp1 knockdown in SHR-VSMCs promoted cell proliferation, migration, dedifferentiation and contraction, while Gstp1 overexpression showed opposite effects. Results from bioinformatic analysis showed that the Apelin/APLNR system was involved in the effect of Gstp1 on SHR-VSMCs. The rise in blood pressure of SHR induced by Gstp1 knockdown could be reversed by APLNR antagonist F13A. We further found that Gstp1 enhanced the association between APLNR and Nedd4 E3 ubiquitin ligases to induce APLNR ubiquitination degradation. Thus, in the present study, we discovered a novel anti-hypertensive role of Gstp1 in hypertensive rats and provided the experimental basis for designing an effective anti-hypertensive therapeutic strategy.

Advanced tetracyclic heat-resistant energetic materials based on bis(4-nitropyrazole) bridged 1,2,4-triazole.

In recent years, with the development of deep coal mines and petroleum resources and the expansion of the aerospace industry, the pursuit of heat-resistant energetic materials with high thermal stability and high energy has been increasing. Bis(4-nitropyrazole) was employed as an energy bridge to link 1,2,4-triazole, thereby constructing a sophisticated tetracyclic framework in this study. A tetracyclic heat-resistant explosive 5,5'-(4,4'-dinitro-2H,2'H-[3,3'-bipyrazole]-5,5'-diyl)bis(4H-1,2,4-triazole-3,4-diamine) (3) and its derivatives 6-8 with excellent comprehensive performance have been successfully prepared. Particularly noteworthy is that compound 3 has a detonation velocity of 8604 m s-1, which exceeds that of the conventional heat-resistant explosive HNS with a velocity of 7164 m s-1. Furthermore, compound 3 has higher thermal stability (Td = 340 °C) than HNS (Td = 318 °C). In addition, the tetracyclic compound 3 also exhibited extraordinarily low sensitivity (IS > 40 J; FS > 360 N). These unique characteristics make it a potential candidate for novel heat-resistant and insensitive energetic materials.

HLA-DPB1 and DPA1 ~ DPB1 linkage mismatch affects the survival of recipients receiving HLA-14/14 matched unrelated donor HSCT.

To analyse the effect of HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 allelic mismatches on the outcomes of unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (URD-HSCT), we collected 258 recipients with haematological disease who underwent HLA-10/10 matched URD-HSCT. HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DPA1 and -DPB1 typing was performed for the donors and recipients using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. After excluding 8 cases with DQA1 or DRB3/4/5 mismatches, we included 250 cases with HLA-14/14 matching for further analysis. Our results showed that the proportion of matched DPA1 and DPB1 alleles was only 10.4% (26/250). The remaining 89.6% of donors and recipients demonstrated DPA1 or DPB1 mismatch. In the DPA1 matched and DPB1 mismatched group, accounting for 18.8% (47/250) of the cohort, DPB1*02:01/DPB1*03:01 allelic mismatches were associated with decreased 2-year OS and increased NRM. DPB1*02:02/DPB1*05:01 and DPB1*02:01/DPB1*05:01 mismatches showed no impact on outcomes. Moreover, the specific allelic mismatches observed were consistent with the DPB1 T-cell epitope (TCE) classification as permissive and non-permissive. We innovatively established an analysis method for DPA1 ~ DPB1 linkage mismatch for cases with both DPA1 and DPB1 mismatched, accounting for 70% (175/250) of the total. DPA1*02:02 ~ DPB1*05:01/DPA1*02:01 ~ DPB1*17:01 linkage mismatches were associated with lower 2-year OS, especially among AML/MDS recipients. DPA1*02:02 ~ DPB1*05:01/DPA1*01:03 ~ DPB1*02:01 linkage mismatches showed no impact on outcomes. In conclusion, applying the DPA1 ~ DPB1 linkage mismatch analysis approach can identify different types of mismatches affecting transplant outcomes and provide valuable insight for selecting optimal donors for AML/MDS and ALL recipients.

[Characterization of Metal Elements in Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter and Their Sources in Winter in the Southern Sichuan Urban Agglomeration].

To investigate the concentration characteristics and sources of metal elements in PM2.5 during winter heavy pollution in the southern Sichuan urban agglomeration (Zigong, Luzhou, Neijiang, and Yibin), the metal elements in PM2.5 were measured using membrane sampling methods from December 30, 2018 to January 14, 2019, and the enrichment factor method (EF) and positive matrix factorization(PMF) were applied to investigate the sources of metal elements. The metal element observation data of Zigong in the same period of 2015 were also used to investigate the changes in metal element pollution and enrichment in Zigong in the middle and end of the implementation of China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. The main findings were as follows:① The concentrations and percentages of metal elements in particulate matter in different cities did not differ significantly. The elements with higher concentrations in the four cities showed similarities, with Al, Sb, and Fe at the top. From the comparison of different observation periods in Zigong, the concentrations of all elements except Tl changed. ② The results of the enrichment factor calculation showed that the enrichment of the elements Cr (Zigong and Yibin), Ni, Cu, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sb, Tl, and Pb in the urban agglomeration was high. The comparison of the enrichment levels of elements in Zigong for different observation periods showed that the enrichment levels of all elements, except Cu, tended to decrease in the winter observation period of 2018. ③ The results of PMF source analysis showed that the metal elements in each city mainly originated from dust sources, coal-fired sources, industrial sources, and traffic sources, whereas there was a mixed contribution among the sources. The contribution of the main sources differed among cities, in which Zigong was dominated by traffic dust sources and mixed sources, Luzhou was dominated by industrial sources, Neijiang had a similar contribution from different sources, and Yibin was dominated by traffic sources.

A highly sensitive fluorescence sensor for tobacco mosaic virus RNA based on DSN cycle and ARGET ATRP double signal amplification.

Early and sensitive detection of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is of great significance for improving crop yield and protecting germplasm resources. Herein, we constructed a novel fluorescence sensor to detect TMV RNA (tRNA) through double strand specific nuclease (DSN) cycle and activator regenerative electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) dual signal amplification strategy. The hairpin DNA complementarily paired with tRNA was used as a recognition unit to specifically capture tRNA. By the double-stranded DNA hydrolyzed with DSN, tRNA is released to open more hairpin DNA, and more complementary DNA (cDNA) is bound to the surface of the magnetic beads (MBs) to achieve the first amplification. After binding with the initiator, the cDNA employed ARGET ATRP to attach more fluorescent signal molecules to the surface of MBs, thus achieving the second signal amplification. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the logarithm of fluorescence intensity versus tRNA concentration showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.01-100 pM, with a detection limit of 1.03 fM. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated according to LOD = 3 N/S. Besides, the sensor showed good reproducibility and stability, which present provided new method for early and highly sensitive detection for plant viruses.

Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation on the Left Posterior Inferior Frontal Gyrus Perturbs Complex Syntactic Processing Stability in Mandarin Chinese.

The structure of human language is inherently hierarchical. The left posterior inferior frontal gyrus (LpIFG) is proposed to be a core region for constructing syntactic hierarchies. However, it remains unclear whether LpIFG plays a causal role in syntactic processing in Mandarin Chinese and whether its contribution depends on syntactic complexity, working memory, or both. We addressed these questions by applying inhibitory continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) over LpIFG. Thirty-two participants processed sentences containing embedded relative clauses (i.e., complex syntactic processing), syntactically simpler coordinated sentences (i.e., simple syntactic processing), and non-hierarchical word lists (i.e., word list processing) after receiving real or sham cTBS. We found that cTBS significantly increased the coefficient of variation, a representative index of processing stability, in complex syntactic processing (esp., when subject relative clause was embedded) but not in the other two conditions. No significant changes in d' and reaction time were detected in these conditions. The findings suggest that (a) inhibitory effect of cTBS on the LpIFG might be prominent in perturbing the complex syntactic processing stability but subtle in altering the processing quality; and (b) the causal role of the LpIFG seems to be specific for syntactic processing rather than working memory capacity, further evidencing their separability in LpIFG. Collectively, these results support the notion of the LpIFG as a core region for complex syntactic processing across languages.

METTL3-mediated pre-miR-665/DLX3 m6A methylation facilitates the committed differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla.

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is a crucial element of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications and has been extensively studied for its involvement in diverse biological and pathological processes. In this study, we explored how METTL3 affects the differentiation of stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) into odonto/osteoblastic lineages through gain- and loss-of-function experiments. The m6A modification levels were assessed using m6A dot blot and activity quantification experiments. In addition, we employed Me-RIP microarray experiments to identify specific targets modified by METTL3. Furthermore, we elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying METTL3 function through dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments and rescue experiments. Our findings indicated that METTL3+/- mice exhibited significant root dysplasia and increased bone loss. The m6A level and odonto/osteoblastic differentiation capacity were affected by the overexpression or inhibition of METTL3. This effect was attributed to the acceleration of pre-miR-665 degradation by METTL3-mediated m6A methylation in cooperation with the "reader" protein YTHDF2. Additionally, the targeting of distal-less homeobox 3 (DLX3) by miR-665 and the potential direct regulation of DLX3 expression by METTL3, mediated by the "reader" protein YTHDF1, were demonstrated. Overall, the METTL3/pre-miR-665/DLX3 pathway might provide a new target for SCAP-based tooth root/maxillofacial bone tissue regeneration.

Variations in species diversity patterns and community assembly rules among vegetation types in the karst landscape.

The various vegetation types in the karst landscape have been considered the results of heterogeneous habitats. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of regional biodiversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes limits further research on ecological management. This study established forest dynamic plots (FDPs) of the dominant vegetation types (shrubland, SL; mixed tree and shrub forest, MTSF; coniferous forest, CF; coniferous broadleaf mixed forest, CBMF; and broadleaf forest, BF) in the karst landscape and quantified the species diversity patterns and potential ecological processes. The results showed that in terms of diversity patterns, the evenness and species richness of the CF community were significantly lower than other vegetation types, while the BF community had the highest species richness. The other three vegetation types showed no significant variation in species richness and evenness. However, when controlling the number of individuals of FDPs, the rarefied species richness showed significant differences and ranked as BF > SL > MTSF > CBMF > CF, highlighting the importance of considering the impacts of abundance. Additionally, the community assembly of climax communities (CF or BF) was dominated by stochastic processes such as species dispersal or species formation, whereas deterministic processes (habitat filtering) dominated the secondary forests (SL, MTSF, and CBMF). These findings proved that community assembly differs mainly between the climax community and other communities. Hence, it is crucial to consider the biodiversity and of the potential underlying ecological processes together when studying regional ecology and management, particularly in heterogeneous ecosystems.

Neural Correlates of Analogical Reasoning on Syntactic Patterns.

Analogical reasoning is central to thought and learning. However, previous neuroscience studies have focused mainly on neural substrates for visuospatial and semantic analogies. There has not yet been research on the neural correlates of analogical reasoning on syntactic patterns generated by the syntactic rules, a key feature of human language faculty. The present investigation took an initial step to address this paucity. Twenty-four participants, whose brain activity was monitored by fMRI, engaged in first-order and second-order relational judgments of syntactic patterns as well as simple and complex working memory tasks. After scanning, participants rated the difficulty of each step during analogical reasoning; these ratings were related to signal intensities in activated regions of interest using Spearman correlation analyses. After prior research, differences in activation levels during second-order and first-order relational judgments were taken as evidence of analogical reasoning. These analyses showed that analogical reasoning on syntactic patterns recruited brain regions consistent with those supporting visuospatial and semantic analogies, including the anterior and posterior parts of the left middle frontal gyrus, anatomically corresponding to the left rostrolateral pFC and the left dorsolateral pFC. The correlation results further revealed that the posterior middle frontal gyrus might be involved in analogical access and mapping with syntactic patterns. Our study is the first to investigate the process of analogical reasoning on syntactic patterns at the neurobiological level and provide evidence of the specific functional roles of related regions during subprocesses of analogical reasoning.

The association between serum testosterone level and congestive heart failure in US male adults: data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) in adult males. Previous research has suggested a potential link between serum testosterone and cardiovascular health, but the findings have been inconclusive. METHODS: This study was cross-sectional, and the data were obtained from the 2011-2016 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included a sample of 6,841 male participants. Serum testosterone levels were measured using a standardized assay, and CHF status was assessed through self-reporting. Covariates such as age, ethnicity, lifestyle factors, and health conditions were considered in the analysis. RESULTS: Among the participants, 242 individuals had a documented history of CHF. We observed a linear correlation between serum testosterone levels and CHF occurrence, with higher serum testosterone levels associated with a decreased risk of CHF (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.19-0.47, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariate analysis revealed that high serum testosterone levels remained significantly associated with a lower risk of CHF (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.80, P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis indicated a significant association between high serum testosterone levels and reduced CHF risk in individuals over 50 years old. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the serum testosterone level was positively associated with CHF in adult males. This study highlights the potential role of serum testosterone in cardiovascular health, particularly in older individuals. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the clinical implications of these findings.

Comparison of novel flexible and traditional ureteral access sheath in retrograde intrarenal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficiency and safety of a novel flexible ureteral access sheath (f-UAS) and traditional ureteral access sheath (UAS) during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2022 and September 2022, a total of 152 consecutive cases with renal stones underwent RIRS with the f-UAS. Their outcomes were compared with those of another 152 consecutive cases undergoing RIRS with traditional UAS using a 1:1 scenario matched-pair analysis, with matching parameters including age and stone size. The f-UAS is a novel UAS with a 10-cm-long tube at the tip that can follow the bends of flexible ureteroscope (f-URS). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were found to be similar between the two groups. The f-UAS group demonstrated significantly higher SFR (76.3% vs. 7.2%; P < 0.001) at 1 day postoperatively and a higher clearance rate of stone volume (98.11% vs. 91.78%; P < 0.001). The f-UAS group also had lower total complications rate (9.9% vs. 22.4%; P = 0.003), lower incidence of fever (5.9% vs 11.9%; P = 0.001), shorter operative times (56.5 min vs. 59.9 min; P = 0.047), and lower usage rate of baskets (17.1% vs. 100%; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SFR at 1 month postoperatively (P = 0.627) and in the length of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (P = 0.225). CONCLUSION: Compared to the traditional UAS during RIRS, the f-UAS showed several advantages, including higher SFR at 1 day postoperatively, shorter operative times, lower incidence of complications, and less use of basket.

Characterization of carbonaceous particles by single particle aerosol mass spectrometer in the urban area of Chengdu, China.

Carbonaceous particles are an important chemical component of atmospheric fine particles. In this study, a single particle aerosol mass spectrometer was used to continuously measure the carbonaceous particles in Chengdu, one of the megacities most affected by haze in China, from January 22 to March 3, 2021. During the observation period, the average mass concentration of PM2.5 was 62.3 ± 37.2 µg m-3, and the emissions from mobile sources were more prominent. Carbonaceous particles accounted for 68.6% of the total particles and could be classified into 10 categories, with elemental carbon (EC) mixed with sulfate (EC-S) particles making the highest contribution (33.1%). EC particles rich in secondary components and organic carbon (OC) particles rich in secondary component exhibited different diurnal variations, suggesting different sources and mixing mechanisms. From "excellent" to "polluted" days, the contributions of EC-S, EC mixed with sulfate and nitrate (EC-SN) and OC mixed with EC (OC-EC) particles increased by 9.8%, 4.5% and 6.6%, respectively, and thus these particles are key targets for future pollution control. The potential source contribution of the southwest area was stronger than that of other areas, and the potential contribution of regional transport to EC-related particles was stronger than to OC-related particles. Most particles were highly mixed with sulfate or nitrate, and the level of secondary mixing further enhanced as pollution worsened.

Trends in suicide mortality among cancer survivors in the US, 1975-2020.

BACKGROUND: Suicide in cancer survivors is a major public health concern, but its trends and risk factors are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the standardized mortality rate (SMR) and trends in suicide among cancer survivors in the United States. METHODS: Using data from the SEER-9 database and US Mortality data, we identified 3,684,040 cancer survivors diagnosed between 1975 and 2020. The SMR of suicide among cancer survivors was calculated, and Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate trends in suicide risk. Subgroup analyses were performed based on age, gender, race, tumor site, and stage. A competing risk model was used to calculate the 10-year cumulative incidence of suicide. RESULTS: Among cancer survivors, the overall SMR of suicide was 1.49 (95%CI: 1.46-1.53) times higher than that of the general population in the US. The risk of suicide varied significantly by cancer site, with the highest risk found in patients with malignant respiratory system cancer. Overall, we observed a significant downward trend in the suicide mortality rate among cancer patients. The cumulative incidence of suicide mortality among cancer survivors across four study periods exhibited significant statistical differences (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the need for targeted suicide prevention efforts for cancer survivors, particularly those diagnosed with respiratory system cancer. The trend of declining suicide mortality rates among cancer survivors is promising, but continued efforts are needed to understand and address the underlying risk factors.

MicrobeTCM: A comprehensive platform for the interactions of microbiota and traditional Chinese medicine.

Thanks to the advancements in bioinformatics, drugs, and other interventions that modulate microbes to treat diseases have been emerging continuously. In recent years, an increasing number of databases related to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or gut microbes have been established. However, a database combining the two has not yet been developed. To accelerate TCM research and address the traditional medicine and micro ecological system connection between short board, we have developed the most comprehensive micro-ecological database of TCM. This initiative includes the standardization of the following advantages: (1) A repeatable process achieved through the standardization of a retrieval strategy to identify literature. This involved identifying 419 experiment articles from PubMed and six authoritative databases; (2) High-quality data integration achieved through double-entry extraction of literature, mitigating uncertainties associated with natural language extraction; (3) Implementation of a similar strategy aiding in the prediction of mechanisms of action. Leveraging drug similarity, target entity similarity, and known drug-target entity association, our platform enables the prediction of the effects of a new herb or acupoint formulas using the existing data. In total, MicrobeTCM includes 171 diseases, 725 microbes, 1468 herb-formulas, 1032 herbs, 15780 chemical compositions, 35 acupoint-formulas, and 77 acupoints. For further exploration, please visit https://www.microbetcm.com.