Biomass fuels related-PM2.5 promotes lung fibroblast-myofibroblast transition through PI3K/AKT/TRPC1 pathway.

Emerging evidence has suggested that exposure to PM2.5 is a significant contributing factor to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying biological effects and mechanisms of PM2.5 in COPD pathology remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to investigate the implication and regulatory effect of biomass fuels related-PM2.5 (BRPM2.5) concerning the pathological process of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) in the context of COPD. In vivo experimentation revealed that exposure to biofuel smoke was associated with airway inflammation in rats. After 4 weeks of exposure, there was inflammation in the small airways, but no significant structural changes in the airway walls. However, after 24 weeks, airway remodeling occurred due to increased collagen deposition, myofibroblast proliferation, and tracheal wall thickness. In vitro, cellular immunofluorescence results showed that with stimulation of BRPM2.5 for 72 h, the cell morphology of fibroblasts changed significantly, most of the cells changed from spindle-shaped to star-shaped irregular, α-SMA stress fibers appeared in the cytoplasm and the synthesis of type I collagen increased. The collagen gel contraction experiment showed that the contractility of fibroblasts was enhanced. The expression level of TRPC1 in fibroblasts was increased. Specific siRNA-TRPC1 blocked BRPM2.5-induced FMT and reduced cell contractility. Additionally, specific siRNA-TRPC1 resulted in a decrease in the augment of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) induced by BRPM2.5. Notably, it was found that the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited enhancement of AKT phosphorylation level, FMT occurrence, and elevation of TRPC1 protein expression induced by BRPM2.5. The findings indicated that BRPM2.5 is capable of inducing the FMT, with the possibility of mediation by PI3K/AKT/TRPC1. These results hold potential implications for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in BRPM2.5-induced COPD and may aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for pathological conditions characterized by fibrosis.

Enhancing Surgical Nursing Student Performance: Comparative Study of Simulation-Based Learning and Problem-Based Learning.

Background: Surgical nursing is a high-risk, high-pressure, and complex field. Nurses need extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) are effective student-centered methods. Which method is better for surgical nurse training? More research is needed to determine the best approach for undergraduate surgical nurse education. Purpose: To compare the impact of PBL and SBL on undergraduate nursing students' performance and improve learning outcomes in surgical nursing education. Methods: We used a pretest/post-test design with 318 nursing undergraduates randomly assigned to two groups. Participants completed three progressive scenarios focused on surgical nursing cases. Experts blindly reviewed video recordings using the 70-item Korean Nurses' Core Competence Scale (KNCCS) to assess performance. The 13-item Satisfaction and Self-confidence in learning Scale (SSS) measured learning confidence and satisfaction. SBL participants also completed the 16-item Educational Practices in Simulation Scale (EPSS) and 20-item Simulation Design Scale (SDS). Results: The study found significant positive effects on both groups, with noticeable improvements in post-test, retention, and follow-up test results (P < 0.001). The SBL group showed higher competency levels in nurses (P < 0.001). The Cohen's d and effect size (r) for various skills were as follows: clinical performance (0.84767 and 6.39023), critical thinking (0.31017 and 0.15325), professional attitude (0.85868 and 0.39452), and communication skills (1.55149 and 0.61294). The satisfaction and self-confidence of nurses were higher in the SBL group (4.53±0.596; 4.47±0.611) compared to the PBL group (4.32±0.689; 4.25±0.632) in all dimensions of SSS (all P < 0.05). The SBL group also scored high in simulation design and EPSS. However, improvements are needed in fidelity, objectives, information, and students' expectations. Conclusion: SBL and PBL improve nurses' core competence, satisfaction, and self-confidence. SBL is superior. This study promotes student-centered education, enhancing surgical nursing professionals' quality and ensuring future patient safety.

Online Testing Method for the Fine Spectral Characteristics of Narrow-Band Interference Filters Based on a Narrow-Linewidth Tunable Laser.

The transmission spectrum of a narrow-band interference filter is crucial and highly influenced by factors such as the temperature and angle, thus requiring precise and online measurements. The traditional method of measuring the transmission spectrum of an interference filter involves the use of a spectrometer, but the accuracy of this method is limited. Moreover, placing a narrow-band interference filter inside a spectrometer hinders real-time online measurements. To address this issue, there is demand for high-precision online spectral testing methods. In response to this demand, we propose and experimentally validate a fine spectral characterization method for narrow-band interference filters. This method uses a narrow-linewidth tunable laser, achieving a spectral resolution in the MHz range for online testing. Two types of narrow-band interference filters were tested using the constructed laser spectroscopy experimental system, obtaining a transmission spectrum with a spectral resolution of 318 MHz. In comparison to spectrometer-based methods, our proposed method demonstrates higher spectral accuracy, enables online measurements, and provides more accurate measurements for special spectral interference filters. This approach has significant application value and promising development prospects.

Response of microbial community to different media in start-up period of Annan constructed wetland in Beijing of China.

Microbial community, as the decomposers of constructed wetland (CW), plays crucial role in biodegradation and biotransformation of pollutants, nutrient cycling and the maintenance of ecosystem balance. In this study, 9 water samples, 6 sediment samples, and 8 plant samples were collected in Annan CW, which has the functions of water treatment and wetland culture park. The characteristics of microbial community structure in different media were illustrated by using of high-throughput sequencing-based metagenomics approach and statistical analysis. Meanwhile, this study identified and classified human pathogens in CW to avoid potential risks to human health. The results showed that dominant bacteria phyla in CW include Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia. The distribution of microorganisms in three media is different, but not significant. And the pH and DO profoundly affected microbe abundance, followed by water temperature. The microbial diversity in sediments is the highest, which is similar with the detection of human pathogens in sediments. Moreover, compared with Calamus, Lythrum salicaria and Reed, Scirpus tabernaemontani has fewer pathogenic microorganisms. The distribution of microorganisms in the CW is complex, and a variety of human pathogens are detected, which is more prone to create potential risks to human health and should receive additional attention.

Negative Lymph Node Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Stage III Gastric Cancer Patients After Curative Gastrectomy: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Negative lymph node (NLN)' s prognostic impact on stage III gastric cancer (GC) patients after curative gastrectomy has not been rigorously studied. We aimed to explore the relationship between NLNs count and outcomes of stage III GC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated stage III gastric cancer cases between 2008 and 2018 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Variables were compared by chi2 test. Kaplan-Meier methods and COX proportional hazard models were used to ascertain independent prognostic factors. Survival differences among the subgroups were analyzed to assess the effects of NLN count on overall survival (OS) in stage III GC patients. RESULTS: 2373 patients with curative gastrectomy for stage III GC were identified. Univariate analysis demonstrated that NLNs count >14 was associated better 5-year OS (43.7% VS 23.1%, P< .001) comparing with the NLNs count ≤ 14. Subgroup analysis showed that the NLNs count could predict survival in both node-negative and node-positive patients. Multivariate analysis revealed NLNs count is an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The NLNs count is an independent prognostic factor for survival in stage III gastric cancer patients after curative gastrectomy and should be recommended for clinical applications.

Characteristics of resistome and bacterial community structure in constructed wetland during dormant period: A fullscale study from Annan wetland.

As a green technology, constructed wetlands (CWs) can provide a low-cost solution for wastewater treatment. Either as a standalone treatment or integrated with conventional treatment, nutrients, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB)/antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can be removed by CW efficiently. While, few studies have focused on characteristics of resistome and bacterial community (BC) structure in CW during dormant period. Therefore, in this study, Annan CW (a full-scale hybrid CW) was selected to characterize resistome and BC during dormant period. The profiles of bacteria / ARGs were monitored in combination of shotgun sequencing and metagenomic assembly analysis. And multidrug ARGs are the most abundant in Annan CW, and surface flow wetland had the relatively high ARG diversity and abundance compared with subsurface flow wetland and the front pond. The most dominant phylum in CW is Proteobacteria, while the other dominant phylum in three parts have different order. COD, TP, TN, ARGs, and mobile genetic genes (MGEs) were removed by subsurface flow CW with better performance, but virulent factors (VFs) were removed by surface flow CW with better performance. Based on the spatiotemporal distribution of ARGs, the internal mechanism of ARGs dynamic variation was explored by the redundancy analysis (RDA) and variation partitioning analysis (VPA). BCs, MGEs and environmental factors (EFs) were responsible for 45.6 %, 28.3 % and 15.4 % of the ARGs variations. Among these factors, BCs and MGEs were the major co-drivers impacting the ARG profile, and EFs indirectly influence the ARG profile. This study illustrates the specific functions of ARG risk elimination in different CW components, promotes a better understanding of the efficiency of CWs for the reduction of ARG and ARB, contributing to improve the removal performance of constructed wetlands. And provide management advice to further optimize the operation of CWs during dormant period.

Fate of resistome components and characteristics of microbial communities in constructed wetlands and their receiving river.

Currently, most researches focus on that constructed wetlands (CWs) achieve desirable removal of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and human pathogens. However, few studies have assessed the fate of resistome components, especially the behavior and cooccurrence of ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and virulence factors (VFs). Therefore, characteristics of microbial communities (MCs) in CWs and their receiving rivers also deserve attention. These factors are critical to water ecological security. This study used two CWs to explore the fate of resistome components and characteristics of MCs in the CWs and their receiving river. Eleven samples were collected from the two CWs and their receiving river. High-throughput profiles of ARGs and microbial taxa in the samples were characterized. 31 ARG types consisting of 400 subtypes with total relative abundance 42.63-84.94× /Gb of sequence were detected in CWs, and 62.07-88.08× /Gb of sequence in river, evidencing that ARG pollution covered CWs and the river, and implying huge potential risks from ARGs. MGEs and VFs were detected, and tnpA, IS91 and intI1 were the three dominant MGEs, while Flagella. Type IV pili and peritrichous flagella were main VFs. Both CWs can remove ARGs, MGEs and VFs efficiently. However, some ARGs were difficult to remove, such as sul1 and sul2, and certain ARGs remained in the effluent of the CWs. The co-occurrence of ARGs, MGEs, and VFs implies the risk of antibiotic resistance and dissemination of ARGs. Eighty-five types of human pathogen were detected in the river samples, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Aeromonas hydrophila and Helicobacter pylori. Correlation analysis indicated that MCs had significant effects on the profiles of ARGs in the water environment. This study reveals potential risks of the reuse of reclaimed water, and illustrates the removal ability of ARGs and related elements by CWs. This study will be helpful for monitoring and managing resistomes in water environments.

Analysis of Infertility Factors Caused by Gynecological Chronic Pelvic Inflammation Disease Based on Multivariate Regression Analysis of Logistic.

In order to solve the complex and recurrent problem of chronic pelvic inflammation disease (CPID) in the process of the clinical treatment, a method of understanding the influencing factors of CPID by investigating the actual situation of clinical cases and using logistics regression analysis was proposed in this study. A total of 204 outpatients were selected from a certain hospital. The ratio of the cases in the experimental group to those in the control group stands at 1 : 1. The results were obtained as follows. According to the data of CPID patients collected in the paper, the majority of patients had a high school education background or below technical secondary school education background, accounting for 66.7%. And the majority of patients were manual workers, accounting for 69.1%. All the exp (B) values of the frequency of sex life per month ≥ 9 times, frequent sex life during menstruation, IUD contraception, no contraception, abortion ≥ 3 times, vaginal irrigation per week ≥ 1 time, and intrauterine surgery ≥ 3 times were more than 1. These seven factors were the risk factors for chronic pelvic inflammation. Oral contraceptives were a weak protective factor of chronic pelvic inflammation. These factors including early drug withdrawal (53.1%), without understanding the condition of the disease (35.7%), no time to review the disease (24.5%), and irregular medication (21.4%) accounted for a large proportion. They were associated with the recurrence of CPID. This method is aimed at providing some foundations for establishing effective prevention and control measures for chronic pelvic inflammation and providing a recognized clinical diagnosis and efficacy evaluation criteria for the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammation.

Real-Time Monitoring of SO2 Emissions Using a UV Camera with Built-in NO2 and Aerosol Corrections.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) absorption correction of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) camera was demonstrated for the first time. The key to improving the measurement accuracy is to combine a differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument with the SO2 camera for the real-time NO2 absorption correction and aerosol scattering correction. This method performs NO2 absorption correction by the correlation between the NO2 column density measurement of the DOAS and the NO2 optical depth of the corresponding channel from the SO2 camera at a narrow wavelength window around 310 and 310 nm. The error of correction method is estimated through comparison with only using the second channel of the traditional SO2 camera to correct for aerosol scattering and it can be reduced by 11.3% after NO2 absorption corrections. We validate the correction method through experiments and demonstrate it to be of greatly improved accuracy. The result shows that the ultraviolet (UV) SO2 camera system with NO2 absorption corrections appears to have great application prospects as a technology for visualized real-time monitoring of SO2 emissions.

An integrated multidisciplinary-based framework for characterizing environmental risks of heavy metals and their effects on antibiotic resistomes in agricultural soils.

In this study, a new integrated multidisciplinary-based framework has been proposed to better understand the environmental risks of heavy metals (HMs) in agricultural soils. The source apportionment results revealed by a multilinear engine model were incorporated into the geochemical indexes and the probabilistic health risk assessment models for identifying the source-oriented risks of HMs in the environment. High-throughput sequencing-based metagenomic assembly analysis was used for characterizing the prevalence and dissemination risk of antibiotic resistomes and their associations with the geochemical enrichment of HMs in the soils. Results showed agricultural and industrial activities were the main sources of HMs in the environment. Although the soils were contaminated moderately by HMs and the health risks posed by soil metals were negligible for both adult and children, source-oriented risk evaluation suggested agricultural activities contributed relatively higher contamination and health risks than the other sources. Notably, abundant and diverse antibiotic resistant genes, mobile gene elements, virulence factors, and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens were identified in the agricultural soils, as well as their co-occurrences on the same contigs, implying a non-negligible resistome risk. Further, statistical and network analyses showed the geochemical enrichment of HMs exerted significant effects on the antibiotic resistomes in the environment.

Solid-state 589 nm seed laser based on Raman fiber amplifier for sodium wind/temperature lidar in Tibet, China.

A narrowband sodium lidar for measuring mesospheric temperature and wind has been established at YangBaJing, Tibet (90°E, 30°N, 4300 m a.s.l), China. The system is designed and optimized based on important upgrades using new technology. In the lidar system, single-mode 589 nm seed laser is produced by frequency doubling of 1178 nm diode laser with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. The output power of 589 nm continuous-wave laser is up to 1.5 W with the help of a seed-injected Raman fiber amplifier. Furthermore, fast three-frequency switcher is designed with a couple of fiber magneto optical switches (FMOS) for measuring wind and temperature, simultaneously, which greatly reduces the system maintenance. These improvements greatly simplify the lidar system, thus, achieve robust operation with minimum maintenance requirements.

2D visualization of hot gas based on a mid-infrared molecular Faraday imaging filter.

This Letter presents recent results on, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental demonstration of a mid-infrared molecular Faraday imaging filter (MOFIF)-based camera for hot gas visualization. Gas-phase nitric oxide (NO) is used as the working material of the MOFIF due to the fact that NO is the typical representative of the paramagnetic species and plays an important role in the chemical and physical process of combustion reaction. The MOFIF transmission with comb-like transmittance spectrum is elaborately designed and matches well with the radiation spectrum of NO gas. Pure NO infrared images have been well captured in a combustion environment, and shown as a video that demonstrates the imaging capability and gas selectivity of MOFIF.

Development of an imaging gas correlation spectrometry based mid-infrared camera for two-dimensional mapping of CO in vehicle exhausts.

Real-time imaging of CO in vehicle exhaust was demonstrated using a gas correlation spectrometry based mid-infrared camera for the first time. The novel gas-correlation imaging technique is used to eliminate the spectral interferences from background radiation and other major combustion products, and reduce the influences of the optical jitter and temperature variations, thereby identifying and quantifying the gas. We take several spectral factors into account for the instrument design, concentration calibration and data evaluation, including atmospheric transmission, radiation interference, as well as the spectral response of infrared camera, filter and gas cell. A calibration method based on the molecular spectroscopy and radiative transfer equation is developed to identify the numerical relationship between the CO concentration × length and the measured image intensity. Two-dimensional CO distribution of vehicle exhaust with a time resolution of 50 Hz and detection limit of 20 ppm × meter is achieved when the distance between optical equipment and engine nozzle is 3 m. The gas correlation spectrometry based mid-infrared camera shows a great potential as a future technique to monitor vehicle pollution emissions quantitatively and visually.

Demonstration of a mid-infrared NO molecular Faraday optical filter.

A molecular Faraday optical filter (MFOF) working in the mid-infrared region is realized for the first time. NO molecule was used as the working material of the MFOF for potential applications in atmospheric remote sensing and combustion diagnosis. We develop a complete theory to describe the performance of MFOF by taking both Zeeman absorption and Faraday rotation into account. We also record the Faraday rotation transmission (FRT) signal using a quantum cascade laser over the range of 1,820 cm-1 to 1,922 cm-1 and calibrate it by using a 101.6 mm long solid germanium etalon with a free spectral range of 0.012 cm-1. Good agreement between the simulation results and experimental data is achieved. The NO-MFOF's transmission characteristics as a function of magnetic field and pressure are studied in detail. Both Comb-like FRT spectrum and single branch transmission spectrum are obtained by changing the magnetic field. The diversity of FRT spectrum expands the range of potential applications in infrared optical remote sensing. This filtering method can also be extended to the lines of other paramagnetic molecules.

[Determination of as in industrial wastewater by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy].

The wastewater from industrial smelting process contains heavy metals such as arsenic (As) that produce serious environmental pollution and cause actual harm to the health of people. It is necessary to control the pollution at the source and achieve a real-time and online monitoring. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new elemental analysis technique, and has the advantage of rapid detection. An LIBS setup has been established. The Nd : YAG laser beam is focused onto the sample, then the plasmas are produced. The emission spectra of plasmas are dispersed by an Echelle spectrograph and detected by an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD). Experiments have been carried out on the industrial wastewater collected from the scene. The spectral lines of As element were obtained. The calibration curve of the line intensities versus the concentrations of the As element was acquired by the experiment. The calibration curve can be used for the quantitative analysis of arsenic element with an unknown concentration in the industrial wastewater. The results showed that the LIBS technique can be applied in the rapid detection of As element in industrial wastewater, and has wide range of applications.