Construction and pattern optimization of ecological network in Zhengzhou metropolitan area.

The rapid urbanization process has led to the increasingly prominent problems of ecological environment protection and optimization. The construction of ecological network system, planning to guide ecological values, and efficiently utilizing landscape effects are of great significance for regional regulation of ecological space and promotion of local sustainable development. Taking Zhengzhou metropolitan area as an example, based on land use data at eight time points from 1980 to 2020, using ArcGIS, Guidos Toolbox, Conefor and other tools, we outlined the ecological network with a high structural integrity in the study area. We used future land use simulation to predict future land pattern, morphological spatial pattern analysis to identify landscape elements, minimum cumulative resistance to construct comprehensive resistance surface, gravity model to calculate ecological gravity, hydrologic analysis to create resistance paths, and network structure evaluation, etc. The results showed that, among the nine source sites in the study area, the ecological sources in the Yellow River Basin connected the large-scale centralized source areas in the east and west of the network. The rest sources were located in the northeast, southeast, and southwest of the study area, which were distributed in a semi-circumferential manner around the main urban area of Zhengzhou. There were a total of 163 minimum cost paths and 58 ecological corridors, of which 10, 19 and 29 were primary, secondary and tertiary corridors, respectively, in the form of "three horizontals and three verticals" and "point-axis" along the Yellow River Basin distribution was dominant. A total of 70 ecological nodes were recored in the study area, which were divided into strategic points (10), natural ecological points (27) and artificial environment points (33). Those ecological nodes were distributed in key nodes such as the core of each source area and the intersection of corridors location. The ecological network included all the landscape elements in the study area and connected the main ecological substrates in a horizontal "C" shape. The overall performance was a semi-enclosed network structure of "one horizontal, two verticals and four groups".

Venom of the Annulated Sea Snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus: A Biochemically Simple but Genetically Complex Weapon.

Given that the venom system in sea snakes has a role in enhancing their secondary adaption to the marine environment, it follows that elucidating the diversity and function of venom toxins will help to understand the adaptive radiation of sea snakes. We performed proteomic and de novo NGS analyses to explore the diversity of venom toxins in the annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) and estimated the adaptive molecular evolution of the toxin-coding unigenes and the toxicity of the major components. We found three-finger toxins (3-FTxs), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) in the venom proteome and 59 toxin-coding unigenes belonging to 24 protein families in the venom-gland transcriptome; 3-FTx and PLA2 were the most abundant families. Nearly half of the toxin-coding unigenes had undergone positive selection. The short- (i.p. 0.09 µg/g) and long-chain neurotoxin (i.p. 0.14 µg/g) presented fairly high toxicity, whereas both basic and acidic PLA2s expressed low toxicity. The toxicity of H. cyanocinctus venom was largely determined by the 3-FTxs. Our data show the venom is used by H. cyanocinctus as a biochemically simple but genetically complex weapon and venom evolution in H. cyanocinctus is presumably driven by natural selection to deal with fast-moving prey and enemies in the marine environment.

Preparation and detection of sea snake antisera raised in rabbits.

Antivenoms are currently the most effective medication used in the treatment of snakebites. However, there were relatively few studies on preparation of antivenoms targeting sea snakes, especially common sea snakes in China. In this study, we sought to prepare and detect mono- and bispecific antisera raised in rabbits against venoms of two sea snakes, Hydrophis cyanocinctus and H. curtus. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the rabbit antisera generally showed clearly detectable immunological cross-reactions after the third immunization and indicated that the strength of cross-reactions increased with an increase in the immunizing dose. Proteins within the H. cyanocinctus and H. curtus venoms showed similar profiles and were mainly concentrated in the low-molecular-weight region (8-25 kDa). Western blotting results revealed that the bands of these low-molecular weight proteins were dense and showed strong immunogenicity. Although we detected comparatively few bands of the high-molecular-weight proteins, these also showed strong immunogenicity. Our results indicate that both mono- and bispecific antisera both can neutralize H. cyanocinctus and H. curtus venoms, and in this regard, the monospecific H. curtus and bispecific antiserum were found to be superior to the H. cyanocinctus antiserum. Given the increasing frequency of snakebites worldwide, we believe that the findings of this study will have high practical applicability.

Long-term Co-existence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with Antibody Response in Non-severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection causing coronavirus disease 2019 has spread worldwide. Whether antibodies are important for the adaptive immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to be determined. Here, 26 cases of COVID-19 in Jinan, China, were examined and shown to be mild or with common clinical symptoms and no cases of severe symptoms were found among these patients. A striking feature of some patients is that SARS-CoV-2 could exist in patients who have virus-specific IgG antibodies for a very long period, with two cases for up to 50 days. One COVID-19 patient who did not produce any SARS-CoV-2-bound IgG successfully cleared SARS-CoV-2 after 46 days of illness, revealing that without antibody-mediated adaptive immunity, innate immunity may still be powerful enough to eliminate SARS-CoV-2. Overall, this report may provide a basis for further analysis of both innate and adaptive immunity in SARS-CoV-2 clearance, especially in non-severe cases. This study also has implications for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

NpSe2 : a Binary Chalcogenide Containing Modulated Selenide Chains and Ambiguous-Valent Metal.

A new binary compound, NpSe2, possesses metal-chalcogen and chalcogen-chalcogen interactions different from those reported for other metal dichalcogenides. Its structure is incommensurately modulated and features linear Se chains and valence-ambiguous Np cations.

Ion association with tetra-n-alkylammonium cations stabilizes higher-oxidation-state neptunium dioxocations.

Extended-coordination sphere interactions between dissolved metals and other ions, including electrolyte cations, are not known to perturb the electrochemical behavior of metal cations in water. Herein, we report the stabilization of higher-oxidation-state Np dioxocations in aqueous chloride solutions by hydrophobic tetra-n-alkylammonium (TAA+) cations-an effect not exerted by fully hydrated Li+ cations under similar conditions. Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation results indicate that TAA+ cations not only drive enhanced coordination of anionic Cl- ligands to NpV/VI but also associate with the resulting Np complexes via non-covalent interactions, which together decrease the electrode potential of the NpVI/NpV couple by up to 220 mV (ΔΔG = -22.2 kJ mol-1). Understanding the solvation-dependent interplay between electrolyte cations and metal-oxo species opens an avenue for controlling the formation and redox properties of metal complexes in solution. It also provides valuable mechanistic insights into actinide separation processes that widely use quaternary ammonium cations as extractants or in room temperature ionic liquids.

PM2.5 promotes abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in angiotensin â ¡-infused apoe-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) has proven to be associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. However, whether PM2.5 could promote the formation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unclear. Present study aimed to explore the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and AAA development. METHODS: Ang Ⅱ-infused apoe-/- mice were treated with PM2.5 or saline by intranasal instillation. Four weeks later, histological and immunohistological analyses were used to evaluate the effect of PM2.5 on AAA formation. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were also employed to further analyze the adverse effect of PM2.5 in vitro. RESULTS: We found that PM2.5 could significantly increase the AAA incidence, the maximal abdominal aortic diameter and could promote the degradation of elastin. Additionally, the expression of senescence markers, P21 and P16 were also enhanced after PM2.5 exposure. We also found that PM2.5 significantly increased the AAA related pathological changes, MMP2 and MCP-1 expression in HASMCs. Meanwhile, PM2.5 could increase the expression of senescence markers P21, P16 and SA-ß-gal activity, also the reactive oxygen species levels in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: PM2.5 promoted the formation of AAA in an Ang Ⅱ-induced AAA model. The underlying mechanism might be cellular senescence after PM2.5 exposure.

Influence of Countercation Hydration Enthalpies on the Formation of Molecular Complexes: A Thorium-Nitrate Example.

The influence of countercations (An+) in directing the composition of monomeric metal-ligand (ML) complexes that precipitate from solution are often overlooked despite the wide usage of An+ in materials synthesis. Herein, we describe a correlation between the composition of ML complexes and A+ hydration enthalpies found for two related series of thorium (Th)-nitrate molecular compounds obtained by evaporating acidic aqueous Th-nitrate solutions in the presence of A+ counterions. Analyses of their chemical composition and solid-state structures demonstrate that A+ not only affects the overall solid-state packing of the Th-nitrato complexes but also influences the composition of the Th-nitrato monomeric anions themselves. Trends in composition and structure are found to correlate with A+ hydration enthalpies, such that the A+ with smaller hydration enthalpies associate with less hydrated and more anionic Th-nitrato complexes. This perspective, broader than the general assumption of size and charge as the dominant influence of An+, opens a new avenue for the design and synthesis of targeted metal-ligand complexes.

Thorium copper phosphides: more diverse metal-phosphorus and phosphorus-phosphorus interactions than U analogues.

To explore the chemical analogy between thorium and heavier actinides in soft anionic environments, three new thorium phosphides (ThCuP2, ß-ThCu2P2, and ThCu5P3) have been prepared through solid-state reactions using CuI as a reaction promoter. The structure of ThCuP2 can be described as a filled UTe2-type with both dimeric P24- and monomeric P3- anions, in which Th is coordinated by eight P atoms in a bicapped trigonal prismatic arrangement and Cu is tetrahedrally coordinated by four P atoms. ß-ThCu2P2 contains only P3- anions and is isostructural with BaCu2S2. In this structure, Th is coordinated by seven P atoms in monocapped trigonal prismatic geometry and Cu is tetrahedrally coordinated by four P atoms. ThCu5P3 adopts the YCo5P3-type structure consisting of P3- anions. This structure contains Th atoms coordinated by six P atoms in a trigonal prismatic arrangement and Cu atoms that are either tetrahedrally coordinated by four P atoms or square pyramidally coordinated by five P atoms. Electric resistivity measurements and electronic structure calculations on ß-ThCu2P2 indicate a metal. These new compounds may be charge-balanced and formulated as Th4+Cu+(P24-)1/2P3-, Th4+(Cu+)2(P3-)2, and Th4+(Cu+)5(P3-)3, respectively. The structural, bonding, and property relationships between these Th compounds and related actinide and rare-earth phases are discussed. Titled compounds display more diverse ion-ion interactions and different electronic structures from those in UCuP2 and UCu2P2 that were synthesized under similar experimental conditions, suggesting divergence of thorium-phosphide chemistry from uranium-phosphide chemistry.

Linking Solution Structures and Energetics: Thorium Nitrate Complexes.

Seeking predictive insights into how metal-ion speciation impacts solution chemistry as well as the composition and structure of solid-precipitates, thorium correlations, with both solvent and other solute ions, were quantitatively probed in a series of acidic, nitrate/perchlorate solutions held at constant ionic strength. Difference pair-distribution functions (dPDF), obtained from high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS) data, provide unprecedented structural information on the number of Th ligating ions in solution and how they change with increasing nitrate concentration. A fit of the end member solution, Th (4 m perchloric acid and no nitrate), reveals a homoleptic Th aqua ion with 10 waters in its first coordination shell. Analyses of the acidic solutions containing nitrate reveal exclusively bidentate NO3- complexation with Th, consistent with published solid-state MIV nitrate structures, where MIV = Ce, Th, U, Np, Pu. Metrical fits of Th coordination as a function of nitrate concentration are used to calculate Th-NO3 stability constants, information important to a molecular-scale description of reaction energetics. The coordination environments of Th in solution were compared with single-crystal structures obtained from their precipitates, Th(NO3)4(H2O)4 and Th(NO3)4(H2O)3·(H2O)2. Relative stabilities of the solid-state compounds, assessed based on the results of molecular quantum chemical calculations, reveal the importance of including an accurate description of complexed waters when predicting relative energetics of dissolved ions in aqueous solution.

Construction of MAVS knockout ZR-751 stable strain by CRISPR/Cas9 technology / 军事医学

Objective To construct mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein ( MAVS ) knockout ZR-751 breast neoplasms cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering technology , and study the effect of MAVS on cell proliferation . Methods Small guide RNA ( sgRNA ) was designed by targeting the first exon of MAVS gene and the pX 459-sgRNA recombinant eukaryotic expressional plasmid was constructed .Puromycin was used to screen monoclonal cells which stably knocked out MAVS gene .The knockout effect was measured by Western blotting .Cellular proliferation rates were detected by colony-forming assay when MAVS gene was knockout .The MTS assay was designed to detect the effect of MAVS on cell proliferation under DFX stimulus .Results The result of Western blotting suggested that no MAVS protein was detected in the MAVS gene knockout stable ZR-751 cells,showing that MAVS gene was knocked out completely .Proliferation became faster when MAVS was knocked out .MAVS promoted cell death under DFX stimulus .Conclusion The MAVS knockout ZR-751 stable cells have been constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 system.The preliminary experimental results show that MAVS inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation , which will facilitate studies on the function of MAVS in tumors in the future .

Construction of MAVS knockout ZR-751 stable strain by CRISPR/Cas9 technology / 军事医学

Objective To construct mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein ( MAVS ) knockout ZR-751 breast neoplasms cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering technology , and study the effect of MAVS on cell proliferation . Methods Small guide RNA ( sgRNA ) was designed by targeting the first exon of MAVS gene and the pX 459-sgRNA recombinant eukaryotic expressional plasmid was constructed .Puromycin was used to screen monoclonal cells which stably knocked out MAVS gene .The knockout effect was measured by Western blotting .Cellular proliferation rates were detected by colony-forming assay when MAVS gene was knockout .The MTS assay was designed to detect the effect of MAVS on cell proliferation under DFX stimulus .Results The result of Western blotting suggested that no MAVS protein was detected in the MAVS gene knockout stable ZR-751 cells,showing that MAVS gene was knocked out completely .Proliferation became faster when MAVS was knocked out .MAVS promoted cell death under DFX stimulus .Conclusion The MAVS knockout ZR-751 stable cells have been constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 system.The preliminary experimental results show that MAVS inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation , which will facilitate studies on the function of MAVS in tumors in the future .

Freshwater Fossil Pearls from the Nihewan Basin, Early Early Pleistocene.

Fossil blister pearls attached to the shells of an Anodonta mollusk from China, early Early Pleistocene, are reported here for the first time. The pearls were investigated in detail using a variety of methods. Micro-CT scanning of the fossil pearls was carried out to discover the inner structure and the pearl nucleus. Using CTAn software, changes in the gray levels of the biggest pearl, which reflect the changing density of the material, were investigated. The results provide us with some clues on how these pearls were formed. Sand grains, shell debris or material with a similar density could have stimulated the development of these pearls. X-ray diffraction analysis of one fossil pearl and the shell to which it was attached reveals that only aragonite exists in both samples. The internal structures of our fossil shells and pearls were investigated using a Scanning Electron Microscope. These investigations throw some light on pearl development in the past.

Th3[Th6(OH)4O4(H2O)6](SO4)12(H2O)13: A Self-Assembled Microporous Open-Framework Thorium Sulfate.

A neutral-framework thorium oxohydroxosulfate hydrate has been isolated from aqueous solution. This microporous structure, which self-assembles without a templating agent, is built from [Th6(OH)4O4(H2O)6]12+ hexamers and thorium(IV) monomers linked through bridging sulfates. Solution conditions were chosen to enable an active competition between sulfate and hydroxide for thorium coordination. Synthetic requirements are discussed for this rare example of a thorium(IV) polynuclear complex containing mixed oxo-, hydroxo-, and sulfato-bridging moieties.

Three-Dimensional Network of Cation-Cation-Bound Neptunyl(V) Squares: Synthesis and in Situ Raman Spectroscopy Studies.

Cation-cation interactions (CCIs) are an essential feature of actinyl chemistry, particularly neptunyl(V). To better understand the formation mechanisms of CCIs, the crystallization process of Np(V) CCI compounds has been explored during the evaporation of acidic Np(V) stock solutions using X-ray diffraction and both ex situ and in situ Raman spectroscopy. At least four Np solid products have been isolated from evaporation of the same Np(V) acidic solution. In situ evaporation using a continuous wave laser (532 nm) as a local heat source produced similar solid products to ex situ experiments with matching Raman signatures. The formation of these products is highly dependent on the evaporation conditions. Slower evaporation appears to favor the formation of a new neptunyl(V) compound, (NpO2)Cl(H2O)2 (1), over other solid products. The structure of 1 features a three-dimensional network of NpO2(+) cations, where neighboring Np(V) ions are only connected to each other through CCIs in a square arrangement. The O═Np═O stretching region shows similar Raman bands in both the solids and solution suggesting that CCIs between Np(V) cations exist prior to crystallization. These results provide new insight into the formation mechanism of Np(V) CCI compounds from solutions.

Effect of continuous hemofiltration on inflammatory mediators and hemodynamics in children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) on inflammatory mediators in children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and to investigate its clinical efficacy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 36 children with stage IV HFMD were enrolled and randomly divided into conventional treatment group and CVVH group (n=18 each). The children in the CVVH group were given CVVH for 48 hours in addition to the conventional treatment. The levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lactic acid in peripheral venous blood, heart rate, blood pressure, and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured before treatment and after 24 and 48 hours of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 24 hours of treatment, the conventional treatment group had a significantly reduced serum IL-2 level (P<0.01), and the CVVH treatment group had significantly reduced serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α (P<0.05). After 48 hours of treatment, both groups had significantly reduced serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α (P<0.01), and the CVVH group had significantly lower levels of these inflammatory factors than the conventional treatment group (P<0.01). After 48 hours of treatment, heart rate, systolic pressure, and blood lactic acid level were significantly reduced, and left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased in both groups, and the CVVH group had significantly greater changes in these indices except systolic pressure than the conventional treatment group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CVVH can effectively eliminate inflammatory factors, reduce heart rate and venous blood lactic acid, and improve heart function in children with severe HFMD.</p>

Use of the UPOINT phenotype system in treating Chinese patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a prospective study.

The urinary, psychosocial, organ-specific, infection, neurological/systemic and tenderness (UPOINT) phenotype system has been validated to be an effective phenotype system in classifying patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in western populations. To validate the utility of the UPOINT system and evaluate the effect of multimodal therapy based on the UPOINT system in Chinese patients with CP/CPPS, we performed this study. Chinese patients with CP/CPPS were prospectively offered multimodal therapy using the UPOINT system and re-examined after 6 months. A minimum 6-point drop in National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI) was set to be the primary endpoint. Finally, 140 patients were enrolled in the study. The percentage of patients with each domain was 59.3%, 45.0%, 49.3%, 22.1%, 37.9%, and 56.4% for the UPOINT, respectively. The number of positive domains significantly correlated with symptom severity, which is measured by total NIH-CPSI scores (r = 0.796, P< 0.001). Symptom duration was associated with a greater number of positive domains (r = 0.589, P< 0.001). With 6 months follow-up at least, 75.0% (105/140) had at least a 6-point improvement in NIH-CPSI after taking the therapy. All NIH-CPSI scores were significantly improved from original ones: pain 10.14 ± 4.26 to 6.60 ± 3.39, urinary 6.29 ± 2.42 to 3.63 ± 1.52, quality of life 6.56 ± 2.44 to 4.06 ± 1.98, and total 22.99 ± 7.28 to 14.29 ± 5.70 (all P< 0.0001). Our study indicates that the UPOINT system is clinically feasible in classifying Chinese patients with CP/CPPS and directing therapy.

Mixed-valent neptunium(IV/V) compound with cation-cation-bound six-membered neptunyl rings.

A new mixed-valent neptunium(IV/V) compound has been synthesized by evaporation of a neptunium(V) acidic solution. The structure of the compound features cation-cation-bound six-membered neptunyl(V) rings. These rings are further connected by Np(IV) ions through cation-cation interactions (CCIs) into a three-dimensional neptunium cationic open framework. This example illustrates the possibility of isolating neptunyl(V) CCI oligomers in inorganic systems using other cations to compete with Np(V) in bonding with the neptunyl oxygen.

Reinvestigation of Np2Se5: a clear divergence from Th2S5 and Th2Se5 in chalcogen-chalcogen and metal-chalcogen interactions.

Single crystals of Np2Se5 have been prepared through the reactions of Np and Se at 1223 K in an Sb2Se3 flux. The structure of Np2Se5, which has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P42/nmc. The crystallographic unit cell includes one unique Np and two Se positions. Se(1) atoms form one-dimensional infinite chains along the a and b axes with alternating intermediate Se-Se distances of 2.6489 (8) and 2.7999 (8) Å, whereas Se(2) is a discrete Se(2-) anion. Each Np is coordinated to 10 Se atoms and every NpSe10 polyhedron shares faces, edges, or vertices with 14 other identical metal polyhedra to form a complex three-dimensional structure. Np LIII-edge X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) measurements show a clear shift in edge position to higher energies for Np2Se5 compared to Np3Se5 (Np(3+)2Np(4+)Se(2-)5). Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that Np2Se5 undergoes a ferromagnetic-type ordering below 18(1) K. Above the transition temperature, Np2Se5 behaves as a paramagnet with an effective moment of 1.98(5) µB/Np, given by a best fit of susceptibilities to a modified Curie-Weiss law over the temperature range 50-320 K.