Heavy metal(loid)s in agriculture soils, rice, and wheat across China: Status assessment and spatiotemporal analysis.

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) accumulation in agricultural soils, rice, and wheat is of particular concern in China, while the status and spatio-temporal distribution of HMs in the soil-crops system have been rarely reported at the national scale. This study aimed to summarize the overall pollution status, spatiotemporal patterns, and drivers of HMs in agricultural soil, rice, and wheat nationwide. The metal-polluted data from 1030 agricultural soils, rice, and wheat in China were collected from the literature published from 2000 to 2022. The results showed that Cd was the most prevailing contaminant in soils based on its spatiotemporal distribution and accumulation. The pollution cases and severe pollution percentage of Cd (103 %) and Hg (128 %) show an increasing trend pattern. Mining activities are the main anthropogenic sources of agricultural soil HMs in China. Cd and Pb had the highest exceedance rate in rice (33.5 and 32.2 %) and wheat (25.8 and 30.3 %). The rice from Hunan, Fujian, and Guangxi showed the highest average concentration of Cd and Pb, respectively, while wheat samples from Hubei had the greatest exceedance rate of Pb. Besides, HMs in crops was not usually corresponding to soil HMs but increased gradually from north to south areas. Several mitigation strategies and accurate health risk assessments model of HMs based on bioavailability were also proposed and recommended. Collectively, this review provides valuable information to improve the management of farmland nationwide, optimize the accurate risk assessment, and reduce HMs pollution.

Heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soil from main grain production regions of China: Bioaccessibility and health risks to humans.

Unintentional ingestion of metal-contaminated soils may pose a great threat to human health. To accurately evaluate the health risks of heavy metal(loid)s in soils, their bioaccessibility has been widely determined by in vitro assays and increasingly employed to optimize the assessment parameters. Given that, using meta-analysis, we analyzed the literature on farmland heavy metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in Chinese main grain production regions, and collected their total and bioaccessibility data to accurately assess their human health risks. Monte Carlo simulation was used to reduce the uncertainty in metal concentration, intake rate, toxicity coefficient, and body weight. We found that the mean concentration (0.47 mg/kg) and geological accumulation index (Igeo, 0-5.24) of Cd were the priority position of controlling metals. Moreover, children are more vulnerable to carcinogenic risks than adults. Soil mineralogy, physicochemical properties, Fe, and the types of in vitro assays are the influencing factors of bioaccessibility discrepancy. Furthermore, appropriate bioaccessibility determination methods can be adapted according to the differences in ecological receptors for the risk assessment, like developing a "personalized assessment" scheme for polluted farmland soil management. Collectively, bioaccessibility-based models may provide an accurate and effective approach to human health risk assessment.

Morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics associated with metastatic and recurrent progression in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: A cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate immunohistochemical markers of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL) and the relationships between the grading system for adrenal pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (GAPP) and the prognosis of PPGL in a Chinese population. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 102 PPGL cases, from January 2012 to December 2019, with complete clinicopathological and follow-up data. Surgical pathology slides were re-reviewed. All histological parameters involved in GAPP were summarized. The relationship between clinical characteristics, expression of SDHB (succinate dehydrogenase), S-100 and Ki-67 as well as GAPP classifications and prognosis of PPGL was statistically analyzed. The 102 cases included 51 males (50%) and 51 females (50%) with a median age of 48.7 years. The median tumor size was 6.8 cm. Metastases or relapse developed in 23 (22.5%) cases. Larger tumor size, extra-adrenal location, and poorly differentiated PPGL according to GAPP were associated with metastases or relapse (P < 0.05). Histological parameters, including the appearance of large or fused cell nests, necrosis, vascular invasion, and capsular invasion, were more common in the cases with metastases or relapse (P < 0.01). Loss of SDHB or S-100 expression was more common in poorly differentiated PPGL and associated with metastases or relapse (P < 0.01). However, no significant difference in the Ki-67 index between the clinically malignant and benign group was observed. GAPP is thus helpful for evaluations of the biological behavior of PPGL.

Removal of Cr (VI) by Biochar Derived from Six Kinds of Garden Wastes: Isotherms and Kinetics.

Garden waste is one of the main components of urban solid waste which affects the urban environment. In this study, garden waste of Morus alba L. (SS), Ulmus pumila L. (BY), Salix matsudana Koidz (LS), Populus tomentosa (YS), Sophora japonica Linn (GH) and Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (CB) was pyrolyzed at 300 °C, 500 °C, 700 °C to obtain different types of biochar, coded as SSB300, SSB500, SSB700, BYB300, etc., which were tested for their Cr (VI) adsorption capacity. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of Cr by biochar pyrolyzed from multiple raw materials at different temperatures was variable, and the pH had a great influence on the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency. GHB700 had the best removal efficiency (89.44%) at a pH of 2 of the solution containing Cr (VI). The pseudo second-order kinetics model showed that Cr (VI) adsorption by biochar was chemisorption. The Langmuir model showed that the adsorption capacity of SSB300 was the largest (51.39 mg·g-1), BYB500 was 40.91 mg·g-1, GHB700, CBB700, LSB700, YSB700 were 36.85 mg·g-1, 36.54 mg·g-1, 34.53 mg·g-1 and 32.66 mg·g-1, respectively. This research, for the first time, used a variety of garden wastes to prepare biochar, and explored the corresponding raw material and pyrolysis temperature for the treatment of Cr (VI). It is hoped to provide a theoretical basis for the research and utilization of garden wastes and the production and application of biochar.

Asymmetric Carbene-Catalyzed Oxidation of Functionalized Aldimines as 1,4-Dipoles.

The use of functionalized aldimines has been demonstrated as newly structural 1,4-dipole precursors under carbene catalysis. More importantly, enantiodivergent organocatalysis has been successfully developed using carbene catalysts with the same absolute configuration, leading to both (R)- and (S)- enantiomers of six-membered heterocycles with quaternary carbon centers. This strategy features a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and good enantiomeric ratio. DFT calculation results indicated that hydrogen bond C-H⋅⋅⋅F interactions between the catalyst and substrate are the key factors for controlling and even switching the enantioselectivity. These new 1,4-dipoles can also react with isatin and its imines under carbene catalysis, allowing for access to the spiro oxindoles with excellent enantiomeric ratios.

Highly Stereo-Controlled Synthesis of Fatty Acid-Derived Cyclic Carbonates by Using Iron(II) Complex and Nucleophilic Halide.

A catalytic system comprising an iron(II) complex and a nucleophilic halide for the preparation of a series of stereo-bio-derived cyclic carbonates was developed. The protocol allows for the coupling of various cis-fatty acid-derived epoxides. For example, cis-epoxy substrates can be reacted with CO2 to selectively yield either the cis- or trans-cyclic carbonates by adjusting the nucleophilic halide. These reactions are highly stereoselective and have excellent yields even under mild reaction conditions. The stereochemical divergence in the fatty acid-derived products strongly depends on the leaving ability of the halide anion in the cocatalyst.

Antitumor efficacy of the Runx2-dendritic cell vaccine in triple-negative breast cancer in vitro.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis and limited effective treatment. The rise in immunotherapeutic strategies prompted the establishment of a genetic vaccine against TNBC in vitro using a possible biological marker of TNBC. In the present study, different detection methods were used to evaluate the distribution and expression of runt-associated transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in various breast cancer cell lines. Following the development of the Runx2-dendritic cell (DC) vaccine using a lentivirus, the transfection efficacy was recorded. The T lymphocytes co-cultured with the vaccine were collected to assess the antitumor potency. Increased levels of Runx2 were expressed in breast cancer cells; however, different breast cancer cell lines expressed various levels of Runx2. Runx2 demonstrated particularly high expression in TNBC cells, compared with non-TNBC cells. A Runx2 lentivirus transfection system was successfully engineered, and Runx2 was transduced into dendritic cells whilst maintaining stable expression. The sustained and stable cytotoxic T cells induced in the transfected group had higher and more specific antitumor efficacy against TNBC, compared with the other cell lines. Runx2 may be a novel target for TNBC treatment. The Runx2-DC vaccine may induce specific and efficient antitumor effects in TNBC in vitro.

Impact of dexmedetomidine infusion during general anaesthesia on incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients after major non-cardiac surgery: study protocol of a randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is a common complication in the elderly after surgery and is associated with worse outcomes. Multiple risk factors are related with postoperative delirium, such as exposure to general anaesthetics, pain and postoperative inflammatory response. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that dexmedetomidine attenuated neurotoxicity induced by general anaesthetics, improved postoperative analgesia and inhibited inflammatory response after surgery. Several studies found that intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine can prevent postoperative delirium, but data were inconsistent. This study was designed to investigate the impact of dexmedetomidine administered during general anaesthesia in preventing delirium in the elderly after major non-cardiac surgery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial. 620 elderly patients (age ≥60 years) who are scheduled to undertake elective major non-cardiac surgery (with an expected duration ≥2 hours) are randomly divided into two groups. For patients in the dexmedetomidine group, a loading dose dexmedetomidine (0.6 µg/kg) will be administered 10 min before anaesthesia induction, followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.5 µg/kg/hour until 1 hour before the end of surgery. For patients in the control group, normal saline will be administered with an identical rate as in the dexmedetomidine group. The primary endpoint is the incidence of delirium during the first five postoperative days. The secondary endpoints include pain intensity, cumulative opioid consumption and subjective sleep quality during the first three postoperative days, as well as the incidence of non-delirium complications and all-cause mortality within 30 days after surgery. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Peking University First Hospital (2015-987) and registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn) with identifier ChiCTR-IPR-15007654. The results of the study will be presented at academic conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCRR-IPR-15007654; Pre-results.

Four reversible and reconfigurable structures for three-phase emulsions: extended morphologies and applications.

Here in this article, we classify and conclude the four morphologies of three-phase emulsions. Remarkably, we achieve the reversible transformations between every shape. Through theoretical analysis, we choose four liquid systems to form these four morphologies. Then monodispersed droplets with these four morphologies are formed through a microfluidic device and captured in a petri-dish. By replacing their ambient solution of the captured emulsions, in-situ morphology transformations between each shape are achieved. The process is well recorded through photographs and videos and they are systematical and reversible. Finally, we use the droplets structure to form an on-off switch to start and shut off the evaporation of one volatile phase to achieve the process monitoring. This could be used to initiate and quench a reaction, which offers a novel idea to achieve the switchable and reversible reaction control in multiple-phase reactions.

[Establishment of a NOD/SCID mouse model with human immune reconstitution bearing human triple-negative breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a NOD/SCID mouse model with human immune reconstitution and observe its immune response to human triple-negative breast cancer xenograft. METHODS: Twenty-four NOD/SCID mice without immune leakage were subjected to cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment 3 days prior to immune reconstitution with human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) injection and subcutaneous transplantation of human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, CTX treatment and PBMC injection without tumor cell transplantation, MDA-MB-231 cell transplantation only, or no treatments. The tumor growth and immune responses of the mice were observed at regular intervals. RESULTS: Compared with the tumor-bearing mice, the tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution showed prolonged incubation period of tumor formation, slower tumor growth rate and increased survival rate. Human IgG and CD3(+) T cells were detected in the peripheral blood of the mice 1 week after human PBMC injection. The percentage of CD3(+) T cells in the spleen cells was 55.3% at 9 weeks in tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution and 52.7% in tumor-bearing mice without immune reconstitution. The spleen index of the tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution was much higher than that in mice with only immune reconstitution and the control mice (9.64 vs 3.82∓0.31 and 1.51∓0.14 mg/g). CONCLUSION: A stable NOD/SCID mouse model with immune reconstitution has been established successfully, which shows immune responses to triple-negative breast cancer xenografts and allows studies of immunological therapy study of triple-negative breast cancer.

Naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carboxylic acid 1,8-anhydride-4,4'-bipyridine (1/1).

The title compound, C(14)H(6)O(7)·C(10)H(8)N(2), has been hydro-thermally synthesized. Structural ananlysis indicates that the crystals are produced by cocrystallization of naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetra-carboxylic acid 1,8-anhydride and 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy) mol-ecules. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular O-H⋯N and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid distances = 3.5846 (9) Å].

1-(2',4'-Difluoro-biphenyl-4-yl)ethanone.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(14)H(10)F(2)O, the dihedral angles between the benzene rings in the two crystallographically independent mol-ecules are 46.9 (2) and 47.6 (2)°. The mol-ecules are linked into dimers by C-H⋯F inter-actions and these dimers are further stacked into columns along the b axis by π-π inter-actions between the benzene rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8221 Å; the dihedral angle between the planes of these rings is 4.87 (2)°]. In addition, C-F⋯π interactions also contribute to the crystal packing (C⋯centroid distance = 3.5919 Å).