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This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of coal particle size gradation on the properties of coal–water slurry (CWS), including coal concentration, flowability, stability, and rheological behavior. The research findings indicate that coarse coal particles have a dominant effect on improving the coal concentration of CWS, while fine coal particles significantly contribute to enhancing the flowability and stability of CWS. Also, a gradation approach incorporating both coarse and fine components with continuous particle size distributions was explored, successfully achieving a high performance CWS with a high coal concentration of 66.12 wt%, a flow time of 13.37 s indicating excellent flowability, and a water separation rate of 3.49 wt% after standing for 7 days, demonstrating good stability. Furthermore, the validity of these research results was confirmed by zeta potential analyses and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations. [Display omitted] • High performance coal–water slurry (CWS) can be achieved by particle size gradation. • The respective roles of coarse and fine coal particles in CWS system are elucidated. • Using coarse particles with a wide size distribution has some unique advantages. • The aggregation structures formed by fine particles could enhance stability of CWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An immune-related ceRNA network was constructed in RIEI. • Potential immune-related mechanisms and therapeutic agents for RIEI were identified. Radiation-induced esophageal injury (RIEI) is an adverse reaction of radiation therapy in patients with esophageal cancer, lung cancer and other malignant tumors. Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network is known to play a significant role in the onset and progression of many diseases, but the exact mechanism of ceRNA in RIEI has not been fully elucidated. In this study, rat esophaguses were obtained after conducting irradiation under different doses (0 Gy, 25 Gy, 35 Gy). Total RNA was extracted and mRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and miRNA sequencing was performed. Multiple dose-dependent differentially expressed RNAs (dd-DERs), including 870 lncRNAs, 82 miRNAs, 2478 mRNAs, were obtained through the integration of differential expression analysis and dose-dependent screening (35 Gy ≥ 25 Gy > 0 Gy, or 35 Gy ≤ 25 Gy < 0 Gy). Co-expression analysis and prediction of the binding site in dd-DER were conducted and 27 lncRNAs, 20 miRNAs, and 168 mRNAs were selected to construct a ceRNA network. As the immune microenvironment is crucial for RIEI progression, we constructed an immune-related ceRNA network consisting of 11 lncRNAs, 9 miRNAs, and 9 mRNAs. The expression levels of these immune-related RNAs were verified by RT-qPCR. Immune infiltration analysis showed that the RNAs in the immune-related ceRNA network were mainly associated with the proportion of monocytes, M2 macrophages, activated NK cells, and activated CD4+ memory T cells. Drug sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the expression levels of mRNAs in the immune-related ceRNA network, and small molecule drugs with preventive and therapeutic effects on RIEI were identified. In summary, an immune-related ceRNA network associated with RIEI progression was constructed in this study. The findings provide useful information on new potential targets for the prevention and treatment of RIEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plastic wastes underwent a tough-brittle transition by degradation and modification. • The coal-plastic-water slurry (CPWS) exhibited a pseudo-plastic rheological behavior. • The CPWS with a high solid concentration and calorific value could be obtained. • The comprehensive approach opens up a new way for the utilization of plastic wastes. In this paper, coal-plastic-water slurry (CPWS) was prepared by blending plastic waste with coal in water. To enhance the grindability and density, the plastic waste containing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) was treated by degradation and filling modification. The structures and properties of degraded and modified plastic waste were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscope (POM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the mechanical properties of modified plastic waste were tested. It was suitable to use 1.0 wt% K 2 S 2 O 8 as an assistant to degrade the plastic waste at 260° C for 3 h, and 35 wt% CaCO 3 as the filling agent to modify the plastic waste. The results proved that the plastic waste underwent a tough-brittle transition by the combined treatments of degradation and filling modification. When the blending ratio range of plastic waste was from 0 to15 wt%, the CPWS with a high solid concentration greater than 66 wt% and high calorific value could be achieved by using the degraded and modified plastic waste. Additionally, CPWSs exhibited pseudo-plastic rheological behaviors. Based on the research results, a reasonable method for preparation of CPWS and a new way for utilization of plastic waste were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal-semicoke-water slurry (CSWS) was prepared by blending semicoke with coal-water slury (CWS). The effects of semicoke blending ratio and particle size distribution on the properties of CSWS, such as solid concentration, apparent viscosity, static stability and rheological behavior, were investigated. Also, the particle morphology was observed. The results showed that fine coal particles could fill into the partly destroyed semicoke pores, releasing the bound water and turning it into the free water. The CSWS with high concentration and good stability could be obtained by the combined effects of particle filling and gradation. Additional, CSWS exhibited pseudoplastic behavior, that is, the apparent viscosity decreased with the increase of shear rate. Based on the research results, a reasonable method for preparing CSWS and a new way for utilization of semicoke were proposed. [Display omitted] • The lower concentration of SWS is mainly resulted from porous structure of semicoke. • The fine coal particles could fill into semicoke pores, releasing the bound water. • The high performance CSWS can be obtained by particle filling and gradation. • The comprehensive approach opens up a new way for the utilization of semicoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurable residual disease (MRD)-testing is used in many haematological cancers to estimate relapse risk and to direct therapy. Sometimes MRD-test results are used for regulatory approval. However, some people including regulators wrongfully believe results of MRD-testing are highly accurate and of proven efficacy in directing therapy. We review MRD-testing technologies and evaluate the accuracy of MRD-testing for predicting relapse and the strength of evidence supporting efficacy of MRD-guided therapy. We show that at the individual level MRD-test results are often an inaccurate relapse predictor. Also, no convincing data indicate that increasing therapy-intensity based on a positive MRD-test reduces relapse risk or improves survival. We caution against adjusting therapy-intensity based solely on results of MRD-testing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest RPG is a consultant to Antengene Biotech LLC; Medical Director, FFF Enterprises Inc.; A speaker for Janssen Pharma and Hengrui Pharma; Board of Directors: Russian Foundation for Cancer Research Support and Scientific Advisory Board, StemRad Ltd., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

NETosis, a regulated form of neutrophil death, is crucial for host defense against pathogens. However, the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) during NETosis can have detrimental effects on surrounding tissues and contribute to the pro-inflammatory response, in addition to their role in controlling microbes. Although it is well-established that the IL-23-Th17 axis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, emerging evidence suggests that psoriasis, as an autoinflammatory disease, is also associated with NETosis. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying NETosis in psoriasis. It will cover topics such as the formation of NETs, immune cells involved in NETosis, and potential biomarkers as prognostic/predicting factors in psoriasis. By analyzing the intricate relationship between NETosis and psoriasis, this review also aims to identify novel possibilities targeting NETosis for the treatment of psoriasis., 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., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Feng and Shi.)

Genotoxic therapy triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative tissue injury. S-nitrosylation is a selective and reversible posttranslational modification of protein thiols by nitric oxide (NO), and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for NO synthesis. However, the mechanism by which BH4 affects protein S-nitrosylation and ROS generation has not been determined. Here, we showed that ionizing radiation disrupted the structural integrity of BH4 and downregulated GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH1), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 biosynthesis, resulting in deficiency in overall protein S-nitrosylation. GCH1-mediated BH4 synthesis significantly reduced radiation-induced ROS production and fueled the global protein S-nitrosylation that was disrupted by radiation. Likewise, GCH1 overexpression or the administration of exogenous BH4 protected against radiation-induced oxidative injury in vitro and in vivo. Conditional pulmonary Gch1 knockout in mice (Gch1 fl/fl ; Sftpa1-Cre +/- mice) aggravated lung injury following irradiation, whereas Gch1 knock-in mice (Gch1 lsl/lsl ; Sftpa1-Cre +/- mice) exhibited attenuated radiation-induced pulmonary toxicity. Mechanistically, lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) mediated ROS generation downstream of the BH4/NO axis, as determined by iodoacetyl tandem mass tag (iodoTMT)-based protein quantification. Notably, S-nitrosylation of LDHA at Cys163 and Cys293 was regulated by BH4 availability and could restrict ROS generation. The loss of S-nitrosylation in LDHA after irradiation increased radiosensitivity. Overall, the results of the present study showed that GCH1-mediated BH4 biosynthesis played a key role in the ROS cascade and radiosensitivity through LDHA S-nitrosylation, identifying novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of radiation-induced lung injury., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Radiation-induced skin injury is a serious concern during radiotherapy and accidental exposure to radiation., Objective: This study aims to investigate the molecular events in early response to ionizing radiation of skin tissues and underlying mechanism., Methods: Mice and rats were irradiated with an electron beam. Skin tissues were used for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics, mRNA-Seq and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq). Human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and skin fibroblasts (WS1) were used for functional studies., Results: The integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics showed that 6 key fatty acid-associated metabolites, 9 key fatty acid-associated genes and multiple fatty acid-associated pathways were most obviously enriched and increased in the irradiated skins. Among them, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase very long chain (ACADVL) was investigated in greater detail due to its most obvious expression difference and significance in fatty acid metabolism. ScRNA-Seq of rat skin from irradiated individuals revealed that ACADVL was expressed in all subpopulations of skin tissues, with variations at different timepoints after radiation. Immunohistochemistry confirmed an increased ACADVL expression in the epidermis from human sample and various animal models, including monkeys, rats and mice. The knockdown of ACADVL increased the radiosensitivity of human keratinocytes and human skin fibroblasts. Silencing of ACADVL facilitated the expression of apoptosis and pyroptosis-related proteins following ionizing radiation., Conclusion: This study illustrated that cutaneous fatty acid metabolism was altered in the early response of ionizing radiation, and fatty acid metabolism-associated ACADVL is involved in radiation-induced cell death., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors state no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, lanthanide-doped upconversion luminescent materials have showed great potential in optical data storage, information encryption and anti-counterfeiting. However, the low upconversion luminescence still limited their applications. In this work, we fabricated RGB NaYF₄:Ln 3+ @NaYF₄ core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) with enhanced upconversion luminescence by coating an inert NaYF₄ shell onto NaYF₄:Ln 3+ core nanoparticles via thermal decomposition method. The effect of increased shell temperature and addition of shell precursors on crystal phase, morphology and luminescent property of the synthesized CSNPs were systematically investigated. It was demonstrated that high shell growing temperature facilitated the formation of pure β -NaYF₄ CSNPs. Upon increasing amount of shell precursors, the morphologies of hexagonal phase NaYF₄ CSNPs changed from nanorod to nanocube and showed different luminescent properties. Pure hexagonal phase NaYF₄ CSNPs with highest upconversion luminescence of about 15 times higher than NaYF₄:Ln 3+ core nanoparticles can be prepared at 310 °C with the addition of shell precursors at 3 mmol. Moreover, three-primary-color (RGB) CSNPs with enhanced upconversion luminescence were successfully prepared by changing the doping pair of lanthanide ions in core. The synthesized RGB CSNPs were fabricated into environment friendly luminescent ink by sequential surface modification by PAA ligand and dispersing in mixture solvent of ethanol, water and glycerol. Comparative results showed that the fluorescence enhanced RGB CSNPs inks were more suitable for inkjet printing of multicolored, complex and high resolution luminescent anti-counterfeiting patterns on paper substrates.

We demonstrate that complex supercontinuum and few-cycle ultrashort laser pulses can be fully characterized by using a cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating with molecular alignment induced birefringence functioned as a gate. The temporal envelope and phase of the broadband supercontinuum pulse are retrieved by the principal component generalized projection algorithm. This technique shows advantages without phase-matching constraint that may limit the measurable spectral bandwidth, experimental robustness in operating through the whole transparent spectral region of the molecular gases, and intensity sensitivity to measure weak pulses which is inherited from the intrinsic linear process in recording the molecular birefringence induced polarization spectroscopy. Experimental measurements of a few-cycle pulse in the visible region of 525-725 nm confirm that the molecular alignment gating supports a full field characterization of the ultrashort pulse around 10 fs in duration.