Single-Pd-Site Catalyst Induced by Different Dimensional Nitrogen of N-Doping Carbon for Efficient Hydroaminocarbonylation of Alkynes.

The unsaturated amides are traditionally synthesized by acylation of carboxylic acids or hydration of nitrile compounds but are rarely investigated by hydroaminocarbonylation of alkynes using heterogeneous single-metal-site catalysts (HSMSCs). Herein, single-Pd-site catalysts supported on N-doping carbon (NC) with different nitrogen dimensions inherited from corresponding metal-organic-framework precursors are successfully synthesized. 2D NC-supported single-Pd-site (Pd1/NC-2D) exhibited the best performance with near 100% selectivity and 76% yield of acrylamide for acetylene hydroaminocarbonylation with better stability, superior to those of Pd1/NC-3D, single-metal-site/nanoparticle coexisting catalyst, and nanoparticle catalyst. The coordination environment and molecular evolution of the single-Pd-site during the process of acetylene hydroaminocarbonylation on Pd1/NC-2D are detailly illuminated by various characterizations and density functional theoretical calculations (DFT). DFT also showed the energy barrier of rate-determining step on Pd1/NC-2D is lower than that of Pd1/NC-3D. Furthermore, Pd1/NC-2D catalyst illustrated the general applicability of the hydroaminocarbonylation for various alkynes.

Shoot-to-root communication via GmUVR8-GmSTF3 photosignaling and flavonoid biosynthesis fine-tunes soybean nodulation under UV-B light.

Legume nodulation requires light perception by plant shoots and precise long-distance communication between shoot and root. Recent studies have revealed that TGACG-motif binding factors (GmSTFs) integrate light signals to promote root nodulation; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying nodule formation in changing light conditions remain elusive. Here, we applied genetic engineering, metabolite measurement, and transcriptional analysis to study soybean (Glycine max) nodules. We clarify a fine-tuning mechanism in response to ultraviolet B (UV-B) irradiation and rhizobia infection, involving GmUVR8-dependent UV-B perception and GmSTF3/4-GmMYB12-GmCHS-mediated (iso)flavonoid biosynthesis for soybean nodule formation. GmUVR8 receptor-perceived UV-B signal triggered R2R3-MYB transcription factors GmMYB12-dependent flavonoid biosynthesis separately in shoot and root. In shoot, UV-B-triggered flavonoid biosynthesis relied on GmUVR8a, b, c receptor-dependent activation of GmMYB12L-GmCHS8 (chalcone synthase) module. In root, UV-B signaling distinctly promotes the accumulation of the isoflavones, daidzein, and its derivative coumestrol, via GmMYB12B2-GmCHS9 module, resulting in hypernodulation. The mobile transcription factors, GmSTF3/4, bind to cis-regulatory elements in the GmMYB12L, GmMYB12B2, and GmCHS9 promoters, to coordinate UV-B light perception in shoot and (iso)flavonoid biosynthesis in root. Our findings establish a novel shoot-to-root communication module involved in soybean nodulation and reveal an adaptive strategy employed by soybean roots in response to UV-B light.

Study of Sintering Behavior of Methane Hydrate Particles on the Wall Surface.

The sintering of hydrate aggregates on the pipe wall is a major form of hydrate deposition. Understanding the sintering behavior of hydrates on the wall is crucial for promoting hydrate safety management and preventing pipeline blockage. However, limited research currently exists on this topic. In this study, the cohesive force strength of hydrate particles on the wall surface under different conditions was directly measured using a high-pressure micromechanical force device (HP-MMF). Subsequently, the effects of subcooling and glycine on the cohesive force were investigated. The results indicate that the cohesive force is influenced by different growth states during the process of free water on the wall surface gradually growing into hydrate. Three states with larger measured values during the growth process were selected for research. Observation showed that increased subcooling strengthened sintering by accelerating the growth rate of the hydrate film, resulting in a significant increase in cohesive force. The role of glycine in the methane hydrate system was then evaluated. Glycine was found to reduce the degree of sintering by reducing the growth rate of the hydrate film, thereby decreasing the cohesive force. The optimal concentration in the system was determined to be 0.25 wt %. Moreover, compared with low subcooling (1 °C), glycine had a better effect at high subcooling (5 °C). At 5 °C subcooling and the optimal concentration, the cohesive force in the wall droplet state decreases from 677.38 to 489.02 mN/m, the cohesive force at the low-saturation state decreases from 951.79 to 543.32 mN/m, and the cohesive force at the high-saturation state decreases from 1194.95 to 641.76 mN/m. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the cohesive force behavior of gas hydrate on the inner wall of the pipeline and provide basic data for reducing the risk of hydrate blockage.

Irreversible repolarization of tumour-associated macrophages by low-Pi stress inhibits the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Numerous studies have shown the positive correlation between high levels of Pi and tumour progression. A critical goal of macrophage-based cancer therapeutics is to reduce anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2) and increase proinflammatory antitumour macrophages (M1). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between macrophage polarization and low-Pi stress. First, the spatial populations of M2 and M1 macrophages in 22 HCC patient specimens were quantified and correlated with the local Pi concentration. The levels of M2 and M1 macrophage markers expressed in the peritumour area were higher than the intratumour levels, and the expression of M2 markers was positively correlated with Pi concentration. Next, monocytes differentiated from THP-1 cells were polarized against different Pi concentrations to investigate the activation or silencing of the expression of p65, IκB-α and STAT3 as well as their phosphorylation. Results showed that low-Pi stress irreversibly repolarizes tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards the M1 phenotype by silencing stat6 and activating p65. Moreover, HepG-2 and SMCC-7721 cells were cultured in conditioned medium to investigate the innate anticancer immune effects on tumour progression. Both cancer cell lines showed reduced proliferation, migration and invasion, as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was inactivated. In vivo therapeutic effect on the innate and adaptive immune processes was validated in a subcutaneous liver cancer model by the intratumoural injection of sevelamer. Tumour growth was significantly inhibited by the partial deprivation of intratumoural Pi as the tumour microenvironment under low-Pi stress is more immunostimulatory. The anticancer immune response, activated by low-Pi stress, suggests a new macrophage-based immunotherapeutic modality.

Palladium and Ruthenium Dual-Single-Atom Sites on Porous Ionic Polymers for Acetylene Dialkoxycarbonylation: Synergetic Effects Stabilize the Active Site and Increase CO Adsorption.

Heterogeneous single-metal-site catalysts usually suffer from poor stability, thereby limiting industrial applications. Dual Pd1 -Ru1 single-atom-sites supported on porous ionic polymers (Pd1 -Ru1 /PIPs) were constructed using a wetness impregnation method. The two isolated metal species in the form of a binuclear complex were immobilized on the cationic framework of PIPs through ionic bonds. Compared to the single Pd- or Ru-site catalyst, the dual single-atom system exhibits higher activity with 98 % acetylene conversion and near 100 % selectivity to dialkoxycarbonylation products, as well as better cycling stability for ten cycles without obvious decay. Based on DFT calculations, it was found that the single-Ru site exhibited a strong CO adsorption energy of -1.6 eV, leading to an increase in the local CO concentration of the catalyst. Notably, the Pd1 -Ru1 /PIPs catalyst had a much lower energy barrier of 2.49 eV compared to 3.87 eV of Pd1 /PIPs for the rate-determining step. The synergetic effect between neighboring single sites Pd1 and Ru1 not only enhanced the overall activity, but also stabilized PdII active sites. The discovery of synergetic effects between single sites can deepen our understanding of single-site catalysts at the molecular level.

Dwiroopa punicae Causing Leaf Spot Disease on Pomegranate in Guizhou, China.

Punica granatum 'Tunisia' is widely planted in several areas of Kaiyang County, Guizhou Province, China. Symptoms of leaf spot and fruit rot were observed in April 2020. Infected pomegranate leaves exhibited scattered, oval, yellow-to-brown spots (2-5 mm), and numerous melanized pycnidia were observed in the center of the lesions. All 7-year-old pomegranate trees in a private orchard (Shangyi orchard, E27°09'08", N107°10'58"), exhibited the same symptoms, and 25% of the diseased pomegranate trees had blighted leaves in the late stage. Eighty diseased P. granatum leaves were collected in the orchard. Abundant fruiting bodies were observed on the surface of diseased spots examined using a dissecting microscope. Portions of the symptomatic leaves were surface disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s and then in 2% NaClO for 1 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, and transferred onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 28°C for 3 weeks. The morphological characteristics of potential pathogens were observed and photographed under a compound light microscope (Zeiss Scope 5) equipped with an AxioCam 208 color camera. Pycnidial conidiomata were erumpent, globose, black, with a central ostiole, and oozed a slimy black conidial mass. Conidiophores were reduced to conidiogenous cells, ampulliform to subcylindrical, hyaline to pale brown, and proliferated percurrently at the apex. Macroconidia were solitary, one-celled, obovoid, truncate at the base, rounded at the apex, dark brown, aseptate, granular, and thick-walled, (11.0-)12.8-18.2(-19.0) × (9.2-)10.0-15.1(-16.0) µm (av: 14.8 × 12.0 µm, n = 30). No meso- or microconidia were observed. In morphology, our fungi were very similar to Dwiroopa punicae K.V. Xavier, A.N. Kc, J.Z. Groenew, Vallad & Crous (Xavier et al., 2019). Primers ITS4 and ITS5 were used to amplify the ITS, LROR and LR5 were for the LSU (White et al. 1900), and fRPB2-5F and fRPB2-7cR for rpb2 (Liu et al. 1999). Phylogenetic analysis based on these three loci also suggested that our strain was D. punicae, since there were 100% match for ITS and LSU and only two base differences in rpb2 gene between our strain and the D. punicae (CBS 143163). The qualified sequences were submitted to GenBank (ITS: MZ816695, MZ816696, MZ816697; LSU: MZ816692, MZ816693, MZ816694; rpb2: MZ802953). To fulfill Koch's postulates, mycelial plugs (5 mm diameter) were used for an inoculation experiment, only because the fungal isolates failed to produce conidia on PDA, and conidia from diseased tissues were also fewer to make the required spore suspension. A total of 20 attached leaves were used from three pots of pomegranate seedlings in the artificial climate chamber (25°C). Each mycelial plugs cut from 1-week-old PDA cultures were placed on one healthy leaf wrapped with a plastic fresh-keeping film. As control, leaves were inoculated with sterile PDA plugs. After 24h, the plugs were removed. The inoculation experiment was performed three times. Symptoms similar to the original were observed at the 7th day after inoculation on all inoculated plant leaves and necrosis occurred in 30-50% of leaf tissue, but control plants remained healthy. Dwiroopa punicae was successfully re-isolated from the inoculated diseased tissues after morphological and phylogenetic analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of D. punicae causing leaf spot disease on pomegranate trees in China. This first report of D. punicae in China provides a basis for the diagnosticians and researchers to identify the disease and formulate disease management strategies.

Efficacy of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate delivered by a new-type scaler tip during scaling and root planing on chronic periodontitis: a split-mouth, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) as green tea catechins possessed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects on periodontal disease. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical and microbiological efficacy of scaling and root planing (SRP) using EGCG aqueous solution as coolants through a new-type ultrasonic scaler tip on chronic periodontitis. METHODS: This split-mouth, randomized clinical trial included 20 patients (2 drop-outs) with chronic periodontitis and the maxillary contra-lateral sides were allocated into test and control groups randomly. Through the new-type scaler tip, 762 sites with probing depth (PD) ≥ 4 mm were treated by SRP using EGCG solution or distilled water as coolants respectively. Clinical parameters and red complex pathogens in subgingival microbiome were evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatments. RESULTS: During 6 months, the SRP plus EGCG medication contributed to additional PD reduction as 0.33 mm and gain of clinical attachment level as 0.3 mm compared with SRP alone, and approximate 8% more sites obtained PD reduction ≥ 2 mm (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mean relative abundance of Tannerella forsythia was significantly lower in the combined treatment group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The purified EGCG showed the potential to improve the outcome of periodontal non-surgical treatment and the new-type scaler tip provided an alternative vehicle for subgingival medication. Trial registration The trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 15 February 2020 (No.: ChiCTR2000029831, retrospectively registered). http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49441 .

Impact of chronic kidney disease on outcomes after total joint arthroplasty: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Comorbidities in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may compromise outcomes with increased hospital stays, re-admission, and mortality rates. We aimed to determine whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects post-operative outcomes of patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA). METHODS: To identify studies for this review and meta-analysis, two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar until April 1, 2019, and identified additional studies by manual search of reference lists. Prospective or retrospective studies with quantitative outcomes for patients undergoing TJA were selected. Outcomes were compared between patients with underlying CKD stage ≥ 3 or eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 versus mild/non-CKD as controls. Main endpoints were mortality, re-operation, and re-admission rates. RESULTS: Among 59 studies reviewed, 19 meeting the eligibility criteria were included, providing data of 2,141,393 patients. After THA or TKA, CKD was associated with higher mortality risk than non-CKD (pooled OR 2.20, 95%CI = 1.90 to 2.54; P < 0.001); no significant differences were seen in re-operation between CKD and non-CKD patients (pooled OR 1.26, 95%CI = 0.84 to 1.88; P = 0.266); and CKD patients had higher any-cause re-admission rates (pooled OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.27 to 1.94, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Underlying CKD predicts adverse outcomes after elective TJA with increased risk of mortality, re-admission, surgical site infection, and perioperative transfusion. Findings of this review and meta-analysis highlight CKD as a critical contributor to complications after TJA and may be helpful to surgeons when advising patients about associated risks of TJA.

Anti-Inflammatory Triterpenoids from the Caulophyllum robustum Maximin LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells.

Caulophyllum robustum Maxim is widely distributed in China and used as a traditional herbal medicine to induce childbirth, ease the pain of labor, rectify delayed or irregular menstruation, alleviate heavy bleeding and pain during menstruation, and treat external injuries and irregular menses. According to our detailed chemical investigation, three new triterpene derivatives (1⁻3), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the root and rhizome of C. robustum Maxim. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis and physio-chemical methods. They were identified as (1) 23-hydroxy-3,19-dioxo-olean-12-en-28-oic-acid; (2) 23-hydroxy-3,11-dioxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid; and (3) 16α,23-dihydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid. Compounds (1⁻10) inhibited the LPS-activated NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory characteristics of these compounds were confirmed on the basis of decreases in iNOS and NF-κB protein expression in RAW264.7 cells.

Diethylstilbestrol activates CatSper and disturbs progesterone actions in human spermatozoa.

STUDY QUESTION: Is diethylstilbestrol (DES), a prototypical endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), able to induce physiological changes in human spermatozoa and affect progesterone actions? SUMMARY ANSWER: DES promoted Ca2+ flux into human spermatozoa by activating the cation channel of sperm (CatSper) and suppressed progesterone-induced Ca2+ signaling, tyrosine phosphorylation and sperm functions. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: DES significantly impairs the male reproductive system both in fetal and postnatal exposure. Although various EDCs affect human spermatozoa in a non-genomic manner, the effect of DES on human spermatozoa remains unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Sperm samples from normozoospermic donors were exposed in vitro to a range of DES concentrations with or without progesterone at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator to mimic the putative exposure to this toxicant in seminal plasma and the female reproductive tract fluids. The incubation time varied according to the experimental protocols. All experiments were repeated at least five times using different individual sperm samples. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Human sperm intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were monitored with a multimode plate reader following sperm loading with Ca2+ indicator Fluo-4 AM, and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was performed to record CatSper and alkalinization-activated sperm K+ channel (KSper) currents. Sperm viability and motility parameters were assessed by an eosin-nigrosin staining kit and a computer-assisted semen analysis system, respectively. The ability of sperm to penetrate into viscous media was examined by penetration into 1% methylcellulose. The sperm acrosome reaction was measured using chlortetracycline staining. The level of tyrosine phosphorylation was determined by western blot assay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: DES exposure rapidly increased human sperm [Ca2+]i dose dependently and even at an environmentally relevant concentration (100 pM). The elevation of [Ca2+]i was derived from extracellular Ca2+ influx and mainly mediated by CatSper. Although DES did not affect sperm viability, motility, penetration into viscous media, tyrosine phosphorylation or the acrosome reaction, it suppressed progesterone-stimulated Ca2+ signaling and tyrosine phosphorylation. Consequently, DES (1-100 µM) significantly inhibited progesterone-induced human sperm penetration into viscous media and acrosome reaction. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Although DES has been shown to disturb progesterone actions on human spermatozoa, this study was performed in vitro, and caution must be taken when extrapolating the results in practical applications. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The present study revealed that DES interfered with progesterone-stimulated Ca2+ signaling and tyrosine phosphorylation, ultimately inhibited progesterone-induced human sperm functions and, thereby, might impair sperm fertility. The non-genomic manner in which DES disturbs progesterone actions may be a potential mechanism for some estrogenic endocrine disruptors to affect human sperm function. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31400996); Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi, China (No. 20161BAB204167 and No. 20142BAB215050); open project of National Population and Family Planning Key Laboratory of Contraceptives and Devices Research (No. 2016KF07) to T. Luo; National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81300539) to L.P. Zheng. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Matrine inhibits mouse sperm function by reducing sperm [Ca2+]i and phospho-ERK1/2.

BACKGROUND: Matrine is a bioactive alkaloid that has a variety of pharmacological effects and is widely used in Chinese medicine. However, its effects on male reproduction are not well known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro toxicity of matrine on mature mouse sperm. METHODS: Mouse cauda epididymal sperm were exposed to matrine (10-200 µM) in vitro. The viability, motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilization ability of the mouse sperm were examined. Furthermore, the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i), calcium (Catsper) and potassium (Ksper) currents, and phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) of the sperm were analyzed. RESULTS: After exposure to 100 µM or more of matrine, mouse cauda epididymal sperm exhibited a significant reduction in total motility, progressive motility, linear velocity and acrosome reaction rate induced by Ca(2+) ionophore A23187. As a result, the fertilization ability of mouse sperm was remarkably decreased by matrine. Our data further demonstrated that matrine significantly reduced sperm [Ca(2+)]i and [Ca(2+)]i-related p-ERK1/2; however, both the CatSper and KSper currents, which are thought to interactively regulate Ca(2+) influx in sperm, were not affected by matrine. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that matrine inhibits mouse sperm function by reducing sperm [Ca(2+)]i and suppressing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.

[Chemical Constituents from Cremastra appendiculata].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Cremastra appendiculata. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by repeated column chromatography with silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and ODS-HPLC. The structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data(1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). RESULTS: Ten compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract in the tuber of Cremastra appendiculata. Their structures were identified as shancigusin I (I), 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl cinnamate (II), bulbocodin D (III), blestriarene A (IV), 7-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy phenanthrene (V), coelonin (VI), militarine (VII), gastrodine (VIII), 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (IX) and cinnamic acid (X). CONCLUSION: Compounds I-III, IX and X are isolated from Cremastra appendiculata for the first time.

Real-time monitoring of stresses and displacements in cervical nuclei pulposi during cervical spine manipulation: a finite element model analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to research the distribution of stresses and displacements in cervical nuclei pulposi during simulated cervical spine manipulation (CSM). METHODS: A 3-dimensional finite element model of C3/4~C6/7 was established. The detailed mechanical parameters of CSM were analyzed and simulated. During the process, the changes in stresses and displacements of cervical nuclei pulposi within the model were displayed simultaneously and dynamically. RESULTS: Cervical spine manipulation with right rotation was targeted at the C4 spinous process of the model. During traction, levels of stresses and displacements of the nuclei pulposi exhibited an initial decrease followed by an increase. The major stresses and displacements affected the C3/4 nucleus pulposus during rotation in CSM, when its morphology gradually changed from circular to elliptical. The highest stress (48.53 kPa) occurred at its right superior edge, on rotating 40° to the right. It protruded toward the right superior, creating a gap in its left inferior aspect. The highest displacement, also at 40° right, occurred at its left superior edge and measured 0.7966 mm. Dimensions of stresses and displacements reduced quickly on rapid return to neutral position. CONCLUSION: The morphology of the C3/4 nucleus pulposus changed during CSM with right rotation, and it created a gap in its left inferior aspect. Biomechanically, it is more safe and rational to rotate toward the healthy side than the prolapsed side of the intervertebral disk during CSM. Upon ensuring due safety, the closer the application force is to the diseased intervertebral disk, the better is the effect of CSM.

Sedentary behavior, physical activity, sleep duration and obesity risk: Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have suggested associations between sedentary behaviors (SB), physical activity (PA), sleep duration (SD), and obesity, but the causal relationships remain unclear. METHODS: We used Mendelian randomization (MR) with genetic variation as instrumental variables (IVs) to assess the causality between SB/PA/SD and obesity. Genetic variants associated with SB/PA/SD were obtained from Genome-wide association study (GWAS), and obesity data came from FinnGen. The primary MR analysis used the instrumental variable weighted (IVW) method, with sensitivity tests including Cochran Q, MR-Egger intercepts, and MR-Radial. Expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) analysis was applied to identify significant genetic associations and biological pathways in obesity-related tissues. RESULTS: The MR analysis revealed causal relationships between four SB-related lifestyle patterns and obesity. Specifically, increased genetic liability to television watching (IVW MR Odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, [95% CI]:[1.27, 1.90], p = 1.67×10-5), computer use ([OR] = 1.52, [95% CI]:[1.08, 2.13], p = 1.61×10-2), leisure screen time (LST) ([OR] = 1.62, [95% CI] = [1.43, 1.84], p = 6.49×10-14, and driving (MR [OR] = 2.79, [95% CI]:[1.25, 6.21], p = 1.23×10-2) was found to increase the risk of obesity. Our findings indicate that no causal relationships were observed between SB at work, sedentary commuting, PA, SD, and obesity. The eQTL analysis revealed strong associations between specific genes (RPS26, TTC12, CCDC92, NICN1) and SNPs (rs10876864, rs2734849, rs4765541, rs7615206) in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues, which are associated with these SBs. Enrichment analysis further revealed that these genes are involved in crucial biological pathways, including cortisol synthesis, thyroid hormone synthesis, and insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a causal relationship between four specific SBs (LST, television watching, computer use, driving) and obesity. These results provide valuable insights into potential interventions to address obesity effectively, supported by genetic associations in the eQTL and enrichment analysis. Further research and public health initiatives focusing on reducing specific SBs may be warranted.

Water-participated mild oxidation of ethane to acetaldehyde.

The direct conversion of low alkane such as ethane into high-value-added chemicals has remained a great challenge since the development of natural gas utilization. Herein, we achieve an efficient one-step conversion of ethane to C2 oxygenates on a Rh1/AC-SNI catalyst under a mild condition, which delivers a turnover frequency as high as 158.5 h-1. 18O isotope-GC-MS shows that the formation of ethanol and acetaldehyde follows two distinct pathways, where oxygen and water directly participate in the formation of ethanol and acetaldehyde, respectively. In situ formed intermediate species of oxygen radicals, hydroxyl radicals, vinyl groups, and ethyl groups are captured by laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometer. Density functional theory calculation shows that the activation barrier of the rate-determining step for acetaldehyde formation is much lower than that of ethanol, leading to the higher selectivity of acetaldehyde in all the products.

Off-the-shelf CAR-NK cells targeting immunogenic cell death marker ERp57 execute robust antitumor activity and have a synergistic effect with ICD inducer oxaliplatin.

BACKGROUND: Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) therapy holds great promise for treating hematologic tumors, but its efficacy in solid tumors is limited owing to the lack of suitable targets and poor infiltration of engineered NK cells. Here, we explore whether immunogenic cell death (ICD) marker ERp57 translocated from endoplasmic reticulum to cell surface after drug treatment could be used as a target for CAR-NK therapy. METHODS: To target ERp57, a VHH phage display library was used for screening ERp57-targeted nanobodies (Nbs). A candidate Nb with high binding affinity to both human and mouse ERp57 was used for constructing CAR-NK cells. Various in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to assess the antitumor efficacy of the constructed CAR-NK cells. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the translocation of ERp57 can not only be induced by low-dose oxaliplatin (OXP) treatment but also is spontaneously expressed on the surface of various types of tumor cell lines. Our results show that G6-CAR-NK92 cells can effectively kill various tumor cell lines in vitro on which ERp57 is induced or intrinsically expressed, and also exhibit potent antitumor effects in cancer cell-derived xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Additionally, the antitumor activity of G6-CAR-NK92 cells is synergistically enhanced by the low-dose ICD-inducible drug OXP. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings suggest that ERp57 can be leveraged as a new tumor antigen for CAR-NK targeting, and the resultant CAR-NK cells have the potential to be applied as a broad-spectrum immune cell therapy for various cancers by combining with ICD inducer drugs.

Relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity among colorectal cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To investigate the current status of self-efficacy and physical activity among Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and explore the relationship between them. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted on 282 CRC patients in China. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographic and clinical information, self-efficacy (Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale [ESES]) and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form [IPAQ-SF]). RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) total self-efficacy score for patients with CRC was 52.78 (42.08-61.11), and the median (interquartile range) total physical activity score was 1776.00 (1142.25-2812.05). Only 28.37% of CRC patients met the guideline recommendations for physical activity. The total self-efficacy score was significantly positively correlated with the total physical activity score (r = 0.123, p = 0.040). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: CRC patients contributed to the data of this study. Hospital administrators facilitated the implementation of the study.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trend of ventilator associated pneumonia incidence in a non-COVID-19 dedicated hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections for intensive care units in China. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, "Lockdown Wuhan" and other infection control strategies had been implemented in China. The impact of the policies on VAP prevention was estimated in a non-COVID-19 dedicated hospital. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed the VAP trends of 6 intensive care units in a non-COVID-19 dedicated hospital from 2018 to 2020 by Joinpoint regression analysis. The information related to infected VAP patients, VAP surveillance were retrieved from an active surveillance system. RESULTS: There was an obvious decrease in the overall admissions and inpatients of ICUs since January 2020. The overall incidence of VAP was 6.1 episodes per 1000 IMV days. The 30-day case fatality was 16.8%. Generally, the utility rate of IMV ranged from 18.2% to 38.9% respectively, raising with the monthly percent change (MPC): 1.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8%, 2.2%] from January 2018 to February 2020 by Joinpoint regression analysis. A continuous decline with the MPC: -1.9% (95% CI: -3.2%, -0.5%) of VAP incidence was demonstrated. However, this trend varied among the different ICUs. We found no significant difference neither in 30-day case fatality nor pathogens of VAP patients. CONCLUSIONS: By Joinpoint regression analysis, we can see February 2020 was an important time point. The surveillance indicators were changed, which influenced the VAP incidence.

New insight into the effect of microplastics on antibiotic resistance and bacterial community of biofilm.

Microplastics (MPs) could serve as substrates for microbial colonization and biofilm formation. However, research on the effects of different types of microplastics and natural substrates on biofilm formation and community structure in the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) is limited. In this study, we employed by means of microcosm experiments to analyze the situation of biofilms conditions, bacterial resistance patterns, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) distribution, and bacterial community on different substrates using microbial cultivation, high throughtput sequencing and PCR. The result showed that biofilms on different substrates markedly increased with time, with MPs surfaces formed more biofilm than stone. Analyses of antibiotic resistant showed negligible differences in the resistance rate to the same antibiotic at 30 d, but tetB would be selectively enriched on PP and PET. The microbial communities associated with biofilms on MPs and stones exhibited variations during different stages of formation. Notably, phylum WPS-2 and Epsilonbacteraeota were identified as the dominant microbiomes of biofilms on MPs and stones at 30 d, respectively. Correlation analysis suggested that WPS-2 could potentially be a tetracycline-resistant bacterium, while Epsilonbacteraeota did not correlate with any detected ARB. Our results emphasized the potential threat posed by MPs as attachment carriers for bacteria, particularly ARB, in aquatic environments.

QS-ADN: quasi-supervised artifact disentanglement network for low-dose CT image denoising by local similarity among unpaired data.

Deep learning has been successfully applied to low-dose CT (LDCT) image denoising for reducing potential radiation risk. However, the widely reported supervised LDCT denoising networks require a training set of paired images, which is expensive to obtain and cannot be perfectly simulated. Unsupervised learning utilizes unpaired data and is highly desirable for LDCT denoising. As an example, an artifact disentanglement network (ADN) relies on unpaired images and obviates the need for supervision but the results of artifact reduction are not as good as those through supervised learning. An important observation is that there is often hidden similarity among unpaired data that can be utilized. This paper introduces a new learning mode, called quasi-supervised learning, to empower ADN for LDCT image denoising. For every LDCT image, the best matched image is first found from an unpaired normal-dose CT (NDCT) dataset. Then, the matched pairs and the corresponding matching degree as prior information are used to construct and train our ADN-type network for LDCT denoising. The proposed method is different from (but compatible with) supervised and semi-supervised learning modes and can be easily implemented by modifying existing networks. The experimental results show that the method is competitive with state-of-the-art methods in terms of noise suppression and contextual fidelity. The code and working dataset are publicly available athttps://github.com/ruanyuhui/ADN-QSDL.git.