Wavelength-tunable high-fidelity entangled photon sources enabled by dual Stark effects.

The construction of a large-scale quantum internet requires quantum repeaters containing multiple entangled photon sources with identical wavelengths. Semiconductor quantum dots can generate entangled photon pairs deterministically with high fidelity. However, realizing wavelength-matched quantum-dot entangled photon sources faces two difficulties: the non-uniformity of emission wavelength and exciton fine-structure splitting induced fidelity reduction. Typically, these two factors are not independently tunable, making it challenging to achieve simultaneous improvement. In this work, we demonstrate wavelength-tunable entangled photon sources based on droplet-etched GaAs quantum dots through the combined use of AC and quantum-confined Stark effects. The emission wavelength can be tuned by ~1 meV while preserving an entanglement fidelity f exceeding 0.955(1) in the entire tuning range. Based on this hybrid tuning scheme, we finally demonstrate multiple wavelength-matched entangled photon sources with f > 0.919(3), paving the way towards robust and scalable on-demand entangled photon sources for quantum internet and integrated quantum optical circuits.

Maintaining calcium homeostasis as a strategy to alleviate nephrotoxicity caused by evodiamine.

Evodiamine (EVO), the main active alkaloid in Evodia rutaecarpa, was shown to exert various pharmacological activities, especially anti-tumor. Currently, it is considered a potential anti-cancer drug due to its excellent anti-tumor activity, which unfortunately has adverse reactions, such as the risk of liver and kidney injury, when Evodia rutaecarpa containing EVO is used clinically. In the present study, we aim to clarify the potential toxic target organs and toxicity mechanism of EVO, an active monomer in Evodia rutaecarpa, and to develop mitigation strategies for its toxicity mechanism. Transcriptome analysis and related experiments showed that the PI3K/Akt pathway induced by calcium overload was an important step in EVO-induced apoptosis of renal cells. Specifically, intracellular calcium ions were increased, and mitochondrial calcium ions were decreased. In addition, EVO-induced calcium overload was associated with TRPV1 receptor activation. In vivo TRPV1 antagonist and calcium chelator effects were observed to significantly reduce body weight loss and renal damage in mice due to EVO toxicity. The potential nephrotoxicity of EVO was further confirmed by an in vivo test. In conclusion, TRPV1-mediated calcium overload-induced apoptosis is one of the mechanisms contributing to the nephrotoxicity of EVO due to its toxicity, whereas maintaining body calcium homeostasis is an effective measure to reduce toxicity. These studies suggest that the clinical use of EVO-containing herbal medicines should pay due attention to the changes in renal function of patients as well as the off-target effects of the drugs.

Treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion by retrograde puncture via the vertebral artery approach: A care-compliant case report.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral artery stump syndrome (VASS) is a cause of acute stroke. Owing to the particularity of the pathogenesis of VASS, interventional treatment of VASS is difficult. Common mechanical thrombectomy approaches include femoral and radial artery approaches. However, conventional approaches may not be suitable for VASS. If effective measures are not taken to open offending vessels in time, this can lead to a high rate of disability. In recent years, no consensus has been reached regarding surgical methods for treating VASS. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient presented to the emergency department with a 2-hour history of disturbance of consciousness. DIAGNOSIS: After neurological and magnetic resonance imaging examinations, the patient was diagnosed with acute large vessel occlusive posterior circulation cerebral infarction. METHODS: The patient's symptoms were not relieved after intravenous infusion of argatroban (10 mg) at a local hospital. We first attempted to open the occluded vertebral artery through normal approaches but failed. We then punctured the vertebral artery, successfully opened the occluded vertebral artery, and performed mechanical thrombectomy. RESULTS: The patient underwent successful vertebral artery puncture and mechanical thrombectomy, with no evidence of postoperative bleeding or vascular injury at the puncture site. The patient regained consciousness the day after surgery but remained impaired in physical activity. After 4 months of rehabilitation, the patient recovered completely. CONCLUSION: When the conventional approach cannot meet the requirements of mechanical thrombectomy, reverse puncture of the vertebral artery is a feasible surgical method for patients with VASS. However, due to the small number of cases, a series of safety problems such as potential puncture failure, hemorrhage after puncture, and vascular occlusion still need to be further explored.

3D-printed Bi2Te3-based Thermoelectric Generators for Energy Harvesting and Temperature Response.

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are environmentally friendly energy harvesting technologies that hold great promise in the field of self-powered electronics and sensing. However, the current development of thermoelectric (TE) devices has largely lagged behind the development of thermoelectric materials, especially in the preparation of thermoelectric components with customizable shapes and excellent properties, which largely limits their practical applications. These issues can be effectively addressed by using 3D printing technology. Here, we print multiple p-type thermoelectric legs (pins) consecutively with this simple technique, and the printed TEGs have excellent thermal potential (288 µV K-1 at room temperature) and excellent temperature response properties, which exhibited an output voltage of 127.94 mV at a temperature difference (ΔT) of 40 K. The 3D-printed thermoelectric generator enables the collection of thermal energy. In addition, the device has excellent temperature sensing characteristics, and this temperature signal to electrical signal conversion is very rapid, which enables temperature sensing alarms in a wide temperature domain. Combining these features, an energy harvesting and electrical alarm concept for home-scale applications is proposed, which is expected to provide a diverse research idea for the application of next-generation thermoelectric devices.

Synergistic Modulation of Multiple Sites Boosts Anti-Poisoning Hydrogen Electrooxidation Reaction with Ultrasmall (Pt0.9Rh0.1)3V Ternary Intermetallic Nanoparticles.

Promoting the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity and poisoning tolerance of electrocatalysts is crucial for the large-scale application of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. However, it is severely hindered by the scaling relations among different intermediates. Herein, lattice-contracted Pt-Rh in ultrasmall ternary L12-(Pt0.9Rh0.1)3V intermetallic nanoparticles (~2.2 nm) were fabricated to promote the HOR performances through an oxides self-confined growth strategy. The prepared (Pt0.9Rh0.1)3V displayed 5.5/3.7 times promotion in HOR mass/specific activity than Pt/C in pure H2 and dramatically limited activity attenuation in 1000 ppm CO/H2 mixture. In-situ Raman spectra tracked the superior anti-CO* capability as a result of compressive strained Pt, and the adsorption of oxygen-containing species was promoted due to the dual-functional effect. Further assisted by density functional theory calculations, both the adsorption of H* and CO* on (Pt0.9Rh0.1)3V were reduced compared with that of Pt due to lattice contraction, while the adsorption of OH* was enhanced by introducing oxyphilic Rh sites. This work provides an effective tactic to stimulate the electrocatalytic performances by optimizing the adsorption of different intermediates severally.

Fucoxanthin Induces Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells via Downregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 Pathway.

This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on SCC-25 human tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron were measured. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Keap1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), p53, and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. Molecular docking was performed to validate interactions. Compared with the control group, the activity of fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The levels of MMP, GSH, and SOD significantly decreased in fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells; the levels of ROS, MDA, and total iron significantly increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO-1 in fucoxanthin-treated cells were significantly decreased, whereas levels of TFR1 and p53 were significantly increased, in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that binding free energies of fucoxanthin with p53, SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, and TFR1 were below -5 kcal/mol, primarily based on active site hydrogen bonding. Our findings suggest that fucoxanthin can induce ferroptosis in SCC-25 cells, highlighting its potential as a treatment for tongue cancer.

From Algorithm to Hardware: A Survey on Efficient and Safe Deployment of Deep Neural Networks.

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been widely used in many artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. However, deploying them brings significant challenges due to the huge cost of memory, energy, and computation. To address these challenges, researchers have developed various model compression techniques such as model quantization and model pruning. Recently, there has been a surge in research on compression methods to achieve model efficiency while retaining performance. Furthermore, more and more works focus on customizing the DNN hardware accelerators to better leverage the model compression techniques. In addition to efficiency, preserving security and privacy is critical for deploying DNNs. However, the vast and diverse body of related works can be overwhelming. This inspires us to conduct a comprehensive survey on recent research toward the goal of high-performance, cost-efficient, and safe deployment of DNNs. Our survey first covers the mainstream model compression techniques, such as model quantization, model pruning, knowledge distillation, and optimizations of nonlinear operations. We then introduce recent advances in designing hardware accelerators that can adapt to efficient model compression approaches. In addition, we discuss how homomorphic encryption can be integrated to secure DNN deployment. Finally, we discuss several issues, such as hardware evaluation, generalization, and integration of various compression approaches. Overall, we aim to provide a big picture of efficient DNNs from algorithm to hardware accelerators and security perspectives.

Angular-dependent magnetoresistance modulated by interfacial magnetic state in Pt/LSMO heterostructures.

The interfaces between heavy metals and antiferromagnetic materials have garnered significant attention due to their interesting physical properties. La0.35Sr0.65MnO3 (LSMO), as a typical manganite, exhibits an antiferromagnetic ground state that can be controlled through epitaxial strain and interfacial spin-orbit coupling. In this work, we reported the diverse magnetoresistance, influenced by the interfacial magnetic state, in Pt (3 nm)/LSMO (6-20 nm) heterostructures. The strong spin-orbit coupling of Pt and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction alter the spin structure and enhance the electron scattering at the Pt/LSMO interface, resulting in positive magnetoresistance. The interfacial angular-dependent magnetoresistance modulated by the interfacial magnetic states was also observed in the Pt/LSMO (20 nm) heterostructures. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of interfacial properties between heavy metals and antiferromagnetic manganites.

[Spatiotemporal Response of Ecosystem Service Value to Land Use Change in the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration over the Past 20 Years].

With rapid urbanization and human activities exacerbating threats to the degradation of various ecosystem services in modern urban agglomerations, the exploration of the state of ecological security at the scale of urban agglomerations is of great significance. This study considered the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration as the research area, based on the land use data in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. At the same time, the landscape ecological risk index was introduced. The land use change characteristics of the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration were analyzed by using the land use transfer matrix, the value per unit area equivalent factor method, and the bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis method to elucidate the impacts of the changes in the ecological risk index induced by the land use transition on the value of ecosystem services. This study analyzed the land use change characteristics of the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration and elucidated the impacts of changes in the ecological risk index on the value of ecosystem services caused by land use transformation. The results showed that:① During the period from 2000 to 2020, the land use types of the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration were mainly dominated by grassland, cropland, and forest land. The construction land area had expanded significantly mainly from cropland and grassland, and the six land use types had strong cross-transformation. The total area of land use change was 6 646.05 km2. ② In terms of spatial changes, the spatial pattern of ecosystem service value in the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration had not undergone obvious transformation. However, the regional variability was significant, generally showing the distribution characteristics of high in the northwest and low in the southeast. ③From the perspective of temporal change, the value of ecosystem services in the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration showed an upward trend, with the total flow of value increasing from 186.459 billion yuan to 192.156 billion yuan, with a total value-added of 5.697 billion yuan. ④ There was a rising trend in the overall ecological risk index of the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration over the past 20 years. Low ecological risk areas and lower ecological risk areas dominated the ecological risk areas. There was a significant positive correlation between the value of ecosystem services and the ecological risk index. This study aimed to reveal the understanding of the impacts of land-use practices on ecosystem service values and ecological risks, to provide important references for regional ecological risk management and land-use policy formulation, and thus to promote the high-quality development of the ecological environment in the Yellow River Basin.

Paroxetine alleviates dendritic cell and T lymphocyte activation via GRK2-mediated PI3K-AKT signaling in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) could participate in the regulation of diverse cells via interacting with non-G-protein-coupled receptors. In the present work, we explored how paroxetine, a GRK2 inhibitor, modulates the differentiation and activation of immune cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The blood samples of healthy individuals and RA patients were collected between July 2021 and March 2022 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. C57BL/6 mice were used to induce the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Flow cytometry analysis was used to characterize the differentiation and function of dendritic cells (DCs)/T cells. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to explore the specific molecular mechanism. RESULTS: In patients with RA, high expression of GRK2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes, accompanied by the increases of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In animal model, a decrease in regulatory T cells (Tregs), an increase in the cluster of differentiation 8 positive (CD8+) T cells, and maturation of DCs were observed. Paroxetine, when used in vitro and in CIA mice, restrained the maturation of DCs and the differentiation of CD8+ T cells, and induced the proportion of Tregs. Paroxetine inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 in DCs and T cells. Simultaneously, paroxetine upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1, and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, paroxetine inhibited the PI3K-AKT-mTOR metabolic pathway in both DCs and T cells. This was associated with a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in the utilization of glucose and lipids, particularly in DCs. Paroxetine reversed PI3K-AKT pathway activation induced by 740 Y-P (a PI3K agonist) through inhibiting the interaction between GRK2 and PI3K in DCs and T cells. CONCLUSION: Paroxetine exerts an immunosuppressive effect by targeting GRK2, which subsequently inhibits the metabolism-related PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway of DCs and T cell in RA.

Comparison of the recovery time of remimazolam besylate and propofol for gastrointestinal endoscopy sedation in elderly patients.

Background: Recovery time is a crucial factor in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of both patients and endoscopy centers. Propofol is often preferred due to its fast onset and minimal side effects. Remimazolam is a new intravenous sedative agent, characterized by its rapid onset of action, quick recovery and organ-independent metabolism. Importantly, its effect can be specifically antagonized by flumazenil. The primary goal of this study is to compare the recovery time of remimazolam besylate and propofol anesthesia during endoscopic procedures in elderly patients. Methods: 60 patients aged 65-95 years who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: the remimazolam group (Group R) and the propofol group (Group P). The primary measure was the recovery time, defined as the time from discontinuing remimazolam or propofol until reaching an Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale (OAA/S) score of 5 (responds readily to name spoken in normal tone). The time required to achieve an OAA/S score of 3 (responds after name spoken loudly or repeatedly along with glazed marked ptosis) was also recorded and compared. Results: The recovery time for Group R (2.6 ± 1.6 min) was significantly shorter than that for Group P (10.8 ± 3.0 min), with a 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.949-9.431 min, p <0.001. Similarly, the time to attain an OAA/S score of 3 was significantly less in Group R (1.6 ± 0.9 min) compared to Group P (9.6 ± 2.6 min), with a 95% CI: 6.930-8.957 min, p <0.001. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that remimazolam anesthesia combined with flumazenil antagonism causes a shorter recovery time for elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy compared to propofol. Remimazolam followed by flumazenil antagonism provides a promising alternative to propofol for geriatric patients, particularly during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Ferroelectric polarization promotes a CdS/In2Se3 heterostructure for photocatalytic water splitting.

The rapid recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes greatly limits the efficiency of photocatalyst based on semiconductor. In order to address this issue, we predicted a novel ferroelectric polarized heterojunction photocatalyst, CdS/In2Se3, which enables the spontaneous overall water splitting reaction. The CdS/In2Se3 heterojunction exhibits a band-edge staggered alignment and it is easy to form a direct Z-scheme charge transfer pathway. Besides, the built-in electric field (Eint) in the CdS/In2Se3 heterojunction promoted the charge transfer of CdS/In2Se3, leading to an improved separating efficiency of photo-generated carriers. Moreover, the vertical intrinsic polarized electric field (Ep) not only alters the position of the band edge but also reduces the bandgap limitations commonly associated with photocatalytic materials. Furthermore, the CdS/In2Se3 heterojunctions demonstrate separate catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the surface of the CdS monolayer and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the surface of In2Se3, respectively. Notably, the CdS/In2Se3-down configuration enables spontaneous photocatalytic water splitting in pH = 7, while the CdS/In2Se3-up configuration efficiently facilitates the HER process. This study highlights the significant advantages of CdS/In2Se3 heterojunctions as photocatalytic materials, offering unique insights into the development and research of this promising heterojunction architecture.

Nonelectroactive clostridium obtains extracellular electron transfer-capability after forming chimera with Geobacter.

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) of microorganisms is a major driver of the microbial growth and metabolism, including reactions involved in the cycling of C, N, and Fe in anaerobic environments such as soils and sediments. Understanding the mechanisms of EET, as well as knowing which organisms are EET-capable (or can become so) is fundamental to electromicrobiology and geomicrobiology. In general, Gram-positive bacteria very seldomly perform EET due to their thick non-conductive cell wall. Here, we report that a Gram-positive Clostridium intestinale (C.i) attained EET-capability for ethanol metabolism only after forming chimera with electroactive Geobacter sulfurreducens (G.s). Mechanism analyses demonstrated that the EET was possible after the cell fusion of the two species was achieved. Under these conditions, the ethanol metabolism pathway of C.i was integrated by the EET pathway of G.s, by which achieved the oxidation of ethanol for the subsequent reduction of extracellular electron acceptors in the coculture. Our study displays a new approach to perform EET for Gram-positive bacteria via recruiting the EET pathway of an electroactive bacterium, which suggests a previously unanticipated prevalence of EET in the microbial world. These findings also provide new perspectives to understand the energetic coupling between bacterial species and the ecology of interspecies mutualisms.

Auditory Effects of Acoustic Noise From 3-T Brain MRI in Neonates With Hearing Protection.

BACKGROUND: Neonates with immature auditory function (eg, weak/absent middle ear muscle reflex) could conceivably be vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss; however, it is unclear if neonates show evidence of hearing loss following MRI acoustic noise exposure. PURPOSE: To explore the auditory effects of MRI acoustic noise in neonates. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. SUBJECTS: Two independent cohorts of neonates (N = 19 and N = 18; mean gestational-age, 38.75 ± 2.18 and 39.01 ± 1.83 weeks). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence, single-shot echo-planar imaging-based diffusion-tensor imaging, single-shot echo-planar imaging-based diffusion-kurtosis imaging and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence at 3.0 T. ASSESSMENT: All neonates wore ear protection during scan protocols lasted ~40 minutes. Equivalent sound pressure levels (SPLs) were measured for both cohorts. In cohort1, left- and right-ear auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured before (baseline) and after (follow-up) MRI, included assessment of ABR threshold, wave I, III and V latencies and interpeak interval to determine the functional status of auditory nerve and brainstem. In cohort2, baseline and follow-up left- and right-ear distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) amplitudes were assessed at 1.2 to 7.0 kHz to determine cochlear function. STATISTICAL TEST: Wilcoxon signed-rank or paired t-tests with Bonferroni's correction were used to compare the differences between baseline and follow-up ABR and DPOAE measures. RESULTS: Equivalent SPLs ranged from 103.5 to 113.6 dBA. No significant differences between baseline and follow-up were detected in left- or right-ear ABR measures (P > 0.999, Bonferroni corrected) in cohort1, or in DPOAE levels at 1.2 to 7.0 kHz in cohort2 (all P > 0.999 Bonferroni corrected except for left-ear levels at 3.5 and 7.0 kHz with corrected P = 0.138 and P = 0.533). DATA CONCLUSION: A single 40-minute 3-T MRI with equivalent SPLs of 103.5-113.6 dBA did not result in significant transient disruption of auditory function, as measured by ABR and DPOAE, in neonates with adequate hearing protection. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

Relationship between age and remimazolam dose required for inducing loss of consciousness in older surgical patients.

Background: Remimazolam is a new ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine for procedural sedation and general anaesthesia, characterised by rapid onset of action, quick recovery, and organ-independent metabolism. Older patients tend to sustain more treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and worse perioperative prognoses after receiving remimazolam. However, few studies have investigated the appropriate dose of remimazolam for loss of consciousness (LOC) in geriatric patients. We designed this study to provide evidence for dose references and elucidate the relationship between age and remimazolam requirement for inducing LOC during anaesthesia induction. Methods: Exactly 120 patients scheduled for general surgery under general anaesthesia were included and divided into two groups: Group A (60 patients, 18-64 years) and Group B (60 patients, ≥ 65 years). LOC, defined as a Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation score at 1 had been reached, emerged after all participants received a continuous infusion of remimazolam at a rate of 0.05 mg/kg/min. Results: The remimazolam required for inducing LOC was 0.26 and 0.19 mg/kg in groups A and B, respectively, and the remimazolam dose in group B decreased by 26.9% compared to group A. According to the bivariate linear correlation analysis, remimazolam requirement was negatively correlated with age. Multivariable linear regression models and further adjustments for potential impact factors indicated that age was an independent factor for the remimazolam dose required for LOC. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that age was significantly and independently correlated with the remimazolam requirement for inducing LOC. To obtain haemodynamic stability during the induction of general anaesthesia, appropriately reducing the remimazolam dose is recommended for geriatric patients.

Organic-mineral colloids regulate the migration and fractionation of rare earth elements in groundwater systems impacted by ion-adsorption deposits mining in South China.

Ion-adsorption rare earth element (REE) deposits distributed in the subtropics provide a rich global source of REEs, but in situ injection of REEs extractant into the mine can result in leachate being leaked into the surrounding groundwater systems. Due to the lack of understanding of REE speciation distribution, particularly colloidal characteristics in a mining area, the risks of REEs migration caused by in situ leaching of ion-adsorption REE deposits has not been concerned. Here, ultrafiltration and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS) were integrated to characterize the size and composition of REEs in leachate and groundwater from mining catchments in South China. Results show that REEs were associated with four fractions: 1) the <1 kDa fraction including dissolved REEs; 2) the 1 - 100 kDa nano-colloidal fraction containing organic compounds; 3) the 100 kDa - 220 nm fine colloids including organic-mineral (Fe, Mn and Al (oxy)hydroxides and clay minerals); 4) the >220 nm coarse colloids and acid soluble particles (ASPs) comprising minerals. Influenced by the ion exchange effect of in situ leaching, REEs in leachate were mostly dissolved (79 %). The pH of the groundwater far from the mine site was increased (5.8 - 7.3), the fine organic-mineral colloids (46 % - 80 %) were the main vectors of transport for REEs. Further analysis by AF4 revealed that the fine colloids can be divided into mineral-rich (F1, 100 kDa - 120 nm) and organic matter-rich (F2, 120 - 220 nm) populations. The main colloids associated with REEs shifted from F1 (64 % ∼ 76 %) to F2 (50 % ∼ 52 %) away from the mining area. For F1 and F2, the metal/C molar ratio decreased away from the mining area and middle to heavy REE enrichment was presented. According to the REE fractionation, organic matter was the predominant component capable of binding REEs in fine colloids. Overall, our results indicate that REEs in the groundwater system shifted from the dissolved to the colloidal phase in a catchment affected by in situ leaching, and organic-mineral colloids play an important role in facilitating the migration of REEs.

Attributable mortality of acute kidney injury among critically ill patients with sepsis: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI) are common severe diseases in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to estimate the attributable mortality of AKI among critically ill patients with sepsis and to assess whether AKI was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality. METHODS: The information we used was derived from a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in 18 Chinese ICUs, focusing on septic patients post ICU admission. The patients were categorized into two groups: those who developed AKI (AKI group) within seven days following a sepsis diagnosis and those who did not develop AKI (non-AKI group). Using propensity score matching (PSM), patients were matched 1:1 as AKI and non-AKI groups. We then calculated the mortality rate attributable to AKI in septic patients. Furthermore, a survival analysis was conducted comparing the matched AKI and non-AKI septic patients. The primary outcome of interest was the 30-day mortality rate following the diagnosis of sepsis. RESULTS: Out of the 2175 eligible septic patients, 61.7% developed AKI. After the application of PSM, a total of 784 septic patients who developed AKI were matched in a 1:1 ratio with 784 septic patients who did not develop AKI. The overall 30-day attributable mortality of AKI was 6.6% (95% CI 2.3 ∼ 10.9%, p = 0.002). A subgroup analysis revealed that the 30-day attributable mortality rates for stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 AKI were 0.6% (95% CI -5.9 ∼ 7.2%, p = 0.846), 4.7% (95% CI -3.1 ∼ 12.4%, p = 0.221) and 16.8% (95% CI 8.1 ∼ 25.2%, p < 0.001), respectively. Particularly noteworthy was that stage 3 AKI emerged as an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality, possessing an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.80 (95% CI 1.31 ∼ 2.47, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall 30-day attributable mortality of AKI among critically ill patients with sepsis was 6.6%. Stage 3 AKI had the most significant contribution to 30-day mortality, while stage 1 and stage 2 AKI did not increase excess mortality.

Identification critical host factors for Japanese encephalitis virus replication via CRISPR screening of human sgRNA library.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a pathogen with a substantial impact on both livestock and human health. However, the critical host factors in the virus life cycle remain poorly understood. Using a library comprising 123411 small guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting 19050 human genes, we conducted a genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-based screen to identify essential genes for JEV replication. By employing knockout or knockdown techniques on genes, we identified eleven human genes crucial for JEV replication, such as prolactin releasing hormone receptor (PRLHR), activating signal cointegrator 1 complex subunit 3 (ASCC3), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 3 (ACSL3), and others. Notably, we found that PRLHR knockdown blocked the autophagic flux, thereby inhibiting JEV infection. Taken together, these findings provide effective data for studying important host factors of JEV replication and scientific data for selecting antiviral drug targets.

Positive benefit-risk ratio of Psoraleae Fructus: Comprehensive safety assessment and osteogenic effects in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Psoraleae Fructus (PF), the dried fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L., is a commonly used traditional medicine that has contributed to the treatment of orthopedic diseases for thousands of years in China. However, recent PF-related liver injury reports have drawn widespread attention regarding its potential hepatotoxicity risks. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and chronic toxicity of PF using a 26-week administration experiment on rats in order to simulate the clinical usage situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PF aqueous extract was consecutively administrated to rats daily at dosages of 0.7, 2.0, and 5.6 g/kg (equivalent to 1-8 times the clinical doses for humans) for as long as 26 weeks. Samples were collected after 13, 26, and 32 weeks (withdrawal for 6 weeks) since the first administration. The chronic toxicity of PF was evaluated by conventional toxicological methods, and the efficacy of PF was evaluated by osteogenic effects in the natural growth process. RESULTS: In our experiments, only the H group (5.6 g/kg) for 26-week PF treatment demonstrated liver or kidney injury, which the injuries were reversible after 6 weeks of withdrawal. Notably, the PF treatment beyond 13 weeks showed significant benefits for bone growth and development in rats, with a higher benefit-risk ratio in female rats. CONCLUSIONS: PF displayed a promising benefit-risk ratio in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, a disease that lacks effective medicine so far. This is the first study to elucidate the benefit-risk balance associated with clinical dosage and long-term use of PF, thereby providing valuable insights for rational clinical use and risk control of PF.

Enhancing CO catalytic oxidation performance over Cu-doping manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves catalyst.

The CO oxidation catalytic activity of catalysts is strongly influenced by the oxygen vacancy defects (OVDs) concentration and the valence state of active metal. Herein, a defect engineering approach was implemented to enhance the oxygen vacancy defects and to modify the valence of metal ions in manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) by the introduction of copper (Cu). The characterization and theoretical calculation results reveal that the incorporation of Cu2+ ion into the OMS-2 structure led to a rise in specific surface area and pore volume, weakening of Mn-O bonds, higher proportion of the low-coordinated oxygen species adsorbed in oxygen vacancies (Oads) and an increase in the average oxidation state of manganese. These structural modifications were discovered to considerably reduce the apparent activation energy (Ea), thus ultimately significantly enhancing the CO oxidation activity (T99 at 148 ℃at GHSV = 13,200 h-1) than the original OMS-2 (T99 = 215 ℃ at GHSV = 13,200 h-1). Furthermore, In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) and In-situ near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (in situ NAP-XPS) results indicate that the bimetallic synergy enhanced by doping strategy accelerates the conversion of oxygen to chemisorbed oxygen species and the reaction rate of CO oxidation through Mn3++Cu2+↔Mn4++Cu+ redox cycle. The findings of this study offer novel perspectives on the design of catalysts with exceptional performance in CO oxidation.