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Abstract Background The urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, even when within the normal range. However, the potential modification of this effect by metabolic abnormalities remains unclear. This study explored whether metabolic abnormalities modify the association between normal-range UACR and cardiovascular mortality. Methods This cohort study included 27,298 U.S. adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018, with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2019. Normal UACR (

Abstract Background To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with sarcopenia, and to explore the extent to which insulin resistance (IR) mediates this association, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from 15,779 adults in the NHANES from 1999 to 2006 and 2011–2018. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) between MetS, its components, the number of MetS components, and sarcopenia. Mediation analysis was performed to explore the role of the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in MetS and its components-induced sarcopenia. Result In the fully adjusted model, MetS increased the prevalence of sarcopenia by 1.96-fold (95% CI: 1.73–2.22). Among the individual components, central obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia were associated with an increased prevalence of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia prevalence also increased linearly with the number of MetS components, with the highest prevalence observed in the presence of all five components (OR: 3.80, 95% CI: 2.79–5.16). Sex-stratified analysis showed that the prevalence of MetS for sarcopenia was higher in males than females. The mediating effects of HOMA-IR on the association between MetS and its components (central obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia) with sarcopenia were significant, with mediation effects of 51.7%, 30.7%, 33.2%, and 79.1%, respectively. There was no significant direct association between hyperglycemia and sarcopenia beyond the HOMA-IR pathway. Conclusion MetS and its individual components, excluding hypertriglyceridemia and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol, were associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenia, especially in males. This association was partially or fully mediated by IR.

Abstract Macrophages may acquire a reparative phenotype that supports tissue repair and remodeling in response to tissue injury. However, the metabolic requirements underpinning this process are incompletely understood. Here, we show that posttranslational modification (PTM) of PPARγ regulates lipid synthesis in response to wound microenvironmental cues and that metabolic rewiring orchestrates function of reparative macrophages. In injured tissues, repair signaling leads to decreased macrophage PPARγ threonine 166 (T166) phosphorylation, which results in a partially active PPARγ transcriptional program comprised of increased binding activity to the regulator regions of lipid synthesis-associated genes, thereby increased lipogenesis. The accumulated lipids serve as signaling molecules, triggering STAT3-mediated growth factor expression, and supporting the synthesis of phospholipids for the expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is required for protein secretion. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PPARγ T166 phosphorylation promotes the reparative function of macrophages and facilitates tissue regeneration. In summary, our work identifies PPARγ T166-regulated lipid biosynthesis as an essential pathway for meeting the anabolic demands of the activation and function of macrophages and provides a rationale for potential therapeutic targeting of tissue repair.

Species diversity at different altitudes exhibits different variation patterns. In alpine ecosystems, species migration from low to high altitudes has changed the intensity of interspecific competition and association, inevitably adjusting or changing the existing prevention and control objects and strategies. In this context, selecting a typical area to probe the variations in species diversity and interspecific competition and association is imperative. Thus, this study investigated the diversity of locusts and grasshoppers at 400 m intervals in the grasslands at different altitudes in the Ili River basin of China. The responses of locusts (or grasshoppers) diversity, ecological niche, and interspecific association to altitudinal variations were comprehensively analyzed using univariate linear regression and redundancy analysis. The results showed that the diversity of locusts and grasshoppers declined with rising altitude. Average vegetation height and wind velocity significantly affected the diversity of locusts and grasshoppers at altitudes of 1,000–1,400 and 1,400–1,800 m, respectively. The vegetation dominance, aspect, and relative humidity significantly affected the diversity of locusts and grasshoppers at 1,800–2,200 m. Nonetheless, no ecological factor significantly affected the diversity of locusts and grasshoppers at ≤ 1,000 m. Before 1,400 m, the rise in altitude intensified the interspecific competition and tightened interspecific relationships. From 1,400 m, the interspecific competition was weakened, and interspecific relationships were loosened. Calliptamus italicus, Oedaleus decorus, and Calliptamus barbarus were the dominant locust taxa in the Ili River basin, with C. italicus and O. decorus being distributed at multiple altitudes, especially within ≤ 1,800 m. The high population density of C. italicus and O. decorus within this range required intensive monitoring and control. By contrast, Egnatius apicalis and Conophyma sp. were sparsely distributed within the > 1,400 m range, posing challenges in collection of locusts and grasshoppers. Therefore, protective measures should be taken to increase insect diversity in grasslands.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the association between blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio (BAR) and the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.MethodsA total of 3,962 diabetic ketoacidosis patients from the eICU Collaborative Research Database were included in this analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital death.ResultsOver a median length of hospital stay of 3.1 days, 86 in-hospital deaths were identified. One unit increase in LnBAR was positively associated with the risk of in-hospital death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.82 [95% CI, 1.42–2.34]). Furthermore, a nonlinear, consistently increasing correlation between elevated BAR and in-hospital mortality was observed (P for trend =0.005 after multiple-adjusted). When BAR was categorized into quartiles, the higher risk of in-hospital death (multiple-adjusted HR, 1.99 [95% CI, (1.1–3.6)]) was found in participants in quartiles 3 to 4 (BAR≥6.28) compared with those in quartiles 1 to 2 (BAR

Abstract Thermoelectric materials are highly promising for waste heat harvesting. Although thermoelectric materials research has expanded over the years, bismuth telluride‐based alloys are still the best for near‐room‐temperature applications. In this work, a ≈38% enhancement of the average ZT (300−473 K) to 1.21 is achieved by mixing Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 with an emerging thermoelectric material Sb2Si2Te6, which is significantly higher than that of most BiySb2−yTe3‐based composites. This enhancement is facilitated by the unique interface region between the Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 matrix and Sb2Si2Te6‐based precipitates with an orderly atomic arrangement, which promotes the transport of charge carriers with minimal scattering, overcoming a common factor that is limiting ZT enhancement in such composites. At the same time, high‐density dislocations in the same region can effectively scatter the phonons, decoupling the electron‐phonon transport. This results in a ≈56% enhancement of the thermoelectric quality factor at 373 K, from 0.41 for the pristine sample to 0.64 for the composite sample. A single‐leg device is fabricated with a high efficiency of 5.4% at ΔT = 164 K further demonstrating the efficacy of the Sb2Si2Te6 compositing strategy and the importance of the precipitate‐matrix interface microstructure in improving the performance of materials for relatively low‐temperature applications.

Sediment transport is a geophysical phenomenon characterized by the displacement of sediment particles in both the horizontal and vertical directions due to various forces. Most of the sediment transport equations currently used include only parameters related to the horizontal direction. This study measured both instantaneous longitudinal and vertical parameters, i.e., velocities and forces, and found that the magnitude and direction of the vertical force play an important role in sediment incipient motion. An innovative experimental system was developed to investigate the effect of vertical force on incipient motion in rapidly varying flows. A quadrant analysis of the instantaneous measured forces on the critical shear stress was performed. The research revealed that upward positive vertical forces enhance particle mobility, whereas downward negative vertical forces increase particle stability. Novel equations have been developed to represent the influence of vertical forces on sediment transport. A comprehensive critical Shields stress for sediment transport was proposed, extending the Classic Shields diagram to encompass the incipient motion in highly unsteady flows.

Increasing studies of plastisphere have raised public concern about microplastics (MPs) as vectors for pathogens, especially in aquatic environments. However, the extent to which pathogens affect human health through MPs remains unclear, as controversies persist regarding the distinct pathogen colonization on MPs as well as the transmission routes and infection probability of MP-associated pathogens from water to humans. In this review, we critically discuss whether and how pathogens approach humans via MPs, shedding light on the potential health risks involved. Drawing on cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, we show that some MPs may facilitate the growth and long-range transmission of specific pathogens in aquatic environments, ultimately increasing the risk of infection in humans. We identify MP- and pathogen-rich settings, such as wastewater treatment plants, aquaculture farms, and swimming pools, as possible sites for human exposure to MP-associated pathogens. This review emphasizes the need for further research and targeted interventions to better understand and mitigate the potential health risks associated with MP-mediated pathogen transmission.

Abstract Plastics have become an integral component in agricultural production as mulch films, nets, storage bins and in many other applications, but their widespread use has led to the accumulation of large quantities in soils. Rational use and reduction, collection, reuse, and innovative recycling are key measures to curb plastic pollution from agriculture. Plastics that cannot be collected after use must be biodegradable in an environmentally benign manner. Harmful plastic additives must be replaced with safer alternatives to reduce toxicity burdens and included in the ongoing negotiations surrounding the United Nations Plastics Treaty. Although full substitution of plastics is currently not possible without increasing the overall environmental footprint and jeopardizing food security, alternatives with smaller environmental impacts should be used and endorsed within a clear socio-economic framework. Better monitoring and reporting, technical innovation, education and training, and social and economic incentives are imperative to promote more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture.

Research on combined phytotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and nanoparticles is very important for the remediation of PFOA contaminated soil and further assessment for the potential of nano-enhanced phytoremediation. Here, joint effects of PFOA and CuO nanoparticles (nCuO) in plants were studied by exposing radish (Raphanus sativus L.) to PFOA (4 mg/kg) and nCuO (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 30 days, and measuring for contaminant accumulation, radish biomass, photosynthesis profiles and nutrient contents. Results showed that PFOA accumulated highly in radish organs but showed limited effects on radish biomass. nCuO could increase the transfer rate of PFOA from root to shoot and reduce PFOA accumulation in edible root part, but higher nCuO lead to decreased radish biomass. Reversely, PFOA alleviated the adverse effects of nCuO on leaf photosynthesis and root metabolism of vitamins and amino acids. These results provided basics for exploring possibility of nano-enhanced phytoremediation for PFOA soil pollution.

Abstract Developing sustainable and clean energy‐conversion techniques is one of the strategies to simultaneously meet the global energy demand, save fossil fuels and protect the environment, in which nanocatalysts with high activity, selectivity and durability are of great importance. Intermetallic nanocrystals, featuring their ordered atomic arrangements and predictable electronic structures, have been recognized as a type of active and durable catalysts in energy‐related applications. In this minireview, the very recent progress in the syntheses and electrocatalytic applications of noble metal‐based intermetallic nanocrystals is summarized. Various synthetic strategies, including the conventional thermal annealing approach and its diverse modifications, as well as the wet‐chemical synthesis, for the construction of binary, ternary and high‐entropy intermetallic nanocrystals have been discussed with representative examples, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Then, their electrocatalytic applications toward oxygen reduction reaction, small molecule oxidation reactions, hydrogen evolution reaction, CO2/CO reduction reactions, and nitrogen reduction reaction are discussed, with the emphasis on how the ordered intermetallic structures contribute to the enhanced performance. We conclude the minireview by addressing the current challenges and opportunities of intermetallic nanocrystals in terms of syntheses and electrocatalytic applications.

Abstract Phase change materials (PCMs) are promising thermal energy storage materials due to their high specific latent heat. Conventional PCMs typically exploit the solid–liquid (s–l) transition. However, leakage and leaching are common issues for solid–liquid PCMs, which have to be addressed before usage in practical applications. In contrast, solid–solid (s–s) PCMs would naturally overcome these issues due to their inherent form stability and homogeneity. In this study, we report a new type of s–s PCM based on chemically linked polyethylene glycol (PEG, the PCM portion) with polylactic acid (PLA, the support portion) in the form of a block co‐polymer. Solid‐solid latent heat of up to 56 J/g could be achieved, with melting points of between 44 °C and 55 °C. For comparison, PEG was physically mixed into a PLA matrix to form a PEG:PLA composite. However, the composite material saw leakage of up to 9% upon heating, with a corresponding loss in thermal storage capacity. In contrast, the mPEG/PLA block co‐polymers were found to be completely homogeneous and thermally stable even when heated above its phase transition temperature, with no observable leakage, demonstrating the superiority of chemical linking strategies in ensuring form stability.

Abstract Background Calliptamus italicus is a dominant species in the desert and semi-desert grassland. It is widely distributed throughout many regions such as Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean, and has enormous destructive potential for agriculture and animal husbandry. The C. italicus overwintering as eggs in the soil through diapause, and the cold tolerance of locust eggs is the key to their ability to survive the winter smoothly to maintain the population. Results Transcriptome analysis of C. italicus eggs was carried out in this paper in constant low temperature acclimation, natural low temperature acclimation and room temperature. The differentially expressed genes related to cold tolerance were screened out, the differences in expression patterns under different low temperature acclimation were analyzed, and the genes in the significantly up-regulated pathways may play an important role in cold tolerance. The results show that different domestication modes can induce C. italicus eggs to express a large number of genes to alleviate low temperature damage, but C. italicus eggs are more sensitive to changes in temperature. Compared with the control, there are 8689 DEGs at constant low temperature and 14,994 DEGs at natural low temperature. KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to metabolism and biological systems under constant low temperature, and were mainly enriched in pathways related to biological systems and environmental information processing under natural low temperature. In addition, RNAi technology was used to further verify the regulation of genes in the significantly enriched up-regulated pathways on C. italicus eggs, and it was confirmed that the hatching rate of C. italicus eggs at low temperature was significantly reduced after interference. Conclusions Transcriptome analysis of C. italicus eggs treated at different temperatures provided a theoretical basis for further understanding the adaptation mechanism of C. italicus eggs to low temperature. In addition, four potential RNAi target genes were verified in the eggs of C. italicus for the first time, providing new ideas for effective control of this species.

A mixed passivation strategy is deployed to produce monodisperse and pure CsPbBr3 nanocrystals under ambient condition via post treatment using ZnBr2 in mixed organic solvents. This room temperature synthesis route provides precise size and shape control, and colloidal nanocubes or nanospheres can be obtained depending on the choice of organic solvents. Any secondary phases’ nucleation was inhibited. The ZnBr2 can reduce the Br− vacancies at the surface termination layers, thus enhancing their properties. This approach can potentially offer a cheap and viable route for perovskite nanocrystals in optical and electrical devices.

BackgroundDepression is a prevalent mental health disorder. Although Internet use has been associated with depression, there is limited data on the association between smartphone use and depressive symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone use and depressive symptoms among older individuals in China.Methods5,244 Chinese older individuals over the age of 60 were selected as the sample from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 dataset. The dependent variable “depression symptoms” was measured using the 9-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. The study employed multiple linear regression to investigate the relationship between smartphone use (independent variable) and depressive symptoms in older people. Thorough analyses of robustness, sensitivity, and heterogeneity were conducted to ensure the robustness and sensitivity of the findings. Additionally, mediating effect analysis was performed to elucidate the mechanism through which the dependent and independent variables were related.ResultsEmpirical study indicated that smartphone use had a negative impact on depressive symptoms among older adults, specifically leading to a reduction in such symptoms. The above-mentioned result was verified through endogenous and robustness tests. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that older individuals aged 70 years and above, male, and residing in urban areas exhibited a stronger association between smartphone use and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the mediating effect model indicated that political participation, voluntary participation, and active leisure participation mediated the relationship between smartphone use and lower levels of depression symptoms among the older adults. However, passive leisure participation had a suppressing effect on the relationship between smartphone use and reduced depressive symptoms among the older adults.LimitationsThe causal relationship between variables required further investigation with a longitudinal design.ConclusionThese findings suggested that smartphone use may be considered an intervention to reduce depression symptoms among older people by increasing levels of political participation, voluntary participation, and active leisure participation.

Removal of organic micropollutants from water through advanced oxidation processes is hampered by the excessive input of energy and/or chemicals as well as the large amounts of residuals resulting from incomplete mineralization. Here the authors present a new alternative water purification technology to adsorption and advanced oxidation.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, and most of its population is concentrated along the coastal line. In recent years, extreme climate events such as floods and droughts have occurred more frequently. Sydney, as the largest city in Australia, requires a reliable water supply. Many solutions have been conducted to secure its water supply. This paper is focused on future water supply for the Greater Sydney area. The analysis supports the concept that in runoff-rich regions like Greater Sydney, there is no water shortage but a lack of water storage. The novel technology, coastal reservoirs, can increase the storage capacity of freshwater in the sea. The average annual discharge at Shoalhaven River mouth is estimated as 1,334 gigalitres. By comparison, the average annual inflow to the Warragamba Dam, which supplies 80% of Sydney's drinking water, is 1,069 gigalitres. This paper discusses how to apply a Coastal Reservoir at the Shoalhaven River mouth to secure additional water supply for ever-growing Greater Sydney. The proposed reservoir with a capacity of 500 gigalitres could supply 1,000 gigalitres of water per year with a reliability of 90%. A preliminary design of the reservoir is demonstrated. HIGHLIGHTS Review the water solutions for Greater Sydney.; Apply Coastal Reservoir technology to Greater Sydney's water supply.; Compare the difference between Coastal Reservoir and other water solutions.;

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological injury caused by traffic accidents, trauma, or falls, which leads to significant loss of sensory, motor, and autonomous functions and seriously affects the patient’s life quality. Although considerable progress has been made in mitigating secondary injury and promoting the regeneration/repair of SCI, the therapeutic effects need to be improved due to drug availability. Given their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity, injectable hydrogels can be used as delivery systems to achieve controlled release of drugs and other substances (cells and proteins, etc.), offering new hope for SCI repair. In this article, we summarized the types of injectable hydrogels, analyzed their application as delivery systems in SCI, and further discussed the mechanisms of hydrogels in the treatment of SCI, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, and pro-neurogenesis. Moreover, we highlighted the potential benefits of hydrogels in the treatment of SCI in combination with therapies, including the recent advances and achievements of these promising tools. Our review may offer new strategies for the development of SCI treatments based on injectable hydrogels as delivery systems.

The striatum links neuronal circuits in the human brain, and its malfunction causes neuronal disorders such as Huntington's disease (HD). A human striatum model that recapitulates fetal striatal development is vital to decoding the pathogenesis of striatum-related neurological disorders and developing therapeutic strategies. Here, we developed a method to construct human striatal organoids (hStrOs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including hStrOs-derived assembloids. Our hStrOs partially replicated the fetal striatum and formed striosome and matrix-like compartments in vitro. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed distinct striatal lineages in hStrOs, diverging from dorsal forebrain fate. Using hStrOs-derived assembloids, we replicated the striatal targeting projections from different brain parts. Furthermore, hStrOs can serve as hosts for striatal neuronal allografts to test allograft neuronal survival and functional integration. Our hStrOs are suitable for studying striatal development and related disorders, characterizing the neural circuitry between different brain regions, and testing therapeutic strategies.

The rapid development of industry has emphasized the importance of phase change materials (PCMs) with a high latent-heat storage capacity and good thermal stability in promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity and poor thermal-cycling stability of PCMs limit their application. In this study, we constructed three-dimensional (3D) hybrid graphene aerogels (GBA) based on synergistic assembly and cross-linking between GO and modified hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Highly thermally conductive GBA was utilized as the supporting optimal matrix for encapsulating OD, and further implied that composite matrix n-octadecane (OD)/GBA composite PCMs were further prepared by encapsulating OD within the GBA structure. Due to the highly thermally conductive network of GBA, the latent heat of the composite PCMs improved to 208.3 J/g, with negligible changes after 100 thermal cycles. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the composite PCMs was significantly enhanced to 1.444 W/(m·k), increasing by 738% compared to OD. These results sufficiently confirmed that the novel GBA with a well-defined porous structure served as PCMs with excellent comprehensive performance offer great potential for thermal energy storage applications.

Coating materials serve the purposes to protect, enhance and/or confer additional functionalities and properties to the underlying object surface or bulk materials. In recent years, nanotechnologies have been extensively incorporated into the functional coatings as manipulation of materials at the nanoscale can impart some unique chemical, mechanical, thermal, surface and photophysical properties that can be exploited to enhance functions required in urban built environments. In this review paper, recent research progresses of several categories of functional coatings were summarized with emphasis on their applications for green and smart buildings. These included hydrophobic coatings, hydrophilic and photocatalytic coatings, coatings for reduction in surface solar radiation as well as phase change materials (PCM) coatings. This review aims to provide a general introduction and research progress on these selected functional coating technologies, starting from the material's fabrication to its application when used in different building components.

Neurodegenerative diseases are common, incurable neurological disorders with high prevalence, and lead to memory, movement, language, and intelligence impairments, threatening the lives and health of patients worldwide. The blood–brain barrier (BBB), a physiological barrier between the central nervous system and peripheral blood circulation, plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the intracerebral environment by strictly regulating the transport of substances between the blood and brain. Therefore, it is difficult for therapeutic drugs to penetrate the BBB and reach the brain, and this affects their efficacy. Nanoparticles (NPs) can be used as drug transport carriers and are also known as nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs). These systems not only increase the stability of drugs but also facilitate the crossing of drugs through the BBB and improve their efficacy. In this article, we provided an overview of the types and administration routes of NPs, highlighted the preclinical and clinical studies of NDDSs in neurodegenerative diseases, and summarized the combined therapeutic strategies in the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, the prospects and challenges of NDDSs in recent basic and clinical research were also discussed. Above all, NDDSs provide an inspiring therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Carbon dots have attracted much attention for biomedical applications but potential degradation and associated toxicity are still poorly understood. Here, the authors report on a study into the photo-degradation of carbon dots, the products produced and associated cytotoxicity.

In modern sports training, collecting and analyzing basketball player's posture data is of great significance for improving the scientific of the coach's training plan and improving the athlete's training effect. The existing basketball action recognition technology has many challenges such as low efficiency and high error rate. In order to effectively identify the basketball player's sports posture and improve the athlete's training effect, this paper proposes a basketball shooting gesture recognition method based on image feature extraction and machine learning. First of all, the action posture data of basketball players is collected by image feature extraction method, and multi-dimensional motion posture features are extracted from time domain and frequency domain. Then, through the method of feature selection and Gaussian hidden variables, the accurate classification and recognition of basketball shooting gestures are realized. The actual case analysis and the assessment of shooting action recognition effect show the superiority of the achieved basketball shooting action recognition technology. This method can provide scientific reference and basis for the development of modern basketball training.

In-situ immobilization is an effective and economically viable strategy for remediation of soil extensively polluted with heavy metals. The long-term sustainability is critical for the remediation practice. In the present study, a ten-year experiment was performed in a Cd-polluted agricultural field to evaluate the long-term stability of lime, silicon fertilizer (SF), fused calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (FCMP), bone charcoal, steel slag, and blast furnace slag with one-off application. All amendments had no significant effect on biomass but significantly reduced Cd uptake by Artemisia selengensis at higher dose. Among them, SF and FCMP applied at 1% could reduce Cd uptake by more than 40% to meet the Chinese maximum permissible limit for Cd content in food products (50 μg kg−1). These amendments stimulated high Cd immobilization by increasing the soil pH and decreasing the soil acid-extractable Cd content, which were closely associated with Cd uptake. In addition, the two amendments altered the soil microbial structure and stimulated metabolism pathways, including amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, which are beneficial for soil function and quality. The results proved that SF and FCMP at 1% are stable and ecologically safe amendments, suitable for long-term Cd immobilization, and provide a strategy to mitigate the risk of food product contamination in heavy-metal-polluted soil.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) is an immunosuppressive enzyme expressed in the placenta, neoplastic cells, and macrophages to reject T cells by converting tryptophan into kynurenine. However, the role of IDO-1 in brain immunity, especially in the meninges, is unclear. We aim to elucidate the distribution pattern of IDO-1+ macrophages/microglia in the human brain tissues, human glioblastoma, APP/PS1 mouse brains, and quinolinic acid model brains and explore the physiological and immunological roles of IDO-1+ macrophages/microglia. Here, we find that both human and mouse macrophages/microglia of the perivascular and subarachnoid space and in glioblastoma (GBM) expressed IDO-1 but not macrophages/microglia of parenchyma. Using IDO-1 inhibitors including 1-MT and INCB24360, we observed that inhibiting IDO-1 reduced the cellular size and filopodia growth, fluid uptake, and the macropinocytic and phagocytic abilities of human blood monocytes and RAW264.7/BV-2 cells. Inhibiting IDO-1 with 1-MT or INCB24360 increased IL-1β secretion and suppressed NLRP3 expression in RAW264.7/BV-2 cells. Our data collectively show that IDO-1 expression in perivascular and meninges macrophages/microglia increases cellular phagocytic capacity and might suppress overactivation of inflammatory reaction.

Cortactin, a member of the actin-binding protein family, plays an important role in cell movement involving the cytoskeleton, as cell movement mediated by cortactin may induce the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Cortactin participates in tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion and other related disease processes by binding to different proteins and participating in different pathways and mechanisms that induce the occurrence of these disease processes. Therefore, this article reviews the correlations between cortactin, the actin cytoskeleton, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and discusses its clinical importance in tumor therapy.

The environmental fate and persistence of bisphenol S (BPS), a substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), are unclear. This study used 14C-labeled BPS to examine the fate, biodegradation, and residue properties of BPS incubated in an oxic soil for 28 days. BPS dissipated quickly, with a half-life of 2.8 days. Most of the BPS was mineralized (53.6 ± 0.2% of initial amount by day 28) or transformed into non-extractable residues (NERs) (45.1 ± 0.3%), with generation of minor extractable residues (3.7 ± 0.2%) containing two metabolites. NERs were formed mainly via physico-chemical entrapment (51.1 ± 2.4% of the total NERs, consisting almost exclusively of BPS) and ester-linkages (31.5 ± 3.0% of the total NERs, consisting of both BPS and polar metabolites). When mixed with fresh soil, BPS-derived NERs became unstable and bioavailable. Subsequent mineralization was determined for 19.5 ± 1.1% of the total NERs and 35.5 ± 2.6% of the physico-chemically entrapped BPS. A fate model was used to describe the kinetics of NER formation, which indicated that microbial activity in soil could have strongly reduced the kinetic rate of the release of physico-chemically entrapped NERs into free form and therefore increased the stability of this type of NERs in soil. Our results provide unique insights into the fate of BPS in soil and suggest that while BPS is biodegradable, it includes the formation of large amounts of reversibly physico-chemically entrapped and covalently bound ester-linked NERs. The instability of these NERs should be considered in assessments on environmental persistence and risks of BPS. Our study also points out the environmental importance of NERs of agrochemicals.

Based on the generalized Newtonian fluid constitutive equation, using ARD-RSC fiber orientation model, numerical simulation was used to predict fiber orientation distribution of the long-glass fiber reinforced composite injection molding components by considering the interaction between fibers. The fiber homogenized RVE model of long glass fiber reinforced composites was established through the composite material micromechanics Eshelby inclusion theory and Mean Field homogenization method. By using composite meso-scale modeling, discrete RVE model field, injection molding and structural finite element analysis techniques, the strength of long glass fiber reinforced composites analytical method was proposed. The strength analysis of the thrust-rod injection molded part shows that the simulated dangerous position is in good agreement with the actual damage location. On the basis, the structure of thrust rod is improved, the results show that the maximum principal stress of the rod is reduced by 57.18% under the tensile load and 71.25% under the compressive load.

The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents in the environment have been rising due to human activities. Elevated CO2 (eCO2) levels have been shown to affect plant physiology and soil microbes, which may alter the degradation of organic pollutants. Here, we study the effect of eCO2 on PAH accumulation in a paddy soil grown with rice. We collected soil and plant samples after rice harvest from a free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) system, which had already run for more than 15 years. Our results show that eCO2 increased PAH concentrations in the soil, and we link this effect to a shift in soil microbial community structure and function. Elevated CO2 changed the composition of soil microbial communities, especially by reducing the abundance of some microbial groups driving PAH degradation. Our study indicates that elevated CO2 levels may weaken the self-cleaning ability of soils related to organic pollutants. Such changes in the function of soil microbial communities may threaten the quality of crops, with unknown implications for food safety and human health in future climate scenarios.

Substantial harm to ecosystems from the use of chemical pesticides has led to an increasing interest in the use of biopesticides to control grasshoppers in rangelands, including China. One such potential biopesticide for control of grasshoppers is the fungus Paranosema locustae. In this study, the dynamics of aboveground natural enemies of grasshoppers and arthropod diversity 0−9 years after application of P. locustae were investigated in rangeland in Qinghai Plateau, China. We found that the number of species and of individuals of aboveground natural enemies increased by 17−250% and 40−126%, respectively, after spraying P. locustae, and that the main natural enemies showed three peaks after treatment. The conventional indices of species diversity (H’) and evenness (J’) increased by 11−267% and 13−171%, respectively, after treatment with P. locustae. The results showed the positive effects of P. locustae on aboveground natural enemies and biodiversity in an arthropod community in Chinese rangeland. Paranosema locustae is thought to be a safe biological control agent for grasshopper management in Northwestern China.

The novel complex photocatalytic material was prepared by coating TiO2 nanoparticles on tourmaline using the sol-gel method, and used in the degradation of the herbicide 2,4-D. The results indicated that coating TiO2 with tourmaline enhanced the photocatalytic activity significantly. Based on the research of a simplified model for the average light intensity in the photoreactor, the influence of the concentration of photocatalyst, and the initial concentration of 2,4-D, a model for the degradation of 2,4-D by the tourmaline-coated TiO2 nanoparticles was established. Further tests showed that results calculated from this model were close to those obtained in the actual experiments.

This study investigated the photocatalytic activity of tourmaline by itself. Under irradiation of a 13 W, 254 nm UV lamp, 50% of methyl blue disappeared in the presence of 130 mg·L−1 tourmaline. The reaction was inhibited by the addition of ethanol, Cl−, SO42− and Cu2+, and promoted a little by addition of 50 mg/L Mg2+, which supports the inference of involvement of •OH radicals. This is the first proposal of tourmaline as a single photocatalyst without the need to add any artificial chemical products. Results from this study might contribute to the broadened usage of this mineral to approach the goals of saving energy and eliminate direct or indirect environmental pollution.

The wind past the ship superstructure produces an unsteady turbulent airwake which has a significant effect on aircraft performance and consequently pilot workload during ship landing process. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of a generic simple frigate shape ship airwake have been performed using the entropy-based detached-eddy simulation method. The results were compared with the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes calculations and the wind tunnel data, indicating the capability of entropy-based detached-eddy simulation to resolve the unsteady large-scale turbulent features. An analysis of the airwake flow topology at headwind condition highlights the vortex pairing process which dominates the flowfield above the deck. Additionally, the influence of hangar-door state (open, closed or half-open) on the airwake was also investigated in detail. Determination of this complex flow can assist in the definition of safe ship–helicopter operating limits and future ship design.