A new perspective on contaminants as "activators": Aromatic amine groups promoted degradation of tetracycline by ferrate(VI).

Occasionally, our group found that the degradation of tetracycline by ferrate(VI) could be promoted by four co-exist contaminants, containing aromatic amines (ofloxacin, diatrizoic acid, sulfadiazine and alachlor). This study investigated the promotion of aromatic amine groups on tetracycline degradation by ferrate(VI) by using aniline as a model compound. The results implied that the presence of aniline increased the degradation rate of tetracycline by 2.76 times, and the enhancement was weakened gradually with the decrease of pH from 10 to 7.5. The generation of Fe(IV) and·OH by the reaction between ferrate(VI) and aniline was proposed to enhance the degradation of tetracycline, supported by quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and theoretical calculations. A positive correlation was found between the rate constant of tetracycline degradation and the electron-donating ability of the substituted amines (quantified by the Hammett substituent constants). In addition, the degradation of tetracycline was remarkably inhibited by HA and some inorganic ions such as NO3-, SO42-, Cl-, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and the inhibition also happened in the Songhua River water and the secondary effluent. The present study provided an insight into the complex oxidation process for the degradation of micropollutants containing aromatic amine by ferrate in water treatment.

Long-Term Straw Incorporation under Controlled Irrigation Improves Soil Quality of Paddy Field and Rice Yield in Northeast China.

Soil quality is an indicator of the ability to ensure ecological security and sustainable soil usage. The effects of long-term straw incorporation and different irrigation regimes on the yield and soil quality of paddy fields in cold regions remain unclear. This study established four treatments: controlled irrigation + continuous straw incorporation for 3 years (C3), controlled irrigation + continuous straw incorporation for 7 years (C7), flooded irrigation + continuous straw incorporation for 3 years (F3), and flooded irrigation + continuous straw incorporation for 7 years (F7). Analysis was conducted on the impact of various irrigation regimes and straw incorporation years on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of the soil. The soil quality index (SQI) for rice fields was computed using separate datasets for each treatment. The soil nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, and soil organic matter contents of the C7 were 93.51%, 5.80%, 8.90%, and 8.26% higher compared to C3, respectively. In addition, the yield of the C7 treatment was 5.18%, 4.89%, and 10.32% higher than those of F3, C3, and F7, respectively. The validity of the minimum data set (MDS) was verified by correlation, Ef and ER, which indicated that the MDS of all treatments were able to provide a valid evaluation of soil quality. The MDS based SQI of C7 was 11.05%, 11.97%, and 27.71% higher than that of F3, C3, and F7, respectively. Overall, long-term straw incorporation combined with controlled irrigation increases yield and soil quality in paddy fields in cold regions. This study provides a thorough assessment of soil quality concerning irrigation regimes and straw incorporation years to preserve food security and the sustainability of agricultural output. Additionally, it offers a basis for soil quality diagnosis of paddy fields in the Northeast China.

An Identification Method for Irregular Components Related to Terminal Blocks in Equipment Cabinet of Power Substation.

Despite the continuous advancement of intelligent power substations, the terminal block components within equipment cabinet inspection work still often require loads of personnel. The repetitive documentary works not only lack efficiency but are also susceptible to inaccuracies introduced by substation personnel. To resolve the problem of lengthy, time-consuming inspections, a terminal block component detection and identification method is presented in this paper. The identification method is a multi-stage system that incorporates a streamlined version of You Only Look Once version 7 (YOLOv7), a fusion of YOLOv7 and differential binarization (DB), and the utilization of PaddleOCR. Firstly, the YOLOv7 Area-Oriented (YOLOv7-AO) model is developed to precisely locate the complete region of terminal blocks within substation scene images. The compact area extraction model rapidly cuts out the valid proportion of the input image. Furthermore, the DB segmentation head is integrated into the YOLOv7 model to effectively handle the densely arranged, irregularly shaped block components. To detect all the components within a target electrical cabinet of substation equipment, the YOLOv7 model with a differential binarization attention head (YOLOv7-DBAH) is proposed, integrating spatial and channel attention mechanisms. Finally, a general OCR algorithm is applied to the cropped-out instances after image distortion to match and record the component's identity information. The experimental results show that the YOLOv7-AO model reaches high detection accuracy with good portability, gaining 4.45 times faster running speed. Moreover, the terminal block component detection results show that the YOLOv7-DBAH model achieves the highest evaluation metrics, increasing the F1-score from 0.83 to 0.89 and boosting the precision to over 0.91. The proposed method achieves the goal of terminal block component identification and can be applied in practical situations.

Irrigation Scheduling for Maize under Different Hydrological Years in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Appropriate irrigation schedules could minimize the existing imbalance between agricultural water supply and crop water requirements (ETc), which is severely impacted by climate change. In this study, different hydrological years (a wet year, normal year, dry year, and an extremely dry year) in Heilongjiang Province were calculated by hydrological frequency methods. Then, the single crop coefficient method was used to calculate the maize ETc, based on the daily meteorological data of 26 meteorological stations in Heilongjiang Province from 1960 to 2020. Afterward, the CROPWAT model was used to calculate the effective precipitation (Pe) and irrigation water requirement (Ir), and formulate the irrigation schedules of maize in Heilongjiang Province under different hydrological years. The results showed that ETc and Ir decreased first and then increased from west to east. The Pe and crop water surplus deficit index increased first and then decreased from west to east in Heilongjiang Province. Meanwhile, the average values of the Ir in were 171.14 mm, 232.79 mm, 279.08 mm, and 334.47 mm in the wet year, normal year, dry year, and extremely dry year, respectively. Heilongjiang Province was divided into four irrigation zones according to the Ir of different hydrological years. Last, the irrigation quotas for the wet year, normal year, dry year, and extremely dry year were 0~180 mm, 20~240 mm, 60~300 mm, and 80~430 mm, respectively. This study provides reliable support for maize irrigation practices in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Analysis of the subcellular location of lncRNA SLC16A1-AS1 and its interaction with premature miR-5088-5p in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

SLC16A1-AS1 is a newly identified lncRNA with different roles in different cancers. MiR-5088-5p is an oncogenic miRNA in breast cancer. However, their participation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unknown. We predicted the interaction between SLC16A1-AS1 and miR-5088-5p, and this study was carried out to explore the crosstalk between them in OSCC. A total of 56 OSCC patients donated OSCC and paired non-tumor tissues, which were used to detect the differential expression of SLC16A1-AS1 and miR-5088-5p (mature and premature). Analysis of the subcellular location of SLC16A1-AS1 in OSCC cells and its direct interaction with premature miR-5088-5p was performed with cellular fractionation assay and RNA pull-down assay, respectively. The involvement of SLC16A1-AS1 in miR-5088-5p maturation was studied with overexpression assay. BrdU assay was performed to detect cell proliferation after transfection. OSCC tissue samples exhibited decreased expression levels of SLC16A1-AS1 and premature miR-5088-5p, but increased the expression levels of mature miR-5088-5p. SLC16A1-AS1 was detected in both nucleus and cytoplasm samples of OSCC cells and its direct interaction with premature miR-5088-5p was confirmed. Overexpression of SLC16A1-AS1 in OSCC cells resulted in inhibited maturation of miR-5088-5p. SLC16A1-AS1 suppressed the enhancing effects of miR-5088-5p on cell proliferation. SLC16A1-AS1 was downregulated in OSCC and it may inhibit cell proliferation by suppressing maturation of miR-5088-5p.

Research on Probability Distribution of Short-Term Photovoltaic Output Forecast Error Based on Numerical Characteristic Clustering.

The forecast error characteristic analysis of short-term photovoltaic power generation can provide a reliable reference for power system optimal dispatching. In this paper, the total in-day error level was stratified by fuzzy C-means algorithm. Then the historical PV output data based on the numerical characteristics of point prediction output were classified. A General Gauss Mixed Model was proposed to fit the forecast error distribution of various photovoltaic output forecast error distribution. The impact of meteorological factors together with numerical characteristics on the forecast error was taken into full consideration in this analysis method. The predicted point output with high volatility can be accurately captured, and the reliable confidence interval is given. The proposed method is independent of the point prediction algorithm and has strong applicability. The General Gauss Mixed Model can meet the peak diversity, bias, and multimodal properties of the error distribution, and the fitting effect is superior to the normal distribution, the Laplace distribution, and the t Location-Scale distribution model. The error model has a flexible shape, a concise expression, and high practical value for engineering.

Impaired AMPK­CGRP signaling in the central nervous system contributes to enhanced neuropathic pain in high­fat diet­induced obese rats, with or without nerve injury.

Obesity is associated with increased sensitivity to pain, including neuropathic pain, but the precise mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent evidence has revealed that AMP­activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the central nervous system (CNS) regulates the neuropeptide calcitonin gene­related peptide (CGRP), a principal neurotransmitter of the class C nerve fiber, which serves an important role in initiating and maintaining neuropathic pain. AMPK has been demonstrated to be downregulated in the CNS in obesity. The present study hypothesized that obesity may lead to increased sensitivity to neuropathic pain by downregulating AMPK and upregulating CGRP expression levels in the CNS. Sprague­Dawley rats consuming a high­fat diet (HF) for 12 weeks developed obesity; they exhibited significantly decreased levels of phospho (p)­AMPK and increased CGRP expression levels in the spinal cord (SC) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG), respectively, compared with rats consuming a low­fat (LF) diet. HF­fed rats that underwent spared nerve injury (SNI) also exhibited lower p­AMPK and higher CGRP expression levels in the SC and DRG, compared with the corresponding LF­diet rats. The 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT; as measured by Von Frey testing) was significantly lower in HF­fed compared with LF­fed rats, with or without SNI. Through intrathecal treatment, the AMPK activator 5­aminoimidazole­4­carboxamide riboside (AICAR) or the CGRP antagonist CGRP8­37 decreased CGRP expression levels and increased the 50% PWT; however, the AMPK inhibitor dorsomorphin augmented CGRP expression levels and further reduced the 50% PWT in HF­fed rats, but not LF­fed rats, with or without SNI. The results indicated that blocking the AMPK­CGRP pathway may enhance neuropathic pain in HF­induced obesity, with or without nerve injury. Targeting AMPK in the CNS may be a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity­associated neuropathic pain.

Sputum bacteriology conversion and treatment outcome of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires long-term treatment, has a high fatality rate, and constitutes a global threat. Earlier detection of treatment failure is required to predict therapeutic efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled MDR-TB patients consecutively from January 2011 through December 2012 in Lianyungang, China. Sputum smear microscopy tests and sputum cultures were performed once a month for the first 6 months following initiation of antituberculosis treatment and once every 2 months thereafter until the end of therapy. The sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used with a 95% CI to estimate the role of sputum bacteriology conversion in predicting treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 92 MDR-TB patients enrolled in this study, 40.2% had poor treatment outcomes. The median initial sputum bacteriology conversion time was 1 month. Patients having 2-month sputum smear conversions (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 7.19, 95% CI: 2.60-19.84) or culture conversions (adjusted OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.11-7.45) were more likely to experience good outcomes. The sensitivity and specificity obtained when using two-month sputum smear conversions to predict treatment outcomes were 67.6% (95% CI: 50.2-82.0) and 76.4% (95% CI: 63.0-86.8), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity obtained when using 2-month culture conversions to predict treatment outcomes were 48.6% (95% CI: 32.0-65.6) and 74.5% (95% CI: 61.0-85.3), respectively. The AUC for two-month smear conversions was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.81), significantly higher than that obtained for 2-month culture conversions (0.62, 95% CI: 0.52-0.72) (χ2 = 4.18, P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: The prognoses of MDR-TB patients displaying persistent sputum positivity were inferior to those for whom sputum bacteriology conversion was observed. Thus, sputum smear conversion results obtained 2 months after treatment initiation may provide a potential means for predicting MDR-TB treatment outcomes.

Riparsaponin isolated from Homonoia riparia Lour induces apoptosis of oral cancer cells.

Homonoia riparia Lour (Euphorbiaceae) is a known source of herbal medicine in China, and riparsaponin (RSP) is an active constituent isolated from H. riparia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor effect of RSP on human oral carcinoma cells and its potential underlying molecular mechanism. RSP was isolated from roots of H. riparia and identified using nuclear magnetic resonance. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of RSP on human oral carcinoma cells. Subsequently, DAPI staining was performed to investigate the apoptotic effect of RSP. To investigate the potential underlying molecular mechanism of action of RSP, western blotting was performed to determine the expression of cleaved caspase 3/9, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad), epithelial cadherin (E-CAD), c-MET, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. RSP exhibited a significant anti-proliferative effect on oral carcinoma cells at concentrations between 10 and 200 µg/ml via apoptosis. Following treatment with RSP (20, 40 and 80 µg/ml), expression of cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively), cleaved caspase-9 (P<0.01), Bad (P<0.01), Bax (P<0.01), c-MET (P<0.01), MMP-2 (P<0.01) and MMP-9 (P<0.01) in oral carcinoma cells was increased significantly compared with the control group, whereas expression of Bcl-2 (P<0.01) and E-CAD (P<0.01) was decreased. These results suggest that RSP possessed notable antitumor activity against oral squamous cell carcinoma by inducing mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Genetic polymorphisms of the P2X7 gene associated with susceptibility to and prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

In this population-based case control study, we recruited 1601 pulmonary tuberculosis cases and 1526 healthy controls, aiming to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms of the P2X7 gene with the susceptibility to and prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a Chinese Han population. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P2X7 gene were genotyped. The odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) together with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimated the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the disease. After correction for multiple comparisons, the SNP rs1718119 remained significant. The allele A of rs1718119 was related to a reduced risk for all active tuberculosis (OR for each additional allele A: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.94) and sputum smear-positive cases (OR for each additional allele A: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66-0.93). The effects of these genetic variations were more evident among smokers. Survival analysis showed a weak association between rs7958311 and treatment outcome, where each additional allele A of the SNP rs7958311 contributed to a 59% increase in the probability of a successful treatment outcome (adjusted RR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.05-2.40, P=0.028); but it wasn't significant after the Bonferroni correction. We demonstrated that genetic variations of the P2X7 gene might be involved in the risk and prognosis of human tuberculosis.

Mycophenolate mofetil attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

It has been well documented that the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling pathway mediates early inflammatory responses during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive agent, has been shown to confer protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury, possibly through its immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory actions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether MMF could modulate the TLR4/NF-κB signaling, inhibit cell apoptosis and subsequently attenuate MI/R injury. MMF (20 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to SD rats by gavage. The rats were then subjected to MI/R injury. The results showed that after MI/R, the expressions of myocardial TLR4 and NF-κB were significantly increased, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was induced, as evidenced by the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased Bcl-2 protein level, and increased Bax expression. Administration of MMF attenuated MI/R injury. Further studies demonstrated that MMF inhibited the induction of TLR4, NF-κB and Bax expression, and restored the expression of bcl-2. Moreover, increased myeloperoxidase activity and serum level of tumor necrotic factor α induced by MI/R injury were also inhibited by MMF treatment. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that MMF attenuates MI/R injury through inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which led to reduced inflammatory reaction and subsequently myocardial cell apoptosis.

Treatment of prolapse of rectum with acupuncture combined with TCM drugs in 38 cases.

Prolapse of rectum usually occurs in the children with insufficient qi and blood, in the elders with declined qi and blood or deficiency of qi in the middle jiao (burner), in the women who made qi exhausted during labor resulting in deficiency of qi and blood, and in those with chronic diarrhea, habitual constipation and long-standing cough. All these may cause sinking of qi in middle jiao and induce the disorder. Therefore in treating the disorder, the primary causes should also be treated simultaneously.