[Global quantification of the spatial variability and temporal stability of throughfall]. / æž—å† ç©¿é€é›¨ç©ºé—´å¼‚è´¨æ€§åŠå ¶æ—¶é—´ç¨³å®šæ€§ç‰¹å¾çš„å ¨çƒé‡åŒ–.

Spatial variability of throughfall (i.e. the non-uniform characteristics of throughfall at different canopy positions) and its temporal persistence (i.e. time stability) are related to the quantity and efficiency of soil moisture replenishment, and affect plant competition and community succession dynamics by affecting resource availability. We carried out a meta-analysis with 554 papers (from 2000 to 2022) retrieved from Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) based on keyword search, quantified and compared the amount, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal stability characteristics of penetrating rain in different climate zones and plant functional types. Our results that throughfall proportion was lower in arid regions (72.0%±13.6%) than humid (75.1%±9.3%) and semi-humid areas (79.9%±10.4%). Cold climates had lower values (74.1%±14.6%) than temperate (74.2%±7.5%) and tropical climates (80.9%±14.6%). Shrubs (68.9%±14.9%) generally had lower throughfall proportion than trees (76.7%±9.1%). Broad-leaved trees (75.2%±11.1%) and conifers (75.1%±9.9%) showed similar throughfall proportions, as did evergreen (76.7%±10.0%) and deciduous species (74.7%±11.9%). Additionally, spatial variability (coefficient of variation) did not significantly differ across rainfall zones, temperature zones, or vegetation types. The spatial distribution of throughfall was relatively stable. Canopy structure was the dominant factor affecting temporal stability of throughfall. However, there was a lack of comparison between typical geographic units (i.e. spatial units with basically consistent geographical environmental conditions) at various temporal scales. Future research should expand upwards to the summary of global spatial scale rules and downwards to the analysis of process based temporal scale mechanisms, to depict the dynamic distribution of penetrating rain and unify observation standards to enhance comparability of different studies, in order to efficiently promote research on canopy penetrating rain and provide ecological and hydrological basis for protecting nature, managing artificial activities, and restoring degraded ecosystems.

Effects of Detoxifying Substances on Uranium Removal by Bacteria Isolated from Mine Soils: Performance, Mechanisms, and Bacterial Communities.

In this study, we investigated the effect of detoxifying substances on U(VI) removal by bacteria isolated from mine soil. The results demonstrated that the highest U(VI) removal efficiency (85.6%) was achieved at pH 6.0 and a temperature of 35 °C, with an initial U(VI) concentration of 10 mg/L. For detoxifying substances, signaling molecules acyl homoserine lactone (AHLs, 0.1 µmol/L), anthraquinone-2, 6-disulfonic acid (AQDS, 1 mmol/L), reduced glutathione (GSH, 0.1 mmol/L), selenium (Se, 1 mg/L), montmorillonite (MT, 1 g/L), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, 0.1 mmol/L) substantially enhanced the bacterial U(VI) removal by 34.9%, 37.4%, 54.5%, 35.1%, 32.8%, and 47.8% after 12 h, respectively. This was due to the alleviation of U(VI) toxicity in bacteria through detoxifying substances, as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities for bacteria exposed to U(VI) and detoxifying substances, compared to those exposed to U(VI) alone. FTIR results showed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, phosphorus, and amide groups participated in the U(VI) removal. After exposure to U(VI), the relative abundances of Chryseobacterium and Stenotrophomonas increased by 48.5% and 12.5%, respectively, suggesting their tolerance ability to U(VI). Gene function prediction further demonstrated that the detoxifying substances AHLs alleviate U(VI) toxicity by influencing bacterial metabolism. This study suggests the potential application of detoxifying substances in the U(VI)-containing wastewater treatment through bioremediation.

Odor identification dysfunction in late-life depression with suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is more prevalent among older adults compared to younger individuals. Late-life depression (LLD) poses the highest risk for suicide. However, early recognition of suicidal ideation is challenging. Dysfunction in odor identification (OI), a characteristic of LLD, may hold potential for early identification of suicidal ideation. This study aims to compare OI between LLD patients with suicidal ideation (LLD-S) and LLD patients without suicidal ideation (LLD-NS), and examine its relationship with cognitive function. METHODS: A total of 262 LLD-NS patients, 63 LLD-S patients, and 316 healthy normal older adults (HOAs) underwent OI testing, standardized clinical interviews, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS: (1) LLD-S patients exhibited lower OI scores and poorer cognitive performance (including global cognition, information processing speed, memory, language, executive function, and visuospatial ability) compared to LLD-NS patients and HOAs. (2) There were interactive effects between suicidal ideation and OI dysfunction, leading to lower scores in information processing speed and visuospatial ability. (3) OI dysfunction mediated the differences in cognition between the LLD-NS and LLD-S groups. LIMITATIONS: The present study was a cross-sectional design. CONCLUSIONS: LLD-S patients had worse odor identification than LLD-NS patients and HOAs, suggesting that OI testing could be a valuable approach for identifying suicidal ideation in LLD and screening for suicide risk. The presence of both OI impairment and suicidal ideation was associated with poorer cognitive performance in LLD.

Cellulose-based yellow-green emitting carbon dots with large Stokes shift as effective "turn off-on" fluorescence platforms for Cr (VI) and AA dual efficacy detection.

BACKGROUND: Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is highly carcinogenic to humans. Ascorbic acid (AA) deficiency can be hazardous to health. And the dual-effect fluorescence detection of them is an important research topic. Carbon dots (CDs) based on cellulose are excellent candidates for the fluorescence probes due to their low cost and environmental friendliness. But most of them exhibit shortwave emission, small Stokes shift and poor fluorescence performance, all of which limit their use. Therefore, there is an urgent need for cellulose CDs with longer emission wavelengths and larger Stokes shifts in dual-effect fluorescence detection of Cr (VI) and AA. RESULTS: Under optimal conditions (180 °C, 12 h), we prepared cellulose-based nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) by a simple one-step hydrothermal process, which display longer emission wavelengths (ex: 370 nm, em: 510 nm), larger Stokes shifts (140 nm) and high fluorescence quantum yield (QY: 19.27 %). The continuous "turn-off" and "turn-off-on" fluorescence detection platforms were constructed based on the internal filtering effect (IFE) between Cr6+ and N-CDs, and Cr6+ reduced to Cr3+ by AA at pH = 6. The platform has been successfully simultaneous detect Cr (VI) and AA with a wide range of 0.01-40 µM and 0.1-100 µM. And the lowest limits of detection (LOD) are 0.0303 µM and 0.072 µM, respectively. In the presence of some other metals, non-metal ions and water-soluble acids in the fruits, this fluorescent platform can demonstrate a high level of interference immunity. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY: This represents the first yellow-green cellulose-based N-CDs with large Stokes shift for dual-effect detection of Cr (VI) and AA in real water samples and fresh fruits. The fluorescence detection platform has the advantage of low volume detection. Less than 2 mL of sample is required for testing and results are available in <5 min. This method is rare and supply a novel idea for the quantitative monitoring of Cr (VI) and AA.

Luteolin-7-diglucuronide, a novel PTP1B inhibitor, ameliorates hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis in mice.

Liver fibrosis, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, lacks effective therapy. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the dominant event in hepatic fibrogenesis. Luteolin-7-diglucuronide (L7DG) is the major flavonoid extracted from Perilla frutescens and Verbena officinalis. Their beneficial effects in the treatment of liver diseases were well documented. In this study we investigated the anti-fibrotic activities of L7DG and the potential mechanisms. We established TGF-ß1-activated mouse primary hepatic stellate cells (pHSCs) and human HSC line LX-2 as in vitro liver fibrosis models. Co-treatment with L7DG (5, 20, 50 µM) dose-dependently decreased TGF-ß1-induced expression of fibrotic markers collagen 1, α-SMA and fibronectin. In liver fibrosis mouse models induced by CCl4 challenge alone or in combination with HFHC diet, administration of L7DG (40, 150 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g., for 4 or 8 weeks) dose-dependently attenuated hepatic histopathological injury and collagen accumulation, decreased expression of fibrogenic genes. By conducting target prediction, molecular docking and enzyme activity detection, we identified L7DG as a potent inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with an IC50 value of 2.10 µM. Further studies revealed that L7DG inhibited PTP1B activity, up-regulated AMPK phosphorylation and subsequently inhibited HSC activation. This study demonstrates that the phytochemical L7DG may be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

TMJ-105, an extract of Carpesium cernuum, induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis via the JAK2/STAT3 axis and MAPKs signaling pathway in leukemia HEL cells.

Leukemia is a malignant tumor of the hematologic system. Studies have shown that cernuumolide J (TMJ-105), an extract of Carpesium cernuum, has anti-cancer effects, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of TMJ-105 on the proliferation of human leukemia HEL cells and its molecular mechanism. MTT analysis showed TMJ-105 had revealed that it shows significant IC50 in HEL cells at lower doses (1.79 ± 0.29 µmol/L) than in K562 cells (3.89 ± 0.80 µmol/L), and the suppression of HEL cell proliferation was time- and concentration-dependent. Meanwhile, TMJ-105 induced G2/M phase blockage, leading to DNA damage in HEL cells. TMJ-105 promoted HEL cells to release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changed mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, TMJ-105 induced apoptosis by upregulating the cleaved-caspase9 and cleaved-caspase3 protein expression, while caspase pan inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) blocked the inhibition effect. Finally, TMJ-105 downregulated the phosphorylation of JAK2, STAT3 and Erk, and activated the phosphorylation of JNK and p38. Collectively, these results demonstrated that TMJ-105 inhibited proliferation of leukemia cells and the underlying mechanism via the JAK2/STAT3 axis and MAPKs signaling pathway. Based on these results, the present study suggested the sesquiterpene lactone TMJ-105 is a new chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of leukemia.

An Immune-Enhancing Injectable Hydrogel Loaded with Esketamine and DDP Promotes Painless Immunochemotherapy to Inhibit Breast Cancer Growth.

Chemotherapy is the cornerstone of triple-negative breast cancer. The poor effectiveness and severe neuropathic pain caused by it have a significant impact on the immune system. Studies confirmed that immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), have critical roles in tumor immune regulation and prognosis. In this study, it is revealed that the painless administration of Esketamine, combined with Cisplatin (DDP), can exert an anti-tumor effect, which is further boosted by the hydrogel delivery system. It is also discovered that Esketamine combined with DDP co-loaded in Poloxamer Hydrogel (PDEH) induces local immunity by increasing mature Dendritic Cells (mDCs) and activated T cells in PDEH group while the regulatory T cells (Tregs) known as CD4+CD25+FoxP3+decreased significantly. Finally, , CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the spleen exhibited a significant increase, suggesting a lasting immune impact of PDEH. This study proposes that Esketamine can serve as a painless immune modulator, enhancing an anti-tumor effect while co-loaded in poloxamer hydrogel with DDP. Along with improving immune cells in the microenvironment, it can potentially alleviate anxiety and depression. With its outstanding bio-safety profile, it offers promising new possibilities for painless clinical therapy.

Determination of Volatile Halogenated Hydrocarbons in Drinking and Environmental Waters by Headspace Gas Chromatography.

Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHHs) are annually produced and released into the environment, posing a threat to public health. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive and automated method based on headspace and gas chromatography (GC) with electron-capture detection was described for the determination of VHHs in different concentration levels in water samples. The proposed headspace GC method was initially optimized, and the optimum experimental conditions found were 10-mL water sample containing 20% w/v sodium chloride placed in a 20-mL vial and stirred at 60°C for 35 min, and then 14 VHHs were well separated on DB-35 MS capillary column with a split ratio of 12.5: 1. The limits of detection were in the low µg/L level, ranging between 0.01 and 0.6 µg/L. Finally optimized method was applied for determination 14 VHHs in drinking and environmental waters. The total mean concentrations of VHHs were 34.962, 26.183, 3.228 and 647.344 µg/L in tap water, purified water with 1-year-old filter element, seawater and effluents, respectively. However, no VHHs was detected in purified water with a new filter element. The main composition is different among different water matrix, which may be attributed to their different sources.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cognitive Frailty in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and risk factor of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: Systematically searched PubMed, EmBase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Database, and Weipu Database from inception until January 1, 2024. Two researchers were independently screened and cross-checked. Stata 15.1 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 15 articles were included, including 5398 patients. The results showed that the prevalence of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was 24%. Among them, age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33, 95% CI [1.16, 1.53]), waist circumference (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [1.03, 1.08]), malnutrition (OR = 2.91, 95% CI [1.94, 4.35]), comorbidities (OR = 1.93, 95% CI [1.47, 2.54]), stroke history (OR = 2.94, 95% CI [1.72, 5.03]), and depression (OR = 3.26, 95% CI [1.91, 5.57]) were the main risk factors for cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Education level (OR = 0.48, 95% CI [0.31, 0.73]) was protective factors for cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence showed that the prevalence of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was high, and there were many risk factors. Therefore, early identification and intervention of cognitive frailty in maintenance hemodialysis patients should be carried out, which may be helpful to reduce the prevalence rate and occurrence of adverse events and improve the prognosis of patients.

[Experimental teaching reform of polymer molar mass determination using gel permeation chromatography coupled with light scattering].

Gel permeation chromatography coupled with light scattering (GPC-LS) is among the most common methods for determining the molar masses of polymers. GPC-LS is widely used in polymer science research and has been adopted for many industrial applications owing to its high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The determination of polymer molar masses using GPC-LS is an important experimental component of the "Polymer Physics Experiments" course. However, the present GPC-LS experimental teaching content tends to be overly simplistic and lacking in depth. Herein, the original experimental content is expanded and multiple sets of experiments are redesigned: (1) Using commercial polystyrene as an experimental sample, the molar mass, molar mass distribution, radius of gyration, and other molecular structure parameters are determined using GPC-LS; (2) Using two polyacrylonitriles with similar molecular structure parameters, subtle differences in the molar mass distributions of the samples are explored using differential mass distribution curves; (3) By comparing the chromatograms of a series of polyethylene glycols with different molar masses, the effect of molar mass on chromatographic peaks is investigated; and (4) For three different polymers (polyacrylonitrile, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(ß-cyclodextrin)), the polymer chain conformations are analyzed using conformation plots (i.e., radius of gyration vs. molar mass). In addition, the experimental teaching method is modified to convert passive learning into active learning, thereby improving the students' self-directed learning ability. This experimental teaching reform will help students obtain a more comprehensive understanding of GPC-LS principles and applications, stimulate their enthusiasm for learning, and improve the teaching quality of the experimental course.

First report of Diaporthe tulliensis causing leaf spot on Millettia speciosa in China.

Millettia speciosa Champ, renowned for its diverse applications in traditional medicine, is extensively cultivated in the Guangxi region of China, spanning roughly 5,973 hectares. In July 2021, a plantation in Yulin, Guangxi, China (22°64'N; 110°29'E), exhibited severe leaf spot disease on M. speciosa. Notably, a 46,690 square meters area had over 40% leaf spot incidence. Initially, symptoms appeared as small, circular, pale-yellow lesions on the leaves, then turned into irregular, dark brown spots with yellow halos, leading to the wilt and defoliation of leaves. To identify the responsible pathogen, a total of five symptomatic leaves were collected and sterilized systematically. Small tissue segments (5×5 mm) from lesion peripheries were aseptically excised, then surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 10 s, and 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for 3 min. Following this, the sterilized tissues were triple-rinsed with sterile water and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 28 °C in the dark for 7 d. A total of seven isolates were obtained through single-spore isolation, and one representative isolate, N2-3, was selected for further analysis. After 7 d of incubation, colonies displayed flat, white, and extensively branched aerial hyphae. Over time, the reverse side of the colony changed from white to yellowish-white. The pycnidia were black with conidial droplets ranging from cream to pale yellow exuding from their ostioles. The α-conidia were one-celled, hyaline, ovoid to cylindrical, typically with one or two droplets, 2.6 to 5.9 ×1.4 to 3.9 µm (n=50). These morphological traits align with those of the genus Diaporthe, as reported by Li et al. (2022) and Crous et al. (2015). To identify the species, isolate N2-3 underwent sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), ß-tubulin (BT), and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) sections (Huang et al. 2021). Obtained sequences of ITS, BT and EF1-α (Genebank accessions nos. OR600532, OR662169 and OR662168) displayed a 99% similarity to Diaporthe tulliensis (Genebank accessions nos. OP219651, ON932382, OL412437, respectively). Based on the concatenated ITS, BT and EF1-α, a neighbor-joining phylogenetic analyses using MEGA7.0 clustered with D. tulliensis. Therefore, the fungus was identified as D. tulliensis (teleomorph name) based on morphological and molecular features. A pathogenicity test was conducted on 1-year-old M. speciosa seedlings by gently abrading healthy leaves with sterilized toothpicks to create superficial wounds. Wounded leaves were then inoculated with 5 mm diameter mycelial plugs, while control seedlings received PDA plugs. Three leaves per plant and five plants per treatment were selected for assessment. All seedlings were kept in a controlled greenhouse (12/12h light/dark, 25 ± 2 °C, 90% humidity). After 7 d, the inoculated leaves showed symptoms like those in the field, while control plants remained healthy. The fungus was consistently reisolated from the infected leaves, satisfying Koch's postulates. Notably, D. tulliensis has caused Boston ivy leaf spot, bodhi tree leaf spot, cacao pod rot, and jasmine stem canker (Huang et al. 2021; Li et al. 2022; Serrato-Diaz et al. 2022; Hsu et al. 2023). This discovery is significant as it marks the first report of Diaporthe tulliensis causing leaf spot on Millettia speciossa in China, which has direct implications for the development of diagnostic tools and research into potential disease management strategies.

Association between frailty and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the strength of the association between frailty and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged ≥18 years who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, the Wanfang Database and the Weipu Database were searched from inception until 11 April 2024. The reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the studies. Stata 15.1 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 36 articles were included in this study, including 56,867 patients. The primary outcome events in this study were mortality, hospitalization, and vascular access events. The secondary outcomes were depression, cognitive impairment, falls, fracture, sleep disturbances, and quality of life. This study suggested that frailty was associated with mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis [hazard ratio (HR), 1.97; 95% CI, 1.62-2.40]. Frailty increased the risk of mortality in patients [odds ratio (OR), 2.33; 95% CI, 1.47-3.68]. In addition, we found that frailty was significantly associated with hospitalization in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.52-4.03). Patients who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and who were frail had a greater risk of hospitalization [RR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.08] and emergency visits (RR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.78-2.92). The results of this study also suggested that frailty was associated with a greater risk of vascular access events (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.50-1.97). Finally, frailty increased the risk of depression (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.83-10.18), falls and fractures, and reduced quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggested that frailty was an important predictor of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. In the future, medical staff should regularly evaluate signs of weakness, formulate individual diagnosis and treatment plans, adjust dialysis plans according to the patient's condition, and reduce the occurrence of adverse events. REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, number: CRD42023486239).

Research progress on m6A demethylase FTO and its role in gynecological tumors.

Recent advances in genomic research have increasingly focused on the fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO) gene due to its notable correlation with obesity. Initially explored for its contribution to increased body weight, FTO was later discovered to function as an m6A demethylase. This pivotal role enhances our understanding of its broader implications across various pathologies. Epigenetic modifications, such as m6A, have been implicated in gynecological cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, and cervical malignancies. However, the precise mechanisms by which FTO influences the development of gynecological cancers remain largely unknown. This analysis underscores the growing relevance of investigations into the FTO gene in elucidating the mechanisms underlying gynecological cancers and exploring potential therapeutic avenues.

Evaluation of the antiviral activity of oleanolic acid against nervous necrosis virus.

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) presents a significant challenge to aquaculture due to its potential for causing mass fish mortality and resulting in substantial economic losses. Therefore, the urgent need to find antiviral drugs is paramount. This study found that oleanolic acid (OA) exhibited anti-nervous necrosis virus (NNV) activity both in vivo and in vitro. The RT-qPCR results demonstrated that OA at 10.95 µM had an inhibition rate of 99.97 %. The prevention experiments also showed that OA pretreatment effectively inhibited the replication of NNV. Furthermore, the results of indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry suggest that OA's anti-NNV effect may be due to its ability to inhibit NNV-induced apoptosis. The in vivo study revealed a 30 % survival rate in the OA treatment group, compared to only 10 % in the control group. Additionally, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that OA treatment upregulated immune gene expression in grouper and effectively suppressed NNV replication in the host. This study demonstrates the potential of OA as an antiviral therapeutic agent for NNV. It exerts its antiviral effect by upregulating immune gene expression. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of novel antiviral treatment strategies.

Identification, fermentation optimization, and biocontrol efficacy of actinomycete YG-5 for the prevention of Alternaria leaf spot disease in star anise.

Star anise (Illicium verum), a valuable spice tree, faces significant threats from fungal diseases, particularly Alternaria leaf spot. This study investigates the potential of a soil-derived actinomycete strain, YG-5, as a biocontrol agent against Alternaria tenuissima, the causative pathogen on Alternaria leaf spot in star anise. Through comprehensive morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetic analyses, we identified the isolate as Streptomyces sp. YG-5. The strain exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against several plant pathogens, with inhibition rates ranging between 36.47 to 80.34%. We systematically optimized the fermentation conditions for YG-5, including medium composition and cultivation parameters. The optimized process resulted in an 89.56% inhibition rate against A. tenuissima, a 14.72% improvement over non-optimized conditions. Notably, the antimicrobial compounds produced by YG-5 demonstrated stability across various temperatures, pH levels, and UV irradiation. In vivo efficacy trials showed promising results, with YG-5 fermentation broth reducing Alternaria leaf spot incidence on star anise leaves by 56.95%. These findings suggest that Streptomyces sp. YG-5 holds significant potential as a biocontrol agent against Alternaria leaf spot in star anise cultivation, offering a sustainable approach to disease management in this valuable crop.

Combining iRGD with HuFOLactis enhances antitumor potency by facilitating immune cell infiltration and activation.

Multiple research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of lactic acid bacteria in boosting both innate and adaptive immune responses. We have created a Lactococcus lactis variant that produces a modified combination protein with Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand and co-stimulator O × 40 ligand, known as HuFOLactis. The genetically modified variant was purposely created to activate T cells, NK cells, and DC cells in a laboratory setting. Furthermore, we explored the possibility of using the tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD to deliver HuFOLactis-activated immune cells to hard-to-reach tumor areas. Following brief stimulation with HuFOLactis, immune cell phenotypes and functions were assessed using flow cytometry. Confocal microscopy was employed to demonstrate the infiltrative and cytotoxic capabilities of iRGD-modified HuFOLactis-activated immune cells within tumor spheroids. The efficacy of iRGD modified HuFOLactis-activated immune cells against tumors was assessed in xenograft mouse models. HuFOLactis treatment resulted in notable immune cell activation, demonstrated by elevated levels of CD25, CD69, and CD137. Additionally, these activated immune cells showed heightened cytokine production and enhanced cytotoxicity against MKN45 cell lines. Incorporation of the iRGD modification facilitated the infiltration of HuFOLactis-activated immune cells into multicellular spheroids (MCSs). Additionally, immune cells activated by HuFOLactis and modified with iRGD, in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment, effectively halted tumor growth and prolonged survival in a mouse model of gastric cancer.

Integrating a deep neural network and Transformer architecture for the automatic segmentation and survival prediction in cervical cancer.

Background: Automated tumor segmentation and survival prediction are critical to clinical diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to develop deep-learning models for automatic tumor segmentation and survival prediction in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cervical cancer (CC) by combining deep neural networks and Transformer architecture. Methods: This study included 406 patients with CC, each with comprehensive clinical information and MRI scans. We randomly divided patients into training, validation, and independent test cohorts in a 6:2:2 ratio. During the model training, we employed two architecture types: one being a hybrid model combining convolutional neural network (CNN) and ransformer (CoTr) and one of pure CNNs. For survival prediction, the hybrid model combined tumor image features extracted by segmentation models with clinical information. The performance of the segmentation models was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD95). The performance of the survival models was assessed using the concordance index. Results: The CoTr model performed well in both contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (ceT1W) and T2-weighted (T2W) imaging segmentation tasks, with average DSCs of 0.827 and 0.820, respectively, which outperformed other the CNN models such as U-Net (DSC: 0.807 and 0.808), attention U-Net (DSC: 0.814 and 0.811), and V-Net (DSC: 0.805 and 0.807). For survival prediction, the proposed deep-learning model significantly outperformed traditional methods, yielding a concordance index of 0.732. Moreover, it effectively divided patients into low-risk and high-risk groups for disease progression (P<0.001). Conclusions: Combining Transformer architecture with a CNN can improve MRI tumor segmentation, and this deep-learning model excelled in the survival prediction of patients with CC as compared to traditional methods.

Epidemiological features and temporal trends of the co-infection between HIV and tuberculosis, 1990-2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

BACKGROUND: The co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant clinical challenge and is a major global public health issue. This study aims to elucidate the disease burden of HIV-TB co-infection in global, regions and countries, providing critical information for policy decisions to curb the HIV-TB epidemic. METHODS: The ecological time-series study used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. The data encompass the numbers of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY), as well as age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), prevalence rate (ASPR), mortality rate (ASMR), and DALY rate for HIV-infected drug-susceptible tuberculosis (HIV-DS-TB), HIV-infected multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (HIV-MDR-TB), and HIV-infected extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (HIV-XDR-TB) from 1990 to 2021. from 1990 to 2021. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of rates, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), was calculated. RESULTS: In 2021, the global ASIR for HIV-DS-TB was 11.59 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.37-13.05 per 100,000 population), 0.55 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.38-0.81 per 100,000 population), for HIV-MDR-TB, and 0.02 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.01-0.03 per 100,000 population) for HIV-XDR-TB. The EAPC for the ASIR of HIV-MDR-TB and HIV-XDR-TB from 1990 to 2021 were 4.71 (95% CI: 1.92-7.59) and 13.63 (95% CI: 9.44-18.01), respectively. The global ASMR for HIV-DS-TB was 2.22 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 1.73-2.74 per 100,000 population), 0.21 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.09-0.39 per 100,000 population) for HIV-MDR-TB, and 0.01 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.00-0.03 per 100,000 population) for HIV-XDR-TB in 2021. The EAPC for the ASMR of HIV-MDR-TB and HIV-XDR-TB from 1990 to 2021 were 4.78 (95% CI: 1.32-8.32) and 10.00 (95% CI: 6.09-14.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that enhancing diagnostic and treatment strategies, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, increasing access to quality medical care, and improving public health education are essential to combat HIV-TB co-infection.

Evaluation of the anti-aging potential of acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline in cosmetics.

Acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline, a commercialized bio-active peptide, is widely used in anti-wrinkle formulations. Volunteer-based tests have demonstrated that topical application of products containing acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline significantly reduces the visibility of stretch marks. However, there is still a lack of research dedicated to systematically and holistically evaluating its cosmetic properties and elucidating its mechanisms of action. In this study, we assessed the cosmetic potential of acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline using human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (3T3). Our findings reveal that acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in skin cells, particularly effective against the inflammatory markers cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the extent of inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production ranged from 95 % to 340 %. Moreover, acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline specifically up-regulates Collagen IV and down-regulates matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), enhances the expression of skin barrier proteins transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) and filaggrin (FLG), thereby demonstrating its reparative capabilities. Additionally, acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline increases the expression of the water channel protein aquaporin 3 (AQP3), thus improving skin hydration function. These results substantiate the previously proclaimed cosmetic attributes of acetyl tripeptide-30 citrulline and support its efficacy as an anti-aging agent in dermatological applications.

Exploration of the adsorption and desorption performance of volatile organic compounds by activated carbon with different shapes based on fixed-bed experiments.

Activated carbon (AC) has been widely used in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) treatment of industrial exhaust gases. Rather than modifying specific pore size distributions and surface properties, altering the shape of AC offers a more feasible approach to enhance its adsorption performance. This study investigates the adsorption-desorption performance of two different shaped ACs with highly similar properties for the removal of VOCs. The clover-shaped AC (CSAC) has a 27.46% lower internal void fraction and a 39.10% higher external void fraction compared to cylindrical AC (CAC), resulting in denser packing and longer contact time with VOCs. Adsorption experiments showed the CSAC has 40% longer adsorption breakthrough (BT) times for ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane on average, and 20% higher saturation adsorption capacity per unit volume. CSAC also has higher partition coefficients, with the highest values for ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane being 0.0187, 0.0382, and 0.0527 mol kg-1·Pa-1, respectively. The desorption process for selected VOCs is non-spontaneous and endothermic. Optimal desorption conditions were identified as an inlet space velocity of 3535 h-1, a desorption temperature of 150 °C, and a pulsed inlet method. To investigate the possibility of the application of CSAC in real-world scenarios, xylene was chosen as a representative industrial VOC. Results showed CSAC has 20% higher BT time and saturation adsorption capacity for xylene compared to CAC under different bed heights. The desorption efficiency for xylene on both ACs is below 40%. With increasing xylene inlet concentration, the mass transfer zone (MTZ) height initially increases but stabilizes beyond 1704 mg m-3. At identical bed heights, the MTZ height of CSAC is 29% shorter than CAC, indicating a higher bed utilization efficiency.