Search

The association of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among latent tuberculosis (TB) infection and active TB remained less studied.We recruited participants with TB disease (active TB) (n = 400) and TB infection (latent TB infection) (n = 203) in this study. We genotyped SNPs in TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, MMP1, MMP8, MMP9, MMP12, and tissue inhibitor of MMP2. Single-variant analysis and haplotype analysis were performed, and a polygenic risk score (PRS) was created.We found that SNPs in TLR1 (rs5743580, rs5743551), TLR2 (rs3804100), and MMP8 (rs2508383) were associated with different TB disease status risks. TLR1 rs5743580 was associated with a higher risk of TB disease status in genotypic, recessive, and additive models. TLR2 rs3804100 polymorphisms demonstrated significant association with TB disease status in genotypic, dominant, and additive models. In the haplotype analysis, the TLR1 haplotype was associated with a higher risk of TB disease, and the MMP12 haplotype was associated with a lower risk of TB disease. A PRS using 3 SNPs was associated with a higher risk of TB disease.This study revealed that SNP variants in TLR1, TLR2, and MMP8 differed among TB infection and disease. Haplotypes and PRS could potentially help predict TB disease status.

In this paper, we provide a mathematical framework in studying the wave propagation with the annihilation phenomenon in excitable media. We deal with the existence and uniqueness of solutions to a one-dimensional free boundary problem (called a reaction--interface system) arising from the singular limit of a FitzHugh--Nagumo type reaction--diffusion system. Because of the presence of the annihilation, interfaces may intersect each other. We introduce the notion of weak solutions to study the continuation of solutions beyond the annihilation time. Under suitable conditions, we show that the free boundary problem is well-posed.

Many regulators controlling arterial identity are well described; however, transcription factors that promote vein identity and vascular patterning have remained largely unknown. We previously identified the transcription factors Islet2 (Isl2) and Nr2f1b required for specification of the vein and tip cell identity mediated by notch pathway in zebrafish. However, the interaction between Isl2 and Nr2f1b is not known. In this study, we report that Nr2f2 plays minor roles on vein and intersegmental vessels (ISV) growth and dissect the genetic interactions among the three transcription factors Isl2, Nr2f1b, and Nr2f2 using a combinatorial knockdown strategy. The double knockdown of isl2/nr2f1b, isl2/nr2f2, and nr2f1b/nr2f2 showed the enhanced defects in vasculature including less completed ISV, reduced veins, and ISV cells. We further tested the genetic relationship among these three transcription factors. We found isl2 can regulate the expression of nr2f1b and nr2f2, suggesting a model where Isl2 functions upstream of Nr2f1b and Nr2f2. We hypothsized that Isl2 and Nr2f1b can function together through cis-regulatory binding motifs. In-vitro luciferase assay results, we showed that Isl2 and Nr2f1b can cooperatively enhance gene expression. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation results indicated that Isl2 and Nr2f1b interact physically. Together, we showed that the interaction of the Nr2f1b and Nr2f2 transcription factors in combination with the Islet2 play coordinated roles in the vascular development of zebrafish.

For environmental scientists, developing an efficient, stable, and recyclable solar light photocatalyst is a challenging issue. Even though powder photocatalysts have excellent photocatalytic activity, their recyclability and reusability is a noteworthy problem. Therefore, it is very crucial to develop a new photocatalysis system that possesses efficient photocatalytic activity, excellent stability, and ease of recyclability, and is free of secondary pollution. Herein, a solar light active WO2.72/Fe3O4 nanocomposite photocatalyst was immobilized in hydrophobic porous recycled triacetate cellulose (rTAC) to solve the reusability problem and was electrospun on hydrophilic nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate a self-floatable recyclable Janus membrane. TAC possesses very important properties such as high moisture permeability and high light transmittance, which helps all the light irradiated to be utilized by the photocatalyst and hydrophobicity, which increases the ease of floating. The recyclable Janus membrane was purposefully designed so that the contaminated water can be attracted by PVA due to its hydrophilicity and pass to porous rTAC, where the pollutant and the photocatalyst come into contact and photocatalysis takes place, while the hydrophobicity of the rTAC makes the Janus membrane float on the surface of polluted water. The photocatalytic property of the synthesized recyclable Janus membrane was studied for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (Rh B) and methylene blue (MB) as well as the photoreduction of the carcinogenic pollutant Cr(VI) under solar light irradiation. The recyclable Janus membrane presented an outstanding photocatalytic property for the photodegradation of Rh B and MB dyes and the photoreduction of Cr(VI). It also displayed excellent cyclic stability and ease of recyclability for both organic and inorganic pollutants after multiple experimental cycles. The Janus membrane also presented better photocatalytic activity than previously reported photocatalysts for MB photodegradation. Therefore, the developed interfacial photocatalysis system and the recyclable Janus membrane are promising candidates for environmental remediation under solar light irradiation. This study paves the way for the design of an environmentally friendly, effective, and stable photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.

In this study, cesium tungsten bronze (CsxWO3) a well-known metal oxide semiconductor and excellent photocatalyst and active photothermal material was used as a sensing material toward hydrogen for the first time. The CsxWO3 nanorods were synthesized using a new hydrothermal method and examined through systematic material investigations. The synthesized CsxWO3 nanorods were coated on SiO2/Si substrates and subsequently fabricated laterally with multi-finger platinum (Pt)-based electrodes to test their gas detecting properties. The gas detecting property of the prepared material was studied toward very toxic hydrogen gas (10–500 ppm concentration). The gas sensing results demonstrate that the synthesized CsxWO3 material has excellent gas sensing properties toward hydrogen (31.3%), which is overwhelmingly superior to as-prepared WO3 (4.7%) due to its suitable electrical and optical properties at room temperature (RT). The selectivity results also indicate that the material has outstanding selectivity toward hydrogen compared with different gases such as ammonia and carbon dioxide. The critical features of this material are its high reliability, simple synthesis method, low humidity susceptibility, and high selectivity, making it viable for use in hydrogen sensors. Compared with the as-prepared WO3, the adsorption capability and conductance of the CsxWO3 surface induces active O2 functional groups, significantly enhancing the gas sensing properties.

Relatively small amounts of In-doped Mo(O,S)2 (IMS) catalysts (10%, 20%, and 30%) were deposited on cellulose nanofiber (CNF) by cross-linking them with functional groups of siloxane and epoxy to form CNF-IMS hybrid composites. The as-prepared hybrid composites were characterized and tested their performances toward the photo degradations of cationic (MB and RhB) and anionic (MO) dyes. As indium was doped into Mo(O,S)2 lattice to form solid-solution, the charge transfer and photocarrier separation during the catalytic reaction were simultaneously enhanced as probed with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements, respectively. To ensure the catalyst on CNF was well deposited and recyclable, the hybrid composite was evaluated with a reusability experiment to show the stability performance in degrading organic dyes. It was found the environmentally friendly CNF-IMS hybrid composite was relatively stable during the reusability experiment, indicating no catalyst powder was leached out during the photocatalytic reaction. The photoreaction mechanism was convinced by radical-scavenging experiments to show that hydroxyl and superoxide played essential roles for the organic dye degradations in visible-light illuminated conditions. The cross-linked organic/inorganic hybrid catalyst showed a prospective visible light active material not only to solve the environmental issue due to the leaching of nanoparticles but also to lower the post-treatment/recycling cost of photocatalyst in industrial application.

There are limited source apportionment studies conducted to assess vertical distributions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its contributing sources in urban regions. Additionally, none of these vertical studies used inorganic and organic tracers simultaneously. The present study aimed to explore the vertical variation of source-specific contributions to PM2.5 by modeling with both inorganic and organic markers in vertically stratified samples in the Taipei metropolis (Taiwan). One hundred and five samples were collected from three floor-levels at one building and analyzed for trace elements and nonpolar organic compounds (NPOCs). Seven source factors, i.e., industrial emission, biomass burning, PAH related, oil combustion, soil dust, traffic related, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)/lubricant, were retrieved by positive matrix factorization (PMF). The major contributors, including industrial emission (29%), biomass burning (23%), and oil combustion (22%), could be involved with regional transported aerosols and showed non-significant variation in the vertical distribution. In contrast, both traffic related and ETS/lubricant factors could be the contributors to the statistically significant difference of PM2.5 concentrations between floor-levels.

Tight gas exploration plays an important part in China’s unconventional energy strategy. The tight gas reservoirs in the Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in the Qiulin and Jinhua Gas Fields of central Sichuan Basin are characterized by shallow burial depths and large reserves. The evolution of the fluid phases is a key element in understanding the accumulation of hydrocarbons in tight gas reservoirs. This study investigates the fluid accumulation mechanisms and the indicators of reservoir properties preservation and degradation in a tight gas reservoir. Based on petrographic observations and micro-Raman spectroscopy, pure CH4inclusions, pure CO2inclusions, hybrid CH4–CO2gas inclusions, and N2-rich gas inclusions were studied in quartz grains. The pressure–volume–temperature–composition properties (PVT-x) of the CH4and CO2bearing inclusions were determined using quantitative Raman analysis and thermodynamic models, while the density of pure CO2inclusions was calculated based on the separation of Fermi diad. Two stages of CO2fluid accumulation were observed: primary CO2inclusions, characterized by higher densities (0.874–1.020 g/cm3) and higher homogenization temperatures (> 210 °C) and secondary CO2inclusions, characterized by lower densities (0.514–0.715 g/cm3) and lower homogenization temperatures: ~ 180–200 °C). CO2inclusions with abnormally high homogenization temperatures are thought to be the result of deep hydrothermal fluid activity. The pore fluid pressure (44.0–58.5 MPa) calculated from the Raman shift of C–H symmetric stretching (v1) band of methane inclusions is key to understanding the development of overpressure. PT entrapment conditions and simulation of burial history can be used to constrain the timing of paleo-fluid emplacement. Methane accumulated in the late Cretaceous (~ 75–65 Ma), close to the maximum burial depth during the early stages of the Himalayan tectonic event while maximum overpressure occurred at ~ 70 Ma, just before uplift. Later, hydrocarbon gas migrated through the faults and gradually displaced the early emplaced CO2in the reservoirs accompanied by a continuous decrease in overpressure during and after the Himalayan event, which has led to a decrease in the reservoir sealing capabilities. The continuous release of overpressure to present-day conditions indicates that the tectonic movement after the Himalayan period has led to a decline in reservoir conditions and sealing properties.

The effects of Fe content on the microstructure, phase constituents and microhardness of the as-cast, 800 °C- or 1000 °C-annealed Al7Cr20FexNi73−x (x=13−66) alloys were investigated. Not all these alloys are composed of the single FCC phase. The BCC and B2 phases are found. It is confirmed that the BCC phase in the Al7Cr20Fe66Ni7 alloy is transformed from the FCC phase at about 900 °C during cooling. While in the 800 °C-annealed Al7Cr20Fe60Ni13 alloy, the FCC phase is stable and the hardness decreases. After annealing at 1000 °C, for the precipitation of the B2 particles, the Al content in the FCC phase decreases, which results in decreasing of the alloy hardness. Moreover, after annealing at 800 °C, a small amount of Al-rich B2 particles precipitate at the phase boundary and some nanocrystal BCC phase precipitates in the FCC matrix, which increases the hardness of the Al7Cr20FexNi73−x (x=41−49) alloys. These results will help to the composition design and processing design of the Al−Cr−Fe−Ni based high-entropy alloys.

In this study, magnetically separable, highly efficient full-spectrum light active WO2.72/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were synthesized by a solvothermal method and well characterized. The photocatalytic property of WO2.72/Fe3O4 nanocomposite toward photodegradation of methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamine B (Rh B) dyes under solar and photoreduction of Cr(VI) under ultraviolet (UV), visible, and solar light were studied. The WO2.72/Fe3O4 nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of MO, MB, and Rh B dyes under solar light and photoreduction of Cr(VI) under visible, UV, and solar light. The WO-FO-0.5 nanocomposite exhibited 2.9, 1.6, and 2.0 times the photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4 for Cr(VI) photoreduction under solar, visible, and UV and 20, 29.2, and 16 times that of Fe3O4, for Rh B, MB, and MO under solar light. It doesn't show only universal applicability for photocatalysis of different organic and inorganic pollutants but, also outstanding stability and easy separability. The nanocomposite also exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that reported for photoreduction Cr(VI) under solar light. It is also convenient for large-scale applications due to its low cost, eco-friendliness, and easy preparation. Therefore, it is a promising candidate for environmental remediation under full-spectrum solar light.

Al–Si alloy was modified with Al–3P master alloy at 740 °C. The effects of Si content (7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 wt.%) and adding amount of alterant Al–3P (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1.0 and 1.5 wt.%) on microstructures and tensile properties of the alloy were investigated with optical microscope (OP), Image Pro Plus 6.0, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and universal testing machine. When the content of Al–3P is 0.6 wt.%, the area fraction of primary α(Al) in the Al–Si alloy increases more compared to the unmodified alloy with an increase in Si content, which could be explained by the movement of non-equilibrium eutectic point. When the Si content is constant (Al–10Si), with the increase of Al–3P content, the increased rate in area fraction of primary α(Al) phase in the Al–10Si alloy increases first and then decreases. And when 0.6 wt.% Al–3P is added, the increase in area fraction of primary α(Al) phase is the largest. Compared to the unmodified Al–10Si alloy, the tensile strength and elongation of Al–10Si alloy increase by 2.3% and 47.0%, respectively, after being modified with 0.6 wt.% Al–3P alloy. The fracture mode of the modified Al–10Si alloy is ductile fracture.

Equilibrium isotope fractionation factors are the basis for application of stable isotopes in geological studies. Experimental calibration and theoretical calculations have been employed to determine Fe isotope fractionation factors for a variety of minerals, however, these methods have their limitations. An alternative approach to calibrating inter-mineral Fe isotope fractionation factors is to use well-characterized geological samples; this approach has unique advantages over the other methods including attainment of equilibrium at relatively low temperatures. In this study, we investigated the Fe isotope composition of magnetite (Mt), garnet (Grt), amphibole (Amp) and biotite (Bt) from the metamorphosed Yingshan iron formation in South China. Two independent geothermometers, quartz–magnetite oxygen isotope and amphibole–garnet–biotite Fe–Mg exchange geothermometers, give a consistent metamorphic temperature of 538 ± 39 °C. The Fe isotope composition of the different Fe-bearing minerals is highly variable in different ironstone samples, with δ56Fe values (relative to IRMM-014) ranging from −0.23 to +0.37‰ in magnetite, −0.44 to +0.09‰ in amphibole, −0.78 to +0.02‰ in garnet, and −0.61 to +0.04‰ in biotite. Despite that, the offsets of δ56Fe values for mineral pairs are consistent, implying attainment of equilibrium isotope fraction between these minerals. Inter-mineral Fe isotopic fractionations (±2 standard deviation) measured from the multiple mineral pairs are Δ56FeMt–Grt = +0.55 ± 0.08‰, Δ56FeMt–Amp = +0.25 ± 0.06‰, Δ56FeMt–Bt = +0.42 ± 0.11‰, Δ56FeAmp–Grt = +0.34 ± 0.15‰, Δ56FeAmp–Bt = +0.26 ± 0.04‰, and Δ56FeBt–Grt = +0.13 ± 0.08‰. Based on the well-defined metamorphic temperature (538 ± 39 °C) and internally consistent inter-mineral fractionation factors, the temperature-dependent functions for equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between the following mineral pairs are derived: 103lnαMt–Grt = 0.36(±0.05) × 106/T2, 103lnαMt–Bt = 0.28(±0.07) × 106/T2, 103lnαMt–Amp = 0.16(±0.04) × 106/T2, 103lnαAmp–Grt = 0.22(±0.10) × 106/T2, 103lnαAmp–Bt = 0.17(±0.03) × 106/T2, and 103lnαBt–Grt = 0.09(±0.05) × 106/T2, where Fe3+/ΣFe ratio is 0.05 ± 0.02 in garnet, 0.29 ± 0.04 in biotite, and 0.24 ± 0.06 in amphibole for the above functions. The equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation factors derived in this study enable estimation of the metamorphic temperature of rocks that contain these mineral pairs, and identification of secondary processes that may have induced disequilibrium Fe isotope distribution in rocks, such as retrograde metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration.

Background and aims Many clinical trials have demonstrated that statins convey protective effects against atherosclerosis independent of cholesterol-lowering capacities. Other evidence indicates that pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is likely involved in atherosclerosis, but the effects and mechanisms of statins on pyroptosis must be further revealed. Methods Here, we explored the effects and mechanisms of atorvastatin on pyroptosis in human vascular endothelial cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Results Atorvastatin upregulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEXN-AS1 and the expression of NEXN at both the mRNA and protein levels in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Atorvastatin inhibited pyroptosis by decreasing the expression levels of the canonical inflammasome pathway biomarkers NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 at both the mRNA and protein levels. The promotion effects of atorvastatin on NEXN-AS1 and NEXN expression could be significantly abolished by knockdown of lncRNA NEXN-AS1 or NEXN, and its inhibitory effects on pyroptosis were also markedly offset by knock-down of lncRNA NEXN-AS1 or interference of NEXN. Conclusions These results demonstrated that atorvastatin regulated pyroptosis via the lncRNA NEXN-AS1-NEXN pathway, which provides a new insight into the mechanism of how atorvastatin promotes non-lipid-lower effects against the development of atherosclerosis and gives new directions on how to reverse atherosclerosis.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. We have previously demonstrated that blue light can damage RPE cells and their underlying mechanisms. We found that hexahydrocurcumin (HHC), a metabolite of curcumin, had better retinal protection than curcumin. However, the involved mechanisms remain unclear.By exposing ARPE-19 human RPE cells and mouse primary RPE cells to blue light, the intracellular mechanisms of HHC in cells were investigated, including the proliferation of RPE cells and the effects of HHC on activating intracellular protective mechanisms and related factors. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) RNA sequencing revealed the underlying mechanisms involved in the induction and regulation of HHC treatment following blue light exposure.HHC promoted autophagy by enhancing autophagic flux, reduced oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and effectively reversed blue light-induced cell death. RNA sequencing-based bioinformatics approaches comprehensively analyze HHC-mediated cellular processes.Our findings elucidate the mechanisms of HHC against blue light damage in RPE cells and are beneficial for the development of natural metabolite-based preventive drugs or functional foods.

Solar-driven steam generation is a common strategy for clean water production and wastewater treatment. Tungsten-oxide-based composites have lately gained significant attention due to their capability of absorbing near-infrared (NIR) light and transforming it into heat for evaporating water. The strong surface plasma resonances and intervalence charge transfer of these composites result in high photoabsorption in a wide NIR spectrum. Here, we fabricate combined rubidium tungsten bronze and recycled triacetate cellulose (RbxWO3/rTAC) porous fiber membranes without any supporting components, via solution electrospinning. The as-prepared RbxWO3/rTAC porous fiber membranes float on the water surface because of their low weight and hydrophobicity. RbxWO3 (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) was incorporated into a recycled triacetate cellulose (rTAC) matrix, and its efficiency for light-driven water evaporation was calculated. The rTAC polymer, significantly contributes toward its desirable wetting properties and its porous structure, which are favorable for solar steam generation. The results showed that the evaporation efficiency of RbxWO3/rTAC fiber membranes with an optimized 15 wt% of RbxWO3 nanorods reached 90.4 ± 2.1%, which is considerably greater than that of pure rTAC fiber membranes and of pure water. A great potential has also been proved by simulating solar exposure, with a water conversion efficiency of approximately 73.6%. Thus, RbxWO3/rTAC photothermal fiber membranes can find applications in water purification, desalination, and steam power generation.

To investigate the changes of Spike protein-HLA binding affinity profiles between the Wuhan strain and two dominant variants, the Delta and the Omicron strains, among the Taiwanese, the British and the Russian populations.The HLA frequencies and the HLA-peptide binding affinity profiles in the T-CoV database were combined to conduct the study. We focused on the public alleles in the three populations (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1, and/or HLA-DPA1/DPB1 alleles) and the altered peptides of the spike protein (compared to the Wuhan strain) in the Delta G/478K·V1 (B.1.617.2 + AY.1 + AY.2) and the Omicron (BA.1) strains.For the Delta strain, tight bindings of the altered peptides to the HLA alleles decrease in all three populations and almost vanish in the Taiwanese population. For the Omicron strain, tight bindings are mostly preserved for both HLA classes and in the Taiwanese and the British populations, with a slight reduction in HLA class II in the Taiwanese (1.4%), while the Russian population preserves a relatively high fraction of tight bindings for both HLA classes.We comprehensively reported the changes in the HLA-associated SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein peptide binding profiles among the Taiwanese, the British, and the Russian populations. Further studies are needed to understand the immunological mechanisms and the clinical value of our findings.