Multi-omics Analysis Revealed that the CCN Family Regulates Cell Crosstalk, Extracellular Matrix, and Immune Escape, Leading to a Poor Prognosis of Glioma.

The CCN family is a group of matricellular proteins associated with the extracellular matrix. This study aims to explore the role of the CCN family in glioma development and its implications in the tumor microenvironment. Through analysis of bulk RNA-seq cohorts, correlations between CCN family expression and glioma subtypes, patient survival, and bioactive pathway enrichment were investigated. Additionally, single-cell datasets were employed to identify novel cell subgroups, followed by analyses of cell communication and transcription factors. Spatial transcriptomic analysis was utilized to validate the CCN family's involvement in glioma. Results indicate overexpression of CYR61,CTGF, and WISP1 in glioma, associated with unfavorable subtypes and reduced survival. Enrichment analyses revealed associations with oncogenic pathways, while CTGF and WISP1 expression correlated with increased infiltration of regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages. Single-cell analysis identified MES-like cells as the highest CCN expression. Moreover, intercellular signal transduction analysis demonstrated active pathways, including SPP1-CD44, in cell subgroups with elevated CYR61 and CTGF expression. Spatial transcriptomic analysis confirmed co-localization of CYR61,CTGF and SPP1-CD44 with high oncogenic pathway activity. These findings suggest that CCN family members may serve as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for glioma.

Two POM-based compounds containing Zn-capped Keggin anions as decent heterogeneous catalysts for sulfur oxidation and CO2 cycloaddition reactions.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and the combustion of sulfide in gasoline are the main causes of air pollution. A great deal of attention has been paid to solving the problem and the catalytic reaction seems to be a decent choice. Due to the high-density of Lewis acidic active sites, polyoxometalates are undoubtedly an ideal choice for the sulfur oxidation reaction. With the reasons foregoing, two novel Zn-capped polyoxometalate-based organic-inorganic hybrids, {[α-PMoV2MoVI10O39(OH)Zn2][bbbm]3}·0.5C2H5OH (1) and TBA2{[ε-PMoV8MoVI4O37(OH)3Zn4][phim]3} (2) ((where bbbm = 1-(4-imidazol-1-ylbutyl) imidazole) and phim = 2-phenylimidazole) were successfully obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. In the two compounds, the N-donor ligands in a monodentate or bidentate coordination mode are directly connected to the Keggin anions by Zn-capped atoms, forming an extended one-dimensional chain. It is noteworthy that compound 2 ends up with an interesting spiral infinite chain possibly thanks to the TBA+ cations residing in gaps as structure-directing agents. Simultaneously, the catalytic properties indicate that compounds 1 and2 as efficient heterogeneous catalysts display a decent catalytic activity in the sulfur removal process. Especially, 2 enabled satisfying catalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to produce more valuable dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO2) at 55 °C, and the conversion almost reached 99%. Besides, compound 2 also shows satisfactory catalytic effectiveness in the oxidation of various epoxides in the CO2 cycloaddition reaction, which suggests that compound 2 has the potential to function as a dual functional material with tremendous prospects in sulfur oxidation and carbon dioxide cycloaddition for the first time.

A new family of boat-shaped Ln8 clusters exhibiting the magnetocaloric effect and slow magnetic relaxation.

Designing and synthesizing lanthanide clusters have always been a research hotspot. Herein, three lanthanide clusters with the formula [Ln8(IN)14(µ3-OH)8(µ2-OH)2(H2O)8]·xH2O (Ln = 1-Gd and x = 11; Ln = 2-Dy and x = 8; Ln = 3-Eu and x = 8) have been isolated in the presence of isonicotinic acid under solvothermal conditions. Structural analysis indicates that those three compounds are isostructural, featuring boat-shaped {Ln8} metal frameworks. Magnetic measurements reveal that 1-Gd exhibits a larger MCE with the maximum -ΔSm value of 31.77 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K for ΔH = 7 T, while 2-Dy displays slow magnetization relaxation. Besides, the photoluminescence properties of 3-Eu were investigated.

Two three-dimensional polyanionic clusters [M(P4Mo6)2] (M = Co, Zn) exhibiting excellent photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance.

Two captivating {P4Mo6}-based compounds, formulated as (H2bbi)2{[Co2(bbi)][Co2.33(H2O)4][H9.33CoP8Mo12O62]}·4H2O (1) and (H2bbi){[Zn(Hbbi)]2[Zn0.75(bbi)][K2Zn(H2O)4][H8.5ZnP8Mo12O62]} (2) [bbi = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)], were successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Structural analysis demonstrates that compounds 1 and 2 are constructed from hourglass-shaped structures [M(P4Mo6O31)2]n- (M = Co, Zn), which are all made up of molybdophosphates and one transition metal ion as the central connecting node. Compounds 1 and 2 feature three-dimensional (3D) frameworks, which are all connected to form a 3D structure by metal ions and bbi ligands. More interestingly, compound 1 exhibits higher catalytic activity than 2 in CO2 photoreduction due to the suitable energy band structure of Co species in {P4Mo6} clusters. The CO yield was 3261 µmol g-1 with high selectivity in 8 h for compound 1 in photocatalytic CO2 reduction, which is highly promising in the photocatalytic field. Additionally, the photoluminescence properties of 2 were investigated.

The response of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in coking wastewater treatment after bioaugmentation with biosurfactant-producing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa S5.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that accumulate during the coking wastewater treatment process are hazardous for the surrounding environment. High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs account for more than 85% of the total PAHs in coking wastewater and sludge, respectively. The degradation of total PAHs increased by 18.97% due to the increased bioavailability of PAHs, after the biosurfactant-producing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa S5 was added. The toxicity of total PAHs to humans was reduced by 26.66% after inoculation with S5. The results suggest biosurfactant-producing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa S5 not only increase the biodegradation of PAHs significantly, but also have a better effect on reducing the human toxicity of PAHs. Kinetic analyses show that PAHs biodegradation fits to first-order kinetics. The degradation rate constant (k) value decreases as the number of PAH rings increases, indicating that HMW PAHs are more difficult to be biodegraded than low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs. The results indicate the bioaugmentation with the biosurfactant-producing strain has significant potential and utility in remediation of PAHs-polluted sites.

Enhancement of PAHs biodegradation in biosurfactant/phenol system by increasing the bioavailability of PAHs.

The poor bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is the main limiting factor for their biodegradation in contaminated sites. The addition of biosurfactant is an effective method for enhancing the bioavailability of PAHs. Suitable low molecular weight (LMW) organic matters have been shown to increase the bioavailability of PAHs. Therefore, we investigated the effect of phenol, which often co-exists with PAHs, on the biodegradation of PAHs in biosurfactant solution. The results show that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the biosurfactant decreased after phenol was added. The formation of mixed micelles resulted in enhancement of PAHs dissolution. The weight solubilization ratio (WSR) values of biosurfactant for Phe, Pyr and BaP in phenol solution are approximately 1.34, 1.40 and 1.67 times that of the control group, respectively. Phenol, therefore, can assist biosurfactant to increase the availability of PAHs by microbes. The bioavailability of PAHs in sludge increased from 27.7% to 43.1% after the biosurfactant was added, and reached a maximum of 49.2%, following the simultaneous addition of phenol and biosurfactant. Phenol also improved the degradation of PAHs by Stenotrophomonas sp. N5 in biosurfactant solution.

Two new isolated Zn-ε-Keggin clusters modified by conjugated organic ligands with decent electrocatalytic and third-order NLO properties.

Two new bifunctional isolated hybrid compounds, [ε-PMoV8MoVI4O37(OH)3Zn4][iql]4·6H2O (1) and [ε-PMoV8MoVI4O38(OH)2Zn4][bipy]3[(CH3COO)(bipy)2Zn]·2H2O (2) (where iql = isoquinoline and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), based on Zn-ε-Keggin were successfully synthesized by self-assembly under hydrothermal conditions. It is interesting to note that acetate in 2 acted as a linker connecting the ε-Keggin anion with the one Zn atom (Zn5) and enabled the ε-Keggin anion to coordinate with more bipy ligands, culminating with a larger isolated system, which is the first reported isolated cluster of Zn5PMo12. Meanwhile, compounds 1-2 show great electrochemical behaviors and excellent electrocatalytic activity for the degradation of NaNO2. In addition, compound 2 displays better third-order NLO performance than 1 due to the presence of more conjugated rings, with a TPA cross section (σ) of 1819 GM, which suggests that compound 2 has the potential to function as a bifunctional material with tremendous prospects.

Distribution Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds and Contribution to Ozone Formation in a Coking Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Ozone pollution, which can be caused by photochemical reactions, has become a serious problem. The ozone formation potential (OFP) is used to describe the photochemical reactivity. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are main precursors of ozone formation, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important sources of VOCs. Therefore, it is necessary to study the concentration level and OFP of VOCs from WWTPs. In this work, a coking WWTP with anaerobic-oxic-oxic (A/O/O) processes in Shaoguan city, Guangdong province, China, was selected to investigate the characteristics of VOCs at wastewater treatment areas and office areas. The OFP of VOCs was estimated by the maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) coefficient method. Results showed that 17 VOCs were detected, and the total concentration of VOCs was the highest at the raw water tank (857.86 µg m-3). The benzene series accounted for 69.0%-86.9% and was the main component of VOCs in the WWTP. Based on OFP data, the top six VOCs contributing most to the OFP were m-xylene, toluene, p-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, and benzene. This study provides field data and information on the environmental risk of VOCs for coking companies and environmental departments. We found that the priority control sources of VOCs were wastewater treatment units because of their larger OFP contributions.

A biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa S5 isolated from coking wastewater and its application for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as toxic and refractory pollutants, their biodegradation can be facilitated by biosurfactants. However, few studies have been performed to understand the potential isolation and application of biosurfactant-producing microorganism for promoting the in-situ removal of PAHs from wastewaters. In this work, a biosurfactant-producing strain S5 isolated from coking wastewater was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The biosurfactant produced by strain S5 was determined as glycolipid with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 96.5 mg/L, and reduced the surface tension from 72.2 to 29.6 mN/m. Addition indigenous P. aeruginosa S5 to coking wastewater effectively promoted the biodegradation of high weight molecular (HWM) PAHs (reduction from 9141.02 to 5117.16 µg/L in 15 days) in sludge phase. The results showed that the removal of PAHs in the sludge was enhanced by inoculating indigenous biosurfactant-producing microorganism in coking wastewater serving as an in-site remediation technology.

Biosorption of Lead(II) by Arthrobacter sp. 25: Process Optimization and Mechanism.

In the present work, Arthrobacter sp. 25, a lead-tolerant bacterium, was assayed to remove lead(II) from aqueous solution. The biosorption process was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design. The relationships between dependent and independent variables were quantitatively determined by second-order polynomial equation and 3D response surface plots. The biosorption mechanism was explored by characterization of the biosorbent before and after biosorption using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of 9.6 mg/g was obtained at the initial lead ion concentration of 108.79 mg/l, pH value of 5.75, and biosorbent dosage of 9.9 g/l (fresh weight), which was close to the theoretically expected value of 9.88 mg/g. Arthrobacter sp. 25 is an ellipsoidalshaped bacterium covered with extracellular polymeric substances. The biosorption mechanism involved physical adsorption and microprecipitation as well as ion exchange, and functional groups such as phosphoryl, hydroxyl, amino, amide, carbonyl, and phosphate groups played vital roles in adsorption. The results indicate that Arthrobacter sp. 25 may be potentially used as a biosorbent for low-concentration lead(II) removal from wastewater.

Three kinds of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides attenuate DDC-induced chronic pancreatitis in mice.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammation of pancreas characterized by irreversible morphologic change and dysfunction. Patients with chronic pancreatitis often present with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, jaundice, weight loss and the development of diabetes. Polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum strain S3 (GLPS3) possess antioxidative and immunomodulatory activities. This study was to characterize chemical structures of GLPS3 and determine their effects on diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC)-induced CP in mice. The total sugar content of GLPS3 from fermentation broth (GLPS3-Ⅰ), cultured mycelia (GLPS3-Ⅱ) and fruiting body (GLPS3-Ⅲ) was 90.4%, 92.2% and 91.8% respectively. GLPS3-Ⅰ, GLPS3-Ⅱ and GLPS3-Ⅲ were composed of Glu:Gal:Ara:Xyl, Glu:Gal:Ara:Xyl:Man:Rha, and Glu:Gal:Xyl:Man:Rha:Fuc, with molar ratio of 2.82: 1.33: 1.26: 0.87, 5.84: 2.23: 0.72:1.38: 1.40: 0.51 and 5.34: 2.72: 1.14: 1.10: 0.33: 0.38, respectively. The antioxidative activity of GLPS3-Ⅱfrom cultured mycelia in vitro is higher than other two polysaccharides. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum were increased while the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reversely decreased by GLPS3 treatment. Serum amylase (AMS) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) changes indicated the therapeutic effects of GLPS3. Moreover, interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) contents were reduced most by GLPS3-Ⅱ. The results revealed that GLPS3 especially GLPS3-Ⅱfrom cultured mycelia were effective for CP therapy and bioactivity difference might be attributed to monosaccharide composition.

[Biosorption characteristics of Cu2+ by spent substrate of pleurotus oyster].

To solve the problems of heavy metal pollution and agricultural wastes reclamation, spent substrate of pleurotus oyster was used as adsorbents to remove Cu2+ from aqueous solution. The effects of pH value, adsorption time, temperature and initial Cu2+ concentration on the adsorption behavior were determined by single factor experiments. The mechanisms were preliminarily investigated by SEM-EDX, FTIR and XRD analysis. The results of single factor experiments showed that the adsorption rate and capacity reached 74.46% and 0.7446 mg x g(-1) respectively at an adsorbent concentration of 10 g x L(-1), a pH of 6, an adsorption time of 120 min, an adsorption temperature of 30 degrees C and an initial Cu2+ concentration of 8 mg x L(-1). The experimental data fitted well with Langmuir isotherm models and R2 reached 0.994 9, indicating the adsorption was a monolayer chemisorption. SEM-EDX, FTIR and XRD analysis indicated that the adsorption process mainly depended on the physical and chemical adsorption onto the substrate surface through electrostatic attraction, complexation and coordination reaction. The -OH, -COOH and -NH were the functioning groups for Cu2+ adsorption.