De novo transcriptome analysis of Protohermes xanthodes Navás (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) reveling the effects of sublethal chlorpyrifos on the expression of cholinergic neuronal genes.

The insect cholinergic neuron system is the target for various pesticides, including organophosphate, carbamate and neonicotinoid pesticides. In this study, we conducted a de novo transcriptome analysis on the aquatic insect Protohermes xanthodes and identified for the first time presenting sixteen genes encoding cholinergic neuronal proteins (PxanChaT, PxanVAChT, PxanmAChR, PxannAChRs, and PxanAChEs), which are candidates for acetylcholine synthesis, transport, reception and degradation in cholinergic synapse. FPKM analysis revealed that these genes are primarily expressed in head and nerve cord of P. xanthodes larvae, and some of them are also abundant in hindgut, malpighian tubules and tracheae. After exposed to different concentrations of sublethal chlorpyrifos (CPF), expression of these cholinergic neuronal genes are generally increased and then decreased with the increase of CPF concentration, except PxannAChRα9 which is increased in both 4.2 and 8.4 µg/L CPF groups. Short-term (96 h) CPF exposure resulted in significant up-regulation of PxanAChE1 expression in P. xanthodes larvae exposed to 0.42 and 4.2 µg/L CPF concentrations, while PxanAChE2 was up-regulated only in 0.42 µg/L CPF group. After long-term (14 d) CPF exposure, PxanAChE1 expression was down-regulated in 0.168 and 0.42 µg/L CPF groups. PxanAChE2 expression was dramatically decreased in all CPF groups. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was significantly decreased across all long-term CPF exposure groups. These results suggested that sublethal exposure to CPF can disrupt the expression of cholinergic neuronal genes in P. xanthodes larvae, and implied that long-term sublethal CPF exposure may cause toxic effects on P. xanthodes larvae by inhibiting AChE activity. Furthermore, identification of cholinergic neuronal genes in P. xanthodes provided candidate molecular markers for study the toxic effects of environmental pollutants on the neuron system of an aquatic predatory insect with ecological importance.

The safety and efficacy of five surgical treatments in prostate enucleation: a network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to investigate the comparative outcomes of five different energy types on surgical efficacy and postoperative recovery in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. METHODS: The literature was systematically reviewed on December 1st, 2023, encompassing studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases that incorporated clinical studies of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of prostate (PKEP), diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) and thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Two independent reviewers extracted study data and conducted quality assessments using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Network meta-analysis (NMA) was employed to indirectly analyze the outcomes of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) techniques. RESULTS: The study included a total of 38 studies, comprising 21 non-randomized controlled trials (nRCTs) and 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), incorporating five distinct techniques: holmium laser, Thulium:YAG laser, bipolar plasma, diode laser and thulium fiber laser. In comparing treatment durations, ThuLEP and HoLEP had shorter overall hospital stays than PKEP, while the enucleation time of ThuLEP and HoLEP was shorter than that of ThuFLEP. Moreover, the enucleation tissue weight of both thulium fiber laser and holmium laser was heavier than bipolar plasma. However, the analysis did not reveal any statistically significant variation in complications among the various types of enucleation. In postoperative follow-up, the IPSS at 3 months post-operation was superior in the Thulium:YAG laser group compared to the holmium laser group. The thulium fiber laser technique demonstrated significant advantages over other enucleation methods in terms of QoL and PVR at 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Theoretical properties may vary among different energy sources; however, there are no discernible clinical differences in operation-related parameters, postoperative complications, and postoperative follow-up. Therefore, the choice of laser does not significantly impact the outcome. However, due to the limited number of included studies, future research should focus on larger sample sizes and multicenter investigations to further validate the findings of this study.

Tissue Accumulation and Biotransformation of 6PPD-Quinone in Adult Zebrafish and Its Effects on the Intestinal Microbial Community.

The pronounced lethality of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPD-quinone or 6PPDQ) toward specific salmonids, while sparing other fish species, has received considerable attention. However, the underlying cause of this species-specific toxicity remains unresolved. This study explored 6PPDQ toxicokinetics and intestinal microbiota composition in adult zebrafish during a 14-day exposure to environmentally realistic concentrations, followed by a 7-day recovery phase. Predominant accumulation occurred in the brain, intestine, and eyes, with the lowest levels in the liver. Six metabolites were found to undergo hydroxylation, with two additionally undergoing O-sulfonation. Semiquantitative analyses revealed that the predominant metabolite featured a hydroxy group situated on the phenyl ring adjacent to the quinone. This was further validated by assessing enzyme activity and determining in silico binding interactions. Notably, the binding affinity between 6PPDQ and zebrafish phase I and II enzymes exceeded that with the corresponding coho salmon enzymes by 1.04-1.53 times, suggesting a higher potential for 6PPDQ detoxification in tolerant species. Whole-genome sequencing revealed significant increases in the genera Nocardioides and Rhodococcus after exposure to 6PPDQ. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analyses predicted that these two genera would be responsible for the biodegradation and metabolism of xenobiotics. These findings offer crucial data for comprehending 6PPDQ-induced species-specific toxicity.

Comparative analysis of new, mScarlet-based red fluorescent tags in Caenorhabditis elegans.

One problem that has hampered the use of red fluorescent proteins in the fast-developing nematode C. elegans has been the substantial time delay in maturation of several generations of red fluorophores. The recently described mScarlet-I3 protein has properties that may overcome this limitation. We compare here the brightness and maturation time of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-engineered mScarlet, mScarlet3, mScarlet-I3 and GFP reporter knock-ins. Comparing the onset and brightness of expression of reporter alleles of C. elegans golg-4, encoding a broadly expressed Golgi resident protein, we found that the onset of detection of mScarlet-I3 in the embryo is several hours earlier than older versions of mScarlet and comparable to GFP. These findings were further supported by comparing mScarlet-I3 and GFP reporter alleles for pks-1, a gene expressed in the CAN neuron and cells of the alimentary system, as well as reporter alleles for the panneuronal, nuclear marker unc-75. Hence, the relative properties of mScarlet-I3 and GFP do not depend on cellular or subcellular context. In all cases, mScarlet-I3 reporters also show improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to GFP.

Acupoint Autohemotherapy Attenuates DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis and Activates Regulatory T Cells in BALB/c Mice.

Purpose: Acupoint autohemotherapy (A-AHT) has been proposed as an alternative and complementary treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), yet the exact role of its blood component in terms of therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action is still largely unknown. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacies and action mechanisms of intramuscular injections of autologous whole blood (AWB) and mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) (autologous or heterologous) at acupoints on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse models. Serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured, as well as mRNA expression levels of Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), IL-10 and IFN-γ in dorsal skin lesions, and IL-10+, IFN-γ+ and FoxP3+CD4+T cells in murine spleen. Results: It showed that repeated acupoint injection of AWB, autologous total IgG (purified from autologous blood in AD mice) or heterologous total IgG (purified from healthy blood in normal mice) effectively reduced the severity of AD symptoms and decreased epidermal and dermal thickness as well as mast cells in skin lesions. Additionally, AWB acupoint injection was found to upregulate FoxP3+, IL-10+ and IFN-γ+ CD4+T cells in murine spleen, suppressing the production of IgE antibodies and increasing that of IgG antibodies in the serum. Furthermore, both AWB and autologous total IgG administrations significantly elevated FoxP3 expression, mRNA levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ in dorsal skin lesions. However, acupoint injection of heterologous total IgG had no effect on regulatory T (Treg) and Th1 cells modulation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the therapeutic effects of A-AHT on AD are mediated by IgG-induced activation of Treg cells.

Assessment of medical information on irritable bowel syndrome information in Wikipedia and Baidu Encyclopedia: comparative study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) with heterogeneous clinical presentations. There are no clear testing parameters for its diagnosis, and the complex pathophysiology of IBS and the limited time that doctors have to spend with patients makes it difficult to adequately educate patients in the outpatient setting. An increased awareness of IBS means that patients are more likely to self-diagnose and self-manage IBS based on their own symptoms. These factors may make patients more likely to turn to Internet resources. Wikipedia is the most popular online encyclopedia among English-speaking users, with numerous validations. However, in Mandarin-speaking regions, the Baidu Encyclopedia is most commonly used. There have been no studies on the reliability, readability, and objectivity of IBS information on the two sites. This is an urgent issue as these platforms are accessed by approximately 1.45 billion people. Objective: We compared the IBS content on Wikipedia (in English) and Baidu Baike (in Chinese), two online encyclopedias, in terms of reliability, readability, and objectivity. Methods: The Baidu Encyclopedia (in Chinese) and Wikipedia (in English) were evaluated based on the Rome IV IBS definitions and diagnoses. All possible synonyms and derivatives for IBS and IBS-related FGIDs were screened and identified. Two gastroenterology experts evaluated the scores of articles for both sites using the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association scoring system (JAMA), and the Global Quality Score (GQS). Results: Wikipedia scored higher overall with DISCERN (p < .0001), JAMA (p < .0001) and GQS (p < .05) than the Baidu Encyclopedia. Specifically, Wikipedia scored higher in DISCERN Section 1 (p < .0001), DISCERN Section 2 (p < .01), DISCERN Section 3 (p < .001), and the General DISCERN score (p < .0001) than the Baidu Encyclopedia. Both sites had low DISCERN Section 2 scores (p = .18). Wikipedia also had a larger percentage of high quality scores in total DISCERN, DISCERN Section 1, and DISCERN Section 3 (p < .0001, P < .0001, P < .0004, respectively, based on the above 3 (60%) rule). Conclusions: Wikipedia provides more reliable, higher quality, and more objective IBS-related health information than the Baidu Encyclopedia. However, there should be improvements in the information quality for both sites. Medical professionals and institutions should collaborate with these online platforms to offer better health information for IBS.

Three-dimensional analysis of the positional relationship between the dentition and basal bone region in patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the maxillary and mandibular basal bone regions and explore the three-dimensional positional relationship between the dentition and basal bone regions in patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusions with mandibular retrusion. Methods: Eighty patients (40 each with Class I and Class II malocclusion) were enrolled. Maxillary and mandibular basal bone regions were determined using cone-beam computed tomography images. To measure the relationship between the dentition and basal bone region, the root position and root inclination were calculated using the coordinates of specific fixed points by a computer program written in Python. Results: In the Class II group, the mandibular anterior teeth inclined more labially (P < 0.05), with their apices positioned closer to the external boundary. The apex of the maxillary anterior root was positioned closer to the external boundary in both groups. Considering the molar region, the maxillary first molars tended to be more lingually inclined in females (P = 0.037), whereas the mandibular first molars were significantly more labially inclined in the Class II group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Mandibular anterior teeth in Class II malocclusion exhibit a compensatory labial inclination trend with the crown and apex relative to the basal bone region when mandibular retrusion occurs. Moreover, as the root apices of the maxillary anterior teeth are much closer to the labial side in Class I and Class II malocclusion, the range of movement at the root apex should be limited to avoid extensive labial movement.

Verteporfin suppressed mitophagy via PINK1/parkin pathway in endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a malignancy that poses a threat to woman's health worldwide. Building upon prior work, we explored the inhibitory effect of verteporfin on EC. We showed that verteporfin can damage the mitochondria of EC cells, leading to a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species). In addition, verteporfin treatment was shown to inhibit the proliferation and migration of EC cells, promote apoptosis, and reduce the expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1/parkin and TOM20. The ROS inhibitor N-Acetyl Cysteine was able to rescue the expression of PINK1/parkin proteins. This suggests that verteporfin may inhibit mitophagy by elevating ROS levels, thereby inhibiting EC cell viability. The effect of verteporfin on mitophagy supports further investigation as a potential therapeutic option for EC.

Application of Noise Reduction Earplugs in Patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) need to tolerate the effects of noise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 167 TKA patients at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from April 2019 to April 2021. A total of 154 patients who met inclusion criteria were divided into the conventional noise reduction management group (CMG) and the noise reduction earplug group (EPG), following different management schemes. The CMG received routine noise reduction management after surgery, while the EPG used noise reduction earplugs based on the CMG. The clinical indexes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: In this study, 79 patients were included in the CMG, and 75 patients were included in the EPG. The results showed that the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores of both groups 2 weeks after surgery were significantly lower than those before management (ZEPG = 5.995, ZCMG = 4.109, all P < 0.001), and the EPG exhibited a significantly lower PSQI score than the CMG (Z = -2.442, P < 0.05). Two weeks after surgery, the EPG had significantly lower levels of systolic blood pressure (ZSBP = -4.303) and diastolic blood pressure (ZDBP = -3.115), as well as lower scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A; ZHADS-A = -7.140) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D; ZHADS-D = -4.545) compared to the CMG (all P < 0.05). In addition, no significant correlation existed between the duration of wearing earplugs and the HADS-A and HADS-D scores (r = -0.201, r = -0.002, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Noise reduction earplugs can improve sleep quality and regulate negative emotions of patients undergoing TKA treatment through a complex mechanism involving noise, which is beneficial to the prognosis of the disease.

Isolation of undescribed cladosporols and spirobisnaphthalenes from a plant pathogen Cladosporium cladosporioides F-10-2-A.

Two undescribed cladosporol derivatives, cladosporols J-K (1-2), and three previously unreported spirobisnaphthalenes, urnucratins D-F (3-5), as well as eleven known cladosporols (6-16), were characterized from Cladosporium cladosporioides (Cladosporiaceae), a common plant pathogen isolated from the skin of Chinese toad. Cladosporols J-K (1-2) with a single double bond have been rarely reported, while urnucratins D-F (3-5) featured an unusual benzoquinone bisnaphthospiroether skeleton, contributing to an expanding category of undiscovered natural products. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined using extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, HRESIMS analyses, X-ray single crystal diffraction, as well as through experimental ECD analyses. Biological assays revealed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against A549 cells, with IC50 values of 30.11 ± 3.29 and 34.32 ± 2.66 µM, respectively.

Methylated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in road dust, green belt soil and parking lot dust: occurrence, spatial distribution and emission sources.

Convenient transportation facilities not only bring the higher standard of living to big cities, but also bring some environmental pollution problems. In order to understand the presence and sources of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Me-PAHs) in environmental samples and their association with total organic carbon (TOC), 49 Me-PAHs were analyzed in road dust, green belt soil and parking lot dust samples in Harbin. The results showed that the ranges of the total Me-PAHs (ΣMe-PAHs) content in road dust were 221-5826 ng/g in autumn and 697-7302 ng/g in spring, and those in green belt soil were 170-2509 ng/g and 155-9215 ng/g in autumn and spring, respectively. And ΣMe-PAHs content in parking lot dust ranged from 269 to 2515 ng/g in surface parking lots and from 778 to 10,052 ng/g in underground parking lots. In these samples, the composition profile of Me-PAHs was dominated by 4-ring Me-PAHs. The results of diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that petrogenic and pyrogenic sources were the main sources of Me-PAHs in the samples. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation for Me-PAHs in road dust and green belt soil on the same road. Furthermore, there was a significant positive relationship (0.12 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.67, P < 0.05) between Me-PAHs concentrations and the TOC content. This study demonstrated the presence of Me-PAHs with high concentrations in the road environment samples of Harbin.

Prediction of acute toxicity for Chlorella vulgaris caused by tire wear particle-derived compounds using quantitative structure-activity relationship models.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) enter aquatic ecosystems through various pathways, such as rainwater and urban runoff. Additives in TWPs can harm aquatic organisms in these ecosystems. Therefore, it is essential to investigate their toxicity to aquatic organisms. In our study, we initially recorded the median effective concentrations of 21 TWP-derived compounds on Chlorella vulgaris growth, ranging from 0.04 to 8.60 mg/L. Subsequently, through an extensive review of the literature, we incorporated 112 compounds with specific toxicity endpoints to construct the QSAR model using genetic algorithm and multiple linear regression techniques, followed by the construction of the consensus model and the quantitative read-across structure-activity relationship (q-RASAR) model. Meanwhile, we employed rigorous internal and external validation measures to assess the performance of the model. The results indicated that the developed q-RASAR model exhibited strong adaptation, robustness, and reliable prediction, with q-RASAR indicators of Q2LOO = 0.7673, R2tr = 0.8079, R2test = 0.8610, Q2Fn = 0.8285-0.8614, and CCCtest = 0.9222. Based on an external dataset containing 128 emerging TWP-derived compounds, the model's applicability domain coverage was 90.6 %. The q-RASAR model predicted that the structure of diphenylamine was associated with higher toxicity, possibly liked to the SpMax2_Bhm and LogBCF descriptors. The established model reliably provides prediction and fills a critical data gap. These findings highlight the potential risks posed by emerging TWP-derived compounds to aquatic organisms.

Initial experience with radiomics of carotid perivascular adipose tissue in identifying symptomatic plaque.

Background: Carotid atherosclerotic ischemic stroke threatens human health and life. The aim of this study is to establish a radiomics model of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) around carotid plaque for evaluation of the association between Peri-carotid Adipose Tissue structural changes with stroke and transient ischemic attack. Methods: A total of 203 patients underwent head and neck computed tomography angiography examination in our hospital. All patients were divided into a symptomatic group (71 cases) and an asymptomatic group (132 cases) according to whether they had acute/subacute stroke or transient ischemic attack. The radiomic signature (RS) of carotid plaque PVAT was extracted, and the minimum redundancy maximum correlation, recursive feature elimination, and linear discriminant analysis algorithms were used for feature screening and dimensionality reduction. Results: It was found that the RS model achieved the best diagnostic performance in the Bagging Decision Tree algorithm, and the training set (AUC, 0.837; 95%CI: 0.775, 0.899), testing set (AUC, 0.834; 95%CI: 0.685, 0.982). Compared with the traditional feature model, the RS model significantly improved the diagnostic efficacy for identifying symptomatic plaques in the testing set (AUC: 0.834 vs. 0.593; Z = 2.114, p = 0.0345). Conclusion: The RS model of PVAT of carotid plaque can be used as an objective indicator to evaluate the risk of plaque and provide a basis for risk stratification of carotid atherosclerotic disease.

Electroacupuncture attenuates nociceptive behaviors in a mouse model of cancer pain.

Pain is a major symptom in cancer patients, and cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is the most common type of moderate and severe cancer-related pain. The current available analgesic treatments for CIBP have adverse effects as well as limited therapeutic effects. Acupuncture is proved effective in pain management as a safe alternative therapy. We evaluated the analgesic effect of acupuncture in treatment of cancer pain and try to explore the underlying analgesic mechanisms. Nude mice were inoculated with cancer cells into the left distal femur to establish cancer pain model. Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment was applied for the xenograft animals. Pain behaviors of mice were evaluated, followed by the detections of neuropeptide-related and inflammation-related indicators in peripheral and central levels. EA treatment alleviated cancer-induced pain behaviors covering mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain, and also down-regulated immunofluorescence expressions of neuropeptide CGRP and p75 in the skin of affected plantar area in xenograft mice, and inhibited expressions of overexpressed neuropeptide-related and inflammation-related protein in the lumbar spinal cord of xenograft mice. Overall, our findings suggest that EA treatment ameliorated cancer-induced pain behaviors in the mouse xenograft model of cancer pain, possibly through inhibiting the expressions of neuropeptide-related and inflammation-related protein in central level following tumor cell xenografts.

Multimedia distribution, dynamics, and seasonal variation of PAHs in Songhua wetland: Implications for ice-influenced conditions.

The knowledge of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wetlands remains limited. There is a research need for the dynamics between interfaces of multimedia when ice is present in this fragile ecosystem. In this study, sediment, open-water, sub-ice water, and ice samples were collected from the Songhua wetland to study the behaviors of PAHs with and without influences from ice. The concentration of all individual PAHs in sub-ice water (370-1100 ng/L) were higher than the open-water collected from non-ice-covered seasons (50-250 ng/L). Enrichment of PAHs in the ice of wetland was found, particularly for high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW). This could be attributed to the relatively lower polarity of hydrocarbons compounds, making them more likely to remain in the ice layer during freezing. Source assessments reveal common sources for sub-ice water and ice, which differ from those in the open water in non-ice-covered seasons. This difference is primarily attributed to heating activities in the Harbin during winter. The average percentage contributions were 79% for sub-ice water and 36% for ice related to vehicle exhausts and coal combustion. Additionally, wood burning contributed 25% to sub-ice water and 62% to ice. Sediment in the wetland was found to serve as a final deposit particularly for heavier PAHs, especially those with 6 rings. Sediment also has the potential to act as a source for the secondary emission of low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW) congeners into the water. PAHs in wetland displayed low ecological risk, while HMW PAHs with relative higher ecological risk is recommended to be further monitored.

Relationship Analysis Between Pericoronary Fat Attenuation Index and Parameters of Single Plaque.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between plaque parameters and pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI). METHODS: A retrospective collection was performed on 227 patients with coronary heart disease who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography examinations in our hospital from May 2021 to April 2023, with a total of 254 right coronary or left anterior descending coronary arteries exhibiting solitary plaques within the FAI measurement area. Based on whether the proximal coronary FAI value was ≥ -70.0 HU, patients and coronary arteries were divided into FAI-positive group (67 cases, 73 coronary arteries) and FAI-negative group (160 cases, 181 coronary arteries). Quantitative parameters of coronary solitary plaques were collected, including stenosis severity, plaque length, plaque volume, plaque composition ratios, minimal luminal area, and calcification score, as well as qualitative parameters such as plaque types and high-risk plaques. Differences in plaque parameters between the FAI-positive and FAI-negative groups were compared. RESULTS: The proportion of positive remodeling in the FAI-positive group (73 coronary arteries) was higher than that in the FAI-negative group (181 coronary arteries) with statistical significance (89.0% vs 78.5%, P = 0.049). Multivariate analysis revealed that positive remodeling was a risk factor for abnormal FAI values in solitary plaques (odds ratio, 2.271, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The FAI-positive group had a higher proportion of positive remodeling, and positive remodeling was an independent risk factor for positive FAI values.

Microbial assemblages in Arctic coastal thermokarst lakes and lagoons.

Several studies have investigated changes in microbial community composition in thawing permafrost landscapes, but microbial assemblages in the transient ecosystems of the Arctic coastline remain poorly understood. Thermokarst lakes, abrupt permafrost thaw features, are widespread along the pan-Arctic coast and transform into thermokarst lagoons upon coastal erosion and sea-level rise. This study looks at the effect of marine water inundation (imposing a sulfate-rich, saline environment on top of former thermokarst lake sediments) on microbial community composition and the processes potentially driving microbial community assembly. In the uppermost lagoon sediment influenced from marine water inflow, the microbial structures were significantly different from those deeper in the lagoon sediment and from those of the lakes. In addition, they became more similar along depth compared with lake communities. At the same time, the diversity of core microbial consortia community decreased compared with the lake sediments. This work provides initial observational evidence that Arctic thermokarst lake to lagoon transitions do not only substantially alter microbial communities but also that this transition has a larger effect than permafrost thaw and lake formation history.

Antibody-Protein-Aptamer Electrochemical Biosensor based on Highly Efficient Proximity-Induced DNA Hybridization on Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructure for Sensitive Detection of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1.

Herein, an antibody-protein-aptamer electrochemical biosensor was designed by highly efficient proximity-induced DNA hybridization on a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) for ultrasensitive detection of human insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Impressively, the IGF-1 antibody immobilized on the top vertex of the TDN could effectively capture the target protein with less steric effect, and the ferrocene-labeled signal probe (SP) bound on the bottom vertex of the TDN was close to the electrode surface for generating a strong initial signal. In the presence of target protein IGF-1 and an aptamer strand, an antibody-protein-aptamer sandwich could be formed on the top vertex of TDN, which would trigger proximity-induced DNA hybridization to release the SP on the bottom vertex of TDN; therefore, the signal response would decrease dramatically, enhancing the sensitivity of the biosensor. As a result, the linear range of the proposed biosensor for target IGF-1 was 1 fM to 1 nM with the limit of detection down to 0.47 fM, which was much lower than that of the traditional TDN designs on electrochemical biosensors. Surprisingly, the use of this approach offered an innovative approach for the sensitive detection of biomarkers and illness diagnosis.

A reactive compatibilization with the compound containing four epoxy groups for polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch ternary bio-composites.

How to effectively improve the poor interfacial adhesion between polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) matrix and thermoplastic starch (TPS) is still a challenge. Therefore, this work aims to introduce a convenient method to enhance the performance of PLA/PBAT/TPS blend by melt reactive extrusion. Here, using 4,4'-methylene-bis(N,N-diglycidyl-aniline) (MBDG) containing four epoxy groups as a reactive compatibilizer, and respectively using 1-methylimidazole (MI) or triethylenediamine (TD) as a catalyzer, serial PLA/PBAT/TPS ternary bio-composites are successfully prepared via melt reactive extrusion. The results showed that, under the catalysis of organic base, especially MI, the epoxy groups of MBDG can effectively react with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of PLA/PBAT and hydroxyl groups in TPS to form chain-expanded and cross-linked structures. The tensile strength of the composites is increased by 20.0 % from 21.1 MPa, and the elongation at break is increased by 182.4 % from 17.6 % owing to the chain extension and the forming of cross-linked structures. The molecular weight, thermal stability, crystallinity, and surface hydrophobicity of the materials are gradually improved with the increase of MBDG content. The melt fluidity of the composites is also improved due to the enhancement of compatibility. The obtained PLA/PBAT/TPS materials have the potential to be green plastic products with good properties.