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Background: Inflammation and dysregulated immunity play vital roles in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), while the mechanisms that initiate and promote these processes are unclear. Methods: Transcriptomic data of lung tissues from IPAH patients and controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), differential expression analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and functional enrichment analysis were combined with a hemodynamically-related histopathological score to identify inflammation-associated hub genes in IPAH. The monocrotaline-induced rat model of pulmonary hypertension was utilized to confirm the expression pattern of these hub genes. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were used to identify the hub gene-expressing cell types and their intercellular interactions. Results: Through an extensive bioinformatics analysis, CXCL9, CCL5, GZMA and GZMK were identified as hub genes that distinguished IPAH patients from controls. Among these genes, pulmonary expression levels of Cxcl9, Ccl5 and Gzma were elevated in monocrotaline-exposed rats. Further investigation revealed that only CCL5 and GZMA were highly expressed in T and NK cells, where CCL5 mediated T and NK cell interaction with endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts through multiple receptors. Conclusions: Our study identified a new inflammatory pathway in IPAH, where T and NK cells drove heightened inflammation predominantly via the upregulation of CCL5, providing groundwork for the development of targeted therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) comorbid renal insufficiency (RI) are at higher risk of bleeding and thrombosis. Recommendations in guidelines on anticoagulation therapy for those patients remain ambiguous. The goal of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety between different anticoagulant regimens in VTE patients comorbid RI at different stages of treatment and prophylaxis. We performed English-language searches of Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science (inception to Nov 2022). RCTs evaluated anticoagulants for VTE treatment at the acute phase, extension phase, and prophylaxis in patients with RI and reported efficacy and safety outcomes were selected. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed at the outcome level using the risk-of-bias assessment tool developed by the Cochrane Bias Methods Group. A meta-analysis of twenty-five RCTs was conducted, comprising data from twenty-three articles, encompassing a total of 9,680 participants with RI. In the acute phase, the risk of bleeding was increased with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared to LMWH (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.60). For the prophylaxis of VTE, NOACs were associated with an elevated risk of bleeding compared with placebo (RR 1.31, 95%CI 1.02–1.68). In comparison to non-RI patients, both NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) could increase the risk of bleeding among RI patients (RR 1.45, 95%CI 1.14–1.84 and RR 1.53, 95%CI 1.25–1.88, respectively) during acute phase, while NOACs may increase the incidence of VTE in RI population (RR 1.74, 95%CI 1.29–2.34). RI patients who are under routine anticoagulation have a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes. LMWH is the most effective and safe option for VTE treatment or prophylaxis in patients with RI. Highlights: • Renal insufficient (RI) patients were at significant higher risk of adverse outcomes, especially bleeding, than non-RI patients under the use of routine anticoagulation treatment. • Low molecular weight heparin (LWMH) would be an optimized option for patients with RI undergoing VTE treatment and prophylaxis, both in terms of efficacy and safety. • These findings provide comprehensive evidence for the optimal choice of anticoagulants for the treatment and prevention of VTE in patients with comorbid RI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reprogrammed metabolic network is a key hallmark of cancer. Profiling cancer metabolic alterations with spatial signatures not only provides clues for understanding cancer biochemical heterogeneity, but also helps to decipher the possible roles of metabolic reprogramming in cancer development. Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) technique was used to characterize the expressions of fatty acids in breast cancer tissues. Specific immunofluorescence staining was further carried out to investigate the expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related enzymes. Results: The distributions of 23 fatty acids in breast cancer tissues have been mapped, and the levels of most fatty acids in cancer tissues are significantly higher than those in adjacent normal tissues. Two metabolic enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), which being involved in the de novo synthesis of fatty acid were found to be up-regulated in breast cancer. Targeting the up-regulation of FASN and ACC is an effective approach to limiting the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Conclusions: These spatially resolved findings enhance our understanding of cancer metabolic reprogramming and give an insight into the exploration of metabolic vulnerabilities for better cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Phytosterols are considered to be one of the most promising gelators for obtaining oleogel because of their additional health benefits and natural coexist with vegetable oils. Previous studies have confirmed that individual phytosterols are not capable of structuring vegetable oils unless they act synergistically with other components. However, based on the self‐assembly properties of stigmasterol (ST) in organic solvents, we speculate that it can also structure vegetable oils as a gelator alone. RESULTS: For the first time, the present study confirmed the feasibility of using ST alone as a gelator for structuring of vegetable oils, including rapeseed oil (RSO), olive oil (OLO) and flaxseed oil (FSO). RSO had the lowest ST gelation concentration (4%, w/w), and the oil‐binding capacity and firmness value of the oleogels were the highest. The rheological results showed that all the samples were gelatinous (G′ > G″). The results of differential scanning calorimeter and X‐ray diffraction further confirmed that the properties of RSO‐based oleogels are superior to those prepared by OLO and FSO. The microscopic results also confirmed that the crystal structure of RSO oleogels was more uniform, smaller and more densely distributed. CONCLUSION: The structural properties of the oleogels were positively correlated with the ST concentration, and various analysis indicators showed that the performance of the oleogel based on RSO was better than that of OLO and FSO. In summary, the present study used ST as a gelator to successfully prepare oleogels with excellent properties, which provides a feasible reference for researchers in related fields. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal prenatal depression is associated with child sleep. We investigated whether maternal depression comorbid with anxiety worsens toddler's sleep problems in a prospective cohort study. A total of 1583 mother-infant pairs from the China-Anhui Birth Cohort study were examined. The participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) at 30–34 weeks of gestation, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3-month postpartum. Toddler's sleep was assessed by the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) at 30 months old. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between prenatal depression and anxiety and toddler's sleep, while adjusting for maternal gestational age, education, family income, alcohol use, premature birth, fetal growth restriction, mode of delivery, postnatal depression, and 3-month breastfeeding. In total, 9.0% of participants reported prenatal depression comorbid with anxiety symptoms, and the prevalence of depression, anxiety was 6.7% and 7.3%, respectively. Compared with mothers without depression and anxiety, maternal depression combined with anxiety were significantly associated with shorter total sleep duration (11.16 ± 1.06 h), longer settling time (29.25 ± 23.57 min), and higher risk of toddlers' sleep problems assessed by BISQ (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.22–3.57) or parental report (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22–2.77). However, there was no significant association between maternal postnatal depression and toddler sleep behaviors. Maternal prenatal depression comorbid with anxiety significantly associated with poorer toddler's sleep. Strategies to regulate prenatal mood status should be considered during prenatal health care to improve children's sleep development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) exploits host macrophage as a crucial survival and replicative niche. To minimize host immune response stimulated by flagellin, the expression of flagellar genes is downregulated during S. Typhimurium growth within host macrophages. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we show that STM14_1285 (named AsiR), a putative RpiR-family transcriptional regulator, which is downregulated within macrophages as previously reported and also confirmed here, positively regulates the expression of flagellar genes by directly binding to the promoter of flhDC. By generating an asiR mutant strain and a strain that persistently expresses asiR gene within macrophages, we confirmed that the downregulation of asiR contributes positively to S. Typhimurium replication in macrophages and systemic infection in mice, which could be attributed to decreased flagellar gene expression and therefore reduced flagellin-stimulated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Furthermore, the acidic pH in macrophages is identified as a signal for the downregulation of asiR and therefore flagellar genes. Collectively, our results reveal a novel acidic pH signal-mediated regulatory pathway that is utilized by S. Typhimurium to promote intracellular replication and systemic pathogenesis by repressing flagellar gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identification and validation of potential biomarkers could facilitate the identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and thus aid to study their roles in the disease process. Methods: We used the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation approaches to compare the protein profiles between the serum of PAH patients and the controls. Bioinformatics analyses and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) identification of PAH patients and the controls were performed to identify the potential biomarkers. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these potential biomarkers. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis further clarified the relationship between the potential biomarkers and PAH. Additionally, the expression levels of the potential biomarkers were further validated in two PAH animal models (monocrotaline-PH and Sugen5416 plus hypoxia-PH) using ELISA and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: We identified significant changes in three proteins including heparanase (HPSE), gelsolin (GSN), and hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) in PAH patients. The ROC analysis showed that the areas under the curve of HPSE, GSN, and HGFA in differentiating PAH patients from controls were 0.769, 0.777, and 0.964, respectively. HGFA was correlated with multiple parameters of right ventricular functions in PAH patients. Besides proteomic analysis, we also used MR method to demonstrate the causal link between genetically reduced HGFA levels and an increased risk of PAH. In subsequent validation study in PAH animal models, the mRNA expression levels of HGFA in the lung tissues were significantly lower in PAH rat models than in controls. In the rat models, serum levels of HGFA were lower compared to the control group and showed a negative correlation with right ventricular systolic pressure. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that HGFA might be a promising biomarker for noninvasive detection of PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biochar (BC) and volcanic rock (VR) addition can enhance manure compost maturity. • BC and VR decreased the E4/E6 value by 10.42% and 11.31%, respectively. • Additives can improve Thermobacillus , Geobacillus , and Paenibacillus abundance. • BC and VR promoted maturity by adjusting bacterial abundance and metabolism. Additives are important for accelerating humification during aerobic composting. The impacts of porous additives biochar and volcanic rock on the physicochemical parameters, maturity indicators, microbial communities, and bacterial functional metabolism during the aerobic composting of cow manure were investigated in this study. The results showed that the biochar addition decreased the E4/E6 value by 10.42% and increased the abundance of Geobacillus (1.69 times), and volcanic rock addition decreased the E4/E6 value by 11.31% and increased the abundance of Thermobacillus (1.29 times) and Paenibacillus (1.72 times). The network analysis demonstrated that biochar promoted maturity by reducing the abundance of Pseudomonas and increasing the abundance of genes related to the metabolism of other amino acids, while volcanic rock promoted maturity by reducing the abundance of genes related to nucleotide metabolism. These results provided data and theoretical justification for the selection of porous additives for composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to value‐added chemicals is a critical and challenging process for research of sustainable energy. Herein, we synthesize new nickel single atom catalysts embedded in nitrogen doped hollow carbon spheres (Ni−N/C‐x) via thermal treatment of Ni salts and nitrogen doped hollow carbon spheres (N/C‐x). The state of Ni species on Ni−N/C‐x can be tuned by the nitrogen species of N/C‐x and pyrrolic‐N favors the formation of atomic Ni species. Two catalysts, namely, Ni−N/C‐1/4 contains more pyrrolic‐N and more amount of atomic Ni species than that on Ni−N/C‐3/2 have been prepared. During all the measurement potential range, Ni−N/C‐1/4 displays a much higher catalytic activity for CO2 reduction to CO than Ni−N/C‐3/2. Within the potential range of −0.63 V to −0.98 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the faradaic efficiencies of CO on Ni−N/C‐1/4 exceed 70 %. Furthermore, Ni−N/C‐1/4 exhibits high selectivity for CO and excellent stability during 4.5 h of CO2 reduction electrolysis at the potential of −0.78 V versus RHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal inflammation has been proposed as a possible pathway connecting prenatal environmental adversity (PEA), which includes maternal overweightness or obesity, diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and mood or anxiety disorders, to child neurodevelopmental delay. However, effective preventive measures have not yet been reported. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether a maternal anti-inflammatory diet reduced the risk of PEA-induced neurodevelopmental delay, by inhibiting inflammation. This prospective study included 7438 mother–child pairs. Maternal overweightness or obesity, diabetes, and hypertensive disorders were diagnosed before 28 week gestation. Maternal depression disorders were identified using the Edinburgh postnatal depression survey (EPDS) during mid-pregnancy. During mid- and late pregnancy, maternal high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured to evaluate systemic inflammation. The inflammatory potential of the diet was evaluated using the food-based empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) score during mid-pregnancy. Pregnant women were classified into high- or low-score groups based on the median EDIP score. The outcomes of neurodevelopmental delay at 6–36 month postpartum were extracted from the Register of Child Healthcare. Among the 7438 mother–child pairs, 2937 (39.5%) were exposed to PEA, and neurodevelopmental delay occurred in 540 (7.3%). Children exposed to PEA had a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay than those not exposed. PEA exposure was associated with increased hs-CRP during pregnancy in a PEA monotonic manner, an interquartile range increase in hs-CRP in mid- and late pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of child neurodevelopmental delay. Higher maternal persistent inflammation partially mediated the effect of PEA exposure on child neurodevelopmental delay by 17.19%. An increased risk of PEA-related neurodevelopmental delay was observed only in the children of mothers with high-EDIP rather than low-EDIP. These results suggest that increased systemic inflammation through mid- and late pregnancy mediates the association between PEA and child neurodevelopmental delay. A maternal anti-inflammatory diet may improve PEA-induced neurodevelopmental delay, by inhibiting inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Tibetan Plateau is a traditional pastoral area in the western part of China where animal husbandry is a local pillar. The cattle manure in this area accounts for 77% of the total amount of local livestock and poultry manure. To reduce the harmful side effects associated with cattle manure use in the Tibetan Plateau region of China, a highly-efficient semi-permeable membrane-covered compost system was used. Main physicochemical and gas indicators were measured to investigate the effects of this compost system. Overall, the composting temperature was above 50 °C for 34 days, which resulted in the moisture content and germination index of the final compost being 30 ± 1% and 84%, respectively. Additionally, the obstruction of semi-membrane, high oxygen and water concentrations under the semi-permeable membrane reduced the emission of greenhouse gases and ammonia, with cumulative emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O and NH 3 outside the membrane being 73%, 96%, 80% and 65% lower than those inside the membrane, respectively. Moreover, the maximum cumulative concentrations of CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O and NH 3 outside the membrane were 98%, 95%, 72% and 58% lower than those inside the membrane, respectively. This research demonstrated the advantages of using the semi-permeable membrane-covered composting system to reduce GHGs as well as ammonia production and emissions and the responsible mechanisms. The semi-permeable membrane-covered composting system could be a good choice for treatment of manure in the Tibetan Plateau region. Highlights • The analysis results of physicochemical indicators showed a positive aerobic composting process. • The GHGs and NH 3 emissions outside were much lower than those inside the semi-membrane. • The mechanism of gas reduction depended on the interaction between the semi-membrane and the different gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important to reduce methane production and emission during aerobic composting. In this study, the effects of covering with a semi-permeable membrane during pig manure and wheat straw composting were investigated. Two laboratory-scale composting reactors were used: the membrane covered treatment (treatment A) and the control treatment (treatment B). Composting in treatment A effectively improved the oxygen utilization rate and decreased methane emissions by 22.42% relative to the control treatment. Quantification of functional genes and Pearson rank correlations showed that the mcrA and mcrA/pmoA gene abundances were significantly positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with the interstitial oxygen concentration, and that the pmoA gene abundance was positively correlated with the carbon: nitrogen ratio and moisture content. Therefore, increasing the aeration rate and optimizing the carbon: nitrogen ratio and moisture content will decrease methane emissions. Together, the results demonstrate that coverage membrane could be a novel strategy for reducing methane emissions during composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria play an important role in organic matter degradation and maturity during aerobic composting. This study analyzed composting with or without a membrane cover in laboratory-scale aerobic composting reactor systems. 16S rRNA gene analysis was used to study the bacterial community succession during composting. The richness of the bacterial community decreased and the diversity increased after covering with a semi-permeable membrane and applying a slight positive pressure. Principal components analysis based on operational taxonomic units could distinguish the main composting phases. Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size analysis indicated that covering with a semi-permeable membrane reduced the relative abundance of anaerobic Clostridiales and pathogenic Pseudomonas and increased the abundance of Cellvibrionales . In membrane-covered aerobic composting systems, the relative abundance of some bacteria could be affected, especially anaerobic bacteria. Covering could effectively promote fermentation, reduce emissions and ensure organic fertilizer quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The causal link between tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and numerous severe respiratory system diseases (RSD), including chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, is well established. However, the pathogenesis of TSE-induced RSD remains incompletely understood. This research aims to detect the pathogenetic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of TSE-induced RSD. Methods This study employed TSE model which rats were exposed to a concentration of 60% tobacco smoke in a toxicant exposure system for four weeks. Tandem mass tags (TMT) labeled quantitative proteomics combined with off-line high pH reversed-phase fractionation, and nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method (off-line high pH RPF-nano-LC–MS/MS) were adopted to detect differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the lung tissues of the TSE model rats and to compare them with those in control. The accuracy of the results was verified by western blot. Results Compared with the control group, 33 proteins in the TSE model group's lung tissues showed significant differential expression. Analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways indicated that, several biological pathways, such as the steroid biosynthesis pathway, were involved and played significant roles in the pathogenesis of the experimental group's TSE. Conclusions These findings make a crucial contribution to the search for a comprehensive understanding of TSE-induced RSD's pathogenesis, and furthermore provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of TSE-induced RSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral denoising offers a basis for effective and accurate quantitative modeling of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). To provide a solution for the defects of the traditional hard threshold function (HTF) and the soft threshold function (STF) for wavelet denoising methods, an improved wavelet dual threshold function (IWDTF) has been developed. Simulation analyses proved that the IWDTF could provide a better denoising performance than the traditional functions. The IWDTF was applied to LIBS denoising and quantitative modeling of the Cu and Zn contents in representative Chinese aerobic composting samples. The results showed that the best spectral denoising effects for the Cu and Zn models were achieved when the adjustment parameters k 0 , a, and θ were 0.9, 0.7 × λ 1 , and 0.1 × π, and 0.2, 0.2 × λ 1 , and 0.1 × π, respectively, and corresponding models' performances for Cu and Zn were both greatly improved, yielding R p 2 of 0.9807 and 0.9177, RMSEP of 67.49 mg/kg and 84.92 mg/kg, and RPD of 3.12 and 3.07, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock and poultry manure are repositories of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Accumulating evidence suggests that composting is an important way to effectively attenuate ARGs, but how to reinforce the reduction in ARGs during composting needs to be further investigated. This study explored the influence of an external static magnetic field on ARG mitigation enhancement during swine manure composting. The results showed that a total of 12 high-risk ARGs were identified. A relatively high magnetic field intensity (14.81 mT) was more effective in reducing the abundance of high-risk ARGs, and the removal rate was 20.66–100 %. It also reduced the abundance of 27.14 % of integrons, 79.44 % of insertion sequences, and 8.78 % of plasmids. Partial least squares path modeling showed that a relatively high magnetic field intensity treatment promoted the reduction in e rmB by reducing the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium , Streptococcus , and insertion sequences. It also mitigated sul1 expression by reducing the abundance of Acinetobacter and integrons, and it mitigated tetM expression by decreasing Lactobacillus , Streptococcus , insertion sequences, and plasmids. These findings demonstrate that an external static magnetic field is an effective method for intensifying the reduction in ARGs, providing a feasible reference for controlling the potential ARG risk of organic waste composting. [Display omitted] • A static magnetic field enhanced the reduction of high-risk ARGs in composting. • The removal rate of high-risk ARGs was 20.66 %− 100 %. • HMF reduced 27.14 % integrons, 79.44 % insertion sequences, and 8.78 % plasmids. • A static magnetic field reduced high-risk ARGs by changing host-microbe and MGEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomimetic scaffold is promising for repairing bone defects that are resulted from diseases or injuries. An ideal scaffold should be similar to native bones. Thus, hydroxyapatite (HAp) composite microparticles in which HAp closely resembles the mineral component in native bones were fabricated. Casein/CaCO microspheres, precipitated in the presence of casein, were used as starting material and an in situ ion-exchange method was applied under mild conditions. In order to obtain hierarchical structure in which casein/CaCO core was wrapped with HAp layer, various conditions, including starting material (resuspended powder or mother solution), reaction temperature, concentration, and addition rate of NaHPO solution, were intensively studied and optimized. The products were characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). After the in situ transformation, the presence of casein was confirmed and its amount was not significantly changed. The formed microparticles could be in only HAp phase of irregular shape or in HAp/CaCO composite phase of well-dispersed microspheres. The cytotoxicity of samples was investigated using direct culturing method and its bioactivity was also evaluated by seeding cells on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/HAp films. Here, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were used as model cells. The results demonstrated that the hierarchical HAp/CaCO composite microparticles were cytocompatible and could be potentially used for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body weight is related to fat mass, which is associated with obesity. Our study explored the effect of fat-1 gene on body weight in fat-1 transgenic mice. In present study, we observed that the weight/length ratio of fat-1 transgenic mice was lower than that of wild-type mice. The serum levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CT), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and blood glucose (BG) in fat-1 transgenic mice were all decreased. The weights of peri-bowels fat, perirenal fat and peri-testicular fat in fat-1 transgenic mice were reduced. We hypothesized that increase of n-3 PUFAs might alter the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide genes and lead to loss of body weight in fat-1 transgenic mice. Therefore, we measured mRNA levels of appetite neuropeptides, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti-related peptides (AgRP), Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), ghrelin and nesfatin-1 in hypothalamus by real-time PCR. Compared with wild-type mice, the mRNA levels of CART, POMC and ghrelin were higher, while the mRNA levels of NPY, AgRP and nesfatin-1 were lower in fat-1 transgenic mice. The results indicate that fat-1 gene or n-3 PUFAs participates in regulation of body weight, and the mechanism of this phenomenon involves the expression of appetite neuropeptides and lipoproteins in fat-1 transgenic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulking agent plays an important role in aerobic composting, but their shape, porosity, and homogeneity need to be optimized. In the present work, a bulking agent with a uniform shape was prepared by 3D printing to explore its influence on physicochemical parameters, microbial community succession, and gene abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in swine manure aerobic composting. The results showed that adding 3D-printed bulking agents can increase maximum temperature, prolong the thermophilic period, and improve the degradation rate of volatile solids, which was attributed to ameliorative air permeability by the porous 3D-printed bulking agent. The abundances of some pathogenic bacteria decreased and CAZymes genes increased respectively in response to the addition of the 3D-printed bulking agent, implying it has a certain positive effect on improving the safety of compost products and promoting the degradation of organic matter. In summary, the 3D-printed bulking agent has good application potential in laboratory-scale aerobic composting. [Display omitted] • A 3D-printed bulking agent with a regular shape and stable porosity was prepared. • Adding 3D-printed bulking agents enhanced the temperature and degradation of VS. • 2% addition of 3D-printed bulking agent reduced some pathogenic bacteria. • 3D-printed bulking agents exhibit the potential to promote manure composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hyperspectral images can provide rich information for image classification. • A multi-criteria ranking-based band selection method for hyperspectral is proposed. • The method has better classification effect than traditional ranking-based methods. • Band selection can reduce the computational complexity of high-dimensional data. Hyperspectral images contain hundreds of continuous spectral bands, which can provide rich information for target detection and image classification. However, high-dimensional data are easy to cause the "Hughes phenomenon", which affects the classification accuracy of images. In this paper, a band selection method based on multi-criteria ranking is proposed for hyperspectral dimensionality reduction. First, the hyperspectral image acquisition system is built to collect the hyperspectral transmission image datasets containing various heterogeneities. Second, the original data are preprocessed and the band selection method proposed is used for data dimensionality reduction. That is, (1) the whole band is divided into subintervals according to the correlation criteria, and then the bands with large information amount and good inter-class separability are selected according to other criteria functions, (2) the bands of each subinterval are combined, and the combined bands are evaluated according to the optimum index factor and Bhattacharyya distance, and (3) the combined bands are ranked and the top-ranked combined bands are selected as the representative bands for image classification. Finally, the support vector machine is used to verify the effectiveness of the representative bands selected by this method. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves data dimensionality reduction, and the overall classification accuracy can reach 100% on some selected subsets of bands, which has better classification performance than other related band selection methods. In addition, the computational complexity of high-dimensional data can be effectively reduced by band selection, and the average running time is 95.19% less than that of the full bands while ensuring classification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 3DBAs with regular shape and standardized porosity facilitated oxygen consumption. • Addition of 3DBAs reduced total ARGs, TRGs, MRGs, and SRGs rather than FRGs. • 3DBAs reduced the risk of ARGs by regulating oxygen to alter host microbes and MGEs. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in manure aerobic composting are a potential environmental pollutant. Therefore, reducing the abundance of ARGs is crucial. The effects of adding three-dimensional printed bulking agents (3DBAs) on ARGs in aerobic composting of swine manure were investigated in this study. Compared with the control group, 3DBAs with different addition dosages can greatest reduce the total ARGs by 5.98%, tetracycline resistance genes by 14.02%, macrolide resistance genes by 9.65%, and sulfonamide resistance genes by 20.59%. By further combining physicochemical parameters, host microorganisms, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) for analysis, it was found that oxygen concentration was vital for ARGs reduction, and 3DBAs with regular porosity and uniform size indirectly regulate the activity of host microorganisms and MGEs abundance by changing the oxygen consumption, finally reducing vertical or horizontal ARGs transfer risks. Overall, 3DBAs addition is an effective strategy to reduce the abundance of ARGs in aerobic composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multispectral transmission images, the strong scattering characteristics of biological tissues make the acquired signal weak and the image blurred, which brings difficulties to the contour detection of heterogeneity. The precision of image data can be improved by the modulation–demodulation technique, but the improvement of data effective bits also brings data redundancy. This paper proposes the "terrace compression method" and applies it to the detection of heterogeneity contours in transmission images. Experiments are designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Four types of LEDs with different center wavelengths loaded with sinusoidal signals are used as the illumination sources respectively to acquire image sequences, and four single-wavelength images are demodulated by fast Fourier transform. The grayscale values of the demodulated images are sorted from low to high, several grayscale hard thresholds are set based on the quantity threshold obtained from the minimum size of the predicted detection target, and the grayscale values are divided into different intervals based on the grayscale hard thresholds. Then, the grayscale values below the threshold in each interval are combined to the minimum value of that interval. Finally, the Sobel operator is used to extract the heterogeneity contours. This method can realize image filtering, reduce data redundancy and enhance image gradient, which provides a new idea for heterogeneity contour detection of multispectral transmission images. • "Terrace compression method" can greatly compress the grayscale of images and reduce data redundancy. • "Terrace compression method" can enhance the gradient information of images. • "Terrace compression method" facilitates heterogeneity contour detection of transmission images. • The frequency-division modulation technique can improve the signal-to-noise ratio of images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combining hyperspectral transmission imaging and multivariate data analysis for heterogeneity classification. • Successive projection algorithm (SPA) for the selection of feature bands. • PLS-DA, SVM, and kNN discriminant models to distinguish the type of heterogeneity. • The sample-set division algorithm affects the classification results of the model. Hyperspectral images contain numerous spectral bands, which can provide rich information for image classification. Based on this, this paper combines multivariate data analysis to realize the heterogeneity classification in hyperspectral transmission images. Firstly, the hyperspectral image acquisition system is built. The microcontroller is used to control the stepper motor driver, which further controls the cross sliding platform to scan the XY two-dimensional plane, while the spectrometer is synchronously triggered externally to acquire hyperspectral images during the scanning process. Secondly, the acquired hyperspectral images are processed, including filtering and denoising, extracting regions of interest, coding to obtain labeled heterogeneity samples, and dividing the sample set. Finally, nine bands are selected by the successive projection algorithm, and three discriminative models of partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (kNN) are used to discriminate the types of heterogeneities. The classification results show that the SVM model has the best overall classification (the highest classification accuracy is 98.83%), PLS-DA is the second-best (the highest classification accuracy is 97.5%), and kNN has the worst prediction effect (the highest accuracy is only 83.33%) on different sample set division algorithms. In addition, the determination coefficients R 2 of both PLS-DA and SVM models are greater than 0.97 with different sample set division algorithms, and the root mean square error (RMSE) is less than 0.16, which effectively proves the robustness of the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Association of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety with toddler sleep."

[Display omitted] • The effects of different membranes covering in aerobic composting were investigated. • Covering membranes can retain heat and increase volatile solid degradation. • Different membranes have different emission reduction effects on gas emissions. • The bacterial community was changed by covering the membrane in composting. The effects of the functional membrane covering on the gas emissions and bacterial community during dairy cow manure aerobic composting were investigated. A lab-scale aerobic composting experiment was conducted with the control group (CK), Gore group (Gore), and ZT group (ZT), namely, without and with two functional membranes. Covering the functional membrane retained heat and improved the seed germination index in Gore and ZT groups. Compared with the CK group, the Gore membrane decreased NH 3 and N 2 O emissions by 11.77% and 26.40%, respectively. The ZT membrane decreased N 2 O and CO 2 emissions by 68.44% and 1.56%, respectively. The Gore and ZT membranes decreased the global warming potential by 16.97% and 53.41%, respectively. Moreover, Covering the two functional membranes improved the Actinobacteria relative abundance and were conducive to the degradation of volatile solid. Altogether, membrane-covered aerobic composting is an important technology for the resource utilization of organic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FMC increased pile temperature and promoted compost maturity. • FMC decreased NH 3 and N 2 O emissions by 7.34% and 26.27%, respectively. • Micro-positive pressure promoted aerobic composting and decreased gas emissions. • FMC up-regulated the amoA and nosZ genes and down-regulated the nirK and nirS genes. • FMC clearly affected the evolution of nitrogen and related functional genes. The effects of functional membrane covering (FMC) on nitrogen transformation and related functional genes during aerobic composting were investigated by performing a comparable experiment. The FMC increased the pile temperature, promoted compost maturity, and decreased nitrogen loss. The FMC reduced NH 3 and N 2 O emissions by 7.34% and 26.27%, respectively. The water film and the micro-positive pressure environment under the membrane effectively prevented NH 3 escaping. The FMC up-regulated the amoA gene copy number (promoting NH 3 /NH 4 + oxidation). The reduction of N 2 O emission by the FMC was mainly related to denitrifying genes (nirK, nirS, and nosZ). The FMC down-regulated the nirK and nirS gene copy numbers, but up-regulated the nosZ gene copy number. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the functional membrane characteristics and differences between the composting pile environments caused by the FMC significantly affected the nitrogen forms and the related functional genes. The FMC strongly decreased nitrogen emissions and therefore conserved nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudogenes are accumulated in host-restricted Salmonella enterica serovars, while pseudogenization is primarily regarded as a process that purges unnecessary genes from the genome. Here we showed that the inactivation of sopA , which encodes an effector of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1, in human-restricted S. enterica serovar Typhi (S. Ty) and Paratyphi A (S. PA) is under positive selection and aimed to reduce bacterial cytotoxicity toward host macrophages. Moreover, we found that the expression of sopA in Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Tm), a broad-host-range serovar which causes systemic disease in mice, was negatively regulated during mice infection and survival in murine macrophages. The sopA repression in S. Tm is mediated by IsrM, a small RNA absent from the genome of S. Ty and S. PA. Due to the lack of IsrM, sopA expression was unregulated in S. Ty and S. PA, which might have facilitated the convergent inactivation of sopA in these two serovars. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that sopA inactivation or intracellular repression is the target of positive selection during the systemic infection caused by S. enterica serovars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ce-RS3 showed anti-diabetic effects similar to those of metformin. • Ce-RS3 and metformin have similarities in improving gut microbiota and serum metabolites. • The beneficial effects of Ce-RS3 and metformin may be associated with host-microbiota interactions. • This study prompted us to suggest possible "Drug-Dietary fiber" combinations for managing T2DM. The relationship between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has drawn increasing attention, and the benefits of various treatment strategies, including nutrition, medication and physical exercise, maybe microbially-mediated. Metformin is a widely used hypoglycemic agent, while resistant starch (RS) is a novel dietary fiber that emerges as a nutritional strategy for metabolic disease. However, it remains unclear as to the potential degree and interactions among gut microbial communities, metabolic landscape, and the anti-diabetic effects of metformin and RS, especially for a novel type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis (Ce-RS3). In the present study, T2DM rats were administered metformin or Ce-RS3, and the changes in gut microbiota and serum metabolic profiles were characterized using 16S-rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics, respectively. After 11 weeks of treatment, Ce-RS3 exhibited similar anti-diabetic effects to those of metformin, including dramatically reducing blood glucose, ameliorating the response to insulin resistance and glucose tolerance test, and relieving the pathological damage in T2DM rats. Interestingly, the microbial and systemic metabolic dysbiosis in T2DM rats was effectively modulated by both Ce-RS3 and, to a lesser extent, metformin. The two treatments increased the gut bacterial diversity, and supported the restoration of SCFA-producing bacteria, thereby significantly increasing SCFAs levels. Both treatments simultaneously corrected 16 abnormal metabolites in the metabolism of lipids and amino acids, many of which are microbiome-related. PICRUSt analysis and correlation of SCFAs levels with metabolomics data revealed a strong association between gut microbial and host metabolic changes. Strikingly, Ce-RS3 exhibited better efficacy in increasing gut microbiota diversity with a peculiar enrichment of Prevotella genera. The gut microbial properties of Ce-RS3 were tightly associated with the T2DM-related indexes, showing the potential to alleviate diabetic phenotype dysbioses, and possibly explaining the greater efficiency in improving metabolic control. The beneficial effects of Ce-RS3 and metformin might derive from changes in gut microbiota through altering host-microbiota interactions with impact on the host metabolome. Given the complementarity of Ce-RS3 and metformin in regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites, this study also prompted us to suggest possible "Drug-Dietary fiber" combinations for managing T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of intermittent aeration on greenhouse gas emissions and bacterial community succession during membrane-covered aerobic composting, a large-scale aerobic composting experiment was carried out. Two different aeration intervals designed to maintain the temperature of the compost was in 50–65 °C. The control group and experimental group were set to 10 min–10 min (on-off) and 10 min–30 min (on-off), respectively. The results indicated that the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from the outside of the membrane in the control group were 9.68% and 47.10% less than those in the experimental group. And the global warming potential was 9.77% less than that in the experimental group. Wilcoxon rank-sum test result indicated that Tenericutes was a significantly different phylum between the two groups and played an important role in cellulose degradation. Redundancy analysis indicated that C/N had the greatest influence on the distribution of the bacterial community. It also found that Pseudogracilibacillus and Tepidimicrobium were significantly correlated with nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emission rates, respectively. Therefore, adjusting aeration interval time during the membrane-covered aerobic composting could be a useful strategy for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and effecting bacterial community structure. Image 1 • The aeration method of 10 -10 can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • C/N had the greatest influence on the distribution of bacterial community. • Tenericutes was significantly different phylum between the two groups. • Pseudogracilibacillus was positively correlated with N 2 O emission rate. • Tepidimicrobium was negatively correlated with CO 2 emission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-shaped concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) can avoid the structural column protruding from walls and save the room space, but the steel tube is prone to local buckling under compression. The use of stiffeners and multi-cell form can effectively improve its mechanical performance. However, limited research studies were conducted on these column forms previously. In this paper, six stub columns were tested under axial compression varying the parameters of cross-section form and concrete strength grade. The failure pattern, ultimate strength, load-strain curve, compressive stiffness and ductility were obtained. The test results show that using longitudinal stiffeners or multi-cell form can improve the axial compressive strength, stiffness and ductility of cross-shaped CFST, and the mechanical performance of multi-cell form is superior. The axial compressive strength of stiffened and multi-cell columns can be enhanced by 4.9%–25.2% and 21.8%–28.4%, respectively, compared with unstiffened columns. The corresponding stiffness can be increased by 14.2%–27.4% and 25.2%–43.2%, respectively, and the corresponding ductility can be increased by about 9% and 120%, respectively. Finite element (FE) models were established for the cross-shaped CFST stub columns and the FE simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. 134 stiffened and 134 multi-cell stub column models with different parameters were calculated, and the design methods were suggested for axial compressive strength and stiffness of stiffened and multi-cell cross-shaped CFST stub columns. • Six cross-shaped CFST stub columns were tested under axial compression. • Using stiffeners or multi-cell form can improve ultimate strength, stiffness and ductility. • Finite element models of cross-shaped CFST stub columns were established. • Design methods for stiffened and multi-cell cross-shaped CFST columns were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mood disorders are strongly associated with melatonin disturbances. However, it is unclear whether there is a difference in melatonin concentrations and melatonin circadian rhythm profiles between depression and bipolar disorder. In addition, the relationship between anhedonia, a common symptom of affective disorders, and its melatonin circadian rhythm remains under-investigated. Methods: Thirty-four patients with depression disorder, 20 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 21 healthy controls participated in this study. The Revised Physical Anhedonia Scale (RPAS) was performed to assess anhedonia. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects at fixed time points (a total of 14 points) in two consecutive days for measuring the melatonin concentrations to fit circadian rhythms of subjects. Melatonin circadian rhythms were compared between the three groups using ANOVA. Partial correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used to explore the correlation between melatonin rhythm variables and anhedonia. Results: We found that the peak phase of melatonin in the depression group was significantly advanced compared to the control group (P < 0.001) and the bipolar disorder group (P = 0.004). The peak phase of melatonin and RPAS showed a negative correlation (P = 0.003) in depression patients, which was also demonstrated in the multiple linear regression model (B=-2.47, P = 0.006). Conclusions: These results suggest that circadian rhythms of melatonin are differentiated in depression and bipolar disorder and correlate with anhedonia in depression. Future research needs to explore the neurobiological mechanisms linking anhedonia and melatonin circadian rhythms in depressed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrospun composite membranes in multiscale structures are developed for bone tissue engineering. Aligned polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers entrapping CA‐HAp microparticles (containing CaCO3, hydroxyapatite, and casein in a hierarchical organization) are electrospun to find whether synergistic effects of fiber alignment and CA‐HAp microparticles on improving osteogenic differentiation can be obtained. CA‐HAp microparticles are in a spherical morphology of 1.42 ± 0.26 µm. Their presence increases fiber diameter and does not significantly affect fiber alignment. On all membranes, adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) from humans spread very well. On a random group, cells distribute randomly and the presence of CA‐HAp microparticles facilitates cell proliferation, especially for the one at CA‐HAp/PCL 50 wt%; the one at CA‐HAp/PCL 20 wt% shows significantly much higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (112.0% higher) than the pure PCL membrane. On aligned samples, cells align along fibers and expression of ALP is enhanced. However, at the same composition (CA‐HAp/PCL 20 wt%), the random sample has much higher ALP activity than the aligned sample. The expressions of osteogenic marker genes are also evaluated. Combining the results and the applicability of membranes together, the random membrane at CA‐HAp/PCL 20 wt% is the best candidate for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the association of pregnancy loss history with an elevated risk of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to investigate whether this association was mediated by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Methods: We prospectively collected venous blood and pregnancy loss history information from 4873 pregnant women at 16–23 weeks of gestation from March 2018 to April 2022. Hs-CRP concentrations were measured from collected blood samples. A 75 g fasting glucose test was performed at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation for the diagnosis of GDM, with data obtained from medical records. Multivariate linear or logistic regression models and mediation analysis were used to examine the relationships between pregnancy loss history, hs-CRP, and GDM. Results: A multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with pregnant women with no induced abortion history, subjects with 1 and ≥ 2 induced abortions had a higher risk for GDM (RR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.19–1.81; RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.28–2.09). Additionally, the mediation analysis indicated this association was mediated by an increased hs-CRP level with a 20.4% of indirect effect ratio. However, no significant association between a history of miscarriage and the prevalence of GDM was observed. Conclusions: A history of induced abortion was significantly associated with an increased risk of GDM, and this association occurred in a dose-response effect. Hs-CRP may be accounted for a mediation effect in the pathways linking induced abortion history with GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer has become a major problem in clinical treatment due to its high heterogeneity, and Plant-derived drug discovery has been the focus of attention for novel anti-tumor therapeutics. In this study, Miliusol, a natural product isolated from the rarely reported plant Miliusa tenuistipitata , was identified as the lead compound, and 25 miliusol derivatives were designed and synthesized under antiproliferative activity guidance. The results revealed that ZMF-24 was demonstrated to have potent anti-TNBC proliferation with IC 50 values of 0.22 μM and 0.44 μM in BT-549 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells respectively with low cytotoxicity to MCF10A cells, and could significantly downregulate proliferation and migration markers. Through RNAseq analysis, molecular docking and CETSA experiment, we found that ZMF-24 could inhibit Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D (EIF3D) that further disrupted the energy supply of TNBC by inhibiting glycolysis, induced profound TNBC apoptosis by stimulating persistent ER stress. Importantly, ZMF-24 exhibited remarkable anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis potential in nude mice xenograft TNBC model without obvious toxicity. Collectively, the findings demonstrate ZMF-24 has significant potential as a potent chemotherapy agent against triple-negative breast cancer. [Display omitted] • A series of miliusol derivatives were designed and synthesized. • ZMF-24 exhibited profound anti-proliferative and anti-metastasis activity in vitro. • ZMF-24 induced TNBC cell death via regulating EIF3D. • ZMF-24 exhibits good in vivo anti-TNBC activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Causality between circulating inflammatory cytokines and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been systematically elucidated. Clarifying causality might direct opportunities in prevention and treatment of GDM. • Elevated MIF is associated with increased risk of GDM. • IP10 and IL-18 may play a key role as downstream factors in GDM. Several studies have identified associations between some of circulating inflammatory cytokines and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the causal role of these associations remains unclear and unsystematic. We aimed to provide evidence for the causal relationships between circulating inflammatory cytokines and gestational diabetes mellitus. We performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (2SMR) to investigate the causal connection between circulating inflammatory cytokines and gestational diabetes mellitus. Publicly accessible data for circulating inflammatory cytokines (8,293 individuals) and gestational diabetes mellitus (123,579 individuals) were obtained from genome-wide association study (GWAS). Only one causal association was identified between circulating inflammatory cytokines and GDM. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method showed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) increased the risk of GDM (OR 1.162, 95%CI 1.044,1.293). Moreover, two causal associations were detected between GDM and circulating inflammatory cytokines. GDM was negatively correlated with interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP10) (Beta −0.129, 95%CI −0.236,-0.231) and interleukin-18 (IL18) (Beta −0.133, 95%CI −0.241,-0.026). Mendelian randomization study revealed MIF as a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus. This finding offers a new and valuable insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical behavior of the traditional special-shaped concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns can be improved by employing longitudinal stiffeners or using multi-cell cross-section. In practical application, the stiffened and multi-cell L-shaped CFSTs are often subjected to bi-directional loading. However, there are only few research studies on their performance as loaded eccentrically with different orientations of the loading and there is no relevant design guideline. This paper reports tests on 16 L-shaped CFST columns (nine stiffened, six multi-cell specimens and one reference specimen) loaded in eccentric compression. The main variables were the angle indicating the orientation of the load action line (0°, 45°, 135°, 180° and 225°), load eccentricity ratio (0, 0.25 and 0.5) and slenderness ratio (31.5 and 41.9). Finite element models for the eccentrically loaded stiffened and multi-cell L-shaped CFST columns were developed. Based on the parametric analysis, practical design methods were proposed for predicting the bearing capacity based on the stability loss and the axial force vs. bending moment interaction diagrams for the members considering the influence of the load orientation at the end face of the column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic spines are the postsynaptic structure to mediate signal transduction in neural circuitry, whose function and plasticity are regulated by organization of their molecular architecture and by the expression of target genes and proteins. EphB2, a member of the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family, potentiates dendritic spine maturation through cytoskeleton reorganization and protein trafficking. However, the transcriptional mechanisms underlying prolonged activation of EphB2 signaling during dendritic spine morphogenesis are unknown. Herein, we performed transcriptional profiling by stimulating EphB2 signaling and identified differentially expressed genes implicated in pivotal roles at synapses. Notably, we characterized an F-actin binding protein, Annexin A1, whose expression was induced by EphB2 signaling; the promotor activity of its coding gene Anxa1 is regulated by the activity of CREB (cAMP-response element-binding protein). Knockdown of Annexin A1 led to a significant reduction of mature dendritic spines without an obvious deficit in the complexity of dendrites. Altogether, our findings suggest that EphB2-induced, CREB-dependent Annexin A1 expression plays a key role in regulating dendritic spine morphology. • Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in synapse development upon activation of EphB2 signaling in cortical neurons. • EphB2 signaling induces the expression of Annexin A1 through CREB activation. • Annexin A1 is required for dendritic spine morphogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shigella is an intracellular pathogen that primarily infects the human colon and causes shigellosis. Shigella virulence relies largely on the type III secretion system (T3SS) and secreted effectors. VirF, the master Shigella virulence regulator, is essential for the expression of T3SS-related genes. In this study, we found that YhjC, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, is required for Shigella virulence through activating the transcription of virF. Pathogenicity of the yhjC mutant, including colonization in the colons of guinea pigs as well as its ability for host cell adhesion and invasion, was significantly lowered. Expression levels of virF and nearly all VirF-dependent genes were downregulated by yhjC deletion, indicating that YhjC can activate virF transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis demonstrated that YhjC could bind directly to the virF promoter region. Therefore, YhjC is a novel virulence regulator that positively regulates the virF expression and promotes Shigella virulence. Additionally, genome-wide expression analysis identified the presence of other genes in the large virulence plasmid and a genome exhibiting differential expression in response to yhjC deletion, with 169 downregulated and 99 upregulated genes, indicating that YhjC also functioned as a global regulatory factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Membrane coverage technology (CT) was suitable for dairy manure aerobic composting. • CH 4 and N 2 O emission decreased by 99.89% and 60.48% in the CT group. • The total greenhouse gas emission decreased by 70.76% in the CT group. • Intermittent aeration promoted the greenhouse gas emission reduction performance. • Aeration period repaired the water layer to reduce NH 3 emission. In this study, the effects of covering the compost pile with a semi-permeable membrane in combination with intermittent aeration on the gas emissions during aerobic composting from the solid fraction of dairy manure at industrial scale were investigated. A large-scale composting experiment was carried out to compare a membrane-covered (CT) group with a control (CK) group. The results indicated that the CT group could maintain a suitable aerobic and positive micro-pressure environment. The carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ammonia emissions outside the membrane during the aeration interval were reduced by 64.23%, 70.07%, 54.87%, and 11.32%, respectively, compared with that inside the membrane. It was also determined that the methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the CT group were reduced by 99.89% and 60.48% relative to the CK group, confirming that the combined process represented a novel strategy for reducing gas emissions during dairy manure composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) has been linked to an elevated risk of diabetes, but the available literature on the relationships between ALAN and glucose homeostasis in pregnancy is limited. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 6730 pregnant women was conducted in Hefei, China. Outdoor ALAN exposure was estimated using satellite data with individual addresses at a spatial resolution of approximately 1 km, and the average ALAN intensity was calculated. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was diagnosed based on a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression were used to estimate the relationships between ALAN and glucose homeostasis. Results: Outdoor ALAN was associated with elevated glucose homeostasis markers in the first trimester, but not GDM risk. An increase in the interquartile range of outdoor ALAN values was related to a 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.00, 0.03) mmol/L higher fasting plasma glucose, a 0.42 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.54) μU/mL increase in insulin and a 0.09 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.12) increase in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) during the first trimester. Subgroup analyses showed that the associations between outdoor ALAN exposure and fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR were more pronounced among pregnant women who conceived in summer and autumn. Conclusions: The results provided evidence that brighter outdoor ALAN in the first trimester was related to elevated glucose intolerance in pregnancy, especially in pregnant women conceived in summer and autumn, and effective strategies are needed to prevent and manage light pollution. [Display omitted] • The first trimester ALAN exposure was associated with elevated glucose intolerance. • Outdoor ALAN exposure was associated with higher FPG, insulin, and HOMA-IR. • Outdoor ALAN exposure was not associated with a higher risk of GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn(II) can efficiently promote the catalytic performance of imidazolium salt ionic liquids (imi‐ILs) for the chemical fixation of CO2 into epoxides. To obtain sustainability, immobilized bifunctional catalysts containing both imi‐ILs and Zn(II) were prepared using bimodal mesoporous silica (BMMs) as carrier, through grafting of Zn(OAc)2 and 1‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (Si‐imi) separately in the nanopores. The catalysts, named as BMMs−Zn&ILs, were identified as efficient catalysts for cycloaddition reaction of CO2 into epoxides under solvent‐free conditions. BMMs−Zn&ILs showed good catalytic activity, which increased with the increase of the molar ratio of Zn(II) to Si‐imi. As a comparison, different catalytic systems including homogeneous imi‐IL, BMMs‐ILs and BMMs−Zn were studied to demonstrate different cooperation behaviors. Furthermore, the kinetics studies of homogeneous and heterogeneous bifunctional catalysts were employed to confirm the differences, as well as to support the proposed cooperative catalysis mechanism in the nanopores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A high-coverage MALDI-MSI method was developed for plant tissue analysis. • BNDM was optimized as a new matrix for MALDI-MSI of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. • Acetone washing improves the sensitivity of MALDI-MSI. • Spatial feature and dynamics of metabolites in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge were imaged. Profiling the spatial distributions and dynamic changes of metabolites in plant tissue is critical to elucidate the complex metabolic regulation during plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic or biotic stresses. In this study, we developed a high-coverage MALDI-MS imaging method to visualize the spatial locations of a wide spectrum of metabolites in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. 1,5-Diaminonaphthalene (DAN) and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (BNDM) were optimized as MALDI matrices in positive and negative ion modes respectively, due to their low background interference and high sensitivity. Moreover, a simple organic washing protocol using acetone was shown to significantly improve the sensitivity of MALDI-MSI. Using this method, we successfully imaged the spatial locations of amino acids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, oligosaccharides, cholines, polyamines, tanshinones, and phospholipids in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. In addition, the distributions of some metabolites in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge root and stem were found to exhibit good spatial match with plant tissue structure. Thus, our method provides a spatially-resolved way to map the plant metabolic networks and to understand the physiological roles of several plant metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoskeletal remodeling is indispensable for the development and maintenance of neuronal structures and functions. However, the molecular machinery that controls the balance between actin polymerization and depolymerization during these processes is incompletely understood. Here, we report that coronin 2B, a conserved actin‐binding protein, is concentrated at the tips of developing dendrites and that knockdown of coronin 2B inhibits the growth of dendrites. Importantly, coronin 2B interacts with actin and reduces the F‐actin/G‐actin ratio. Furthermore, the coiled‐coil domain of coronin 2B is required for its oligomerization, thus confining coronin 2B to neurite tips. Our findings collectively suggest that coronin 2B is important for promoting dendrite outgrowth by limiting the speed of actin polymerization at growth cones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel materials BC-FeBTC was synthesized at room temperature. • BC-FeBTC addition simultaneously reduces NH 3 and N 2 O emissions by 57.23% and 37.83% • The nitrification gene of AOB was enhanced by BC-FeBTC. • Typical denitrifying bacteria and key functional genes were significantly inhibited. In this study, a novel iron 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate loaded on biochar (BC-FeBTC) was developed and applied to kitchen waste composting. The results demonstrated that the emissions of NH 3 and N 2 O were significantly reduced by 57.2% and 37.8%, respectively, compared with those in control group (CK). Microbiological analysis indicated that BC-FeBTC addition altered the diversity and abundance of community structure as well as key functional genes. The nitrification genes of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were enhanced, thereby promoting nitrification and reducing the emission of NH 3. The typical denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonas, and critical functional genes (nirS, nirK, and nosZ) were significantly inhibited, contributing to reduced N 2 O emissions. Network analysis further revealed the important influence of BC-FeBTC in nitrogen transformation driven by functional microbes. These findings offer crucial scientific foundation and guidance for the application of novel materials aimed at mitigating nitrogen loss and environmental pollution during composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Membrane-covered coupled with aeration effectively reduced GHG emissions. • Membrane-covered coupled with aeration could create a stable aerobic environment. • Membrane-covered coupled with aeration enhanced metabolism function. • O 2 concentration was key to affecting bacterial community function and CH 4 emission. • GHG emissions were regulated by anaerobic bacteria during aerobic composting. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manure management processes deserve more attention. Using three industrial-scale experiments, this study comprehensively evaluated the effects of different aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered strategies on the structure and function of bacterial communities and their impact on GHG emissions during dairy manure aerobic composting. The succession of the bacterial communities tended to be consistent for similar aeration strategies. Ruminiclostridium and norank_f__MBA03 were significantly positively correlated with the methane emission rate, and forced aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered decreased GHG emissions by inhibiting these taxa. Metabolism was the most active function of the bacterial communities, and its relative abundance accounted for 75.69%–80.23%. The combined process also enhanced carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Therefore, forced aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered represented a novel strategy for reducing global warming potential by regulating the structure and function of the bacterial communities during aerobic composting of dairy manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure stabilities, elastic properties, and electronic structures of L12-and D022-TiAl 3 under different pressures have been investigated by the first-principles. The formation energy shows that both L12-TiAl 3 and D022-TiAl 3 were stable at pressure up to 40 GPa. There would be a phase transition from D022 phase to L12 phase when pressure is about 25 GPa D022-TiAl 3 and L12-TiAl 3 satisfy the mechanical property stability, and both the stiffness and plasticity increase with the increase of pressure. The elastic anisotropy of D022 structure is larger than the L12 structure. The bonding situation and electronic properties of TiAl 3 (L12 and D022) were analyzed by differential charge density and density of states (DOS) curve. • The Formation energies result show that the D022 structure will transform to L12 structure on about 25 GPa. • The elastic properties calculation shows that the increase in pressure can increase the plasticity of the alloy. • The 3D surface structure of elastic modulus was also used to study the elasticity of the two structures D022 and L12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With increasing air pollution, chronic bronchitis (CB) has become a major public health problem worldwide. Previous studies have shown beneficial effects of Bergenin (Ber) on chronic bronchitis. To facilitate understanding of the pathogenesis underlying CB as well as to elucidate the Ber therapeutic mechanism, it is crucial to confirm the rational biomarkers of CB and its treatment. This study aimed to investigate the preventive chronic bronchitis mechanism of Ber by applying a serum metabolomics strategy. In this study, 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups,with six rats in each group. Rats from the CB and Ber groups were exposed to tobacco smoke for 1 hd−1 (1 h per day) for 28 days. Ber was administered orally to Ber rats 3 h after exposure every day, and the others were administered water. According to the morphometric analysis of the airway epithelium and the count of white blood cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, Ber suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells, inhibited the secretion of mucus, and reduced white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The metabolic profiles of sera were analyzed by multivariate statistical analyses, including PCA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA models, and revealed that the levels of thirteen metabolites were significantly changed and identified as potential biomarkers in the CB group and Ber group. The results suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of Ber may be related to the regulation of dysfunctions in glycerophospholipid, tryptophan, arginine and proline metabolism induced by CB, and changes in arachidonic acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to study the changes in compost particle and its relationship with other physicochemical process during aerobic composting employing 5%, 10%, 20% or 0% biochar. Changes of physicochemical and biological parameters and gases emissions indicated that appropriate biochar addition improved both degradation rate and final degree of the organic matter and simultaneously reduced CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O and NH 3 emissions. Beneficial properties like stability and high porosity of biochar could optimize composting environment, accelerate the process of composting and facilitate microbial growth during the thermophilic composting stage, with increases of 1.3 × 10 10 to 1.5 × 10 11 cfu/g. Analysis of microstructure characterization of the changes in compost particle indicated that biochar amended contributed to better degradation of compost particle with smaller sizes and a higher degree of looseness. Ultimately, 10% biochar addition optimized organic matter degradation, while reducing ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effect of oil as an additive on food waste composting was studied. • The maturity of composting was lower with high oil condition. • Humus formation during composting was reduced by 28.41% under high-oil content. • High oil content decreased the activity of key microbes involved in humification. • High oil altered organic degradation and microbial dynamics to inhibit humification. Composting is an effective technology to realize resource utilization of food waste in rural China. However, high oil content in food waste limits composting humification. This study investigated the effects of blended plant oil addition at different proportions (0, 10, 20, and 30%) on the humification of food waste composting. Oil addition at 10%–20% enhanced lignocellulose degradation by 16.6%–20.8% and promoted humus formation. In contrast, the high proportion of oil (30%) decreased the pH, increased the electrical conductivity, and reduced the seed germination index to 64.9%. High-throughput sequencing showed that high oil inhibited the growth and reproduction of bacteria (Bacillus , Fodinicurvataceae , and Methylococcaceae) and fungi (Aspergillus), attenuated their interaction, thus, reducing the conversion of organic matter, such as lignocellulose, fat, and total sugar, to humus, consequently leading to negative impacts on composting humification. The results can guide composting parameter optimization and improve effective management of rural food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]