Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite modified the growth of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and restrained the Cd migration in the soil-plant system.

Ligusticum Chuanxiong is an essential medicinal and edible plant, but it is highly susceptible to the enrichment of soil Cadmium (Cd), which seriously affects its medical safety. However, the control of Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong is little reported. In this study, we reported that a green Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite (MPAL) effectively promoted Ligusticum Chuanxiong growth, and restrained the Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong both in the mildly contaminated soil (M-Soil) and severely contaminated soil (S-Soil). The experimental results demonstrated that the application of MPAL significantly increased the biomass and antioxidant enzyme activity of Ligusticum Chuanxiong. In the M-Soil, the Cd content in the roots, stems, and leaves of Ligusticum Chuanxiong decreased markedly by 82.46-86.66%, 64.17-71.73%, and 64.94-76.66%, respectively, after the MPAL treatment. In the S-Soil, MPAL application decreased the Cd content in roots, stems, and leaves by 89.43-98.92%, 24.19-86.22%, and 67.14-77.90%, respectively. Based on Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) extraction, the immobilization efficiency of MPAL for Cd in soils ranged from 22.01% to 77.04%. Additionally, the HOAc extractable Cd was transformed into reducible and oxidizable fractions. Furthermore, MPAL enhanced the activities of soil alkaline phosphatase, and urease, but decreased sucrase activity. Environmental toxicological analysis indicated that MPAL reduced the potential ecological risk of Cd in the soil. These findings revealed that MPAL can effectively reduce Cd accumulation in Ligusticum Chuanxiong and promote plant growth, suggesting its potential as a viable amendment for remediating Cd-contaminated soils.

Highly effective removal of 4-chloroaniline in water by nano zero-valent iron cooperated with microbial degradation.

The misuse of aromatic amines like 4-chloroaniline (4-CA) has led to severe environmental and health issues. However, it's difficult to be utilized by microorganisms for degradation. Nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a promising material for the remediation of chloroaniline pollution, however, the synergistic effect and mechanism of nZVI with microorganisms for the degradation of 4-CA are still unclear. This study investigated the potential of 4-CA removal by the synergistic system involving nZVI and 4-CA degrading microbial flora. The results indicate that the addition of nZVI significantly enhanced the bio-degradation rate of 4-CA from 43.13 % to 62.26 %. Under conditions involving 0.1 % nZVI addition at a 24-hour interval, pH maintained at 7, and glucose as an external carbon source, the microbial biomass, antioxidant enzymes, and dehydrogenase were significantly increased, and the optimal 4-CA degradation rate achieved 68.79 %. Additionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of intermediates indicated that the addition of nZVI reduced compounds containing benzene rings and enhanced the dechlorination efficiency. The microbial community remained stable during the 4-CA degradation process. This study illustrates the potential of nZVI in co-microbial remediation of 4-CA compounds in the environment.

Grazing-driven shifts in soil bacterial community structure and function in a typical steppe are mediated by additional N inputs.

Herbivore grazing and nitrogen (N) fertilization affect soil microbial diversity and community composition both in direct and indirect pathways (e.g., via alterations in soil microenvironment and plant communities); however, their combination effects are still largely unexplored. We carried out a field study to investigate how soil abiotic properties, plant community composition and functional traits altered soil bacterial community structure and function in response to a long-term herbivore grazing (17-year sheep grazing with four stocking rates) and anthropogenic N inputs (6-year N addition with four levels) experiment. We show that a high stocking rate of 8.7 sheep ha-1 (SR8.7) decreased soil bacterial α- and ß-diversity, while α- and ß-diversity showed hump-shaped and saddle-shaped responses, respectively, with increasing N addition rate, reaching tipping points at the N application rate of 10 g N m-2 year-1 (N10). The synergistic effects of grazing and N addition induced the highest soil bacterial α-diversity at SR2.7 with N10. The contrasting effects of grazing and N addition induced higher soil bacterial ß-diversity at SR8.7 with N20. Plant factors (e.g., aboveground biomass of Stipa bungeana and community-weighted mean carbon [CWM_C]), edaphic factors (e.g., soil moisture, pH, NO3--N, and C:nutrients ratios) and their interactions were the most significant factors affecting the diversity and community composition of bacteria. Our structure equation model (SEM) shows that grazing-induced negative effects on soil pH and plant community composition indirectly increased the ß-diversity of soil bacteria, while grazing-induced decreased CWM_C had positive effects on bacterial α-diversity and community structure. However, N addition indirectly increased ß-diversity of soil bacteria via changes in soil NO3--N and plant community composition, while N addition had negative impacts on bacterial α-diversity and community structure via variations in CWM_C. The interaction of grazing and N addition increased the complexity and stability of the bacterial network. Based on the KEGG database, grazing and N addition could accelerate the soil functional potential of C and N cycling. Our findings suggest that N application at a rate of <10 g N m-2 year-1 with a stocking rate of <5.3 sheep ha-1 could maintain the development of soil bacteria in supporting the most important ecosystem functions and services. Complex responses of soil microbes to grazing and N addition indicate the need for deeper investigations of the impacts of global change on microbial involvement in biogeochemical cycles.

The value of multiparametric MRI radiomics in predicting IDH genotype in glioma before surgery.

Objective: To explore the value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) radiomics in the preoperative prediction of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotype for gliomas. Methods: The preoperative routine MRI sequences of 114 patients with pathologically confirmed grade II-IV gliomas were retrospectively analysed. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort(n=79) and validation cohort(n=35) in the ratio of 7:3. After feature extraction, we eliminated covariance by calculating the linear correlation coefficients between features, and then identified the best features using the F-test. The Logistic regression was used to build the radiomics model and the clinical model, and to build the combined model. Assessment of these models by subject operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity. Results: The multiparametric radiomics model was built by eight selected radiomics features and yielded AUC values of 0.974 and 0.872 in the training and validation cohorts, which outperformed the conventional models. After incorporating the clinical model, the combined model outperformed the radiomics model, with AUCs of 0.963 and 0.892 for the training and validation cohorts. Conclusion: Radiomic models based on multiparametric MRI sequences could help to predict glioma IDH genotype before surgery.

Androgen Metabolism and Response in Prostate Cancer Anti-Androgen Therapy Resistance.

All aspects of prostate cancer evolution are closely related to androgen levels and the status of the androgen receptor (AR). Almost all treatments target androgen metabolism pathways and AR, from castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Alterations in androgen metabolism and its response are one of the main reasons for prostate cancer drug resistance. In this review, we will introduce androgen metabolism, including how the androgen was synthesized, consumed, and responded to in healthy people and prostate cancer patients, and discuss how these alterations in androgen metabolism contribute to the resistance to anti-androgen therapy.

LncRNA PEG11as silencing sponges miR-874-3p to alleviate cerebral ischemia stroke via regulating autophagy in vivo and in vitro.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reportedly involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the potential role of lncRNAs in stroke remains largely undefined. Here, RNA-Seq analysis of lncRNAs found that the lncRNA PEG11as (PEG11as) levels were significantly increased in ischemic brain tissue in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) mouse model of stroke. To explore the role of PEG11as in stroke, the lentivirus containing PEG11as silencing construct(siRNA-PEG11as) was microinjected intracerebroventricularly into male or transfected to N2a cells and then exposed to tMCAO/R or oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Knockdown of PEG11as expression significantly reduced infarct volume, alleviated neuronal deficits and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in tMCAO/R mice. Mechanistically, as an endogenous microRNA-874-3p (miR-874-3p) sponge, PEG11as silencing inhibited miR-874-3p activity, resulting in downregulation of ATG16L1 expression and subsequent inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by regulating autophagy. Overall, the results of this current study indicate that PEG11as is involved in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, thus providing translational evidence that PEG11as can be envisioned as a novel biomarker or/and therapeutic target for stroke.

Pulmonary Cladosporium infection coexisting with subcutaneous Corynespora cassiicola infection in a patient: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cladosporium and Corynespora cassiicola (C. cassiicola) infections rarely occur in humans. Mutations in human caspase recruitment domain protein 9 (CARD9) are reported to be associated with fungal diseases. Pulmonary Cladosporium infection coexisting with subcutaneous C. cassiicola infection in a patient with a CARD9 mutation has not been reported in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old male patient was hospitalized for hypertrophic erythema and deep ulcers on the left upper extremity. He was diagnosed with pneumonia caused by Cladosporium, as identified through bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, and deep dermatophytosis caused by C. cassiicola, as identified through morphological characteristics of the wound secretion culture. He underwent antifungal therapy (voriconazole) and recovered successfully. He carried two mutations in CARD9 (chr9:139266425 and chr9:139262240) and was therefore susceptible to fungal infections. CONCLUSION: This case study is the first to report the coexistence of pulmonary Cladosporium infection and subcutaneous C. cassiicola infection in a patient with CARD9 mutation. Our findings will be helpful in enriching the phenotypic spectrum of fungal infections underlying CARD9 deficiency.

A Modified Quasisteady Aerodynamic Model for a Sub-100 mg Insect-Inspired Flapping-Wing Robot.

This study proposes a modified quasisteady aerodynamic model for the sub-100-milligram insect-inspired flapping-wing robot presented by the authors in a previous paper. The model, which is based on blade-element theory, considers the aerodynamic mechanisms of circulation, dissipation, and added-mass, as well as the inertial effect. The aerodynamic force and moment acting on the wing are calculated based on the two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) wing kinematics of flapping and rotating. In order to validate the model, we used a binocular high-speed photography system and a customized lift measurement system to perform simultaneous measurements of the wing kinematics and the lift of the robot under different input voltages. The results of these measurements were all in close agreement with the estimates generated by the proposed model. In addition, based on the model, this study analyzes the 2-DOF flapping-wing dynamics of the robot and provides an estimate of the passive rotation-the main factor in generating lift-from the measured flapping kinematics. The analysis also reveals that the calculated rotating kinematics of the wing under different input voltages accord well with the measured rotating kinematics. We expect that the model presented here will be useful in developing a control strategy for our sub-100 mg insect-inspired flapping-wing robot.

Direct deposition of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets on commercially available filter for fast and efficient dye removal.

Generally, the efficiency of water purification can be greatly increased by a high-flux membrane separation technology. One major challenge in the application of this technology is to achieve high removal efficacy of target pollutants with elevated water flux. Here we report a novel self-assembled composite by depositing two-dimensional MXene nanosheets on a commercialized mixed cellulose ester filter (as designated as MCM). Morphology study reveals that MCM exhibits an ultrathin flaked structure with uniform nanochannels which is stapled on a porous support. The tailored membrane has been successfully applied in the methylene blue solution treatment and 100% ± 0.1% removal rate is achieved while the feed concentration of dye solution is up to 90 mg·L-1. Concurrently, stable and comparatively elevated water flux was achieved, i.e., 28.94 ± 0.74 L·m-2·h-1, which is 1.88-fold of that of the commercialized UTC60 membrane. Further investigations on the separation mechanism are performed to get more insights into separation performance exhibited by MCM. It is found that the size-selective sieving, electrostatic repulsion of MXene and the high porosity of substrate play the synergistic effect on the fast and efficient dye removal behavior. Taken together, the composite membrane fabricated in present work provides an alternatively high-efficiency approach for dye treatment, and unflagging efforts will be further invested on the development and large-scale application of MXene-based membrane.