Image quality characterization of an ultra-high-speed kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography imaging system on an O-ring linear accelerator.

PURPOSE: The quality of on-board imaging systems, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), plays a vital role in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and adaptive radiotherapy. Recently, there has been an upgrade of the CBCT systems fused in the O-ring linear accelerators called HyperSight, featuring a high imaging performance. As the characterization of a new imaging system is essential, we evaluated the image quality of the HyperSight system by comparing it with Halcyon 3.0 CBCT and providing benchmark data for routine imaging quality assurance. METHODS: The HyperSight features ultra-fast scan time, a larger kilovoltage (kV) detector, a more substantial kV tube, and an advanced reconstruction algorithm. Imaging protocols in the two modes of operation, treatment mode with IGRT and the CBCT for planning (CBCTp) mode were evaluated and compared with Halcyon 3.0 CBCT. Image quality metrics, including spatial resolution, contrast resolution, uniformity, noise, computed tomography (CT) number linearity, and calibration error, were assessed using a Catphan and an electron density phantom and analyzed with TotalQA software. RESULTS: HyperSight demonstrated substantial improvements in contrast-to-noise ratio and noise in both IGRT and CBCTp modes compared to Halcyon 3.0 CBCT. CT number calibration error of HyperSight CBCTp mode (1.06%) closely matches that of a full CT scanner (0.72%), making it suitable for adaptive planning. In addition, the advanced hardware of HyperSight, such as ultra-fast scan time (5.9 s) or 2.5 times larger heat unit capacity, enhanced the clinical efficiency in our experience. CONCLUSIONS: HyperSight represented a significant advancement in CBCT imaging. With its image quality, CT number accuracy, and ultra-fast scans, HyperSight has a potential to transform patient care and treatment outcomes. The enhanced scan speed and image quality of HyperSight are expected to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of treatment, particularly benefiting patients.

Antifreezing, Antidrying, and Conductive Hydrogels for Electronic Skin Applications at Ultralow Temperatures.

Although conductive hydrogel-based flexible electronic devices have superb flexibility and high conductivities, they tend to malfunction in dry or frigid areas. Herein, an ultralow-temperature tolerant, antidrying, and conductive composite hydrogel is designed for electronic skin applications on the basis of the synergy of double-cross-linked polymer networks, Hofmeister effect, and electrostatic interaction and fabricated by in situ free radical polymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid and acrylic acid in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) and conductive MXene sheets, followed by impregnation with LiCl. Thanks to the synergy of LiCl and the charged polar terminal groups of the synthesized polymers, the composite hydrogel can not only bear an ultralow temperature of -80 °C without freezing but also maintain its original mass. Meanwhile, the resultant hydrogel possesses satisfactory self-regeneration ability benefiting from the moisturizing effect of LiCl. The conductive network of MXene sheets greatly improves the ionic conductivity of the hydrogel at low temperatures, exhibiting an ionic conductivity of 1.4 S m-1 at -80 °C. Furthermore, the electronic skin assembled by the multifunctional hydrogel is efficient in monitoring human motions at -80 °C. The antifreezing and antidrying features along with favorable ionic conductivity, high tensile strength, and outstanding flexibility make the composite hydrogel promising for applications in frigid and dry regions.

An injectable sequential dual-crosslinking catechol-functionalized hyaluronic acid hydrogel for enhanced regeneration of full-thickness burn injury.

Severe burn injuries with massive dermal loss are often underestimated despite their significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Resembling the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dressings have been extensively explored as suitable candidates for burn wound treatment. However, native HA hydrogel's limitations, such as low mechanical strength, rapid degradation, and uncontrollable drug delivery, hinder its efficacy, especially for full-thickness burns requiring injectable hydrogels with robust antibacterial and angiogenic capabilities. Herein, we present a novel multifunctional sequential dual-curing hydrogel system, combining hyperbranched poly(DMA-DMAPMA-PEGDA) (DDP) polymer with thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH). The DDP copolymer, featuring multi-vinyls and catechol functionalities, facilitates two curing reactions taking place sequentially with HA-SH under physiological conditions, balancing convenient injection with the mechanical strength essential for effective wound management. Furthermore, the resulting DDP/HA hydrogels demonstrate enhanced therapeutic attributes, including intrinsic angiogenic and antimicrobial effects, setting them as promising dressing options for deep burn wound therapy.

Efficacy of rTMS combined with cognitive training in TBI with cognition disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Post-traumatic brain injury cognitive disorder(PTBICD) is one of the common symptoms of TBI survivors, severely limiting their life and rehabilitation progress. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to modulate cognition in a non-invasive manner while there are inconsistencies in previous studies. A comprehensive systematic review of rTMS treatment in patients with PTBICD is warranted. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rTMS + cognitive training(CT) in enhancing cognitive function among PTBICD patients. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, WOS, CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP and CBM, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials(RCTs) published before December 20, 2023. The primary outcomes measured changes in global cognitive scales, while the secondary outcomes focused on improvements in attention, memory, event-related potentials, and activities of daily living. Meta-analysis of data was carried out using Stata 14.0. Fourteen studies including 820 PTBICD patients were included. The results showed that rTMS + CT significantly improved MoCA[WMD = 3.47, 95%CI (2.56, 4.38)], MMSE[WMD = 3.79, 95%CI (2.23, 5.35)], RBMT[WMD = 1.53, 95%CI (0.19, 2.87)], LOTCA[WMD = 5.68, 95%CI (3.11, 8.24)], and promoted MBI[WMD = 7.41, 95%CI (5.90, 8.92)] as well as reduced correlated potential P300 latency[WMD = -20.77, 95%CI (-38.08, -3.45)] and amplitude[WMD = 0.81, 95%CI (0.57, 1.06)] in PTBICD compared to sham rTMS or CT, while adverse reaction ratio was higher than that of control group [RR = 1.67, 95%CI (1.00, 2.77)]. The results demonstrated that rTMS + CT can improve the cognitive function, mental state and daily activity ability of PTBICD patients. Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [No. CRD42024520596].

Engineering the protein corona: Strategies, effects, and future directions in nanoparticle therapeutics.

Nanoparticles (NPs) serve as versatile delivery systems for anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant agents. The manipulation of protein-NP interactions within biological systems is crucial to the application of NPs in drug delivery and cancer nanotherapeutics. The protein corona (PC) that forms on the surface of NPs is the interface between biomacromolecules and NPs and significantly influences their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Upon encountering proteins, NPs undergo surface alterations that facilitate their clearance from circulation by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). PC behavior depends largely on the biological microenvironment and the physicochemical properties of the NPs. This review describes various strategies employed to engineer PC compositions on NP surfaces. The effects of NP characteristics such as size, shape, surface modification and protein precoating on PC performance were explored. In addition, this study addresses these challenges and guides the future directions of this evolving field.

Greenspace and human microbiota: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Potential effect of greenspace exposure on human microbiota have been explored by a number of observational and interventional studies, but the results remained mixed. We comprehensively synthesized these studies by performing a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. METHODS: Comprehensive literature searches in three international databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Biology Medicine disc) were conducted from inception to November 1, 2023. Observational and interventional studies that evaluated associations between greenspace exposure and human microbiota at different anatomical sites were included. Studies were assessed using the National Toxicology Program's office of Health Assessment and Translation risk of bias tool and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Two authors independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, and evidence grading. Study results were synthesized descriptively. RESULTS: Twenty studies, including 11 observational studies and 9 interventional studies, were finally included into the systematic review. The microbiota of the included studies was from gut (n = 13), skin (n = 10), oral cavity (n = 5), nasal cavity (n = 5) and eyes (n = 1). The majority of studies reported the associations of greenspace exposure with increased diversity (e.g., richness and Shannon index) and/or altered overall composition of human gut (n = 12) and skin microbiota (n = 8), with increases in the relative abundance of probiotics (e.g., Ruminococcaceae) and decreases in the relative abundance of pathogens (e.g., Streptococcus and Escherichia/Shigella). Due to limited number of studies, evidence concerning greenspace and oral, nasal, and ocular microbiota were still inconclusive. CONCLUSION: The current evidence suggests that greenspace exposure may diversify gut and skin microbiota and alter their composition to healthier profiles. These findings would be helpful in uncovering the potential mechanisms underlying greenspace and human health and in promoting a healthier profile of human microbiota.

ACOD1, rather than itaconate, facilitates p62-mediated activation of Nrf2 in microglia post spinal cord contusion.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress (OS) are crucial events causing neurological dysfunction. Aconitate decarboxylase 1 (ACOD1) and its metabolite itaconate (Ita) inhibit inflammation and OS by promoting alkylation of Keap1 to induce Nrf2 expression; however, it is unclear whether there is another pathway regulating their effects in inflammation-activated microglia after SCI. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6 ACOD1-/- mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to a moderate thoracic spinal cord contusion. The degree of neuroinflammation and OS in the injured spinal cord were assessed using qPCR, western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and trans-well assay. We then employed immunoprecipitation-western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR, dual-luciferase assay, and immunofluorescence-confocal imaging to examine the molecular mechanisms of ACOD1. Finally, the locomotor function was evaluated with the Basso Mouse Scale and footprint assay. RESULTS: Both in vitro and in vivo, microglia with transcriptional blockage of ACOD1 exhibited more severe levels of neuroinflammation and OS, in which the expression of p62/Keap1/Nrf2 was down-regulated. Furthermore, silencing ACOD1 exacerbated neurological dysfunction in SCI mice. Administration of exogenous Ita or 4-octyl itaconate reduced p62 phosphorylation. Besides, ACOD1 was capable of interacting with phosphorylated p62 to enhance Nrf2 activation, which in turn further promoted transcription of ACOD1. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we identified an unreported ACOD1-p62-Nrf2-ACOD1 feedback loop exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-OS in inflammatory microglia, and demonstrated the neuroprotective role of ACOD1 after SCI, which was different from that of endogenous and exogenous Ita. The present study extends the functions of ACOD1 and uncovers marked property differences between endogenous and exogenous Ita. KEY POINTS: ACOD1 attenuated neuroinflammation and oxidative stress after spinal cord injury. ACOD1, not itaconate, interacted with p-p62 to facilitate Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation. Nrf2 was capable of promoting ACOD1 transcription in microglia.

Removal of sulfur and nitrogen pollutants in a sediment microbial fuel cell coupled with Vallisneria natans: Efficiency, microbial community structure, and functional genes.

The rapid development of the economy has led to an increase in the sulfur and nitrogen load in surface water, which has the potential to cause river eutrophication and the emission of malodorous gases. A lab-scale sediment microbial fuel cell coupled with Vallisneria natans (P-SMFC) was designed for surface water remediation. The enhancement of pollutant removal performance of P-SMFC was evaluated in contrast to the SMFC system without plants (SMFC), the open-circuit control system with plants (C-P), and the open-circuit control system without plants (C-S), while illustrating the mechanisms of the sulfur and nitrogen transformation process. The results demonstrated that the effluent and sediment of P-SMFC had lower concentrations of sulfide compared to other systems. Furthermore, P-SMFC exhibited higher removal efficiency for COD (73.1 ± 8.7%), NH4+-N (80.5 ± 19.8%), and NO3--N (88.5 ± 11.8%) compared to other systems. The closed-circuit conditions and growth of Vallisneria natans create a favorable ecological niche for functional microorganisms involved in power generation, sulfur oxidation, and nitrogen transformation. Additionally, metagenomic analysis revealed that multifunctional bacteria possessing both denitrification and sulfur oxidation genes, such as Thiobacillus, Dechloromonas, and Bacillus, may play simultaneous roles in metabolizing sulfur and nitrogen, thus serving as integral factors in maintaining the performance of P-SMFC. In summary, these findings provide a theoretical reference for the concurrent enhancement of sulfur and nitrogen pollutants removal in P-SMFC and will facilitate its practical application in the remediation of contaminated surface water.

Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risks of traditional and novel organophosphate esters in facility agriculture soils: A case study in Beijing, China.

Although traditional organophosphate esters (OPEs) in soils have attracted widespread interest, there is little information on novel OPEs (NOPEs), especially in facility agriculture soils. In this work, we surveyed 11 traditional OPEs, four NOPEs, and four corresponding organophosphite antioxidant precursors (OPAs) for the NOPEs in soil samples collected from facility greenhouses and open fields. The median summed concentrations of traditional OPEs and NOPEs were 14.1 µg/kg (range: 5.38-115 µg/kg) and 702 µg/kg (range: 348-1952 µg/kg), respectively, in film-mulched soils from greenhouses. These concentrations were much higher than those in soils without mulch films, which suggests that OPEs in soils are associated with plastic mulch films. Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate, which is a NOPE produced by oxidation of (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, was the predominant congener in farmland soils, with concentrations several orders of magnitude greater than those of traditional OPEs. Comparisons of OPEs in different mulch films and the corresponding mulched soils revealed that degradable and black films caused more severe pollution than polyethylene and white films. Traditional OPEs, including tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate and tricresyl phosphate, exhibited moderate risks in farmland soils, especially in film-mulched soils. NOPEs, including trisnonylphenol phosphate, posed high ecological risks to the terrestrial ecosystem. Risk evaluations should be conducted for a broad range of NOPEs in the environment.

pH-sensitive cationic nanoparticles for endosomal cell-free DNA scavenging against acute inflammation.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) released from dead cells could be a player in some autoimmune disorders by activating Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and inducing proinflammatory cytokines. Cationic nanoparticles (cNPs) address cfDNA clearance, yet challenges persist, including toxicity, low specificity and ineffectiveness against endocytosed cfDNA. This study introduced pH-sensitive cNPs, reducing off-target effects and binding cfDNA at inflammatory sites. This unique approach inhibits the TLR9 pathway, offering a novel strategy for inflammation modulation. Synthesized cNPs, with distinct cationic moieties, exhibit varied pKa values, enhancing cfDNA binding. Comprehensive studies elucidate the mechanism, demonstrating minimal extracellular binding, enhanced endosomal DNA binding, and optimal tumor necrosis factor-α suppression. In a traumatic brain injury mice model, pH-sensitive cNPs effectively suppress inflammatory cytokines, highlighting their potential in acute inflammation regulation.

Iron-enhanced microscale laboratory aerated filters in the treatment of artificial mariculture wastewater: A study on nitrogen removal performance and the impact on microbial community structure.

This study investigates the nitrogen removal efficacy and microbial community dynamics in seawater aquaculture effluent treatment using three different substrate combinations of microscale laboratory aerated filters (MFs) - MF1 (LECA), MF2 (LECA/Fe-C), and MF3 (LECA/Pyrite). The findings indicated that the COD removal exceeded 95% across all MFs, with higher removal efficiencies in MF2 and MF3. In terms of nitrogen removal performance, MF2 exhibited the highest average nitrogen removal of 93.17%, achieving a 12.35% and 3.56% increase compared to MF1 (80.82%) and MF3 (89.61%), respectively. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the Fe-C substrate significantly enhanced the diversity of the microbial community. Notably, in MF2, the salinophilic denitrifying bacterium Halomonas was significantly enriched, accounting for 42.6% of the total microbial community, which was beneficial for nitrogen removal. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of nitrogen metabolic pathways and microbial enzymes indicated that MF2 and MF3 possessed a high abundance of nitrification and denitrification enzymes, related to the high removal rates of NH4+-N and NO3--N. Therefore, the combination of LECA with iron-based materials significantly enhances the nitrogen removal efficiency from mariculture wastewater.

Improving Fine Particle Removal Using a Single-Channel Slit Bubbling Device in Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization System.

To improve the cleanliness of coal-fired power plants' particulate matter emissions, a novel device (single-channel slit bubbling particle removal device (SCSB-PRD)) is proposed to improve the wet flue gas desulfurization system's (WFGDs) collaborative particle removal effect. Actual coal-fired flue gas was used to test the particle removal performance. The results showed that the flue gas temperature had no obvious effect on the scrubbing effect of the SCSB-PRD. The scrubbing space, scrubbing liquid volume, and flue gas flow rate effectively changed the gas-liquid flow state, and the bubbling state was the key factor in particle removal. The jet-bubbling contact state was more conducive to removing particles than the foam bubbling state. The jet-bubbling state improved the removal efficiency of fine particles by approximately 30% compared to the foam bubbling state. The device operated in a single stage, and the removal performance of the particulate matter reached more than 60%. Even the submicron particles had a satisfactory removal performance of greater than 50%. The particulate matter concentration at the outlet of the WFGDs was reduced to less than 10 mg/m3, which provides a feasible transformation path for ultraultra-low emissions of particulate matter from coal-fired power plants.

Evolution of Grain Boundary Character Distribution in B10 Alloy from Friction Stir Processing to Annealing Treatment.

In this study, the grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) of a B10 alloy was optimized, employing thermomechanical processing consisting of friction stirring processing (FSP) and annealing treatment. Using electron backscatter diffraction, the effects of rotational speed of FSP and annealing time on the evolution of GBCD were systematically investigated. The GBCD evolution was analyzed concerning various parameters, such as the fraction of low-Σ coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries, the average number of grains per twin-related domain (TRD), the length of longest chain (LLC), and the triple junction distribution. The experimental results revealed that the processing of a 1400 rpm rotational speed of FSP followed by annealing at 750 °C for 60 min resulted in the optimum grain boundary engineering (GBE) microstructure with the highest fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries being 82.50% and a significantly fragmented random boundary network, as corroborated by the highest average number of grains per TRD (14.73) with the maximum LLC (2.14) as well as the highest J2/(1 - J3) value (12.76%). As the rotational speed of FSP increased from 600 rpm to 1400 rpm, the fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries monotonously increased. The fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries first increased and then decreased with an increase in annealing time. The key to achieving GBE lies in inhibiting the recrystallization phenomenon while stimulating abundant multiple twinning events through strain-induced boundary migration.

Influence of Curvature on Cell Motility and Morphology during Cancer Migration in Confined Microchannels.

Microchannels often serve as highways for cancer migration, and their topology largely determines the migration efficiency. Curvature, a topological parameter in biological systems, has recently been reported to be efficient in guiding cell polarization and migration. Curvature varies widely along curved microchannels, while its influence on cell migration remains elusive. Here, we recapitulated the curved microchannels, as observed in clinical tumor tissues with hydrogels, and studied how cancer cells respond to curvature. We found that cells bend more significantly in a larger curvature and exhibit less spreading as well as lower motility. The underlying mechanism is probably based on the hindrance of the movement of cytoskeletal molecules at the curved microchannel walls. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the accelerated actin retrograde flow rate under local curvature has an effective negative regulation on cell motility and morphology, leading to shortened and bent cell morphologies as well as hampered cell migration efficiency.

A clean and sustainable method for recycling of lithium from spent lithium iron phosphate battery powder by using formic acid and oxygen.

With the widespread adoption of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, the imperative recycling of LiFePO4 batteries waste presents formidable challenges in resource recovery, environmental preservation, and socio-economic advancement. Given the current overall lithium recovery rate in LiFePO4 batteries is below 1 %, there is a compelling demand for an eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and sustainable solution. This study introduces a green and sustainable recycling method that employs environmentally benign formic acid and readily available oxygen as reaction agents for selectively leaching lithium from discarded lithium iron phosphate powder. Formic acid was employed as the leaching agent, and oxygen served as the oxidizing agent. Utilizing a single-factor variable approach, various factors including formic acid concentration, oxygen flow rate, leaching time, liquid-to-solid ratio, and reaction temperature were individually investigated. Moreover, the feasibility of this method was explored mechanistically by analyzing E-pH diagrams of the Li-Fe-P-H2O system. Results demonstrate that under conditions of 2.5 mol/L formic acid concentration, 0.12 L/min oxygen flow rate, 25 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, 70 °C reaction temperature, and 3 h reaction time, lithium leaching efficiency exceeds 99.9 %, with iron leaching efficiency only at 1.7 %. Moreover, we also explored using air instead of oxygen as the oxidant and get the excellent lithium leaching rate (97.81 %) and low iron leaching rate (4.81 %), which shows the outstanding selectivity. Furthermore, the environmentally benign composition of the chemical reagents, comprising only C, H, and O elements, establishes it as a genuinely green and sustainable technology for secondary resource recovery. It can be considered as a highly environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient approach. Nevertheless, in the current context of carbon neutrality and sustainable development, this method undoubtedly holds excellent prospects for industrialization.

The relationship between eye canting and vertical craniofacial skeletal asymmetry in adult patients with dento-maxillofacial deformities.

BACKGROUND: Whether eye canting in patients with asymmetric dento-maxillofacial deformities is the result of anatomical asymmetry or a compensatory head position remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aims to verify whether eye canting is correlated with craniofacial skeletal asymmetry. METHODS & MATERIALS: This study was performed by measuring the computed tomographic scans of 223 patients with dento-maxillofacial deformities in Mimics 21.0 software. First grouping was determined based on the intersection angle between the line passing through bilateral lateral canthus point and Frankfurt horizontal plane, and final grouping was based on measurements of the pregroups. RESULTS: The patients were finally categorized into three groups: symmetry group (n = 163), asymmetry subgroups 1 (n = 33) and asymmetry subgroups 2 (n = 27). The results of multiple linear regression and comparisons among groups suggests the presence of orbital skeletal asymmetry in patients with eye canting and the eye canting is partly increment dependent of orbital skeletal asymmetry when using bilateral ears as the reference. The result also reveals that there is a greater angle between the line through bilateral ocular landmarks and the line through the bilateral ear landmarks in patients with ocular canting compared to patient without eye canting. CONCLUSION: Patients with asymmetric dento-maxillofacial deformities and with eye canting have vertical asymmetry of the orbital and cranial skeletal landmarks. These symmetry differences between the eyes and ears may affect the overall craniofacial symmetry after orthognathic surgery.

Personalized functional network mapping for autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two typical neurodevelopmental disorders that have a long-term impact on physical and mental health. ASD is usually comorbid with ADHD and thus shares highly overlapping clinical symptoms. Delineating the shared and distinct neurophysiological profiles is important to uncover the neurobiological mechanisms to guide better therapy. In this study, we aimed to establish the behaviors, functional connectome, and network properties differences between ASD, ADHD-Combined, and ADHD-Inattentive using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used the non-negative matrix fraction method to define personalized large-scale functional networks for each participant. The individual large-scale functional network connectivity (FNC) and graph-theory-based complex network analyses were executed and identified shared and disorder-specific differences in FNCs and network attributes. In addition, edge-wise functional connectivity analysis revealed abnormal edge co-fluctuation amplitude and number of transitions among different groups. Taken together, our study revealed disorder-specific and -shared regional and edge-wise functional connectivity and network differences for ASD and ADHD using an individual-level functional network mapping approach, which provides new evidence for the brain functional abnormalities in ASD and ADHD and facilitates understanding the neurobiological basis for both disorders.

Role of oncogenic long noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 in colon cancer.

The role of lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) in colon cancer involves various tumorigenic processes and has been studied widely. However, the mechanism by which it promotes colon cancer remains unclear. Retroviral vector pSEB61 was retrofitted in established HCT116-siKCN and SW480-siKCN cells to silence KCNQ1OT1. Cellular proliferation was measured using CCK8 assay, and flow cytometry (FCM) detected cell cycle changes. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis showed differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were carried out to analyze enriched functions and signaling pathways. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were carried out to validate downstream gene expressions. The effects of tumorigenesis were evaluated in BALB/c nude mice by tumor xenografts. Our data revealed that the silencing of KCNQ1OT1 in HCT116 and SW480 cells slowed cell growth and decreased the number of cells in the G2/M phase. RNA-Seq analysis showed the data of DEGs enriched in various GO and KEGG pathways such as DNA replication and cell cycle. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting confirmed downstream CCNE2 and PCNA gene expressions. HCT116-siKCN cells significantly suppressed tumorigenesis in BALB/c nude mice. Our study suggests that lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer.

Potential and benefits of biochar production: crop straw management and carbon emission mitigation in Shaanxi Province, China.

Shaanxi Province is an important agricultural province in western China. Its profit-oriented management of crop residues remains a concern in the agriculture sector. Aiming to accelerate the valorization of agricultural straw and offer potential solutions for profit-oriented use of crop residues in Shaanxi, this study estimated the quantity of resources and collectable amount of crop straw by using the grain-to-straw ratio, analyzed the carbon emission reduction potential considering biochar energy and soil uses with the help of a life cycle assessment (LCA) model, and calculated the economic benefits of biochar production using waste and abandoned straw in Weinan (a city of Shaanxi). The theoretical resources and collectible amount of crop straw in Shaanxi showed an overall growth trend from 1949 to 2021, reaching 1.47 × 107 and 1.26 × 107 t in 2021 respectively. In 2021, straw from corn, wheat, and other grains accounted for 94.32% of the total straw. Among the 11 cities in Shaanxi, Weinan had the largest straw resources of 2.82 × 106 t, Yulin had the largest per capita straw resources of 0.72 t/person, and Yangling had the highest resource density of 7.60 t/hm2. The total carbon emission reduction was 3.11 × 104 t under scenario A with crop straw used for power generation. The emission reduction ranged from 1.25 × 107 to 1.27 × 107 CO2e t under scenario B with biochar production for energy and soil use. By using waste and abandoned straw in Weinan for biochar production, carbon emissions could be reduced by up to 2.07 × 105 t CO2e. In terms of the economic benefit from straw pyrolysis, the actual income was estimated to range from 0.67 × 108 to 1.33 × 108 ¥/a with different carbon prices. This study sheds light on the economic and environmental benefits of agricultural straw valorization through pyrolysis in Shaanxi, and provided an important basis for promoting the agricultural straw utilization in view of its potential for carbon emission reduction.

A review on the recycling of spent lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have gained widespread recognition for their exceptional thermal stability, remarkable cycling performance, non-toxic attributes, and cost-effectiveness. However, the increased adoption of LFP batteries has led to a surge in spent LFP battery disposal. Improper handling of waste LFP batteries could result in adverse consequences, including environmental degradation and the mismanagement of valuable secondary resources. This paper presents a comprehensive examination of waste LFP battery treatment methods, encompassing a holistic analysis of their recycling impact across five dimensions: resources, energy, environment, economy, and society. The recycling of waste LFP batteries is not only crucial for reducing the environmental pollution caused by hazardous components but also enables the valuable components to be efficiently recycled, promoting resource utilization. This, in turn, benefits the sustainable development of the energy industry, contributes to economic gains, stimulates social development, and enhances employment rates. Therefore, the recycling of discarded LFP batteries is both essential and inevitable. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including governments, corporations, and communities, in the realm of waste LFP battery recycling are also scrutinized, underscoring their pivotal engagement and collaboration. Notably, this paper concentrates on surveying the current research status and technological advancements within the waste LFP battery lifecycle, and juxtaposes their respective merits and drawbacks, thus furnishing a comprehensive evaluation and foresight for future progress.