Effectiveness and safety analysis of titanium mesh grafting versus bone grafting in the treatment of spinal Tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To systematically assess the safety and effectiveness of titanium mesh grafting compared with bone grafting in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. METHODS: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were searched from their inception until April 2023. The outcome indicators for patients treated with titanium mesh grafting or bone grafting for spinal tuberculosis include surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, graft fusion time, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury Grade E assessment, VAS score, lumbar pain score, post-graft kyphotic angle, and postoperative complications. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach were used for quality assessment and evidence grading of clinical studies. Funnel plots and Begg's test were employed for bias assessment. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies were finally included, comprising 523 patients, with 267 cases of titanium mesh fixation and 256 cases of bone grafting. The meta-analysis showed no significant statistical differences in surgical duration (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) = -7.20, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -28.06 to 13.67, P = 0.499), intraoperative blood loss (WMD = 16.22, 95% CI: -40.62 to 73.06, P = 0.576), graft fusion time (WMD = 0.97, 95% CI: -0.88 to 2.81, P = 0.304), ASIA Spinal Cord Injury Grade E assessment (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.09, P = 0.346), and overall complications (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.55, P = 0.643). Differences in VAS score, ODI lumbar pain score, and post-graft kyphotic angle between the titanium mesh grafting group and the bone grafting group were not significant within the 95% CI range. The rate of postoperative implant subsidence was slightly lower in bone grafting than in titanium mesh grafting (RR = 9.30, 95% CI: 1.05 to 82.22, P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Both bone grafting and titanium mesh grafting are effective and safe for the surgery, with no significant statistical differences in the results. Considering the limitations of the present study, large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to further verify the reliability of this finding.

How can artificial intelligence boost firms' exports? evidence from China.

This paper explores the impact of artificial intelligence and industrial robots on firms' export behaviour and divides the impact mechanism into the productivity effect and labour substitution effect. It examines the effect of industrial robots on firms' export value by using Chinese Customs data, Chinese Industrial Firm data and robot data from the International Robot Federation (IRF). The main findings are as follows: Firstly, the impact of artificial intelligence and industrial robots on Chinese firms' export value is generally negative, which means the negative labour substitution effect dominates the positive productivity effect. Secondly, the impact of artificial intelligence varies significantly by industry, and the export value of firms from high-tech industries benefits from the use of industrial robots. Thirdly, the impact of artificial intelligence on firms' export value also varies by time; before 2003, the use of industrial robots showed mainly an inhibiting effect on firms' exports, which turned into a driving effect thereafter, and after 2006, industrial robots began to significantly promote firms' export. Finally, the higher the quality of export products, the more likely the use of industrial robots will be to promote firms' export value, and the higher the capital-labour ratio is, the more likely firms' export value will be to benefit from the use of artificial intelligence and industrial robots. On the basis of these findings, this study proposes promoting the productivity effect to dominate the labour substitution effect through technological progress and the improvement of export product quality.

Light-Programmed Bistate Colloidal Actuation Based on Photothermal Active Plasmonic Substrate.

Active particles have been regarded as the key models to mimic and understand the complex systems of nature. Although chemical and field-powered active particles have received wide attentions, light-programmed actuation with long-range interaction and high throughput remains elusive. Here, we utilize photothermal active plasmonic substrate made of porous anodic aluminum oxide filled with Au nanoparticles and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) to optically oscillate silica beads with robust reversibility. The thermal gradient generated by the laser beam incurs the phase change of PNIPAM, producing gradient of surface forces and large volume changes within the complex system. The dynamic evolution of phase change and water diffusion in PNIPAM films result in bistate locomotion of silica beads, which can be programmed by modulating the laser beam. This light-programmed bistate colloidal actuation provides promising opportunity to control and mimic the natural complex systems.

Hygroscopic Porous Polymer for Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) holds huge potential due to its freshwater capabilities for alleviating water scarcity stress. The two essential parts, sorbent material and system structure, dominate the water sorption-desorption performance and the total water productivity for SAWH system together. Attributed to the superiorities in aspects of sorption-desorption performance, scalability, and compatibility in practical SAWH devices, hygroscopic porous polymers (HPPs) as next-generation sorbents are recently going through a vast surge. However, as HPPs' sorption mechanism, performance, and applied potential lack comprehensive and accurate guidelines, SAWH's subsequent development is restricted. To address the aforementioned problems, this review introduces HPPs' recent development related to mechanism, performance, and application. Furthermore, corresponding optimized strategies for both HPP-based sorbent bed and coupling structural design are proposed. Finally, original research routes are directed to develop next-generation HPP-based SAWH systems. The presented guidelines and insights can influence and inspire the future development of SAWH technology, further achieving SAWH's practical applications.

Highly efficient removal of oxytetracycline using activated magnetic MIL-101(Fe)/γ-Fe2O3 heterojunction catalyst.

A novel magnetic nanocomposite MIL-101(Fe)/γ-Fe2O3 was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The physical structure and chemical property of the as-obtained magnetic nanocomposite was characterized. The ability of MIL-101(Fe)/γ-Fe2O3 to promote photo-assisted peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation was investigated by using oxytetracycline (OTC) as the target pollutant. The results showed that the composite with a FeCl3•6H2O: γ-Fe2O3 mass ratio of 10:1 exhibited the highest degradation efficiency (up to 91.2%). Influencing factors such as pH, catalyst dosage, PDS concentration and OTC concentration on the catalytic performance of MIL-101(Fe)/γ-Fe2O3 were also investigated to determine the optimum conditions. More importantly, the MIL-101(Fe)/γ-Fe2O3 can be magnetically recovered and reused for 4 cycles. Based on radical quenching and electron spin resonance (ESR), the possible degradation mechanism of OTC in photo-assisted PDS activation (PPA) system was proposed. This research provided novel insights for the design and preparation of a new type of magnetic Fe-MOFs for environmental remediation.

Measurement of 90Sr in Marine Biological Samples.

Strontium-90 (90Sr) is one of the most hazardous radionuclides, and it contributes to radiation exposure by ingestion. The routine determination of 90Sr in marine biological samples is highly desirable given the development of the nuclear power industry. A fast, simple, and low-detection-limit method was developed for the measurement of 90Sr in marine biological samples based on determining 90Y by means of coprecipitation and solvent extraction with bis-2-ethylhexyl-phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in n-heptane. The interfering 210Bi is removed using Bi2S3 precipitation. The separation and purification of eight samples per day can be accomplished through this method. The detection limit of 90Sr for this method is 0.10 Bq/kg (ash weight). The radiochemical procedure was validated by fitting the decay curve of the sample source and by the determination of 90Sr standards.

Intrusion of Fukushima-derived radiocesium into the East China sea and the Northeast South China Sea in 2011-2015.

To investigate the potential long-term impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (FDNPPA) on the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS), radiocesium isotopes 134Cs and 137Cs in seawater from 2011 to 2015 were measured. The highest activities of 134Cs and 137Cs in seawater were 0.73 Bq/m3 and 3.34 Bq/m3, respectively. The results demonstrated that FDNPPA-derived radiocesium intruded into the Northeast SCS and the ECS in 2013 and reached a maximum in 2014. The intrusion occurred within the upper 100 m and contributed ≤72.5% of the total 137Cs in the seawater of the SCS and ECS. The formation, subduction, and transport of subtropical mode water (STMW)/central mode water (CMW) trapped FDNPPA-derived radiocesium in the ocean interior and transported it southwestward from the high-latitude open ocean to the low-latitude western boundary area. Then, the FDNPPA-derived radiocesium entered the Northeast SCS and the ECS by the intrusion of the subsurface high-salinity water of the Kuroshio Current into the Northeast SCS and the ECS.

Radioactive impacts of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on blue sharks in the Northwest Pacific.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (FDNPPA) derived 134Cs, 137Cs and 110mAg in blue sharks captured in the Northwest Pacific during 2011-2018 were assessed for the first time in the aspects of radioactive contamination, temporal variation, maternal-to-fetus transfer, tissue distribution and radiation dose, to demonstrate the impacts of the FDNPPA on blue sharks. The contribution of the FDNPPA derived radiocesium in blue sharks (>52%) was estimated based on 134Cs/137Csactivity ratios. The effective and ecological half-lives of the FDNPPA derived 134Cs (270 d, 410 d), and 137Cs (430 d, 450 d) were calculated. These contaminations decreased with time and returned to the level before the FDNPPA during the period of Sep. 2017-Sep. 2018.134Cs and 137Cs tended to distribute in muscles, while 110mAg mainly distribute in their guts. 134Cs and 137Cs were also transferred to fetuses and the activities were up to ~30% of the maternal activities. Dose assessment demonstrated that the highest FDNPPA derived dose rate in blue sharks (~0.42 nGy/h) was far below the ERICA ecosystem screening benchmark of 10 µGy/h and the committed effective dose in humans from ingesting blue shark meat (0.06-0.90 µSv) was far less than that from annual consumption of food and water. It was far from causing radiation harm to blue sharks and humans, suggesting that the impacts of the FDNPPA on blue sharks were not significant.

Construction of Z-scheme g-C3N4 / MnO2 /GO ternary photocatalyst with enhanced photodegradation ability of tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light radiation.

A facile wet-chemical method was adopted to synthesize g-C3N4/MnO2/GO heterojunction photocatalyst for visible-light photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The addition of MnO2 and GO increased the absorption of visible light and the specific surface area of the photocatalyst. The results of photoluminescence, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photocurrent response indicated that CMG-10 had the lowest electron-hole recombination probability, which was beneficial for the photocatalytic reaction. The ternary photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photoelectric performance and superior photocatalytic activity with 91.4% removal of TC (10 mg/L) under a mere 60 min visible light illumination, which showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation when compared with binary (CM, 77.95%; CG, 78.83%) and single (C3N4, 55.5%; MnO2, 36.41%) photocatalysts. A pH of 6 was optimal for the CMG-10 photocatalytic degradation of TC, and the optimal photocatalyst dosage was 0.5 g/L. Common coexisting ions influenced the removal of TC by influencing the production of active species. The catalyst is stable and reusable with only a 10% reduction in removal efficiency after four cycles. According to the active species analysis, the Z-scheme mechanism was a charge transfer behavior in the composite photocatalyst, which could prevent the recombination of photogenerated carriers. This study presents a photocatalytic approach to the effective removal of TC from water bodies, which provides practical implications to advance the use of photocatalytic technology in the restoration of aqueous environmental pollution.

A General Nanocoating Method via Photoinduced Self-Initiation.

Hybrid core-shell nanoparticles play a very significant role in many applications. Here, we report a light-induced oligomer coating on nanoparticles via Norrish type I reaction. The radical species generated via UV irradiation can chemically initiate the photoinitiators, which are then polymerized and deposited on inorganic nanoparticles via heterogeneous nucleation, forming a soft oligomer coating smaller than 40 nm. This coating method is versatile and potentially applicable to many different types of inorganic cores and their assemblies, making it a very useful technique for "freezing" nanoassemblies in solution. Moreover, these oligomer coatings containing radical species can also initiate surface polymerization of both styrenic and acrylic monomers with certain functionalities for different applications such as self-assembly, plasmon tuning, and pH sensing (3.5-4.5).

Thermally-driven gold@poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) core-shell nanotransporters for molecular extraction.

HYPOTHESIS: Molecular extraction efficiency can be boosted with the assistance of nanoparticles (NPs). It is based on adsorption of the extractants in one phase and desorption in another phase, which requires a reversible phase transfer of the NPs. EXPERIMENTS: We synthesized the gold@poly(N-isopropylacryamide) (Au@PNIPAM) NPs via an interfacial self-assembly method enhanced by post-polymerization. We adopted Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as the model molecule for the extraction test. In comparison, UV-Vis extinction spectra were recorded to monitor the extraction processes with or without the Au@PNIPAM NPs. We further analyzed theoretically with thermodynamics and first-principle calculations. FINDINGS: The hybrid Au@PNIPAM NPs show a reversible phase transfer between the interface and chloroform phases. The Au NPs assisted extraction efficiency of R6G shows 5 times higher than that without Au NPs. The thermodynamic analysis of the nanotransportation system agrees well with the ab initio density functional theory calculations. This nanoparticle-assisted molecular transportation modifies the extraction kinetics significantly, which will provide further implications for biphasic catalysis, pollutant treatment and drug delivery.

Effect of settling time on the adsorption of 137Cs onto AMP in the AMP-coprecipitation method.

Ten sets of experiments with different settling times were conducted to investigate the effect of settling time on the adsorption of 137Cs in seawater onto ammonium phosphomolybdate (AMP). The weight yields of AMP and 137Cs yields in all groups were generally higher than 90%. The average weight yields of AMP in each group varied from 91.8 ± 0.5 to 95.9 ± 0.6% (1 SD), and the average 137Cs yields in each group varied from 88.3 ± 3.0 to 97.8 ± 3.7% (1 SD). The results showed that equilibrium between Cs and AMP is established immediately after the addition of stable Cs carrier and AMP, implying that the solution could be filtered immediately after the coprecipitation forms. IAEA seawater proficiency test exercises also confirmed that the AMP precipitate does not need to be treated statically in the case of 2 g AMP and 3.7 mg Cs carrier in a seawater sample solution. The modified AMP preconcentration method simultaneously meets the requirements of routine and nuclear emergency monitoring of 137Cs in seawater.

The distributions of 134Cs, 137Cs and 90Sr in the northwest Pacific seawater in the winter of 2012.

To understand the status of the radionuclides released during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the 134Cs, 137Cs and 90Sr in the seawater in the public area of the northwest Pacific Ocean were analyzed in November-December 2012. The radioactivity of 134Cs, 137Cs and 90Sr decreased sharply from June 2011 to November-December 2012. The highest average values of 134Cs and 137Cs were found at a depth of 500 m, suggesting that 134Cs and 137Cs had been transported to a depth of 500 m or deeper by the end of 2012. Total inventories of 0.80 ± 0.20 pBq for 137Cs from the surface to a depth of 500 m and 0.07 ± 0.02 pBq for 90Sr from the surface to a depth of 100 m were obtained in the waters southeast of Fukushima. 134Cs was detectable in the Chinese exclusive economic zone, and the seawater quality was much lower than the target level for China.

Impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on dolphin fishes in the Northwest Pacific.

More than 9 years since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (FDNPPA), the impact of FDNPPA on marine biota is being revealed. In this work, the evolution of FDNPPA derived 134Cs, 137Cs and 110mAg in dolphin fishes (Coryphaena hippurus) in the Northwest Pacific from Dec. 2011 to Sept. 2018 were studied. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) of radiocesium (29-69 with the average of 48) in dolphin fishes were calculated. The background level of 137Cs in dolphin fishes (<0.14 Bq/kgfresh weight) before FDNPPA was estimated. The radioactive levels of these three radionuclides in dolphin fishes decreased with time. Among them, 134Cs and 110mAg decreased at the half-lives of 158 days and 54 days at the population level, respectively. After May 2014, 134Cs and 110mAg cannot be detected and the activity of 137Cs returned to the background level before FDNPPA. Radiation dose assessment demonstrated that it was far from causing radiation harm to dolphin fishes in the open ocean of Northwest Pacific and humans who ingested them.

Impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on the neon flying squids in the Northwest Pacific from 2011 to 2018.

Following nine years since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Acciden (FDNPPA), it might be the time to draw a much clearer conclusion for the impact of FDNPPA on marine biota. In this work, the evolution of the FDNPPA derived 134Cs, 137Cs and 110mAg in the neon flying squids in the Northwest Pacific from 2011 to 2018 were studied. The background level of 137Cs in neon flying squids (<0.10 Bq/kgfresh weight with the average of 0.017 Bq/kgfresh weight) before FDNPPA were estimated. The radioactive levels of 134Cs, 137Cs and 110mAg in neon flying squids decreased with time. 134Cs and 110mAg decreased at the half-lives of 7.6 months and 5.7 months at the population level, respectively. After May 2014, 134Cs and 110mAg cannot be detected and 137Cs activities returned to the background level before FDNPPA. BCFs of cesium isotopes (3.7-17.7 with the average of 10.8) and 110mAg (∼7 × 104) for neon flying squids were estimated. The amount of 110mAg released into the Northwest Pacific (∼20-∼26 TBq) were firstly calculated using a 134Cs/110mAgactivity ratio method. Radiation dose assessment demonstrated that it was far from causing radiation harm to neon flying squids in the open ocean of Northwest Pacific and humans who ingested these neon flying squids.

Intensity-dependent effects of consecutive treadmill exercise on spatial learning and memory through the p-CREB/BDNF/NMDAR signaling in hippocampus.

Exercise is the most recommended non-pharmacological intervention to improve neurocognitive functions under physiological and pathological conditions. However, it remains to be elucidated concerning the influence and the underlying neurological molecular mechanism of different exercise intensity on cognitive function. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of exercise intensity on spatial learning and memory, as well as the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/p-CREB/NMDAR signal. In the research, low-intensity consecutive treadmill (LICT) and high-intensity consecutive treadmill (HICT) were implied to rats for 8 weeks. We found that the performances in the Morris water maze were improved in the LICT group, while reduced in the HICT group as compared with the sedentary rats. Moreover, the expression of BDNF mRNA, phosphorylation cAMP-response-element binding protein (p-CREB), mature BDNF (mBDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and NR2B proteins was increased, whereas the expression of precursor BDNF (proBDNF) and pan-neurotrophin receptor 75 (p75NTR) proteins was decreased in the hippocampus of LICT group compared with the sedentary rats. On the contrary, the expression of proteins and mRNA aforementioned in the LICT group showed a reversed tendency in the hippocampus of HICT rats. These findings suggest that the consecutive low-intensity exercise and high-intensity exercise exert different effects on spatial learning and memory by oppositely regulating the mutual stimulation of p-CREB and BDNF mRNA feedback loop, as well as the t-PA/BDNF/NMDAR which is the post-translation cascades of BDNF signaling.

Chemoplasmonic Oscillation: A Chemomechanical Energy Transducer.

Chemical oscillations and waves are nonequilibrium systems that sustain a steady state with constant energy input of reactants like the life systems. Most of these oscillations are theoretically and fundamentally exploited but how to mimic the energy convolution of biological systems remains elusive. Here we develop a chemomechanical energy transducer (CoMET) based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and thermo-/pH-responsive polymers, which transforms the trapped chemical energy into a tangible mechanical oscillation probed by extinction spectra. Our results show that the mechanical movement of Au NPs characterized by the chemoplasmonic oscillation follows exactly the pH oscillation and can be tuned by changing the temperature and the injection rate of the reductants. It is revealed that the energy input of the redox potentials which later converts to the collective (dis-)aggregation of Au NPs is the main driving force of the chemoplasmonic oscillation. The energy efficiency (∼34%) and force generation (∼28 pN) of this CoMET outperforms many biochemomechanical systems, which offers an alternative means to power the nanomechanics and nanomachines.

Probing hidden colloidal transitions with the assistance of surface plasmons.

Actuating plasmonic nanoparticles with responsive hydrogels has led to many useful applications but an understanding of how exactly the assembly and disassembly happen remains ambiguous. Conventional views about this system mainly recognize this reversible process as a bi-switch between dispersed and aggregated states. However, in this paper, a hidden vesicle intermediate is revealed by probing changes in plasmon resonances with temperature. The critical factor that influences such a vesicle state originates from the different aggregation modes between polymers and Au NPs. Our theoretical model, along with experimental evidence, further supports this mechanism. This new insight not only provides a kinetic means to modify self-assemblies by engineering the polymer aggregation rate but it also has great implications for the dynamics of colloid/polymer interactions in general.

Erythrocyte-derived vesicles for circulating tumor cell capture and specific tumor imaging.

The precise diagnosis of cancer remains a great challenge; therefore, it is our research interest to develop safe, tumor-specific reagents. In this study, we designed nanovesicles derived from erythrocyte membranes; the nanovesicles are capable of recognizing tumor cells for both circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture and tumor imaging. The tumor-targeting molecules folic acid (FA) and fluorescein Cy5 were modified on the nanovesicle surface. The developed nanovesicles exhibit excellent tumor targeting ability both in vitro and in vivo for CTC capture and in tumor imaging. Compared with traditional immunomagnetic beads, the proposed nanovesicles are capable of avoiding non-specific adsorption as a derivative of red blood cells. Combined with a non-invasive means of micromanipulation, the nanometer-sized vesicles show a high purity of CTC capture (over 90%). In vivo, the nanovesicles can also be employed for efficient tumor imaging without obvious toxicity and side effects. In brief, the nanovesicles prepared herein show potential clinical application for integrated diagnosis in vitro and in vivo.

Vertical profiles of 90Sr activities in seawater in the Greenland Sea, Chukchi Sea and Arctic Ocean.

The 90Sr activities of seawater were investigated in the high-latitude region of the Arctic Ocean from August-September 2017. The 90Sr activities in seawater in the Chukchi Sea, central Arctic Ocean and East Greenland Sea were 0.31-2.42, 0.12-1.86 and 0.13-1.20 Bq m-3, respectively. The average 90Sr activity (0.92 Bq m-3) below 500 m in the central Arctic Ocean was higher than those in previous reports. Our study provided high-resolution baseline 90Sr activity data for the whole water column in the high-latitude region of the Arctic Ocean (~85°N). The inventory of 90Sr in the central Arctic Ocean was higher than those in the Chukchi Sea and East Greenland Sea. The results of our study indicated that 90Sr could be transported to the deep seawater and remain in the Arctic Ocean for a long time.