Influence of agro-wastes derived biochar and their composite on reducing the mobility of toxic heavy metals and their bioavailability in industrial contaminated soils.

The agro-waste derived valuable products are prime interest for effective management of toxic heavy metals (THMs). The present study investigated the efficacy of biochars (BCs) on immobilization of THMs (Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd), bioaccumulation and health risk. Agro-wastes derived BCs including wheat straw biochar (WSB), orange peel biochar (OPB), rice husk biochar (RHB) and their composite biochar (CB) were applied in industrial contaminated soil (ICS) at 1% and 3% amendments rates. All the BCs significantly decreased the bioavailable THMs and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced bioaccumulation at 3% application with highest efficiency for CB followed by OPB, WSB and RHB as compared to control treatment. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), concentration index (CI) and ecological risk were decreased with all BCs. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) of all THMs were <1, except Cd, while carcer risk (CR) and total cancer risk index (TCRI) were decreased through all BCs. The overall results depicted that CB at 3% application rate showed higher efficacy to reduce significantly (p < 0.001) the THMs uptake and reduced health risk. Hence, the present study suggests that the composite of BCs prepared from agro-wastes is eco-friendly amendment to reduce THMs in ICS and minimize its subsequent uptake in vegetables.

The present study has a scientific research scope, based on reduction of bioavailability and bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals (THMs) by the addition of biochars derived from agro-wastes and their composite biochar (CB), thereby decreasing the potential health risk. Limited study has been conducted, especially on the impact of CB in THMs-contaminated soil. This study could fill the scientific research gap and provides useful information for mitigation of THMs present in contaminated soil, which could be followed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and farmers in degraded lands.

Environmental footprints of the data center service sector in Sweden.

The global data center (DC) sector has expanded rapidly during the last decades, due to the rising demand for digital services. In the Nordic region, Sweden has emerged as a global hub, attracting leading technology companies like Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google. Server halls of DCs are energy intensive buildings, which puts pressure on local water resources and contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to, firstly, quantify the environmental impact of DCs, based on energy usage, water consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Secondly, it develops a planning tool by employing a multi-criteria approach to optimally locate new DCs and to assess the site suitability of existing ones in Sweden. Data of various performance indicators (geographical data on renewable energy accessibility, free cooling conditions, excess heat receivers, and resilience to water shortages) of DCs was collected through different means, e.g., questionnaire surveys, permit applications, company websites, and other open online data repositories. ArcGIS Pro was employed for spatial analysis, and 68 DCs with a site suitability index (SSI) ≤ 45 % were identified as less ideally located. The principal findings are centered on Sweden, and thereby primarily benefit stakeholders engaged in decision-making for evaluating existing or strategic planning of new DCs by incorporating a comprehensive environmental perspective. Given the rapidly changing climate, strategically siting DCs will become crucial for minimizing the sector's environmental impact.

Synthesis of carboxymethyl chitosan-guar gum-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) ternary blended hydrogels with antibacterial/anticancer efficacy and drug delivery applications.

Biopolymers have the utmost significance in biomedical applications and blending synthetic polymers has shown favorable characteristics versus individual counterparts. The utilization of the blends can be restricted through the use of toxic chemical agents such as initiators or crosslinkers. In this regard, a chemical agent-free ionizing irradiation is a beneficial alternative for preparing the hydrogels for biomedical applications. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-CS), guar gum (GG), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) based ternary blends (TB) were crosslinked using various doses of ionizing irradiation to fabricate hydrogels. The prepared hydrogels were characterized for physicochemical properties, swelling analysis, biological assays, and drug delivery applications. Swelling analysis in distilled water revealed that the hydrogels exhibit excellent swelling characteristics. An in vitro cytocompatibility assay showed that the hydrogels have greater than 90% cell viability for the human epithelial cell line and a decreasing cell viability trend for the human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell line. In addition, the prepared hydrogels possessed excellent antibacterial characteristics against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). Finally, the release studies of anti-inflammatory Quercus acutissima (QA) loaded hydrogels exhibited more than 80% release in phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.4). These findings suggest that TB hydrogels can be used as suitable carrier media for different release systems and biomedical applications.

A Basic Guide to the Propagation and Manipulation of the Clubroot Pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Clubroot caused by the obligate parasite Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating disease affecting the canola industry worldwide. The socio-economic impact of clubroot can be significant, particularly in regions where Brassica crops are a major agricultural commodity. The disease can cause significant crop losses, leading to reduced yield and income for farmers. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the biology and genetics of the pathogens and develop more effective management strategies. However, the basic procedures used for pathogen storage and virulence analysis have not been assembled or discussed in detail. As a result, there are discrepancies among the different protocols used today. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive and easily accessible resource for researchers who are interested in replicating or building upon the methods used in the study of the clubroot pathogen. Here, we discuss in detail the methods used for P. brassicae spore isolation, inoculation, quantification, propagation, and molecular techniques such as DNA extraction and PCR. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Extraction of Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores and propagation Support Protocol 1: Evans blue staining to identify resting spore viability Support Protocol 2: Storage of Plasmodiophora brassicae Basic Protocol 2: Generation of single spore isolates from P. brassicae field isolates Basic Protocol 3: Phenotyping of Plasmodiophora brassicae isolates Basic Protocol 4: Genomic DNA extraction from Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores Basic Protocol 5: Molecular detection of Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Effects of prilled fat supplementation in diets with varying protein levels on production performance of early lactating Nili Ravi Buffaloes.

Objective: The objective of the current study was to find out the independent and interactive effects of prilled fat supplementation with protein on the production performance of early lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes. Methods: Sixteen early lactating buffaloes (36.75 ± 5.79 d in milk; mean ± SE) received 4 treatments in 4 × 4 Latin-square design according to 2 × 2 factorial arrangements. The dietary treatments were:1) LPLF = low protein low fat, 2) LPHF = low protein high fat, 3) HPLF = high protein low fat, and 4) HPHF = high protein high fat. The dietary treatments contained 2 protein (8.7 and 11.7% CP, crude protein) and fat levels (2.6 and 4.6% EE, ether extract) on a dry matter basis. Results: The yields of milk and fat increased with increasing protein and fat independently (p≤0.05). Energy-, protein-, and fat-corrected milk yields also increased with increasing protein and fat independently (p≤0.05). Increasing dietary protein increased the protein yield by 3.75% and lactose yield by 3.15% and increasing dietary fat supplies increased the fat contents by 3.93% (p≤0.05). Milk yield and fat-corrected milk to dry matter intake ratios were increased at high protein and high fat levels (p≤0.05). Milk nitrogen efficiency was unaffected by dietary fat (p>0.10), whereas it decreased with increasing protein supplies (p≤0.05). Plasma urea nitrogen and cholesterol were increased by increasing protein and fat levels, respectively (p≤0.05). The values of predicted methane production reduced with increasing dietary protein and fat. Conclusion: It is concluded that prilled fat and protein supplies increased milk and fat yield along with increased ratios of milk yield and fat-corrected milk yields to dry matter intake. However, no interaction was observed between prilled fat and protein supplementation for production parameters, body weight, BCS and blood metabolites. Predicted methane production decreased with increasing protein and fat levels.

Validation of deep amplicon sequencing of Dicrocoelium in small ruminants from Northern regions of Pakistan.

Dicrocoelium lancet flukes cause significant production loss in ruminant livestock. Although co-infection with multiple Dicrocoelium species within a host is common, techniques for studying the composition of these complex parasite communities are lacking. The pathogenicity, epidemiology, and therapeutic susceptibility of different helminth species vary, and little is known about the interactions that take place between co-infecting species and their hosts. Here, we describe the first applicationof metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method to studythe Dicrocoelium species in sheep and goats. First, rDNA ITS-2 sequences of four Dicrocoelium species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium orientalis, and Dicrocoelium chinensis) were extracted from the NCBI public database. Phylogenetic analysis revealed separate clades of Dicrocoelium species; hence, molecular differentiation between each species is possible in co-infections. Second, 202 flukes belonging to seventeen host populations (morphologically verified as belonging to the Dicrocoelium genus) were evaluated to determine the deep amplicon sequencing read threshold of an individual fluke for each of the four species. The accuracy of the method in proportional quantification of samples collected from single hosts was further assessed. Overall, 198 (98.01%) flukes were confirmed as D. dendriticum and 1.98% produced no reads. The comparison of genetic distances between rDNA ITS-2 revealed 86% to 98% identity between the Dicrocoelium species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a distinct clustering of species, apart from D. orientalis and D. chinensis, which sit very close to each other in a single large clade whereas D. hospes and D. dendriticum are separated into their own clade. In conclusion each sample was identified as D. dendriticum based on the proportion of MiSeq reads and validated the presence of this group of parasites in the Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan. The metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing technology and bioinformatics pathway have several potential applications, including species interactions during co-infections, identifying the host and geographical distribution of Dicrocoelium in livestock, drug therapy response evaluation and understanding of the emergence and spread of drug resistance.

Implementation of plant extracts for cheddar-type cheese production in conjunction with FTIR and Raman spectroscopy comparison.

Plant extracts have demonstrated the ability to act as coagulants for milk coagulation at an adequate concentration, wide temperatures and pH ranges. This research is focused on the use of different vegetative extracts such as Citrus aurnatium flower extract (CAFE), bromelain, fig latex, and melon extract as economical and beneficial coagulants in the development of plant-based cheddar-type cheese. The cheddar-type cheese samples were subjected to physicochemical analysis in comparison to controlled cheese samples made from acetic acid and rennet. The fat, moisture, protein, and salt contents remained the same over the storage period, but a slight decline was observed in pH. The Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased with the passage of the ripening period. The FTIR and Raman spectra showed exponential changes and qualitative estimates in the binding and vibrational structure of lipids and protein in plant-based cheeses. The higher FTIR and Raman spectra bands were observed in acid, rennet, bromelain, and CAFE due to their firm and strong texture of cheese while lower spectra were observed in cheese made from melon extract due to weak curdling and textural properties. These plant extracts are economical and easily available alternative sources for cheese production with higher protein and nutritional contents.

Deciphering Estrus Expression in Gilts: The Role of Alternative Polyadenylation and LincRNAs in Reproductive Transcriptomics.

The fertility rate and litter size of female pigs are critically affected by the expression of estrus. The objective of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of estrus expression by analyzing the differential expression of genes and long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNA), as well as the utilization of alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, in the vulva and vagina during the estrus and diestrus stages of Large White and indigenous Chinese Mi gilts. Our study revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the vulva was less than that in the vagina, and the DEGs in the vulva were enriched in pathways such as "neural" pathways and steroid hormone responses, including the "Calcium signaling pathway" and "Oxytocin signaling pathway". The DEGs in the vagina were enriched in the "Metabolic pathways" and "VEGF signaling pathway". Furthermore, 27 and 21 differentially expressed lincRNAs (DEL), whose target genes were enriched in the "Endocrine resistance" pathway, were identified in the vulva and vagina, respectively. Additionally, we observed that 63 and 618 transcripts of the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) were lengthened during estrus in the vulva and vagina, respectively. Interestingly, the genes undergoing APA events in the vulva exhibited species-specific enrichment in neural or steroid-related pathways, whereas those in the vagina were enriched in apoptosis or autophagy-related pathways. Further bioinformatic analysis of these lengthened 3'-UTRs revealed the presence of multiple miRNAs binding sites and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) regulatory aspects. In particular, we identified more than 10 CPEs in the validated lengthened 3'-UTRs of the NFIX, PCNX4, CEP162 and ABHD2 genes using RT-qPCR. These findings demonstrated the involvement of APA and lincRNAs in the regulation of estrus expression in female pigs, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying estrus expression in pigs.

Eggshell membrane as a novel and green platform for the preparation of highly efficient and reversible curcumin-based colorimetric sensor for the monitoring of chicken freshness.

Herein, for the very first time, we report a paper-like biomass, eggshell membrane (ESM), as a suitable platform for the fabrication of a colorimetric sensor (E-Cot). Green ethanolic extract, curcumin (CUR), was used as a sensing material to coat with the ESM. The present E-Cot effectively changed its color (yellow to red) in the real-time monitoring for chicken spoilage. The E-Cot exhibits barrier properties due to its inherent semi-permeability characteristics. Interestingly, the E-Cot showed a significant change in total color difference value (ΔE, 0 days - 0.0-39.6, after 1 day - 39.6-42.1, after 2 days - 42.1-53.6, after 3 days- 53.6-60.1, and after 4 days - 60.1-66.3, detectable by the naked eye) in the real-time monitoring for chicken freshness. In addition, the present E-Cot smart colorimetric sensor is reversible with a change in pH, and the sensor can be reused. Further, the hydrophobic nature of the E-Cot was confirmed by water contact angle analysis (WCA, contact angle of 101.21 ± 8.39). Good antibacterial, barrier, and optical properties of the present E-Cot were also found. Owing to the advantages such as green, efficient, cost-effective, biodegradable, reusable, sustainable, and simple preparation, we believe that the present E-Cot would be a more attractive candidate.

Multivalent Sulfur Vacancy-Rich NiCo2 S4 @MnO2 Urchin-Like Heterostructures for Ambient Electrochemical N2 Reduction to NH3.

Innovative advances in the exploitation of effective electrocatalytic materials for the reduction of nitrogen (N2 ) to ammonia (NH3 ) are highly required for the sustainable production of fertilizers and zero-carbon emission fuel. In order to achieve zero-carbon footprints and renewable NH3 production, electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable energy-saving alternative but it requires more active, efficient, and selective catalysts. In current work, sulfur vacancy (Sv)-rich NiCo2 S4 @MnO2 heterostructures are efficaciously fabricated via a facile hydrothermal approach followed by heat treatment. The urchin-like Sv-NiCo2 S4 @MnO2 heterostructures serve as cathodes, which demonstrate an optimal NH3 yield of 57.31 µg h-1  mgcat -1 and Faradaic efficiency of 20.55% at -0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in basic electrolyte owing to the synergistic interactions between Sv-NiCo2 S4 and MnO2 . Density functional theory (DFT) simulation further verifies that Co-sites of urchin-like Sv-NiCo2 S4 @MnO2 heterostructures are beneficial to lowering the energy threshold for N2 adsorption and successive protonation. Distinctive micro/nano-architectures exhibit high NRR electrocatalytic activities that might motivate researchers to explore and concentrate on the development of heterostructures for ambient electrocatalytic NH3 generation.

Uniting Synergistic Effect of Single-Ni Site and Electric Field of B- Bridged-N for Boosted Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, to ammonia (NH3 ) is a delocalized and green path for NH3 production. Despite the existence of different nitrate reduction pathways, selectively directing the reaction pathway on the road to NH3 is now hindered by the absence of efficient catalysts. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are extensively investigated in a wide range of catalytic processes. However, their application in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3 - RR) to NH3 is infrequent, mostly due to their pronounced inclination toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, Ni single atoms on the electrochemically active carrier boron, nitrogen doped-graphene (BNG) matrix to modulate the atomic coordination structure through a boron-spanning strategy to enhance the performance of NO3 - RR is designed. Density functional theory (DFT) study proposes that BNG supports with ionic characteristics, offer a surplus electric field effect as compared to N-doped graphene, which can ease the nitrate adsorption. Consistent with the theoretical studies, the as-obtained NiSA@BNG shows higher catalytic activity with a maximal NH3 yield rate of 168 µg h-1  cm-2 along with Faradaic efficiency of 95% and promising electrochemical stability. This study reveals novel ways to rationally fabricate SACs' atomic coordination structure with tunable electronic properties to enhance electrocatalytic performance.

A Metal Coordination Number Determined Catalytic Performance in Manganese Borides for Ambient Electrolysis of Nitrogen to Ammonia.

A new strategy that can effectively increase the nitrogen reduction reaction performance of catalysts is proposed and verified by tuning the coordination number of metal atoms. It is found that the intrinsic activity of Mn atoms in the manganese borides (MnBx) increases in tandem with their coordination number with B atoms. Electron-deficient boron atoms are capable of accepting electrons from Mn atoms, which enhances the adsorption of N2 on the Mn catalytic sites (*) and the hydrogenation of N2 to form *NNH intermediates. Furthermore, the increase in coordination number reduces the charge density of Mn atoms at the Fermi level, which facilitates the desorption of ammonia from the catalyst surface. Notably, the MnB4 compound with a Mn coordination number of up to 12 exhibits a high ammonia yield rate (74.9 ± 2.1 µg h-1 mgcat -1) and Faradaic efficiency (38.5 ± 2.7%) at -0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in a 0.1 m Li2SO4 electrolyte, exceeding those reported for other boron-related catalysts.

Twenty Years of SPARTAN: From Inception to Impact (SPARTAN 2023 Annual Meeting Proceedings).

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review takes a look at the past, present, and future of SPARTAN, the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network, an organization of North American healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing research, education, and patient care in spondyloarthritis. RECENT FINDINGS: In 2022, SPARTAN completed the Classification of Axial SpondyloarthritiS Inception Cohort (CLASSIC) study, a collaboration with the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS). CLASSIC aimed to validate the 2009 ASAS classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis. Other ongoing SPARTAN endeavors include the development of US referral recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis, an update of the 2019 ACR/SAA/SPARTAN treatment recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis and multiple educational initiatives. Twenty years after its inception, SPARTAN continues to grow and broaden its impact, guided by the SPARTAN vision of "a world free of spondyloarthritis through leadership in research and education."

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) through Ammonia volatilization mitigation and nitrogen management approaches.

Management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is a critical factor that can improve maize (Zea mays L.) production. On the other hand, high volatilization losses of N also pollute the air. A field experiment was established using a silt clay soil to examine the effect of sulfur-coated urea and sulfur from gypsum on ammonia (NH3) emission, N use efficiency (NUE), and the productivity of maize crop under alkaline calcareous soil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD) with seven treatments in three replicates: control with no N, urea150 alone (150 kg N ha-1), urea200 alone (200 kg N ha-1), urea150 + S (60 kg ha-1 S from gypsum), urea200 + S, SCU150 (sulfur-coated urea) and SCU200. The results showed that the urea150 + S and urea200 + S significantly reduced the total NH3 by (58 and 42%) as compared with the sole application urea200. The NH3 emission reduced further in the treatment with SCU150 and SCU200 by 74 and 65%, respectively, compared to the treatment with urea200. The maize plant biomass, grain yield, and total N uptake enhanced by 5-14%, 4-17%, and 7-13, respectively, in the treatments with urea150 + s and urea200 + S, relative to the treatment with urea200 alone. Biomass, grain yield, and total N uptake further increased significantly by 22-30%, 25-28%, and 26-31%, respectively, in the treatments with SCU150 and SCU200, relative to the treatment with urea200 alone. The applications of SCU150 enhanced the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by (72%) and SCU200 by (62%) respectively, compared with the sole application of urea200 alone. In conclusion, applying S-coated urea at a lower rate of 150 kg N ha-1 compared with a higher rate of 200 kg N ha-1 may be an effective way to reduce N fertilizer application rate and mitigate NH3 emission, improve NUE, and increase maize yield. More investigations are suggested under different soil textures and climatic conditions to declare S-coated urea at 150 kg N ha-1 as the best application rate for maize to enhance maize growth and yield.

Perception of Neurosurgery as a Career Choice Among Early Career Doctors in Pakistan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: A low neurosurgeon-to-patient ratio persists in many developing nations including Pakistan. We aimed to investigate the perceptions of medical students regarding neurosurgery as a first step toward recognizing this problem and potentially suggesting ways to solve it. METHODS: A questionnaire was designed comprising 3 sections: 1) demographics, 2) possible challenges and perceptions regarding neurosurgery as a profession, and 3) general perceptions about neurosurgery. Statistical analysis was conducted, and a P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of 387 responses received, 44.4% of male respondents and 50.6% of female respondents revealed intent to consider opting for neurosurgery as a profession. Regression analysis revealed inadequate dexterity (P = 0.001) and inability to carry out private practice (P = 0.002) were responsible for increased likelihood of opting out of neurosurgery by medical students. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the perceptions that may influence the decision to pursue neurosurgical training among physicians early in their careers. Interventions including availability of day care facilities for children and introduction of curricula to promote neurosurgical knowledge in clinical training are expected to encourage the decision to pursue neurosurgery among medical students in Pakistan.

Computational investigation of pyrazinamide drugs and its transition metal complexes using a DFT approach.

Pyrazinamide, an antituberculosis but documented toxic drug, is subjected to computational investigation along with the metal complexes via a DFT approach to predict the structure-activity and structure-toxicity relationship. 6-31G(d,p) basis set was used for Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe, and Co, while the SDD basis set was applied to Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg. Several reactivity parameters and charge distribution were calculated and the reactivity profile was estimated. The complexes were found to be soft and polarizable which could be responsible for their binding with bacterial targets to inhibit their growth. In contrast, pyrazinamide which is found to be hard among all is susceptible to being toxic. Moreover, the electronegative nature of the complexes can endow them with a better antibacterial effect. Since metal complexes have been found to be less toxic and more biologically interactive by computational methods, they can be employed as potent drugs for the cure of tuberculosis.

Characterization and analysis of transcriptomes of multiple tissues from estrus and diestrus in pigs.

A comprehensive understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms governing estrus and ovulation across multiple tissues in mammals is imperative to improve the reproductive performance of livestock and mitigate ovulation-related disorders in humans. To comprehensively elucidate the regulatory landscape, we analyzed the transcriptome of protein-coding genes and long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) in 58 samples (including the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, vagina, and vulva) derived from European Large White gilts and Chinese Mi gilts during estrus and diestrus. We constructed an intricate regulatory network encompassing 358 hub genes across the five examined tissues. Furthermore, our investigation identified 85 differentially expressed lincRNAs that are predicted to target 230 genes associated with critical functions including behavior, receptors, and apoptosis. Importantly, we found that vital components of estrus and ovulation events involve "Apoptosis" pathway in the hypothalamus, "Autophagy" in the ovary, as well as "Hypoxia" and "Angiogenesis" in the vagina and vulva. We have identified several differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs), such as SPI1 and HES2, which regulate these pathways. SPI1 may suppress transcription in the autophagy pathway, promoting apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells. Our study provides the most comprehensive transcriptional profiling information related to estrus and ovulation events.

In-Situ Construction of V2 O5 Nanosheet/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanosheet Heterostructures with Interfacial C─O Bridging Bonds as the Cathode Material for Zn Ion Batteries.

Layered oxides are widely used as the electrode materials for metal ion batteries. However, for large radius size ions, such as Zn2+ and Al3+ , the tightly stacked layers and poor electrical conductivity of layered oxides result in restricted number of active sites and sluggish reaction kinetics. In this work, a facile in-situ construction strategy is provided to synthesize layered oxide nanosheets/nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet (NC) heterostructure, which shows larger interlayer spacing and better electrical conductivity than the layered oxides. As a result, the Zn2+ ion diffusion inside the interlayer gallery is greatly enhanced and the storage sites inside the gallery can be better used. Meanwhile, the NC layers and oxide nanosheets are bridged by the C─O bonds to form a stable structure, which contributes to a better cycling stability than the pure layered oxides. The optimal V2 O5 @NC-400 cathode shows a capacity of 467 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 for 300 cycles, and long-term cyclic stability of 4000 cycles at 5 A g-1 with a capacity retention of 92%. All these performance parameters are among the best for vanadium oxide-based cathode materials.

Antibacterial Activity and Transcriptomic Analysis of Hesperetin against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris Vegetative Cells.

The aim of this research was to investigate the antimicrobial characteristics and mechanism of hesperetin against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris vegetative cells. The results presented show that hesperetin had effective antimicrobial activity on Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris vegetative cells, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 0.0625 g/L, and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) greater than 2 g/L. Moreover, treatment of hesperetin caused significant damage to cell integrity, preventing the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris vegetative cells, enhancing the leakage of nucleic acid and proteins, and destroying the vegetative cell morphology. To further investigate the mechanism, transcriptomic analysis was carried out, and 3056 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that hesperetin inhibits Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris by affecting the intracellular nitrogen metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis explained that hesperetin was also able to prevent the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris by affecting the processes of nutrient transport, energy metabolism, and flagella motility. These results provide new insights into the antimicrobial effects and mechanism of hesperetin against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, which provides a new method for inactive Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in the juice industry.

Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Cardiogenic Shock.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a clinical condition characterized by inadequate tissue perfusion in the setting of low cardiac output. CS is the leading cause of death following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Several temporary mechanical support devices are available for hemodynamic support in CS until clinical recovery ensues or until more definitive surgical procedures have been performed. Veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has evolved as a powerful treatment option for short-term circulatory support in refractory CS. In the absence of randomized clinical trials, the utilization of ECMO has been guided by clinical experience and based on data from registries and observational studies. Survival to hospital discharge with the use of VA-ECMO ranges from 28-67%. The initiation of ECMO requires venous and arterial cannulation, which can be performed either percutaneously or by surgical cutdown. Components of an ECMO circuit include an inflow cannula that draws blood from the venous system, a pump, an oxygenator, and an outflow cannula that returns blood to the arterial system. Management considerations post ECMO initiation include systemic anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis, left ventricle unloading strategies to augment myocardial recovery, prevention of limb ischemia with a distal perfusion catheter in cases of femoral arterial cannulation, and prevention of other complications such as hemolysis, air embolism, and Harlequin syndrome. ECMO is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled bleeding, unrepaired aortic dissection, severe aortic insufficiency, and in futile cases such as severe neurological injury or metastatic malignancies. A multi-disciplinary shock team approach is recommended while considering patients for ECMO. Ongoing studies will evaluate whether the addition of routine ECMO improves survival in AMI patients with CS who undergo revascularization.