A Computation-guided Design of Highly Defined and Dense Bimetallic Active Sites on a Two-dimensional Conductive Metal-organic Framework for Efficient H2O2 Electrosynthesis.

Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e--ORR) provides an alternative method to the energy-intensive anthraquinone method. Metal macrocycles with precise coordination are widely used for 2e--ORR electrocatalysis, but they have to be commonly loaded on conductive substrates, thus exposing a large number of 2e--ORR-inactive sites that result in poor H2O2 production rate and efficiency. Herein, guided by first-principle predictions, a substrate-free and two-dimensional conductive metal-organic framework (Ni-TCPP(Co)), composed of Co-N4 sites in porphine(Co) centers and Ni2O8 nodes, is designed as a multi-site catalyst for H2O2 electrosynthesis. The approperiate distance between the CoN4 and Ni2O8 sites in Ni-TCPP(Co) weakens the electron transfer between them, thus ensuring their inherent activities and creating high-density active sites. Meanwhile, the intrinsic electronic conductivity and porosity of Ni-TCPP(Co) further facilitate rapid reaction kinetics. Therefore, outstanding 2e--ORR electrocatalytic performance has been achieved in both alkaline and neutral electrolytes (>90%/85% H2O2 selectivity within 0-0.8 V vs. RHE and >18.2/18.0 mol g-1 h-1 H2O2 yield under alkaline/neutral conditions), with confirmed feasibility for water purification and disinfection applications. This strategy thus provides a new avenue for designing catalysts with precise coordination and high-density active sites, promoting high-efficiency electrosynthesis of H2O2 and beyond.

Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites.

The higher classification of termites requires substantial revision as the Neoisoptera, the most diverse termite lineage, comprise many paraphyletic and polyphyletic higher taxa. Here, we produce an updated termite classification using genomic-scale analyses. We reconstruct phylogenies under diverse substitution models with ultraconserved elements analyzed as concatenated matrices or within the multi-species coalescence framework. Our classification is further supported by analyses controlling for rogue loci and taxa, and topological tests. We show that the Neoisoptera are composed of seven family-level monophyletic lineages, including the Heterotermitidae Froggatt, Psammotermitidae Holmgren, and Termitogetonidae Holmgren, raised from subfamilial rank. The species-rich Termitidae are composed of 18 subfamily-level monophyletic lineages, including the new subfamilies Crepititermitinae, Cylindrotermitinae, Forficulitermitinae, Neocapritermitinae, Protohamitermitinae, and Promirotermitinae; and the revived Amitermitinae Kemner, Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, and Mirocapritermitinae Kemner. Building an updated taxonomic classification on the foundation of unambiguously supported monophyletic lineages makes it highly resilient to potential destabilization caused by the future availability of novel phylogenetic markers and methods. The taxonomic stability is further guaranteed by the modularity of the new termite classification, designed to accommodate as-yet undescribed species with uncertain affinities to the herein delimited monophyletic lineages in the form of new families or subfamilies.

A Generalized Coordination Engineering Strategy for Single-Atom Catalysts toward Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis.

Designing non-noble metal single-atom catalysts (M-SACs) for two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) is attractive for the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) electrosynthesis, in which the coordination configuration of the M-SACs essentially affects the reaction activity and product selectivity. Though extensively investigated, a generalized coordination engineering strategy has not yet been proposed, which fundamentally hinders the rational design of M-SACs with optimized catalytic capabilities. Herein, a generalized coordination engineering strategy is proposed for M-SACs toward H2O2 electrosynthesis via introducing heteroatoms (e.g., oxygen or sulfur atoms) with higher or lower electronegativity than nitrogen atoms into the first sphere of metal-N4 system to tailor their electronic structure and adjust the adsorption strength for *OOH intermediates, respectively, thus optimizing their electrocatalytic capability for 2e-ORR. Specifically, the (O, N)-coordinated Co SAC (Co-N3O) and (S, N)-coordinated Ni SAC (Ni-N3S) are precisely synthesized, and both present superior 2e-ORR activity (Eonset: ≈0.80 V versus RHE) and selectivity (≈90%) in alkaline conditions compared with conventional Co-N4 and Ni-N4 sites. The high H2O2 yield rates of 14.2 and 17.5 moL g-1 h-1 and long-term stability over 12 h are respectively achieved for Co-N3O and Ni-N3S. Such favorable 2e-ORR pathway of the catalysts is also theoretically confirmed by the kinetics simulations.

Ultra-Rapid Electrocatalytic H2O2 Fabrication over Mono-Species and High-Density Polypyrrolic-N Sites.

Electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production via two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e--ORR) features energy-saving and eco-friendly characteristics, making it a promising alternative to the anthraquinone oxidation process. However, the common existence of numerous 2e--ORR-inactive sites/species on electrocatalysts tends to catalyze side reactions, especially under low potentials, which compromises energy efficiency and limits H2O2 yield. Addressing this, a high surface density of mono-species pyrrolic nitrogen configurations is formed over a polypyrrole@carbon nanotube composite. Thermodynamic and kinetic calculation and experimental investigation collaboratively confirm that these densely distributed and highly selective active sites effectively promote high-rate 2e--ORR electrocatalysis and inhibit side reactions over a wide potential range. Consequently, an ultra-high and stable H2O2 yield of up to 67.9/51.2 mol g-1 h-1 has been achieved on this material at a current density of 200/120 mA cm-1, corresponding Faradaic efficiency of 72.8/91.5%. A maximum H2O2 concentration of 13.47 g L-1 can be accumulated at a current density of 80 mA cm-1 with satisfactory stability. The strategy of surface active site densification thus provides a promising and universal avenue toward designing highly active and efficient electrocatalysts for 2e--ORR as well as a series of other similar electrochemical processes.

Machine learning for high-precision simulation of dissolved organic matter in sewer: Overcoming data restrictions with generative adversarial networks.

Understanding the transformation process of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the sewer is imperative for comprehending material circulation and energy flow within the sewer. The machine learning (ML) model provides a feasible way to comprehend and simulate the DOM transformation process in the sewer. In contrast, the model accuracy is limited by data restriction. In this study, a novel framework by integrating generative adversarial network algorithm-machine learning models (GAN-ML) was established to overcome the drawbacks caused by the data restriction in the simulation of the DOM transformation process, and humification index (HIX) was selected as the output variable to evaluate the model performance. Results indicate that the GAN algorithm's virtual dataset could generally enhance the simulation performance of regression models, deep learning models, and ensemble models for the DOM transformation process. The highest prediction accuracy on HIX (R2 of 0.5389 and RMSE of 0.0273) was achieved by the adaptive boosting model which belongs to ensemble models trained by the virtual dataset of 1000 samples. Interpretability analysis revealed that dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH emerge as critical factors warranting attention for the future development of management strategies to regulate the DOM transformation process in sewers. The integrated framework proposed a potential approach for the comprehensive understanding and high-precision simulation of the DOM transformation process, paving the way for advancing sewer management strategy under data restriction.

Preparation and Properties of Elastic Mullite Fibrous Porous Materials with Excellent High-Temperature Resistance and Thermal Stability.

Mullite fiber felt is a promising material that may fulfill the demands of advanced flexible external thermal insulation blankets. However, research on the fabrication and performance of mullite fiber felt with high-temperature resistance and thermal stability is still lacking. In this work, mullite fibers were selected as raw materials for the fabrication of mullite fibrous porous materials with a three-dimensional net structure. Said materials' high-temperature resistance and thermal stability were investigated by assessing the effects of various heat treatment temperatures (1100 °C, 1300 °C, and 1500 °C) on the phase composition, microstructure, and performance of their products. When the heat treatment temperature was below 1300 °C, both the phase compositions and microstructures of products exhibited stability. The compressive rebound rate of the product before and after 1100 °C reached 92.9% and 84.5%, respectively. The backside temperature of the as-prepared products was 361.6 °C when tested at 1500 °C for 4000 s. The as-prepared mullite fibrous porous materials demonstrated excellent high-temperature resistance, thermal stability, thermal insulation performance, and compressive rebound capacity, thereby indicating the great potential of the as-prepared mullite fibrous porous materials in the form of mullite fiber felt within advanced flexible external thermal insulation blankets.

Parallel CNN-Deep Learning Clinical-Imaging Signature for Assessing Pathologic Grade and Prognosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Traditional biopsies pose risks and may not accurately reflect soft tissue sarcoma (STS) heterogeneity. MRI provides a noninvasive, comprehensive alternative. PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of histological grading and prognosis in STS patients when integrating clinical-imaging parameters with deep learning (DL) features from preoperative MR images. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective/prospective. POPULATION: 354 pathologically confirmed STS patients (226 low-grade, 128 high-grade) from three hospitals and the Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA), divided into training (n = 185), external test (n = 125), and TCIA cohorts (n = 44). 12 patients (6 low-grade, 6 high-grade) were enrolled into prospective validation cohort. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5 T and 3.0 T/Unenhanced T1-weighted and fat-suppressed-T2-weighted. ASSESSMENT: DL features were extracted from MR images using a parallel ResNet-18 model to construct DL signature. Clinical-imaging characteristics included age, gender, tumor-node-metastasis stage and MRI semantic features (depth, number, heterogeneity at T1WI/FS-T2WI, necrosis, and peritumoral edema). Logistic regression analysis identified significant risk factors for the clinical model. A DL clinical-imaging signature (DLCS) was constructed by incorporating DL signature with risk factors, evaluated for risk stratification, and assessed for progression-free survival (PFS) in retrospective cohorts, with an average follow-up of 23 ± 22 months. STATISTICAL TESTS: Logistic regression, Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)，and decision curve analysis. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The AUC values for DLCS in the external test, TCIA, and prospective test cohorts (0.834, 0.838, 0.819) were superior to clinical model (0.662, 0.685, 0.694). Decision curve analysis showed that the DLCS model provided greater clinical net benefit over the DL and clinical models. Also, the DLCS model was able to risk-stratify patients and assess PFS. DATA CONCLUSION: The DLCS exhibited strong capabilities in histological grading and prognosis assessment for STS patients, and may have potential to aid in the formulation of personalized treatment plans. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

The paradox of bone mineral density and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes.

Fracture risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients is paradoxically increased despite no decrease in areal bone mineral density (BMD). This phenomenon, known as the "diabetic bone paradox", has been attributed to various factors including alterations in bone microarchitecture and composition, hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and comorbidities associated with T2D. Zhao et al. recently investigated the relationship between T2D and fracture risk using both genetic and phenotypic datasets. Their findings suggest that genetically predicted T2D is associated with higher BMD and lower fracture risk, indicating that the bone paradox is not observed when confounding factors are controlled using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. However, in prospective phenotypic analysis, T2D remained associated with higher BMD and higher fracture risk, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Stratified analysis revealed that the bone paradox may disappear when T2D-related risk factors are eliminated. The study also highlighted the role of obesity in the relationship between T2D and fracture risk, with BMI mediating a significant portion of the protective effect. Overall, managing T2D-related risk factors may be crucial in preventing fracture risk in T2D patients.

Mechanism of Preventing Recurrence of Stage II-III Colorectal Cancer Metastasis with Immuno-inflammatory and Hypoxic Microenvironment by a Four Ingredients Chinese Herbal Formula: A Bioinformatics and Network Pharmacology Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the top three malignancies with the highest incidence and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to identify the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on postoperative patients with stage II-III CRC and explore the core herb combination and its mechanism. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted on patients diagnosed with stage II-III CRC from January 2016 to January 2021. The primary outcome was disease-free survival, which was compared between the patients who received TCM or not, and the secondary outcome was the hazard ratio. The relevance principle was used to obtain the candidate herb combinations, and the core combination was evaluated through an assessment of efficacy and representativeness. Then, biological processes and signaling pathways associated with CRC were obtained by Gene Ontology function, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes pathway, and Wikipathway. Furthermore, hub genes were screened by the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and molecular docking was employed to predict the binding sites of key ingredients to hub genes. The correlation analysis was employed for the correlations between the hub genes and tumor-infiltrating immune cells and hypoxiarelated genes. Ultimately, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to verify the regulation of hub genes by their major ingredients. RESULTS: A total of 707 patients were included. TCM could decrease the metastatic recurrence associated with stage II-III CRC (HR: 0.61, log-rank P < 0.05). Among those patients in the TCM group, the core combination was Baizhu → Yinchen, Chenpi, and Fuling (C combination), and its antitumor mechanism was most likely related to the regulation of BCL2L1, XIAP, and TOP1 by its key ingredients, quercetin and tangeretin. The expression of these genes was significantly correlated with both tumor-infiltrating immune cells and hypoxia- related genes. In addition, quercetin and tangeretin down-regulated the mRNA levels of BCL2L1, XIAP, and TOP1, thereby inhibiting the growth of HCT116 cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, a combination of four herbs, Baizhu → Yinchen, Chenpi, and Fuling, could reduce metastatic recurrence in postoperative patients with stage II-III CRC. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of BCL2L1, XIAP, and TOP1 by its key ingredients quercetin and tangeretin.

Rab3B enhances the stabilization of DDX6 to promote lung adenocarcinoma aggressiveness.

BACKGROUND: Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is frequently mutated in lung adenocarcinoma, and its loss contributes to tumor progression. METHODS: To identify LKB1 downstream genes that promote lung adenocarcinoma aggressiveness, we performed bioinformatical analysis using publicly available datasets. RESULTS: Rab3B was upregulated in LKB1-depleted lung adenocarcinoma cells and suppressed by LKB1 overexpression. CREB protein was enriched at the promoter of Rab3B in lung cancer cells. Silencing of CREB abrogated the upregulation of Rab3B upon LKB1 loss. Immunohistochemistry revealed the elevated expression of Rab3B in lung adenocarcinomas relative to adjacent normal tissues. Upregulation of Rab3B was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor stage, and reduced overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Knockdown of Rab3B suppressed and overexpression of Rab3B promoted the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. In a mouse xenograft model, Rab3B depletion restrained and Rab3B overexpression augmented the growth of lung adenocarcinoma tumors. Mechanistically, Rab3B interacted with DDX6 and enhanced its protein stability. Ectopic expression of DDX6 significantly promoted the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells. DDX6 knockdown phenocopied the effects of Rab3B depletion on lung adenocarcinoma cells. Additionally, DDX6 overexpression partially rescued the aggressive phenotype of Rab3B-depleted lung adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSION: LKB1 deficiency promotes Rab3B upregulation via a CREB-dependent manner. Rab3B interacts with and stabilizes DDX6 protein to accelerate lung adenocarcinoma progression. The Rab3B-DDX6 axis may be potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant PD-(L)1 blockade plus platinum-based chemotherapy for potentially resectable oncogene-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whether programmed cell death-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade-based neoadjuvant treatment may benefit locally advanced oncogene-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains controversial. This retrospective study was designed to observe the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant PD-1/PD-L1 blockade plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy and corresponding tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with resectable oncogene-positive NSCLC. METHODS: Patients with potential resectable NSCLC harbouring oncogene alterations who had received neoadjuvant treatment were retrospectively recruited, and an oncogene-negative cohort of patients who received neoadjuvant PD-(L)1 blockade-based neoadjuvant treatment was reviewed for comparison during the same period. The primary aim was to observe the treatment efficacy and event-free survival (EFS) of these agents. Safety profile, molecular target, and immunologic factor data, including PD-L1 expression and tumour mutational burden (TMB), were also obtained. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients were recruited. Thirty-one of them harboured oncogene alterations, including EGFR, KRAS, ERBB2, ROS1, MET, RET, ALK, and FGFR3 alterations. Among the oncogene-positive patients, 18 patients received neoadjuvant PD-(L)1 blockade immunotherapy plus chemotherapy (oncogene-positive IO group), 13 patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or corresponding TKIs or TKIs alone (oncogene-positive chemo/TKIs group), and the other 15 patients were oncogene negative and received neoadjuvant PD-(L)1 blockade plus chemotherapy (oncogene-negative IO group). The pathological complete response (pCR) and major pathological response (MPR) rates were 22.2% (4 of 18) and 44.4% (8 of 18) in the oncogene-positive IO group, 0% (P = 0.120) and 23.1% (3 of 13) (P = 0.276) in the oncogene-positive chemo/TKIs group, and 46.7% (7 of 15) (P = 0.163) and 80.0% (12 of 15) (P = 0.072) in the oncogene-negative IO group, respectively. By the last follow-up, the median EFS time had not reached in the oncogene-positive IO group, and was 29.5 months in the oncogene-positive chemo/TKIs group and 38.4 months in the oncogene-negative IO group. CONCLUSION: Compared with chemotherapy/TKIs treatment, neoadjuvant treatment with PD-(L)1 blockade plus platinum-based chemotherapy was associated with higher pCR/MPR rates in patients with partially resectable oncogene-mutant NSCLC, while the pCR/MPR rates were lower than their oncogene-negative counterparts treated with PD-(L)1 blockade-based treatment. Specifically, oncogene alteration types and other predictors of response to immunotherapy should be taken into account in clinical practice.

A novel approach for sludge deep-dewatering via flowing-out enhancement but not relying on cell lysis and bound water release.

Effective deep-dewatering is crucial for wastewater sludge management. Currently, the dominant methods focus on promoting cell lysis to release intracellular water, but these techniques often lead to secondary pollution and require stringent conditions, limiting their practical use. This study explores an innovative method using a commercially available complex quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, known as G-agent. This agent remarkably reduces the sludge water content from 98.6 % to 56.8 % with a low dosage (50 mg/g DS) and under neutral pH conditions. This approach surpasses Fenton oxidation in terms of dewatering efficiency and avoids the necessity for cell lysis and bound water release, thereby reducing the risk of secondary pollution in the filtrate, including heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other contaminants. The G-agent plays a significant role in destabilizing flocs and enhancing flocculation during the conditioning and initial dewatering stages, effectively reducing the solid-liquid interfacial affinity of the sludge. In the compression filtration stage, the agent's solidification effect is crucial in forming a robust skeleton that improves pore connectivity within the filter cake, leading to increased water permeability, drainage performance and water flow-out efficiency. This facilitates deep dewatering of sludge without cell lysis. The study reveals that the G-agent primarily improves water flow-out efficiency rather than water flowability, indicating that cell lysis and bound water release are not indispensable prerequisites for sludge deep-dewatering. Furthermore, it presents an encouraging prospect for overcoming the limitations associated with conventional sludge deep-dewatering processes.

Multi-institutional validation of a radiomics signature for identification of postoperative progression of soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: To develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics signature for evaluating the risk of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) disease progression. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 335 patients with STS (training, validation, and The Cancer Imaging Archive sets, n = 168, n = 123, and n = 44, respectively) who underwent surgical resection. Regions of interest were manually delineated using two MRI sequences. Among 12 machine learning-predicted signatures, the best signature was selected, and its prediction score was inputted into Cox regression analysis to build the radiomics signature. A nomogram was created by combining the radiomics signature with a clinical model constructed using MRI and clinical features. Progression-free survival was analyzed in all patients. We assessed performance and clinical utility of the models with reference to the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve, concordance index, integrated Brier score, decision curve analysis. RESULTS: For the combined features subset, the minimum redundancy maximum relevance-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm + decision tree classifier had the best prediction performance. The radiomics signature based on the optimal machine learning-predicted signature, and built using Cox regression analysis, had greater prognostic capability and lower error than the nomogram and clinical model (concordance index, 0.758 and 0.812; area under the curve, 0.724 and 0.757; integrated Brier score, 0.080 and 0.143, in the validation and The Cancer Imaging Archive sets, respectively). The optimal cutoff was - 0.03 and cumulative risk rates were calculated. DATA CONCLUSION: To assess the risk of STS progression, the radiomics signature may have better prognostic power than a nomogram/clinical model.

Deeply Discharged, Quiescently Stable, and Long-Life Zn Anode by Spontaneous SEI Formation.

Zn ion batteries (ZIBs) are a promising candidate in safe and low-cost large-scale energy storage applications. However, significantly deteriorated cycling stability of Zn anode in high depth of charge or after long-term quiescence impedes the practical application of ZIBs. Aiming at the above issue, a spontaneous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation of Zn4(OH)6SO4·xH2O (ZHS) on Zn powder is achieved in pure ZnSO4 electrolyte by facile and rational interface design. The stable and ultrathin ZHS SEI plays a crucial part in insulating water molecules and conducting Zn2+ ions, intrinsically suppressing the severe hydrogen evolution and dendrite formation on the Zn powder anode. The ZHS-Zn anode delivers a stable cycling at a high DOD of 50% for over 500 h, as well as a lifespan of over 200 h after 40-days of resting at a DOD of 25%. Benefiting from the high utilization of Zn anode, the energy density of the Zn-MnxV2O5 full cell is up to 118 Wh Kg-1. This facile method can fabricate the ZHS-Zn anode as long as 1 m, revealing its feasibility in large-scale production and commercialization.

Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas contain no adipose tissue resulting in thoracic spine kyphosis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) destroy continuous vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare. The very aggressive behavior was attributable to its significant vascular component and contained no adipose tissue. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of thoracic spine kyphosis of AVHs with multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral disc destruction in a 45-year-old woman. DIAGNOSES: Based on the imaging studies, the patient underwent surgical removal of this lesion and spinal reconstruction. Histopathology consistent with vertebral hemangioma and contained no adipose. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent surgical removal of the lesion and spinal reconstruction. After subperiosteal dissection of the paraspinal muscles and exposure of the laminae, the laminae of the T5-7 vertebrae were removed and exposing the lesion. The lesion was soft and showed cystic changes, completely curetted and autogenous bone was implanted. Vertebroplasty was performed through T3-T9 pedicles bilaterally. Pedicle screw fixation was performed for segmental fixation and fusion. OUTCOMES: After 9 days of operation, the incision healed cleanly and free of pain. She was discharged in good general condition. The patient remained asymptomatic after follow-up 6 months of postoperative. LESSONS: AVHs destroy multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare.

Rapid establishment of municipal sewage partial denitrification-anammox for nitrogen removal through inoculation with side-stream anammox biofilm without domestication.

Mainstream partial denitrification anammox was achieved through inoculation of side-stream mature partial nitritation anammox biofilm without domestication. The contribution of anammox to nitrogen removal was 29.4 %. Moreover, prolonging anoxic hydraulic retention time and introducing side-stream nitrite under different carbon/nitrogen ratios enriched anammox bacteria. The abundance of anammox bacteria increased by âˆ¼ 10 times ((2.19 ± 0.17) × 1012 copies gene / g dry sludge) with a total relative abundance of 18.51 %. During 258 days of operation, the contribution of anammox to nitrogen removal gradually increased to 68.8 %. The total nitrogen in the effluent decreased to 8.84 mg/L with a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 76.4 % under a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 3. This paper proposes a novel way to rapidly achieve mainstream partial denitrification anammox via inoculation with side-stream mature partial nitritation anammox biofilm. This method achieves advanced nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater, even under low carbon/nitrogen ratios.

Sildenafil improves hemodynamic changes caused by acute pulmonary embolism by inhibiting Rho kinase activity.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of sildenafil on acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using a rat model. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham, pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and sildenafil groups. The sham and PTE groups received normal saline once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days, whereas the sildenafil group received sildenafil (0.5 mg/kg/day) once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days. Autologous emboli were prepared from blood samples collected from the left femoral artery of rats in each group on day 13, and autologous emboli were injected into the jugular vein cannula of rats in the PTE and sildenafil groups on day 14. Sham-treated rats received the same volume of saline. Right systolic ventricular pressure (RVSP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) were used to assess pulmonary embolism, and western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect relevant markers. RESULTS: The Rho kinase signaling pathway was significantly activated in rats with APE, and sildenafil significantly inhibited this activation. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil protected against APE through inhibiting Rho kinase activity, thereby reducing pulmonary vasoconstriction and decreasing elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. These findings might provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Deciphering the complex relationship between type 2 diabetes and fracture risk with both genetic and observational evidence.

The 'diabetic bone paradox' suggested that type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients would have higher areal bone mineral density (BMD) but higher fracture risk than individuals without T2D. In this study, we found that the genetically predicted T2D was associated with higher BMD and lower risk of fracture in both weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We also identified ten genomic loci shared between T2D and fracture, with the top signal at SNP rs4580892 in the intron of gene RSPO3. And the higher expression in adipose subcutaneous and higher protein level in plasma of RSPO3 were associated with increased risk of T2D, but decreased risk of fracture. In the prospective study, T2D was observed to be associated with higher risk of fracture, but BMI mediated 30.2% of the protective effect. However, when stratified by the T2D-related risk factors for fracture, we observed that the effect of T2D on the risk of fracture decreased when the number of T2D-related risk factors decreased, and the association became non-significant if the T2D patients carried none of the risk factors. In conclusion, the genetically determined T2D might not be associated with higher risk of fracture. And the shared genetic architecture between T2D and fracture suggested a top signal around RSPO3 gene. The observed effect size of T2D on fracture risk decreased if the T2D-related risk factors could be eliminated. Therefore, it is important to manage the complications of T2D to prevent the risk of fracture.

Preparation of Ceramic Fiber Threads with Enhanced Abrasion Resistance Performance.

Ceramic fiber thread is one of the key components in flexible external thermal insulation blankets, and it has been applied in various fields as a flexible ceramic fibrous material with excellent deformability and high-temperature resistance. However, ceramic fiber threads are often subjected to reciprocating friction motion at specific bending angles, making them highly susceptible to abrade and fracture. Enhancing the abrasion resistance performance of ceramic fiber threads under bending conditions is the future trend and remains a significant challenge. Hence, we design and construct a novel polyurethane-modified coating on the ceramic fiber threads to improve their abrasion resistance performance. The effects of the types and concentrations of modifiers on the microstructure, abrasion resistance property, and tensile property of ceramic fiber threads are systematically investigated. The ceramic fiber threads, after modification with hexamethylene diisocyanate waterborne polyurethane (HDI-WPU) with a concentration of 3%, exhibit excellent abrasion resistance properties. The number of friction cycles at fracture of the modified ceramic fiber thread is more than three times, and the tensile strength is more than one and a half times, that of the original ceramic fiber thread, demonstrating the great potential of the HDI-WPU modifier for enhancing the abrasion resistance performance of ceramic fiber threads.

Human genetics of face recognition: discovery of MCTP2 mutations in humans with face blindness (congenital prosopagnosia).

Face recognition is important for both visual and social cognition. While prosopagnosia or face blindness has been known for seven decades and face-specific neurons for half a century, the molecular genetic mechanism is not clear. Here we report results after 17 years of research with classic genetics and modern genomics. From a large family with 18 congenital prosopagnosia (CP) members with obvious difficulties in face recognition in daily life, we uncovered a fully cosegregating private mutation in the MCTP2 gene which encodes a calcium binding transmembrane protein expressed in the brain. After screening through cohorts of 6589, we found more CPs and their families, allowing detection of more CP associated mutations in MCTP2. Face recognition differences were detected between 14 carriers with the frameshift mutation S80fs in MCTP2 and 19 noncarrying volunteers. Six families including one with 10 members showed the S80fs-CP correlation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging found association of impaired recognition of individual faces by MCTP2 mutant CPs with reduced repetition suppression to repeated facial identities in the right fusiform face area. Our results have revealed genetic predisposition of MCTP2 mutations in CP, 76 years after the initial report of prosopagnosia and 47 years after the report of the first CP. This is the first time a gene required for a higher form of visual social cognition was found in humans.