The key role of major and trace elements in the formation of five common urinary stones.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis has emerged as a global affliction, recognized as one of the most excruciating medical issues. The elemental composition of stones provides crucial information, aiding in understanding the causes, mechanisms, and individual variations in stone formation. By understanding the interactions between elements in various types of stones and exploring the key role of elements in stone formation, insights are provided for the prevention and treatment of urinary stone disease. METHODS: This study collected urinary stone samples from 80 patients in Beijing. The chemical compositions of urinary stones were identified using an infrared spectrometer. The concentrations of major and trace elements in the urinary stones were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. The data were processed using correlation analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methods. RESULTS: Urinary stones are categorized into five types: the calcium oxalate (CO) stone, carbonate apatite (CA) stone, uric acid (UA) stone, mixed CO and CA stone, and mixed CO and UA stone. Ca is the predominant element, with an average content ranging from 2.64 to 27.68% across the five stone groups. Based on geochemical analysis, the high-content elements follow this order: Ca > Mg > Na > K > Zn > Sr. Correlation analysis and PCA suggested significant variations in the interactions between elements for different types of urinary stones. Trace elements with charges and ionic structures similar to Ca may substitute for Ca during the process of stone formation, such as Sr and Pb affecting the Ca in most stone types except mixed stone types. Moreover, the Mg, Zn and Ba can substitute for Ca in the mixed stone types, showing element behavior dependents on the stone types. CONCLUSION: This study primarily reveals distinct elemental features associated with five types of urinary stones. Additionally, the analysis of these elements indicates that substitutions of trace elements with charges and ion structures similar to Ca (such as Sr and Pb) impact most stone types. This suggests a dependence of stone composition on elemental behavior. The findings of this study will enhance our ability to address the challenges posed by urinary stones to global health and improve the precision of interventions for individuals with different stone compositions.

Crown Ether Copolymerized Polyimide Film: Enhanced Mechanical, Thermal Properties and Low Dielectric Constant under High Frequency.

Polymer materials with a low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss have the potential to be applied to high-frequency signal transmissions, such as mobile phone antennas and millimeter wave radars. Two types of diamines, 4,4'-diamino-p-tetraphenyl (DPT) and crown ether diamine (CED), were prepared for ternary copolymerization with BPDA in this study. Cross-links with molecular chains were formed, increasing molecular chain distance by utilizing rings of CED. The MPI films exhibit a good thermal performance with the increase in CED addition, with Tg > 380 °C and CTE from -4 × 10-6 K-1 to 5 × 10-6 K-1. The Young's modulus can reach 8.6 GPa, and the tensile strength is above 200 MPa when 5% and 7% CED are introduced. These MPI films exhibit good mechanical performances. The dielectric constant of PI-10% film can go as low as 3.17. Meanwhile, the relationship between dielectric properties and molecular structure has been demonstrated by Molecular Simulation (MS). PI molecules are separated by low dielectric groups, resulting in a decrease in the dielectric constant.

Triptolide induces apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy by ROS accumulation via directly targeting peroxiredoxin 2 in gastric cancer cells.

Triptolide, a natural bioactive compound derived from herbal medicine Tripterygium wilfordii, has multiple biological activities including anti-cancer effect, which is being tested in clinical trials for treating cancers. However, the exact mechanism by which Triptolide exerts its cytotoxic effects, particularly its specific protein targets, remains unclear. Here, we show that Triptolide effectively induces cytotoxicity in gastric cancer cells by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Further investigations reveal that ROS accumulation contributes to the induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, and subsequently autophagy induction in response to Triptolide. Meanwhile, this autophagy is cytoprotective. Interestingly, through activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) approach, we identify peroxiredoxins-2 (PRDX2), a component of the key enzyme systems that act in the defense against oxidative stress and protect cells against hydroperoxides, as direct binding target of Triptolide. By covalently binding to PRDX2 to inhibit its antioxidant activity, Triptolide increases ROS levels. Moreover, overexpression of PRDX2 inhibits and knockdown of the expression of PRDX2 increases Triptolide-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results indicate PRDX2 as a direct target of Triptolides for inducing apoptosis. Our results not only provide novel insight into the underlying mechanisms of Triptolide-induced cytotoxic effects, but also indicate PRDX2 as a promising potential therapeutic target for developing anti-gastric cancer agents.

Blind identification of active landslides in urban areas: a new set of comprehensive criteria.

More than 70% of catastrophic landslides were previously unknown and brought tremendous losses to human life and property in urban regions; therefore, there is an urgent need for early identification of active landslides to eliminate landslide risk at the early stage. However, early identification of landslides has always been a worldwide challenge due to high concealment, steep topography, inaccessible location, and sudden onset. This work suggests a new set of comprehensive criteria for the early identification of landslides by integrating surface deformation, geological, topographic, geomorphological, and disaster-failure features. This set of criteria is universally applicable with no use of the prior knowledge of landslide locations (blind identification) and is successfully validated by a field survey. This work selects the Xuecheng region, a hard-hit area of landslides, as the study area and employs multisource data (seismic, geological, topographic, meteorological, SAR, and optical remote sensing data) and time-series InSAR technology to identify active landslides and reveal their deformation rules. Some new viewpoints are suggested. (1) The new comprehensive criteria synthesize the surface deformation, disaster-controlling, and disaster-inducing characteristics and achieve relatively high accuracy by field validation. (2) Forty-seven active landslides are identified in Xuecheng with no use of the prior knowledge of landslides. The soft rocks or soft-hard interbeddings, tectonic movement, fluvial undercutting and eroding, precipitation, earthquakes, and human engineering activity control or induce the development of these active landslides. (3) Two giant landslides that significantly threaten human lives and properties and exhibit different movement modes are selected to highlight the deformation rules of active landslides under the coupled action of poor lithologic condition, tectonic movement, river erosion, precipitation, and human engineering activity. The suggested new criteria can be applied to other landslide hard-hit urban regions and contribute to the timely and effective prevention and control of catastrophic landslides, reduction of enormous disaster losses, and rational management of the environment.

Durability of Two Epoxy Adhesive BFRP Joints Dipped in Seawater under High Temperature Environment.

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have great potential in shipbuilding. As a new type of material, basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) has received increasing attention due to its good economic and environmental performance. In this paper, BFRP single-lap joints (SLJs) bonded by Araldite®2011 and Araldite®2014 were selected as sample objects, the joints, aged for 240 h, 480 h, and 720 h, were experimentally analyzed in 3.5% NaCl solution/5% NaCl solution at 80 °C. The sequential dual Fickian (SDF) model was used to fit the water absorption process of the dumbbell specimen material. By comparison, the water absorption of the material occurred mainly on the adhesive and the water absorption of Araldite®2011 was higher than that of Araldite®2014. The decrease in the Tg of the aged joint adhesive was characterized by DSC, and the TG test showed that the polymer material in the joint was degraded by the damp-heat effect. The quasi-static tensile test showed that the decrease in joint failure strength was positively correlated with the water content of the solution. The Araldite®2011 adhesive joint showed better mechanical properties and stability than the Araldite®2014 adhesive joint, while the secondary crosslinking of the bound water with the polymer chain resulted in a slight increase in the stiffness of the aged joint. From comprehensive observation of the macro-section and SEM-EDX images, it is concluded that the failure mode of the joint changes from fiber tearing to mixed failure of fiber tearing and adhesive layer cohesion, and the plasticizing effect of the epoxy resin in the adhesive and chemical corrosion of salt ions weakens the adhesive layer's bond strength.

Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Ductile/Brittle Epoxy Resin BFRP-AL Joints under Different Immersion Solutions.

The bonding properties of BFRP composites have been demonstrated in previous studies, satisfying the strength and durability criteria. In this paper, a further in-depth study is carried out to bond Basalt Fibre Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) to Aluminum Alloy 5052 using two bonding agents, Aralite® 2012 and Aralite® 2015, respectively. The salt sprays under 80 °C, 3.5% NaCl environment; 80 °C, 5% NaCl environment; and pure water environment are also considered for comparison. Experimental results show that joints created with Araldite® 2012 adhesives show higher average breaking strength (10.66 MPa at 720 h) and better ductility in a 5% NaCl environment. While the Araldite® 2015 adhesive joint exhibits a combination of tear failure and interface failure, along with thin-layer cohesion failure. In the SEM images of the two adhesive joints' failure, fiber pullout due to tension and damage at the interface between fiber and resin is apparent. To validate the experimental outcomes, water absorption testing, DSC, TGA-DTG, and FTIR experiments were conducted on dog-bone-shaped adhesive specimens to elucidate the results.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts in hematologic malignancies: elucidating roles and spotlighting therapeutic targets.

Hematologic malignancies comprise a diverse range of blood, bone marrow, and organ-related disorders that present significant challenges due to drug resistance, relapse, and treatment failure. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a critical component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have recently emerged as potential therapeutic targets. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the latest findings on the roles of CAFs in various hematologic malignancies, including acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphoma. We also explore their involvement in tumor progression, drug resistance, and the various signaling pathways implicated in their activation and function. While the underlying mechanisms and the existence of multiple CAF subtypes pose challenges, targeting CAFs and their associated pathways offers a promising avenue for the development of innovative treatments to improve patient outcomes in hematologic malignancies.

Adrenomedullin in paraventricular nucleus attenuates adipose afferent reflex and sympathoexcitation via receptors mediated nitric oxide-gamma-aminobutyric acid A type receptor pathway in rats with obesity-related hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is an important central site for the control of the adipose afferent reflex (AAR) that increases sympathetic outflow and blood pressure in obesity-related hypertension (OH). METHOD: In this study, we investigated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and cardiovascular bioactive polypeptide adrenomedullin (ADM) in the PVN on AAR and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in OH rats induced by a high-fat diet. RESULTS: The results showed that ADM, total neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and phosphorylated-nNOS protein expression levels in the PVN of the OH rats were down-regulated compared to the control rats. The enhanced AAR in OH rats was attenuated by PVN acute application of NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), but was strengthened by the nNOS inhibitor nNOS-I, guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, ODQ) and gamma-aminobutyric acid A type receptor (GABAA) antagonist Bicuculline. Moreover, PVN ADM microinjection not only decreased basal SNA but also attenuated the enhanced AAR in OH rats, which were effectively inhibited by ADM receptor antagonist ADM22-52, nNOS-I, ODQ or Bicuculline pretreatment. Bilateral PVN acute microinjection of ADM also caused greater increases in NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, and nNOS phosphorylation. Adeno-associated virus vectors encoding ADM (AAV-ADM) transfection in the PVN of OH rats not only decreased the elevated AAR, basal SNA and blood pressure (BP), but also increased the expression and activation of nNOS. Furthermore, AAV-ADM transfection improved vascular remodeling in OH rats. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our data highlight the roles of ADM in improving sympathetic overactivation, enhanced AAR and hypertension, and its related mechanisms associated with receptors mediated NO-cGMP-GABAA pathway in OH condition.

Glass-Forming Ability and Corrosion Behavior of Ti-Based Amorphous Alloy Ti-Zr-Si-Fe.

Ti-based alloy Ti75Zr11Si9Fe5 (At %) and Ti66Zr11Si15Fe5Mo3 (At %) ribbons are fabricated by a single roller spun-melt technique, according to the three empirical rules. Both alloys are found to have a large, supercooled liquid region (ΔTx) before crystallization that reaches 80-90 K. The results show that both alloys possess excellent glass-forming abilities. The electrochemical measurement proves both amorphous alloys possess relatively high corrosion resistance in 3 mass% NaCl solution.