Effect of borax-modified activator on mechanical properties and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag/metakaolin mortar.

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) possess several advantages, such as high strengths and low carbon emissions. However, their application is hindered due to their significant shrinkage. This study explored the effect of borax-modified sodium silicate activator and metakaolin (MK) on the mechanical properties and drying shrinkage (DS) of alkali-activated slag (AAS) and AAS/MK (AASM) mortars. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the hydration products. The results showed that the DS reduction of the AAS mortar was related to decreased Na2O content, a reduction in the proportion of mesopores, and the formation of moisture-retaining borate compounds. The DS reduction of the AASM mortar was attributed to the ultra-fine differential effect induced by MK, reducing the connected pores. The modified activator combined with MK increased the chemically bound water content in the matrix. Additionally, the B-O bond and highly active MK improved compactness of the AASM mortar. The use of borax-modified activators and MK provides a new solution to address the significant shrinkage issue in AAMs. This sets the stage for AAMs to potentially replace OPC, contributing to low-carbon emissions and promoting environmental protection.

Pore-scale physics of ice melting within unconsolidated porous media revealed by non-destructive magnetic resonance characterization.

Melting of ice in porous media widely exists in energy and environment applications as well as extraterrestrial water resource utilization. In order to characterize the ice-water phase transition within complicated opaque porous media, we employ the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and imaging (MRI) approaches. Transient distributions of transverse relaxation time T2 from NMR enable us to reveal the substantial role of inherent throat and pore confinements in ice melting among porous media. More importantly, the increase in minimum T2 provides new findings on how the confinement between ice crystal and particle surface evolves inside the pore. For porous media with negligible gravity effect, both the changes in NMR-determined melting rate and our theoretical analysis of melting front confirm that conduction is the dominant heat transfer mode. The evolution of mushy melting front and 3D spatial distribution of water content are directly visualized by a stack of temporal cross-section images from MRI, in consistency with the corresponding NMR results. For heterogeneous porous media like lunar regolith simulant, the T2 distribution shows two distinct pore size distributions with different pore-scale melting dynamics, and its maximum T2 keeps increasing till the end of melting process instead of reaching steady in homogeneous porous media.

Reducing delamination of an electron-transporting polymer from a metal oxide for electrochemical applications.

Delamination of the electron-transporting polymer N2200 from indium tin oxide (ITO) in aqueous electrolytes is mitigated by modifying ITO with an azide-functionalized phosphonic acid (PA) which, upon UV irradiation, reacts with the polymer. The optical, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical properties of N2200 thin films are retained in aqueous and non-aqueous media.

Silicon and Zinc Fertilizer Application Improves Grain Quality and Aroma in the japonica Rice Variety Nanjing 46.

This study examined how silicon and zinc fertilizers affect the quality and aroma of Nanjing 46. We applied nine different fertilizer treatments, one involving soil topdressing at the top fourth leaf-age stage and one involving foliar spraying during the booting stage of the silicon and zinc fertilizers. We tested the effects of the nine treatments on grain quality and aroma. Silicon and zinc fertilizers significantly affected the brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, amylose content, gel consistency, RVA characteristic value, taste value, and aroma but did not affect the chalky grain rate, chalkiness, protein content, rice appearance, hardness, stickiness, balance, peak time, or pasting temperature. Silicon fertilizer decreased the rate of brown rice and milled rice, whereas zinc fertilizer increased the rate of brown rice and milled rice. Silicon and zinc fertilizers improved the head rice rate. Compared to silicon fertilizer, the impact of zinc fertilizer on increasing the head rice rate was more pronounced. Although the effects of silicon and zinc fertilizers on the amylose content and RVA characteristic value varied depending on the treatment, their application could lower the amylose content, increase gel consistency, improve breakdown viscosity, decrease setback viscosity, increase aroma, and improve the taste value of rice.

The RING-Type Domain-Containing Protein GNL44 Is Essential for Grain Size and Quality in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.) shapes yield and quality, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We functionally characterized GRAIN NUMBER AND LARGE GRAIN SIZE 44 (GNL44), encoding a RING-type protein that localizes to the cytoplasm. The gnl44 mutant has fewer but enlarged grains compared to the wild type. GNL44 is mainly expressed in panicles and developing grains. Grain chalkiness was higher in the gnl44 mutant than in the wild type, short-chain amylopectin content was lower, middle-chain amylopectin content was higher, and appearance quality was worse. The amylose content and gel consistency of gnl44 were lower, and protein content was higher compared to the wild type. Rapid Visco Analyzer results showed that the texture of cooked gnl44 rice changed, and that the taste value of gnl44 was lower, making the eating and cooking quality of gnl44 worse than that of the wild type. We used gnl44, qgl3, and gs3 monogenic and two-gene near-isogenic lines to study the effects of different combinations of genes affecting grain size on rice quality-related traits. Our results revealed additive effects for these three genes on grain quality. These findings enrich the genetic resources available for rice breeders.

Mitigating life-cycle environmental impacts and increasing net ecosystem economic benefits via optimized fertilization combined with lime in pomelo production in Southeast China.

Excessive fertilization is acknowledged as a significant driver of heightened environmental pollution and soil acidification in agricultural production. Combining fertilizer optimization with soil acidity amendment can effectively achieve sustainable crop production in China, especially in Southeast China. However, there is a lack of long-term studies assessing the environmental and economic sustainability of combining fertilizer optimization with soil acidity amendment strategies, especially in fruit production. A four-year field experiment was conducted to explore pomelo yield, fruit quality, and environmental and economic performance in three treatments, e.g., local farmer practices (FP), optimized NPK fertilizer application (OPT), and OPT with lime (OPT+L). The results showed that the OPT+L treatment exhibited the highest pomelo yield and fruit quality among the three treatments. The OPT treatment had the lowest net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among the three treatments, which were 90.1 % and 42.6 % lower than those in FP and OPT+L, respectively. It is essential to note that GHG emissions associated with lime production constitute 40.7 % of the total emissions from fertilizer production. The OPT+L treatment reduced reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions and phosphorus (P) losses, compared to FP and OPT. Moreover, the OPT+L treatment increased the net ecosystem economic benefit by 220.3 % and 20.3 % compared with the FP and OPT treatments, respectively. Overall, the OPT and OPT+L treatments underscore the potential to achieve environmentally friendly and economically sustainable pomelo production. Our study provides science-based evidence to achieve better environmental and economic performance in pomelo production through optimized NPK fertilization and alleviating soil acidification by lime.

Knocking down a DNA demethylase gene affects potato plant defense against a specialist insect herbivore.

DNA demethylase (DML) is involved in plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses; however, its role in plant-herbivore interaction remains elusive. Here, we found that herbivory by the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, rapidly induced the genome-wide DNA methylation and accumulation of DML gene transcripts in potato plants. Herbivory induction of DML transcripts was suppressed in jasmonate-deficient plants, whereas exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) improved DML transcripts, indicating that the induction of DML transcripts by herbivory is associated with jasmonate signaling. Moreover, P. operculella larvae grew heavier on DML gene (StDML2) knockdown plants than on wild-type plants, and the decreased biosynthesis of jasmonates in the former may be responsible for this difference, since the larvae feeding on these two genotypes supplemented with MeJA showed similar growth. In addition, P. operculella adult moths preferred to oviposit on StDML2 knockdown plants than on wild-type plants, which was associated with the reduced emission of ß-caryophyllene in the former. In addition, supplementing ß-caryophyllene to these two genotypes further disrupted moths' oviposit choice preference for them. Interestingly, in StDML2 knockdown plants, hypermethylation was found at the promoter regions for the key genes StAOS and StAOC in the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway, as well as for the key gene StTPS12 in ß-caryophyllene production. Our findings suggest that knocking down StDML2 can affect herbivore defense via jasmonate signaling and defense compound production in potato plants.

Impact of cognitive behavioral therapy on premature ejaculation patients: A prospective, randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common male sexual dysfunctions, with a prevalence of about 4%-39% in the Chinese population. Studies have shown that a variety of biological factors can lead to premature ejaculation, such as central nervous system disorders, hypersensitivity of the penis head, and psychological factors. Based on clinical experience, psychological counseling and education of patients and partners should be ranked as the first priority when treating PE. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) addresses emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disorders by altering beliefs and actions. It has also been demonstrated to be clinically useful in treating a number of diseases. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based CBT intervention on patients with PE compared to conventional routine treatment. METHODS: This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial that will be conducted from May 2023 to Dec 2024 at ten hospitals, primarily including the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University with an 8-week follow-up. The clinical trial central randomization system will be used to create and implement the specific randomization method. Baseline data of both groups will be measured and collected. The premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) and the female sexual distress scale-revised for premature ejaculation (FSDS-R-PE) will be collected on the first day, 28±2 days, and 56±2 days during the intervention period, and the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) will be measured in both groups. The Shapiro-Wilk test will be used for normality testing. Pearson correlation analysis will be used for correlation analysis. Differences between groups will be compared using analysis of variance or exact probability calculations. DISCUSSION: This study will investigate the effect of a mobile-based CBT intervention on patients with PE. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300070581).

Silk Fibroin-Modified Liposome/Gene Editing System Knocks out the PLK1 Gene to Suppress the Growth of Lung Cancer Cells.

Polo-like protein kinase 1 (PLK1) plays a key role in lung cancer cell mitosis. The knockout of PLK1 gene by the CRISPR-Cas9 system can effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, but there is no suitable vector for in vivo delivery. In this study, CRISPR-Cas9 gene knockout plasmids encoding sgRNA, Cas9 and green fluorescent protein were constructed. Then, the plasmids were packaged with liposome (Lip) and cholesterol-modified Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (CASF) to obtain the CASF/Lip/pDNA ternary complex. The CASF/Lip/pDNA complex was transfected into lung cancer cells A549 to investigate the transfection efficiency, the PLK1 gene knockout effect and the inhibitory effect on lung cancer cells. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of the CASF/Lip/pDNA complex was significantly higher than that of the Lip/pDNA binary complex, and the expression of PLK1 in cells transfected with CASF/Lip/pDNA complexes was significantly lower than that in cells transfected with Lip/pDNA complexes. The CASF/Lip/pDNA complex significantly increased the apoptosis rate and decreased the proliferation activity of lung cancer cells compared with Lip/pDNA complexes. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was evaluated by coculture with the human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS2B. The results showed that CASF/Lip/pDNA complexes exhibited lower cytotoxicity than Lip/pDNA complexes. The fibroin-modified liposome/PLK1 gene knockout system not only effectively inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells but also showed no obvious toxicity to normal cells, showing potential for clinical application in lung cancer therapy.

[Effectiveness of one-stage posterior eggshell osteotomy and long-segment pedicle screw fixation for ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis combined with acute thoracolumbar vertebral fracture].

Objective: To explore the safety and effectiveness of one-stage posterior eggshell osteotomy and long-segment pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis combined with acute thoracolumbar vertebral fracture. Methods: A clinical data of 20 patients with ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis combined with acute thoracolumbar spine fracture, who were treated with one-stage posterior eggshell osteotomy and long-segment pedicle screw fixation between April 2016 and January 2022, was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 16 cases were male and 4 cases were female; their ages ranged from 32 to 68 years, with an average of 45.9 years. The causes of injury included 10 cases of sprain, 8 cases of fall, and 2 cases of falling from height. The time from injury to operation ranged from 1 to 12 days, with an average of 7.1 days. The injured segment was T 11 in 2 cases, T 12 in 2 cases, L 1 in 6 cases, and L 2 in 10 cases. X-ray film and CT showed that the patients had characteristic imaging manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis, and the fracture lines were involved in the anterior, middle, and posterior columns and accompanied by different degrees of kyphosis and vertebral compression; and MRI showed that 12 patients had different degrees of nerve injuries. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, intra- and post-operative complications were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the low back pain and quality of life, and the American spinal cord injury association (ASIA) classification was used to evaluate the neurological function. X-ray films were taken, and local Cobb angle (LCA) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured to evaluate the correction of the kyphosis. Results: All operations were successfully completed and the operation time ranged from 127 to 254 minutes (mean, 176.3 minutes). The amount of intraoperative bleeding ranged from 400 to 950 mL (mean, 722.5 mL). One case of dural sac tear occurred during operation, and no cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred after repair, and the rest of the patients did not suffer from neurological and vascular injuries, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and other related complications during operation. All incisions healed by first intention without infection or fat liquefaction. All patients were followed up 8-16 months (mean, 12.5 months). The VAS score, ODI, LCA, and SVA at 3 days after operation and last follow-up significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05), and the difference between 3 days after operation and last follow-up was not significant ( P>0.05). The ASIA grading of neurological function at last follow-up also significantly improved when compared with that before operation ( P<0.05), including 17 cases of grade E and 3 cases of grade D. At last follow-up, all bone grafts achieved bone fusion, and no complications such as loosening, breaking of internal fixation, and pseudoarthrosis occurred. Conclusion: One-stage posterior eggshell osteotomy and long-segment pedicle screw fixation is an effective surgical procedure for ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis combined with acute thoracolumbar vertebral fracture. It can significantly relieve patients' clinical symptoms and to some extent, alleviate the local kyphotic deformity.

The top 100 most cited articles in helical tomotherapy: a scoping review.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the top 100 most cited articles in helical tomotherapy (HT) through bibliometric analysis and visualization tools, help researchers comprehensively understand the research hotspots of HT, and provide clear and intuitive network visualization. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection and the search strategy of "Title (TI)=(tomotherapy)" were used to search for articles related to HT as of 27 May 2023. The top 100 most cited articles were obtained by sorting "citations: highest first". From these top 100 most cited articles, the following information was extracted: journals, years and months, countries, authors, types of tumor treated, and topics. The VOSviewer software was introduced for visualizing all the articles related to HT. Results: The top 100 most cited articles in HT were published between 1999 and 2019. The citation counts of these articles ranges from 326 to 45, with a total of 8,422 citations at the time of searching. The index of citations per year (CPY) ranges from 22.32 to 2.45. These articles originated from 17 countries, with most publications from the United States (n=50), followed by Canada (n=12), Italy (n=10), Germany (n=7) and Belgium (n=5). The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics published the highest number of articles (n=31), followed by Radiotherapy and Oncology (n=20), Medical Physics (n=13) and Strahlentherapie und Onkologie (n=12). In terms of specific tumor types, head and neck cancer (n=15) is the most common disease, followed by cancers with complex target structures (n=14), breast cancer (n=12), prostate cancer (n=10) and lung cancer (n=8). The most common research topics also include dosimetric comparison (n = 44), quality assurance (n = 12) and Megavoltage CT (n = 8). Conclusion: This scoping review provides a comprehensive list of the 100 most cited articles in HT. This analysis offers valuable insights into the current research directions of HT that can be utilized by researchers, clinicians, and policy-makers.

Assistive diagnostic indicators for infections related to lumbar posterior interbody fusion internal fixation: platelet count and mean platelet volume.

BACKGROUND: The most severe complication after posterior single-segment lumbar interbody fusion and internal fixation (PIFIF) surgery for degenerative lumbar diseases is deep surgical site infection (DSSI). Preoperatively diagnosing such complications proves to be challenging. Platelets, as acute-phase reactants, undergo changes in response to infections and inflammation. This study aims to assess whether platelet indices can further aid in the diagnosis of DSSI. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted from January 2016 to February 2021 at Xi'an Jiaotong University-Affiliated Honghui Hospital, involving 83 patients who underwent revision surgery after PIFIF due to lumbar degenerative diseases. Among them, 24 patients were diagnosed with DSSI based on combined bacterial culture and imaging data. Preoperative complete serological indicators including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and platelet count and mean platelet volume ratio (P/M ratio) were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity. This was done to further assess the ability of these serological indicators to identify the occurrence of DSSI after PIFIF. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline demographic characteristics between the two patient groups (P > 0.05). The P/M ratio was 13.54 ± 5.05 in the aseptic revision group, while it was 19.21 ± 6.30 in the DSSI revision patients, showing a significant difference (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff value for the P/M ratio was 17.50, with a sensitivity of 58.3% and a specificity of 78.6%. The areas under the curve (AUC) for ESR, CRP, and P/M ratio were 0.797, 0.845, and 0.756, respectively. The negative predictive value (NPV) was 87.04%, 89.47%, and 82.45%, respectively; the positive predictive value (PPV) was 58.62%, 69.23%, and 53.84%, respectively, for ESR, CRP, and P/M ratio, respectively. When P/M ratio is used in combination with ESR and CRP, the AUC is 0.887, with a sensitivity of 95.4%, specificity of 67.8%, NPV of 97.56%, PPV of 54.76%. The diagnostic performance of the model for evaluating DSSI is significantly improved compared to using ESR and CRP alone (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Platelets and their related serum biomarkers are closely associated with DSSI. The P/M ratio can serve as a reliable test for screening DSSI and is worth considering for inclusion in the assessment of patients at risk of developing DSSI after potential PIFIF surgery.

Astaxanthin alleviates fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-induced lung injury in rats by suppressing ferroptosis and apoptosis.

Objectives: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a small molecule particulate pollutant, can reach the lungs via respiration and cause lung damage. Currently, effective strategies and measures are lacking to prevent and treat the pulmonary toxicity of PM2.5. Astaxanthin (ASX), a natural xanthophyll carotenoid, has attracted attention due to its unique biological activity. Our research aims to probe into the prevention and treatment of ASX on PM2.5-induced lung injury and clarify its potential mechanism. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given olive oil and different concentrations of ASX orally daily for 21 days. PM2.5 suspension was instilled into the trachea of rats every two days for one week to successfully develop the PM2.5 exposure model in the PM2.5-exposed and ASX-treated groups of rats. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, and the content of lung injury-related markers was detected. Histomorphological changes and expression of markers associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, iron death, and apoptosis were detected in lung tissue. Results: PM2.5 exposure can cause changes in lung histochemistry and increase the expression levels of TP, AKP, ALB, and LDH in the BALF. Simultaneously, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress were promoted in rat lung tissue after exposure to particulate matter. Additionally, ASX preconditioning can alleviate histomorphological changes, oxidative stress, and inflammation caused by PM2.5 and reduce PM2.5-related ferroptosis and apoptosis. Conclusion: ASX preconditioning can alleviate lung injury after PM2.5 exposure by inhibiting ferroptosis and apoptosis.

Astaxanthin alleviates PM2.5-induced cardiomyocyte injury via inhibiting ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure of humans to air pollution is associated with an increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Astaxanthin (AST), a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment, was proved to have multiple health benefits. However, whether or not AST also exerts a protective effect on fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-induced cardiomyocyte damage and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: In vitro experiments, the H9C2 cells were subjected to pretreatment with varying concentrations of AST, and then cardiomyocyte injury model induced by PM2.5 was established. The cell viability and the ferroptosis-related proteins expression were measured in different groups. In vivo experiments, the rats were pretreated with different concentrations of AST for 21 days. Subsequently, a rat model of myocardial PM2.5 injury was established by intratracheal instillation every other day for 1 week. The effects of AST on myocardial tissue injury caused by PM2.5 indicating by histological, serum, and protein analyses were examined. RESULTS: AST significantly ameliorated PM2.5-induced myocardial tissue injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, the release of inflammatory factors, and cardiomyocyte H9C2 cell damage. Mechanistically, AST pretreatment increased the expression of SLC7A11, GPX4 and down-regulated the expression of TfR1, FTL and FTH1 in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggest that ferroptosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyocyte injury induced by PM2.5. AST may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating cardiomyocyte injury caused by PM2.5 through the inhibition of ferroptosis.

Value of T6SS Core Gene hcp in Acinetobacter baumannii Respiratory Tract Infection.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii is a major healthcare burden. Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) contributes to both virulence and drug resistance in this bacteria. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of hemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp) gene in A. baumannii pneumonia and further explore the effect of hcp on clinical, pathogenicity and drug resistance. 53 clinical A. baumannii strains from patients' respiratory tract at a teaching hospital were included in this study. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to examine the expression of hcp. Recombinant Hcp expression plasmids (pET-28a(+)-hcp) were constructed and his-tagged Hcp were purified to stimulate Tohoku Hospital Pediatrics-1 (THP-1) macrophages. Nuclear Factor Kappa B p65 (NF-κBp65) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) were detected by qRT-PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) were examined by an automated instrument system. Hcp gene had 92.6% sensitivity and 75% specificity for distinguishing invasive or colonizing A. baumannii from the respiratory tract. His-tagged Hcp induced NF-κBp65 and IL-8 at gene level in THP-1 macrophages. Additional, high hcp expression isolates showed higher rate of antimicrobial agent exposure (< 30 days) of carbapenems, antibiotic combination therapy and multiple or extensive drug-resistant (MDR/XDR) and exhibited higher resistance rate to clinical commonly-used antimicrobial agents. Hcp gene could serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker to distinguish A. baumannii respiratory tract infection from colonization and participate in eliciting inflammatory responses in vitro. T6SS/hcp may play a role in the development of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB), multiple or extensive drug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB/XDRAB). Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-023-01083-8.

Isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from Antrodia camphorata against ESKAPE pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to human health globally. Antrodia camphorata was grown in a malt/yeast extract broth liquid medium for 15 days. Then, 4-L fermentation broth was harvested, yielding 7.13 g of the ethyl acetate extract. By tracing the antimicrobial activity, 12.22 mg of the antimicrobial compound was isolated. The structure of 5-methyl-benzo [1,3]-dioxole-4,7-diol (MBBD) was elucidated using NMR and MS data analyses. The antibacterial activity of MBBD was detected through the microbroth dilution method. MBBD exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of MBBD for drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria was 64-256 µg/mL, with the lowest MIC observed for Acinetobacter baumannii (64 µg/mL), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 128 µg/mL). Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli were also sensitive, with an MIC of 256 µg/mL. The MIC range of MBBD against 10 foodborne pathogens was 12.5-100 µg/mL. Based on the results of this study, MBBD exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, particularly demonstrating excellent inhibitory effects against A. baumannii. MBBD will be good candidates for new antimicrobial drugs.

Surface doping of rubrene single crystals by molecular electron donors and acceptors.

The surface molecular doping of organic semiconductors can play an important role in the development of organic electronic or optoelectronic devices. Single-crystal rubrene remains a leading molecular candidate for applications in electronics due to its high hole mobility. In parallel, intensive research into the fabrication of flexible organic electronics requires the careful design of functional interfaces to enable optimal device characteristics. To this end, the present work seeks to understand the effect of surface molecular doping on the electronic band structure of rubrene single crystals. Our angle-resolved photoemission measurements reveal that the Fermi level moves in the band gap of rubrene depending on the direction of surface electron-transfer reactions with the molecular dopants, yet the valence band dispersion remains essentially unperturbed. This indicates that surface electron-transfer doping of a molecular single crystal can effectively modify the near-surface charge density, while retaining good charge-carrier mobility.

Stormwater and flood simulation of sponge city and LID mitigation benefit assessment.

In the context of global climate change and the influence of human activities, the concept of "sponge city" is put forward to realize the purification, collection, and reuse of rainwater. The effective evaluation of LID facilities in sponge cities is of great guiding significance for the promotion and construction of sponge cities. IFMS (Integrated Flood Modeling System) Urban was selected to construct the rainstorm simulation. LID parameters were added to simulate the improvement of urban waterlogging after the construction of sponge city. A reasonable disaster loss assessment method was used to calculate the disaster mitigation benefit brought by the construction of sponge city. Through the comparison of the inundation situation before and after LID facilities' construction, it can be concluded that the mitigation effect of LID facilities on the overall inundation area of the city decreases with the increase of rainfall recurrence period, with the maximum reduction rate reaching 13.63% in the 5-year recurrence period and the minimum reduction rate of 11.06% in the 50-year recurrence period. LID facilities have a better disaster reduction effect for rainfall events with a small recurrence period than for rainfall events with a large recurrence period.

A Novel Technology for 3D-Printing Artificial Vertebral Bodies for Treating Lumbar Spine Adrenal Pheochromocytoma Metastases: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytoma is an adrenal medullary neuroendocrine tumor that rarely metastasizes to the spine. Currently, its specific treatment methods still present challenges. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 41-year-old male patient who underwent left total adrenalectomy due to pheochromocytoma 3 years ago presented with lower back pain, accompanied by numbness and decreased muscle strength in both legs, as well as decreased sensation. Abnormal transmittance of the L3 vertebral body could be seen on anterior-posterior and lateral lumbar X-rays, irregular bone destruction of the L3 vertebral body was found on CT, and an MRI scan showed that the tumor was located within the L3 vertebral body, protruding into the spinal canal and compressing the epidural sac. No recurrence was found in the abdomen. Preoperatively, perform local embolization of the blood vessels supplying the tumor. First, the L2-3 intervertebral disc, L3-4 intervertebral disc and L3 vertebral body were removed using an anterior approach, the whole tumor was removed, and some of the vertebrae were taken for pathological examination and replaced with a 3D-printed prosthesis. Then, four pedicle screws were placed in the bilateral pedicles of L2 and L4 using the posterior approach, pre-bent connecting rods were installed to replace the bone cortex of the lamina and articular process followed by bone graft fusion of the interlaminar and facet joints. The postoperative results were satisfactory, and there were no perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: Lumbar pheochromocytoma metastasis is rare, difficult to treat, and should be considered in spinal metastases' differential diagnoses so early diagnosis can be made based on medical history and imaging. Preoperative local vascular imaging and embolization of the blood supply vessels were performed. After total en-bloc spondylectomy of the tumor during surgery, a prosthesis was implanted and combined with pedicle screw fixation to reconstruct spinal biomechanical stability, achieving satisfactory results. Therefore, 3D printed artificial vertebral bodies are a good choice for treating adrenal pheochromocytoma lumbar metastasis. The key to successful treatment is close interdisciplinary collaboration in formulating rigorous comprehensive perioperative plans.

A Comparison of Outcomes between the Wiltse Approach with Pedicle Screw Fixation and the Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Multi-Segmental Thoracolumbar Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Multi-segmental thoracolumbar fracture (MSF) generally refers to fractures occurring in two or more segments of the thoracolumbar spine. With the development of minimally invasive concept, there is little research on its application in the field of MSF. The purpose of this study is to compare two minimally invasive surgical techniques and determine which one is more suitable for treating patients with neurologically intact MSF. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 MSF patients with intact nerves who were admitted from January 2017 to February 2019. Among them, 25 cases underwent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF), and 24 cases underwent Wiltse approach pedicle screw fixation (WAPSF). The operation time, number of fixed segments, blood loss, length of incision, postoperative ambulation time, accuracy of pedicle screw placement, facet joint violation (FJV), number of C-arm exposures, as well as pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), local Cobb's angle (LCA), and percentage of anterior vertebral body height (PAVBH) were recorded for both groups. Paired sample t-test was used for intra-group comparison before and after surgery while independent sample t-test was used for inter-group comparison. RESULTS: The differences in the number of fixed segments, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative bed time, accuracy rate of pedicle screw placement, VAS, and ODI between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the operative time and total surgical incision length were significantly shorter in the WAPSF group than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05), and the FJV was significantly higher in the PPSF group than in the WAPSF group (p < 0.05). Also, the PPSF group received more intraoperative fluoroscopy (p < 0.05). The result of LCA and PAVBH in the WAPSF group were significantly better than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both PPSF and WAPSF were found to be safe and effective in the treatment of MSF without neurological deficits through our study. However, considering radiation exposure, FJV, vertebral height restoration, correction of kyphosis, and learning curve, WAPSF may be a better choice for neurologically intact MSF.