Contrasting carbon cycle along tropical forest aridity gradients in West Africa and Amazonia.

Tropical forests cover large areas of equatorial Africa and play a substantial role in the global carbon cycle. However, there has been a lack of biometric measurements to understand the forests' gross and net primary productivity (GPP, NPP) and their allocation. Here we present a detailed field assessment of the carbon budget of multiple forest sites in Africa, by monitoring 14 one-hectare plots along an aridity gradient in Ghana, West Africa. When compared with an equivalent aridity gradient in Amazonia, the studied West African forests generally had higher productivity and lower carbon use efficiency (CUE). The West African aridity gradient consistently shows the highest NPP, CUE, GPP, and autotrophic respiration at a medium-aridity site, Bobiri. Notably, NPP and GPP of the site are the highest yet reported anywhere for intact forests. Widely used data products substantially underestimate productivity when compared to biometric measurements in Amazonia and Africa. Our analysis suggests that the high productivity of the African forests is linked to their large GPP allocation to canopy and semi-deciduous characteristics.

Synergy of Pd2+/S2--Doped TiO2 Supported on 2-Methylimidazolium-Functionalized Polypyrrole/Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Nitrogen Electrooxidation.

The electrosynthesis of nitrate catalyzed by electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) is considered as an alternative and sustainable approach to the conventional industrial manufacture, but optimizing the electrocatalytic NOR performance and fabricating the efficient NOR electrocatalysts at the design level still encounter great challenges. Herein, unique Pd2+- and S2--doped TiO2 (Pb/S-TiO2) nanoparticles are successfully in situ grown on the surface of 2-methylimidazolium-functionalized polypyrrole/graphene oxide (2-MeIm/PPy/GO), which present the typical hierarchical micro-nanostructures, resulting in the excellent electrocatalytic NOR performance with the highest NO3 - yield of 72.69 µg h-1 mg-1 act. and the maximum Faraday efficiency of 8.92% at 2.04 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) due to the synergistic effect of each component. Due to the doping effect, the appropriate oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity is achieved by Ti-site, where OER principally occurs, providing *O during the non-electrochemical step of NOR, while the electrocatalytic NOR process as the electrochemical conversion of inert N2 to active *NO intermediates mainly occurs at the Pd-site. Especially, the sulfate radicals in situ formed on Pb/S-TiO2@2-MeIm/PPy/GO further promote nitrogen adsorption and decrease the reaction energy barrier, resulting in the acceleration of NOR. It provides theoretical and practical experience for the design and preparation of NOR electrocatalysts.

Utilization of Lemon Peel for the Production of Vinegar by a Combination of Alcoholic and Acetic Fermentations.

Lemon peel is the major by-product of lemon juice processing and is currently underutilized. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using lemon peel as a raw material for making vinegar. Lemon peel was homogenized, treated with pectinase (30,000 U/g, 0.1%) at 50 °C for 4 h, and then filtered. The obtained lemon peel juice was first subjected to alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. FX10, and then acetic fermentation by an acid tolerant Acetobacter malorum, OQY-1, which was isolated from the lemon peels. The juice yield of the lemon peel was 62.5%. The alcoholic fermentation yielded a lemon peel wine with an alcoholic content of 5.16%, and the acetic acid fermentation produced a vinegar with a total acid content of 5.04 g/100 mL. A total of 36 volatile compounds were identified from the lemon vinegar, with some compounds such as esters and some alcohols that increased significantly during alcoholic fermentation while alcohols, terpenoids, and some esters decreased significantly during the fermentations. E-nose and E-tongue analyses coupled with principal component and discriminant factor analyses (PCA and DFA) were able to discriminate the samples at different fermentation stages. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential to transform lemon peel into a valuable product, thus reducing the waste of lemon processing and adding value to the industry.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing-based analysis: probing the mechanisms of glycoprotein NMB regulation of epithelial cells involved in silicosis.

Chronic exposure to silica can lead to silicosis, one of the most serious occupational lung diseases worldwide, for which there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs and tools. Epithelial mesenchymal transition plays an important role in several diseases; however, data on the specific mechanisms in silicosis models are scarce. We elucidated the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis via single-cell transcriptome sequencing and constructed an experimental silicosis mouse model to explore the specific molecular mechanisms affecting epithelial mesenchymal transition at the single-cell level. Notably, as silicosis progressed, glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) exerted a sustained amplification effect on alveolar type II epithelial cells, inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by accelerating cell proliferation and migration and increasing mesenchymal markers, ultimately leading to persistent pulmonary pathological changes. GPNMB participates in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in distant lung epithelial cells by releasing extracellular vesicles to accelerate silicosis. These vesicles are involved in abnormal changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix and collagen structure. Our results suggest that GPNMB is a potential target for fibrosis prevention.

AT2 cell-derived IgA trapped by the extracellular matrix in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is an interstitial lung disease caused by various factors such as exposure to workplace environmental contaminants, drugs, or X-rays. Epithelial cells are among the driving factors of pulmonary fibrosis. Immunoglobulin A (IgA), traditionally thought to be secreted by B cells, is an important immune factor involved in respiratory mucosal immunity. In the current study, we found that lung epithelial cells are involved in IgA secretion, which, in turn, promotes pulmonary fibrosis. Spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing suggest that Igha transcripts were highly expressed in the fibrotic lesion areas of lungs from silica-treated mice. Reconstruction of B-cell receptor (BCR) sequences revealed a new cluster of AT2-like epithelial cells with a shared BCR and high expression of genes related to IgA production. Furthermore, the secretion of IgA by AT2-like cells was trapped by the extracellular matrix and aggravated pulmonary fibrosis by activating fibroblasts. Targeted blockade of IgA secretion by pulmonary epithelial cells may be a potential strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

Pseudo-Thrombotic Microangiopathy Secondary to Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Background: Clinical B12 deficiency with hematological or neurological manifestations is rare. An unusual manifestation of B12 deficiency is pseudo-thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytosis and only occurs in 2.5% of those with B12 deficiency. Pseudo-TMA is misdiagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in 40% of cases, resulting in misguided treatment including plasmapheresis. Case: A 44-year-old Hispanic presented with 3 weeks of progressively worsening non-radiating chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath (SOB). Laboratory findings revealed severe pancytopenia and macrocytosis with a hemoglobin of 5.4 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume of 116.3 fL, and vitamin B12 low at 149 pg/mL. She was diagnosed with pseudo-TMA and after starting 1000 micrograms of parenteral vitamin B12 injections daily and discontinuing plasmapheresis and steroid administration, she improved. Conclusion: Failure to recognize pseudo-TMA often results in unnecessary treatment with plasmapheresis and delays appropriate treatment with vitamin B12 supplementation. It is therefore extremely important to consider pseudo-TMA as a differential diagnosis in patients that present with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytosis.

A pharmacoeconomic assessment of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy for acute ischemic stroke in a tertiary hospital in China.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a pharmacoeconomic assessment of thrombolysis by intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in 6 hours in a tertiary hospital in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using medical records data among patients hospitalized for AIS and receiving treatment with or without rt-PA (6 hours after AIS) from January 2006 to December 2008. The conservative therapy group was matched (1∶1) on age, gender, risk factors, Glasgow Coma Scale, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Two groups were compared on fourteenth-day clinical outcomes. Utilities were estimated from modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and costs. All cost data reflected 2006-2008 values. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were enrolled in the study (76 patients in each group). No differences were found in mortality rate between these two groups at day 14. Among survivors on day 14, NIHSS and mRS were lower in rt-PA than conservative group. Barth Index (BI) was higher in the rt-PA group versus conservative group. The rt-PA group had a higher pharmacy cost (¥13 065±4197 versus ¥9622±5439; P  =  0·002) compared to the conservative group, but the total cost was not significantly different. Compared to conservative care, rt-PA therapy was associated with incremental cost of ¥4122 with 0·04 utilities gained, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of ¥103 050 ($14 231) per utility gained. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the results were most sensitivity to utility. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous rt-PA was associated with lower patients' disabilities, fewer in-hospital days, and comparable total costs compared to conservative therapy for the management of AIS.

The long-term outcome of carotid artery stenting or antiplatelet therapy in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prognosis factors of the patients with high-degree carotid artery stenosis and evaluate the effects of carotid artery stenting and antiplatelet therapy prospectively. METHODS: Patients with severe carotid artery stenosis were enrolled in this study consecutively. Intervention was carotid artery stenting combined with antiplatelet therapy or antiplatelet therapy solely. No randomized method was used in this trail. Patients were monitored for 2 years after enrolling in this study. The primary end point was defined as neurological outcome (measured by modified Rankin score). The secondary end points were the composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. RESULTS: One hundred and three patients were enrolled into this work between May 2001 and August 2006 at the Fourth Hospital, Peking University. Forty patients were treated with stent placement, and 63 patients were treated only with antiplatelet drug. The baseline characteristics (gender, age, medical history, blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride) were similar between the groups. Binary logistic analysis indicated that intra-artery intervention was an independent protective factor for malignant functional outcome (modified Rankin scale 3-6; relative risk: 0.13, p<0.001, 95% confidence interval: 0.036-0.46). For further follow-up, the median time of cardiovascular events in the two groups were 55 and 54 months, respectively. K-M analysis showed no statistical significance difference. CONCLUSION: Carotid artery stenting combined with antiplatelet therapy may be helpful for high-risk patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. The benefit/harm of intra-artery intervention for patients with stroke or TIA suffered as a result of severe carotid artery stenosis in the long-term needs further evaluation.

[Level of plasma lysophosphatidic acid in patients with cerebral ischemic attack, a preliminary study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the level of plasma lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in patients with TIA, cerebral thrombosis or possible ischemic attack. METHODS: Phospholipid was extracted from plasma of patients with TIA, cerebral thrombosis or possible ischemic attack by organic solvent. Lysophosphatidic acid was isolated further. The quantity of LPA was determined by assaying its phosphorous component. RESULTS: LPA level of patients with TIA, cerebral thrombosis or possible ischemic attack were 2.14 +/- 1.02, 1.50 +/- 0.85, and 1.73 +/- 1.14 micromol/L blood plasma respectively, all significantly higher than that in control group (1.00 +/- 0.70 micromol/L, P < 0.05). The plasma LPA level decreased after anticoagulant treatment. CONCLUSION: As a molecular marker released by activated platelets in vivo, plasma PLA may be valuable in diagnosis of cerebral ischemic attack.