Identification of Ferroptosis-Inflammation Related Hub Genes and the Disease Subtypes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis via System Biology Approaches.

We aim to screen and analyze the ferroptosis inflammation-related hub genes associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The GSE52463 and GSE110147 datasets were obtained from the GEO database and merged. The DEGs were selected by differential analysis and intersected with inflammation-related genes and ferroptosis-related genes to acquire the ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FRDEGs). GO, KEGG, GSEA, and GSVA were performed to investigate the features of FRDEGs. The key module genes were selected by WGCNA and employed to generate the PPI network using Cytoscape. Subsequently, the hub genes were identified using cytoHubba and validated by ROC curves generated by survivalROC. Finally, the correlations of hub genes were analyzed through Spearman and the subtypes of IPF were constructed using ConsensusClusterPlus. A total of 1814 DEGs were screened out and 18 FRDEGs were acquired from the intersection of DEGs, ferroptosis-related genes, and inflammation-related genes. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that FRDEGs were primarily involved in bacterial-origin molecular, response infectious disease, and iron ion transport. GSEA results suggested a predominant association with autoimmune diseases and GSVA identified ten different pathways between PF and control. Through WGCNA, three highly correlated modules were identified and ten key module genes were obtained by intersecting genes in the three modules with FRDEGs. Finally, employing three algorithms within the cytoHubba led to the identification of eight hub genes: CCND1, TP53, STAT3, CTNNB1 CDH1, ESR1, HSP90AA1, and EP300. Eventually, two distinct subtypes of IPF were identified. The present research successfully identified the hub genes associated with ferroptosis and inflammation and their biological effects on IPF. Furthermore, two disease subtypes of IPF were constructed.

Perfusable adipose decellularized extracellular matrix biological scaffold co-recellularized with adipose-derived stem cells and L6 promotes functional skeletal muscle regeneration following volumetric muscle loss.

Muscle tissue engineering is a promising therapeutic strategy for volumetric muscle loss (VML). Among them, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) biological scaffolds have shown certain effects in restoring muscle function. However, researchers have inconsistent or even contradictory results on whether dECM biological scaffolds can efficiently regenerate muscle fibers and restore muscle function. This suggests that therapeutic strategies based on dECM biological scaffolds need to be further optimized and developed. In this study, we used a recellularization method of perfusing adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and L6 into adipose dECM (adECM) through vascular pedicles. On one hand, this strategy ensures sufficient quantity and uniform distribution of seeded cells inside scaffold. On the other hand, auxiliary L6 cells addresses the issue of low myogenic differentiation efficiency of ASCs. Subsequently, the treatment of VML animal experiments showed that the combined recellularization strategy can improve muscle regeneration and angiogenesis than the single ASCs recellularization strategy, and the TA of former had greater muscle contraction strength. Further single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis found that L6 cells induced ASCs transform into a new subpopulation of cells highly expressing Mki67, CD34 and CDK1 genes, which had stronger ability of oriented myogenic differentiation. This study demonstrates that co-seeding ASCs and L6 cells through vascular pedicles is a promising recellularization strategy for adECM biological scaffolds, and the engineered muscle tissue constructed based on this has significant therapeutic effects on VML. Overall, this study provides a new paradigm for optimizing and developing dECM-based therapeutic strategies.

Metal-Organic Framework Based on Pyrazinoquinoxaline Tetracarboxylic Acid for Fluorescence Sensing for Nitro Explosives.

The rapid and selective detection of nitro explosives has become one of the current urgent environmental and safety issues. Fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide strong support for the development of photoactive materials with excellent sensing performances. In this work, Zn2+ and pyrazinoquinoxaline tetracarboxylic acid with high nitrogen content were selected to construct a MOF structure termed Zn-MOF, which had excellent optical properties. The fluorescence sensing performance of Zn-MOF for nitro explosives was also investigated. The structural advantages of Zn-MOF, such as its porous structure, abundant host-guest interaction sites, and stable framework, ensure the prerequisites for various applications. Zn-MOF is not only capable of responding to a wide range of substrates, such as Fe3+, Cr2O72-, and MnO4-, to achieve fluorescence quenching detection but also able to achieve sensitive fluorescence sensing behavior for nitro explosives. In particular, for trinitrotoluene, the Ksv value can reach 8.72 × 103 M-1. The results show that the introduction of pyrazinoquinoxaline groups into MOFs can be an effective strategy for the preparation of highly efficient fluorescent sensing materials for nitro explosives.

Introducing a Pyrazinoquinoxaline Derivative into a Metal-Organic Framework: Achieving Fluorescence-Enhanced Detection for Cs+ and Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity.

Conventional photoresponsive materials have low photon utilization due to irregular distribution of photoactive groups, which severely limits the related real applications. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can modulate the regular arrangement of functional groups to improve the electron transport paths and enhance the photon utilization, which provides strong support for the development of photoactive materials with excellent performance. In this work, one effective strategy for constructing a photoactive MOF had been developed via the utilization of Cd2+ and pyrazinoquinoxaline tetracarboxylic acid. The structural advantages of the Cd-MOF, such as a porous structure, abundant subject-object interaction sites, and a stable framework, ensure the prerequisite for various applications, while the better synergistic effect of Cd3 clusters and the pyrazinoquinoxaline derivative ensures efficient electron transfer efficiency. Therefore, by virtue of these structural advantages, the Cd-MOF can achieve fluorescence quenching detection for a variety of substrates, such as Fe3+, Cr2O72-, MnO4-, nitrofuran antibiotics, and TNP explosives, while fluorescence enhancement detection can be achieved for halogen ions, Cs+, Pb2+, and NO2-. In addition, the Cd-MOF can be used as a photocatalyst to successfully achieve the photocatalytic conversion of benzylamine to N-benzylbenzimidate under mild conditions. Thus, the Cd-MOF as a whole shows the possibility of application as a diverse fluorescence detection and photocatalyst and also illustrates the feasibility of preparing high-performance photoactive materials using the pyrazinoquinoxaline derivative.

Brain developmental and cortical connectivity changes in transgenic monkeys carrying the human-specific duplicated gene SRGAP2C.

Human-specific duplicated genes contributed to phenotypic innovations during the origin of our own species, such as an enlarged brain and highly developed cognitive abilities. While prior studies on transgenic mice carrying the human-specific SRGAP2C gene have shown enhanced brain connectivity, the relevance to humans remains unclear due to the significant evolutionary gap between humans and rodents. In this study, to investigate the phenotypic outcome and underlying genetic mechanism of SRGAP2C, we generated transgenic cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) carrying the human-specific SRGAP2C gene. Longitudinal MRI imaging revealed delayed brain development with region-specific volume changes, accompanied by altered myelination levels in the temporal and occipital regions. On a cellular level, the transgenic monkeys exhibited increased deep-layer neurons during fetal neurogenesis and delayed synaptic maturation in adolescence. Moreover, transcriptome analysis detected neotenic expression in molecular pathways related to neuron ensheathment, synaptic connections, extracellular matrix and energy metabolism. Cognitively, the transgenic monkeys demonstrated improved motor planning and execution skills. Together, our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms by which the newly evolved gene shapes the unique development and circuitry of the human brain.

The Impact of Sedentary Behavior on Renal Function Decline in 132,123 Middle Aged and Older Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Prior studies suggest that sedentary behavior is a well-known risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. However, the longitudinal association between overall siting time and kidney function decline is not known. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a nationwide prospective cohort study in individuals aged more than 40 years enrolled in the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort (4C) study. A total of 132 123 individuals were included in this study. Sitting time was measured with the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Kidney function decline was defined as an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² or more than a 30% decrease in eGFR from baseline. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the relation between kidney function decline and sitting time. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 3.8 years, 3890 (2.9%) participants experienced kidney function decline. Longer sitting time was significantly associated with the risk of kidney function decline (aHR, 1.136; 95% CI, 1.036-1.247, P=0.007, comparing participants with baseline sitting time in the lowest quartile with those in the highest quartile) after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS Longer sitting time was independently and prospectively associated with a higher risk of kidney function decline. Sedentary behavior might represent a modifiable risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevention.

Effect of Graphene Oxide-Modified CaAl-Layered Double Hydroxides on the Carbon Dioxide Permeation Properties of Fluoroelastomers.

This work aimed to investigate the CO2 gas barrier and mechanical properties of fluorine rubber nanocomposites filled with Ca/Al layered hydroxide (graphene oxide [GO]/LDH-Ca2Al) modified by GO. GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers were prepared by depositing Ca/Al layered hydroxide (LDH-Ca2Al) into the surface of alkalized GO (Al-GO). The prepared GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers and complexes were characterized by Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for structural and micromorphological characterization. The results showed that GO/LDH-Ca2Al was successfully prepared with strong interactions between Al-GO and LDH, and the compatibility of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers with the polymer was significantly improved compared with that of LDH-Ca2Al. Consequently, both the fracture strength (σb) and strain (εb) of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes remarkably increased, and they exhibited excellent mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the thermal stability of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers, and GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers have better thermal stability than LDH-Ca2Al. The reaction products (S-LDH-Ca2Al and S-GO-Ca2Al) of LDH-Ca2Al and GO/LDH-Ca2Al with CO2 were characterized using XRD and TGA, respectively, and the results show that LDH-Ca2Al reacts readily and chemically with CO2, resulting in a lower diffusion coefficient of CO2 in the LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes than that of the GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes and leading to the destruction of the laminar structure of LDH-Ca2Al, while GO/LDH-Ca2Al has better CO2 resistance stability. GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes exhibited a reduced content of hydroxyl groups with pro-CO2 nature exposed on the surface of LDH-Ca2Al, improving the interfacial interaction between the nanofillers and the rubber matrix and enhancing the dispersion of GO/LDH-Ca2Al in the polymers. Moreover, CO2 in the soluble GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposites was significantly reduced, while the diffusion properties demonstrated weak temperature dependence on solubility. The mechanism of the CO2 gas barrier of polymers filled with GO/LDH-Ca2Al was proposed on the basis of the Arrhenius equation.

Comparison of different drug for reducing testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal drug for treatment with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was in debate. We did this network meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of different drugs for reducing testosterone levels in women with PCOS. METHODS: We searched studies from inception until January 10, 2023, through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library database. All studies comparing different drugs for reducing testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome were included in this network meta-analysis. Outcomes were total testosterone levels, free testosterone levels, and withdraw due to adverse events. We calculated the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) for each treatment. RESULTS: Finally, a total of 13 studies were finally included in this network meta-analysis. In head-to-head comparison, atorvastatin (WMD -3.1, 95% CrI: -3.7 to -2.5), metformin (WMD -2.6, 95% CrI: -3.5 to -1.6), metformin + simvastatin (WMD -2.8, 95% CrI: -4.1 to -1.5), simvastatin (WMD -2.7, 95% CrI: -4.2 to -1.3), spironolactone (WMD -3.1, 95% CrI: -4.3 to -1.9), spironolactone + metformin (WMD -3.2, 95% CrI: -4.5 to -2.0) were all more effective than the placebo, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). The SUCRA shows that spironolactone + metformin ranked first (SUCRA, 85.0%), Atorvastatin ranked second (SUCRA, 77.7%), Spironolactone ranked third (SUCRA, 77.2%), and metformin + simvastatin ranked the fourth. The SUCRA of different drugs for free testosterone levels shows that atorvastatin ranked first (SUCRA, 75.0%), spironolactone + metformin ranked second (SUCRA, 5.3%), metformin + simvastain ranked third (SUCRA, 62.6%), and spironolactone ranked the fourth (SUCRA, 56.4%). No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 treatment groups for withdrawn due to adverse events (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the network meta-analysis and rankings, atorvastatin was recommended to be the optimal drug for treatment PCOS. However, the optimal dose of atorvastatin was unknown and should be verified by more randomized controlled trials.

A Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of CKD Based on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Background: In China, the spectrum of causes for CKD has been changing in recent years, and the proportion of CKD caused by cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension continues to increase. Thus, predicting CKD based on cardiometabolic risk factors can to a large extent help identify those at increased risk and facilitate the prevention of CKD. In this study, we aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting CKD risk based on cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: We developed a nomogram for predicting CKD risk by using a subcohort population of the 4C study, which was located in central China. The prediction model was designed by using a logistic regression model, and a backwards procedure based on the Akaike information criterion was applied for variable selection. The performance of the model was evaluated by the concordance index (C-index), and Hosmer‒Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The bootstrapping method was applied for internal validation. Results: During the 3-years follow-up, 167 cases of CKD developed. By using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, the following factors were identified as predictors in the nomogram: age, sex, HbA1c, baseline eGFR, low HDL-C levels, high TC levels and SBP. The bootstrap-corrected C-index for the model was 0.84, which indicated good discrimination ability. The Hosmer‒Lemeshow goodness-of-fit tests yielded chi-square of 13.61 (P=0.192), and the calibration curves demonstrated good consistency between the predicted and observed probabilities, which indicated satisfactory calibration ability. Conclusion: We developed a convenient and practicable nomogram for the 3­year risk of incident CKD among a population in central China, which may help to identify high-risk individuals for CKD and contribute to the prevention of CKD.

Nanoscale effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the rheological behaviors of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

Considering the molar mass between entanglements to be an intrinsic property of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the number of entanglements per chain increases with increasing molar mass, correspondingly making the UHMWPE intractable. Herein, we dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles with different characteristics into UHMWPE solutions to disentangle the molecular chains. Compared with the UHMWPE pure solution, the viscosity of the mixture solution declines by 91.22%, and the critical overlap concentration increases from 1 wt% to 1.4 wt%. A rapid precipitation method was utilized to obtain UHMWPE and UHMWPE/TiO2 composites from the solutions. The melting index of UHMWPE/TiO2 is 68.85 mg, which is in sharp contrast to that of UHMWPE which is 0 mg. We characterized the microstructures of UHMWPE/TiO2 nanocomposites using TEM, SAXS, DMA, and DSC. Accordingly, this significant improvement in processability contributed to the reduction of entanglements and a schematic model was proposed to explain the mechanism by which nanoparticles disentangle molecular chains. Simultaneously, the composite demonstrated better mechanical properties than UHMWPE. In summary, we provide a strategy to promote the processability of UHMWPE without sacrificing its outstanding mechanical properties.

Heap leaching of ion adsorption rare earth ores and REEs recovery from leachate with lixiviant regeneration.

In this work, semi-industrial scale heap leaching of 200 t ion adsorption rare earth ores (IRE-ore) and rare earth elements (REEs) recovery from lixivium was first conducted. Biosynthetic citrate/(Na)3Cit, a typical microbial metabolite, was chosen as the lixiviant to conduct heap leaching. Subsequently, an organic precipitation method was proposed, which used oxalic acid to effectively recover REEs and reduce the production cost by lixiviant regeneration. The results showed that the heap leaching efficiency of REEs reached 98 % with a lixiviant concentration of 50 mmol/L and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:2. The lixiviant can be regenerated during the precipitation process, with REE yields and impurity aluminum yields of 94.5 % and 7.4 %, respectively. The residual solution can then be cyclically used as a new lixiviant after simple adjustment. High-quality rare earth concentrates with a rare earth oxide (REO) content of 96 % can be finally obtained after roasting. This work provides an eco-friendly alternative for IRE-ore extraction to solve the environmental issues caused by traditional technology. The results proved feasibility and provided a foundation for in situ (bio)leaching processes in further industrial tests and production.

LILRB2/PirB mediates macrophage recruitment in fibrogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Inhibition of immunocyte infiltration and activation has been suggested to effectively ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB) and its human ortholog receptor, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B (LILRB2), are immune-inhibitory receptors. However, their role in NASH pathogenesis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PirB/LILRB2 regulates the migration of macrophages during NASH by binding with its ligand angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8). Hepatocyte-specific ANGPTL8 knockout reduces MDM infiltration and resolves lipid accumulation and fibrosis progression in the livers of NASH mice. In addition, PirB-/- bone marrow (BM) chimeras abrogate ANGPTL8-induced MDM migration to the liver. And yet, PirB ectodomain protein could ameliorate NASH by sequestering ANGPTL8. Furthermore, LILRB2-ANGPTL8 binding-promoted MDM migration and inflammatory activation are also observed in human peripheral blood monocytes. Taken together, our findings reveal the role of PirB/LILRB2 in NASH pathogenesis and identify PirB/LILRB2-ANGPTL8 signaling as a potential target for the management or treatment of NASH.

Associations between metabolic score for visceral fat and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among populations with different glucose tolerance statuses.

AIMS: To investigate the associations between metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) and clinical outcomes among populations with different glucose tolerance statuses. METHODS: We analysed 6827 participants aged ≥ 40 years with different glucose tolerance statuses from a cohort study. The associations between METS-VF and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox regression, restricted cubic spline and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 5.00 years, there were 338 CVD events and 307 subjects experienced all-cause death. The METS-VF quartile (Quartile 4 versus 1) was significantly related to CVD events [adjusted HRs and 95% CIs: 5.75 (2.67-12.42), 2.80 (1.76-4.48), and 3.31 (1.28-8.54) for subjects with normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes and diabetes, respectively] and all-cause mortality [adjusted HRs and 95% CIs: 2.80 (1.43-5.49), 4.15 (2.45-7.01), and 4.03 (1.72-9.42), respectively]. Restricted cubic spline suggested a dose-response association of METS-VF with the risk of CVD events and all-cause mortality. The area under curve for CVD events and all-cause mortality was higher for METS-VF than for the other obesity and IR indexes in subjects with different glucose tolerance statuses. CONCLUSIONS: The METS-VF was associated with an increased risk of CVD events and all-cause mortality and could be used as a predictive index of the risk of CVD events and all-cause mortality among populations with different glucose tolerance statuses.

Predictive values of metabolic score for insulin resistance on risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and comparison with other insulin resistance indices among Chinese with and without diabetes mellitus: Results from the 4C cohort study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To investigate the relationship between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and to compare its ability to predict MACEs with other IR indices including homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index-related parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cohort study enrolling 7,291 participants aged ≥40 years. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were performed to determine the association between METS-IR and MACEs, and the receiver operating curve (ROC) was utilized to compare the predictive abilities of IR indices and to determine the optimal cut-off points. RESULTS: There were 348 (4.8%) cases of MACEs during a median follow-up of 3.8 years. Compared with participants with a METS-IR in the lowest quartile, the multivariate-adjusted RRs and 95% CIs for participants with a METS-IR in the highest quartile were 1.47 (1.05-2.77) in all participants, 1.42 (1.18-2.54) for individuals without diabetes, and 1.75 (1.11-6.46) for individuals with diabetes. Significant interactions were found between the METS-IR and the risk of MACEs by sex in all participants and by age and sex in individuals without diabetes (all P values for interaction < 0.05). In the ROC analysis, the METS-IR had a higher AUC value than other indices for predicting MACEs in individuals with diabetes and had a comparable or higher AUC than other indices for individuals without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The METS-IR can be an effective clinical indicator for identifying MACEs, as it had superior predictive power when compared with other IR indices in individuals with diabetes.

Atmospheric dryness thresholds of grassland productivity decline in China.

Atmospheric dryness events are bound to have a broad and profound impact on the functions and structures of grassland ecosystems. Current research has confirmed that atmospheric dryness is a key moisture constraint that inhibits grassland productivity, yet the risk threshold for atmospheric dryness to initiate ecosystem productivity loss has not been explored. Based on this, we used four terrestrial ecosystem models to simulate gross primary productivity (GPP) data, analyzed the role of vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in regulating interannual variability in Chinese grasslands by focusing on the dependence structure of VPD and GPP, and then constructed a bivariate linkage function to calculate the conditional probability of ecosystem GPP loss under atmospheric dryness, and further analyzed the risk threshold of ecosystem GPP loss triggered by atmospheric dryness. The main results are as follows: we found that (1) the observed and modeled VPD of Chinese grasslands increases rapidly in both historical and future periods. VPD has a strongly negative regulation on ecosystem GPP, and atmospheric dryness is an important moisture constraint that causes deficit and even death to ecosystem GPP. (2) The probability of the enhanced atmospheric dryness that induced GPP decline in Chinese grasslands in the future period increases significantly. (3) When the VPD is higher than 40.07 and 27.65 percentile of the past and future time series, respectively, the risk threshold of slight ecosystem GPP loss can be easily initiated by atmospheric dryness. (4) When the VPD is higher than 82.57 and 65.09 percentile, respectively, the threshold of moderate ecosystem GPP loss can be exceeded by the benchmark probability. (5) The risk threshold of severe ecosystem GPP loss is not initiated by atmospheric dryness in the historical period, and the threshold of severe ecosystem GPP loss can be initiated when the future VPD is higher than 91.92 percentile. In total, a slight atmospheric dryness event is required to initiate a slight ecosystem GPP loss threshold, and a stronger atmospheric dryness event is required to initiate a severe ecosystem GPP loss. Our study enhances the understandings of past and future atmospheric dryness on grassland ecosystems, and strongly suggests that more attention be invested in improving next-generation models of vegetation dynamics processes with respect to the response of mechanisms of ecosystem to atmospheric dryness.

Rationalizing the Dependence of Poly (Vinylidene Difluoride) (PVDF) Rheological Performance on the Nano-Silica.

Research on the rheological performance and mechanism of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), mainly focuses on non-polar polymer matrices, but rarely on strongly polar ones. To fill this gap, this paper explores the influence of nanofillers on the rheological properties of poly (vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF). The effects of particle diameter and content on the microstructure, rheology, crystallization, and mechanical properties of PVDF/SiO2 were analyzed, by TEM, DLS, DMA, and DSC. The results show that nanoparticles can greatly reduce the entanglement degree and viscosity of PVDF (up to 76%), without affecting the hydrogen bonds of the matrix, which can be explained by selective adsorption theory. Moreover, uniformly dispersed nanoparticles can promote the crystallization and mechanical properties of PVDF. In summary, the viscosity regulation mechanism of nanoparticles for non-polar polymers, is also applicable to PVDF, with strong polarity, which is of great value for exploring the rheological behavior of PNCs and guiding the process of polymers.

Effective recovery of rare earth from (bio)leaching solution through precipitation of rare earth-citrate complex.

Bioleaching is considered an alternative to traditional rare earth extraction technology. However, since rare earth elements exist as complexes in bioleaching lixivium, they cannot be directly precipitated by normal precipitants, which restricts their further development. This structurally stable complex is also a common challenge in various types of industrial wastewater treatment. In this work, a new method called a three-step precipitation process is first proposed to efficiently recover rare earth-citrate (RE-Cit) complexes from (bio)leaching lixivium. It consists of coordinate bond activation (carboxylation by pH adjustment), structure transformation (Ca2+ addition) and carbonate precipitation (soluble CO32- addition). The optimization conditions are determined to adjust the lixivium pH to around 2.0, then add calcium carbonate until the n(Ca2+): n(Cit3-) is more than 1.4:1 and lastly add sodium carbonate until n(CO32-): n(RE3+) is more than 4:1. The results of precipitation experiments using imitated lixivium show that the rare earth yield is more than 96% and the impurity aluminum yield is less than 20%. Subsequently, pilot tests (1000 L) using real lixivium were successfully conducted. The precipitation mechanism is briefly discussed and proposed by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV spectroscopy. This technology is promising in the industrial application of rare earth (bio)hydrometallurgy and wastewater treatment due to its advantages of high efficiency, low cost, environmental friendliness and simple operation.

The mechanism and efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Since type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and both have the same pathogenesis (e.g., insulin resistance), drugs used to treat T2DM have been gradually found to reduce the progression of AD in AD models. Of these drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are more effective and have fewer side effects. GLP-1R agonists have reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurotrophic effects, decreasing Aß deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation in AD models, which may be a potential drug for the treatment of AD. However, this needs to be verified by further clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the current information on the mechanisms and effects of GLP-1R agonists in AD.

Association between metabolic scores for visceral fat and chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Central obesity is closely linked to the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to evaluate the association between the novel central obesity index- metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) and the risk of CKD in a Chinese population, and to compare its ability to predict CKD with other central obesity indices including waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), and cardiometabolic index (CMI). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 8866 individuals from China. Demographic information, lifestyle data, and medical history data were collected, and physical examinations, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were performed for each participant. CKD was defined as an estimated GFR< 60 ml/min/1.73m2. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the METS-VF and the prevalence of CKD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to assess and compare the predictive abilities of the central obesity indices and determine the optimal cut-off points. Results: A graded increase in the prevalence of CKD was observed with increasing METS-VF tertiles. Moreover, the METS-VF was independently associated with the risk of CKD after adjustment for current smoking, current drinking, physical activity level, diabetes, hypertension, CVD history and BMI. Compared with participants with a METS-VF in the lowest tertile, the multivariate-adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for participants with a METS-VF in the highest tertile were 3.943 (2.435-6.385) in the overall population, 3.585 (1.585-8.109) for men and 4.627 (2.485-8.616) for women. Significant interactions were found between the METS-VF and the risk of CKD by age (P value for interaction = 0.023). In ROC analysis, the METS-VF had a higher AUC value than other indices for predicting CKD in men and had comparable or higher AUC than other indices for women. For predicting CKD, the optimal cut-off value of the METS-VF was 6.891 for men and 6.744 for women. The METS-VF yielded the greatest Youden index among all indices for both sexes. Conclusion: A higher METS-VF was independently associated with a greater risk of CKD. The METS-VF can be a useful clinical indicator for identifying CKD, as it had superior predictive power for CKD when compared with other central obesity indices.