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Background: Biogeochemical processing of metals including the fabrication of novel nanomaterials from metal contaminated waste streams by microbial cells is an area of intense interest in the environmental sciences. Results: Here we focus on the fate of Ce during the microbial reduction of a suite of Ce-bearing ferrihydrites with between 0.2 and 4.2 mol% Ce. Cerium K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses showed that trivalent and tetravalent cerium co-existed, with a higher proportion of tetravalent cerium observed with increasing Ce-bearing of the ferrihydrite. The subsurface metal-reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens was used to bioreduce Ce-bearing ferrihydrite, and with 0.2 mol% and 0.5 mol% Ce, an Fe(II)-bearing mineral, magnetite (Fe(II)(III)2O4), formed alongside a small amount of goethite (FeOOH). At higher Ce-doping (1.4 mol% and 4.2 mol%) Fe(III) bioreduction was inhibited and goethite dominated the final products. During microbial Fe(III) reduction Ce was not released to solution, suggesting Ce remained associated with the Fe minerals during redox cycling, even at high Ce loadings. In addition, Fe L2,3 X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) analyses suggested that Ce partially incorporated into the Fe(III) crystallographic sites in the magnetite. The use of Ce-bearing biomagnetite prepared in this study was tested for hydrogen fuel cell catalyst applications. Platinum/carbon black electrodes were fabricated, containing 10% biomagnetite with 0.2 mol% Ce in the catalyst. The addition of bioreduced Ce-magnetite improved the electrode durability when compared to a normal Pt/CB catalyst. Conclusion: Different concentrations of Ce can inhibit the bioreduction of Fe(III) minerals, resulting in the formation of different bioreduction products. Bioprocessing of Fe-minerals to form Ce-containing magnetite (potentially from waste sources) offers a sustainable route to the production of fuel cell catalysts with improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the development of tumors. Immunoregulatory cells and cytokines facilitate cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. Overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibits immune function and enables cancer cells to avoid clearance by the immune system. Thus, minimizing tumor immunosuppression could be an important strategy for cancer therapy. Currently, many immune checkpoint-targeted drugs, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have been approved for marketing and have shown unique advantages in the clinical treatment of cancers. The concept of "strengthening resistance to eliminate pathogenic factors" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is consistent with the immunotherapy of cancer. According to previous studies, the role of TCM in tumor immunotherapy is mainly associated with the positive regulation of natural killer cells, CD8/CD4 T cells, dendritic cells, M2 macrophages, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor- α , and IFN- γ , as well as with the negative regulation of Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, PD-1/PD-L1, transforming growth factor- β , and tumor necrosis factor- β. This paper summarizes the current research on the effect of TCM targeting the TME, and further introduces the research progress on studying the effects of TCM on immune checkpoints. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that TCM can directly or indirectly affect the TME by inhibiting the overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules and enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. TCM with immunomodulatory stimulation could be the key factor to achieve benefits from immunotherapy for patients with non-inflammatory, or "cold", tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co 3 O 4 loaded on cobalt-nitrogen doped ordered mesoporous carbon (Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3) was prepared. • Atrazine (ATZ) removal was 99.6% at 15 min with rate constant of 0.354 min−1 in Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3/O 3. • Co2+ and Co N x were active sites for O 3 decomposition and O 2 /OH generation. • The synergy between Co 3 O 4 and Co-N-CMK3 promoted interface electron transfer. • ATZ degradation pathway and toxicity evaluation of intermediates were proposed. The strategy of coupling transition metal and N-doped carbon catalysts have garnered great attention in catalytic ozonation. To overcome the inferior mass transfer of O 3 , we prepared a hetero-structure catalyst (Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3), which was composed of Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) and cobalt-nitrogen doped ordered mesoporous carbon. Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3 displayed a uniformly arranged long-range mesoporous channel structure with large surface area (537.24 m2/g). The adsorption efficiency of ATZ (10 μM) was 55% at 15 min in presence of 0.05 g/L catalyst. After aeration of 3.5 mg/L O 3 gas (50 mL min-1), the ATZ removal increased to 99.6% with rate constant of 0.354 min-1 in Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3/O 3 , 35.4-fold that in ozonation. The turnover frequency (TOF) value of Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3 reached 7.08 min-1 g-1, which was 2.2-93.2 folds higher than the reported ozonation catalysts. Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3 displayed the adsorption performance for ATZ and could activate O 3 into O 2 - and OH effectively. The ≡Co2+ and ≡Co-N x were main active sites. The synergy between Co 3 O 4 and Co-N-CMK3 accelerated interface electron transfer, which was conducive to the redox of ≡Co2+/≡Co3+. The degradation pathway and intermediates toxicity were speculated using HPLC-MS measurement and Toxicity Estimation Software Tool simulation. The stability of Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3 for ATZ removal was certified by five consecutive experiments in catalytic ozonation. Moreover, the Co 3 O 4 @Co-N-CMK3/O 3 process had good applicability to common anions and humic acid, real water and different pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2018, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in foals at an equestrian club in Changji, northern Xinjiang, China. We applied viral metagenomics to investigate this outbreak and identify potential pathogens involved in this equine respiratory syndrome. The metagenomics data revealed the presence of sequences matching those of equid herpesvirus (EHV) 2, 4, and 5. PCR with specific primers targeting ORF33 of EHV-4 and ORF8 of EHV-2 and EHV-5 revealed coinfection with these viruses in this respiratory syndrome. To investigate the prevalence of these viruses in China, 453 nasal swabs from clinically healthy thoroughbred foals (36/453, 7.9%) and horses (417/453, 92.1%) were collected from several equestrian clubs. Forty-five (9.9%) of the samples tested positive for EHV-5 DNA, and seven (1.5%) tested positive for EHV-2, but all were negative for EHV-4 DNA. Forty-nine (10.8%) samples tested positive for both EHV-5 and EHV-2 DNA. Using these samples, one complete EHV-4 ORF33, 10 partial EHV-2 ORF8, and 50 partial EHV-5 ORF8 sequences from the 10 diseased foals and 50 thoroughbred horses were then determined. Sequence analysis indicated that EHV-4 ORF33 and EHV-5 ORF8, in contrast to EHV-2 ORF8, had high sequence similarity to those of published sequences. Our data provide the first evidence that EHV-2, -4, and -5 co-circulate in China and that EHV-4 is potentially involved in this respiratory disease in foals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMaterials and methodsResultsConclusionsPM2.5 is closely linked to vascular endothelial injury and has emerged as a major threat to human health. Our previous research indicated that exposure to PM2.5 induced an increased release of miR-421 from the bronchial epithelium. However, the role of miR-421 in PM2.5-induced endothelial injury remains elusive.We utilized a subacute PM2.5-exposure model in mice in vivo and an acute injury cell model in vitro to simulate PM2.5-associated endothelial injury. We also used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the role of miR-421 in PM2.5-induced endothelial injury.Our findings reveal that inhibition of miR-421 attenuated PM2.5-induced endothelial injury and hypertension. Mechanistically, miR-421 inhibited the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and upregulated the expression of the downstream molecule inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), thereby exacerbating PM2.5-induced endothelial injury.Our results indicate that PM2.5 exposure facilitates crosstalk between bronchial epithelial and endothelial cells via miR-421/ACE2/iNOS signaling pathway, mediating endothelial damage and hypertension. MiR-421 inhibition may offer a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of PM2.5-induced vascular endothelial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle caused by LSD virus (LSDV). This disease poses a significant threat to stockbreeding and is listed as one of bovine notifiable diseases by OIE. Before 2019, LSD has not been reported in China. The first LSD outbreak was determined in China on August 3, 2019. Since then, a total of 7 LSD outbreaks have been reported in other 6 provinces in China, infecting 91 and killing 7 cattle. As of now, LSDV was detected in western and eastern China and also in Taiwan Island outside Mainland China. LSD is undoubtedly an emerging threat to the cattle industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The metal–oxygen-carbon bonds boosted interfacial electron transfer. • Ozone utilization efficiency was higher (ΔTOC/ΔO 3 = 1.23–0.68) in Fe 2 Co@CS/EP compared with EP. • Catalytic ozonation played the dominant role in · OH, · O 2 − and 1O 2 generation. • Fe 2 Co@CS/EP presented an enormous potential in wastewater treatment. We fabricated a novel Fe-Co bimetal encapsulated inside carbon aerogel sphere (Fe 2 Co@CS) to improve the electro-peroxone (EP) process. The degradation and mineralization of p -nitrophenol (p -NP) were 100% (15 min) with rate constant of 0.314 min−1 and 83.8% (60 min) in Fe 2 Co@CS/EP, respectively. Fe 2 Co@CS was composed of defective graphite carbon and Fe 2 Co alloy. The presence of metal–oxygen-carbon (M-O-C, M Fe/Co) bonds promoted interface electron transfer from carbon layer towards Fe 2 Co alloy, which was advantageous to the reduction of ≡Fe3+/≡Co3+. Moreover, the Fe-Co synergistic effect also accelerated the interfacial catalytic reaction for activating O 3 and H 2 O 2. The quenching experiment and EPR test indicated that · OH, · O 2 - and 1O 2 were main reactive oxygen species (ROSs). DFT calculations showed that O 3 had lower adsorption energy on Fe 2 Co@CS than H 2 O 2 , manifesting that catalytic ozonation played the key role in ROSs generation. In addition, ozone utilization efficiency in Fe 2 Co@CS/EP (ΔTOC/ΔO 3 = 1.23–0.68) revealed 66-36% increase relative to those of EP (0.74–0.5). Fe 2 Co@CS was an efficient catalyst over a wide pH range (3–11) with permissible iron and cobalt releases. The Fe 2 Co@CS/EP process exhibited high-performance for degrading different pollutants under high salinity condition with coexistence of Cl−, NO 3 − and SO 4 2−. For treating real coal wastewater, the TOC removal was 52.7% at 4 h with low EEC (0.038 kWh (g TOC)−1). This study provided an efficient method for the development of EP in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new type of crystal materials, are considered a kind of promising photocatalysts. In this work, a novel Bi 2 S 3 /MIL-53(Fe) heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully prepared via a facile two-step method (hydrothermal and water bath). The characterization means, including XRD, SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XPS, PL, and UV–Vis, were employed to analyze the structural and morphological properties of Bi 2 S 3 /MIL-53(Fe). The photocatalytic performance of Bi 2 S 3 , MIL-53(Fe), and Bi 2 S 3 /MIL-53(Fe) was evaluated by the removal efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC, 10 mg/L) under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The results show that the photocatalyst BSM-10 (the mass ratio of Bi 2 S 3 to MIL-53(Fe) is 10:90) exhibits improved photocatalytic performance compared to Bi 2 S 3 and MIL-53(Fe), showing the optimum photocatalytic activity (the degradation efficiency of TC is 90.9% within 120 min), and the corresponding first-order reaction rate constant is about 3 and 2 times higher than that of MIL-53(Fe) and Bi 2 S 3 , respectively. The improvement in photocatalytic activity is attributable to the efficacious separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and significant acceleration of charge transfer rate. Based on the free radical trapping experiment and ESR test results, combined with the band structure of MIL-53 (Fe) and Bi 2 S 3 , we speculate that a heterojunction is formed between MIL-53 (Fe) and Bi 2 S 3 , and the proposed Z scheme mechanism can well explain the enhanced catalytic activity of BSM-10. The Bi 2 S 3 /MIL-53 (Fe) heterojunction photocatalyst synthesized in this work has potential application value for removing the typical pollutant tetracycline from water. [Display omitted] • A novel Bi 2 S 3 /MIL-53(Fe) heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared by a facile method. • BSM-10 shows efficient photocatalytic performance for tetracycline degradation. • The Z scheme mechanism can well explain the enhanced catalytic activity of BSM-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, a novel equine parvovirus, equine parvovirus‐cerebrospinal fluid (EqPV‐CSF), was identified from cerebrospinal fluid of a horse with neurological signs and lymphocytosis in USA. In our study, an EqPV‐CSF‐like virus was detected from 15 serum samples of 65 imported thoroughbred horses during custom quarantine in north Xinjiang province, China. Further field investigation in several major horse‐producing areas in Xinjiang using specific PCR showed that this virus was detected mainly in thoroughbred horses (39/154 positive) previously imported, not in local breeds (0/127 positive). Phylogenetic analysis based on NS1 gene showed the virus was grouped together with EqPV‐CSF in genus Copiparvovirus. The study presents valuable information showing that EqPV‐CSF‐like virus was likely exotic and introduced into Xinjiang through international trade of horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In May 2018, a 8 year old thoroughbred mare died at an equestrian club in Changji, Xinjiang, China. The horse had been imported from the United States in 2013. She became pregnant in December 2016 but, after foaling, gradually lost weight and died in May 2018. This study aim to identify the pathogen, who cause of horse death, using virome. Results: We have identified an Equ1-like virus from the fecal virome of a dead thoroughbred mare in China. Full genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the virus, tentatively named "kirkovirus Cj-7-7", showed that it was closely related to kirkovirus Equ1 and clustered together with po-circo-like viruses 21, 22, 41, and 51, suggesting that it should be assigned to the proposed family "Kirkoviridae". An epidemiological investigation showed that kirkovirus Cj-7-7 circulates in horses of northern Xinjiang and may specifically infect intestinal cells. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of Kirkoviruses, and the prevalence of Kirkovirus Cj-7-7 in Xinjiang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Usenamine A, a novel natural compound initially isolated from the lichen Usnea longissima, has exhibited promising efficacy against hepatoma in prior investigation. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for its antihepatoma effects remain unclear. Furthermore, the role of the AKT/mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding 1 (ID1) signaling axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the potential anti-HCC effects of drugs targeting this pathway are not well understood. Methods: CCK-8 assay was used to investigate the effects of usenamine A on the proliferation of human HCC cells. Moreover, the effects of usenamine A on the invasion ability of human HCC cells were evaluated by transwell assay. In addition, expression profiling analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, RNAi, immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were used to explore the effects of usenamine A on the newly identified AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling axis in human HCC cells. Results: Usenamine A inhibited the proliferation and invasion of human HCC cell lines (HepG2 and SK-HEP-1). Through the analysis of gene expression profiling, we identified that usenamine A suppressed the expression of ID1 in human HCC cells. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that usenamine A facilitated the degradation of the ID1 protein via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Moreover, usenamine A inhibited the activity of STAT3 in human HCC cells. ChIP analysis demonstrated that STAT3 positively regulated ID1 expression at the transcriptional level in human HCC cells. The STAT3/ID1 axis played a role in mediating the anti-proliferative and anti-invasive impacts of usenamine A on human HCC cells. Additionally, usenamine A suppressed the STAT3/ID1 axis through AKT/mTOR signaling in human HCC cells. Conclusion: Usenamine A displayed robust anti-HCC potential, partly attributed to its capacity to downregulate the AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling pathway and promote ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated ID1 degradation. Usenamine A has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for HCC cases characterized by abnormal AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling, and targeting the AKT/mTOR/STAT3 signaling pathway may be a viable option for treating patients with HCC exhibiting elevated ID1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oxygen doped CNT modified cathode enhanced the efficiency of electro-peroxone (OCNT-EP). • OCNT modified cathode achieved in-situ H 2 O 2 generation, activation and catalytic ozonation. • More hydroxyl and singlet oxygen improved atrazine degradation in OCNT-EP process. • The OCNT-EP process showed excellent stability and wide pH applicability. The oxygen-doped carbon nanotubes coated on the carbon felt acted as cathode to enhance the electro-peroxone (OCNT-EP) process. Owing to the introduction of oxygen-containing functional groups and defect sites, the OCNT modified cathode could achieve in-situ H 2 O 2 generation, activation, and catalytic ozonation in the EP process. The OCNT-EP showed a 2.3-folds apparent first-order rate constant (k) compared with the EP process using CNT cathode (CNT-EP) for atrazine (ATZ) degradation. According to the processes comparison, quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis and determination of hydroxyl radical, it was proved that more . OH and 1O 2 were generated by the in-situ H 2 O 2 activation and catalytic ozonation in the OCNT-EP process. Especially, this process improved pollutants degradation under acidic condition for the in-situ H 2 O 2 activation and catalytic ozonation, expanding the pH application range of the EP process with a lower energy consumption (0.10 kWh/g ATZ). What' more, the OCNT modified cathode performed excellent stability with 20 cycle tests, and demonstrated all improved degradation rate (21.7%−78.0%) for various pollutants (carbamazepine, sulfamethazine, phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol). Therefore, the OCNT-EP process could be considered as a promising and enhanced EP process for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the high energy consumption for in-situ generation of H 2 O 2 and low mass transfer of O 3 in electro-peroxone (EP), Fe0 embedded in carbon sphere (Fe0@CS) was synthesized to fulfill the efficient treatment of various pollutants. At optimal condition, the degradation and mineralization of 100 mg/L phenol were 100% with k (0.20 min−1) at 15 min and 72.1% at 60 min with iron dissolution (1.61 mg/L) and low energy consumption (0.067 kWh (g TOC)−1). The utilization efficiency of O 3 and H 2 O 2 increased by 1.9 – 11.5% and 16.8 – 27.1%, respectively. Fe2+ originated from the faster H 2 O 2 corrosion, initiated heterogeneous Fenton-like and catalytic ozonation reaction. The quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments manifested the existence and mutual transformation of •OH, •O 2 - and 1O 2 , among which •OH was dominant. Fe0@CS/EP realized the simultaneous catalysis of O 3 and H 2 O 2 over wide pH 3 – 10, which had broad prospects for wastewater purification. [Display omitted] • Fe0 embeded in carbon sphere was synthesized for electro-peroxone (EP). • Fe0@CS facilitated pollulant removal with low Fe leaching and energy consumption. • Fe0@CS/EP realized the simultaneous catalysis of O 3 and H 2 O 2 over wide pH 3–10. • H 2 O 2 corrosion to Fe0 played the key role in Fe0@CS/EP. • •OH, •O2- and 1O 2 were involved in Fe0@CS/EP, while •OH was dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NS5A is a multifunctional non-structural protein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) that plays an important role in viral replication, but how it exerts its functions is unknown. Here, we report the cleavage of NS5A of the vaccine C-strain, resulting in two truncated forms (b and c). Further experiments using calpain- and caspase-family-specific inhibitors, followed by a caspase-6-specific shRNAs and inhibitor, showed that the cleavage of C-strain NS5A to produce truncated form c is mediated by caspase-6, mapping to DTTD, while the cleavage producing truncated form b is probably mediated by another unknown protease. shRNA-mediated downregulation of caspase-6 and blocking of enzyme activity in ST cells significantly impaired genome replication and virus production, indicating that NS5A cleavage is required for CSFV replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• B,Co-TNT anode was first used for EA-PS system for CBZ degradation. • A higher CBZ degradation was achieved in flow-through mode ascribed to the higher PS decomposition for OH production. • CBZ degradation by EA-PS in flow-through system were the comprehensive effect of OH, SO 4 − and 1O 2. • EA-PS in flow-through system was an effective method for contaminants degradation. Degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ) was first conducted by electrochemical activation of persulfate (PS) in flow-through system using boron and cobalt co-doped TiO 2 nanotubes (B, Co-TNT) as the anode and carbon felt (CF) as the cathode, achieving a higher removal efficiency than that in beaker mode ascribed to the higher PS decomposition for OH production. Different operating parameters including applied current, initial pH, PS concentration and flow rate were explored, supporting that high current, acidic condition, lofty PS concentration and flow rate were beneficial for the removal of CBZ. The mechanisms of CBZ degradation by electrochemical activation of persulfate in flow-through system were the comprehensive effect of OH, SO 4 − and 1O 2 , and the possible CBZ degradation pathway was proposed. In summary, B, Co-TNT anode coupled with CF cathode in flow-through system by electrochemical activation of persulfate was an effective method for contaminants degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flow-through system was constructed for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) degradation for the first time using efficient boron and cobalt co-doped TiO 2 nanotubes (B, Co-TNT) as the anode and carbon black doped carbon felt (CB-CF) that had a high H 2 O 2 yield as the cathode. Compared with dimensionally stable anode (DSA), whether in anodic oxidation (AO) or AO-electro-Fenton (EF) system, 2,4-D degradation in B, Co-TNT anode system was more efficient accompanying with a lower energy consumption (Ec). Different operating parameters including applied current density, initial pH and flow rate were explored, supporting that the optimal Fe2+ dosage was 0.5 mM while decreasing the initial pH and increasing the current intensity and flow rate were beneficial to 2,4-D removal. In this AO-EF system, the involved mechanisms for 2,4-D degradation were anodization and Fenton oxidation, possessing the comprehensive effect of •OH and SO 4 •- with their contribution of 92.7% and 4.8%, respectively. This flow-through AO-EF system performed a stable performance, and an efficient degradation performance with low Ec (5.8–29.5 kWh (kg TOC)−1) was obtained for different kinds of contaminants (methylene blue, phenol, p -nitrophenol and sulfamethazine). Therefore, B, Co-TNT anode coupled with CB-CF cathode in flow-through system was effective for contaminants degradation. [Display omitted] • B,Co-TNT anode was first used for flow-through electro-Fenton (EF) for 2,4-D degradation. • More efficient performance and lower Ec were observed on B,Co-TNT compraed with DSA. • The contribution of.•OH and SO 4 •- for 2,4-D degradation was 92.7% and 4.8% respectively. • Flow-through EF on B,Co-TNT anode was cost-effective for contaminants degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • QFASA was used for the first time to identify sources of indoor organic pollutants. • OPFR concentrations and lipid content in house dust were significantly related. • Clothing was the predominant contributing vector introducing indoor OPFRs. • QFASA can accurately predict most of OPFR concentrations in clothing. Indoor dust has been used as a proxy for estimating human indoor pollutant exposure risks, yet source identification remains challenging. This study tentatively investigated whether quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) of dust, could be applied to indicate sources and their respective contributions for a major class of indoor organic pollutants organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). We observed significant correlations between OPFR concentrations and lipid content (p < 0.05) in house dusts. Using 15 signature fatty acids (FAs) in various indoor sources and the QFASA model, we found that clothing (39.1% in Australia and 36.5% in China) was the predominant contributing vector of dust OPFR followed by cooking oil and pet hair. Among these sources, clothing materials were proposed to be important vectors introducing organic pollutants to the indoor environment. Our QFASA contribution estimation analyses allowed for accurate prediction of most OPFR concentrations in clothing, validating our findings that clothing materials may serve as important carrier for OPFRs in indoor migration. This is the first study attempting to identify sources of organic pollutants using QFASA in an indoor setting and will provide important insight into the transfer of organic pollutants in indoor environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is commonly associated with horse abortion. Currently, there are no reported cases of abortion resulting from EHV-1 infection in donkeys. Results: This was the first survey-based study of Chinese donkeys. The presence of EHV-1 was identified by PCR. This survey was conducted in Chabuchar County, North Xinjiang, China, in 2020. A donkey EHV-1 strain (Chabuchar/2020) was successfully isolated in MDBK cells. Seventy-two of 100 donkey sera were able to neutralize the isolated EHV-1. Moreover, the ORF33 sequence of the donkey-origin EHV-1 Chabuchar/2020 strain showed high levels of similarity in both its nucleotide (99.7‒100%) and amino acid (99.5‒100%) sequences, with those of horse EHV-1 strains. EHV-1 Chabuchar/2020 showed significant consistency and was classified within cluster 1 of horse EHV-1 strains. Further, analysis of the expected ORF30 nucleotide sequence revealed that donkey EHV-1 strains contained guanine at position 2254, resulting in a change to aspartic acid at position 752 of the viral DNA polymerase. Therefore, these strains were classified as horse neuropathogenic strains. Lastly, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the partial ORF68 nucleotide sequences, showing that the identified donkey EHV-1 strain and the EHV-1 strain found in aborted Yili horses in China comprised a novel independent VIII group. Conclusion: This study showed the first isolation and identification of EHV-1 as an etiological agent of abortions in donkeys. Further analysis of the ORF33, ORF30, and ORF68 sequences indicated that the donkey EHV-1 contained the neuropathogenic genotype of strains in the VIII group. It is thus important to be aware of EHV-1 infection in the donkey population, even though the virus has only been identified in donkey abortions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a member of the Arteriviridae family, represents a persistent menace to the global pig industry, causing reproductive failure and respiratory disease in pigs. In this study, we delved into the role of histone deacetylases (HDAC2) during PRRSV infection. Our findings revealed that HDAC2 expression is downregulated upon PRRSV infection. Notably, suppressing HDAC2 activity through specific small interfering RNA led to an increase in virus production, whereas overexpressing HDAC2 effectively inhibited PRRSV replication by boosting the expression of IFN-regulated antiviral molecules. Furthermore, we identified the virus's nonstructural protein 11 (nsp11) as a key player in reducing HDAC2 levels. Mutagenic analyses of PRRSV nsp11 revealed that its antagonistic effect on the antiviral activity of HDAC2 is dependent on its endonuclease activity. In summary, our research uncovered a novel immune evasion mechanism employed by PRRSV, providing crucial insights into the pathogenesis of this virus and guiding the development of innovative prevention strategies against PRRSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low efficiency of peroxone (O 3 /H 2 O 2) at acidic and neutral pH restrained its application in water purification. To overcome this shortcoming, CeO X @SiO 2 with large surface area, abundant surface oxygen vacancies (V o), Lewis sites (L sites) and high Ce(III)/Ce(IV) ratio were synthesized to change the traditional electron transfer pathway between O 3 and H 2 O 2. V o was facile in absorbing H 2 O 2 to form V o -H 2 O 2 and L sites were capable of absorbing O 3 to form L-O 3. The electron at V o could be donated to V o -H 2 O 2 and generate V o -HO 2 −, which then effectively triggered the decomposition of L-O 3 at CeO X @SiO 2 's interface and O 3 in bulk solution. The electron transfer at the solid-liquid interface with the help of Ce3+/Ce4+ redox cycle and V o was pH independent and different from the traditional electron transfer of peroxone reaction. Nitrobenzene (NB) mineralization was promoted to 92.5% in CeO X @SiO 2 -peroxone, but only 63.8% TOC was removed in tradition peroxone process. Moreover, CeO X @SiO 2 -peroxone had a wide pH application range. NB's degradation in CeO X @SiO 2 -peroxone process followed the co-oxidation mechanism of superoxide free (•O 2 −) and hydroxyl radical (•OH). The finding of this study could broaden the popularization of peroxone in water treatment and provided a strategy for catalyst design. ga1 • Oxygen vacancies and Lewis sites were responding for activating peroxone. • CeO x @SiO 2 -peroxone achieved 92.5% TOC removal in 90 min. • CeO x @SiO 2 -peroxone had a wide pH application range. • Redox cycle of Ce3+ and Ce4+ favored for the interfacial electron transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• O 3 /CeO x @SiO 2 enhanced SA mineralization and behaved well at acidic/basic condition. • Si OH shell effectively transported ozone to inner CeO x core. • O 3 decomposition occurred at Lewis sites and oxygen defect of CeO x. • OH was accounted for the enhancement of SA mineralization. In this work, a hollow mesoporous CeO x @SiO 2 was synthesized and used to promote sulfanilamide (SA) mineralization in ozonation. SA mineralization was promoted to 68.2% by O 3 /CeO x @SiO 2 in 120 min, but only 30.0% in O 3 process. O 3 /CeO x @SiO 2 behaved the better at acidic and alkaline condition than that at neutral condition. CeO x @SiO 2 had the great ability in enhancing O 3 utility rate. Silanol (Si OH) in pore channel of SiO 2 shell was non-reactive with O 3 but could provide transmission way for O 3 to reach the inner CeO x core. Lewis sites, oxygen vacancies and surface hydroxyl groups induced by CeO x favored for the activation of O 3. The excess electron at oxygen vacancies would be transferred to the absorbed O 3 molecular, which then generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to mineralize SA. Hydroxyl radicals (OH) and superoxide radicals (O 2 −) were the main ROS, which were recorded by EPR. The interfacial electron transfer process was revealed by LSV and ESI characterizations. SA degradation intermediates were also identified by HPLC-MS and IC, a possible degradation pathway was proposed. Moreover, CeO x @SiO 2 showed a good reusability, no obvious decline of TOC removal was found in four times' uses. Water matrix would complete ROS with SA, which inhibited the SA removal of both O 3 and O 3 /CeO x @SiO 2 processes, but the better TOC removal efficiency was still obtained by O 3 /CeO x @SiO 2 in actual water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OA was efficiently mineralized by ·OH in O 3 /H 2 O 2 /CeO x @SiO 2. • pH played an important role in OA mineralization. • The complexed H 2 O 2 activated the decomposition of ozone into ·OH. • OA removal followed the interface reaction mechanism in O 3 /H 2 O 2 /CeO x @SiO 2. • CeO x @SiO 2 possessed stable structure and catalytic activity. The mesoporous core-shell CeO x @SiO 2 was synthesized and characterized by XRD, pyridine-FTIR, BET, SEM, TEM and XPS. CeO x @SiO 2 was the hollow nanosphere with high surface area of 1291.4 m2 g−1, which benefited for mass transfer of reactants. CeO x @SiO 2 exhibited the excellent catalytic activity for oxidizing oxalic acid (OA) in O 3 /H 2 O 2 /CeO x @SiO 2. The greatest OA mineralization (91.2%) was achieved at pH = 3.2 in O 3 /H 2 O 2 /CeO x @SiO 2 , which was 5.5 times higher than that in peroxone (O 3 /H 2 O 2 , 15.9%). Influence of pH, HSO 3 −, PO 4 3− and detection of ozone and H 2 O 2 concentration were conducted to explore the mechanism. The interface reaction played vital role for OA removal in O 3 /H 2 O 2 /CeO x @SiO 2 process. Protonated surface hydroxyl groups (Ce-OH 2 +) was the active sites, where OA, O 3 and H 2 O 2 were chemi-absorbed. The peroxide-like species (≡(Ce(IV)-O 2 H 2)) formed by the complex of H 2 O 2 with active sites were the important intermediates, which initiated ozone decomposition into hydroxyl radical (·OH) and led to the high OA mineralization. Moreover, Lewis acid sites and electron transfer effect of Ce(III)/Ce(IV) also accounted for the high catalytic activity of CeO x @SiO 2. In addition, CeO x @SiO 2 maintained stable structure and catalytic activity in three cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe and N co-doped carbon nanotubes (Fe-N-CNT) was synthesized and attempted as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for simultaneous catalysis of H 2 O 2 and O 3 to improve electro-peroxone (Fe-N-CNT/EP) process efficiency for atrazine (ATZ) degradation. The removal and mineralization of ATZ was significantly enhanced, obtaining the degradation rate constant (k) by Fe-N-CNT/EP (0.23 min−1) about two times that of EP (0.12 min−1) owing to the formation of Fe0 and Fe-N coordination in Fe-N-CNT catalyst for co-catalysis of H 2 O 2 and O 3. The important factors such as applied current and ozone concentration were investigated, demonstrating that the optimized performance could be achieved at current of 30 mA and ozone concentration of 55 mg L−1. The oxidation capacity of Fe-N-CNT/EP maintained stably under wide pH range of 3∼7, obtaining the degradation rate constant 1.23–1.92 times that of EP and overcoming the defect of EP at acidic and neutral conditions. Capture experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments verified that . OH, generated by accelerating decomposition of H 2 O 2 /O 3 and peroxone reaction, was the dominant active specie in Fe-N-CNT/EP. Besides, Fe-N-CNT showed high catalytic activity and good stability during six cycles. This work provides an efficient activator for enhanced EP process, exhibiting a promising prospect for water and wastewater purification. [Display omitted] • Fe and N co-doping carbon nanotubes (Fe-N-CNT) was synthesized for the heterogeneous EP process. • Fe-N-CNT exhibited excellent performance at wide pH 3–7 with little iron leaching. • •OH was the main reactive species for atrazine removal by Fe-N-CNT/electro-peroxone. • The formation of Fe0 and Fe-N active sites play a key role in activating O 3 and H 2 O 2 to form.•OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicellovirus equidalpha1 (formerly Equid alphaherpesvirus 1, EqAHV-1) is among the most important viruses responsible for respiratory disease outbreaks among horses throughout the world. No reports to date have detailed the association between EqAHV-1 and respiratory disease among horses in China. This study described one such outbreak among a population of horses in north Xinjiang that occurred from April 2021 - May 2023. Results: qPCR revealed that EqAHV-1 was detectable in all samples and this virus was identified as a possible source of respiratory disease, although a limited subset of these samples were also positive for EqAHV-2, EqAHV-4, and EqAHV-5. In total, three EqAHV-1 strains responsible for causing respiratory illness in horses were isolated successfully, and full-length ORF33 sequence comparisonsand phylogenetic analyses indicated that these isolates may have originated from EqAHV-1 strains detected in Yili horse abortions. ORF30 sequence data additionally suggested that these strains were neuropathic, as evidenced by the presence of a guanine residue at nucleotide position 2254 corresponding to the aspartic acid present at position 752 in the DNA polymerase encoded by this virus. Conclusion: This study is the first report of an outbreak of respiratory disease among horses in China caused by EqAHV-1. ORF30 sequence characterization revealed that these EqAHV-1 strains harbored a neuropathogenic genotype. Given the detection of this virus in horses suffering from respiratory disease, concern is warranted with respect to this neuropathogenic EqAHV-1 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate prediction of binding free energy is a major challenge in structure-based drug design. Quantum mechanics (QM)-based approaches show promising potential in predicting ligand–protein binding affinity by accurately describing the behavior and structure of electrons. However, traditional QM calculations face computational limitations, hindering their practical application in drug design. Nevertheless, the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method has gained widespread application in drug design due to its ability to reduce computational costs and achieve efficient ab initio QM calculations. Although the FMO method has demonstrated its reliability in calculating the gas phase potential energy, the binding of proteins and ligands also involves other contributing energy terms, such as solvent effects, the 'deformation energy' of a ligand's bioactive conformations, and entropy. Particularly in cases involving ionized fragments, the calculation of solvation free energy becomes particularly crucial. We conducted an evaluation of some previously reported implicit solvent methods on the same data set to assess their potential for improving the performance of the FMO method. Herein, we develop a new QM-based binding free energy calculation method called FMOScore, which enhances the performance of the FMO method. The FMOScore method incorporates linear fitting of various terms, including gas-phase potential energy, deformation energy, and solvation free energy. Compared to other widely used traditional prediction methods such as FEP+, MM/PBSA, MM/GBSA, and Autodock vina, FMOScore showed good performance in prediction accuracies. By constructing a retrospective case study, it was observed that incorporating calculations for solvation free energy and deformation energy can further enhance the precision of FMO predictions for binding affinity. Furthermore, using FMOScore-guided lead optimization against Src homology-2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2), we discovered a novel and potent allosteric SHP-2 inhibitor (compound 8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine different species of Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV) and three bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) have been reported to infect horses. However, there are few descriptions of such infections in China. In our pioneer study on Chinese horses, we identified EcPV-2 in the nasal swabs (4/230, 1.7%) of Yili horses, and the semen (3/18, 16.7%) of thoroughbred horses. This indicated that EcPV is indeed hosted by horses in China, and that EcPV-2 might be transmitted though breeding. Further detection of EcPVs in the lung tissues of aborted fetuses of Yili horses, which were originally negative for equid herpes viruses, demonstrated EcPV-2 positivity in 19 of 50 samples, thereby indicating that EcPV-2 may be a new pathogen responsible for causing abortion. Thereafter, sequence analyses of the L1 genes of 26 EcPV-2 in China were performed, indicating that EcPV-2, which primarily infects horses in China, shared 98.3–99.9% nt identity with the published sequences for EcPV-2. These observations indicated that EcPV-2 identified in the current study were highly similar variants of the previously identified strains of EcPV-2. Phylogenetic analysis based on L1 gene sequences from GenBank showed that the EcPV-2 found in Chinese horses was closely related to and clustered together with an already known EcPV-2a lineage. Our study provides the first evidence related to EcPV-2 infection in Chinese horses, which can serve as a causative agent for Yili horse abortions, and may thus lay the foundation for a systematic and detailed epidemiological study of this infection in Chinese horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It can be triggered by various mechanisms, including the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-glutathione (GSH) axis, iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1)-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) pathway, and the ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1)-coenzyme Q10 axis. The redox balance is disrupted when ferroptosis occurs in cells, which is fatal to cancer cells. Additionally, some tumor-associated genes are involved in ferroptosis. Hence, targeting ferroptosis might be an effective strategy for treating cancer. Several small-molecule compounds exhibit anti-tumor effects through ferroptosis, including sorafenib and altretamine, which induce ferroptosis by inhibiting System-Xc and GPX4 respectively, but many problems, such as poor druggability, still exist. Some studies have shown that many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) induce ferroptosis by inhibiting GPX4, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), or by increasing the expression of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), transferrin (TF), and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1). These changes can lead to the lysosomal degradation of ferritin, accumulation of iron, lipid peroxidation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn can promote anti-tumor activities or synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis, and the anti-tumor pharmacology of TCM targeting ferroptosis including prescriptions, Chinese herbs, extracts, and natural compounds. Our findings might act as valuable reference for research on anti-tumor drugs targeting ferroptosis, especially those drugs developed from TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perovskite LaCoO 3 functionalized Ti 4 O 7 reactive electrochemical membrane (REM) was developed for electro-enhanced peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation (E-REM-PMS), addressing limitations in wastewater treatment efficiency, reusability, and interference resistance. It achieved 100% carbamazepine (CBZ) removal at a rate constant of 39.69 min−1, 233 and 23 times of electro-REM (E-REM) system without PMS and REM-PMS system without electricity. In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) highlighted the promotion of electro-activation on PMS, while density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidated mechanism differences under three adsorption configurations. 1O 2 (2.97×10−9 M), SO 4 • − (2.09×10−11 M) and •OH (7.36×10−12 M) dominated the E-REM-PMS system, consistent with sequence of reactive species by DFT results. Continuous treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater confirmed 100% CBZ removal and 60%-70% TOC mineralization at ultrahigh water flux (642.86 L/m2·h) with minimal energy consumption (0.01 kWh/m3·order). This work proposed a high-performance and anti-fouling REM, offering an efficient and economical solution for wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • LaCoO 3 /T 4 O 7 REM achieved ultrafast CBZ removal in 10.6 s (100 %, k = 39.69 min−1). • ROS quantification and DFT calculation revealed the main role of 1O 2 , SO 4 • − and •OH. • In-situ FTIR proved synergistic effect of LaCoO 3 /T 4 O 7 REM, electric field and PMS. • This work showed high water flux (636.62 L/m2·h) with minimal energy consumption. • Long-term test in pharmaceutical wastewater clarified its practical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the removal efficiency of low-concentration organic pollutants and enhance the oxidation efficiency of electro-Fenton (EF) process, a floating sandwich-type EF system (N/(A)/ D -EF) without aeration was constructed for the first time. This EF system electro-synthesized H 2 O 2 through the floating natural air diffusion electrode (NADE) without aeration, and regenerated Fe(II) effectively by the activated carbon fiber (ACF) interlayer, which significantly enhanced the process oxidation capacity since its •OH yield was 8.7 times that of the conventional EF system. In addition, the ACF interlayer could adsorb and enrich micro-pollutants and the generated •OH directly oxidize the pollutants adsorbed on the ACF, which enabled regeneration of ACF and maintained removal stability in 20 consecutive experiments. The removal rate constant (k) of carbamazepine by N/(A)/ D -EF process was 7.6 times and 2.1 times higher than that of conventional EF and ACF adsorption process, respectively. This process could efficiently remove mixed low-concentration organic pollutants (0.1 mg L-1) in domestic sewage and lake water with rate constant 1.6–7.1 times that of the conventional EF process but lower energy consumption. Meanwhile, the N/(A)/ D -EF process had a wider application range of sewage pH and conductivity, which was a promising process for removing low-concentration pollutants in wastewater. [Display omitted] • A floating sandwich-type electro-Fenton (EF) without aeration was first constructed. • It electro-synthesized H 2 O 2 through the floating natural air diffusion electrode. • Activated carbon fiber (ACF) interlayer could regenerate Fe(II), adsorb and enrich pollutants. • This EF has higher oxidation efficiency, lower energy consumption, and wider application pH. • It is promising and stable for removing low-concentration pollutants in water/wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota, known as the "forgotten organ" and "human second genome," comprises a complex microecosystem. It significantly influences the development of various tumors, including colorectal, liver, stomach, breast, and lung cancers, through both direct and indirect mechanisms. These mechanisms include the "gut-liver" axis, the "lung-intestine" axis, and interactions with the immune system. The intestinal flora exhibits dual roles in cancer, both promoting and suppressing its progression. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can alter cancer progression by regulating the intestinal flora. It modifies the intestinal flora's composition and structure, along with the levels of endogenous metabolites, thus affecting the intestinal barrier, immune system, and overall body metabolism. These actions contribute to TCM's significant antitumor effects. Moreover, the gut microbiota metabolizes TCM components, enhancing their antitumor properties. Therefore, exploring the interaction between TCM and the intestinal flora offers a novel perspective in understanding TCM's antitumor mechanisms. This paper succinctly reviews the association between gut flora and the development of tumors, including colorectal, liver, gastric, breast, and lung cancers. It further examines current research on the interaction between TCM and intestinal flora, with a focus on its antitumor efficacy. It identifies limitations in existing studies and suggests recommendations, providing insights into antitumor drug research and exploring TCM's antitumor effectiveness. Additionally, this paper aims to guide future research on TCM and the gut microbiota in antitumor studies. [Display omitted] • Numerous tumor mechanisms are intricately connected with gut microbiota. • TCM affects gut microbiota to exert antitumor effects through diverse mechanisms. • Gut microbiota plays a role in the conversion of TCM to enhance antitumor efficacy. • Overcoming the challenge of interaction between TCM and gut microbiota is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution, via ambient PM2.5, is a big threat to public health since it associates with increased hospitalisation, incidence rate and mortality of cardiopulmonary injury. However, the potential mediators of pulmonary injury in PM2.5‐induced cardiovascular disorder are not fully understood. To investigate a potential cross talk between lung and heart upon PM2.5 exposure, intratracheal instillation in vivo, organ culture ex vivo and human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas‐2B) culture in vitro experiments were performed respectively. The exposed supernatants of Beas‐2B were collected to treat primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs). Upon intratracheal instillation, subacute PM2.5 exposure caused cardiac dysfunction, which was time‐dependent secondary to lung injury in mice, thereby demonstrating a cross‐talk between lungs and heart potentially mediated via small extracellular vesicles (sEV). We isolated sEV from PM2.5‐exposed mice serum and Beas‐2B supernatants to analyse the change of sEV subpopulations in response to PM2.5. Single particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensing analysis (SP‐IRIS) demonstrated that PM2.5 increased CD63/CD81/CD9 positive particles. Our results indicated that respiratory system‐derived sEV containing miR‐421 contributed to cardiac dysfunction post‐PM2.5 exposure. Inhibition of miR‐421 by AAV9‐miR421‐sponge could significantly reverse PM2.5‐induced cardiac dysfunction in mice. We identified that cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was a downstream target of sEV‐miR421, and induced myocardial cell apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. In addition, we observed that GW4869 (an inhibitor of sEV release) or diminazene aceturate (DIZE, an activator of ACE2) treatment could attenuate PM2.5‐induced cardiac dysfunction in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that PM2.5 exposure promotes sEV‐linked miR421 release after lung injury and hereby contributes to PM2.5‐induced cardiac dysfunction via suppressing ACE2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: EHV-1 is one of the most serious viral pathogens that frequently cause abortion in horses around the world. However, so far, relatively little information is available on EHV-1 infections as they occur in China. In January 2021, during an abortion storm which occurred in Yili horses at the Chinese State Studs of Zhaosu (North Xinjiang, China), 43 out of 800 pregnant mares aborted. Results: PCR detection revealed the presence of EHV-1 in all samples as the possible cause of all abortions, although EHV-4, EHV-2 and EHV-5 were also found to circulate in the aborted fetuses. Furthermore, the partial ORF33 sequences of the 43 EHV-1 shared 99.3–100% and 99.0–100% similarity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences respectively. These sequences not only indicated a highly conserved region but also allowed the strains to group into six clusters. In addition, based on the predicted ORF30 nucleotide sequence, it was found that all the strains carried a guanine at the 2254 nucleotide position (aspartic acid at position 752 of the viral DNA polymerase) and were, therefore, identified as neuropathogenic strains. Conclusion: This study is the first one that establishes EHV-1 as the cause of abortions in Yili horses, of China. Further characterization of the ORF30 sequences revealed that all the EHV-1 strains from the study carried the neuropathogenic genotype. Totally, neuropathogenic EHV-1 infection in China's horse population should be concerned although the virus only detected in Yili horse abortions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the natural air diffusion electrode (NADE) cathode, a solar-driven electrochemical integrated sewage treatment technology and equipment in a pilot scale was developed to treat dispersed rural wastewater. The non-aeration NADE had efficient and stable H 2 O 2 production performance, maintaining the H 2 O 2 output between 1474 and 1535 mg h−1 within 50 h with the current efficiency of 77.4%–80.6%. This electrochemical integrated wastewater treatment system was coupled with technologies such as dual-cathode electro-Fenton, peroxi-coagulation and photoelectro-Fenton, which effectively improved the conversion and utilization efficiency of H 2 O 2. It integrated Fenton-like oxidation, electro-oxidation and UV/H 2 O 2 , as well as Fe(OH) 3 -dominated flocculation, which could effectively remove various pollutants in wastewater. The integrated sewage treatment equipment (500 L d−1) realized the effective treatment of a rural decentralized domestic sewage, achieving simultaneous removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 3 –N, total phosphorus (TP) and bacteria. Driven by solar energy, its application feasibility, superiority and stability have been proved, providing theoretical and technical support for the efficient and low-consumption treatment of dispersed organic wastewater. [Display omitted] • Electrochemical integrated treatment equipment driven by solar energy is proposed. • The non-aeration NADE had efficient and stable H 2 O 2 production performance. • It integrates electro-oxidation, peroxi-coagulation and photoelectron-Fenton. • It has been successfully applied to the treatment of rural decentralized domestic sewage. • The pilot scale system exhibits good application feasibility, superiority and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is extremely malignant in nature. It is an important way to discover anti-cancer drugs from natural products at present. (R)-7,3′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-8-methylflavane (DHMMF), a natural flavonoid, was isolated from Resina Draconis which is the red resin from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen. However, the anti-hepatoma effect and underlying mechanisms of DHMMF remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that DHMMF treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. The IC 50 value of DHMMF for HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were 0.67 μM and 0.66 μM, respectively, while the IC 50 value of DHMMF for human normal liver LO2 cells was 120.60 μM. DHMMF induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and G2/M phase arrest in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Furthermore, the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of DHMMF in human hepatoma cells were mediated by the upregulation of p21. Importantly, DHMMF exhibited potent anti-HCC efficacy in a xenograft mice model and an orthotopic mice model of liver cancer. Additionally, the combined administration of DHMMF and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor BI 6727 showed a synergistic anti-HCC efficacy. Collectively, we demonstrated that DHMMF treatment induced apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest via DNA damage-driven upregulation of p21 expression in human hepatoma cells. DHMMF may serve as a promising drug candidate for HCC treatment, especially for patients of HCC with low p21 expression. Our results also suggested that DHMMF treatment in combination with PLK1 inhibitor may serve as a potential treatment strategy for patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligands are an imperative part of targeted drug delivery systems, and choosing a ligand with high affinity is a subject of considerable interest. In this study, we first synthesized a 12-residue peptide (TK) that interacts with integrin α6β1overexpressed on colonic cancer cells. The molecular binding affinity assay indicated that TK had a high binding affinity for integrin α6β1. The results of cellular and tumor spheroid uptake suggested that TK peptide not only increases Caco-2 cells uptake, but also effectively increases penetration of the tumor spheroids. TK-conjugated PEG-PLA was synthesized to prepare a novel PEG-PLA micelles loading DOX or coumarin-6 (TK-MS/DOX or TK-MS/C6). The obtained TK-MS/DOX exhibited uniform, spherical shape with a size of 23.80 ± 0.32 nm and zeta potential of 12.21 ± 0.31 mV. The release behavior of DOX from micelles were observed no significant changes after TK modification, however, the release profile exhibited pH-sensitive properties. Compared with MS/DOX, TK-MS/DOX exhibited significantly stronger cytotoxicity for Caco-2. Confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry data further indicated that the targeting micelles not only had higher uptake by Caco-2 cells, but also more effectively penetrated the tumor spheroids. Therefore, TK peptide appears to be suitable as a targeting ligand with potential applications in colonic targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The threat of global climate change has caused the international community to pay close attention to atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions efficiency (TSCDEE) is a key indicator used to prioritize sustainable development in the transportation sector. In this paper, the epsilon-based measure data envelopment analysis model with undesirable outputs is applied to estimate TSCDEE for 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2016. We also analyze influencing factors using the spatial Durbin model. Research shows that the overall TSCDEE of the Chinese provinces studied was 0.618, indicating that most regions are still in need of improvements. The provinces with the highest TSCDEE are located in developed coastal regions of China. This study shows that factors such as transportation structure, traffic infrastructure level, and technological progress have prominent positive effects on TSCDEE, while both urbanization level and urban population density exert significantly negative effects on TSCDEE. The findings should have a far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of global transportation. [Display omitted] • Providing more accurate method in estimating CO 2 emissions of the transport sector. • Focusing on the transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions efficiency (TSCDEE). • Technological progress is the key to improve TSCDEE among different factors in China. • Higher mode share of water and rail transport contributes to higher TSCDEE in China. • Urbanization presents significantly negative effect on TSCDEE in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity of the endocrine disruptor di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been extensively studied for its hormonal dysregulation, obesogenic effect and associated metabolic diseases. DEHP's primary substitute di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), however, although increased in annual production globally, requires better understanding of its health effect. Our previous work reported disruptions in plasma lipid profiles, but the metabolic responses following phthalate exposure in the liver, particularly the entire hepatic lipidome, have been lacking. A targeted lipidomic technique was applied to accurately quantify a total of 363 lipid species in the liver of neonatal mice after exposure to a daily dose of 4.8 mg/kg body weight/day from birth throughout lactation. Distinct patterns of disruption for each sum of lipid classes or sub-classes between the genders were the most noticeable. Following DINP administration, female pups were subject to greater changes in phosphatidylethanolamines, bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate and ceramides. In contrast, the males exhibited less changes in the phosphoglycerol backbone-based molecules, whereas glycerol and cholesterol esters were more disrupted by DINP. DEHP, however, induced less changes overall compared to DINP. These findings highlighted the predominant lipidomic disruption of DINP on glycerol (diacylglycerides and triacylglycerides) and/or cholesterol (in ester or free form) molecules in neonatal mice across genders, suggesting the genesis of hepatic steatosis occurring at as early as post weaning. Collectively, these findings question the suitability of DINP as a safe DEHP substitute and warrant further investigation on longer-term exposure to elucidate its effect on chronic liver diseases. Unlabelled Image • Both DINP and DEHP induced gender-specific disruptions in the hepatic lipidome. • Primary lipidomic disruption was on glycerol and cholesterol molecules. • DINP induced disruption in bile acid metabolism by altering liver cholesterol metabolism. • DINP induced more pronounced disruption in liver lipidome than those by DEHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Z-scheme Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a simple three-step approach for 2,2′,4,4′-tretrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47) reductive removal under simulated solar irradiation. Unlike the traditional heterojunction, the addition of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) enhanced the redox ability of Cu 2 O-TiO 2 by increasing charge transfer. When modifying Cu 2 O films by adding 1% rGO and coating with 70% TiO 2 , the resulting Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2) exhibited the best photocatalytic activity for BDE47 removal. The charge transfers of Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2) were proven to follow a Z-scheme pathway through the electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. The degradation pathways of BDE47 were elucidated by identifying intermediate products via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography (GC). Photo-electrons (e−) generated from the conduction band of Cu 2 O and hydrogen protons (H0) reduced from H+ in water were the main contributing elements for the removal of BDE47, which response to the ortho and para debromination. Ortho-Br of BDE47 was attacked by e− and BDE28 was the dominant debromination product on the first stage. Then e− and H0 attacked ortho-Br and para-Br of BDE28 to form BDE15 and BDE8, respectively. The concentration of BDE8 was higher than that of BDE15, suggesting that H0 played the most important role on the second debromination stage. An effective Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2)-based Z-scheme system for BDE47 debromination was proposed in this study, which may contribute to the development of novel green technologies. Image 1 • Z-scheme system of Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2) is designed and prepared. • Efficient removal of 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether with Cu 2 O-(rGO-TiO 2) under simulated sunlight. • rGO significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance. • Mechanism and debromination pathway of BDE47 are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• F-Fe-MCM-41 possessed excellent activity in catalytic ozonation of NB. • F planting enhanced the hydrophobicity and Lewis acids of Fe-MCM-41. • The liquid and solid interface reaction mechanism was proposed. • OH scavenging effect of humic acid and carbonate were weakened by F-Fe-MCM-41. Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation had met the bottlenecks when treating low concentration but high toxic pollutants: (i) the low mass transfer efficiency of ozone and pollutants to hydrophilic catalyst; (ii) the negative impact of coexisted water matrixes. Herein, to enhance the mass transfer efficiency of reactants toward hydrophilic Fe-MCM-41 as well as enhance the interfacial reaction, the fluoride planting Fe-MCM-41 (F-Fe-MCM-41) was synthesized and employed as catalyst in catalytic ozonation for nitrobenzene (NB). Both NB and TOC removal were promoted in F-Fe-MCM-41/O 3 with 99.0 % NB removal in 60 min and 88.6 % TOC removal in 120 min, which were superior to the degradation efficiency by O 3 and Fe-MCM-41/O 3. FTIR, EPR, Mössbauer spectra, 29Si NMR, 19F NMR et al verified that the replacement of non-reactive silanols (-Si−OH) of Fe-MCM-41 with Si F groups could enhance its hydrophobicity, Lewis acidity and mass transfer effect. Comparative characterizations, experiments and theoretical calculations verified that interfacial reaction played the major role over liquid phase reaction for NB degradation in F-Fe-MCM-41/O 3. Moreover, the strengthened interfacial reaction also reduced the OH scavenging effect of water matrix, such as humic acid and carbonate. The interfacial adjustment method proposed in this study provided a novel insight into catalyst design and water treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]