Discovery and genetic characterization of novel paramyxoviruses from small mammals in Hubei Province, Central China.

Paramyxoviruses are a group of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses, some of which are responsible for acute human disease, including parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Nipah virus and Hendra virus. In recent years, a large number of novel paramyxoviruses, particularly members of the genus Jeilongvirus, have been discovered in wild mammals, suggesting that the diversity of paramyxoviruses may be underestimated. Here we used hemi-nested reverse transcription PCR to obtain 190 paramyxovirus sequences from 969 small mammals in Hubei Province, Central China. These newly identified paramyxoviruses were classified into four clades: genera Jeilongvirus, Morbillivirus, Henipavirus and Narmovirus, with most of them belonging to the genus Jeilongvirus. Using Illumina sequencing and Sanger sequencing, we successfully recovered six near-full-length genomes with different genomic organizations, revealing the more complex genome content of paramyxoviruses. Co-divergence analysis of jeilongviruses and their known hosts indicates that host-switching occurred more frequently in the evolutionary histories of the genus Jeilongvirus. Together, our findings demonstrate the high prevalence of paramyxoviruses in small mammals, especially jeilongviruses, and highlight the diversity of paramyxoviruses and their genome content, as well as the evolution of jeilongviruses.

Transforming free-text radiology reports into structured reports using ChatGPT: A study on thyroid ultrasonography.

PURPOSE: The importance of structured radiology reports has been fully recognized, as they facilitate efficient data extraction and promote collaboration among healthcare professionals. Our purpose is to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of ChatGPT, a large language model, in generating structured thyroid ultrasound reports. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that includes 184 nodules in 136 thyroid ultrasound reports from 136 patients. ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.0 were used to structure the reports based on ACR-TIRADS guidelines. Two radiologists evaluated the responses for quality, nodule categorization accuracy, and management recommendations. Each text was submitted twice to assess the consistency of the nodule classification and management recommendations. RESULTS: On 136 ultrasound reports from 136 patients (mean age, 52 years ± 12 [SD]; 61 male), ChatGPT-3.5 generated 202 satisfactory structured reports, while ChatGPT-4.0 only produced 69 satisfactory structured reports (74.3 % vs. 25.4 %, odds ratio (OR) = 8.490, 95 %CI: 5.775-12.481, p < 0.001). ChatGPT-4.0 outperformed ChatGPT-3.5 in categorizing thyroid nodules, with an accuracy of 69.3 % compared to 34.5 % (OR = 4.282, 95 %CI: 3.145-5.831, p < 0.001). ChatGPT-4.0 also provided more comprehensive or correct management recommendations than ChatGPT-3.5 (OR = 1.791, 95 %CI: 1.297-2.473, p < 0.001). Finally, ChatGPT-4.0 exhibits higher consistency in categorizing nodules compared to ChatGPT-3.5 (ICC = 0.732 vs. ICC = 0.429), and both exhibited moderate consistency in management recommendations (ICC = 0.549 vs ICC = 0.575). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the potential of ChatGPT in transforming free-text thyroid ultrasound reports into structured formats. ChatGPT-3.5 excels in generating structured reports, while ChatGPT-4.0 shows superior accuracy in nodule categorization and management recommendations.

Performance of large language models on benign prostatic hyperplasia frequently asked questions.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition, yet it is challenging for the average BPH patient to find credible and accurate information about BPH. Our goal is to evaluate and compare the accuracy and reproducibility of large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and the New Bing Chat in responding to a BPH frequently asked questions (FAQs) questionnaire. METHODS: A total of 45 questions related to BPH were categorized into basic and professional knowledge. Three LLM-ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and New Bing Chat-were utilized to generate responses to these questions. Responses were graded as comprehensive, correct but inadequate, mixed with incorrect/outdated data, or completely incorrect. Reproducibility was assessed by generating two responses for each question. All responses were reviewed and judged by experienced urologists. RESULTS: All three LLMs exhibited high accuracy in generating responses to questions, with accuracy rates ranging from 86.7% to 100%. However, there was no statistically significant difference in response accuracy among the three (p > 0.017 for all comparisons). Additionally, the accuracy of the LLMs' responses to the basic knowledge questions was roughly equivalent to that of the specialized knowledge questions, showing a difference of less than 3.5% (GPT-3.5: 90% vs. 86.7%; GPT-4: 96.7% vs. 95.6%; New Bing: 96.7% vs. 93.3%). Furthermore, all three LLMs demonstrated high reproducibility, with rates ranging from 93.3% to 97.8%. CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and New Bing Chat offer accurate and reproducible responses to BPH-related questions, establishing them as valuable resources for enhancing health literacy and supporting BPH patients in conjunction with healthcare professionals.

Nomogram and Web Calculator Based on Lasso-Logistic Regression for Predicting Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis Patients.

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal emergency. Approximately 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis develop organ failure, which is significantly associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to establish an early prediction model for persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis patients using 24-hour admission indicators. Patients and Methods: Clinical data and 24-h laboratory indicators of patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2022 in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were collected. Patients from 2017 to 2021 were used as the training cohort to establish the prediction model, and patients from 2021 to 2022 were used as the validation cohort. Univariate logistic regression and LASSO regression were used to establish prediction models. The performance of the model was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA), and subsequently validated in the validation group. Results: A total of 1166 patients with acute pancreatitis were included, a total of 145 patients suffered from persistent organ failure from 2017 to 2021. Data were initially selected for 100 variables, and after inclusion and exclusion, 46 variables were used for further analysis. Two prediction models were established and nomogram was drawn respectively. After comparison, the prediction values of the two models were similar (The univariate model AUC was 0.867, 95% CI (0.834-0.9). The LASSO model AUC was 0.864, 95% CI (0.828-0.895)), and the model established by LASSO regression was more parsimonious. A web calculator was developed using the model established by LASSO. Conclusion: Predictive model including 6 risk indicators can be used to predict the risk of persistent organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis.

PFAS occurrence and distribution in yard waste compost indicate potential volatile loss, downward migration, and transformation.

We discovered high concentrations of PFAS (18.53 ± 1.5 µg kg-1) in yard waste compost, a compost type widely acceptable to the public. Seventeen out of forty targeted PFAS, belonging to six PFAS classes were detected in yard waste compost, with PFCAs (13.51 ± 0.99 µg kg-1) and PFSAs (4.13 ± 0.19 µg kg-1) being the dominant classes, comprising approximately 72.5% and 22.1% of the total measured PFAS. Both short-chain PFAS, such as PFBA, PFHxA, and PFBS, and long-chain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, were prevalent in all the tested yard waste compost samples. We also discovered the co-occurrence of PFAS with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. Total PFAS concentrations in LDPE and PET separated from incoming yard waste were 7.41 ± 0.41 µg kg-1 and 1.35 ± 0.1 µg kg-1, which increased to 8.66 ± 0.81 µg kg-1 in LDPE and 5.44 ± 0.56 µg kg-1 in PET separated from compost. An idle mature compost pile revealed a clear vertical distribution of PFAS, with the total PFAS concentrations at the surface level approximately 58.9-63.2% lower than the 2 ft level. This difference might be attributed to the volatile loss of short-chain PFCAs, PFAS's downward movement with moisture, and aerobic transformations of precursor PFAS at the surface.

Measurement Properties and Optimal Cutoff Point of the WHO-5 Among Chinese Healthcare Students.

Purpose: The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) is widely used to assess subjective well-being. Nevertheless, measurement invariance and optimal cutoff point of the WHO-5 have not been examined in Chinese samples. We aimed to assess measurement properties of the Chinese version of the WHO-5 (WHO-5-C) among healthcare students. Patients and Methods: A two-wave longitudinal assessment was conducted among 343 Chinese healthcare students from September to November 2022. Measurement properties of the WHO-5-C were assessed through structural validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance using multigroup CFA (MGCFA) and longitudinal CFA (LCFA), convergent validity using correlation analysis with the Self-Rated Health Questionnaire (SRHQ) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), reliability using internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and optimal cutoff point using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The WHO-5-C demonstrated satisfactory structural validity with comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.968 at baseline and 0.980 at follow-up, and adequate measurement invariance in different sociodemographic variables at baseline (gender, age, major, home location, being only child, monthly household income, part-time job, physical exercise, hobby, frequency of visiting home, and stress coping strategy) (CFI changes [ΔCFI] = -0.009-0.003) and over a week (ΔCFI = -0.006-0.000). The WHO-5-C also had good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.907-0.934; McDonald's ω = 0.908-0.935) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.803). Convergent validity was supported by moderate correlations of the WHO-5-C with the SRHQ and PHQ-4. The optimal cutoff point of the WHO-5-C was found to be 50, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.882 at baseline data, with sensitivity of 0.803 and specificity of 0.762 at follow-up. Conclusion: The WHO-5-C demonstrated adequate measurement properties, especially concerning cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement invariance, with a recommended optimal cutoff point of ≥ 50 for assessing adequate level of psychological well-being in healthcare students.

Genome-Wide Identification of HSF Gene Family in Kiwifruit and the Function of AeHSFA2b in Salt Tolerance.

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and response to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the AeHSF gene family at genome-wide level in kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha), focusing on their functions in the response to abiotic stresses. A total of 41 AeHSF genes were identified and categorized into three primary groups, namely, HSFA, HSFB, and HSFC. Further transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression of AeHSFA2b/2c and AeHSFB1c/1d/2c/3b was strongly induced by salt, which was confirmed by qRT-PCR assays. The overexpression of AeHSFA2b in Arabidopsis significantly improved the tolerance to salt stress by increasing AtRS5, AtGolS1 and AtGolS2 expression. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that AeHSFA2b could bind to the AeRFS4 promoter directly. Therefore, we speculated that AeHSFA2b may activate AeRFS4 expression by directly binding its promoter to enhance the kiwifruit's tolerance to salt stress. These results will provide a new insight into the evolutionary and functional mechanisms of AeHSF genes in kiwifruit.

Transport of bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and three bisphenol F isomers in saturated soils.

With the limitation of the use of bisphenol A (BPA), the production of its substitutes, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol F (4,4'-BPF) is increasing. Understanding the fate and transport of BPA and its substitutes in porous media can help reduce their risk of contaminating soil and groundwater systems. In this study, column and batch adsorption experiments were performed with 14C-labeled bisphenol analogs and combined with mathematical models to investigate the interaction of BPA, BPS, 4,4'-BPF, 2,2'-BPF, and 2,4'-BPF with four standard soils with different soil organic matter (SOM) contents. The results show that the transport capacity of BPS and 4,4'-BPF in the saturated soils is significantly stronger than that of BPA. Meanwhile, the mobility of the three isomers of bisphenol F exhibits variability in saturated soils with high SOM content. The two-site nonequilibrium sorption model was applied to simulate and interpret column experimental data, and model simulations described the interactions between the bisphenol analogs and soil very well. The fitting results underscore SOM's role in providing dynamic adsorption sites for bisphenol analogs. Hydrophobicity primarily accounts for the disparity in adsorption affinity between BPA, BPS, 4,4'-BPF, and soil, whereas hydrogen bonding forces may predominantly influence the differential adsorption affinity between 4,4'-BPF and its isomers and soil. The results of this study indicate that BPS and three isomers of BPF, as alternatives to BPA, have higher mobility in saturated soils and may pose a substantial risk to groundwater quality. This study enhances our understanding of bisphenol analogs' behavior in natural soils, facilitating an assessment of their environmental implications, particularly regarding groundwater contamination.

Nontarget Analysis and Comprehensive Characterization of Iodinated Polyfluoroalkyl Acids in Wastewater and River Water by LC-HRMS with Cascade Precursor-Ion Exclusions and Algorithmic Approach.

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a large family of widespread contaminants of worldwide concern and well-known as "forever chemicals". Direct emission of PFAAs from the fluorochemical industry is a crucial source of PFAA pollutants in the environment. This study implemented nontarget analysis and comprehensive characterization for a category of new PFAA contaminants, i.e., iodinated PFAAs (IPFAAs), in fluorochemical industry wastewater and relevant contaminated river water by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry with a cascade precursor ion exclusion (PIE) strategy and in-house developed data extraction and processing algorithms. A total of 26 IPFAAs (including 2 isomers of an IPFAA) were found and identified with tentative molecular structures. Semiquantification of the IPFAAs was implemented, and the total concentrations of IPFAAs were 0.16-285.52 and 0.15-0.17 µg/L in wastewater and river water, respectively. The high concentrations in association with the predicted ecotoxicities and environmental behaviors demonstrate that these IPFAAs are worthy of more concern and further in-depth research. The cascade PIE strategy along with the data extraction and processing algorithms can be extended to nontarget analysis for other pollutants beyond IPFAAs. The nontarget identification and characterization outcomes provide new understanding on the environmental occurrence and pollution status of IPFAAs from a comprehensive perspective.

Causal Genetic Loci for a Motivated Behavior Spectrum Harbor Psychiatric Risk Genes.

Behavioral diversity is critical for population fitness. Individual differences in risk-taking are observed across species, but underlying genetic mechanisms and conservation are largely unknown. We examined dark avoidance in larval zebrafish, a motivated behavior reflecting an approach-avoidance conflict. Brain-wide calcium imaging revealed significant neural activity differences between approach-inclined versus avoidance-inclined individuals. We used a population of ∼6,000 to perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) in zebrafish, which identified 34 genomic regions harboring many genes that are involved in synaptic transmission and human psychiatric diseases. We used CRISPR to study several causal genes: serotonin receptor-1b ( htr1b ), nitric oxide synthase-1 ( nos1 ), and stress-induced phosphoprotein-1 ( stip1 ). We further identified 52 conserved elements containing 66 GWAS significant variants. One encoded an exonic regulatory element that influenced tissue-specific nos1 expression. Together, these findings reveal new genetic loci and establish a powerful, scalable animal system to probe mechanisms underlying motivation, a critical dimension of psychiatric diseases.

Extensive genetic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus circulating in Hubei Province, China, 2018-2022.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), an etiological agent causing febrile human disease was identified as an emerging tick-borne bunyavirus. The clinical disease characteristics and case fatality rates of SFTSV may vary across distinct regions and among different variant genotypes. From 2018 to 2022, we surveyed and recruited 202 severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients in Hubei Province, a high-incidence area of the epidemic, and conducted timely and systematic research on the disease characteristics, SFTSV diversity, and the correlation between virus genome variation and clinical diseases. Our study identified at least 6 genotypes of SFTSV prevalent in Hubei Province based on the analysis of the S, M, and L genome sequences of 88 virus strains. Strikingly, the dominant genotype of SFTSV was found to change during the years, indicating a dynamic shift in viral genetic diversity in the region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the genetic exchange of Hubei SFTSV strains was relatively frequent, including 3 reassortment strains and 8 recombination strains. Despite the limited sample size, SFTSV C1 genotype may be associated with higher mortality compared to the other four genotypes, and the serum amyloid A (SAA) level, an inflammatory biomarker, was significantly elevated in these patients. Overall, our data summarize the disease characteristics of SFTSV in Hubei Province, highlight the profound changes in viral genetic diversity, and indicate the need for in-depth monitoring and exploration of the relationship between viral mutations and disease severity.

Mechanistic Insight for Disinfection Byproduct Formation Potential of Peracetic Acid and Performic Acid in Halide-Containing Water.

Peracetic acid (PAA) and performic acid (PFA) are two major peroxyacid (POA) oxidants of growing usage. This study reports the first systematic evaluation of PAA, PFA, and chlorine for their disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation potential in wastewater with or without high halide (i.e., bromide or iodide) concentrations. Compared with chlorine, DBP formation by PAA and PFA was minimal in regular wastewater. However, during 24 h disinfection of saline wastewater, PAA surprisingly produced more brominated and iodinated DBPs than chlorine, while PFA effectively kept all tested DBPs at bay. To understand these phenomena, a kinetic model was developed based on the literature and an additional kinetic investigation of POA decay and DBP (e.g., bromate, iodate, and iodophenol) generation in the POA/halide systems. The results show that PFA not only oxidizes halides 4-5 times faster than PAA to the corresponding HOBr or HOI but also efficiently oxidizes HOI/IO- to IO3-, thereby mitigating iodinated DBP formation. Additionally, PFA's rapid self-decay and slow release of H2O2 limit the HOBr level over the long-term oxidation in bromide-containing water. For saline water, this paper reveals the DBP formation potential of PAA and identifies PFA as an alternative to minimize DBPs. The new kinetic model is useful to optimize oxidant selection and elucidate involved DBP chemistry.

Enhanced removal of antibiotic and antibiotic resistance genes by coupling biofilm electrode reactor and manganese ore substrate up-flow microbial fuel cell constructed wetland system.

Manganese ore substrate up-flow microbial fuel cell constructed wetland (UCW-MFC(Mn)) as an innovative wastewater treatment technology for purifying antibiotics and electricity generation with few antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) generation has attracted attention. However, antibiotic purifying effects should be further enhanced. In this study, a biofilm electrode reactor (BER) that needs direct current driving was powered by a Mn ore anode (UCW-MFC(Mn)) to form a coupled system without requiring direct-current source. Removal efficiencies of sulfadiazine (SDZ), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and the corresponding ARGs in the coupled system were compared with composite (BER was powered by direct-current source) and anaerobic systems (both of BER and UCW-MFC were in open circuit mode). The result showed that higher antibiotic removal efficiency (94% for SDZ and 99.1% for CIP) in the coupled system was achieved than the anaerobic system (88.5% for SDZ and 98.2% for CIP). Moreover, electrical stimulation reduced antibiotic selective pressure and horizontal gene transfer potential in BER, and UCW-MFC further reduced ARG abundances by strengthening the electro-adsorption of ARG hosts determined by Network analysis. Bacterial community diversity continuously decreased in BER while it increased in UCW-MFC, indicating that BER mitigated the toxicity of antibiotic. Degree of modularity, some functional bacteria (antibiotic degrading bacteria, fermentative bacteria and EAB), and P450 enzyme related to antibiotic and xenobiotics biodegradation genes were enriched in electric field existing UCW-MFC, accounting for the higher degradation efficiency. In conclusion, this study provided an effective strategy for removing antibiotics and ARGs in wastewater by operating a BER-UCW-MFC coupled system.

Enhanced Direct Photolysis of Organic Micropollutants by Far-UVC Light at 222 nm from KrCl* Excilamps.

Krypton chloride (KrCl*) excilamps emitting at far-UVC 222 nm represent a promising technology for microbial disinfection and advanced oxidation of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water treatment. However, direct photolysis rates and photochemical properties at 222 nm are largely unknown for common OMPs. In this study, we evaluated photolysis for 46 OMPs by a KrCl* excilamp and compared it with a low-pressure mercury UV lamp. Generally, OMP photolysis was greatly enhanced at 222 nm with fluence rate-normalized rate constants of 0.2-21.6 cm2·µEinstein-1, regardless of whether they feature higher or lower absorbance at 222 nm than at 254 nm. The photolysis rate constants and quantum yields were 10-100 and 1.1-47 times higher, respectively, than those at 254 nm for most OMPs. The enhanced photolysis at 222 nm was mainly caused by strong light absorbance for non-nitrogenous, aniline-like, and triazine OMPs, while notably higher quantum yield (4-47 times of that at 254 nm) occurred for nitrogenous OMPs. At 222 nm, humic acid can inhibit OMP photolysis by light screening and potentially by quenching intermediates, while nitrate/nitrite may contribute more than others to screen light. Overall, KrCl* excilamps are promising in achieving effective OMP photolysis and merit further research.

UXT at the crossroads of cell death, immunity and neurodegenerative diseases.

The ubiquitous expressed transcript (UXT), a member of the prefoldin-like protein family, modulates regulated cell death (RCD) such as apoptosis and autophagy-mediated cell death through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P53, P62, and methylation, and is involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, thereby affecting tumor progression. UXT also maintains immune homeostasis and reduces proteotoxicity in neuro-degenerative diseases through selective autophagy and molecular chaperones. Herein, we review and further elucidate the mechanisms by which UXT affects the regulation of cell death, maintenance of immune homeostasis, and neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the possible UXT involvement in the regulation of ferroptosis and immunogenic cell death, and targeting it to improve cancer treatment outcomes by regulating cell death and immune surveillance.

Urban runoff mortality syndrome in zooplankton caused by tire wear particles.

Stormwater runoff from roadways is a global threat to water quality, aquatic organisms, and ecosystems. Tire tread wear particles (TWP) from roadway runoff may lead to urban runoff mortality syndrome (URMS) in some aquatic organisms. We tested the hypothesis that urban runoff from roadways can kill zooplankton. Both roadway runoff and TWP leachate were acutely lethal to a model species, the water flea Daphnia pulex. Life table experiments further revealed the lowered survival rates, intrinsic rate of increase, average life span, and net productive rate of D. pulex when exposed to roadway runoff and TWP leachate. The tire rubber antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) mainly contributed to the TWP toxicity. The toxicity of TWP and 6PPD extracted varied with time in nature. Cladocerans and rotifers were more sensitive to TWP and 6PPD than copepods. These results demonstrate the presence of URMS in zooplankton, which may cascade through food webs and affect aquatic ecosystems.

Quantification of underivatized amino acids in solid beverages using high-performance liquid chromatography and a potentiometric detector.

The simultaneous quantification of amino acids (AAs) in solid beverages without prior derivatization was explored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a potentiometric detector. Included were threonine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, and histidine. The potentiometric detector was made consisting of a copper(II)-selective electrode based on a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane, and the potential changes in the detector were determined according to the coordination interactions between cupric copper ions released from the inner filling solution of the electrode and AAs. Conditions were optimized for effective separation and sensitive detection. Fundamental characteristics such as linearity, limits of detection, limits of quantitation, accuracy, precision, and robustness were validated experimentally. The calibration curves showed a linear relationship between peak heights and the injection concentrations of the AAs. The detection limits down to the sub-micromolar range were achieved under isocratic conditions, outperforming ultraviolet detection. The copper(II)-selective electrode had a minimum lifetime of one month. Some real samples were examined to further demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. The measurement results obtained by the present method were in good agreement with those obtained by the HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS), indicating that the combined HPLC-potentiometric method is a potential option for quantifying AAs.

First Discovery of Iodinated Polyfluoroalkyl Acids by Nontarget Mass-Spectrometric Analysis and Iodine-Specific Screening Algorithm.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) including polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and polyfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids are a large category of crucial environmental pollutants of global concern. Besides known PFAAs, numerous unknown species may exist in the environment, urgently needing discovery and characterization. This study implemented nontarget analysis for a group of novel PFAA pollutants, viz., iodinated PFAAs (I-PFAAs) in wastewater from a fluorochemical manufacturing park by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with an iodine-specific data-processing algorithm. The algorithm took into account the diagnostic fragment iodine ion (I-) together with carbon and sulfur isotopologue distributions. In total, 18 I-PFAA formulas involving 21 congeners were identified. Semiquantification was conducted, and the total concentrations of I-PFAAs were 1.9-274.7 µg/L, indicating severe pollution of I-PFAAs in the wastewater. The determined concentrations along with predicted environmental behaviors and toxicities demonstrate that I-PFAAs merit further in-depth investigation. The analytical method including the instrumental analysis and data-processing algorithm can be extended to screening and identification of I-PFAAs in other matrices. Furthermore, the analysis results for the first time provide recognition on the occurrence, distribution features, and pollution status of I-PFAAs in the environment.

Preparation of magnetic biochar and its catalytic role in degradation of Cu-EDTA by heterogeneous Fenton reaction.

In this study, magnetic biochar (Fe-BC) was synthesized from phoenix tree leaves and FeSO4·7H2O by impregnation-pyrolysis method, and was used to activate H2O2 to degrade Cu-EDTA. The effects of preparation parameters on the degradation of Cu-EDTA by Fe-BC/H2O2 system were investigated by degradation experiments and characterization methods (SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD and XPS). The results showed that the magnetic biochar prepared under the pyrolysis temperature of 400 °C, pyrolysis time of 3 h and iron content of 3 wt% had the best catalytic activity. Within 120 min, the breaking efficiency of Cu-EDTA binding, precipitation efficiency of Cu2+ and removal efficiency of TOC could reach 78.48, 71.65 and 46.54% at the conditions of adding 1.0 g/L magnetic biochar and 25 mM H2O2 and the iron dissolution was only 0.32 mg/L. The characterization results and comparison experiments demonstrated that the catalytic effect of magnetic biochar not only depends on the transfer of electrons to H2O2 by the loaded iron oxides, but also the active oxygen functional groups (OFGs) and persistent free radicals (PFRs) contained on the surface can transfer electrons to H2O2 or even dissolved oxygen to produce an amount of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anion radicals (O2·-).

Structure-Based Design of the Indole-Substituted Triazolopyrimidines as New EED-H3K27me3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Lymphoma.

Interrupting the embryonic ectoderm development (EED)-H3K27me3 interaction represents a promising strategy to allosterically inhibit polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) for cancer therapy. In this work, we report the structure-based design of new triazolopyrimidine-based EED inhibitors, which structurally feature the electron-rich indole ring at the C8 position. Particularly, ZJH-16 directly binds to EED (HTRF IC50 = 2.72 nM, BLI KD = 4.4 nM) and potently inhibits the growth of KARPAS422 and Pfeiffer cells. In both cells, ZJH-16 is selectively engaged with EED and reduces H3K27 trimethylation levels. ZJH-16 inhibits the gene silencing function of PRC2 in KARPAS422 cells. ZJH-16 possesses favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles with an excellent oral bioavailability (F = 94.7%). More importantly, ZJH-16 shows robust tumor regression in the KARPAS422 xenograft model after oral administration with the tumor growth inhibition reaching nearly 100%. The robust antitumor efficacy and favorable PK profiles of ZJH-16 warrant further advanced preclinical development for lymphoma treatment.