Unveiling the role of copper metabolism and STEAP2 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis molecular landscape.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a debilitating interstitial lung disease characterized by progressive fibrosis and poor prognosis. Despite advancements in treatment, the pathophysiological mechanisms of IPF remain elusive. Herein, we conducted an integrated bioinformatics analysis combining clinical data and carried out experimental validations to unveil the intricate molecular mechanism of IPF. Leveraging three IPF datasets, we identified 817 upregulated and 560 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Of these, 14 DEGs associated with copper metabolism were identified, shedding light on the potential involvement of disrupted copper metabolism in IPF progression. Immune infiltration analysis revealed dysregulated immune cell infiltration in IPF, with a notable correlation between copper metabolism-related genes and immune cells. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified a central module correlated with IPF-associated genes, among which STEAP2 emerged as a key hub gene. Subsequent in vivo and in vitro studies confirmed the upregulation of STEAP2 in IPF model. Knockdown of STEAP2 using siRNA alleviated fibrosis in vitro, suggesting potential pathway related to copper metabolism in the pathophysiological progression of IPF. Our study established a novel link between immune cell infiltration and dysregulated copper metabolism. The revelation of intracellular copper overload and upregulated STEAP2 unravelled a potential therapeutic option. These findings offer valuable insights for future research and therapeutic interventions targeting STEAP2 and associated pathways in IPF.

Diagnostic values and relevant factors of lumbar posterior lesions in axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the lumbar posterior lesions between axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients, then their diagnostic value and related factors were evaluated. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included axSpA patients from January 2020 to September 2023. They were classified as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) individuals. Canada-Denmark (CANDEN) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system was used to assess the defects of the lumbar spine. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized to determine the value of distinguishing nr-axSpA. Linear regression analyses were adopted to find the relevant factors for lumbar posterior lesions. RESULTS: Ninety-six AS, 98 nr-axSpA, and 108 LDH patients were included. The CANDEN scores were greater in axSpA patients, AS in particular. Furthermore, lumbar posterior lesions can distinguish AS, nr-axSpA, and LDH. Besides, lumbar posterior lesions were positively related to the similar MRI changes in their adjacent structures, but were inversely associated with the other abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar posterior lesions were more serious in axSpA patients. These alterations had value in distinguishing axSpA. Lumbar posterior defects were related to their adjacent components, and they may not fully follow the MRI changing pattern of vertebral bodies and sacroiliac joints.

Sensitive fluorescence detection of glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium pesticides by purine-hydrazone-Cu2+ complex.

Organophosphorus pesticides play an important role as broad-spectrum inactivating herbicides in agriculture. Developing a method for rapid and efficient organophosphorus pesticides detection is still urgent due to the increasing concern on food safety. An organo-probe (ZDA), synthesized by purine hydrazone derivative and 2,2'-dipyridylamine derivative, was applied in sensitive recognition of Cu2+ with detection limit of 300 nM. Mechanism study via density functional theory (DFT) and job's plot experiment revealed that ZDA and Cu2+ ions form a 1:2 complex quenching the fluorescence emission. Moreover, this fluorescent complex ZDA-Cu2+ was applicable for detecting glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium following fluorescence enhancement mechanism, with detection limits of 11.26 nM and 11.5 nM, respectively. Meanwhile, ZDA-Cu2+ was effective and sensitive when it is used for pesticide detection, reaching the maximum value and stabilizing in 1 min. Finally, the ZDA-Cu2+ probe could also be tolerated in cell assay environment, implying potential bio-application.

Study adsorbents based on bent-Al13-CS-CTA and its application to the removal of CR from wastewater.

For rapid and efficient removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions, a composite of bent-Al13-CS-CTA was prepared from bentonite (bent), chitosan (CS), citric acid (CTA) and Al13 compounds. To comprehend the adsorption process, adsorption variables were changed, including initial pH of the solution, contact time, temperature, initial CR concentration, and adsorption dose. Bent intercalated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) were used to analyze the material. Physicochemical and structural analysis proven the incorporation of Al13, CS, and CTA into the bent matrix. The pseudo-second-order model aligns with the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 476.8 mg g-1 at pH 9, a dosage of 2 g L-1, and a temperature of 25 °C. Upon examining the thermodynamic properties of ΔS, ΔH, and ΔG, it was found that the reaction is a spontaneous endothermic process that could potentially be utilized to eliminate CR.

Life expectancy and emission trading scheme: a case study in China.

Life expectancy can reflect both health benefit and implementation cost of climate policy. Nevertheless, little research has quantified the relation between life expectancy and climate policy in literature. In this paper, we attempt to narrow the research gap by studying how life expectancy is related to the Chinese nationwide emission trading scheme (CNETS). To achieve this research target, a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is employed to simulate the operation of the economic system and the policy shock from emission abatement. The CGE model results show that life expectancy is prolonged by GDP but shortened by emissions, and the GDP impact on life expectancy is larger than the emission impact. Climate policy has dual effects on life expectancy because it relieves both negative emission impacts and positive GDP impacts on lifespan; its net effect on life expectancy is positive. Life expectancy positively impacts GDP, and this impact is moderated by climate policy; specifically, climate policy reinforces the positive impact of life expectancy on GDP. Life expectancy minimally affects carbon emissions during climate policy implementation; in other words, it has minimal impacts on emission abatement. These findings imply that climate policy and life expectancy complement each other; the government could implement climate policy to increase lifespan or prolong life expectancy to facilitate policy implementation.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with bone erosion in patients with tophi.

INTRODUCTION: If a large amount of urate crystals is deposited in a joint cavity for an extended period of time, bone erosion will occur and gradually cause skeletal muscle necrosis and joint deformity. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with bone erosion in gout patients with tophi. METHODS: A total of 210 gout patients with tophi were enrolled and divided into a bone erosion group (n = 135) and a non-bone erosion group (n = 75). Digital radiography (DR) was performed to detect bone erosion in the elbow, wrist, knee, ankle joints, interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. The clinical characteristics were recorded and compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors associated with bone erosion. RESULTS: Compared with the non-bone erosion group, the bone erosion group had an older age, longer disease duration of gout and tophi, higher level of serum creatinine (sCr), higher proportion of drinking history and ulceration, and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Univariate logistic regression analysis results showed that sex, age, body mass index (BMI), gout duration, tophi duration, GFR, white blood cell (WBC) count, sCr level, smoking history, drinking history, and presence of ulceration were associated with bone destruction. Multivariable logistic regression analysis results indicated that tophi duration, drinking history, ulceration and sCr were positively and independently related to bone erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Tophi patients with bone erosion presented different clinical characteristics. Tophi duration, drinking history, ulceration and sCr were associated with bone erosion in gout patients with tophi.

Li4 Zn(PO4 )2 :Mn2+ thermosensitive phosphor with dual luminescent centres for optical thermometry.

An optical thermometry strategy based on Mn2+ -doped dual-wavelength emission phosphor has been reported. Samples with different doping content were synthesized through a high-temperature solid-phase method under an air atmosphere. The electronic structure of Li4 Zn(PO4 )2 was calculated using density functional theory, revealing it to be a direct band gap material with an energy gap of 4.708 eV. Moreover, the emitting bands of Mn2+ at 530 and 640 nm can be simultaneously observed when using 417 nm as the exciting wavelength. This is due to the occupation of Mn2+ at the Zn2+ site and the interstitial site. Further analysis was conducted on the temperature-dependent emission characteristics of the sample in the range 293-483 K. Mn2+ has different responses to temperature at different doping sites in Li4 Zn(PO4 )2 . Based on the calculations using the fluorescence intensity ratio technique, the maximum relative sensitivity at a temperature of 483 K was determined to be 1.69% K-1 , while the absolute sensitivity was found to be 0.12% K-1 . The results showed that the Li4 Zn(PO4 )2 :Mn2+ phosphor has potential application in optical thermometry.

Mining cholesterol genes from thousands of mouse livers identifies aldolase C as a regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis.

The availability of genome-wide transcriptomic and proteomic datasets is ever-increasing and often not used beyond initial publication. Here, we applied module-based coexpression network analysis to a comprehensive catalog of 35 mouse genome-wide liver expression datasets (encompassing more than 3800 mice) with the goal of identifying and validating unknown genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. From these 35 datasets, we identified a conserved module of genes enriched with cholesterol biosynthetic genes. Using a systematic approach across the 35 datasets, we identified three genes (Rdh11, Echdc1, and Aldoc) with no known role in cholesterol metabolism. We then performed functional validation studies and show that each gene is capable of regulating cholesterol metabolism. For the glycolytic gene, Aldoc, we demonstrate that it contributes to de novo cholesterol biosynthesis and regulates cholesterol and triglyceride levels in mice. As Aldoc is located within a genome-wide significant genome-wide association studies locus for human plasma cholesterol levels, our studies establish Aldoc as a causal gene within this locus. Through our work, we develop a framework for leveraging mouse genome-wide liver datasets for identifying and validating genes involved in cholesterol metabolism.

Factors Influencing the Fasting Time in Adult Patients After the Endoscopic Management of Sharp Esophageal Foreign Bodies.

Background: Sharp esophageal foreign body (SEFB) impaction can cause varying degrees of damage to the esophagus. There are few studies analyzing the postoperative fasting time in SEFB patients. Methods: We retrospectively collected 835 SEFB patients. According to the fasting time after the endoscopic removal (ER) of SEFBs, the patients were divided into two groups: short fasting time (SFT, fasted ≤24 h) and long fasting time (LFT, fasted >24 h). Results: There were 216 and 619 patients in the SFT and LFT group, respectively. The average age of the SFT group (52.97 years) was younger than that of the LFT group (55.96 years) (p = 0.025). The LFT group had lower proportion of duration of impaction (DOI) within 12 hours (14.2% vs 22.2%, p = 0.006) and erosion rates (89.0% vs 94.0%, p = 0.034) as well as higher proportion of esophageal perforation (19.5 vs 6.5%, p = 0.010) and patients who got intravenous anesthesia (63.78% vs 31.9%, p = 0.000) than the SFT group. The longest diameter of the foreign body (Lmax) in the LFT group (2.60 ± 1.01 cm) was greater than that in the SFT group (2.41 ± 0.83 cm; p = 0.01). Multivariate regression analysis found that age (OR = 1.726[1.208-2.465], p = 0.003), DOI (OR = 1.793[1.175-2.737], p = 0.007), Lmax (OR = 1.477[1.033-2.111], p = 0.032), perforation (OR = 3.698[2.038-6.710]; p < 0.01) and intravenous anesthesia (OR = 3.734[2.642-5.278]; p < 0.01) were the independent factors that prolonged fasting time in patients with SEFBs, while esophageal mucosal erosion (OR = 0.433[0.229-0.820]; p = 0.01) was the influencing factor leading to shortened fasting time. Conclusion: For the first time, we analyzed factors influencing the fasting time after ER in SEFB patients. Age, DOI, Lmax, perforation and intravenous anesthesia were risk factors for a prolonged postoperative fasting time.

PM2.5 Causes Increased Bacterial Invasion by Affecting HBD1 Expression in the Lung.

Our research addresses the critical environmental issue of a fine particulate matter (PM2.5), focusing on its association with the increased infection risks. We explored the influence of PM2.5 on human beta-defensin 1 (HBD1), an essential peptide in mucosal immunity found in the airway epithelium. Using C57BL/6J mice and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE), we examined the effects of PM2.5 exposure followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection on HBD1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The study revealed that PM2.5's toxicity to epithelial cells and animals varies with time and concentration. Notably, HBE cells exposed to PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa showed increased bacterial invasion and decreased HBD1 expression compared to the cells exposed to P. aeruginosa alone. Similarly, mice studies indicated that combined exposure to PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa significantly reduced survival rates and increased bacterial invasion. These harmful effects, however, were alleviated by administering exogenous HBD1. Furthermore, our findings highlight the activation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways following PM2.5 exposure. Inhibiting these pathways effectively increased HBD1 expression and diminished bacterial invasion. In summary, our study establishes that PM2.5 exposure intensifies P. aeruginosa invasion in both HBE cells and mouse models, primarily by suppressing HBD1 expression. This effect can be counteracted with exogenous HBD1, with the downregulation mechanism involving the MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Our study endeavors to elucidate the pathogenesis of lung infections associated with PM2.5 exposure, providing a novel theoretical basis for the development of prevention and treatment strategies, with substantial clinical significance.

Impacts of emission trading scheme on technological progress: A case study in China.

Despite its significant role in mitigating climate change, technology was usually exogenously treated in evaluating climate policy, particularly emission trading scheme (ETS); such treatment cannot comprehensively reveal how ETS affects technological progress. To narrow this research gap, we attempt to endogenize ETS-induced technological change in this paper. A dynamic recursive Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is employed to quantify ETS-induced progress of clean technology (PCT) and efficiency improvement. The Chinese nationwide ETS is taken as a case study. The CGE model results show that PCT negatively affects anthropogenic emissions, while efficiency improvement decreases GDP loss or abatement cost. Simultaneously considering both technological progress increases emission abatement but slightly decreases GDP in the long term. The most interesting finding is that PCT moderates the relationship between efficiency improvement and emission abatement. Hence, PCT is crucial in emission abatement and economic growth under climate policy.

Novel Variants of HPS6 Cause Suspected Ocular Albinism: A Report of 2 Cases and the Profile of HPS6 Variants.

INTRODUCTION: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal-recessive disease characterized by ocular albinism (OA) or oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), platelet dysfunction, and other symptoms. This study aimed to analyze the molecular defect in two Chinese families with suspected OA, as well as to investigate the profile of HPS6 variants and their genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: Seven members from two families were recruited and underwent clinical ophthalmologic examinations. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the proband of family JX. The single coding exon of HPS6 was directly Sanger sequenced based on PCR amplification in all available family members. An additional 46 probands from families or sporadic cases with the pathogenic variants of HPS6 reported in the literature were reviewed. RESULTS: We identified two different compound heterozygous truncating variants of HPS6 in probands with suspected OA from two independent families. The proband of family JX had c.1674dup and c.503-504del variants, and the other proband from family CZ had a nonsense variant of c.1114C>T and a frameshift variant of c.1556del. Among them, c.1674dup and c.1556del variants in HPS6 have not been reported previously. Therefore, our patients were diagnosed as HPS6 disease by molecular diagnostics. In the retrospective cohort of HPS6 patients, we delineated the profile of HPS6 variants and revealed a significant overlap between CpG islands and the variants of HPS6, suggesting a potential link between DNA methylation and HPS6 variants. We also observed a spatial aggregation of the variants in 3D structure of HPS6 protein, implying the possible functional significance of these structural regions. In addition, we did not find any significant genotype-phenotype correlation of HPS6, and neither did we observe a correlation between the truncation length of the HPS6 protein and the phenotype of HPS6 disease. CONCLUSION: Our research expands the spectrum of HPS6 variants, providing a comprehensive delineation of their profile and systematically investigating genotype-phenotype correlations in HPS6. These findings could offer potentially valuable clues for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying HPS6 pathogenesis, as well as aiding the clinical diagnosis of HPS6 patients and improving disease prognosis.

Broadband La2LiSbO6: Cr3+ Phosphors with Double Luminescent Centers for NIR pc-LEDs.

The La2LiSbO6: xCr3+ phosphors were synthesized by means of a high-temperature solid-phase method. Based on the differences in ionic radius, valence state, and formation energy, the substitution sites of Cr3+ ions are discussed in detail. The optimized doping concentration of Cr3+ is determined to be 0.01. Under 517 nm excitation, the La2LiSbO6: 0.01Cr3+ phosphor presents a wide emission band (from 700 to 1350 nm) with a peak centered at 952 nm. Additionally, its corresponding full width at half-maximum is 155 nm, and the internal quantum efficiency reaches 62.4%. Meanwhile, the emission intensity of the La2LiSbO6: 0.01Cr3+ phosphor at 373 K is about 63.7% of that at room temperature, exhibiting good thermal stability. Aiming to fabricate a near-infrared phosphor-converted light-emitting diode device, the La2LiSbO6: 0.01Cr3+ phosphor is mixed with epoxy adhesive and cured on a green light-emitting diode chip. Under the irradiation of the fabricated light-emitting diode device, fruits and writing in the dark environment can be captured by a near-infrared camera. Hence, the La2LiSbO6: 0.01Cr3+ phosphor is promising for night vision.

MC1R signaling through the cAMP-CREB/ATF-1 and ERK-NFκB pathways accelerates G1/S transition promoting breast cancer progression.

MC1R, a G-protein coupled receptor, triggers ultraviolet light-induced melanin synthesis and DNA repair in melanocytes and is implicated in the pathogenesis of melanoma. Although widely expressed in different tissue types, its function in non-cutaneous tissue is relatively unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that disruptive MC1R variants associated with melanomagenesis are less frequently found in patients with several cancers. Further exploration revealed that breast cancer tissue shows a significantly higher MC1R expression than normal breast tissue, and knocking down MC1R significantly reduced cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MC1R signaling through the MC1R-cAMP-CREB/ATF-1 and MC1R-ERK-NFκB axes accelerated the G1-S transition in breast cancer cells. Our results revealed a new association between MC1R and breast cancer, which could be potentially targeted therapeutically. Moreover, our results suggest that MC1R-enhancing/activating therapies should be used cautiously, as they might be pro-tumorigenic in certain contexts.

Compressed sensing framework for BCG signals based on the optical fiber sensor.

A compressed sensing (CS) framework is built for ballistocardiography (BCG) signals, which contains two parts of an optical fiber sensor-based heart monitoring system with a CS module and an end-to-end deep learning-based reconstruction algorithm. The heart monitoring system collects BCG data, and then compresses and transmits the data through the CS module at the sensing end. The deep learning-based algorithm reconstructs compressed data at the received end. To evaluate results, three traditional CS reconstruction algorithms and a deep learning method are adopted as references to reconstruct the compressed BCG data with different compression ratios (CRs). Results show that our framework can reconstruct signals successfully when the CR grows from 50% to 95% and outperforms other methods at high CRs. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the estimated heartbeat rate (HR) is lower than 1 bpm when the CR is below 95%. The proposed CS framework for BCG signals can be integrated into the IoMT system, which has great potential in health care for both medical and home use.

Improved Catalytic Performance toward Selective Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols Originated from New Open-Framework Copper Molybdovanadate with a Unique V/Mo Ratio.

A new organic-inorganic hybrid open-framework molybdovanadate with mixed-valences of vanadium (V4+ /V5+ =4/3) and molybdenum (Mo5+ /Mo6+ =8/2) cations has been synthesized. The complex possesses the unique V/Mo ratio (7/10), fascinating 8-C topological network and 1D 4-MR channels (7.793 Å×6.699 Å). Importantly, its catalytic activities for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde (oxidant: H2 O2 , 30 wt %) have been well evaluated. The results indicated that it exhibited improved catalytic activities (conv.: 96.8 %) compared with the catalyst (Cpyr)5 PV2 Mo5 W5 O40 [conv.: 88.51 %, Cpyr=(C16 H32 C5 H4 N)+ )], high recyclability and structural stability. Moreover, the conversions and selectivities (conv.: 82.4-92.5 %; sele.: 91.5-95.7 %) of the substrates containing electron donating groups (-OH, -CH3 , -OCH3 and -Cl) were significantly higher than those of the substrate containing electron withdrawing group (-NO2 ) (conv. 67.4 %; sele.: 80.8 %). This is due to the fact that the -NO2 with a large Hammett substituent constant is not conducive to the generation of transition state products. The studies revealed the complex could act as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst in selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols.

Comparison of different therapeutic approaches for pulmonary cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients: a 15-year retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) due to weakened cell-mediated immunity caused by immunosuppressors. However, the nonspecific symptoms associated with PC can often lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 23 kidney transplant recipients with PC between April 2006 to January 2021. Results: The median time from transplantation to the diagnosis of pathology-proven PC 4.09 years. Seventeen patients presented respiratory symptoms, including sputum-producing cough and dyspnea. Additionally, three patients also developed central nervous system (CNS) infections. Chest CT scans frequently revealed nodule-shaped lesions, which can mimic lung carcinoma. Serological tests did not demonstrate any specific changes. Nine patients received surgical resection as treatment. Fourteen patients were treated with antifungal medication only. No recurrence was observed in all 23 patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that fever and sputum-producing cough are common symptoms of PC, and cryptococcal meningitis should not be excluded if corresponding symptoms occur. Fluconazole is a common and effective antifungal agent. Surgical resection should be considered for patients who do not respond well to antifungal therapy. Clinicians should be aware of these findings when evaluating transplant recipients with respiratory symptoms.

Proteomics profiling of CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Our study profiled the CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using proteomics. METHODS: Proteomic analysis of CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes was performed by tandem mass tags (TMT) combined with LC-MS/MS. We validated the most significantly upregulated and downregulated proteins using ELISA and WB. RESULTS: The proteomic results showed that there were 3 upregulated differentially expressed proteins and 31 downregulated differentially expressed proteins in the RA group. The results indicated that dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 3 (DPYSL3) was significantly upregulated in CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes, whereas proteasome activator complex subunit 1 (PSME1) was significantly downregulated in the RA group. Bioinformatics analysis showed that proteins were enriched in "positive regulation of gene expression", "antigen processing and presentation", "acute-phase response" and "PI3K-AKT signaling" pathways. ELISA verified that compared to the control group, the RA group showed significant upregulation of DPYSL3, and downregulation of PSME1 in CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes. CONCLUSIONS: The proteomic analysis results of CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes from patients with RA suggest that these differentially expressed proteins may be involved in RA pathogenesis. DPYSL3 and PSME1 may become useful biomarkers for RA.

Machine learning-based identification of cuproptosis-related markers and immune infiltration in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is one of the world's most common diseases and a major etiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Cuproptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death that can occur in various diseases. METHODS: Our study explored the degree of immune cell infiltration during the onset of severe CAP and identified potential biomarkers related to cuproptosis. Gene expression matrix was obtained from GEO database indexed GSE196399. Three machine learning algorithms were applied: The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), the random forest, and the support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE). Immune cell infiltration was quantified by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) scoring. Nomogram was constructed to verify the applicability of using cuproptosis-related genes to predict the onset of severe CAP and its deterioration toward ARDS. RESULTS: Nine cuproptosis-related genes were differentially expressed between the severe CAP group and the control group: ATP7B, DBT, DLAT, DLD, FDX1, GCSH, LIAS, LIPT1, and SLC31A1. All 13 cuproptosis-related genes were involved in immune cell infiltration. A three-gene diagnostic model was constructed to predict the onset of severe CAP: GCSH, DLD, and LIPT1. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the involvement of the newly discovered cuproptosis-related genes in the progression of SCAP.

Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solutions by Surface Modified Talc.

In this study, raw talc powder surface modification was conducted, and the powder was modified in two different methods using acid washing and ball milling. Modified talc was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to investigate the adsorption capacity of modified talc on dyes, adsorption experiments were carried out with methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions as the target contaminant. The findings of the characterization revealed that both modifications increased the adsorption capacity of talc, which was attributed to changes in specific surface area and active groups. The influence of process parameters such as contact time, pH, dye concentration, and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption performance was systematically investigated. Modified talc was able to adsorb MB rapidly, reaching equilibrium within 60 min. Additionally, the adsorption performance was improved as the pH of the dye solution increased. The isotherms for MB adsorption by modified talc fitted well with the Langmuir model. The pseudo-second-order model in the adsorption kinetic model properly described the adsorption behavior. The results show that the modified talc can be used as an inexpensive and abundant candidate material for the adsorption of dyes in industrial wastewater.