Enhanced nitrogen removal for low C/N wastewater via preventing futile carbon oxidation and augmenting anammox.

Efficient carbon use is crucial for biological nitrogen removal. Traditional aerobic processes can waste carbon sources, exacerbating carbon deficiency. This study explores an anaerobic/oxic/anoxic system with sludge double recirculation to improve nitrogen removal in low C/N wastewater. This system integrated aerobic nitrification after the carbon intracellular storage, separating carbon and nitrogen by denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms (DGAOs) with endogenous partial denitrification and Anammox within the anoxic units. A significant efficiency of 91.02±7.01% chemical oxygen demand (COD) was converted into intracellular carbon in anaerobic units, significantly reducing carbon futile oxidation in the aerobic units by effectively separating COD from ammonia. Intracellular storage of carbon sources and microbial adaptation to carbon scarcity prevent futile oxidation of COD in the aerobic units even with short-term high dissolved oxygen (DO), thereby enhancing nitrogen removal under anoxic conditions with sufficient intracellular carbon source. The microbial analysis identified Candidatus Brocadia as the dominant anammox bacteria, in combination with the activity of DGAOs and other related microbial communities, accounting for 37.0% of the TN removal. Consequently, the system demonstrated remarkable nitrogen removal efficiencies, achieving 81.3±3.3% for total nitrogen (TN) and 98.5±0.9% for ammonia nitrogen while maintaining an effluent COD concentration of 17.2±9.1 mg/L, treating the low C/N of 4.18 in the influent wastewater. The findings in this study provide a sustainable and energy-saving technique for conventional WWTPs to meet strict discharge standards by avoiding futile oxidation of COD and encouraging anammox contributions.

Effect of ventilation mode on postoperative pulmonary complications among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of different mechanical ventilation modes on pulmonary outcome after abdominal surgery remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of three common ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial enrolled adult patients at intermediate or high risk of PPCs who were scheduled for abdominal surgery. Participants were randomized to receive one of three modes of mechanical ventilation modes: volume-controlled ventilation (VCV), pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV), and pressure-control with volume-guaranteed ventilation (PCV-VG). Lung-protective ventilation strategy was implemented in all groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of a composite of pulmonary complications within the first 7 postoperative days. Pulmonary complications within 30 postoperative days, the severity grade of PPCs, and other secondary outcomes were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1365 patients were randomized and 1349 were analyzed. The primary outcome occurred in 98 (21.8%) in the VCV group, 95 (22.1%) in the PCV group, and 101 (22.5%) in the PCV-VG group (P = 0.865). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of the incidence of pulmonary complications within postoperative 30 days, severity grade of PPCs, and other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: In intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery, the choice of ventilation mode did not affect the risk of PPCs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, entry ChiCTR1900025880.

Upregulation of phosphodiesterase 7A leads to the downregulation of cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and contributes to concurrent chronic pain and depression in two mouse models.

BACKGROUND: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate AMP (cAMP) and/or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). PDE inhibitors can mitigate chronic pain and depression when these disorders occur individually; however, there is limited understanding of their role in concurrent chronic pain and depression. We aimed to evaluate the mechanisms of action of PDE using two mouse models of concurrent chronic pain and depression. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) to induce chronic neuropathic pain or injected with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to induce inflammatory pain, and both animals showed depression-like behavior. First, we determined the change in PDE expression in both animal models. Next, we determined the effect of PDE7 inhibitor BRL50481 or hippocampal PDE7A knockdown on PSNL- or CFA-induced chronic pain and depression-like behavior. We also investigated the role of cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling and neuroinflammation in the effect of PDE7A inhibition on PSNL- or CFA-induced chronic pain and depression-like behavior. RESULTS: This induction of chronic pain and depression in the two animal models upregulated hippocampal PDE7A. Oral administration of PDE7 inhibitor, BRL50481, or hippocampal PDE7A knockdown significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity and depression-like behavior. Hippocampal PDE7 inhibition reversed PSNL- or CFA-induced downregulation of cAMP and BDNF and the phosphorylation of PKA, CREB and p65. cAMP agonist forskolin, reversed these changes and caused milder behavioral symptoms of pain and depression. BRL50481 reversed neuroinflammation in the hippocampus in PSNL mice. CONCLUSIONS: Hippocampal PDE7A mediated concurrent chronic pain and depression in both mouse models by inhibiting cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling Inhibiting PDE7A or activating cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling are potential strategies to treat concurrent chronic pain and depression.

Functional characterization of MiFTs implicated in early flowering and stress resistances of mango.

Phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family plays important roles in multiple developmental processes in plants. In this study, a total of 11 PEBP gene family members were identified from the mango (Mangifera indica L.) genome, and these proteins were divided into three subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationships: TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)-like, MOTHER OF FT AND TFL (MFT)-like, and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like. Expression analysis revealed that MiFT1a, MiFT1b and MiFT2 were expressed mainly in leaves, whereas MiFT3 and MiFT4 were expressed mainly in embryos. The overexpression of MiFTs significantly promoted early flowering under both long- and short-day conditions. Interestingly, it still significantly promoted early flowering at 16 °C and 28 °C, with MiFT1a exhibiting the most significant, followed by MiFT1b and MiFT2. Additionally, the expression level of MiFT3 is related to the embryonic development of mango. Further studies revealed that overexpression of MiFT3 inhibited seed germination in transgenic Arabidopsis lines. In addition, the MiFT1a and MiFT1b transgenic lines did not respond to abiotic stress, while MiFT2, MiFT3 and MiFT4 enhanced resistance to salt or drought stress in Arabidopsis. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that MiFTs can interact with flower related and multiple stress proteins, such as bZIP protein (MiFD), 14-3-3 protein, zinc finger protein (MiZFP4), RING zinc-finger protein (MiRZFP34), and phosphatase 2C (MiPP2C25A and MiPP2C25B). These results indicate that FT subfamily not only regulates flowering but also participates in stress response, but also functions differently among these genes.

HBsAg and TLR7/8 dual-targeting antibody-drug conjugates induce sustained anti-HBV activity in AAV/HBV mice: a preliminary study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health concern due to elevated immunosuppressive viral antigen levels, the host immune system's inability to manage HBV, and the liver's immunosuppressive conditions. While immunotherapies utilizing broadly reactive HBV neutralizing antibodies present potential due to their antiviral capabilities and Fc-dependent vaccinal effects, they necessitate prolonged and frequent dosing to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonists have been demonstrated promise for the cure of chronic hepatitis B, but their systemic use often leads to intense side effects. In this study, we introduced immune-stimulating antibody conjugates which consist of TLR7/8 agonists 1-[[4-(aminomethyl)phenyl]methyl]-2-butyl-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine (IMDQ) linked to an anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) antibody 129G1, and designated as 129G1-IMDQ. Our preliminary study highlights that 129G1-IMDQ can prompt robust and sustained anti-HBsAg specific reactions with short-term administration. This underscores the conjugate's potential as an effective strategy for HBsAg clearance and seroconversion, offering a fresh perspective for a practical therapeutic approach in the functional cure of CHB. Highlights: HBV-neutralizing antibody 129G1 was linked with a TLR7/8 agonist small molecule compound IMDQ.Treatment with 129G1-IMDQ has shown significant promise in lowering HBsAg levels in AAV/HBV mice.129G1-IMDQ were eliciting a strong and lasting anti-HBsAg immune response after short-term treatment in AAV/HBV mice.

The ability of SPEEK to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs on PEEK surfaces.

To investigate the ability of sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and compare the effects of different degrees of sulfonation (DS), SPEEK was made with two different DS. The L-SPEEK group had a lower DS, while the H-SPEEK group had a higher DS. The physicochemical properties of both species were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), capitilize Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Then, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation between the two groups and with pure polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were compared after surface inoculation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the surface of the PEEK substrates could be smooth or coarse, and the degree of roughness increased with increasing sulfonation. FTIR spectroscopy showed that both the L-SPEEK and H-SPEEK samples contained sulfonic acid. TGA and XRD revealed that the components in the two groups were the same, but the intensities were different. After BMSC inoculation, a CCK8 assay revealed that the cells proliferated more on the H-SPEEK surface and little on the L-SPEEK surface compared with the PEEK surface. Then, osteogenic differentiation was verified by immunofluorescence staining for OCN and Runx2, which indicated that H-SPEEK had the greatest effect on improving differentiation. The results of alizarin red staining (ARS) and alkaline phosphatase staining (APS) also revealed this trend. Sulfonation can change the microsurface of PEEK, which can improve both BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.

A new three-dimensional barium(II) coordination polymer constructed from N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide: microwave-assisted synthesis, structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and properties.

A new three-dimensional (3D) coordination polymer, namely, poly[diaqua[µ5-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato]barium(II)], [Ba(C14H6N2O8)(H2O)2]n, (I), has been synthesized by the microwave-irradiated reaction of Ba(NO3)2 with N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide {BGPD, namely, 2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetatic acid, H2L}. The title compound was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and powder X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as IR spectroscopy. In the crystal structure of (I), the BaII ion is nine-coordinated by six carboxylate O atoms from five symmetry-related L2- dianions and one imide O atom, as well as two water O atoms. The coordination geometry of the central BaII ion can be described as a spherical capped square antiprism. One carboxylate group of the ligand serves as a µ3-bridge linking the BaII cations into a one-dimensional polynuclear secondary building unit (SBU). Another carboxylate group of the ligand acts as a µ2-bridge connecting the 1D SBUs, thereby forming a two-dimensional (2D) SBU. The resulting 2D SBUs are extended into a 3D framework via the pyromellitic diimide moiety of the ligand as a spacer. The 3D Ba framework can be simplified as a 5-connected hexagonal boron nitride net (bnn) topology. The intermolecular interactions in the 3D framework were further investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis and the results show that the prominent interactions are H...O (45.1%), Ba...O (11.1%) and C...H (11.1%), as well as H...H (11.1%) contacts. The thermal stability, photoluminescence properties and UV-Vis absorption spectra of (I) were also investigated. The coordination polymer exhibits a fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 0.071 and high thermal stability.

2D coordination polymers of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) derived from N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide: microwave-assisted synthesis, structures, spectroscopic properties and influence of metal-ion size.

Two new two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely, poly[diaqua[µ4-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ4O:O':O'':O''']cadmium(II)], [Cd(C14H6N2O8)(H2O)2]n (1), and poly[[tetraaqua[µ4-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ4O:O':O'':O'''][µ2-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ2O:O']dizinc(II)] dihydrate], {[Zn(C14H6N2O8(H2O)2]·H2O}n (2), have been synthesized by the microwave-irradiated reaction of Cd(CH3COO)2·2H2O and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O, respectively, with N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide {BGPD, namely, 2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetic acid, H2L}. In the crystal structure of 1, the CdII ion is six-coordinated by four carboxylate O atoms from four symmetry-related L2- dianions and two coordinated water molecules, furnishing an octahedral coordination geometry. The bridging L2- dianion links four symmetry-related CdII cations into a 2D layer-like structure with a 3,4-connected bex topology. In the crystal structure of 2, the ZnII ion is five-coordinated by three carboxylate O atoms from three different L2- dianions and two coordination water molecules, furnishing a trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. Two crystallographically independent ligands serve as µ4- and µ2-bridges, respectively, to connect the ZnII ions, thereby forming a 2D layer with a 3,3-connected hcb topology. Crystal structure analysis reveals the presence of n→π* interactions between two carbonyl groups of the pyromellitic diimide moieties in 1 and 2. CP 1 exhibits an enhanced fluorescence emission compared with free H2L. The framework of 2 decomposes from 720 K, indicating its high thermal stability. A comparative analysis of a series of structures based on the BGPD ligand indicates that the metal-ion size has a great influence on the connection modes of the metal ions due to different steric effects, which, in turn, affects the structures of the SBUs (secondary building units) and frameworks.

Construction of Z-scheme heterojunction interfacial charge transfer pathways in ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Utilizing the design of heterojunction structures formed between photocatalysts to enhance photoelectrochemical performance represents an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, a straightforward one-step solvothermal method was employed to embed NENU-5 nano-octahedra within ZnIn2S4 nanoflowers, forming ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 heterostructures. Hydrogen production tests conducted over 5 h revealed a hydrogen evolution activity of 5282.14 µmol g-1 h-1 in triethanolamine (TEOA) solution at pH = 9, which is 4.9 times and 264 times higher than that of pure ZnIn2S4 and NENU-5, respectively. The significant enhancement in the photocatalytic performance indicates that the constructed Z-scheme heterojunction increases the active sites on the catalyst surface and plays a crucial role in photocarrier transfer. Furthermore, the formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction is confirmed through Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB-XPS). The effective charge transfer at the ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 heterojunction interface is validated based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In summary, this work offers an effective approach to designing novel heterojunction photocatalysts by combining MOF materials with bimetallic sulfides, thereby promoting the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality.

BACKGROUND: The quick sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment (qSOFA) acts as a prompt to consider possible sepsis. The contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality remain unknown. METHODS: A total of 3974 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were recruited to an observational prospective cohort study. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), odds ratio, relative risk and Youden's index were employed to assess discrimination. RESULTS: Respiratory rate ≥22/min demonstrated the most superior diagnostic value, indicated by largest odds ratio, relative risk and AUROC, and maximum Youden's index for mortality. However, the indices for altered mentation and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤100 mm Hg decreased notably in turn. The predictive validities of respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg were good, adequate and poor for mortality, indicated by AUROC (0.837, 0.734 and 0.671, respectively). Respiratory rate ≥22/min showed the strongest associations with SOFA scores, pneumonia severity index, hospital length of stay and costs. However, SBP ≤100 mm Hg was most weakly correlated with the indices. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory rate ≥22/min made the greatest contribution to parsimonious qSOFA to assess severity and predict mortality. However, the contributions of altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg decreased strikingly in turn. It is the first known prospective evidence of the contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality, which might have implications for more accurate clinical triage decisions.

Respiratory rate ≥22/min demonstrated the most superior diagnostic value.Respiratory rate ≥22/min showed the strongest association with severity.Respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg predicted mortality well, adequately and poorly, respectively.

Anatomic research of the safe space between the cervical uncinate process and the V2 vertebral artery.

STUDY: Design Retrospective study Objective To observe and measure the safe distance between the uncinate process (UP) and the V2 vertebral artery (VA). METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen patients who underwent head and neck CTA date were selected and measured. The Upper Tip (UT) of the UP, the Posterior Tip (PT) of the UP and the Center of the VA (CA) were identified. Then, the width between the UT and the CA (WUA), the depth between the UT and the CA (DUA), the distance between the UT and the CA (LUA) were measured. Meanwhile, the width between the PT and the CA (WPA), the depth between the PT and the CA (DPA) and the length between the PT and the CA (LPA) were measured. The values above were compared between the left and right sides of the same vertebral body, also the results of the same side from C3 to C6 were compared. RESULTS: That WUA fluctuates between 6.1- 4.4 mm on the left side with the narrowest at C5 and C6 (4.4 mm), 6.5- 4.6 mm on the right side with the narrowest at C5 (4.6 mm). It could be concluded that the safe space for operation outside UP is about 4mm and more care should be taken when operating on the caudal spine. WPA fluctuates between 10.6- 10.0 mm on the left side with the narrowest at C3 (10mm), 11.0- 9.9 mm on the right side with the narrowest at C4 (9.9 mm). The safe space for operation outside the PT is about 10mm and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad spine. DPA fluctuates between 6.5- 4.6 mm on the left and is narrowest at C3 (4.6 mm), 6.5- 4.7 mm on the right and narrowest at C3 (4.7 mm). The safe space for operation from the PT to the ventral side is about 4.5 mm, and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad side of the cervical spine. CONCLUSION: UP and PT could be seen as the landmarks in the operations of ACDF. The safe space outside UP is about 4mm and more care should be taken when operating on the caudal spine. The safe space outside PT is about 10mm and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad spine. The safe space for operation from the PT to the ventral side is about 4.5 mm, and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad side of the cervical spine.

An ultrastable 1397-nm laser stabilized by a crystalline-coated room-temperature cavity.

State-of-the-art optical cavities are pivotal in pushing the envelope of laser frequency stability below 10-16. This is often achieved by extending the cavity length or cooling the system to cryogenic temperatures to reduce the thermal noise floor. In our study, we present a 30-cm-long cavity that operates at room temperature and is outfitted with crystalline coatings. The system has a predicted ultralow thermal noise floor of 4.4 × 10-17, comparable to what is observed in cryogenic silicon cavities. A 1397-nm laser is stabilized in this advanced cavity, and the stable frequency is then transferred to the clock transition in strontium optical lattice clocks via a frequency-doubling process. We have meticulously minimized and assessed the technical noise contributions through comparisons with an ultrastable reference laser that is locked to a commercially available 30-cm cavity. The frequency instability of the system is rigorously evaluated using a three-cornered-hat method. The results demonstrate that the laser frequency instability remains below 2 × 10-16 for averaging times ranging from 1 to 50 s. These findings underscore the significant potential of room-temperature cavities with crystalline coatings in high-precision metrology and pave the way for further improvements in optical lattice clocks.

Comparison of Negative Symptom Network Structures Between Patients With Early and Chronic Schizophrenia: A Network and Exploratory Graph Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Despite the clinical relevance of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, our understanding of negative symptoms remains limited. Although various courses and stages of schizophrenia have been identified, variations in the negative symptom networks between distinct stages of schizophrenia remain unexplored. STUDY DESIGN: We examined 405 patients with early schizophrenia (ES) and 330 patients with chronic schizophrenia (CS) using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. Network analysis and exploratory graph analysis were used to identify and compare the network structures and community memberships of negative symptoms between the two groups. Further, associations between communities and social functioning were evaluated. The potential influences of other symptom domains and confounding factors were also examined. STUDY RESULTS: Multidimensional differences were found in the networks of negative symptoms between ES and CS. The global connectivity strength was higher in the network of ES than in the network of CS. In ES, central symptoms were mainly related to expressive deficits, whereas in CS they were distributed across negative symptom domains. A three-community structure was suggested across stages but with different memberships and associations with social functioning. Potential confounding factors and symptom domains, including mood, positive, disorganization, and excitement symptoms, did not affect the network structures. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed the presence of stage-specific network structures of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, with negative symptom communities having differential significance for social functioning. These findings provide implications for the future development of tailored interventions to alleviate negative symptoms and improve functionality across stages.

Alloy Reconstruction in Pyrolytic Bowknot-like Heteronuclear CoFe Clusters for Electrocatalytic Application.

The construction of doped molecular clusters is an intriguing way to perform bimetallic doping for electrocatalysts. However, efficiently harnessing the benefits of a doping strategy and alloy engineering to create a nanostructure for electrocatalytic application at the molecular level has consistently posed a challenge. Here we propose an in situ reconstruction strategy aimed at producing an alloy nanostructure through a pyrolysis process, originating from bowknot-like heterometallic clusters. The Schiff base, denoted as ligand L1 (o-vanillin ethylenediamine), was introduced as a precursor to coordinate Fe and Co metals, thereby yielding a heteronuclear metal cluster [(FeCo)(L1)2O]CH3CN. Subsequently, a comprehensive investigation of the in situ reconstruction process [(FeCo)(L1)2O](CH3CN) → [(FeCo)(L1)2O] → [M-O-M/M-O] [CH3+/CH3O+/H2C═N/C2H5+/C4H4+] → [FeCo/Fe3O4/Fe2O3/Co3O4][carbon layer] led to the formation of MOx/CoFe@NC-700 during the pyrolysis. This process reveals that the metals Fe and Co in the clusters undergo partly in situ evolution into FeCo alloys, resulting in the successful preparation of MOx/CoFe@NC (M = Fe, Co) nanomaterials that leverage the advantages of both doping strategies and alloy engineering. The synergistic interaction between alloy particles and metal oxides establishes active sites that contribute to the excellent oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution (HER) catalytic behaviors. Notably, these materials exhibit outstanding OER and HER properties under alkaline conditions, with overpotentials of 191 and 88 mV for OER and HER, respectively, at 10 mA cm-2. Investigation of the in situ conversion of Schiff base bimetal clusters into alloy materials through pyrolysis offers a novel strategy for advancing electrocatalytic applications.

Bibliometric Analysis of Forensic Human Remains Identification Literature from 1991 to 2022.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the current state of research and future research hotspots through a metrological analysis of the literature in the field of forensic anthropological remains identification research. METHODS: The data retrieved and extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), the core database of the Web of Science information service platform (hereinafter referred to as "WoS"), was used to analyze the trends and topic changes in research on forensic identification of human remains from 1991 to 2022. Network visualisation of publication trends, countries (regions), institutions, authors and topics related to the identification of remains in forensic anthropology was analysed using python 3.9.2 and Gephi 0.10. RESULTS: A total of 873 papers written in English in the field of forensic anthropological remains identification research were obtained. The journal with the largest number of publications was Forensic Science International (164 articles). The country (region) with the largest number of published papers was China (90 articles). Katholieke Univ Leuven (Netherlands, 21 articles) was the institution with the largest number of publications. Topic analysis revealed that the focus of forensic anthropological remains identification research was sex estimation and age estimation, and the most commonly studied remains were teeth. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of publications in the field of forensic anthropological remains identification research has a distinct phasing. However, the scope of both international and domestic collaborations remains limited. Traditionally, human remains identification has primarily relied on key areas such as the pelvis, skull, and teeth. Looking ahead, future research will likely focus on the more accurate and efficient identification of multiple skeletal remains through the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in chronic kidney disease and the role of natural products.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism plays a key role in the onset and progression of CKD, and a thorough understanding of its regulatory mechanisms is essential for the development of effective treatments. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the pharmacological activities of natural products and their application in the treatment of chronic diseases. Natural products, including plant extracts and bioactive compounds, have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrosis, and anti-apoptotic effects through various signaling pathways in the treatment of CKD. Many natural products have been shown to target dysregulated lipid metabolism through various signaling pathways. This review summarizes the key regulatory factors and signaling pathways involved in the dysregulation of lipid metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD), highlighting their importance as potential therapeutic targets. Recently published research on the potential therapeutic benefits of natural products for the treatment of CKD was described. These studies have revealed the multi-target role of natural products in the regulation of lipid metabolism. Natural products show great potential in targeting lipid metabolism-related pathways, offering a novel research direction for the treatment of CKD while providing a scientific basis and experimental support for the development of new treatment strategies.

High cardiovascular mortality risk among older merkel cell carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has primarily focused on the incidence and mortality rates of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), neglecting the examination of cardiovascular mortality (CVM) risk among survivors, particularly older patients. This study aims to assess the risk of CVM in older individuals diagnosed with MCC. METHODS: Data pertaining to older MCC patients were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER). CVM risk was measured using standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and cumulative mortality. Multivariate Fine-Gray's competing risk model was utilized to evaluate the risk factors contributing to CVM. RESULTS: Among the study population of 2,899 MCC patients, 465 (16.0%) experienced CVM during the follow-up period. With the prolongation of the follow-up duration, the cumulative mortality rate for CVM reached 27.36%, indicating that cardiovascular disease (CVD) became the second most common cause of death. MCC patients exhibited a higher CVM risk compared to the general population (SMR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.54-1.86, p < 0.05). Notably, the SMR for other diseases of arteries, arterioles, and capillaries displayed the most significant elevation (SMR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.16-5.29, p < 0.05). Furthermore, age at diagnosis and disease stage were identified as primary risk factors for CVM, whereas undergoing chemotherapy or radiation demonstrated a protective effect. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the significance of CVM as a competing cause of death in older individuals with MCC. MCC patients face a heightened risk of CVM compared to the general population. It is crucial to prioritize cardiovascular health starting from the time of diagnosis and implement personalized CVD monitoring and supportive interventions for MCC patients at high risk. These measures are essential for enhancing survival outcomes.

Characterization of an RR-2 cuticle protein DcCP8 and its potential application based on SPc nanoparticle-wrapped dsRNA in Diaphorina citri.

BACKGROUND: The insect cuticle consists of chitin fibers and a protein matrix, which plays an important role in protecting the body from invasion of various pathogens and prevents water loss. Periodic synthesis and degradation of the cuticle is required for the growth and development of insects. Key genes involved in cuticle formation have long been considered a potential target for pest control. RESULTS: In this study, a member of the RR-2 subfamily of cuticular protein 8 (DcCP8) was identified from the Diaphorina citri genome database. Immunofluorescence analysis suggested that DcCP8 was mainly located in the Diaphorina citri exocuticle and can be induced to up-regulate 12 h following 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) treatment. Silencing of DcCP8 by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly disrupted the metamorphosis to the adult stage, and improved the permeability of the cuticle. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the synthesis of the exocuticle was impressed after silencing of DcCP8. Furthermore, the recombinant DcCP8 protein exhibited chitin-binding properties in vitro, down-regulation of DcCP8 significantly inhibited expression levels of chitin metabolism-related genes. Additionally, a sprayable RNAi method targeting DcCP8 based on star polycation (SPc) nanoparticles-wrapped double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) significantly increased Diaphorina citri mortality. Transcriptome sequencing further confirmed that genes associated with the endocytic pathway and immune response were up-regulated in Diaphorina citri after SPc treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicated that DcCP8 is critical for the formation of Diaphorina citri exocuticles, and lays a foundation for Diaphorina citri control based on large-scale dsRNA nanoparticles. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The mGluR5-mediated Arc activation protects against experimental traumatic brain injury in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex pathophysiological process, and increasing attention has been paid to the important role of post-synaptic density (PSD) proteins, such as glutamate receptors. Our previous study showed that a PSD protein Arc/Arg3.1 (Arc) regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuronal necroptosis in traumatic injury in vitro. AIM: In this study, we investigated the expression, regulation and biological function of Arc in both in vivo and in vitro experimental TBI models. RESULTS: Traumatic neuronal injury (TNI) induced a temporal upregulation of Arc in cortical neurons, while TBI resulted in sustained increase in Arc expression up to 24 h in rats. The increased expression of Arc was mediated by the activity of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), but not dependent on the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release. By using inhibitors and antagonists, we found that TNI regulates Arc expression via Gq protein and protein turnover. In addition, overexpression of Arc protects against TBI-induced neuronal injury and motor dysfunction both in vivo and in vitro, whereas the long-term cognitive function was not altered. To determine the role of Arc in mGluR5-induced protection, lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection was performed to knockdown Arc expression. The mGluR5 agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG)-induced protection against TBI was partially prevented by Arc knockdown. Furthermore, the CHPG-induced attenuation of Ca2+ influx after TNI was dependent on Arc activation and followed regulation of AMPAR subunits. The results of Co-IP and Ca2+ imaging showed that the Arc-Homer1 interaction contributes to the CHPG-induced regulation of intracellular Ca2+ release. CONCLUSION: In summary, the present data indicate that the mGluR5-mediated Arc activation is a protective mechanism that attenuates neurotoxicity following TBI through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ hemostasis. The AMPAR-associated Ca2+ influx and ER Ca2+ release induced by Homer1-IP3R pathway might be involved in this protection.