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Yao Wang,* Xun Li,* Qian Chen, Fangzhou Jiao, Chunxia Shi, Maohua Pei, Luwen Wang, Zuojiong Gong Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zuojiong Gong; Luwen WangDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zjgong@163.com; wangluw8253@163.comBackground: The glycolysis pathway of M1 macrophages is a key factor affecting the inflammatory response. The aim of this article is to investigate the role of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in the M1 macrophage glycolysis pathway during acute liver failure (ALF).Methodology: Targeted metabolomics for quantitative analysis of energy metabolites technology was used to detect the characteristics of energy metabolism for 8 ALF patients and 8 normal volunteers. The ALF mice model was intervened with HDAC6 inhibitor ACY-1215. iTRAQ/TMT quantitative proteomics was used to detect protein expression in livers in different mice groups. The liver function, energy metabolites, M1 macrophages, cytokines, and pathological structure, DDX3X, NLRP3 and DNMT1 in liver tissue were detected. The changes of the above molecules were verified in cell groups.Results: ALF patients and mice have significant energy metabolism disorders, accompanied by activation of M1 macrophages. After the intervention of ACY-1215, the activated M1 macrophages and cytokines levels in the mouse liver were reduced. The levels of IDH1, MDH1, and ATP were significantly increased. The expression of DDX3X increased, while the expression of NLRP3 and DNMT1 decreased. ACY-1215 could reduce the model cell apoptosis level and inflammatory response, and improve energy metabolism. It could also promote the expression of DDX3X, and inhibit the expression of NLRP3 and DNMT1.Conclusion: ACY-1215 could inhibit the activation of M1 macrophages by improving the glycolytic pathway through regulating DNMT1 and DDX3X/NLRP3 signals to alleviate ALF.Keywords: HDAC6, M1 macrophage, metabolic reprogramming, acute liver failure

Jinli Duan1 1, Feng Jiao2 1College of Modern Management, Yango University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2INTO Newcastle University, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UKCorrespondence: Jinli Duan Tel +86 13950315322Email 78308776@qq.comPurpose: Several threatening infectious diseases, including influenza, Ebola, SARS, and COVID-19, have affected human society over the past decades. These disease outbreaks naturally inspire a demand for sustained and advanced safety and suppression measures. To protect public health and safety, further research developments on emergency analysis methods and approaches for effective emergency treatment generation are urgently needed to mitigate the severity of the pandemic and save lives.Methods: To address these issues, a novel case-based reasoning (CBR) system is proposed using three phases. In the first phase, the similarity between the current case and the historical cases is calculated under a variety of heterogeneous information. In the second phase, a filter approach based on grey clustering analysis is created to retrieve relevant cases. In the third phase, the cases retrieved are taken as initial host nests in a cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, and our system searches an optimal solution through iteration of this algorithm.Results: The proposed model is compared with a CBR method improved by particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a CBR method improved by a differential evolution algorithm (DE), to confirm the efficiency of our CS algorithm in adapting solutions for public health emergencies. The results show that the proposed model is better than the existing algorithms.Conclusion: The proposed model improves the speed of case retrieval using grey clustering and increases solution accuracy with CS algorithms. The present research can contribute to government, CDC, and infectious disease emergency management fields with regard to the implementation of fast and accurate public biohazard prevention and control measures based on a variety of heterogeneous information.Keywords: case-based reasoning, grey clustering, cuckoo search algorithm, public health emergencies

Fangdong Jiao, Hao Sun, Qingya Yang, Hui Sun, Zehua Wang, Ming Liu, Jun Chen Department of Urology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Qingdao, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jun ChenDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266035, China Tel +86 18561810509Fax +86 532-66850532Email qlyychenjun@163.comPurpose: Aim of this study was to identify biomarkers between different grades of bladder cancer (BLCA) and its prognostic value.Methods: mRNA expression data from GSE32549 and GSE71576 were extracted for further analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using GEO2R web tool. Gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were conducted to explore the function and relationship of DEGs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used for external validation and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis was used to further identify FADS1 pathways. Bladder cancer cells and patient specimens were used to further demonstrate the function of FADS1.Results: Datasets from GEO identified a panel of DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted that DEGs were associated with nuclear division, spindle, cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. External validation from TCGA demonstrated that FADS1 was an independent prognostic marker in BLCA patients. In cell lines and tumor specimen analysis, FADS1 was overexpressed in the tumor specimen, compared with adjacent tissues, and positively correlated with tumor grade of BLCA. Moreover, FADS1 could enhance the proliferation ability and influence cell cycle of bladder cancer cells.Conclusion: FADS1 was an independent prognostic biomarker for BLCA and could confer the bladder cancer cells increased proliferation ability.Keywords: FADS1, bioinformatics, bladder cancer, TCGA, proliferation

Wenping Mao,1,2 Jing Wang,1,2 Liming Zhang,1,2 Ying Wang,1,2 Wenjun Wang,1,2 Na Zeng,3 Jun Zhang,1,2 Qian li,1,2 Fengwei Jiao,1,2 Jie Li,1,2 Na Cui,1,2 Song Mi,1,2 Yi Xue,1,2 Zhaomei Wang,1,2 Sun Ying,4 Kewu Huang1,2 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Respiratory and Pulmonary Circulation Disorders, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, People’s Republic of China; 2Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing 100020, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Epidemiology and EBM Unit, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Kewu HuangDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, People’s Republic of ChinaTel + 86-10-85231167Email kewuhuang@126.comPurpose: We hypothesized that increased level of serum β 2-microglobulin (β 2M) is an independent factor associated with higher mortality in hospitalized patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 488 hospitalized patients with exacerbated COPD as the first diagnosis at Beijing Chao-Yang hospital, P. R. China between December 31st, 2012 and December 28th, 2017. Concentrations of serum β 2M and other clinical indexes were measured or collected on admission, and all patients were followed up to 90 days. The relationship between β 2M and 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality was explored by Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, C-reactive protein values, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide/100, respiratory failure [RF, defined as partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) < 60 mmHg on room air or PaO2 over the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) < 300], eosinopenia, consolidation, and acidaemia.Results: Median concentrations of β 2M were significantly higher in non-survivals compared to survivals within 30 days (4.11 mg/L (IQR 3.10– 6.60) vs 2.79mg/L (IQR 2.13– 3.76), P < 0.001) and 90 days (3.79 mg/L (IQR 2.61– 6.69) vs 2.79 mg/L (IQR 2.13– 3.73), P < 0.001). Serum levels of β 2M were correlated with 30-day and 90-day mortality in overall exacerbated COPD patients, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.09 (95% CI 1.04– 1.14, P = 0.001) and 1.09 (95% CI 1.05– 1.14, P < 0.001). In exacerbated COPD patients without RF and with RF, the HRs were 1.06 (95% CI 0.995– 1.137, P = 0.069) and 1.14 (95% CI 1.02– 1.27, P = 0.021) for 30-day mortality, 1.09 (95% CI 1.02– 1.15, P = 0.010) and 1.14 (95% CI 1.03– 1.26, P = 0.014) for 90-day mortality, respectively.Conclusion: Our data showed that concentrations of serum β 2M were associated with an increased risk of mortality, suggesting that β 2M might be a valuable predictor of poor prognosis for hospitalized patients with exacerbated COPD.Keywords: β 2-microglobulin, COPD, exacerbation, predictor, prognosis

Aims The impact of global warming on belowground processes, especially on fine root production, is poorly understood in comparison with its aboveground counterpart. Methods Here, we compiled 227 measurements to assess the influence of temperature and precipitation on fine root biomass of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) forest ecosystems in the Eurasia boreal region. Important Findings We found that fine root biomass decreased significantly with latitudes. There was a biomass increase of 0.63 Mg ha-1 and 0.32 Mg ha-1 for fine roots <2 and <1 mm in diameter, respectively, with 1°C increase of mean annual temperature. There was an increase of 0.5 and 0.1 Mg ha-1 per 100 mm year-1 precipitation for the two size classes of fine roots. If the adaption of root production can match the pace of global warming and water is not a limiting factor for plant growth, fine root biomass would be expected to increase by 40-140% in response to the predicted increase in temperature (3-10°C) over the next century. Our analyses highlighted the strongly positive influences of temperature and precipitation on belowground function, suggesting that predicted future climate change could substantially enhance belowground biomass in the boreal region where the greatest warming is anticipated. This potential increase of belowground biomass, coupled with aboveground biomass, may provide a better understanding of climate-ecosystem feedbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitrification is a promising treatment for municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI-FA); however, high energy consumption due to the high MSWI-FA fusion temperature limits the development and application of this technique. In this study, fine slag ash (FSA) derived from coal gasification and coal gangue ash (CGA) were mixed with MSWI-FA to reduce the ash fusion temperature. The transformation of minerals in ash during thermal treatment was examined via X-ray diffraction and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The ash flow behaviour was observed using a thermal platform microscope, and the silicate structure was quantified using Raman spectra. The co-melting mechanisms for the mixed ash were systematically investigated. Results indicate that the flow temperature (FT) of the mixed ash exhibited an initial decrease and subsequent increase as a function of the addition ratio of FSA or CGA. Lowest ash FT of 1215 °C and 1223 °C were recorded for addition of 50% FSA and 50% CGA, respectively; further, these temperatures were lowered by > 285 °C and >277 °C respectively, relative to FT of the MSWI-FA. The transformation of minerals and silicate structure during mixed ash heating was responsible for the variation in the ash fusion temperature. CaO in MSWI-FA tended to react with mullite, quartz and haematite in FSA and CGA, forming minerals such as anorthite, gehlenite, and andradite with relatively low melting points. The addition of FSA or CGA caused changes in the silicate network structure of the mixed ash. In particular, 50% FSA incorporation caused the transformation of Q 4 and Q 3 to Q 2 , whereas 50% CGA introduction resulted in the conversion of Q 4 and Q 2 into Q 3 and Q 1  + Q 0 , respectively. The silicate network depolymerised, causing reduction in the ash fusion temperature and increasing the melting rate., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, underscoring the urgency for a noninvasive and effective biomarker to enhance patient prognosis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), a potential marker for real-time tumor monitoring, are limited in clinical utility due to the low sensitivity of existing detection methods. Previously, we introduced a novel Nano-based CTCs detection method that relies on the electrical properties of cell surfaces, thus eliminating thereby obviating the need for specific molecular biomarkers. In this study, we employed this technique to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CTCs in stage II-IV CRC., Methods: A total of 194 participants were included, consisting of 136 CRC patients and 58 healthy individuals. The peripheral blood of the participants was collected, and CTCs enumeration was performed utilizing the Nano-based detection method that we newly developed. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis were employed to assess the effectiveness of CTCs for diagnosing CRC and predicting patient prognosis., Results: The Nano-based method demonstrated an ability to differentiate CRC patients from healthy individuals with a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 94.8%. Furthermore, baseline CTCs levels were predictive of progression-free survival (PFS) in CRC patients, with lower levels associated with longer PFS compared to higher levels (4.5 months vs. 8.0 months at 15 CTCs/mL, p = 0.016; 4.4 months vs. 8.0 months at 20 CTCs/mL, p = 0.028). We also explored the dynamic changes in the number of CTCs after 1-5 cycles of chemotherapy. Patients with increasing CTCs levels typically experienced disease progression (PD), while those with decreasing levels often achieved a partial response (PR) or maintained stable disease (SD). These findings suggest that the dynamic fluctuations in CTCs counts are closely tied to the clinical course of the disease., Conclusion: Our study indicates the potential of Nano-based CTCs detection in diagnosing and predicting outcomes for patients with stage II-IV CRC., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.)

In recent years, with the global rise in awareness regarding carbon neutrality, the treatment of wastewater in rural areas is increasingly oriented towards energy conservation, emission reduction, low-carbon output, and resource utilization. This paper provides an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the current low-carbon treatment process of low-carbon treatment for rural wastewater. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are increasingly being considered as a viable option for treating wastewater in rural regions. In pursuit of carbon neutrality, advanced carbon-neutral bioprocesses are regarded as the prospective trajectory for achieving carbon-neutral treatment of rural wastewater. The incorporation of CWs with emerging biotechnologies such as sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification (SAD), pyrite-based autotrophic denitrification (PAD), and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) enables efficient removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from rural wastewater. The advancement of CWs towards improved removal of organic and inorganic pollutants, sustainability, minimal energy consumption, and low carbon emissions is widely recognized as a viable low-carbon approach for achieving carbon-neutral treatment of rural wastewater. This study offers novel perspectives on the sustainable development of wastewater treatment in rural areas within the framework of achieving carbon neutrality in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the construction of underground geological engineering, a variety of rocks were often encountered, and the engineering surrounding rocks was prone to shear fracturing. Shear mechanics tests were conducted on a variety of rocks under various joint angles. By studying the shear mechanical characteristics, acoustic emission behavior, and damage degree of the different rock types, we can obtain an insight into their bearing capacity and fracture mechanisms. An obvious inflection point from the elastic to plastic behavior can be observed for the specimens during the process of shear mechanics tests, and the shear behavior was divided into three phases. The acoustic emission signals significantly increased for coal during the second phase, while those of sandstone and shale start to increase during the third phase, which is from the peak point to fracture. The analyses of the shear failure and acoustic emission properties showed that the crack propagation angle increases as the normal stress of rock increases. It was proved that the joint angles and normal stresses of rock could effectively hinder the development of vertical fractures. Based on the shear failure and acoustic emission properties, a constitutive model capable of describing the shear behavior of different types of rocks was developed. This constitutive model can accurately describe the shear fracture properties of the various rocks. The shear failure properties and damage constitutive model of rocks in this study can be used to reduce engineering surrounding rock instability caused by shear., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of novel circular RNA hsa&#95;circ&#95;0036683 (circ-36683) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Methods: RNA sequencing was used to screen out differentially expressed miRNAs. Expression levels of miR-4664-3p and circ-36683 were evaluated in lung carcinoma cells and tissues by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of miR-4664-3p and circ-36683 on proliferation and migration were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing and transwell migration assays and xenograft experiments. The targeting relationship of circ-36683/miR-4664-3p/CDK2AP2 was assessed by luciferase reporter assays, western blot, qRT-PCR and argonaute2-RNA immunoprecipitation (AGO2 RIP). Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining and CCK-8 were used to validate the indispensable role of CDK2AP2 in suppressing cell proliferation as a result of CDK2AP1 overexpression., Results: By RNA sequencing, miR-4664-3p was screened out as an abnormally elevated miRNA in NSCLC tissues. Transfection of miR-4664-3p could promote cell proliferation, migration and xenograft tumor growth. As a target of miR-4664-3p, CDK2AP2 expression was downregulated by miR-4664-3p transfection and CDK2AP2 overexpression could abolish the proliferation promotion resulting from miR-4664-3p elevation. Circ-36683, derived from back splicing of ABHD2 pre-mRNA, was attenuated in NSCLC tissue and identified as a sponge of miR-4664-3p. The functional study revealed that circ-36683 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, migration and resulted in G0/G1 phase arrest. More importantly, the antioncogenic function of circ-36683 was largely dependent on the miR-4664-3p/CDK2AP2 axis, through which circ-36683 could upregulate the expression of p53/p21/p27 and downregulate the expression of CDK2/cyclin E1., Conclusion: The present study revealed the antioncogenic role of circ-36683 in suppressing cell proliferation and migration and highlighted that targeting the circ-36683/miR-4664-3p/CDK2AP2 axis is a promising strategy for the intervention of NSCLC., (© 2024 The Author(s). Thoracic Cancer published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)