Optical spin hall effect in exciton-polariton condensates in lead halide perovskite microcavities.

An exciton-polariton condensate is a hybrid light-matter state in the quantum fluid phase. The photonic component endows it with characters of spin, as represented by circular polarization. Spin-polarization can form stochastically for quasi-equilibrium exciton-polariton condensates at parallel momentum vector k|| ∼ 0 from bifurcation or deterministically for propagating condensates at k|| > 0 from the optical spin-Hall effect (OSHE). Here, we report deterministic spin-polarization in exciton-polariton condensates at k|| ∼ 0 in microcavities containing methylammonium lead bromide perovskite (CH3NH3PbBr3) single crystals under non-resonant and linearly polarized excitation. We observe two energetically split condensates with opposite circular polarizations and attribute this observation to the presence of strong birefringence, which introduces a large OSHE at k|| ∼ 0 and pins the condensates in a particular spin state. Such spin-polarized exciton-polariton condensates may serve not only as circularly polarized laser sources but also as effective alternatives to ultracold atom Bose-Einstein condensates in quantum simulators of many-body spin-orbit coupling processes.

The Association between Dietary Inflammatory Potential and Urologic Cancers: A Meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis published in 2018 indicated a significant association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of urologic cancers (UC). The number of included studies was limited, and more research has been published on this topic since then. The current study aimed to find a more precise estimate of the association between dietary inflammatory potential and risk of UC by updating the previous meta-analysis. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched between January 2015 and April 2023 to identify eligible articles. Combined relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by random-effects model to assess the association between dietary inflammatory potential and risk of UC by comparison of the highest versus the lowest category of the DII/empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) or by using the continuous DII/EDIP score. The analysis, including 23 studies with 557,576 subjects, showed different results for UC. There was a significant association for prostate cancer among case-control studies (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.34-2.28), whereas among cohort studies a null association was found (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.96-1.08). For bladder cancer, a nonsignificant association was observed in both case-control (RR = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.95-2.64) and cohort studies (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.86-1.24). Pooled RR from 3 case-control studies displayed a statistically significant association between the DII and risk of kidney cancer (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.56). Although DII was positively associated with all types of UC, no association was found for EDIP. The present meta-analysis confirmed that an inflammatory diet has a direct effect on the development of prostate cancer and kidney cancer. Large-scale studies are needed to demonstrate the association between dietary inflammatory potential and risk of UC and provide effective nutritional advice for UC prevention. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023391204).

Synthesis of Poly(δ-caprolactone) via Bis(phenolate) Rare-Earth Metal Complexes Mediated Ring-Opening Polymerization and Its Chemical Recycling.

New amine-amino-bis(phenolate) ligands (H2LtBu and H2LCl) with a cyclic tertiary amine (pyrrolidine) as a side arm and tBu or Cl group on the phenolate ring have been prepared. The alkane elimination reaction between these free ligands and rare-earth tris(alkyl)s Ln(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 afforded the corresponding silylalkyl complexes LtBuLnCH2SiMe3(THF) (Ln = Y (1), Lu (2)) and LClYCH2SiMe3(THF) (3), where the solid-state structure of complex 1 was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. These rare-earth metal complexes have been utilized as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of biobased δ-caprolactone (δCL), either in the absence or presence of alcohols, to give poly(δ-caprolactone) (PδCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow distribution (D < 1.2). The polymerization kinetics of δCL in toluene with yttrium complexes 1 and 3 were investigated. Oligomers prepared with complex 3 alone and the 3/PhCHMeOH binary catalyst system were well characterized with 1H NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS). Moreover, chemical recycling of the resultant PδCL was achieved with high yield in a solution at ambient temperature (>92%) or in bulk at 130 °C (>82%) by using commercial KOtBu as a promotor.

Distribution, source and contamination of rare earth elements in sediments from lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River, China.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging micropollutants in aquatic environments. In this study, concentrations of REEs and major elements, and mineralogical compositions of sediments from lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River (China) were analyzed using ICP-MS technique. The results suggested that sediments were characterized by terrigenous compositions TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Na2O and P2O, and contained high concentrations of REEs with mean total REE concentrations (∑REE) of 318.7 mg/kg. REEs were moderately enriched in upper river sediments, and slightly or less enriched in downriver sediments. The normalized REE distribution pattern for sediments was characterized by flat shalelike and Eu depleted V-shape REE patterns, which indicated REEs in sediments were lithologically contributed from sedimentary rocks and granites distributed in the watershed respectively. REEs in sediments were hosted mainly in Fe-Mn oxides, and sulfide and organic matters that were characterized by middle REEs (MREE) enrichments relative to light REEs (LREE) and heavy REEs (HREE), and the distribution and differentiation of REEs in sediments were controlled by clays, Fe-Mn oxides, organic matters and finer grains; and also by accessory minerals (e.g., zircon) from granite. The distribution features of REEs in sediments and BCR extraction results suggested that the sediment REE enrichment resulted from additional REE input from anthropogenic sources, including those in discharges from sulfide-ore smelting industries at Zhuzhou city and from phosphate fertilizer plants at Xiangtan city along the river. Thus, sediments were contaminated with REEs in moderate degree in upper river area, and REE contamination was then formed by superimposing anthropogenic REEs on lithological residues. Finally, concentrations of Ce > 100 mg/kg, Gd > 8.12 mg/kg, ∑REE >274.9 mg/kg, ∑LREE >252.3 mg/kg and ∑HREE >28.8 mg/kg here were recommended as the REE contamination levels that represented as REE indices for identifying and rating REE contamination in this mining impacted river.

Comparison of efficacy of conbercept, aflibercept, and ranibizumab ophthalmic injection in the treatment of macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion: a Meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the anatomical and functional outcomes and negative effects of the three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs in the treatment of macular edema (ME) due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) based on the evidence pooled from current clinical trials and observational studies. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on nine online databases from inception until April 30, 2022. The main endpoints were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and adverse events (AEs). Cumulative Meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the outcomes of the drugs. The retrieved data were analyzed using Stata software (version 12.0). RESULTS: A total of 20 studies comprising 1674 eyes met the inclusion criteria to the Meta-analysis. It was observed that conbercept and aflibercept had better visual acuity effects compared with ranibizumab at 1mo [weight mean difference (WMD)=-0.03, P=0.001; WMD=-0.05, P=0.019], but the effects were not different from that of ranibizumab at 6mo. Moreover, there was not statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients gaining ≥15 letters at 12-24mo between aflibercept and ranibizumab [odds ratio (OR)=1.16, P=0.427]. Conbercept had higher mean CMT change effects at 1mo (WMD=-14.43, P=0.014) and 6mo (WMD=-35.63, P≤0.001) compared with ranibizumab. Meanwhile, the mean CMT change effects at 1mo (WMD=-10.14, P=0.170), 6mo (WMD=-26.98, P=0.140) and 12-24mo (WMD=-12.34, P=0.071) were comparable among the groups. Similarly, AEs were not significantly different among the treatments (OR=0.75, P=0.305; OR=1.04, P=0.89). The stability of effect size of mean BCVA and CMT improved with the increase in sample size. Aflibercept and conbercept required fewer injections compared with ranibizumab. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and AEs of intravitreal administration of conbercept, ranibizumab, and aflibercept in the treatment of RVO-ME. Intravitreal aflibercept or conbercept results in better mean change in vision and CMT reduction compared with ranibizumab. Conbercept can be considered to be a promising and innovative drug with good anti-VEGF effects.

Gut microbiota and integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine in prevention and treatment of heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of multiple cardiovascular diseases, with high mortality and morbidity. More and more studies have proved that gut microbiota may play a role in the process of HF, which is expected to become a new therapeutic target. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has vast therapeutic potential of complementation against HF. PURPOSE: This manuscript expounds on the research progress of mechanisms of gut microbiota participating in the occurrence and prognosis of HF and the role of integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine from 1987 to 2022. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the prevention and treatment of HF from the perspective of gut microbiota has been discussed. METHODS: Studies focusing on the effects and their mechanisms of gut microbiota in HF and the role of integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine were identified and summarized, including contributions from February 1987 until August 2022. The investigation was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases up to April 2023 by using the relevant keywords and operators. RESULTS: A total of 34 articles were finally included in this review.16 RCTs and 13 basic researches, and 3 clinical research studies involving 7 relevant outcome indicators(cardiac function evaluation index, changes in gut microbiota, inflammatory factors, metabolites of gut microbiota, serum nutritional index protein, quality of life score, intestinal permeability and all-cause mortality). Compared with healthy controls, serum TNF-α and TMAO levels were significantly higher in patients with heart failure [MD = 5.77, 95%CI(4.97, 6.56), p < 0.0001; SMD = 1.92, 95%CI(1.70, 2.14), p < 0.0001]. Escherichia coli and Thick-walled bacteria increased significantly [SMD = -0.99, 95%CI(-1.38, -0.61), p < 0.0001, SMD = 2.58, 95%CI(2.23, 2.93), p < 0.0001];The number of bacteroides and lactobacillus decreased [SMD = -2.29, 95%CI(-2.54, -2.04), p < 0.0001; SMD = -1.55, 95%CI(-1.8, -1.3), p < 0.0001]. There was no difference in bifidobacterium [SMD = 0.16, 95%CI(-0.22, 0.54), p = 0.42]. In the published literature, it is not difficult to see that most of the results are studied and proved based on animal experiments or clinical trials, involving the cellular level, while the mechanism and mode of action of the molecular biology of traditional Chinese medicine are less elaborated, which is related to the characteristics of multi-components and multi-targets of traditional Chinese medicine. The above are the shortcomings of published literature, which can also be the direction of future research. CONCLUSION: Heart failure patients have decreased beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus mimics and Lactobacillus in the intestinal flora and increased harmful flora like thick-walled flora. And increase the inflammatory response of the body and the expression of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) in the serum. And The prevention and treatment of integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine against heart failure based on gut microbiota and its metabolites is a promising research direction.

Surface Engineering of Regenerated Cellulose Nanocomposite Films with High Strength, Ultraviolet Resistance, and a Hydrophobic Surface.

Regenerated cellulose packaging materials can alleviate the environmental pollution and carbon emissions caused by conventional plastics and other chemicals. They require regenerated cellulose films with good barrier properties, such as strong water resistance. Herein, using an environmentally friendly solvent at room temperature, a straightforward procedure for synthesizing these regenerated cellulose (RC) films, with excellent barrier properties and doping with nano-SiO2, is presented. After the surface silanization modification, the obtained nanocomposite films exhibited a hydrophobic surface (HRC), in which the nano-SiO2 provided a high mechanical strength, whereas octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) provided hydrophobic long-chain alkanes. The contents of the nano-SiO2 and the concentrations of the OTS/n-hexane in regenerated cellulose composite films are crucial, as they define its morphological structure, tensile strength, UV-shielding ability, and the other performance of these composite films. When the nano-SiO2 content was 6%, the tensile stress of the composite film (RC6) increased by 41.2%, the maximum tensile stress was 77.22 MPa, and the strain-at-break was 14%. Meanwhile, the HRC films had more superior multifunctional integrations of tensile strength (73.91 MPa), hydrophobicity (HRC WCA = 143.8°), UV resistance (>95%), and oxygen barrier properties (5.41 × 10-11 mL·cm/m2·s·Pa) than the previously reported regenerated cellulose films in packaging materials. Moreover, the modified regenerated cellulose films could biodegrade entirely in soil. These results provide an experimental basis for preparing regenerated-cellulose-based nanocomposite films that exhibit a high performance in packaging applications.

Phonon signatures for polaron formation in an anharmonic semiconductor.

Mechanistic studies on lead halide perovskites (LHPs) in recent years have suggested charge carrier screening as partially responsible for long carrier diffusion lengths and lifetimes that are key to superior optoelectronic properties. These findings have led to the ferroelectric large polaron proposal, which attributes efficient charge carrier screening to the extended ordering of dipoles from symmetry-breaking unit cells that undergo local structural distortion and break inversion symmetry. It remains an open question whether this proposal applies in general to semiconductors with LHP-like anharmonic and dynamically disordered phonons. Here, we study electron-phonon coupling in Bi2O2Se, a semiconductor which bears resemblance to LHPs in ionic bonding, spin-orbit coupling, band transport with long carrier diffusion lengths and lifetimes, and phonon disorder as revealed by temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy. Using coherent phonon spectroscopy, we show the strong coupling of an anharmonic phonon mode at 1.50 THz to photo-excited charge carriers, while the Raman excitation of this mode is symmetry-forbidden in the ground-state. Density functional theory calculations show that this mode, originating from the A1g phonon of out-of-plane Bi/Se motion, gains oscillator strength from symmetry-lowering in polaron formation. Specifically, lattice distortion upon ultrafast charge localization results in extended ordering of symmetry-breaking unit cells and a planar polaron wavefunction, namely a two-dimensional polaron in a three-dimensional lattice. This study provides experimental and theoretical insights into charge interaction with anharmonic phonons in Bi2O2Se and suggests ferroelectric polaron formation may be a general principle for efficient charge carrier screening and for defect-tolerant semiconductors.

Detection of Bourbon Virus-Specific Serum Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Serum in Missouri, USA.

Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first discovered in 2014 in a fatal human case. Since then it has been detected in the tick Amblyomma americanum in the states of Missouri and Kansas in the United States. Despite the high prevalence of BRBV in ticks in these states, very few human cases have been reported, and the true infection burden of BRBV in the community is unknown. Here, we developed two virus neutralization assays, a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-BRBV pseudotyped rapid assay and a BRBV focus reduction neutralization assay, to assess the seroprevalence of BRBV neutralizing antibodies in human sera collected in 2020 in St. Louis, MO. Of 440 human serum samples tested, three (0.7%) were able to potently neutralize both VSV-BRBV and wild-type BRBV. These findings suggest that human infections with BRBV are more common than previously recognized. IMPORTANCE Since the discovery of the Bourbon virus (BRBV) in 2014, a total of five human cases have been identified, including two fatal cases. BRBV is thought to be transmitted by the lone star tick, which is prevalent in the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern United States. BRBV has been detected in ticks in Missouri and Kansas, and serological evidence suggests that it is also present in North Carolina. However, the true infection burden of BRBV in humans is not known. In the present study, we developed two virus neutralization assays to assess the seroprevalence of BRBV-specific antibodies in human sera collected in 2020 in St. Louis, MO. We found that a small subset of individuals are seropositive for neutralizing antibodies against BRBV. Our data suggest that BRBV infection in humans is more common than previously thought.

Distribution of Pb isotopes in different chemical fractions in bed sediments from lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan province of China.

This paper reports Pb isotopes in different fractions following the three step BCR and 1 M HCl extractions on river sediments from lower reaches of the Xiangjiang river in China, and highlights the importance of Pb isotopes in heavy metal contamination assessment. Lead concentrations and Pb isotopes in bulk sediments and sediment fractions (leachates and residues) from the river were analysed using ICP-MS techniques. Results showed that sediments were highly enriched with Pb with enrichment factors >5.5, while Pb in sediments was dominated by reducible and residual Pb fractions, residing mainly in Fe-oxide and silicate minerals. Pb isotopes in sediments was characterized by radiogenic Pb produced from the decay of uranium and thorium with 206Pb/207Pb ratios of 1.1744 for less radiogenic Pb and 1.1816 for more radiogenic Pb. The leachates and residues from BCR extraction generally had similar Pb isotope compositions, of which the 206Pb/207Pb ratios were 1.1798 ± 0.002 and 1.1844 ± 0.008 respectively. Differentiation of Pb isotopes between BCR leachates and residues was insignificant. However, differentiation between leachates and residues using 1 M HCl extraction was significant, as shown by average 206Pb/207Pb ratios of 1.1746 ± 0.005 and 1.1858 ± 0.008 for leachates and residues respectively. Pb isotopic tracing suggests that Pb in sediments from Zhuzhou section arose from the mixing of anthropogenic Pb from coal combustion (39%) and mining-smelting for Pb-Zn ores (58%); while Pb in sediments from Xiangtan, Changsha and Xiangyin sections arose from the mixing of anthropogenic Pb from mining-smelting for Pb-Zn ores (54%), and lithologically inherited Pb from granite weathering (35%) with a small amount of contribution from coal combustion (10%). The present study suggests that the BCR extraction scheme was not appropriate for ecological risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in mining-impacted (ore-Pb dominated) river sediments.

Spin-orbit-coupled exciton-polariton condensates in lead halide perovskites.

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is responsible for a range of spintronic and topological processes in condensed matter. Here, we show photonic analogs of SOCs in exciton-polaritons and their condensates in microcavities composed of birefringent lead halide perovskite single crystals. The presence of crystalline anisotropy coupled with splitting in the optical cavity of the transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes gives rise to a non-Abelian gauge field, which can be described by the Rashba-Dresselhaus Hamiltonian near the degenerate points of the two polarization modes. With increasing density, the exciton-polaritons with pseudospin textures undergo phase transitions to competing condensates with orthogonal polarizations. Unlike their pure photonic counterparts, these exciton-polaritons and condensates inherit nonlinearity from their excitonic components and may serve as quantum simulators of many-body SOC processes.

Ultrafast Ferroelectric Ordering on the Surface of a Topological Semimetal MoTe2.

Transient tuning of material properties by light usually requires intense laser fields in the nonlinear excitation regime. Here, we report ultrafast ferroelectric ordering on the surface of a paraelectric topological semimetal 1T'-MoTe2 in the linear excitation regime, with the order parameter directly proportional to the excitation intensity. The ferroelectric ordering, driven by a transient electric field created by electrons trapped ångstroms away from the surface in the image potential state (IPS), is evidenced in two-photon photoemission spectroscopy showing the energy relaxation rate proportional to IPS electron density, but with negligible change in the free-electron-like parallel dispersion. First-principles calculations reveal an improper ferroelectric ordering associated with an anharmonic interlayer shearing mode. Our findings demonstrate an ultrafast charge-based pathway for creating transient polarization orders.

Anti-cataract effects of coconut water in vivo and in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anti-cataract effects of coconut water (CW) in vivo and in vitro, and to explore the potential pathogenic mechanism. METHODS: In this study, 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (CO), diabetic (DM), diabetic treated with CW (DM + CW), and diabetic treated with Glibenclamide (DM + Gli). Except for the CO group, in the other three groups, intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg) was conducted to establish diabetic models. The experiment was conducted for 20 weeks. The slit-lamp examination was undertaken during the period of experiment (20 weeks), and then, all rats were sacrificed. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the left lens were measured by using biochemical assays. The right lens was used for pathological analysis. The rat lens epithelial cells (LECs) were cultured in vitro and the subcultured cell were divided into four groups, namely the normal glucose group (5 mmol /L glucose, Group I), the high glucose group (40 mmol/L glucose, Group II), high glucose +5% CW group (Group III), and high glucose +10% CW group (Group IV). LECs were cultured under the conditions as described above for 48 h. Cell proliferation and the morphological changes were observed with interted phase contrast microscope.The level of cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. the level of SOD, MDA and GSH-Px were also detected. RESULTS: The lens opacity index decreased in diabetic rats, and LECs apoptosis ratio also decreased in high glucose environments that received CW. Under treatment with CW, reduced MDA level and elevated activities of SOD and GSH-Px were detected, both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The increased severity of cataract and LECs apoptosis were noted in diabetic rats that received normal water, while CW markedly mitigated the enhanced cataract severity and the reduction of LECs induced by diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: CW is a functional food that can protect the lens from diabetic cataract. The possible underlying mechanism may be partly explained via the decreased oxidative stress in lens. However, further research needs to be conducted to indicate the pathogenic mechanism of anti-diabetic effects of CW.

Progression of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in St. Louis, Missouri, through January 2021.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity was assessed for 3,066 individuals visiting hospitals in St. Louis, Missouri, during July 2020, November 2020, or January 2021. Seropositivity in children increased from 5.22% in July to 21.16% in January. In the same time frame, seropositivity among adults increased from 4.52% to 19.03%, prior to initiation of mass vaccination. IMPORTANCE This study determined the percentage of children and adult samples from the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during three collection periods spanning July 2020 to January 2021. By January 2021, 20.68% of the tested individuals had antibodies. These results show the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in St. Louis, Missouri, and provide a snapshot of the extent of infection just prior to the start of mass vaccination.

A single intranasal or intramuscular immunization with chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine protects against pneumonia in hamsters.

The development of an effective vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global priority. Here, we compare the protective capacity of intranasal and intramuscular delivery of a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine encoding a prefusion stabilized spike protein (chimpanzee adenovirus [ChAd]-SARS-CoV-2-S) in Golden Syrian hamsters. Although immunization with ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S induces robust spike-protein-specific antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus, antibody levels in serum are higher in hamsters vaccinated by an intranasal compared to intramuscular route. Accordingly, against challenge with SARS-CoV-2, ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S-immunized hamsters are protected against less weight loss and have reduced viral infection in nasal swabs and lungs, and reduced pathology and inflammatory gene expression in the lungs, compared to ChAd-control immunized hamsters. Intranasal immunization with ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S provides superior protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. These findings support intranasal administration of the ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S candidate vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease, and possibly transmission.

Distribution and assessment of cadmium contamination in sediments from the Four River inlets to Dongting Lake, China.

The total concentrations of Cd in bulk sediments and those of the BCR sequential extraction fractions of sediments from inlets of the Four Rivers that feed Dongting Lake were determined using ICP-MS techniques. The results suggested that Cd was heterogeneously distributed in the inlet sediments of the rivers, with the highest degree of enrichment in sediments from the Xiangjiang River. The Cd anomaly was defined as Cd enrichment in sediments with an EF (enrichment factor) > 10.0, and it was identified in the inlet sediments of the Xiangjiang River. Cd in the sediments was dominated by acid-soluble Cd at a proportion of 23.9-69.8 (%) compared to its total concentrations in the sediments. The inlet sediments of the Four Rivers were contaminated with Cd, with the highest degree of contamination in the inlet sediments of the Xiangjiang River. The Cd contamination as well as the Cd anomaly in the sediments were closely related to the industrial activities (e.g. smelting and refining for ore minerals) in the areas, and Cd contamination at high levels may represent an ecological risk for the lake watershed. Cd contamination of the inlet sediments may also impact the lake basin sediments and is harmful to the lake ecological system, particularly for sediments of the Xiangjiang River. Therefore, it is essential to control and treat Cd contamination in the inlet sediments for ecological environmental protection of lake watersheds.

Structural dynamics and vibrational feature of N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine in aqueous solution.

Molecular dynamics simulations and DFT calculations were performed for the demonstration of the structural dynamics and vibrational feature of N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) in solution phase. The interactions between NAG and solvent molecules were evaluated through spatial distribution function and radial distribution function, and the preferred conformations of NAG in aqueous solution were revealed by cluster analysis. Results from normal mode analysis show that the solvent induced structural fluctuation of NAG could be reflected in the vibrational feature of specific chromophores, thus we can evaluate the molecular structure with the help of its vibrational signature based on the built correlation between molecular structure and vibrational frequencies of specific groups.

Profiling B cell immunodominance after SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals antibody evolution to non-neutralizing viral targets.

Dissecting the evolution of memory B cells (MBCs) against SARS-CoV-2 is critical for understanding antibody recall upon secondary exposure. Here, we used single-cell sequencing to profile SARS-CoV-2-reactive B cells in 38 COVID-19 patients. Using oligo-tagged antigen baits, we isolated B cells specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleoprotein (NP), open reading frame 8 (ORF8), and endemic human coronavirus (HCoV) spike proteins. SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific cells were enriched in the memory compartment of acutely infected and convalescent patients several months post symptom onset. With severe acute infection, substantial populations of endemic HCoV-reactive antibody-secreting cells were identified and possessed highly mutated variable genes, signifying preexisting immunity. Finally, MBCs exhibited pronounced maturation to NP and ORF8 over time, especially in older patients. Monoclonal antibodies against these targets were non-neutralizing and non-protective in vivo. These findings reveal antibody adaptation to non-neutralizing intracellular antigens during infection, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for inducing neutralizing spike-specific MBCs.

Refractive errors and visual impairment among children and adolescents in southernmost China.

BACKGROUND: Refractive errors and visual impairment in southernmost China have not been reported previously. We aim to investigate and determine the age-specific prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and visual impairment based on a large population cross-sectional study in Hainan area of southernmost tropical province in China. METHODS: A population-based sample of 31,524 children aged 6-15 years from Hainan was assessed. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction and visual acuity (VA) analyses were performed on all participants and a subgroup of participants undergoing cycloplegia. RESULTS: Of all participants, 23.0% presented uncorrected VA (UCVA) was worse than 20/40 in worse eye, 6.0% presented mild presenting visual acuity impairment (PVAI), 7.0% presented moderate PVAI, 0.2% presented severe PVAI in the better eye, and 46.9% presented abnormal UCVA [worse than 20/25 (≥ 6, < 8 years old) and worse than 20/20 (≥ 8 years and older)] at least in one eye. The overall prevalence of myopia [spherical equivalent (SE) ≤ - 0.50 D] and high myopia (SE ≤ - 6.00 D) were 46.0%, 1.0% respectively. Hyperopia [SE ≥ + 1.00 D (≥ 7 years old) and SE ≥ + 2.00 D (≥ 6, < 7 years old)] and significant hyperopia (SE ≥ + 3.00 D) were 4.2 and 0.6%, respectively. Astigmatism [cylinder ≥ 1.00 D (≥ 7 years old) and ≥ 1.75 D (≥ 6, < 7 years old)] was found in 31.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Myopia was the most common refractive error in southernmost province in China (Hainan). Its prevalence increased with age, while hyperopia prevalence showed a decreasing trend. However, myopia, especially high myopia prevalence was much lower than in other urban regions across China.

Effects of coconut water on blood sugar and retina of rats with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of coconut water on the general condition (fasting blood sugar and body weight) and retina of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into normal controls (NC), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes+coconut water (DM+CW), and diabetes+glibenclamide (DM+Gli) groups. After 4 weeks of normal feeding, coconut water was given to group III-DM+CW and 0.6 mg/kg glibenclamide to group IV-DM+Gli. The blood sugar, body weight, total retinal thickness, pathological changes, and VEGF expression in the retina were analyzed at different time points. RESULTS: The fasting blood sugar was 4-6 mmol/L in group I-NC and continuously increased in group II-DM, whereas gradually decreased after the 4th experiment week in the remaining two groups. The rats, except in group I-NC, have lost weight. In group II-DM, the total retinal thickness was significantly increased after the 8th and 12th experiment week, and the pathological changes in retina were observed. VEGF was almost fully expressed in the ganglion cell layer and inner granular layer and partially expressed in the outer granular layer in group II-DM, and mainly expressed in the ganglion cell layer and inner layer in group I-NC, with a lighter color. Group III-DM + CW and group IV-DM + Gli demonstrated similar VEGF expression as in group I-NC. CONCLUSIONS: Coconut water has the potential to reduce blood sugar and diabetic retinal damage, serving as a candidate drug or nutrient for treating diabetes and its complications.