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This study was designed to compare the effects of levosimendan and dobutamine on hemodynamics and clinical efficacy in patients with severe septic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤35%). A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study. In Baoding, China. Thirty patients with severe septic cardiomyopathy treated in the authors' hospital's Department of Critical Medicine from September 2018 to September 2021 were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided randomly into the levosimendan group and dobutamine group. The LVEF, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), systemic vascular resistance index, heart rate, norepinephrine dose, and lactate at the time of enrollment and the 24th hour were compared, along with myocardial injury markers on the third day, C-reactive protein, mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, cost, and 28-day mortality. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. At the 24th hour after treatment, CI, LVEF, SVI, and fluid volume were found to be higher in the levosimendan group than in the dobutamine group, whereas the dose of norepinephrine was lower in the former rather than the latter group. On the third day of treatment, cardiac troponin I in the levosimendan group was lower than that in the dobutamine group. Although the differences in 28-day mortality, ICU stay, and ICU treatment cost between the groups were not statistically significant, the ventilator application time of the levosimendan group was significantly shorter than that of the dobutamine group. Compared with dobutamine, levosimendan was more effective at improving cardiac function, reducing myocardial injury, and reducing mechanical ventilation time in patients with severe septic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The spillover relationship among EUA, INE, and Brent is investigated by the TVP-VAR-DY model. • INE as a spillover receiver and EUA and Brent as transmitters. • Spillover peaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. • The volatilities of EUA, INE, and Brent are positively influenced by spillovers among them. • EPU, RA, and EMV increase spillovers among EUA, INE, and Brent, while GPR decreases them. This paper employs the TVP-VAR-DY model to investigate the spillover among the European carbon market (EUA), the Chinese oil futures market (INE), and the Brent oil futures market (Brent) and explores whether their spillovers affect their volatility. Furthermore, we explore the impact of global uncertainties about the economy, finance, and geopolitics on their spillovers. The static analysis shows INE as a spillover receiver and EUA and Brent as transmitters. Dynamic analysis reveals spillover peaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, volatilities are positively influenced by spillovers among them. Finally, economic and financial uncertainties increase spillovers, while geopolitical uncertainties decrease them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a narrow diameter or chirality distribution have great potential in promoting carbon nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. In this paper, SWCNTs with dominant (7,5) species, which are fabricated by chemical vapor deposition method from a magnesia-supported Co catalyst, are applied for the nonlinear optical measurements. The SWCNTs exhibit efficient saturable absorption properties at a wavelength of 640 nm in terms of a modulation depth of 27.7% and a saturable intensity of 5.7 GW/cm2. Such a 640 nm absorption is correlated with the S 22 absorbance bands of the semiconducting SWCNTs. Consequently, by employing the SWCNTs as a saturable absorber (SA), stable Q-switched pulses with the shortest pulse width of 200 ns and maximum pulse repetition rate of 238 kHz are achieved at 640 nm. Our findings indicate that subnanometer semiconducting SWCNT could act as an excellent optical switcher device at 640 nm, which may help to explore potential applications in visible nonlinear optics. The fitting results of the modulation depth and saturable intensity are determined to be 27.7% and 5.7 GW/cm2, respectively. The relative larger modulation depth originating from uniform diameter distribution of the SWCNTs is conductive to generate shorter laser pulse. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease, so it is important to intervene in the early stage of the disease. Brain imaging genetics is an effective technique to identify AD-related biomarkers, which can early diagnosis of AD patients once they are clinically verified. With the development of medical imaging and gene sequencing techniques, the association analysis between multi-modal imaging data and genetic data has garnered increasing attention. However, current imaging genetics studies have problem with non-intuitive data fusion. Meanwhile, the characteristics of multi-modal imaging genetics data are high-dimensional, non-linearity, and fewer subjects, so it is necessary to select effective features. In this paper, a multi-modal data fusion framework by deep auto-encoder and self-representation (MFASN) was proposed for early diagnosis of AD. First, a multi-modality brain network was constructed by combining information from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data. Then, we utilized the deep auto-encoder to achieve non-linear transformations and select the informative features. A sparse self-representation module was employed to capture the multi-subspaces structure of the latent representation. At last, a multi-task structured sparse association model was developed to fully mine correlations between the genetic data and multi-modal brain network features. Experiments on AD neuroimaging initiative datasets proved the superiority of the proposed method, while discovering discriminative biomarkers were strongly associated with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developing a novel integrated medical facility location and allocation planning model. • Proposing a bi-objective model. • Providing an iteration method to obtain the Pareto front efficiently. • Numerically comparing our method and the binary search method and providing managerial insights. The planning of temporary medical service facility location and the distribution of casualties to these facilities require to consider casualty triage, health deterioration conditions, and equitable distribution of limited medical resources. The paper develops a bi-objective optimization model to determine the optimal temporary medical service locations and medical service allocation plan by maximizing the number of expected survivals and minimizing the total operational cost in the way of using ambulances and helicopters. Based on ∊ –constraint method, we propose an iteration method to obtain the Pareto front of the bi-objective optimization model. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to provide helpful managerial insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Lymphocyte subtyping was evaluated for IC diagnosis and prognosis. • CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts play an important role in early diagnosis of IC. • Adding CD28+CD8+ T-cell count improves the diagnostic performance of Candida score. • Low CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts are associated with early mortality. Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the distinguishing ability of lymphocyte subtyping for Invasive candidiasis (IC) diagnosis and prognosis in non-neutropenic critically ill patients. Methods We assessed the quantitative changes in key parameters of lymphocyte subtyping at the onset of clinical signs of infection in non-neutropenic critically ill patients and their potential influence on diagnosis and outcome of IC. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Results Among the 182 consecutive critically ill patients, 22 (12.1%) were in the IC group. The CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts (AUC 0.863, 95%CI 0.804–0.909, P < 0.001) had greater diagnostic value for IC than other parameters had. Adding CD28+CD8+ T to Candida score significantly improved the predictive value of Candida score (P = 0.039). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts ≤ 78 cells/mm3 (OR 24.544, 95%CI 6.461–93.236, P < 0.001) as an independent predictor for IC diagnosis. CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts could also predict 28-day mortality. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis provided evidence that CD28+CD8+ T-cell count <144 cells/mm3 (log-rank test; P = 0.03) were associated with lower survival probabilities. Conclusions CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts play an important role in early diagnosis of IC. Low counts are associated with early mortality in non-neutropenic critically ill patients. These results suggest the potential usefulness of measuring CD28+CD8+ T-cell lymphocyte levels in the early recognition and diagnosis of IC. Trial registration ChiCTR-ROC-17010750. Registered 28 February 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An automated approach is proposed to perform the VTA using TLS and BIM. • An automated method is proposed to extract control points for assembly. • A GQI method for bending and torsional deviations inspection is proposed. • An internal point removal method is developed to improve accuracy of registration. • The proposed approach is reliable to guide construction. Virtual Trial Assembly (VTA) is proposed as an alternative to physical trial assembly that can significantly reduce cost and time requirements. Existing studies on VTA can be categorized as total station and camera-based methods or Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)-based methods. The real coordinate measurement procedure in existing total station and camera-based VTA methods is inefficient and complex because many targets have to be manually installed at assembly points and because different members require different installation schemes. Existing TLS-based VTA methods involve significant human intervention because assembly point extraction and assembly simulation are achieved with commercial software. In addition, geometric quality inspection is not performed in TLS-based VTA methods, although the basis for VTA is the dimensional quality compliance of the components. Therefore, this study presents an automated approach to perform VTA for large and complex steel members based on TLS, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is utilized to provide as-designed geometric data. Specifically, an automated method is presented to extract assembly points. An internal point removal method is proposed for a BIM model to improve the accuracy of fine registration. A geometric quality inspection method is developed for bending and torsional deviation inspection. The proposed approach is found to be reliable through its application to a practical super high-rise building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the global asymptotic stability and global robust stability of inertial neural networks with proportional delays. First, by using linear matrix inequality and constructing appropriate Lyapunov functional, several sufficient conditions are obtained for the global asymptotic stability of inertial neural networks with proportional delays. Furthermore, the problem of global robust stability of the network under the assumptions that the network parameters are uncertain and bounded is studied. Finally, some simulation examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing activity of commensal bacteria in inocula may enhance anammox bacteria proliferation and realization of anammox process. Fast start-up of anammox process in an UASB reactor was successfully achieved by using autoclaved sludge (anaerobic granular sludge pretreated by autoclaving) and 0.3% active anammox sludge as inoculum. Continuous experiments indicated that R2 (autoclaved sludge addition) could shorten the start-up period from 72 days to 63 days. The first 50 days anammox population specific growth rates (μ) of R1 (the control) and R2 were determined to be 0.014 d −1 and 0.045 d −1 using q-PCR assays. Analysis of coefficient of variations of nitrogen removal performance during days 96–225 indicated that R2 was more stable than R1. The Illumina MiSeq sequencing showed that autoclaving could decrease microbial diversity of sludge and enhance the abundance of anammox bacteria. Furthermore, PICRUSt community functions forecast and c-di-GMP measure illuminated the result of higher stability in R2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and endocrinal disorder affecting a number of women of reproductive age. We aimed to reveal the correlation between the endocannabinoid system and PCOS, which may provide a new therapeutic target for PCOS treatment. Methods Serum levels of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol andexpression of cannabinoid receptors and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in the endometrium were compared between women with PCOS and infertile women without PCOS, as well as women with PCOS before and after treatment with Diane-35 and metformin. Cannabinoid receptors and FAAH in the endometrium were stained using the immunohistochemical method. Results were analyzed by calculating integrated optical density. Findings Plasma anandamide was increased significantly in women with PCOS compared with infertile women without PCOS. Treatment with Diane-35 and metformin reversed this increase in women with PCOS. No significant difference in 2-arachidonoylglycerol was observed between the infertile women with or without PCOS. The women with PCOS had lower endometrial expression of FAAH compared with infertile women without PCOS, whereas no significant difference in endometrial expression of cannabinoid receptors was observed between the women with PCOS and infertile women without PCOS. We found that after treatment with Diane-35 and metformin, FAAH expression tended toward a significant increase compared with women before the treatment. Implications Endocannabinoid system may be involved in the progression of PCOS, and serum anandamide could serve as a potential biomarker of clinical diagnosis of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) contains a structural domain of TspO/PBR, which was previously named peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). The main biochemical functions of TSPO were reported to be transporting heme, porphyrin, steroid and anion, by which TSPO plays very important roles in the processes of biosynthesis, cellular respiration, cell proliferation and apoptosis in animals. In recent years, the biological functions of TSPOs were documented in plants. TSPO protein in Arabidopsis (AtTSPO) is encoded by a single intronless locus (At2g47770). It has been shown that AtTSPO is induced by abiotic stresses and plant stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA). In this review, we summarize the expression pattern, sub-cellular localization, interacting proteins, and biological functions. In addition, we discuss the future directions of study on AtTSPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destabilization of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions greatly restricts their application. Converting the inner water droplets into soft solid-like gelled particles is an appealing strategy to improve the stability of W/O emulsions. In the present communication, we propose a novel method for preparing stable W/O emulsions containing gelled water droplets. In this method, the 3% (w/v) casein dispersions containing 0.9% (w/v) glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) and soybean oil with 2% or 6% lipophilic emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) were homogenized to form W/O emulsions. Three hours later, the GDL-induced gelation of caseins in the inner aqueous phase occurred; thus, the W/O emulsions containing gelled water droplets were formed. The stability of the emulsions was characterized by Turbiscan analysis, particle size changes and visual inspection of phase separation. It was found that the W/O emulsions containing GDL-induced casein gels in the inner aqueous phase showed higher resistance to destabilization than the non-gelled W/O emulsions. In addition, the stability of the emulsions formulated by the gelled aqueous phase and 2% PGPR was even higher than emulsions with 6% PGPR in the absence of the gelled aqueous phase. These findings suggested that this method is an effective strategy for improving the long-term stability of W/O emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planning of emergency service facility location, especially for those expecting high demand and severe conditions, requires consideration of victims’ en-route travel, in-facility service quality, and reliability of these service facilities themselves. This paper first presents a scenario-based stochastic mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP) model that integrates facility disruption risks, en-route traffic congestion and in-facility queuing delay into an integrated facility location problem. We derive lower and upper bounds to this highly complex problem by approximating the expected total system costs across the normal and all probabilistic facility disruption scenarios. This allows us to develop a more tractable approximate MINLP formulation and a Lagrangian Relaxation (LR) based solution approach. The relaxed sub-problem for location and service allocation decisions is further reformulated into a second-order conic program. Numerical experiments show that the approximate model and LR solution approach are capable of overcoming the computational difficulties associated with the problem. Interesting findings and managerial insights are obtained from a series of sensitivity analyses, e.g., regarding the importance of considering in-facility queuing in location design, and the significance of resource pooling on the optimal facility deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first case series with eleven consecutive patients diagnosed with EAMs in the spinal or intraosseous regions. • EAMs involving the thoracic vertebral body or the humerus have not previously been reported in the English literature. • The surgical outcome and prognosis of EAMs are excellent and surgery can serve as the method of radical treatment. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas (EAMs) are rare benign tumors composed of both mature adipose and hematopoietic tissues with unclear etiology. There have been only sporadic case reports about the clinical characteristics and management of EAMs. Here we present our experience and practice in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of 11 consecutive patients with EAMs. We retrospectively reviewed 11 consecutive patients, who received surgeries in our department and were confirmed as having EAMs by postoperative histopathology from April 2016 to December 2021. Clinical information and follow-up data of all patients were collected and analyzed afterwards. Of the 11 EAM patients (7 male and 4 female) with a mean age of 47.6 years, 3 were asymptomatic and 8 were symptomatic with a mean symptom duration of 6.07 months. EAMs were found in the thoracic spine in 4 cases, paravertebral mediastinal regions in 3 cases, ilium in 2 cases, humerus in 1 case, and rib in 1 case. All patients were initially misdiagnosed as other tumors by radiologists. All 11 patients received gross total excision or curettage with a mean intraoperative blood loss of 781.82 ± 1143.3 ml and a mean operation duration of 180.91 ± 98.41 min. Patients' Frankel scores and Karnofsky Performance Status score were improved or at least preserved postoperatively. No significant complications occurred postoperatively. All the 11 patients survived, and no local recurrence or distant metastasis occurred during the mean follow-up period of 42.0 months. The surgical outcome and prognosis of EAMs are excellent and surgery can serve as the method of radical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinylation modifies the physicochemical characteristics and improves the functional properties of proteins. This study assessed the effects of succinylation on the conformation of yak casein micelles with seven degree of modification. The results revealed that succinylation contributed to the dissociation of casein micelles. With the increase of succinylated degree, soluble nitrogen and minerals content increased, while casein micelle size and polydispersity index of micelles decreased. Succinylation affected the spatial conformation of yak casein micelles: turn decreased, ß-sheet and α-helix increased, and irregular structure were non-significantly affected. The intrinsic and ANS fluorescence intensity decreased and the maximum emission wavelength shifted red with increasing succinylation. Based on the results, the structure of yak casein micelles was characteristic of the sub-micelle model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effectiveness of transit-based emergency evacuation highly depends on the location of pick-up facilities, resource allocation, and management. These facilities themselves are often subject to service disruptions during or after the emergency. This paper proposes a reliable emergency facility location model that determines both pre-emergency facility location planning and the evacuation operations afterwards, while facilities are subject to the risk of disruptions. We analyze how evacuation resource availability leverages individual evacuees’ response to service disruptions, and show how equilibrium of the evacuee arrival process could be reached at a functioning pick-up facility. Based on this equilibrium, an optimal resource allocation strategy is found to balance the tradeoff between the evacuees’ risks and the evacuation agency’s operation costs. This leads to the development of a compact polynomial-size linear integer programming formulation that minimizes the total expected system cost from both pre-emergency planning (e.g., facility set-up) and the evacuation operations (e.g., fleet management, transportation, and exposure to hazardous surroundings) across an exponential number of possible disruption scenarios. We also show how the model can be flexibly used to plan not only pre-disaster evacuation but also post-disaster rescue actions. Numerical experiments and an empirical case study for three coastal cities in the State of Mississippi (Biloxi, Gulfport, and D’lberville) are conducted to study the performance of the proposed models and to draw managerial insights. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A cDNA of the gene GsZFP1 was cloned from Glycine soja. GsZFP1 encodes a protein with one C2H2-type zinc finger motif. The QALGGH motif, which exists in most plant C2H2-type zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), does not exist in GsZFP1. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that GsZFP1 expression was significantly up-regulated by exogenous ABA, both in leaves and roots. Over-expression of this gene, in Arabidopsis thaliana, resulted in a reduced sensitivity to ABA during seed germination and seedling growth. Transcript levels of some stress and ABA marker genes, including RD29A, RD22, NCED3, COR47, COR15A and KIN1 were increased, in the GsZFP1 over-expression lines, when plants were treated with exogenous ABA. We further studied the effects of GsZFP1 over-expression on the regulation of genes involved in ABA signaling. Negative ABA signaling regulators, such as ABI1 and ABI2, were up-regulated in over-expression lines, while positive ABA signaling regulators, such as ABF4, ABI5, GTG1, GTG2, PYR1/RCAR11, PYL2/RCAR13, SnRK2.2 and SnRK2.3, were down-regulated, in comparison to wild type plants. GsZFP1 over-expression lines also exhibited small stomata, impairment of ABA-induced stomata closure. The data presented, herein, suggests that GsZFP1 plays a crucial role in ABA signaling in A. thaliana, GsZFP1 may be a promising gene for negative regulating ABA signaling. Our findings broaden our understanding of this C2H2 ZFP subtype''s function, and add to the body of evidence that has been developed in earlier studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Transformation products usually differ in environmental behaviors and toxicological properties from the parent contaminants, and probably cause potential risks to the environment. Toxicity evolution of a labile preservative, bronopol, upon primary aquatic degradation processes was investigated. Bronopol rapidly hydrolyzed in natural waters, and primarily produced more stable 2-bromo-2-nitroethanol (BNE) and bromonitromethane (BNM). Light enhanced degradation of the targeted compounds with water site specific photoactivity. The bond order analysis theoretically revealed that the reversible retroaldol reactions were primary degradation routes for bronopol and BNE. Judging from toxicity assays and the relative pesticide toxicity index, these degradation products (i.e., BNE and BNM), more persistent and higher toxic than the parent, probably accumulated in natural waters and resulted in higher or prolonging adverse impacts. Therefore, these transformation products should be included into the assessment of ecological risks of non-persistent and low toxic chemicals such as the preservative bronopol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we consider the following double phase problem with a nonlinear boundary condition − div | ∇ u | p − 2 ∇ u + μ (x) | ∇ u | q − 2 ∇ u = f (x , u) − | u | p − 2 u − μ (x) | u | q − 2 u in Ω , | ∇ u | p − 2 ∇ u + μ (x) | ∇ u | q − 2 ∇ u ⋅ ν = g (x , u) on ∂ Ω. First of all, we prove the existence of a solution and infinitely many solutions for this problem with superlinear nonlinearity (without A–R condition). In addition, under the sublinear assumptions on f and g , we establish the existence of infinitely many solutions via Clark's theorem for the aforementioned problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seven variations of B3N medium were designed with increasing nitrite fractions. • Chlorella vulgaris pigment contents and photosynthetic apparatus were monitored. • Nitrite inhibits cell growth, even for small fraction (20%) • Nitrite removal rate is constant around 2.93 mg N /l/d. • Pigment profile is not modified by nitrite compared to nitrate. Chlorella vulgaris was grown using mixed sources of nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite). Starting from B3N as basal medium, nitrate was substituted by nitrite keeping total nitrogen constant over 7 conditions: 0, 20, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100% NO 2 –. Growth rate, nitrogen uptake, photosynthetic apparatus status and pigment contents were monitored. Nitrite addition triggered a growth rate inhibition from early introduction (20% NO 2 –, 81 mgNO 2 -/l). Nitrate uptake rate increased with nitrate content in the culture medium (maximum at 5.87 mg/l/ N d, 100% NO 3 –), while nitrite uptake remained constant around 2.93 mg N /l/d. Photosynthetic apparatus was not impacted by the nitrogen source substitution. Pigments profiles (chlorophyll a , b and total carotenoids) were not statistically different for all the tested conditions. From a biotechnological perspective, this finding rules out the use of nitrite substitution as a pigment manipulating stress strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a complex phenolic compound that can enhance the stiffness, hydrophobicity, and antioxidant capacity of the cell wall; it thus provides a critical barrier against pathogen and insect invaders. Caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE) is a key novel enzyme involved in lignin biosynthesis that is associated with genetic improvements in lignocellulosic biomass; however, no research thus far have revealed the role of CSE in resistance to pathogenic stress. CsCSE1 (Cucsa.134370) has previously been shown to highly associated with the response of cucumber to attack by Podosphaera xanthii through RNA sequencing. Here, we detected the exactly role of CsCSE1 in the defence of cucumber to P. xanthii infection. Homologous sequence alignment revealed that CsCSE1 contains two highly conserved lyase domains (GXSXG), suggesting that CsCSE1 possesses CSE activity. Subcellular localization analysis manifested that CsCSE1 was localized to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Functional analysis demonstrated that the transient silencing of CsCSE1 in cucumber dramatically attenuated resistance to P. xanthii , whereas overexpression of CsCSE1 in cucumber markedly increased resistance to P. xanthii. Further investigation of the abundance of lignin in transient transgenic plants revealed that CsCSE1 might actively mediate the disease resistance of cucumber by promoting lignin biosynthesis. CsCSE1 also affects the expression of its downstream lignin biosynthesis-related genes, like CsLAC , CsCOMT , CsCCR , and CsCAD. The results of this study provide targets for the genetic breeding of tolerant cucumber cultivars as well as new insights that could aid the control of plant diseases. • CsCSE1 is involved in the immune defense of cucumber against Podosphaera xanthii. • CsCSE1 positively regulates lignin biosynthesis. • CsCSE1 activates the expression of CsLAC , CsCOMT , CsCCR , and CsCAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase, is involved in cellular metabolism, protein synthesis, and cell death. Programmed cell death (PCD) assists in eliminating aging, damaged, or neoplastic cells, and is indispensable for sustaining normal growth, fighting pathogenic microorganisms, and maintaining body homeostasis. mTOR has crucial functions in the intricate signaling pathway network of multiple forms of PCD. mTOR can inhibit autophagy, which is part of PCD regulation. Cell survival is affected by mTOR through autophagy to control reactive oxygen species production and the degradation of pertinent proteins. Additionally, mTOR can regulate PCD in an autophagy-independent manner by affecting the expression levels of related genes and phosphorylating proteins. Therefore, mTOR acts through both autophagy-dependent and -independent pathways to regulate PCD. It is conceivable that mTOR exerts bidirectional regulation of PCD, such as ferroptosis, according to the complexity of signaling pathway networks, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully explained. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding mTOR-mediated regulatory mechanisms in PCD. Rigorous investigations into PCD-related signaling pathways have provided prospective therapeutic targets that may be clinically beneficial for treating various diseases. [Display omitted] • A summary of various mechanisms of mTOR inhibiting autophagy. • Autophagy serving as a bridge between mTOR and programmed cell death. • mTOR regulating programmed cell death through autophagy-independent mechanisms. • Therapeutic advances applying mechanisms of mTOR regulating programmed cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full-scale sewage treatment plant in Xi'an city is discovered as the first mainstream anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) treatment process in China. Whether its biological mechanism is the nitritation-anammox or partial denitrification (PD)-anammox brought violent controversy between two groups. As a third party, here we uncovered the mystery of the moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) as a PD-anammox process by analyzing the diversity and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) of microbes in anoxic pond. Anammox bacteria was found in the MBBR anoxic tank, which abundance is 8.9 times of that in the common anaerobic-anoxic-oxic process, confirming the existence of anammox process. The denitrifying bacteria (DNB) content in the anoxic tank is 5.9 times of the content of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), thus the DNB-anammox system is proved at the microbial composition level. The PICRUSt analysis found that ammonium nitrogen is mainly derived from the deamination of urea. The functional genes NAR and AMO of DNB and AOB are 910.84 and 5.80 rpms, respectively. The NAR gene content is 157.0 times of the AMO gene content and it is proved at the genetic level that the nitrite in the anoxic pool is mainly derived from denitrification. This study demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of the PD-anammox in the anammox process, which is different from the traditional nitritation-anammox demonstrated in Strass Wastewater Treatment Plant, Austria and Changi Water Reclamation Plant, Singapore and provided an alternative option for the mainstream application of anammox. Model diagram of water/sludge flow and nitrogen removal pathway in Xi'an Sewage Treatment Plant. Black box represents anaerobic and anoxic tank. Hexagons represent carriers. The red box represents the aerobic tank, and the small circles represent the air bubbles. The grid between tanks represents intercept screens. Unlabelled Image • A STP in Xi'an city is discovered as the first mainstream anammox process in China. • The functional genes were analyzed to study the nitrogen removal pathway of the STP. • The mainstream anammox is a partial denitrification-anammox process. • Bio-carrier stimulated the mainstream partial denitrification-anammox process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]