The effect of high-volume intraoperative fluid administration on outcomes among pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation are particularly susceptible to complications arising from intraoperative fluid management strategies. Conventional liberal fluid administration has been challenged due to its association with increased perioperative morbidity. This study aimed to assess the impact of intraoperative high-volume fluid therapy on pediatric patients who are undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Conducted at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2018 to April 2021, this retrospective study involved 90 pediatric patients divided into high-volume and non-high-volume fluid administration groups based on the 80th percentile of fluid administered. We collected the perioperative parameters and postoperative information of two groups. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to assess the association between estimated blood loss (EBL) and high-volume FA. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare patient survival after pediatric LDLT. RESULTS: Patients in the high-volume FA group received a higher EBL and longer length of stay than that in the non-high-volume FA group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that hours of maintenance fluids and fresh frozen plasma were significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of EBL during pediatric LDLT. In addition, survival analysis showed no significant differences in one-year mortality between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: High-volume fluid administration during LDLT is linked with poorer intraoperative and postoperative outcomes among pediatric patients. These findings underscore the need for more conservative fluid management strategies in pediatric liver transplantations to enhance recovery and reduce complications.

Electrochemical Detection of Ammonia in Water Using NiCu Carbonate Hydroxide-Modified Carbon Cloth Electrodes: A Simple Sensing Method.

Excessive ammonia nitrogen can potentially compromise the safety of drinking water. Therefore, developing a rapid and simple detection method for ammonia nitrogen in drinking water is of great importance. Nickel-copper hydroxides exhibit strong catalytic capabilities and are widely applied in ammonia nitrogen oxidation. In this study, a self-supported electrode made of nickel-copper carbonate hydroxide was synthesized on a carbon cloth collector via a straightforward one-step hydrothermal method for rapid ammonia nitrogen detection in water. It exhibits sensitivities of 3.9 µA µM-1 cm-2 and 3.13 µA µM-1 cm-2 within linear ranges of 1 µM to 100 µM and 100 µM to 400 µM, respectively, using a simple and rapid i-t method. The detection limit is as low as 0.62 µM, highlighting its excellent anti-interference properties against various anions and cations. The methodology's simplicity and effectiveness suggest broad applicability in water quality monitoring and environmental protection, particularly due to its significant cost-effectiveness.

A nonparametric point-by-point method to measure time-dependent frequency in wavelength modulation spectroscopy.

A nonparametric point-by-point (NPP) method is presented for high-accuracy measurement of the time-dependent frequency (laser frequency) in tunable laser absorption spectroscopy, crucial for ensuring ultimate measurement accuracy. In wavelength modulation spectroscopy in particular, the parametric methods in current use for time-dependent frequency measurement are insufficiently accurate and are difficult to apply to complex modulation scenarios. Based on a multi-scale viewpoint, point-by-point measurement of the frequency is realized by linear superposition of the frequency information mapped from the interferometric signal on a unit scale and on a local scale. Validation experiments indicate that the measurement accuracy of the proposed NPP method is three times that of the existing parametric methods, while effectively immunizing against non-ideal tuning effects. Additionally, the NPP method is suitable for use with arbitrarily complex modulations such as square wave modulation, for which parametric methods are inapplicable.

The cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) inhibitor bergamottin enhances host tolerance to multidrug-resistant Vibrio vulnificus infection.

PURPOSE: Vibrio vulnificus (V. Vulnificus) infection is characterized by rapid onset, aggressive progression, and challenging treatment. Bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge for clinical anti-infection treatment and is thus the subject of research. Enhancing host infection tolerance represents a novel infection prevention strategy to improve patient survival. Our team initially identified cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) as an important target owing to its negative modulation of the body's infection tolerance. This study explored the superior effects of the CYP1A1 inhibitor bergamottin compared to antibiotic combination therapy on the survival of mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus and the protection of their vital organs. METHODS: An increasing concentration gradient method was used to induce multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus development. We established a lethal infection model in C57BL/6J male mice and evaluated the effect of bergamottin on mouse survival. A mild infection model was established in C57BL/6J male mice, and the serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on liver and kidney function. The morphological changes induced in the presence of bergamottin in mouse organs were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney tissues. The bacterial growth curve and organ load determination were used to evaluate whether bergamottin has a direct antibacterial effect on multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus. Quantification of inflammatory factors in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression levels of inflammatory factors in liver and kidney tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on inflammatory factor levels. Western blot analysis of IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα, p65, and phosphorylated p65 protein expression in liver and kidney tissues and in human hepatocellular carcinomas-2 and human kidney-2 cell lines was used to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway. One-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus, bergamottin prolonged survival (p = 0.014), reduced the serum creatinine (p = 0.002), urea nitrogen (p = 0.030), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.029), and alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.003) levels, and protected the cellular morphology of liver and kidney tissues. Bergamottin inhibited interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in serum (IL-1ß: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.029, TNF-α: p = 0.025) and inhibited the protein expression of the inflammatory factors IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α in liver (IL-1ß: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.037) and kidney (IL-1ß: p = 0.016, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.008) tissues. Bergamottin did not affect the proliferation of multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus or the bacterial load in the mouse peritoneal lavage fluid (p = 0.225), liver (p = 0.186), or kidney (p = 0.637). CONCLUSION: Bergamottin enhances the tolerance of mice to multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus infection. This study can serve as a reference and guide the development of novel clinical treatment strategies for V. Vulnificus.

Prostacyclin Synthase Deficiency Leads to Exacerbation or Occurrence of Endothelium-Dependent Contraction and Causes Cardiovascular Disorders Mainly via the Non-TxA2 Prostanoids/TP Axis.

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandin I2 synthesized by endothelial COX (cyclooxygenase) evokes potent vasodilation in some blood vessels but is paradoxically responsible for endothelium-dependent constriction (EDC) in others. Prostaglandin I2 production and EDC may be enhanced in diseases such as hypertension. However, how PGIS (prostaglandin I2 synthase) deficiency affects EDC and how this is implicated in the consequent cardiovascular pathologies remain largely unknown. METHODS: Experiments were performed with wild-type, Pgis knockout (Pgis-/-) and Pgis/thromboxane-prostanoid receptor gene (Tp) double knockout (Pgis-/-Tp-/-) mice and Pgis-/- mice transplanted with unfractionated wild-type or Cox-1-/- bone marrow cells, as well as human umbilical arteries. COX-derived prostanoids were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Vasomotor responses of distinct types of arteries were assessed by isometric force measurement. Parameters of hypertension, vascular remodeling, and cardiac hypertrophy in mice at different ages were monitored. RESULTS: PGF2α, PGE2, and a trace amount of PGD2, but not thromboxane A2 (TxA2), were produced in response to acetylcholine in Pgis-/- or PGIS-inhibited arteries. PGIS deficiency resulted in exacerbation or occurrence of EDC ex vivo and in vivo. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization was unchanged, but phosphorylation levels of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) at Ser1177 and Thr495 were altered and NO production and the NO-dependent relaxation evoked by acetylcholine were remarkably reduced in Pgis-/- aortas. Pgis-/- mice developed high blood pressure and vascular remodeling at 16 to 17 weeks and subsequently cardiac hypertrophy at 24 to 26 weeks. Meanwhile, blood pressure and cardiac parameters remained normal at 8 to 10 weeks. Additional ablation of TP (TxA2 receptor) not only restrained EDC and the downregulation of NO signaling in Pgis-/- mice but also ameliorated the cardiovascular abnormalities. Stimulation of Pgis-/- vessels with acetylcholine in the presence of platelets led to increased TxA2 generation. COX-1 disruption in bone marrow-derived cells failed to affect the development of high blood pressure and vascular remodeling in Pgis-/- mice though it largely suppressed the increase of plasma TxB2 (TxA2 metabolite) level. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that the non-TxA2 prostanoids/TP axis plays an essential role in mediating the augmentation of EDC and cardiovascular disorders when PGIS is deficient, suggesting TP as a promising therapeutic target in diseases associated with PGIS insufficiency.

Examining the U-shaped relationship between non-agricultural sources water pollution and the urban-rural income gap.

Determining how the economy and society interact with the environment of water quality is essential to determining the financial impact of green development. Based on China's provincial panel data from 2010 to 2021, this research considers non-agricultural sources of water pollution (NASWP) as a negative factor of production, investigates its influence on the urban-rural divide, and explains the mechanism of action. The empirical results show that there is a significant correlation between NASWP and the urban-rural gap, with a "U-shaped" relationship between the two. Water pollution first reduces and then increases the urban-rural income gap, and the results are robust after considering endogeneity. Mechanistic research demonstrates that NASWP cause a loss in food output, which in combination with changes in food prices and food subsidy programs impacts the incomes of rural dwellers, thereby having an influence on the urban-rural income gap. Using the threshold effect model, it is discovered that under the combined influence of agricultural mechanization and food subsidy policy, the relationship between NASWP and urban-rural income divide exhibits an U-shape in areas with high agricultural mechanization and an "inverted U" shape in areas with low agricultural mechanization.

Opportunistic use of chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging for low bone mineral density and osteoporosis screening: cutoff thresholds for the attenuation values of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae.

Background: Osteoporosis remains substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide. Chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) may provide a valuable and popular opportunity for osteoporosis screening. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of the screening of low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis with mean attenuation values of the lower thoracic compared to upper lumbar vertebrae. The cutoff thresholds of the mean attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU) were derived to facilitate implementation of opportunistic screening using chest LDCT. Methods: The participants aged 30 years or older who underwent chest LDCT and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) examinations from August 2018 to October 2020 in our hospital were consecutively included in this retrospective study. A region of interest (ROI) was placed in the trabecular bone of each vertebral body to measure the HU values. The correlations of mean HU values of lower thoracic (T11-T12) and upper lumbar (L1-L2) vertebrae with age and lumbar BMD obtained with QCT were performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to determine the cutoff thresholds for distinguishing low BMD from normal and osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis. Results: A total of 1,112 participants were included in the final study cohort (743 men and 369 women, mean age 58.2±8.9 years; range, 32-88 years). The mean HU values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 were significantly different among 3 QCT-defined BMD categories of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal (P<0.001). The differences in HU values between T11-T12 and L1-L2 in each category of bone status were statistically significant (P<0.001). The mean HU values of T11-T12 (r=-0.453, P<0.001) and L1-L2 (r=-0.498, P<0.001) had negative correlations with age. Positive correlations were observed between the mean HU values of T11-T12 (r=0.872, P<0.001) and L1-L2 (r=0.899, P<0.001) with BMD. The optimal cutoff thresholds for distinguishing low BMD from normal were average T11-T12 ≤157 HU [AUC =0.941, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.925-0.954, P<0.001] and L1-L2 ≤138 HU (AUC =0.950, 95% CI: 0.935-0.962, P<0.001), as well as distinguishing osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis were average T11-T12 ≤125 HU (AUC =0.960, 95% CI: 0.947-0.971, P<0.001) and L1-L2 ≤107 HU (AUC =0.961, 95% CI: 0.948-0.972, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the AUC values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 for low BMD (P=0.07) and osteoporosis (P=0.92) screening. Conclusions: We have conducted a study on low BMD and osteoporosis screening using mean attenuation values of lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. Assessment of mean attenuation values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 can be used interchangeably for low BMD and osteoporosis screening using chest LDCT, and their cutoff thresholds were established.

Synthesis and Characterization of Emulsifiers Based on the Maillard Reaction and Its Application in Stabilized DHA Algal Oil Nanoemulsions.

The aim of this study was to optimize the formation of sodium caseinate (CS) and gum arabic (GA) complexes through the Maillard reaction and to evaluate their effectiveness in improving the emulsification properties and stability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) nanoemulsions. First, the best target polysaccharides were selected, and the best modification conditions were determined using orthogonal experiments. Secondly, the response surface experiments were used to optimize the preparation process of the emulsion. The stability, in vitro digestion characteristics, and rheological characteristics of the emulsion prepared by means of CS-GA were compared with the emulsion prepared using a whey protein isolate (WPI). After the orthogonal test, the optimal modification conditions were determined to be a reaction time of 96 h, a CS-GA mass ratio of 1:2, a reaction temperature of 60 °C, and a degree of grafting of 44.91%. Changes in the infrared (IR), Raman, ultraviolet (UV), and endogenous fluorescence spectra also indicated that the complex structure was modified. The response surface test identified the optimal preparation process as follows: an emulsifier concentration of 5 g/L, an oil-phase concentration of 5 g/L, and a homogenization frequency of five, and the emulsion showed good stability. Therefore, the use of a nanoemulsion as a nanoscale DHA algal oil delivery system is very promising for extending the shelf life and improving the stability of food.

Preparation of an aqueous zinc ion rGH/V2O5 photorechargeable supercapacitor.

A photorechargeable supercapacitor was constructed using vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (rGH), and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(CF3SO3)2) as the photoanode, cathode, and electrolyte, respectively. The phase composition, microstructure, chemical structure, light absorption, and specific surface area of the synthesized products and the electrochemical performance of the rGH/V2O5 supercapacitor were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and an electrochemical workstation, respectively. The results show that the device has a specific capacity of 164 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 under illumination with 95 mW cm-2 light intensity, which is 20.5% higher than that under normal electrical charging. The supercapacitor has a 75% capacity retention rate and 100% coulombic efficiency, respectively, after 10 000 testing cycles under photoelectric synergistic charging and discharging. The as-constructed rGH/V2O5 photorechargeable supercapacitor exhibits promising application potential in electric vehicles and wearable electronics.

Vibrational energy relaxation in shock-heated CO/N2/Ar mixtures.

Experimental and numerical studies were performed on the vibrational energy relaxation in shock-heated CO/N2/Ar mixtures. A laser absorption technique was applied to the time-dependent rovibrational temperature time-history measurements. The vibrational relaxation data of reflected-shock-heated CO were summarized at 1720-3230 K. In shock-tube experiments, the rotational temperature of CO quickly reached equilibrium, whereas a relaxation process was found in the time-dependent vibrational temperature. For the mixture with 1.0% CO and 10.0% N2, the vibrational excitation caused a decrease in the macroscopic thermodynamic temperature of the test gas. In the simulations, the state-to-state (StS) approach was employed, where the vibrational energy levels of CO and N2 are treated as pseudo-species. The vibrational state-specific inelastic rate coefficients of N2-Ar collisions were calculated using the mixed quantum-classical method based on a newly developed three-dimensional potential energy surface. The StS predictions agreed well with the measurements, whereas deviations were found between the Schwartz-Slawsky-Herzfeld formula predictions and the measurements. The Millikan-White vibrational relaxation data of the N2-Ar system were found to have the most significant impact on the model predictions via sensitivity analysis. The vibrational relaxation data of the N2-Ar system were then modified according to the experimental data and StS results, providing an indirect way to optimize the vibrational relaxation data of a specific system. Moreover, the vibrational distribution functions of CO and N2 and the effects of the vibration-vibration-translation energy transfer path on the thermal nonequilibrium behaviors were highlighted.

Mining the Carbon Intermediates in Plastic Waste Upcycling for Constructing C-S Bond.

Postconsumer plastics are generally perceived as valueless with only a small portion of plastic waste being closed-loop recycled into similar products while most of them are discarded in landfills. Depositing plastic waste in landfills not only harms the environment but also signifies a substantial economic loss. Alternatively, constructing value-added chemical feedstocks via mining the waste-derived intermediate species as a carbon (C) source under mild electrochemical conditions is a sustainable strategy to realize the circular economy. This proof-of-concept work provides an attractive "turning trash to treasure" strategy by integrating electrocatalytic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic upcycling with a chemical C-S coupling reaction to synthesize organosulfur compounds, hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS). HMS can be produced efficiently (Faradaic efficiency, FE of ∼70%) via deliberately capturing electrophilic intermediates generated in the PET monomer (ethylene glycol, EG) upcycling process, followed by coupling them with nucleophilic sulfur (S) species (i.e., SO32- and HSO3-). Unlike many previous studies conducted under alkaline conditions, PET upcycling was performed over an amorphous MnO2 catalyst under near-neutral conditions, allowing for the stabilization of electrophilic intermediates. The compatibility of this strategy was further investigated by employing biomass-derived compounds as substrates. Moreover, comparable HMS yields can be achieved with real-world PET plastics, showing its enormous potential in practical application. Lastly, Density function theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the C-C cleavage step of EG is the rate-determining step (RDS), and amorphous MnO2 significantly decreases the energy barriers for both RDS and C-S coupling when compared to the crystalline counterpart.

Preoperative middle meningeal artery embolization in the treatment of organized chronic subdural hematoma.

Organized chronic subdural hematoma is a rare form of chronic subdural hematoma. The optimal treatment method is still controversial. Preoperative middle meningeal artery embolization and craniotomy are effective methods for chronic subdural hematoma. However, there are not many reports investigating the effectiveness of these methods in treating organized chronic subdural hematoma. We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient who had a twist-drill craniostomy to treat a left hemisphere subdural hematoma. After surgery, there was a recurrence on the same side in the form of an organized subdural hematoma. The patient received preoperative left middle meningeal artery embolization. After 3 months of follow-up, a small portion of the hematoma remained, causing pressure and slightly shifting the midline to the right by 6.5 mm, and the patient no longer had clinical symptoms.

Age-Related Variations in the Population of Active Secondary Hair Follicles, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Parameters in Cashmere Goats.

The objective of this study was to investigate age-related changes in cashmere production and the population of active secondary hair follicles in cashmere goats across different age groups as well as to explore the association between secondary hair follicle activity and oxidative stress. A total of 104 adult Inner Mongolian ewe goats, aged between 2 and 7 years old, were randomly selected as experimental subjects. Skin samples were collected in August 2020 and cashmere samples were collected in April 2021. The cashmere fiber yield, staple length, and diameter showed age-related variations in cashmere goats aged 2 to 7 years (p < 0.05). Cashmere production was higher in goats aged 2-4 years compared to those aged 5-7 years (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the population of primary and secondary hair follicles among goats aged 2 to 7 years. However, the population of active secondary hair follicles varied significantly with age, with the younger group (aged 2-4 years) having a higher population than those aged 5-7 years (p < 0.05). A moderate negative correlation was observed between cashmere fiber diameter and the population of active secondary hair follicles (p < 0.05). Age-related variations in skin antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage were observed among cashmere goats aged 2 to 7 years old (p < 0.05). Goats aged 2 to 4 years exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and lower oxidative damage (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the skin's antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage exhibited significant positive and negative correlations with the population of active secondary hair follicles (p < 0.05). This study presents a novel approach to enhance the activity of secondary hair follicles and improve cashmere production performance through the regulation of oxidative stress.

InsigHTable: Insight-driven Hierarchical Table Visualization with Reinforcement Learning.

Embedding visual representations within original hierarchical tables can mitigate additional cognitive load stemming from the division of users' attention. The created hierarchical table visualizations can help users understand and explore complex data with multi-level attributes. However, because of many options available for transforming hierarchical tables and selecting subsets for embedding, the design space of hierarchical table visualizations becomes vast, and the construction process turns out to be tedious, hindering users from constructing hierarchical table visualizations with many data insights efficiently. We propose InsigHTable, a mixed-initiative and insight-driven hierarchical table transformation and visualization system. We first define data insights within hierarchical tables, which consider the hierarchical structure in the table headers. Since hierarchical table visualization construction is a sequential decision-making process, InsigHTable integrates a deep reinforcement learning framework incorporating an auxiliary rewards mechanism. This mechanism addresses the challenge of sparse rewards in constructing hierarchical table visualizations. Within the deep reinforcement learning framework, the agent continuously optimizes its decision-making process to create hierarchical table visualizations to uncover more insights by collaborating with analysts. We demonstrate the usability and effectiveness of InsigHTable through two case studies and sets of experiments. The results validate the effectiveness of the deep reinforcement learning framework and show that InsigHTable can facilitate users to construct hierarchical table visualizations and understand underlying data insights.

Spatially selective p-type doping for constructing lateral WS2 p-n homojunction via low-energy nitrogen ion implantation.

The construction of lateral p-n junctions is very important and challenging in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor manufacturing process. Previous researches have demonstrated that vertical p-n junction can be prepared simply by vertical stacking of 2D materials. However, interface pollution and large area scalability are challenges that are difficult to overcome with vertical stacking technology. Constructing 2D lateral p-n homojunction is an effective strategy to address these issues. Spatially selective p-type doping of 2D semiconductors is expected to construct lateral p-n homojunction. In this work, we have developed a low-energy ion implantation system that reduces the implanted energy to 300 eV. Low-energy implantation can form a shallow implantation depth, which is more suitable for modulating the electrical and optical properties of 2D materials. Hence, we utilize low-energy ion implantation to directly dope nitrogen ions into few-layer WS2 and successfully realize a precise regulation for WS2 with its conductivity type transforming from n-type to bipolar or even p-type conduction. Furthermore, the universality of this method is demonstrated by extending it to other 2D semiconductors, including WSe2, SnS2 and MoS2. Based on this method, a lateral WS2 p-n homojunction is fabricated, which exhibits significant rectification characteristics. A photodetector based on p-n junction with photovoltaic effect is also prepared, and the open circuit voltage can reach to 0.39 V. This work provides an effective way for controllable doping of 2D semiconductors.

[Morphological study of sexual reproductive disorders in Ligusticum chuanxiong].

Chuanxiong Rhizoma is a well-known Sichuan-specific herbal medicine. Its original plant, Ligusticum chuanxiong, has been cultivated asexually for a long time. L. chuanxiong has sexual reproductive disorders, which restricts its germplasm innovation. However, there is little research on the reproductive system of L. chuanxiong. This study is based on a comparative anatomical research approach, using morphological dissection, paraffin sectioning, staining and compression, and combined with scanning electron microscopy technology, to observe and compare the flowers, fruits, and seeds at various stages of reproductive growth of L. chuanxiong and its wild relative L. sinense. The results showed that the meiosis of pollen mother cells is abnormal in L. chuanxiong anthers, and the size and number of microspores are uneven and inconsistent in the tetrad stage. tapetum cells are not completely degenerated during anther development. During the pollen ripening stage, there are fine cracks in the anther wall, while most anthers could not release pollen normally. The surface of mature pollen grains is concave and partially deformed, and the pollens are all inactive and cannot germinate in vitro. The starch, polysaccharides, and lipids in the pollen were insufficient. The filaments of L. chuanxiong are short at the flowering stage and recurved downward. Double-hanging fruits were observed in the fruiting stage, being wrinkled; with shriveled seeds. Compared with L. sinense at the same stage, the anthers of L. sinense developed normally, and the pollen grains are vigorous and can germinate in vitro. The double-hanging fruits of L. sinense are full and normal; at the flowering period, the filaments are long and erect, significantly higher than the stigma. Mature blastocysts are visible in the ovary of both L. chuanxiong and L. sinense, and there is no significant difference in stigmas. The conclusion is that during the development of L. chuanxiong stamens, the meiosis of pollen mother cells is abnormal, and tetrad, tapetum, filament and other pollen structures develop abnormally. L. chuanxiong has the characteristic of male infertility, which is an important reason for its sexual reproductive disorders.

CircRNA CDR1as affects functional repair after spinal cord injury and regulates fibrosis through the SMAD pathway.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex problem in modern medicine. Fibroblast activation and fibroscarring after SCI impede nerve recovery. Non-coding RNA plays an important role in the progression of many diseases, but the study of its role in the progression of spinal fibrosis is still emerging. Here, we investigated the function of circular RNAs, specifically antisense to the cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 (CDR1as), in spinal fibrosis and characterized its molecular mechanism and pathophysiology. The presence of CDR1as in the spinal cord was verified by sequencing and RNA expression assays. The effects of inhibition of CDR1as on scar formation, inflammation and nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury were investigated in vivo and in vitro. Further, gene expression of miR-7a-5p and protein expression of transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor II (TGF-ßR2) were measured to evaluate their predicted interactions with CDR1as. The regulatory effects and activation pathways were subsequently verified by miR-7a-5p inhibitor and siCDR1as. These results indicate that CDR1as/miR-7a-5p/TGF-ßR2 interactions may exert scars and nerves functions and suggest potential therapeutic targets for treating spinal fibrotic diseases.

Sub-Nanometer Mono-Layered Metal-Organic Frameworks Nanosheets for Simulated Flue Gas Photoreduction.

The dilemma between the thickness and accessible active site triggers the design of porous crystalline materials with mono-layered structure for advanced photo-catalysis applications. Here, a kind of sub-nanometer mono-layered nanosheets (Co-MOF MNSs) through the exfoliation of specifically designed Co3 cluster-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is reported. The sub-nanometer thickness and inherent light-sensitivity endow Co-MOF MNSs with fully exposed Janus Co3 sites that can selectively photo-reduce CO2 into formic acid under simulated flue gas. Notably, the production efficiency of formic acid by Co-MOF MNSs (0.85 mmol g-1 h-1) is ≈13 times higher than that of the bulk counterpart (0.065 mmol g-1 h-1) under a simulated flue gas atmosphere, which is the highest in reported works up to date. Theoretical calculations prove that the exposed Janus Co3 sites with simultaneously available sites possess higher activity when compared with single Co site, validating the importance of mono-layered nanosheet morphology. These results may facilitate the development of functional nanosheet materials for CO2 photo-reduction in potential flue gas treatment.

Sex-specific scaling of leaf phosphorus vs. nitrogen under unequal reproductive requirements in Eurya japonica, a dioecious plant.

PREMISE: Previous work searching for sexual dimorphism has largely relied on the comparison of trait mean vectors between sexes in dioecious plants. Whether trait scaling (i.e., the ratio of proportional changes in covarying traits) differs between sexes, along with its functional significance, remains unclear. METHODS: We measured 10 vegetative traits pertaining to carbon, water, and nutrient economics across 337 individuals (157 males and 180 females) of the diocious species Eurya japonica during the fruiting season in eastern China. Piecewise structural equation modeling was employed to reveal the scaling relationships of multiple interacting traits, and multivariate analysis of (co)variance was conducted to test for intersexual differences. RESULTS: There was no sexual dimorphism in terms of trait mean vectors across the 10 vegetative traits in E. japonica. Moreover, most relationships for covarying trait pairs (17 out of 19) exhibited common scaling slopes between sexes. However, the scaling slopes for leaf phosphorus (P) vs. nitrogen (N) differed between sexes, with 5.6- and 3.0-fold increases of P coinciding with a 10-fold increase of N in male and female plants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The lower ratio of proportional changes in P vs. N for females likely reflects stronger P limitation for their vegetative growth, as they require greater P investments in fruiting. Therefore, P vs. N scaling can be a key avenue allowing for sex-specific strategic optimization under unequal reproductive requirements. This study uncovers a hidden aspect of secondary sex character in dioecious plants, and highlights the use of trait scaling to understand sex-defined economic strategies.

Cu Promoted the Dynamic Evolution of Ni-Based Catalysts for Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic Upcycling.

Upcycling plastic wastes into value-added chemicals is a promising approach to put end-of-life plastic wastes back into their ecocycle. As one of the polyesters that is used daily, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste is employed here as the model substrate. Herein, a nickel (Ni)-based catalyst was prepared via electrochemically depositing copper (Cu) species on Ni foam (NiCu/NF). The NiCu/NF formed Cu/CuO and Ni/NiO/Ni(OH)2 core-shell structures before electrolysis and reconstructed into NiOOH and CuOOH/Cu(OH)2 active species during the ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation. After oxidation, the Cu and Ni species evolved into more reduced species. An indirect mechanism was identified as the main EG oxidation (EGOR) mechanism. In EGOR, NiCu60s/NF catalyst exhibited an optimal Faradaic efficiency (FE, 95.8%) and yield rate (0.70 mmol cm-2 h-1) for formate production. Also, over 80% FE of formate was achieved when a commercial PET plastic powder hydrolysate was applied. Furthermore, commercial PET plastic water bottle waste was employed as a substrate for electrocatalytic upcycling, and pure terephthalic acid (TPA) was recovered only after 1 h electrolysis. Lastly, density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that the key role of Cu was significantly reducing the Gibbs free-energy barrier (ΔG) of EGOR's rate-determining step (RDS), promoting catalysts' dynamic evolution, and facilitating the C-C bond cleavage.