Impact of urban agglomeration construction on urban air quality-empirical test based on PSM-DID model.

Urban agglomerations have become a new trend in the development of urbanization and regionalization in the world today. The construction of urban agglomerations has brought rapid economic development as well as a series of ecological and environmental problems, especially the impact on urban air quality. How to understand and evaluate the impact of urban agglomeration construction on air quality is a key issue that requires attention. City cluster construction is equivalent to a "quasi-natural experiment". This study empirically examines the impact of urban agglomeration construction on air quality in southwest China by constructing a PSM-DID model. It is found that: (1) City cluster construction has significantly improved urban air quality in urban clusters with lagging and forward-looking effects on air quality. (2) In terms of influencing factors, the level of economic development considerably improves the air quality of urban cluster cities, the industrial structure severely deteriorates the air quality of these cities, and meteorological factors highly affect their air quality. Among them, average annual urban rainfall significantly reduces urban air pollutant concentrations in urban clusters, average annual temperature significantly increases urban air pollutant concentrations, and average annual wind speed can reduce urban air pollutant concentrations. (3) Urban agglomerations are spatially heterogeneous in their impact on air quality. In this context, the topographical conditions and the level of development of urban agglomerations have a non-negligible influence on pollutant concentrations. (4) The distribution pattern of air quality pollutant concentrations in each urban agglomeration is unstable, and there are large differences in these concentrations between different urban agglomerations.

Temporal and spatial changes in land use and ecosystem service value based on SDGs' reports: a case study of Dianchi Lake Basin, China.

Understanding the impact of land use and ecosystem services on sustainable development goals is a key to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Taking Dianchi Lake Basin as the research area, land use data from five periods, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2019, were analyzed using the dynamic equivalent method to determine ecosystem service value (ESV) and hot spot analysis method to explore temporal and spatial changes in ESV in Dianchi Lake Basin. Three sustainable development goals, SDG15.1.1, SDG15.2, and SDG15.3.1, were selected to quantitatively analyze the impact of land use change in Dianchi Lake Basin. The results showed that (1) in the 20-year study period, the main land use types in Dianchi Lake Basin were forest land, cultivated land, construction land, and water area. In the land transfer, the largest amount of land transferred out is cultivated land, accounting for 35.50% of the total transferred out amount. It is transferred to construction land, resulting in significant expansion of construction land, nearly twice as much. (2) The SDG15.1.1 index of three forest land types in Dianchi Lake Basin showed a downward trend, and the total forest land decreased from 45.36 to 41.80%, with a cumulative decrease of 3.56%, of which 2.35% was caused by the transformation from open forest land to other land types. For watershed SDG15.2 and SDG15.3.1 indicators, all were degraded, but the degradation of high forest (SDG15.2) was the most obvious. (3) From 2001 to 2019, the total ESV in Dianchi Lake Basin initially decreased and then increased before decreasing again, with an overall decrease of 3.687 billion yuan. The ESV in the study area was high in the middle and low in the periphery, and the water area dominated by Dianchi Lake was the highest value area. (4) From 2005 to 2019, the spatial displacement relationship between cold and hot spots dominated by Dianchi Lake was corresponding and obvious, during which the ESV fluctuated violently. This study provides a basis for the sustainable development and ecological construction in typical urbanized watershed.

Polyvinyl Chloride Nanoparticles Affect Cell Membrane Integrity by Disturbing the Properties of the Multicomponent Lipid Bilayer in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The ubiquitous presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in natural ecosystems is a serious concern, as NPs are believed to threaten every life form on Earth. Micro- and nanoplastics enter living systems through multiple channels. Cell membranes function as the first barrier of entry to NPs, thus playing an important biological role. However, in-depth studies on the interactions of NPs with cell membranes have not been performed, and effective theoretical models of the underlying molecular details and physicochemical behaviors are lacking. In the present study, we investigated the uptake of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoparticles by Arabidopsis thaliana root cells, which leads to cell membrane leakage and damage to membrane integrity. We performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to determine the effects of PVC NPs on the properties of the multicomponent lipid bilayer. These simulations revealed that PVCs easily permeate into model lipid membranes, resulting in significant changes to the membrane, including reduced density and changes in fluidity and membrane thickness. Our exploration of the interaction mechanisms between NPs and the cell membrane provided valuable insights into the effects of NPs on membrane structure and integrity.

Silencing suppressors of rice black-streaked dwarf virus and rice stripe virus hijack the 26S proteasome of Laodelphax striatellus to facilitate virus accumulation and transmission.

BACKGROUND: Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) is transmitted by small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus [L. striatellus]) and causes devastating disease in rice. P9-1 has silencing suppression activity and is the key protein for viroplasm formation in RBSDV-infected plants and insects; however, its exact function is poorly understood. RESULTS: In this study, the P9-1 of RBSDV interacted with L. striatellus 26S proteasome subunit RPN8. RBSDV accumulation in L. striatellus increased after the 26S proteasome was disrupted by silencing the RPN8 expression. This finding indicated that L. striatellus 26S proteasome played a defense role against RBSDV infection by regulating RBSDV accumulation. Further investigations revealed that P9-1 could competitively bind to RPN8 with RPN7, thereby disrupting the assembly of 26S proteasome in L. striatellus and promoting the infection of RBSDV in insect vectors, and further affecting the transmission of the virus to rice by insect vectors. Similar to P9-1, rice stripe virus (RSV) NS2, a weak silencing suppressor, regulated virus accumulation and transmission by hijacking RPN8 to interfere with the function of 26S proteasome in L. striatellus. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that viruses promote their own infection via interfering with ubiquitination pathway of insect vectors, and this mechanism might be of universal importance. These findings provide a new insight into the mechanism of virus transmission in insect vectors. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Treatment of Chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection with hypertonic glucose Pleurodesis.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively assess the efficacy of hypertonic glucose pleurodesis for treatment of chylothorax after pulmonary resection. METHODS: Out of a total of 8252 patients who underwent pulmonary resection (at least lobectomy) at department of thoracic surgery, between June 2008 and December 2015, 58 patients (0.7%) developed postoperative chylothorax. All patients received conservative treatment, including thoracic closed drainage, oral fasting, and total parenteral nutrition. RESULTS: Conservative treatment was successful in 50 (86.2%) patients, while eight patients [mean age: 58.0 years (range, 45-75)] were treated with hypertonic glucose pleurodesis. All eight patients had undergone operation for lung cancer (four squamous cell carcinomas and four adenocarcinomas). The bronchial stump was covered by pleural flap in three patients. After pleurodesis, three patients developed fever but without empyema; thoracentesis was performed in two patients. The mean time interval between pleurodesis and operation was 4.3 days (range,3-5) days. The average length of stay was 23.1 days (range, 18-31). No recurrent pleural effusion was observed over a mean follow-up duration of 28 months. CONCLUSION: Hypertonic glucose pleurodesis performed via the chest drainage tube is a viable treatment option for chylothorax after lung resection, prior to resorting to a thoracoscopic or thoracotomic ductus thoracicus ligation of the thoracic duct leak. It is a simple, safe and efficient modality associated with rapid recovery and less pain.

Microneurosurgical treatment under the guidance of neuroendoscopy for an intracranial optic nerve Schwannoma: A case report.

RATIONALE: Optic Schwannoma is rarely observed clinically as optic nerve had anatomically impossibility for the location of Schwannoma. However, several reports described the established cases of optic Schwannoma, of which the locations were in orbit or within optic canal. The occurrence of optic Schwannoma intracranially has been not reported. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 60-year-old female complained of visual impairment in the right eye and the frequent headache and the dizziness over 2 years with unknown reasons. The result of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a round, well-circumscribed, heterogeneously enhancing signal with cystic change displayed on the right suprasellar cistern. DIAGNOSES: Intracranial optic Schwannomas. INTERVENTIONS: The patient accepted microneurosurgery assisted by endoscopy. We observed a gray and yellow lesion located near the right anterior clinoid process with a mid-sized cyst. And there was a vague boundary between the tumor and the right optic nerve which was compressed by the tumor. Optic chiasm and left optic nerve were also compressed. Meanwhile, the tumor had also adhesion to the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA). OUTCOMES: After the tumor was totally resected, the patient had satisfactory recovery. LESSONS: We reported an intracranial optic Schwannoma removal with the lateral supraorbital keyhole approach assisted by neuroendoscopy. Intracranial optic Schwannoma was rarely seen clinically. Neuroendoscopy imaging suggested the close relationship between the tumor and ACA, supporting vasculature-origin hypothesis for the optic Schwannoma.

Hypoxia promotes the skewed differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells toward type II alveolar epithelial cells by regulating microRNA-145.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are well recognized for their ability to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial (ATII) cells in damaged lungs, which is critical for reepithelization and recovery in acute lung injury (ALI). However, the high level of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) commonly seen in injured lung tissues is also able to induce MSCs to differentiate into fibroblast-like cells. In this study, we found that hypoxia could promote umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) differentiation into ATII cells rather than into fibroblast-like cells, and this effect was mainly mediated by microRNA-145 (miR-145), which could induce the inhibition of TGF-ß signaling by targeting TGF-ß receptor II (TGFßRII). Clarifying the function of hypoxia in the fate determination of MSCs is important for improving stem cell-based therapies for ALI.

CYP2S1 depletion enhances colorectal cell proliferation is associated with PGE2-mediated activation of ß-catenin signaling.

Colorectal epithelial cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and its 5-year survival rate is still relatively low. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in epithelial cells lining the alimentary tract play an important role in the oxidative metabolism of a wide range of xenobiotics, including (pro-)carcinogens and endogenous compounds. Although CYP2S1, a member of CYP family, strongly expressed in many extrahepatic tissues, the role of CYP2S1 in cancer remains unclear. To investigate whether CYP2S1 involves in colorectal carcinogenesis, cell proliferation was analyzed in HCT116 cells depleted of CYP2S1 using small hairpin interfering RNA. Our data show that CYP2S1 knockdown promotes cell proliferation through increasing the level of endogenous prostaglandin E2(PGE2). PGE2, in turn, reduces phosphorylation of ß-catenin and activates ß-catenin signaling, which contributes to the cell proliferation. Furthermore, CYP2S1 knockdown increase tumor growth in xenograft mouse model. In brief, these results demonstrate that CYP2S1 regulates colorectal cancer growth through associated with PGE2-mediated activation of ß-catenin signaling.

Novel treatment for chylothorax after esophagectomy with 50% glucose pleurodesis.

Chylothorax is characterized by the presence of chyle in the pleural space and cardiothoracic surgery accounts for nearly half of all the cases. Treatment of chylothorax has traditionally been nonoperative, with alternative medical therapies involving the administration of octreotide or pleurodesis. Pleurodesis with chemical agents has previously been reported, but never with 50% glucose and 0.1% xylocaine. Herein, we report a successful method of intrapleural instillation of 50% glucose and 0.1% xylocaine to treat chylothorax. Five patients treated with this method were all recovered rapidly. This method can generate extensive adherence and prevent the effusion of the chylous fluid with minor side effects.

[Surgical treatment of lateral sellar compartment cavernoma].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze the surgical treatment of lateral sellar compartment cavernoma (LSCC). METHODS: The clinical data of 102 patients with LSCC who underwent surgical treatment from 1958 to 2006, 2 males and 80 females, aged 43.5 (11 approximately 69), were collected and analyzed. The operation patterns were divided into 4 stages based on the understanding of LSCC: first stage (1958 approximately 1988, with 32 cases) during which diagnosis was mainly bases on X-ray plain films, CT, and ordinary cerebral angiography, and most of the tumors were partially excised; second stage (1989 approximately 1997, with 18 cases) during which MRI, DSA, and microsurgery were widely used; third stage (1998 approximately 2003, with 36 cases) during which the neurological anatomy of the LSC and pathology of LSCC made headway, however, intra-operational bleeding was still a problem, and fourth stage (2004 approximately 2006, with 16 cases) during which relevant models were basically understood. RESULTS: Post-operative MRI shed that the tumor complete resection rates of the 4 stages were 4/32, 5/18, 17/36, and 12/16, and the subtotal resection rates were 3/32, 4/18, 10/36, and 2/16 respectively. The rest of the tumors were all partially removed. Not only the intra-operative blood loss but also the cranial nerve morbidity rate decreased dramatically in the 4th stage. The main postoperative complications included oculomotor nerve paralysis, abducent nerve palsy, and trigeminal nerve damages. No operation-related death occurred. CONCLUSION: Following the progress of LSCC study, the treatment of LSCC becomes mature. Radical removal of LSCC may be the best choice for LSCC patients by epidural approach via the skull base craniotomy with induced hypotension.