Percutaneous ablation for adrenal metastasis from non-small-cell lung cancer: comparison between cryoablation and microwave ablation.

Introduction: While cryoablation (CA) and microwave ablation (MWA) have both been implemented as approaches to the treatment of adrenal metastasis (AM), the outcomes associated with these two therapeutic strategies remain unclear. Aim: To compare the safety and efficacy of CA and MWA as treatments for AM in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Material and methods: Consecutive patients with AM secondary to NSCLC from January 2015 to December 2020 underwent CA or MWA. Treatment-related outcomes and complications were retrospectively compared between these groups. Results: In total, 68 NSCLC patients with isolated AM were enrolled in this study, of whom 35 and 33 underwent treatment with CA and MWA, respectively. Primary complete ablation rates in the CA and MWA groups were 91.4% (32/35) and 93.9% (31/33) respectively (p = 1.000), while a 100% secondary complete ablation rate was observed for both groups. Hypertensive crisis incidence affected 11.4% (4/35) and 9.1% (3/33) of patients in the CA and MWA groups (p = 1.000), respectively, while 8 (22.9%) and 8 (24.2%) patients in these corresponding groups experienced local progression after ablation that was detected during the follow-up period (p = 0.893). Patients in the CA and MWA groups exhibited a median progression-free survival of 18 and 22 months, respectively (p = 0.411), while the corresponding median overall survival of patients in these groups was 25 and 29 months (p = 0.786). Conclusions: CT-guided CA and MWA appear to exhibit similar safety and efficacy profiles when employed to treat isolated AM in NSCLC patients.

Design and properties of ternary alkali-activated binder based on blast furnace slag, recycled powder and waste glass powder.

Ternary alkali-activated binder was prepared by blast furnace slag (GGBS), recycled powder (RP) and waste glass powder (WGP) using simplex centroid design method. By measuring the fluidity, setting time, drying shrinkage and mechanical property of specimen, the complementary effect of GGBS, RP and WGP was discussed. The reaction mechanism and microstructure were explored by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal that the addition of RP could significantly reduce the fluidity and setting time of paste, while WGP can obviously improve the rheological property and play a retarding role. The workability of paste can be effectively regulated by mixing RP and WGP together. Whether added alone or in combination, RP and WGP can effectively improve the shrinkage performance. In the ternary system, GGBS can be rapidly activated and form a skeleton structure. The fine RP particles can play a good role in filling the structure, and the pozzolanic reaction of WGP gradually occurs, which makes the microstructure more compact. The incorporation of GGBS, RP and WGP can promote the growth of hydration products, improve the density of microstructure, and form a certain complementary effect.

Anisotropic Effects in Local Anodic Oxidation Nanolithography on Silicon Surfaces: Insights from ReaxFF Molecular Dynamics.

Fully understanding the anisotropic effect of silicon surface orientations in local anodic oxidation (LAO) nanolithography processes is critical to the precise control of oxide quality and rate. This study used ReaxFF MD simulations to reveal the surface anisotropic effects in the LAO through the analysis of adsorbed species, atomic charge, and oxide growth. Our results show that the LAO behaves differently on silicon (100), (110), and (111) surfaces. Specifically, the application of an electric field significantly increases the quantity of surface-adsorbed -OH2 while reducing -OH on the (111) surface, and results in a higher charge on a greater number of Si atoms on the (100) surface. Moreover, the quantity of surface-adsorbed -OH plays a pivotal role in influencing the oxidation rate, as it directly correlates with an increased formation rate of Si-O-Si bonds. During bias-induced oxidation, the (111) surface appears with a high initial oxidation rate among three surfaces, while the (110) surface underwent increased oxidation at higher electric field strengths. This conclusion is based on the analysis of the evolution of Si-O-Si bond number, surface elevation, and oxide thickness. Our findings align well with prior theoretical and experimental studies, providing deeper insights and clear guidance for the fabrication of high-performance nanoinsulator gates using LAO nanolithography.

Distance-related functional reorganization predicts motor outcome in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Analyzing distance-dependent functional connectivity density (FCD) yields valuable insights into patterns of brain activity. Nevertheless, whether alterations of FCD in non-acute stroke patients are associated with the anatomical distance between brain regions remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the distance-related functional reorganization in non-acute stroke patients following left and right hemisphere subcortical lesions, and its relationship with clinical assessments. METHODS: In this study, we used resting-state fMRI to calculate distance-dependent (i.e., short- and long-range) FCD in 25 left subcortical stroke (LSS) patients, 22 right subcortical stroke (RSS) patients, and 39 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). Then, we compared FCD differences among the three groups and assessed the correlation between FCD alterations and paralyzed motor function using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated that the left inferior frontal gyrus displayed distance-independent FCD changes, while the bilateral supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and left middle occipital gyrus exhibited distance-dependent FCD alterations in two patient subgroups compared with HCs. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between increased FCD in the bilateral supplementary motor area and the motor function of lower limbs, and a negative correlation between increased FCD in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the motor function of both upper and lower limbs across all stroke patients. These associations were validated by using a longitudinal dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The FCD in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices shows distance-related changes in non-acute stroke patients with motor dysfunction, which may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting motor outcomes after stroke. These findings enhance our comprehension of the neurobiological mechanisms driving non-acute stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION: All data used in the present study were obtained from a research trial registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT05648552, registered 05 December 2022, starting from 01 January 2022).

Age-dependent functional development pattern in neonatal brain: An fMRI-based brain entropy study.

The relationship between brain entropy (BEN) and early brain development has been established through animal studies. However, it remains unclear whether the BEN can be used to identify age-dependent functional changes in human neonatal brains and the genetic underpinning of the new neuroimaging marker remains to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed resting-state fMRI data from the Developing Human Connectome Project, including 280 infants who were scanned at 37.5-43.5 weeks postmenstrual age. The BEN maps were calculated for each subject, and a voxel-wise analysis was conducted using a general linear model to examine the effects of age, sex, and preterm birth on BEN. Additionally, we evaluated the correlation between regional BEN and gene expression levels. Our results demonstrated that the BEN in the sensorimotor-auditory and association cortices, along the 'S-A' axis, was significantly positively correlated with postnatal age (PNA), and negatively correlated with gestational age (GA), respectively. Meanwhile, the BEN in the right rolandic operculum correlated significantly with both GA and PNA. Preterm-born infants exhibited increased BEN values in widespread cortical areas, particularly in the visual-motor cortex, when compared to term-born infants. Moreover, we identified five BEN-related genes (DNAJC12, FIG4, STX12, CETN2, and IRF2BP2), which were involved in protein folding, synaptic vesicle transportation and cell division. These findings suggest that the fMRI-based BEN can serve as an indicator of age-dependent brain functional development in human neonates, which may be influenced by specific genes.

Gut microbiota diversity in a dung beetle (Catharsius molossus) across geographical variations and brood ball-mediated microbial transmission.

The dung beetle primarily feeds on the feces of herbivorous animals and play a crucial role in ecological processes like material cycles and soil improvement. This study aims to explore the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of Catharsius molossus (a renowned dung beetle originating from China and introduced to multiple countries for its ecological value) and exploring whether these gut microbes are transmitted vertically across generations. Using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequencing techniques, we described the diversity and composition of gut microbes in C. molossus from different localities and different developmental stages (Egg, young larvae and old larvae). We discovered that the diversity of gut microbiota of dung beetles varied obviously among different geographical localities and different developmental stages, and we also discussed the potential influencing factors. Interestingly, the microbial community structure within the brood balls is more similar to male dung beetle than to that of females, which is consistent with the observation that the brood ball is constructed by the male dung beetle, with the female laying egg in it at the final step. This unique breeding method facilitates offspring in inheriting microbial communities from both the mother and the father. Initially, the larvae's gut microbiota closely mirrors that of the parental gift in these brood balls. As larvae grow, significant changes occur in their gut microbiota, including an increase in symbiotic bacteria like Lactococcus and Enterococcus. Analysis of the gut bacteria of adult dung beetles across various localities and different developmental stages identified nine core genera in adults, contributing to 67.80% of the total microbial abundance, and 11 core genera in beetles at different developmental stages, accounting for 49.13% of the total. Notably, seven genera were common between these two core groups. Our results suggest that Parental gifts can play a role in the vertical transmission of microbes, and the abundance of probiotics increases with larval development, supporting the hypothesis that "larval feeding behavior occurs in two stages: larvae first feed on parental gifts to acquire necessary microbes, then enrich symbiotic microbiota through consuming their own feces."

Supramolecular DNA nanogels through host-guest interaction for targeted drug delivery.

DNA hydrogels have been demonstrated with the advantages of good stability, easy modification, and extraordinary biocompatibility, which enables their great application prospects in biosensing, tissue engineering, and biomedicine. Based on the host-guest recognition properties of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), we proposed a general method for constructing functional supramolecular DNA nanogels. Guest molecules have been conjugated into the DNA building units, which could be further crosslinked with CB[8] to construct supramolecular DNA nanogels. At the same time, the aptamer has also been modified into the hydrogel network to achieve cell targeting. These supramolecular DNA nanogels have been demonstrated with a controllable size and multiple stimuli responses, in addition to the excellent biocompatibility, stability and good targeting drug transport ability. Such a host-guest based strategy will provide a molecular library as a "toolbox" for the functionalization of DNA nanogels.

Whole-genome SNP allele frequency differences between Tibetan and Large white pigs reveal genes associated with skeletal muscle growth.

BACKGROUND: The skeletal muscle growth rate and body size of Tibetan pigs (TIB) are lower than Large white pigs (LW). However, the underlying genetic basis attributing to these differences remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, the present study employed whole-genome sequencing of TIB (slow growth) and LW (fast growth) individuals, and integrated with existing NCBI sequencing datasets of TIB and LW individuals, enabling the identification of a comprehensive set of genetic variations for each breed. The specific and predominant SNPs in the TIB and LW populations were detected by using a cutoff value of 0.50 for SNP allele frequency and absolute allele frequency differences (△AF) between the TIB and LW populations. RESULTS: A total of 21,767,938 SNPs were retrieved from 44 TIB and 29 LW genomes. The analysis detected 2,893,106 (13.29%) and 813,310 (3.74%) specific and predominant SNPs in the TIB and LW populations, and annotated to 24,560 genes. Further GO analysis revealed 291 genes involved in biological processes related to striated and/or skeletal muscle differentiation, proliferation, hypertrophy, regulation of striated muscle cell differentiation and proliferation, and myoblast differentiation and fusion. These 291 genes included crucial regulators of muscle cell determination, proliferation, differentiation, and hypertrophy, such as members of the Myogenic regulatory factors (MRF) (MYOD, MYF5, MYOG, MYF6) and Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) (MEF2A, MEF2C, MEF2D) families, as well as muscle growth inhibitors (MSTN, ACVR1, and SMAD1); KEGG pathway analysis revealed 106 and 20 genes were found in muscle growth related positive and negative regulatory signaling pathways. Notably, genes critical for protein synthesis, such as MTOR, IGF1, IGF1R, IRS1, INSR, and RPS6KA6, were implicated in these pathways. CONCLUSION: This study employed an effective methodology to rigorously identify the potential genes associated with skeletal muscle development. A substantial number of SNPs and genes that potentially play roles in the divergence observed in skeletal muscle growth between the TIB and LW breeds were identified. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of skeletal muscle development and present opportunities for enhancing meat production through pig breeding.

Development of the Fetal Brain Corticocortical Structural Network during the Second-to-Third Trimester Based on Diffusion MRI.

During the second-to-third trimester, the neuronal pathways of the fetal brain experience rapid development, resulting in the complex architecture of the interwired network at birth. While diffusion MRI-based tractography has been employed to study the prenatal development of structural connectivity network (SCN) in preterm neonatal and postmortem fetal brains, the in utero development of SCN in the normal fetal brain remains largely unknown. In this study, we utilized in utero dMRI data from human fetuses of both sexes between 26 and 38 gestational weeks to investigate the developmental trajectories of the fetal brain SCN, focusing on intrahemispheric connections. Our analysis revealed significant increases in global efficiency, mean local efficiency, and clustering coefficient, along with significant decrease in shortest path length, while small-worldness persisted during the studied period, revealing balanced network integration and segregation. Widespread short-ranged connectivity strengthened significantly. The nodal strength developed in a posterior-to-anterior and medial-to-lateral order, reflecting a spatiotemporal gradient in cortical network connectivity development. Moreover, we observed distinct lateralization patterns in the fetal brain SCN. Globally, there was a leftward lateralization in network efficiency, clustering coefficient, and small-worldness. The regional lateralization patterns in most language, motor, and visual-related areas were consistent with prior knowledge, except for Wernicke's area, indicating lateralized brain wiring is an innate property of the human brain starting from the fetal period. Our findings provided a comprehensive view of the development of the fetal brain SCN and its lateralization, as a normative template that may be used to characterize atypical development.

Investigation of SNPs in differentially expressed genes and proteins reveals the genetic basis of skeletal muscle growth differences between Tibetan and Large White pigs.

Objective: Skeletal muscle growth is an important economic trait for meat production, with notable differences between Tibetan pigs (TIBPs, a slow-growing breed) and Large White pigs (LWPs, a fast-growing breed). However, the genetic underpinnings of this disparity remain unclear. Methods: In the current study, we integrated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs) from 60-day-old embryonic muscle tissue, along with whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) displaying absolute allele frequency differences (ΔAF) of 0.5 or more between the TIBP and LWP breeds, to unravel the genetic factors influencing skeletal muscle growth. Results: Our analysis revealed 3499 DEGs and 628 DEPs with SNPs having a ΔAF equal to or greater than 0.5. Further functional analysis identified 145 DEGs and 23 DEPs involved in biological processes related to skeletal muscle development, and 22 DEGs and 3 DEPs implicated in the mTOR signaling pathway, which is known for positively regulating protein synthesis. Among these genes, several DEGs and DEPs, enriched with TIPB-specific SNPs in regulatory or/and coding regions, showed marked ΔAF between the TIBP and LWP breeds, including MYF5, MYOF, ASB2, PDE9A, SDC1, PDGFRA, MYOM2, ACVR1, ZIC3, COL11A1, TGFBR1, EDNRA, TGFB2, PDE4D, PGAM2, GRK2, SCN4B, CACNA1S, MYL4, IGF1, and FOXO1. Additionally, genes such as CAPN3, MYOM2, and PGAM2, identified as both DEPs and DEGs related to skeletal muscle development, contained multiple TIBP-specific and LWP-predominant SNPs in regulatory and/or coding regions, underscoring significant ΔAF differences between the two breeds. Conclusion: s: This comprehensive investigation of SNPs in DEGs and DEPs identified a significant number of SNPs and genes related to skeletal muscle development during the prenatal stage. These findings not only shed light on potential causal genes for muscle divergence between the TIBP and LWP breeds but also offer valuable insights for pig breeding strategies aimed at enhancing meat production.

The value of whole tumor apparent diffusion coefficient histogram parameters in predicting meningiomas progesterone receptor expression.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the value of whole tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) semantic features in predicting meningioma progesterone receptor (PR) expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The imaging, pathological, and clinical data of 53 patients with PR-negative meningiomas and 52 patients with PR-positive meningiomas were retrospectively reviewed. The whole tumor was outlined using Firevoxel software, and the ADC histogram parameters were calculated. The differences in ADC histogram parameters and MRI semantic features were compared between the two groups. The predictive values of parameters for PR expression were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation between whole-tumor ADC histogram parameters and PR expression in meningiomas was also analyzed. RESULTS: Grading was able to predict the PR expression in meningiomas (p = 0.012), though the semantic features of MRI were not (all p > 0.05). The mean, Perc.01, Perc.05, Perc.10, Perc.25, and Perc.50 histogram parameters were able to predict meningioma PR expression (all p < 0.05). The predictive performance of the combined histogram parameters improved, and the combination of grade and histogram parameters provided the optimal predictive value, with an area under the curve of 0.849 (95%CI: 0.766-0.911) and sensitivity, specificity, ACC, PPV, and NPV of 73.08%, 81.13%, 77.14%, 79.20%, and 75.40%, respectively. The mean, Perc.01, Perc.05, Perc.10, Perc.25, and Perc.50 histogram parameters were positively correlated with PR expression (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Whole tumor ADC histogram parameters have additional clinical value in predicting PR expression in meningiomas.

Selective Photoreforming of Waste Plastics into Diesel Olefins via Single Reactive Oxygen Species.

The accumulation of plastic waste poses a pressing environmental challenge. Catalytic conversion stands out as an ideal approach for plastics upcycling, particularly through solar-driven plastics photoreforming. However, due to the common effects of multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS), selectively generating high-value chemicals becomes challenging. In this study, we developed a universal strategy to achieve >85 % selective production of diesel olefins (C15-C28) from polyolefin waste plastics via single ROS. Using tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin supramolecular (TCPP) with different central metals as an example to regulate single ROS generation, results show Ni-TCPP facilitates triplet exciton production, yielding 1O2, while Zn-TCPP generates ⋅O2 - due to its strong built-in electric field (IEF). 1O2 directly dechlorinates polyvinyl chloride (PVC) due to the electro-negativity of chlorine atoms and the low dissociation energy of C-Cl bonds, while ⋅O2 - promotes direct dehydrogenation of polyethylene (PE) due to the electro-positivity of hydrogen atoms and the high dissociation energy of C-H bonds. This method is universally applicable to various single ROS systems. Installation experiments further affirm the application potential, achieving the highest diesel olefin production of 76.1 µmol h-1. Such a universally adaptive approach holds promise for addressing the global plastic pollution problem.

Evaluation of urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin in the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the utility of urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (uNGAL) in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the context of sepsis. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 142 patients with sepsis treated in the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2019 to January 2021 were included. Patients diagnosed with AKI complicated with sepsis were categorized into the AKI group (n=70 cases), and patients diagnosed with sepsis were classified into the non-AKI group (n=72 cases). We collected and analyzed data on serum creatinine (Scr) and uNGAL levels. The ROC (receivers operating characteristics) curve was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of uNGAL in the diagnosis of AKI with sepsis. RESULTS: The level of uNGAL in the AKI group increased over time following admission, which was not observed in the non-AKI group. Twenty-four hours after admission, the level of uNGAL in the AKI group was significantly higher than that in the non-AKI group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in Scr level between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 72 hours after admission, the AUC of uNGAL in predicting AKI was 0.989 (95% CI: 1.018-1.085), and its intercept value was 961.3 ng/ml. At the same time, the correlation analysis showed that the level of uNGAL was positively correlated with the occurrence of AKI. CONCLUSION: uNGAL is superior to Scr for early diagnosis of AKI patients with sepsis.

Association Between Remnant Cholesterol and Risk of Hyperuricemia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is closely related to metabolic diseases. Our study aims to explore the relationship between RC and hyperuricemia. This cross-sectional study included 14 568 adults aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2018 in the United States. RC is calculated by subtracting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) from total cholesterol (TC). Hyperuricemia is defined by serum uric acid (SUA) levels≥7 mg/dl in men and≥6 mg/dl in women. The independent association between RC and hyperuricemia was evaluated. As the quartile range of RC levels increases, the prevalence of hyperuricemia also rises (7.84% vs. 13.71% vs. 18.61% vs. 26.24%, p<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the fourth quartile of RC was associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia compared with the first quartile (OR=2.942, 95% CI 2.473-3.502, p<0.001). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis shows that RC outperforms other single lipid indices in hyperuricemia. Further Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) analysis suggests a nonlinear relationship between RC levels and hyperuricemia. Elevated RC levels were found to be linked to hyperuricemia. Further studies on RC hold promise for both preventing and addressing hyperuricemia.

Photoelectric dual-mode triggered phase change materials for all-weather personal thermal management and shape memory.

To cope with the demand of more complex and variable applications, it is urgent to develop dual-mode triggered, breathable, and shape-memory wearable heaters for all-weather personal thermal management of composite phase change materials (PCMs). Herein, after high-temperature carbonization of ZnCo-MOF (metal-organic framework) nanosheet array grown in situ on flexible and breathable carbon cloth (CC) and subsequent encapsulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), the as-prepared PEG/CC@Co/CNT (carbon nanotube) composite PCMs exhibited good breathability, mechanical strength (tensile strength of 9.15 MPa), thermal energy storage density (114.19 J/g), and shape memory due to the synergy of flexible CC skeleton and rigid PEG. More importantly, composite PCMs possessed excellent solar-thermal (93.7 %, 100 mW/cm2) and electro-thermals (94.5 %, 2.0 V) conversion and storage capacity, benefiting from the conjugation effect of high graphitized carbon/carbon heterostructure with fast electron/photon/phonon transmission and the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of Co nanoparticles. Therefore, the integration of solar heating and Joule heating into breathable composite PCMs can be accurately used for next-generation all-weather, all-season, dual-mode triggered personal thermal management, including indoor/outdoor, daytime/night, rainy/cloudy and other complex and changeable scenarios.

Experimental test and mechanism analysis of soil crust erosion resistance of rammed earth Great Wall in rainy season.

Rammed earth is a kind of cleaning material, widely used in all kinds of buildings in the world. The Great Wall of ancient China is a typical world cultural site built from rammed earth. The rammed earth Great Wall of Shanhaiguan is close to Bohai Bay, which has suffered from long-term erosion by rain, causing a series of problems such as soil loss, collapse and gully flushing. The protection materials of the rammed earth site have always puzzled scholars. However, during the rainy season, it was found that some of the walls at Xiaowan Gouge and Nantuzhuang Gouge in the Shanhaiguan Great Wall had unwashed traces, the soil surface of the walls was intact, and the anti-erosion ability of the walls was significantly higher than that of other places. In order to explore the reasons for its strong anti-erosion ability in the natural state of rammed earth wall, guide the protection of rammed earth Great Wall, and carry out different experimental tests to explore its anti-erosion reasons and internal mechanisms. Firstly, the characteristics of rammed soil were understood through the composition test of rammed soil, and the indoor and outdoor erosion test was carried out to determine that the anti-erosion reason was the protection of gray-green soil crust. The property and composition of soil crust were determined through the immersion test and genome sequencing. Finally, the protection mechanism of soil crust was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

Molecular level removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes: A review of interfacial chemical in advanced oxidation processes.

As a kind of novel and persistent environmental pollutants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been frequently detected in different aquatic environment, posing potential risks to public health and ecosystems, resulting in a biosecurity issue that cannot be ignored. Therefore, in order to control the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment, advanced oxidation technology (such as Fenton-like, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis) has become an effective weapon for inactivating and eliminating ARB and ARGs. However, in the process of advanced oxidation technology, studying and regulating catalytic active sites at the molecular level and studying the adsorption and surface oxidation reactions between catalysts and ARGs can achieve in-depth exploration of the mechanism of ARGs removal. This review systematically reveals the catalytic sites and related mechanisms of catalytic antagonistic genes in different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) systems. We also summarize the removal mechanism of ARGs and how to reduce the spread of ARGs in the environment through combining a variety of characterization methods. Importantly, the potential of various catalysts for removing ARGs in practical applications has also been recognized, providing a promising approach for the deep purification of wastewater treatment plants.

Unraveling the Impact of Curvature on Electrocatalytic Performance of Carbon Materials: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Curvature of carbon materials has gained significant attention as catalysts due to their distinctive properties and potential applications. This review comprehensively summarizes how the bending of carbon materials can improve electrocatalytic performance, with special attention to the applications of various bent carbon materials (such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerene) in electrocatalysts and a large number of related density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations. Extensive mechanism research has provided a wealth of evidence indicating that the curvature of carbon materials has a profound impact on catalytic activity. This improvement in catalytic performance by curved carbon materials is attributed to factors like a larger active surface area, modulation of electronic structure, and better dispersal of catalytic active sites. A comprehensive understanding and utilization of these effects enable the design of highly efficient carbon-based catalysts for applications in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and chemical synthesis.

Distinct effects of first-episode and recurrent major depressive disorder on brain changes related to suicidal ideation: Evidence from the REST-meta-MDD Project.

BACKGROUND: Significant differences in clinical manifestations between first-episode and recurrent major depression disorder (FE-MDD/R-MDD) have been demonstrated in previous studies, including the degree of suicide attempt. However, the potential brain mechanism underlying the effect of depressive episode frequency on suicidal ideation (SI) remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, 102 patients with FE-MDD (SI/non-SI: N = 70/32) and 71 matched normal controls (NCs), as well as 75 patients with R-MDD (SI/non-SI: N = 37/38) and 49 matched NCs were screened from the Chinese REST-meta-MDD consortium. T1-weighted and resting-state fMRI images were used to calculate gray matter volume (GMV) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), respectively. RESULTS: Group comparisons revealed that FE-MDD showed changes only in GMV, while R-MDD showed changes in both GMV and fALFF compared to NCs. SI-specific GMV decreases were observed in the right cerebellum, superior marginal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus in FE-MDD patients, while SI-specific fALFF decreases in bilateral superior frontal gyrus and increases in bilateral cerebellum and left parahippocampal gyrus were obserevd in R-MDD patients. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between GMV value in right cerebellum and HAMD score. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that first-episode and recurrent MDD show different effects on brain structure and function in patients with SI, providing a potential explanation for the distinct clinical manifestations of MDD patients from a brain mechanisms perspective.

Causal Relationships Between Screen Use, Reading, and Brain Development in Early Adolescents.

The rise of new media has greatly changed the lifestyles, leading to increased time on these platforms and less time spent reading. This shift has particularly profound impacts on early adolescents, who are in a critical stage of brain development. Previous studies have found associations between screen use and mental health, but it remains unclear whether screen use is the direct cause of the outcomes. Here, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset is utlized to examine the causal relationships between screen use and brain development. The results revealed adverse causal effects of screen use on language ability and specific behaviors in early adolescents, while reading has positive causal effects on their language ability and brain volume in the frontal and temporal regions. Interestingly, increased screen use is identified as a result, rather than a cause, of certain behaviors such as rule-breaking and aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, the analysis uncovered an indirect influence of screen use, mediated by changes in reading habits, on brain development. These findings provide new evidence for the causal influences of screen use on brain development and highlight the importance of monitoring media use and related habit change in children.