Deep Learning with Pretrained Framework Unleashes the Power of Satellite-Based Global Fine-Mode Aerosol Retrieval.

Fine-mode aerosol optical depth (fAOD) is a vital proxy for the concentration of anthropogenic aerosols in the atmosphere. Currently, the limited data length and high uncertainty of the satellite-based data diminish the applicability of fAOD for climate research. Here, we propose a novel pretrained deep learning framework that can extract information underlying each satellite pixel and use it to create new latent features that can be employed for improving retrieval accuracy in regions without in situ data. With the proposed model, we developed a new global fAOD (at 0.5 µm) data from 2001 to 2020, resulting in a 10% improvement in the overall correlation coefficient (R) during site-based independent validation and a 15% enhancement in non-AERONET site areas validation. Over the past two decades, there has been a noticeable downward trend in global fAOD (-1.39 × 10-3/year). Compared to the general deep-learning model, our method reduces the global trend's previously overestimated magnitude by 7% per year. China has experienced the most significant decline (-5.07 × 10-3/year), which is 3 times greater than the global trend. Conversely, India has shown a significant increase (7.86 × 10-4/year). This study bridges the gap between sparse in situ observations and abundant satellite measurements, thereby improving predictive models for global patterns of fAOD and other climate factors.

Co(PO3)2@CoP Heterojunction in CoPO/GC/NF Nanoarrays Modulate Proton Hydrogen-Promoted Electrocatalytic Hydrodechlorination.

Cobalt phosphide has received much attention as an efficient catalyst for electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (EHDC). However, the active species proton hydrogen (H*) is consumed by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report a crystal regulation strategy for cobalt phosphate/graphitic nanocarbon/nickel foam (CoPO/GC/NF) catalysts applied for the EHDC of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Characterization revealed that during the high-temperature phosphatization process, CoPO/GC/NF catalysts developed Co(PO3)2@CoP heterojunctions, enhancing charge transfer at the electrolyte-catalyst interface and water dissociation. The interaction between Co(PO3)2 and CoP induced the reconstitution of CoP into the Co-OH species, which facilitated the production of H* by accelerating the Volmer step, enhancing EHDC activity. Furthermore, Co(PO3)2 species improve the catalyst tolerance, with CoPO/GC/NF(450) maintaining over 71% yield of phenoxyacetic acid (PA) in continuous testing for up to 80 h under high-salt conditions. This work clarifies the surface transformation process of CoP/GC/NF during hydrodechlorination and demonstrates great potential for chlorophenol wastewater remediation.

A 3D-printed acinar-mimetic silk fibroin-collagen-astragalus polysaccharide scaffold for tissue reconstruction and functional repair of damaged parotid glands.

Salivary glands are the principal organs responsible for secreting saliva in the oral cavity. Tumors, trauma, inflammation, and other factors can cause functional or structural damage to the glands, leading to reduced saliva secretion. In this study, we innovatively prepared a acinar-mimetic silk fibroin-collagen-astragalus polysaccharide (SCA) scaffold using low-temperature three-dimensional (3D) printing and freeze-drying techniques. We evaluated the material properties and cell compatibility of the scaffold in vitro and implanted it into the damaged parotid glands (PG) of rats to assess its efficacy in tissue reconstruction and functional repair. The results demonstrated that the SCA scaffold featured a porous structure resembling natural acini, providing an environment conducive to cell growth and orderly aggregation. It exhibited excellent porosity, water absorption, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, fulfilling the requirements for tissue engineering scaffolds. In vitro, the scaffold facilitated adhesion, proliferation, orderly polarization, and spherical aggregation of PG cells. In vivo, the SCA scaffold effectively recruited GECs locally, forming gland-like acinar structures that matured gradually, promoting the regeneration of damaged PGs. The SCA scaffold developed in this study supports tissue reconstruction and functional repair of damaged PGs, making it a promising implant material for salivary gland regeneration.

Substantial Underestimation of Fine-Mode Aerosol Loading from Wildfires and Its Radiative Effects in Current Satellite-Based Retrievals over the United States.

Wildfires generate abundant smoke primarily composed of fine-mode aerosols. However, accurately measuring the fine-mode aerosol optical depth (fAOD) is highly uncertain in most existing satellite-based aerosol products. Deep learning offers promise for inferring fAOD, but little has been done using multiangle satellite data. We developed an innovative angle-dependent deep-learning model (ADLM) that accounts for angular diversity in dual-angle observations. The model captures aerosol properties observed from dual angles in the contiguous United States and explores the potential of Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite-2's (GOSAT-2) measurements to retrieve fAOD at a 460 m spatial resolution. The ADLM demonstrates a strong performance through rigorous validation against ground-based data, revealing small biases. By comparison, the official fAOD product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), and the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) during wildfire events is underestimated by more than 40% over western USA. This leads to significant differences in estimates of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) from wildfires. The ADLM shows more than 20% stronger ARF than the MODIS, VIIRS, and MISR estimates, highlighting a greater impact of wildfire fAOD on Earth's energy balance.

Advances and Challenges in Interfacial Binding Forces for Electrocatalysts.

As a practical chemical energy conversion technology, electrocatalysis could be used in fields of energy conversion and environmental protection. In recent years, significant research efforts have been devoted to the design and development of high-performance electrocatalysts because the rational design of catalysts is crucial for enhancing electrocatalytic performance. Creating electrocatalysts by forming interactions between different components at the interface is an important means of controlling and improving performance. Therefore, several common interfacial binding forces used for synthesizing electrocatalysts was systematically summarized in this review for the first time. The discussion revolves around the crucial roles these binding forces play in various electrocatalytic reaction processes. Various characterization techniques capable of proving the existence of these interfacial binding forces was also involved in the review. Finally, some prospects and challenges for designing and researching materials through the utilization of interfacial binding forces were presented.

Improving denitrification estimation by joint inclusion of suspended particles and chlorophyll a in aquaculture ponds.

The denitrification process in aquaculture systems plays a crucial role in nitrogen (N) cycle and N budget estimation. Reliable models are needed to rapidly quantify denitrification rates and assess nitrogen losses. This study conducted a comparative analysis of denitrification rates in fish, crabs, and natural ponds in the Taihu region from March to November 2021, covering a complete aquaculture cycle. The results revealed that aquaculture ponds exhibited higher denitrification rates compared to natural ponds. Key variables influencing denitrification rates were Nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), Suspended particles (SPS), and chlorophyll a (Chla). There was a significant positive correlation between SPS concentration and denitrification rates. However, we observed that the denitrification rate initially rose with increasing Chla concentration, followed by a subsequent decline. To develop parsimonious models for denitrification rates in aquaculture ponds, we constructed five different statistical models to predict denitrification rates, among which the improved quadratic polynomial regression model (SQPR) that incorporated the three key parameters accounted for 80.7% of the variability in denitrification rates. Additionally, a remote sensing model (RSM) utilizing SPS and Chla explained 43.8% of the variability. The RSM model is particularly valuable for rapid estimation in large regions where remote sensing data are the only available source. This study enhances the understanding of denitrification processes in aquaculture systems, introduces a new model for estimating denitrification in aquaculture ponds, and offers valuable insights for environmental management.

Bicyclol attenuates pulmonary fibrosis with silicosis via both canonical and non-canonical TGF-ß1 signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Silicosis is an irreversible fibrotic disease of the lung caused by chronic exposure to silica dust, which manifests as infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pulmonary diffuse fibrosis. As the disease progresses, lung function further deteriorates, leading to poorer quality of life of patients. Currently, few effective drugs are available for the treatment of silicosis. Bicyclol (BIC) is a compound widely employed to treat chronic viral hepatitis and drug-induced liver injury. While recent studies have demonstrated anti-fibrosis effects of BIC on multiple organs, including liver, lung, and kidney, its therapeutic benefit against silicosis remains unclear. In this study, we established a rat model of silicosis, with the aim of evaluating the potential therapeutic effects of BIC. METHODS: We constructed a silicotic rat model and administered BIC after injury. The FlexiVent instrument with a forced oscillation system was used to detect the pulmonary function of rats. HE and Masson staining were used to assess the effect of BIC on silica-induced rats. Macrophages-inflammatory model of RAW264.7 cells, fibroblast-myofibroblast transition (FMT) model of NIH-3T3 cells, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model of TC-1 cells were established in vitro. And the levels of inflammatory mediators and fibrosis-related proteins were evaluated in vivo and in vitro after BIC treatment by Western Blot analysis, RT-PCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry experiments. RESULTS: BIC significantly improved static compliance of lung and expiratory and inspiratory capacity of silica-induced rats. Moreover, BIC reduced number of inflammatory cells and cytokines as well as collagen deposition in lungs, leading to delayed fibrosis progression in the silicosis rat model. Further exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that BIC suppressed the activation, polarization, and apoptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages induced by SiO2. Additionally, BIC inhibited SiO2-mediated secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1 in macrophages. BIC inhibited FMT of NIH-3T3 as well as EMT of TC-1 in the in vitro silicosis model, resulting in reduced proliferation and migration capability of NIH-3T3 cells. Further investigation of the cytokines secreted by macrophages revealed suppression of both FMT and EMT by BIC through targeting of TGF-ß1. Notably, BIC blocked the activation of JAK2/STAT3 in NIH-3T3 cells required for FMT while preventing both phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of SMAD2/3 in TC-1 cells necessary for the EMT process. CONCLUSION: The collective data suggest that BIC prevents both FMT and EMT processes, in turn, reducing aberrant collagen deposition. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that BIC ameliorates inflammatory cytokine secretion, in particular, TGF-ß1, and consequently inhibits FMT and EMT via TGF-ß1 canonical and non-canonical pathways, ultimately resulting in reduction of aberrant collagen deposition and slower progression of silicosis, supporting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent.

Development of a RNA-protein complex based smart drug delivery system for 9-hydroxycamptothecin.

Camptothecin (CPT) is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with a wide spectrum of anticancer activity. However, its application is hindered by poor solubility, lack of targeting specificity, and severe side effects. Structural derivatization of CPT and the development of suitable drug delivery systems are potential strategies for addressing these issues. In this study, we discovered that the protein Cytochrome P450 Family 1 Subfamily A Member 1 (CYP1A1) from Homo sapiens catalyzes CPT to yield 9-hydroxycamptothecin (9-HCPT), which exhibits increased water solubility and cytotoxicity. We then created a RNA-protein complex based drug delivery system with enzyme and pH responsiveness and improved the targeting and stability of the nanomedicine through protein module assembly. The subcellular localization of nanoparticles can be visualized using fluorescent RNA probes. Our results not only identified the protein CYP1A1 responsible for the structural derivatization of CPT to synthesize 9-HCPT but also offered potential strategies for enhancing the utilization of silk-based drug delivery systems in tumor therapy.

Dexborneol Amplifies Pregabalin's Analgesic Effect in Mouse Models of Peripheral Nerve Injury and Incisional Pain.

Pregabalin is a medication primarily used in the treatment of neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders, owing to its gabapentinoid properties. Pregabalin monotherapy faces limitations due to its variable efficacy and dose-dependent adverse reactions. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the potentiation of pregabalin's analgesic effects by dexborneol, a neuroprotective bicyclic monoterpenoid compound. We performed animal experiments where pain models were induced using two methods: peripheral nerve injury, involving axotomy and ligation of the tibial and common peroneal nerves, and incisional pain through a longitudinal incision in the hind paw, while employing a multifaceted methodology that integrates behavioral pharmacology, molecular biology, neuromorphology, and lipidomics to delve into the mechanisms behind this potentiation. Dexborneol was found to enhance pregabalin's efficacy by promoting its transportation to the central nervous system, disrupting self-amplifying vicious cycles via the reduction of HMGB1 and ATP release, and exerting significant anti-oxidative effects through modulation of central lipid metabolism. This combination therapy not only boosted pregabalin's analgesic property but also notably decreased its side effects. Moreover, this therapeutic cocktail exceeded basic pain relief, effectively reducing neuroinflammation and glial cell activation-key factors contributing to persistent and chronic pain. This study paves the way for more tolerable and effective analgesic options, highlighting the potential of dexborneol as an adjuvant to pregabalin therapy.

Semisynthesis and antitumor activity of endertiin B and related triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum.

Ganoderma lucidum, a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, is known for its medicinal value attributed to its active components called Ganoderma triterpenoids (GTs). However, the limited isolation rate of these GTs has hindered their potential as promising drug candidates. Therefore, it is imperative to achieve large-scale preparation of GTs. In this study, four GTs were effectively synthesised from lanosterol. The antitumor activity of these GTs was evaluated in vivo. Endertiin B exhibited potent inhibitory activity against breast cancer cells (9.85 ± 0.91 µM and 12.12 ± 0.95 µM). Further investigations demonstrated that endertiin B significantly upregulated p21 and p27 and downregulated cyclinD1 expression, arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis by decreasing BCL-2 and increasing BAX and BAK levels. Additionally, endertiin B was found to reduce the expression of proteins associated with the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. To summarize, endertiin B effectively inhibited cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis through the PI3K-AKT pathway.

4.4 kW Nd:YAG slab amplifier with a high repetition frequency and high beam quality.

Using the self-developed fused indium wetting technology and planar waveguide, the uniform heat dissipation of the slab crystal and uniform pumping of the pump light were achieved, respectively. Based on the master oscillator power amplification (MOPA) scheme, the power was then amplified when the seed light source passed through the Nd:YAG slab crystal three times. Additionally, the image transfer system that we added to the amplified optical path achieved high beam quality. Finally, we obtained a rectangular pulsed laser with an output average power of 4461 W, a repetition frequency of 20 kHz, a pulse width of 62 ns, an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 26.8%, and a beam quality of ß x=7.0 and ß y=7.7.

Small water body significantly contributes to nitrous oxide emissions in China's aquaculture.

Aquaculture systems are expected to act as potential hotspots for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, largely attributed to substantial nutrient loading from aquafeed applications. However, the specific patterns and contributions of N2O fluxes from these systems to the global emissions inventory are not well characterized due to limited data. This study investigates the patterns of N2O flux across 127 freshwater systems in China to elucidate the role of aquaculture ponds and lakes/reservoirs in landscape N2O emission. Our findings show that the average N2O flux from aquaculture ponds was 3.63 times higher (28.73 µg N2O m-2 h-1) than that from non-aquaculture ponds. Additionally, the average N2O flux from aquaculture lakes/reservoirs (15.65 µg N2O m-2 h-1) increased 3.05 times compared to non-aquaculture lakes/reservoirs. The transition from non-aquaculture to aquaculture practices has resulted in a net annual increase of 7589 ± 2409 Mg N2O emissions in China's freshwater systems from 2003 to 2022, equivalent to 20% of total N2O emissions from China's inland water. Particularly, the robust negative regression relationship between N2O emission intensity and water area suggests that small ponds are hotspots of N2O emissions, a result of both elevated nutrient concentrations and more vigorous biogeochemical cycles. This indicates that N2O emissions from smaller aquaculture ponds are larger per unit area compared to equivalent larger water bodies. Our findings highlight that N2O emissions from aquaculture systems can not be proxied by those from natural water bodies, especially small water bodies exhibiting significant but largely unquantified N2O emissions. In the context of the rapid global expansion of aquaculture, this underscores the critical need to integrate aquaculture into global assessments of inland water N2O emissions to advance towards a low-carbon future.

Observer-based hierarchical distributed model predictive control for multi-linear motor traction systems.

This paper proposes an observer-based hierarchical distributed model predictive control (MPC) strategy for ensuring speed consistency in multi-linear motor traction systems. First, a communication topology is considered to ensure information exchange. Secondly, the control architecture of each agent is divided into upper layers and lower layers. The upper layer utilizes a distributed MPC method to track the leader's speed. The lower layer uses a decentralized MPC method to track the command signals sent by its upper layer controller. In addition, to eliminate the negative impact of disturbance, a nonlinear disturbance observer is designed. We then prove the asymptotic stability of the entire system by properly designing the Lyapunov equation. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed strategy is verified based on several simulations.

Short-Term Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients With Pure Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative treatment for patients with pure severe aortic regurgitation (PSAR) who are contraindicated for surgery or have a high surgical risk. However, the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TAVR in low Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score risk patients remain to be clarified. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of TAVR treatment in different STS-risk patients and to compare the adverse events between the groups. In this study, patients with PSAR who underwent TAVR at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China, during the inclusion period were included and categorized into 3 groups based on STS scores. The baseline data, imaging results, and follow-up data of the patients were documented. Therefore, of 75 TAVR patients, 38 (50.7%) were categorized as low risk (STS <4), and 37 (49.3%) patients were categorized as intermediate and high risk (STS ≥4). Compared with patients at intermediate and high risk, those in the low-risk group were younger, had a lower body mass index, had a lower prevalence of hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and previous percutaneous coronary intervention, and had better cardiac function (p all <0.05). In the hospital and at the 1-month follow-up, the degree of aortic regurgitation and cardiac function were significantly improved. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the hospital or during the 30-day follow-up. In conclusion, TAVR for PSAR in low-STS-risk patients is safe and efficient during 30 days of follow-up compared with intermediate- and high-STS-risk groups. TAVR for PSAR should not be limited to inoperable or STS-defined high-risk patients. Long-term follow-up is needed for further investigation.

Research progress of acupuncture regulating ERK signaling pathway in the treatment of depression. / 针刺调控ERKä¿¡å·é€šè·¯æ²»ç–—æŠ‘éƒç—‡çš„ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Acupuncture treatment for depression has definite therapeutic efficacy, and its mechanism has been extensively studied. The extracellular regulatory protein kinase(ERK) signaling pathway is involved in the development and progression of depression. This article reviewed and summarized the research progress on the regulation of the ERK signaling pathway by acupuncture in the treatment of depression in recent years, focusing on the physiological activation and regulatory mechanism of the ERK signaling pathway, its association with the occurrence of depression, and the mechanisms through which acupuncture activates the ERK signaling pathway to treat depression (including enhancing neuronal synaptic plasticity, promoting the release of neurotrophic factors, and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis). Future research could explore the relationship between the ERK pathway and other pathways, investigate other brain regions besides the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, examine differences in regulatory mechanisms between male and female patients, assess the effects of different acupuncture techniques on the ERK pathway, and increase efforts to explore mechanism of synaptic plasticity regulation, so as to provide reference for the clinical application and mechanism sludy of acupuncture in depression treatment.

Correction to "Diterpenoid Tanshinones Can Inhibit Lung Cancer Progression by Improving the Tumor Microenvironment and Downregulation of NF-κB Expression".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09667.].

An engineered Pichia pastoris platform for the biosynthesis of silk-based nanomaterials with therapeutic potential.

Silk fibroin (SF) from the cocoon of silkworm has exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility and is used as a biomaterial in a variety of fields. Sustainable, affordable, and scalable manufacturing of SF would enable its large-scale use. We report for the first time the high-level secretory production of recombinant SF peptides in engineered Pichia pastoris cell factories and the processing thereof to nanomaterials. Two SF peptides (BmSPR3 and BmSPR4) were synthesized and secreted by P. pastoris using signal peptides and appropriate spacing between hydrophilic sequences. By strain engineering to reduce protein degradation, increase glycyl-tRNA supply, and improve protein secretion, we created the optimized P. pastoris chassis PPGSP-8 to produce BmSPR3 and BmSPR4. The SF fed-batch fermentation titers of the resulting two P. pastoris cell factories were 11.39 and 9.48 g/L, respectively. Protein self-assembly was inhibited by adding Tween 80 to the medium. Recombinant SF peptides were processed to nanoparticles (NPs) and nanofibrils. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles R3NPs and R4NPs from the recombinant SFs synthesized in P. pastoris cell factories were similar or superior to those of RSFNPs (Regenerated Silk Fibroin NanoParticles) originating from commercially available SF. Our work will facilitate the production by microbial fermentation of functional SF for use as a biomaterial.

Prescribed Performance Fault-Tolerant Control for Synchronization of Heterogeneous Nonlinear MASs Using Reinforcement Learning.

In this article, a novel approach of prescribed performance synchronization control is developed for heterogeneous nonlinear multiagent systems (MASs) subject to unknown actuator faults. Considering that not all followers are able to access the information of the leader, a distributed auxiliary perception system is proposed to estimate the state information of the leader to guarantee that the estimation errors converge to zero within fixed time. Then, based on the estimated states, a prescribed performance fault-tolerant control (FTC) approach is proposed, which achieves the user-defined performance specifications even in the presence of system faults. Moreover, as accurate system dynamic models are perhaps hard to acquire in practical engineering, a data-based method is proposed by using the reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to design the fault-tolerant controller, which only needs the off-policy online data and is independent of the model dynamics of followers. The stability and synchronization with the prescribed behavior are guaranteed through the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed controller.

The role of inflammation in silicosis.

Silicosis is a chronic illness marked by diffuse fibrosis in lung tissue resulting from continuous exposure to SiO2-rich dust in the workplace. The onset and progression of silicosis is a complicated and poorly understood pathological process involving numerous cells and molecules. However, silicosis poses a severe threat to public health in developing countries, where it is the most prevalent occupational disease. There is convincing evidence supporting that innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as their cytokines, play a significant role in the development of silicosis. In this review, we describe the roles of immune cells and cytokines in silicosis, and summarize current knowledge on several important inflammatory signaling pathways associated with the disease, aiming to provide novel targets and strategies for the treatment of silicosis-related inflammation.

Biosynthesis of the highly oxygenated tetracyclic core skeleton of Taxol.

Taxol is a widely-applied anticancer drug that inhibits microtubule dynamics in actively replicating cells. Although a minimum 19-step biosynthetic pathway has been proposed and 16 enzymes likely involved have been characterized, stepwise biosynthetic reactions from the well-characterized di-oxygenated taxoids to Taxol tetracyclic core skeleton are yet to be elucidated. Here, we uncover the biosynthetic pathways for a few tri-oxygenated taxoids via confirming the critical reaction order of the second and third hydroxylation steps, unearth a taxoid 9α-hydroxylase catalyzing the fourth hydroxylation, and identify CYP725A55 catalyzing the oxetane ester formation via a cascade oxidation-concerted acyl rearrangement mechanism. After identifying a acetyltransferase catalyzing the formation of C7-OAc, the pathway producing the highly-oxygenated 1ß-dehydroxybaccatin VI with the Taxol tetracyclic core skeleton is elucidated and its complete biosynthesis from taxa-4(20),11(12)-diene-5α-ol is achieved in an engineered yeast. These systematic studies lay the foundation for the complete elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway of Taxol.