Barrierless reactions of C2 Criegee intermediates with H2SO4 and their implication to oligomers and new particle formation.

The formation of oligomeric hydrogen peroxide triggered by Criegee intermediate maybe contributes significantly to the formation and growth of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, to date, the reactivity of C2 Criegee intermediates (CH3CHOO) in areas contaminated with acidic gas remains poorly understood. Herein, high-level quantum chemical calculations and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations are used to explore the reaction of CH3CHOO and H2SO4 both in the gas phase and at the air-water interface. In the gas phase, the addition reaction of CH3CHOO with H2SO4 to generate CH3HC(OOH)OSO3H (HPES) is near-barrierless, regardless of the presence of water molecules. BOMD simulations show that the reaction at the air-water interface is even faster than that in the gas phase. Further calculations reveal that the HPES has a tendency to aggregate with sulfuric acids, ammonias, and water molecules to form stable clusters, meanwhile the oligomerization reaction of CH3CHOO with HPES in the gas phase is both thermochemically and kinetically favored. Also, it is noted that the interfacial HPES- ion can attract H2SO4, NH3, (COOH)2 and HNO3 for particle formation from the gas phase to the water surface. Thus, the results of this work not only elucidate the high atmospheric reactivity of C2 Criegee intermediates in polluted regions, but also deepen our understanding of the formation process of atmospheric SOA induced by Criegee intermediates.

A Mesenteric Fat-Derived Radiomic Model to Identify Colonic Fibrosis and Predict Treatment Response to Biologics in Chronic Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggested the lesion of ulcerative colitis stretches beyond mucosa. The application of radiomics on ulcerative colitis fibrosis is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the colonic fibrosis and treatment response to biologics in chronic ulcerative colitis using radiomic features extracted from bowel wall and mesenteric adipose tissue. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospective database. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in a single tertiary center. PATIENTS: A total of 72 patients who underwent proctocolectomy and 47 patients who received biologics induction were included. INTERVENTION: Computed Tomography images were collected and radiomic features were extracted to develop radiomic models using logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome was colonic fibrosis, which was classified into mild and severe based on histological scoring. RESULTS: The area under curve of the bowel wall model to predict severe fibrosis was 0.931 (p < 0.001) and 0.869 (p < 0.001) in the training and test cohort, respectively. For mesenteric adipose tissue model, area under curve was 0.947 (p < 0.001) and 0.837 (p < 0.001), respectively. The mesenteric adipose tissue model was superior to bowel wall model (area under curve, 0.809, p < 0.001 and 0.722, p = 0.006) in predicting response to biologics in chronic ulcerative colitis. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective single center study. CONCLUSIONS: Two radiomic models derived from bowel wall and mesenteric adipose tissue features readily predicted colonic fibrosis and treatment response of biologics in chronic ulcerative colitis. The mesentery harbors critical information and was essentially involved in fibrogenesis. See Video Abstract.

Factors involved in the conversion from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery decortication to open thoracotomy in non-complicated, non-MDR/XDR stage III tuberculous empyema patients: A retrospective intention-to-treat study.

Background: This retrospective intention-to-treat study aims to identify risk factors associated with intraoperative conversion from Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) Decortication to open thoracotomy in patients with Stage III Tuberculous Empyema, specifically focusing on non-Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR)/Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) cases. Methods: The study included 122 patients with non-MDR/XDR tuberculous empyema who were initially scheduled for VATS decortication. Patients were divided into two groups: the Thoracoscopy group (n = 64), who successfully underwent VATS decortication, and the Conversion group (n = 58), who required intraoperative conversion to open thoracotomy. Complex cases were excluded from the study. The analysis focused solely on factors leading to conversion, rather than overall treatment outcomes. Results: A notable difference was observed in the rate of regular preoperative glucocorticoid utilization between the two cohorts, with the Conversion group exhibiting a lower percentage (46.5 %) in comparison to the Thoracoscopy group (75.0 %). Furthermore, the Thoracoscopy group displayed a significantly reduced frequency of ipsilateral lung abnormalities prior to the surgery (37.5 %), as opposed to that of the Conversion group (65.5 %). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the regular preoperative glucocorticoid use (odds ratio (OR) = 3.444, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.602-7.407) and pre-existing pulmonary lesions (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.150-0.663) were potential influential factors. Conclusion: Inconsistent preoperative glucocorticoid administration and ipsilateral lung lesions were identified as exacerbating factors leading to the complexity of VATS decortication by causing intraoperative pulmonary tissue contusion or hemorrhage, thus hindering the successful completion of VATS decortication and necessitating a conversion to thoracotomy. Awareness of these factors can aid surgeons in making well-informed decisions regarding the preoperative surgical approach.

An Optimization Path for Sb2(S,Se)3 Solar Cells to Achieve an Efficiency Exceeding 20.

Antimony selenosulfide, denoted as Sb2(S,Se)3, has garnered attention as an eco-friendly semiconductor candidate for thin-film photovoltaics due to its light-absorbing properties. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells has recently increased to 10.75%, but significant challenges persist, particularly in the areas of open-circuit voltage (Voc) losses and fill factor (FF) losses. This study delves into the theoretical relationship between Voc and FF, revealing that, under conditions of low Voc and FF, internal resistance has a more pronounced effect on FF compared to non-radiative recombination. To address Voc and FF losses effectively, a phased optimization strategy was devised and implemented, paving the way for Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells with PCEs exceeding 20%. By optimizing internal resistance, the FF loss was reduced from 10.79% to 2.80%, increasing the PCE to 12.57%. Subsequently, modifying the band level at the interface resulted in an 18.75% increase in Voc, pushing the PCE above 15%. Furthermore, minimizing interface recombination reduced Voc loss to 0.45 V and FF loss to 0.96%, enabling the PCE to surpass 20%. Finally, by augmenting the absorber layer thickness to 600 nm, we fully utilized the light absorption potential of Sb2(S,Se)3, achieving an unprecedented PCE of 26.77%. This study pinpoints the key factors affecting Voc and FF losses in Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells and outlines an optimization pathway that markedly improves device efficiency, providing a valuable reference for further development of high-performance photovoltaic applications.

[Simulation and Analysis of Ozone Pollution Process in Shijiazhuang Based on CMAQ-ISAM Model].

In Shijiazhuang City, ozone （O3） pollution occurs frequently in June every year. In June 2023, the average O3 8 h concentration （O3-8h） pollution exceeded 80% of the days in the month, and O3 was the primary pollutant, accounting for 100%. For an O3 heavy pollution process from June 11 to 18, the air quality model WRF-CMAQ was used for simulation, and the average error data MFB and MFE were -10.47% and 17.96%, respectively, which was within the ideal error range. The CMAQ process analysis module was used to simulate the physical and chemical processes in Shijiazhuang City, and the dry deposition （DDEP） contribution concentration was -23.88 µg·m-3, which was the main process of O3 consumption, whereas the transport process （TRAN） was the main source of O3, among which the contribution was more significant in vertical transport （VTRA）. At the same time, the source analysis module （ISAM） was used to analyze the O3 contribution of local and surrounding areas in Shijiazhuang City. The results showed that the contribution rate of local industry sources in Shijiazhuang City was as follows： traffic source （12.54%） > industrial source （6.94%） > residential source （6.56%） > power source （4.75%）. The long-distance transmission source （BCON） continued to be in the first place with a high contribution rate of 63.31%. In the heavy pollution period under stable weather, the contribution concentration of BCON in the D02 layer of the nested domain to Shijiazhuang City was lower than the sum of the marked area. Among the surrounding cities, Baoding City had the highest contribution rate under stable weather, accounting for 26.21%. In the late period, the contribution concentration of Xingtai City increased rapidly under the action of high-value southwest wind. To effectively reduce O3 pollution, it is necessary to reduce emissions in the city and to control the upwind cities in advance, and the implementation of inter-regional joint prevention and control is the key.

A case of paraprotein-negative POEMS syndrome: Case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: POEMS syndrome is a rare monoclonal plasma cell disease. The diagnosis of POEMS requires polyradiculoneuropathy and monoclonal plasma proliferating as 2 mandatory criteria, at least 1 of the major criteria (Castleman disease, elevated vascular endothelial growth factor level, and sclerotic bone lesion), and at least 1 of the minor criteria (organomegaly, extravascular volume overload, endocrinopathy, skin changes, papilledema, and thrombocytosis/polycythemia). This multisystem disorder is of high heterogeneity, and few variants of POEMS with no evidence of monoclonal gammopathy have been described, which further complicates the diagnosis in clinical practice. Now, we report a case of paraprotein-negative POEMS syndrome. PATIENTS CONCERNS: A 45-year-old woman complained of lower extremity edema, shortness of breath, abdominal distension, and lymphadenopathy for few years. Finally, she was diagnosed with paraprotein-negative POEMS syndrome. With the lenalidomide-based regimen, the symptoms were all relieved. DIAGNOSIS: Paraprotein-negative POEMS syndrome. INTERVENTION: Lenalidomide-based regimen and some supportive therapy. OUTCOME: All symptoms were relieved after 1 year of treatment. LESSONS: Physicians should pay more attention to the POEMS syndrome, especially the POEMS syndrome variants, which are absence of paraprotein; probably, these variants are just "on the way" to classic POEMS syndrome antiplasma cell therapy, which remains the treatment of choice.

Global epidemiology of liver cancer 2022: An emphasis on geographic disparities.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer remains the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, causing a heavy burden globally. An updated assessment of the global epidemiology of the liver cancer burden that addresses geographical disparities is necessary to better understand and promote healthcare delivery. METHODS: Data were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, including the number, crude, and age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality at the global, country, continent, and human development index (HDI) regional levels. Age-standardized rates (incidence and mortality) per 100,000 person-years were adjusted based on the Segi-Doll World standard population. The mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) for each region and country were calculated. The HDI and gross national income (GNI) for 2022 were obtained, and a Pearson correlation analysis was conducted with the incidence, mortality, and MIR. RESULTS: In 2022, approximately 866,136 new liver cancer cases and 758,725 related deaths were recorded worldwide, with a global MIR of 0.86. Males had a disproportionately higher burden than females across all levels, and the highest burden was observed in the elderly population. Geographically, the regions with the highest incidence rates included Micronesia, Eastern Asia, and Northern Africa, and the regions with the highest mortality rates included Northern Africa, Southeastern Asia, Eastern Asia, and Micronesia. Notably, Mongolia had a strikingly high burden compared to other countries. The highest MIR was observed in North America and the lowest in Africa. Negative associations of HDI and GNI with liver cancer mortality and MIR were identified, irrespective of sex. CONCLUSIONS: The current liver cancer burden underscores the presence of remarkable geographic heterogeneity, which is particularly evident across countries with varying HDI levels, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize health accessibility and availability to achieve health inequities.

Anoikis in cell fate, physiopathology, and therapeutic interventions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) governs a wide spectrum of cellular fate processes, with a particular emphasis on anoikis, an integrin-dependent form of cell death. Currently, anoikis is defined as an intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast to traditional apoptosis and necroptosis, integrin correlates ECM signaling with intracellular signaling cascades, describing the full process of anoikis. However, anoikis is frequently overlooked in physiological and pathological processes as well as traditional in vitro research models. In this review, we summarized the role of anoikis in physiological and pathological processes, spanning embryonic development, organ development, tissue repair, inflammatory responses, cardiovascular diseases, tumor metastasis, and so on. Similarly, in the realm of stem cell research focused on the functional evolution of cells, anoikis offers a potential solution to various challenges, including in vitro cell culture models, stem cell therapy, cell transplantation, and engineering applications, which are largely based on the regulation of cell fate by anoikis. More importantly, the regulatory mechanisms of anoikis based on molecular processes and ECM signaling will provide new strategies for therapeutic interventions (drug therapy and cell-based therapy) in disease. In summary, this review provides a systematic elaboration of anoikis, thus shedding light on its future research.

Dose-response of epidural ropivacaine with 0.4†µg†mL-1 of dexmedetomidine for labor analgesia: A prospective double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the ideal dose of epidural dexmedetomidine is 0.4 µg mL-1 for epidural labor analgesia. However, the appropriate dose of ropivacaine when combined with 0.4 µg mL-1 of dexmedetomidine for epidural labor analgesia is still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the dose-response of ropivacaine when using 0.4 µg mL-1 of dexmedetomidine as epidural adjuvant for labor analgesia. METHODS: One hundred of nulliparous singleton pregnant patients were randomized allocated into 1 of 5 groups with epidural ropivacaine concentration of 0.05%, 0.0625%, 0.075%, 0.0875%, and 0.1%. Labor analgesia was initialed with 12 mL of the mixed study solution. Effective analgesia was defined as a visual analogue scale <10 mm 30 minutes after the initial epidural bolus. The EC50 and EC95 for epidural ropivacaine was calculated by probit regression. RESULTS: Ninety-three of parturients were involved into the final analysis. Totals of 63.2% (12/19), 73.7% (14/19), 88.9% (16/18), 94.7% (18/19), and 100% (18/18) of parturients in group 0.05, 0.0625, 0.075, 0.0875, and 0.1 received effective epidural labor analgesia. The calculated EC50 and EC95 of epidural ropivacaine were 0.046% (95% CI 0.028-0.054%) and 0.086% (95% CI 0.074-0.137%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Under the condition of the study, a bolus of 12 mL ropivacaine 0.086% and dexmedetomidine 0.4 µg mL-1 could afford 95% of nulliparous singleton pregnant patients without suffering labor pain after a test dose of lidocaine 45 mg.

Investigation of Dual Network Construction for Toughening in Bio-Based Polyamide Composites.

This study investigated the role of constructing a dual network in toughening bio-based long-chain polyamide 610 (PA610) composites. Rheological studies were conducted to reveal the effects of toughening agent type and content on the material properties. According to the variation trend of mechanical properties and the appearance of a rheological low-frequency plateau of the materials, the percolation network concentration ϕc of the toughening agent in the PA610 matrix was determined to be 13.5 vol.%. The interfacial interaction of the composite was evaluated through the percolation theory, and the scaling value v = 1.36 for both indicated the good affinity between PA610 and the toughening agent. Rheology results found that the combination of ethylene terpolymer (PTW) and maleic anhydride-g-styrene-b-(ethylene-butylene)-b-styrene (MAH-SEBS) could achieve an optimal balance between the mechanical properties and fluidity of the composites. Furthermore, the addition of ultra-high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), in conjunction with the toughening agent, facilitated the construction of a dual semi-interpenetrating network. The strengthened intermolecular interactions restricted the relative slippage and mobility of the polymer chains and therefore enhanced the strength and toughness of the material. This study provides new possibilities and approaches for optimizing the comprehensive properties of bio-based polyamide materials.

Research progress on the role and inhibitors of Keap1 signaling pathway in inflammation.

Inflammation is a protective mechanism against endogenous and exogenous pathogens. It is a typical feature of numerous chronic diseases and their complications. Keap1 is an essential target in oxidative stress and inflammatory diseases. Among them, the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway (including Keap1-Nrf2-HO-1) is the most significant pathway of Keap1 targets, which participates in the control of inflammation in multiple organs (including renal inflammation, lung inflammation, liver inflammation, neuroinflammation, etc.). Identifying new Keap1 inhibitors is crucial for new drug discovery. However, most drugs have specificity issues as they covalently bind to cysteine residues of Keap1, causing off-target effects. Therefore, direct inhibition of Keap1-Nrf2 PPIs is a new research idea. Through non-electrophilic and non-covalent binding, its inhibitors have better specificity and ability to activate Nrf2, and targeting therapy against Keap1-Nrf2 PPIs has become a new method for drug development in chronic diseases. This review summarizes the members and downstream genes of the Keap1-related pathway and their roles in inflammatory disease models. In addition, we summarize all the research progress of anti-inflammatory drugs targeting Keap1 from 2010 to 2024, mainly describing their biological functions, molecular mechanisms of action, and therapeutic roles in inflammatory diseases.

The role of sarcopenia in pre- and postoperative inflammation: implications of outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with sarcopenia often have a poor prognosis, and the timing of preoperative intervention to improve sarcopenia is unclear. Sarcopenia can affect the body's overall inflammatory status. This study aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia exacerbates the inflammatory response in patients with CRC after surgical stimulation and its effect on the prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 215 patients with CRC who were categorized into either the sarcopenia group or the nonsarcopenia group based on their skeletal muscle index values. Inflammation-related indicators were collected from patients before and after surgery, allowing for the calculation of the differences in preoperative and postoperative changes. In addition, the correlation between inflammatory markers and postoperative complications was assessed. All patients were followed up for a period ranging from 2 to 5 years, with an average follow-up duration of 3 years, during which their recurrence and mortality rates were recorded. In addition, the relationship between inflammation indicators was explored. RESULTS: Of note, 45 of 215 patients with sarcopenia had higher levels of preoperative baseline inflammation markers, such as C-reactive protein (P = .002), immune-inflammation index (IBI; P < .001), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI; P = .009), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII; P = .002) than patients without sarcopenia. There was a significant difference in inflammatory indicators before and after surgery between dIBI, dSIRI, and dSII, with the largest effect observed. In addition, the predictive capabilities of dIBI, dSIRI, and dSII for postoperative complications, as measured using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, were found to be 0.938, 0.877, and 0.818, respectively. Furthermore, survival analysis indicated that the differences in preoperative and postoperative alterations in IBI (dIBI), SIRI (dSIRI), and SII (dSII) were effective in predicting long-term postoperative mortality. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that sarcopenia plays a significant role in exacerbating postoperative inflammatory response in patients with CRC, leading to an increased risk of postoperative complications and influencing long-term survival outcomes.

Constructing soybean protein isolate /bacterial cellulose co-assemblies by pH shifting treatment: Molecular conformation and physicochemical properties.

The study elucidates that the pH shifting treatment unfolds the conformation of soybean protein isolate (SPI), enabling it to intertwine with bacterial cellulose (BC) and form SPI/BC co-assemblies. Results from intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity indicate that the SPI with pH shifting treatment shows a notable blue shift in maximum emission wavelength and increased surface hydrophobicity. It demonstrates that pH shifting treatment facilitates the unfolding of SPI's molecular conformation, promoting its entanglement with high aspect ratio BC. Particle size distribution and microstructural analysis further demonstrate that the pH shifting treatment facilitates the formation of SPI/BC co-assemblies. Evaluation of processing properties reveals that the SPI/BC co-assemblies exhibited exceptional gel and emulsification properties, with gel strength and emulsifying activity respectively six and two times higher than natural SPI. This enhancement is attributed to the thickening properties of BC with a high aspect ratio and the superior hydrophobicity of SPI in its molten globule state.

Retrospect on the Ground Deformation Process and Potential Triggering Mechanism of the Traditional Steel Production Base in Laiwu with ALOS PALSAR and Sentinel-1 SAR Sensors.

The realization of a harmonious relationship between the natural environment and economic development has always been the unremitting pursuit of traditional mineral resource-based cities. With rich reserves of iron and coal ore resources, Laiwu has become an important steel production base in Shandong Province in China, after several decades of industrial development. However, some serious environmental problems have occurred with the quick development of local steel industries, with ground subsidence and consequent secondary disasters as the most representative ones. To better evaluate possible ground collapse risk, comprehensive approaches incorporating the common deformation monitoring with small-baseline subset (SBAS)-synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) technique, environmental factors analysis, and risk evaluation are designed here with ALOS PALSAR and Sentinel-1 SAR observations. A retrospect on the ground deformation process indicates that ground deformation has largely decreased by around 51.57% in area but increased on average by around -5.4 mm/year in magnitude over the observation period of Sentinel-1 (30 July 2015 to 22 August 2022), compared to that of ALOS PALSAR (17 January 2007 to 28 October 2010). To better reveal the potential triggering mechanism, environmental factors are also utilized and conjointly analyzed with the ground deformation time series. These analysis results indicate that the ground deformation signals are highly correlated with human industrial activities, such underground mining, and the operation of manual infrastructures (landfill, tailing pond, and so on). In addition, the evaluation demonstrates that the area with potential collapse risk (levels of medium, high, and extremely high) occupies around 8.19 km2, approximately 0.86% of the whole study region. This study sheds a bright light on the safety guarantee for the industrial operation and the ecologically friendly urban development of traditional steel production industrial cities in China.

High cure rate and satisfaction in patients with periductal mastitis via the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap technique: a retrospective study.

Background: Periductal mastitis (PDM) is a complex benign breast disease with a prolonged course and a high probability of recurrence after treatment. There is a variety of available treatments for PDM, but none of these options have been widely accepted. A standard strategy has been especially difficult to establish in patients with PDM accompanied by large tumors or large skin ruptures, as these seriously affect the appearance of the breasts after surgeries, which can lead to feelings of lower self-esteem among patients. Therefore, finding a reliable volume replacement has become a focus of our research efforts. With the widespread use of latissimus dorsi in breast reconstruction, we attempted to use the latissimus muscle (skin) flap for stage I repair in patients with large-defect PDM. Our study is the first of its kind to evaluate the clinical effect and patient satisfaction of the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (LDMF) technique in PDM. Methods: Thirty-two patients with PDM and more than about 20% loss of breast volume admitted to the Department of Breast Surgery of Shanxi Bethune Hospital from March 2017 to July 2021 were enrolled. After lesion removal, the LDMF technique was applied to these patients for immediate completion of breast contour revision. All patients were periodically followed up to assess the efficacy of the procedure and their satisfaction with the breasts' shape. Results: Three patients (9.4%) developed dorsal effusion after removal of the back drain; six patients (18.8%) developed mild limitation of the activity of the affected upper limb; and three patients (9.4%) experienced local recurrence of inflammation after the operation, all of whom underwent a second operation. The cure rate of the patients treated with LDMF was 90.6%, the overall satisfaction rate of the patients was 96.9%, and doctor's evaluation of satisfaction was 90.6%. Conclusions: In patients with poor results after anti-infective and local treatment and those with more than 20% defect volume following lesion removal, the LDMF technique yields a high cure rate and good patient satisfaction.

Deciphering the Atomic-Scale Structural Origin for Photoluminescence Quenching in Tin-Lead Alloyed Perovskite Nanocrystals.

The development of tin-lead alloyed halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) is highly desirable for creating ultrastable, eco-friendly optoelectronic applications. However, the current incorporation of tin into the lead matrix results in severe photoluminescence (PL) quenching. To date, the precise atomic-scale structural origins of this quenching are still unknown, representing a significant barrier to fully realizing the potential of these materials. Here, we uncover the distinctive defect-related microstructures responsible for PL quenching using atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and theoretical calculations. Our findings reveal an increase in point defects and Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) planar faults with increasing tin content. Notably, the point defects include a spectrum of vacancies and previously overlooked antisite defects with bromide vacancies and cation antisite defects emerging as the primary contributors to deep-level defects. Furthermore, the RP planar faults exhibit not only the typical rock-salt stacking pattern found in pure Pb-based PNCs but also previously undocumented microstructures rich in bromide vacancies and deep-level cation antisite defects. Direct strain imaging uncovers severe lattice distortion and significant inhomogeneous strain distributions caused by point defect aggregation, potentially breaking the local force balance and driving RP planar fault formation via lattice slippage. Our work illuminates the nature and evolution of defects in tin-lead alloyed halide perovskite nanocrystals and their profound impact on PL quenching, providing insights that support future material strategies in the development of less toxic tin-lead alloyed perovskite nanocrystals.

A satellite-derived dataset on vegetation phenology across Central Asia from 2001 to 2023.

Satellite-observed land surface phenology (LSP) data have helped us better understand terrestrial ecosystem dynamics at large scales. However, uncertainties remain in comprehending LSP variations in Central Asian drylands. In this article, an LSP dataset covering Central Asia (45-100°E, 33-57°N) is introduced. This LSP dataset was produced based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 0.05-degree daily reflectance and land cover data. The phenological dynamics of drylands were tracked using the seasonal profiles of near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRv). NIRv time series processing involved the following steps: identifying low-quality observations, smoothing the NIRv time series, and retrieving LSP metrics. In the smoothing step, a median filter was first applied to reduce spikes, after which the stationary wavelet transform (SWT) was used to smooth the NIRv time series. The SWT was performed using the Biorthogonal 1.1 wavelet at a decomposition level of 5. Seven LSP metrics were provided in this dataset, and they were categorized into the following three groups: (1) timing of key phenological events, (2) NIRv values essential for the detection of the phenological events throughout the growing season, and (3) NIRv value linked to vegetation growth state during the growing season. This LSP dataset is useful for investigating dryland ecosystem dynamics in response to climate variations and human activities across Central Asia.

Two new pregnane alkaloids from Pachysandra terminalis Sieb. et Zucc. and their cytotoxic activities.

Pactermines E and F (1 and 2), two new pregnane alkaloids were isolated from the whole plant of Pachysandra terminalis Sieb. et Zucc. Their structures were determined by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS data. Cytotoxic activities against three human cancer A549, HCT116 and SW620 cell lines of the isolated compounds were evaluated by CCK8 method. However, all compounds showed no significant activity against the three cancer cells (IC50>100 µM) except for compound 1, which showed inhibitory effects against HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 84.6 µM.

The transcriptional changes of LrgA discriminates the responsiveness of Staphylococcus aureus towards blue light from that of photodynamic inactivation.

Antimicrobial blue light (aBL) is utilized as a new approach to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Mediated by the endogenous chromophore, aBL possesses the similar photokilling property with aPDI (antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation), however, their mechanistic discrepancies in triggering the death of staphylococcal cells are not yet understood. Here, we describe the use of a 460-nm-LED to curb the viability of S. aureus. According to the results, the bacterial survival was sharply decreased when blue light was applied, reaching a maximum of 4.11 ± 0.04 log10 units. Moreover, the membrane integrity was damaged by aBL, causing the leakage of intracellular DNA. Transcriptomic analysis indicates the divergent gene expression upon either aBL or aPDI, with pathways such as transport, DNA repair, expression regulation and porphyrin massively affected by aBL. Among the commonly regulated genes, LrgA was underpinned on account of its involvement with biofilm formation and protein transport. By comparing the wildtype with the LrgA-overexpressing (LrgA+) strain, the survival rate, membrane penetration, surface structure and biofilm formation were, to a varying degree, improved for LrgA+, which may suggest that LrgA plays essential roles in modulating the responsiveness of S. aureus. Besides, LrgA may function through regulating the expression of autolysis-related systems. Finally, LrgA overexpression did not attenuate but aggravate the impairment induced by aPDI, showcasing a distinct responsive strategy from aBL. Taken together, this study unveils a unique molecular alteration for the aBL-mediated inactivation, providing the basis of utilizing blue light to reduce the harm brought by S. aureus.