Exploiting the potential of a novel "in-situ latent heat recovery" in hollow-fiber vacuum membrane distillation process for simultaneously improved water production and energy efficiency.

Thermal driven membrane distillation (MD) technology is a promising method for purifying & recovering various salty (especially high salty) or contaminated wastewaters with low-grade heat sources. However, the drawbacks of "high energy consumption" and "high cooling water consumption" pose special challenges for the future development of this technology. In this article, we report an innovative strategy called "in-situ heat transfer", which is based on the jacketed structure composed of hollow fiber membranes and capillary heat exchange tubes, to simplify the migration steps of condensation latent heat in MD heat recovery process. The results indicate that the novel heat recovery strategy exhibits higher growth rates both in the flux and gained output ratio (47.4 % and 173.1 %, respectively), and further reduces the system's dependence on cooling water. In sum, under the control of the "in-situ heat transfer" mechanism, the functional coupling of "vapor condensation (exothermic)" and "feed evaporation (endothermic)" in limited-domain space is an attractive alternative solution, because it eliminates the disadvantages of the imbalance between heat supply and demand in traditional heat recovery methods. Our research may facilitate the development of MD heat recovery modules for industrial applications, which will help to further achieve the goal of energy saving and emission reduction.

Akkermansia muciniphila improves gastric cancer treatment by modulating the immune microenvironment.

Background: Gut microbiota is pivotal in tumor occurrence and development, and there is a close relationship between Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) and cancer immunotherapy. Methods: The effects of AKK and its outer membrane proteins on gastric cancer (GC) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Results: AKK outer membrane protein facilitated apoptosis of GC cells and exerted an immunostimulatory effect (by promoting M1 polarization of macrophages, enhancing expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-related cytokines and suppressing that of Treg-related cytokines). Additionally, AKK and its formulation could inhibit tumor growth of GC and enhance the infiltration of immune cells in tumor tissues. Conclusion: AKK could improve GC treatment by modulating the immune microenvironment.

Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) is a type of bacteria found in the human gut that is good for the immune system. We wanted to investigate the effect of AKK on cancer. We extracted a protein from AKK called Amuc. AKK and Amuc inhibited the growth of stomach cancer by encouraging the action of immune cells. AKK may therefore be able to treat stomach cancer.

The HN protein of Newcastle disease virus induces cell apoptosis through the induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization.

Lysosomes are acidic organelles that mediate the degradation and recycling of cellular waste materials. Damage to lysosomes can cause lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and trigger different types of cell death, including apoptosis. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can naturally infect most birds. Additionally, it serves as a promising oncolytic virus known for its effective infection of tumor cells and induction of intensive apoptotic responses. However, the involvement of lysosomes in NDV-induced apoptosis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that NDV infection profoundly triggers LMP, leading to the translocation of cathepsin B and D and subsequent mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in various tumor and avian cells. Notably, the released cathepsin B and D exacerbate NDV-induced LMP by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, we uncover that the viral Hemagglutinin neuraminidase (HN) protein induces the deglycosylation and degradation of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and LAMP2 dependent on its sialidase activity, which finally contributes to NDV-induced LMP and cellular apoptosis. Overall, our findings elucidate the role of LMP in NDV-induced cell apoptosis and provide novel insights into the function of HN during NDV-induced LMP, which provide innovative approaches for the development of NDV-based oncolytic agents.

The NP protein of Newcastle disease virus dictates its oncolytic activity by regulating viral mRNA translation efficiency.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been extensively studied as a promising oncolytic virus for killing tumor cells in vitro and in vivo in clinical trials. However, the viral components that regulate the oncolytic activity of NDV remain incompletely understood. In this study, we systematically compared the replication ability of different NDV genotypes in various tumor cells and identified NP protein determines the oncolytic activity of NDV. On the one hand, NDV strains with phenylalanine (F) at the 450th amino acid position of the NP protein (450th-F-NP) exhibit a loss of oncolytic activity. This phenotype is predominantly associated with genotype VII NDVs. In contrast, the NP protein with a leucine amino acid at this site in other genotypes (450th-L-NP) can facilitate the loading of viral mRNA onto ribosomes more effectively than 450th-F-NP. On the other hand, the NP protein from NDV strains that exhibit strong oncogenicity interacts with eIF4A1 within its 366-489 amino acid region, leading to the inhibition of cellular mRNA translation with a complex 5' UTR structure. Our study provide mechanistic insights into how highly oncolytic NDV strains selectively promote the translation of viral mRNA and will also facilitate the screening of oncolytic strains for oncolytic therapy.

Changes in tuberculosis burden and its associated risk factors in Guizhou Province of China during 2006-2020: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the trends of tuberculosis (TB) burden and its risk factors at the provincial level in the context of global End TB targets is crucial to identify the progress and challenges in TB control. We aimed to estimate the burden of TB and risk factors for death from 2006 to 2020 for the first time in Guizhou Province, China. METHODS: Data were collected from the national TB surveillance system. Four indicators of TB burden and their corresponding age-standardized rates (ASRs), including incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (ASDR), were estimated and stratified by year, age, gender and prefecture. Temporal trends of ASRs were presented by locally weighted regression, and the annual percentage change was calculated. The correlation between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and ASRs was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. The associated risk factors for death in PTB patients were determined using logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 557,476 pulmonary TB (PTB) cases and 11,234 deaths were reported, including 2233 (19.9%) TB specific deaths and 9001 (80.1%) deaths from other causes. The 15-year average incidence, prevalence and mortality rates were 94.6, 102.6 and 2.1 per 100,000 population, respectively. The average DALY rate was 0.60 per 1000 population. The ASIR and ASPR have shown downward trends since 2012, with the largest percentage decrease in 2020 (ASIR: -29.8%; ASPR: -30.5%). The number in TB specific deaths consistently decreased during the study period (P<0.001), while the increase in deaths from other causes drove the overall upward trend in ASMR and ASDR. Four ASRs remained high in males and 5 prefectures. GDP per capita was negatively associated with the ASIR, ASPR and ASDR (P<0.05). Among PTB patients, men, patients with no fixed job, those with a low GDP level, patients with increasing age, those previously treated, those with severe symptoms, those transferred in and those receiving directly observed treatment were more likely to suffer death. CONCLUSION: Guizhou has made progress in reducing PTB cases and TB specific deaths over the last 15 years. Targeted interventions are needed to address these risk factors for death in PTB patients and high-risk areas.

The multifaceted interactions between Newcastle disease virus proteins and host proteins: a systematic review.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) typically induces severe illness in poultry and results in significant economic losses for the worldwide poultry sector. NDV, an RNA virus with a single-stranded negative-sense genome, is susceptible to mutation and immune evasion during viral transmission, thus imposing enormous challenges to avian health and poultry production. NDV is composed of six structural proteins and two nonstructural proteins that exert pivotal roles in viral infection and antiviral responses by interacting with host proteins. Nowadays, there is a particular focus on the mechanisms of virus-host protein interactions in NDV research, yet a comprehensive overview of such research is still lacking. Herein, we briefly summarize the mechanisms regarding the effects of virus-host protein interaction on viral infection, pathogenesis, and host immune responses. This review can not only enhance the present comprehension of the mechanism underlying NDV and host interplay, but also furnish a point of reference for the advancement of antiviral measures.

Hemagglutinin affects replication, stability and airborne transmission of the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus.

H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) can transmit by direct as well as airborne contacts. It has been widespread in poultry and continued to contribute to zoonotic spillover events by providing its six internal genes for the reassortment of novel influenza viruses (eg, H7N9) that infect poultry and humans. Compared to H7N9, H9N2 virus displays an efficient airborne transmissibility in poultry, but the mechanisms of transmission difference have been insufficiently studied. The Hemagglutinin (HA) and viral polymerase acidic protein (PA) have been implicated in the airborne transmission of influenza A viruses. Accordingly, we generated the reassortant viruses of circulating airborne transmissible H9N2 and non-airborne transmissible H7N9 viruses carrying HA and/or PA gene. The introduction of the PA gene from H7N9 into the genome of H9N2 virus resulted in a reduction in airborne transmission among chickens, while the isolated introduction of the HA gene segment completely eliminated airborne transmission among chickens. We further showed that introduction of HA gene of non-transmissible H7N9 did not influence the HA/NA balance of H9N2 virus, but increased the threshold for membrane fusion and decreased the acid stability. Thus, our results indicate that HA protein plays a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission of the H9N2 subtype AIV.

Genetically Related Avian Influenza H7N9 Viruses Exhibit Different Pathogenicity in Mice.

Avian influenza viruses can cross species barriers and adapt to mammals. The H7N9 subtype AIV that emerged in China in 2013 caused 1568 human infections, with a mortality rate of nearly 40%. We conducted a retrospective analysis of H7N9 viruses that were isolated in live poultry markets in 2013. We found that two avian-origin H7N9 isolates, A/chicken/Eastern China/JTC4/2013 and A/chicken/Eastern China/JTC11/2013, have a similar genetic background but exhibit different pathogenicity in mice. Whole-genome alignment of the two H7N9 viruses was carried out, and only six amino acid differences mapped in five genes, including the well-known virulence molecular marker PB2-E627K. Our retrospective analysis highlighted the importance of monitoring the adaptive mutations in avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential.

Multifunctional Characteristics of BCTH:0.5% Sm3+ Ceramics Prepared via Hydrothermal Method and Powder Injection Molding.

Briefly, 0.005-mol Sm3+-doped (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Hf0.1)O3 ([(Ba0.85Ca0.15)0.995Sm0.005](Ti0.9Hf0.1)O3, BCTH:0.005Sm3+) lead-free ceramics were prepared via hydrothermal method and powder injection molding using paraffin and oleic acid as binders, and the effects of preparation method and sintering conditions on microstructure, dielectric behavior and optical properties were investigated. XRD Rietveld refinement reveals the coexistence of orthogonal, rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, in which the crystal structure and phase fraction are influenced greatly by sintering temperature and holding time. The ceramics present enhanced relaxor behavior and frequency dispersion phenomenon as compared with those prepared by the solid-state sintering method, and the diffusive index γ value is within 1.421-1.673. The transition mechanism and luminescence performance of BCTH:0.005 Sm3+ were analyzed by Blasse formula, photoluminescence spectrum and fluorescence lifetimes, where emission peaks show slight blueshift, fluorescence decay lifetime becomes shorter, electric multipole interaction dominates the energy transfer mechanism, and the down-conversion luminescence is one-photon absorption process. The CIE chromaticity color coordinate (0.4746, 0.5048), correlated color temperature 3134 K and color purity 93.58% are achieved, which reveals that the BCTH:0.005 Sm3+ ceramics express high quality yellow emission rather than orange-red light of the hydrothermal method synthesized nano-powder, and have potential application in optical field.

Emerging Roles of Microrobots for Enhancing the Sensitivity of Biosensors.

To meet the increasing needs of point-of-care testing in clinical diagnosis and daily health monitoring, numerous cutting-edge techniques have emerged to upgrade current portable biosensors with higher sensitivity, smaller size, and better intelligence. In particular, due to the controlled locomotion characteristics in the micro/nano scale, microrobots can effectively enhance the sensitivity of biosensors by disrupting conventional passive diffusion into an active enrichment during the test. In addition, microrobots are ideal to create biosensors with functions of on-demand delivery, transportation, and multi-objective detections with the capability of actively controlled motion. In this review, five types of portable biosensors and their integration with microrobots are critically introduced. Microrobots can enhance the detection signal in fluorescence intensity and surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection via the active enrichment. The existence and quantity of detection substances also affect the motion state of microrobots for the locomotion-based detection. In addition, microrobots realize the indirect detection of the bio-molecules by functionalizing their surfaces in the electrochemical current and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy detections. We pay a special focus on the roles of microrobots with active locomotion to enhance the detection performance of portable sensors. At last, perspectives and future trends of microrobots in biosensing are also discussed.

Mutations in HA and PA affect the transmissibility of H7N9 avian influenza virus in chickens.

Low pathogenic (LP) H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) emerged in 2013 and had spread widely over several months in China, experienced a noteworthy reduction in isolation rate in poultry and human since 2017. Here, we examined the transmission of H7N9 viruses to better understand viral spread and dissemination mechanisms. Three out of four viruses (2013-2016) could transmit in chickens through direct contact, and airborne transmission was confirmed in the JT157 (2016) virus. However, we did not detect the transmission of the two 2017 viruses, WF69 and AH395, through either direct or airborne exposure. Molecular analysis of genome sequence of two viruses identified eleven mutations located in viral proteins (except for matrix protein), such as PA (K362R and S364N) and HA (D167N, H7 numbering), etc. We explored the genetic determinants that contributed to the difference in transmissibility of the viruses in chickens by generating a series of reassortants in the JT157 background. We found that the replacement of HA gene in JT157 by that of WF69 abrogated the airborne transmission in recipient chickens, whereas the combination of HA and PA replacement led to the loss of airborne and direct contact transmission. Failure with contact transmission of the viruses has been associated with the emergence of the mutations D167N in HA and K362R and S364N in PA. Furthermore, the HA D167N mutation significantly reduced viral attachment to chicken lung and trachea tissues, while mutations K362R and S364N in PA reduced the nuclear transport efficiency and the PA protein expression levels in both cytoplasm and nucleus of CEF cells. The D167N substitution in HA reduced the H7N9 viral acid stability and avian-like receptor binding, while enhanced human-like receptor binding. Further analysis revealed these mutants grew poorly in vitro and in vivo. To conclude, H7N9 AIVs that contain mutations in the HA and PA protein reduced the viral transmissibility in chicken, and may pose a reduced threat for poultry but remain a heightened public health risk.

Cellular vimentin regulates the infectivity of Newcastle disease virus through targeting of the HN protein.

The haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein plays a crucial role in the infectivity and virulence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). In a previous study, the mutant HN protein was identified as a crucial virulence factor for the velogenic variant NDV strain JS/7/05/Ch, which evolved from the prototypic vaccine strain Mukteswar. Furthermore, macrophages are the main susceptible target cells of NDV. However, the possible involvement of cellular molecules in viral infectivity remains unclear. Herein, we elucidate the crucial role of vimentin, an intermediate filament protein, in regulating NDV infectivity through targeting of the HN protein. Using LC‒MS/MS mass spectrometry and coimmunoprecipitation assays, we identified vimentin as a host protein that differentially interacted with prototypic and mutant HN proteins. Further analysis revealed that the variant NDV strain induced more significant rearrangement of vimentin fibres compared to the prototypic NDV strain and showed an interdependence between vimentin rearrangement and virus replication. Notably, these mutual influences were pronounced in HD11 chicken macrophages. Moreover, vimentin was required for multiple infection processes of the variant NDV strain in HD11 cells, including viral internalization, fusion, and release, while it was not necessary for those of the prototypic NDV strain. Collectively, these findings underscore the pivotal role of vimentin in NDV infection through targeting of the HN protein, providing novel targets for antiviral treatment strategies for NDV.

Portable Electrochemical Sensor for Micromotor Speed Monitoring.

Autonomous movement promotes practical applications of micromotors. Understanding the moving speeds is a crucial step in micromotor studies. The current analysis method relies on an expensive optical microscope, which is limited to laboratory settings. Herein, we have developed a lightweight (0.15 g), portable (2.0 × 3.5 cm2), and low-cost (approximately $0.26) micromotor sensor (µ-Motor sensor), composed of water-sensitive materials for micromotor speed monitoring. Moving micromotors induce fluid flow, enhancing the evaporation rate of the liquid medium. Consequently, a high correlation between motor speed and water molecule concentration above the moving medium has been established. The µ-Motor sensor enables a real-time readout of the moving speed in various settings, with high accuracy (≥95% in the lab and ≥90% in field studies at a local beach). The µ-Motor sensor opens up a new way for detecting micro/nanomachine movements, illuminating future applications of micro/nanorobotics for diverse scenarios.

Enhancement in the Efficiency of Sb2 Se3 Solar Cells by Triple Function of Lithium Hydroxide Modified at the Back Contact Interface.

The efficiency of antimony selenide (Sb2 Se3 ) solar cells is still limited by significant interface and deep-level defects, in addition to carrier recombination at the back contact surface. This paper investigates the use of lithium (Li) ions as dopant for Sb2 Se3 films, using lithium hydroxide (LiOH) as a dopant medium. Surprisingly, the LiOH solution not only reacts at the back surface of the Sb2 Se3 film but also penetrate inside the film along the (Sb4 Se6 )n molecular chain. First, the Li ions modify the grain boundary's carrier type and create an electric field between p-type grain interiors and n-type grain boundary. Second, a gradient band structure is formed along the vertical direction with the diffusion of Li ions. Third, carrier collection and transport are improved at the surface between Sb2 Se3 and the Au layer due to the reaction between the film and alkaline solution. Additionally, the diffusion of Li ions increases the crystallinity, orientation, surface evenness, and optical electricity. Ultimately, the efficiency of Sb2 Se3 solar cells is improved to 7.57% due to the enhanced carrier extraction, transport, and collection, as well as the reduction of carrier recombination and deep defect density. This efficiency is also a record for CdS/Sb2 Se3 solar cells fabricated by rapid thermal evaporation.

Emergence of a new designated clade 16 with significant antigenic drift in hemagglutinin gene of H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus in eastern China.

H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) pose an increasing threat to the poultry industry worldwide and have pandemic potential. Vaccination has been principal prevention strategy to control H9N2 in China since 1998, but vaccine effectiveness is persistently challenged by the emergence of the genetic and/or antigenic variants. Here, we analysed the genetic and antigenic characteristics of H9N2 viruses in China, including 70 HA sequences of H9N2 isolates from poultry, 7358 from online databases during 2010-2020, and 15 from the early reference strains. Bayesian analyses based on hemagglutinin (HA) gene revealed that a new designated clade16 emerged in April 2012, and was prevalent and co-circulated with clade 15 since 2013 in China. Clade 16 viruses exhibited decreased cross-reactivity with those from clade 15. Antigenic Cartography analyses showed represent strains were classified into three antigenic groups named as Group1, Group2 and Group3, and most of the strains in Group 3 (15/17, 88.2%) were from Clade 16 while most of the strains in Group2 (26/29, 89.7%) were from Clade 15. The mean distance between Group 3 and Group 2 was 4.079 (95%CI 3.605-4.554), revealing that major switches to antigenic properties were observed over the emergence of clade 16. Genetic analysis indicated that 11 coevolving amino acid substitutions primarily at antigenic sites were associated with the antigenic differences between clade 15 and clade 16. These data highlight complexities of the genetic evolution and provide a framework for the genetic basis and antigenic characterization of emerging clade 16 of H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus.

Metal-organic framework-mediated construction of confined ultrafine nickel phosphide immobilized in reduced graphene oxide with excellent cycle stability for asymmetric supercapacitors.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with unique metalloid features have been promised great application potential in developing high-efficiency electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. Nevertheless, sluggish ion transportation and poor cycling stability are the critical hurdles limiting their application prospects. Herein, we presented the metal-organic framework-mediated construction of ultrafine Ni2P immobilized in reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Nano-porous two-dimensional (2D) Ni-metal-organic framework (Ni-MOF) was grown on holey graphene oxide (Ni(BDC)-HGO), followed by MOF-mediated tandem pyrolysis (carbonization and phosphidation; Ni(BDC)-HGO-X-P, X denoted carbonization temperature and P represented phosphidation). Structural analysis revealed that the open-framework structure in Ni(BDC)-HGO-X-Ps had endowed them with excellent ion conductivity. The Ni2P wrapped by carbon shells and the PO bonds linking between Ni2P and rGO ensured the better structural stability of Ni(BDC)-HGO-X-Ps. The resulting Ni(BDC)-HGO-400-P delivered a capacitance of 2333.3 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 in a 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. More importantly, Ni(BDC)-HGO-400-P//activated carbon, the assembled asymmetric supercapacitor with an energy density of 64.5 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 31.7 kW kg-1, almost maintained its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. Furthermore, in situ electrochemical-Raman measurements were exploited to demonstrate the electrochemical changes of Ni(BDC)-HGO-400-P throughout the charging and discharging processes. This study has further shed light on the design rationality of TMPs for optimizing supercapacitor performance.

Naringin protects against inflammation and apoptosis induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury through deactivation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway.

Effective amelioration of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced intestinal injury and revealing its mechanisms remain the challenges in both preclinic and clinic. Potential mechanisms of naringin in ameliorating I/R-induced intestinal injury remain unknown. Based on pre-experiments, I/R-injured rat intestine in vivo and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R)-injured IEC-6 cells in vitro were used to verify that naringin-alleviated I/R-induced intestinal injury was mediated via deactivating cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Naringin improved intestinal damage using hematoxylin and eosin staining and decreased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase contents in plasma. Naringin decreased inflammation characterized by reducing IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-ß contents in both plasma and IEC-6 cells. Naringin mitigated oxidative stress via recovering superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels in the I/R-injured intestine. Naringin reduced the expression of apoptotic proteins, including Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2, and reduced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling-positive cells both in vivo and in vitro, and decreased Hoechst 33342 signals in vitro. cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3, and NF-κB expressions were up-regulated both in vivo and in vitro respectively and the up-regulated indexes were reversed by naringin. Transfection of cGAS-siRNA and cGAS-cDNA significantly down-regulated and up-regulated cGAS-STING signaling-related protein expressions, respectively, and partially weakened naringin-induced amelioration on these indexes, suggesting that deactivation of cGAS-STING signaling is the crucial target for naringin-induced amelioration on I/R-injured intestine.

The Association Between Household Financial Burden and Patient Mobility and Their Impact on Loss to Follow-Up Among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Guizhou, China.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the household financial burden due to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment and its predictors, examine its association with patient mobility, and test their impact on patient loss to follow-up (LTFU). Methods: A cross-sectional study combining follow-up data collection was conducted at the largest designated MDR-TB hospital in Guizhou. Data were collected from medical records and questionnaires. Household financial burden was measured by the incidence of 2 indicators: catastrophic total costs (CTC) and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). Mobility was classified as mover or non-mover after the patient's address was verified twice. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify associations between variables. Model I and Model II were separated by CHE and CTC. Results: Out of 180 households, the incidence of CHE and CTC was 51.7% and 80.6%, respectively. Families with low income and patients who were primary income earners were significantly associated with catastrophic costs. 42.8% of patients were movers. Patients from households with CHE (ORadj=2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.1) or with CTC (ORadj=2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-6.3) were more likely to move. Finding a job against financial difficulty (58.4%) was the top reason for movers. 20.0% of patients experienced LTFU. Patients from households with catastrophic payments (CHE: ORadj=4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.5 in Model I; CTC: ORadj=4.8, 95% CI 1.0-22.9 in Model II), patients who were movers (ORadj=6.1, 95% CI 2.5-14.8 in Model I; ORadj=7.4, 95% CI 3.0-18.7 in Model II) and primary income earners (ORadj=2.5, 95% CI: 1.0-5.9 in Model I; ORadj=2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.6 in Model II) had an increased risk of LTFU. Conclusion: There is a significant association between household financial burden due to MDR-TB treatment and patient mobility in Guizhou. They impact patients' treatment adherence and cause LTFU. Being a primary breadwinner increases the risk for catastrophic household payments and LTFU.

Dual Molecules Cooperatively Confined In-Between Edge-oxygen-rich Graphene Sheets as Ultrahigh Rate and Stable Electrodes for Supercapacitors.

Noncovalent modification of carbon materials with redox-active organic molecules has been considered as an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. However, their low loading mass, slow electron transfer rate, and easy dissolution into the electrolyte greatly limit further practical applications. Herein, this work reports dual molecules (1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ) and 2,6-diamino anthraquinone (DAQ)) cooperatively confined in-between edge-oxygen-rich graphene sheets as high-performance electrodes for supercapacitors. Cooperative electrostatic-interaction on the edge-oxygen sites and π-π interaction in-between graphene sheets lead to the increased loading mass and structural stability of dual molecules. Moreover, the electron tunneling paths constructed between edge-oxygen groups and dual molecules can effectively boost the electron transfer rate and redox reaction kinetics, especially at ultrahigh current densities. As a result, the as-obtained electrode exhibits a high capacitance of 507 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 , and an unprecedented rate capability (203 F g-1 at 200 A g-1 ). Moreover, the assembled symmetrical supercapacitor achieves a high energy density of 17.1 Wh kg-1 and an ultrahigh power density of 140 kW kg-1 , as well as remarkable stability with a retention of 86% after 50 000 cycles. This work may open a new avenue for the efficient utilization of organic materials in energy storage and conversion.

Functional evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Maintaining wide host spectrum and enhancing infectivity via surface charge of spike protein.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19, is rapidly accumulating mutations to adapt to the hosts. We collected SARS-CoV-2 sequence data from the end of 2019 to January 2023 to analyze for their evolutionary features during the pandemic. We found that most of the SARS-CoV-2 genes are undergoing negative purifying selection, while the spike protein gene (S-gene) is undergoing rapid positive selection. From the original strain to the alpha, delta and omicron variant types, the Ka/Ks of the S-gene increases, while the Ka/Ks within one variant type decreases over time. During the evolution, the codon usage did not evolve towards optimal translation and protein expression. In contrast, only S-gene mutations showed a remarkable trend on accumulating more positive charges. This facilitates the infection via binding human ACE2 for cell entry and binding furin for cleavage. Such a functional evolution emphasizes the survival strategy of SARS-CoV-2, and indicated new druggable target to contain the viral infection. The nearly fully positively-charged interaction surfaces indicated that the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus may approach a limit.