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A comprehensive understanding of the compositions and physicochemical properties of coal-based liquids is conducive to the rapid development of multipurpose, high-performance, and high-value functional chemicals. However, because of their complex compositions, coal-based liquids generate two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) chromatograms that are very complex and very time consuming to analyze. Therefore, the development of a method for accurately and rapidly analyzing chromatograms is crucial for understanding the chemical compositions and structures of coal-based liquids, such as direct coal liquefaction (DCL) oils and coal tar. In this study, DCL oils were distilled and qualitatively analyzed using GC × GC chromatograms. A deep-learning (DL) model was used to identify spectral features in GC × GC chromatograms and predominantly categorize the corresponding DCL oils as aliphatic alkanes, cycloalkanes, mono-, bi-, tri-, and tetracyclic aromatics. Regional labels associated with areas in the GC × GC chromatograms were fed into the mask-region-based convolutional neural network's (Mask R-CNN's) algorithm. The Mask R-CNN accurately and rapidly segmented the GC × GC chromatograms into regions representing different compounds, thereby automatically qualitatively classifying the compounds according to their spots in the chromatograms. Results show that the Mask R-CNN model's accuracy, precision, recall, F1 value, and Intersection over Union (IoU) value were 93.71%, 96.99%, 96.27%, 0.95, and 0.93, respectively. DL is effective for visually comparing GC × GC chromatograms to analyze the compositions of chemical mixtures, accelerating GC × GC chromatogram interpretation and compound characterization and facilitating comparisons of the chemical compositions of multiple coal-based liquids produced in the coal and petroleum industry. Applying DL to analyze chromatograms improves analysis efficiency and provides a new method for analyzing GC × GC chromatograms, which is important for fast and accurate analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A MoO3 film with the main phase of orthorhombic α-phase was deposited on a glass substrate by pulsed laser deposition. Metal–acid ionic liquid treatment caused the film to change from transparent to blue, while also reducing its bandgap and resistance values. These properties can be controlled by using different metals with lower work functions than MoO3, different acids, and varying treatment times. In this study, the film treated with Al-acid ionic liquid for 15 min showed the lowest bandgap of 2.61 eV and the smallest resistance of 9.48 × 103 Ω. This treatment resulted in a modulation of 0.59 eV in the bandgap and a more than 5 orders of magnitude increase in MoO3 conductivity. Both variable range hopping and activated behavior may be present throughout the entire temperature range in this study. The treating process causes an expansion of the crystal lattice, and the reduction of the Mo element. The manipulation of microstructures and properties may be attributed to the hydrogenation of the MoO3 thin films, driven by the difference in work function between the metal and oxide. This study expands the use of acids from inorganic acids to acidic ionic liquids, and enriches the method of metal–acid treatment. The concept of controllable hydrogen-doping through metal–acidic ionic liquid treatment has significant implications for the design of multifunctional materials in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to construct a new catalytic system of immobilized lipase and improve the stability of enzyme, the phenol amino modified ordered mesoporous material (MCM-41) was introduced for the study of lipase immobilization. The immobilized enzyme was also applied to the actual reaction system. The optimized conditions of lipase immobilization were as follows: Immobilization temperature of 30 ℃, immobilization pH of 8.0, immobilization time of 7 h, initial enzyme concentration of 4 mg/mL, and the enzyme loading was 26.40 mg/g. Meanwhile, the optimum reaction temperature of the immobilized enzyme was 50 ℃, and the optimum reaction pH was 7.0, together with the highest enzyme activity was 4108±34.74 U/g carrier. The immobilized enzyme was recycled for eight times, and it retained 54.70% of the initial enzyme activity. While after 30 days of storage at 4 ℃, it still kept 71.10% of the initial enzyme activity. In addition, the immobilized enzyme was used to catalyze the synthesis of hexyl laurate, and the highest conversion of lauric acid was 65.38%. It was indicated that the lipase immobilized on phenol amino modified MCM-41 exhibited high enzyme activity and good stability. When it was applied in the actual catalytic reaction, the immobilized enzyme displayed high catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, it was proved that phenol amino modification was a green and effective modification strategy, which could provide ideas for further application of phenol amino coating.

Abstract Background CA19-9 is a classical tumor marker and plays an important role in the diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic cancer. However, a few cases reported that the tumor maker CA19-9 is abnormally elevated in patients with calculous cholecystitis, but the relation between severity of calculous cholecystitis and serum CA19-9 level are still unknown. Methods Total 105 calculous cholecystitis patients from first hospital were collected and divided into high serum CA19-9 group(high group, n = 35) and normal serum CA19-9 group(normal group, n = 70). Perioperative data including blood cell count, inflammatory markers, liver function, imaging and operation-related parameters from these patients were collected for analysis and verified with second group of 105 calculous cholecystitis patients from second hospital. Besides, the gallbladder specimens were collected for immunohistochemical staining and mRNA sequencing. Results Abdominal pain occur in more than 90% patients in high group, which is similar with that of normal group. But WBC, neutrophils count, NLR, CRP level and IL-6 level is higher in high group than that of normal group. In addition, the gallbladder wall thickness, the operation duration and the operation conversion rate is also higher in high group, which is verified from second hospital. Higher expression of CA19-9 was found by immunohistochemical staining in gallbladder specimen and more autophagy pathway related genes enriched in high group. Conclusions This study demonstrated that higher level of serum CA19-9 correlates with more severe cholecystitis in calculous cholecystitis patients for the first time, which will provide helpful information for clinical practice and basic research in related field.

Abstract Soil salinization becomes serious under climate change and human activities. Although the residue decomposition contributes lots to soil carbon storage and fertility, the decomposition process and microbial mechanisms on saline-alkali soils are still vague facing climate change. We measured the mass loss of residue (0, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days), CO2 emission (every two days), and the microbial community structure (0, 4, 15 and 90 days) by using the litter bag method, gas chromatography and high-throughput sequencing technology during the residue decomposition (90 days) in a saline-alkali soil from the Tarim River Basin, China under various temperatures (15 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C) and soil moisture levels (20%, 40%, 60% water holding capacity). The decomposition stage consisted of fast (0–15 days) and slow periods (15–90 days). Using the double exponential equation, the decomposition rates of labile and recalcitrant components, the labile component and cumulative CO2 emissions increased faster with increased moisture than with temperature. The Q10 was greater at 15–25 °C than at 25–35 °C, which increased with the increased soil moisture in the leaf but with decreased soil moisture in the stem at 15–25 °C. Proteobacteria increased from 0 to 15 days on leaves (25–43%) and stems (25–29%) and showed no changes thereafter. Proteobacteria increased with increased soil moisture but decreased temperature. Actinomycetes was the opposite and more abundant on the stem than on the leaf. Bacteroidetes increased after 15 days and increased with increased soil moisture. Firmicutes were the main bacterial groups at 0–15 days, but decreased at 15–90 days (leaf: 44 − 15%, stem: 49 − 13%). In conclusion, warming, especially 15–25 °C, contributes to the decomposition of stems and wetting, especially 20-40% WHC, contributes to that of leaves within the first 15 days, afterwards wetting played an important role. Our results could also provide the adopting strategies for residue return to increase the soil carbon content while decreasing CO2 emissions facing climate change.

Objective: Highly carbapenem-resistant Salmonella has emerged worldwide in recent years and is largely associated with the multiform transmission of resistance genes, which poses a huge challenge in clinical practice. Our study delves into the resistance mechanisms and epidemiology of blaNDM-carrying plasmids. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was utilised to analyse the molecular characteristics and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of Salmonella isolates recovered from the faeces of a paediatric patient at the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Moreover, we conducted an epidemiologic analysis and focused on studying the mechanisms of plasmid-mediated blaNDM transmission, incorporating genomes deposited in the NCBI Pathogen Detection database. Results: The clinical isolate 23S9 belonged to serovar Typhimurium, antigenic profile 4:i:-, ST34, and carried pNDM_23S9 harbouring several antimicrobial resistance genes, including aac(6′)-Ib-cr6, OXA-1, catB3, arr-3, qacEdeltal and blaNDM. Comparative analysis revealed that blaNDM-5 can exist in different plasmids of different isolates, proving its transmission through plasmids. Furthermore, blaNDM-carrying isolates are mostly resistant to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, sulphonamide, macrolides, and trimethoprim. Conclusions: These findings provided thorough and intuitive insights into the intercontinental spread of blaNDM-carrying Salmonella. Ongoing surveillance is essential for effectively monitoring the worldwide dissemination of this high-risk carbapenem-resistant Salmonella.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are well-known endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that potentially affect child neurodevelopment. We aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to PFAS and PAEs on macro- and micro-structural brain development and intelligence in adolescents using multimodal neuroimaging techniques. We employed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and various diffusion MRI techniques, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), to assess the gray-matter macrostructure and white-matter microstructural integrity and complexity. Participants were drawn from a birth cohort of 52 mother–child pairs in central Taiwan recruited in 2001, and the adolescent intelligence quotient (IQ) scores were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Nine PFAS concentrations of cord blood and maternal serum samples were obtained from the children’s mothers during the third trimester of pregnancy (27–40 weeks) using a liquid chromatography system coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, while maternal urinary phthalates were used to evaluate PAEs exposure. Our results showed significant associations between prenatal exposure to PFAS and phthalates with changes in specific fronto-parietal regions of the adolescent male brain, including reduced cortical thickness in the inferior frontal gyrus and right superior parietal cortex, which are involved in language, memory, and executive function. A dose–response association was observed, with higher levels of PFAS and PAE exposure modulating altered white-matter fiber integrity in the superior cerebellar peduncle and inferior cerebellar peduncle of the male and female adolescent brains. In addition, higher levels of prenatal exposure to EDCs were associated with lower IQ scores in adolescents. Mediation analyses further revealed that white-matter microstructure of inter-hemispheric and cerebellar fibers mediated the association between prenatal EDC exposure and adolescent IQ scores in female adolescents. Our multimodal human neuroimaging findings suggest that prenatal exposure to EDCs may have long-lasting effects on neuroanatomical development, neural fiber connectivity, and intelligence in adolescents, and highlight the importance of using advanced diffusion imaging techniques, including DKI and NODDI, to detect neurodevelopmental changes and their brain-behavioral consequences with the risks associated with these environmental exposures.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) are the first line of treatment for many solid tumors including melanoma. PD-1 blockade enhances the effector functions of melanoma-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, leading to durable tumor remissions. However, 55% of patients with melanoma do not respond to treatment. As Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in tumor-induced immunosuppression and express PD-1, we hypothesized that anti-PD-1 also increases the functions of melanoma-infiltrating Treg cells, which could be detrimental to treatment efficacy.Methods The cellular and functional dynamics of Treg cells were evaluated in C57Bl/6 Foxp3-reporter mice bearing highly immunogenic and PD-1 blockade-sensitive Yale University Mouse Melanoma Exposed to Radiation 1.7 (YUMMER1.7) tumors. Treg cell responses in tumors and lymphoid compartments were examined throughout tumor growth or therapy and were assessed ex vivo by multiparametric flow cytometry analysis, with in vitro suppression assays using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and in situ through spatial proteomic and transcriptomic profiling.Results In this highly immunogenic melanoma model, anti-PD-1 monotherapy yielded high responders (HRs) and low responders (LRs). We show that the potent CD8+ T cell responses characteristic of HR tumors paradoxically coincide with the expansion of highly-activated, Helios-expressing Treg cells. In both HRs and LRs, Treg cells co-localize with CD8+ T cells in immunogenic regions of the tumor and display potent suppressive capacity in vitro. Further characterization revealed that melanoma-infiltrating Treg cells progressively acquire T-bet and interferon gamma expression, exclusively in HRs, and induction of this T helper cell 1 (Th1)-like phenotype in vitro led to CD8+ T cell evasion from Treg cell-mediated suppression. Using spatial proteomic and transcriptomic profiling, we demonstrate that Treg cells display an increased activity of PI3K/Akt signaling in regions of HR tumors with an elevated CD8:Treg cell ratio.Conclusions PD-1 blockade promotes the expansion of a subset of highly-activated Treg cells coexpressing PD-1 and Helios. While these cells are potently suppressive outside tumor environments, costimulatory and inflammatory signals present in the tumor microenvironment lead to their local acquisition of Th1-like characteristics and loss of suppression of effector T cells.

Fungi play crucial ecological and economic roles, yet their diversity and distribution remain poorly known and challenging to assess. Using recent advances in invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) for biodiversity monitoring, we investigated the potential of dung beetle iDNA for fungal sampling and monitoring. We sampled two habitats (rainforest vs. rubber plantation) and seasons (dry vs. rainy) in tropical Xishuangbanna, southwest China. We extracted, amplified and identified 9259 unique fungi Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) from the gut of three species of dung beetles (Paragymnopleurus sp., telecoprids; Onthophagus diabolicus, paracoprids; and Onthophagus cf. gracilipes, endocoprids). Fungal community composition was different across habitats and seasons, with the highest diversity found in the rainy season rainforest. Our results were consistent with previous eDNA-based studies based on soil samples in the detection of habitat differences (both approaches were able to detect low diversity of Basidiomycota in rubber plantations). However, our approach outperformed soil-based eDNA studies in being able to detect fungal occurrences associated with seasonal precipitation patterns. Our findings highlight the utility of dung beetle iDNA to uncover spatiotemporal dynamics of fungal communities across different habitats. The use of iDNA broadens fungal biodiversity research, strengthens fungal monitoring to assess anthropogenic impacts and presents opportunities to conserve fungal diversity., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Healthy dietary patterns rich in legumes can improve metabolic health, although their additional benefits in conjunction with calorie restriction have not been well-established. We investigated effects of a calorie-restricted, legume-enriched, multicomponent intervention diet compared with a calorie-restricted control diet in 127 Chinese prediabetes participants, living in Singapore. The study was a 16-week, single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial (n = 63 intervention group (IG), n = 64 control group (CG); mean ± SD age 62.2 ± 6.3 years, BMI 23.8 ± 2.6 kg/m 2 ). Primary outcomes were markers of glycemia and all measurements were taken at 2 or 4-weekly intervals. At the end of 16 weeks, both groups had significantly lower BMI (q (Time)  = 1.92 ×10 -42 , β  = -0.02) compared with baseline, with minimal difference between groups. The IG had significantly greater reductions in LDL cholesterol (q (Treatment×Time)  = 0.01, β  = -0.16), total cholesterol (q (Treatment×Time)  = 0.02, β  = -0.3) and HbA1c (q (Treatment×Time)  = 0.04, β  = -0.004) compared with CG, alongside increases in fiber degrading species in IG, mediated through metabolites such as bile acids and amino acids. A legume-enriched, multicomponent intervention diet can improve metabolic health in a prediabetes population, in addition to benefits obtained from calorie restriction alone, partially mediated through changes in gut microbial composition and function. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT04745702., Competing Interests: Competing interests: X.W., K.J.L., V.S.B.V., K.K., X.L., L.H.W., C.P.L.Y. and H.F. are employees of Wilmar International Limited. The remaining authors declare no competing interests. Inclusion & ethics: This study aligns by the guidelines of Nature Portfolio journals, with contributions of each author as disclosed in Author contributions., (© 2025. The Author(s).)