Climate-associated variation in the drivers of benthic macroinvertebrate species-area relationships across shallow freshwater lakes.

The island species-area relationship (ISAR) describes how species richness increases with increasing area of a given island or island-like habitat, such as freshwater lakes. While the ISAR is one of the most common phenomena observed in ecology, there is variation in both the form of the relationship and its underlying mechanisms. We compiled a global data set of benthic macroinvertebrates from 524 shallow freshwater lakes, ranging from 1 to 293,300 ha in area. We used individual-based rarefaction to determine the degree to which ISAR was influenced by mechanisms other than passive sampling (larger islands passively sample more individuals from the regional pool and, therefore, have more species than smaller islands), which would bias results away from expected relationships between rarefied species richness (and other measures that capture relative abundances) and lake area. We also examined how climate may alter the shape of the ISARs. We found that both rarefied species richness (the number of species standardized by area or number of individuals) and a measure of evenness emphasizing common species exhibit shallow slopes in relationships with lake area, suggesting that the expected ISARs in these lakes most likely result from passive sampling. While there was considerable variation among ISARs across the investigated lakes, we found an overall positive rarefied ISAR for lakes in warm (i.e. tropical/subtropical) regions (n = 195), and in contrast, an overall negative rarefied ISAR in cool (i.e. north temperate) lakes (n = 329). This suggested that mechanisms beyond passive sampling (e.g. colonization-extinction dynamics and/or heterogeneity) were more likely to operate in warm lakes. One possible reason for this difference is that the area-dependent intensity of fish predation, which can lead to flatter ISARs, is weaker in warmer relative to cooler lakes. Our study illustrates the importance of understanding both the pattern and potential processes underlying the ISARs of freshwater lakes in different climatic regions. Furthermore, it provides a baseline for understanding how further changes to the ecosystem (i.e. in lake area or climate) might influence biodiversity patterns.

PGE2 binding to EP2 promotes ureteral stone expulsion by relaxing ureter via the cAMP-PKA pathway.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relaxation effect of PGE2 on the ureter and its role in promoting calculi expulsion following calculi development. METHODS: By using immunofluorescence and Western blot, we were able to locate EP receptors in the ureter. In vitro experiments assessed the impact of PGE2, receptor antagonists, and agonists on ureteral relaxation rate. We constructed a model of ureteral calculi with flowable resin and collected ureteral tissue from postoperative side of the ureter after obstruction surgery. Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein expression levels of EP receptors and the PGE2 terminal synthase mPGES-1. Additionally, PGE2 was added to smooth muscle cells to observe downstream cAMP and PKA changes. RESULTS: The expression of EP2 and EP4 proteins in ureteral smooth muscle was verified by Western blot analysis. According to immunofluorescence, EP2 was primarily found on the cell membrane, while EP4 was found in the nucleus. In vitro, PGE2 induced concentration-dependent ureteral relaxation. Maximum diastolic rate was 70.94 ± 4.57% at a concentration of 30µM. EP2 antagonists hindered this effect, while EP4 antagonists did not. Obstructed ureters exhibited elevated mPGES-1 and EP2 protein expression (P < 0.01). Smooth muscle cells treated with PGE2 displayed increased cAMP and phosphorylated PKA. CONCLUSIONS: PGE2 binding to EP2 induces ureteral relaxation through the cAMP-PKA pathway. This will provide a new theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the use of PGE2 in the treatment of ureteral stones.

Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Surgery Versus Craniotomy for Hypertensive Putamen Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopy for treating hypertensive putamen hemorrhage (HPH), compared with traditional craniotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 81 consecutive patients with HPH treated with neuroendoscopy (n=36) or craniotomy (n=45) in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University between January 2015 and December 2017. We compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes, excluded 14 patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics in emergency room were recorded. In addition, hospitalization days, total cost during hospitalization, operative time, blood loss, evacuation rate, rebreeding, intracranial infection, pulmonary infection, epilepsy, hemorrhage of digestive tract, venous thrombus, hypoproteinemia, aphasia, oculomotor paralysis, mortality, Modified Rankin Scale score 6 months after surgery, and Glasgow Outcome Scale score 6 months after surgery were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of preoperative patient data revealed no notable disparities. Neuroendoscopic surgery afford distinct benefits including reduced operative time, minimal patient blood loss, and enhanced efficacy in hematoma evacuation. However, the incidence of postoperative complications such as rebleeding, intracranial infections, pulmonary infections, postoperative epilepsy, hemorrhage of digestive tract, venous thrombus, hypoproteinemia, aphasia, and oculomotor paralysis did not significantly differ. In contrast, endoscopic techniques, relative to conventional craniotomy for hematoma evacuation, are characterized by less invasive incisions, a marked decrease in the duration of hospitalization, and a substantial reduction in associated healthcare costs. Furthermore, endoscopic techniques contribute to superior long-term recuperative outcomes in patients, without altering mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to the conventional method of craniotomy, the utilization of neuroendoscopy in the treatment of hypertensive putamen hemorrhage (HPH) may offer a more efficacious, minimally invasive, and cost-effective approach. This alternative approach has the potential to decrease the length of hospital stays and improve long-term neurologic outcomes, without altering mortality rates.

CTAB-Modulated Electroplating of Copper Micropillar Arrays for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing with Improved Sensitivity.

Micropillar array electrodes represent a promising avenue for enhancing detection sensitivity and response current. However, existing methods for depositing electrode materials on micropillar arrays often result in uneven distribution, with the thin sidewall layer being less conductive and prone to corrosion. In addressing this issue, this study introduces electroplating to enhance the copper layer on the sidewall of micropillar array electrodes. These electrodes, fabricated through standard microelectronics processes and electroplating, are proposed for non-enzymatic glucose detection, with the copper layer deposited via electroplating significantly enhancing sensitivity. Initially, the impact of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) concentration as an inhibitor on the surface morphology and sensitivity of the plated layer was investigated. It was discovered that CTAB could decrease surface roughness, hinder the development of large and coarse grains, generate small particles, and boost sensitivity. Compared to the uncoated electrode and plating without CTAB, sensitivity was elevated by a factor of 1.66 and 1.62, respectively. Subsequently, the alterations in plating morphology and detection performance within a range of 0.3 ASD to 3 ASD were examined. Sensitivity demonstrated a tendency to increase initially and then decrease. The electrode plated at 0.75 ASD achieved a maximum sensitivity of 3314 µA·mM-1·cm-2 and a detection limit of 15.9 µM. Furthermore, a potential mechanism explaining the impact of different morphology on detection performance due to CTAB and current density was discussed. It was believed that the presented effective strategy to enhance the sensitivity of micropillar array electrodes for glucose detection would promote the related biomedical detection applications.

Inhibition mechanism of MRTX1133 on KRASG12D: a molecular dynamics simulation and Markov state model study.

The mutant KRAS was considered as an "undruggable" target for decades, especially KRASG12D. It is a great challenge to develop the inhibitors for KRASG12D which lacks the thiol group for covalently binding ligands. The discovery of MRTX1133 solved the dilemma. Interestingly, MRTX1133 can bind to both the inactive and active states of KRASG12D. The binding mechanism of MRTX1133 with KRASG12D, especially how MRTX1133 could bind the active state KRASG12D without triggering the active function of KRASG12D, has not been fully understood. Here, we used a combination of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and Markov state model (MSM) to understand the inhibition mechanism of MRTX1133 and its analogs. The stationary probabilities derived from MSM show that MRTX1133 and its analogs can stabilize the inactive or active states of KRASG12D into different conformations. More remarkably, by scrutinizing the conformational differences, MRTX1133 and its analogs were hydrogen bonded to Gly60 to stabilize the switch II region and left switch I region in a dynamically inactive conformation, thus achieving an inhibitory effect. Our simulation and analysis provide detailed inhibition mechanism of KRASG12D induced by MRTX1133 and its analogs. This study will provide guidance for future design of novel small molecule inhibitors of KRASG12D.

Prognosis of traumatic spinal cord injury in children: Follow-up of 86 patients.

PURPOSE: The long-term situation of children with spinal cord injury (SCI) was investigated, and suggestions for helping them better return to the society were provided. METHODS: SCI patients less than 18 years old hospitalized in Beijing Boai Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Information including motor function, complications, characteristic changes, self-care abilities, school attendance and social participation were collected by telephone interview and electronic questionnaire. All the answers were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 86 cases were enrolled, 77 girls and 9 boys, with a median injury age of 6 years and 2 months. The follow-up time was 3-130 months. The main cause of trauma in these children was sport injury (66.3%), the thoracic spinal cord was involved the most (91.9%), and complete SCIs accounted for the majority (76.7%). In terms of complications, children with complete SCIs were more likely to have urinary incontinence, constipation and characteristic changes (p < 0.05); whereas the incomplete SCIs often have spasticity (p < 0.05). As to the daily living abilities, children with incomplete lumbar SCIs were more capable to accomplish personal hygiene, transfer, and bathing independently than those with complete injuries, or cervical/thoracic SCIs, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, children older than 9 years care more able to dress and transfer independently than the youngers (p < 0.05). Wheelchair users accounted for 84.9% and more than half of them were able to propel wheelchair independently, and those who move passively in wheelchairs were mostly introverted kids (p < 0.05). Almost all (93.8%) children with incomplete injuries were able to walk independently. Most (79.1%) children continued to attending school, and 41.9% participated in interest classes. Unfortunately, 67.4% of the children spent less time playing with their peers than before the injury. CONCLUSION: SCIs impair physical structures and function of children, affect their independence in daily living, and restrict school attendance and social interaction. Comprehensive rehabilitation after injury is a systematic work. Medical staff and caregivers should not only pay attention to neurological function, but also help them improve self-care abilities. It is also important to balance rehabilitation training and school work and social participation.

Increased sagittal diameter of the vertebral arch aids in diagnosis of lumbar spondylolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a diagnostic indicator of lumbar spondylolysis visible in plain X-ray films. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-two patients with low back pain who received X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) examinations were identified and studied. They were divided into three groups: the spondylosis without spondylolisthesis (SWS) group, comprising 67 patients with bilateral pars interarticularis defects at L5 and without spondylolisthesis, the isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) group, comprising 74 patients with L5/S1 spondylolisthesis and bilateral L5 pars interarticularis defects, and the control group, comprising 31 patients with low back pain but without spondylolysis. The sagittal diameters of the vertebral arch (SDVAs) of L4 and L5 were measured in lateral X-ray image, and the differences in SDVA between L4 and L5 (DSL4-5) in each case were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics among the three groups. In the SWS and IS groups, the SDVA of L5 was significantly longer than the SDVA of L4 (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference found in the control group (p > 0.05). DSL4-5, in which the SDVA of L4 was subtracted from the SDVA of L5, significantly differed among the three groups (p < 0.001), and the normal threshold was provisionally determined to be 1.55 mm. CONCLUSIONS: In bilateral L5 spondylolysis, the SDVA of L5 is wider than the SDVA of L4, and this difference is greater in isthmic spondylolisthesis. This sign in lateral X-rays may provide a simple and convenient aid for the diagnosis of spondylolysis.

Turning up the heat: warming influences plankton biomass and spring phenology in subtropical waters characterized by extensive fish omnivory.

Understanding how biological communities respond to climate change is a major challenge in ecology. The response of ectotherms to changes in temperature depends not only on their species-specific thermal tolerances but also on temperature-mediated interactions across different trophic levels. Warming is predicted to reinforce trophic cascades in linear aquatic food chains, but little is known about how warming might affect the lower trophic levels of food webs involving extensive fish omnivory, a common scenario in subtropical and tropical waterbodies. In this study, a mesocosm warming experiment was conducted involving a pelagic food chain (fish-zooplankton-phytoplankton) topped by the omnivorous bighead carp [Aristichthys nobilis (Richardson)]. We found that temperature elevation significantly enhanced the growth of fish and suppressed zooplankton, including both metazooplankton and ciliates, while abundances of phytoplankton, despite disruption of temporal dynamics, did not increase correspondingly-likely due to fish predation. Our results suggest that trophic cascades are less unlikely to be reinforced by warming in food chains involving significant omnivory. Moreover, we found that warming advanced the spring abundance peak of phytoplankton abundance and that of the parthenogenetic rotifer Brachionus quadridentatus; whereas, it had no effect on the only sexually reproducing copepod, Mesocyclops leuckarti, presumably due to its prolonged life history. Our study also confirmed that warming may lead to a phenological mismatch between some predators and their prey because of the distinct life histories among taxa, with potentially severe consequences for resource flow in the food chain, at least in the short term.

Ischemic damage may play an important role in spinal cord injury during dancing.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China. OBJECTIVE: To explore possible mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) in children caused by hyperextension of the spine while dancing. METHODS: The clinical records of 88 children with SCI (mean age, 5.97 years; age range, 4-10 years) admitted to our hospital from January 1989 to October 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed on the day of injury. The time from injury to development of paralysis, as well as post-injury activities were surveyed, while abnormal patterns on images, the range of the involved vertebrae, and the extents of edema and atrophy were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 88 patients, 6 (6.8%) were unable to move immediately after SCI, while paralysis occurred in 42, 23, and 17 patients at <30, 30-60, and >60 min after SCI, respectively. The neurological level of injury of 84 patients was between T4 and T12. On sagittal T2-weighted images (T2WIs), the longitudinal range of spinal cord edema was more than one vertebral body in 65 patients, while spinal cord atrophy below T8 was found in 40 patients. On axial T2WIs, although three patients had none, long T2 signals were found in the central gray matter of seven patients. Meanwhile, necrosis of the central area combined with the peripheral white matter was observed in 57 patients, while three patients had total involvement on a cross section. CONCLUSION: Ischemia-related damage, rather than direct trauma to the spinal cord, may play an important role in SCI due to spinal hyperextension during dancing.

Heterogeneity among traumatic spinal cord injuries at the thoracolumbar junction: helping select patients for clinical trials.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study that documents the modalities and clarifies the heterogeneity among spinal cord injuries (SCIs) caused by trauma to the thoracolumbar vertebral junction. METHODS: X-ray and MRI imaging, neurological records, and the urodynamics results of 190 patients were reviewed and used to categorize different SCI modalities. First, injuries were divided into complete and incomplete injuries using the International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. Next, the complete injuries were further grouped using the neurological level of injury and Long T2 signal from mid-sagittal MRI images, whereas the bulboconvernosus reflexes were also used as a reference to detect injury to the sacral cord. RESULTS: The SCI modalities were classified into five categories: pure complete epiconus lesion with caudal cord intact (G1), complete epiconus injury with conus medullaris (CM) totally involved in the lesion (G2), CM syndrome, cauda equine syndrome without sacral sparing (G3 and G4), and incomplete injury (G5). CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity of SCIs at the thoracolumbar junction was documented, a criterion we propose to be of great significance when selecting patients for clinical trials. In particular, the G2 group, which comprises nearly one third of the patients with epiconus lesions, is sometimes mistaken as G1, an observation that has thus far received insufficient attention.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of expansive open-door laminoplasty with unilateral or bilateral fixation and fusion for treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a multi-center prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluated the clinical outcomes and safety of expansive open-door laminoplasty, when securing with C4 - C6 lateral mass screw and fusion. METHODS: A total of 110 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were enrolled. There were 88 male and 22 female, with mean age at 60.55 ± 10.95 years. All of the patients underwent expansive open-door laminoplasty with unilateral or bilateral C4-6 lateral mass screws fixation and fusion. Clinical data, including age, gender, operation-related information, pre- and post-operation Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, and cervical curvatures were collected. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time of the cohort was 13.61 ± 9.53 months. Among the 110 patients, 33 of them were allocated to Unilateral group, and 77 of them were in Bilateral group. The mean JOA score of the 110 patients before surgery was 10.07 ± 2.39, and the score was improved significantly to 12.85 ± 2.45 after surgery. There were no reported cases of neurological deterioration or symptom worsening. Patients in both the Unilateral group and Bilateral groups had significant improvement of JOA scores. Among all patients, the most frequently observed complications were axial symptoms (n = 7). The average preoperative cervical curvature among all patients was 15.17 ± 5.26, and the post-surgery curvature was 14.41 ± 4.29. Similar observations were found between Unilateral and Bilateral groups. CONCLUSION: The modified surgical approach provided satisfactory clinical outcome in patients with CSM. The unilateral and bilateral fixation appeared to provide similar outcomes, in terms of cervical curvature maintenance and improvement of clinical symptoms. However, the examination of the exact differences between the two fixation methods await further biomechanical studies.

A Processing-in-Memory Architecture Programming Paradigm for Wireless Internet-of-Things Applications.

The widespread applications of the wireless Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the leading factors in the emerging of Big Data. Huge amounts of data need to be transferred and processed. The bandwidth and latency of data transfers have posed a new challenge for traditional computing systems. Under Big Data application scenarios, the movement of large scales of data would influence performance, power efficiency, and reliability, which are the three fundamental attributes of a computing system. Thus, changes in the computing paradigm are demanding. Processing-in- Memory (PIM), aiming at placing computation as close as possible to memory, has become of great interest to academia as well as industries. In this work, we propose a programming paradigm for PIM architecture that is suitable for wireless IoT applications. A data-transferring mechanism and middleware architecture are presented. We present our methods and experiences on simulation-platform design, as well as FPGA demo design, for PIM architecture. Typical applications in IoT, such as multimedia and MapReduce programs, are used as demonstration of our method's validity and efficiency. The programs could successfully run on the simulation platform built based on Gem5 and on the FPGA demo. Results show that our method could largely reduce power consumption and execution time for those programs, which is very beneficial in IoT applications.

CDSP: A Solution for Privacy and Security of Multimedia Information Processing in Industrial Big Data and Internet of Things.

With the widespread nature of wireless internet and internet of things, data have bloomed everywhere. Under the scenario of big data processing, privacy and security concerns become a very important consideration. This work focused on an approach to tackle the privacy and security issue of multimedia data/information in the internet of things domain. A solution based on Cryptographical Digital Signal Processor (CDSP), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) based platform combined with dedicated instruction extension, has been proposed, to provide both programming flexibility and performance. We have evaluated CDSP, and the results show that the algorithms implemented on CDSP all have good performance. We have also taped out the platform designed for privacy and security concerns of multimedia transferring system based on CDSP. Using TSMC 55 nm technology, it could reach the speed of 360 MHz. Benefiting from its programmability, CDSP can be easily expanded to support more algorithms in this domain.

Effect of serum uric acid on the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection: A mendelian randomization analysis.

Aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) are severe vascular diseases with high mortality rates. However, the causal relationship between serum uric acid levels and the occurrence of AAD remains a subject of controversy. To address this issue, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate whether there is a causal association between these factors. We obtained single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) data related to serum uric acid levels from the FinnGen study and data on AAD from the UK Biobank. Various two-sample MR methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, MR-Egger regression analysis, weighted median analysis, and contamination mixture method, were employed to assess the causal relationship between serum uric acid and the risk of AAD. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the stability and reliability of the results. The findings revealed a positive association between serum uric acid levels and the risk of aortic aneurysm (AA) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.200, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.020-1.400, P = 0.0239). However, no significant correlation was observed between serum uric acid levels and the occurrence of aortic dissection (AD) (OR = 0.893, 95 % CI = 0.602-1.326, P = 0.576). Our study, which employed MR analysis, identified a positive association between serum uric acid levels and the risk of AA. However, we did not observe a significant correlation with AD.

Facile Preparation of Tough, Puncture-Resistant Antibacterial Polyrotaxane Hydrogel.

Slide-ring hydrogels containing polyrotaxane structures have been widely developed, but current methods are more complex, in which modified cyclodextrins, capped polyrotaxanes, and multistep reactions are often needed. Here, a simple one-pot method dissolving the pseudopolyrotaxane (pPRX) in a mixture of acrylamide and boric acid to form a slide-ring hydrogel by UV light is used to construct a tough, puncture-resistant antibacterial polyrotaxane hydrogel. As a new dynamic ring cross-linking agent, boric acid effectively improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogel and involves the hydrogel with fracture toughness. The polyrotaxane hydrogel can withstand 1 MPa compression stress and maintain the morphology integrity, showing 197.5 mJ puncture energy under a sharp steel needle puncture. Meanwhile, its significant antibacterial properties endow the hydrogel with potential applications in the biomedical field.

Csn-miR156d-CsSPL1 regulates flowering and anthocyanin metabolism.

MiR156 play important roles in regulation of plant growth and development, secondary metabolite synthesis, and other biological processes by targeting the SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) family. Our previous sequencing data analysis suggested that Csn-miR156d may regulate flowering and anthocyanin accumulation by cleavage and degradation of the expression of the SPL in tea plant, but it remains to be elucidated. In this study, 5'RLM-RACE experiment, tobacco transient transformation, qRT-PCR, and antisense oligonucleotide (asODN) were used to verify that CsSPL1 is the target gene of Csn-miR156d. Stable transformation of Arabidopsis revealed that Csn-miR156d could delay flowering by negatively regulating the transcript levels of FT, AP1, FUL, and SOC1, while overexpression of CsSPL1 showed an opposite effect. Additionally, overexpression of Csn-miR156d in Arabidopsis could enhance the transcription of the anthocyanin biosynthesis-related structural genes DFR, ANS, F3H, UGT78D2, and LDOX, as well as regulatory genes PAP1, MYB113, GL3, MYB11, and MYB12, leading to anthocyanin accumulation. Moreover, asODN experiment revealed that Csn-miR156d could increase the anthocyanin content in tea plant. These results suggest that Csn-miR156d regulates flowering and anthocyanin accumulation in tea plant by suppressing the expression of CsSPL1. Our study provides new insights into the development and anthocyanin accumulation in tea plant and lays a theoretical foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of miRNAs in regulating tea plant growth and secondary metabolism.

Bi-MOF-Derived Carbon Wrapped Bi Nanoparticles Assembly on Flexible Graphene Paper Electrode for Electrochemical Sensing of Multiple Heavy Metal Ions.

The development of nanohybrid with high electrocatalytic activity is of great significance for electrochemical sensing applications. In this work, we develop a novel and facile method to prepare a high-performance flexible nanohybrid paper electrode, based on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) wrapped Bi nanoparticles (Bi-NPs) assembly derived from Bi-MOF, which are decorated on a flexible and freestanding graphene paper (GP) electrode. The as-obtained Bi-NPs encapsulated by an NC layer are uniform, and the active sites are increased by introducing a nitrogen source while preparing Bi-MOF. Owing to the synergistic effect between the high conductivity of GP electrode and the highly efficient electrocatalytic activity of Bi-NPs, the NC wrapped Bi-NPs (Bi-NPs@NC) modified GP (Bi-NPs@NC/GP) electrode possesses high electrochemically active area, rapid electron-transfer capability, and good electrochemical stability. To demonstrate its outstanding functionality, the Bi-NPs@NC/GP electrode has been integrated into a handheld electrochemical sensor for detecting heavy metal ions. The result shows that Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ can be detected with extremely low detection limits, wide linear range, high sensitivity, as well as good selectivity. Furthermore, it demonstrates outstanding electrochemical sensing performance in the simultaneous detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. Finally, the proposed electrochemical sensor has achieved excellent repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and reliability in measuring real water samples, which will have great potential in advanced applications in environmental systems.

Comparison of endoscopic evacuation, craniotomy, and puncture aspiration for the treatment of spontaneous basal ganglia intracerebral hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prognosis of patients with spontaneous basal ganglia intracerebral hematoma treated by endoscopic evacuation, craniotomy, or puncture aspiration. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included information from patients with basal ganglia hematoma who received craniotomy, endoscopic evacuation, or puncture aspiration in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC between January 2016 and May 2021. Patients were grouped according to their treatment method for comparison. RESULTS: From a total of 184 patients, 62 cases (51 males, aged 54.44 ± 9.92 years) received craniotomy, 64 cases (45 males, aged 53.97 ± 11.87 years) received endoscopic evacuation, and 58 cases (43 males, aged 54.25 ± 10.35 years) received puncture aspiration. No significant difference was found in baseline characteristics among three surgical procedures. Patients in the endoscopy group had the shortest hospital stay (15.16 ± 4.89 days vs. 17.88 ± 5.97 and 20.77 ± 6.96 days), lowest infectious meningitis [1(1.6 %) vs. 2(3.4%) and 8(12.9%)] and pulmonary infection [3(4.7%) vs. 5(8.6%) and 13(21.0%)] rates, and highest hematoma removal rate (90.39 ± 5.22% vs. 35.87 ± 6.23 and 84.76 ± 4.91%) and Glasgow outcome scale 6 months after surgery (4.41 ± 0.53 vs. 3.74 ± 1.09 and 3.81 ± 1.03). The occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding, epilepsy, and mortality were similar (all p > 0.05) among the groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with spontaneous basal ganglia intracerebral hematoma who received endoscopic evacuation might have better prognosis than those treated with craniotomy or puncture aspiration. In future, endoscopic surgery could become the most common method for treating spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhages.

Research on the initiation pressure criterion of directional hydraulic fracturing in coal mine.

Directional hydraulic fracturing (DHF) is more and more widely used in coal mines in China for hard roof and coal burst control. The key to this technology is to determine the crack initiation pressure that affected by the shape of the artificial notch and the stress state around the fracturing hole. Reasonable and simple formula for fracturing pressure calculation is essential since the fracturing pump used in coal mines is usually limited by the harsh conditions and hardly replaced once selected. Based on the superposition principle, the simplified 2D model of DHF was established as the elliptical hole with the internal pressure and solved by using the complex functions method. The analytical solution of tangential stress on the inner surface was obtained meanwhile the corresponding criterion of fracturing pressure can be set up. Considering the characteristics of DHF in coal mines, we further got a simplified formula that controlled by the ratio of major to minor axis of the ellipse-like notch, the ratio of the minimum to the maximum principal stress, as well as the tensile strength of the rock. The formula also gave a guide to the design of the notch that major diameter should be at least twice the minor diameter, and the optimal solution for the ratio is to 2～4 and recommended 4, which can resist the initiation pressure to a large extent affected by the in-situ stress. Once the pressure of the fracturing fluid is high enough to satisfy the equation cracks would arise at the tips of the notch along the major axis which belongs to mode Ⅰ crack and would grow unsteadily and rapidly. A PFC simulation model was used to verify the analysis, the results of which are very consistent with the theoretical solutions.

Cellular Uptake, Metabolism and Sensing of Long-Chain Fatty Acids.

Fatty acids (FAs) are critical nutrients that regulate an organism's health and development in mammal. Long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) can be divided into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, depending on whether the carbon chain contains at least 1 double bond. The fatty acids that are required for humans and animals are obtained primarily from dietary sources, and LCFAs are absorbed from outside of cells in mammals. LCFAs enter cells through several mechanisms, including passive diffusion and protein-mediated translocation across the plasma membrane, the latter in which FA translocase (FAT/CD36), plasma membrane FA-binding protein (FABPpm), FA transport protein (FATP), and caveolin-1 are believed to have important functions. The LCFAs that are taken up by cells bind to FA-binding proteins (FABPs) and are transported to the specific organelles, where they are activated into acyl-CoA to target specific metabolic pathways. LCFA-CoAs can be esterified to phospholipids, triacylglycerol, cholesteryl ester, and other specialized lipids. Non-esterified free fatty acids are preferentially stored as triacylglycerol molecules. The main pathway by which fatty acids are catabolized is ß-oxidation, which occurs in mitochondria and peroxisomes. stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)-dependent and Fatty acid desaturases (FADS)-dependent fatty acid desaturation pathways coexist in cells and provide metabolic plasticity. The process of fatty acid elongation occurs by cycling through condensation, reduction, dehydration, and reduction. Extracellular LCFA can be mediated by membrane protein G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) or G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) to activate mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, and intracellular LCFA's sensor remains to be determined. The crystal structures of a phosphatidic acid phosphatase and a membrane-bound fatty acid elongase-condensing enzyme and other LCFA-related proteins provide important insights into the mechanism of utilization, increasing our understanding of the cellular uptake, metabolism and sensing of LCFAs.