Changing ozone sensitivity in Fujian Province, China, during 2012-2021: Importance of controlling VOC emissions.

In the troposphere, ozone (O3) formation can be limited by NOx, VOCs, or both, complicating efforts to reduce O3 by controlling its precursors. This study used formaldehyde (HCHO) data and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to analyze O3 formation sensitivity in Fujian from 2012 to 2021. Over the past decade, an 8.7% reduction in NO2 VCDs and a 9.91% increase in HCHO VCDs were observed. Due to differences in the primary driving factors, HCHO VCDs exhibit a characteristic seasonal pattern with higher in summer and lower in winter, whereas NO2 VCDs show the opposite trend. O3 formation chemistry was accurately diagnosed by combining satellite-based data and ground-based O3 data. A new threshold value (3.3-4.6) was derived to determine the transition from VOC-limited to NOx-limited O3 formation regimes. Results showed that O3 sensitivity exhibited pronounced seasonal variations. The VOC-limited regime predominates throughout the entire Fujian region in winter, whereas it occupies only 5% of the area in summer. A VOC-limited region was found widely across Fujian on an annual average, but it decreased by 24% over 10 years. Transitional areas experienced a 19% increase. In two natural emission reduction cases (reductions during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and reductions in weekend traffic emissions compared to weekdays), ground-level O3 effectively captured the impacts of sensitivity changes. The impact suggests that when Fujian is in the VOC control region, a significant reduction in NOx, without effective VOC control, might lead to an O3 increase. The importance of controlling VOC emissions is highlighted in Fujian. This study enhances the understanding of O3 formation regimes in southeastern China, which is crucial for developing O3 prevention and control strategies.

[Status of elevated blood pressure among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17 from 2016 to 2017 according to 4 different references].

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analysis the detection rate of high normal blood pressure and high blood pressure among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17 years from 2016 to 2017 according to the clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in Children and Adolescents published by the American Academy of Pediatrics(the AAP reference), the international blood pressure references among Children and Adolescents aged 6 to 17 years(the international reference), health industry standard of the People's Republic of China "Reference of screening for elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years(WS/T 610-2018)"(the industry reference) and updating blood pressure references for Chinese children aged 3 to 17 years(the guideline reference). METHODS: Data was from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Women(2016-2017), in which the multistage stratified whole group random sampling method was used to draw participants from 275 surveillance sites in 31 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities). In total, 67 231 participants were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Blood pressure was measured three times by trained staff using a validated oscillometric blood pressure monitor at the same point. The average blood pressure was calculated for the three measurements for SBP and DBP. To match the sampling design methodology, all values were weighted to represent the total population of Chinese children and adolescents 7-17 years of age considering sampling weights for each stratification based on the sixth population census data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics. RESULTS: The detection rate varied greatly under different references. The detection rate of high normal blood pressure was ranked from high to low according to the AAP reference(20.15%) > the guideline reference(17.29%) > the industry reference(13.14%) > the international reference(12.66%); the detection rate of high blood pressure in descending order is the guideline reference(24.31%) > the international reference(21.34%) > the AAP reference(20.59%) > the industry reference(19.96%). CONCLUSION: Although the consistency between the AAP references and international references and our national two references were medium to high, the difference in detection rate obtained by analysis was large. Considering the differences of demographic characteristics in the reference population, caution should be taken when applying foreign references to judge the blood pressure status of children and adolescents in China.

Rapid and extensive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection wave revealed by wastewater surveillance in Shenzhen following the lifting of a strict COVID-19 strategy.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a promising tool for monitoring the spread of COVID-19, as SARS-CoV-2 can be shed in the faeces of infected individuals, even in the absence of symptoms. This study aimed to optimize a prediction model for estimating COVID-19 infection rates based on SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater, and reveal the infection trends and variant diversification in Shenzhen, China following the lifting of a strict COVID-19 strategy. Faecal samples (n = 4337) from 1204 SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals hospitalized in a designated hospital were analysed to obtain Omicron variant-specific faecal shedding dynamics. Wastewater samples from 6 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and 9 pump stations, covering 3.55 million people, were monitored for SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations and variant abundance. We found that the viral load in wastewater increased rapidly in December 2022 in the two districts, demonstrating a sharp peak in COVID-19 infections in late-December 2022, mainly caused by Omicron subvariants BA.5.2.48 and BF.7.14. The prediction model, based on the mass balance between total viral load in wastewater and individual faecal viral shedding, revealed a surge in the cumulative infection rate from <0.1 % to over 70 % within three weeks after the strict COVID-19 strategy was lifted. Additionally, 39 cryptic SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified in wastewater, in addition to those detected through clinical surveillance. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of WBE in providing comprehensive and efficient assessments of COVID-19 infection rates and identifying cryptic variants, highlighting its potential for monitoring emerging pathogens with faecal shedding.

The interaction between biochar and earthworms: Revealing the potential ecological risks of biochar application and the feasibility of their co-application.

Biochar's interaction with soil-dwelling organisms, particularly earthworms, is crucial in ensuring the effective and secure utilization of biochar in the soil. This review introduces the application of biochar in soil, summarizes how earthworms respond to biochar-amended soil and the underlying factors that can influence their response, discusses the synergistic and antagonistic impacts of earthworm activity on the efficacy of biochar, and considers the feasibility of applying them together. A review of existing research has identified uncertainty in the effect of biochar exposure on earthworms, with biochar derived from animal wastes, produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures, and used at higher doses of biochar having more negative effects on earthworms. Habitat modification, toxicity release, particle effects, and contaminant immobilization are underlying factors in how biochar affects earthworm indicators. While biochar in contaminated soils may alleviate the stress of pollutants on earthworms by decreasing their bioaccumulation, this remedial effect is not always effective. Additionally, earthworm bioturbation can enhance the migration, fragmentation, and oxidation of biochar, while also stimulating extracellular enzymes that convert biochar into 'vermichar'. Earthworms and biochar can synergize well to improve soil fertility and remediate soil organic pollution, yet exhibit contrasting roles in soil C sequestration and immobilizing heavy metals in soil. These findings highlight both the advantages and risks of their co-application. Therefore, when considering the use of biochar alone or with earthworms, it is crucial to thoroughly assess its potential ecotoxicity on earthworms and other soil organisms, as well as the influence of bioturbation, such as that caused by earthworms, on the effectiveness of biochar.

Deficiency of Energy and Nutrient and Gender Differences among Chinese Adults: China Nutrition and Health Survey (2015-2017).

Half of Chinese adults face the double burden of overweight/obesity and micronutrient deficiencies, and nearly 40% of them are severely overweight/obese or have micronutrient deficiencies. This study used the data from China Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS) from 2015 to 2017 to estimate the prevalence of inadequate dietary micronutrient intake (including vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, cCalcium, iron and sodium) in Chinese adults and further determine the differences in micronutrient intake by gender, age and BMI. A total of 61,768 subjects were included in this study, of which 33,262 (54%) were female. The intake of energy and all macronutrients decreased with age, and the intake was higher in men than in women. Inadequate energy intake occurs in adults of all ages. In terms of nutrient intake, women had a higher rate of insufficient carbohydrate intake than men in all age groups. Inadequate protein intake was more common in women aged 18-49 years (60.9%) than in men. Compared with women, men had a higher rate of vitamin B2 intake. Insufficient vitamin B3 intake was more common in women aged 18-49 years (35.6%), men aged 65-79 years (39.7%) and men aged 80 years and above (47.9%). In all age groups, insufficient vitamin C intake is higher in women than in men-up to 85.8 percent in women aged 80 years old and above. Compared with men in the same age group, insufficient intake of calcium and iron is more obvious in women. Women have significantly higher rates of inadequate intake of calcium, iron and sodium than men. In the analysis of correlations between BMI or demographic data and micronutrient intakes, the likelihood of micronutrient intakes being insufficient was higher in the central and western regions in all age groups compared to the eastern regions. The risk of insufficient micronutrient intake was higher in obese men and women aged 18-49 years and 50-64 years. Underweight and overweight women in the 65-79 age group were more likely to have inadequate micronutrient intake. Obese women over 80 years of age were less likely to have inadequate micronutrient intake. No significant difference was found between urban and rural areas for each age group.

Modeling multi-component separation in hydrophobic interaction chromatography with improved parameter-by-parameter estimation method.

Mechanistic models are powerful tools for chromatographic process development and optimization. However, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) mechanistic models lack an effective and logical parameter estimation method, especially for multi-component system. In this study, a parameter-by-parameter method for multi-component system (called as mPbP-HIC) was derived based on the retention mechanism to estimate the six parameters of the Mollerup isotherm for HIC. The linear parameters (ks,i and keq,i) and nonlinear parameters (ni and qmax,i) of the isotherm can be estimated by the linear regression (LR) and the linear approximation (LA) steps, respectively. The remaining two parameters (kp,i and kkin,i) are obtained by the inverse method (IM). The proposed method was verified with a two-component model system. The results showed that the model could accurately predict the protein elution at a loading of 10 g/L. However, the elution curve fitting was unsatisfactory for high loadings (12 g/L and 14 g/L), which is mainly attributed to the demanding experimental conditions of the LA step and the potential large estimation error of the parameter qmax. Therefore, the inverse method was introduced to further calibrate the parameter qmax, thereby reducing the estimation error and improving the curve fitting. Moreover, the simplified linear approximation (SLA) was proposed by reasonable assumption, which provides the initial guess of qmax without solving any complex matrix and avoids the problem of matrix unsolvable. In the improved mPbP-HIC method, qmax would be initialized by the SLA and finally determined by the inverse method, and this strategy was named as SLA+IM. The experimental validation showed that the improved mPbP-HIC method has a better curve fitting, and the use of SLA+IM reduces the error accumulation effect. In process optimization, the parameters estimated by the improved mPbP-HIC method provided the model with excellent predictive ability and reasonable extrapolation. In conclusion, the SLA+IM strategy makes the improved mPbP-HIC method more rational and can be easily applied to the practical separation of protein mixture, which would accelerate the process development for HIC in downstream of biopharmaceuticals.

Carbon defects-enriched NBC-C3N5@CoMn with ultrafast modulation of redox couples for efficient degradation of contaminant.

The inefficiency of catalysts in sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) is primarily attributed to the sluggish circulation of redox couples. Herein, a carbon defects-enriched NBC-C3N5@CoMn (NCC) was synthesized through a self-assembly approach. The carbon defects within the NCC induce the electron trap effect, thereby facilitating the efficient cycling of redox couples in photo-Fenton-like processes during contaminant degradation. This effect enables the self-regeneration of the NCC catalyst. The reductive redox couples (Co (II) and Mn (II)) are continuously regenerated following the degradation process. Within the NCC, CoMn layered double hydroxides (LDHs) act as primary active sites, promoting the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), sulfate radicals (SO4•-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) through continuous electron gain and loss. Additionally, the internal electric field established within the NCC further accelerates electron transfer. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the carbon defects-enriched NCC exhibits lower adsorption energies and higher electron transfer efficiencies than carbon defect-deficient NCC. This study introduces a novel photocatalyst with self-regenerating capabilities, presenting an innovative approach to regulate redox couples in SR-AOPs for sustainable degradation.

Staring X-ray backscatter imaging based on ultra-high aspect ratio lobster eye lens: erratum.

An erratum to correct a mistake for the article titled "Staring X-ray backscatter imaging based on ultra-high aspect ratio lobster eye lens" published in Opt. Express32(7), 11600 (2024)10.1364/OE.514941. The corrections have no influence on the results and conclusions of the original paper.

PET/CT deep learning prognosis for treatment decision support in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical decision-making regarding choosing surgery alone (SA) or surgery followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (SPOCT) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial. We aim to propose a pre-therapy PET/CT image-based deep learning approach to improve the survival benefit and clinical management of ESCC patients. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included 837 ESCC patients from three institutions. Prognostic biomarkers integrating six networks were developed to build an ESCC prognosis (ESCCPro) model and predict the survival probability of ESCC patients treated with SA and SPOCT. Patients who did not undergo surgical resection were in a control group. Overall survival (OS) was the primary end-point event. The expected improvement in survival prognosis with the application of ESCCPro to assign treatment protocols was estimated by comparing the survival of patients in each subgroup. Seven clinicians with varying experience evaluated how ESCCPro performed in assisting clinical decision-making. RESULTS: In this retrospective multicenter study, patients receiving SA had a median OS 9.2 months longer than controls. No significant differences in survival were found between SA patients with predicted poor outcomes and the controls (p > 0.05). It was estimated that if ESCCPro was used to determine SA and SPOCT eligibility, the median OS in the ESCCPro-recommended SA group and SPOCT group would have been 15.3 months and 24.9 months longer, respectively. In addition, ESCCPro also significantly improved prognosis accuracy, certainty, and the efficiency of clinical experts. CONCLUSION: ESCCPro assistance improved the survival benefit of ESCC patients and the clinical decision-making among the two treatment approaches. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The ESCCPro model for treatment decision-making is promising to improve overall survival in ESCC patients undergoing surgical resection and patients undergoing surgery followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. KEY POINTS: ESCC is associated with a poor prognosis and unclear ideal treatments. ESCCPro predicts the survival of patients with ESCC and the expected benefit from SA. ESCCPro improves clinicians' stratification of patients' prognoses.

Decoding the connection between SLE and DNA Sensors: A comprehensive review.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is recognized as a prevalent autoimmune disorder characterized by a multifaceted pathogenesis potentially influenced by a combination of environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and hormonal regulation. The continuous study of immune system activation is especially intriguing. Analysis of blood samples from individuals with SLE reveals an abnormal increase in interferon levels, along with the existence of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. This evidence suggests that the development of SLE may be initiated by innate immunity. The presence of abnormal dsDNA fragments can activate DNA sensors within cells, particularly immune cells, leading to the initiation of downstream signaling cascades that result in the upregulation of relevant cytokines and the subsequent initiation of adaptive immune responses, such as B cell differentiation and T cell activation. The intricate pathogenesis of SLE results in DNA sensors exhibiting a wide range of functions in innate immune responses that are subject to variation based on cell types, developmental processes, downstream effector signaling pathways and other factors. The review aims to reorganize how DNA sensors influence signaling pathways and contribute to the development of SLE according to current studies, with the aspiration of furnishing valuable insights for future investigations into the pathological mechanisms of SLE and potential treatment approaches.

Quantum-Enhanced Metrology with Network States.

Armed with quantum correlations, quantum sensors in a network have shown the potential to outclass their classical counterparts in distributed sensing tasks such as clock synchronization and reference frame alignment. On the other hand, this analysis was done for simple and idealized networks, whereas the correlation shared within a practical quantum network, captured by the notion of network states, is much more complex. Here, we prove a general bound that limits the performance of using quantum network states to estimate a global parameter, establishing the necessity of genuine multipartite entanglement for achieving a quantum advantage. The bound can also serve as an entanglement witness in networks and can be generalized to states generated by shallow circuits. Moreover, while our bound prohibits local network states from achieving the Heisenberg limit, we design a probabilistic protocol that, once successful, attains this ultimate limit of quantum metrology and preserves the privacy of involved parties. Our work establishes both the limitation and the possibility of quantum metrology within quantum networks.

Immunological Roles of CCL18 in Pan­Cancer and Its Potential Value in Endometrial Cancer.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the female reproductive system. However, the potential functions and mechanisms of immune-related genes in the onset and progression of EC remain unclear. The immune-related gene CCL18 has been implicated in apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance in various types of tumors. Nevertheless, its role in pan-cancer has been poorly investigated, and its expression value and prognostic significance in endometrial cancer (EC) have not been explored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify potential immune-related prognostic biomarkers for EC by utilizing the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), immunology database and analysis portal (ImmPort) database, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Immunohistochemistry staining results from EC tissue chips demonstrated elevated expression levels of inflammatory chemokine protein 18 (CCL18) in EC compared to normal endometrium. This study offers a potential therapeutic strategy for EC treatment by identifying regulatory targets through microRNA sequencing data. Additionally, drug prediction was based on CCL18 targets. Furthermore, an analysis of CCL18 expression in pan-cancer was conducted, and the results revealed its high expression in various types of cancer, including EC and bladder cancer. Through analysis of the ATAC-seq data, we found that SIX1, SOX3, and TWIST2 may regulate CCL18 transcription by binding to the gene promoter of CCL18 in EC. This study indicated that CCL18 could be a potential biomarker in pan-cancer and EC.

[Distribution of usual vitamin intake and prevalence of inadequate intake among Chinese adults in 2015].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the usual vitamin intake and the prevalence of inadequate intakes among Chinese adults in 2015, and to provide a scientific basis for developing nutrition intervention strategies and measures for target populations. METHODS: Data was drawn from the Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2015-2017, a nationally representative cross-sectional study. The multistage stratified whole-group random sampling method was used to draw participants from 298 surveillance sites in 31 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities). Participants with no available information or abnormal energy intake were excluded, and finally, a total of 72 231 participants aged 18 years and older were included in the current study. The dietary data of the participants were collected by the 24-hour dietary recall method combined with the condiment weighing method for three consecutive days. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate the distribution of the usual intake of vitamin B_1(thiamine), vitamin B_2(riboflavin), niacin, vitamin C(ascorbic acid), and vitamin E(tocopherol), and the prevalence of inadequate intake was evaluated based on estimated average requirement or adequate intake from the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes 2023. RESULTS: The usual intake of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B_1, vitamin B_2 and niacin were 27.93 mg/d, 77.67 mg/d, 0.78 mg/d, 0.62 mg/d and 13.15 mg/d, respectively. The prevalence of inadequate intake was, in descending order, vitamin B_2(95.98%), vitamin B_1(86.73%), vitamin C(63.70%), niacin(39.81%), and vitamin E(21.17%). The prevalence of inadequate vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B_1 and niacin intake among females was higher than among males(P<0.01). Overall, the prevalence of inadequate vitamin intake increased with age. Rural residents had a higher prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin C, vitamin B_2 and niacin than urban residents(P<0.01). Except for vitamin E, the prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamins decreased with increasing education levels. The prevalence of inadequate intake of these five vitamins was higher among participants with lower income levels than those with middle or high income(P<0.01). Participants with normal weight had a higher prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin E than those with overweight or obesity and had a higher prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin C than those with obesity. However, participants with normal weight had a higher prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin E than those with overweight or obesity, with the differences being statistically significant(P<0.01). Except for vitamin E, the prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamins decreased with increasing physical activity intensity. CONCLUSION: In 2015, the usual intake of dietary vitamins of Chinese adults was low. There are differences in usual intakes of vitamins and prevalence of inadequate vitamin intake for adults aged 18 years and above in males and females, different age groups, urban and rural areas, education levels, household income levels, body mass index and physical activity intensity.

[Association between habitual tea consumption and 10-year cardiovascular risk among Chinese mid-aged and elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between habitual tea consumption and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. METHODS: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2015 applied a stratified, multistage, and random sampling method. The current study selected middle-aged and elderly participants aged 45 and older, and they were investigated by basic information survey, dietary survey based on the food frequency questionnaire, physical measurements including height, weight, and blood pressure, and a laboratory examination with fasting blood samples. Habitual tea consumption was defined by asking about the number of cups of tea usually consumed per day in the past 12 months, and the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence was calculated using the Framingham risk score over a 10-year period. The association between tea consumption and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in this population was analyzed using multiple logistic regression, and further analyzed using gender as a stratification factor. RESULTS: A total of 42 704 Chinese middle-aged and elderly were included in this study, with an average age of(59.4±9.4) years, 20 104 males and 22 600 females, 17 194 in urban areas and 25 510 in rural areas. For tea drinking, there were 12 519(29.32%) tea drinkers in the included sample, of which 4153(9.73%) consumed 1-2 cups/d, 3336(7.81%) 3-4 cups/d, and 5030(11.78%) ≥5 cups/d. For 10-year cardiovascular risk, 28 267 participants(66.19%) were estimated to be low risk, while 14 437(33.81%) were in the high risk. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, place of residence, education, income, marital status, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, participation in medical examination within one year, DASH dietary score, energy intake and chronic disease status, the result showed a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease over a 10-year period among those who consumed 3-4 cups/d compared with those who did not consume tea(OR=0.820, 95%CI 0.719-0.934, P_(trend)=0.03). When stratified by gender, both gender showed participants who consumed 3-4 cups/d had a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than those who did not consume tea(males: OR=0.849, 95%CI 0.722-0.997; females: OR=0.697, 95%CI 0.527-0.922). And the result was more pronounced among females. CONCLUSION: Moderate habitual tea consumption could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, and its protective effect is more pronounced among females.

Staring X-ray backscatter imaging based on ultra-high aspect ratio lobster eye lens.

In contrast to conventional X-ray imaging systems, the lobster eye lens, serving as a pivotal component for X-ray focusing, presents the potential for downsizing X-ray backscatter imaging systems. This study reports the successful implementation of a pioneering non-contact staring X-ray backscatter imaging experiment, with the target positioned 1.5 meters away from the system and employing a tube voltage of 60 kV for the X-ray light source. The system is built upon a novel high aspect ratio (500) meridian lobster eye lens, employing a laboratory low illuminance desktop light source and a commercial X-ray detector to achieve high-resolution focused imaging of hard X-rays. Point spread function testing and a series of imaging experiments were carried out to assess the resolution and optimal imaging photon energy of the proposed system. Furthermore, according to the characteristics of the point spread function of the cross image of the lobster eye lens, we proposed an image processing algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that, after processing, the Structural Similarity (SSIM) Index of the backscatter image and the ground truth image can be improved from an average of 0.0526 to 0.5758. Our research significantly contributes to the advancement of a new generation of X-ray backscatter imaging systems.

SPINK1 is a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Sepsis.

Purpose: There are no satisfactory diagnostic biomarkers for sepsis. Accordingly, this study screened biomarkers valuable for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis using data-independent acquisition (DIA) combined with clinical data analysis. Patients and Methods: Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1) is a differentially expressed protein that was screened using DIA and bioinformatics in sepsis patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 10). The plasma SPINK1 levels were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an expanded population (sepsis patients, n = 52; healthy controls, n = 10). The diagnostic value of SPINK1 in sepsis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis based on clinical data. The prognostic value of SPINK1 for sepsis was evaluated using correlation and survival analyses. Results: DIA quality control identified 78 differential proteins (72 upregulated and six downregulated), among which SPINK1 was highly expressed in sepsis. The ELISA results suggested that SPINK1 expression was significantly elevated in the sepsis group (P < 0.05). ROC analysis of SPINK1 yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9096. Combining SPINK1 with procalcitonin (PCT) for ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 1. SPINK1 expression was positively correlated with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (r = 3497, P = 0.0053) and APACHE II score (r = 3223, P = 0.0106). High plasma SPINK1 protein expression was negatively correlated with the 28-day survival rate of patients with sepsis (P = 0.0149). Conclusion: The plasma of sepsis patients contained increased SPINK1 protein expression. Combining SPINK1 with PCT might have a high diagnostic value for sepsis. SPINK1 was associated with the SOFA score, APACHE II score, and the 28-day survival rate in patients with sepsis.

Pyrite-assisted degradation of methoxychlor by laccase immobilized on Fe3S4/earthworm-like mesoporous SiO2.

Laccase immobilized and cross-linked on Fe3S4/earthworm-like mesoporous SiO2 (Fe3S4/EW-mSiO2) was used to degrade methoxychlor (MXC) in aqueous environments. The effects of various parameters on the degradation of MXC were determined using free and immobilized laccase. Immobilization improved the thermal stability and reuse of laccase significantly. Under the conditions of pH 4.5, temperature 40 °C, and reaction time 8 h, the degradation rate of MXC by immobilized laccase reached a maximum value of 40.99% and remained at 1/3 of the original after six cycles. The excellent degradation performance of Fe3S4/EW-mSiO2 was attributable to the pyrite (FeS2) impurity in Fe3S4, which could act as an electron donor in reductive dehalogenation. Sulfide groups and Fe2+ reduced the activation energy of the system resulting in pyrite-assisted degradation of MXC. The degradation mechanism of MXC in aqueous environments by laccase immobilized on Fe3S4/EW-mSiO2 was determined via mass spectroscopy of the degradation products. This study is a new attempt to use pyrite to support immobilized laccase degradation.

A dynamic individual method for yak heifer live body weight estimation using the YOLOv8 network and body parameter detection algorithm.

Live body weight (LBW) is one of the most important parameters for supervising the growth and development of livestock. The yak (Bos grunniens) is a special species of cattle that lives on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Yaks are more untamed than regular cattle breeds, so it is more challenging to measure their LBW. In this study, YOLOv8 yak detection and LBW estimation models were used to automatically estimate yak LBW in real time. First, the proper posture (normal posture) and individual yak identification was confirmed and then the YOLOv8 detection model was used for LBW estimation from 2-dimensional images. Yak LBW was estimated through yak body parameter extraction and a simple linear regression between the estimated yak LBW and the actual measured yak LBW. The results showed that the overall detection performance for normal yak posture was described by precision, recall, and mean average precision 50 (mAP50) indicators, reaching 81.8%, 86.0%, and 90.6%, respectively. The best yak identification results were represented by precision, recall, and mAP50 values of 97.8%, 96.4%, and 99.0%, respectively. The yak LBW estimation model achieved better results for the 12-mo-old yaks with shorter hair, with values for R2, root mean square error, mean absolute percentage error, and multiple R of 0.96, 2.43 kg, 1.69%, and 0.98, respectively. The results demonstrate that yak LBW can be estimated and monitored in real time using this approach. This study has the potential to be used for daily yak LBW monitoring in an unstressed manner and to save considerable labor resources for large-scale livestock farms. In the future, to reduce the limitations caused by the impacts of yak hair and light condition, datasets of dairy cows and yaks of different ages will be used to improve and generalize the model.

Hydrolytic degradation of methoxychlor by immobilized cellulase on LDHs@Fe3O4 nanocomposites.

In this study, we synthesized Fe3O4 using the co-precipitation method and then prepared magnetic carrier LDHs@Fe3O4 by immobilizing layered double hydroxide on Fe3O4 by in situ growth method. Cellulase was immobilized on this magnetic carrier by using glutaraldehyde as a coupling agent, which can be used for degrading Methoxychlor (MXC). The results demonstrated the maximum MXC removal efficiency of 73.4% at 45 °C and pH = 6.0 with excellent reusability. Through kinetic analysis, it was found that the degradation reaction conforms to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and is a first-order reaction. Finally, according to the EPR analysis, the active radicals in the system were found to be OH· and the degradation mechanism was proposed in combination with LC-MS. This study provides a feasible method for degrading organochlorine pesticides, which can be used for groundwater purification.

Parameter-by-parameter estimation method for adsorption isotherm in hydrophobic interaction chromatography.

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) is used as a critical polishing step in the downstream processing of biopharmaceuticals. Normally the process development of HIC is a cumbersome and time-consuming task, and the mechanical models can provide a powerful tool to characterize the process, assist process design and accelerate process development. However, the current estimation of model parameters relies on the inverse method, which lacks an efficient and logical parameter estimation strategy. In this study, a parameter-by-parameter (PbP) method based on the theoretical derivation and simplifying assumptions was proposed to estimate the Mollerup isotherm parameters for HIC. The method involves three key steps: (1) linear regression (LR) to estimate the salt-protein interaction parameter and the equilibrium constant; (2) linear approximation (LA) to estimate the stoichiometric parameter and the maximum binding capacity; and (3) inverse method to estimate the protein-protein interaction parameter and the kinetic coefficient. The results indicated that the LR step should be used for dilution condition (loading factor below 5%), while the LA step should be conducted when the isotherm is in the transition or nonlinear regions. Six numerical experiments were conducted to implement the PbP method. The results demonstrated that the PbP method developed allows for the systematic estimation of HIC parameters one-by-one, effectively reducing the number of parameters required for inverse method estimation from six to two. This helps prevent non-identifiability of structural parameters. The feasibility of the PbP-HIC method was further validated by real-world experiments. Moreover, the PbP method enhances the mechanistic understanding of adsorption behavior of HIC and shows a promising application to other stoichiometric displacement model-derived isotherms.