Changes in frailty and incident cardiovascular disease in three prospective cohorts.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous studies found that frailty was an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies only focused on baseline frailty status, not taking into consideration the changes in frailty status during follow-up. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of changes in frailty status with incident CVD. METHODS: This study used data of three prospective cohorts: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Frailty status was evaluated by the Rockwood frailty index and classified as robust, pre-frail, or frail. Changes in frailty status were assessed by frailty status at baseline and the second survey which was two years after the baseline. Cardiovascular disease was ascertained by self-reported physician-diagnosed heart disease (including angina, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and other heart problems) or stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 7116 participants from CHARLS (female: 48.6%, mean age: 57.4 years), 5303 from ELSA (female: 57.7%, mean age: 63.7 years), and 7266 from HRS (female: 64.9%, mean age: 65.1 years) were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The median follow-up periods were 5.0 years in the CHARLS, 10.7 years in the ELSA, and 9.5 years in the HRS. Compared with stable robust participants, robust participants who progressed to pre-frail or frail status had increased risks of incident CVD (CHARLS, HR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.54-2.21; ELSA, HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.25-1.86; HRS, HR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.31-1.92). In contrast, frail participants who recovered to robust or pre-frail status presented decreased risks of incident CVD (CHARLS, HR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47-0.81; ELSA, HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.34-0.69; HRS, HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.89) when compared with stable frail participants. These decreased risks of incident CVD were also observed in pre-frail participants who recovered to robust status (CHARLS, HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.52-0.83; ELSA, HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49-0.85; HRS, HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.91) when compared with stable pre-frail participants. CONCLUSIONS: Different changes in frailty status are associated with different risks of incident CVD. Progression of frailty status increases incident CVD risks, while recovery of frailty status decreases incident CVD risks.

The ZmNF-YC1-ZmAPRG pathway modulates low phosphorus tolerance in maize.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and yield. Low phosphate use efficiency makes it important to clarify the molecular mechanism of low P stress. In our previous studies, a P efficiency gene ZmAPRG was identified. Here, we further screened the upstream regulator ZmNF-YC1 of ZmAPRG by yeast one hybrid (Y1H) assay, and found it was a low inorganic phosphorus (Pi)-inducible gene. The results of dual luciferase assays, expression analysis, and ChIP-qPCR assays showed that ZmNF-YC1 is a positive regulator of ZmAPRG. Overexpression of ZmNF-YC1 improved low P tolerance, whereas knockout of ZmNF-YC1 decreased low P tolerance in maize. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assay, and yeast three hybrid (Y3H) assay further showed that ZmNF-YC1 can interact with ZmNF-YB14, and recruit ZmNF-YA4/10 to form NF-Y complexes. Transcriptional activation assay confirmed that the NF-Y complexes can activate the promoters of ZmAPRG. Meanwhile, transcriptome and metabolome analyses indicated that overexpression of ZmAPRG improves low P tolerance by regulating lipid composition and photosynthetic capacity, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters provided evidence in support of this hypothesis. Furthermore, overexpression of ZmAPRG increased grain yield in inbred and hybrid maize under low P conditions. Taken together, our research revealed a low P tolerance mechanism of the ZmNF-YC1-ZmAPRG pathway.

Reduced tillering and dwarfing genes alter root traits and rhizo-economics in wheat.

The tiller inhibition (tin) and Reduced height (Rht) genes strongly influence the carbon partitioning and architecture of wheat shoots, but their effects on the energy economy of roots have not been examined in detail. We examined multiple root traits in three sets of near-isogenic wheat lines (NILs) that differ in the tin gene or various dwarfing gene alleles (Rht-B1b, Rht-D1b, Rht-B1c and Rht-B1b + Rht-D1b) to determine their effects on root structure, anatomy and carbon allocation. The tin gene resulted in fewer tillers but more costly roots in an extreme tin phenotype with a Banks genetic background due to increases in root-to-shoot ratio, total root length, and whole root respiration. However, this effect depended on the genetic background as tin caused both smaller shoots and roots in a different genetic background. The semi-dwarf gene Rht-B1b caused few changes to the root structure, whereas Rht-D1b, Rht-B1c and the double dwarf (Rht-B1b + Rht-D1b) decreased the root biomass. Rht-B1c reduced the energy cost of roots by increasing specific root length, increasing the volume of cortical aerenchyma and by reducing root length, number, and biomass without affecting the root-to-shoot ratio. This work informs researchers using tin and Rht genes how to modify root system architecture to suit specific environments.

Materials Challenges in the Electric Vehicle Transition.

The ongoing transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) is changing materials used for vehicle production, of which the consequences for the environmental performance of EVs are not well understood and managed. We demonstrate that electrification coupled with lightweighting of automobiles will lead to significant changes in the industry's demand not only for battery materials but also for other materials used throughout the entire vehicle. Given the automotive industry's substantial consumption of raw materials, changes in its material demands are expected to trigger volatilities in material prices, consequently impacting the material composition and attractiveness of EVs. In addition, the materials recovered during end-of-life recycling of EVs as the vehicle fleet turns over will impact recycled material supplies both positively and negatively, impacting material availabilities and the economic incentive to engage in recycling. These supply chain impacts will influence material usage and the associated environmental performance of not only the automotive sector but also other metal-heavy industries such as construction. In light of these challenges, we propose the need for new research to understand the dynamic materials impacts of the EV transition that encompasses its implications on EV adoption and fleet life cycle environmental performance. Effectively coordinating the coevolution of material supply chains is crucial for making the sustainable transition to EVs a reality.

Diabatic Potential Energy Surfaces of SrH2+ and Dynamics Studies of the Sr+(5s2S) + H2 Reaction.

Based on the ab initio energy points of both ground and excited states, a neural network fitting method combined with a specific function was successfully used to construct the diabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the SrH2+ system. The topographical features of the diabatic PESs were examined in detail. The results indicate that the nonadiabatic transition characteristics between ground and excited states are accurately described by the newly constructed diabatic PESs. To verify the validity and applicability of the diabatic PESs, as well as the nonadiabatic effects during the reaction process, the quantum dynamics studies of the Sr+(5s2S) + H2 reaction were performed based on both adiabatic and diabatic PESs. The dynamics results indicate that adiabatic dynamics results are dozens of times larger than those of nonadiabatic. This illustrates the significant effect of nonadiabaticity, indicating that adiabatic dynamics results often overestimate the actual values. The integral cross sections (ICSs) were calculated and compared with the experimental data. The diabatic ICSs are in good agreement with the experimental results. The reasonable dynamics results indicate that the newly constructed diabatic PESs are suitable for the relevant dynamics studies.

In situ biosynthesized polyphosphate nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composite electrode for highly sensitive detection of heavy metal ions.

The development of an effective sensing platform is critical for the electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions (HMIs) in water. In this study, we fabricated a newly designed sensor through the in situ assembly of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polyphosphate nanoparticles (polyP NPs) on a carbon cloth electrode via microorganism-mediated green biochemical processes. The characterization results revealed that the rGO produced via microbial reduction had a three-dimensional porous structure, serving as an exceptional scaffold for hosting polyP NPs, and the polyP NPs were evenly distributed on the rGO network. In terms of detecting HMIs, the numerous functional groups of polyP NPs play a major role in the coordination with the cations. This electrochemical sensor, based on polyP NPs/rGO, enabled the individual and simultaneous determination of lead ion (Pb2+) and copper ion (Cu2+) with detection limits of 1.6 nM and 0.9 nM, respectively. Additionally, the electrode exhibited outstanding selectivity for the target analytes in the presence of multiple interfering metal ions. The fabricated sensor was successfully used to determine Pb2+/Cu2+ in water samples with satisfactory recovery rates ranging from 92.16% to 104.89%. This study establishes a facile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly microbial approach for the synthesis of electrode materials and the detection of environmental pollutants.

Construction of diabatic potential energy surfaces for the SiH2+ system and dynamics studies of the Si+(2P1/2, 3/2) + H2 reaction.

The construction of diabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the SiH2+ system, related to the ground (12A') and excited states (22A'), has been successfully achieved. This was accomplished by utilizing high-level ab initio energy points, employing a neural network fitting method in conjunction with a specifically designed function. The newly constructed diabatic PESs are carefully examined for dynamics calculations of the Si+(2P1/2, 3/2) + H2 reaction. Through time-dependent quantum wave packet calculations, the reaction probabilities, integral cross sections (ICSs), and differential cross sections (DCSs) of the Si+(2P1/2, 3/2) + H2 reaction were reported. The dynamics results indicate that the total ICS is in excellent agreement with experimental data within the collision energy range studied. The results also indicate that the SiH+ ion is hardly formed via the Si+(2P3/2) + H2 reaction. The results from the DCSs suggest that the "complex-forming" reaction mechanism predominates in the low collision energy region. Conversely, the forward abstraction reaction mechanism is dominant in the high collision energy region.

Linkage of cell division cycle 42 with clinical features, treatment response and survival in adult Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) regulates the progression of leukemia via mediating proliferation and immune evasion of malignant cells. The study aimed to investigate the correlation of CDC42 with clinical features, treatment response, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in adult Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph- ALL) patients. CDC42 expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells was detected in 78 adult Ph- ALL patients and 10 donors using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CDC42 was increased in adult Ph- ALL patients compared with donors (p < .001). Besides, elevated CDC42 was linked with pro-B ALL or early-T ALL (p = .038) and white blood cell (WBC) elevation at diagnosis (p = .025). Fifty (64.1%) and 23 (29.5%) patients had complete remission (CR) at 1 month and minimal residual disease (MRD) after CR, respectively. CDC42 was inversely associated with CR at 1 month (p = .034), but not MRD after CR (p = .066). Concerning survival, patients with CDC42 ≥ 3.310 (cut by median value in patients) showed a shortened EFS (p = .006) and OS (p = .036) compared to those with CDC42 < 3.310. In detail, patients with CDC42 ≥ 3.310 and CDC42 < 3.310 had 5-year EFS rate of 29.9% and 45.4%, and 5-year OS rate of 39.4% and 63.6%, correspondingly. Further multivariate Cox's regression analyses revealed that CDC42 ≥ 3.310 was independently related to shorter EFS (hazard ratio = 2.933, p = .005). Elevated CDC42 is related with pro-B ALL or early-T ALL, WBC elevation at diagnosis, unfavorable treatment response and worse survival in adult Ph- ALL patients.

Effects of pore characteristics on CO2 adsorption performance of coal slime with different metamorphic degrees.

With the rapid development of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology, it is necessary to explore the feasibility of coal slime as a porous carbon material for CO2 capture. In this paper, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphological characteristics of coal slime samples with different metamorphic degrees, and the pore structure of coal slime was explored by low temperature N2 adsorption and low-pressure CO2 adsorption experiments. The pore distribution characteristics were analyzed, and the adsorption law of different metamorphic degrees were summarized through CO2 isothermal adsorption experiments. The results showed that: The specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume (PV) of the mesopores of the coal slime exhibited a U-shaped distribution with coal rank, and are much smaller than that of its micropores. Micropores less than 2 nm are the main adsorption space of coal slime, its PV accounted for 59%, 60%, 71%, and SSA accounted for 92%, 93%, 95%, obviously, which are dominant at all stages. The linear correlation fitting coefficients R2 between the limiting adsorbed amount a of CO2 and the micropores PV and the SSA were up to 0.830 and 0.887, respectively. The coal slime has good adsorption performance for CO2. Based on the Langmuir model to fit the limit adsorption amount, a-value can reach 41.774 cm3 g-1, 32.072 cm3 g-1, 38.457 cm3 g-1 at 303 K with the increase of Rmax. Studying the impact of coal slime on CO2 adsorption performance provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent preparation of energy storage materials and is of great significance for the safe, efficient and economic capture and sequestration of CO2, to alleviate the serious situation of the environment and realizing the dual-carbon goal.

The response of structure and nitrogen removal function of the biofilm on submerged macrophytes to high ammonium in constructed wetlands.

The ammonium exceedance discharge from sewage treatment plants has a great risk to the stable operation of subsequent constructed wetlands (CWs). The effects of high ammonium shocks on submerged macrophytes and epiphytic biofilms on the leaves of submerged macrophytes in CWs were rarely mentioned in previous studies. In this paper, the 16S rRNA sequencing method was used to investigate the variation of the microbial communities in biofilms on the leaves of Vallisneria natans plants while the growth characteristics of V. natans plants were measured at different initial ammonium concentrations. The results demonstrated that the total chlorophyll and soluble sugar synthesis of V. natans plants decreased by 51.45% and 57.16%, respectively, and malondialdehyde content increased threefold after 8 days if the initial NH4+-N concentration was more than 5 mg/L. Algal density, bacterial quantity, dissolved oxygen, and pH increased with high ammonium shocks. The average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen and NH4+-N reached 73.26% and 83.94%, respectively. The heat map and relative abundance analysis represented that the relative abundances of phyla Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes increased. The numbers of autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic nitrification aerobic denitrification (HNAD) bacteria expanded in biofilms. In particular, HNAD bacteria of Flavobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, and Azospira had higher abundances than autotrophic nitrifiers because there were organic matters secreted from declining leaves of V. natans plants. The analysis of the nitrogen metabolic pathway showed aerobic denitrification was the main nitrogen removal pathway. Thus, the nitrification and denitrification bacterial communities increased in epiphytic biofilms on submerged macrophytes in constructed wetlands while submerged macrophytes declined under ammonium shock loading.

Efficient Photocatalytic Desulfurization in Air through Improved Photogenerated Carriers Separation in MOF MIL101/Carbon Dots-g-C3N4 Nanocomposites.

The extensive industrial applications of fuel oil, a critical strategic resource, are accompanied by significant environmental and health concerns due to the presence of sulfur-containing compounds in its composition, which result in hazardous combustion waste. Extensive research has been conducted to develop technologies for low-vulcanization fuel production to address this issue. Consequently, the investigation of catalysts for environmentally friendly and safe photocatalytic desulfurization becomes imperative. To that end, we have designed efficient MIL-101(Fe)/CQDs@g-C3N4 (MIL101/CDs-C3N4) Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with high carrier separation and mobility through a thermal polymerization-hydrothermal strategy. The high concentration of photogenerated carriers facilitates the activation of oxygen and H2O2, leading to increased production of ROS (⋅O2 -, ⋅OH, h+), thereby enhancing the photocatalytic desulfurization (PODS). Additionally, DFT (Density functional theory) calculations were utilized to determine the electron migration pathways of the catalysts and adsorption energies of DBT (dibenzothiophene). Moreover, Gibbs free energy calculations indicated that MIL101/CDs-C3N4 exhibited the lowest activation energy for oxygen and H2O2. The mechanism of photocatalytic desulfurization was proposed through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental studies. This study provides guidance for the development of MOF-based Z-scheme systems and their practical application in desulfurization processes.

Cycles of solar ultraviolet radiation favor periodic expansions of cyanobacterial blooms in global lakes.

Global warming and eutrophication are known to increase the prevalence of cyanobacterial blooms, posing a severe threat to the ecological stability and sustainability of water bodies. The long-term (over an annual time frame) effect of UV radiation on cyanobacterial blooms in lakes are rarely discussed though the substantial effects of high-intensity UV radiation on the growth inhibition of marine phytoplankton were studied. Here, we employed the datasets on surface solar UV radiation, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, and the annual scales and frequencies of cyanobacterial blooms in lakes across long-term spatial scales to probe the relationship of UV radiation with cyanobacterial blooms. The results indicated that enhanced solar UV radiation may unintentionally stimulate cyanobacterial growth and favor the expansions of cyanobacterial blooms in lakes around the world. The fluctuating UV radiation significantly affects the annual scales of cyanobacterial blooms in both eutrophic and oligotrophic lakes. Solar UV radiation enhances the positive impact of rising phosphorus levels on cyanobacterial blooms because UV radiation prompts the synthesis of polyphosphate in cyanobacteria cells, which helps cyanobacteria to alleviate the stress of UV light. The scales of cyanobacterial blooms are significantly impacted by solar UV radiation intensities as opposed to the annual frequency of cyanobacterial blooms. Furthermore, solar UV radiation fluctuation with a 9-year period over a 14-year main cycles significantly affects the periodicities of cyanobacterial blooms in global lakes, which provides a basis for predicting the peak value of the scales of cyanobacterial blooms in lakes. These findings opened up new avenues of inquiry into the mechanism and management strategies of cyanobacterial blooms in lakes worldwide.

Data-driven quantum chemical property prediction leveraging 3D conformations with Uni-Mol.

Quantum chemical (QC) property prediction is crucial for computational materials and drug design, but relies on expensive electronic structure calculations like density functional theory (DFT). Recent deep learning methods accelerate this process using 1D SMILES or 2D graphs as inputs but struggle to achieve high accuracy as most QC properties depend on refined 3D molecular equilibrium conformations. We introduce Uni-Mol+, a deep learning approach that leverages 3D conformations for accurate QC property prediction. Uni-Mol+ first generates a raw 3D conformation using RDKit then iteratively refines it towards DFT equilibrium conformation using neural networks, which is finally used to predict the QC properties. To effectively learn this conformation update process, we introduce a two-track Transformer model backbone and a novel training approach. Our benchmarking results demonstrate that the proposed Uni-Mol+ significantly improves the accuracy of QC property prediction in various datasets.

New insights and enhancement mechanisms of activated carbon in autotrophic denitrification system utilizing zero-valent iron as indirect electron donors.

Zero-valent iron acts as an indirect electron donor, supplying ferrous iron for the nitrate-dependent ferrous oxidation (NDFO) process. The addition of activated carbon (AC) increased the specific NDFO activity in situ and ex situ by 0.4 mg-N/(d·g VSS) and 2.2 mg-N/(d·g VSS), respectively, due to the enrichment of NDFO bacteria. Furthermore, AC reduced the nitrous oxide emission potential of the sludge, a mechanism that metagenomic analysis suggests may act as a cellular energy storage strategy. During a 196-day experiment, a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 53.7 % was achieved, which may be attributed to the upregulation of key genes involved in iron oxidation and denitrification. Based on these findings, a model involving pilin, 'nanowires,' and a cyc2/?→/(FoxE→FoxY)/?→cymA/Complex III/?-mediated pathway for extracellular electron uptake was proposed. Overall, this work provides a feasible strategy for enhancing the nitrogen removal performance of the ZVI-NDFO process.

Effect of sludge redistribution strategy on stability of partial nitrification-anammox process: Further exploration of the potential value of sludge.

The stability of the two-stage partial nitrification-anammox (PN/A) system was compromised by the inappropriate conversion of insoluble organic matter. In response, a sludge redistribution strategy was implemented. Through the redistribution of PN sludge and anammox sludge in the two-stage PN/A system, a transition was made to the Anammox-single stage PN/A (A-PN/A) system. This specific functional reorganization, facilitated by the rapid reorganization of microbial communities, has the potential to significantly decrease the current risk of suppression. The results of the study showed that implementing the sludge redistribution strategy led to a substantial enhancement in the total nitrogen removal rate (TNRR) by 87.51%, accompanied by a significant improvement of 34.78% in the chemical oxygen demand removal rate (CRR). Additionally, this approach resulted in a remarkable two-thirds reduction in the aeration requirements. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the strategy enriched anammox and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria while limiting denitrifying bacteria, as confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, the principal component analysis revealed that the location and duration of aeration had direct and indirect effects on functional gene expression and the evolution of microbial communities. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of restructuring microbial communities through a sludge redistribution strategy, especially in integrated systems that encounter challenges with suppression.

Lignan contents of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. from different origins-A new model for evaluating the content of prominent components of Chinese herbs.

BACKGROUND: As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Schisandra chinensis exhibits various effects such as liver protection, blood sugar regulation, blood lipid regulation, immune function regulation, antidepressant activity, etc. However, because of its intricate composition, diverse origins, and medicinal effects depending on complex compound groups, there are differences in the lignan composition of S. chinensis from different origins. Therefore, it is currently difficult to evaluate the quality of medicinal materials from plants of different origins using a single qualitative quality control index. PURPOSE: This paper aims to investigate the potential relationship between the lignan components of S. chinensis from different origins and to establish stable assessment indices for determining the lignan content of S. chinensis from multiple perspectives. METHODS: In this study, we collected S. chinensis samples of seven major origins in China, and randomly sampled 6-9 batches of each origin for a total of 60 batches. The lignan content was determined by HPLC, and its distribution law of the ratio of each lignan component of S. chinensis to Schisandrol A content was analyzed. Combining network pharmacology and differential analysis between samples, the stable and effective substances used as quality markers were determined. RESULTS: There were some correlations among the lignan contents of S. chinensis, some correlations between schisandrin A and other lignans of S. chinensis could be determined. The ratio of each component to the indicator component schisandrol A was evenly distributed and reflected the lignan content of S. chinensis to some extent. Four substances (schisandrol A, schisandrol B, schisantherin A, and schisandrin C) were determined by network pharmacology combined with the analysis results of HCA, PCA and PLS-DA to further optimize the model. They displayed a strong connection with the core target, a large contribution rate to the principal components, and a stable content in each batch of samples, suggesting that these components may be the main active substances of S. chinensis lignans. Therefore, they could be used as main indicators evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of S. chinensis by examining the consistency of component proportions. CONCLUSION: This method can intuitively evaluate the content of main lignans in S. chinensis. This quality assessment model is an exploration of the multi-component comprehensive evaluation system of S. chinensis, providing a new concept for the quality evaluation system of Chinese herbal medicines.

The Progress of Polymer Composites Protecting Safe Li Metal Batteries: Solid-/Quasi-Solid Electrolytes and Electrolyte Additives.

The impressive theoretical capacity and low electrode potential render Li metal anodes the most promising candidate for next-generation Li-based batteries. However, uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites and associated parasitic reactions have impeded their cycling stability and raised safety concerns regarding future commercialization. The uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites and associated parasitic reactions, however, pose challenges to the cycling stability and safety concerns for future commercialization. To tackle these challenges and enhance safety, a range of polymers have demonstrated promising potential owing to their distinctive electrochemical, physical, and mechanical properties. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the utilization of polymers in rechargeable Li-metal batteries, encompassing solid polymer electrolytes, quasi-solid electrolytes, and electrolyte polymer additives. Furthermore, it conducts an analysis of the benefits and challenges associated with employing polymers in various applications. Lastly, this review puts forward future development directions and proposes potential strategies for integrating polymers into Li metal anodes.

Dysregulated N6-methyladenosine modification in peripheral immune cells contributes to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurogenerative disorder with uncertain origins. Emerging evidence implicates N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in ALS pathogenesis. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were utilized for m6A profiling in peripheral immune cells and serum proteome analysis, respectively, in patients with ALS (n = 16) and controls (n = 6). The single-cell transcriptomic dataset (GSE174332) of primary motor cortex was further analyzed to illuminate the biological implications of differentially methylated genes and cell communication changes. Analysis of peripheral immune cells revealed extensive RNA hypermethylation, highlighting candidate genes with differential m6A modification and expression, including C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1). In RAW264.7 macrophages, disrupted CX3CR1 signaling affected chemotaxis, potentially influencing immune cell migration in ALS. Serum proteome analysis demonstrated the role of dysregulated immune cell migration in ALS. Cell type-specific expression variations of these genes in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly microglia, were observed. Intercellular communication between neurons and glial cells was selectively altered in ALS CNS. This integrated approach underscores m6A dysregulation in immune cells as a potential ALS contributor.

Submerged macrophyte promoted nitrogen removal function of biofilms in constructed wetland.

Biofilm is one of the important factors affecting nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). However, the impact of submerged macrophyte on nitrogen conversion of biofilms on leaf of submerged macrophyte and matrix remains poorly understood. In this study, the CWs with Vallisneria natans and with artificial plant were established to investigate the effects of submerged macrophyte on nitrogen conversion and the composition of nitrogen-converting bacteria in leaf and matrix biofilms under high ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) loading. The 16S rRNA sequencing method was employed to explore the changes in bacterial communities in biofilms in CWs. The results showed that average removal rates of total nitrogen and NH4+-N in CW with V. natans reached 71.38% and 82.08%, respectively, representing increases of 24.19% and 28.79% compared with the control with artificial plant. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that high NH4+-N damaged the leaf cells of V. natans, leading to the cellular content release and subsequent increases of aqueous total organic carbon. However, the specific surface area and carrier function of V. natans were unaffected within 25 days. As a natural source of organic matters, submerged macrophyte provided organic matters for bacterial growth in biofilms. Bacterial composition analysis revealed the predominance of phylum Proteobacteria in CW with V. natans. The numbers of nitrifiers and denitrifiers in leaf biofilms reached 1.66 × 105 cells/g and 1.05 × 107 cells/g, as well as 2.79 × 105 cells/g and 7.41 × 107 cells/g in matrix biofilms, respectively. Submerged macrophyte significantly increased the population of nitrogen-converting bacteria and enhanced the expressions of nitrification genes (amoA and hao) and denitrification genes (napA, nirS and nosZ) in both leaf and matrix biofilms. Therefore, our study emphasized the influence of submerged macrophyte on biofilm functions and provided a scientific basis for nitrogen removal of biofilms in CWs.

Modulatory effects of aerobic training on the degree centrality of brain functional activity in subthreshold depression.

BACKGROUND: Aerobic training has been shown to effectively prevent the progression of depressive symptoms from subthreshold depression (StD) to major depressive disorder (MDD), and understanding how aerobic training promotes changes in neuroplasticity is essential to comprehending its antidepressant effects. Few studies, however, have quantified the alterations in spontaneous brain activity before and after aerobic training for StD. METHODS: Participants included 44 individuals with StD and 34 healthy controls (HCs). Both groups underwent moderate aerobic training for eight weeks, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected before and after training. The degree centrality (DC) changes between the two groups and the DC changes in each group before and after training were quantified. RESULTS: The rs-fMRI results showed that compared with the HCs, the DC values of the StD group in the orbital region of the left inferior frontal gyrus significantly depreciated at baseline. After aerobic training, the results of the follow-up examination revealed no significant difference in the DC values between the two groups. In addition, compared with baseline, the StD group exhibited an significant decrease in the DC values of the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus; while the HCs group exhibited an significant decrease in the DC values of the left thalamus. No statistically significant connection was seen between changes in DC values and psychological scale scores in the StD group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that regular aerobic training can enhance brain plasticity in StD. In addition, we demonstrated that DC is a relevant and accessible method for evaluating the functional plasticity of the brain induced by aerobic training in StD.