Assessment of causal association between the socio-economic status and osteoporosis and fractures: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study in European population.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between socio-economic status and bone-related diseases is attracting increasing attention. Therefore, a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed in this study. METHODS: Genetic data on factors associated with socio-economic status (average total household income before tax, years of schooling completed and Townsend Deprivation Index at recruitment), femoral neck bone mineral density (FN-BMD), heel bone mineral density (eBMD), osteoporosis, and five different sites of fracture (spine, femur, lower leg-ankle, foot, and wrist-hand fractures) were derived from genome-wide association summary statistics of European ancestry. The inverse variance weighted method was employed to obtain the causal estimates, complemented by alternative MR techniques, including MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO). Furthermore, sensitivity analyses, and multivariable MR was performed to enhance the robustness of our findings. RESULTS: A higher educational attainment was associated with an increased level of eBMD (beta:0.06, 95% CI:0.01-0.10, P = 7.24 × 10-3), and decreased risk of osteoporosis (OR:0.78, 95% CI:0.65-0.94, P = 8.49 × 10-3), spine fracture (OR:0.76, 95% CI:0.66-0.88, P = 2.94 × 10-4), femur fracture (OR:0.78, 95% CI:0.67-0.91, P = 1.33 × 10-3), lower leg-ankle fracture (OR:0.79, 95% CI:0.70-0.88, P = 2.05 × 10-5), foot fracture (OR:0.78, 95% CI:0.66-0.93, P = 5.92 × 10-3) and wrist-hand fracture (OR:0.83, 95% CI:0.73-0.95, P = 7.15 × 10-3). Further, material deprivation seemed to harm the spine fracture (OR:2.63, 95% CI:1.43-4.85, P = 1.91 × 10-3). A higher level of FN-BMD positively affected increased household income (beta:0.03, 95% CI:0.01-0.04, P = 6.78 × 10-3). All these estimates were adjusted for body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes, smoking initiation, and frequency of alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: The Mendelian randomization analyses show that higher educational levels is associated with higher eBMD, reduced risk of osteoporosis and fractures, while material deprivation is positively related to spine fracture. Enhanced FN-BMD correlates with increased household income. These findings offer valuable insights into the formulation of health guidelines and policy development.

We conducted stratified analyses to explore the causal links between socio-economic status and osteoporosis and various fractures and observed that education significantly reduced risk of osteoporosis and lower eBMD. It also lowered the risks of fractures of spine, femur, lower leg-ankle, foot, and wrist-hand, while material deprivation exhibited positive associations with spine fracture risk. Bidirectional MR analysis showed that an elevated score of FN-BMD was associated with a higher income level. Our study shows the importance of conducting routine BMD estimations and osteoporosis screening, to enhance knowledge and awareness among individuals to promote bone health and prevent fractures.

Microbial production of cis,cis-muconic acid from aromatic compounds in engineered Pseudomonas.

Industrial expansion has led to environmental pollution by xenobiotic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and monoaromatic hydrocarbons. Pseudomonas spp. have broad metabolic potential for degrading aromatic compounds. The objective of this study was to develop a "biological funneling" strategy based on genetic modification to convert complex aromatic compounds into cis,cis-muconate (ccMA) using Pseudomonas putida B6-2 and P. brassicacearum MPDS as biocatalysts. The engineered strains B6-2 (B6-2ΔcatBΔsalC) and MPDS (MPDSΔsalC(pUCP18k-catA)) thrived with biphenyl or naphthalene as the sole carbon source and produced ccMA, attaining molar conversions of 95.3% (ccMA/biphenyl) and 100% (ccMA/naphthalene). Under mixed substrates, B6-2ΔcatBΔsalC grew on biphenyl as a carbon source and transformed ccMA from non-growth substrates benzoate or salicylate to obtain higher product concentration. Inserting exogenous clusters like bedDC1C2AB and xylCMAB allowed B6-2 recombinant strains to convert benzene and toluene to ccMA. In mixed substrates, constructed consortia of engineered strains B6-2 and MPDS specialized in catabolism of biphenyl and naphthalene; the highest molar conversion rate of ccMA from mixed substrates was 85.2% when B6-2ΔcatBΔsalC was added after 24 h of MPDSΔsalC(pUCP18k-catA) incubation with biphenyl and naphthalene. This study provides worthwhile insights into efficient production of ccMA from aromatic hydrocarbons by reusing complex pollutants.

Photoinduced Mechanical Cloaking of Diarylethene-Crosslinked Microgels.

The serial connection of multiple stimuli-responses in polymer architectures enables the logically conjunctive gating of functional material processes on demand. Here, a photoswitchable diarylethene (DAE) acts as a crosslinker in poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels and allows the light-induced shift of the volume phase-transition temperature (VPTT). While swollen microgels below the VPTT are susceptible to force and undergo breakage-aggregation processes, collapsed microgels above the VPTT stay intact in mechanical fields induced by ultrasonication. Within a VPTT shift regime, photoswitching of the DAE transfers microgels from the swollen to the collapsed state and thereby gates their response to force as demonstrated by the light-gated activation of an embedded fluorogenic mechanophore. This photoinduced mechanical cloaking system operates on the polymer topology level and is thereby principally universally applicable.

Cold exposure protects against medial arterial calcification development via autophagy.

Medial arterial calcification (MAC), a systemic vascular disease different from atherosclerosis, is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Several studies have demonstrated that ambient temperature is one of the most important factors affecting cardiovascular events. However, there has been limited research on the effect of different ambient temperatures on MAC. In the present study, we showed that cold temperature exposure (CT) in mice slowed down the formation of vitamin D (VD)-induced vascular calcification compared with room temperature exposure (RT). To investigate the mechanism involved, we isolated plasma-derived exosomes from mice subjected to CT or RT for 30 days (CT-Exo or RT-Exo, respectively). Compared with RT-Exo, CT-Exo remarkably alleviated the calcification/senescence formation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and promoted autophagy by activating the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and inhibiting phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). At the same time, CT-Exo promoted autophagy in ß-glycerophosphate (ß-GP)-induced VSMCs. The number of autophagosomes and the expression of autophagy-related proteins ATG5 and LC3B increased, while the expression of p62 decreased. Based on a microRNA chip microarray assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, miR-320a-3p was highly enriched in CT-Exo as well as thoracic aortic vessels in CT mice. miR-320a-3p downregulation in CT-Exo using AntagomiR-320a-3p inhibited autophagy and blunted its anti-calcification protective effect on VSMCs. Moreover, we identified that programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a target of miR-320a-3p, and silencing PDCD4 increased autophagy and decreased calcification in VSMCs. Treatment with CT-Exo alleviated the formation of MAC in VD-treated mice, while these effects were partially reversed by GW4869. Furthermore, the anti-arterial calcification protective effects of CT-Exo were largely abolished by AntagomiR-320a-3p in VD-induced mice. In summary, we have highlighted that prolonged cold may be a good way to reduce the incidence of MAC. Specifically, miR-320a-3p from CT-Exo could protect against the initiation and progression of MAC via the AMPK/mTOR autophagy pathway.

Identification of three novel new psychoactive substances 4F-AB-BUTINACA, AB-PHETINACA, and 2F-NENDCK.

The identification of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is an active and cutting-edge topic in forensic science. With the emergence of a large number of NPS, their timely identification to prevent spread can pose a challenge to clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories. Three emerging NPS had been identified in recently seized materials, including two synthetic cannabinoids [N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(4-fluorobutyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (4F-AB-BUTINACA) and N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-phenethyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AB-PHETINACA)] and a ketamine-like substance [2-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-(ethylamino) cyclohexan-1-one(2F-NENDCK)]. The three compounds were first identified by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These data may assist forensic analysts in analyzing the same substances or their homologous compounds.

Identification of the New Psychoactive Substance Eutylone.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a method to identify unknown sample based on the combined use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) technique. METHODS: The unknown sample was directly analyzed by FTIR. The unknown sample was dissolved in methanol solution containing internal standard SKF525A and the supernatant was detected by GC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS. The unknown sample was dissolved in methanol-d4 solution for structural analysis of 1H-NMR. RESULTS: The characteristic absorption peaks of FTIR spectra obtained from unknown sample were 1 682 (C=O bond), 1 503, 1 488, 1 436, 1 363, 1 256, 1 092, 1 035, 935, 840 and 800 cm-1, the characteristic fragment ions (m/z) of GC-QTOF-MS were 86.096 4 (base peak), 58.065 1, 149.023 5, 121.028 6 and 65.038 6, the accurate mass [M+H]+ detected by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS was 236.127 7. The sample was identified as synthetic cathinone new psychoactive substance Eutylone by 1H-NMR. CONCLUSIONS: The method established in this study can be used for structural confirmation of Eutylone.

Self-Powered Sensing for Non-Full Pipe Fluidic Flow Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Fluidic flow monitoring of a non-full pipe is of great significance in the field of energy measurement and pipeline transportation. In this work, a monitoring method based on triboelectric nanogenerators for non-full pipe fluidic flow of large pipelines is proposed. Specifically, a triboelectric non-full pipe flow sensor (TNPFS) is fabricated, which can monitor the flow velocity and the liquid level simultaneously, and then the flow can be obtained by conversion. For flow velocity monitoring, the flexible blades slide between electrodes, generating periodic electrical signals. Interestingly, the frequencies of the voltage and flow velocities show a good linear relationship. For liquid level monitoring, according to the principle of liquid-solid contact electrification, a variable area interdigital electrode with a stable signal distributed on a polytetrafluoroethylene tube is designed. The experiments demonstrate that the peak number and trend of the voltage derivative curve are related to the liquid level. Finally, a real-time flow-monitoring system is established to effectively monitor the flow from 94 to 264 L/min. Compared with the actual measured flow, the error rate is under 1.95%. In addition to this, the TNPFS also has good responsiveness in sewage. This work provides a novel method for fluidic flow monitoring, especially the non-full pipe flow of large pipelines.

Tailoring the Properties of Optical Force Probes for Polymer Mechanochemistry.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Robert Göstl and co-workers at DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University and Heidelberg University. The image depicts the tailoring of optical force probes for analyzing polymer materials. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202102938.

Sorghum Grains Grading for Food, Feed, and Fuel Using NIR Spectroscopy.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a non-destructive, fast, and low-cost method to measure the grain quality of different cereals. However, the feasibility for determining the critical biochemicals, related to the classifications for food, feed, and fuel products are not adequately investigated. Fourier-transform (FT) NIR was applied in this study to determine the eight biochemicals in four types of sorghum samples: hulled grain flours, hull-less grain flours, whole grains, and grain flours. A total of 20 hybrids of sorghum grains were selected from the two locations in China. Followed by FT-NIR spectral and wet-chemically measured biochemical data, partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to construct the prediction models. The results showed that sorghum grain morphology and sample format affected the prediction of biochemicals. Using NIR data of grain flours generally improved the prediction compared with the use of NIR data of whole grains. In addition, using the spectra of whole grains enabled comparable predictions, which are recommended when a non-destructive and rapid analysis is required. Compared with the hulled grain flours, hull-less grain flours allowed for improved predictions for tannin, cellulose, and hemicellulose using NIR data. This study aimed to provide a reference for the evaluation of sorghum grain biochemicals for food, feed, and fuel without destruction and complex chemical analysis.

Tailoring the Properties of Optical Force Probes for Polymer Mechanochemistry.

The correlation of mechanical properties of polymer materials with those of their molecular constituents is the foundation for their holistic comprehension and eventually for improved material designs and syntheses. Over the last decade, optical force probes (OFPs) were developed, shedding light on various unique mechanical behaviors of materials. The properties of polymers are diverse, ranging from soft hydrogels to ultra-tough composites, from purely elastic rubbers to viscous colloidal solutions, and from transparent glasses to super black dyed coatings. Only very recently, researchers started to develop tailored OFP solutions that account for such material requirements in energy (both light and force), in time, and in their spatially detectable resolution. We here highlight notable recent examples and identify future challenges in this emergent field.

Reversible Diels-Alder Reactions with a Fluorescent Dye on the Surface of Magnetite Nanoparticles.

Diels-Alder reactions on the surface of nanoparticles allow a thermoreversible functionalization of the nanosized building blocks. We report the synthesis of well-defined magnetite nanoparticles by thermal decomposition reaction and their functionalization with maleimide groups. Attachment of these dienophiles was realized by the synthesis of organophosphonate coupling agents and a partial ligand exchange of the original carboxylic acid groups. The functionalized iron oxide particles allow a covalent surface attachment of a furfuryl-functionalized rhodamine B dye by a Diels-Alder reaction at 60 °C. The resulting particles showed the typical fluorescence of rhodamine B. The dye can be cleaved off the particle surface by a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. The study showed that organic functions can be thermoreversibly attached onto inorganic nanoparticles.

Arabidopsis FAX1 mediated fatty acid export is required for the transcriptional regulation of anther development and pollen wall formation.

KEY MESSAGE: The mutation of FAX1 (Fatty Acid Export 1) disrupts ROS homeostasis and suppresses transcription activity of DYT1-TDF1-AMS-MS188 genetic network, leading to atypical tapetum PCD and defective pollen formation in Arabidopsis. Fatty acids (FAs) have multiple important biological functions and exert diverse cellular effects through modulating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) homeostasis. Arabidopsis FAX1 (Fatty Acid Export 1) mediates the export of de novo synthesized FA from chloroplast and loss of function of FAX1 impairs male fertility. However, mechanisms underlying the association of FAX1-mediated FA export with male sterility remain enigmatic. In this study, by using an integrated approach that included morphological, cytological, histological, and molecular analyses, we revealed that loss of function of FAX1 breaks cellular FA/lipid homeostasis, which disrupts ROS homeostasis and suppresses transcriptional activation of the DYT1-TDF1-AMS-MS188 genetic network of anther development, impairing tapetum development and pollen wall formation, and resulting in male sterility. This study provides new insights into the regulatory network for male reproduction in plants, highlighting an important role of FA export-mediated ROS homeostasis in the process.

Physiological effects of weightlessness: countermeasure system development for a long-term Chinese manned spaceflight.

The Chinese space station will be built around 2020. As a national space laboratory, it will offer unique opportunities for studying the physiological effects of weightlessness and the efficacy of the countermeasures against such effects. In this paper, we described the development of countermeasure systems in the Chinese space program. To emphasize the need of the Chinese space program to implement its own program for developing countermeasures, we reviewed the literature on the negative physiological effects of weightlessness, the challenges of completing missions, the development of countermeasure devices, the establishment of countermeasure programs, and the efficacy of the countermeasure techniques in American and Russian manned spaceflights. In addition, a brief overview was provided on the Chinese research and development on countermeasures to discuss the current status and goals of the development of countermeasures against physiological problems associated with weightlessness.

An NIRS-based assay of chemical composition and biomass digestibility for rapid selection of Jerusalem artichoke clones.

BACKGROUND: High-throughput evaluation of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock quality is the key to the successful commercialization of bioethanol production. Currently, wet chemical methods for the determination of chemical composition and biomass digestibility are expensive and time-consuming, thus hindering comprehensive feedstock quality assessments based on these biomass specifications. To find the ideal bioethanol feedstock, we perform a near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) assay to rapidly and comprehensively analyze the chemical composition and biomass digestibility of 59 Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L., abbreviated JA) clones collected from 24 provinces in six regions of China. RESULTS: The distinct geographical distribution of JA accessions generated varied chemical composition as well as related biomass digestibility (after soluble sugars extraction and mild alkali pretreatment). Notably, the soluble sugars, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and released hexoses, pentoses, and total carbohydrates were rapidly and perfectly predicted by partial least squares regression coupled with model population analyses (MPA), which exhibited significantly higher predictive performance than controls. Subsequently, grey relational grade analysis was employed to correlate chemical composition and biomass digestibility with feedstock quality score (FQS), resulting in the assignment of tested JA clones to five feedstock quality grades (FQGs). Ultimately, the FQGs of JA clones were successfully classified using partial least squares-discriminant analysis model coupled with MPA, attaining a significantly higher correct rate of 97.8% in the calibration subset and 91.1% in the validation subset. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the diversity of JA clones, the present study has not only rapidly and precisely examined the biomass composition and digestibility with MPA-optimized NIRS models but has also selected the ideal JA clones according to FQS. This method provides a new insight into the selection of ideal bioethanol feedstock for high-efficiency bioethanol production.

Uncoupling VOR and vestibuloautonomic retention to Coriolis acceleration training in student pilots and control subjects.

PURPOSE: Explore the different vestibular physiologic response retention patterns after Coriolis acceleration training in student pilots and extend the results for use with Chinese astronauts in the future. METHODS: Twelve healthy control male subjects were screened from males familiar with vestibular training and who physically resembled the astronauts. Fourteen student pilots were selected from 23 participants by rotational vestibular function tests. All subjects were exposed to five-day continuous or intermittent Coriolis acceleration training. Subjective motion sickness (MS) symptom scores, electrocardiography, electrogastrography (EGG), post-rotatory nystagmus and renin-angiotensin system responses were measured before, during and after rotational vestibular function tests at different times after vestibular training. RESULTS: Subjects could tolerate 10 min or 15 min of vestibular with mild MS symptoms. Retention of vestibular autonomic responses (retention of MS symptom scores, heart rate variability, power density of EGG, variations in levels of arginine vasopressin) were approximately 1 week for control subjects and approximately 5 weeks for student pilots. Decreases in slow-phase velocity of post-rotatory nystagmus were maintained for 14 weeks for control subjects and 9 weeks for student pilots. CONCLUSIONS: Retention of the vestibulo-autonomic reaction after vestibular training was different for control subjects and student pilots. All parameters related to autonomic responses could be maintained at low levels after vestibular training for approximately 1 week for control subjects and approximately 5 weeks for student pilots. Uncoupling patterns between post-rotatory nystagmus and the vestibulo-autonomic reaction may be helpful in the design of clinical rehabilitation plans for balance-disorder patients and for exploration of artificial gravity in future space missions.

A Self-Quenching System Based on Bis-Naphthalimide: A Dual Two-Photon-Channel GSH Fluorescent Probe.

A single fluorescent signal output often does not satisfy the detection accuracy requirements for bioactive compounds in biological systems. It is of great interest to develop a dual-channel turn-on fluorescence sensing system for self-validated detection. Herein, we report a self-quenching nanoparticle composed of dual two-photon dyes of naphthalimides, displaying almost no fluorescence at both channels, owing to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). A dual two-photon-channel fluorescent probe for GSH was further developed by inserting a disulfide bond between two naphthalimides. Upon treatment with GSH, the disulfide bond was cleaved, and two napthalimide fluorophores were separated, leading to turn-on fluorescence at both channels. This dual-two-photon-channel design strategy can be easily extended to other analytes, simply by changing the linker molecules, which creates new opportunities to accurately monitor various biological processes in living cells.