Dynamics of urban expansion and form changes impacting carbon emissions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area counties.

Cities are the main carriers of social and economic development, and they are also important sources of carbon emissions. Therefore, it is essential to explore the impact of urban expansion and form changes on carbon emissions. Here, we attempted to analyzes the relationship between urban expansion and carbon emissions at the county level in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 1997 to 2017. It further decomposes the driving effects of carbon emissions from multiple factors, and considers the spatial heterogeneity between different urban form changes and driving effects. The results show that: The relationship between urban expansion and carbon emissions in the GBA has gone through three stages from 1997 to 2017, with 2012 as a turning point. Optimization of economic development models and strict protection of the ecological environment can effectively control carbon emissions. After 2012, the economic development effect (GE) and population scale effect (PE) are the driving factors of carbon emissions, while the carbon emission intensity effect (CE) and urban land intensity effect (UE) are the inhibitory factors of carbon emissions. The contribution rate of UE to carbon emission reduction can reach 86 %. The impact of urban form changes on carbon emissions has spatial heterogeneity. The changes in urban form have a significant impact on the carbon emissions of counties in Dongguan and Shenzhen. The increase in fragmentation indirectly promotes carbon emissions. In 2007-2012, the increase in centrality significantly weakened the economic development effect, which is conducive to emission reduction. After 2007, the increase in compactness in counties in the eastern part of the GBA, including Zhongshan and Zhuhai, is not conducive to emission reduction.

Thrombotic events and prophylactic anticoagulation in pediatric patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can occur in children with COVID-19, and the efficacy and safety of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy are uncertain. This study aimed to assess the incidence of VTE in pediatric patients with COVID-19, the association of D-dimer with thrombus formation, and the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic anticoagulation treatment. METHODS: We systematically searched databases from January 2020 to February 2023. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the incidence of VTE in children and evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: Thirteen cohort studies and one clinical trial were included. The pooled incidence rate of VTE in affected children was 1.5% (95% CI 0.4-2.9%). Children with D-dimer levels five times higher than normal had a higher risk of VTE (OR 4.92, 95% CI 1.60-15.11). Prophylactic anticoagulant therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of VTE (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.74-2.49). The safety of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy was relatively high, with major bleeding and all-cause mortality rates below 0.1% (95% CI 0.0-0.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of VTE in children with COVID-19 is low, and prophylaxis based on ISTH standards is reasonable. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for VTE prevention has a high level of safety. However, more high-quality studies are needed to understand the impact of anticoagulant therapy on VTE incidence in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Roles of autophagy-related genes in the therapeutic effects of Xuanfei Pingchuan capsules on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on transcriptome sequencing analysis.

Objective: Autophagy plays an important role in the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the effect of Xuanfei Pingchuan capsule (XFPC) on autophagy-related genes of COPD by a bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Methods: The best treatment duration was screened by CCK8 assays. HBE cells were divided into three groups: blank, CSE and XFPC. After intervened by XFPC, HBE cells were collected and sent to Shenzhen Huada Gene Company for transcriptome sequencing. Subsequently, differential expression analyses, target gene prediction, and function enrichment analyses were carried out. Expression changes were verified in HBE cells by real-time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting (WB). Results: The result of differential expression analysis displayed that 125 target genes of HBE cells were mainly related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MKK) binding, interleukin 33 binding, 1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway. Among the target genes, the core genes related to autophagy obtained by maximum neighborhood component algorithm were CSF1, AREG, MAPK9, MAP3K7, and AKT3. RT-qPCR and WB methods were used to verify the result, it showed similar expression changes in CSF1, MAPK9, MAP3K7, and AKT3 in bronchial epithelial cells to those in the bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion: Through transcriptome sequencing and validation analysis, we predicted that CSF1, MAPK9, MAP3K7, and AKT3 may be the potential autophagy-related genes that play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. XFPC may regulate autophagy by down-regulating the expression of CSF1, MAPK9, MAP3K7, and AKT3, thus achieving the purpose of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Safety and efficacy of glucocorticoids in the treatment of COVID-19: A meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear the efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids compared with placebo or usual care for treatment of COVID-19. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients from 1 December 2019, to 30 June 2022, were assessed using Cochrane bias risk assessment method and improved Jadad score scale. GRADEpro was used to rate the quality of evidence for outcomes. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs were included, including 10,620 patients. Glucocorticoid treatment for severe and critical COVID-19 showed lesser all-cause mortality (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.76, 0.94], P = 0.002) than conventional treatment. However, for mildly ill patients, neither inhaled drugs nor intravenous drugs reduced mortality (OR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.24, 1.76], P = 0.39). Glucocorticoids had no significant effect on the adverse reactions of patients (OR = 1.18, 95% CI [0.77, 1.80], P = 0.44) compared with usual care/placebo. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that dexamethasone significantly reduced the mortality of COVID-19 patients. Low-dose glucocorticoids were also associated with lower all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoids (especially dexamethasone) reduce mortality of patients with severe and critical COVID-19 with no significant effect on the incidence of adverse reactions (moderate quality). In contrast, glucocorticoids do not benefit patients with mild symptoms (low quality).

Model analysis of vertical exchange of boundary layer ozone and its impact on surface air quality over the North China Plain.

In addition to photochemical production and horizontal regional transport, surface O3 concentration can also likely be affected by vertical transport, which is not well known so far. The process analysis was conducted by using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System Community Multiscale Air Quality (RAMS-CMAQ) model to investigate photochemical production and the vertical transport mechanism of boundary-layer O3 during a typical O3 pollution episode in the North China Plain (NCP), and further quantify the contribution of vertical transport to surface O3. The diurnal variations of vertical budgets of O3 and NO2 in the boundary layer at multiple sites showed that there were substantial differences in the vertical distribution of O3 production and transport between urban and suburban/rural areas. In urban areas, surface O3 is consumed by titration reaction to generate NO2, which is then transported to the upper boundary layer and produces O3 by photochemical reaction. With the development of the boundary layer, the upper-layer O3 stored in the residual layer at nighttime can be transported vertically to the surface as the turbulent diffusion intensifies the next morning. While in suburban and rural areas, the vertical transport is relatively weaker because the photochemical formation of O3 occurs in the whole boundary layer, although it decreases slightly with the altitude. Model simulation showed that 20.6-27.9% of urban surface O3 changes in the morning (09:00-10:00 LST) was attributable to the downward transport from the residual layer, while it is 15.0-22.1% at suburban site. The vertical transport from above the boundary layer contributed 24.0-63.6% to daytime urban surface O3 changes, which was weak in suburban areas. Differences and similarities in O3 formation and transport mechanism in urban and suburban regions revealed here highlight the importance of earlier control and regional collaboration.

Effect of Clp protease from Corynebacterium glutamicum on heterologous protein expression.

The protease present in a host may reduce the yield and biological activity of heterologous proteins. In this study, we used protease overexpression and deletion strategies to examine the effect of the Clp protease system in Corynebacterium glutamicum on the recombinant protein and to produce a highly efficient heterologous protein expression host. In this study, we identified seven genes in the Clp protease family in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 through bioinformatics analysis, and studied their effects on the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter protein. The fluorescence intensity of the knockout strain was significantly higher, and the effect of the clpS deletion strain was the most obvious. To verify the universal effect of the lack of clpS, the excellent industrial strain C. glutamicum 1.15647 was transformed to form recombinant 15647-ΔclpS. Based on the results, 15647-ΔclpS had a more significant effect on improving protein expression. Furthermore, recombinant human teriparatide (rhPTH) and variable domain of heavy chain of heavy-chain antibody (VHH) were selected to verify the universal applicability of the knockout strain for expressing heterologous proteins. Accordingly, we found that protease deficiency could increase the production of heterologous proteins. Finally, through a large-scale fermentation, the 15647-ΔclpS strain was used to produce VHH. Its yield was approximately 530 mg/L, which was 65% higher than that of WT-15647. In this study, a host that could effectively increase heterologous protein expression was successfully obtained.

Xuanfei Pingchuan Capsules Ameliorate Autophagy in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting p38 Phosphorylation.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Xuanfei Pingchuan Capsules (XFPC) on autophagy and p38 phosphorylation in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Methods: HBE cells were divided into five groups: blank, CSE, low XFPC dose (XFPC-L), medium XFPC dose (XFPC-M), and high XFPC dose (XFPC-H). HBE cells were induced by CSE to establish a cell model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and different doses of XFPC medicated serum were used to treat the cells. The Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Fluorescence microscopy and the expression level of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II in immunohistochemical method were used to observe autophagy in cells. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of p38, phospho-p38 (p-p38), LC3-I, LC3-II and Beclin 1. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of LC3-I, LC3-II and Beclin 1 on mRNA level. Results: Compared with the blank group, the cell viability of the CSE group was significantly decreased, and apoptosis and the level of autophagy in cells were significantly increased. The mRNA and protein expression of LC3-I, LC3-II, Beclin 1 and the protein level of p-p38 were significantly increased in the CSE-HBE cells. Compared to the CSE group, the different doses of XFPC medicated serum increased cell viability, decreased cell apoptosis, and inhibited mRNA and protein expression of LC3-I, LC3-II, Beclin 1 and protein level of p-p38. These results were especially observed in the group XFPC-H. After adding a p38 agonist, the therapeutic effect of XFPC on cell viability and autophagy was suppressed. Conclusion: XFPC significantly increased cell viability in a CSE-induced HBE cell model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through inhibiting the level of autophagy mediated by phosphorylation of p38.

Enhancement of heterologous protein production in Corynebacterium glutamicum via atmospheric and room temperature plasma mutagenesis and high-throughput screening.

Atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) is a new and efficient mutation breeding technique. In this study, we discuss a strategy combining ARTP mutagenesis and high-throughput screening to engineer Corynebacterium glutamicum towards high yield production of heterologous proteins. First, three target strains, MC2, MA8, and MA6, were screened from the mutant library with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as the reporter protein, and their growth stability and the influence of heterologous protein production were verified. Second, genes encoding three high-value medicinal proteins (glycoprotein D, gD; endoxylanase, XynA; and variable domain of heavy chain of heavy-chain antibody, VHH) were expressed in the mutagenized strain, which confirmed its applicability for an increased biosynthesis of other heterologous proteins. During the large-scale fermentation of C. glutamicum for VHH production, the fermentation characteristics of the best mutant MA6 were verified. Compared to the original strain, the yield of VHH obtained with strain MA6 was increased by nearly 91 % to approximately 862 mg/L. Finally, through systematic genome analysis mutations in five genes were obtained. These genes code for putative proteases or are potentially related to the bacterial restriction repair systems. These findings will help to obtain optimized chassis cells and provide a direction for in-depth research on genetic targets that can increase protein production.

Minimal realization and approximation of commensurate linear fractional-order systems via Loewner matrix method.

In this paper we propose a data driven realization and model order reduction (MOR) for linear fractional-order system (FoS) by applying the Loewner-matrix method. Given the interpolation data which obtained by sampling the transfer function of a FoS, the minimal fractional-order state space descriptor model that matching the interpolation data is constructed with low computational cost. Based on the framework, the commensurate order α of the fractional-order system is estimated by solving a least squares optimization in terms of sample data in case of unknown order-α. In addition, we present an integer-order approximation model using the interpolation method in the Loewner framework for FoS with delay. Finally, several numerical examples demonstrate the validity of our approach.

Screening and identification of key biomarkers in lung squamous cell carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis.

The high mortality rate of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is in part due to the lack of early detection of its biomarkers. The identification of key molecules involved in LUSC is therefore required to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment outcomes. The present study used the microarray datasets GSE31552, GSE6044 and GSE12428 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were conducted to construct the protein-protein interaction network of DEGs and hub genes module using STRING and Cytoscape. The 67 DEGs identified consisted of 42 upregulated genes and 25 downregulated genes. The pathways predicted by KEGG and GO enrichment analyses of DEGs mainly included cell cycle, cell proliferation, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, and tetrahydrofolate metabolic process. Further analysis of the University of California Santa Cruz and ONCOMINE databases identified 17 hub genes. Overall, the present study demonstrated hub genes that were closely associated with clinical tissue samples of LUSC, and identified TYMS, CCNB2 and RFC4 as potential novel biomarkers of LUSC. The findings of the present study contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression of LUSC, and assist with the identification of potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets of LUSC.

Yangyin Yiqi Mixture Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats through Inhibiting TGF-ß1/Smad Pathway and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate the protective effect of Yangyin Yiqi Mixture (YYYQ) on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats based on TGF-ß1/Smad signal pathway and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group, BLM group, BLM + Pred group, BLM+YYYQ-L group, BLM+YYYQ-M group, and BLM+YYYQ-H group. Rats were given an intratracheal instillation of 3 mg/kg BLM to establish the pulmonary fibrosis model and followed by different dosages of YYYQ (11, 22, 44g/kg, via intragastric gavage) or prednisone soluble (4.2mg/kg, via intragastric gavage) or water. After 14 days and 28 days, tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome to observe histopathological changes. Protein levels of TGF-ß1, CTGF, Interleukin 18, and hydroxyproline were detected by ELISA method, and mRNA expressions of TGF-ß1, TßRI, TßRII, Smad3, Smad7, α-SMA, E-cadherin, laminin, and collagen I were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: TGF-ß1, CTGF, Interleukin 18, and hydroxyproline levels and mRNA expression of TGF-ß1, TßRI, TßRII, Smad3, α-SMA, laminin, and collagen I were significantly increased (p <0.01), while Smad7 and E-cadherin levels were significantly decreased in BLM group (p <0.01). YYYQ-M and YYYQ-H group had downregulated the TGF-ß1, CTGF, hydroxyproline contents, and mRNA expression of TGF-ß1, TßRI, TßRII, Smad3, α-SMA, laminin, and collagen I and upregulated mRNA levels of Smad7 and E-cadherin significantly (p <0.01 or p <0.05). The result from the present study, which was also supported by histological evidence, suggested that YYYQ-M group and YYYQ-H group exhibited better treatment effect on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrotic rats when compared to that of BLM + Pred group (p <0.01). Meanwhile, the effect of YYYQ, in three different dosages, on the level of interleukin 18 was not significant. CONCLUSION: These results showed that YYYQ has the potential of ameliorating the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, and the mechanism may be related to suppressing TGF-ß1/Smad signal pathway and EMT in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis of rats.

Spontaneous alterations of regional brain activity in patients with adult generalized anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine how spontaneous brain activity might be related to the pathophysiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using resting-state functional MRI, we examined spontaneous regional brain activity in 31 GAD patients (mean age, 36.87±9.16 years) and 36 healthy control participants (mean age, 39.53±8.83 years) matched for age, education, and sex from December 2014 to October 2015. We performed a two-sample t-test on the voxel-based analysis of the regional homogeneity (ReHo) maps. We used Pearson correlation analysis to compare scores from the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale-Trait Scale, and mean ReHo values. RESULTS: We found abnormal spontaneous activity in multiple regions of brain in GAD patients, especially in the sensorimotor cortex and emotional regions. GAD patients showed decreased ReHo values in the right orbital middle frontal gyrus, left anterior cingulate cortex, right middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral supplementary motor areas, with increased ReHo values in the left middle temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, and right superior occipital gyrus. The ReHo value of the left middle temporal gyrus correlated positively with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that altered local synchronization of spontaneous brain activity may be related to the pathophysiology of GAD.

[Effect of particulate size and composition on the biodegradation of PAHS in nature waters].

Effect of particulate size and composition on the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in nature waters was examined. Experimental study was carried out for the Yellow River. The results showed that the biodegradation of benzo[a] pyrene and chrysene in water system could be fitted with one-order kinetics and the existence of particulates promoted the biodegradation. When the particulate content was 4 g/L, the sequence of increasing trend in the PAH biodegradation rates was: water system with middle size particulates (7-25 microm) > water system with small size particulates (<7 microm) > water system with large size particulates (>25 microm). The biodegradation rate constants for benzo[a]pyrene in water systems with middle, small and large size particulates were 0.0248 d(-1), 0.0212 d(-1), 0.0192 d(-1), respectively, and that for chrysene were 0.0288 d(-1), 0.0261 d(-1), 0.0218 d(-1), respectively. The mechanisms regarding the effects of particulate size on the biodegradation of PAHs include several aspects. First, the particulate size and composition affected the PAHs degraders level in water system as well as the distribution of PAHs degraders in water and particulate phases. The population of PAHs-degraders in water systems with middle and small size particulates was higher than that with large size particulates. Second, PAHs tended to be sorbed on the particulate phase, and the desorption of PAHs from the particulate phase would lead to a higher concentration of PAHs in the interface between water and particulate phases. Since the PAHs-degraders also tended to grow in the interface between water and particulate phases, this would result in a higher contact chances for PAHs and PAHs-degraders. Therefore, the existence of particulates stimulated the biodegradation of PAHs in water system. Third, the sorption capacity of PAHs and PAHs-degraders on the middle and small size particulates was higher than that on the large size particulates. Consequently, the biodegradation rates of PAHs in water systems with middle and small size particulates were higher than that with large size particulates. However, the desorption capacity of PAHs from middle size particulates was higher than that from small size particulates, leading to that PAHs concentration in the water/particulate interface of the former system was higher than that of the latter system. Therefore, the biodegradation rates of PAHs in water system with middle size particulates were higher than that with small size particulates.

[Adsorption and partition of PAHS on particles of the Yellow River].

Experiments were carried out to study the sorption of PAHs Benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene and Benzo(g, h, i)perylene on particles of the Yellow River. The contributions of adsorption and partition to the sorption of PAHs were investigated. Several significant results were obtained from the study: (1) The total sorption capacity increases with the particle content while the sorption capacity of unit weight particle decreases; the isotherms of Benzo(a)pyrene depend on the particle content. (2) Isotherms of Benzo(a) pyrene can be fitted with the Dual Adsorption-Partition model under different particle content; the measured value of the adsorption and partition are in accord with the theoretical value of the Dual Adsorption-Partition model. (3) The adsorption is predominant in the sorption of Benzo(a)pyrene. When the particle contents are 3, 8 and 15 g/L and the liquid equilibrium concentrations are 2.84, 2.35 and 3.4 microg/L, respectively, the contributions of adsorption are 67.8%, 65.6% and 62.69%, respectively. In addition, the contributions of adsorption have a decreasing trend with the increase of the particle content. (4) The sorption capacity of Benzo (a) pyrene being alone are bigger than that with other PAHs chrysene and Benzo(g, h, i)perylene coexisting in the water system, this also proves that the adsorption is predominant in the sorption of PAHs.

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics in the Yellow River of China.

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992-1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, CODMn and BOD5 of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD5 values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992-1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD5 was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992-1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD5 from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992-1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, CODMn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.

[Influence of humic substance in solids on CODMn of the Yellow River].

Experiments were carried out to study the influence of humic substance in solids (Loess soil) on CODMn in the Yellow River. Several significant results were abtained from the study: (1) The total CODMn of water sample including liquid and solid phases increased significantly with the increase of solid content; The CODMn of liquid phase of water sample under pre-treatment with acid (LPWSPC) also increased significantly with the increase of solid content while that without pre-treatment did not increased significantly. (2) With the increasing of solid content, the total BOD5 of water sample increased much slower than the total CODMn and the CODMn of LPWSPC. (3) The humic substances with the content of 0.76% in solids (Loess soil) contributed greatly to the total CODMn of water sample. When the solid contents were 7.5 g/L and 15.0 g/L, the humic substances in solids accounted for 15.9% and 21.7% of the total CODMn of water sample, respectively. (4) When solid contents were 7.5 g/L and 15.0 g/L, fulvic acid,one of the main compositions of humic substance contributed to 23.6% and 50.6% of the CODMn of LPWSPC, respectively. Since the fulvic acid can hardly be biologically oxidized under natural conditions, the CODMn of LPWSPC in water quality monitoring exaggerates the oxygen-consuming organic contamination of the Yellow River.