Integrative metagenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analysis reveal the microbiota-host interplay in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma among non-smokers.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (ES-LUAD) is steadily increasing among non-smokers. Previous research has identified dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of patients with lung cancer. However, the local microbial profile of non-smokers with ES-LUAD remains largely unknown. In this study, we systematically characterized the local microbial community and its associated features to enable early intervention. METHODS: A prospective collection of ES-LUAD samples (46 cases) and their corresponding normal tissues adjacent to the tumor (41 cases), along with normal lung tissue samples adjacent to pulmonary bullae in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (42 cases), were subjected to ultra-deep metagenomic sequencing, host transcriptomic sequencing, and proteomic sequencing. The obtained omics data were subjected to both individual and integrated analysis using Spearman correlation coefficients. RESULTS: We concurrently detected the presence of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the lung tissues. The microbial profile of ES-LUAD exhibited similarities to NAT but demonstrated significant differences from the healthy controls (HCs), characterized by an overall reduction in species diversity. Patients with ES-LUAD exhibited local microbial dysbiosis, suggesting the potential pathogenicity of certain microbial species. Through multi-omics correlations, intricate local crosstalk between the host and local microbial communities was observed. Additionally, we identified a significant positive correlation (rho > 0.6) between Methyloversatilis discipulorum and GOLM1 at both the transcriptional and protein levels using multi-omics data. This correlated axis may be associated with prognosis. Finally, a diagnostic model composed of six bacterial markers successfully achieved precise differentiation between patients with ES-LUAD and HCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study depicts the microbial spectrum in patients with ES-LUAD and provides evidence of alterations in lung microbiota and their interplay with the host, enhancing comprehension of the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie ES-LUAD. The specific model incorporating lung microbiota can serve as a potential diagnostic tool for distinguishing between ES-LUAD and HCs.

Buccal Swab Samples from Japanese Brown Cattle Fed with Limonite Reveal Altered Rumen Microbiome.

The areas of the Mount Aso grasslands in Kumamoto, Japan, are the primary location for the breeding of the Kumamoto strain of Japanese Brown cattle (JBRK). Although Aso limonite, deposited by volcanic ash and magma, has been commonly fed to pregnant JBRK in this area, the mechanisms of its salutary effects on pregnant JBRK have not yet been elucidated. Approximately 100 days before the expected day of calf delivery, seven JBRK (four supplemented with limonite and three controls without limonite) were assigned to this study, from which a buccal swab was collected at the highest rumination every 30 days for 90 days. DNA extracted from these swabs was then analyzed using a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence analysis. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were discovered through beta-diversity analysis, though results from alpha-diversity analysis were inconclusive. The microbiota identified were classified into six clusters, and three of the main clusters were core-rumen bacteria, primarily cellulose digestion in cluster 1, oral bacteria in cluster 2, and non-core-rumen bacteria in cluster 3. In the limonite group, core-rumen bacteria decreased while non-core-rumen bacteria increased, suggesting that limonite feeding alters rumen microbiota, particularly activation of non-core-rumen microbiota.

A simple projection method to correlate the principal mechanical direction with the principal microstructural direction of human osteoporotic femoral heads.

The mechanics of the trabecular bone is related to its structure; this work aimed to propose a simple projection method to clarify the correlation between the principal mechanical direction (PMD) and the principal microstructural direction (PMSD) of trabecular bones from osteoporotic femoral heads. A total of 529 trabecular cubes were cropped from five osteoporotic femoral heads. The micro computed tomography (µCT) sequential images of each cube were first projected onto the three Cartesian coordinate planes to have three overlapped images, and the trabecular orientation distribution in the three images was analyzed. The PMSD corresponding to the greatest distribution frequency of the trabecular orientation in the three images was defined. Then, the voxel finite element (FE) models of the cubes were reconstructed and simulated to obtain their compliance matrices, and the matrices were subjected to transversal rotation to find their maximum elastic constants. The PMD corresponding to the maximum elastic constant was defined. Subsequently, the correlation of the defined PMSD and PMD was analyzed. The results showed that PMSD and PMD of the trabecular cubes did not show a significant difference at the xy- and yz-planes except that at the zx-plane. Despite this, the mean PMSD-PMD deviations at the three coordinate planes were close to 0°, and the PMSD-PMD fitting to the line PMSD = PMD demonstrated their high correlation. This study might be helpful to identify the loading direction of anisotropic trabecular bones in experiments by examining the PMSD and also to guide bone scaffold design for bone tissue repair.

Dynamic water migration and flavor analysis of sea cucumber in the process of Sichuan pepper seasoning soak.

Soaking in seasoning solution is the main process of sea cucumber seasoning. This study analyzed the dynamic changes in water migration and flavor substances in sea cucumbers during soaking in a Sichuan pepper solution. It was found that the sea cucumber experienced a process of water absorption followed by water loss during the 0-48 h soaking process. During this period, the flavor compounds in sea cucumbers showed different dynamic trends. A total of 46 volatiles were identified, of which 29 were key flavor compounds. Its flavor profiles tended to stabilize as soaking time increased. m-Xylene, d-Limonene, Eucalyptol, p-Xylene, Sabinene, Beta-Myrcene, and Beta-Phellandrene were the main characteristic substances contributing to the differences in sea cucumber flavor. Correlation analysis predicted the relationship between water migration and the dynamic shifts in flavor compounds. This study provides a crucial reference for future studies on the processing and flavor modulation of sea cucumber products.

A novel temporal-frequency combination pattern optimization approach based on information fusion for motor imagery BCIs.

Motor imagery (MI) stands as a powerful paradigm within Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) research due to its ability to induce changes in brain rhythms detectable through common spatial patterns (CSP). However, the raw feature sets captured often contain redundant and invalid information, potentially hindering CSP performance. Methodology-wise, we propose the Information Fusion for Optimizing Temporal-Frequency Combination Pattern (IFTFCP) algorithm to enhance raw feature optimization. Initially, preprocessed data undergoes simultaneous processing in both time and frequency domains via sliding overlapping time windows and filter banks. Subsequently, we introduce the Pearson-Fisher combinational method along with Discriminant Correlation Analysis (DCA) for joint feature selection and fusion. These steps aim to refine raw electroencephalogram (EEG) features. For precise classification of binary MI problems, an Radial Basis Function (RBF)-kernel Support Vector Machine classifier is trained. To validate the efficacy of IFTFCP and evaluate it against other techniques, we conducted experimental investigations using two EEG datasets. Results indicate a notably superior classification performance, boasting an average accuracy of 78.14% and 85.98% on dataset 1 and dataset 2, which is better than other methods outlined in this article. The study's findings suggest potential benefits for the advancement of MI-based BCI strategies, particularly in the domain of feature fusion.

[Construction and application of a risk index of Echinococcus infection based on the classification of echinococcosis lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of constructing the risk index of Echinococcus infection based on the classification of echinococcosis lesions, so as to provide insights into the management of echinococcosis. METHODS: The imaging data of echinococcosis cases were collected from epidemiological surveys of echinococcosis in China from 2012 to 2016, and the detection of incident echinococcosis cases was captured from the annual echinococcosis prevention and control reports across provinces (autonomous regions) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in China from 2017 to 2022. After echinococcosis lesions were classified, a risk index of Echinococcus infection was constructed based on the principle of discrete distribution marginal probability and multi-group classification data tests. The correlation between the risk index of Echinococcus infection and the detection of incident echinococcosis cases was evaluated in the provinces (autonomous regions and corps) from 2017 to 2022, and the correlations between the short and medium-term risk indices and between the medium and long-term risk indices of Echinococcus infection were examined using a univariate linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 4 014 echinococcosis cases in China from 2012 to 2016 were included in this study. The short-, medium- and long-term risk indices of E. granulosus infection varied in echinococcosis-endemic provinces (autonomous regions and corps) of China (χ2 = 4.12 to 708.65, all P values < 0.05), with high short- (0.058), medium- (0.137) and long-term risk indices (0.104) in Tibet Autonomous Region, and the short-, medium- and long-term risk indices of E. multilocularis infection varied in echinococcosis-endemic provinces (autonomous regions and corps) of China (χ2 = 6.74 to 122.60, all P values < 0.05), with a high short-term risk index in Sichuan Province (0.016) and high medium- (0.009) and long-term risk indices in Qinghai Province (0.018). There were no significant correlations between the risk index of E. granulosus infection and the detection of incident cystic echinococcosis cases during the study period (t = -0.518 to 2.265, all P values > 0.05), and strong correlations were found between the risk indices of E. multilocularis infection and the detection of incident alveolar echinococcosis cases (including mixed type) in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, during the period from 2017 through 2020, from 2017 through 2021, from 2017 through 2022 (all r values > 0.7, t = 2.521 to 3.692, all P values < 0.05). Linear regression models were established between the risk index of E. multilocular infection and the detection of alveolar echinococcosis cases (including mixed type), and the models were all statistically significant (b = 0.214 to 2.168, t = 2.458 to 3.692, F = 6.044 to 13.629, all P values < 0.05). The regression coefficients for the correlations between the medium- and short-term, and between the long- and medium-term risk indices of E. granulosus infection were 2.339 and 0.765, and the regression coefficients for the correlations between the medium- and short-term, and between the long- and medium-term risk indices of E. multilocular infection were 0.280 and 1.842, with statistical significance seen in both the regression coefficients and regression models (t = 16.479 to 197.304, F = 271.570 to 38 928.860, all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The risk index of Echinococcus infection has been successfully established based on the classification of echinococcosis lesions, which may provide insights into the prevention and control, prediction, diagnosis and treatment, and classified management of echinococcosis.

Correlation between ABO blood type and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in elderly patients following hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between ABO blood type and the incidence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LEDVT) in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery, while identifying contributing factors to thrombogenesis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 159 elderly patients with hip fractures treated at Tianjin Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University) from December 2021 to December 2023. The cohort was divided into two groups: those with O blood type (45 patients) and those with non-O blood types (114 patients). We analyzed clinical data and the incidence of LEDVT between the groups. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for LEDVT, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the predictive efficacy of these factors. RESULTS: The incidence of LEDVT was significantly higher in the non-O blood type group compared to the O blood type group (34.21% vs. 15.56%, P = 0.0408). Logistic regression identified high body mass index (BMI), comorbid hypertension, low platelet count (PLT), prolonged prothrombin time (PT), and non-O blood type as independent risk factors for LEDVT. The ROC curve for these predictors showed an area under the curve of 0.862, with a sensitivity of 75.22%, a specificity of 86.96%, and an accuracy of 78.62%. CONCLUSION: ABO blood type is correlated with the occurrence of LEDVT in elderly patients' post-hip fracture. Those with non-O blood type, alongside other factors such as high BMI, hypertension, low PLT, and extended PT, are at increased risk of developing LEDVT.

Interpretation of the effects of rumen acidosis on the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in calves based on 16S rDNA sequencing and non-target metabolomics.

Introduction: Rumen acidosis is one of the most common diseases in beef cattle. It severely affects the normal development of calves and poses a significant threat to the farming industry. However, the influence of rumen acidosis on the gut microbiota and serum metabolites of calves is currently unclear. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in calves after rumen acidosis and analyse the correlation. Methods: Eight calves were selected as the rumen acidosis group, and eight health calves were selected as the healthy group. The faecal gut microbiota and serum metabolites of calves were detected respectively using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing and non-target metabolomics. The correlation between gut microbiota and serum metabolites was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Differential analysis of the diversity and composition of gut microbiota between eight male healthy (Health) and eight male rumen acidosis (Disease) calves revealed that rumen acidosis increased the abundance of the gut microbiota in calves. At the phylum level, compared to the Healthy group, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the Disease group significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Desulfobacterota significantly increased in the Disease group (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared to the Disease group, the relative abundance of Alloprevotella, Muribaculaceae, Succinivibrio, Prevotella, Agathobacter and Parabacteroides significantly increased in the Healthy group (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7 and Monoglobus significantly decreased in the Healthy group (P<0.05). Differential analysis results showed the Healthy group had 23 genera with higher abundance, while the Disease group had 47 genera with higher abundance. Serum metabolomics results revealed the differential metabolites associated with rumen acidosis, including nicotinamide, niacin, L-glutamic acid and carnosine, were mainly enriched in the nicotinate and nicotinamide pathway and the histidine pathway. Conclusion: The occurrence of rumen acidosis can induce changes in the gut microbiota of calves, with a significant increase of the Christensenellaceae_R-7 genus and a significant decrease of Prevotella and Succinivibrio genera. In addition, the occurrence of rumen acidosis can also induce changes in serum metabolites including niacin, niacinamide, L-glutamine, and carnosine, which may serve as the diagnostic biomarkers of rumen acidosis of calves.

Selection and Mechanism Study of Q-Markers for Xanthocerais lignum Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Serum Spectrum-Effect Correlation Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the chemical profile of Xanthocerais lignum's extracts of different polarities and their impact on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we identified anti-RA markers and predicted their action mechanisms. METHODS: A collagen-induced arthritis rat model was established, and UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS technology was employed to analyze and identify the chemical constituents within the alcohol extract of Xanthocerais lignum and its various extraction fractions, as well as their translocation into the bloodstream. Serum spectrum-effect correlation analysis was utilized to elucidate the pharmacodynamic material basis of Xanthocerais lignum against RA and to screen for Q-Markers. Finally, the potential anti-RA mechanisms of the Q-Markers were predicted through compound-target interaction data and validated using molecular docking techniques. RESULTS: We identified 71 compounds, with flavan-3-ols and flavanones as key components. Of these, 36 were detected in the bloodstream, including 17 original and 19 metabolized forms. Proanthocyanidin A2, dihydroquercetin, catechin, and epicatechin (plus glucuronides) showed potential anti-RA activity. These compounds, acting as Q-Markers, may modulate ERK, NF-κB, HIF-1α, and VEGF in the HIF-1 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This research clarifies Xanthocerais lignum's pharmacodynamic material basis against RA, identifies 4 Q-Markers, and offers insights into their mechanisms, aiding quality assessment and lead compound development for RA treatment.

Evaluation of acetic acid treatment of fresh-cut water chestnuts using gray-correlation analysis based on the variation-coefficient weight.

Introduction: The demand for fresh-cut water chestnuts, a convenient and nutritive vegetable, is increasing in market. However, the slicing of water chestnuts can cause mechanical damage to tissue, which results in quality deterioration. We aimed to select the optimal treatment through a comprehensive comparison of the preservation effect of acetic acid, which could prolong the shelf life of fresh-cut water chestnuts and improve their storage quality. Methods: A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the gray-correlation method based on the variation-coefficient weight to observe the treatment of 0, 2 and 5% acetic acid. Their effects on color, weight loss rate, and the content of ascorbic acid, total sugar, reducing sugar, soluble protein, and free amino acid were determined. Results: The color, weight loss rate, and nutritional content of fresh-cut chestnuts varied under different processing and storage times. When stored for more than 4 days, the b* value, and the content of total sugar and soluble protein in CK were higher than those in 2% or 5% acetic acid, but the weight loss rate, and the content of ascorbic acid and free amino acid in CK were less than those in acetic acid treatments. Considering various indicators, it was difficult to determine which treatment to choose for fresh-cut water chestnut preservation. The gray-correlation analysis results indicated that when stored for 8, 12, or 16 days, the gray-correlation degree of 5% acetic acid was the highest, while that of the control was the lowest. It could be directly concluded by the gray-correlation degree that when the storage time exceeded 4 days, acetic acid could be used to improve storage quality, and 5% acetic acid had a better preservation effect than 2%. Fresh-cut water chestnuts can be stored for 4 days without the need for acetic acid treatment. Conclusion: These findings could provide information and comprehensive evaluation methods for the preservation of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. The next step is to evaluate the preservation effect of acetic acid by measuring its effects on other indicators of fresh-cut water chestnuts (e.g., flavonoids, and microorganisms), providing ideas for the research of preservatives.

Farmland's silent threat: Comprehensive multimedia assessment of micropollutants through non-targeted screening and targeted analysis in agricultural systems.

Intricate agricultural ecosystems markedly influence the dynamics of organic micropollutants, posing substantial threats to aquatic organisms and human health. This study examined the occurrence and distribution of organic micropollutants across soils, ditch sediment, and water within highly intensified farming setups. Using a non-targeted screening method, we identified 405 micropollutants across 10 sampling sites, which mainly included pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and personal care products. This inventory comprised emerging contaminants, banned pesticides, and controlled pharmaceuticals that had eluded detection via conventional monitoring. Targeted analysis showed concentrations of 3.99-1021 ng/g in soils, 4.67-2488 ng/g in sediment, and 12.5-9373 ng/L in water, respectively, for Σ40pesticides, Σ8pharmaceuticals, and Σ3industrial chemicals, indicating notable spatial variability. Soil organic carbon content and wastewater discharge were likely responsible for their spatial distribution. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis revealed a potential transfer of micropollutants across the three media. Particularly, a heightened correlation was decerned between soil and sediment micropollutant levels, highlighting the role of sorption processes. Risk quotients surpassed the threshold of 1 for 13-23 micropollutants across the three media, indicating high environmental risks. This study highlights the importance of employing non-targeted and targeted screening in assessing and managing environmental risks associated with micropollutants.

Evolution and health risk of indicator microorganisms in landscape water replenished by reclaimed water.

As an important means to solve water shortage, reclaimed water has been widely used for landscape water supply. However, with the emergence of large-scale epidemic diseases such as SARS, avian influenza and COVID-19 in recent years, people are increasingly concerned about the public health safety of reclaimed water discharged into landscape water, especially the pathogenic microorganisms in it. In this study, the water quality and microorganisms of the Old Summer Palace, a landscape water body with reclaimed water as the only replenishment water source, were tracked through long-term dynamic monitoring. And the health risks of indicator microorganisms were analyzed using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). It was found that the concentration of indicator microorganisms Enterococcus (ENT), Escherichia coli (EC) and Fecal coliform (FC) generally showed an upward trend along the direction of water flow and increased by more than 0.6 log at the end of the flow. The concentrations of indicator microorganisms were higher in summer and autumn than those in spring. And there was a positive correlation between the concentration of indicator microorganisms and COD. Further research suggested that increased concentration of indicator microorganisms also led to increased health risks, which were more than 30% higher in other areas of the park than the water inlet area and required special attention. In addition, (water) surface operation exposure pathway had much higher health risks than other pathways and people in related occupations were advised to take precautions to reduce the risks.

Impact of emotional states on tinnitus sound therapy efficacy based on ECG signals and emotion recognition model.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and severity assessment of tinnitus are mostly based on the patient's descriptions and subjective questionnaires, which lacks objective means of diagnosis and assessment bases, the accuracy of which fluctuates with the clarity of the patient's description. This complicates the timely modification of treatment strategies or therapeutic music to improve treatment efficacy. NEW METHOD: We employed a novel random convolutional kernel-based method for electrocardiogram (ECG) signal analysis to identify patients' emotional states during Music Tinnitus Sound Therapy (Music-TST) sessions. Then analyzed correlations between emotional changes in different treatment phase and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score differences to determine the impact of emotions on tinnitus treatment efficacy. RESULTS: This study revealed a significant correlation between patients' emotion changes during Music-TST and the therapy's effectiveness. Changes in arousal and dominance dimension, were strongly linked to THI variations. These findings highlight the substantial impact of emotional responses on sound therapy's efficacy, offering a new perspective for understanding and optimizing tinnitus treatment. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Compared to existing methods, we proposed an objective indicator to assess the progress of sound therapy, the indicator could also be used to provide feedback to optimize sound therapy music. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the critical role of emotion changes in tinnitus sound therapy. By integrating objective ECG-based emotion analysis with traditional subjective scale like THI, we present an innovative approach to assess and potentially optimize therapy effectiveness. This finding could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for tinnitus sound therapy.

Expression levels and clinical significance of serum miR-19a/CCL20 in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is a lethal disease whose early diagnosis is critical for treatment. microRNA (miR)-19a targets CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) in myocardial infarction. We investigated the expression patterns of serum miR-19a and CCL20 of ACI patients and assessed their clinical values. Serum samples of 50 healthy subjects and110 ACI patients were collected. Serum levels of miR-19a, CCL20 mRNA, and biochemical indexes were assessed. miR-19a downstream target gene and the binding relationship between miR-19a and CCL20 were predicted and verified. miR-19a and CCL20 mRNA were subjected to correlation and diagnostic efficiency analysis. miR-19a was poorly expressed in the serum of ACI patients, especially in patients with unstable plaque and large infarction. tumor necrosis factor-α, low-density lipoprotein, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio negatively correlated with serum miR-19a level and positively correlated with CCL20. Dual-luciferase assay revealed that miR-19a could negatively regulate CCL20 expression. CCL20 was highly expressed in the serum of ACI patients. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve of miR-19a combined with CCL20 was 0.9741 (98.00% specificity, 90.91% sensitivity), higher than their single diagnosis. Collectively, miR-19a had high diagnostic value for ACI and could target to restrain CCL20. The combination of miR-19a and CCL20 improved diagnostic value for ACI.

Bioimpedance analysis for identifying new indicators of exercise-induced muscle damage.

A noninvasive, immediate, and convenient method for assessing muscle tissue status during exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has not been established. This study was designed to assess and determine parameters suitable for measuring EIMD after eccentric exercise, using multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Thirty-five young male participants performed dumbbell exercises with their left arm, and their BIA parameters were measured at various time points up to 168 h post exercise using a multi-frequency BIA device. At all-time points, intra and extracellular water content was greater in the left arm than in the right arm, whereas the impedance, reactance, resistance, and phase angle were lower in the left arm than in the right arm. Established EIMD indices, such as maximal isometric voluntary contraction, were measured and used in correlational analyses. Only reactance was correlated with biomarkers, indicating muscle damage (r = - 0.56 to - 0.49). Furthermore, reactance was found to correlate well with indirect indicators of EIMD, suggesting that it may be a suitable marker for evaluating EIMD. However, the relationship with the limited evaluation indices employed in this study is constrained. Future studies should investigate the correlation between reactance and direct damage indicators, such as structural damage, observed in biopsies.

Characterization of flavour components and identification of lipid flavour precursors in different cuts of pork by phospholipidomics.

The lipids and volatile compounds in pork from different parts, including the loin, belly, shoulder and hind leg were analyzed by triple quadrupole tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF/MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS), respectively. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and Pearson correlation analysis were utilized to establish the relationship between the lipids and volatile compounds. A total of 8 main flavour substances, 38 main phospholipids, and 32 main fatty acids were identified. The results showed that the key flavour compounds were mainly derived from unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids containing unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid (C18:2n6c), α-Linolenic acid (C18:3n3), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), PE O (18:1/20:4), PE O (18:2/20:4), and PE O (18:2/18:2), etc. Understanding the relationship between flavour compounds and lipids of pork will be helpful to control the quality of pork.

Machine learning-driven source identification and ecological risk prediction of heavy metal pollution in cultivated soils.

To overcome challenges in assessing the impact of environmental factors on heavy metal accumulation in soil due to limited comprehensive data, our study in Yangxin County, Hubei Province, China, analyzed 577 soil samples in combination with extensive big data. We used machine learning techniques, the potential ecological risk index, and the bivariate local Moran's index (BLMI) to predict Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg concentrations in cultivated soil to assess ecological risks and identify pollution sources. The random forest model was selected for its superior performance among various machine learning models, and results indicated that heavy metal accumulation was substantially influenced by environmental factors such as climate, elevation, industrial activities, soil properties, railways, and population. Our ecological risk assessment highlighted areas of concern, where Cd and Hg were identified as the primary threats. BLMI was used to analyze spatial clustering and autocorrelation patterns between ecological risk and environmental factors, pinpointing areas that require targeted interventions. Additionally, redundancy analysis revealed the dynamics of heavy metal transfer to crops. This detailed approach mapped the spatial distribution of heavy metals, highlighted the ecological risks, identified their sources, and provided essential data for effective land management and pollution mitigation.

Combination of IVIM with DCE-MRI for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To identify the most effective combination of DCE-MRI (Ktrans,Kep) and IVIM (D,f) and analyze the correlations of these parameters with prognostic indicators (ER, PR, and HER2, Ki-67 index, axillary lymph node (ALN) and tumor size) to improve the diagnostic and prognostic efficiency in breast cancer. METHODS: This is a prospective study. We performed T1WI, T2WI, IVIM, DCE-MRI at 3 T MRI examinations on benign and malignant breast lesions that met the inclusion criteria. We also collected pathological results of corresponding lesions, including ER, PR, and HER2, Ki-67 index, axillary lymph node (ALN) and tumor size. The diagnostic efficacy of DCE-MRI, IVIM imaging, and their combination for benign and malignant breast lesions was assessed. Correlations between the DCE-MRI and IVIM parameters and prognostic indicators were assessed. RESULTS: Overall,59 female patients with 62 lesions (22 benign lesions and 40 malignant lesions) were included in this study. The malignant group showed significantly lower D values (p < 0.05) and significantly higher Ktrans, Kep, and f values (p < 0.05). The AUC values of DCE, IVIM, DCE + IVIM were 0.828, 0.882, 0.901. Ktrans, Kep, D and f values were correlated with the pathological grade (p < 0.05); Ktrans was negatively correlated with ER expression (r = -0.519, p < 0.05); Kep was correlated with PR expression and the Ki-67 index (r = -0.489, 0.330, p < 0.05); the DCE and IVIM parameters showed no significant correlations with the HER2 and ALN (p > 0.05). Tumor diameter was correlated with the Kep, D and f values (r = 0.246, -0.278, 0.293; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IVIM and DCE-MRI allowed differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions, and their combination showed significantly better diagnostic efficiency. DCE- and IVIM-derived parameters showed correlations with some prognostic factors for breast cancer.

Coupled effects of Fenton-like systems with different concentrations of H2O2/Biochar on diethyl phthalate removal: Dominant role of environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs).

To investigate the impact of different H2O2 concentrations on the Fenton-like systems of H2O2/biochar, this study examined the mechanism of the physical structure and environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs) of biochar during diethyl phthalate (DEP) removal by the Fenton-like system. The peak-splitting method was utilized to differentiate EPFRs types in cotton stalk biochar produced at different temperatures. High-temperature environments promote π-electron delocalization, which facilitates phenyl π free radicals and σ-π oxygen-containing free radicals. By analyzing relationships between the removal rate K1 and removal constant Kobs of DEP with the structural properties of biochar, it was discovered that EPFRs concentrations in biochar had a significant positive correlation with K1 (r = 0.92) and Kobs (r = 0.97). Different H2O2 concentrations added to the biochar removal system resulted in varied DEP removal efficiency. Among them, CS500, CS550, and CS600 exhibited superior DEP removal efficiency when H2O2 concentration was 5 mM.

Effect of ZIC2 on immune infiltration and ceRNA axis regulation in lung adenocarcinoma via bioinformatics and experimental studies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conlude the effect and mechanism of ZIC2 on immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). METHODS: Expression of ZIC2 in several kinds of normal tissues of TCGA data was analyzed and its correlation with the baseline characteristic of LUAD patients were analyzed. The immune infiltration analysis of LUAD patients was performed by CIBERSORT algorithm. The correlation analysis between ZIC2 and immune cell composition was performed. Additionally, the potential upstream regulatory mechanisms of ZIC2 were predicted to identify the possible miRNAs and lncRNAs that regulated ZIC2 in LUAD. In vitro and in vivo experiments were also conducted to confirm the potential effect of ZIC2 on cell proliferation and invasion ability of LUAD cells. RESULTS: ZIC2 expression was decreased in various normal tissues, but increased in multiple tumors, including LUAD, and correlated with the prognosis of LUAD patients. Enrichement by GO and KEGG suggested the possible association of ZIC2 with cell cycle and p53 signal pathway. ZIC2 expression was significantly correlated with T cells CD4 memory resting, Macrophages M1, and plasma cells, indicating that dysregulated ZIC2 expression in LUAD may directly influence immune infiltration. ZIC2 might be regulated by several different lncRNA-mediated ceRNA mechanisms. In vitro experiments validated the promotive effect of ZIC2 on cell viability and invasion ability of LUAD cells. In vivo experiments validated ZIC2 can accelerate tumor growth in nude mouse. CONCLUSION: ZIC2 regulated by different lncRNA-mediated ceRNA mechanisms may play a critical regulatory role in LUAD through mediating the composition of immune cells in tumor microenvironment.