Dectin-1 induces TRPV1 sensitization and contributes to visceral hypersensitivity of irritable bowel syndrome in male mice.

BACKGROUND: Visceral hypersensitivity is considered the core pathophysiological mechanism that causes abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fungal dysbiosis has been proved to contribute to visceral hypersensitivity in IBS patients. However, the underlying mechanisms for Dectin-1, a major fungal recognition receptor, in visceral hypersensitivity are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the role of Dectin-1 in visceral hypersensitivity and elucidate the impact of Dectin-1 activity on the function of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1). METHODS: Visceral hypersensitivity model was established by the intracolonic administration of 0.1 mL TNBS (130 µg/mL in 30% ethanol) in the male mice. Fluconazole and nystatin were used as fungicides. Laminarin, a Dectin-1 antagonist and gene knockout (Clec7a-/-) mice were used to interrupt the function of Dectin-1. Colorectal distension-electromyogram recording was performed to assess visceral sensitivity. Immunostaining experiment was performed to determine the localization of Dectin-1 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Calcium imaging study was performed to assay TRPV1-mediated calcium influx in acutely dissociated DRG neurons. RESULTS: Pretreatment with fungicides, administration of laminarin or genetic deletion of Clec7a alleviated TNBS-induced visceral hypersensitivity in male mice. The expression of Dectin-1 was upregulated in the DRG and colon of TNBS-treated mice. Colocalization of Dectin-1 and TRPV1 was observed in DRG neurons. Importantly, pretreatment with curdlan, a Dectin-1 agonist, increased TRPV1-mediated calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Dectin-1 contributes to visceral hypersensitivity in IBS or in inflammatory bowel disease in remission and activation of Dectin-1 induces TRPV1 sensitization. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work provides direct evidence for the functional regulation of TRPV1 channel by Dectin-1 activity, proposing a new mechanism underlying TRPV1 sensitization. Control of intestinal fungi might be beneficial for the treatment of refractory abdominal pain in patients with IBS or IBD in remission.

Which one is the best in treating deep venous thrombosis -- percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, catheter-directed thrombolysis or combination of them?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment outcomes among percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) with AngioJet, Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), and a combination of both. METHODS: One hundred forty nine patients with acute or sub-acute iliac-femoral vein thrombosis accepting CDT and/or PMT were divided into three groups respectively: PMT group, CDT group, PMT + CDT group (PMT followed by CDT). The severity of thrombosis was evaluated by venographic scoring system. Technical success was defined as restored patent deep venous blood flow after CDT and/or PMT. Clinical follow-up were assessed by ultrasound or venography imaging. The primary endpoints were recurrence of DVT, and severity level of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) during the follow-up. RESULTS: Technical success and immediate clinical improvements were achieved on all patients. The proportion of sub-acute DVT and the venographic scoring in PMT + CDT group were significantly higher than that in CDT group and PMT group (proportion of sub-acute DVT: p = 0.032 and p = 0.005, respectively; venographic scoring: p < 0.001, respectively). The proportion of May-Thurner Syndrome was lower in PMT group than that in CDT and PMT + CDT group (p = 0.026 and p = 0.005, respectively). The proportion of DVT recurrence/stent thrombosis was significantly higher in CDT group than that in PMT + CDT group (p = 0.04). The severity of PTS was the highest in CDT group ( χ2 = 14.459, p = 0.006) compared to PMT group (p = 0.029) and PMT + CDT group (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients with sub-acute DVT, high SVS scoring and combined May-Thurner Syndrome were recommended to take PMT + CDT treatment and might have lower rate of DVT recurrence/stent thrombosis and severe PTS. Our study provided evidence detailing of PMT + CDT therapy.

Causal relationship and shared genes between air pollutants and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A large-scale genetic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Air pollutants have been reported to have a potential relationship with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The causality and underlying mechanism remained unknown despite several existing observational studies. We aimed to investigate the potential causality between air pollutants (PM2.5, NOX, and NO2) and the risk of ALS and elucidate the underlying mechanisms associated with this relationship. METHODS: The data utilized in our study were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association study data sets, in which single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were employed as the instrumental variantswith three principles. Two-sample Mendelian randomization and transcriptome-wide association (TWAS) analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of air pollutants on ALS and identify genes associated with both pollutants and ALS, followed by regulatory network prediction. RESULTS: We observed that exposure to a high level of PM2.5 (OR: 2.40 [95% CI: 1.26-4.57], p = 7.46E-3) and NOx (OR: 2.35 [95% CI: 1.32-4.17], p = 3.65E-3) genetically increased the incidence of ALS in MR analysis, while the effects of NO2 showed a similar trend but without sufficient significance. In the TWAS analysis, TMEM175 and USP35 turned out to be the genes shared between PM2.5 and ALS in the same direction. CONCLUSION: Higher exposure to PM2.5 and NOX might causally increase the risk of ALS. Avoiding exposure to air pollutants and air cleaning might be necessary for ALS prevention.

Assembly-Dissociation-Reconstruction Synthesis of Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with High Continuity for Efficient CO2 Separation.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), at the forefront of porous materials, hold tremendous potential in membrane separation; however, achieving high continuity in COF membranes remains crucial for efficient gas separation. Here, we present a unique approach termed assembly-dissociation-reconstruction for fabricating COF membranes tailored for CO2/N2 separation. A parent COF is designed from two-node aldehyde and three-node amine monomers and dissociated to high-aspect-ratio nanosheets. Subsequently, COF nanosheets are orderly reconstructed into a crack-free membrane by surface reaction under water evaporation. The membrane exhibits high crystallinity, open pores and a strong affinity for CO2 adsorption over N2, resulting in CO2 permeance exceeding 1060 GPU and CO2/N2 selectivity surpassing 30.6. The efficacy of this strategy offers valuable guidance for the precise fabrication of gas-separation membranes.

Facing the solid waste of cotton straw and plastic mulch film mixture in China: Centralized or decentralized pyrolysis facility?

The widespread use of plastic mulch film (PMF) has led to significant environmental pollution, with PMF residues dispersed and mixed with straw and soil, posing challenges for recycling. Here, we proposed the mobile pyrolysis facility for the cotton straw and mulch film mixture (CMM) to mitigate the collection, storage, and transportation costs, while the application of co-pyrolysis technology for CMM conversion could improve the added value of products. Additionally, centralized combustion power generation and centralized pyrolysis systems were also established to evaluate and compare their sustainability from economic and environmental perspectives. Results showed that mobile pyrolysis has better economic performance than the centralized scenarios, due to its high internal rate of return (31 %) and significant net present value (29.21 M USD). Meanwhile, the mobile pyrolysis facility achieved a GWP of -1.298 kgCO2-eq/kg, reducing emissions by 70.79 % and 38.82 % compared to the two centralized scenarios. In conclusion, mobile pyrolysis technology provides a promising solution for PMF residue recycling because of its economically competitive approach with a lower carbon footprint.

Exogenous iron caused osteocyte apoptosis, increased RANKL production, and stimulated bone resorption through oxidative stress in a murine model.

Iron overload is a risk factor for osteoporosis due to its oxidative toxicity. Previous studies have demonstrated that an excessive amount of iron increases osteocyte apoptosis and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) production, which stimulates osteoclast differentiation in vitro. However, the effects of exogenous iron supplementation-induced iron overload on osteocytes in vivo and its role in iron overload-induced bone loss are unknown. This work aimed to develop an iron overloaded murine model of C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal administration of iron dextran for two months. The iron levels in various organs, bone, and serum, as well as the microstructure and strength of bone, apoptosis of osteocytes, oxidative stress in bone tissue, and bone formation and resorption, were assessed. The results showed that 2 months of exogenous iron supplementation significantly increased iron levels in the liver, spleen, kidney, bone tissue, and serum. Iron overload negatively affected bone microstructure and strength. Osteocyte apoptosis and empty lacunae rate were elevated by exogenous iron. Iron overload upregulated RANKL expression but had no significant impact on osteoprotegerin (OPG) and sclerostin levels. Static and dynamic histologic analyses and serum biochemical assay showed that iron overload increased bone resorption without significantly affecting bone formation. Exogenous iron promoted oxidative stress in osteocytes in vivo and in vitro. Additional supplementation of iron chelator (deferoxamine) or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially alleviated bone loss, osteocyte apoptosis, osteoclast formation, and oxidative stress due to iron overload. These findings, in line with prior in vitro studies, suggest that exogenous iron supplementation induces osteoclastogenesis and osteoporosis by promoting osteocyte apoptosis and RANKL production via oxidative stress.

Effects of Mobile Intelligent Cognitive Training for Patients with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: The current application effects of computerized cognitive intervention are inconsistent and limited to hospital rehabilitation settings. Objective: To investigate the effect of mobile intelligent cognitive training (MICT) on patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods: This study was a multicenter, prospective, open-label, blinded endpoint, cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT). 518 PSCI patients were stratified and assigned to four rehabilitation settings, and then patients were randomized into experimental and control groups in each rehabilitation setting through cluster randomization. All patients received comprehensive management for PSCI, while the experimental group additionally received MICT intervention. Treatment was 30 minutes daily, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL) were assessed before the treatment, at weeks 6 and 12 post-treatment, and a 16-week follow-up. Results: Linear Mixed Effects Models showed patients with PSCI were better off than pre-treatment patients on each outcome measure (p < 0.05). Additionally, the improvement of these outcomes in the experimental group was significantly better than in the control group at week 6 post-treatment and 16-week follow-up (p < 0.05). The rehabilitation setting also affected the cognitive efficacy of MICT intervention in improving PSCI patients, and the degree of improvement in each outcome was found to be highest in hospital, followed by community, nursing home, and home settings. Conclusions: Long-term MICT intervention can improve cognition, ADL, and QOL in patients with PSCI, with sustained effects for at least one month. Notably, different rehabilitation settings affect the cognitive intervention efficacy of MICT on PSCI patients. However, this still needs to be further determined in future studies.

Combined effects of microplastics and pharmaceutical and personal care products on algae: A critical review.

Microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Algae play an important role in aquatic environments. Thus, it is important to study the response of algae to combined exposure of MPs and PPCPs. Here, we review the effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae. First, the individual effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae were summarized. Second, the combined effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae were systematically analyzed. (1) Antagonism: ① when the MPs are too large to enter the algal cells, the adsorption of PPCPs onto MPs results in decreased the contact of MPs and PPCPs with algae; ② PPCPs and MPs have opposing actions on the same biological target; ③ MPs increase the activity of metabolic enzymes in algae, thus promoting the PPCP degradation. (2) Synergy: ① when the MPs are small enough to enter algal cells, the adsorption of PPCPs on MPs promotes the entry of PPCPs; ② when MPs are negatively charged, the adsorption of positively charged PPCPs by MPs decreases the electrostatic repulsion, increasing the interaction between algae and MPs; ③ complementary modes of action between MPs and PPCPs show combined effects on the same biological target. Third, the relative importance of the factors that impact the combined effects are evaluated using the random forest model decreased in the following order: PPCP types > algal species > MP size > MP concentration > MP types > exposure time. Finally, future directions for the combined effects of MPs and PPCPs are proposed, which will facilitate a better understanding of the environmental fate and risks of both MPs and PPCPs.

Responsibility endowing power: A theoretical framework of health empowerment for Chinese older people with chronic illness.

AIM: To construct a health empowerment framework for the Chinese older people with chronic conditions. DESIGN: A Strussian grounded theory design was selected to generate the theoretical framework. METHODS: Data were collected from 53 community-dwelling older people with chronic conditions in China between November 2017 and August 2019, via semi-structured interviews and with participating observation. The constant comparative method identified the key categories. RESULTS: 'Responsibility endowing power', the health empowerment core theme, was defined as initiating, performing and realizing responsibility towards health through the interaction between the self, family and society. The framework enriches the meaning of health empowerment, changing older people's nursing practice.

Magnetic-actuated hydrogel microrobots with multimodal motion and collective behavior.

Magnetic-actuated miniature robots have sparked growing interest owing to their promising potential in biomedical applications, such as noninvasive diagnosis, cargo delivery, and microsurgery. Innovations are required to combine biodegradable materials with flexible mobility to promote the translation of magnetic robots towards in vivo application. This study proposes a biodegradable magnetic hydrogel robot (MHR) with multimodal locomotion and collective behavior through magnetic-assisted fabrication. The MHRs with aligned magnetic chains inside their structures have more significant maximum motion speeds under rotating magnetic fields than the robots without magnetic alignment. By reconfiguring the external magnetic fields, three types of stable motion modes (tumbling, spinning, and wobbling modes) of the individual MHRs can be triggered, while flexible conversion can be achieved between each motion mode. The motion mechanism of each motion mode under diverse rotating magnetic fields has been analyzed. The collective behavior of the MHRs, which is triggered by the magnetic dipole force, can enhance the motion performance and pass through sophisticated terrains. Furthermore, the experimental results demonstrate that the assembled MHRs can execute complicated tasks such as targeted cargo delivery. The proposed MHRs with multimodal locomotion and assembled behavior show effective motion efficiency, flexible maneuverability, and remarkable targeting ability, providing a new choice for magnetic robots in biomedical applications.

In-Plane Overdamping and Out-Plane Localized Vibration Contribute to Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Zintl Phase KCdSb.

Zintl phases typically exhibit low lattice thermal conductivity, which are extensively investigated as promising thermoelectric candidates. While the significance of Zintl anionic frameworks in electronic transport properties is widely recognized, their roles in thermal transport properties have often been overlooked. This study delves into KCdSb as a representative case, where the [CdSb4/4]- tetrahedrons not only impact charge transfer but also phonon transport. The phonon velocity and mean free path, are heavily influenced by the bonding distance and strength of the Zintl anions Cd and Sb, considering the three acoustic branches arising from their vibrations. Furthermore, the weakly bound Zintl cation K exhibits localized vibration behaviors, resulting in strong coupling between the high-lying acoustic branch and the low-lying optical branch, further impeding phonon diffusion. The calculations reveal that grain boundaries also contribute to the low lattice thermal conductivity of KCdSb through medium-frequency phonon scattering. These combined factors create a glass-like thermal transport behavior, which is advantageous for improving the thermoelectric merit of zT. Notably, a maximum zT of 0.6 is achieved for K0.84Na0.16CdSb at 712 K. The study offers both intrinsic and extrinsic strategies for developing high-efficiency thermoelectric Zintl materials with extremely low lattice thermal conductivity.

Ion association behaviors in the initial stage of calcium carbonate formation: An ab initio study.

In this work, we performed static density functional theory calculations and ab initio metadynamics simulations to systematically investigate the association mechanisms and dynamic structures of four kinds of ion pairs that could be formed before the nucleation of CaCO3. For Ca2+-HCO3- and Ca2+-CO32- pairs, the arrangement of ligands around Ca2+ evolves between the six-coordinated octahedral structure and the seven-coordinated pentagonal bipyramidal structure. The formation of ion pairs follows an associative ligand substitution mechanism. Compared with HCO3-, CO32- exhibits a stronger affinity to Ca2+, leading to the formation of a more stable precursor phase in the prenucleation stage, which promotes the subsequent CaCO3 nucleation. In alkaline environments, excessive OH- ions decrease the coordination preference of Ca2+. In this case, the formation of Ca(OH)+-CO32- and Ca(OH)2-CO32- pairs favors the dissociative ligand substitution mechanism. The inhibiting effects of OH- ion on the CaCO3 association can be interpreted from two aspects, i.e., (1) OH- neutralizes positive charges on Ca2+, decreases the electrostatic interactions between Ca2+ and CO32-, and thus hinders the formation of the CaCO3 monomer, and (2) OH- decreases the capacity of Ca2+ for accommodating O, making it easier to separate Ca2+ and CO32- ions. Our findings on the ion association behaviors in the initial stage of CaCO3 formation not only help scientists evaluate the impact of ocean acidification on biomineralization but also provide theoretical support for the discovery and development of more effective approaches to manage undesirable scaling issues.

Inclusion Strategy for Constructing S/N Orbital Hybridization-Regulated sp3/sp2 Carbon toward Boost Electrocatalysis.

Metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts have gained significant attention in the field of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) due to their affordability, good conductivity and chemical stability. However, unmodified carbon materials typically fall short in adsorbing and activating the substrates and intermediates involved in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Here, a metal-free carbon-based electrocatalyst with S atom p orbital hybrid modified N-sp3/sp2 carbon structure (C/NS) were prepared by cyclodextrins inclusion. The catalyst demonstrates impressive ORR activity (E1/2=0.885 V vs. RHE) and robust ZABs performance with a power density of 171.3 mW cm-2 and a specific capacity of 781.2 mAh g-1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that S atom effectively regulates the charge distribution and p-band center of active site carbon atom in the N-sp3/sp2 carbon structure. This modification prompts the adsorption and dissociation of O2 and intermediates, resulting in higher reactive activity. This work provides a valuable and practical strategy for preparing cost-effective metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts for ORR with high performance.

HOXC4 promotes proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by increasing LDHA-mediated glycolysis.

Homeobox C4 (HOXC4) is a member of homeobox family and acts as a transcription factor in regulating morphological development. The current study aimed to determine its role in pancreatic cancer (PC). Bioinformatics analysis was employed to assess the expression and clinical significance of HOXC4 in PC, while the expression of HOXC4 was further confirmed in PC tissues through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The impact of HOXC4 on PC cell proliferation was evaluated using various assays including Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, apoptosis detection, cell cycle analysis, and subcutaneous tumorigenesis. Extracellular acidification rate, glucose uptake, and lactate production measurements were detected to examine the impact of HOXC4 on glycolysis. The relationship between HOXC4 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) was investigated using CHIP assay, luciferase reporter assay, and western blot. Notably, there was a substantial increase in HOXC4 expression in PC, and patients with elevated HOXC4 levels exhibited shorter survival durations. HOXC4 knockdown resulted in significantly reduced proliferation and colony formation in PC cells, accompanied by increased apoptosis and G1 phase arrest. The overexpression of HOXC4 resulted in contrasting effects. In vivo, the proliferation of PC cells was diminished upon the knockdown of HOXC4. HOXC4 exhibited an increase in LDHA expression by binding to its promoter. The suppressive effects of HOXC4 knockdown on PC cells were counteracted upon the restoration of LDHA. In conclusion, HOXC4 promoted the proliferation of PC cells by increasing LDHA-mediated glycolysis. HOXC4 can act as a target for PC therapy.

The Flavonoid Glycoside from Abrus cantoniensis Hance Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptosis in an AMPK-Dependent Manner.

Abrus cantoniensis Hance is a vegetative food and can be used as a folk beverage or soup to clear liver toxins and prevent liver damage. However, the components and effects of A. cantoniensis Hance in alcohol-induced liver injury were unknown. This study aimed to obtain abundant phytochemicals from A. cantoniensis Hance and identify the potency of the isolates in preventing alcohol-induced liver injury. Alcohol-stimulated AML12 cells and Lieber-DeCarli diet-fed mice were used to establish in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. Our findings indicated that flavonoid glycosides, especially AH-15, could significantly alleviate alcohol-induced liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AH-15 inhibited ferroptosis induced by lipid peroxidation. Mechanically, we found that AH-15 regulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) expression via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. These results indicate that A. cantoniensis Hance is a great potential functional food for alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury.

Proximal Femoral Metastasis From Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Osteosarcoma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The aggressive nature of lung cancer is frequently accompanied by a high incidence of bone metastasis; however, proximal femoral metastasis from lung cancer is comparatively uncommon when compared to other malignancies. In this report, we present the case of a 53-year-old Asian male who presented with pain in the left thigh and back. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe bone destruction with involvement of adjacent soft tissue mass at the left thigh, exhibiting imaging findings that mimic osteosarcoma. Subsequent bone biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastasis. The patient achieved survival following administration of osimertinib and underwent surgery for femoral metastases without palliative surgery for lung cancer. Therefore, proximal femoral metastasis from EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients suspected to have osteosarcoma. The imaging findings of proximal femoral metastasis from EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma were presented, and their therapeutic management was discussed.

MRI radiomics-based interpretable model and nomogram for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Objectives: To investigate the value of interpretable machine learning model and nomogram based on clinical factors, MRI imaging features, and radiomic features to predict Ki-67 expression in primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL). Materials and methods: MRI images and clinical information of 92 PCNSL patients were retrospectively collected, which were divided into 53 cases in the training set and 39 cases in the external validation set according to different medical centers. A 3D brain tumor segmentation model was trained based on nnU-NetV2, and two prediction models, interpretable Random Forest (RF) incorporating the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method and nomogram based on multivariate logistic regression, were proposed for the task of Ki-67 expression status prediction. Results: The mean dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) score of the 3D segmentation model on the validation set was 0.85. On the Ki-67 expression prediction task, the AUC of the interpretable RF model on the validation set was 0.84 (95% CI:0.81, 0.86; p < 0.001), which was a 3% improvement compared to the AUC of the nomogram. The Delong test showed that the z statistic for the difference between the two models was 1.901, corresponding to a p value of 0.057. In addition, SHAP analysis showed that the Rad-Score made a significant contribution to the model decision. Conclusion: In this study, we developed a 3D brain tumor segmentation model and used an interpretable machine learning model and nomogram for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in PCNSL patients, which improved the prediction of this medical task. Clinical relevance statement: Ki-67 represents the degree of active cell proliferation and is an important prognostic parameter associated with clinical outcomes. Non-invasive and accurate prediction of Ki-67 expression level preoperatively plays an important role in targeting treatment selection and patient stratification management for PCNSL thereby improving prognosis.

The denitrification characteristics of Na2S2O8 solution in a falling film reactor.

Wet scrubbing technology is an effective emission control technology for marine diesel engines. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the main component of ship emissions, the sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) can facilitate the NO mass transfer process to a rapid reaction. Falling film reactors are widely used in rapid gas-liquid reactions, however, the reaction characteristics of denitrification using Na2S2O8 solution in a falling film reactor are not clear, which were investigated in this paper. The factors of NO mass transfer flux were tested with the liquid-gas ratio of 15 L/m3. The effects of solution properties and temperatures on the reaction driving force were studied by calculating the chemical reaction equilibrium constants and Gibbs free energy changes. The results showed that the NO mass transfer flux increased with the increase of temperature, Na2S2O8 concentration, O2 concentration and NO concentration. NO mass transfer flux increased by 41.00% and then decreased by 2.12% as the pH value increased from 7 to 10 and then rising to 12. The Gibbs free energy changes of alkaline solutions were 114.22%-130.99% lower than those of acidic solution at 303-343 K, and the chemical reaction equilibrium constants were higher. Na2S2O8/seawater system has great application potential in marine exhaust gas purification.

Characterization and integrated analysis of extrachromosomal DNA amplification in hematological malignancies.

The study of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), an element existing beyond classical chromosomes, contributes to creating a more comprehensive map of the cancer genome. In hematological malignancies, research on ecDNA has lacked comprehensive investigation into its frequency, structure, function, and mechanisms of formation. We re-analyzed WGS data from 208 hematological cancer samples across 11 types, focusing on ecDNA characteristics. Amplification of ecDNA was observed in 7 of these cancer types, with no instances found in normal blood cells. Patients with leukemia carrying ecDNA showed a low induction therapy remission rate (<30 %), a high relapse rate (75 %) among those who achieved complete remission, and a significantly lower survival rate compared to the general leukemia population, even those with complex chromosomal karyotypes. Among the 55 identified ecDNA amplicons, 268 genes were detected, of which 38 are known cancer-related genes exhibiting significantly increased copy numbers. By integrating RNA-Seq data, we discovered that the increased copy number, resulting in a higher amount of available DNA templates, indeed leads to the elevated expression of genes encoded on ecDNA. Additionally, through the integration of H3K4me3/H3K27ac chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture data, we identified that ecDNA amplifications can also facilitate efficient, copy number-independent amplification of oncogenes. This process is linked to active histone modifications, improved chromatin accessibility, and enhancer hijacking, all of which are effects of ecDNA amplification. Mechanistically, chromothripsis and dysfunction of the DNA repair pathway can, to some extent, explain the origin of ecDNA.

Probing the interfacial behaviors of interfacially active and non-active asphaltenes and their impact on emulsion stability.

HYPOTHESIS: Asphaltenes subfractions with distinct interfacial behaviors may play different roles in stabilizing oil-water emulsions. EXPERIMENTS: In this work, whole asphaltenes were separated into interfacially active asphaltenes (IAA) and interfacially non-active asphaltenes (INAA). Employing advanced nanomechanical techniques, we have explored the compositions, morphologies, sizes, adsorption, and interfacial behaviors of IAA and INAA. FINDINGS: IAA exhibits a high and unevenly distributed oxygen content, distinguishing it from INAA. In toluene, the diameters of IAA and INAA are about 60 nm and 6 nm, respectively. When adsorbed irreversibly on mica surfaces, the thickness of the IAA and INAA film was measured at âˆ¼5.5 nm or 1 nm, respectively; while in a toluene solution, the film thickness reached âˆ¼46 nm and 3.1 nm for IAA and INAA, respectively. IAA demonstrates superior interfacial activity, and elastic/viscous moduli compared to INAA at the water-toluene interface. Quantified surface force measurements reveal that IAA stabilizes water droplets in toluene at a concentration of only 10 mg/L, while INAA requires a higher concentration of 100 mg/L. This work provides the first comprehensive investigation into the adsorption and interfacial behaviors of asphaltene subfractions and provides useful insights into the asphaltenes-stabilization mechanism of emulsions.