Cross-species transmission of Cryptosporidium in wild rodents from the southern region of Zhejiang Province of China and its possible impact on public health.

Wild rodents serve as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium and are overpopulated globally. However, genetic data regarding Cryptosporidium in these animals from China are limited. Here, we have determined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium among 370 wild rodents captured from three distinct locations in the southern region of Zhejiang Province, China. Fresh feces were collected from the rectum of each rodent, and DNA was extracted from them. The rodent species was identified by PCR amplifying the vertebrate cytochrome b gene. Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR amplification and amplicon sequencing the small subunit of ribosomal RNA gene. Positive samples of C. viatorum and C. parvum were further subtyped by analyzing the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene. A positive Cryptosporidium result was found in 7% (26/370) of samples, involving five rodent species: Apodemus agrarius (36), Niviventer niviventer (75), Rattus losea (18), R. norvegicus (155), and R. tanezumi (86). Their respective Cryptosporidium positive rates were 8.3%, 5.3%, 11.1%, 7.1%, and 7.0%. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of three Cryptosporidium species: C. parvum (4), C. viatorum (1), and C. muris (1), and two genotypes: Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (16) and C. mortiferum-like (4). Additionally, two subtypes of C. parvum (IIdA15G1 and IIpA19) and one subtype of C. viatorum (XVdA3) were detected. These results demonstrate that various wild rodent species in Zhejiang were concurrently infected with rodent-adapted and zoonotic species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, indicating that these rodents can play a role in maintaining and dispersing this parasite into the environment and other hosts, including humans.

Title: Transmission interspécifique de Cryptosporidium chez les rongeurs sauvages de la région sud de la province chinoise du Zhejiang et son impact possible sur la santé publique. Abstract: Les rongeurs sauvages servent de réservoirs à Cryptosporidium et ont des grandes populations à l'échelle mondiale. Cependant, les données génétiques concernant Cryptosporidium chez ces animaux en Chine sont limitées. Ici, nous avons déterminé la prévalence et les caractéristiques génétiques de Cryptosporidium parmi 370 rongeurs sauvages capturés dans trois endroits distincts de la région sud de la province du Zhejiang, en Chine. Des excréments frais ont été collectés dans le rectum de chaque rongeur et l'ADN en a été extrait. L'espèce de rongeur a été identifiée par amplification par PCR du gène du cytochrome b des vertébrés. Cryptosporidium a été détecté par amplification PCR et séquençage d'amplicons de la petite sous-unité du gène de l'ARN ribosomal. Les échantillons positifs de C. viatorum et C. parvum ont ensuite été sous-typés en analysant le gène de la glycoprotéine de 60 kDa. Un résultat positif pour Cryptosporidium a été trouvé dans 7 % (26/370) des échantillons, impliquant cinq espèces de rongeurs : Apodemus agrarius (36), Niviventer niviventer (75), Rattus losea (18), R. norvegicus (155) et R. tanezumi (86). Leurs taux respectifs de positivité pour Cryptosporidium étaient de 8,3 %, 5,3 %, 11,1 %, 7,1 % et 7,0 %. L'analyse des séquences a confirmé la présence de trois espèces de Cryptosporidium : C. parvum (4), C. viatorum (1) et C. muris (1), et de deux génotypes : Cryptosporidium génotype IV de rat (16) et C. mortiferum-like (4). De plus, deux sous-types de C. parvum (IIdA15G1 et IIpA19) et un sous-type de C. viatorum (XVdA3) ont été détectés. Ces résultats démontrent que diverses espèces de rongeurs sauvages du Zhejiang sont simultanément infectées par des espèces/génotypes de Cryptosporidium zoonotiques et adaptés aux rongeurs, ce qui indique que ces rongeurs peuvent jouer un rôle dans le maintien et la dispersion de ce parasite dans l'environnement et d'autres hôtes, y compris les humains.

Residual and bidirectional LSTM for epileptic seizure detection.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) plays a pivotal role in the detection and analysis of epileptic seizures, which affects over 70 million people in the world. Nonetheless, the visual interpretation of EEG signals for epilepsy detection is laborious and time-consuming. To tackle this open challenge, we introduce a straightforward yet efficient hybrid deep learning approach, named ResBiLSTM, for detecting epileptic seizures using EEG signals. Firstly, a one-dimensional residual neural network (ResNet) is tailored to adeptly extract the local spatial features of EEG signals. Subsequently, the acquired features are input into a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) layer to model temporal dependencies. These output features are further processed through two fully connected layers to achieve the final epileptic seizure detection. The performance of ResBiLSTM is assessed on the epileptic seizure datasets provided by the University of Bonn and Temple University Hospital (TUH). The ResBiLSTM model achieves epileptic seizure detection accuracy rates of 98.88-100% in binary and ternary classifications on the Bonn dataset. Experimental outcomes for seizure recognition across seven epilepsy seizure types on the TUH seizure corpus (TUSZ) dataset indicate that the ResBiLSTM model attains a classification accuracy of 95.03% and a weighted F1 score of 95.03% with 10-fold cross-validation. These findings illustrate that ResBiLSTM outperforms several recent deep learning state-of-the-art approaches.

Research Progress in the Field of Tumor Model Construction Using Bioprinting: A Review.

The development of therapeutic drugs and methods has been greatly facilitated by the emergence of tumor models. However, due to their inherent complexity, establishing a model that can fully replicate the tumor tissue situation remains extremely challenging. With the development of tissue engineering, the advancement of bioprinting technology has facilitated the upgrading of tumor models. This article focuses on the latest advancements in bioprinting, specifically highlighting the construction of 3D tumor models, and underscores the integration of these two technologies. Furthermore, it discusses the challenges and future directions of related techniques, while also emphasizing the effective recreation of the tumor microenvironment through the emergence of 3D tumor models that resemble in vitro organs, thereby accelerating the development of new anticancer therapies.

Host specificity and zoonotic Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in wild rodents from the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Liaoning Province of China.

Introduction: Wild rodents can serve as reservoirs or carriers of E. bieneusi, thereby enabling parasite transmission to domestic animals and humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of E. bieneusi in wild rodents from the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Liaoning Province of China. Moreover, to evaluate the potential for zoonotic transmission at the genotype level, a genetic analysis of the isolates was performed. Methods: A total of 486 wild rodents were captured from two provinces in China. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the vertebrate cytochrome b (cytb) gene in the fecal DNA of the rodents to detect their species. The genotype of E. bieneusi was determined via PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. The examination of genetic characteristics and zoonotic potential requires the application of similarity and phylogenetic analysis. Results: The infection rates of E. bieneusi in the four identified rodent species were 5.2% for Apodemus agrarius (n = 89), 4.5% for Cricetulus barabensis (n = 96), 11.3% for Mus musculus (n = 106), and 38.5% for Rattus norvegicus (n = 195). Infection was detected at an average rate of 17.4% among 486 rodents. Of the 11 identified genotypes, nine were known: SHR1 (detected in 32 samples), D (30 samples), EbpA (9 samples), PigEbITS7 (8 samples), HNR-IV (6 samples), Type IV (5 samples), HNR-VII (2 samples), HNH7 (1 sample), and HNPL-V (1 sample). Two novel genotypes were also discovered, NMR-I and NMR-II, each comprising one sample. The genotypes were classified into group 1 and group 13 via phylogenetic analysis. Discussion: Based on the initial report, E. bieneusi is highly prevalent and genetically diverse in wild rodents residing in the respective province and region. This indicates that these animals are crucial for the dissemination of E. bieneusi. Zoonotic E. bieneusi-carrying animals present a significant hazard to local inhabitants. Therefore, it is necessary to increase awareness regarding the dangers presented by these rodents and reduce their population to prevent environmental contamination.

Association between dietary patterns and the risk of all-cause mortality among old adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with the increased cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. And anti-inflammatory dietary has potential to improve the prognosis of OSA. This study aimed to investigate the association of anti-inflammatory dietary patterns with all-cause mortality among individuals with OSA. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved 1522 older adults with OSA from 2005 to 2008 in the National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey (NHANES). Mortality status was determined by routine follow-up through December 31, 2019, using the National Death Index. Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns included Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED), Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). Weighted Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed to investigate the association between anti-inflammatory dietary pattern and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 131 months, 604 participants were recorded all-cause mortality. The mean age of OSA patients was 68.99 years old, of whom 859 were male (52.34%). Higher adherence of aMED (HR = 0.61, 95%CI: 0.48 to 0.78) and HEI-2015 (HR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.60 to 0.95) were associated with lower all-cause mortality risk in the elderly with OSA. Conversely, no association was found between AHEI-2010 dietary pattern and all-cause mortality in individuals with OSA. In the component analysis of aMED, it was found that a higher intake of vegetables and olive oil potentially contributes to the reduction all-cause mortality risk in the elderly with OSA (HR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.48 to 0.76; HR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.63 to 0.71). CONCLUSION: Higher adherence to the aMED and the HEI-2015 was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in OSA. Future interventions in the elderly with OSA should considering adopting anti-inflammatory dietary patterns.

A dicoumarol-graphene oxide quantum dot polymer inhibits porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.

Introduction: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes substantial economic losses in the global swine industry. The current vaccine options offer limited protection against PRRSV transmission, and there are no effective commercial antivirals available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new antiviral strategies that slow global PRRSV transmission. Methods: In this study, we synthesized a dicoumarol-graphene oxide quantum dot (DIC-GQD) polymer with excellent biocompatibility. This polymer was synthesized via an electrostatic adsorption method using the natural drug DIC and GQDs as raw materials. Results: Our findings demonstrated that DIC exhibits high anti-PRRSV activity by inhibiting the PRRSV replication stage. The transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that DIC treatment stimulates genes associated with the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling pathway. In porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), DIC-GQDs induce TYK2, JAK1, STAT1, and STAT2 phosphorylation, leading to the upregulation of JAK1, STAT1, STAT2, interferon-ß (IFN-ß) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Animal challenge experiments further confirmed that DIC-GQDs effectively alleviated clinical symptoms and pathological reactions in the lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes of PRRSV-infected pigs. Discussion: These findings suggest that DIC-GQDs significantly inhibits PRRSV proliferation by activating the JAK/STAT signalling pathway. Therefore, DIC-GQDs hold promise as an alternative treatment for PRRSV infection.

Neuregulin 1 mitigated prolactin deficiency through enhancing TRPM8 signaling under the influence of melatonin in senescent pituitary lactotrophs.

The age-related alterations in pituitary function, including changes in prolactin (PRL) production contributes to the systemic susceptibility to age-related diseases. Our previous research has shown the involvement of Nrg1 in regulating the expression and secretion of PRL. However, the precise role of Nrg1 in mitigating the senescence of pituitary lactotrophs and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be comprehended. Here, data from the GEPIA database was used to evaluate the association between transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) and PRL in normal human pituitary tissues, followed by immunofluorescence verification using a human pituitary tissue microarray. TRPM8 levels showed a significant positive association with PRL expression in normal human pituitary tissues, and both TRPM8 and PRL levels declined during aging, suggesting that TRPM8 may regulate pituitary aging by affecting PRL production. It was also found that treatment with exogenous neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) markedly delayed the senescence of GH3 cells (rat lactotroph cell line) generated by D-galactose (D-gal). In addition, melatonin reduced the levels of senescence-related markers in senescent pituitary cells by promoting Nrg1 / ErbB4 signaling, stimulating PRL expression and secretion. Further investigation showed that Nrg1 attenuated senescence in pituitary cells by increasing TRPM8 expression. Downregulation of TRPM8 activation eliminated Nrg1-mediated amelioration of pituitary cell senescence. These findings demonstrate the critical function of Nrg1 / ErbB signaling in delaying pituitary lactotroph cell senescence and enhancing PRL production via promoting TRPM8 expression under the modulation of melatonin.

A directional total variation minimization algorithm for isotropic resolution in digital breast tomosynthesis.

An optimization-based image reconstruction algorithm is developed for contrast enhanced digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) using dual-energy scanning. The algorithm minimizes directional total variation (TV) with a data discrepancy and non-negativity constraints. Iodinated contrast agent (ICA) imaging is performed by reconstructing images from dual-energy DBT data followed by weighted subtraction. Physical DBT data is acquired with a Siemens Mammomat scanner of a structured breast phantom with ICA inserts. Results are shown for both directional TV minimization and filtered back-projection for reference. It is seen that directional TV is able to substantially reduce depth blur for the ICA objects.

4-Octyl itaconate blocks GSDMB-mediated pyroptosis and restricts inflammation by inactivating granzyme A.

GSDMB-mediated pyroptosis facilitates a pro-inflammatory immune microenvironment and needs to be tightly regulated to avoid excessive inflammation. Here, we provide evidence that itaconate and its cell-permeable derivative 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) can significantly inhibit GSDMB-rendered pyroptotic activity independent of Nrf2. 4-OI interferes proteolytic process of GSDMB by directly modifying Cys54, Cys148 and Ser212 on granzyme A (GrzA), a serine protease that site-specifically cleaves the inter-domain linker of GSDMB, instead of interaction with GSDMB, thereby blocking pyroptosis and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, 4-OI alleviates inflammation by suppressing GSDMB-induced pyroptotic cell death during acute colitis models in intestinal epithelial GSDMB conditional transgenic mice. Our data expand the role of 4-OI as a crucial immunometabolic derivative that regulates innate immunity and inflammation through a newly identified posttranslational modification, and targeting of pyroptosis by 4-OI therefore holds potent therapeutic potential for primarily inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases.

Heterogeneity of lymphocyte subsets in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment response in advanced lung cancer: an analysis across different pathological types, therapeutic drugs, and age groups.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has become pivotal in the treatment of advanced lung cancer, yet the absence of reliable biomarkers for assessing treatment response poses a significant challenge. This study aims to explore the predictive value of various lymphocyte subsets in different lung cancer subtypes, thus potentially identifying novel biomarkers to improve ICI treatment stratification and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 146 stage III or IV lung cancer patients undergoing ICI treatment. The study focused on exploring the relationship between various lymphocyte subsets and the efficacy of ICIs, aiming to determine their predictive value for post-treatment outcomes. Results: Subgroup analysis revealed a positive correlation (P=0.01) between lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels and treatment response in squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, no significance was observed in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Additionally, the predictive ability of lymphocyte subsets for different immunotherapy drugs varies. In individuals receiving anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) treatment, a lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels is significantly associated with a positive treatment outcome (P=0.002), while there is no difference for programmed death 1 (PD-1) drugs. Among patients under 60, higher expression of CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes (P=0.03) combined with lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels (P=0.006) showed a statistically significant association with improved treatment response. However, in patients aged over 60, no discernible correlation was ascertained between lymphocyte subsets and therapeutic response. Through prognostic analysis, two distinct lymphocyte subsets were identified, both exerting considerable impact on progression-free survival subsequent to ICIs treatment: CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes [hazard ratio (HR) =0.50, P=0.006] and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes (HR =1.78, P=0.02). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the significant heterogeneity in the predictive value of distinct lymphocyte subsets for lung cancer patients undergoing ICI treatment. These findings are particularly salient when considering various pathological types, immunotherapeutic agents, and patient age groups.

Nutrient and metabolite characteristics of the husk, bran and millet isolated from the foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) during polishing.

The utilization of byproducts from foxtail millet polishing can reduce food loss and waste. Thus, it is necessary to know the chemical compounds from the millet and the segregation of the layers. The nutrients including minerals were compared among the husk, bran, and millet, and a LC-MS metabolomics analysis was also performed among them. The results showed that the protein, crude fat and 4 fatty acids, seven minerals, the nitrogen-containing compounds and phenolic acids were at much higher levels in the bran part than the husk and millet, whereas the husk only contained higher levels of dietary fibre, and some minerals. The millet section, as the edible part, contained the lowest level of chemical constituents. It illustrated that the bran part contained more functional and nutritional components than the millet and husk part. Therefore, the bran of the foxtail millet should be a food resources instead of wasting.

LINC01138 expresses two novel isoforms and functions as a repressive factor in glioma cells.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the aggressive infiltration of glioblastoma into adjacent brain tissue, considering its challenging prognosis. Initially classified as an intergenic non-coding RNA, we aim to elucidate the functional implications of LINC01138 in glioblastoma. Method: Glioma grading was performed utilizing H&E staining, which unveiled distinct nuclear morphology in high-grade gliomas. The downregulation of LINC01138 in glioma tissues was corroborated through qRT-PCR and gel electrophoresis, concurrently identifying two previously unrecognized LINC01138 isoforms. Expression profiling of all four LINC01138 isoforms was executed in glioma cell lines (A172, SHG-44, U251, U87-MG). The impact of LINC01138 overexpression in U87-MG and U251 cells was evaluated for cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through cell counting, CCK-8 analysis, and Transwell assays. Furthermore, the suppression of LINC01138 in SHG-44 cells substantiated its involvement in fostering tumor malignancy. Transcriptome sequencing revealed the inhibitory influence of LINC01138 on IGF1 expression. These findings contribute to an enriched comprehension of glioma biology by exploring the engagement of LINC01138 through diverse methodologies, thereby elucidating its potential therapeutic significance. Results: Our investigation elucidates the intricate involvement of LINC01138 in gliomas. High-grade gliomas are characterized by elevated cell density and distinctive nuclear features. LINC01138 demonstrates a substantial downregulation in glioma tissues, with the identification of two novel isoforms. The expression of all four LINC01138 isoforms is notably diminished in both glioma tissues and cell lines. Elevated expression of LINC01138 demonstrates inhibitory effects on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while its downregulation exacerbates malignancy. The regulatory function of LINC01138 as a repressor of IGF1 expression was elucidated through transcriptome sequencing. Conclusion: The LINC01138 isoforms display notable tumor-suppressive effects, suggesting a promising potential for impeding glioma progression.

Black phosphorus quantum dot-modified ADSCs as a novel therapeutic for periodontitis bone loss coupling of osteogenesis and osteoimmunomodulation.

Alveolar bone defect repair remains a persistent clinical challenge for periodontitis treatment. The use of peripheral functional seed cells is a hot topic in periodontitis. Herein, we explored the cellular behaviors and osteogenic ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) treated with black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs). Additionally, macrophage polarization, osteogenic effects and angiogenesis were investigated through the paracrine pathway regulated by BPQD-modified ADSCs. Our results demonstrated that BPQDs showed good biocompatibility with ADSCs and BPQD-modified ADSCs could improve the bone repair in vivo inflammatory microenvironment by regulating osteogenesis and osteoimmunomodulation. The BPQDs increased the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs via the Wnt/ß-catenin and BMP2/SMAD5/Runx2 signaling pathway. In addition, BPQD-modified ADSCs promoted the osteogenic effect of BMSCs and facilitated the polarization of macrophages from M1 towards M2 phenotype transformation through the paracrine pathway in the periodontitis microenvironment. This strategy provides a novel idea for treatment of alveolar bone defects for periodontitis in the foreseeable future.

Nano-hydroxyapatite-assisted enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation enhances Pb-contaminated aqueous solution and loess remediation.

Intensive agricultural activities could cause lead (Pb) bioaccumulation, threatening human health. Although the enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) technology has been applied to tackle the aforesaid problem, the urease may denature or even lose its activity when subjected to a significant Pb2+ toxicity effect. To this end, the nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP)-assisted EICP was proposed to reduce the mobility of Pb2+. Results indicated that a below 30% immobilization efficiency at 60 mM Pb2+ was attained under EICP. nHAP adsorbed the majority of Pb2+, preventing Pb2+ attachment to urease. Further, hydroxylphosphohedyphane or hydroxylpyromorphite was formed at 60 mM Pb2+, followed by the formation of cerussite, allowing hydroxylphosphohedyphane or hydroxylpyromorphite to be wrapped by cerussite. By contrast, carbonate-bearing hydroxylpyromorphite of higher stability (Pb10(PO4)6CO3) was developed at 20 mM Pb2+ as CO3 2- substituted the hydroxyl group in hydroxylpyromorphite. Moreover, nHAP helped EICP to form nucleated minerals. As a result, the EICP-nHAP technology raised the immobilization efficiency at 60 mM Pb2+ up to 70%. The findings highlight the potential of applying the EICP-nHAP technology to Pb-containing water bodies remediation.

Microenvironment modulation of interpenetrating-type hierarchical porous foam carbon by mild-homogeneous activation for H2 storage and CO2 capture under ambient pressure.

Currently, carbon-based porous materials for hydrogen (H2) storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) capture are mostly applied at higher pressures (30-300 bar). However, applications for H2 storage and CO2 capture under ambient pressure conditions are significant for the development of portable, household, and miniaturized H2 energy technologies. This demands a higher standard for the interface microenvironment of adsorbents. Derived from polyurethane foams (PUFs) solid waste, the hierarchical porous foam carbon with interpenetrating-type pore structures exhibits high specific surface area (SBET = 1753 m2/g), abundant oxygen and nitrogen functional groups, and a hierarchical nanopore structure (VUltra = 0.232 cm3/g, VMicro = 0.628 cm3/g and VMeso = 0.186 cm3/g) through the mild-homogeneous sonication-assisted activation process. Under the limited adsorption of pore interface microenvironment composed by hierarchical nanopore structure and dipole-induced interaction (H(Ⅱ)-H(Ⅰ)···N/O and O(Ⅱ) = C(Ⅰ) = O(Ⅱ)···N/O), it exhibits an excellent H2 storage density (2.92 wt% at 77 K, 1 bar) and CO2 capture capacity (5.28 mmol/g at 298 K, 1 bar). This research approach can serve as a reference for the dual-functional design of porous foam carbon, and promote the development of adsorption materials for CO2 capture and energy gas storage under ambient conditions.

The excellent performance of oxygen evolution reaction on stainless steel electrodes by halogen oxyacid salts etching.

Development of low-cost, efficient, and stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key issue for a large-scale hydrogen production. Recently, in-situ corrosion of stainless steel seems to be a feasible technique to obtain an efficient OER electrode, while a wide variety of corrosive agents often lead to significant difference in catalytic performance. Herein, we synthesized Ni-Fe based nanomaterials with OER activity through a facile one-step hydrothermal etching method of stainless steel mesh, and investigated the influence of three halogen oxyacid salts (KClO3, KBrO3, KIO3) on water oxidation performance. It was found that the reduction product of oxyacid salts has the pitting effect on the stainless steel, which plays an important role in regulating the morphology and composition of the nanomaterials. The KBrO3-derived electrode shows optimal OER performance, giving the small overpotential of 228 and 270 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm-2 respectively, a low Tafel slope of 36.2 mV dec-1, as well as durable stability in the long-time electrolysis. This work builds an internal relationship between the corrosive agents and the OER performance of the as-prepared electrodes, providing promising strategies and research foundations for further improving the OER performance and optimizing the structure of stainless steel electrodes.

In-depth understanding the synergisms of Cu atomic clusters on Cu single atoms for highly effective electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction and Zn-Air battery.

In this paper, a novel, simple and mild soft template assisted strategy and further carbonization approach has been constructed to the size-tunable preparation of porous Cu-N-C/Surfactant catalysts successfully. Note that the pluronic F127 has a significant influence on the synthesis of porous Cu-N-C/F127 with the atomically dispersed Cu-N4 and adjacent Cu atomic clusters (ACs) than other surfactants owing to their particular non-ionic structure. By combining a series of experimental analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the synergistic effects between the adjacent Cu ACs and atomically dispersed Cu-N4 are favorable for manipulating the binding energy of O2 adsorption and intermediates desorption at the atomic interface of catalysts, resulting in an excellent electrocatalytic ORR performance with a faster kinetics for Cu-N-C/F127 than those of the Cu-N-C, Cu-N-C/CTAB, Cu-N-C/SDS, and comparable with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. This method not only provides a novel approach for synthesizing highly effective copper based single atom catalysts toward ORR, but also offers an in-depth understanding of the synergisms of adjacent ACs on the Cu single atoms (SAs) for highly effective electrocatalytic ORR and Zn-air Battery.

Improved recovery of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries by reduction roasting and NaHCO3 leaching.

Lithium supply risk is increasing and driving rapid progress in lithium recovery schemes from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, a facile recycling process consisting mainly of reduction roasting and NaHCO3 leaching was adopted to improve lithium recovery. The Li of spent LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 powder were converted to Li2CO3 and LiAlO2 with the reduction effect of C and residual Al in the roasting process. NaHCO3 leaching was utilized to selectively dissolve lithium from Li2CO3 and water-insoluble LiAlO2. The activation energy of NaHCO3 leaching was 9.31 kJ∙mol-1 and the leaching of lithium was a diffusion control reaction. More than 95.19 % lithium was leached and recovered as a Li2CO3 product with a purity of 99.80 %. Thus, this approach provides a green path to selective recovery of lithium with good economics.

Research on the mean maximum Young's modulus value as a new diagnostic parameter for prostate cancer.

Ultrasound-based shear wave elastography (SWE) can non-invasively assess prostate tissue stiffness for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). So far, there is no widely recognized standard for the detection process and calculation method of Young's modulus value in transrectal SWE ultrasound imaging (TSWEUI). In our study, the mean maximum Young's modulus value (m-Emax) of the maximum cross-section of prostate is obtained by calculating the mean of 12 measured Emax in the four quadrants. This retrospective study included 209 suspected malignant prostate disease patients with pathological results in our hospital. Among the 209 patients, 75 patients completed TSWEUI, and 63 of the 75 patients completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 75 patients for m-Emax was 0.754. The prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen, and m-Emax were used to develop a nomogram (AUC = 0.868). The nomogram could effectively predict the probability of PCa, thereby reducing the needle biopsy rate for diagnosing PCa. The AUC of 63 patients was not statistically different between m-Emax (AUC = 0.717) and MRI (AUC = 0.787) (P = 0.361). These indicate that m-Emax can be used as an innovative parameter in TSWEUI to diagnosis PCa. TSWEUI is more cost-effective than MRI in diagnosing PCa.

Constructing Heavy-Atom-Free Photosensitizers for Hypoxic Tumor Phototherapy Based on Donor-Excited Photoinduced Electron-Transfer-Driven Type-I and Type-II Mechanisms.

The spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) photophysical process has shown great potential for constructing heavy-atom-free photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors. However, for almost all such PSs reported to date, the SOCT-ISC is driven by the acceptor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (a-PeT). In this work, for the first time the donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (d-PeT)-driven SOCT-ISC mechanism is utilized to construct the heavy-atom-free PSs for PDT of tumors by directly installing the electron-deficient N-alkylquinolinium unit (as an electron acceptor) into the meso-position of the near-infrared (NIR) distyryl Bodipy chromophore (as an electron donor). In the less polar environment, the PSs exist as the monomer and promote the production of singlet oxygen (1O2) (Type-II) relying on the d-PeT-driven population of the triplet excited state via SOCT-ISC, whereas in the aqueous environment, they exist as nanoaggregates and induce the generation of superoxides (O2-•) and hydroxyl radicals (HO•) (Type-I) via the d-PeT-driven formation of the delocalized charge-separated state. The PSs could rapidly be internalized into cancer cells and induce the simultaneous production of intracellular 1O2, O2-•, and HO• upon NIR light irradiation, endowing the PSs with superb photocytotoxicity with IC50 values up to submicromolar levels whether under normoxia or under hypoxia. Based on the PSs platform, a tumor-targetable PS is developed, and its abilities in killing cancer cells and in ablating tumors without damage to normal cells/tissues under NIR light irradiation are verified in vitro and in vivo. The study expands the design scope of PSs by introducing the d-PeT conception, thus being highly valuable for achieving novel PSs in the realm of tumor PDT.