Formation Mechanism of a Polyanonic Framework from Layer to Chain Explored by Adjusting Time, Temperature, and pH: Preparation and Characterization of Metal-Complex-Templated 1D Borate and 2D Nickel Borate.

The first column of two-dimensional (2D)-layered metal-complex-templated nickel borate was obtained by using a solvothermal synthesis method. The 2D nickel borate [Ni(en)3]·[Ni0.5B6O8(OH)4]·Cl (1; en = ethylenediamine) contains [Ni(en)3]2+, Cl-, and the first reported inorganic nickel borate layer [Ni0.5B6O8(OH)4]-, which is formed by the interconnection of Ni and O atoms in the B-O cluster. By increasing the reaction temperature during the synthesis process of compound 1, the one-dimensional (1D) chain nickel borate [Ni(en)3]2·[B7O10(OH)3]·Cl2 (2) was obtained, wherein the [B7O10(OH)3] cluster was connected through an O atom to form a 1D chain structure. By adjusting the molar ratio of the raw materials, that is, adjusting the pH of the reaction, the other 1D chain nickel borate Ni(en)3·Hen·[B9O13(OH)4]·H2O (3) was obtained, in which [B5O8(OH)2] and [B4O7(OH)2] clusters can be connected via a common O atom to form an infinite [B9O13(OH)4] polyanionic chain. Meanwhile, we successfully synthesized the isoform of compound 3 with the metal cadmium.

Cotemplating synthesis of a rare borate Ni(en)3·Hen·[B9O13(OH)4]·H2O with a chiral polyanonic chain constructed from two different clusters.

Ni(en)3·Hen·[B9O13(OH)4]·H2O was prepared under the cotemplating effect of [Ni(en)3](2+) and Hen(+). It was the first example of a cotemplated borate with an unusual chiral polyanionic chain, which was constructed from [B5O8(OH)2] and [B4O7(OH)2] clusters.

Kawasaki Disease Associated Acute Abdomen: Most Require No Surgery.

Objective: To summarize the clinical features and treatment experiences of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD)-associated acute abdomen (KD-AA). Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of patients with KD-AA treated at our hospital between January 2006 and November 2022. Results: Of the 917 children with KD, 43 (4.7%) presented with AA. Of these, 33 with complete information were included in the KD-AA group. Patients with KD-AA were significantly older, with higher neutrophil rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and alanine transaminase levels and lower hemoglobin, albumin, and serum sodium levels. Additionally, more patients with KD-AA presented with aseptic meningitis and KD shock syndrome than those with KD alone (all p<0.05). The two groups did not differ in the incidence of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance, incomplete KD, or coronary artery abnormalities. All patients received aspirin and IVIG therapy, with nine receiving a second dose of IVIG and 11 receiving corticosteroids. Only two patients with KD-AA underwent surgery, and the prognosis of all patients with KD-AA was good. Conclusion: KD-AA should be suspected in febrile children with abdominal symptoms. Prompt diagnosis of KD-AA is important for early effective treatment to avoid unnecessary surgical harm. KD, complicated by acute abdomen, has a good prognosis.

Mapping Chinese annual gross primary productivity with eddy covariance measurements and machine learning.

Annual gross primary productivity (AGPP) is the basis for grain production and terrestrial carbon sequestration. Mapping regional AGPP from site measurements provides methodological support for analysing AGPP spatiotemporal variations thereby ensures regional food security and mitigates climate change. Based on 641 site-year eddy covariance measuring AGPP from China, we built an AGPP mapping scheme based on its formation and selected the optimal mapping way, which was conducted through analysing the predicting performances of divergent mapping tools, variable combinations, and mapping approaches in predicting observed AGPP variations. The reasonability of the selected optimal scheme was confirmed by assessing the consistency between its generating AGPP and previous products in spatiotemporal variations and total amount. Random forest regression tree explained 85 % of observed AGPP variations, outperforming other machine learning algorithms and classical statistical methods. Variable combinations containing climate, soil, and biological factors showed superior performance to other variable combinations. Mapping AGPP through predicting AGPP per leaf area (PAGPP) explained 86 % of AGPP variations, which was superior to other approaches. The optimal scheme was thus using a random forest regression tree, combining climate, soil, and biological variables, and predicting PAGPP. The optimal scheme generating AGPP of Chinese terrestrial ecosystems decreased from southeast to northwest, which was highly consistent with previous products. The interannual trend and interannual variation of our generating AGPP showed a decreasing trend from east to west and from southeast to northwest, respectively, which was consistent with data-oriented products. The mean total amount of generated AGPP was 7.03 ± 0.45 PgC yr-1 falling into the range of previous works. Considering the consistency between the generated AGPP and previous products, our optimal mapping way was suitable for mapping AGPP from site measurements. Our results provided a methodological support for mapping regional AGPP and other fluxes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the bagworm from a tea plantation in China, Eumeta variegata (Lepidoptera: Psychidae).

The mitochondrial (mt) genome of Eumeta variegata Snellen (Psychidae) has been sequenced and annotated. The mt genome has a total length of 15,793 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, two rRNA genes, and an AT-rich control region (GenBank accession no. MN242985). The nucleotide composition was extremely AT-rich, and the AT content is 81.57%. The gene order is consistent with other sequenced mt genome of moths and butterflies from Ditrysia. The sequence similarity of E. variegate mt genomes between the specimen of China and South Korea is 98.38%, whereas the similarity between the specimen of China and Japan is 90.61%. The sequence of PCGs and rRNAs among different specimens are similar, and many differences are detected at the region of A + T-rich region and the tRNA block 'ARNS1EF'.

Apatinib Combined with Local Irradiation Leads to Systemic Tumor Control via Reversal of Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the potential systemic antitumor effects of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and apatinib (a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor) via reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for lung carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lewis lung cancer cells were injected into C57BL/6 mice in the left hindlimb (primary tumor; irradiated) and in the right flank (secondary tumor; nonirradiated). When both tumors grew to the touchable size, mice were randomly divided into eight treatment groups. These groups received normal saline or three distinct doses of apatinib (50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg) daily for 7 days, in combination with a single dose of 15 Gy radiotherapy or not to the primary tumor. The further tumor growth/regression of mice were followed and observed. RESULTS: For the single 15 Gy modality, tumor growth delay could only be observed at the primary tumor. When combining SABR and apatinib 200 mg/kg, significant retardation of both primary and secondary tumor growth could be observed, indicated an abscopal effect was induced. Mechanism analysis suggested that programmed death-ligand 1 expression increased with SABR was counteract by additional apatinib therapy. Furthermore, when apatinib was combined with SABR, the composition of immune cells could be changed. More importantly, this two-pronged approach evoked tumor antigen-specific immune responses and the mice were resistant to another tumor rechallenge, finally, long-term survival was improved. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the tumor microenvironment could be managed with apatinib, which was effective in eliciting an abscopal effect induced by SABR.

Total Arterial Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A 10-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Arterial grafts had better mid-term and long-term patency than saphenous vein grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We summarized our experience with total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and assessed the early clinical results, surgical complications, and follow-up. METHODS: From January 2007 to May 2017, 508 coronary artery disease patients undergoing total arterial OPCAB were enrolled. Clinical features, approaches, outcomes of surgical treatments, and follow-up data of these patients were studied retrospectively. A total of 122 patients underwent single left internal mammary artery (IMA)-left anterior descending artery grafts, whereas the other 386 patients underwent multiple vessel grafts. RESULTS: The average distal anastomosis was 2.34 ± 0.97 (range: 1-4). All the patients were discharged from hospital except one died. A total of 457 (90.32%) patients were followed up. In the 4-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up groups, the rate of death from any cause was 1.19%, 6.47%, and 10.67%; rate of cardiac death was 0.60%, 2.88%, and 3.33%; rate of repeat revascularization was 0.00%, 3.60%, and 8.67%; rate of ischemic symptoms was 1.79%, 7.91%, and 11.33%; and incidence of stroke was 2.38%, 4.32%, and 6.67%, respectively. Poor medication adherence was observed in 9.38% of the follow-up population. CONCLUSIONS: Total arterial OPCAB with bilateral IMA, radial artery, and right gastroepiploic artery grafting yielded satisfactory early and midterm outcomes in this patient group, without a significant increase in early mortality or morbidity. Moreover, the long-term outcomes are also positive.

[Change of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and big endothelin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the change in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) and big endothelin (big ET) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to evaluate their value in predicting postoperative mortality and complication. METHODS: Forty-seven patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting under on-pump (CCABG) and 43 patients undergoing off-pump bypass (OPCAB) were included for study. The levels of Nt-proBNP and big ET were determined before and 24 hours after operation in all patients. RESULTS: (1)There were no differences between two groups. The serum levels of Nt-proBNP and big ET increased significantly 24 hours after operation. Compared with those before operation, Nt-proBNP [(1 083.5 +/- 717.9) pmol/L] in CCABG group was increased [(1 579.2 +/- 719.7)pmol/L, t = -4.30, P<0.01], big ET was increased from (1.10 +/- 1.82 ) pmol/L to (1.68 +/- 1.73)pmol/L(t = -5.35, P<0.01) 24 hours after operation; Nt-proBNP [(999.6 +/- 843.6) pmol/L] in OPCAB group was increased [(1 460.8+/-830.0) pmol/L, t = -4.20, P<0.01], big ET was increased from (1.35 +/- 1.65) pmol/L to (1.73 +/- 1.50) pmol/L (t = -2.46, P=0.018) 24 hours after operation. (2)The level of Nt-proBNP before operation was showed to be negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = -0.43, P<0.001). (3)By univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the association of clinical variable with postoperative complication was assessed. Multivariable predictors, including the level of LVEF (OR = 1.045, 95%CI:0.999-1.092, P = 0.050) and Nt-proBNP 24 hours after operation (OR = 0.990, 95%CI:0.999-1.000, P = 0.014), were significantly associated with a higher postoperative mortality, lower cardiac output, and higher incidence of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for Nt-proBNP 24 hours after operation was valid for the prediction of postoperative complication, and the area under the curve was 0.698 (95% CI:0.585-0.811, P<0.003), sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 57.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant increase in Nt-proBNP and ET is found after CABG. BNP and LVEF are showed to be risk factors for postoperative complications in patients undergoing CABG.

Temperature dependence of photoluminescence and hydrogen bonding revealed for the first time in a templated borate family: synthesis, structure and properties of a pentaborate [Emmim][B5O6(OH)4].

Herein, a templated borate, [Emmim][B5O6(OH)4] (denoted 1, Emmim = 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium), has been synthesized. It is unexpectedly observed that 1 exhibits a series of broadened luminescence curves from -183 to 75 °C, the emission intensities are measured as a decreasing function of temperature, and the line width of the PL emission is strongly enhanced when temperatures decrease below -100 °C. In addition to this, hydrogen bonding (H-B) in 1 with distinctly enlarging trends was observed as the temperature increased. The influence of temperature on H-Bs and physical properties was explored through single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, theoretical calculations, PL, and dielectric constant test. The results indicate that the temperature can impact weak H-Bs interactions and the PL can be seen as a prober to the varying of structure such as H-Bs in borate crystal.

[Research advances in stable nitrogen isotope in water bodies.] / æ°´ä½“ä¸­æ°®ç¨³å®šåŒä½ç´ çš„ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Water bodies' nitrogen contamination has become more and more serious due to the effects of the intensive development of industry and agriculture. It is important to use nitrogen stable isotope data to identify the nitrogen pollution sources and study the nitrogen cycle of water bodies. This article gave an overview of basic information as follows: 1) introducing the nitrogen stable isotope, nitrogen cycle and the fractionation factors; 2) comparing the analysis techniques of nitrogen isotope separation, enrichment, transformation of different forms; 3) discussing the application of nitrogen stable isotope in natural nitrogen cycle of different water types, nitrogen pollution sources justification, the biogeochemical processes in water bodies, and the eutrophication; 4) summarizing the methods of identifying denitrification, the two attenuation mechanisms of nitrate pollution, i.e., denitrification and dilution; 5) pointing out the deficiency of the current research.

Zn(1,3-DAP)[B4O7]: a rare chiral zeolitic framework constructed of four-connected [B4O9] clusters with a single-stranded helical channel.

A zinc borate Zn(1,3-DAP)[B4O7] (1) was prepared. 1 was revealed to be a rare chiral zeolitic framework based on a [B4O9] cluster. The combination of a [B4O9] cluster and Zn(1,3-DAP)O3 chain produced a helical ribbon motif and gave rise to a single-stranded helical channel.

Spatial patterns and climate drivers of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of China.

Understanding the dynamics and underlying mechanism of carbon exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is one of the key issues in global change research. In this study, we quantified the carbon fluxes in different terrestrial ecosystems in China, and analyzed their spatial variation and environmental drivers based on the long-term observation data of ChinaFLUX sites and the published data from other flux sites in China. The results indicate that gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of terrestrial ecosystems in China showed a significantly latitudinal pattern, declining linearly with the increase of latitude. However, GEP, ER, and NEP did not present a clear longitudinal pattern. The carbon sink functional areas of terrestrial ecosystems in China were mainly located in the subtropical and temperate forests, coastal wetlands in eastern China, the temperate meadow steppe in the northeast China, and the alpine meadow in eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The forest ecosystems had stronger carbon sink than grassland ecosystems. The spatial patterns of GEP and ER in China were mainly determined by mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), whereas the spatial variation in NEP was largely explained by MAT. The combined effects of MAT and MAP explained 79%, 62%, and 66% of the spatial variations in GEP, ER, and NEP, respectively. The GEP, ER, and NEP in different ecosystems in China exhibited 'positive coupling correlation' in their spatial patterns. Both ER and NEP were significantly correlated with GEP, with 68% of the per-unit GEP contributed to ER and 29% to NEP. MAT and MAP affected the spatial patterns of ER and NEP mainly by their direct effects on the spatial pattern of GEP.

Increased expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and 3a in human temporal lobe epilepsy.

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification of DNA that is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). Increasing evidence suggests that DNA methylation in neurons regulates synaptic plasticity as well as neuronal network activity. Here, we evaluated DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) and Dnmt3a expression in brain tissues of epileptic patients to explore their possible role in epileptogenesis. Tissue samples from temporal neocortices of 25 patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and ten histologically normal temporal lobes from control patients were used to detect Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a expression through immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting analysis. We found that both Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a expression were principally expressed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of NeuN-positive neurons, but not in GFAP-positive astrocytes. Levels of the two DNMT proteins were significantly increased in patients with TLE. Our study suggests that DNMT1 and DNMT3a may play a role in the pathogenesis of TLE.

The first ferroelectric templated borate: [Ni(en)2pip][B5O6(OH)4]2.

The title compound (GDUT-4) is the first templated borate compound shown to have ferroelectric properties. Its structure consists of a metal complex and isolated polyanion. The chiral structure of the compound was induced by guest-complex cations according to host-guest symmetry through hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). The origins of ferroelectricity in GDUT-4 was shown to be dependent on proton transfer through H-bonds.