[Growth characteristic of statolith of Todarodes pacificus in the East China Sea in the La Niña year]. / 拉尼娜发生期东海太平洋褶柔鱼耳石生长特征.

To investigate the differences on morphological growth patterns of statolith of Todarodes pacificus in the East China Sea during La Niña and normal years, we analyzed the samples of T. pacificus collected in the East China Sea by Chinese light purse seine fishery fleets from February to April in 2020 (a normal year) and 2021 (a La Niña year). The results showed that total statolith length (TSL), lateral dome length (LDL), wing length (WL), and maximum width (MW) could be used as characterization parameters to representing the morphological growth of statolith. The characterization parameters of statolith in T. pacificus differed significantly between different climate years and between different genders. The values of those characterization parameters of statolith were greater in normal year than those in La Niña year, which in both years were larger in females, except for TSL in males in La Niña year. The statolith growth of males were faster than that of females in different climate years. TSL, LDL, and WL increased faster in normal year, while MW increased faster in La Niña year. The relative size of statolith gradually slowed down with the growth of individuals.

The critical role of electron donating rate of pyrogenic carbon in mediating the degradation of phenols in the aquatic environment.

Phenols are the widely detected contaminants in the aquatic environment. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) can mediate phenols degradation, but the specific properties of PyC or phenols influencing this reaction remain unknown. The present study investigated the kinetic process and mechanism of removal of various phenols by different PyC in aqueous phase system. To avoid the impact of the accumulated degradation byproducts on the overall reaction, we conducted a short-term experiment, quantified adsorption and degradation, and obtained reaction rate constants using a two-compartment first-order kinetics model. The adsorption rate constants (ka) of phenols by PyC were 10-220 times higher than degradation rate constants (kd), and they were positively correlated. Interestingly, no correlation was found between kd and common PyC properties, including functional groups, electron transfer capacities, and surface properties. Phenols were primarily attacked by •OH in the adsorbed phase. But neither the instantly trapped •OH, nor the accumulated •OH could explain phenol degradation. Chemical redox titration revealed that the electron transfer parameters, such as the electron donating rate constant (kED) of PyC, correlated well with kd (r>0.87, P < 0.05) of phenols. Analysis of 13 phenols showed that Egap and ELUMO negatively correlated with their kd, confirming the importance of the electronic properties of phenols to their degradation kinetics. This study highlights the importance of PyC electron transfer kinetics parameters for phenols degradation and manipulation of PyC electron transfer rate may accelerate organic pollutant removal, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the environmental behavior and application of PyC systems.

Large-scale lexical and genetic alignment supports a hybrid model of Han Chinese demic and cultural diffusions.

The Han Chinese history is shaped by substantial demographic activities and sociocultural transmissions. However, it remains challenging to assess the contributions of demic and cultural diffusion to Han culture and language, primarily due to the lack of rigorous examination of genetic-linguistic congruence. Here we digitized a large-scale linguistic inventory comprising 1,018 lexical traits across 926 dialect varieties. Using phylogenetic analysis and admixture inference, we revealed a north-south gradient of lexical differences that probably resulted from historical migrations. Furthermore, we quantified extensive horizontal language transfers and pinpointed central China as a dialectal melting pot. Integrating genetic data from 30,408 Han Chinese individuals, we compared the lexical and genetic landscapes across 26 provinces. Our results support a hybrid model where demic diffusion predominantly impacts central China, while cultural diffusion and language assimilation occur in southwestern and coastal regions, respectively. This interdisciplinary study sheds light on the complex social-genetic history of the Han Chinese.

Inferring language dispersal patterns with velocity field estimation.

Reconstructing the spatial evolution of languages can deepen our understanding of the demic diffusion and cultural spread. However, the phylogeographic approach that is frequently used to infer language dispersal patterns has limitations, primarily because the phylogenetic tree cannot fully explain the language evolution induced by the horizontal contact among languages, such as borrowing and areal diffusion. Here, we introduce the language velocity field estimation, which does not rely on the phylogenetic tree, to infer language dispersal trajectories and centre. Its effectiveness and robustness are verified through both simulated and empirical validations. Using language velocity field estimation, we infer the dispersal patterns of four agricultural language families and groups, encompassing approximately 700 language samples. Our results show that the dispersal trajectories of these languages are primarily compatible with population movement routes inferred from ancient DNA and archaeological materials, and their dispersal centres are geographically proximate to ancient homelands of agricultural or Neolithic cultures. Our findings highlight that the agricultural languages dispersed alongside the demic diffusions and cultural spreads during the past 10,000 years. We expect that language velocity field estimation could aid the spatial analysis of language evolution and further branch out into the studies of demographic and cultural dynamics.

A brain-tumor neural circuit controls breast cancer progression in mice.

Tumor burden, considered a common chronic stressor, can cause widespread anxiety. Evidence suggests that cancer-induced anxiety can promote tumor progression, but the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used neuroscience and cancer tools to investigate how the brain contributes to tumor progression via nerve-tumor crosstalk in a mouse model of breast cancer. We show that tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety-like behaviors and that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central medial amygdala (CeM) were activated. Moreover, we detected newly formed sympathetic nerves in tumors, which established a polysynaptic connection to the brain. Pharmacogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) circuit significantly alleviated anxiety-like behaviors and slowed tumor growth. Conversely, artificial activation of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit increased anxiety and tumor growth. Importantly, we found alprazolam, an antianxiety drug, to be a promising agent for slowing tumor progression. Furthermore, we show that manipulation of the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit directly regulated the activity of the intratumoral sympathetic nerves and peripheral nerve-derived norepinephrine, which affected tumor progression by modulating antitumor immunity. Together, these findings reveal a brain-tumor neural circuit that contributes to breast cancer progression and provide therapeutic insights for breast cancer.

Host protection against Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages by prior vaccination in spring 2022 COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai.

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.

[Phosphorus Removal Performance and Mechanism of Modified Zeolite Using Alum Sludge Acidified Extraction Liquid].

To improve the capacity for phosphorus removal and to reduce the cost of treatment, alum sludge from a water supply plant was obtained to prepare modified zeolite coated with layered double hydroxide (LDHs), which was synthesized using an acidified extraction liquid. The surface characteristics and chemical composition of raw zeolites, Al-Zn modified zeolites, and alum sludge modified zeolites were determined, and the isothermal adsorption and adsorption kinetics were analyzed. The performance and mechanism of phosphorus removal by the alum sludge modified zeolites were evaluated. The results showed that the optimum conditions for acidification extraction were 60 min treatment time, 150 r·min-1, and pH 1.0, which achieved 77 mg aluminum extraction rate per gram of alum sludge. Compared to raw zeolites, the maximum saturated adsorption capacity and the desorption performance of the zeolites were significantly increased by this modification. In addition, the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of alum sludge modified zeolites was increased from 30.24 mg·kg-1 to 170.40 mg·kg-1. The modification changed the main mode of phosphate adsorption by zeolite from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption. Alum sludge modification could improve the efficiency of phosphate adsorption and the regeneration capacity of zeolite, which could reduce the risk of water eutrophication caused by high phosphate concentrations, and could achieve the purpose of waste control by waste.