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Coal mining has led to escalating ecological and environmental issues in significant coal and grain production areas, posing a severe danger to food security. This study examines the disturbance patterns of soil factors and microbial communities in coal and grain production areas, and attempts to understand the impact of subsidence and water accumulation stress on soil characteristics and microbial communities in coal mining subsidence areas with high subsidence levels. Five specific regions of Zhao Gu Yi Mine, situated in Henan Province and under the ownership of Jiaozuo Coal Group, were chosen. Aside from the control group (CK), the study blocks situated in the coal mining subsidence zones consisted of perennial subsidence ponding (PSP), seasonal subsidence ponding (SSP), the neutral zone (NZ), and the horizontal deformation zone (HDZ). The soil nutrient indices and the stoichiometric properties of soil C, N, and P were assessed on the surface of each block. The organization of the soil microbial community was identified using high-throughput sequencing. The findings indicate that: 1. Substantial disparities exist in soil properties and microbial community structure between the subsidence and non-subsidence zones. The levels of soil organic mater (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), and available phosphorus (AP) all decrease to different extents in the subsidence area. Additionally, the coal mining subsidence waterlogged area exhibits higher levels compared to the coal mining subsidence non-waterlogged area. Conversely, the soil water content (SWC), C/N ratio, C/P ratio, and N/P ratio all increase to varying degrees. 2. Regarding the composition of the community, the presence of Proteobacteria is considerably greater in the non-water-logged area of coal mining subsidence (NZ, HDZ) compared to the water-logged area and control group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of Firmicutes in the subsidence water area was substantially greater compared to both the subsidence non-waterlogged area and the control group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of Gemmatimonadota is markedly greater in the waterlogged area of mining subsidence compared to the non-waterlogged area and CK (p < 0.05). The Ascomycota population reached its highest value in the neutral zone (NZ), which was significantly greater than the values observed in the seasonal subsidence ponding (SSP) and perennial subsidence ponding (PSP) regions (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the Rozellomycota population had its highest value in the SSP region, which was significantly greater than the values observed in the other regions (p < 0.05). 3. The abundance and variety of soil bacteria and fungi, as well as their important populations, are associated with different levels of soil characteristics. The primary elements that influence the alteration of microbial communities are soil nutrients and soil water content. The presence of coal mine subsidence and water accumulation has a notable impact on the properties of the soil in the surrounding area. This study offers a scientific foundation for reclaiming land affected by subsidence caused by coal mining in regions where coal and grain production are the dominant industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground coal mining in coal-grain overlapped areas leads to land subsidence and deformation above the goaf, damaging cultivated land. Understanding the influencing process of coal mining on cultivated land and crops is important for carrying out timely land reclamation and stabilizing crop yield. Research has been carried out by using crop growth parameters to evaluate the damaging degree of cultivated land when the mining subsidence is stable, but few studies focus on the influence of land damage on crop growth when the subsidence is unstable during coal mining. Therefore, this study tracked the three growth stages of winter wheat by using UAV multispectral imagery to explore the dynamic influence of underground mining on winter wheat aboveground biomass (AGB). Firstly, a winter-wheat-AGB estimation model (R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 2.18 t/ha) was developed by using vegetation indexes (VIs), textures, and terrain data extracted from UAV imagery. Secondly, based on the winter-wheat-AGB estimation model, the winter wheat AGB was successfully estimated and mapped at different growth stages. The AGB of winter wheat in the coal mining-affected area was approximately 5.59 t/ha at the reviving stage, 8.2 t/ha at the jointing stage, and 15.6 t/ha at the flowering stage. Finally, combined with the progress of coal mining, the dynamic changing process of crops during underground mining can be inferred by analyzing the spatiotemporal variation in winter wheat AGB. Results showed that, in the dip direction, winter wheat AGB at the flowering stage was the highest at the compression zone, followed by the inner stretch zone, outer stretch zone, and neutral zone. The distance from the waterlogged area and the existence of cracks were found to be the important moderating variables affecting the crop growth status in the mining subsidence area. In the strike direction, there were significant differences in the wheat AGB-affected area as the mining proceeded. Even areas where AGB had previously significantly increased gradually transitioned to significant decreases with the end of mining. The research explores the dynamic changes in winter wheat AGB and land damage status during coal mining. It provides a rapid and non-destructive land-damage-monitoring method to protect cultivated land in mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional (3D) printing technique is used to efficiently design the structure of 3D graphene assemblies and give them extraordinary properties. However, directly constructing 3D graphene assemblies with complex structures using direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing is still limited. Herein, we demonstrate a strategy for directly constructing microstructurally porous or dense 3D reduced graphene oxide (RGO) frameworks with an octet-truss structure using embedded 3D printing combined with freeze-drying or capillary-drying, respectively. Reasonable structural design and self-assembled RGO sheets contribute to endowing RGO frameworks with mechanical strength and electrical properties. The freeze-dried RGO framework (F-RGF) has an electrical conductivity of 131.85 S m−1 and a compressive strength of 35.42 kPa at 50% strain. Moreover, the properties of the RGO framework are changed by altering its drying method. Compared with F-RGF, the capillary-dried RGO framework (C-RGF) has a higher electrical conductivity of 863.77 S m−1 and a higher compressive strength of 3.23 MPa. At a thickness of 2.8 mm, low-conducting F-RGF and high-conducting C-RGF exhibit good electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) in the frequency range of 18–40 GHz, with total SE (SET) values up to 72.87 dB and 63.48 dB, respectively. This work provides a reference for constructing 3D assemblies with multi-level structures and exhibits the possibility of structural changes for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemangioma is a common benign tumour that usually occurs on the skin of the head and neck, particularly among infants. The current clinical treatment against hemangioma is surgery excision, however, application of drug is a safer and more economical therapy for children suffering from hemangioma. As a natural sulfated polysaccharide rich in brown algae, fucoidan is widely recognized for anti‐tumour bioactivity and dosage safety in humans. This study aims to demonstrate the anti‐tumour effect and underlying mechanism of fucoidan against hemangioma in vivo and in vitro. We investigated the effects of fucoidan by culturing hemangioma cells in vitro and treating BALB/c mice bearing with hemangioma. At first, we measured the cell proliferation and migration ability through in vitro experiments. Then, we tested the expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway‐related biomarkers by western blot and qPCR. Furthermore, we applied β‐catenin‐specific inhibitor, XAV939, to determine whether fucoidan suppressed EMT via the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in hemangioma cells. In vivo experiments, we applied oral gavage of fucoidan to treat EOMA‐bearing mice, along with evaluating the safety and efficacy of fucoidan. We found that fucoidan remarkably inhibits the proliferation and EMT ability of hemangioma cells, which is dependent on the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. These results suggest that fucoidan exhibits tumour inhibitory effect on aggressive hemangioma via regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway both in vitro and in vivo, providing a new potent drug candidate for treating hemangioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scavenger receptor A (SRA) is preferentially expressed in macrophages and implicated as a multifunctional pattern recognition receptor for innate immunity. Hepatic macrophages play a primary role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. Herein, we observed that SRA expression was significantly increased in the liver tissues of mice with alcohol-related liver injury. SRA-deficient (SRA−/−) mice developed more severe alcohol-induced liver disease than wild-type mice. Enhanced liver inflammation existed in alcohol-challenged SRA−/− mice and was associated with increased Notch activation in hepatic macrophages compared with wild-type control animals. Mechanistically, SRA directly bound with Notch1 and suppressed its S-glutathionylation, thereby inhibiting Notch pathway activation. Further, we determined that the SRA interacted with thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), a redox-active protein. SRA inhibited Trx-1 dimerization and facilitated the interaction of Trx-1 with Notch1. Application of a Trx-1-specific inhibitory agent during macrophage stimulation abolished SRA-mediated regulation of the Notch pathway and its downstream targets. In summary, our study revealed that SRA plays a critical role in macrophage inflammatory response by targeting Notch1 for its glutathionylation. SRA-mediated negative regulation of Notch activation might serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for alcohol-induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a kind of chronic skin disease with inflammatory infiltration, characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, immune response dysregulation, and skin dysbiosis. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) acts as a regulator of immune response, positively associated with AD deterioration. Mainly secreted by keratinocytes, TSLP interacts with multiple immune cells (including dendritic cells, T cells, and mast cells), following induction of Th2-oriented immune response during the pathogenesis of AD. This article primarily focuses on the TSLP biological function, the relationship between TSLP and different cell populations, and the AD treatments targeting TSLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ingenious dielectric tuning strategies are challenging to set up with high-efficiency microwave absorbing (MA) materials that absorb strongly at the ultrathin absorber level. In this work, an aerogel with a dual three-dimensional (3D) conductive network was constructed using a solvothermal and ice template-assisted freeze-drying process, namely, 1T-tungsten disulfide/carbon nanotubes-reduced graphene oxide (1T-WS2/CNT-rGO). Numerous small-scale staggered 2D nanosheets were assembled into nanoflower-like WS2, forming a unique conductive network. Meanwhile, the CNT-rGO acted as the 3D aerogel scaffold to support the WS2 and provided a 3D conductive network to facilitate electronic hopping. The tremendous 1T-phase thus introduced significantly promoted the charge transfer capability at the 1T/2H heterointerface and enriched the phase interface polarization. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of enhanced polarization loss and optimized impedance matching, the thickness of 1T-WS2/CNT-rGO was merely 1.15 mm corresponding to the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −56.63 dB; the maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) reached 3.84 GHz. Furthermore, the simulation results verified that the absorber coating could effectively suppress the radar cross-section (RCS) of strong metal scattering sources to different degrees. Consequently, the potential of 1T-WS2/CNT-rGO to be employed as the new generation of ultrathin and high-efficiency absorbers can be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease mediated by host immune responses. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and interferon (IFN)‐α secreted by pDC are involved in the initiation of psoriasis. Mannan‐binding lectin (MBL), a vital component of the complement pathway, plays a critical role in innate immune defense and the inflammatory response. Our previous study found that MBL could exacerbate skin inflammation in psoriatic mice, but the effect of MBL on pDC remains unstudied. Herein, we revealed that the circulating level of MBL was elevated in patients with psoriasis compared with the healthy controls. Moreover, the MBL level was positively correlated with disease severity, relative inflammatory cytokine levels, and peripheral blood (PB) pDC frequency in psoriasis. An in vitro study determined that the MBL protein could promote the differentiation of human pDC and upregulate the production of relative inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Additionally, MBL‐deficient (MBL−/−) mice exhibited decreased accumulation of pDC in lymph nodes, spleens, and skin lesions with reduced secretion of pDC‐related cytokines compared with wild‐type (WT) mice in the preliminary stage of psoriasis induced by imiquimod. Notably, the differentiation of pDC from bone marrow (BM) cells derived from MBL−/− mice was weakened compared with that from WT mice upon Fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) incubation. Mechanistic research indicated that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)–interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) axis was responsible for MBL‐modulated pDC differentiation. In summary, these results suggest that MBL exacerbates the severity of psoriasis by enhancing pDC differentiation and pDC‐related cytokine secretion via the STAT3–IRF8 axis, thus providing a new target for psoriasis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the protective properties and mechanisms of D-mannose against hepatic steatosis in experimental alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Drinking-water supplementation of D-mannose significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis in a standard mouse ALD model established by chronic-binge ethanol feeding, especially hepatocyte lipid deposition. This function of D-mannose on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes was also confirmed using ethanol-treated primary mouse hepatocytes (PMHs) with a D-mannose supplement. Meanwhile, D-mannose regulated lipid metabolism by rescuing ethanol-mediated reduction of fatty acid oxidation genes (PPARα, ACOX1, CPT1) and elevation of lipogenic genes (SREBP1c, ACC1, FASN). PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was involved in this effect of D-mannose on lipid metabolism since PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitors or agonists could abolish this effect in PMHs. Overall, our findings suggest that D-mannose exhibits its anti-steatosis effect in ALD by regulating hepatocyte lipid metabolism via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a low-frequency tunable microwave absorber for the normal use of sophisticated electric devices is an urgent requirement for dealing with electromagnetic pollution. Herein, we report the designed synthesis of a three-dimensional (3D) heterostructure constructed from multidimensional components, namely, MXene/CoNi/N-CNTs (nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes). A uniform metal–organic-framework (MOF) ZIF-67/Co–Ni layered double hydroxide (LDH) core-shelled structure was first synthesized and then transformed into CoNi/N-CNTs via pyrolysis under a N2 atmosphere. Then, CoNi/N-CNTs were deposited on the surface of 2D MXene by electrostatic assembly to acquire a 3D superstructure nanocomposite. The advantages of low-dimensional components are fully utilized in the unique 3D heterostructure. The 3D conductive network is formed from 1D N-CNTs, and the synergistic effect of multiple loss mechanisms significantly facilitates its microwave absorption (MA) properties. Specifically, the material shows an optimal reflection loss (RL) of −52.64 dB at 3.12 GHz at a thickness of 3.8 mm, and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) from 2.8 to 3.52 GHz, which covers the S-band. Importantly, adjustable and efficient MA between the S and C band can be realized by modulating the loads of the CoNi/N-CNTs. Accordingly, the feasibility of designing a hierarchical 3D superstructure from low-dimensional components to deal with electromagnetic pollution can be audaciously predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D flower-like Fe3S4 microspheres and quasi-sphere Fe3S4-RGO hybrid-architectures were successfully fabricated by a facile template-free hydrothermal method. The results of morphology revealed that the single Fe3S4 was composed of many nanoflakes and the Fe3S4-RGO composites mainly distributed together into a ball up and down the RGO sheet. The electromagnetic parameters of the single Fe3S4 and Fe3S4-RGO composites could be controlled by adjusting different filler loading and the addition of different GO to achieve impedance matching. Both the single Fe3S4 and Fe3S4-RGO composites exhibited an excellent EM absorption ability. The minimum reflection loss (RL) of the single Fe3S4 with 50% filler loading could achieve −66.87 dB at 10.57 GHz for the thickness of 2.2 mm, and the absorption bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) could reach 3.49 GHz. For the Fe3S4-RGO composites, the minimum RL of FSR-1 could be −40.25 dB at 9.67 GHz with the thickness of 2.0 mm. In addition, the effective absorption bandwidth of FSR-2 could reach 3.85 GHz at only 1.45 mm and the minimum RL was −29.25 dB at 14.24 GHz. Consequently, the single Fe3S4 and Fe3S4-RGO composites are promising materials as a high performance and adjustable EM wave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells represent the founding members of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) and play critical roles in inflammation and the immune response. NK cell effector functions are regulated and fine-tuned by various immune modulators. Mannan (or mannose)-binding lectin (MBL), a soluble C-type lectin, is traditionally recognized as an initiator of the complement pathway. Recently, it is also considered as an immunomodulator by its interaction with kinds of immune cells. However, the effect of MBL on NK cell function remains unexplored. In this study, we found that human plasma MBL could interact directly with peripheral NK cells partially via its collagen-like region (CLR). This MBL binding markedly suppressed the interleukin-2- (IL-2-) induced inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production but increased the IL-10 production in NK cells. In addition, the expression of activation surface markers such as CD25 and CD69 declined after MBL treatment. Also, MBL impaired the proliferation and lymphokine-activated killing (LAK) of NK cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that MBL inhibited IL-2-induced signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation in NK cells. In conclusion, we have uncovered a far unknown regulatory role of MBL on NK cells, a new clue that could be important in the immunomodulatory networks of immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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