Oxygen vacancy chemistry in oxide cathodes.

Secondary batteries are a core technology for clean energy storage and conversion systems, to reduce environmental pollution and alleviate the energy crisis. Oxide cathodes play a vital role in revolutionizing battery technology due to their high capacity and voltage for oxide-based batteries. However, oxygen vacancies (OVs) are an essential type of defect that exist predominantly in both the bulk and surface regions of transition metal (TM) oxide batteries, and have a crucial impact on battery performance. This paper reviews previous studies from the past few decades that have investigated the intrinsic and anionic redox-mediated OVs in the field of secondary batteries. We focus on discussing the formation and evolution of these OVs from both thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives, as well as their impact on the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of oxide cathodes. Finally, we offer insights into the utilization of OVs to enhance the energy density and lifespan of batteries. We expect that this review will advance our understanding of the role of OVs and subsequently boost the development of high-performance electrode materials for next-generation energy storage devices.

Effectiveness of risk-based caries management among Chinese preschool children: a randomized controlled single-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) remain a serious oral health problem on a global scale. Risk-based caries management (RBCM) implemented in some parts of the world has been effective in preventing ECC. However, there is a lack of prospective research on the application of RBCM among Chinese children, and little is known about its effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of RBCM in preventing caries among children aged 3-5 years in Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality, China. METHODS: Three- to five-year-old children from four kindergartens in Wanzhou were randomly selected for baseline dental examination and caries risk assessment (CRA) and randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG) according to the kindergarten. The EG received caries prevention measures of different intensities based on the child's caries risk level. The CG received full-mouth fluoride twice a year according to standard prevention, regardless of their caries risk. One year later, another dental examination and CRA were conducted, to observe changes in the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index and caries risk, and to analyze potential factors that may affect the incidence of new caries. RESULTS: Complete data were collected from 291 children (EG, N = 140, 84.8%; CG, N = 181, 83.4%). A total of 25.7% of the EG and 50.3% of the CG children developed new caries, with newly added dmft scores of 0.54 ± 1.12 and 1.32 ± 1.72, respectively (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that children living in rural areas, assigned to the CG, and rated as high-risk at baseline were more likely to develop new caries (P < 0.05). The proportion of children with an increased caries risk in the EG was significantly lower than that in the CG (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RBCM effectively prevented new caries in 3- to 5-year-old Wanzhou children and reduced the proportion of children at increased risk of caries. It is an effective approach for preventing ECC. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Register. The registration number was ChiCTR230067551 (11/01/2023).

[Effect of 2-phenylethyl-beta-glucopyranoside isolated from Huaizhong No. 1 Rehmannia glutinosa on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by regulating PI3K/Akt/m TOR/HIF-1α pathway].

The study investigated the protective effect and mechanism of 2-phenylethyl-beta-glucopyranoside(Phe) from Huaizhong No.1 Rehmannia glutinosa on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(PH), aiming to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of PAH. Male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive drug(bosentan, 100 mg·kg~(-1)) group, and low-and high-dose Phe groups(20 and 40 mg·kg~(-1)). Except for the normal group, all other groups were continuously subjected to model induction in a 10% hypoxic environment for 5 weeks, with oral administration for 14 days starting from the 3rd week. The cardiopulmonary function, right ventricular pressure, cough and asthma index, lung injury, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress-related indicators, immune cells, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/hypoxic inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α) pathway-related proteins or mRNA levels were examined. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell(PASMC) were used to further explore the mechanism of Phe intervention in PH combined with PI3K ago-nist(740Y-P). The results showed that Phe significantly improved the cardiopulmonary function of mice with PH, decreased right ventricular pressure, cough and asthma index, and lung injury, reduced cell apoptosis, oxidative stress-related indicators, and nuclear levels of phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt) and phosphorylated mTOR(p-mTOR), inhibited the expression levels of HIF-1α and PI3K mRNA and proteins, and maintained the immune cell homeostasis in mice. Further mechanistic studies revealed that Phe significantly reduced the viability and migration ability of hypoxia-induced PASMC, decreased the expression of HIF-1α and PI3K proteins and nuc-lear levels of p-Akt and p-mTOR, and this effect was blocked by 740Y-P. Therefore, it is inferred that Phe may exert anti-PH effects by alleviating the imbalance of oxidative stress and apoptosis in lung tissues and regulating immune levels, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway. This study is expected to provide drug references and research ideas for the treatment of PH.

Interconvertible Pyridone Alkaloids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium oxalicum QDU1.

Eleven new pyridone alkaloids, penicipyridones A-K (1-11), and three new tetramic acids, tolypocladenols D-F (12-14), were isolated from rice media cultures of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium oxalicum QDU1. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined by comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Interestingly, several of the penicipyridones undergo interconversions between hydroxy and methoxy groups at C-4 in acidic MeOH solution. Furthermore, in an acidic aqueous solution, OH-4 could be replaced by diverse substituent groups. Compounds 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 14 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on NO production in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, with IC50 values ranging from 9.2 to 19 µM.

[Platycladi Semen oil ameliorates Aß_(25-35)-induced brain injury in mice based on network pharmacology and gut microbiota].

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of Platycladi Semen oil(SP) on Aß_(25-35)-induced brain injury in mice to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD). Male Kunming(KM) mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group(brain injection of Aß_(25-35), 200 µmol·L~(-1), 0.15 µL·g~(-1)), a positive drug group(donepezil, 10 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-and high-dose SP groups(0.5 and 1 mL·kg~(-1)). Learning and memory ability, neuronal damage, levels of Aß_(1-42)/Aß_(1-40), p-Tau, related indicators of apoptosis and oxidative stress, and immune cells, and protein and mRNA expression related to the sphingosine kinase 1(SPHK1)/sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)/sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 5(S1PR5) signaling pathway of mice in each group were determined. In addition, compounds in SP were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). The mechanism of SP against AD was investigated by network pharmacology, 16S rDNA gene sequencing for gut microbiota(GM), and molecular docking techniques. The results showed that SP could improve the learning and memory function of Aß_(25-35)-induced mice, reduce hippocampal neuronal damage, decrease the levels of Aß_(1-42)/Aß_(1-40), p-Tau, and indicators related to apoptosis and oxidative stress in the brain, and maintain the homeostasis of immune cells and GM. Network pharmacology and sequencing analysis for GM showed that the therapeutic effect of SP on AD was associated with the sphingolipid signaling pathway. Meanwhile,(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid and(Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, the components with the highest content in SP, showed good binding activity to SPHK1 and S1PR5. Therefore, it is inferred that SP exerts anti-apoptosis and antioxidant effects by regulating GM and inhibiting SPHK1/S1P/S1PR5 pathway, thereby improving brain injury induced by Aß_(25-35) in mice. Moreover,(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid and(Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid may be the material basis for the anti-AD effect of SP.

[Intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates: an analysis based on high-throughput sequencing]. / åŸºäºŽé«˜é€šé‡æµ‹åºåˆ†æžæ—©æœŸæ–°ç”Ÿå„¿è‚ é“å’Œå’½éƒ¨å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©èŒç¾¤.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution characteristics and correlation of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates. METHODS: Full-term healthy neonates who were born in Shanghai Pudong New Area Maternal and Child Health Hospital from September 2021 to January 2022 and were given mixed feeding were enrolled. The 16S rRNA sequencing technique was used to analyze the stool and pharyngeal swab samples collected on the day of birth and days 5-7 after birth, and the composition and function of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The diversity analysis showed that the diversity of pharyngeal microbiota was higher than that of intestinal microbiota in early neonates, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). On the day of birth, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). On days 5-7 after birth, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05), and the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the intestine was significantly lower than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). At the genus level, there was no significant difference in the composition of dominant bacteria between the intestine and the pharynx on the day of birth (P>0.05), while on days 5-7 after birth, there were significant differences in the symbiotic bacteria of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Rothia, Bifidobacterium, and Escherichia-Shigella between the intestine and the pharynx (P<0.05). The analysis based on the database of Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins showed that pharyngeal microbiota was more concentrated on chromatin structure and dynamics and cytoskeleton, while intestinal microbiota was more abundant in RNA processing and modification, energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, coenzyme transport and metabolism, and others (P<0.05). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that compared with pharyngeal microbiota, intestinal microbiota was more predictive of cell motility, cellular processes and signal transduction, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, metabolic diseases, nervous system, and transcription parameters (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The composition and diversity of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota of neonates are not significantly different at birth. The microbiota of these two ecological niches begin to differentiate and gradually exhibit distinct functions over time.

Paracandidimonas lactea sp. nov., a urea-utilizing bacterium isolated from landfill.

A urea-utilizing bacterium, designated Q2-2 T, was isolated from landfill. Cells of strain Q2-2 T were Gram stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod bacteria. Strain Q2-2 T was observed to grow at a temperature range of 15-37℃ (optimum 30 â„ƒ), a pH range of 5.5-9.5 (optimum pH 8.0) and 0-4% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). The major respiratory quinone was Q-8, and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, and phosphatidyl glycerol. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain Q2-2 T had the highest similarity with Paracandidimonas caeni 24 T (98.0%), followed by Pusillimonas soli MJ07T (97.5%), Parapusillimonas granuli Ch07T (97.2%), Pusillimonas ginsengisoli DCY25T (97.1%) and Paracandidimonas soli IMT-305 T (96.4%). The ANI values between strain Q2-2 T and the above related type strains were 71.02%, 73.52%, 74.32%, 74.59% and 72.29%, respectively. The DNA G + C content of strain Q2-2 T was 61.1%. Therefore, strain Q2-2 T represents a novel species of the genus Paracandidimonas, for which the name Paracandidimonas lactea sp. nov. (type strain Q2-2 T = CGMCC 1.19179 T = JCM 34906 T) is proposed.

Porphyrin-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Highly Efficient Adsorption of Metal Ions.

The capture and elimination of anions and cations from water have attracted a great deal of attention and are quite vital for clean production and environmental remediation. In this work, we present the synthesis of four porphyrin (Por)-based conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs, namely, Por-CMP-1-4), which were produced through a Sonogashira-Hagihara linked response using porphyrin and acetylene aromatic compounds as building blocks and used as absorbents to eliminate metal ions from water. The as-synthesized Por-CMP-1-4 exhibit an amorphous porous structure and outstanding caloric and physicochemical properties. Taking advantage of their larger specific surface areas, i.e., 541.47, 614.58, 382.38, and 677.90 m2 g-1 for Por-CMP-1-4, respectively, and their chelating active site that originated from the porphyrin ring, Por-CMP-1-4 show better Zn2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+ adsorption ability. Among them, Por-CMP-3 has the greatest adsorbability of 640 mg g-1 for Zn2+, with an adsorption efficiency of 80%, whereas its adsorption capacities for Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions were both 334 mg g-1, with an adsorption efficiency of 42% for Cu2+ and Pb2+. Employing Por-CMP-3 as a representative example, its adsorption kinetics has been systematically investigated. The adsorption behavior of Por-CMP-3 with respect to the Zn2+ ion is shown to exhibit pseudo-first-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm modes. Meanwhile, the adsorption mechanism is discussed in detail, and it was thought it might be chelation, in which the nitrogen atoms with a single pair of electrons on the porphyrin ring interacted with metal ions to form stable chelation coordination bonds, thus removing metal ions selectively and effectively. Furthermore, Por-CMP-3 exhibited good reusability, retaining 60% of its Zn2+ removal rate after four continuous adsorptions.

Sodium cantharidate induces Apoptosis in breast cancer cells by regulating energy metabolism via the protein phosphatase 5-p53 axis.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide, and despite multiple chemotherapeutic approaches, effective treatment strategies for advanced metastatic breast cancer are still lacking. Metabolic reprogramming is essential for tumor cell growth and propagation, and most cancers, including breast cancer, are accompanied by abnormalities in energy metabolism. Here, we confirmed that sodium cantharidate inhibited cell viability using the Cell Counting Kit-8, clonogenic assay, and Transwell assay. The cell cycle and apoptosis assays indicated that sodium cantharidate induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in breast cancer cells. Additionally, proteomic assays, western blots, and metabolic assays revealed that sodium cantharidate converted the metabolic phenotype of breast cancer cells from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis identified possible roles for p53 with respect to the effects of sodium cantharidate on breast cancer cells. Western blot, docking, and phosphatase assays revealed that the regulation of p53 activity by sodium cantharidate was related to its inhibition of protein phosphatase 5 activity. Moreover, sodium cantharidate significantly inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing nude mice. In summary, our study provides evidence for the use of sodium cantharidate as an effective and new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of human breast cancer in clinical trials.

Current Understanding of the Involvement of the Insular Cortex in Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review.

Neuropathic pain is difficult to cure and is often accompanied by emotional and psychological changes. Exploring the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain will help to identify a better treatment for this condition. The insular cortex is an important information integration center. Numerous imaging studies have documented increased activity of the insular cortex in the presence of neuropathic pain; however, the specific role of this region remains controversial. Early studies suggested that the insular lobe is mainly involved in the processing of the emotional motivation dimension of pain. However, increasing evidence suggests that the role of the insular cortex is more complex and may even be related to the neural plasticity, cognitive evaluation, and psychosocial aspects of neuropathic pain. These effects contribute not only to the development of neuropathic pain, but also to its comorbidity with neuropsychiatric diseases. In this review, we summarize the changes that occur in the insular cortex in the presence of neuropathic pain and analgesia, as well as the molecular mechanisms that may underlie these conditions. We also discuss potential sex-based differences in these processes. Further exploration of the involvement of the insular lobe will contribute to the development of new pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments for neuropathic pain.

Amphotericin B biosynthesis in Streptomyces nodosus: quantitative analysis of metabolism via LC-MS/MS based metabolomics for rational design.

BACKGROUND: Amphotericin B (AmB) is widely used against fungal infection and produced mainly by Streptomyces nodosus. Various intracellular metabolites of S. nodosus were identified during AmB fermentation, and the key compounds that related to the cell growth and biosynthesis of AmB were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS). RESULTS: Rational design that based on the results of metabolomics was employed to improve the AmB productivity of Streptomyces nodosus, including the overexpression of genes involved in oxygen-taking, precursor-acquiring and product-exporting. The AmB yield of modified strain S. nodosus VMR4A was 6.58 g/L, which was increased significantly in comparison with that of strain S. nodosus ZJB2016050 (5.16 g/L). This was the highest yield of AmB reported so far, and meanwhile, the amount of by-product amphotericin A (AmA) was decreased by 45%. Moreover, the fermentation time of strain S. nodosus VMR4A was shortened by 24 h compared with that of strain. The results indicated that strain S. nodosus VMR4A was an excellent candidate for the industrial production of AmB because of its high production yield, low by-product content and the fast cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study would lay the foundation for improving the AmB productivity through metabolomics analysis and overexpression of key enzymes.

Prostaglandin E1 attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis in proximal renal tubular cells by inhibiting the JNK/Bim pathway.

Proximal renal tubular damage is a critical process underlying diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Our previous study shows that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) reduces the apoptosis of renal tubular cells in DKD rats. But its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we investigated the protective effects of PGE1 in DKD rats and high glucose (HG, 30 mM)-treated HK-2 proximal tubular cells. Four weeks after uninephrectomized streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were established, the DKD rats were administered PGE1 (10 µg· kg-1· d-1, iv.) for 10 consecutive days. We showed that PGE1 administration did not change blood glucose levels, but alleviated diabetic kidney injury in the DKD rats, evidenced by markedly reduced proteinuria and renal tubular apoptosis. In the in vitro experiments, PGE1 (0.1-100 µM) significantly enhanced HG-reduced HK-2 cell viability. In HG-treated HK-2 cells, PGE1 (10 µM) significantly suppressed the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the mitochondrial apoptosis-related protein expressions such as Bim, Bax, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3; similar changes were also observed in the kidney of PGE1-treated DKD rats. By using two pharmacological tools-JNK activator anisomycin (AM) and JNK inhibitor SP600125, we revealed that PGE1 blocked HG-triggered activation of JNK/Bim pathway in HK-2 cells; JNK was an upstream regulator of Bim. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the nephroprotective effects of PGE1 against apoptosis of proximal renal tubule in DKD rats via suppressing JNK-related Bim signaling pathway.

Quercetin prevents bone loss in hindlimb suspension mice via stanniocalcin 1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

Recent studies demonstrate that diet quercetin (Quer) has obvious bone protective effects on ovariectomized rodents but thus far there is no direct evidence to support the inhibitory effect of Quer on bone loss caused by long-term unloading. In the present study, we investigated whether Quer could prevent bone loss induced by unloading in mice. Mice were subjected to hindlimb suspension (HLS) and received Quer (25, 50, 100 mg· kg-1 ·day-1, ig) for 4 weeks. Before euthanasia blood sample was collected; the femurs were harvested and subjected to MicroCT analysis. We showed that Quer administration markedly improved bone microstructure evidenced by dose-dependently reversing the reduction in bone volume per tissue volume, trabecular number, and bone mineral density, and the increase of trabecular spacing in mice with HLS. Analysis of serum markers and bone histometric parameters confirmed that Quer at both middle and high doses significantly decreased bone resorption-related markers collagen type I and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, and increased bone formation-related marker procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide as compared with HLS group. Treatment with Quer (1, 2, 5 µM) dose-dependently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through promoting the expression of antioxidant hormone stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) and decreasing ROS generation; knockdown of STC1 blocked the inhibitory effect of Quer on ROS generation. Knockdown of STC1 also significantly promoted osteoclastogenesis in primary osteoclasts. In conclusion, Quer protects bones and prevents unloading-caused bone loss in mice through STC1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. The findings suggest that Quer has the potential to prevent and treat off-load bone loss as an alternative supplement.

[Research progress of liver disease treatment by Zhuang medicines].

Liver disease has become the world's fifth deadliest disease, and its incidence is increasing year by year. According to official data, viral hepatitis is high incidence in China, the condition is grim that a quarter of the patients can develop into chronic liver disease. Liver disease prevention is one of the key research topic of medical science, searching for the natural medicines of helping treat virus and human immunity has become the research focuses in current medical science field. Zhuang medicines were developed from Zhuang medical theory and practice, which are the traditional medicine used by Zhuang ancestors. The long period of experiments and clinical researches suggest that Zhuang medicines have therapeutic effects for liver disease and significant inhibitory effects on liver virus. Compared with modern medical therapy in the treatment of liver disease, Zhuang medicines therapy have more advantages in virus resistance, enzyme activity reducing, immunity improving and disease control. This study provides the overview of therapeutic effect and its mechanism on liver disease from active ingredients, effective parts, extracts and compound preparation, to provide reference for the study of Zhuang medicines' therapeutic effects on liver disease and research progress.

Electrochemical Oxidation of l-selenomethionine and Se-methylseleno-l-cysteine at a Thiol-Compound-Modified Gold Electrode: Its Application in a Flow-Through Voltammetric Sensor.

A flow-electrolytic cell that consists of a bare gold wire or of different thiol-compound-modified gold electrodes (such as 2,4-thiazolidinedione, 2-mercapto-5-thiazoline, 2-mercaptothiazoline, l-cysteine, thioglycolic acid) was designed to be used in a voltammetric detector to identify l-selenomethionine and Se-methylseleno-l-cysteine using high-performance liquid chromatography. Both l-selenomethionine and Se-methylseleno-l-cysteine are more efficiently electrochemically oxidized on a thiol/gold than on a bare gold electrode. For the DC mode, and for measurements with suitable experimental parameters, a linear concentration from 10 to 1600 ng·mL-1 was found. The limits of quantification for l-selenomethionine and Se-methylseleno-l-cysteine were below 10 ng·mL-1. The method can be applied to the quantitative determination of l-selenomethionine and Se-methylseleno-l-cysteine in commercial selenium-containing supplement products. Findings using high-performance liquid chromatography with a flow-through voltammetric detector and ultraviolet detector are comparable.

Computer tomography imaging findings of adrenal cavernous hemangiomas: a report of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND: Cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) of the adrenal gland are extremely rare. To date, only a few studies of adrenal CH imaging have been reported. PURPOSE: To analyze the computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of adrenal CHs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten cases of adrenal CHs confirmed by a histopathological examination were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients had undergone unenhanced and enhanced CT examinations, and eight had also undergone multiphase CT enhancement examinations. CT characteristics, including shape, size, margin, attenuation, and enhancement patterns, were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included six women and four men with a mean age of 49.2 years (age range, 25-62 years) and no signs of abnormal endocrine activity. The unenhanced CTs showed well-defined, heterogeneous (n = 8) or homogeneous (n = 2) density masses with scattered (n = 8) or spread calcifications (n = 2) in six tumors. In the contrast-enhanced CTs, seven tumors appeared to be marked with heterogeneous enhancement, whereas three cases exhibited no obvious enhancement. The evaluation of the pattern of dynamic enhancement in eight patients revealed that the tumors showed early peripheral enhancement (n = 4), early central enhancement (n = 1), and mixed enhancement (n = 1) with progressive partial filling-in, and no obvious enhancement in any phases (n = 2). CONCLUSION: Adrenal CHs should be included in the differential diagnosis when an adrenal neoplasm is incidentally found and appears as a well-defined, heterogeneous mass with calcifications and various enhancement patterns, including heterogeneous enhancement with characteristic progressive partial filling-in, as well as lack of enhancement in any phase.

[The study of photo-elastic modulator-based Fourier transform spectroscopy].

In order to enhance the spectrum resolution of current photo-elastic modulator-based Fourier transform spectrometer, a multi-reflected photo-elastic modulator-based interferometer structure was proposed in the present paper. Through coating reflecting film alternatingly on the photo-elastic crystal and light oblique incidence, and allowing the incident ray to have the multi-reflection in the crystal and exit from the other side of the crystal, the authors increased the light propagation distance in the crystal and enhanced the optical path difference at last. Based on this, the function of interference-spectrum retrieval was established, the optical system matched to the multi-reflected PEM-based interferometer was designed, and finally, the experimental system of multi-reflected PEM-based Fourier transform spectroscopy for telemetry was established. The principle of verification tests by using 671 nm laser and xenon lamp shows that the interferogram was clear and stable, and the feasibility of the principle of the system was verified. The expected result shows that the spectrum resolution of the designed PEM-FTs with multi-reflection achieved 13 cm(-1), and its luminous flux just didn't reduce too much, which ensured the SNR. Through spectral inversion of the interference fringes, the technical feasibility of the spectrum system developed was verified. This work established the basic condition of prototype fabrication, radiation precise calibration, spectral calibration and instrument signal-to-noise ratio test and so on.

Assessing cognitive biases induced by acute formalin or hotplate treatment: an animal study using affective bias test.

Pain, a universal and burdensome condition, influences numerous individuals worldwide. It encompasses sensory, emotional, and cognitive facets, with recent research placing a heightened emphasis on comprehending pain's impact on emotion and cognition. Cognitive bias, which encompasses attentional bias, interpretation bias, and memory bias, signifies the presence of cognitive distortions influenced by emotional factors. It has gained significant prominence in pain-related research. Human studies have shown that individuals experiencing pain exhibit cognitive bias. Similarly, animal studies have demonstrated cognitive bias in pain-induced states across various species and disease models. In this study, we aimed to investigate the memory bias displayed by rats experiencing acute pain, using the affective bias test (ABT) as a tool and administering either hotplate or formalin to induce acute pain. Our data showed that rats demonstrated a significant preference for the control treatment-related substrate over the substrate associated with formalin treatment (p < 0.001), an indication of the prominent memory bias stimulated by acute formalin injections. However, when exposed to substrates related to hotplate treatment and control treatment, the acute pain induced by the hotplate treatment failed to generate a statistically significant choice bias in rats (p = 0.674). Our study demonstrates that the negative emotions associated with acute pain can be reflected by memory bias in ABT, at least for formalin-induced acute pain. This finding will augment our comprehension of the emotional and cognitive aspects of acute pain.

Changes of soil nutrients and organic carbon fractions in Caragana korshinskii forests with different restoration years in mountainous areas of southern Ningxia, China.

Vegetation restoration can effectively enhance soil quality and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. In this study, the distribution characteristics of soil nutrients and SOC along soil profile (0-100 cm), and their responses to restoration years (16, 28, 38 years) were studied in Caragana korshinskii plantations in the southern mountainous area of Ningxia, compared with cropland and natural grassland. The results showed that: 1) the contents of SOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and the proportion of particulate organic carbon to total organic carbon (POC/SOC) all decreased with increasing soil depth. The ratio of mineral-associated organic carbon to total organic carbon (MAOC/SOC) exhibited an opposite trend. 2) The contents of SOC, TN, TP, C:P, N:P, POC and MAOC gra-dually decreased as the restoration years increased. However, the C:N ratio showed no significant change. The POC/SOC ratio initially increased and then decreased, while the MAOC/SOC ratio decreased initially and then increased. 3) In three different types of vegetation, POC, MAOC, and SOC showed a highly significant positive linear correlation, with the increase in SOC mainly depended on the increase in MAOC. The SOC, TN, TP, POC and MAOC contents in natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations were significantly higher than those in cropland. In conclusion, soil nutrients and POC and MAOC contents of C. korshinskii plantations gradually decreased with the increases in restoration years. However, when compared with cropland, natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations demonstrated a greater capacity to maintain and enhance soil nutrient and carbon storage.

[Distribution characteristics of microbial necromass carbon along soil profiles in different restoration periods of Caragana korshinskii in mountainous areas of Southern Ningxia, China]. / å®å—å±±åŒºä¸åŒæ¢å¤å¹´é™æŸ æ¡æž—åœ°åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©æ®‹ä½“ç¢³æ²¿å‰–é¢åˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾.

Microbial necromass, an important and stable source of soil organic carbon (SOC), is an important index to evaluate the contribution of microorganisms to SOC transformation and accumulation. It is not clear about the accumulation of microbial necromass in deep soil layer and its contribution to SOC during the restoration process of Caragana korshinskii forests. Combined with the biomarker method, we investigated the carbon contents of bacte-rial, fungal, and microbial necromass in the soil profiles (0-100 cm) of C. korshinskii forests in 16, 28, and 38 years of restoration, with natural grassland as control. We further examined the contribution of microbial necromass to soil organic carbon. The results showed that: 1) Along the soil profile (0-100 cm), the contents of fungal necromass carbon (FNC), bacterial necromass carbon (BNC), and microbial necromass carbon (MNC) significantly decreased with increasing soil depth in natural grassland and C. korshinskii forests. Except for the significant decrease in FNC/SOC, BNC/SOC, and MNC/SOC in the soil of C. korshinskii forests in 38 years of restoration, FNC/SOC and MNC/SOC generally showed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend in other plots, while BNC/SOC gradually decreased. 2) With the increases of restoration years, the contents of FNC, BNC, and MNC significantly decreased in C. korshinskii forests. FNC/SOC and MNC/SOC showed an overall increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend, while BNC/SOC gradually decreased. 3) The average contribution of microbial necromass carbon to SOC was highest in C. korshinskii forests in 28 years of restoration (35.0%), followed by C. korshinskii forests in 16 years of restoration (33.5%), natural grassland (31.0%), and C. korshinskii forests in 38 years of restoration (28.6%). In conclusion, when the restoration years of C. korshinskii forests are 16, the contents of microbial necromass carbon and their contributions to SOC are higher compared to natural grassland, which are beneficial for SOC sequestration.