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Basic research on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has advanced significantly in the past two decades, yet a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms remains elusive. Concurrently, there is a growing interest among scientists in exploring the involvement of autophagy in various human diseases, including tumors and inflammatory conditions. While the role of autophagy in asthma has been extensively studied in airway inflammatory diseases, its significance in CRS with or without nasal polyps (NPs), a condition closely linked to asthma pathophysiology, has also garnered attention, albeit with conflicting findings across studies. This review delves into the role of autophagy in CRS, suggesting that modulating autophagy to regulate inflammatory responses could potentially serve as a novel therapeutic target.

Summary: Abnormal mTORC1 activation by the lysosomal Ragulator complex has been implicated in cancer and glycolytic metabolism associated with drug resistance. Fasting upregulates RNF152 and mediates the metabolic status of cells. We report that RNF152 regulates mTORC1 signaling by targeting a Ragulator subunit, p18, and attenuates gemcitabine resistance in gallbladder cancer (GBC). We detected levels of RNF152 and p18 in tissues and undertook mechanistic studies using activators, inhibitors, and lentivirus transfections. RNF152 levels were significantly lower in GBC than in adjacent non-cancer tissues. Fasting impairs glycolysis, induces gemcitabine sensitivity, and upregulates RNF152 expression. RNF152 overexpression increases the sensitivity of GBC cells to gemcitabine, whereas silencing RNF152 has the opposite effect. Fasting-induced RNF152 ubiquitinates p18, resulting in proteasomal degradation. RNF152 deficiency increases the lysosomal localization of p18 and increases mTORC1 activity, to promote glycolysis and decrease gemcitabine sensitivity. RNF152 suppresses mTORC1 activity to inhibit glycolysis and enhance gemcitabine sensitivity in GBC.

Abstract Adipocytes are the primary sites for fatty acid storage, but the synthesis rate of fatty acids is very low. The physiological significance of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, we show that surplus fatty acid synthesis in adipocytes induces necroptosis and lipodystrophy. Transcriptional activation of FASN elevates fatty acid synthesis, but decreases NADPH level and increases ROS production, which ultimately leads to adipocyte necroptosis. We identify MED20, a subunit of the Mediator complex, as a negative regulator of FASN transcription. Adipocyte-specific male Med20 knockout mice progressively develop lipodystrophy, which is reversed by scavenging ROS. Further, in a murine model of HIV-associated lipodystrophy and a human patient with acquired lipodystrophy, ROS neutralization significantly improves metabolic disorders, indicating a causal role of ROS in disease onset. Our study well explains the low fatty acid synthesis rate in adipocytes, and sheds light on the management of acquired lipodystrophy.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of the life-threatening cardiovascular disease (CVD), creating an urgent need for efficient, biocompatible therapeutics for diagnosis and treatment. Biomimetic nanomedicines (bNMs) are moving closer to fulfilling this need, pushing back the frontier of nano-based drug delivery systems design. This review seeks to outline how these nanomedicines (NMs) might work to diagnose and treat atherosclerosis, to trace the trajectory of their development to date and in the coming years, and to provide a foundation for further discussion about atherosclerotic theranostics.

ABSTRACTGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by the development of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, associated with considerable risks to both the mother and developing fetus. Although emerging evidence suggests an association between the altered gut microbiota and GDM, remarkably little is known about the microbial and metabolic mechanisms that link the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota to the development of GDM. In this study, a metagenome-wide association study and serum metabolomics profiling were performed in a cohort of pregnant women with GDM and pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). We identified gut microbial alterations associated with GDM and linked to the changes in circulating metabolites. Blood metabolite profiles revealed that GDM patients exhibited a marked increase in 2-hydroxybutyric acid and L-alpha-aminobutyric acid, but a decrease in methionine sulfoxide, allantoin, and dopamine and dopaminergic synapse, when compared with those in NGT controls. Short-chain fatty acid-producing genera, including Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, and Streptococcus, and species Bacteroides coprophilus, Eubacterium siraeum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Prevotella copri, and Prevotella stercorea, were significantly reduced in GDM patients relative to those in NGT controls. Bacterial co-occurrence network analysis revealed that pro-inflammatory bacteria were over-represented as the core species in GDM patients. These microbial and metabolic signatures are closely associated with clinical parameters of glucose metabolism in GDM patients and NGT controls. In conclusion, we identified circulating dopamine insufficiency, imbalanced production of SCFAs, and excessive metabolic inflammation as gut microbiota-driven multiple parallel hits linked to GDM development. This work might explain in part the mechanistic link between altered gut microbiota and GDM pathogenesis, and suggest that gut microbiota may serve as a promising target to intervene in GDM.

MXenes have great potential as fast‐charging anodes for sodium storage due to their excellent electrical conductivity, high pseudocapacitive charge storage, and large interlayer distance. The intercalation pseudocapacitance provided by the active sites within the laminate MXene nanosheets is generally the major contributor to their sodium‐storage capacity. Thus, it is highly preferred to construct porous materials with abundant laminate structures to overcome the ion‐diffusion limitation in MXene multilayer films and increase the accessible interlayer sites. Herein, the enhancement of laminate structures in a pre‐assembled Ti3C2Tx network is achieved, under the effects of interlayer slipping of MXene nanosheets during capillary densification, and finally obtained a dense monolith with both high density (2.37 g cm−3) and high porosity (87.3 m2 g−1). This MXene anode material delivers a high capacity of 185 mAh g−1 and a superior rate performance of 55 mAh g−1 (5 A g−1). With improvement of both density and gravimetric capacity, this monolith has a high volumetric capacity of up to 200 mAh cm−3 at 1 A g−1 even after 2000 cycles. Herein, new insights are provided into the design of high‐capacity MXene anodes for sodium‐ion batteries and control of different 2D materials in compact structures.

BackgroundSleep is an important biological process and has been linked to many diseases; however, very little is known about which and how genes control and regulate sleep. Although technology has seen significant development, this issue has still not been adequately resolved. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to assess the progress in research on sleep quality and associated genes over the past 2 decades. Through our statistical data and discussions, we aimed to provide researchers with better research directions and ideas, thus promoting the advancement of this field.MethodsOn December 29, 2022, we utilized bibliometric techniques, such as co-cited and cluster analysis and keyword co-occurrence, using tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology (http://bibliometric.com/), to conduct a thorough examination of the relevant publications extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Our analysis aimed to identify the emerging trends and hot spots in this field while also predicting their potential development in future.ResultsCluster analysis of the co-cited literature revealed the most popular terms relating to sleep quality and associated genes in the manner of cluster labels; these included genome-wide association studies (GWAS), circadian rhythms, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), DNA methylation, and depression. Keyword burst detection suggested that obstructive sleep apnea, circadian clock, circadian genes, and polygenic risk score were newly emergent research hot spots.ConclusionBased on this bibliometric analysis of the publications in the last 20 years, a comprehensive analysis of the literature clarified the contributions, changes in research hot spots, and evolution of research techniques regarding sleep quality and associated genes. This research can provide medical staff and researchers with revelations into future directions of the study on the pathological mechanisms of sleep-related diseases.

Abstract The performance of any engineering material is naturally limited by its structure, and while each material suffers from one or multiple shortcomings when considered for a particular application, these can be potentially circumvented by hybridization with other materials. By combining organic crystals with MXenes as thermal absorbers and charged polymers as adhesive counter-ionic components, we propose a simple access to flexible hybrid organic crystal materials that have the ability to mechanically respond to infrared light. The ensuing hybrid organic crystals are durable, respond fast, and can be cycled between straight and deformed state repeatedly without fatigue. The point of flexure and the curvature of the crystals can be precisely controlled by modulating the position, duration, and power of thermal excitation, and this control can be extended from individual hybrid crystals to motion of ordered two-dimensional arrays of such crystals. We also demonstrate that excitation can be achieved over very long distances (>3 m). The ability to control the shape with infrared light adds to the versatility in the anticipated applications of organic crystals, most immediately in their application as thermally controllable flexible optical waveguides for signal transmission in flexible organic electronics.

Abstract Purpose Programmed death-1 (PDCD-1) and lymphocyte activating 3 (LAG3), two important immunosuppressive molecules, play crucial roles in immune escape of tumor cells. This study evaluated the effects of PDCD-1 (rs10204525 and rs36084323), and LAG3 (rs870849 and rs1882545) gene polymorphisms on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. Methods 341 patients with HCC and 350 cancer-free controls in the South Chinese population were included in a population-based case-control study. DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood samples. Genotypes were analyzed using multiplex PCR and sequencing. SNPs were analyzed using multiple inheritance models (co-dominant, dominant, recessive, and over-dominant). Results The allele and genotype frequencies of neither of the four polymorphisms, adjusted for age and gender, differed between HCC patients and controls. The differences were also not significant after stratifying by gender and age. According to our results, HCC patients with rs10204525 TC genotype had significantly lower AFP levels than HCC patients with rs10204525 TT genotype (P = 0.004). Moreover, the frequency of PDCD-1 rs36084323 CT genotype reduced the risk of TNM grade (CT vs. C/C-T/T: OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.37–0.87, P = 0.049). Conclusion Our results demonstrated that the PDCD-1 (rs10204525 and rs36084323), and LAG3 (rs870849 and rs1882545) polymorphism did not influence the risk of HCC, PDCD-1 rs10204525 TC genotype was associated with the lower AFP levels and rs36084323 CT genotypes were related to HCC tumor grades in the South Chinese samples.

Knowledge of the antibody response to the third dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is crucial because it is the subject of one of the largest global vaccination programs. This study integrated microsampling with optical biosensors to profile neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in fifteen vaccinated healthy donors, followed by the application of machine learning to predict antibody response at given timepoints. Over a nine-month duration, microsampling and venipuncture were conducted at seven individual timepoints. A refined iteration of a fiber optic biolayer interferometry (FO-BLI) biosensor was designed, enabling rapid multiplexed biosensing of the NAbs of both wild-type and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants in minutes. Findings revealed a strong correlation (Pearson r of 0.919, specificity of 100%) between wild-type variant NAb levels in microsamples and sera. Following the third dose, sera NAb levels of the wild-type variant increased 2.9-fold after seven days and 3.3-fold within a month, subsequently waning and becoming undetectable after three months. Considerable but incomplete evasion of the latest Omicron subvariants from booster vaccine-elicited NAbs was confirmed, although a higher number of binding antibodies (BAbs) was identified by another rapid FO-BLI biosensor in minutes. Significantly, FO-BLI highly correlated with a pseudovirus neutralization assay in identifying neutralizing capacities (Pearson r of 0.983). Additionally, machine learning demonstrated exceptional accuracy in predicting antibody levels, with an error level of

Uniparental disomy (UPD) refers to as both homologous chromosomes inherited from only one parent without identical copies from the other parent. Studies on clinical phenotypes in UPDs are usually focused on the documented UPD 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, and 20, which directly lead to imprinting disorders. This study describes clinical phenotypes and genetic findings of three patients with UPD 2, 9, and 14, respectively. Chromosomal microarray (CMA), UPDtool, methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis were performed to characterize the genetic etiology. The CMA revealed a homozygous region involving the whole chromosome 2 and 9, a partial region of homozygosity in chromosome 14. UPD-tool revealed a paternal origin of the UPD2. MS-MLPA showed hypomethylation of imprinting gene MEG3 from maternal origin in the UPD14 case. In addition, UPD14 case displayed complex symptoms including growth failure, hypotonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), accompanied by several gene mutations with heterozygous genotype by WES analysis. Furthermore, we reviewed the documented UPDs and summarized the clinical characteristics and prognosis. This study highlighted the importance to confirm the diagnosis and origin of UPD using genetic testing. Therefore, it is suggested that expanding of the detailed phenotypes and genotypes provide effective guidance for molecule testing and genetic counseling, and promote further biological investigation to the underlying mechanisms of imprinted disorders and accompanied copy number variations.

Farmed mink are one of few animals in which infection with SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in sustained transmission among a population and spillback from mink to people. In September 2020, mink on a Michigan farm exhibited increased morbidity and mortality rates due to confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We conducted an epidemiologic investigation to identify the source of initial mink exposure, assess the degree of spread within the facility’s overall mink population, and evaluate the risk of further viral spread on the farm and in surrounding wildlife habitats. Three farm employees reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 the same day that increased mortality rates were observed among the mink herd. One of these individuals, and another asymptomatic employee, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) 9 days later. All but one mink sampled on the farm were positive for SARS-CoV-2 based on nucleic acid detection from at least one oral, nasal, or rectal swab tested by RT-qPCR (99%). Sequence analysis showed high degrees of similarity between sequences from mink and the two positive farm employees. Epidemiologic and genomic data, including the presence of F486L and N501T mutations believed to arise through mink adaptation, support the hypothesis that the two employees with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection contracted COVID-19 from mink. However, the specific source of virus introduction onto the farm was not identified. Three companion animals living with mink farm employees and 31 wild animals of six species sampled in the surrounding area were negative for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR. Results from this investigation support the necessity of a One Health approach to manage the zoonotic spread of SARS-CoV-2 and underscores the critical need for multifaceted public health approaches to prevent the introduction and spread of respiratory viruses on mink farms.

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants raise concerns on immune evasion. Here, the authors evaluate the neutralization efficiency of COVID-19 mRNA vaccinee sera against representative viruses of 13 WHO-designated SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern/interest.

In this study, current-induced partial magnetization-based switching was realized through the spin–orbit torque (SOT) in single-layer L10 FePt with a perpendicular anisotropy (Ku⊥) of 1.19 × 107 erg·cm−3 (1 erg·cm−3 = 0.1 J·m−3), and its corresponding SOT efficiency (βDL) was 8 × 10−6 Oe·(A·cm−2)−1 (1 Oe = 79.57747 A·m−1), which is several times higher than that of the traditional Ta/CoFeB/MgO structure reported in past work. The SOT in the FePt films originated from the structural inversion asymmetry in the FePt films since the dislocations and defects were inhomogeneously distributed within the samples. Furthermore, the FePt grown on MgO with a granular structure had a larger effective SOT field and efficiency than that grown on SrTiO3 (STO) with a continuous structure. The SOT efficiency was found to be considerably dependent on not only the sputtering temperature-induced chemical ordering but also the lattice mismatch-induced evolution of the microstructure. Our findings can provide a useful means of efficiently electrically controlling a magnetic bit that is highly thermally stable via SOT.

Abstract Nanomedicines (NMs) have emerged as an efficient approach for developing novel treatment strategies against a variety of diseases. Over the past few decades, NM formulations have received great attention, and a large number of studies have been performed in this field. Despite this, only about 60 nano-formulations have received industrial acceptance and are currently available for clinical use. Their in vivo pharmaceutical behavior is considered one of the main challenges and hurdles for the effective clinical translation of NMs, because it is difficult to monitor the pharmaceutic fate of NMs in the biological environment using conventional pharmaceutical evaluations. In this context, non-invasive imaging modalities offer attractive solutions, providing the direct monitoring and quantification of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of labeled NMs in a real-time manner. Imaging evaluations have great potential for revealing the relationship between the physicochemical properties of NMs and their pharmaceutical profiles in living subjects. In this review, we introduced imaging techniques that can be used for in vivo NM evaluations. We also provided an overview of various studies on the influence of key parameters on the in vivo pharmaceutical behavior of NMs that had been visualized in a non-invasive and real-time manner. Graphical Abstract

Magnetic skyrmion, a nano-sized spin texture with topological property, have the potential to develop high-density, low-power, and multifunctional spintronic devices. To realize the reconfiguration of a single logic device and the implementation of the complete logic functions, a new reconfigurable and reusable skyrmion logic is proposed and verified by micromagnetic simulation. Logic functions including AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR are realized in ferromagnetic (FM) nanotrack by skyrmion-edge repulsions and the voltage control of magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect. The working state of the potential well can be controlled by the link of the input signals, thus changing the function type. In addition, through reusing skyrmion in circular track, the energy required for creation and deletion is reduced. This work can provide guidance for the design and optimization of reconfigurable and reusable logic devices with circular track based on skyrmion.

The superhydrophobic feature is highly desirable for oil/water separation (OWS) operation to achieve excellent separation efficiency. However, using hazardous materials in fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces is always the main concern. Herein, superhydrophobic filters were prepared via an eco-friendly approach by anchoring silica particles (SiO2) onto the cotton fabric surface, followed by surface coating using natural material—myristic acid via a dip coating method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used in the synthesis of SiO2 particles from the silica sol. In addition, the impact of the drying temperature on the wettability of the superhydrophobic filter was investigated. Moreover, the pristine cotton fabric and as-prepared superhydrophobic cotton filters were characterised based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and contact angle (CA) measurement. The superhydrophobic cotton filter was used to perform OWS using an oil-water mixture containing either chloroform, hexane, toluene, xylene or dichloroethane. The separation efficiency of the OWS using the superhydrophobic filter was as high as 99.9%. Moreover, the superhydrophobic fabric filter also demonstrated excellent durability, chemical stability, self-healing ability and reusability.

We report an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 involving 3 Malayan tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) at a zoo in Tennessee, USA. Investigation identified naturally occurring tiger-to-tiger transmission; genetic sequence change occurred with viral passage. We provide epidemiologic, environmental, and genomic sequencing data for animal and human infections.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a prevalent and heterogeneous malignancy with poor prognosis and high mortality rates. There is significant evidence of alternative splicing (AS) contributing to tumor development, suggesting its potential in predicting prognosis and therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to establish an AS-based prognostic signature in HNSC patients.Methods: The expression profiles and clinical information of 486 HNSC patients were downloaded from the TCGA database, and the AS data were downloaded from the TCGA SpliceSeq database. The survival-associated AS events were identified by conducting a Cox regression analysis and utilized to develop a prognostic signature by fitting into a LASSO-regularized Cox regression model. Survival analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to evaluate the signature and an independent cohort was used for validation. The immune cell function and infiltration were analyzed by CIBERSORT and the ssGSEA algorithm.Results: Univariate Cox regression analysis identified 2726 survival-associated AS events from 1714 genes. The correlation network reported DDX39B, PRPF39, and ARGLU1 as key splicing factors (SF) regulating these AS events. Eight survival-associated AS events were selected and validated by LASSO regression to develop a prognostic signature. It was confirmed that this signature could predict HNSC outcomes independent of other variables via multivariate Cox regression analysis. The risk score AUC was more than 0.75 for 3 years, highlighting the signature’s prediction capability. Immune infiltration analysis reported different immune cell distributions between the two risk groups. The immune cell content was higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. The correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between risk score, immune cell subsets, and immune checkpoint expression.Conclusion: The prognostic signature developed from survival-associated AS events could predict the prognosis of HNSC patients and their clinical response to immunotherapy. However, this signature requires further research and validation in larger cohort studies.

Negative affect is an important temperament in children, influencing their social skills. However, the evidence for this association in preschool children is limited. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms that explain the relationship between preschool children’s negative affect and social skills remain less understood. Thus, the primary goal of this study was to examine the moderating role of the teacher–child relationship in the associations between negative affect and social skills of Chinese preschoolers. A sample of 198 preschool children (Mage = 58.64 ± 3.83 months, 53% boys), recruited from 13 classes in two public kindergartens in Shanghai, China, participated in this 1-year longitudinal study. The mothers reported children’s negative affect, while the teachers reported children’s social skills and the teacher–child relationship. Results of a series of moderating effect analyses showed that (1) T1 negative affect could significantly negatively predict T2 social skills (cooperation, self-control, and assertion), and (2) the associations between negative affect and social skills were moderated by the teacher–child relationship (including teacher–child closeness and conflict). Specifically, a high level of teacher–child closeness buffered the prediction of negative affect on social skills, while a high level of teacher–child conflict aggravated the said prediction. The findings highlight the importance of the teacher–child relationship in the development of children’s social skills during preschool age when they have a high level of negative affect. This has important implications for the development of interventions to improve teacher–child relationships and children’s social skills.

Abstract Mutations in the U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1) gene are the common feature of a major subset in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, the genetic landscape and molecular pathogenesis of oncogenic U2AF1 S34F mutation in MDS are not totally understood. We performed comprehensive analysis for prognostic significance of U2AF1 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cohort based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Functional analysis of U2AF1 S34F mutation was performed in vitro. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and significantly enriched pathways were identified by RNA sequencing. The forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a) was investigated to mediate the function of U2AF1 S34F mutation in cell models using lentivirus. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting analyses, and immunofluorescence assays were also conducted. U2AF1 mutations were associated with poor prognosis in MDS and AML samples, which significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced cellular apoptosis in cell models. Our data identified that U2AF1-mutant cell lines undergo FOXO3a-dependent apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which induces pyroptotic cell death. Particularly, an increase in the level of FOXO3a promoted the progression of MDS in association with restored autophagy program leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation in response to U2AF1 S34F mutation. Based on the result that U2AF1 S34F mutation promoted the transcriptional activity of Bim through upregulating FOXO3a with transactivation of cell cycle regulators p21 Cip1 and p27 Kip1 , FOXO3a, a potentially cancer-associated transcription factor, was identified as the key molecule on which these pathways converge. Overall, our studies provide new insights that U2AF1 S34F mutation functions the crucial roles in mediating MDS disease progression via FOXO3a activation, and demonstrate novel targets of U2AF1 mutations to the pathogenesis of MDS.

To assess transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a detention facility experiencing a coronavirus disease outbreak and evaluate testing strategies, we conducted a prospective cohort investigation in a facility in Louisiana, USA. We conducted SARS-CoV-2 testing for detained persons in 6 quarantined dormitories at various time points. Of 143 persons, 53 were positive at the initial test, and an additional 58 persons were positive at later time points (cumulative incidence 78%). In 1 dormitory, all 45 detained persons initially were negative; 18 days later, 40 (89%) were positive. Among persons who were SARS-CoV-2 positive, 47% (52/111) were asymptomatic at the time of specimen collection; 14 had replication-competent virus isolated. Serial SARS-CoV-2 testing might help interrupt transmission through medical isolation and quarantine. Testing in correctional and detention facilities will be most effective when initiated early in an outbreak, inclusive of all exposed persons, and paired with infection prevention and control.

Abstract With a decade of effort, significant progress has been achieved in the synthesis, processing, and applications of MXenes. Metal ions play many crucial roles, such as in MXene delamination, structure regulation, surface modification, MXene composite construction, and even some unique applications. The different roles of metal ions are attributed to their many interactions with MXenes and the unique nature of MXenes, including their layered structure, surface chemistry, and the existence of multi‐valent transition metals. Interactions with metal ions are crucial for the energy storage of MXene electrodes, especially in metal ion batteries and supercapacitors with neutral electrolytes. This review aims to provide a good understanding of the interactions between metal ions and MXenes, including the classification and fundamental chemistry of their interactions, in order to achieve their more effective utilization and rational design. It also provides new perspectives on MXene evolution and exfoliation, which may suggest optimized synthesis strategies. In this respect, the different effects of metal ions on MXene synthesis and processing are clarified, and the corresponding mechanisms are elaborated. Research progress on the roles metal ions have in MXene applications is also introduced.

Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infects multiple mammalian species including humans. A United States Midwest swine farm with approximately one thousand 3-month-old pigs experienced an event, in which more than 300 pigs showed neurological signs, like “down and peddling”, with approximately 40% mortality. A novel MRV was isolated from the diseased pigs. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate was a reassortant virus containing viral gene segments from three MRV serotypes that infect human, bovine and swine. The M2 and S1 segment of the isolate showed 94% and 92% nucleotide similarity to the M2 of the MRV2 D5/Jones and the S1 of the MRV1 C/bovine/Indiana/MRV00304/2014, respectively; the remaining eight segments displayed 93%–95% nucleotide similarity to those of the MRV3 FS-03/Porcine/USA/2014. Pig studies showed that both MRV-infected and native contact pigs displayed fever, diarrhoea and nasal discharge. MRV RNA was detected in different intestinal locations of both infected and contact pigs, indicating that the MRV isolate is pathogenic and transmissible in pigs. Seroconversion was also observed in experimentally infected pigs. A prevalence study on more than 180 swine serum samples collected from two states without disease revealed 40%–52% positive to MRV. All results warrant the necessity to monitor MRV epidemiology and reassortment as the MRV could be an important pathogen for the swine industry and a novel MRV might emerge to threaten animal and public health.

Photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis, as green and low-cost pollutant treatment technologies, have been widely used to simultaneously degrade pollutants and produce clean energy to solve the problems of environmental pollution and energy crisis. However, the disadvantages of photocatalysts in a narrow absorption range and low utilization rate of solar energy still hinder the practical application. Here we fabricate two-dimensional porous Ruddlensden–Popper type nickel-based perovskite oxide La2NiO4 as a noble metal-free photoanode for photoelectrocatalytic urea oxidation under full spectrum sunlight irradiation. The transient photocurrent density under near infrared (NIR) light (λ > 800 nm) can reach 50 μA cm−2. Urea wastewater was used as the fuel to obtain low-energy hydrogen production, and round-the-clock hydrogen production was achieved with the optimal yield of 22.76 μmol cm−2 h−1. Moreover, a photocatalytic urea fuel cell (PUFC) was constructed with La2NiO4 as the photoanode. The power density under UV-vis-NIR was 0.575 μW cm−2. Surprisingly, the filling factor (FF) under NIR light was 0.477, which was much higher than those under UV-vis-NIR and visible light. The results demonstrated that PUFCs constructed from low-cost nickel-based perovskite oxides have potential applications for low-energy hydrogen production and efficient utilization of sunlight.

We describe validated protocols for generating high-quality, full-length severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 genomes from primary samples. One protocol uses multiplex reverse transcription PCR, followed by MinION or MiSeq sequencing; the other uses singleplex, nested reverse transcription PCR and Sanger sequencing. These protocols enable sensitive virus sequencing in different laboratory environments.

Abstract Background Acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are critical life-threatening syndromes characterized by the infiltration of a large number of granulocytes (mainly neutrophils) that lead to an excessive inflammatory response. Emodin (Emo) is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative and an active ingredient of Chinese medicine. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the impact of Emo on the pulmonary inflammatory response and the granulocytes function in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Results Treatment with Emo protected rat against LPS-induced ALI. Compared to untreated rat, Emo-treated rat exhibited significantly ameliorated lung pathological changes and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). However, Emo has no protective effect on the rat model of acute lung injury with granulocyte deficiency. In addition, treatment with Emo enhanced the bactericidal capacity of LPS-induced granulocytes via the up-regulation of the ability of granulocytes to phagocytize bacteria and generate neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Emo also downregulated the respiratory burst and the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated granulocytes, alleviating the damage of granulocytes to surrounding tissues. Finally, Emo can accelerate the resolution of inflammation by promoting apoptosis of granulocytes. Conclusion Our results provide the evidence that Emo could ameliorates LPS-induced ALI via its anti-inflammatory action by modulating the function of granulocytes. Emo may be a promising preventive and therapeutic agent in the treatment of ALI.

Colloidal silica, which has a low viscosity, can seep quickly through sand and subsequently form silica gel to stabilize the sand. The addition of carbon nanotubes can improve the strength of the sand-gel composite. However, previous literature has not investigated the coupled effect of carbon nanotubes and sand crushing on the strength and compression of colloidal-silica-stabilized calcareous sand. So we prepared 86 specimens with 2 different concentrations of colloidal silica and 9 different contents of carbon nanotubes. Then, we performed triaxial shearing and isotropic compression tests based on the triaxial system. The test results show the following: (1) The same carbon nanotube content at the higher concentration of colloidal silica results in higher shear strength, but increasing crushing makes the shear strengths, respectively, caused by 10 wt% and 40 wt% colloidal silica dispersed with carbon nanotubes tend to be the same. (2) The optimal content of carbon nanotubes, which leads to the maximum shear strength, is distributed differently in different concentrations of colloidal silica; i.e., as crushing increases, the optimal carbon nanotube content drifts from 0.03 wt% to 0.10 wt% in 10 wt% colloidal silica, while 40 wt% colloidal silica stabilizes the optimal carbon nanotube content around 0.08 wt%. (3) Compared with carbon nanotubes in 10 wt % colloidal silica, carbon nanotubes in 40 wt% colloidal silica cause higher cohesion rather than internal friction angle, which is the mechanism of higher shear strength at higher colloidal silica concentration with the same carbon nanotube content. (4) For isotropic compression, minimal compression is caused by 40 wt% colloidal silica plus 0.1 wt% carbon nanotubes.

The etiologic agent of an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, was identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in January 2020. A patient in the United States was given a diagnosis of infection with this virus by the state of Washington and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 20, 2020. We isolated virus from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens from this patient and characterized the viral sequence, replication properties, and cell culture tropism. We found that the virus replicates to high titer in Vero-CCL81 cells and Vero E6 cells in the absence of trypsin. We also deposited the virus into 2 virus repositories, making it broadly available to the public health and research communities. We hope that open access to this reagent will expedite development of medical countermeasures.

Abstract Background Quinolones are commonly used for treatment of infections by bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. However, the rising resistance to quinolones worldwide poses a major clinical and public health risk. This study aimed to characterise a novel multiple resistance plasmid carrying three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli clinical stain RJ749. Methods MICs of ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for RJ749 and transconjugant c749 were determined by the Etest method. Conjugation was performed using sodium azide-resistant E. coli J53 strain as a recipient. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were PCR-amplified. Results RJ749 was highly resistant to quinolones, while c749 showed low-level resistance. S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that RJ749 and c749 both harboured a plasmid. PCR presented chromosomal mutation sites of the quinolone resistance-determining region, which mediated quinolone resistance. The c749 genome comprised a single plasmid, pRJ749, with a multiple resistance region, including three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes (aac (6′)-Ib-cr, qnrS2, and oqxAB) and ten acquired resistance genes. One of the genes, qnrS2, was shown for the first time to be flanked by two IS26s. Three IS26-mediated circular molecules carrying the PMQR genes were detected. Conclusions We revealed the coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid and a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 flanked by IS26 elements. IS26 plays an important role in horizontal spread of quinolone resistance.

Human mitochondrial transcription termination factor 1 (MTERF1) has been demonstrated to play an important role in mitochondrial gene expression regulation. However, the molecular mechanism of MTERF1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely unknown. Here, we found that MTERF1 expression was significantly increased in colon cancer tissues compared with normal colorectal tissue by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and tissue microarrays (TMA). Overexpression of MTERF1 in the HT29 cell promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and xenograft tumor formation, whereas knockdown of MTERF1 in HCT116 cells appeared to be the opposite phenotype to HT29 cells. Furthermore, MTERF1 can increase mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication, transcription, and protein synthesis in colorectal cancer cells; increase ATP levels, the mitochondrial crista density, mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxygen consumption rate (OCR); and reduce the ROS production in colorectal cancer cells, thereby enhancing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity. Mechanistically, we revealed that MTERF1 regulates the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in cancerous cell lines, and we also confirmed the involvement of the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in both xenograft tumor tissues and colorectal cancer tissues. In summary, our data reveal an oncogenic role of MTERF1 in CRC progression, indicating that MTERF1 may represent a new therapeutic target in the future.

For crushable calcareous sand, the stress-dilatancy curve has a significant turning hook around the peak stress ratio, the hook contains the main features of the loading process, including the phase transformation point and the peak stress ratio point. However, more than half of this turning hook, i.e., the line after the peak stress ratio point, is usually ignored by known stress-dilatancy models. It is difficult to directly establish the stress-dilatancy model with such turning hook characteristics, since such turning hook demonstrates that the dilatancy is not a single-valued function of the stress ratio. Based on the first law of thermodynamic, we related dilatancy to breakage energy. Then, we mapped breakage energy from the stress-energy plane to the strain-energy plane to avoid the non-single-valued function problem. Then, the stress-dilatancy model was conveniently established. Compared with the other four existing stress-dilatancy models, the benefit of our modeling process is that it can easily capture the turning hook of the stress-dilatancy curve. Our model is also verified by simulating colloidal-silica-stabilized and MICP-stabilized calcareous sands, as well as three types of calcareous sands, respectively.

The majority of Kenya’s > 3 million camels have antibodies against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), although human infection in Africa is rare. We enrolled 243 camels aged 0–24 months from 33 homesteads in Northern Kenya and followed them between April 2018 to March 2020. We collected and tested camel nasal swabs for MERS-CoV RNA by RT-PCR followed by virus isolation and whole genome sequencing of positive samples. We also documented illnesses (respiratory or other) among the camels. Human camel handlers were also swabbed, screened for respiratory signs, and samples were tested for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR. We recorded 68 illnesses among 58 camels, of which 76.5% (52/68) were respiratory signs and the majority of illnesses (73.5% or 50/68) were recorded in 2019. Overall, 124/4692 (2.6%) camel swabs collected from 83 (34.2%) calves in 15 (45.5%) homesteads between April–September 2019 screened positive, while 22 calves (26.5%) recorded reinfections (second positive swab following ≥ 2 consecutive negative tests). Sequencing revealed a distinct Clade C2 virus that lacked the signature ORF4b deletions of other Clade C viruses. Three previously reported human PCR positive cases clustered with the camel infections in time and place, strongly suggesting sporadic transmission to humans during intense camel outbreaks in Northern Kenya.

Tests for SARS-CoV-2 are crucial for the mass surveillance of the incidence of infection. The long waiting time for classic nucleic acid test results highlights the importance of developing alternative rapid biosensing methods. Herein, we propose a fiber-optic biolayer interferometry-based biosensor (FO-BLI) to detect SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, extracellular domain (ECD), and receptor-binding domain (RBD) in artificial samples in 13 min. The FO-BLI biosensor utilized an antibody pair to capture and detect the spike proteins. The secondary antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reacted with the enzyme substrate for signal amplification. Two types of substrates, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and an advanced 3-Amino-9-ethylcarbazole (i.e., AMEC), were applied to evaluate their capabilities in enhancing signals and reaching high sensitivity. After careful comparison, the AMEC-based FO-BLI biosensor showed better assay performance, which detected ECD at a concentration of 32–720 pM and RBD of 12.5–400 pM in artificial saliva and serum, respectively. The limit of detection (LoD) for SARS-CoV-2 ECD and RBD was defined to be 36 pM and 12.5 pM, respectively. Morphology of the metal precipitates generated by the AMEC-HRP reaction in the fiber tips was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Collectively, the developed FO-BLI biosensor has the potential to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 antigens and provide guidance for “sample-collect and result-out on-site” mode.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common hepatic disease in western countries and is even more ubiquitous in Asian countries. Our study determined that TH17/Treg cells were imbalanced in animal models. Based on our interest in the mechanism underlying TH17/Treg cell imbalance in nonalcoholic fatty liver mice, we conducted a joint bioinformatics analysis to further investigate this process. Common gene sequencing analysis was based on one trial from one sequencing platform, where gene expression analysis and enrichment analysis were the only analyses performed. We compared different sequencing results from different trials performed using different sequencing platforms, and we utilized the intersection of these analytical results to perform joint analysis. We used a bioinformatics analysis method to perform enrichment analysis and map interaction network analysis and predict potential microRNA sites. Animal experiments were also designed to validate the results of the data analysis based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting. Our results revealed 8 coexisting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 7 hinge genes. The identified DEGs may influence nonalcoholic steatosis hepatitis through the interleukin-17 pathway. We found that microRNA-29c interacts with FOS and IGFBP1. Polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed both FOS and microRNA-29c expression in NASH mice, and western blot analyses indicated the same trend with regard to FOS protein levels. Based on these results, we suggest that microRNA-29c acts on FOS via the interleukin-17 signaling pathway to regulate TH17/Treg cells in NASH patients.

BackgroundThe prognostic value of immune-related genes and lncRNAs in neuroblastoma has not been elucidated, especially in subgroups with different outcomes. This study aimed to explore immune-related prognostic signatures.Materials and MethodsImmune-related prognostic genes and lncRNAs were identified by univariate Cox regression analysis in the training set. The top 20 C-index genes and 17 immune-related lncRNAs were included in prognostic model construction, and random forest and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression algorithms were employed to select features. The risk score model was constructed and assessed using the Kaplan-Meier plot and the receiver operating characteristic curve. Functional enrichment analysis of the immune-related lncRNAs was conducted using the STRING database.ResultsIn GSE49710, five immune genes (CDK4, PIK3R1, THRA, MAP2K2, and ULBP2) were included in the risk score five genes (RS5_G) signature, and eleven immune-related lncRNAs (LINC00260, FAM13A1OS, AGPAT4-IT1, DUBR, MIAT, TSC22D1-AS1, DANCR, MIR137HG, ERC2-IT1, LINC01184, LINC00667) were brought into risk score LncRNAs (RS_Lnc) signature. Patients were divided into high/low-risk score groups by the median. Overall survival and event/progression-free survival time were shortened in patients with high scores, both in training and validation cohorts. The same results were found in subgroups. In grouping ability assessment, the area under the curves (AUCs) in distinguishing different groups ranged from 0.737 to 0.94, better in discriminating MYCN status and high risk in training cohort (higher than 0.9). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that RS5_G and RS_Lnc were the independent risk factors for overall and event/progression-free survival (all p-values

Abstract Background Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic used to treat staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. Reports of clinical Streptococcus agalactiae isolates with the rare lincosamide resistance/macrolide susceptibility (LR/MS) phenotype are increasing worldwide. In this study, we characterised three clinical S. agalactiae strains with the unusual L phenotype from China. Methods Three clinical S. agalactiae strains, Sag3, Sag27 and Sag4104, with the L phenotype were identified from 186 isolates collected from 2016 to 2018 in Shanghai, China. The MICs of clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and penicillin were determined using Etest. PCR for the lnu(B) gene was conducted. Whole genome sequencing and sequence analysis were carried out to investigate the genetic context of lnu(B). Efforts to transfer lincomycin resistance by conjugation and to identify the circular form by inverse PCR were made. Results Sag3, Sag27, and Sag4104 were susceptible to erythromycin (MIC ≤0.25 mg/L) but resistant to clindamycin (MIC ≥1 mg/L). lnu(B) was found to be responsible for the L phenotype. lnu(B) in Sag3 and Sag27 were chromosomally located in an aadE-spw-lsa(E)-lnu(B) resistance gene cluster adjacent to an upstream 7-kb tet(L)-cat resistance gene cluster. Two resistance gene clusters were flanked by the IS6-like element, IS1216. Sag4104 only contained partial genes of aadE-spw-lsa(E)-lnu(B) resistance gene cluster and was also flanked by IS1216. Conclusion These results established the presence of the L phenotype associated with lnu(B) in clinical S. agalactiae isolates in China. The lnu(B)-containing multi-resistance gene cluster possibly acts as a composite transposon flanked by IS1216 and as a vehicle for the dissemination of multidrug resistance among S. agalactiae.

The fault diagnosis of the gearbox is a complex and important work. In this paper, a multilayer gated recurrent unit (MGRU) method is proposed for spur gear fault diagnosis, that is, three-layer gated recurrent unit (GRU). The vibration signals are firstly monitored on the test bench, and then extracted in both time domain and time-frequency domain. Finally, MGRU is used to learn representation and classification. The MGRU can improve the representation of information and identify the features of fault types more precisely with the increasing number of layers. The proposed method was tested by two spur gears with 10 state modes. To evaluate the method's classification accuracy, four methods were utilized for comparison, i.e., the GRU, long short-term memory (LSTM), multilayer LSTM (MLSTM), and support vector machine (SVM), respectively. In addition, the separability and robustness analysis are also discussed for the proposed MGRU performance. All of the results exhibited that the proposed MGRU approach is effective for spur gear fault diagnosis.

To tackle the network congestion problem caused by ground gateway stations arranged within a limited area in low earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, a routing algorithm based on segment routing for traffic return is proposed. Light and heavy load zones are dynamically divided according to the relative position relationship between gateways and the reverse slot. The pre-balancing shortest path algorithm is used in the light load zone, and the minimum weight path defined by congestion index is the routing rule in the heavy load zone. Then, the consistent forwarding is performed referring to segment routing in all zones. Simulation conditions are different sizes of heavy load zone, different traffic density distributions, and different traffic demands. Simulation results confirm that the load-balancing performance is improved significantly with the extension of the heavy load zone size in terms of the average rejection ratio, the average relative throughput, the maximum link utilization, and the average delay. The proposed algorithm is an alternative solution and guidance for routing strategy in LEO satellite networks.

Abstract Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which are high-energy-density and low-safety-risk secondary batteries, are underpinned to the rise in electrochemical energy storage devices that satisfy the urgent demands of the global energy storage market. With the aim of achieving high energy density and fast-charging performance, the exploitation of simple and low-cost approaches for the production of high capacity, high density, high mass loading, and kinetically ion-accessible electrodes that maximize charge storage and transport in LIBs, is a critical need. Toward the construction of high-performance electrodes, carbons are promisingly used in the enhanced roles of active materials, electrochemical reaction frameworks for high-capacity noncarbons, and lightweight current collectors. Here, we review recent advances in the carbon engineering of electrodes for excellent electrochemical performance and structural stability, which is enabled by assembled carbon architectures that guarantee sufficient charge delivery and volume fluctuation buffering inside the electrode during cycling. Some specific feasible assembly methods, synergism between structural design components of carbon assemblies, and electrochemical performance enhancement are highlighted. The precise design of carbon cages by the assembly of graphene units is potentially useful for the controlled preparation of high-capacity carbon-caged noncarbon anodes with volumetric capacities over 2100 mAh cm−3. Finally, insights are given on the prospects and challenges for designing carbon architectures for practical LIBs that simultaneously provide high energy densities (both gravimetric and volumetric) and high rate performance.

On-site monitoring of carbamazepine (CBZ) that allows rapid, sensitive, automatic, and high-throughput detection directly from whole blood is of urgent demand in current clinical practice for precision medicine. Herein, we developed two types (being indirect vs. direct) of fiber-optic biolayer interferometry (FO-BLI) biosensors for on-site CBZ monitoring. The indirect FO-BLI biosensor preincubated samples with monoclonal antibodies towards CBZ (MA-CBZ), and the mixture competes with immobilized CBZ to bind towards MA-CBZ. The direct FO-BLI biosensor used sample CBZ and CBZ-horseradish peroxidase (CBZ-HRP) conjugate to directly compete for binding with immobilized MA-CBZ, followed by a metal precipitate 3,3′-diaminobenzidine to amplify the signals. Indirect FO-BLI detected CBZ within its therapeutic range and was regenerated up to 12 times with negligible baseline drift, but reported results in 25 min. However, Direct FO-BLI achieved CBZ detection in approximately 7.5 min, down to as low as 10 ng/mL, with good accuracy, specificity and negligible matric interference using a high-salt buffer. Validation of Direct FO-BLI using six paired sera and whole blood from epileptic patients showed excellent agreement with ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Being automated and able to achieve high throughput, Direct FO-BLI proved itself to be more effective for integration into the clinic by delivering CBZ values from whole blood within minutes.

Abstract Since their discovery in 2011, transition metal carbides or nitrides (MXenes) have attracted a wide range of attention due to their unique properties and promise for use in a variety of applications. However, the low accessible surface area and poor processability of MXene nanosheets caused by their restacking have severely hindered their practical use, and this is expected to be solved by integrating them into macroscopic assemblies. Here, recent progress in the construction of MXene assemblies from 2D to 3D at the macro and/or microlevel is summarized. The mechanisms of their assembly are also discussed to better understand the relationship between performance and assembled structure. The possible uses of MXene assemblies in energy conversion and storage, electromagnetic interference shielding and absorption, and other applications are summarized.

Objective To evaluate the safety and cost of early discharge compared with ordinary discharge in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 474 patients with DM who were discharged from hospital following PCI at a regional center between 2012 and 2015. Results A total of 192 patients (40.5%) were included in the early discharge group and 282 patients (59.5%) were included in the ordinary group. Mortality and morbidity after PCI were recorded. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed similar prognosis between the two groups at 30 days and at 1 year after discharge. However, hospitalization expenses for the regular discharge group were significantly higher than those of the early discharge group (RMB65,750 vs. RMB50,983). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that early discharge of patients with DM following PCI for acute coronary syndrome is safe compared with ordinary discharge, and may reduce hospitalization costs.

The excessive porous space in carbon anodes for lithium-ion batteries has to be utilized for high volumetric performance. Here the authors show an adaptable sulfur template strategy to yield graphene-caged noncarbon materials with a precisely controlled amount of void, enabling ultrahigh volumetric lithium storage.

Background: Unfractionated heparin (UFH), despite its limitations, has been used as the primary anticoagulant alternative during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Some studies indicated that intravenous enoxaparin could be an effective and safe option. Our team used enoxaparin alone at one time according to the guidelines (Class IIA) and found a little catheter thrombosis during PCI. We recommend a new anticoagulation strategy using enoxaparin in combination with UFH. Enoxaparin has a more predictable anticoagulant response with no need of repeatedly monitoring anticoagulation during PCI. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using enoxaparin in combination with UFH in PCI patients with complex coronary artery disease. Methods: Between January 2015 and April 2017, 600 PCI patients who received intravenous UFH at an initial dose of 3000 U plus intravenous enoxaparin at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg (observation group) and 600 PCI patients who received UFH at a dose of 100 U/kg (control group) were consecutively included in this retrospective study. The endpoints were postoperative 48-h thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) bleeding and transfusion and 30-day and 1-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Results: Baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were similar between groups, except there was less stent implantation per patient in the observation group (2.13 vs. 2.25 in the control group, P = 0.002). TIMI bleeding (3.3% vs. 4.7%) showed no significant difference between the observation group and control group. During the 30-day follow-up, the rate of MACCE was 0.9% in the observation group and 1.5% in the control group. There was no significant difference in the rates of MACCE, death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, cerebrovascular event, and angina within 30 days and 1 year after PCI between groups as well as in the subgroup analysis of transfemoral approach. Conclusions: UFH with sequential enoxaparin has similar anticoagulant effect and safety as UFH in PCI of complex coronary artery disease.

Colloidal silica can quickly seep through sand and then form silica gels to cement sand particles. To improve the strength of sand seeped by colloidal silica, carbon nanotubes were dispersed in the colloidal silica to form carbon-nanotube-reinforced sand-gel composites. Then triaxial tests were performed to explore how carbon nanotube content affects shear strength. The test results showed that: (1) with the increase of colloidal silica concentration, the shear strength significantly increased with the same carbon nanotube content (especially the low concentration of 10 wt. % colloidal silica, which showed almost no reinforcing effect with carbon nanotubes) while 40 wt. % colloidal silica plus 0.01 wt. % carbon nanotube caused the maximum increase of shear strength by up to 93.65%; (2) there was a concentration threshold of colloidal silica, above which the shear strength first increased to the peak value and then decreased with increasing carbon nanotube content (and we also established a formula to predict such phenomenon); and (3) SEM images showed that carbon nanotubes were connected as several ropes in the micro-cracks of the silica gel, resulting in greater macroscopic shear strength. Our new method of mixing carbon nanotubes and colloidal silica to seep through sand can contribute to sandy ground improvement.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified on the Arabian Peninsula in 2012 and is still causing cases and outbreaks in the Middle East. When MERS-CoV was first identified, the closest related virus was in bats; however, it has since been recognized that dromedary camels serve as a virus reservoir and potential source for human infections. A total of 376 camels were screened for MERS-Cov at a live animal market in the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. In all, 109 MERS-CoV-positive camels were detected in week 1, and a subset of positive camels were sampled again weeks 3 through 6. A total of 126 full and 3 nearly full genomes were obtained from 139 samples. Spike gene sequences were obtained from 5 of the 10 remaining samples. The camel MERS-CoV genomes from this study represent 3 known and 2 potentially new lineages within clade B. Within lineages, diversity of camel and human MERS-CoV sequences are intermixed. We identified sequences from market camels nearly identical to the previously reported 2015 German case who visited the market during his incubation period. We described 10 recombination events in the camel samples. The most frequent recombination breakpoint was the junctions between ORF1b and S. Evidence suggests MERS-CoV infection in humans results from continued introductions of distinct MERS-CoV lineages from camels. This hypothesis is supported by the camel MERS-CoV genomes sequenced in this study. Our study expands the known repertoire of camel MERS-CoVs circulating on the Arabian Peninsula.Emerging Microbes & Infections (2017) 6, e101; doi:10.1038/emi.2017.89; published online 8 November 2017