Microplastics in the atmospheric of the eastern coast of China: different function areas reflecting various sources and transport.

Suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) display varying occurrence characteristics on different underlying surfaces in urban areas. This study investigated the occurrence characteristics, source apportionment, and transportation patterns of SAMPs in two typical underlying surfaces: the downtown area (Site T) and the industrial area (Site C) of a coastal city in China. In the spring of 2023, a total of 32 types comprising 1325 SAMPs were detected. The average MP abundances were found to be 3.74 ± 2.86 n/m3 in Site T and 2.67 ± 1.68 n/m3 in Site C. In Site T, SAMPs attributed to living source constituted 78.05%, while industry was the main source in Site C with a proportion reaching 42.89%, consistent with the functional zoning of the underlying surface. Furthermore, HYSPLIT analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between these two sites in long-distance horizontal transport affected by external airflow regardless of altitude; conversely, PCA indicated a notable correlation between vertical velocity and both abundance and species diversity. According to the hourly average wind speeds, the maximum transmission distance was computed as 350 km for updraft and the minimum transmission distances was as low as 32 m for downdraft. Subsequently, the coincidence between the source proportion of SAMPs on random day and meteorological parameters confirmed the synergistic impact on SAMPs transport influenced by functional zoning, geographic environment, and vertical velocity.

Unraveling the impact of the design of current collector on dry-processed lithium-ion battery electrodes.

Dry processing emerges as a cost-effective technique for achieving high material loading in the field of lithium-ion battery fabrication. Nevertheless, insight into the role of current collectors in this process is still scarce. Herein, a set of dry-processed electrodes with three different current collectors is accordingly prepared and comprehensively studied. This work novelly reveals that the current collectors exhibit significant influence on the interface adhesion strength and the electron conductivity, which leads to difference in the mechanical strength and electrochemical performance of dry-processed electrodes. Consequently, it is recommended that carbon-coated current collector is preferred for dry-processed high energy density lithium-ion battery electrodes.

Engineering lipase TLL to improve its acid tolerance and its biosynthesis in Trichoderma reesei for biodiesel production from acidified oil.

Lipases catalyze the synthesis of biodiesel, which is an important renewable alternative energy source. Cost-efficient conversion of waste acidified oil to biodiesel entails acid-tolerant lipases which have not been extensively studied. This study showed that the commonly used Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase TLL displayed a weak acid tolerance and an unsatisfactory performance in biodiesel production from acidified oil. Directed evolution of TLL identified one TLL-T3 variant with three residue substitutions (A69S/V150P/N222G). TLL-T3 displayed significantly enhanced acid tolerance, and its application in acidified oil treatment led to a biodiesel yield up to 90 % (w/w). A scaled-up production of TLL-T3 in Trichoderma reesei was further achieved and the highest extracellular lipase activity reached 16,123 U/mL after fermentation optimization. These results provide new insights into structural adaptation to acid tolerance by lipases and show that TLL-T3 holds great potential in commercial biodiesel production from waste acidified oil.

Slit3 by PTH-Induced Osteoblast Secretion Repels Sensory Innervation in Spine Porous Endplates to Relieve Low Back Pain.

During aging, the spine undergoes degenerative changes, particularly with vertebral endplate bone expansion and sclerosis, that is associated with nonspecific low back pain (LBP). We reported that parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment could reduce vertebral endplate sclerosis and improve pain behaviors in aging, SM/J and young lumbar spine instability (LSI) mice. Aberrant innervation noted in the vertebral body and endplate during spinal degeneration was reduced with PTH treatment in aging and LSI mice as quantified by PGP9.5+ and CGRP+ nerve fibers, as well as CGRP expression in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The neuronal repulsion factor Slit3 significantly increased in response to PTH treatment mediated by transcriptional factor FoxA2. PTH type1 receptor (PPR) and Slit3 deletion in osteoblasts prevented PTH-reduction of endplate porosity and improvement in behavior tests, whereas PPR deletion in chondrocytes continued to respond to PTH. Altogether, PTH stimulates Slit3 to repel sensory nerve innervation and provides symptomatic relief of LBP associated with spinal degeneration.

Enhancing Zn2+/H+ Joint Charge Storage in MnO2: Concurrently Tailoring Mn's Local Electron Density and O's p-Band Center.

Enhancing proton storage in the zinc-ion battery cathode material of MnO2 holds promise in promoting its electrochemical performance by mitigating the intense Coulombic interaction between divalent zinc ions and the host structure. However, challenges persist in addressing the structural instability caused by Jahn-Teller effects and accurately modulating H+ intercalation in MnO2. Herein, the doping of high-electronegativity Sb with fully occupied d-orbital in MnO2 is reported. The Sb doping strategy engenders the formation of Mn-O-Sb path in the structure with a strong dipole polarization field, which facilitates the delocalization of eg orbital electron in Mn and thus mitigates the Jahn-Teller effects. Simultaneously, adjusting the level of Sb doping in MnO2 leads to modulation of the p-band center of O, optimizing its interaction with hydrogen and thereby enhancing proton storage. Consequently, MnO2 doped with 6% Sb exhibits commendable performance in both rate capability and cycling endurance, delivering 113 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1 after 2000 cycles. This investigation underscores the crucial role of electronic structural engineering in elevating the electrochemical performance of cathode materials for zinc-ion batteries.

[Injection of indocyanine green by vasopuncture in fluorescence laparoscopic radical prostatectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical application value of injection of indocyanine green (ICG) via vasopuncture in fluorescence laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (FLRP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 50 cases of PCa treated by injection of ICG via vasopuncture in FLRP. The patients were aged (70.60 ± 5.67) years old, with an average PSA value of (18.42 ± 2.69) µg/L. During the operation, we injected ICG at 0.5 ml by vasopuncture through the vas deferens at each side of the scrotum, observed the visualized images of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles using normal high-definition, black-and-white fluorescence, green fluorescence, and color fluorescence respectively, and then isolated the adherent seminal vesicles under the laparoscope. RESULTS: A total of 93 injections of ICG were completed, 86 bilaterally, 4 on the right and 3 on the left. The vas deferens and seminal vesicles were visualized in 41 cases (60 sides, 64.52%), 19 bilaterally, 7 on the right and 15 on the left. Spillage of the fluorescent agent occurred in 9 cases during the incision of the bladder neck and adhesion of the seminal vesicles was found intraoperatively in 10 cases, in which the seminal vesicles were all quickly located by fluorescence visualization. No rectal injury occurred during the surgery. Mild scrotal subcutaneous bruises were observed in 2 cases, with a postoperative pathological Gleason's score of 7.44 ± 0.88. CONCLUSION: Injection of ICG by vasopuncture is minimally invasive and safe. ICG-mediated near-infrared imaging and real-time fluorescence imaging of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles can achieve precise positioning and removal of the seminal vesicles and prostate gland without causing rectal injury.

Proton-Activated Chloride Channel Increases Endplate Porosity and Pain in a Mouse Spinal Degeneration Model.

Chronic low back pain (LBP) can severely affect daily physical activity. Aberrant osteoclast-mediated resorption leads to porous endplates for the sensory innervation to cause LBP. Here, we report that the expression of proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel is induced during osteoclast differentiation in the porous endplates via a RANKL-NFATc1 signaling pathway. Extracellular acidosis evokes robust PAC currents in osteoclasts. An acidic environment of porous endplates and elevated PAC activation-enhanced osteoclast fusion provoke LBP. Further, we find that genetic knockout of PAC gene Pacc1 significantly reduces endplate porosity and spinal pain in a mouse LBP model, but it does not affect bone development or homeostasis of bone mass in adult mice. Moreover, both osteoclast bone resorptive compartment environment and PAC traffic from the plasma membrane to endosomes to form an intracellular organelle Cl channel have low pH around 5.0. The low pH environment activates PAC channel to increase sialyltransferase St3gal1 expression and sialylation of TLR2 in initiation of osteoclast fusion. Aberrant osteoclast-mediated resorption is also found in most skeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, heterotopic ossification, enthesopathy. Thus, elevated Pacc1 expression and PAC activity could be a potential therapeutic target for LBP and osteoclast-associated pain.

Engineering In-Co3O4/H-SSZ-39(OA) Catalyst for CH4-SCR of NOx: Mild Oxalic Acid (OA) Leaching and Co3O4 Modification.

Zeolite-based catalysts efficiently catalyze the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with methane (CH4-SCR) for the environmentally friendly removal of nitrogen oxides, but suffer severe deactivation in high-temperature SO2- and H2O-containing flue gas. In this work, SSZ-39 zeolite (AEI topology) with high hydrothermal stability is reported for preparing CH4-SCR catalysts. Mild acid leaching with oxalic acid (OA) not only modulates the Si/Al ratio of commercial SSZ-39 to a suitable value, but also removes some extra-framework Al atoms, introducing a small number of mesopores into the zeolite that alleviate diffusion limitation. Additional Co3O4 modification during indium exchange further enhances the catalytic activity of the resulting In-Co3O4/H-SSZ-39(OA). The optimized sample exhibits remarkable performance in CH4-SCR under a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 24,000 h-1 and in the presence of 5 vol% H2O. Even under harsh SO2- and H2O-containing high-temperature conditions, it shows satisfactory stability. Catalysts containing Co3O4 components demonstrate much higher CH4 conversion. The strong mutual interaction between Co3O4 and Brønsted acid sites, confirmed by the temperature-programmed desorption of NO (NO-TPD), enables more stable NxOy species to be retained in In-Co3O4/H-SSZ-39(OA) to supply further reactions at high temperatures.

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid-based Conducting Solid Polymer Electrolytes Impede Lithium Dendrites and Impart Antioxidant Capacity in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

In the development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), cheaper and safer solid polymer electrolytes are expected to replace combustible organic liquid electrolytes to meet the larger market demand. However, low ionic conductivity and inadequate cycling stability impede their commercial viability. Herein, a novel flexible conducting solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ion-polarized diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (P-DETP) is developed for the first time and applied in LIBs. PVA and P-DETP form a compact polymer network through hydrogen bonding, enhancing the thermomechanical stability of CSPE while restricting the migration of larger anions. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations confirm that P-DETP can facilitate the dissociation of Li+-TFSI- via electrostatic attraction, resulting in increased mobility of lithium ions. Additionally, P-DETP contributes to the formation of a stable electrode-electrolyte interface layer, effectively suppressing the growth of lithium dendrites and improving antioxidant capacity. These synergistic effects enable CSPE to exhibit remarkable properties including high ionic conductivity (2.8 × 10-4 S cm-1), elevated electrochemical potential (5.1 V), and excellent lithium transference number (0.869). Notably, the P-DETP/LiTFSI CSPE demonstrates stable performance not only in LiFePO4 batteries but also adapts to high-nickel ternary LiNi0.88Co0.06Mn0.06O2 cathode, highlighting its immense potential for application in high energy density LIBs.

Ultrahigh-Precision Hamiltonian Parameter Estimation in a Superconducting Circuit.

The Hamiltonian, which determines the evolution of a quantum system, is fundamental in quantum physics. Therefore, it is crucial to implement high-precision generation and measurement of the Hamiltonian in a practical quantum system. Here, we experimentally demonstrate ultrahigh-precision Hamiltonian parameter estimation with a significant quantum advantage in a superconducting circuit via sequential control. We first observe the commutation relation for noncommuting operations determined by the system Hamiltonian, both with and without adding quantum control, verifying the commuting property of controlled noncommuting operations. Based on this control-induced commuting property, we further demonstrate Hamiltonian parameter estimation for polar and azimuth angles in superconducting circuits, achieving ultrahigh metrological gains in measurement precision exceeding the standard quantum limit by up to 16.0 and 16.1 dB at N=100, respectively.

A mathematical model to predict "low-lying" posterior communicating artery aneurysms in neurosurgical practice.

"Low-lying" posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms require great attention in surgical clipping due to their distinct anatomical characteristics. In this study, we propose an easy method to immediately recognize "low-lying" PCoA aneurysms in neurosurgical practice. A total of 89 cases with "low-lying" PCoA aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent preoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examinations and microsurgical clipping. Cases were classified into the "low-lying" and regular groups based on intraoperative findings. The distance- and angle-relevant parameters that reflected the relative location of the aneurysms and tortuosity of the internal carotid artery were measured using 3D-DSA images. The data were sequentially integrated into a mathematical analysis to obtain the prediction model. Finally, we proposed a novel mathematical formula to preoperatively predict the existence of "low-lying" PCoA aneurysms with great accuracy. Neurosurgeons might benefit from this model, which enables them to directly identify "low-lying" PCoA aneurysms and make appropriate surgical decisions accordingly.

Biosafety assessments of hexafluoropropylene trimer derivative as a fluorinated cooling fluid for electronics.

The Internet Data Center (IDC) is one of the most important infrastructures in the field of information technology. The cooling system for heat dissipation of IDC is indispensable due to it generates a large amount of heat during its calculation process, which may potentially harm its normal operation. Electronic fluorinated fluids have been widely used in cooling systems of IDC with stable physical and chemical properties. However, the biological toxicity of electronic fluorinated fluids has not been fully evaluated and there is a lack of unified safety standards, which may pose potential risks to the environment and human health. Here, hexafluoropropylene terpolymer (HFPT) as an example has been systematically studied, fully considering the application scenarios of data centers. Also, the emergency effects of fluorinated coolants in mammalian models from the perspectives of inhalation, skin contact, accidental entry into eyes, accidental ingestion, and chronic toxicity, are evaluated. Multiple in vivo experiments have proven that HFPT not only has stable physical and chemical properties, that can maintain the safe operation of IDC, but also has low physiological toxicity to mammals and can provide health benefits to data center staff and the assurance of surrounding environment. This study proves the good biological safety of electronic fluorinated fluids and provides a reference for environmental assessment and risk management of liquid cooling technology in IDC. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-024-00234-3.

[Status and perspective of soil fauna eco-geography in China]. / ä¸­å›½åœŸå£¤åŠ¨ç‰©ç”Ÿæ€åœ°ç†å­¦ç ”ç©¶çŽ°çŠ¶ä¸Žå±•æœ›.

As regulators of the surface land processes, soil fauna communities are the vital foundations for healthy terrestrial ecosystems. Soil fauna have been studied in China for more than 70 years. Great progresses have been achieved in exploring soil fauna species composition and geographical distribution patterns. Soil fauna eco-geography, as a bridge between soil fauna geographic patterns and ecosystem services, has a new development opportunity with the deep recognition of soil fauna ecological functions. Soil fauna eco-geography research could be partitioned into four dimensions including the spatio-temporal patterns of: 1) the apparent characteristics of soil fauna community, such as species composition, richness and abundance; 2) the intrinsic characteristics of soil fauna community, such as dietary and habits; 3) soil fauna-related biotic and abiotic interactions especially those indicating drivers of soil fauna community structure or shaping the roles of soil fauna in ecosystems; and 4) soil fauna-related or -regulated key ecological processes. Current studies focus solely on soil fauna themselves and their geographical distributions. To link soil fauna geography more closely with ecosystem services, we suggested that: 1) converting the pure biogeography studies to those of revealing the spatio-temporal patterns of the soil fauna-related or regulated key relationships and ecological processes;2) expanding the temporal and spatial scales in soil fauna geographical research;3) exploring the integrated analysis approach for soil fauna-related data with multi-scales, multi-factors, and multi-processes;and 4) establishing standard reference systems for soil fauna eco-geographical researches. Hence, the change patterns of ecological niche of soil fauna communities could be illustrated, and precision mani-pulations of soil fauna communities and their ecological functions would become implementable, which finally contributes to ecosystem health and human well-being.

Kirigami enabled reconfigurable three-dimensional evaporator arrays for dynamic solar tracking and high efficiency desalination.

A kirigami-engineered composite hydrogel membrane is exploited for the construction of three dimensional (3D) solar-tracking evaporator arrays with outstanding evaporation performance and salt tolerance. The hybrid nanofiber network in the hydrogel membrane offers favorable water transport dynamics combined with excellent structural robustness, which are beneficial for the engineering of 3D dynamic structures. Periodic triangular cuts patterned into the membrane allow formation and reconfiguration of 3D conical arrays controlled by uniaxial stretching. With these structures, the tilt angles of the membrane surface are actively tuned to follow the solar trajectory, leading to a solar evaporation rate ~80% higher than that of static planar devices. Furthermore, the tapered 3D flaps and their micro-structured surfaces are capable of localized salt crystallization for prolonged solar desalination, enabling a stable evaporation rate of 3.4 kg m-2 hour-1 even in saturated brine. This versatile design may facilitate the implementation of solar evaporators for desalination and provide inspirations for other soft functional devices with dynamic 3D configurations.

Global Seasonal Activities of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Before the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

Varied seasonal patterns of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have been reported worldwide. We conducted a systematic review on articles identified in PubMed reporting RSV seasonality based on data collected before 1 January 2020. RSV seasonal patterns were examined by geographic location, calendar month, analytic method, and meteorological factors including temperature and absolute humidity. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between RSV seasonality and study methods and characteristics of study locations. RSV seasons were reported in 209 articles published in 1973-2023 for 317 locations in 77 countries. Regular RSV seasons were similarly reported in countries in temperate regions, with highly variable seasons identified in subtropical and tropical countries. Longer durations of RSV seasons were associated with a higher daily average mean temperature and daily average mean absolute humidity. The global seasonal patterns of RSV provided important information for optimizing interventions against RSV infection.

The relationship between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction among college students: the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of loneliness.

Background: Mobile phone addiction has adverse influences on the physical and mental health of college students. However, few studies shed light on the effect of fear of missing out on mobile phone addiction and the underlying mechanisms among college students. Methods: To explore their associations, the present study used the Fear of Missing Out Scales (FoMOS), Loneliness Scale (USL-8), Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale (MPAI), and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) to investigate 750 college students. Results: The results suggested that fear of missing out significantly positively predicted mobile phone addiction. This direct effect could be mediated by depression, and the indirect effect of fear of missing out on mobile phone addiction could be moderated by loneliness. Specifically, the indirect effect was stronger for students with high levels of loneliness. Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical basis for developing future interventions for mobile phone addiction in higher education students.

Enhancing therapeutic efficacy in luminal androgen receptor triple-negative breast cancer: exploring chidamide and enzalutamide as a promising combination strategy.

Extensive exploration of the molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is critical for advancing precision medicine. Notably, the luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype has attracted attention for targeted treatment combining androgen receptor antagonists and CDK4/6 inhibitors. Unfortunately, this strategy has proven to be of limited efficacy, highlighting the need for further optimization. Using our center's comprehensive multiomics dataset (n = 465), we identified novel therapeutic targets and evaluated their efficacy through multiple models, including in vitro LAR cell lines, in vivo cell-derived allograft models and ex vivo patient-derived organoids. Moreover, we conducted flow cytometry and RNA-seq analysis to unveil potential mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor progression by these therapeutic strategies. LAR breast cancer cells exhibited sensitivity to chidamide and enzalutamide individually, with a drug combination assay revealing their synergistic effect. Crucially, this synergistic effect was verified through in vivo allograft models and patient-derived organoids. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that the combination therapeutic strategy could inhibit tumor progression by regulating metabolism and autophagy. This study confirmed that the combination of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and androgen receptor (AR) antagonists possessed greater therapeutic efficacy than monotherapy in LAR TNBC. This finding significantly bolsters the theoretical basis for the clinical translation of this combination therapy and provides an innovative strategy for the targeted treatment of LAR TNBC.

Senescent-like macrophages mediate angiogenesis for endplate sclerosis via IL-10 secretion in male mice.

Endplate sclerosis is a notable aspect of spine degeneration or aging, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that senescent macrophages accumulate in the sclerotic endplates of lumbar spine instability (LSI) or aging male mouse model. Specifically, knockout of cdkn2a (p16) in macrophages abrogates LSI or aging-induced angiogenesis and sclerosis in the endplates. Furthermore, both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that IL-10 is the primary elevated cytokine of senescence-related secretory phenotype (SASP). Mechanistically, IL-10 increases pSTAT3 in endothelial cells, leading to pSTAT3 directly binding to the promoters of Vegfa, Mmp2, and Pdgfb to encourage their production, resulting in angiogenesis. This study provides information on understanding the link between immune senescence and endplate sclerosis, which might be useful for therapeutic approaches.

Advances in the application of traditional Chinese medicine during the COVID-19 recovery period: A review.

Since the emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, significant advancements has been made in research, from limited knowledge about the disease to the development of a vaccine. Although the severity of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appears to be decreasing and the threat of COVID-19 is waning, there have been widespread concerns about persistent symptoms or sequelae experienced by some patients even after recovering from COVID-19. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown favorable treatment outcomes during the onset of COVID-19, and extensive studies have been carried out to explore the efficacy of TCM interventions during the COVID-19 recovery period. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively analyze these studies and provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of the post-COVID-19 condition.