Optimization of Vascularized Intestinal Organoid Model.

Vasculature is crucial for maintaining organ homeostasis and metabolism. Although 3D organoids can mimic organ structures and patterns, they still lack vascular systems, limiting the recapitulation of physiological complexities. Although vascularization of organoids has been demonstrated by mixing Matrigel in fibrin, how the mixed gel niche affects endothelial cells (ECs) and organoids remains unclear. Existing protocols rely on fibroblasts to promote vascular network formation. This study explores how varying the ratio of Matrigel in fibrin-Matrigel co-gel affects vascular network formation and intestinal organoid growth. A fine-tuned hydrogel is developed by adding aprotinin and 15% Matrigel in fibrin. Medium for co-culturing ECs and organoids is modified with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and heparin. In combination with fine-tuned hydrogel and modified medium, vascular network formation and organoid vascularization are successfully generated in the absence of fibroblast. Furthermore, structural cues and pore architectures are critical for angiogenesis and vascularization. By incorporating engineered thick collagen fiber bundles into the system, vascular network formation is guided by bundle architectures, enhancing interactions between vascular networks and organoids. The results demonstrate an optimized system that advances tissue and organoid vascularization by combining fiber bundles with fine-tuned hydrogel and modified medium.

A Rechargeable "Rocking Chair" Type Zn-CO2 Battery.

Rising global temperatures and critical energy shortages have spurred researches into CO2 fixation and conversion within the realm of energy storage such as Zn-CO2 batteries. However, traditional Zn-CO2 batteries employ double-compartment electrolytic cells with separate carriers for catholytes and anolytes, diverging from the "rocking chair" battery mechanism. The specific energy of these conventional batteries is constrained by the solubility of discharge reactants/products in the electrolyte. Additionally, H2O molecules tend to trigger parasitic reactions at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces, undermining the long-term stability of Zn anodes. In this report, we introduce an innovative "rocking chair" type Zn-CO2 battery that utilizes a weak-acidic Zn(OTf)2 aqueous electrolyte compatible with both cathode and anode. This design minimizes side reactions on the Zn surface and leverages the high catalytic activity of the cathode material, allowing the battery to achieve a substantial discharge capacity of 6734 mAh g-1 and maintain performance over 65 cycles. Moreover, the successful production of pouch cells demonstrates the practical applicability of Zn-CO2 batteries. Electrode characterizations confirm superior electrochemical reversibility, facilitated by solid discharge products of ZnCO3 and C. This work advances a "rocking chair" Zn-CO2 battery with enhanced specific energy and a reversible pathway, providing a foundation for developing high-performance metal-CO2 batteries.

Species-level understanding of the bacterial community in Daqu based on full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Daqu is used as the fermentation starter of Baijiu and contributes diversified functional microbes for saccharifying grains and converting sugars into ethanol and aroma components in Baijiu products. Daqu is mainly classified into three types, namely low (LTD), medium (MTD) and high (HTD) temperature Daqu, according to the highest temperatures reached in their fermentation processes. In this study, we used the PacBio small-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology to determine the full-length 16 S rRNA gene sequences from the metagenomes of 296 samples of different types of Daqu collected from ten provinces in China, and revealed the bacterial diversity at the species level in the Daqu samples. We totally identified 310 bacteria species, including 78 highly abundant species (with a relative abundance >0.1% each) which accounted for 91.90% of the reads from all the Daqu samples. We also recognized the differentially enriched bacterial species in different types of Daqu, and in the Daqu samples with the same type but from different provinces. Specifically, Lactobacillales, Enterobacterales and Bacillaceae were significantly enriched in the LTD, MTD and HTD groups, respectively. The potential co-existence and exclusion relationships among the bacteria species involved in all the Daqu samples and in the LTD, MTD and HTD samples from a specific region were also identified. These results provide a better understanding of the bacterial diversity in different types of Daqu at the species level.

Decreased nitrogen deposition in Beijing over the recent decade and its implications.

Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition has been modified significantly by human activities such as agriculture and fossil fuel combustion. Understanding the changes in Nr deposition is essential for maintaining the functionality and sustainability of ecosystems. Taking Beijing as a case study, we report long-term measurements of wet Nr deposition from 1999 to 2022 and dry Nr deposition from 2010 to 2022 and their relationship with China's air pollution control. Total Nr deposition to Beijing decreased by 34 % during 2010-2022, mainly caused by a decrease in dry N deposition by 54.27 %, from 47.86 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2010-2014 to 21.89 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2018-2022; reduced and oxidized N in dry deposition decreased by 29.93 % and 72.05 %, respectively. This was a result of the "Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Air Pollution (APCP)" and the implementation of the "Zero Growth in Fertilizer Use by 2020" in 2015. Our ground-based measurements provide evidence to support recent achievements in air pollution control and a reference and guidance for other regions of China and other countries for abating Nr pollution.

An inorganic molten salt electrolyte-based Li-CO2 battery with moderate working temperature and enhanced performance.

Herein, a binary inorganic molten salt electrolyte based on lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) and potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI) is applied to Li-CO2 batteries that can operate under 80 °C. Benefiting from the intrinsic nonvolatility, electrochemical stability, raised ionic conductivity, sufficient solubility and safety, the molten electrolyte endows the Li-CO2 battery with a large discharge capacity of 4612 mA h g-1 and superior rate capability. The introduction of the Ru@Super P carbon cathode further optimizes the discharge capacity (9503 mA h g-1), overpotential (1.15 V), and rate capability.

Extraction Optimization of Phenolic Compounds from Triadica sebifera Leaves: Identification, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity.

Triadica sebifera (T. sebifera) has attracted much attention because of the high oil content in its seeds, but there are few systematic studies on the phenolic compounds of T. sebifera leaves (TSP). In this study, the extraction process of TSP was optimized by response surface methodology. The phenolic components of these extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the effects of hot air drying (HD), vacuum drying (VD) and freeze drying (FD) on the antioxidant activity and characterization of T. sebifera leaf extract (TSLE) were evaluated. Under the conditions of ethanol concentration 39.8%, liquid-solid ratio (LSR) 52.1, extraction time 20.2 min and extraction temperature 50.6 °C, the maximum TSP yield was 111.46 mg GAE/g dw. The quantitative analysis and correlation analysis of eight compounds in TSP showed that the type and content of phenolic compounds had significant correlations with antioxidant activity, indicating that tannic acid, isoquercitrin and ellagic acid were the main components of antioxidant activities. In addition, through DPPH and ABTS determination, VD-TSLE and FD-TSLE showed strong scavenging ability, with IC50 values of 138.2 µg/mL and 135.5 µg/mL and 73.5 µg/mL and 74.3 µg/mL, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) infrared spectroscopy revealed small differences in the extracts of the three drying methods. This study lays a foundation for the effective extraction process and drying methods of phenolic antioxidants from T. sebifera leaves, and is of great significance for the utilization of T. sebifera leaves.

The Prevalence of Anemia among Pregnant Women in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to ascertain the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among Chinese pregnant women. A total of 722 articles on maternal anemia during pregnancy published between January 2010 and December 2020 were compiled, and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on 57 eligible studies including 1,376,204 pregnant women to ascertain the prevalence of anemia and the prevalence in different subgroups. The results showed that the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among pregnant women in China were 30.7% (95% CI: 26.6%, 34.7%), 45.6% (95% CI: 37.0%, 54.2%), and 17.3% (95% CI: 13.9%, 20.7%), respectively. All prevalence increased with the progression of the pregnancy. There were sizable regional variations in the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA. Generally, lower prevalence was observed in the economically more advanced eastern region of the country, while the prevalence of ID was higher in the eastern region than that in the western region. The prevalence of anemia and IDA in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, but ID prevalence was higher in urban areas. In conclusion, the regional differences and urban-rural disparities in the prevalence of anemia indicate the need for more context-specific interventions to prevent and treat anemia. It was found that dietary factors were one of the major causes of anemia, and iron-containing supplements and nutrition counseling could be effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among Chinese pregnant women.

Genetic variation analysis of Guanling cattle based on whole-genome resequencing.

Objective: The objective of this study was to unravel the genetic traits of Guanling cattle, pinpoint genes advantageous for muscle growth, and lay a foundation for the preservation of genetic diversity and further analysis of regulation mechanism of important economic traits in local cattle breed. Methods: In this study, we sequenced the whole genome of 3 Guanling cattle in Guizhou province using the Illumina HiSeq cBo sequencing platform. And, high- multiplex PCR technology was employed to detect high-quality SNP sites of other 55 Guanling cattle. Results: Our study identified 166,411 non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) and 42,423 insertions and deletions (indels). Through SNP annotation, gene function enrichment analysis, and comparing with Simmental, Angus, and Limousin cattle, we identified six genes (LEPR, AKAP9, SIX4, SPIDR, PRG4, FASN) which are potentially influential on meat quality traits, playing crucial roles in muscle growth, fat metabolism, and bodily support. We also examined polymorphisms at seven SNP sites in Guanling cattle and found that all seven were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Conclusion: These findings suggested that these gene sites are stable and widespread in the Guanling cattle population. Our research lays the groundwork for future genetic enhancement and variety identification of Guanling cattle.

Combined short-term and long-term emission controls improve air quality sustainably in China.

The effectiveness of national policies for air pollution control has been demonstrated, but the relative effectiveness of short-term emission reduction measures in comparison with national policies has not. Here we show that short-term abatement measures during important international events substantially reduced PM2.5 concentrations, but air quality rebounded to pre-event levels after the measures ceased. Long-term adherence to strict emission reduction policies led to successful decreases of 54% in PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing, and 23% in atmospheric nitrogen deposition in China from 2012 to 2020. Incentivized by "blue skies" type campaigns, economic development and reactive nitrogen pollution are quickly decoupled, showing that a combination of inspiring but aggressive short-term measures and effective but durable long-term policies delivers sustainable air quality improvement. However, increased ammonia concentrations, transboundary pollutant flows, and the complexity to achieving reduction targets under climate change scenarios, underscore the need for the synergistic control of multiple pollutants and inter-regional action.

Wall-following - Phylogenetic context of an enhanced behaviour in stygomorphic Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) cavefishes.

With 75 known species, the freshwater fish genus Sinocyclocheilus is the largest cavefish radiation in the world and shows multiple adaptations for cave-dwelling (stygomorphic adaptations), which include a range of traits such as eye degeneration (normal-eyed, micro-eyed and eyeless), depigmentation of skin, and in some species, the presence of "horns". Their behavioural adaptations to subterranean environments, however, are poorly understood. Wall-following (WF) behaviour, where an organism remains in close contact with the boundary demarcating its habitat when in the dark, is a peculiar behaviour observed in a wide range of animals and is enhanced in cave dwellers. Hence, we hypothesise that wall-following is also present in Sinocyclocheilus, possibly enhanced in eyeless species compared to eye bearing (normal-/micro-eyed species). Using 13 species representative of Sinocyclocheilus radiation and eye morphs, we designed a series of assays, based on pre-existing methods for Astyanax mexicanus behavioural experiments, to examine wall-following behaviour under three conditions. Our results indicate that eyeless species exhibit significantly enhanced intensities of WF compared to normal-eyed species, with micro-eyed forms demonstrating intermediate intensities in the WF distance. Using a mtDNA based dated phylogeny (chronogram with four clades A-D), we traced the degree of WF of these forms to outline common patterns. We show that the intensity of WF behaviour is higher in the subterranean clades compared to clades dominated by normal-eyed free-living species. We also found that eyeless species are highly sensitive to vibrations, whereas normal-eyed species are the least sensitive. Since WF behaviour is presented to some degree in all Sinocyclocheilus species, and given that these fishes evolved in the late Miocene, we identify this behaviour as being ancestral with WF enhancement related to cave occupation. Results from this diversification-scale study of cavefish behaviour suggest that enhanced wall-following behaviour may be a convergent trait across all stygomorphic lineages.

Hepatic artery restriction operation combined with ALPPS (HARO-ALPPS), a novel ALPPS procedure for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with severe fibrosis: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged liver resection (ALPPS) has been used in the treatment of patients with advanced or massive liver cancer without sufficient future liver remnant, but concerns remain regarding tumor outcomes and surgical safety. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new procedure, Hepatic artery restriction operation combined with ALPPS (HARO-ALPPS), in the treatment of HCC patients especially with severe fibrosis. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 8 patients who underwent HARO-ALPPS for HCC and compared their outcomes with 64 patients who underwent conventional ALPPS. The primary outcomes assessed were liver regeneration ability (measured by relative and absolute kinetic growth rates), postoperative complications, and mortality. The secondary outcomes included overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS: HARO-ALPPS significantly restricted the blood supply of the hepatic artery. One week after surgery, the blood flow of the right hepatic artery dropped to 62.1%. At the same time, HARO-ALPPS shows superior liver regeneration ability, which is particularly prominent in the background of liver fibrosis. No serious complications occurred after HARO-ALPPS. The overall survival rate of HARO-ALPPS was 75%, which was higher than that of ALPPS (64%, P=0.816). CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional ALPPS, HARO-ALPPS exhibits a better liver regeneration ability, and favorable long-term outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of this novel procedure.

Molecular Phylogenetics and the Evolution of Morphological Complexity in Aytoniaceae (Marchantiophyta).

Aytoniaceae are one of the largest families of complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida), consisting of about 70 species, with most species being distributed in temperate areas. However, the phylogeny and evolution of the morphological character of Aytoniaceae are still poorly understood. Here, we employed two chloroplast loci, specifically, rbcL and trnL-F, along with a 26S nuclear ribosomal sequence to reconstruct the phylogeny and track the morphological evolution of Aytoniaceae. Our results reveal that Aytoniaceae are monophyletic, and five monophyletic clades were recovered (i.e., Asterellopsis-Cryptomitrium, Calasterella, Mannia, Reboulia-Plagiochasma, and Asterella). Asterella was divided into five clades (i.e., Asterella lindenbergiana, subg. Saccatae, subg. Phragmoblepharis, subg. Wallichianae, and subg. Asterella), except for Asterella palmeri, which is the sister of Asterellopsis grollei. Bayesian molecular clock dating indicates that the five primary clades within Aytoniaceae underwent divergence events in the Cretaceous period. Asterellopsis differentiated during the early Upper Cretaceous (c. 84.2 Ma), and Calasterella originated from the late Lower Cretaceous (c. 143.0 Ma). The ancestral Aytoniaceae plant is reconstructed as the absence of a pseudoperianth, lacking equatorial apertures, and having both male and female reproductive organs on the main thallus. At present, Asterellopsis consists of two species known in Asia and America with the new transfer of Asterella palmeri to Asterellopsis. A new subgenus, Asterella subg. Lindenbergianae, is proposed.

Experimental Study of Non-Darcian Flow Characteristics in Low-Permeability Coal Pillar Dams.

The safe operation of underground reservoirs and environmental protection heavily rely on the water flow through coal pillar dams in coal mines. Meanwhile, research on the flow characteristics in coal pillar dams has been limited due to their low hydraulic conductivity. To address this gap, this study assembled a novel seepage experimental device and conducted a series of carefully designed seepage experiments to examine the characteristics of low-permeability in coal pillar dams. The experiments aim to explore the relationship between water flux and hydraulic gradient, considering varying core lengths and immersion times. Flow parameters were determined by fitting observed flux-gradient curves with predictions from both Darcy and non-Darcian laws. Several significant results were obtained. First, a noticeable non-linear relationship between water flux and hydraulic gradient was observed, particularly evident at low flow velocities. Second, the non-Darcy laws effectively interpreted the experimental data, with threshold pressure gradients ranging 13.60 to 58.64 for different core lengths. Third, the study established that water immersion significantly affects the flow characteristics of coal pillar dams, resulting in an increased hydraulic conductivity and flow velocity. These findings carry significant implications for the design of coal pillar dams within underground coal mine reservoirs, providing insights for constructing more stable structures and ensuring environmental protection.

Left Hepatectomy Combined with Right Hepatic Artery Resection and Reconstruction for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy combined with hepatic artery reconstruction in the operation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor) is a challenging procedure. We present a video of left hepatectomy combined with right hepatic artery reconstruction for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. PATIENT AND METHODS: The patient was a 60-year-old male who presented with obstructive jaundice. The imaging examination showed that the confluence of left and right hepatic ducts and the wall of common hepatic duct were thickened, the local lumen was narrowed, the intrahepatic bile duct was dilated, and the right hepatic artery was invaded by tumors nearly 2.3 centimeters. Left hepatectomy with total caudate lobectomy, resection with reconstruction of right hepatic artery, hilar lymphadenectomy, and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy were performed. RESULTS: The operation time was 345 min, and the amount of bleeding was about 400 ml. There was no blood transfusion. The pathology showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, with negative margins of common bile duct and right hepatic duct, and negative results of all lymph nodes. The patient's recovery was uneventful and he was discharged on postoperative day 14. The patient was disease free at 12-month follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic artery resection and reconstruction procedure is safe and feasible for hilar cholangiocarcinoma in a highly tertiary hepatobiliary center.

Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Bone Mineral Density Changes among Pregnant Women: A Prospective Study in China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and bone mineral density (BMD) changes among Chinese pregnant women, offering valuable insights for dietary guidance during pregnancy. METHODS: 289 pregnant women were enrolled in this cohort. Serum inflammatory factors and ultrasonic BMD were measured at the first, second, and the third trimesters. DII scores were calculated based on a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and divided into tertiles. We compared the differences in inflammatory factors in serum across the tertiles of DII and changes in BMD at the second and third trimesters across the tertiles. RESULTS: The participants with higher DII scores had higher total energy intakes than those with lower DII scores. The serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly different across the tertiles of the DII. Women who had lower DII scores had higher T-scores and Z-scores in the BMD assessment. In the test of trends, after adjusting potential covariates, including educational level, physical activity, body mass index, and calcium, vitamin D, or multivitamin supplements, DII values were determined to be positively related to the maternal BMD lost. CONCLUSIONS: DII was positively associated with serum IL-6. Meanwhile, higher DII scores were associated with more bone mass loss in pregnant women. We recommend adhering to a lower-DII diet to preserve BMD during pregnancy.

Incidental gall bladder cancer in the laparoscopic treatment and magnetic resonance imaging era: A single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Incidental gall bladder cancer (IGBC) is often discovered unexpectedly in patients after cholecystectomy. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely applied in the pre-operative diagnosis of gall bladder diseases as laparoscopic cholecystectomy developed into the preferred method. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the pre-operative MRI application and laparoscopic management in the IGBCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and January 2020, a total of 7917 patients with gall bladder diseases treated by laparoscopy were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Amongst 49 patients diagnosed with IGBCs, the incidence of IGBCs in polypoid lesions, biliary pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholecystocholedocholithiasis and gall bladder stones was 0.42%, 1.19%, 0.62%, 1.20% and 0.49%, respectively. MRI evaluation showed more remarkable pre-operative imaging as compared to ultrasonographic evaluation (40.8 vs. 26.5, P < 0.05). Furthermore, 14 patients were diagnosed with gall bladder cancer through intraoperative histological examination and 11 received laparoscopic extensive resection after cholecystectomy. MRI findings with diffuse thickening of the gall bladder detected IGBCs with 6.1% sensitivity, 96.02 specificity, 0.95% positive predictive values and 99.4% negative predictive values; diffuse thickening of the gall bladder with suspicion of malignancy detected IGBCs with 12.2% sensitivity, 99.1% specificity, 7.6% positive predictive values and 99.5% negative predictive values; focal thickening of the gall bladder detected IGBCs with 16% sensitivity, 99.8% specificity, 32% positive predictive values and 99.5% negative predictive values; moreover, suspicious lesion detected IGBCs with 6.1% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity, 8.8% positive predictive values and 99.4% negative predictive values. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with biliary pancreatitis and cholecystocholedocholithiasis have a higher incidence of IGBC. MRI evaluation could provide more accurate information for the IGBCs, which should be recommended for patients accepting cholecystectomy. MRI findings exhibited an unsatisfactory sensitivity when detecting IGBCs, but they represented high specificity. Pre-operative MRI evaluation and intraoperative histological examination may help some IGBCs to achieve one-stage laparoscopic extensive resection.

Remediation of aniline-contaminated aquifer by combining in-well Rhizobium borbori and circulated groundwater electrolysis.

Aniline has become a common groundwater contaminant due to its wide use as a raw material in agriculture and pharmaceutical products. The current technologies for in situ remediation of aniline in groundwater are limited by the strains deficient in bacterial species, limited oxygen supply, excessive waste gas load and cost. Accordingly, we conducted a laboratory sand tank experiment to remediate groundwater contaminated with aniline by combining circulated groundwater electrolysis and in-well Rhizobium borbori, which was isolated from activated sludge. The results of the experiment indicated that the optimum concentration of aniline for Rhizobium borbori is about 5 mg/L, beyond which the maximum cell density and the highest specific growth rate decreases as the aniline concentration increases. The optimized duration for immobilizing the Rhizobium borbori into the bioreactor is 4-5 days. Though the Rhizobium borbori was strongly inhibited by the high-concentration of aniline, the immobilized bioreactor in the 350 mg/L aniline solution successfully formed biofilm. The aniline volatilization had limited influence on the observation of bioremediation performance, and the combination of circulated groundwater and in-well Rhizobium borbori supplied a steady dose of oxygen to the bioreactor efficiently degrading the entire region between the injection and extraction well. In addition, a numerical model for the sand tank remediation experiment was used to estimate the yield coefficient of oxygen to be 0.484 g/g, which indicates the presence of ammonia nitrogen as by-products; accordingly, a smaller wellbore size as well a higher circulation flow rate and intensity of current are recommended to improve the water quality. Despite the positive outcomes and potential of the newly developed technology to degrade subsurface aniline, parallel experiments should be conducted to estimate the environmental risk of the by-products and explore the controlling mechanisms of each component in this comprehensive system.