Adsorption of typical NDMA precursors by superfine powdered activated carbon: Critical role of particle size reduction.

Control of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water could be achieved by removing its precursors as one practical way. Herein, superfine powdered activated carbons with a diameter of about 1 µm (SPACs) were successfully prepared by grinding powdered activated carbon (PAC, D50=24.3 µm) and applied to remove model NDMA precursors, i.e. ranitidine (RAN) and nizatidine (NIZ). Results from grain diameter experiments demonstrated that the absorption velocity increased dramatically with decreasing particle size, and the maximum increase in k2 was 26.8-folds for RAN and 33.4-folds for NIZ. Moreover, kinetic experiments explained that rapid absorption could be attributed to the acceleration of intraparticle diffusion due to the shortening of the diffusion path. Furthermore, performance comparison experiments suggested that the removal of RAN and NIZ (C0=0.5 mg/L) could reach 61.3% and 60%, respectively, within 5 min, when the dosage of SAPC-1.1 (D50=1.1 µm) was merely 5 mg/L, while PAC-24.3 could only eliminate 17.5% and 18.6%. The adsorption isotherm was well defined by Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that the adsorption of RAN/NIZ was a monolayer coverage process. The adsorption of RAN or NIZ by SAPC-1.1 and PAC-24.3 was strongly pH dependent, and high adsorption capacity could be observed under the condition of pH > pka+1. The coexistence of humic acid (HA) had no significant effect on the adsorption performance because RAN/NIZ may be coupled with HA and removed simultaneously. The coexistence of anions had little effect on the adsorption also. This study is expected to provide an alternative strategy for drinking water safety triggered by NDMA.

Dual Hole Transport Layers Heterojunction and Band Alignment Engineered Mo:BiVO4 Photoanodes for Efficient Water Splitting.

BiVO4-based photoanode is one of the most promising photoanodes for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. However, the serious problem of interface charge recombination limits its further development. Here, a Mo:BiVO4/NiOx/CPF-TCzB/NiCoBi photoanode is constructed with double hole transport layer and an energy level gradient to achieve an effective photo-generated holes extraction and accumulation at the surface electrocatalyst. The conjugated polycarbazole framework CPF-TCzB is used as hole transport layer to eliminate the charge recombination center between Mo:BiVO4 and NiCoBi electrocatalyst and realize the extraction and storage of photo-generated hole; NiOx nanoparticles are further inserted between Mo:BiVO4 and CPF-TCzB to form a gradient energy level, eliminating the energy level barrier and optimizing band alignment. As a result, Mo:BiVO4/NiOx/CPF-TCzB/NiCoBi achieves a much higher photocurrent densities of 3.14 mA cm-2 than that of Mo:BiVO4 (0.42 mA cm-2) at 0.6 V versus RHE. This work provides an specific way to adjust the band structure of BiVO4-based photoanodes and realize efficient hole extraction and storage for PEC water splitting.

The role of SPI1/VSIG4/THBS1 on glioblastoma progression through modulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) poses a significant challenge in terms of treatment due to its high malignancy, necessitating the identification of additional molecular targets. VSIG4, an oncogenic gene participates in tumor growth and migration in various cancer types. Nevertheless, the precise process through which VSIG4 facilitates the malignant progression of glioma remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to explore the function and molecular mechanism involving VSIG4 in the malignant progression of glioma. METHODS: The amount of VSIG4 was measured using qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Lentivirus infections were applied for upregulating or downregulating molecules within glioma cells. The incorporation of 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine, Transwell, cell counting kit-8, and clone formation experiments, were applied to assess the biological functions of molecules on glioma cells. Dual luciferase reporter gene, RNA immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to explore the functional relationship among relevant molecules. RESULTS: The upregulation of VSIG4 was observed in GBM tissues, indicating an adverse prognosis. Silencing VSIG4 in glioma cells resulted in a decrease in cell viability, invasion, proliferation, and tumorigenesis, an increase in cell apoptosis, and a stagnation in the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase. Mechanistically, SPI1-mediated upregulation of VSIG4 expression led to binding between VSIG4 and THBS1 protein, ultimately facilitating the malignant progression of glioma cells through the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The inhibited proliferative and invasive capabilities of glioma cells were reversed by overexpressing THBS1 following the knockdown of VSIG4. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence for the role of VSIG4 as an oncogene and reveal the previously unidentified contribution of the SPI1/VSIG4/THBS1 axis in the malignant progression of glioma. This signaling cascade enhances tumor growth and invasion by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. VSIG4 as a potential biomarker may be a viable strategy in the development of tailored molecular therapies for GBM.

Structural and functional characterization of cyclic pyrimidine-regulated anti-phage system.

3',5'-cyclic uridine monophosphate (cUMP) and 3',5'-cyclic cytidine monophosphate (cCMP) have been established as bacterial second messengers in the phage defense system, named pyrimidine cyclase system for anti-phage resistance (Pycsar). This system consists of a pyrimidine cyclase and a cyclic pyrimidine receptor protein. However, the molecular mechanism underlying cyclic pyrimidine synthesis and recognition remains unclear. Herein, we determine the crystal structures of a uridylate cyclase and a cytidylate cyclase, revealing the conserved residues for cUMP and cCMP production, respectively. In addition, a distinct zinc-finger motif of the uridylate cyclase is identified to confer substantial resistance against phage infections. Furthermore, structural characterization of cUMP receptor protein PycTIR provides clear picture of specific cUMP recognition and identifies a conserved N-terminal extension that mediates PycTIR oligomerization and activation. Overall, our results contribute to the understanding of cyclic pyrimidine-mediated bacterial defense.

MAPK4 facilitates angiogenesis by inhibiting the ERK pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 (MAPK4) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, the potential role of MAPK4 in the tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC remains unclear. Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly divided into the control group and p-siMAPK4 intervention group, respectively. The cell proliferation was analyzed with flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. The vascular density in tumor mass was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The expressions of MAPK4 and related signaling molecules were detected by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining, and so on. Results: We found that the expression of MAPK4, which was dominantly expressed in local endothelial cells (ECs), was correlated with tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC. Furthermore, MAPK4 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). Global gene analysis showed that MAPK4 silencing altered the expression of multiple genes related to cell cycle and angiogenesis pathways, and that MAPK4 silencing increased transduction of the extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway but not Akt and c-Jun n-terminal kinase pathways. Further analysis showed that MAPK4 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of HUVECs cultured in tumor cell supernatant, which was accompanied with increased transduction of the ERK1/2 pathway. Clinical data analysis suggested that the higher expression of MAPK4 and CD34 were associated with poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Targeted silencing of MAPK4 in ECs using small interfering RNA driven by the CD34 promoter effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis and growth of NSCLC in vivo. Conclusion: Our results reveal that MAPK4 plays an important role in the angiogenesis and development of NSCLC. MAPK4 may thus represent a new target for NSCLC.

Gestational valproic acid exposure enhances facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar mossy fiber-granule cell transmission via GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptor in offspring mice.

Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most effective antiepileptic drugs, and exposing animals to VPA during gestation has been used as a model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Numerous studies have shown that impaired synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortical circuits is one of the reasons for the social deficits and repetitive behavior seen in ASD. In this study, we investigated the effect of VPA exposure during pregnancy on tactile stimulation-evoked cerebellar mossy fiber-granule cell (MF-GC) synaptic transmission in mice anesthetized with urethane. Three-chamber testing showed that mice exposed to VPA mice exhibited a significant reduction in social interaction compared with the control group. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that a pair of air-puff stimulation on ipsilateral whisker pad evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission, N1, and N2. The evoked MF-GC synaptic responses in VPA-exposed mice exhibited a significant increase in the area under the curve (AUC) of N1 and the amplitude and AUC of N2 compared with untreated mice. Cerebellar surface application of the selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker D-APV significantly inhibited facial stimulation-evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission. In the presence of D-APV, there were no significant differences between the AUC of N1 and the amplitude and AUC of N2 in the VPA-exposed mice and those of the untreated mice. Notably, blockade of the GluN2A subunit-containing, but not the GluN2B subunit-containing, NMDA receptor, significantly inhibited MF-GC synaptic transmission and decreased the AUC of N1 and the amplitude and AUC of N2 in VPA-exposed mice to levels similar to those seen in untreated mice. In addition, the GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptor was expressed at higher levels in the GC layer of VPA-treated mice than in control mice. These results indicate that gestational VPA exposure in mice produces ASD-like behaviors, accompanied by increased cerebellar MF-GC synaptic transmission and an increase in GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptor expression in the offspring.

The continuous increased stability of sediment dissolved organic matter implies ecosystem degradation of lakes in the cold and arid regions.

The characteristics of lake dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool and lake ecosystem interact, and studying the responses between sediment DOM characteristics and lake ecosystem changes may shed light on the inherent connection between ecosystem evolution and carbon biogeochemical cycles. Lakes in cold and arid regions are sensitive to changes and accumulate large amounts of carbon as DOM, which may provide a window into more explicit relationships between ecosystem evolution and changes in sediment DOM characteristics in time dimension. However, considerable blind spots exist in the responses between the sediment DOM and ecosystem evolution on time scale and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, multiple approaches were combined to investigate the relationship between the variation trend of sediment DOM characteristics and the evolution of fragile lake ecosystems across three different lake ecosystems in cold and arid regions of China. A strong positive relationship between sediment DOM stabilities, especially humification, and ecosystem degradation was found, consistent for the three lakes. Ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry and structural equation modeling revealed that the changes of ecosystems affected sediment DOM stability through direct pathways (0.24), such as the contents of terrestrial DOM in lake DOM pool, and indirect pathways, including algae-mediated (0.43) and salinity-mediated pathways (0.22), which all increased the contents of refractory DOM in the lake DOM pool and sediments. Based on the fact that DOM stability changes could act on the ecosystem in turn, a possible positive feedback mechanism between ecosystem degradation and increased DOM stability was further inferred. These results suggested that the continuous increased stability of sediment DOM in may implies ecosystem degradation of lakes in the cold and arid regions. This study provides a new perspective for recognizing ecosystem evolution through sediment DOM and improves the understanding of the interaction of lake ecosystem evolution and the biogeochemical cycle of DOM.

U(VI) sorption on illite in the Co-existence of carbonates and humic substances.

The presence of carbonates or humic substances (HS) will significantly affect the species and chemical behavior of U(VI) in solution, but lacking systematic exploration of the coupling effect of carbonates and HS under near real environmental conditions at present. Herein, the sorption behavior of U(VI) on illite was systematically studied in the co-existence of carbonates and HS including both humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) by batch technique. The distribution coefficients (Kd) increased as function of time and temperature but decreased with increasing concentrations of initial U(VI), Ca2+, and Mg2+, as well as ion strength. At pH 2.0-10.5, the Kd values first increased rapidly and then decreased visibly, with its maximum value appearing at pH 5.0, owning to the changes in the interaction between illite and the dominant species of U(VI) from electrostatic attraction to electrostatic repulsion. The sorption was a heterogeneous, spontaneous, and endothermic chemical process, which could be well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic and Flory-Huggins isotherm models. When carbonates and HA/FA coexisted, the Kd values always increased first and then decreased as a function of pH, with the only difference for HA and FA being the key pH (pHkey) at which the promoting and inhibiting effects on the sorption of U(VI) onto illite undergo a transition. The carbonates and HS have a synergistic inhibitory effect on the U(VI) sorption onto illite at pH 7.8. FTIR and XPS spectra demonstrated that the hydroxyl groups on the illite surface and in the HS were involved in U(VI) sorption on illite in the presence of carbonates. These results provide valuable data for a deeper understanding of U(VI) migration in geological media.

Boosting the Performance of Aluminum-Air Batteries by Interface Modification.

The large-scale application of aqueous Al-air batteries is highly restricted by the performance of Al anodes. The severe self-corrosion and hydrogen evolution of the Al anode in a concentrated alkaline electrolyte are the main reason. Here, aimed at relieving side reactions and enhancing the utilization of metal Al, we propose a hybrid electrolyte additive of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and ZnO to form a protective film at the anode/electrolyte interface and to decrease the hydrogen evolution active site. The strong absorption capability of MBT on the metal surface, along with the reduced Zn-containing layer, enables a compact protective film with high hydrogen evolution potential on the Al surface. With this benefit, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) inhibition efficiency is up to 83.58%, endowing a superior Al-air battery with an energy density of 2376.71 Wh kgAl-1 under a current density of 25 mA cm-2. The conception of constructing a hybrid protective film on the metal surface not only favors the development of metal-air batteries but also facilitates metal corrosion protection.

Insights into the Acidic Site in Manganese Oxide in Terms of the Sulfur and Water Tolerance of Low-Temperature NH3 Selective Catalytic Reduction.

A critical constraint impeding the utilization of Mn-based oxide catalysts in NH3 selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR) is their inadequate resistance to water and sulfur. This vulnerability primarily arises from the propensity of SO2 to bind to the acidic site in manganese oxide, resulting in the formation of metal sulfate and leading to the irreversible deactivation of the catalyst. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the detrimental impact of SO2 on the acidic sites and elucidating the underlying mechanism of this toxicity are of paramount importance for the effective application of Mn-based catalysts in NH3-SCR. Herein, we strategically modulate the acidity of the manganese oxide catalyst surface through the incorporation of Ce and Nb. Comprehensive analyses, including thermogravimetry, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, in situ diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, reveal that SO2 exhibits a propensity for adsorption at strongly acidic sites. This mechanistic understanding underscores the pivotal role of surface acidity in governing the sulfur resistance of manganese oxide.

Bromodomain protein BRD4 directs mitotic cell division of mouse fibroblasts by inhibiting DNA damage.

Bromodomain protein BRD4 binds to acetylated histones to regulate transcription. BRD4 also drives cancer cell proliferation. However, the role of BRD4 in normal cell growth has remained unclear. Here, we investigated this question by using mouse embryonic fibroblasts with conditional Brd4 knockout (KO). We found that Brd4KO cells grow more slowly than wild type cells; they do not complete replication, fail to achieve mitosis, and exhibit extensive DNA damage throughout all cell cycle stages. BRD4 was required for expression of more than 450 cell cycle genes including genes encoding core histones and centromere/kinetochore proteins that are critical for genome replication and chromosomal segregation. Moreover, we show that many genes controlling R-loop formation and DNA damage response (DDR) require BRD4 for expression. Finally, BRD4 constitutively occupied genes controlling R-loop, DDR and cell cycle progression. In summary, BRD4 epigenetically marks above genes and serves as a master regulator of normal cell growth.

A Review: The Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Immunity in People of All Ages.

Bovine colostrum provides newborn calves with strong passive immunity, which will further affect the immunity of their offspring. Compared with other commercial dairy products, bovine colostrum emphasizes the limit of aflatoxin M1, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms, antibiotics, stimulants, and other items, so it is safe to use. There are many reports that the use of bovine colostrum as a breast milk fortifier for preterm infants provides necessary immune support for premature infants, but the selection of bovine colostrum products chosen must be free of Bacillus cereus because they are very dangerous for premature infants. This also emphasizes that for the bovine colostrum that is used in preterm infants, more clinical research support is needed. At the same time, it should also be emphasized that the composition of BC is different from that of human colostrum, in particular, the main protein of BC is casein, while the main protein in breast milk is whey protein, especially α-lactalbumin, which together with ovalbumin is still the reference protein with the best biological value, especially for muscles. Therefore, bovine colostrum is currently not a complete substitute for breast milk. In recent years, in addition to reports of bovine colostrum use in preterm infants, studies have also found that bovine colostrum has immunomodulatory and promoting effects in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. This suggests that bovine colostrum has the potential to provide appropriate immune support for people of all ages. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of nutritional characteristics of bovine colostrum on three dimensions. The effects of bovine colostrum on people of all ages is a narrative review of the effects of bovine colostrum on immunity in people of all ages. This review identified several classes of immunoactive substances in bovine colostrum, including immunoglobulins, cytokines, and enzymes, and compared the nutritional composition of bovine colostrum with mature milk, colostrum and mature milk in full-term breast milk, and colostrum and mature milk in preterm breast milk, to demonstrate that bovine colostrum provides a rich range of immunoactive components. In addition, the influencing factors affecting the quality of bovine colostrum (immunoglobulin) were reviewed, and it was found that individual differences, environmental factors, and processing methods had a great impact on the quality of BC. More importantly, the immunomodulatory effects of bovine colostrum in people of all ages were reviewed in detail (with an emphasis on preterm infants and immunocompromised children in neonates) as evidence to support the immunity effects of colostrum in people of all ages. This review hopes to use the above evidence to make people understand the health role of bovine colostrum as having a human immunomodulatory effect, and at the same time, when seeing the potential value of bovine colostrum in the future, the limitations of its application should also be deeply re-explored, such as lactose intolerance, allergies, etc., to provide effective solutions for the wide application of bovine colostrum.

AGBL4 promotes malignant progression of glioblastoma via modulation of MMP-1 and inflammatory pathways.

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common primary malignant brain tumor, is notorious for its aggressive growth and dismal prognosis. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of GBM, particularly focusing on the role of AGBL4 and its connection to inflammatory pathways, to discover viable therapeutic targets. Methods: Single-cell sequencing was utilized to examine the expression levels of AGBL4 and functional assays were performed to assess the effects of AGBL4 modulation. Results: Our findings identified the significant upregulation of AGBL4 in GBM, which correlated with adverse clinical outcomes. Functional assays demonstrated that AGBL4 knockdown inhibited GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and influenced inflammatory response pathways, while AGBL4 overexpression promoted these activities. Further investigation revealed that AGBL4 exerted its oncogenic effects through modulation of MMP-1, establishing a novel regulatory axis critical for GBM progression and inflammation. Discussion: Both AGBL4 and MMP-1 may be pivotal molecular targets, offering new avenues for targeted therapy in GBM management.

Multi-functional nanozyme-based colorimetric, fluorescence dual-mode assay for Salmonella typhimurium detection in milk.

Rapid and high-sensitive Salmonella detection in milk is important for preventing foodborne disease eruption. To overcome the influence of the complex ingredients in milk on the sensitive detection of Salmonella, a dual-signal reporter red fluorescence nanosphere (RNs)-Pt was designed by combining RNs and Pt nanoparticles. After being equipped with antibodies, the immune RNs-Pt (IRNs-Pt) provide an ultra-strong fluorescence signal when excited by UV light. With the assistance of the H2O2/TMB system, a visible color change appeared that was attributed to the strong peroxidase-like catalytic activity derived from Pt nanoparticles. The IRNs-Pt in conjunction with immune magnetic beads can realize that Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhi) was captured, labeled, and separated effectively from untreated reduced-fat pure milk samples. Under the optimal experimental conditions, with the assay, as low as 50 CFU S. typhi can be converted to detectable fluorescence and absorbance signals within 2 h, suggesting the feasibility of practical application of the assay. Meanwhile, dual-signal modes of quantitative detection were realized. For fluorescence signal detection (emission at 615 nm), the linear correlation between signal intensity and the concentration of S. typhi was Y = 83C-3321 (R2 = 0.9941), ranging from 103 to 105 CFU/mL, while for colorimetric detection (absorbamce at 450 nm), the relationship between signal intensity and the concentration of S. typhi was Y = 2.9logC-10.2 (R2 = 0.9875), ranging from 5 × 103 to 105 CFU/mL. For suspect food contamination by foodborne pathogens, this dual-mode signal readout assay is promising for achieving the aim of convenient preliminary screening and accurate quantification simultaneously.

The zinc ion concentration dynamically regulated by an ionophore in the outer Helmholtz layer for stable Zn anode.

The Zn dendrite limits the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries in the large-scale energy storage systems. To suppress the growth of Zn dendrites, a zinc ionophore of hydroxychloroquine (defined as HCQ) applied in vivo treatment is investigated as the electrolyte additive. HCQ dynamically regulates zinc ion concentration in the outer Helmholtz layer, promoting even Zn plating at the anode/electrolyte interface. This is evidenced by the scanning electron microscopy, which delivers planar Zn plating after cycling. It is further supported by the X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, which reveals the growth of Zn (002) plane. Additionally, the reduced production of H2 during Zn plating/stripping is detected by the in-situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), which shows the resistance of Zn (002) to hydrogen evolution reaction. The mechanism of dynamic regulation for zinc ion concentration is demonstrated by the in-situ optical microscopy. The hydrated zinc ion can be further plated more rapidly to the uneven location than the case in other regions, which is resulted from the dynamic regulation for zinc ion concentration. Therefore, the uniform Zn plating is formed. A cycling life of 1100 h is exhibited in the Zn||Zn symmetric cell at 1.6 mA cm-2 with the capacity of 1.6 mAh cm-2. The Zn||Cu battery exhibits a cycling life of 200 cycles at 4 mA cm-2 with a capacity of 4 mAh cm-2 and the average Coulombic efficiency is larger than 99 %. The Zn||VO2 battery with HCQ modified electrolyte can operate for 1500 cycles at 4 A g-1 with a capacity retention of 90 %. This strategy in the present work is wished to advance the development of zinc-ion batteries for practical application.

Effect of alkaline treatment duration on rapeseed protein during pH-shift process: Unveiling physicochemical properties and enhanced emulsifying performance.

This study aims to investigate the influence of alkaline treatment duration (0-5 h) on the physicochemical properties and emulsifying performance of rapeseed protein during pH-shift process. Results showed that a 4-h alkaline treatment significantly reduced the particle size of rapeseed protein and led to a notable decrease in disulfide bond content, as well as alterations in subunit composition. Moreover, solubility of rapeseed protein increased from 18.10 ± 0.13% to 40.44 ± 1.74% post-treatment, accompanied by a âˆ¼ 40% enhancement in emulsifying properties. Morphological analysis revealed superior plasticity and sharper contours in 4-h alkali-treated rapeseed protein emulsions compared to untreated counterparts. Rheological analysis indicated higher viscosity and elasticity in the alkali-treated group. Overall, 4-h alkaline treatment markedly enhanced the multifaceted functional attributes of rapeseed protein during pH-shift process, rendering it a promising emulsifier in the food industry.

An interpretable two-branch bi-coordinate network based on multi-grained domain knowledge for classification of thyroid nodules in ultrasound images.

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for thyroid nodules has been studied for years, yet there are still reliability and interpretability challenges due to the lack of clinically-relevant evidence. To address this issue, inspired by Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS), we propose a novel interpretable two-branch bi-coordinate network based on multi-grained domain knowledge. First, we transform the two types of domain knowledge provided by TI-RADS, namely region-based and boundary-based knowledge, into labels at multi-grained levels: coarse-grained classification labels, and fine-grained region segmentation masks and boundary localization vectors. We combine these two labels to form the Multi-grained Domain Knowledge Representation (MG-DKR) of TI-RADS. Then we design a Two-branch Bi-coordinate network (TB2C-net) which utilizes two branches to predict MG-DKR from both Cartesian and polar images, and uses an attention-based integration module to integrate the features of the two branches for benign-malignant classification. We validated our method on a large cohort containing 3245 patients (with 3558 nodules and 6466 ultrasound images). Results show that our method achieves competitive performance with AUC of 0.93 and ACC of 0.87 compared with other state-of-the-art methods. Ablation experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the TB2C-net and MG-DKR, and the knowledge attention map from the integration module provides the interpretability for benign-malignant classification.

Transformation and environmental risk of 90Sr and 137Cs under extreme rainstorm at a proposed nuclear facility site in China.

This paper explores the environmental hazards associated with nuclear facilities in arid regions, focusing on the rapid migration of radionuclides facilitated by flood runoff resulting from extreme rainstorms. Through a case study of a proposed nuclear facility site in China, the study developed a comprehensive model to calculate the transformation of 90Sr and 137Cs in flood and subsurface water during accidents. The methodology employs a combination of field tests, radionuclide adsorption tests, the SWAT model, and the HGS model to create a fully integrated model. This approach allows for the several complex couplings (radionuclide-flood runoff-subsurface water) that have not been previously examined in the reactive solute transport. The findings reveal that despite groundwater movement being relatively sluggish, 90Sr and 137Cs migrate downstream rapidly due to their transportation by floods, which permeate the Upper Pleistocene gravel aquifer along the route. The study underscores the importance of considering the migration of radionuclides carried by floods generated by extreme rainstorms, as it poses a significant risk that cannot be ignored.