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Semen Lepidii is the dried and mature seeds of the cruciferous plant of Descurainia Sophia or Lepidium Apetalum, being a widely-used traditional Chinese medicine for various pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, antitumor, diuretic and improving immune function. However, the chemical components of Semen Ledidii from different regions have not been clear, limiting the further application of this herb medicine in clinic. Therefore, in this study, a method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrostatic Orbital ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS) was developed to identify the chemical components of the three Semen Lepidii, namely Descurainia Sophia 1 (DS1), Descurainia Sophia 2 (DS2) and Lepidium Apetalum (LA) from different regions, and to study the fragmentation pathways of the identified components. The methanol-water (70:30, V/V) extract of the three mashed powder samples was separated on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm×1.7 μm), and infused into high mass resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer for analyzing under positive and negative ion modes. MS/MS data were acquired with a Full MS/dd-MS2 mode, and the chromatographic peaks were aligned and extracted by using Compound Discoverer (CD) software. Then, the accurate mass informations of the precursor and fragment ions were matched to the databases in the CD platform for identification of components in the samples, and studied the fragmentation pathways of identified compounds. A total of 39 compounds are identified in DS1, including alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, amides, organic acids, amino acids, and others. This method was used to analyze methanol-water extract of DS2 and LA, 37 compounds are identified in DS2, including 10 compounds which are not identified in DS1, and 42 compounds are identified in LA, including 7 compounds which are not identified in both DS1 and DS2. The results indicated that the chemical components of Semen Lepidii originated from different regions are remarkably different and may act as medicine in various ways. This study provides a fundamental for further studying the molecular mechanism of pharmacological effects of Semen Lepdii, which can promote its clinical application.

Abstract Fibroblast activation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is a progressive, incurable, and fibrotic lung disease. However, the underlying mechanism of fibroblast activation in IPF remains elusive. Here, we showed that the expression levels of STX11 and SNAP25 were downregulated in the lung tissues from patients with IPF and mice with bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis as well as in the activated fibroblasts. Upregulation of STX11 or SNAP25 suppressed TGF-β1-induced activation of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) via promoting autophagy. However, they failed to suppress fibroblast actviation when autophagy was blocked with the use of chloroquine (CQ). In addition, STX11 or SNAP25 could inhibit TGF-β1-induced fibroblast proliferation and migration. In vivo, overexpression of STX11 exerted its protective role in the mice with BLM-induced lung fibrosis. STX11 and SNAP25 mutually promoted expression of each other. Co-IP assay indicated that STX11 has an interaction with SNAP25. Mechanistically, STX11-SNAP25 interaction activated fibroblast autophagy and further inhibited fibroblast activation via blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Overall, the results suggested that STX11-SNAP25 interaction significantly inhibited lung fibrosis by promoting fibroblast autophagy and suppressing fibroblast activation via blocking the PI3K/ATK/mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, STX11 serves as a promising therapeutic target in IPF.

Abstract Data in terms of how active vitamin D supplementation affects muscle mass and function in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients has led to inconclusive results. The main goal of this research was to examine the association of active vitamin D supplementation and risk of the deterioration of muscle mass and function among ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Eligible ESRD patients on PD were prospectively included, and followed up at 3-month intervals in the tertiary care center. Based on the medications during the 12-month follow-up period, the patients were divided into two groups (vitamin D users and non-users). The deterioration of muscle mass and function was identified utilizing the criteria set by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in 2019 (AWGS 2019). Primary outcome was defined as the deterioration of muscle mass and function at the end of the 12-month follow-up. The absolute diffecence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the incidence of deterioration between vitamin D users and non-users was estimated. The association of vitamin D supplementation with risk of the deterioration of muscle mass and function during the 12-month follow-up period, was examined by employing multivariate logistic regression models. A total of 229 incident PD patients (6 of whom were lost in follow-up) were included. During the entire study period, 54.7% (122/223) of the remaining patients were considered users of oral active vitamin D. The incidence of deterioration in muscle mass and function was 30.5% (68/223) throughout the entire follow-up. In this regard, the rate was 23.0% (28/122) that received oral active vitamin D, while it was 39.6% (40/101) in the group that did not receive it, with an absolute diffecence of -16.6% (95% CI − 4.5, − 28.7) and an estimated relative risk (RR) of 0.784 (95% CI 0.651–0.943). After adjustment for potential confounding factors in logistic regression model, vitamin D users group was still associated with decreased risk of the deterioration of muscle mass and function (OR 0.330, 95% CI 0.159–0.683, P = 0.003). In secondary analysis, the relationship between oral active vitamin D and the deterioration of muscle mass and function remained consistent (≤ 0.25 µg per day vs. non-users; OR 0.300, 95% CI 0.131–0.688, P = 0.004); however, no significant relationship was identified in patients receiving a mean daily dose of > 0.25 µg compared with non-users (OR 0.389, 95% CI 0.146–1.034, P = 0.058). These results indicate that active vitamin D supplementation was significantly associated with a decreased risk of the deterioration of muscle mass and function in incident PD patients with ESRD. However, the amount and type of vitamin D used and the duration of the intervention warrant further randomized controlled trials to confirm the possibility that such medication improves sarcopenia in ESRD patients.

Abstract Data regarding the association of sarcopenia with hospitalization has led to inconclusive results in patients undergoing dialysis. The main goal of this research was to investigate the association between sarcopenia and hospitalization in Chinese individuals on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Eligible patients on CAPD were prospectively included, and followed up for 48 weeks in our PD center. Sarcopenia was identified utilizing the criteria set by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in 2019 (AWGS 2019). Participants were categorized into sarcopenia (non-severe sarcopenia + severe sarcopenia) and non-sarcopenia groups. The primary outcome was all-cause hospitalization during the 48-week follow-up period. Association of sarcopenia with all-cause hospitalization was examined by employing multivariate logistic regression models. The risk of cumulative incidence of hospitalization in the 48-week follow-up was estimated using relative risk (RR and 95% CI). The cumulative hospitalization time and frequency at the end of 48-week follow-up were described as categorical variables, and compared by χ2 test or fisher's exact test as appropriate. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted to examine whether the potential association between sarcopenia and hospitalization was modified. A total of 220 patients on CAPD (5 of whom were lost in follow-up) were included. Prevalences of total sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 54.1% (119/220) and 28.2% (62/220) according to AWGS 2019, respectively. A total of 113 (51.4%) participants were hospitalized during the 48-week follow-up period, of which, the sarcopenia group was 65.5% (78/119) and the non-sarcopenia group was 34.7% (35/101), with an estimated RR of 1.90 (95%CI 1.43–2.52). The cumulative hospitalization time and frequency between sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups were significantly different (both P

Objectives Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) are at risk for hyperkalemia (HK), associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. Data on the burden of HK and management techniques among HD patients in China are still scarce. This study assessed the treatment modalities, recurrence, and prevalence of HK in Chinese HD patients.Methods In this prospective cohort study conducted from May 2021 to July 2022, patients aged ≥18 years who had ESRD and were on HD were enrolled from 15 centers in China (up to 6 months).Results Overall, 600 patients were enrolled. At the baseline visit, mean (± standard deviation) urea reduction ratio was 68.0% ± 9.70 and Kt/V was 1.45 ± 0.496. Over 6 months, 453 (75.5%) patients experienced HK, of whom 356 (78.6%) recurred. Within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months, 203 (44.8%), 262 (57.8%), 300 (66.2%), 326 (72.0%), 347 (76.6%), and 356 (78.6%) patients had at least one HK recurrence event, respectively. The proportions of patients with ≥1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 HK recurrence events were 356 (78.6%), 306 (67.5%), 250 (55.2%), 208 (45.9%), 161 (35.5%), and 110 (24.3%), respectively. Among the 453 patients who experienced HK, only 24 (5.3%) were treated with potassium binders: seven (1.5%) with sodium polystyrene sulfonate, 13 (2.9%) with calcium polystyrene sulfonate, and six (1.3%) with sodium zirconium cyclosilicate.Conclusion Since HK is a chronic illness, long-term care is necessary. Patients on HD should have effective potassium management on non-dialysis days, yet our real-world population rarely used potassium binders.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04799067

Abstract A novel Fe2Mo3O8/MoO2@MoS2 nanocomposite is synthesized for extremely sensitive detection of NH3 in the breath of kidney disease patients at room temperature. Compared to MoS2, α‐Fe2O3/MoS2, and MoO2@MoS2, it shows the optimal gas‐sensing performance by optimizing the formation of Fe2Mo3O8 at 900 °C. The annealed Fe2Mo3O8/MoO2@MoS2 nanocomposite (Fe2Mo3O8/MoO2@MoS2‐900 °C) sensor demonstrates a remarkably high selectivity of NH3 with a response of 875% to 30 ppm NH3 and an ultralow detection limit of 3.7 ppb. This sensor demonstrates excellent linearity, repeatability, and long‐term stability. Furthermore, it effectively differentiates between patients at varying stages of kidney disease through quantitative NH3 measurements. The sensing mechanism is elucidated through the analysis of alterations in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) signals, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations illustrating the NH3 adsorption and oxidation pathways and their effects on charge transfer, resulting in the conductivity change as the sensing signal. The excellent performance is mainly attributed to the heterojunction among MoS2, MoO2, and Fe2Mo3O8 and the exceptional adsorption and catalytic activity of Fe2Mo3O8/MoO2@MoS2‐900 °C for NH3. This research presents a promising new material optimized for detecting NH3 in exhaled breath and a new strategy for the early diagnosis and management of kidney disease.

Chinese ancient bronze fragments from three periods of history were investigated in terms of the characteristics of substrate and patina. The non-destructive protective effect of menthol coating was verified. Patinas on the fragments of the Spring and Autumn period, Warring State period, and Han Dynasty all contain the major components CuCl2·3Cu(OH)2 and Cu2(OH)2CO3. The residual components, some oxides and chlorides of Pb and Sn, show no evident distribution trend in the patinas except PbCl2 is segregated beneath the patina of the Han dynasty fragment. Menthol coating shows a consistently protective ability for these patinated fragments. However, its sublimation is strongly affected by ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH). Menthol coating with an initial thickness of ∼500 µm could effectively protect the fragments for 328 h under 23 ℃ with 54% RH while for only 42 and 2 h respectively under 25 ℃with 100% RH and 35 ℃ with 100% RH.

A Mg-6Li-3Al-1Sn (LAT631) alloy with a bimodal-grained structure was prepared via hot extrusion, followed by room temperature rotary swaging (RTRS). The as-extruded LAT631 alloy undergoes dynamical recrystallization, and massive twins are introduced during RTRS. Especially, Al segregation is generated with massive Al solutes surrounding Sn-rich particles via RTRS. Introducing twins and Al-rich segregation are critical factors for enhancing strength, and the increased proportion of DRXed grains is beneficial to improving the elongation in RSed alloy. This research demonstrates that strategic control of recrystallization and segregation by rotary swaging provides an innovative approach to optimizing the mechanical properties of Mg-Li alloys.

BackgroundOwing to the long penetration depth of gamma (γ)-rays, individuals working in ionizing radiation environments are chronically exposed to low-dose γ-radiation, resulting in cognitive changes. Dose rate significantly affects radiation-induced biological effects; however, its role in chronic low-dose γ-irradiation-induced cognitive impairment remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether chronic low-dose γ-irradiation at low-dose-rate (LDR) could induce cognitive impairment and to compare the cognitive alteration caused by chronic low-dose γ-irradiation at LDR and high-dose-rate (HDR).MethodsThe rats were exposed to γ-irradiation at a LDR of 6 mGy/h and a HDR of 20 mGy/h for 30 days (5 h/day). Functional imaging was performed to assess the brain inflammation and blood–brain barrier (BBB) destruction of rats. Histological and immunofluorescence analyses were used to reveal the neuron damage and the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. RNA sequencing was conducted to investigate changes in gene expression in hippocampus.ResultsThe rats in the LDR group exhibited more persistent cognitive impairment than those in the HDR group. Furthermore, irradiated rats showed brain inflammation and a compromised BBB. Histologically, the number of hippocampal neurons were comparable in the LDR group but were markedly decreased in the HDR. Additionally, activated M1-like microglia and A1-like astrocytes were observed in the hippocampus of rats in the LDR group; however, only M1-like microglia were activated in the HDR group. Mechanistically, the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway contributed to the different cognitive function change between the LDR group and HDR group.ConclusionCompared with chronic low-dose γ-irradiation at HDR, LDR induced more severe cognitive impairment which might involve PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a typical odour compound mainly causing respiratory and central nervous system symptoms. However, the immunotoxicity of inhaled H2S and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, a low-dose inhalation exposure to H2S was arranged to observe inflammatory response and immunotoxicity in lung tissue of rats. Low concentrations of H2S exposure affected the immune level of pulmonary tissue and peripheral blood. Significant pathological changes in lung tissue in the exposure group were observed. At low concentration, H2S not only induced the upregulation of AQP-4 and MMP-9 expression but also stimulated immune responses, initiating various anti-inflammatory and inflammatory factors, altering tissue homeostatic environments. The TNF and chemokine signaling pathway played an important role which can promote the deterioration of pulmonary inflammatory processes and lead to lung injury and fibrosis. Excessive immune response causes an inflammatory effect and blood-gas barrier damage. These data will be of value in evaluating future occupational health risks and providing technical support for the further development of reliable, sensitive, and easy-to-use screening indicators of exposure injury.

Abstract Exploring the “composition‐microstructure‐property” relationship is a long‐standing theme in materials science. However, complex interactions make this area of research challenging. Based on the image processing and machine learning techniques, this paper proposes a multimodal fusion learning framework that comprehensively considers both composition and microstructure in prediction of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of Al‐Si alloys. Firstly, the composition and image information are collected from the literature and supplementary experiments, followed by the image segmentation and quantitative analysis of eutectic Si images. Subsequently, the quantitative analysis results are combined with other features for three‐step feature screening, and 12 key features are obtained. Finally, four machine‐learning models (i.e., decision tree, random forest, adaptive boosting, and extreme gradient boosting [XGBoost]) are used to predict the UTS of Al‐Si alloys. The results show that the quantitative analysis method proposed in this paper is superior to Image‐Pro Plus (IPP) software in some aspects. The XGBoost model has the best prediction performance with R2 = 0.94. Furthermore, five mixed features and their critical values that significantly affect UTS are identified. Our study provides enlightenment for the prediction of UTS of Al‐Si alloys from composition and microstructure, and would be applicable to other alloys.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the titer of anti-A or anti-B antibodies before and after the absorption of IgG anti-AB antibodies in the serum of type O mothers with ABO hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (ABO-HDFN) and the total bilirubin in the serum of the children. Methods Serum samples from 119 children diagnosed with ABO-HDFN and their mothers sent to the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center from January to December 2020 were selected, and clinical data of the children were collected. Three hemolysis tests and serum total bilirubin (TBIL) determination were conducted on the children. IgG anti-A or anti-B antibody titers were tested before and after the mother′s serum absorbed IgG anti-AB antibodies. Statistical analysis was conducted on the IgG antibody titers and the TBIL results of the children. The differences in TBIL results corresponding to different IgG antibody titers were compared. The Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between the IgG anti-A or -B antibody titers and TBIL results before and after the absorption of IgG anti-AB antibodies. Results There were differences in the TBIL results corresponding to IgG anti-A or anti-B titers at different levels in the serum of type O mothers after absorption by IgG anti-AB antibodies (F=8.401, 19.622, P0.05). The IgG anti-A or anti-B titers of maternal serum absorbed by IgG anti-AB antibodies were positively correlated with neonatal TBIL results (r=0.487, 0.629, P

Magnesium-based energy materials, which combine promising energy-related functional properties with low cost, environmental compatibility and high availability, have been regarded as fascinating candidates for sustainable energy conversion and storage. In this review, we provide a timely summary on the recent progress in three types of important Mg-based energy materials, based on the fundamental strategies of composition and structure engineering. With regard to Mg-based materials for batteries, we systematically review and analyze different material systems, structure regulation strategies as well as the relevant performance in Mg-ion batteries (MIBs) and Mg-air batteries (MABs), covering cathodes, electrolytes, anodes for MIBs, and anodes for MABs; as to Mg-based hydrogen storage materials, we discuss how catalyst adding, composite, alloying and nanostructuring improve the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of de/hydrogenation reactions, and in particular, the impacts of composition and structure modification on hydrogen absorption/dissociation processes and free energy modification mechanism are focused; regarding Mg-based thermoelectric materials, the relations between composition/structure and electrical/thermal transport properties of Mg3X2 (X = Sb, Bi), Mg2X (X = Si, Ge, Sn) and MgAgSb-based materials, together with the representative research progress of each material system, are summarized and discussed. Finally, by pointing out remaining challenges and providing possible solutions, this review aims to shed light on the directions and perspectives for practical applications of magnesium-based energy materials in the future.

The negative thermal expansion (NTE) phenomenon is of great significance in fabricating zero thermal expansion (ZTE) materials to avoid thermal shock during heating and cooling. NTE is observed in limited groups of materials, e.g., metal cyanides, oxometallates, and metal-organic frameworks, but has not been reported in the family of metal hydrides. Herein, a colossal and continuous negative thermal expansion is firstly developed in the low-temperature phases of LT1- and LT2-Mg2NiH4 between 488 K and 733 K from in-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) video, with the volume contraction reaching 18.7% and 11.3%, respectively. The mechanisms for volume contraction of LT1 and LT2 phases are elucidated from the viewpoints of phase transformation, magnetic transition, and dehydrogenation, which is different from common NTE materials containing flexible polyhedra units in the structure. The linear volume shrinkage of LT2 in the temperature of 488–553 K corresponds to the phase transition of LT2→HT with a thermal expansion coefficient of –799.7 × 10–6 K–1 revealed by in-situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. The sudden volume contraction in LT1 between 488 and 493 K may be caused by the rapid dehydrogenation of LT1 to Mg2Ni. The revealed phenomenon in single composite material with different structures would be significant for preparing zero thermal expansion materials by tuning the fraction of LT1 and LT2 phases.

Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, promotes the cytotoxicity of the genotoxic anticancer drug cisplatin, yet the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Herein, we revealed that TSA at a low concentration (1 μM) promoted the cisplatin-induced activation of caspase-3/6, which, in turn, increased the level of cleaved PARP1 and degraded lamin A&C, leading to more cisplatin-induced apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest of A549 cancer cells. Both ICP-MS and ToF-SIMS measurements demonstrated a significant increase in DNA-bound platinum in A549 cells in the presence of TSA, which was attributable to TSA-induced increase in the accessibility of genomic DNA to cisplatin attacking. The global quantitative proteomics results further showed that in the presence of TSA, cisplatin activated INF signaling to upregulate STAT1 and SAMHD1 to increase cisplatin sensitivity and downregulated ICAM1 and CD44 to reduce cell migration, synergistically promoting cisplatin cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in the presence of TSA, cisplatin downregulated TFAM and SLC3A2 to enhance cisplatin-induced ferroptosis, also contributing to the promotion of cisplatin cytotoxicity. Importantly, our posttranslational modification data indicated that acetylation at H4K8 played a dominant role in promoting cisplatin cytotoxicity. These findings provide novel insights into better understanding the principle of combining chemotherapy of genotoxic drugs and HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of cancers.

Abstract Background Hyperkalaemia is a known risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia and mortality in patients on haemodialysis. Despite standard adequate haemodialysis, hyperkalaemia is common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at interdialytic intervals. Data on hyperkalaemia burden and its effects on dialysis patterns and serum potassium (sK) fluctuations in patients on haemodialysis in China remain limited. The prospective, observational cohort study (PRECEDE-K; NCT04799067) investigated the prevalence, recurrence, and treatment patterns of hyperkalaemia in Chinese patients with ESRD on haemodialysis. Methods Six hundred adult patients were consecutively enrolled from 15 secondary and tertiary hospitals in China. In this interim analysis, we report the baseline characteristics of the cohort, the prevalence of predialysis hyperkalaemia (sK > 5.0 mmol/L), and the trends in serum–dialysate potassium gradient and intradialytic sK shift at Visit 1 (following a long interdialytic interval [LIDI]). Results At baseline, most patients (85.6%) received three-times weekly dialysis; mean duration was 4.0 h. Mean urea reduction ratio was 68.0% and Kt/V was 1.45; 60.0% of patients had prior hyperkalaemia (previous 6 months). At Visit 1, mean predialysis sK was 4.83 mmol/L, and 39.6% of patients had hyperkalaemia. Most patients (97.7%) received a dialysate potassium concentration of 2.0 mmol/L. The serum–dialysate potassium gradient was greater than 3 mmol/L for over 40% of the cohort (1–

Objective To study the protective effect of glycine solution on frozen red blood cell thawing process. Methods A total of 20 bags of 1 U of leukocytes reduced suspended red blood cells within 6 days were selected for the study. After mixing, each 2 bags of suspended red blood cells were divided into 2 bags and into two groups with 10 bags of 1 U in each group, and were frozen for storage. One group was deglycerolized with sodium chloride solution (control group), and one group was deglycerolized with glycine solution (experimental group). The hemoglobin, free hemoglobin, residual glycerol, total glycerol in red blood cells, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) were detected in the two groups. Results Compared with the free hemoglobin content (0.90±0.05)g/L and residual glycerol content (1.17± 0.08)g/L in the control group, the final product red blood cell supernatant free hemoglobin content (0.77±0.15)g/L and residual glycerol content (0.79±0.33)g/L in the experimental group were decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P

Fault step zones are well developed in faulted lake basins in the eastern part of China, among which, forward fault step zones account for a large proportion, and their spatiotemporal configuration relationship, oil and gas accumulation periods and accumulation conditions, which play a key role in the geological evaluation of regional oil and gas exploration, are difficult to study. In order to further clarify its hydrocarbon accumulation mode and filling period, the authors, by taking the Paleogene Dongying and Shahejie formations in the study area as the main target layers, and selecting wells Qidong 3-1, Zhang 10 and Chenghai 16 to represent the low, medium and high fault levels of the fault area, respectively, conducted in-depth research on the oil and gas properties and distribution laws of different charging stages in various districts of Chengbei through reservoir microlithography observation, fluid inclusion identification, salt water inclusion homogenization temperature and salinity test, GOI statistical analysis and other technologies; applied laser Raman test to effectively identify the gas composition of single inclusions in wells Zhang-10 and Qidong 3-1, determined the specific oil and gas accumulation time in Chengbei fault step zone in combination with the single well burial history, paleogeothermal history and autoclastic illite K-Ar isotopic dating technology of well Qidong 3-1, and summarized the four accumulation elements of source rocks, reservoirs, preservation and transportation in Chengbei area. There are two charging stages in the reservoir, the specific accumulation time of the first stage is from the end of Dongying to the early stage of Guantao, about 16 Ma ±, while that of the second stage is in the early stage of Minghua Town, starting from 6 Ma ± and continuing to the present. Multiple sets of reservoir layers are developed in the study area, and the special fault step structure plays a controlling role in channeling the source rocks and reservoirs, the sealing and preservation of oil and gas, and the transportation and accumulation of reservoirs. The regional accumulation conditions are relatively mature, and the lateral migration-accumulation mode of dual-source hydrocarbon supply and multi-stage accumulation and the longitudinal migration-accumulation mode of fault-sand coupling and relay climbing are reflected in the process of oil and gas accumulation.

PurposeAcute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent among in-hospital patients with high incidence and mortality. Implementing a series of evidence-based AKI care bundles may improve patient outcomes by reducing changeable standards of care. The aim of this meta-analysis was therefore to appraise the influences of AKI care bundles on patient outcomes.Materials and methodsWe explored three international databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and two Chinese databases (Wanfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) for studies from databases inception until November 30, 2022, comparing the impact of different AKI care bundles with usual standards of care in patients with or at risk for AKI. The study quality of non-randomized controlled trials and randomized controlled trials was evaluated by the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tool and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Heterogeneity between studies was appraised by Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics. The possible origins of heterogeneity between studies were assessed adopting Meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Funnel plot asymmetry and Egger regression and Begg correlation tests were performed to discover potential publication bias. Data analysis was completed by software (RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0). The primary outcome was short- or long-term mortality. The secondary outcomes involved the incidence and severity of AKI.ResultsSixteen studies containing 25,690 patients and 25,903 AKI episodes were included. In high-risk AKI patients determined by novel biomarkers, electronic alert or risk prediction score, the application of AKI care bundles significantly reduced the AKI incidence (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.96; p = 0.02; I2 = 84%) and AKI severity (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.39-0.89; p = 0.01; I2 = 65%). No strong evidence is available to prove that care bundles can significantly reduce mortality (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.58-2.30; p = 0.68; I2 = 97%).ConclusionsThe introduction of AKI care bundles in routine clinical practice can effectively improve the outcomes of patients with or at-risk of AKI. However, the accumulated evidence is limited and not strong enough to make definite conclusions.

Introduction Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive fibrotic lung disease with limited therapeutic options and high lethality, related to alveolar type II epithelial (ATII) cell dysregulation, the abnormal repair of alveolar epithelial cells and activation of fibroblasts promote the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) was significantly downregulated in the fibrotic state by proteomics screening in our previous date, and the ATII cell dysregulation can be mediated by FABP1 via regulating fatty acid metabolism and intracellular transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and potential mechanism of FABP1 in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.Methods Proteomics screening was used to detect changes of the protein profiles in two different types (induced by bleomycin and silica, respectively) of pulmonary fibrosis models. The localisation of FABP1 in mouse lung was detected by Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Experimental methods such as lung pathology, micro-CT, western blotting, small animal imaging in vivo, EdU, etc were used to verify the role of FABP1 in pulmonary fibrosis.Results The expression of FABP1 in the mouse lung was significantly reduced in the model of pulmonary fibrosis from our proteomic analysis and immunological methods, the double immunofluorescence staining showed that FABP1 was mainly localised in type II alveolar epithelial cells. Additionally, the expression of FABP1 was negatively correlated with the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that overexpression of FABP1 alleviated pulmonary fibrosis by protecting alveolar epithelium from injury and promoting cell survival.Conclusion Our findings provide a proof-of-principle that FABP1 may represent an effective treatment for pulmonary fibrosis by regulating alveolar epithelial regeneration, which may be associated with the fatty acid metabolism in ATII cells.

Objective To explore the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). To develop machine-learning (ML) methods based on NLR and other relevant high-risk factors to establish new and effective predictive models of CI-AKI. Methods: The data of 2230 patients, who underwent elective vascular intervention, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into a CI-AKI group and a non-CI-AKI group. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of NLR with CI-AKI and high-risk factors for CI-AKI, and logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and naïve Bayes (NB) models based on NLR and the high-risk factors were established.Results A high NLR(>2.844) was an independent risk factor for CI-AKI (odds ratio = 2.304, p

This study investigates the genetic determinants of seed coat color and pattern variations in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), employing a genome-wide association approach. Analyzing a mapping panel of 296 cowpea varieties with 110,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we focused on eight unique coat patterns: (1) Red and (2) Cream seed; (3) White and (4) Brown/Tan seed coat; (5) Pink, (6) Black, (7) Browneye and (8) Red/Brown Holstein. Across six GWAS models (GLM, SRM, MLM, MLMM, FarmCPU from GAPIT3, and TASSEL5), 13 significant SNP markers were identified and led to the discovery of 23 candidate genes. Among these, four specific genes may play a direct role in determining seed coat pigment. These findings lay a foundational basis for future breeding programs aimed at creating cowpea varieties aligned with consumer preferences and market requirements.

Summary: Background: Pegmolesatide, a synthetic peptide-based erythropoietin (EPO) receptor agonist, is being evaluated as an alternative to epoetin alfa for treating anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Chinese dialysis patients. There is a critical need for a long-acting, cost-effective erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that does not produce EPO antibodies. Methods: A randomized, open-label, active-comparator, non-inferiority phase three trial was conducted at 43 dialysis centers in China between May 17th, 2019, and March 28th, 2022. Eligible patients aged 18–70 years were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive pegmolesatide once every four weeks or epoetin alfa one to three times per week, with doses adjusted to maintain a hemoglobin level between 10.0 and 12.0 g/dL. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change in hemoglobin level from baseline to the efficacy evaluation period in the per-protocol set (PPS) population. Non-inferiority of pegmolesatide to epoetin alfa was established if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval for the between-group difference was ≥ −1.0 g/dL. Safety assessment included adverse events and potential anaphylaxis reactions. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03902691. Findings: Three hundreds and seventy-two patients were randomly assigned to the pegmolesatide group (248 patients) or the epoetin alfa group (124 patients). A total of 347 patients (233 in the pegmolesatide group and 114 in the epoetin alfa group) were included in the PPS population. In the PPS, the mean change (standard deviation, SD) in hemoglobin level from baseline to the efficacy evaluation period was 0.07 (0.92) g/dL in the pegmolesatide group and −0.22 (0.97) g/dL in the epoetin alfa group. The between-group difference was 0.29 g/dL (95% confidence interval: 0.11–0.47), verifying non-inferiority of pegmolesatide to epoetin alfa. Adverse events occurred in 231 (94%) participants in the pegmolesatide group and in 110 (89%) in the epoetin alfa group. Hypertension was the most common treatment-related adverse event. No fatal cases of anaphylaxis or hypotension were reported. Interpretation: Monthly subcutaneously injection of pegmolesatide was as effective and safe as conventional epoetin alfa administrated one to three times a week in treating anemia in Chinese dialysis patients. Funding: The study was supported by Hansoh Medical Development Group.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising candidate as the electron‐transporting layer of roll‐to‐roll printed organic and perovskite solar cells (OSCs and PVSCs) because it is low cost, nontoxic, earth‐abundant, and has multiple solution‐processable routes comparable. It has been widely used in both OSCs and PVSCs for many years. With the long‐time development of the ZnO buffer layer, various synthesis, fabrication, and modification approaches have been developed. Meanwhile, several issues including light‐soaking issues, defects issues, and agglomeration issues have emerged and have been solved. In this review, the synthesis approaches of solution‐processed zinc oxide, the application in the OSCs and the PVSCs, and the typical challenges of the solution‐processed ZnO for use in the OSCs and PVSCs have been summarized. Finally, an outlook on the development of solution‐processed ZnO for the upscaling of OSCs and PVSCs is given.

The quality of source and reservoir rocks as well as their spatial assemblage types are crucial factors that controlling the charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil resource. However, there are still deficiencies in the understanding about these factors, especially regarding differences in the mechanism of charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil between different source-reservoir assemblage types, which restricts the formation of theory as well as the process of exploration and development. Taking the Qingxi Sag of the Jiuquan Basin as an example, we have drawn conclusions by field observations, core descriptions, and drilling analyses that there may be eight types of source-reservoir assemblages. Among these, there are three basic types, namely, the lower-generating and upper-reserving type, upper-generating and lower-reserving type, and sandwich-like type. In addition, there are two special types, the self-generating and self-reserving type and source-reservoir interbedding type. Moreover, the other three types are composite types, which are the lowergenerating and upper-reserving type Ⅱ, upper-generating and lower-reserving type Ⅱ, and sandwich-like type Ⅱ. Among the above mentioned eight types, the first five types are common. The results of statistical drilling and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments mutually verify the corresponding relation between source-reservoir assemblage type and tight oil enrichment. The assemblage types can be ranked according to their positive correlation with enrichment in the following order, from the highest to the lowest: self-generating and self-reservoiring type, sandwich-like type, upper-generating and lower-reservoiring type, lower-generating and upper-reservoiring type, and source-reservoir interbedding type. Differences in the mechanism of charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil among the five common source-reservoir assemblage types are revealed and explained. In addition, their accumulation and enrichment patterns are determined and principal controlling factors are proposed, namely, accumulation dynamics, charging patterns, and storage conditions, which are in fact closely related to the source-reservoir assemblage types.

Multispectral image reconstruction, which aims to recover a three-dimensional (3D) spatial–spectral signal from a two-dimensional measurement in a spectral camera based on ghost imaging via sparsity constraint (GISC), has been attracting much attention recently. However, faced with abundant 3D spectral data, the reconstruction quality cannot meet the visual requirements. Based on the robust data processing capability of deep learning, a novel network called SSTU-Net3+ is constructed by improving U-Net3+ with a spatial–spectral transformer (SST). To enhance the feature representation of images during reconstruction, mixed pooling modules and new convolution processes are proposed to improve the performance of the encoder and decoder, with U-Net3+ as the backbone. To boost the quality of reconstructed images, with split and concatenate (Concat) operations, we construct SST modules by exploiting both spatial and spectral correlations of multispectral images to refine the spatial and spectral features. Furthermore, we employ the SST in the decoder to reconstruct the desired 3D cube. Given similar network parameters, experiments on GISC spectral imaging data show that, compared to convolutional neural network–based methods, the average peak signal-to-noise ratio of images reconstructed using SSTU-Net3+ is improved by 3%, the structural similarity is enhanced by 3%, and the spectral angle mapping is cut by 12%. Particularly, compared to differential ghost imaging and compressed sensing, the reconstruction quality of SSTU-Net3+ has been significantly improved. SSTU-Net3+ can process a large amount of 3D multispectral image data more efficiently and construct the target image more accurately than the abovementioned methods.

To have a better understand on the change of microstructure via kinetics, the diffusion behavior of Mg alloys is of special interest to researchers. Meanwhile, diffusion coefficients of Mg based alloys can explain and represent their diffusion behavior well. The evolution of experimental and calculated methods for detecting and extracting diffusion coefficients was discussed briefly. The reasonable diffusion data, especially self-diffusion coefficients, impurity diffusion coefficients and inter-diffusion coefficients of Mg alloys, were reviewed in detail serving to design the Mg alloys with higher accuracy. Then the practical applications of diffusion coefficients of Mg alloys were summarized, including diffusional mobility establishing, precipitation simulation and mechanical properties prediction.

Effect of pre-tension deformation on the rusting behavior of S450EW weathering steel was studied through electrochemical measurements and characterizations on rust layer. The rust layers are no longer stratified and become porous on the deformed samples. Simultaneously, the occlusion effect beneath the rust layer is alleviated. Owing to the above both aspects, the rust layer keeps a composition of approximately 7 wt% γ-FeOOH, 20 wt% α-FeOOH, and 73 wt% Fe3O4/γ-Fe2O3 under each deformation degree. The deformation increases the defects in the incipient passive film, thereby promoting rust generation but leaving inadequate time for the evolution of the rust layer.

The dynamic physical simulation of natural gas accumulation process is one of the important means to reveal the mechanism of natural gas migration and accumulation and to summarize its distribution law. However, due to the characteristics of natural gas itself including "easy to leak, difficult to move and difficult to observe" have become holdbacks for the physical simulation of natural gas migration and accumulation. In order to reveal the migration and accumulation mechanisms of fault-controlled gas reservoirs, and to summarize the formation sequence and distribution pattern of gas reservoirs, typical reservoirs in Dongping, Mahai and Nanbaxian areas in the northwestern part of Tarim Basin were taken as examples to establish a geological evolution model for each reservoir. Aiming at the problems of gas reservoir simulation, an adjustable simulation device for gas migration and accumulation was designed, which could realize the dynamic process of structural change and clarify the phenomenon of gas charging and migration, and the formation process of typical gas reservoirs such as Dongping, and Mahai-Nanbaxian, etc. was successfully simulated. It is clear that the fault not only acts as a channel for gas migration and power transmission, but also controls the evolution sequence and distribution pattern. The formation and evolution sequence models of two different types of natural gas reservoirs, named "late accumulation" and "long-term accumulation", were proposed, the mechanism of natural gas migration and accumulation driven by "fault transmission and high pressure" was revealed, and the vertical preservation sequence featured by "co-existence of natural gas in both deep and shallow formations, and the deeper formations are more favorable for preservation" was concluded. A new concept of natural gas exploration was put forward that "if there are shallow gas reservoirs, there must be deep ones", and we can find natural gas from shallow to deep formations.

Strophanthidin (SPTD), one of the cardiac glycosides, is refined from traditional Chinese medicines such as Semen Lepidii and Antiaris toxicaria, and was initially used for the treatment of heart failure disease in clinic. Recently, SPTD has been shown to be a potential anticancer agent, but the underlying mechanism of action is poorly understood. Herein, we explored the molecular mechanism by which SPTD exerts anticancer effects in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells by means of mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics in combination with bioinformatics analysis. We revealed that SPTD promoted the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2, or DR5) in A549 cells to activate caspase 3/6/8, in particular caspase 3. Consequently, the activated caspases elevated the expression level of apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer in the nucleus (ACIN1) and prelamin-A/C (LMNA), ultimately inducing apoptosis via cooperation with the SPTD-induced overexpressed barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (Banf1). Moreover, the SPTD-induced DEPs interacted with each other to downregulate the p38 MAPK/ERK signaling, contributing to the SPTD inhibition of the growth of A549 cells. Additionally, the downregulation of collagen COL1A5 by SPTD was another anticancer benefit of SPTD through the modulation of the cell microenvironment.

Objective To investigate the inactivation function of 25Gy X-ray irradiation on apheresis platelets’ lymphocytes and its effect on the quantity of apheresis platelets(AP). Methods Twenty healthy voluntary AP donors from January to May 2021 in our center were selected, and 2 bags of AP were donated by each of them. The APs were divided into two groups to undergo X-ray and γ-ray irradiation for 10 min. Lymphocytes were separated from AP samples, before and after irradiation, by lymphocyte separation solution to analyze and compare the effect of X-ray and γ-ray on lymphocyte proliferation. The CD41b, CD62p, blood routine and pH of APs before and 1-day/3-day after irradiation were detected. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze and compare the differences between groups by independent sample t-test. Results After 25Gy X-ray and γ-ray irradiation, the inhibition rates of lymphocytes were (98.034±1.778)% and (97.882±1.915)%, respectively.Compared with the γ irradiation group, the difference of Plt, PDW, MPV, P-LCR, PCT, pH, CD41b and CD62p between 1-day and 3-day group after 25Gy X-ray irradiation showed not statistically significance (P>0.05). Conclusion 25Gy X-ray irradiation can effectively inactivate lymphocytes in APs, and the radiation effect was equivalent with γ-ray; at the same time, there was no significant influence on the quantity of APs.

Abstract Stable interface adhesion and bending durability of flexible organic solar cells (FOSCs) is a basic requirement for its real application in wearable electronics. Unfortunately, the device performance always degraded during continuous bending. Here, we revealed the weak interface adhesion force between MoO3 hole transporting layer (HTL) and the organic photoactive layer was the main reason of poor bending durability. The insertion of an interface bonding layer with a thermoplastic elastomer, polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) effectively improved the interface adhesion force of MoO3 HTL and the active layer and decreased the modulus, which ensured higher than 90% of the initial efficiency remaining after 10000 bending. Meanwhile, the FOSCs gave an efficiency of 14.18% and 16.15% for the PM6:Y6 and PM6:L8-BO devices, which was among the highest performance of FOSCs. These results demonstrated the potential of improving the mechanical durability of FOSCs through thermoplastic elastomer interface modification.

Abstract Background Lung resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSCs) play an important role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by transforming into myofibroblasts, thereby losing their repair ability. Evidence suggests that key proteins of multiple signaling pathways are involved in myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSCs, such as β-Catenin and GLI family zinc finger 1 (GLI1). These proteins are regulated by SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) modification, which is a post-translational modification that promotes protein degradation, while Sumo specific protein 1 (SENP1)-mediated deSUMOylation produces the opposite biological effects. Therefore, we speculated that SENP1 might be a potential target for treating pulmonary fibrosis by preventing the myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSCs. Methods LR-MSCs were isolated from mice by using immunomagnetic beads. The extracted LR-MSCs were identified by flow cytometric analysis and multilineage differentiation assays. Lentivirus packaged shRNA silenced the expression of SENP1 in vitro and vivo. The silencing efficacy of SENP1 was verified by real-time quantitative PCR. The effect of down-regulated SENP1 on the myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSCs was assessed by Immunofluorescence and Western blot. Immunoprecipitation was used to clarify that SENP1 was a key target for regulating the activity of multiple signaling pathways in the direction of LR-MSCs differentiation. LR-MSCs resident in the lung was analyzed with in vivo imaging system. HE and Masson staining was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LR-MSCs with SENP1 down-regulation on the lung of BLM mice. Results In this study, we found that the myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSCs in IPF lung tissue was accompanied by enhanced SENP1-mediated deSUMOylation. The expression of SENP1 increased in LR-MSCs transition of bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. Interfering with expression of SENP1 inhibited the transformation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts in vitro and in vivo and restored their therapeutic effect in BLM lung fibrosis. In addition, activation of the WNT/β-Catenin and Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathways depends on SENP1-mediated deSUMOylation. Conclusions SENP1 might be a potential target to restore the repair function of LR-MSCs and treat pulmonary fibrosis. Video Abstract

On the basis of formulating and perfecting the definition and connotation of tight oil, a comparative study was carried out on the basin formation, hydrocarbon generation, hydrocarbon preservation and reservoir formation for 9 tight oil basins of China and 6 of USA. It was concluded that China′s tight oil has great potential, but the accumulation conditions are complex and diverse. There are 9 tight oil basins in China located in 3 tectonic areas in the eastern, middle and western parts of mainland China. Due to the combined action of the 3 plates of the Pacific, Siberia and India, the type, scale and formation of tight oil basins as well as the generation, preservation and enrichment of hydrocarbon are varied and have regular change trends among the three tectonic areas. From the western tectonic area to the central and then to the eastern one, the distribution scale of tight oil changes from small to large and then to middle, and the number of tight oil distribution horizon decreases from the Upper Permian to the Middle Jurassic and finally to the Lower Cretaceous. The generation conditions of tight oil changed from bad to good and to relatively good. The types of tight oil reservoirs change from multiple and complex to relatively complex and then to relatively simple. The reservoir performance of tight oil reservoirs changes from relatively good to relatively poor and to relatively good, while permeability changes from relatively high to relatively low and to relatively high. The conditions of tight oil migration and accumulation change from relatively poor to good and to relatively good, and the types of tight oil reservoirs change from more to less and back to more. The exploration and development potential of tight oil is the largest in the western tectonic area, followed by the central and then the eastern one. The tight oil basins and tight oil accumulations in China and USA have both commonalities and obvious differences. The fundamental reasons for the differences are the stability of structures and the heterogeneity of sedimentary facies. The tight oil basins in China have poorer tectonic stability and continental deposition, while the tight oil basins in USA have better structural stability and marine deposition. As a result, the hydrocarbon generation capacity of tight oil basins in China is worse than that in USA, but the reservoir conditions are generally better than those in USA. The accumulation mechanism and model of tight oil enrichment in China are more complex than those in USA. The quality of tight oil in USA is generally better than that in China. The size of tight oil basins in USA and the exploration and development potential of tight oil are greater than those in China.

The reaction between solid Fe and liquid Al occupies the important position due to its wide application in industrial processes. However, it is still unclear now which intermetallic compounds will form and the formation mechanism of Fe–Al intermetallic phases. In present work, the Fe–Al solid-liquid reaction by using iron wire as Fe resource is traced by in-situ synchrotron powder X-ray-diffraction. With Fe4Al13 as the dominant phase, two intermetallic phases named Fe4Al13 and Fe2Al5 are found. This phenomenon is different with the result obtained from the diffusion couple of Fe block and melt Al. Thermodynamic calculation and molecular dynamics simulation are performed to verify the underlying mechanism. Related events such as interfacial diffusion and nucleation driving force are analyzed and discussed.

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to analyze the association between sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Han Chinese patients with cirrhosis and to explore its potential mechanism. Methods: Twenty-nine AKI patients with cirrhosis (AKI group) and 87 non-AKI patients with cirrhosis (control group) were recruited from a Han Chinese population. SNaPshot sequencing technology was used for the detection of SNPs. Dual luciferase reporter vectors were constructed and co-transfected into HK-2 human proximal tubular epithelial cells. SIRT1-overexpressing recombinant plasmids were constructed and co-transfected into HK-2 cells. The expression of microRNA-599 (miR-599) and SIRT1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α)/nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1)/mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) was detected by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of the corresponding proteins was detected by Western blotting. Results: There were no statistically significant between-group differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of SIRT1 rs4746720. In the subgroup of patients with hepatic encephalopathy, the SIRT1 rs4746720 SNP was significantly associated with the development of AKI, and the risk of AKI in patients with the T allele was six times higher than in those with the C allele. The results of the in vitro experiments demonstrated that the T allele of SIRT1 rs4746720 increased the binding of miR-599 to the rs4746720 locus within the 3′-UTR of SIRT1 (p < 0.001). The results of the SIRT1-overexpressing recombinant plasmid experiments confirmed that the T allele of SIRT1 rs4746720 mediated the binding of miR-599, leading to decreased SIRT1 and PGC-1α, NRF1, and TFAM (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The SIRT1 rs4746720 SNP might be linked with AKI in cirrhotic patients, and the T allele increased the risk of AKI in those with hepatic encephalopathy. The rs4746720 SNP in the SIRT1 3′-UTR is linked to the development of AKI in cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy, potentially by mediating the binding of miR-599.

A negative tectonic area refers to the relatively lower tectonic area from slope to deep depression in a basin. The theoretical understanding of oil and gas accumulation in the negative tectonic area is based on three accumulation models of "lithologic and stratigraphic reservoirs in the area of sag, lacustrine shale oil in deep depression, and coalbed methane in syncline area". Integrating with previous studies on reservoirs in negative tectonic area, a systematic knowledge system of oil and gas accumulation mechanisms and distribution laws in negative tectonic areas has been formed. The key points are as follows: (1) From the center to the margin of basin, oil and gas reservoirs are distributed in a circular order in the transverse direction, and enrich radially along dominant petroleum migration pathways in the longitudinal direction. (2) Due to different tectonic backgrounds, the sedimentary characteristics, hydrocarbon accumulation conditions, accumulation mechanism and distribution laws of negative tectonic area are greatly different from those of the positive tectonic area. (3) In deep depression and low slope, in situ hydrocarbon accumulation is dominant, and unconventional oil and gas distribution ring (inner ring) is formed. On medium and high slopes, passing oil and gas are captured, and lithologic and stratigraphic oil and gas distribution ring (central ring) is formed. While in positive tectonic area, oil and gas accumulate in high locations, and tectonic oil and gas distribution ring (outer ring) is developed. (4) An exploration idea based on the theory of oil and gas accumulation in negative tectonic area was proposed as follows. The target area should be integrately considered and exploration should be carried out from ring to ring. Migration pathways must be reguarded as a clue to seize oil and gas targets. The theory of oil and gas accumulation in negative tectonic area has effectively guided the discovery of a large number of subtle and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs in the slopes and deep sags of Jizhong and Huanghua depressions, and enriched the modern theory of oil and gas accumulation. It has an important practical guiding value for the exploration of deep complex subtle reservoirs and unconventional reservoirs in the negative tectonic area of basins.

Mg-based materials are one of the most promising hydrogen storage candidates due to their high hydrogen storage capacity, environmental benignity, and high Clarke number characteristics. However, the limited thermodynamics and kinetic properties pose major challenges for their engineering applications. Herein, we review the recent progress in improving their thermodynamics and kinetics, with an emphasis on the models and the influence of various parameters in the calculated models. Subsequently, the impact of alloying, composite, and nano-crystallization on both thermodynamics and dynamics are discussed in detail. In particular, the correlation between various modification strategies and the hydrogen capacity, dehydrogenation enthalpy and temperature, hydriding/dehydriding rates are summarized. In addition, the mechanism of hydrogen storage processes of Mg-based materials is discussed from the aspect of classical kinetic theories and microscope hydrogen transferring behavior. This review concludes with an outlook on the remaining challenge issues and prospects.

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) in Zn-based coating plates during hot stamping is an abnormal phenomenon where intimate contact between liquid Zn and a steel matrix results in the penetration of liquid Zn into the matrix, causing ruptures. In order to alleviate LME phenomenon, this paper designed a series of eutectic Zn-Al-Mg coating alloys to improve the uniformity of the Zn element distribution in the coating during heat treatment and inhibit the reaction between Fe and Zn. The high temperature mechanical properties of the coated steels are determined using thermal simulation to calculate the relative reduction in fracture energy, which is used to evaluate the LME level of the different composition coatings. It is suggested that the Zn-4.5Al-3.0Mg coating shows the highest LME resistance at 920 °C. The microstructure of these Zn-Al-Mg coated steels is observed after austenitization at 850 °C~920 °C for 3 min, which shows that the uniformity of the microstructure after austenitizing is affected by the composition of the coating and the austenitizing temperature. The higher temperature benefits the homogenization of the coating and steel and inhibits LME. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the development of ternary Zn based LME resistant coatings.

Abstract Background IgA nephropathy(IgAN)) is the common pathological type of glomerular diseases. The role of gut microbiota in mediating “gut-IgA nephropathy” has not received sufficient attention in the previous studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of fecal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs), a metabolite of the intestinal microbiota, in patients with IgAN and its correlation with intestinal flora and clinical indicators, and to further investigate the role of the gut-renal axis in IgAN. Methods There were 29 patients with IgAN and 29 normal control subjects recruited from January 2018 to May 2018. The fresh feces were collected. The fecal SCFAs were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gut microbiota was analysed by16S rDNA sequences, followed by estimation of α- and β-diversity. Correlation analysis was performed using the spearman’s correlation test between SCFAs and gut microbiota. Results The levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid and caproic acid in the IgAN patients were significantly reduced compared with control group(P

Descurainia sophia seeds (DS), Astragalus mongholicus (AM), and their formulas are widely used to treat heart failure caused by various cardiac diseases in traditional Chinese medicine practice. However, the molecular mechanism of action of DS and AM has not been completely understood. Herein, we first used mass spectrometry coupled to UPLC to characterize the chemical components of DS and AM decoctions, then applied MS-based quantitative proteomic analysis to profile protein expression in the heart of rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy (ISO-iCM) before and after treated with DS alone or combined with AM, astragaloside IV (AS4), calycosin-7-glucoside (C7G), and Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) from AM. We demonstrated for the first time that DS decoction alone could reverse the most of differentially expressed proteins in the heart of the rats with ISO-iCM, including the commonly recognized biomarkers natriuretic peptides (NPPA) of cardiomyopathy and sarcomeric myosin light chain 4 (MYL4), relieving ISO-iCM in rats, but AM did not pronouncedly improve the pharmacological efficiency of DS. Significantly, we revealed that AS4 remarkably promoted the pharmacological potency of DS by complementarily reversing myosin motor MYH6/7, and further downregulating NPPA and MYL4. In contrast, APS reduced the efficiency of DS due to upregulating NPPA and MYL4. These findings not only provide novel insights to better understanding in the combination principle of traditional Chinese medicine but also highlight the power of mass spectrometric proteomics strategy combined with conventional pathological approaches for the traditional medicine research.

In addition to tectonic fractures, the ubiquitous and important bedding fractures are often overlooked in the imbibition processes. Based on the identification of different fracture types in tight sandstone from the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimusar Sag, NW China, spontaneous imbibition of water experiments was carried out, aiming to investigate the effect of tectonic and bedding fractures on hydrocarbon recovery efficiency in tight reservoir rocks. The results show that the difference in connectivity between the vertical (tectonic fractures) and horizontal (bedding fractures) directions of pores and pore throats is the main reason for the distinction in microscale permeability and, hence, fluid imbibition. The difference in the time required for imbibition between bedding and tectonic fractures is subtle, but the former is slightly lower than the latter in terms of imbibition depth and efficiency. Higher temperatures can shorten the reaction time of imbibition. On the basis that the tectonic fractures are opened, opening the same scale of bedding can increase the imbibition effectiveness by 8.7% at reservoir conditions (27 MPa, 80°C), and the closer to the fracture, the higher the imbibition efficiency in the matrix. The samples with higher porosity and permeability per unit volume have high imbibition oil recovery. However, the imbibition efficiency of the samples with lower porosity and permeability is higher, i.e., the final imbibition efficiency is inversely proportional to porosity and permeability.

Recently, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), an overexpressed transmembrane protein of activated fibroblast in pulmonary fibrosis, has been considered as the new target for diagnosing and treating pulmonary fibrosis. In this work, mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA), which is facile prepared and easily modified, is developed as a carrier to load antifibrosis drug pirfenidone (PFD) and linking FAP inhibitor (FAPI) to realize lesion-targeted drug delivery for pulmonary fibrosis therapy. We have found that PFD@MPDA-FAPI is well biocompatible and with good properties of antifibrosis, when ICG labels MPDA-FAPI, the accumulation of the nanodrug at the fibrosis lung in vivo can be observed by NIR imaging, and the antifibrosis properties of PFD@MPDA-FAPI in vivo were also better than those of pure PFD and PFD@MPDA; therefore, the easily produced and biocompatible nanodrug PFD@MPDA-FAPI developed in this study is promising for further clinical translations in pulmonary fibrosis antifibrosis therapy.

It has important theoretical and practical significance to clarify the causes and distribution of oil and gas. This paper focused on the key scientific issues in the current petroleum genesis research, guided by the general principles of global tectonics and petroleum geology. Various petroleum genesis hypotheses have been sorted out, merged, integrated and innovated, thus a hypothesis framework of organic-inorganic coupling causes for petroleum was introduced. The main factors are that oil (including natural gas) is a renewable resource with multiple origins and has huge reserves. The formation and distribution of petroleum is the result of the coupling of four pairs of hydrocarbon-forming factors, including basin and mantle uplift, deep and shallow fluids, organic and inorganic hydrocarbon generation mechanisms, deep faults and sealing conditions. The higher degree of organic-inorganic cause coupling indicates the richer the oil and gas. The basin and the area below its basement are the locations with the best degree of coupling, followed by the deep and large fault development areas with good sealing conditions in the surrounding areas of the basin. The matching of deep and large faults with sealing conditions is an important factor constraining hydrocarbon accumulation. Large-scale traps with good sealing conditions in long-term, multi-period or recent active deep and large fault development areas are the most favorable targets for major exploration successes.

Taking the tight oil of the Zhongnan sag in the Ordos Basin, Jimusar sag in the Junggar Basin and Qingxi sag in the Jiuquan Basin as study objects, based on field survey, dissection of tight oil reservoirs, sample test, modeling experiment and comprehensive analysis, this study reveals that the tight oil accumulates at start-up pressure, advances under differential pressure, diffuses at alternating fast and low speeds, charges in stepped large area and migrates rapidly through fractures, and enriches in dominant fractures and pores. The root cause of ladder-like charge is the multiple scales of pores. The widespread source rock with high hydrocarbon generation intensity is the material basis for tight oil enrichment; the dominant source reservoir assemblage is the basic unit for tight oil enrichment; fractures and beddings are conducive to local rapid migration of tight oil; fractures and pores work together to control the enrichment of tight oil. Two typical accumulation models of tight oil are established, namely “source reservoir in coexistence, four optimal factors controlling enrichment around central area, and large-scale continuous distribution” for a large freshwater lake clastic rock basin and “source reservoir integration, four optimal factors controlling enrichment, central area distribution, small in size but high in enrichment degree “ for a small saline lake diamictite depression.

Abstract A–π–D–π–A type conjugated small molecules play an indispensable role in organic photovoltaics. Understanding the relationship between the molecular structure and performance is a fundamental question for the further rational design of high-performance organic materials. To red-shift the absorption spectrum of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) based A–π–D–π–A type compounds, an electron-donating 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) moiety was introduced into the π-conjugation bridge unit. Two new compounds with EDOT next to the central BDT core (COOP-2HT-EDOT-BDT) or next to the terminal electron acceptor unit (COOP-EDOT-2HT-BDT) were synthesized and characterized. The compound COOP-2HT-EDOT-BDT showed higher molar extinction coefficient (εabs max = 1.06 × 105 L mol−1 cm−1), lower optical band gap (E g = 1.56 eV) and high HOMO energy level (E HOMO = −5.08 eV) than COOP-EDOT-2HT-BDT (εabs max = 0.96 × 105 L mol−1 cm−1, E g = 1.71 eV, E HOMO = −5.26 eV), which is attributed to the intensive interaction between the EDOT unit and the HOMO orbital, as confirmed by the theoretical calculation results. However, the higher power conversion efficiency of 3.58% was achieved for the COOP-EDOT-2HT-BDT:PC61BM-based solar cells, demonstrating that the electron-donating EDOT unit adjacent to the electron-withdrawing end-capped group (COOP) is a better way to achieve high-performance photovoltaic materials.

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an age-related disease with no cure. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy has emerged as a novel strategy for IPF treatment. Nevertheless, MSCs derived from patients with IPF (IPF-MSCs) become senescent, thereby reducing their beneficial effects in IPF. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mediate the senescence of MSCs, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We investigated the mechanisms by which miR-199a-5p regulates IPF-MSC senescence and whether its inhibition could rejuvenate IPF-MSCs and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Methods Control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs were isolated from the adipose tissue of age-matched healthy and IPF donors, respectively. Cell senescence was examined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining. The level of miR-199a-5p was measured by RT-PCR. Autophagy was determined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The therapeutic efficacy of anti-miR-199a-5p-IPF-MSCs was assessed using a mouse model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Results Despite similar surface makers, IPF-MSCs exhibited increased cellular senescence and decreased proliferative capacity compared with control-MSCs. The expression of miR-199a-5p was significantly enhanced in the serum of IPF patients and IPF-MSCs compared with that of healthy donors and control-MSCs. The upregulation of miR-199a-5p induced senescence of control-MSCs, whereas the downregulation rescued IPF-MSC senescence. Mechanistically, miR-155-5p suppressed autophagy of MSCs via the AMPK signaling pathway by downregulating the expression of Sirtuin 1(Sirt1), resulting in cellular senescence. Accordingly, miR-155-5p inhibition promoted autophagy and ameliorated IPF-MSC senescence by activating the Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway. Compared with IPF-MSCs, the transplantation of anti-miR-199a-5p-IPF-MSCs increased the ability to prevent progression of pulmonary fibrosis in bleomycin-treated mice. Conclusions Our study shows that miR-199a-5p regulates MSC senescence in patients with IPF by regulating the Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway and miR-199a-5p is a novel target to rejuvenate IPF-MSCs and enhance their beneficial effects.

Abstract Despite the tremendous efforts in developing non‐fullerene acceptor (NFA) for polymer solar cells (PSCs), only few researches are done on studying the NFA molecular structure dependent stability of PSCs, and long‐term stable PSCs are only reported for the cells with low efficiency. Herein, the authors compare the stability of inverted PM6:NFA solar cells using ITIC, IT‐4F, Y6, and N3 as the NFA, and a decay rate order of IT‐4F > Y6 ≈ N3 > ITIC is measured. Quantum chemical calculations reveal that fluorine substitution weakens the C═C bond and enhances the interaction between NFA and ZnO, whereas the β‐alkyl chains on the thiophene unit next to the C═C linker blocks the attacking of hydroxyl radicals onto the C═C bonds. Knowing this, the authors choose a bulky alkyl side chain containing molecule (named L8‐BO) as the acceptor, which shows slower photo bleaching and performance decay rates. A combination of ZnO surface passivation with phenylethanethiol (PET) yields a high efficiency of 17% and an estimated long T80 and Ts80 of 5140 and 6170 h, respectively. The results indicate functionalization of the β‐position of the thiophene unit is an effective way to improve device stability of the NFA.

Background and objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aggressive fibrotic pulmonary disease with spatially and temporally heterogeneous alveolar lesions. There are no early diagnostic biomarkers, limiting our understanding of IPF pathogenesis.Methods: Lung tissue from surgical lung biopsy of patients with early-stage IPF (n = 7), transplant-stage IPF (n = 2), and healthy controls (n = 6) were subjected to mRNA sequencing and verified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq).Results: Three hundred eighty differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified in IPF that were principally involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, lipid metabolism, and immune effect. Of these DETs, 21 (DMD, MMP7, POSTN, ECM2, MMP13, FASN, FADS1, SDR16C5, ACAT2, ACSL1, CYP1A1, UGT1A6, CXCL13, CXCL5, CXCL14, IL5RA, TNFRSF19, CSF3R, S100A9, S100A8, and S100A12) were selected and verified by RT-qPCR. Differences in DMD, FASN, and MMP7 were also confirmed at a protein level. Analysis of scRNA-Seq was used to trace their cellular origin to determine which lung cells regulated them. The principal cell sources of DMD were ciliated cells, alveolar type I/II epithelial cells (AT cells), club cells, and alveolar macrophages (AMs); MMP7 derives from AT cells, club cells, and AMs, while FASN originates from AT cells, ciliated cells, and AMs.Conclusion: Our data revealed a comprehensive transcriptional mRNA profile of IPF and demonstrated that ECM remodeling, lipid metabolism, and immune effect were collaboratively involved in the early development of IPF.

The existing face detection methods usually had the problem of low accuracy of face recognition in the environment of occlusion interference, which was limited when applied to the face detection task in complex scenes. Therefore, in order to realize high precision and real-time local face recognition in a complex environment, a face local attribute detection method based on improved SSD network structure was proposed. Based on the analysis of the face local attribute detection task, SSD was used as the basic detection network structure, and the VGG16 feature extraction model was used as the framework of face local detection. On this basis, by organically connecting different layers of the SSD network and integrating convolution block attention module, the improved SSD network structure was used to realize face local attribute detection. The proposed model was trained and tested using typical public datasets such as Wider Face, MAFA, and COFW. Experimental results showed that this method had high recognition accuracy, can better detect local features of the human face than other models, and can provide some support for local face attribute detection. This method would provide a theoretical basis and technical support for local face attribute detection in complex scenes.