pH responsive fabrication of PVA-stabilized selenium nano formulation encapsulated with luteolin to reduce diabetic ureteral injury by decreasing NLRP3 inflammasome via Nrf2/ARE signaling.

Diabetic ureteral injury (DUI) is a condition characterized by damage to the ureter, causing functional and morphological changes in the urinary system, which have a significant impact on a quality of life and requires appropriate medical treatment. The present study describes to novel design of luteolin (LT), a type of natural flavonoid, encapsulated selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) to attain therapeutic potential for DUI. The physico-chemical characterizations of prepared Se NPs have benefitted zeta potential (-18 mV) and particle size (10-50 nm). In vitro assays were demonstrated the potential of LT-SeNPs by HEK 293 cells stimulated by STZ for DUI. Cytotoxicity assays on HEK 293 and NIH-3T3 showed >90% cell viability, which demonstrates the suitability of the nanoformulation for DUI treatment. The LT-SeNPs significantly inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome through Nrf2/ARE pathway, which benefits for DUI treatment. The developed LT-SeNPs could be an effective formulation for the DUI therapy.

Voice Changes of Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Eleven Years After Radiotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess voice changes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using subjective and objective assessment tools and to make inferences regarding the underlying pathological causes for different phases of radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: A total of 187 (123 males and 64 females) patients with post-RT NPC with no recurrence of malignancy or other voice diseases and 17 (11 males and 6 females) healthy individuals were included in this study. The patients were equally divided into 11 groups according to the number of years after RT. The acoustic analyses, GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain) scales, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 scores were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The fundamental frequency (F0) parameters in years 1 and 2 and year 11 were significantly lower in patients with NPC than in healthy individuals. The maximum phonation times in years 1 and 11 were significantly shorter than those in healthy individuals. The jitter parameters were significantly different between year 1 and from years 8 to 11 and the healthy individuals. The shimmer parameters were significantly different between years 1, from years 9 to 11, and healthy individuals. Hoarseness was the most prominent problem compared to other items of the GRBAS. The VHI-10 scores were significantly different between years 1 and 2 and year 11 after RT in patients with NPC. CONCLUSIONS: Voice quality was worse in the first 2 years and from years 8 to 11 but remained relatively normal from years 3 to 7 after RT. Patient-reported voice handicaps began during year 3 after RT. The most prominent problem was perceived hoarseness, which was evident in the first 2 years and from years 9 to 11 after RT. The radiation-induced mucous edema, laryngeal intrinsic muscle fibrosis, nerve injuries, upper respiratory tract changes, and decreased lung capacity might be the pathological reasons for voice changes in post-RT patients with NPC.

Biochar boosted high oleic peanut production with enhanced root development and biological N fixation by diazotrophs in a sand-loamy Primisol.

Peanut yield and quality face significant threats due to climate change and soil degradation. The potential of biochar technology to address this challenge remains unanswered, though biochar is acknowledged for its capacity to enhance the soil microbial community and plant nitrogen (N) supply. A field study was conducted in 2021 on oil peanuts grown in a sand-loamy Primisol that received organic amendments at 20 Mg ha-1. The treatments consisted of biochar amendments derived from poultry manure (PB), rice husk (RB), and maize residue (MB), as well as manure compost (OM) amendment, compared to no organic amendment (CK). In 2022, during the second year after amendment, samples of bulk topsoil, rooted soil, and plants were collected at the peanut harvest. The analysis included the assessment of soil quality, peanut growth traits, microbial community, nifH gene abundance, and biological N fixation (BNF) rate. Compared to the CK, the OM treatment led to an 8 % increase in peanut kernel yield, but had no effect on kernel quality in terms of oil production. Conversely, both PB and MB treatments increased kernel yield by 10 %, whereas RB treatment showed no change in yield. Moreover, all biochar amendments significantly improved oilseed quality by 10-25 %, notably increasing the proportion of oleic acid by up to 70 %. Similarly, while OM amendment slightly decreased root development, all biochar treatments significantly enhanced root development by over 80 %. Furthermore, nodule number, fresh weight per plant, and the nifH gene abundance in rooted soil remained unchanged under OM and PB treatments but was significantly enhanced under RB and MB treatments compared to CK. Notably, all biochar amendments, excluding OM, increased the BNF rate and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activity. These changes were attributed to alterations in soil aggregation, moisture retention, and phosphorus availability, which were influenced by the diverse physical and chemical properties of biochars. Overall, maize residue biochar contributed synergistically to enhancing soil fertility, peanut yield, and quality while also promoting increased root development, a shift in the diazotrophic community and BNF.

Case report: Prostatic malakoplakia: a rare disease that has a profile mimicking prostate cancer.

Prostatic malakoplakia (PMP) is a rare inflammatory disease, and misdiagnosis on imaging is a major reason for unnecessary punctures; however, information on imaging is even rarer. Five patients with PMP between May 2022 and February 2023 were enrolled in this study to summarize the imaging manifestations. All patients underwent ultrasound (US)-guided prostate biopsy and were confirmed by pathology, and the presence of prostate cancer was also excluded by pathology. The five patients, with a median age of 71 years (range = 58-74 years), had a median total prostate-specific antigen (T-PSA) of 10.40 ng/mL (range = 1.74-63.42 ng/mL). In two patients, chest computed tomography showed pulmonary infections. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of these patients, four had a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score of 5, while one had a score of 4. The lesions were mostly distributed in the peripheral zone of the prostate and appeared as a high signal on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and a low signal on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). In the US examination, four patients had abnormal prostate morphology, with an unsmooth envelope and non-uniform parenchymal echogenicity. Four patients had increased prostate volume. US showed a hypoechoic nodule with non-uniform internal echogenicity, and an abundant internal blood flow signal was detected by color Doppler US. PSA, MRI, and US were not specific for PMP in our study, but we found that a history of co-infection may be helpful in an accurate diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary biopsy.

Developing Plant Exosomes as an Advanced Delivery System for Cosmetic Peptide.

Peptides are a promising skincare ingredient, but due to their inherent instability and the barrier function of the skin's surface, they often have limited skin absorption and penetration, which can significantly hinder their skincare benefits. To address this, a novel technique called NanoGlow has been introduced for encapsulating peptide-based cosmetic raw materials into engineered nanosized plant-derived exosomes (pExo) to achieve the goal of a healthier and more radiant skin state. In this approach, pExo served as carriers for cosmetic peptides across the intact skin barrier, enhancing their biological effectiveness in skin beauty. The NanoGlow strategy combines chemical activation and physical proencapsulation, boasting a high success rate and straightforward and stable operation, making it suitable for large-scale production. Comprehensive analysis using in vitro cellular absorption and skin penetration models has demonstrated that the nanosized pExo carriers significantly improve peptide penetration into the skin compared to free peptides. Furthermore, in vivo tissue slice studies have shown that pExo carriers efficiently deliver acetyl hexapeptide-8 to the skin's dermis, surpassing the performance of free peptides. Cosmetic skincare effect analysis has also indicated that pExo-loaded cosmetic peptides deliver superior results. Therefore, the NanoGlow technique harnesses the natural size and properties of pExo to maximize the bioavailability of cosmetic peptides, holding great promise for developing advanced peptide delivery systems in both the cosmetic and medical drug industries.

Pickering emulsions with high ionic strength resistance stabilized by pea protein isolate-polyglycerol conjugate particles with good biocompatibility.

Among various biopolymers, protein particles are widely used for stabilizing Pickering emulsions, yet their emulsifying ability are easily influenced by the ion concentration, pH, and high temperatures. To address these challenges, this study utilized chemical modification to prepare pea protein isolate-polyglycerol (PPI-PG) conjugates by Schiff-base reaction. Compared with other chemical modifications, this method produces conjugate particles with excellent biocompatibility, capable of promoting cell proliferation by up to 177 %. These conjugates showed improved dispersibility, with diffusion coefficients 3.5 times greater than pure PPI, and the isoelectric points shift from pH 4.6 to pH 1.5, which contribute to the pH stability of emulsions (pH 3-9). Additionally, the anisotropic nature of the conjugate particles, with a three-phase contact angle close to 90°, make particles need more energy for detachment from the oil-water interface, leading to good thermal stability of emulsion (80 °C, 48 h). Notably, after conjugation, these particles rely more on PG chains for dispersibility, which are less affected by ions, resulting in emulsions with high ionic strength resistance (3000 mM). Furthermore, the prepared Pickering emulsion demonstrates remarkable antioxidative properties (only a 10 % decrease), indicating widely potential applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Electrophysiological Changes on Laryngeal Motor Neuropathways Cause Voice Disorders for Postradiotherapy Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored electrophysiological changes in the laryngeal motor neuropathway and determined whether lesions in the laryngeal motor cortex (LMC) and its descending tract contribute to voice deterioration and peripheral nerve palsy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) postradiotherapy (RT). STUDY DESIGNS: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with NPC at 2 to 4years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), 22 patients with NPC at 8 to 10years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), and 22 healthy individuals (9 female and 13 male) were selected to test their magnetic evoked potentials (MEP), motor nerve conduction, and voice quality using transcranial magnetic stimulation, laryngeal electromyography, and the XION DiVAS acoustic analysis software. Three groups were matched according to approximate age. Multiple comparisons were performed among the three groups. RESULTS: The voice quality of post-RT patients with NPC deteriorated compared to that of healthy individuals. Bilateral LMC and their corticonuclear tracts to the bilateral ambiguous nuclei of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of MEP amplitudes, latencies, and resting motor thresholds. The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of the amplitude and latencies of the compound muscle action potential and latencies of f-waves. CONCLUSIONS: The voice quality of patients with NPC deteriorated after RT. The pathogenesis of post-RT voice deterioration may involve radiation-induced injuries to the vagus, RLN, and bilateral LMC. Furthermore, radiation-induced injuries to the bilateral LMC may contribute to vagus and RLN palsies. These findings support the use of transcranial approaches to treating voice disorders and peripheral nerve palsies in post-RT patients with NPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100054425; Electrophysiological Study of Vocal-Fold Mobility Disorders After Radiotherapy for NPC Patients via Magnetic Evoked Potential and Their Correlation with Voice Quality Assessment; https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=144429.

RCEAU-Net: Cascade Multi-Scale Convolution and Attention-Mechanism-Based Network for Laser Beam Target Image Segmentation with Complex Background in Coal Mine.

Accurate and reliable pose estimation of boom-type roadheaders is the key to the forming quality of the tunneling face in coal mines, which is of great importance to improve tunneling efficiency and ensure the safety of coal mine production. The multi-laser-beam target-based visual localization method is an effective way to realize accurate and reliable pose estimation of a roadheader body. However, the complex background interference in coal mines brings great challenges to the stable and accurate segmentation and extraction of laser beam features, which has become the main problem faced by the long-distance visual positioning method of underground equipment. In this paper, a semantic segmentation network for underground laser beams in coal mines, RCEAU-Net, is proposed based on U-Net. The network introduces residual connections in the convolution of the encoder and decoder parts, which effectively fuses the underlying feature information and improves the gradient circulation performance of the network. At the same time, by introducing cascade multi-scale convolution in the skipping connection section, which compensates for the lack of contextual semantic information in U-Net and improves the segmentation effect of the network model on tiny laser beams at long distance. Finally, the introduction of an efficient multi-scale attention module with cross-spatial learning in the encoder enhances the feature extraction capability of the network. Furthermore, the laser beam target dataset (LBTD) is constructed based on laser beam target images collected from several coal mines, and the proposed RCEAU-Net model is then tested and verified. The experimental results show that, compared with the original U-Net, RCEAU-Net can ensure the real-time performance of laser beam segmentation while increasing the Accuracy by 0.19%, Precision by 2.53%, Recall by 22.01%, and Intersection and Union Ratio by 8.48%, which can meet the requirements of multi-laser-beam feature segmentation and extraction under complex backgrounds in coal mines, so as to further ensure the accuracy and stability of long-distance visual positioning for boom-type roadheaders and ensure the safe production in the working face.

Ultra-stable pickering emulsion stabilized by anisotropic pea protein isolate-fucoidan conjugate particles through Maillard reaction.

Bio-based emulsifiers hold significant importance in various industries, particularly in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other related fields. In this study, pea protein isolate (PPI) and fucoidan (FUD) were conjugated via the Maillard reaction, which is considered safe and widely used in the preparation of food particle. The PPI-FUD conjugated particles exhibit an anisotropic non-spherical structure, thereby possessing a high detachment energy capable of preventing emulsion coalescence and Ostwald ripening. Compared to emulsions previously prepared in other studies (< 500 mM), the Pickering emulsion stabilized by PPI-FUD conjugate particles demonstrates outstanding ionic strength resistance (up to 5000 mM). Furthermore, when encapsulating curcumin, the Pickering emulsion protects the curcumin from oxidation. Additionally, the formulated emulsions demonstrated the capability to incorporate up to 60 % (v/v) oil phase, revealing remarkable performance in terms of storage stability, pH stability, and thermal stability.

Healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of the first incidence of non-communicable chronic disease and its progression to multimorbidity and its mediating roles of metabolic components: a prospective cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the influence of healthy lifestyles on the incidence of the first NCD (FNCD), multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. DESIGN: cohort study. SETTING: Zhejiang, China PARTICIPANTS: 10566 subjects (55.5 ± 13.5 years, 43.1% male) free of NCDs at baseline from the Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome prospective cohort. MEASUREMENTS: Healthy lifestyle score (HLS) was developed by 6 common healthy lifestyle factors as smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Healthy lifestyle data and metabolic biomarkers collected via a face-to-face questionnaire-based interview, clinical health examination and routine biochemical determination. Biochemical variables were determined using biochemical auto-analyzer. Participants were stratified into four group based on the levels of HLS as ≤2, 3, 4 and ≥5. Multiple Cox proportional hazards model was applied to examine the relationship between HLS and the risk of FNCD, MCCs and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. The population-attributable fractions (PAF) were used to assess the attributable role of HLS. Mediating effect was examined by mediation package in R. RESULTS: After a median of 9.92 years of follow-up, 1572 participants (14.9%) developed FNCD, and 149 (1.4%) developed MCCs. In the fully adjusted model, the higher HLS group (≥5) was associated with lower risk of FNCD (HR = 0.68 and 95% CI: 0.56-0.82), MCCs (HR = 0.31 and 95%CI: 0.14-0.69); and the progression from FNCD to MCCs (HR = 0.39 and 95%CI: 0.18-0.85). Metabolic components (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDC-C, FPG, and UA) played the mediating roles with the proportion ranging from 5.02% to 22.2% for FNCD and 5.94% to 20.1% for MCCs. PAFs (95%CI) for poor adherence to the overall healthy lifestyle (HLS ≤ 3) were 17.5% (11.2%, 23.7%) for FNCD, 42.9% (23.4%, 61.0%) for MCCs, and 37.0% (15.5%, 56.3%) for the progression from FNCD to MCCs. CONCLUSIONS: High HLS decreases the risk of FNCD, MCCs, and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. These effects are partially mediated by metabolic components. Maintaining healthy lifestyles might reduce the disease burden of common chronic diseases.

Highly Sensitive, Stable InP Quantum Dot Fluorescent Probes for Quantitative Immunoassay Through Nanostructure Tailoring and Biotin-Streptavidin Coupling.

Nontoxic, highly sensitive InP quantum dot (QD) fluorescent immunoassay probes are promising biomedical detection modalities due to their unique properties. However, InP-based QDs are prone to surface oxidation, and the stability of InP QD-based probes in biocompatible environments remains a crucial challenge. Although the thick shell can provide some protection during the phase transfer process of hydrophobic QDs, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is generally decreased because of the contradiction between lattice stress relaxation and thick shell growth. Herein, we developed thick-shell InP-based core/shell QDs by inserting a ZnSeS alloy layer. The ternary ZnSeS intermediate shell could effectively facilitate lattice stress relaxation and passivate the defect states. The synthesized InP/ZnSe/ZnSeS/ZnS core/alloy shell/shell QDs (CAS-InP QDs) with nanostructure tailoring revealed a larger size, high PLQY (90%), and high optical stability. After amphiphilic polymer encapsulation, the aqueous CAS-InP QDs presented almost constant fluorescence attenuation and stable PL intensity under different temperatures, UV radiation, and pH solutions. The CAS-InP QDs were excellent labels of the fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) for detecting C-reactive protein (CRP). The biotin-streptavidin (Bio-SA) system was first introduced in the FLISA to further improve the sensitivity, and the CAS-InP QDs-based SA-Bio sandwich FLISA realized the detection of CRP with an impressive limit of detection (LOD) of 0.83 ng/mL. It is believed that the stable and sensitive InP QD fluorescent probes will drive the rapid development of future eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sensitive in vitro diagnostic kits.

A non-invasive 25-Gene PLNM-Score urine test for detection of prostate cancer pelvic lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM) have poor prognosis. Based on EAU guidelines, patients with >5% risk of PLNM by nomograms often receive pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) during prostatectomy. However, nomograms have limited accuracy, so large numbers of false positive patients receive unnecessary surgery with potentially serious side effects. It is important to accurately identify PLNM, yet current tests, including imaging tools are inaccurate. Therefore, we intended to develop a gene expression-based algorithm for detecting PLNM. METHODS: An advanced random forest machine learning algorithm screening was conducted to develop a classifier for identifying PLNM using urine samples collected from a multi-center retrospective cohort (n = 413) as training set and validated in an independent multi-center prospective cohort (n = 243). Univariate and multivariate discriminant analyses were performed to measure the ability of the algorithm classifier to detect PLNM and compare it with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram score. RESULTS: An algorithm named 25 G PLNM-Score was developed and found to accurately distinguish PLNM and non-PLNM with AUC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.85-1.01) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99) in the retrospective and prospective urine cohorts respectively. Kaplan-Meier plots showed large and significant difference in biochemical recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival in the patients stratified by the 25 G PLNM-Score (log rank P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). It spared 96% and 80% of unnecessary PLND with only 0.51% and 1% of PLNM missing in the retrospective and prospective cohorts respectively. In contrast, the MSKCC score only spared 15% of PLND with 0% of PLNM missing. CONCLUSIONS: The novel 25 G PLNM-Score is the first highly accurate and non-invasive machine learning algorithm-based urine test to identify PLNM before PLND, with potential clinical benefits of avoiding unnecessary PLND and improving treatment decision-making.

The mechanism of gut-lung axis in pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a terminal change of a lung disease that is marked by damage to alveolar epithelial cells, abnormal proliferative transformation of fibroblasts, excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), and concomitant inflammatory damage. Its characteristics include short median survival, high mortality rate, and limited treatment effectiveness. More in-depth studies on the mechanisms of PF are needed to provide better treatment options. The idea of the gut-lung axis has emerged as a result of comprehensive investigations into the microbiome, metabolome, and immune system. This theory is based on the material basis of microorganisms and their metabolites, while the gut-lung circulatory system and the shared mucosal immune system act as the connectors that facilitate the interplay between the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. The emergence of a new view of the gut-lung axis is complementary and cross-cutting to the study of the mechanisms involved in PF and provides new ideas for its treatment. This article reviews the mechanisms involved in PF, the gut-lung axis theory, and the correlation between the two. Exploring the gut-lung axis mechanism and treatments related to PF from the perspectives of microorganisms, microbial metabolites, and the immune system. The study of the gut-lung axis and PF is still in its early stages. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms of PF related to the gut-lung axis, providing ideas for subsequent research and treatment of related mechanisms.

GSTP1 rs4147581 C>G and NLRP3 rs3806265 T>C as Risk Factors for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory ailment influenced by a blend of genetic and environmental factors. Inflammatory response and an imbalance in oxidative-antioxidant mechanisms constitute the primary pathogenesis of COPD. Glutathione S-transferase P1(GSTP1) plays a pivotal role as an antioxidant enzyme in regulating oxidative-antioxidant responses in the pulmonary system. The activation of the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain (NLRP3) inflammatory vesicle can trigger an inflammatory response. Several investigations have implicated GSTP1 and NLRP3 in the progression of COPD; nonetheless, there remains debate regarding this mechanism. Methods: Employing a case-control study design, 312 individuals diagnosed with COPD and 314 healthy controls were recruited from Gansu Province to evaluate the correlation between GSTP1 (rs4147581C>G and rs1695A>G) and NLRP3 (rs3806265T>C and rs10754558G>C) polymorphisms and the susceptibility to COPD. Results: The presence of the GSTP1 rs4147581G allele substantially elevated the susceptibility to COPD (CGvs.CC:OR=3.11,95% CI=1.961-4.935, P<0.001;GGvs.CC:OR=2.065,95% CI=1.273-3.350, P=0.003; CG+GGvs.CC:OR=2.594,95% CI=1.718-3.916, P<0.001). Similarly, the NLRP3rs3806265T allele significantly increased the susceptibility to COPD (TC:TT:OR=0.432,95% CI=0.296-0.630; TC+CCvs.TT:OR=2.132,95% CI=1.479-3.074, P<0.001). However, no statistically significant association was discerned between the rs1695A>G and rs10754558G>C polymorphisms and COPD susceptibility (P>0.05). Conclusion: In summary, this study ascertained that the GSTP1 rs4147581C>G polymorphism is associated with increased COPD susceptibility, with the G allele elevating the risk of COPD. Similarly, the NLRP3 rs3806265T>C polymorphism is linked to elevated COPD susceptibility, with the T allele heightening the risk of COPD.

Enhancing soil redox dynamics: Comparative effects of Fe-modified biochar (N-Fe and S-Fe) on Fe oxide transformation and Cd immobilization.

Biochar and modified biochar have gained wide attention for Cd-contaminated soil remediation. This study investigates the effects of rape straw biochar (RSB), sulfur-iron modified biochar (S-FeBC), and nitrogen-iron modified biochar (N-FeBC) on soil Fe oxide transformation and Cd immobilization. The mediated electrochemical analysis results showed that Fe modification effectively enhanced the electron exchange capacity (EEC) of biochar. After 40 days of anaerobic incubation, compared to the treatment without biochar (CK), the concentrations of CaCl2-extractable Cd in N-FeBC, S-FeBC, and RSB treatments decreased by 79%, 53%, and 23%, respectively. Compared with S-FeBC, N-FeBC significantly decreased the soil Eh and increased soil pH within the first 15 days, which could be attributed to its higher EEC and alkalinity. There is a negative correlation between the concentration of CaCl2-extractable Cd and soil pH (p < 0.01). The sequential extraction results showed that both N-FeBC and S-FeBC promoted Cd transfer from acid-soluble to Fe/Mn oxides bound fraction (Fe/Mn-Cd). N-FeBC significantly increased the concentration of amorphous Fe oxides (amFeox) from 4.0 g kg-1 in day 1 to 4.6 g kg-1 in day 15 by promoting the NO3--reducing Fe(II) oxidation process, while S-FeBC significantly increased amFeox from 4.0 g kg-1 in day 15 to 4.8 g kg-1 in day 40 by promoting the Fe(II) recrystallization. There is a positive correlation between the concentration of amFeox and Fe/Mn-Cd (p < 0.01). The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that Cd was bound to the amFeox coating on the surface of Fe-modified biochar. By acting as an electron shuttle, the active surface of Fe-modified biochar may serve as a hotspot for Fe transformation, which promotes amFeox formation and Cd immobilization. This study highlights the potential of Fe-modified biochar for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils and provides valuable insights into the development of effective remediation approaches for Cd-contaminated soils.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk in Chinese population: evidence from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and changes in metabolic risk in the Chinese population are limited. This study aims to examine the associations between CRF and changes in metabolic risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 4,862 and 2,700 participants recruited from 28 provinces in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in the baseline (Wave 1) and follow-up (Wave 4) analyses, respectively. CRF was calculated using sex-specific longitudinal non-exercise equations. Metabolic indicators included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. The metabolic score was calculated as the number of changes in the above metabolic indicators above the 75th percentile of the distribution of changes (equal to or below the 25th percentile for HDL-C). RESULTS: In the baseline analysis, CRF was negatively associated with SBP, DBP, TG, and FPG, and positively correlated with HDL-C after adjusting for age, smoking status, and drinking status (all P < 0.0001) in both males and females. In the follow-up analysis, higher baseline CRF was significantly related to a decrease in SBP, DBP, TG, FPG, and metabolic score (all P < 0.0005), and increased HDL-C (P < 0.0001) after further adjustment for corresponding baseline metabolic indicators. The associations remained significant after stratification by sex, except for the changes in HDL-C levels in females. Furthermore, improved CRF was associated with favorable changes in DBP, TG, HDL-C, FPG, and metabolic scores in all populations and males. Significant associations between changes in CRF and DBP, TG, and FPG levels were found in females. CONCLUSION: Higher baseline CRF and improved CRF were associated with favorable changes in metabolic indicators.

Soft-hard dual nanophases: a facile strategy for polymer strengthening and toughening.

Polymers often face a trade-off between stiffness and extensibility-for example, toughening rigid polymers by incorporating plasticizers or flexible polymers leads to strikingly decreased stiffness. Herein, we circumvent this long-standing tricky dilemma in materials science via constructing soft-hard dual nanophases in polymers. As-fabricated dual-nanophase PLA shows a high yield strength of 69.1 ± 4.4 MPa, a large extensibility of 279.1 ± 25.5%, and a super toughness of 115.2 ± 10.3 MJ m-3, which are 1.2, 48 and 82 times, respectively, those of neat PLA. Combined high stiffness, large ductility, and super toughness are unprecedented for PLA and enable bio-sourced PLA to replace petroleum-based resins such as PP, PET and PC. Besides, soft-hard dual nanophases in polymers are rarely reported due to significant constraints in terms of modifier dispersion/aggregation, interfacial regulation, and processing difficulties. The construction strategy described herein, combining controlled annealing and a well-designed plasticizer, can efficiently construct soft-hard dual nanophases in polymers, which will greatly advance the nanostructure design of polymers. More importantly, the proposed strategy for materials design will be widely applicable to industrial manufacturing in terms of nanophase construction and interfacial optimization due to the simplicity and availability at a large scale. We envision that this work offers an innovative and facile strategy to circumvent the trade-off between stiffness and extensibility and to advance the nanostructure design of high-performance polymers in a manner applicable to industrial manufacturing.

A Case-Control Study of the Associations between EGLN1 Gene Polymorphisms and COPD.

BACKGROUND: Environmental and genetic factors are jointly involved in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The EGLN1 gene is a major factor in upstream regulation of the hypoxia-inducible pathway. EGLN1 negatively regulates the hypoxia-inducible factors HIF-lα and HIF-2α by regulating the concentration of oxygen, mainly in a hypoxic environment. Hypoxia is a common physiologic condition during the progression of COPD, and several studies have identified genetic variants in EGLN1 as a key factor in the adaptation to hypoxic environments. However, it is still unclear whether there is an association between EGLN1 variants and the risk of developing COPD. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. A total of 292 COPD patients and 297 healthy controls were enrolled to assess the association of EGLN1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs41303095 A>G, rs480902 C>T, rs12097901 C>G, rs2153364 G>A) with COPD susceptibility. RESULTS: The EGLN1 rs41303095 A>G, rs480902 C>T, rs12097901 C>G, and rs2153364 G>A polymorphisms were not associated with COPD susceptibility (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The EGLN1 rs41303095 A>G, rs480902 C>T, rs12097901 C>G and rs2153364 G>A polymorphisms were found in this study not to be associated with susceptibility to COPD in Gannan Tibetans.

Influence of Silane Coupling Agent and Anionic Dispersant on the Dispersion Effect of Silicon Carbide Particles.

Silicon carbide (SiC), as a widely used material, has great properties. To improve the flowability of ultrafine silicon carbide slurry, this study used sodium humate, tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), and N-(ß-monoaminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltrimethyl(ethoxysilane) (KH792) to modify the ultrafine silicon carbide powder produced by Qingzhou Micro Powder Company. The effects of different modifiers on improving the flowability of ultrafine silicon carbide slurry were investigated by means of viscosity tests, sedimentation experiments, and SEM observations. Their modification mechanisms were investigated by means of zeta potential tests, XPS tests, and so on. In this paper, the initial modification of SiC was carried out with KH792, followed by the secondary modification with anionic and cationic modifiers (tetramethylammonium hydroxide and sodium humate), and the optimal modification conditions were investigated by means of a viscosity test, which showed that the lowest viscosity of the modified SiC reached 0.076 Pa·s and that the absolute maximum value of the zeta potential increased from 47.5 at the time of no modification to 63.7 (maximum values) at the time of modification. This means it has an improved surface charge, which improves dispersion. The adsorption results of the modifier on the silicon carbide surface were also demonstrated by the XPS test results.

Assessing the impact of diverse mask types on COPD patients: a randomised controlled trial study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Wearing masks has proven beneficial in preventing respiratory pathogen infections in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the impact of different mask types on physiological indicators and daily physical activity in COPD patients remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the immediate effects of various mask types on cardiopulmonary function indicators, subjective perceptions and the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) in individuals with COPD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This randomised controlled trial will enrol 129 stable COPD patients. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: control, N95 mask and surgical mask groups. Each group will undergo both a 6-minute seated test and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), without or with their respective masks. A 10-minute interval will be provided between the two phases. The primary indicators of the study include the 6MWD and blood oxygen saturation. Secondary outcomes encompass blood pressure, pulse rate, Borg score, Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) score and subjective perception score. Oxygen saturation, pulse rate and blood pressure will be recorded four times during the trial, while Borg and RPE scores will be compared before and after the 6MWT. Additionally, subjective perception scores will be collected after each mask-wearing stage. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: 202335). We plan to disseminate research results through publication in a peer-reviewed journal or presentation at a conference. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300074554.