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The reduction of the cerebral glucose metabolism is closely related to the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this paper, 18F-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was used to trace cerebral glucose metabolism in vivo, along with Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays to examine the expression and distribution of associated proteins. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were carried out to detect insulin resistance, and the Morris water maze was used to test the spatial learning and memory ability of the mice. The results show increased NLRP3 inflammasome activation, elevated insulin resistance, and decreased glucose metabolism in 3×Tg-AD mice. Inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation using CY-09, a specific inhibitor for NLRP3, may restore cerebral glucose metabolism by increasing the expression and distribution of glucose transporters and enzymes and attenuating insulin resistance in AD mice. Moreover, CY-09 helps to improve AD pathology and relieve cognitive impairment in these mice. Although CY-09 has no significant effect on ferroptosis, it can effectively reduce fatty acid synthesis and lipid peroxidation. These findings provide new evidence for NLRP3 inflammasome as a therapeutic target for AD, suggesting that CY-09 may be a potential drug for the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030, specific sectors in China should take responsibility to change their energy consumption patterns. In China and across the globe, the construction sector is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, as well as an indicator of economic growth and structural transformation. In this study, we examine panel data for 30 provinces or regions from 2008 to 2019 to dissect which macro-factors contribute to growth in carbon emissions, and which will lead to carbon emission reductions. Derived by the entropy method, the Green Finance Index is a comprehensive environmental regulation index related to reduction in emissions in each province. It presents an N shape for construction emissions, and provinces are currently striving to cross the first inflection point, which will help to curb emissions. Judging from the combined effects of this and other structural factors, the Green Finance Index can promote the decarbonization of production by playing the role of guiding and screening capital allocation. Population expansion, income levels, and financial development initially stimulate demand for construction, but their effects eventually level off. This paper can serve as a reference for developing countries that are experiencing industrialization and urbanization processes and handling gas discharge pressure at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bubble terminal velocity has a significant effect on gas holdup, residence time, and efficiency of the interface transfer. Surfactant is often required to generate small and stable bubbles in gas‐liquid two‐phase devices. In this paper, bubble terminal velocities were obtained for different surfactant aqueous solutions using high‐speed CCD (charged couple device) system and digital image analysis technology. Experimental results showed that available correlations were not able to accurately predict terminal velocity of bubbles rising in surfactant aqueous solutions. Thus, a new correlation is proposed based on experimental data and it provides an accurate approximation of bubble terminal velocity. The average relative error for the proposed correlation is determined to be 7.2% in MIBC aqueous solutions, 4.5% in OP‐10 aqueous solutions, and 4.6% in 2‐octanol aqueous solutions. The proposed correlation agrees well with experiment data from literate within ranges of the Morton number, Mo, the bubble Reynolds number, Re, and the Eötvös number, Eo: 3.29 × 10−11

Microplastics (MPs) have been widely found in the environment and have exerted non-negligible impacts on the environment and human health. Extensive research has shown that MPs can act as carriers for viruses and interacts with them in various ways. Whether MPs influence the persistence, transmission and infectivity of virus has attracted global concern in the context of increasing MPs contamination. This review paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the interactions between MPs and viruses in aquatic environments. Latest progress and research trends in this field are summarized based on literature analysis. Additionally, we discuss the potential risks posed by microplastic-associated viruses to human health and the environmental safety, highlighting that MPs can affect viral transmission and infectivity through various pathways. Finally, we underscores the need for further research to address key knowledge gaps, such as elucidating synergistic effects between MPs and viruses, understanding interactions under real environmental conditions, and exploring the role of biofilms in virus-MPs interactions. This review aims to contribute to a deeper understanding on the transmission of viruses in the context of increasing MPs pollution in water, and promote actions to reduce the potential risks., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Zheng, Wang, Hou, He, Wang, Zhang, Chen and Liu.)

Chronic angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion is an experimental model that induces hypertension in rodents. The natriuresis, diuresis, and blood pressure responses differ between males and females. This is perhaps not unexpected, given the rodent kidney, which plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, exhibits marked sex differences. Under normotensive conditions, compared with males, the female rat nephron exhibits lower Na + /H + exchanger 3 (NHE3) activity along the proximal tubule but higher Na + transporter activities along the distal segments. ANG II infusion-induced hypertension induces a pressure natriuretic response that reduces NHE3 activity and shifts Na + transport capacity downstream. The goals of this study were to apply a computational model of epithelial transport along a rat nephron 1 ) to understand how a 14-day ANG II infusion impacts segmental electrolyte transport in male and female rat nephrons and 2 ) to identify and explain any sex differences in the effects of loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, and K + -sparing diuretics. Model simulations suggest that the NHE3 downregulation in the proximal tubule is a major contributor to natriuresis and diuresis in hypertension, with the effects stronger in males. All three diuretics are predicted to induce stronger natriuretic and diuretic effects under hypertension compared with normotension, with relative increases in sodium excretion higher in hypertensive females than in males. The stronger natriuretic responses can be explained by the downstream shift of Na + transport load in hypertension and by the larger distal transport load in females, both of which limit the ability of the distal segments to further elevate their Na + transport. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sex differences in the prevalence of hypertension are found in human and animal models. The kidney, which regulates blood pressure, exhibits sex differences in morphology, hemodynamics, and membrane transporter distributions. This computational modeling study provides insights into how the sexually dimorphic responses to a 14-day angiotensin II infusion differentially impact segmental electrolyte transport in rats. Simulations of diuretic administration explain how the natriuretic and diuretic effects differ between normotension and hypertension and between the sexes.

The potential of periodate (PI) in sludge anaerobic digestion is not tapped, although it has recently attracted great research interest in organic contaminants removal and pathogens inactivation in wastewater treatment. This is the first work to demonstrate significant improvement in methane generation from waste activated sludge (WAS) with PI pretreatment and to provide underlying mechanisms. Biochemical methane potential tests indicated that methane yield enhanced from 100.2 to 146.3 L per kg VS (VS, volatile solids) with PI dosages from 0 to 100 mg per g TS (TS, total solids). Electron spin resonance showed PI could be activated without extra activator addition, which might be attributed to the native transition metals (e.g., Fe 2+ ) in WAS, thereby generating hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide radicals (•O 2 - ), and singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ). Further scavenging tests demonstrated all of them synergistically promoted WAS disintegration, and their contributions were in the order of •O 2 - > •OH >  1 O 2 , leading to the release of substantial biodegradable substances (i.e., proteins and polysaccharides) into the liquid phase for subsequent biotransformation. Moreover, fluorescence and ultraviolet spectroscopy analyses indicated the recalcitrant organics (especially lignocellulose and humus) could be degraded by reducing their aromaticity under oxidative stress of PI, thus readily for methanogenesis. Microbial community analysis revealed some microorganisms participating in hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and acetoclastic methanogenesis were enriched after PI pretreatment. The improved key enzyme activities and up-regulated metabolic pathways further provided direct evidence for enhanced methane production. This research was expected to broaden the application scope of PI and provide more diverse pretreatment choices for energy recovery through anaerobic digestion., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2022 The Authors.)