Unraveling Synergistic Effect of Defects and Piezoelectric Field in Breakthrough Piezo-Photocatalytic N2 Reduction.

Piezo-photocatalysis is a frontier technology for converting mechanical and solar energies into crucial chemical substances and has emerged as a promising and sustainable strategy for N2 fixation. Here, for the first time, defects and piezoelectric field are synergized to achieve unprecedented piezo-photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) activity and their collaborative catalytic mechanism is unraveled over BaTiO3 with tunable oxygen vacancies (OVs). The introduced OVs change the local dipole state to strengthen the piezoelectric polarization of BaTiO3 , resulting in a more efficient separation of photogenerated carrier. Ti3+ sites adjacent to OVs promote N2 chemisorption and activation through d-π back-donation with the help of the unpaired d-orbital electron. Furthermore, a piezoelectric polarization field could modulate the electronic structure of Ti3+ to facilitate the activation and dissociation of N2 , thereby substantially reducing the reaction barrier of the rate-limiting step. Benefitting from the synergistic reinforcement mechanism and optimized surface dynamics processes, an exceptional piezo-photocatalytic NH3 evolution rate of 106.7 µmol g-1  h-1 is delivered by BaTiO3 with moderate OVs, far surpassing that of previously reported piezocatalysts/piezo-photocatalysts. New perspectives are provided here for the rational design of an efficient piezo-photocatalytic system for the NRR.

Response of Aboveground Net Primary Production, Species and Phylogenetic Diversity to Warming and Increased Precipitation in an Alpine Meadow.

The uncertain responses of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and plant diversity to climate warming and increased precipitation will limit our ability to predict changes in vegetation productivity and plant diversity under future climate change and further constrain our ability to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. A long-term experiment was conducted to explore the responses of ANPP, plant species, phylogenetic α-diversity, and community composition to warming and increased precipitation in an alpine meadow of the Northern Tibet from 2014 to 2019. Coverage, height, and species name were obtained by conventional community investigation methods, and ANPP was obtained using observed height and coverage. Open-top chambers with two different heights were used to simulate low- and high-level climate warming. The low- and high-level increased precipitation treatments were achieved by using two kinds of surface area funnel devices. The high-level warming reduced sedge ANPP (ANPPsedge) by 62.81%, species richness (SR) by 21.05%, Shannon by 13.06%, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) by 14.48%, but increased forb ANPP (ANPPforb) by 56.65% and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) by 33.88%. Species richness, Shannon, and PD of the high-level warming were 19.64%, 9.67%, and 14.66% lower than those of the low-level warming, respectively. The high-level warming-induced dissimilarity magnitudes of species and phylogenetic composition were greater than those caused by low-level warming. The low- rather than high-level increased precipitation altered species and phylogenetic composition. There were significant inter-annual variations of ANPP, plant species, phylogenetic α-diversity and community composition. Therefore, climate warming and increased precipitation had non-linear effects on ANPP and plant diversity, which were due to non-linear changes in temperature, water availability, and/or soil nutrition caused by warming and increased precipitation. The inter-annual variations of ANPP and plant diversity were stronger than the effects of warming and especially increased precipitation on ANPP and plant diversity. In terms of plant diversity conservation and related policy formulation, we should pay more attention to regions with greater warming, at least for the northern Tibet grasslands. Besides paying attention to the responses of ANPP and plant diversity to climate change, the large inter-annual changes of ANPP and plant diversity should be given great attention because the large inter-annual variation indicates the low temporal stability of ANPP and plant diversity and thus produces great uncertainty for the development of animal husbandry.

Effects of Short-Term Nitrogen Addition on Soil Fungal Community Increase with Nitrogen Addition Rate in an Alpine Steppe at the Source of Brahmaputra.

The soil fungal community plays a crucial role in terrestrial decomposition and biogeochemical cycles. However, the responses of the soil fungal community to short-term nitrogen addition and its related dominant drivers still remain unclear. To address this gap, we conducted an experiment to explore how different levels of nitrogen addition (five levels: 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 g N m-2 y-1) affected the soil fungal community in an alpine steppe at the source of Brahmaputra. Results showed that the reduced magnitudes of soil fungal species and phylogenetic α-diversity increased with the increasing nitrogen addition rate. Nitrogen addition significantly changed the community composition of species, and the dissimilarity of the soil fungal community increased with the increasing nitrogen addition rate, with a greater dissimilarity observed in the superficial soil (0-10 cm) compared to the subsurface soil (10-20 cm). Increases in the soil nitrogen availability were found to be the predominant factor in controlling the changes in the soil fungal community with the nitrogen addition gradient. Therefore, short-term nitrogen addition can still cause obvious changes in the soil fungal community in the alpine grassland at the source of Brahmaputra. We should not underestimate the potential influence of future nitrogen deposition on the soil fungal community in the high-altitude grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Adverse effects on the soil fungal community should be carefully considered when nitrogen fertilizer is used for ecosystem restoration of the alpine grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

A novel evidence combination method based on stochastic approach for link-structure analysis algorithm and Lance-Williams distance.

In response to the traditional Dempster-Shafer (D-S) combination rule that cannot handle highly conflicting evidence, an evidence combination method based on the stochastic approach for link-structure analysis (SALSA) algorithm combined with Lance-Williams distance is proposed. Firstly, the degree of conflict between evidences is calculated based on the number of correlation coefficients between evidences. Then, the evidences with a number of correlation coefficients greater than the average number of correlation coefficients of evidence are connected to construct an evidence association network. The authority weight of the evidence is calculated based on the number of citations in the concept of SALSA algorithm combined with the support of the evidence. Subsequently, the Lance-Williams distance between the evidences is calculated and transformed into support of the evidence. Next, the authority weight and support of evidence are combined to jointly construct a novel correction coefficient to correct the evidence. Finally, the corrected evidence is fused using the D-S combination rule to obtain the final fusion result. The numerical results verify that the method proposed in this paper can effectively solve the problem of the traditional D-S combination rule being unable to handle highly conflicting evidence.

[Identification of Weak D Type 1 in Rh Blood Group System and Discussion of Transfusion Strategy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism of one patient with abnormal serological phenotype in RhD and discuss the transfusion strategy. METHODS: The RhD variant sample was screened from a patient with IgM type anti-D antibody and further determined by three different sources of anti-D antibodies. Ten exons and the adjacent introns of the RHD gene were amplified, purified and sequenced. RhCE phenotypes and RHCE genotypes were detected. RESULTS: The patient with Rh variant showed abnormal results of serological tests. The RHD gene sequence analysis showed that the RHD*01W.01 with a variation (c.809T>G, p.Val270Gly) in exon 6 of the RHD gene was found in the patient. The RhCE phenotype was CcEe. The genotyping results of RHCE were consistent with the serological typing results. CONCLUSION: The Rh variant of the patient is RHD*01W.01, these findings indicate that RhD variants should be analyzed by molecular assays for the sake of safe transfusion.

Hydrochemical characteristics of surface waters and their relationships to the Kashin-Beck Disease in Longzi County, Tibet.

Although previous studies have been reported between the Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD) epidemic and the hydrochemical characteristics of surface waters, the etiology of the disease remains unclear. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the relationship between the KBD and the hydrochemical characteristics of surface waters in Longzi County. Results show that, the pH (mean = 7.27 ± 0.30), total hardness (TH, mean = 57.08 ± 45.74 mg L-1), total dissolved solids (TDS, mean = 67.56 ± 44.00 mg L-1) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP, mean = 84.11 ± 23.55 mV) of surface waters in KBD endemic areas are lower than those in the non-KBD endemic areas (means of pH = 7.49 ± 0.30; TH = 262.06 ± 123.29 mg L-1; TDS = 253.25 ± 100.39 mg L-1; ORP = 215.90 ± 55.99 mV). These results suggest that long-term consumption of low TDS, essential trace elements (e.g., nickel, cobalt, iron, selenium, zinc, molybdenum, and iodine) deficient, and potential toxic elements (e.g., arsenic) enriched waters by humans likely causes the KBD. Environmental factors such as the geology and geomorphology may produce biogeochemical imbalance, geomorphic, vegetation types and local climatic conditions may have significant impact on food fungi toxin poisoning and water organic compound poisoning, and these also impact the KBD occurrence.

[Different Subtypes Caused by c.721C>T Substitution in the Exon 7 of ABO Gene].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the different subtypes caused by c.721C>T substitution in the exon 7 of the ABO gene, and to investigate the related molecular mechanism of different antigens expression. METHODS: ABO subtypes in 7 samples were identified by standard serological methods. The exons 6, 7, and adjacent intron of ABO gene were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing and cloning sequencing. RESULTS: ABO subtypes phenotypes were AW (1 case), BW (3 cases), ABW (2 cases), A2 or Aint (1 case). The result showed that the 7th exon of ABO gene was c.721C>T variety based on A1.02, B1.01, and O.01.02; the alleles were AW.43（1 case）, BW.03（5 cases） and O.01.07（1 case）, ABO genotypes were ABO*AW.43/O.01.02 (1 case) , ABO*BW.03/O.01.02 (3 cases), ABO*A1.02/BW.03 (2 cases), and ABO*A2.05/O.01.07 (1 case). CONCLUSION: c.721C>T substitution in the ABO gene causes p.Arg241Trp exchange resulting in the decreasing of GTA or GTB activities and weaker antigen expression. O.01.07 is a null allele which cannot form a functional catalytic enzyme has no effect on A2 subtype antigen expression.

[Differences of drought tolerance of the main tree species in Dongling Mountain, Beijing, China as indicated by tree rings]. / æ ‘æœ¨å¹´è½®æ­ç¤ºçš„ä¸œçµå±±ä¸»è¦æ ‘ç§é—´å¹²æ—±è€å—æ€§å·®å¼‚.

Forests in Beijing exhibit vulnerability to increasing stress of extreme drought in recent years. To investigate the drought tolerance of different tree species, we chose three tree species (Larix principis-rupprechtii, Pinus tabuliformis, and Quercus wutaishanica) from the forest of Dongling Mountain in Beijing and used dendroecological method to analyze the relationship between radial growth and climate, as well as their resistance and resilience to extreme drought events. Our results showed that the radial growth of L. principis-rupprechtii and P. tabuliformis was significantly negatively correlated with monthly mean temperature from May to June, but that of Q. wutaishanica was significantly negatively correlated with monthly mean temperature only in May. The radial growth of L. principis-rupprechtii was significantly positively correlated with monthly mean precipitation in June, monthly mean relative humidity from May to June and August to September. The radial growth of P. tabuliformis was significantly positively correlated with monthly mean precipitation and monthly mean relative humidity from June to August. The radial growth of Q. wutaishanica was significantly positively correlated with monthly mean precipitation in February and May, and monthly mean relative humidity in May. The radial growth of all the three species was significantly positively correlated with monthly mean SPEI (standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index) from May to July. L. principis-rupprechtii was least drought tolerant, as indicated by the greatest growth reduction (46.6%-69.6%), lowest resistance (0.534, 0.304, 0.530) and resilience (0.686, 0.570, 0.753) during the three extreme drought events occurred in the 1994, 2001-2002, and 2007. In contrast, tree growth of Q. wutaishanica showed the highest drought resistance in 2007, whereas no significant differences were observed between other two species. Extreme drought events caused by continuous high temperature and reduced precipitation during the growing season accounted for the reduction in tree radial growth. The various physiological and ecological strategies of tree species were the possible reasons for the difference in drought tolerance. Our results could provide a basis for the selection of suitable afforestation tree species and the formulation of forest protection mea-sures to maintain forest ecosystem functions and services under the background of undergoing climate change.

[Study on the Identification of Samples Mistyped as O Phenotype and the Strategy of Safe Blood Transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indentification method of samples mistyped as O phenotype and to explore the precision transfusion strategy. METHODS: The blood samples from donors and patients admitted in our center from 2018 to 2019 was collected. The samples with O phenotype suspected subtypes were further determined by tube test, adsorption-elution test, etc. Molecular testing was used to sequence the related blood type genes of the subjects. RESULTS: Among 14 subjects misjudged as O, 11 different genotypes were identified, in which 3 blood donors were Ael02/O02, Bel03/O02, and one para-Bombay with B101/O02 (FUT1: h3h3; FUT2: Se357Se357); the genotypes of 11 patients were Ael02/O01, 2 cases with Ael02/O02, Ael08/O01, Aw37/O02, Aw43/O02, Bel03/O01, 3 cases with Bel03/O02, and one case was para-Bombay with A102/B101 (FUT1: h3h3; FUT2: Se357Se357). CONCLUSION: The phenotypes of Ael, Bel, Aw and para-Bombay subtypes are easily misjudged as type O. Molecular technology is helpful to identify the genotype of subtypes, and the corresponding transfusion strategies could be reasonably performed.

[Investigation of ABO allelic competition phenomena in a pedigree with Bw11 subtype].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of a pedigree carrying an allele for ABO*BW.11 blood subgroup. METHODS: The ABO blood type of 9 pedigree members were determined by serological methods. Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. The patient and her father were also subjected to clone sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Serological tests demonstrated that the proband and her younger brother had an ABw subtype, whilst her father and two daughters had Bw subtype. Clone sequencing found that the exon 7 of the ABO gene of the proband had a T>C substitution at position 695, which was identified as a BW.11 allele compared with the reference sequence B.01. This BW.11 allele was also identified in the proband's father, brother and two daughters. Due to allelic competition, the A/BW.11 and BW.11/O alleles demonstrated significantly different phenotypes. CONCLUSION: The c.695T>C substitution of the ABO gene may lead to allelic competition in the Bw11 subtype. Combined molecular and serological methods is helpful for precise blood grouping.

An unresectable gastric cancer with bulky lymph node metastases treated with SOX chemotherapy plus apatinib followed by D3 radical gastrectomy: a case report.

Conversion therapy for gastric cancer (GC) has been the subject of much recent attention. GC patients with bulky lymph node metastases were usually considered oncologically unresectable and surgery could be challenging and tumor shrinkage may serve to facilitate resection. Previous studies reported satisfactory survival data were obtained in the series of neoadjuvant studies with bulky N disease. However, the evidence of combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy with targeted therapy for patients with bulky N disease is inadequate. We report a 52-year-old man who was diagnosed with unresectable GC with bulky lymph node metastases after endoscopic biopsy and abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination. Histopathology confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma at the junction of the antrum and the body of the stomach. Abdominal enhanced CT showed marked thickening of more than two-thirds of the stomach wall and multiple enlarged and coalesced perigastric and extragastric lymph nodes. The clinical staging was cT4aN3M0. The patient was administered two cycles of S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX regimen) plus apatinib. Repeat abdominal enhanced CT demonstrated decrease in stomach wall thickness and in the sizes of all perigastric and extragastric lymph nodes (<1.0 cm). D2 gastrectomy with para-aortic lymph node dissection was performed after 5 weeks. Pathological examination of resected specimen revealed a ypT4bN0M0 poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. All 140 lymph nodes that were examined were negative. SOX chemotherapy regime was advised after surgery, but had to be discontinued after two cycles because of severe side effects. The patient has been followed up regularly for more than 2 years with enhanced abdominal CT and the examination of tumor markers. No recurrence or metastasis has been identified till the time of submission of this article. Our treatment experience might provide a reference for the treatment of GC patients with bulky lymph node metastases.

Bronchogenic cyst of the stomach: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gastric bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are extremely rare cystic masses caused by abnormal development of the respiratory system during the embryonic period. Gastric bronchial cysts are rare lesions first reported in 1956; as of 2019, only 37 cases are available in the MEDLINE/PubMed online databases. BCs usually have no clinical symptoms in the early stage, and their imaging findings also lack specificity. Therefore, they are difficult to diagnose before histopathological examination. CASE SUMMARY: A 55-year-old woman presented at our hospital with intermittent epigastric pain. She had a slightly high level of serum carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4). Endoscopic ultrasound found that a cystic mass originated from the submucosa of the posterior gastric wall near the cardia, indicating a diagnosis of cystic hygroma of the stomach. Furthermore, a computed tomography scan demonstrated a quasi-circular cystic mass closely related to the lesser curvature of the gastric fundus with a low density. Because the imaging examinations did not suggest a malignancy and the patient required complete resection, she underwent laparoscopic surgery. As an intraoperative finding, this cystic lesion was located in the posterior wall of the fundus and contained some yellow viscous liquid. Finally, the pathologists verified that the cyst in the fundus was a gastric BC. The patient recovered well with normal CA 72-4 levels, and her course was uneventful at 10 mo. CONCLUSION: This is a valuable report as it describes an extremely rare case of gastric BC. Moreover, this is the first case of BC to present with elevated CA 72-4 levels.

[Identification of a Rare Ael05/B101 Subtype and Selection of Blood Transfusion Strategy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of ABO discrepancy in a patient by ABO genotyping and the reasonable blood transfusion strategy. METHODS: Routine serological test was carried out to analyze ABO blood group. The presence of the blood group determinants on the red blood cells were determined by adsorption-elution test. Exons 1-7 and adjacent introns of the ABO gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced. RESULTS: The patient showed ABO forward and reverse typing discrepancy. ABO forward typing defined as B, however, the reverse typing indicated that the patient was AB subtype. Absorption-elution test confirmed weak A antigens on the patient's red blood cells. The ABO gene sequencing showed a T>C exchange at position in exon 7 which resulted in a isoleucine to threonine substitution at codon 256. The ABO blood group genotype was ABO*Ael05/B101. CONCLUSION: The 767 T>C substitution in the gene of α-1,3-N-acetyl galactose is the molecular mechanism leading to the decrease expression of A antigen of the Ael05 subtype.

Predictors for the efficacy of Endostar combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC.

BACKGROUND: Endostar (rh-endostatin) is a new recombinant human endostatin, which could inhibit cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. OBJECTIVE: To explore anti-angiogenesis short-term efficacy combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and identify the potential predictive factors. METHODS: We pathologically examined 26 patients diagnosed with stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC who received NP chemotherapy alone or combined with Endostar, respectively. RESULTS: Our results indicated that total clinical benefit rate (CBR) 87.5% and 64% (p= 0.76), respectively. The clinical benefit (CB) patients in the treatment group showed significant changes in endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), blood flow (BF), permeability surface (PMS), and microvascular density (MVD) before and after treatment. Compared with CB patients in the control group, changes in EPC and MVD (only) before and after treatment were significant. The variation of EPC, PMS, and MVD before and after treatment in the treatment group showed positive correlation with tumor regression rate (TRR) and the variation of MVD, whereas those of EPC and PMS demonstrated positive correlations with variation of MVD before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that PMS and EPC may be used as a predictive factor for the short-term efficacy of the combined therapy in NSCLC.

[Identification of a Bw14 subtype and exploration for its molecular basis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify a rare subtype of the ABO blood group system and explore its molecular basis. METHODS: Based on a standard serological assay, ABO subtype and haplotype were analyzed through PCR amplification of the 7 exons and adjacent introns of the ABO gene and TA clone sequencing. RESULTS: Forward typing showed a B type, while reverse typing demonstrated an extremely weak anti-B on routine gel analysis, which indicated a forward and reverse typing discrepancy. Absorption-elution testing confirmed that there was no A antigen on the surface of patient's red blood cells. Sequencing of the ABO gene showed a G>A exchange at position 523 in exon 7, which resulted in a Val to Met substitution at codon 175. Clone sequencing of the amplificons of the ABO gene showed an ABO* Bw14/O01 heterozygote genotype. CONCLUSION: Molecular method is useful for the identification of ambiguous blood groups. A 523G>A substitution of the ABO gene resulting in a Bw14 subtype probably underlies the weak B phenotype noted in the patient.

[Molecular mechanisms underlying DEL phenotype among ethnic Han individuals from Jiangsu].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism underlying the DEL phenotype among RhD negative ethnic Han individuals from Jiangsu, China. METHODS: The DEL phenotype was determined by an adsorption elution test among 57 RhD negative blood donors. The Rh C, c, E, and e phenotypes were detected by a tube method. PCR with sequence-specific primering (PCR-SSP) assay was used to determine the RHCE genotypes. The RHD gene of the DEL individuals were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and subjected to Sanger sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Among the 57 RhD negative donors, 10 (17.54%) were determined as having the DEL phenotype. The major RhCE phenotypes for DEL and RhD negative cases were RhCcee (80.0%) and Rhccee (61.7%), respectively. All RHD gene sequences of the 10 individuals have harbored a G>A mutation at position 1227 of exon 9. CONCLUSION: A proportion of RhD negative individuals determined by routine serological method are actually DEL with RHD gene mutations. RHD *1227A is the most prevalent DEL genotype among ethnic Han Chinese from Jiangsu. Further research on the phenotype and underlying molecular mechanism of DEL is important for blood transfusion.