[Analysis of correlation between high expression of nucleoporin 85 (NUP85) and immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective To investigate the significance of nucleoporin 85 (NUP85) ex-pression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyze its relevance to immune response. Methods A comprehensive analysis was conducted using various online databases to assess the mRNA and protein expression of NUP85 in HCC, as well as its mutation status and prognostic diagnostic value. The immune relevance of NUP85 was evaluated using single-cell sequencing data and resources from the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2021 (GEPIA2021) databases. The drug sensitivity of NUP85 was analyzed through the Genomic Landscape of Cancer (GSCA) and the Clinical Bioinformatics Home. Co-expressed genes of NUP85 in HCC were filtered using the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Comprehensive Molecular Database (HCCDB), and the correlation between NUP85 and its related genes was analyzed using the R language "limma" package. The gene ontology (GO) functions, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of NUP85 and its related genes were performed using the R language "clusterProfiler" package. The Clinical Bioinformatics Home was utilized to construct heatmaps and prognostic risk scoring models for NUP85 and its related genes. Results NUP85 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in HCC, showing high levels across dif-ferent stages and grades, which indicates a poor prognosis for patients. The mutation rate of NUP85 in HCC samples was 19%, significantly affecting the overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients. NUP85 was highly expressed in various immune cells, including macrophages, B cells, and T cells, and was positively correlated with the infiltration levels of multiple immune cells. The expression of NUP85 was significantly correlated with multiple drugs, such as Milademetan (PD0325901), a structural analog of Vemurafenib (PLX4720), and Regorafenib (PD0325901). The GO functions of NUP85 and its co-expressed genes were mainly enriched in organelle fission, nuclear division, and chromosome segregation, while the KEGG pathways were primarily enriched in the cell cycle and kinesin proteins. These factors significantly and unfavorably affected the OS of HCC patients, and the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS prognostic diagnosis of HCC patients were all greater than 0.7. Conclusion The high expression of NUP85 in HCC is correlated with a poor prognosis and is related to various immune cells and drugs, making it a potential biomarker for di-agnosis, treatment, and prognosis in HCC.

Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 by Phytochemicals in Agriculture and Food Science.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most toxic and harmful mycotoxin, has a high likelihood of occurring in animal feed and human food, which seriously affects agriculture and food safety and endangers animal and human health. Recently, natural plant products have attracted widespread attention due to their low toxicity, high biocompatibility, and simple composition, indicating significant potential for resisting AFB1. The mechanisms by which these phytochemicals resist toxins mainly involve antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic pathways. Moreover, these substances also inhibit the genotoxicity of AFB1 by directly influencing its metabolism in vivo, which contributes to its elimination. Here, we review various phytochemicals that resist AFB1 and their anti-AFB1 mechanisms in different animals, as well as the common characteristics of phytochemicals with anti-AFB1 function. Additionally, the shortcomings of current research and future research directions will be discussed. Overall, this comprehensive summary contributes to the better application of phytochemicals in agriculture and food safety.

High sensitivity distributed dynamic pressure sensor based on dual-linear frequency modulated optical frequency domain reflectometry.

In this Letter, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a highly sensitive distributed dynamic pressure sensor based on a dual-linear frequency modulated optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) and a coating thickness-enhanced single-mode fiber (SMF). A dual-sideband linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal is used to interrogate the sensing fiber, which allows us to obtain a dual-sideband Rayleigh backscattering signal. Due to the opposite slopes of the two LFM sidebands, the Rayleigh backscattering spectra of the two sidebands drift in opposite directions when the fiber is disturbed. By subtracting the frequency shifts of the two spectra, we can double the system's sensitivity. We further enhance the sensitivity by using an SMF with a coating thickness of 200 µm. This results in a pressure sensitivity of 3979 MHz/MPa, a measurement accuracy of 0.76 kPa, and a spatial resolution of 35 cm over a 500 m optical fiber. Our system successfully detected a dynamic pressure change at a sampling rate of 1.25 kHz, demonstrating the sensor's excellent dynamic measuring capabilities.

Association of lifestyle and occupational exposure factors with human semen quality: a cross-sectional study of 1060 participants.

The incidence of male infertility (MI) is rising annually. However, the lifestyle and occupational exposure factors contributing to MI remain incompletely understood. This study explored the effects of self-reported lifestyle and occupational exposure factors on semen quality. Among 1060 subjects invited to participate, 826 were eligible. The participants' general characteristics, lifestyle, and occupational exposure factors were collected immediately before or after semen evaluation through an online questionnaire. Initially, univariate analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the abovementioned factors and semen quality. The results indicated significant associations between low semen quality and various factors, including age, BMI, infertility type and duration, abstinence time, semen and sperm parameters, smoking, alcohol consumption, irregular sleep habits, and frequent exposure to high temperatures and chemicals at work (p < 0.05). Then, multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors independently associated with low semen quality. Adjustment for relevant confounders was achieved by including factors with a p-value < 0.25 from univariate analyses as covariates in the binomial and ordered logistic regression models. The results suggested that alcohol consumption was a positive factor for sperm concentration (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.99; p = 0.045). The groups with a BMI ≥ 24 and <28 kg/m2 showed a significant decrease in sperm progressive motility when compared to the reference group (BMI < 24 kg/m2) (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.46-0.87, p = 0.005). In addition, the groups that drank green tea <1 time/week (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.05-2.2) and 1-4 times/week (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.02-2.54) exhibited significantly increased sperm DFI values compared with the group that drank green tea 5-7 times/week. In conclusion, these findings underscore the importance of maintaining a normal weight and regularly consuming green tea for men.

Complete genome of a novel mycobacteriophage WXIN isolated in Wuhan, China.

OBJECTIVES: The rising of antibiotic resistance has sparked a renewed interest in mycobacteriophage as alternative therapeutic strategies against mycobacterial infections. So far, the vast majority of mycobacteriophages have been isolated using the model species Mycobacterium smegmatis, implying an overwhelming majority of mycobacteriophages in the environment remain uncultured, unclassified, and their specific hosts and infection strategies are still unknown. This study was undertaken to isolate and characterize novel mycobacteriophages targeting Mycobacterium septicum. DATA DESCRIPTION: Here a novel mycobacteriophage WXIN against M. septicum was isolated from soil samples in Wuhan, China. Whole genome analysis indicates that the phage genome consists of 115,158 bp with a GC content of 61.9%. Of the 260 putative open reading frames, 46 may be associated with phage packaging, structure, lysis, lysogeny, genome modification/replication, and other functional roles. The limited genome-wide similarity, along with phylogenetic trees constructed based on viral proteome and orthologous genes show that phage WXIN represents a novel cluster distantly related to cluster J mycobacteriophages (genus Omegavirus). Overall, these results provide novel insights into the genomic properties of mycobacteriophages, highlighting the great genetic diversity of mycobacteriophages in relation to their hosts.

Impact of digital technology innovation on carbon intensity: evidence from China's manufacturing A-share listed enterprises.

Current studies do not provide a consensus on whether digital technology innovation can reduce enterprise carbon intensity despite the rise of the digital economy. This paper examines the role and influence pathway of digital technology innovation on enterprise carbon intensity using data from A-share listed enterprises in China's manufacturing industry from 2012 to 2021. The findings indicate that (1) digital technology innovation has been found to significantly reduce enterprise carbon intensity, as confirmed by numerous robustness and endogeneity tests. However, its inhibitory effect on carbon intensity shows a marginal decreasing trend. (2) In the heterogeneity analysis, it was found that digital technology innovation significantly reduces the carbon intensity of consuming coal, coke, kerosene, and diesel. From various perspectives, including enterprise, industry, and external environment, there are significant differences in the carbon reduction effects of digital technology innovation. (3) The analysis of impact paths reveals that digital technology innovation can affect enterprise carbon intensity through three paths: improving productivity, enhancing green innovation efficiency, and adjusting energy consumption. (4) Upon further analysis, it was discovered that the spillover effect of digital technology innovation is more pronounced in the industry cohort of enterprises. Additionally, digital technology innovation plays a positive role in enhancing enterprise ESG performance. The paper's findings offer empirical evidence and decision-making references for the government to develop reasonable policies for reducing carbon emissions, promoting green and low-carbon enterprise transformation, and actively and steadily achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Causal effects and metabolites mediators between immune cell and risk of breast cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: The incidence and mortality of female breast cancer remain high, and the immune microenvironment of breast cancer has undergone significant alterations. However, the impact of blood immune cell levels on the risk of breast cancer is not fully understood. Therefor this study aims to investigate the causal relationship between blood immune cell levels and the risk of breast cancer. Methods: A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to assess the causal relationship between immune cells and the risk of breast cancer, as along with their potential mediating factors. Genetic statistics of metabolites breast cancer and immune cells were obtained from the GWAS Catalog, while the genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistics of breast cancer were extracted from the UK biobank. Two-sample MR analysis were performed using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) to ascertain the causal association between immune cells and the risk of breast cancer. Furthermore, 1,400 metabolites were analyzed for their mediating role between immune cells and the risk of breast cancer. Results: MR analysis through IVW method revealed that genetically predicted CD24+ CD27+ B cells were associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.9978, 95% CI: 0.996-0.999, p = 0.001), while IgD- CD38+ B cells were linked to an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001-1.004, p = 0.005). Additional CD14+ CD16+ monocytes were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.000, 95% CI: 1.000-1.001, p = 0.005). Mediation analysis revealed a positive causal relationship between IgD- CD38+ B cells and Glycerate levels, with the latter also exhibiting a positive causal relationship with the risk of breast cancer (p < 0.05). Conversely, IgD- CD38+ B cells displayed a negative causal relationship with Succinoyltaurine levels, and the latter also demonstrated a negative causal relationship with the risk of breast cancer (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This MR study provides novel genetic evidence supporting a causal relationship between IgD- CD38+ B cells and the risk of BC. Moreover, it is identified that IgD- CD38+ B cells contribute to an increased risk of BC through both positive and negative mediation effects involving Glycerate and Succinoyltaurine.

Deficiency of MFSD6L, an acrosome membrane protein, causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice.

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors. However, there are still a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cannot be explained by known pathogenic genetic variants. Here, we perform genetic analyses and identify bi-allelic loss-of-function variants of MFSD6L from an oligoasthenoteratozoospermia affected family. Mfsd6l knock-out male mice also present male subfertility with reduced sperm concentration, motility, and deformed acrosomes. Further mechanistic analyses reveal that MFSD6L, as an acrosome membrane protein, plays an important role in the formation of acrosome by interacting with inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1. Moreover, poor embryonic development is consistently observed after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment using spermatozoa from MFSD6L-deficient man and male mice. Collectively, our findings reveal that MFSD6L is required for the anchoring of sperm acrosome and head shaping. The deficiency of MFSD6L affects male fertility and causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice.

Symbiodiniaceae and Ruegeria sp. Co-Cultivation to Enhance Nutrient Exchanges in Coral Holobiont.

The symbiotic relationship between corals and their associated microorganisms is crucial for the health of coral reef eco-environmental systems. Recently, there has been a growing interest in unraveling how the manipulation of symbiont nutrient cycling affects the stress tolerance in the holobiont of coral reefs. However, most studies have primarily focused on coral-Symbiodiniaceae-bacterial interactions as a whole, neglecting the interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, which remain largely unexplored. In this study, we proposed a hypothesis that there exists an inner symbiotic loop of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria within the coral symbiotic loop. We conducted experiments to demonstrate how metabolic exchanges between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria facilitate the nutritional supply necessary for cellular growth. It was seen that the beneficial bacterium, Ruegeria sp., supplied a nitrogen source to the Symbiodiniaceae strain Durusdinium sp., allowing this dinoflagellate to thrive in a nitrogen-free medium. The Ruegeria sp.-Durusdinium sp. interaction was confirmed through 15N-stable isotope probing-single cell Raman spectroscopy, in which 15N infiltrated into the bacterial cells for intracellular metabolism, and eventually the labeled nitrogen source was traced within the macromolecules of Symbiodiniaceae cells. The investigation into Symbiodiniaceae loop interactions validates our hypothesis and contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate coral holobiont. These findings have the potential to enhance the health of coral reefs in the face of global climate change.

Metabolomic and biochemical changes in the plasma and liver of toxic milk mice model of Wilson disease.

Wilson disease (WD) is an inherited disorder characterized by abnormal copper metabolism with complex pathological features. Currently, this mechanism of copper overload-induced hepatic injury remains unclear. In this study, male toxic milk (TX) mice were selected as experimental subjects. Copper levels and biochemical indices were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and kits. Liver tissue ultrastructure was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), sirius red staining and transmission electron microscopy. Plasma and liver metabolic profiles of TX mice were characterized by untargeted metabolomics. In addition, the expression of enzymes related to arachidonic acid metabolism in liver tissue was detected by Western blotting. The results showed the excessive copper content, concomitant oxidative stress, and hepatic tissue structural damage in TX mice. Seventy-eight metabolites were significantly different in WD, mainly involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, niacin and nicotinamide, and phenylalanine. Furthermore, the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway is an important pathway involved in WD metabolism. The level of arachidonic acid in the liver of TX mice was significantly lower (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. The expression of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and arachidonic acid 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12), related to the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, was significantly different in the liver of TX mice (p < 0.01). Modulation of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy to alleviate WD symptoms.

Adenylate kinase phosphate energy shuttle underlies energetic communication in flagellar axonemes.

The complexities of energy transfer mechanisms in the flagella of mammalian sperm flagella have been intensively investigated and demonstrate significant diversity across species. Enzymatic shuttles, particularly adenylate kinase (AK) and creatine kinase (CK), are pivotal in the efficient transfer of intracellular ATP, showing distinct tissue- and species-specificity. Here, the expression profiles of AK and CK were investigated in mice and found to fall into four subgroups, of which Subgroup III AKs were observed to be unique to the male reproductive system and conserved across chordates. Both AK8 and AK9 were found to be indispensable to male reproduction after analysis of an infertile male cohort. Knockout mouse models showed that AK8 and AK9 were central to promoting sperm motility. Immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry revealed that AK8 and AK9 interact with the radial spoke (RS) of the axoneme. Examination of various human and mouse sperm samples with substructural damage, including the presence of multiple RS subunits, showed that the head of radial spoke 3 acts as an adapter for AK9 in the flagellar axoneme. Using an ATP probe together with metabolomic analysis, it was found that AK8 and AK9 cooperatively regulated ATP transfer in the axoneme, and were concentrated at sites associated with energy consumption in the flagellum. These findings indicate a novel function for RS beyond its structural role, namely, the regulation of ATP transfer. In conclusion, the results expand the functional spectrum of AK proteins and suggest a fresh model regarding ATP transfer within mammalian flagella.

Health literacy and self-management among middle-aged and young hypertensive patients: a parallel mediation effect of illness perception and self-efficacy.

Background: Hypertension is increasingly prevalent among young and middle-aged populations in rural China, accompanied by suboptimal self-management. Given that this population forms the backbone of the labor force, enhancing their self-management capabilities is crucial for improving overall population health. Studies indicate that individuals with good health literacy are more likely to effectively manage their health. Methods: Grounded in the health literacy skills framework, a model was constructed in this study to examine the impact of health literacy on self-management among young and middle-aged hypertensive patients in rural China. Meanwhile, the mediating roles of illness perception and self-efficacy were also verified. Using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, 338 patients were recruited to participate in the study. Structural equation modeling was utilized to establish the relationship model, and bootstrap tests were carried out to examine the mediating effects. Results: The average self-management score was 70.45 ± 11.36. Health literacy exhibited a positive correlation with self-management (standardized ß = 0.372, p < 0.001). The mediating effects through illness perception and self-efficacy were 0.040 and 0.236, constituting 6.68 and 39.31% of the total effect, respectively. Conclusion: Illness perception and self-efficacy serve as parallel mediators amid the association between health literacy and self-management. Implementing psychological counseling and health education is imperative for augmenting self-management competence and cultivating an adaptive coping mentality.

Chemical Composition of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Ethanol Extract and Its Antimicrobial Activities and Free Radical Scavenging Capacities.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a perennial tuberous plant from the genus Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) and has been widely used in foods for thousands of years. The present study examined the ethanol extract of turmeric for its chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and free radical scavenging properties. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis tentatively identified eight compounds in the turmeric extract. Potential antimicrobial effects of 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg turmeric equivalents (TE)/mL were evaluated in vitro against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas sp.) and Gram-positive bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria innocua, and Staphylococcus aureus). Concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg TE/mL inhibited the growth of S. aureus and significantly suppressed that of Pseudomonas sp., E. faecalis, and L. innocua. The growth of all strains, including E. coli, was inhibited by 10 mg TE/mL. Moreover, free radical scavenging capacities were determined using HO●, ABTS●+, and DPPH● (HOSC, ABTS, and RDSC, respectively) radicals. The turmeric ethanol extract had a TPC value of 27.12 mg GAE/g, together with HOSC, RDSC, and ABTS values of 1524.59, 56.38, and 1.70 µmol TE/g, respectively. Our results suggest that turmeric extract has potential applications for use in functional foods to reduce microbial burdens and oxidative stress-related health problems.

A Portable, Integrated, Sample-In Result-Out Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Device for Rapid and Sensitive Chikungunya Virus Detection.

Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne virus that causes epidemics, is often misdiagnosed due to symptom similarities with other arboviruses. Here, a portable and integrated nucleic acid-based diagnostic device, which combines reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification and lateral-flow detection, was developed. The device is simple to use, precise, equipment-free, and highly sensitive, enabling rapid chikungunya virus identification. The result can be obtained by the naked eye within 40 min. The assay can effectively distinguish chikungunya virus from dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Zika virus, and yellow fever virus with high specificity and sensitivity as low as 598.46 copies mL-1. It has many benefits for the community screening and monitoring of chikungunya virus in resource-limited areas because of its effectiveness and simplicity. The platform has great potential for the rapid nucleic acid detection of other viruses.

The checkmark association between gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase and body mass index in a large Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has long been regarded as a risk factor for abnormal liver function, although the quantitative relationship between them is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in different gender populations. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 221,934 people aged over 18 years and under 90 years who underwent physical examinations at Yijishan Hospital in Wuhu City from 2011 to 2016. t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the differences in demographic characteristics and biochemical indexes between men and women. Linear regression model and smooth curve method were used to investigate the relationship between BMI and GGT. RESULTS: The smooth curve shows a checkmark association between GGT and BMI. After adjusting for confounders, the cut-off BMI for the whole population was 19.5 kg/m2. When BMI was less than 19.5 kg/m2, GGT levels decreased with increasing BMI, and when BMI was greater than 19.5 kg/m2, GGT levels increased with increasing BMI. After gender stratification, there was a checkmark association between male and female GGT levels and BMI, but the trend of male GGT levels changing with BMI was more obvious than that of females. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation demonstrated that the GGT level in obese Chinese people is significantly higher than that in non-obese people living in Wuhu City. BMI level can be considered as an early warning index for diseases related to liver function injury in the clinic, although the influence of gender difference should be specifically considered.

Access to innovative anticancer medicines in China: a national survey on availability, price and affordability.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the availability, price, and affordability of nationally negotiated innovative anticancer medicines in China. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study based on data from a nationwide medical database. DATA SOURCES/SETTING: Quarterly data about the use of innovative anticancer medicines from 2020 to 2022 were collected from the Chinese Medicine Economic Information Network. This study covered 895 public general hospitals in 30 provincial administrative regions in China. Of the total hospitals, 299 (33.41%) were secondary and 596 (66.59%) were tertiary. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The adjusted WHO and Health Action International methodology was used to calculate the availability and affordability of 33 nationally negotiated innovative anticancer medicines in the investigated hospitals. Price is expressed as the defined daily dose cost. RESULTS: On average, the total availability of 33 innovative anticancer medicines increased annually from 2020 to 2022. The median availability of all investigated medicines in tertiary hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 24.04%, 33.60% and 37.61%, respectively, while the indicators in secondary hospitals were 4.90%, 12.54% and 16.48%, respectively. The adjusted prices of the medicines newly put in Medicare (in March 2021) decreased noticeably, with the decline rate ranging from 39.98% to 82.45% in 2021 compared with those in 2020. Most generic brands were priced much lower than the originator brands. The affordability of anticancer medicines has improved year by year from 2020 to 2022. In comparison, rural residents had lower affordability than urban residents. CONCLUSIONS: The overall accessibility of 33 nationally negotiated innovative anticancer medicines improved from 2020 to 2022. However, the overall availability of most anticancer medicines in China remained at a low level (less than 50%). Further efforts should be made to sufficiently and equally benefit patients with cancer.

Moiré Pattern Controlled Phonon Polarizer Based on Twisted Graphene.

Twisted van der Waals materials featuring Moiré patterns present new design possibilities and demonstrate unconventional behaviors in electrical, optical, spintronic, and superconducting properties. However, experimental exploration of thermal transport across Moiré patterns has not been as extensive, despite its critical role in nanoelectronics, thermal management, and energy technologies. Here, the first experimental study is conducted on thermal transport across twisted graphene, demonstrating a phonon polarizer concept from the rotational misalignment between stacked layers. The direct thermal and acoustic measurements, structural characterizations, and atomistic modeling, reveal a modulation up to 631% in thermal conductance with various Moiré angles, while maintaining a high acoustic transmission. By comparing experiments with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, mode-dependent phonon transmissions are quantified based on the angle alignment of graphene band structures and attributed to the coupling among flexural phonon modes. The agreement confirms the dominant tuning mechanisms in adjusting phonon transmission from high-frequency thermal modes while having negligible effects on low-frequency acoustic modes near Brillouin zone center. This study offers crucial insights into the fundamental thermal transport in Moiré structures, opening avenues for the invention of quantum thermal devices and new design methodologies based on manipulations of vibrational band structures and phonon spectra.

Achieving High Proton Conductivity in MIL-91(Al) Aerogel.

The processability and sustainability of proton conductors are two important indicators of their application. Here, MIL-91(Al) with an intrinsic proton conduction framework originating from protonated phosphonate groups was cross-linked with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to obtain MIL-91(Al) aerogel through freeze-drying. This simple and inexpensive strategy not only facilitated the processing of MIL-91(Al) powder but also resulted in a molded MIL-91(Al) aerogel having a high proton conductivity of 1.02 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 70 °C and 100% relative humidity. Furthermore, MIL-91(Al) aerogel was recyclable and reusable, in line with the principles of environmental protection and sustainability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of using a metal-organic framework aerogel as a proton conductor, which may develop a new model system in this field.

Atlas and source of the microplastics of male reproductive system in human and mice.

Regarding the impact of microplastics (MPs) on the male reproductive system, previous studies have identified a variety of MPs in both human semen and testicular samples. These studies have put forward the hypothesis that small particles can enter the semen through the epididymis and seminal vesicles. Here, we performed qualitative and quantitative analyses of MPs in human testis, semen, and epididymis samples, as well as in testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate samples from mice via pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The goal of this approach was to comprehensively characterize the distribution of MPs within the male reproductive system. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate potential sources of MPs identified in semen, as well as to identify possible sources of overall MP exposure. Our results highlighted a general atlas of MPs in the male reproductive system and suggested that MPs in semen may originate from the epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate. An exposure questionnaire, coupled with the characteristics of the MPs detected in the male reproductive system, revealed that high urbanization, home-cooked meals, and using scrub cleansers were important sources of MP exposure in men. These findings may provide novel insights into alleviating the exposure of men to MPs.

Combining an Electrochemical Continuous Glucose Sensor With an Insulin Delivery Cannula: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Combining a continuous glucose monitor with an insulin delivery cannula (CGM-IS) could benefit clinical outcomes. We evaluated the feasibility of a single-needle insertion electrochemical investigational CGM-IS (Pacific Diabetes Technologies, Portland, Oregon) in type 1 diabetes adults. METHODS: Following 48 hours run-in using a Medtronic 780G in manual mode with a commercial insulin set, 12 participants commenced insulin delivery using the CGM-IS. A standardized test meal was eaten on the mornings of days 1 and 4. Venous samples were collected every 10 minutes one hour prior to and 15 minutes post-meal for four hours. CGM-IS glucose measurements were post-processed with a single capillary blood calibration during warm-up and benchmarked against YSI. A Dexcom G6 sensor was worn post-consent to study end. RESULTS: Mean absolute relative difference (MARD) for the CGM-IS glucose measurements was 9.2% (484 paired data points). Consensus error grid revealed 88.6% within zone A and 100% in A + B. Mean (SD) % bias was -3.5 (11.7) %. There were 35 paired YSI readings <100 mg/dL cutoff and 449 ≥100 mg/dL with 81.4% within ±15 mg/dL or ±15%, and 89.9% within ±20 mg/dL or ±20%. Two cannula occlusions required discontinuation of insulin delivery: one at 70 hours post insertion and another during the day 4 meal test. Mean (SD) Dexcom glucose measurements during run-in and between meal tests was respectively 161.3 ± 27.3 mg/dL versus 158.0 ± 25.6 mg/dL; P = .39 and corresponding mean total daily insulin delivered by the pump was 58.0 ± 25.4 Units versus 57.1 ± 28.8 Units; P = .47. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin delivery and glucose sensing with the investigational CGM-IS was feasible. Longer duration studies are needed.