Voltage-induced modulation of interfacial ionic liquids measured using surface plasmon resonant grating nanostructures.

We have used surface plasmon resonant metal gratings to induce and probe the dielectric response (i.e., electro-optic modulation) of ionic liquids (ILs) at electrode interfaces. Here, the cross-plane electric field at the electrode surface modulates the refractive index of the IL due to the Pockels effect. This is observed as a shift in the resonant angle of the grating (i.e., Δϕ), which can be related to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte (i.e., Δnlocal). The reflection modulation of the IL is compared against a polar (D2O) and a non-polar solvent (benzene) to confirm the electro-optic origin of resonance shift. The electrostatic accumulation of ions from the IL induces local index changes to the gratings over the extent of electrical double layer (EDL) thickness. Finite difference time domain simulations are used to relate the observed shifts in the plasmon resonance and change in reflection to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte and the thickness of the EDL. Simultaneously using the wavelength and intensity shift of the resonance enables us to determine both the effective thickness and Δn of the double layer. We believe that this technique can be used more broadly, allowing the dynamics associated with the potential-induced ordering and rearrangement of ionic species in electrode-solution interfaces.

Measuring Local pKa and pH Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of 4-Mercaptobenzoic Acid.

We report spectroscopic measurements of the local pH and pKa at an electrode/electrolyte interface using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). In acidic and basic solutions, the protonated and deprotonated carboxyl functional groups at the electrode surface exist in the solution as -COOH and -COO-, which have different Raman active vibrational features at around 1697 and 1414 cm-1, respectively. In pH neutral water, as the applied electrochemical potential is varied from negative to positive, the acidic form of the 4-MBA (i.e., -COOH) decreases in Raman intensity and the basic form (i.e., -COO-) increases in Raman intensity. The change in local ion concentration is due to the application of electrochemical potentials and the accumulation of ions near the electrode surface. Under various applied potentials, the ratio of 1697 and 1587 cm-1 (pH-independent) peak areas spans the range between 0.7 and 0, and the ratio of the 1414 and 1587 cm-1 peak areas ranges from 0 to 0.3. By fitting these data to a normalized sigmoid function, we obtain the percentage of surface protonation/deprotonation, which can be related to the pKa and pH of the system. Thus, we can measure the local pKa at the electrode surface using the surface enhanced Raman signal of the 4-MBA.

Analysis of the influential factors of the emotional health of patients with cancer based on the structural equation model: the role of social media and emotional support.

PURPOSE: To explore the mental health status of patients with cancer and related influential factors and provide a scientific basis to reduce serious emotional problems, improve the quality of life of cancer survivors and adopt targeted interventions. METHODS: A total of 517 patients who attended the oncology departments of six grade-A tertiary hospitals from July 2022 to September 2022 were selected by convenience sampling. The effects of emotional support, social media, patient-centred communication, health self-efficacy and cancer beliefs on the emotional well-being of patients with cancer were analysed based on the structural equation model. RESULTS: A Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation among the six latent variables (P<0.01). The structural equation model path analysis showed that health self-efficacy (ß=0.374, P<0.001), cancer belief (ß=0.214, P=0.003) and emotional support (ß=0.104, P=0.031) all had positive effects on emotional health. The mediating effect results showed that cancer beliefs had a mediating effect on mental health in social media use (ß=0.106, P=0.001), emotional support (ß=0.028, P=0.002) and patient-centred communication (ß=0.050, P=0.002). Further, health self-efficacy had mediating effects on mental health in emotional support (ß=0.084, P=0.001) and patient-centred communication (ß=0.098, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: By constructing structural equation models, this study found that emotional support, cancer beliefs and health self-efficacy showed a positive effect on the emotional well-being of patients with cancer. Further, it found a mediating role of health cancer beliefs on the impact of emotional support, social media use and patient-centred communication on mental health. Additionally, health self-efficacy has a mediating role regarding the effects of emotional support and patient-centred communication on mental health.

Effects of 30% vs. 60% inspired oxygen fraction during mechanical ventilation on postoperative atelectasis: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is the ongoing debate over the effect of inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) during mechanical ventilation on postoperative atelectasis. We aimed to compare the effects of low (30%) and moderate (60%) FiO2 on postoperative atelectasis. The hypothesis of the study was that 30% FiO2 during mechanical ventilation could reduce postoperative atelectasis volume compared with 60% FiO2. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled trial with 120 patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 30% or 60% FiO2 during mechanical ventilation in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was the percentage of postoperative atelectasis volume in the total lung measured using chest CT within 30 min after extubation. The secondary outcomes included different aeration region volumes, incidence of clinically significant atelectasis, and oxygenation index. RESULTS: In total, 113 subjects completed the trial, including 55 and 58 subjects in the 30% and 60% FiO2 groups, respectively. The percentage of the postoperative atelectasis volume in the 30% FiO2 group did not differ from that in the 60% FiO2 group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the atelectasis volume between the two groups after the missing data were imputed by multiple imputation. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the volumes of the over-aeration, normal-aeration, and poor-aeration regions between the groups. No significant differences in the incidence of clinically significant atelectasis or oxygenation index at the end of surgery were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with 60% FiO2, the use of 30% FiO2 during mechanical ventilation does not reduce the postoperative atelectasis volume. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ). Identifier: ChiCTR1900021635. Date: 2 March 2019. Principal invetigator: Weidong Gu.

Utility of autoantibody against an UCH-L1 epitope as a serum diagnostic marker for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lacking efficient diagnostic biomarkers. Previous studies have shown that anti-ubiquitin carboxyl hydrolase L1(UCH-L1) autoantibody is a promising cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker for NPSLE diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to explore the serum autoantibodies against different UCH-L1 epitopes and investigate the potential diagnostic value of serum autoantibodies against different UCH-L1 epitopes in NPSLE. METHODS: The epitopes of UCH-L1 protein were predicted in DNAStar software. The serum levels of different UCH-L1 epitope autoantibodies in 40 NPSLE patients, 32 SLE patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms and 21 healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed using Pearson correlation analysis, ROC curve analysis, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, t-test and χ2 test. RESULTS: We screened three candidate epitopes of UCH-L1 protein. The autoantibody against amino acid 58 to 69 of UCH-L1 (UCH58-69) showed highest diagnostic power in distinguishing NPSLE patients from SLE patients without neuro-psychiatric symptoms (p=0.0038). The ROC analysis showed that the specificity and sensitivity of anti-UCH58-69 were 92.3% and 37.5%, respectively. In addition, increased serum anti-UCH58-69 levels were associated with increased SLEDAI, CSF microprotein, CSF leukocyte count, ESR, AnuA, anti-dsDNA, IgG and IgM but with decrease of C3 in SLE patients. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of anti-UCH58-69 significantly increased in NPSLE patients compared with SLE patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms and were correlated with disease severity. Anti-UCH58-69 autoantibody may become a novel serum biomarker for NPSLE non-invasive diagnosis, which might be applicable for NPSLE early screening and diagnosis.

Monitoring Reaction Intermediates in Plasma-Driven SO2, NO, and NO2 Remediation Chemistry Using In Situ SERS Spectroscopy.

In situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is used to identify the key reaction intermediates during the plasma-based removal of NO and SO2 under dry and wet conditions on Ag nanoparticles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to confirm the experimental observations by calculating the vibrational modes of the surface-bound intermediate species. Here, we provide spectroscopic evidence that the wet plasma increases the SO2 and the NOx removal through the formation of highly reactive OH radicals, driving the reactions to H2SO4 and HNO3, respectively. We observed the formation of SO3 and SO4 species in the SO2 wet-plasma-driven remediation, while in the dry plasma, we only identified SO3 adsorbed on the Ag surface. During the removal of NO in the dry and wet plasma, both NO2 and NO3 species were observed on the Ag surface; however, the concentration of NO3 species was enhanced under wet-plasma conditions. By closing the loop between the experimental and DFT-calculated spectra, we identified not only the adsorbed species associated with each peak in the SERS spectra but also their orientation and adsorption site, providing a detailed atomistic picture of the chemical reaction pathway and surface interaction chemistry.

Norovirus outbreaks in Fengtai District, Beijing, China, 2014.

Norovirus (NoV) is the most common cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks worldwide. Eight NoV outbreaks in the Fengtai District of Beijing City, China, were identified in 2014. Samples were collected from the eight outbreaks, and 73 out of 119 samples from cases and 10 out of 59 samples from the close contacts were positive for NoVs. The genotypes were determined by sequencing analysis. Six different GII genotypes, including GII.2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 17 were found, and GII.4 was not the local major epidemic genotype in the present study. Enhanced strain surveillance is necessary for future NoV epidemics.

Occurrence and distribution of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants: A globally review over the past two decades.

Emerging contaminants are pervasive in aquatic environments globally, encompassing pharmaceuticals, personal care products, steroid hormones, phenols, biocides, disinfectants and various other compounds. Concentrations of these contaminants are detected ranging from ng/L to µg/L. Even at trace levels, these contaminants can pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. This article systematically summarises and categorizes data on the concentrations of 54 common emerging contaminants found in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants across various geographical regions: North America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. It reviews the occurrence and distribution of these contaminants, providing spatial and causal analyses based on data from these regions. Notably, the maximum concentrations of the pollutants observed vary significantly across different regions. The data from Africa, in particular, show more frequent detection of pharmaceutical maxima in wastewater treatment plants.

How peer relationships affect academic achievement among junior high school students: The chain mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement.

BACKGROUND: Despite the recognition of the impact of peer relationships, learning motivation, and learning engagement on academic achievement, there is still a gap in understanding the specific mechanisms through which peer relationships impact academic achievement via learning motivation and learning engagement. METHODS: This study aims to investigate how peer relationships affect junior high school students' academic achievement through the chain mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement, employing the self-system model of motivational development as the theoretical framework. In January 2024, 717 participants were selected from two middle schools in eastern China (mean age = 13.49 years, SD = 0.5). The data analysis in this study was performed using the structural equation model (SEM) in AMOS 24.0 and SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: The results showed that peer relationships were directly and significantly related to junior high school students' academic achievement, and that peer relationships were indirectly and positively related to junior high school students' academic achievement via learning motivation and learning engagement respectively. The results also revealed a significant indirect and positive relationship between peer relationships and junior high school students' academic achievement, mediated by the sequential mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement. Moreover, the path "peer relationship→learning motivation→academic achievement" has the strongest indirect effect. CONCLUSION: For junior high school students to achieve academic success, the appropriate interventions should be implemented to improve peer relationships, learning motivation, and learning engagement.

Achieving Low Voltage Plasma Discharge in Aqueous Solution Using Lithographically Defined Electrodes and Metal/Dielectric Nanoparticles.

Because of the high dielectric strength of water, it is extremely difficult to discharge plasma in a controllable way in the aqueous phase. By using lithographically defined electrodes and metal/dielectric nanoparticles, we create electric field enhancement that enables plasma discharge in liquid electrolytes at significantly reduced applied voltages. Here, we use high voltage (10-30 kV) nanosecond pulse (20 ns) discharges to generate a transient plasma in the aqueous phase. An electrode geometry with a radius of curvature of approximately 10 µm, a gap distance of 300 µm, and an estimated field strength of 5 × 106 V/cm resulted in a reduction in the plasma discharge threshold from 28 to 23 kV. A second structure had a radius of curvature of around 5 µm and a gap distance of 100 µm had an estimated field strength of 9 × 106 V/cm but did not perform as well as the larger gap electrodes. Adding gold nanoparticles (20 nm diameter) in solution further reduced the threshold for plasma discharge to 17 kV due to the electric field enhancement at the water/gold interface, with an estimated E-field enhancement of 4×. Adding alumina nanoparticles decorated with Pt reduced the plasma discharge threshold to 14 kV. In this scenario, the emergence of a triple point at the juncture of alumina, Pt, and water results in the coexistence of three distinct dielectric constants at a singular location. This leads to a notable concentration of electric field, effectively aiding in the initiation of plasma discharge at a reduced voltage. To gain a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the electric field enhancement mechanism, we performed rigorous numerical simulations. These simulations provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay between the lithographically defined electrodes, the nanoparticles, and the resulting electric field distribution, enabling us to extract crucial information and optimize the design parameters for enhanced performance.

Experimental and simulation studies on the improvement of coal dust pollution by an aqueous solution of sodium α-alkenylsulfonate and amino acid-based surfactants.

The use of surfactants is crucial for the prevention and control of coal dust pollution in coal mining operation areas, yet there still exist many challenges in the control of coal dust pollution. In this paper, the green biomass-based amino acid surfactant sodium myristoyl glutamate (SMG) and the anionic surfactant sodium α-alkenyl sulfonate (AOS) were selected to investigate the improvement of coal dust wettability by single and binary solutions from the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Molecular simulations were used to reveal the microscopic mechanism of the wettability of coal dust by the different solutions. Experimental measurements showed that the contact angle of the AOS + SMG aqueous solution was as low as 13.8° on a coal surface. Coating the coal dust with the AOS + SMG solution reduced the surface tension by 12.02% compared to coating the coal with a single component solution. Additionally, the use of the binary AOS + SMG solution increased the hydrophilic group content in the coating by 11.77% compared to a single component solution, and the linkage between hydrophilic groups was enhanced, which pulls the water molecules to wet the coal dust. These research results should provide a new way to promote more environmentally friendly coal dust pollution control technology.

Evidence for the production of asexual resting cysts in a free-living species of Symbiodiniaceae (Dinophyceae).

Coral reef ecosystems are the most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems, with their productivity levels highly dependent on the symbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae. As a unique life history strategy, resting cyst production is of great significance in the ecology of many dinoflagellate species, those HABs-causing species in particular, however, there has been no confirmative evidence for the resting cyst production in any species of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Based on morphological and life history observations of cultures in the laboratory and morpho-molecular detections of cysts from the marine sediments via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), cyst photography, and subsequent singe-cyst PCR sequencing, here we provide evidences for the asexual production of resting cysts by Effrenium voratum, the free-living, red tide-forming, and the type species of the genus Effrenium in Symbiodiniaceae. The evidences from the marine sediments were obtained through a sequential detections: Firstly, E. voratum amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected in the cyst assemblages that were concentrated with the sodium polytungstate (SPT) method from the sediments collected from different regions of China Seas by high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS); Secondly, the presence of E. voratum in the sediments was detected by PCR using the species-specific primers for the DNA directly extracted from sediment; Thirdly, E. voratum cysts were confirmed by a combined approach of FISH using the species-specific probes, light microscopic (LM) photography of the FISH-positive cysts, and a subsequent single-cyst PCR sequencing for the FISH-positive and photographed cysts. The evidences from the laboratory-reared clonal cultures of E. voratum include that: 1) numerous cysts formed in the two clonal cultures and exhibited a spherical shape, a smooth surface, absence of ornaments, and a large red accumulation body; 2) cysts could maintain morphologically intact for a storage of two weeks to six months at 4 °C in darkness and of which 76-92 % successfully germinated through an internal development processes within a time period of 3-21 days after being transferred back to the normal culturing conditions; 3) two or four germlings were released from each cyst through the cryptopylic archeopyle in all cysts with continuous observations of germination processes; and 4) while neither sexual mating of gametes nor planozygote (cells with two longitudinal flagella) were observed, the haploidy of cysts was proven with flow cytometric measurements and direct LM measurements of fluorescence from cells stained with either propidium iodide (PI) or DAPI, which together suggest that the cysts were formed asexually. All evidences led to a conclusion that E. voratum is capable of producing asexual resting cysts, although its sexuality cannot be completely excluded, which guarantees a more intensive investigation. This work fills a gap in the knowledge about the life cycle, particularly the potential of resting cyst formation, of the species in Symbiodiniaceae, a group of dinoflagellates having unique life forms and vital significance in the ecology of coral reefs, and may provide novel insights into understanding the recovery mechanisms of coral reefs destructed by the global climate change and suggest various forms of resting cysts in the cyst assemblages of dinoflagellates observed in the field sediments, including HABs-causing species.

The combination use of inclisiran and statins versus statins alone in the treatment of dyslipidemia in mainland China: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective: Statin is well-established as a classical lipid-lowering drug, and its cost has reduced considerably in the past years. Inclisiran is a new and effective lipid-lowering drug given as a subcutaneous injection at 6-month intervals. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the combination use of inclisiran and statin versus statin alone for dyslipidemia in the mainland China population. Methods: The Markov decision-making model was used, and the clinical data and real-world data were collected at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH). Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and blood lipid levels above the target on statin therapy were included as the target population and analyzed for cardiovascular events, future medical expenses, and the calculation made for the total life cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of parameter uncertainty on the base-case analysis results. Results: If inclisiran was priced at Chinese renminbi (RMB) 20,000.00 (USD 2,973.49) per injection, patients in the inclisiran and statin group would incur an incremental cost of RMB 449,233.56 (USD 66,789.60) compared with the statin group, and they would obtain 0.21 more QALYs in their life cycle. The subsequent ICER of RMB 2,127,756.78 (USD 316,343.32)/QALY was significantly higher than the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 3 times the per capita GDP of China, which was RMB 257,094.00 (USD 38,223.33)/QALY, suggesting that the combined use of inclisiran and statin was not cost-effective. If the price of inclisiran were reduced to RMB 2,500.00 (USD 371.69)/injection, the ICER of patients in the inclisiran and statin group would become RMB 257,790.63 (USD 38,326.91)/QALY, which is slightly lower than the WTP threshold of 3 times the per capita GDP of China, indicating that the combined use of inclisiran and statin would be cost-effective. Conclusion: If inclisiran is priced at RMB 20,000.00 (USD 2,973.49)/injection, then the combined use of inclisiran and statins is not cost-effective compared with statin alone. It will be economical only if the price of inclisiran is reduced by more than 88%.

Voltage-Induced Inversion of Band Bending and Photovoltages at Semiconductor/Liquid Interfaces.

At semiconductor/liquid interfaces, the surface potential and photovoltages are produced by a combination of band bending and quasi-Fermi-level splitting at the semiconductor surface, which are usually treated in a qualitative fashion. As such, it is important to develop quantitative metrics for the band energies and photovoltaics at these interfaces. Here, we present a spectroscopic method for monitoring the photovoltages produced at semiconductor/liquid junctions. The surface reporter molecule mercaptobenzonitrile (MBN) is functionalized on the photoelectrode surface (p-type silicon) and is measured using in situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy with a water immersion lens under electrochemical working conditions. In particular, the vibrational frequency of the C≡N stretch mode (ωCN) around 2225 cm-1 is sensitive to the local electric field in solution at the electrode/electrolyte interface via the vibrational Stark effect. Over the applied potential range from -0.8 to 0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl, we observe ωCN to increase from 2220 to 2229 cm-1 (at low laser power). As the incident laser power is increased from 83.5 µW to 13.3 mW, we observe additional shifts of ΔωCN = ±1 cm-1, corresponding to photovoltages produced at the semiconductor/liquid interface ΔV = ±0.2 V. Based on Mott-Schottky measurements, the flat band potential (FBP) occurs at -0.39 V vs Ag/AgCl. For applied potentials above the FBP, we observe ΔωCN > 0 (i.e., blue-shifts ∼1 cm-1) corresponding to positive photovoltages, whereas for applied potentials below the flat band potential, we observe ΔωCN < 0 (i.e., red-shifts ∼1 cm-1) corresponding to negative photovoltages. These spectroscopic observations reveal voltage-induced changes in the band bending at the semiconductor/liquid junction that, thus far, have been difficult to measure.

Spatial distribution and environmental correlations of Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Haidian district, Beijing.

Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett, 1898 (Diptera: Culicidae) was the dominant health threat to mosquito species in Beijing, and it is important to unravel the spatial distribution and environmental correlations of Cx. pipiens pallens in Beijing. 3S technology methods and spatial statistics were used to clarify the distribution pattern. Subsequently, linear and spatial regression were performed to detect the environmental factors linked with the density of Cx. pipiens pallens. The same "middle peak" spatial distribution pattern was observed for Cx. pipiens pallens density at the community, subdistrict, and loop area levels in our study area. In addition, there were various correlated environmental factors at the community and subdistrict scales. At the community scale, the summary values of the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) in 2 km buffer zone (MNDWI_2K) were negatively correlated, and the summary values of Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) in 800 m buffer zone (NDBI_800) was positively correlated to the Cx. pipiens pallens density. However, the summary values of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Nighttime Light Index significantly affected Cx. pipiens pallens density at the subdistrict scale. Our findings provide insight into the spatial distribution pattern of Cx. pipiens pallens density and its associated environmental risk factors at different spatial scales in the Haidian district of Beijing for the first time. The results could be used to predict the Cx. pipiens pallens density as well as the risk of lymphatic filariasis (LF) infection, which would help implement prevention and control measures to prevent future risks of biting and LF transmission in Beijing.

Photoexcited Hot Electron Catalysis in Plasmon-Resonant Grating Structures with Platinum, Nickel, and Ruthenium Coatings.

We report the electrochemical potential dependence of photocatalysis produced by hot electrons in plasmon-resonant grating structures. Here, corrugated metal surfaces with a period of 520 nm are illuminated with 785 nm wavelength laser light swept as a function of incident angle. At incident angles corresponding to plasmon-resonant excitation, we observe sharp peaks in the electrochemical photocurrent and dips in the photoreflectance consistent with the conditions under which there is wavevector matching between the incident light and the spacing between the lines in the grating. In addition to the bare plasmonic metal surface (i.e., Au), which is catalytically inert, we have measured grating structures with a thin layer of Pt, Ru, and Ni catalyst coatings. For the bare Au grating, we observe that the plasmon-resonant photocurrent remains relatively featureless over the applied potential range from -0.8 to +1.2 V vs NHE. For the Pt-coated grating, we observe a sharp peak around -0.3 V vs NHE, three times larger than the bare Au grating, and near complete suppression of the oxidation half-reaction, reflecting the reducing nature of Pt as a good hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst. The photocurrent associated with the Pt-coated grating is less noisy and produces higher photocurrents than the bare Au grating due to the faster kinetics (i.e., charge transfer) associated with the Pt-coated surface. The plasmon-resonant grating structures enable us to compare plasmon-resonant excitation with that of bulk metal interband absorption simply by rotating the polarization of the light while leaving all other parameters of the experiment fixed (i.e., wavelength, potential, electrochemical solution, sample surface, etc.). A 64X plasmon-resonant enhancement (i.e., p-to-s polarized photocurrent ratio) is observed for the Pt-coated grating compared to 28X for the bare grating. The nickel-coated grating shows an increase in the hot-electron photocurrent enhancement in both oxidation and reduction half-reactions. Similarly, Ru-coated gratings show an increase in hot-electron photocurrents in the oxidation half-reaction compared to the bare Au grating. Plasmon-resonant enhancement factors of 36X and 15X are observed in the p-to-s polarized photocurrent ratio for the Ni and Ru gratings, respectively.

New insights into the function and mechanisms of piRNA PMLCPIR in promoting PM2.5-induced lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive studies have established the correlation between long-term PM2.5 exposure and lung cancer, yet the mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a novel category of small non-coding RNAs, serve important roles in various diseases. However, their biological function and mechanism in PM2.5-induced lung cancer have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the oncogenic role of piRNA in lung cancer induced by PM2.5 exposure, as well as the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We conducted a PM2.5-induced human lung epithelial cell malignant transformation model. Human samples were used to further verify the finding. In vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were performed to study the function of piRNA. RNA-sequencing was used to elucidate the the mechanisms of how piRNA mediates cell functions. PiRNA pull-down and computational docking analysis were conducted to identify proteins that binding to piRNA. In vivo experiments were used to explore whether inhibition of PMLCPIR could have a therapeutic effect on lung cancer. RESULTS: We identified a new up-regulated piRNA, termed PM2.5-induced lung cancer up-regulation piRNA (PMLCPIR), which promotes the proliferation of PM2.5-transformed cells and lung cancer cells. RNA sequencing revealed ITGB1 as a downstream target of PMLCPIR. Importantly, PMLCPIR binds to nucleolin (NCL) and increases the expression of its target gene, ITGB1, thereby activating PI3K/AKT signaling. The inhibition of PMLCPIR could promote apoptosis in lung cancer cells and enhance their chemosensitivity to anti-tumor drugs. CONCLUSION: We systematically identified the alterations of piRNA expression profiles in the PM2.5-induced malignant transformation model. Then, PMLCPIR was recognized as a novel oncogenic piRNA in PM2.5-induced lung cancer. Mechanically, PMLCPIR binds to NCL, enhancing ITGB1 expression and activating the ontogenetic PI3K/AKT signaling, potentially contributing to lung cancer progression. This study provides novel insights into the revelation of a new epigenetic regulator in PM2.5-induced lung cancer.

piR-27222 mediates PM2.5-induced lung cancer by resisting cell PANoptosis through the WTAP/m6A axis.

PM2.5 pollution has been associated with the incidence of lung cancer, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), initially identified in germline cells, have emerged as a novel class of small non-coding RNAs (26 - 32 nucleotides) with diverse functions in various diseases, including cancer. However, the role and mechanism of piRNAs in the development of PM2.5-induced lung cancer remain to be clarified. In the presented study, we used a PM2.5-induced malignant transformation cell model to analyze the change of piRNA profiles. Among the disturbed piRNAs, piR-27222 was identified as an oncogene that inhibited cell death in a m6A-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that piR-27222 could deubiquitinate and stabilize eIF4B by directly binding to eIF4B and reducing its interaction with PARK2. The enhanced expression of eIF4B, in turn, promoted the expression of WTAP, leading to increased m6A modification in the Casp8 transcript. Consequently, the stability of Casp8 transcripts was reduced, rendering lung cancer cells resistant to PANoptosis. Collectively, our findings reveal that PM2.5 exposure up-regulated piR-27222 expression, which could affect EIF4B/WTAP/m6A axis, thereby inhibiting PANoptosis of cells and promoting lung cancer. Our study provides new insights into understanding the epigenetic mechanisms underlining PM2.5-induced lung cancer.

Reduced cerebrovascular reactivity in posterior cerebral arteries in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hemodynamics and vasoreactivity in the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen POAG patients (age range, 40-60 years) with marked visual field loss (mean deviation [MD], <-6 dB); a preserved, mostly normal, central visual field of at least 5°; and best-corrected visual acuity of at least 20/40 formed the study group. Exclusion criterion was presence or history of any systemic disorder including cardiovascular diseases. The control group consisted of 12 healthy subjects matched for age and sex with the study group. METHODS: Applying transcranial Doppler sonography, we measured hemodynamic parameters in both PCAs at baseline, under monocular reversing checkerboard stimulation, and under hyperventilation. The eye with more marked visual field loss was selected in glaucoma patients, whereas in controls, the tested eye was chosen randomly. Ipsilateral and contralateral PCA were defined according to the tested eye. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, mean velocity (MV), MV change percentage (MV%), resistivity index (RI), pulsatility index (PI). RESULTS: At baseline, RI (0.55 ± 0.04 vs. 0.52 ± 0.03; P = 0.04) and PI (0.88 ± 0.11 vs. 0.80 ± 0.07; P = 0.04) in the ipsilateral PCA were significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in controls. During checkerboard stimulation, MV% in both PCAs were significantly smaller in the glaucoma group than in controls (19.7 ± 7.2% and 19.0 ± 8.3% vs. 30.7 ± 7.9% and 27.5±9.0%, respectively; P = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). During hyperventilation, glaucoma patients showed significantly lower MV% in the contralateral PCA than control subjects (-39.8 ± 9.6% versus -47.4 ± 7.0%; P = 0.03). Perimetric pattern standard deviation (PSD) in the tested eye was correlated significantly with RI and PI of the ipsilateral PCA during checkerboard stimulation (P = 0.003, r = -0.76; and P = 0.002, r = -0.76). The MV% of contralateral PCA was correlated inversely with PSD in the fellow eye (P = 0.02, r = -0.64). The difference in MV% between both PCAs was correlated positively with the difference in MD between 2 eyes (P = 0.003, r = 0.75). Under hyperventilation, PSV in the contralateral PCA was correlated negatively with the PSD in the fellow eye (P = 0.03, r = -0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular insufficiency in the PCAs may be associated with POAG. Changes in the vasoreactivity of PCAs to central visual stimulation may precede marked central visual field loss.

Reductive Aldol Approach to Natural Products: Bioinspired Synthesis of abeo-11(12 → 13)-Oleanane Triterpenoids.

A synthesis of alstoscholarinoid B (1) and 3ß-acetoxy-11α-hydroxy-11(12 → 13)abeooleanan-12-al (2) has been accomplished in 7-9 steps and 10%-16% overall yield from oleanolic acid. This synthesis featured a bioinspired SmI2-mediated reductive aldol reaction to establish the abeo-11(12 → 13)-oleanane framework of both 1 and 2 and a retro-aldol/aldol/lactonization cascade to fully construct the skeleton of 1. Moreover, the investigation of the bioinspired aldol reaction also sheds light on the potential biogenesis of natural products.