The environmental risk threshold (HC5) for Cd remediation in Chinese agricultural soils.

Given the increasing concern over Cd contamination of agricultural soils in China, reducing the availability of the toxic metal has become an important remedial strategy. However, the lack of a unified evaluation framework complicates the assessment of remediation efficiency of different practices. Here, we evaluated the general extraction method (GEM) of available Cd in nine typical soil types by comparing extraction agents, including CaCl2, EDTA, Mehlich-Ⅲ, HCl and DTPA. The safe grain concentration of different agricultural products from National Food Safety Standards Limits of Contaminants in Food (GB 2762-2022) was then applied to understand soil limited available Cd concentration based on dose-response curves. We also derived environmental risk threshold (HC5) values for Cd remediation in agricultural soils by constructing species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves. The results showed that Mehlich-Ⅲ best predicted Cd accumulation in crops (with 76.5% of explanation of grain Cd) and was selected as the GEM of soil available Cd for subsequent analyses. The regression coefficient (R2) of dose-response curves fitting between Cd absorption in crop tissues and soil available Cd extracted by GEM based on 30 different crop species varied from 51.0% to 79.5%, and the derived limit concentration of soil available Cd based on standard GB 2762-2022 was 0.18-0.76 mg‧kg-1. An HC5 of 0.19 mg‧kg-1 was then calculated, meaning that a concentration of available Cd in agricultural soil below 0.19 mg‧kg-1 ensures that 95% of agricultural products meet the quality and safety requirements of standard GB 2762-2022. The prediction model was well verified in the field test, indicating that can correctly estimate the soil available Cd based on the content of Cd in plant. This study provides a robust scientific framework for deriving the risk threshold for Cd remediation in agricultural soils and could be quite useful for establishing soil remediation standards.

Cellular Cd2+ fluxes in roots confirm increased Cd availability to rice (Oryza sativa L.) induced by soil acidifications.

Soil acidifications become one of the main causes restricting the sustainable development of agriculture and causing issues of agricultural product safety. In order to explore the effect of different acidification on soil cadmium (Cd) availability, soil pot culture and hydroponic (soil potting solution extraction) were applied, and non-invasive micro-test technique (NMT) was combined. Here three different soil acidification processes were simulated, including direct acidification by adding sulfuric acid (AP1), acid rain acidification (AP2) by adding artificial simulated acid rain and excessive fertilization acidification by adding (NH4)2SO4 (AP3). The results showed that for direct acidification (AP1), DTPA-Cd concentration in field soils in Liaoning (S1) and Zhejiang (S2) increased by 0.167 - 0.217 mg/kg and 0.181 - 0.346 mg/kg, respectively, compared with control group. When soil pH decreased by 0.45 units in S1, the Cd content of rice stems, leaves and roots increased by 0.48 to 6.04 mg/kg and 2.58 to 12.84 mg/kg, respectively, When the pH value of soil S1 and S2 decreased by 0.20 units, the average velocity of Cd2+ at 200 µm increased by 10.03 - 33.11 pmol/cm2/sec and 21.33 -52.86 pmol/cm2/sec, respectively, and followed the order of AP3 > AP2 > AP1. In summary, different acidification measures would improve the effectiveness of Cd, under the same pH reduction condition, fertilization acidification increased Cd availability most significantly.

NDRG1 facilitates lytic replication of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus by maintaining the stability of the KSHV helicase.

The presumed DNA helicase encoded by ORF44 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) plays a crucial role in unwinding viral double-stranded DNA and initiating DNA replication during lytic reactivation. However, the regulatory mechanism of KSHV ORF44 has not been fully elucidated. In a previous study, we identified that N-Myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), a host scaffold protein, facilitates viral genome replication by interacting with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the latent viral protein latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) during viral latency. In the present study, we further demonstrated that NDRG1 can interact with KSHV ORF44 during viral lytic replication. We also found that the mRNA and protein levels of NDRG1 were significantly increased by KSHV ORF50-encoded replication and transcription activator (RTA). Remarkably, knockdown of NDRG1 greatly decreased the protein level of ORF44 and impaired viral lytic replication. Interestingly, NDRG1 enhanced the stability of ORF44 and inhibited its ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation by reducing the polyubiquitination of the lysine residues at positions 79 and 368 in ORF44. In summary, NDRG1 is a novel binding partner of ORF44 and facilitates viral lytic replication by maintaining the stability of ORF44. This study provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying KSHV lytic replication.

Connectome gradient dysfunction in major depression and its association with gene expression profiles and treatment outcomes.

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit concurrent deficits in both sensory and higher-order cognitive processing. Connectome studies have suggested a principal primary-to-transmodal gradient in functional brain networks, supporting the spectrum from sensation to cognition. However, whether this gradient structure is disrupted in patients with MDD and how this disruption associates with gene expression profiles and treatment outcome remain unknown. Using a large cohort of resting-state fMRI data from 2227 participants (1148 MDD patients and 1079 healthy controls) recruited at nine sites, we investigated MDD-related alterations in the principal connectome gradient. We further used Neurosynth, postmortem gene expression, and an 8-week antidepressant treatment (20 MDD patients) data to assess the meta-analytic cognitive functions, transcriptional profiles, and treatment outcomes related to MDD gradient alterations, respectively. Relative to the controls, MDD patients exhibited global topographic alterations in the principal primary-to-transmodal gradient, including reduced explanation ratio, gradient range, and gradient variation (Cohen's d = 0.16-0.21), and focal alterations mainly in the primary and transmodal systems (d = 0.18-0.25). These gradient alterations were significantly correlated with meta-analytic terms involving sensory processing and higher-order cognition. The transcriptional profiles explained 53.9% variance of the altered gradient pattern, with the most correlated genes enriched in transsynaptic signaling and calcium ion binding. The baseline gradient maps of patients significantly predicted symptomatic improvement after treatment. These results highlight the connectome gradient dysfunction in MDD and its linkage with gene expression profiles and clinical management, providing insight into the neurobiological underpinnings and potential biomarkers for treatment evaluation in this disorder.

Lysinibacillus capsici 38,328 isolated from agricultural soils as a promising probiotic candidate for intestinal health.

There is an increasing interest in the use of spore-forming Bacillus spp. as probiotic ingredients on the market. However, probiotics Bacillus species are insufficient, and more safe Bacillus species were required. In the study, traditional fermented foods and soil samples were collected from more than ten provinces in China, and 506 Bacillus were selected from 109 samples. Using the optimized procedure, we screened nine strains, which successfully passed the acid, alkali, bile salt, and trypsin resistance test. Drug sensitivity test results showed that three Bacillus out of the nine isolates exhibited antibiotic sensitivity to more than 29 antibiotics. The three strains sensitive to antibiotics were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA, recA, and gyrB gene analysis, two isolates (38,327 and 38,328) belong to the species Lysinibacillus capsici and one isolate (37,326) belong to Bacillus halotolerans. Moreover, the three strains were confirmed safe through animal experiments. Finally, L. capsici 38,327 and 38,328 showed protections in the Salmonella typhimurium infection mouse model, which slowed down weight loss, reduced bacterial load, and improved antioxidant capacity. Altogether, our data demonstrated that selected L. capsici strains can be used as novel probiotics for intestinal health.

Catalyzing Benzoxazine Polymerization with Titanium-Containing POSS to Reduce the Curing Temperature and Improve Thermal Stability.

Trisilanolphenyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane titanium (Ti-Ph-POSS) was synthesized through the corner-capping reaction, and Ti-Ph-POSS was dispersed in benzoxazine (BZ) to prepare Ti-Ph-POSS/PBZ composite materials. Ti-Ph-POSS could catalyze the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of BZ and reduce the curing temperature of benzoxazine. In addition, Ti immobilized on the Ti-Ph-POSS cage could form covalent bonds with the N or O atoms on polybenzoxazine, improving the thermal stability of PBZ. The catalytic activity of the Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ mixtures was assessed and identified through 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to determine the thermal properties of the composite. It was found that PBZ exhibited a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and better thermal stability when Ti-Ph-POSS was added. The curing behavior of the Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ mixtures showed that the initial (Ti) and peak (Tp) curing temperatures sharply decreased as the content of Ti-Ph-POSS and the heating rate increased. The curing kinetics of these Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ systems were analyzed using the Kissinger method, and the morphology of Ti-Ph-POSS/PBZ was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the Ti-Ph-POSS particles were well distributed in the composites. When the content exceeded 2 wt%, several Ti-Ph-POSS particles could not react with benzoxazine and were only dispersed within the PBZ matrix, resulting in aggregation of the Ti-Ph-POSS molecules.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Sigmoid Colon in an Infant: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) infrequently involves the sigmoid colon, and has not previously been described in an infant sigmoid colon.An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor arose from the sigmoid colon of an 11-month-old boy, confirmed by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin immunohistochemical staining. The patient recovered well after complete resection of the tumor.Sigmoid IMT can occur in infancy. This eighth case is the youngest so far. The child did well after surgical resection.

Salt stress-induced changes in soil metabolites promote cadmium transport into wheat tissues.

Soil salinity is known to improve cadmium (Cd) mobility, especially in arid soils. However, the mechanisms involved in how salt stress-associated metabolic profiles participate in mediating Cd transport in the soil-plant system remain poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the effects of salinity-induced changes in soil metabolites on Cd bioavailability. Sodium salts in different combinations according to molar ratio (NaCl:Na2SO4=1:1; NaCl:Na2SO4:NaHCO3=1:2:1; NaCl:Na2SO4:NaHCO3:Na2CO3=1:9:9:1; NaCl:Na2SO4:NaHCO3:Na2CO3=1:1:1:1) were applied to the Cd-contaminated soils, which increased soil Cd availability by 22.36% and the Cd content in wheat grains by 36.61%, compared to the control. Salt stress resulted in soil metabolic reprogramming, which might explain the decreased growth of wheat plants and increased Cd transport from the soil into wheat tissues. For example, down-regulation of starch and sucrose metabolism reduced the production of sugars, which adversely affected growth; up-regulation of fatty acid metabolism allowed wheat plants to maintain a normal intracellular environment under saline conditions; up-regulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was triggered, causing an increase in organic acid synthesis and the accumulation of organic acids, which facilitated the migration of soil Cd into wheat tissues. In summary, salt stress can facilitate Cd transport into wheat tissues by the direct effect of salt-based ions and the combined effect of altered soil physicochemical properties and soil metabolic profiles in Cd-contaminated soils.

[A two-dimensional video based quantification method and clinical application research of motion disorders].

The increasing prevalence of the aging population, and inadequate and uneven distribution of medical resources, have led to a growing demand for telemedicine services. Gait disturbance is a primary symptom of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). This study proposed a novel approach for the quantitative assessment and analysis of gait disturbance from two-dimensional (2D) videos captured using smartphones. The approach used a convolutional pose machine to extract human body joints and a gait phase segmentation algorithm based on node motion characteristics to identify the gait phase. Moreover, it extracted features of the upper and lower limbs. A height ratio-based spatial feature extraction method was proposed that effectively captures spatial information. The proposed method underwent validation via error analysis, correction compensation, and accuracy verification using the motion capture system. Specifically, the proposed method achieved an extracted step length error of less than 3 cm. The proposed method underwent clinical validation, recruiting 64 patients with Parkinson's disease and 46 healthy controls of the same age group. Various gait indicators were statistically analyzed using three classic classification methods, with the random forest method achieving a classification accuracy of 91%. This method provides an objective, convenient, and intelligent solution for telemedicine focused on movement disorders in neurological diseases.

A deep learning-based multisite neuroimage harmonization framework established with a traveling-subject dataset.

The accumulation of multisite large-sample MRI datasets collected during large brain research projects in the last decade has provided critical resources for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive functions and brain disorders. However, the significant site effects observed in imaging data and their derived structural and functional features have prevented the derivation of consistent findings across multiple studies. The development of harmonization methods that can effectively eliminate complex site effects while maintaining biological characteristics in neuroimaging data has become a vital and urgent requirement for multisite imaging studies. Here, we propose a deep learning-based framework to harmonize imaging data obtained from pairs of sites, in which site factors and brain features can be disentangled and encoded. We trained the proposed framework with a publicly available traveling subject dataset from the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences (SRPBS) and harmonized the gray matter volume maps derived from eight source sites to a target site. The proposed framework significantly eliminated intersite differences in gray matter volumes. The embedded encoders successfully captured both the abstract textures of site factors and the concrete brain features. Moreover, the proposed framework exhibited outstanding performance relative to conventional statistical harmonization methods in terms of site effect removal, data distribution homogenization, and intrasubject similarity improvement. Finally, the proposed harmonization network provided fixable expandability, through which new sites could be linked to the target site via indirect schema without retraining the whole model. Together, the proposed method offers a powerful and interpretable deep learning-based harmonization framework for multisite neuroimaging data that can enhance reliability and reproducibility in multisite studies regarding brain development and brain disorders.

Precise Measurement of the Thickness of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Although carbon dioxide laser vaporization is frequently used for treating vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN), the optimal depth of epithelial destruction with laser vaporization requires elucidation. We aimed to evaluate VaIN depth and better illustrate epithelial destruction during laser vaporization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 246 women diagnosed with VaIN (low-grade VaIN [VaIN 1], 123 women; high-grade VaIN [VaIN 2/3], 123 women) using colposcopy-directed biopsy at our hospital from January 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020. The thickness of the noninvolved epithelium, if available, was determined. All available data, including cytology and histological information, were recorded. The t test and Pearson χ 2 test were used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. RESULTS: The involved epithelial thicknesses in VaIN 2/3 and VaIN 1 were 0.41 ± 0.21 and 0.40 ± 0.19 mm, respectively, which were both greater than their noninvolved epithelial thickness values (0.17 ± 0.10 and 0.17 ± 0.08 mm, p < .01 and p < .01, respectively). In subgroup comparisons between the VaIN 2/3 and VaIN 1 groups, the involved epithelial thickness did not differ between premenopausal patients, postmenopausal women receiving estrogen, and postmenopausal women who did not receive estrogen ( p > .05). In the VaIN 2/3 group, the lesion thickness in premenopausal was greater than that in postmenopausal women receiving estrogen ( p = .016) and those who were not receiving estrogen ( p = .017). CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of VaIN is generally less than 1 mm for women of all ages, except in rare cases of visible lesions with papillary hyperplasia.

Tumor Tropic Delivery of Hyaluronic Acid-Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) Polymeric Micelles Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Glioma Therapy.

Tumor penetration and the accumulation of nanomedicines are crucial challenges in solid tumor therapy. By taking advantage of the MSC tumor-tropic property, we developed a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based drug delivery system in which paclitaxel (PTX)-encapsulating hyaluronic acid-poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymeric micelles (PTX/HA-PLGA micelles) were loaded for glioma therapy. The results indicated that CD44 overexpressed on the surface of both MSCs and tumor cells not only improved PTX/HA-PLGA micelle loading in MSCs, but also promoted the drug transfer between MSCs and adjacent cancer cells. It was hypothesized that CD44-mediated transcytosis played a crucial role and allowed deep glioma penetration depending on sequential intra-intercellular delivery via endocytosis-exocytosis. MSC-micelles were able to infiltrate from normal brain parenchyma towards contralateral tumors and led to the eradication of glioma. The survival of orthotopic glioma-bearing rats was significantly extended. In conclusion, the MSC-based delivery of HA-PLGA micelles is a potential strategy for tumor-targeting drug delivery.

Enhanced Nuclear Accumulation of Doxorubicin Delivered by pH-Triggered Polydopamine-Shelled Mesoporous Silica for Chemo-Photothermal Therapy.

Adequate delivery of therapeutic agents to their intended molecular targets is crucial in tumor therapy. Versatile drug carriers need to overcome the challenges coming from the systemic circulation, membrane barriers, and endo-lysosomal degradation. Herein, hyaluronic acid-conjugated polydopamine (HA-PDA)-shelled mesoporous silica nanoparticles encapsulated with doxorubicin (MSNs-DOX) were successfully fabricated for targeted tumor therapy. Compared with reported studies focusing on the pH-sensitive release in tumors, we especially revealed the significant role of lysosomal release in DOX nuclear accumulation. After active targeting and CD44-mediated endocytosis in tumor cells, the PDA layer of the nanoparticles would be peeled off to trigger drug release owing to MSNs gatekeeper in acidic lysosomes. Subsequently, DOX molecules passively diffused into nuclei. The intracellular DOX transportation was evidenced by DOX accumulation in nuclei, lysosomal location of nanoparticles, and lysosome acidification inhibition test. After discharging of the cargoes from nanoparticles, PDA shells from residual nanoparticles were able to produce localized hyperthermia under NIR irradiation entrapped in lysosomes, inducing synergistic chemo-photothermal effect. Under NIR treatment, HA-PDA@MSNs-DOX presented a prominent tumor inhibition rate without obvious side effects. This study indicated the potent nuclear delivery and synergetic chemo-photothermal therapy achieved by HA-PDA-shelled MSNs.

Linking Bacterial Growth Responses to Soil Salinity with Cd Availability.

This study investigated the effects of different types of saline stress on the availability of cadmium (Cd) and bacterial growth. Changes in soil physicochemical properties and DTPA-Cd content as well as microbial responses after the addition of salts were measured. The addition of 18 g kg-1 of salts with NaCl and Na2SO4 increased the available Cd content by up to 17.80%-29.79%. Respiration rate, biomass, and relative bacterial growth decreased with increasing salt concentrations. Estimated salinity tolerance of bacterial communities based on pollution-induced community tolerance. The salinity tolerance index EC50 of the bacterial community was estimated by logistic equation and ranged from 4.32-12.63 g kg-1. Structural equation modeling showed that soil salinity stress significantly affected Cd availability and bacterial community, while bacterial growth characteristics also contributed to reducing available Cd. We conclude that saline stress can alter soil Cd availability in soils by affecting the growth characteristics of soil bacterial communities.

Alterations in resting-state global brain connectivity in bipolar I disorder patients with prior suicide attempt.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar I disorder (BD-I) is associated with a high risk of suicide attempt; however, the neural circuit dysfunction that confers suicidal vulnerability in individuals with this disorder remains largely unknown. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) allows non-invasive mapping of brain functional connectivity. The current study used an unbiased voxel-based graph theory analysis of rs-fMRI to investigate the intrinsic brain networks of BD-I patients with and without suicide attempt. METHODS: A total of 30 BD-I patients with suicide attempt (attempter group), 82 patients without suicide attempt (non-attempter group), and 67 healthy controls underwent rs-fMRI scan, and then global brain connectivity (GBC) was computed as the sum of connections of each voxel with all other gray matter voxels in the brain. RESULTS: Compared with the non-attempter group, we found regional differences in GBC values in emotion-encoding circuits, including the left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral insula/rolandic operculum, and right precuneus (PCu)/cuneus in the bipolar disorder (BD) attempter group, and these disrupted hub-like regions displayed fair to good power in distinguishing attempters from non-attempters among BD-I patients. GBC values of the right PCu/cuneus were positively correlated with illness duration and education in the attempter group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that abnormal connectivity patterns in emotion-encoding circuits are associated with the increasing risk of vulnerability to suicide attempt in BD patients, and global dysconnectivity across these emotion-encoding circuits might serve as potential biomarkers for classification of suicide attempt in BD patients.

Effect of soil leaching on the toxicity thresholds (ECx) of Zn in soils with different properties.

Currently, the scientific basis for establishing soil environmental criteria is lacking. In order to establish reasonable soil environmental criteria values suitable for soils with different properties, this study selected soils from 16 different sites to determine the toxicity threshold of Zn based on toxicity tests of barley root elongation. In addition, leaching treatments were set up in seven soils with different properties to eliminate the influence of the accompanying anions (Cl-) on the determination of the Zn toxicity threshold. The results indicated that the toxicity thresholds of different soils vary greatly. The EC10 and EC50 ranges of barley root elongation in 16 kinds of non-leached soils were 18.5 mgkg-1 to 1618.7 mgkg-1 and 277.9 mgkg-1 to 3179.8 mgkg-1, respectively. The hormesis effect appeared in the dose response of Zn, and relative barley root elongation reached more than 150%. Leaching significantly reduced the Zn toxicity in acidic soils. The variation ranges of the leaching factor (LF) in the seven soils were LF10 = 1.1-9.3, LF50 = 1.0-3.2. The LF prediction model indicated that pH explained 81.4% of the LF variation (p < 0.01). The soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and conductivity (EC) explained 97.8% of the EC50 variation in the leached soil (p < 0.01). The results provide reference values for Zn environmental criteria.

Reinforced Topological Nanoassemblies: 2D Hexagon-Fused Wheel to 3D Prismatic Metallo-Lamellar Structure with Molecular Weight of 119 K Daltons.

By a precise metallo-ligand design, the advanced coordination-driven self-assembly could succeed in the preparation of giant molecular weight of the metallo-architectures. However, the synthesis of a single discrete high-molecular-weight (>100 K Da) structure has not been demonstrated due to the insurmountable synthetic challenge. Herein, we present a two-dimensional wheel structure (W1) and a gigantic three-dimensional dodecagonal prism-like architecture (P1), which were generated by multicomponent self-assembly of two similar metallo-organic ligands and a core ligand with metal ions, respectively. The giant 2D-suprastructure W1 with six hexagonal metallacycles that fused to the central spoke wheel was first achieved in nearly quantitative yield, and then, directed by introducing a meta-substituted coordination site into the key ligand, the supercharged (36 Ru2+ and 48 Cd2+ ions) double-decker prismatic structure P1 with two wheel structure W1s serve as the surfaces and 12 connectivities serve as the edges, where a molecular weight up to 119 498.18 Da was accomplished. The expected molecular composition and size morphology was unequivocally characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy investigations. The introduction of a wheel structure is able to add considerable stability and complexity to the final architecture. These well-defined scaffolds are expected to play an important role in the functional materials field, such as molecular encapsulation and medicine sustained release.

Phase-Controllable Cobalt Phosphides Induced through Hydrogel for Higher Lithium Storages.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have gained increased attention in energy storage due to their potential applications for optimizing electrochemical performances. However, their preparation routes usually require highly toxic and flammable phosphorus sources with strict reaction conditions. The existence of multiple energetically favorable stoichiometries also makes it a challenge to achieve phase control of metal phosphides. In this work, we have successfully realized the phase-controllable framework of cobalt phosphide from Co2P to CoP by employing a semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogel as a precursor. Interestingly, the semi-IPN hydrogel could serve as a self-assembly/sacrificing template to accomplish 3D space confinement, where poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) was identified as a prominent phosphorus source due to its strong metal complexation ability and high thermal stability. Furthermore, this route is successfully extended to the synthesis of other TMPs, including Fe2P, Ni2P, and Cu3P. The specific structure of cobalt phosphides gives rise to superior lithium storage performance, showing superior cycling stability (495.2 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1). This approach envisions a new outlook on exploitation of essential functional hydrogels for the creation of inorganic materials toward sustainable energy development.

Electrochemical Detection and Point-of-Care Testing for Circulating Tumor Cells: Current Techniques and Future Potentials.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that escaped from the primary tumor or the metastasis into the blood and they play a major role in the initiation of metastasis and tumor recurrence. Thus, it is widely accepted that CTC is the main target of liquid biopsy. In the past few decades, the separation of CTC based on the electrochemical method has attracted widespread attention due to its convenience, rapidness, low cost, high sensitivity, and no need for complex instruments and equipment. At present, CTC detection is not widely used in the clinic due to various reasons. Point-of-care CTC detection provides us with a possibility, which is sensitive, fast, cheap, and easy to operate. More importantly, the testing instrument is small and portable, and the testing does not require specialized laboratories and specialized clinical examiners. In this review, we summarized the latest developments in the electrochemical-based CTC detection and point-of-care CTC detection, and discussed the challenges and possible trends.

Reproducibility of functional brain alterations in major depressive disorder: Evidence from a multisite resting-state functional MRI study with 1,434 individuals.

Resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) studies have demonstrated widespread alterations in brain function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, a clear and consistent conclusion regarding a repeatable pattern of MDD-relevant alterations is still limited due to the scarcity of large-sample, multisite datasets. Here, we address this issue by including a large R-fMRI dataset with 1434 participants (709 patients with MDD and 725 healthy controls) from five centers in China. Individual functional activity maps that represent very local to long-range connections are computed using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, regional homogeneity and distance-related functional connectivity strength. The reproducibility analyses involve different statistical strategies, global signal regression, across-center consistency, clinical variables, and sample size. We observed significant hypoactivity in the orbitofrontal, sensorimotor, and visual cortices and hyperactivity in the frontoparietal cortices in MDD patients compared to the controls. These alterations are not affected by different statistical analysis strategies, global signal regression and medication status and are generally reproducible across centers. However, these between-group differences are partially influenced by the episode status and the age of disease onset in patients, and the brain-clinical variable relationship exhibits poor cross-center reproducibility. Bootstrap analyses reveal that at least 400 subjects in each group are required to replicate significant alterations (an extent threshold of P < .05 and a height threshold of P < .001) at 50% reproducibility. Together, these results highlight reproducible patterns of functional alterations in MDD and relevant influencing factors, which provides crucial guidance for future neuroimaging studies of this disorder.