Interface Engineering of the Cu1.5Mn1.5O4/CeO2 Heterostructure for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is considered a sustainable technology to convert the nitrate pollutants to ammonia. However, developing highly efficient electrocatalysts is necessary and challenging given the slow kinetics of the NO3RR with an eight-electron transfer process. Here, a Cu1.5Mn1.5O4 (CMO)/CeO2 heterostructure with rich interfaces is designed and fabricated through an electrospinning and postprocessing technique. Benefiting from the strong coupling between CMO and CeO2, the optimized CMO/CeO2-2 catalyst presents excellent NO3RR performance, with NH3 Faraday efficiency (FE) up to 93.07 ± 1.45% at -0.481 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and NH3 yield rate up to 48.06 ± 1.32 mg cm-2 h-1 at -0.681 V vs RHE. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the integration of CeO2 with CMO modulates the adsorption/desorption process of the reactants and intermediates, showing a reduced energy barrier in the rate determination step of NO* to N* and achieving an outstanding NO3RR performance.

NCAPG2 promotes prostate cancer malignancy and stemness via STAT3/c-MYC signaling.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men worldwide, and its incidence has risen substantially in recent years. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers and precise therapeutic targets for managing PCa progression and recurrence. METHODS: We investigated the clinical significance of NCAPG2 in PCa by exploring public datasets and our tissue microarray. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and survival analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between NCAPG2 and PCa progression. Cell proliferation, wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry, cell cycle, tumor sphere formation, immunofluorescence (IF), co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were conducted to further elucidate the molecular mechanism of NCAPG2 in PCa. Subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models were applied to investigate the effects of NCAPG2 on PCa proliferation in vivo. Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics was utilized to detect proteomic changes under NCAPG2 overexpression. RESULTS: NCAPG2 was significantly upregulated in PCa, and its overexpression was associated with PCa progression and unfavorable prognosis. Knockdown of NCAPG2 inhibited the malignant behavior of PCa cells, whereas its overexpression promoted PCa aggressiveness. NCAPG2 depletion attenuated the development and growth of PCa in vivo. TMT quantitative proteomics analyses indicated that c-MYC activity was strongly correlated with NCAPG2 expression. The malignancy-promoting effect of NCAPG2 in PCa was mediated via c-MYC. NCAPG2 could directly bind to STAT3 and induce STAT3 occupancy on the MYC promoter, thus to transcriptionally activate c-MYC expression. Finally, we identified that NCAPG2 was positively correlated with cancer stem cell (CSC) markers and enhanced self-renewal capacity of PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS: NCAPG2 is highly expressed in PCa, and its level is significantly associated with PCa prognosis. NCAPG2 promotes PCa malignancy and drives cancer stemness via the STAT3/c-MYC signaling axis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for PCa.

Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of qSRC3 controlling the silk color in maize (Zea mays L.).

KEY MESSAGE: Fine mapping of the maize QTL qSRC3, responsible for red silk, uncovered the candidate gene ZmMYB20, which encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, has light-sensitive expression, and putatively regulates genes expression associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Colorless silk is a key characteristic contributing to the visual quality of fresh corn intended for market distribution. Nonetheless, the identification of Mendelian trait loci and associated genes that control silk color has been scarce. In this study, a F2 population arising from the hybridization of the single-segment substitution line qSRC3MT1 with red silk, carrying an introgressed allele from teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana), and the recurrent maize inbred line Mo17, characterized by light green silk, was utilized for fine mapping. We found that the red silk trait is controlled by a semi-dominant genetic locus known as qSRC3, and its expression is susceptible to light-mediated inhibition. Moreover, qSRC3 explained 68.78% of the phenotypic variance and was delimited to a 133.2 kb region, which includes three genes. Subsequent expression analyses revealed that ZmMYB20 (Zm00001d039700), which encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, was the key candidate gene within qSRC3. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assays provided evidence that ZmMYB20 suppresses the expression of two crucial anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, namely ZmF3H and ZmUFGT, by directly binding to their respective promoter regions. Our findings underscore the significance of light-inhibited ZmMYB20 in orchestrating the spatial and temporal regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. These results advance the production of colorless silk in fresh corn, responding to the misconception that fresh corn with withered colored silk is not fresh and providing valuable genetic resources for the improvement of sweet and waxy maize.

Deploying QTL-seq rapid identification and separation of the major QTLs of tassel branch number for fine-mapping in advanced maize populations.

The tassel competes with the ear for nutrients and shields the upper leaves, thereby reducing the yield of grain. The tassel branch number (TBN) is a pivotal determinant of tassel size, wherein the reduced TBN has the potential to enhance the transmission of light and reduce the consumption of nutrients, which should ultimately result in increased yield. Consequently, the TBN has emerged as a vital target trait in contemporary breeding programs that focus on compact maize varieties. In this study, QTL-seq technology and advanced population mapping were used to rapidly identify and dissect the major effects of the TBN on QTL. Advanced mapping populations (BC4F2 and BC4F3) were derived from the inbred lines 18-599 (8-11 TBN) and 3237 (0-1 TBN) through phenotypic recurrent selection. First, 13 genomic regions associated with the TBN were detected using quantitative trait locus (QTL)-seq and were located on chromosomes 2 and 5. Subsequently, validated loci within these regions were identified by QTL-seq. Three QTLs for TBN were identified in the BC4F2 populations by traditional QTL mapping, with each QTL explaining the phenotypic variation of 6.13-18.17%. In addition, for the major QTL (qTBN2-2 and qTBN5-1), residual heterozygous lines (RHLs) were developed from the BC4F2 population. These two major QTLs were verified in the RHLs by QTL mapping, with the phenotypic variation explained (PVE) of 21.57% and 30.75%, respectively. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) of qTBN2-2 and qTBN5-1 were constructed. There were significant differences between the NILs in TBN. These results will enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of TBN and provide a solid foundation for the fine-mapping of TBN. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01431-y.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol Attenuates Myocardial Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice Via the TGF-ß1/Smad Pathway.

PURPOSE: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DM) is the cause of late cardiac dysfunction in diabetic patients. Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological mechanism, and it is associated with transforming growth factor-ß1(TGF-ß1) expression up-regulation. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous cannabinoid that can effectively improve myocardial cell energy metabolism and cardiac function. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of 2-AG on diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were injected with 2-AG intraperitoneally for 4 weeks (10 micro g/kg/day) after 12 weeks of diabetic modeling. After 4 weeks, heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Heart structure was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cardiac fibrosis was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, Sirius red stain, and western blot. RESULTS: After modeling in diabetic mice, cardiac ultrasonography showed decreased cardiac function and pathological findings showed myocardial fibrosis. 2-AG could effectively inhibit the up-regulation of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3, reduce myocardial fibrosis, and ultimately improve cardiac function in diabetic mice. CONCLUSION: 2-AG reduces cardiac fibrosis via the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 pathway and is a potential pathway for the treatment of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic mice.

Identification of a major QTL and genome-wide epistatic interactions for single vs. paired spikelets in a maize-teosinte F2 population.

Maize ear carries paired spikelets, whereas the ear of its wild ancestor, teosinte, bears single spikelets. However, little is known about the genetic basis of the processes of transformation of single spikelets in teosinte ear to paired spikelets in maize ear. In this study, a two-ranked, paired-spikelets primitive maize and a two-ranked, single-spikelet teosinte were utilized to develop an F2 population, and quantitative trait locus (loci) (QTL) mapping for single vs. paired spikelets (PEDS) was performed. One major QTL (qPEDS3.1) for PEDS located on chromosome 3S was identified in the 162 F2 plants using the inclusive composite interval mapping of additive (ICIM-ADD) module, explaining 23.79% of the phenotypic variance. Out of the 409 F2 plants, 43 plants with PEDS = 0% and 43 plants with PEDS > 20% were selected for selective genotyping, and the QTL (qPEDS3.1) was detected again. Moreover, the QTL (qPEDS3.1) was validated in three environments, which explained 31.05%, 38.94%, and 23.16% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. In addition, 50 epistatic QTLs were detected in the 162 F2 plants using the two-locus epistatic QTL (ICIM-EPI) module; they were distributed on all 10 chromosomes and explained 94.40% of the total phenotypic variance. The results contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of domestication of paired spikelets and provide a genetic resource for future map-based cloning; in addition, the systematic dissection of epistatic interactions underlies a theoretical framework for overcoming epistatic effects on QTL fine mapping. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-022-01276-x.

Dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of local anesthetics when used as an adjuvant through both perineural and systemic mechanisms: a prospective randomized double-blinded trial.

BACKGROUND: To study the respective peripheral and systemic mechanisms of action of dexmedetomidine, as adjuvant to regional anesthesia, we compared dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine for mid-forearm nerve blocks, to either systemic-only dexmedetomidine, and to a control with no dexmedetomidine. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing hand surgery were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20 per group). Each group underwent a triple-nerve (median, radial and ulnar) mid-forearm blocks with 0.75% ropivacaine. In the DexP group, 60 µg of dexmedetomidine were added to the anesthetic mixture, while in the DexIV group, they were intravenously infused. Normal saline as a placebo was used, either as adjuvant, or intravenously. All patients underwent also a supraclavicular block with 1.5% lidocaine for tourniquet pain. The main outcomes were the duration of analgesia and the duration of sensory blockade separately for each nerve termination of the upper limb, and the duration of motor blockade of the upper limb. Tolerance was assessed by blood pressure and heart rate, and the report of adverse events. RESULTS: Duration of analgesia was longer in the DexP group, in comparison to the two other groups (P < 0.001), while it was similar in the DexIV and the control group. For cutaneous territories targeted by the three mid-forearm blocks, the between-group differences behaved similarly. For the other cutaneous territories (musculocutaneous and posterior brachial cutaneous nerves), duration of sensory blockade was shorter in the control group than in the two dexmedetomidine groups. For duration of motor blockade, the between-group differences behaved similarly. Both blood pressure and heart rate were reduced in the DexP and the DexIV groups, compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine used as an adjuvant to regional anesthesia may act mostly though a perineural mechanism, especially for the sensory aspects of anesthesia. A systemic action might however explain other clinical effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-IOR-17011149 , date of registration: 16/04/2017.

The distributional effects of China'senvironmental taxation: A multi-regional analysis.

Environmental taxation is regarded as an effective tool to improve air quality in China, but its distributional effects causing serious disparity among multi-groups and multi-regions are understudied. Here this paper constructs a multi-regional dynamic recursive computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to explore the distributional effects of China's environmental taxation among different income groups and regions, by specifying the elasticity parameters of urban households' consumption in the model, and combining with various micro-data such as household survey data and environmental statistics database. This paper simulates the air pollution reductions of China's environmental taxation, and the impacts on the income and expenditure of households with various environmental tax rates or manners of tax revenue recycling. Results have shown that China's environmental taxation will widen the gap between different income groups and different regions. Also, such adverse distributional effects will be increased by higher environmental tax rates. However, recycling environmental tax revenues to both households and enterprises can reduce the losses of households' income and consumption. Yet recycling revenues to enterprises is more effective in narrowing the gap between income groups and regions while improving regional economic development. Our findings may pave a way to design appropriate environmental tax rates and tax revenue recycling manners for China's future environmental tax policies at the regional level.

Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts of Air Pollution Control on China's Economy.

To deal with severe air pollution arising from rapid development, a series of air pollution control policies have been implemented in China. Previous literature has explored the short-term economic impacts of air pollution control, but the long-term economic impacts, which can better reflect the effectiveness of air pollution control, have received less attention. This paper has constructed an integrated assessment framework combining a multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, air quality estimation module, and health impact module, to explore the short-term (2016) and long-term (2030) impacts of air pollution control on China's economy, by setting 2015 as the base year. The possible future air pollution reduction scenarios were set based on the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (FYP13) proposed by the Chinese government. Our results have shown that air pollution control would harm China's economy and such adverse effects would be increased by stricter pollution reduction targets. Taking the health benefits of air pollution control into account can effectively alleviate the GDP losses, and even reverse them into economic benefits in the long term. Compared with business-as-usual (BAU) scenario (no policy constraints on SO2 and NOx emissions), the impact of air pollution control on GDP in the TAC_VIII scenario (emission reduction targets of 20% for SO2 and NOx are set every five years after 2015) would change from a loss of 1.20% in 2016 to an increase of 0.28% in 2030. Our results can provide policy implications for the optimization of China's air emissions control in the future.

Combining QTL-seq and linkage mapping to uncover the genetic basis of single vs. paired spikelets in the advanced populations of two-ranked maize×teosinte.

BACKGROUND: Teosinte ear bears single spikelet, whereas maize ear bears paired spikelets, doubling the number of grains in each cupulate during maize domestication. In the past 20 years, genetic analysis of single vs. paired spikelets (PEDS) has been stagnant. A better understanding of genetic basis of PEDS could help fine mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and cloning of genes. RESULTS: In this study, the advanced mapping populations (BC3F2 and BC4F2) of maize × teosinte were developed by phenotypic recurrent selection. Four genomic regions associated with PEDS were detected using QTL-seq, located on 194.64-299.52 Mb, 0-162.80 Mb, 12.82-97.17 Mb, and 125.06-157.01 Mb of chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8, respectively. Five QTL for PEDS were identified in the regions of QTL-seq using traditional QTL mapping. Each QTL explained 1.12-38.05% of the phenotypic variance (PVE); notably, QTL qPEDS3.1 with the average PVE of 35.29% was identified in all tests. Moreover, 14 epistatic QTL were detected, with the total PVE of 47.57-66.81% in each test. The QTL qPEDS3.1 overlapped with, or was close to, one locus of 7 epistatic QTL. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) of QTL qPEDS1.1, qPEDS3.1, qPEDS6.1, and qPEDS8.1 were constructed. All individuals of NIL-qPEDS6.1(MT1) and NIL-qPEDS8.1(MT1) showed paired spikelets (PEDS = 0), but the flowering time was 7 days shorter in the NIL-qPEDS8.1(MT1). The ratio of plants with PEDS > 0 was low (1/18 to 3/18) in the NIL-qPEDS1.1(MT1) and NIL-qPEDS3.1(MT1), maybe due to the epistatic effect. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that major QTL, minor QTL, epistasis and photoperiod were associated with the variation of PEDS, which help us better understand the genetic basis of PEDS and provide a genetic resource for fine mapping of QTL.

Development of genic KASP SNP markers from RNA-Seq data for map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in maize.

BACKGROUND: Maize is one of the most important field crops in the world. Most of the key agronomic traits, including yield traits and plant architecture traits, are quantitative. Fine mapping of genes/ quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing a key trait is essential for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in maize breeding. However, the SNP markers with high density and high polymorphism are lacking, especially kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) SNP markers that can be used for automatic genotyping. To date, a large volume of sequencing data has been produced by the next generation sequencing technology, which provides a good pool of SNP loci for development of SNP markers. In this study, we carried out a multi-step screening method to identify kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) SNP markers based on the RNA-Seq data sets of 368 maize inbred lines. RESULTS: A total of 2,948,985 SNPs were identified in the high-throughput RNA-Seq data sets with the average density of 1.4 SNP/kb. Of these, 71,311 KASP SNP markers (the average density of 34 KASP SNP/Mb) were developed based on the strict criteria: unique genomic region, bi-allelic, polymorphism information content (PIC) value ≥0.4, and conserved primer sequences, and were mapped on 16,161 genes. These 16,161 genes were annotated to 52 gene ontology (GO) terms, including most of primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Subsequently, the 50 KASP SNP markers with the PIC values ranging from 0.14 to 0.5 in 368 RNA-Seq data sets and with polymorphism between the maize inbred lines 1212 and B73 in in silico analysis were selected to experimentally validate the accuracy and polymorphism of SNPs, resulted in 46 SNPs (92.00%) showed polymorphism between the maize inbred lines 1212 and B73. Moreover, these 46 polymorphic SNPs were utilized to genotype the other 20 maize inbred lines, with all 46 SNPs showing polymorphism in the 20 maize inbred lines, and the PIC value of each SNP was 0.11 to 0.50 with an average of 0.35. The results suggested that the KASP SNP markers developed in this study were accurate and polymorphic. CONCLUSIONS: These high-density polymorphic KASP SNP markers will be a valuable resource for map-based cloning of QTL/genes and marker-assisted selection in maize. Furthermore, the method used to develop SNP markers in maize can also be applied in other species.

The erector spinae plane block causes only cutaneous sensory loss on ipsilateral posterior thorax: a prospective observational volunteer study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided erector spine plane (ESP) block is widely used in perioperative analgesia for back, chest and abdominal surgery. The extent and distribution of this block remain controversial. This study was performed to assess the analgesia range of an ultrasound-guided ESP block. METHODS: This prospective observational volunteer study consisted of 12 healthy volunteers. All volunteers received an erector spinae plane block at the left T5 transverse process using real-time ultrasound guidance. Measured the cutaneous sensory loss area (CSLA) and cutaneous sensory declination area (CSDA) using cold stimulation at different time points after blockade until its disappearance. The CSLA and CSDA were mapped and then calculated. The block range was described by spinous process level and lateral extension. The effective block duration for each volunteer was determined and recorded. RESULTS: The cold sensory loss concentrates at T6-T9. The decline concentrates primarily at T4-T11. The lateral diffusion of block to the left side did not cross the posterior axillary line, and reached the posterior median line on the right. The area of cutaneous sensory loss was (172 ± 57) cm2, and the area of cutaneous sensory decline was (414 ± 143) cm2. The duration of cutaneous sensory decline was (586 ± 28) minutes. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided erector spine plane block with 20 mL of 0. 5% ropivacaine provided a widespread cutaneous sensory block in the posterior thorax, but did not reach the anterior chest, lateral chest, or abdominal walls. The range of the blockade suggested that the dorsal branch of spinal nerve was blocked. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, CHiCTR1800014438. Registered 13 January 2018.

Genetic mapping of QTL for the sizes of eight consecutive leaves below the tassel in maize (Zea mays L.).

KEY MESSAGE: A set of RIL population was used to detect QTL associated with the sizes of eight consecutive leaves, across different environments, and ten QTL clusters were identified as main QTLs. One of the important parameters of the maize leaf architecture that affects light penetration into the canopy, leaf size, has long attracted breeders' attention for optimizing the plant type of maize and for maximizing the grain yield (GY). In this study, we used 253 RIL lines derived from a cross between B73 and SICAU1212 to investigate the leaf widths (LWs), leaf lengths (LLs), and leaf areas (LAs) of eight consecutive leaves of maize below the tassel and GY across different environments and to identify quantitative traits loci (QTLs) controlling the above-mentioned traits, using inclusive interval mapping for single-environment analysis plus a mixed-model-based composite interval mapping for joint analysis. A total of 171 and 159 putative QTLs were detected through these two mapping methods, respectively. Single-environment mapping revealed that 39 stable QTLs explained more than 10 % of the phenotypic variance, and 35 of the 39 QTLs were also detected by joint analysis. In addition, joint analysis showed that nine of the 159 QTLs exhibited significant QTL × environment interaction and 15 significant epistatic interactions were identified. Approximately 47.17 % of the QTLs for leaf architectural traits in joint analysis were concentrated in ten main chromosomal regions, namely, bins 1.07, 2.02, 3.06, 4.09, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03-5.04, 5.07, 6.07, and 8.05. This study should provide a basis for further fine-mapping of these main genetic regions and improvement of maize leaf architecture.

Isolation and purification of immunoglobulin G from bovine colostrums by hydrophobic charge-induction chromatography.

Hydrophobic charge-induction chromatography, a novel chromatographic technique for bioseparation, was developed to isolate and purify bovine IgG with high purity. In this work, the raw IgG solution, a precipitate from bovine colostrum powder solution with 40% (wt/vol) ammonium sulfate, was dissolved in 50mM phosphate buffer and used as loading solution for investigating chromatographic conditions on a mercapto-ethyl-pyridine (MEP) HyperCel (Pall Corp., Port Washington, NY) sorbent. The initial IgG concentration had no effect on the dynamic binding capacity of MEP HyperCel resin, but the linear velocity of loading solution had an obvious effect on the dynamic IgG binding capacity and IgG recovery. The maximum linear velocity was optimized as 0.4cm/min of loading solution, and 90% recovery of IgG was achieved. Under these optimized binding conditions, the pH and ionic strength for the elution process were selected as pH 4.5 and 0.5 M NaCl, respectively. Subsequently, hydrophobic charge-induction chromatography was performed on a MEP HyperCel sorbent to isolate IgG using bovine colostrum whey as the loading solution. Under the optimized operation conditions, a remarkable process improvement in IgG purification was received, which includes a yield of 91.5%, a purity of 93.9% (wt/wt), and a purification factor of 6.8. The results indicated that MEP HyperCel chromatography offers an efficient means to purify IgG from bovine colostrums.

Genetically predicted N-methylhydroxyproline levels mediate the association between naive CD8+ T cells and allergic rhinitis: a mediation Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR), a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE), involves pivotal roles of immune and metabolic factors in its onset and progression. However, the intricacies and uncertainties in clinical research render current investigations into their interplay somewhat inadequate. Objective: To elucidate the causal relationships between immune cells, metabolites, and AR, we conducted a mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: Leveraging comprehensive publicly accessible summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), this study employed the two-sample MR research method to investigate causal relationships among 731 immune cell phenotypes, 1400 metabolite levels, and AR. Additionally, employing the mediation MR approach, the study analyzed potential mediated effect of metabolites in the relationships between immune cells and AR. Various sensitivity analysis methods were systematically employed to ensure the robustness of the results. Results: Following false discovery rate (FDR) correction, we identified three immune cell phenotypes as protective factors for AR: Naive CD8br %CD8br (odds ratio (OR): 0.978, 95% CI = 0.966-0.990, P = 4.5×10-4), CD3 on CD39+ activated Treg (OR: 0.947, 95% CI = 0.923-0.972, P = 3×10-5), HVEM on CD45RA- CD4+ (OR: 0.967, 95% CI = 0.948-0.986, P = 4×10-5). Additionally, three metabolite levels were identified as risk factors for AR: N-methylhydroxyproline levels (OR: 1.219, 95% CI = 1.104-1.346, P = 9×10-5), N-acetylneuraminate levels (OR: 1.133, 95% CI = 1.061-1.211, P = 1.7×10-4), 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-gpc (18:0/20:4) levels (OR: 1.058, 95% CI = 1.029-1.087, P = 5×10-5). Mediation MR analysis indicated a causal relationship between Naive CD8br %CD8br and N-methylhydroxyproline levels, acting as a protective factor (OR: 0.971, 95% CI = 0.950-0.992, P = 8.31×10-3). The mediated effect was -0.00574, accounting for 26.1% of the total effect, with a direct effect of -0.01626. Naive CD8+ T cells exert a protective effect on AR by reducing N-methylhydroxyproline levels. Conclusion: Our study, delving into genetic information, has substantiated the intricate connection between immune cell phenotypes and metabolite levels with AR. This reveals a potential pathway to prevent the onset of AR, providing guiding directions for future clinical investigations.

Deep Desulfurization of High-Sulfur Petroleum Coke via Alkali Catalytic Roasting Combined with Ultrasonic Oxidation.

The sulfur in petroleum coke is harmful to carbon products, underscoring the importance of desulfurization for high-sulfur petroleum coke. This paper proposes a method combining alkaline catalytic roasting with ultrasonic oxidation for the deep desulfurization of high-sulfur petroleum coke. The results show that the desulfurization rate reaches 88.99% and the sulfur content is reduced to 0.83 wt.% under a coke particle size of 96-75 µm, sodium-hydroxide-to-petroleum-coke ratio of 50%, roasting temperature of 700 °C, and holding time of 2 h. The alkali-calcined petroleum coke is ultrasonically oxidized and desulfurized in peracetic acid. The results show that, under a hydrogen peroxide content of 10%, hydrogen-peroxide-(liquid)-to-petroleum-coke (solid) ratio of 20 mL/g, acetic acid content of 5 mL, ultrasonic power of 300 W, reaction temperature of 60 °C, and reaction duration of 4 h, the sulfur content is reduced to 0.15 wt.% and the total desulfurization reaches 98.01%. Through a series of characterizations, the proposed desulfurization mechanism is verified. Alkali roasting effectively removes a significant portion of sulfur in petroleum coke. However, the elimination of certain sulfur compounds, such as the more complex thiophene, presents challenges. The thiophene content is subsequently removed via ultrasonic oxidation.

Ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on deep learning for rapid and user-friendly detection of tetracycline antibiotics.

The detection of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in food holds great significance in minimizing their absorption within the human body. Hence, this study aims to develop a rapid, convenient, real-time, and accurate detection method for detecting antibiotics in an authentic market setting. A colorimetric fluorescence sensor was devised for tetracycline detection utilizing PVA aerogels as the substrate. Its operating principle is based on the IFE effect and antenna effect. A detection device is designed to capture fluorescence images while deep learning was employed to aid in the detection process. The sensor exhibits high responsiveness with a mere 60-s requirement for detection and demonstrates substantial color changes(blue to red), achieving 99% accuracy within the range of 10-100 µM with the assistance of deep learning (Resnet18). Real sample simulation tests yielded recovery rates between 95% and 130%. Overall, the proposed strategy proved to be a simple, portable, reliable, and responsive solution for rapid real-time TCs detection in food samples.

The Impact of the Fresh Pork Display Lamps on the Sensory Response of Consumers to Fresh Pork.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the impact of fresh pork display lamps on consumers' sensory responses to pork products. In the first experiment, 63 participants were asked to evaluate pork products with different degrees of freshness under four fresh pork display lights and two LED lights. In the other experiment, 30 subjects participated in the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test under the same lamps, with the aim of showing whether the fresh pork display lamps impaired color discrimination. The results showed that the light source had a significant effect on the color appearance evaluation of the pork products. The ratings for perceived freshness under the fresh pork display lamps were significantly higher than those of ordinary LED lamps, while the color discrimination performance of the subjects under those lamps was poor. It was demonstrated that improper component proportions of the light spectrum could influence observers' assessment of meat quality and weaken the observers' ability to distinguish the freshness level. Through this study, the authors would like to remind lamp users and manufacturers to not only be concerned about the improvement in the color appearance of pork, but also the need for consumers to be aware of the authentic freshness of the pork products.

Causal Relationships Between Circulating Inflammatory Proteins and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study.

Purpose: Clinical studies have demonstrated the intricate association between the onset and progression of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the activation of the inflammatory cascade reaction. This study delves into investigating the causal links between 91 circulating inflammatory proteins (CIPs) and OSA through the application of Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques. Methods: Utilizing genetic data on OSA sourced from the Finnish Biobank (FinnGen) Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) of the European population, alongside summary-level GWAS data of CIPs from 14,824 European participants, we conducted a bidirectional MR study. Results: This study suggests that several factors may be associated with the risk of OSA. IL-17C (odds ratio (OR) = 1.090, p = 0.0311), CCL25 (OR = 1.079, p = 0.0493), FGF-5 (OR = 1.090, p = 0.0003), CD5 (OR = 1.055, p = 0.0477), and TNFSF14 (OR = 1.092, p = 0.0008) may positively correlate with OSA risk. Conversely, IL-20RA (OR = 0.877, p = 0.0107), CCL19 (OR = 0.933, p = 0.0237), MIP-1 alpha (OR = 0.906, p = 0.0042), Flt3L (OR = 0.941, p = 0.0019), CST5 (OR = 0.957, p = 0.0320), OPG (OR = 0.850, p = 0.0001), and TRAIL (OR = 0.956, p = 0.0063) may reduce the risk of OSA. Additionally, elevated levels of IL-10RA (OR = 1.153, p = 0.0478) were observed as a consequence of OSA. Conversely, OSA may potentially lead to decreased levels of CCL28 (OR = 0.875, p = 0.0317), DNER (OR = 0.874, p = 0.0324), FGF-21 (OR = 0.846, p = 0.0344), and CSF-1 (OR = 0.842, p = 0.0396). Conclusion: Through this bidirectional MR study, we have identified 12 upstream regulatory proteins and 5 downstream effect proteins that are linked to OSA. These findings hold promise in providing potential therapeutic targets for the inflammatory mechanisms underlying OSA.

Spin-dependent electrocatalysis.

The shift towards sustainable energy requires efficient electrochemical conversion technologies, emphasizing the crucial need for robust electrocatalyst design. Recent findings reveal that the efficiency of some electrocatalytic reactions is spin-dependent, with spin configuration dictating performance. Consequently, understanding the spin's role and controlling it in electrocatalysts is important. This review succinctly outlines recent investigations into spin-dependent electrocatalysis, stressing its importance in energy conversion. It begins with an introduction to spin-related features, discusses characterization techniques for identifying spin configurations, and explores strategies for fine-tuning them. At the end, the article provides insights into future research directions, aiming to reveal more unknown fundamentals of spin-dependent electrocatalysis and encourage further exploration in spin-related research and applications.