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Background: Chromobox Homolog 1 (CBX1) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including the evolution and advancement of diverse cancers. The role of CBX1 in pan-cancer and its mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, remains to be further investigated. Methods: Bioinformatics approaches were harnessed to scrutinize CBX1's expression profile, its association with tumor staging, and its potential impact on patient outcomes across various cancers. Single-cell RNA sequencing data facilitated the investigation of CBX1 expression patterns at the individual cell level. The CBX1 expression levels in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues were quantified through Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Western Blotting (WB), and Immunohistochemical analyses. A tissue microarray was employed to explore the relationship between CBX1 levels, patient prognosis, and clinicopathological characteristics in HCC. Various in vitro assays—including CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell invasion, and scratch tests—were conducted to assess the proliferative and motility properties of HCC cells upon modulation of CBX1 expression. Moreover, the functional impact of CBX1 on HCC was further discerned through xenograft studies in nude mice. Results: CBX1 was found to be upregulated in most cancer forms, with heightened expression correlating with adverse patient prognoses. Within the context of HCC, elevated levels of CBX1 were consistently indicative of poorer clinical outcomes. Suppression of CBX1 through knockdown methodologies markedly diminished HCC cell proliferation, invasive capabilities, migratory activity, Epithelial−mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes, and resistance to Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Contrastingly, CBX1 augmentation facilitated the opposite effects. Subsequent investigative efforts revealed CBX1 to be a promoter of EMT and a contributor to increased TKI resistance within HCC cells, mediated via the IGF-1R/AKT/SNAIL signaling axis. The oncogenic activities of CBX1 proved to be attenuable either by AKT pathway inhibition or by targeted silencing of IGF-1R. Conclusions: The broad overexpression of CBX1 in pan-cancer and specifically in HCC positions it as a putative oncogenic entity. It is implicated in forwarding HCC progression and exacerbating TKI resistance through its interaction with the IGF-1R/AKT/SNAIL signaling cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of serum level of Interleukin 6(IL-6) and Interleukin 17 (IL-17) in liver transplantation outcome for living recipients, Analyze the relation between the gene polymorphism and the occurrence of rejection after liver transplantation and Study the relation between the gene polymorphism and the occurrence of different infectious complications. The study was conducted in March 2023 and included 60 healthy volunteers from the National Liver Institute (NLI) blood bank at Menoufia University and 120 live donation liver recipient patients at NLI. During one month of liver transplantation, the cytokine levels (IL-17, IL-6 proteins, IL-6 G-174C, and IL-17 A rs2275913 gene polymorphism) and CD4 levels for 60 patients of 120 live donation liver recipient patients whom early reject transplanted tissue and the same parameters were measured after 6 months follow up for non-reject group. The main finding of this study was that the post-transplant rejection group and the post-transplant non-rejection and control groups differed significantly in the genotype frequency (CC, CG, and GG) or alleles of IL-6 G-174C (p = 0.011). On the other hand IL-17A rs2275913 gene polymorphism and its alleles (p = 0.71) showed no statistically significant difference. We also observed that serum IL-17 levels, with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity threshold, will be more sensitive and specific than serum IL-6 and CD4 count in differentiating post-transplant rejection from non-rejection patients. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between the genotypes and serum levels of interleukins and the type and degree of rejection. Proinflammatory cytokines might be useful indicators for distinguishing and early identifying unfavorable outcomes after transplantation, allowing for prompt and effective treatment intervention. To evaluate these findings, prospective clinical trials are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is a rare primary liver tumor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the crucial imaging characteristics of PHL. Methods: CT/MR data and clinical features of 16 patients with pathologically proven PHL were retrospectively reviewed. The assessed imaging characteristics included lesion distribution, growth appearance, density or signal characteristics, and typical signs during the dynamic enhancement. Results: A total of sixteen patients were included in this study, ranging in age from 27 to 86 years (nine men and seven women; mean age, 62 years). Right upper abdominal pain, malaise, or first detection during physical examination were the chief complaint. Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI demonstrated focal masses in thirteen patients (13/16, 81%), and multiple nodules in three patients (3/16, 19%). The lesions showed vascular floating sign in 10 patients (10/16, 63%) and biliary pass-through sign in 6 patients (6/16, 37%). Necrosis in PHLs were observed in 10 patients (10/16, 63%) and presented target sign on T2WI in 5 out of 11 patients (5/11, 45%) undergoing MRI. After enhancement, PHLs had multinodular sign in the arterial phase in 10 patients (10/16, 63%), and presented washout of contrast medium in the portal-venous or delayed phase in 12 patients (12/16, 75%), pseudocapsule in the delayed phase in 15 patients (15/16, 94%), and double-ring sign in the delayed phase in 8 patients (8/16, 50%). Conclusion: PHL is generally seen in elderly patients with elevated beta-2-microglobulin levels. Its distinctive imaging features including obviously low ADC value, biliary/vascular floating sign, multinodular sign and double-ring sign in the delayed phase, may help to diagnose and differentiate PHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to understand the dynamic behaviors of lignin-amended loess. Dynamic properties tests of lignin-amended loess with different contents and strength tests at optimum content were carried out by using a hollow cylinder torsion shear apparatus. Firstly, the effect of lignin fiber content (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) on the dynamic properties of improved loess was investigated, and the results showed that the optimal lignin content for improved loess was 1%, at which time compared with pure loess the highest increase of the dynamic shear stress in the skeleton curve of the soil was 73.8%, the increase of dynamic shear modulus was 26%, and the decrease of dynamic damping ratio was 60%; Then, the effects of moisture content (12%, 17%, 21%) and consolidated confining pressure (100 kPa, 200 kPa, 300 kPa) on the dynamic strength of 1% modified loess were studied, and the subsidence characteristics of the improved loess were also focused on, the results indicated that the dynamic strength of the improved loess decreased with the increase of moisture content and increase with the confining pressure, and the seismic characteristics increase with the increase of dynamic shear stress and the number of cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement is an imaging feature commonly encountered on contrast-enhanced CT and MRI in focal liver lesions. Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement is a subtype of arterial phase hyperenhancement mainly present at the periphery of lesions on the arterial phase. It is caused by a relative arterialization of the periphery compared with the center of the lesion and needs to be differentiated from other patterns of peripheral enhancement, including the peripheral discontinuous nodular enhancement and the corona enhancement. Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may be a typical or an atypical imaging presentation of many benign and malignant focal liver lesions, challenging the radiologists during imaging interpretation. Benign focal liver lesions that may show rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may have a vascular, infectious, or inflammatory origin. Malignant focal liver lesions displaying rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may have a vascular, hepatocellular, biliary, lymphoid, or secondary origin. The differences in imaging characteristics on contrast-enhanced CT may be subtle, and a multiparametric approach on MRI may be helpful to narrow the list of differentials. This article aims to review the broad spectrum of focal liver lesions that may show rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, using an approach based on the benign and malignant nature of lesions and their histologic origin. Critical relevance statement: Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may be an imaging feature encountered in benign and malignant focal liver lesions and the diagnostic algorithm approach provided in this educational review may guide toward the final diagnosis. Key Points: Several focal liver lesions may demonstrate rim arterial phase hyperenhancement. Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may occur in vascular, inflammatory, and neoplastic lesions. Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement may challenge radiologists during image interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This work evaluated the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on cardiovascular events (CVEs) and inflammatory factors in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Clinical data from these patients were analysis, intending to provide relevant theoretical evidence for clinical practice. Materials and methods: Data of 166 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and developed UGIB while on DAPT at The First People' Hospital of Linping District from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were rolled into two groups: those who received PPI treatment and those who did not, namely, PPI and non-PPI group, respectively. Furthermore, occurrence of CVEs and the levels of inflammatory factors of patients in all groups were statistically analyzed. Results: In patients with UGIB, melena is a common presentation. The incidence of CVE in the PPI group showed no statistically significant difference compared to the control group, and there was no significant variance observed in the distribution of CVE incidence among different PPIs. However, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were significantly lower in the PPI group compared to the non-PPI group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Melena was the most frequent clinical manifestation in UGIB patients. The use of PPIs did not increase the risk of CVEs, and different PPI drugs did not affect the occurrence of CVEs. Furthermore, PPIs lowered CRP and TNF-α levels in serum of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs similar simulation testing and discrete element simulation coupling to analyze the failure and deformation processes of a model coal seam's roof. The caving area of the overburden rock is divided into three zones: the delamination fracture zone, broken fracture zone, and compaction zone. The caving and fracture zones' heights are approximately 110 m above the coal seam, with a maximum subsidence of 11 m. The delamination fracture zone's porosity range is between 0.2 and 0.3, while the remainder of the roof predominantly exhibits a porosity of less than 0.1. In addition, the numerical model's stress analysis revealed that the overburden rock's displacement zone forms an 'arch-beam' structure starting from 160 m, with the maximum and minimum stress values decreasing as the distance of advancement increases. In the stress beam interval of the overburden rock, the maximum value changes periodically as the advancement distance increases. Based on a comparative analysis between observable data from on-site work and numerical simulation results, the stress data from the numerical simulation are essentially consistent with the actual results detected on-site, indicating the validity of the numerical simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing renewable and green biomass to supply energy and chemicals has emerged as a fascinating research field due to its great potential to solve the problems of fossil resource shortage and ecological deterioration throughout the world. However, to date it has been an open challenge to achieve efficient biomass utilization for ultimately replacing the petrochemical industry. We report here a general and efficient strategy for complete utilization of biomass. Such strategy is accomplished by combination of hydrothermal extraction based on microwave heating and natural seawater extraction and further pyrolysis of residual solid. Bifunctional natural seawater not only functions as a solvent for carbohydrate conversion but also provides chloride element for promotion of pyrolysis of lignin in residual solid into high-value-added petrochemicals. Such strategy can achieve full biomass utilization with extremely high carbohydrate conversion efficiency of 91.5% and preferred production of aromatics such as 37.5% benzenes and 36.4% phenols in all identified pyrolytic compounds. This may pay the way for replacing fossil resources with biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of rice husk into Si/C as Li-ion battery anode material is an attractive route for its value-added utilization. However, it is hard to endow the Si/C with long-cycle stability, which was related to the exposure of Si on material surface. To improve the stability, in this study, a carbon coating was created for Si/C obtained by low-temperature reduction of rice husk char. The carbon coating was adjusted by varying the type of carbon precursors (glucose, phenolic resin, and pitch) with different aromatic carbon contents. After coating Si/C with the carbon derived from precursor with low aromatic carbon content (namely glucose), its long-cycle capacity, rate performance, and initial Coulombic efficiency were all increased, as the coating was favorable for increasing the surface Si coverage, bulk-carbon graphitization degree, and mesopores of material. The Si/C coated by glucose carbon showed a discharge capacity of 811 mAh/g after 1100 cycles at 0.5 A/g current density. Such a high long-cycle capacity was rare for biomass-derived Si/C composites. This research provided a route to transform sustainable rice husk into Li-ion anode material with long-cycle stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation is a highly complex and challenging field of clinical practice. Although it was originally developed in western countries, it has been further advanced in Asian countries through the use of living donor liver transplantation. This method of transplantation is the only available option in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to the lack of deceased organ donation. As a result of this clinical situation, there is a growing need for guidelines that are specific to the Asia-Pacific region. These guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for evidence-based management throughout the entire process of liver transplantation, covering both deceased and living donor liver transplantation. In addition, the development of these guidelines has been a collaborative effort between medical professionals from various countries in the region. This has allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to a more comprehensive and effective set of guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary era of technological advancement, the escalating energy consumption paralleling enhanced living standards necessitates sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions. Supercapacitors (SCs), lauded for their high capacitance and minimal environmental impact, have emerged as a focal point in this pursuit. Central to SCs' efficacy are the electrode materials, with nickel-based compounds gaining prominence due to their high theoretical capacitance, affordability, ecological compatibility, ease of synthesis, and chemical stability. Despite these merits, challenges such as inadequate rate capability and cycling property impede their broader applications. This review summarizes the latest advancements in nickel-based composite materials for SC electrodes. It comprehensively discusses their characteristics, fabrication techniques, morphological attributes, and strategies for performance enhancement. The review also analytically explores the diverse electrochemical properties of SCs, offering insights into the underlying causes. Concluding with a discussion on prevailing challenges and potential resolutions, it anticipates future directions in nickel-based supercapacitor electrode material development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) have emerged as an important field of research and development for advanced battery technologies, with tremendous potential for applications across industries. The advantages of inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) include high mechanical strength, high safety, excellent chemical stability, and compatibility with high-energy-density electrodes. These properties enable ISEs to improve the performance and safety of batteries, offering great potential for the fabrication of high-performance solid-state batteries and attracting widespread research interest. This mini review highlights the potential applications of SSEs and recent advances in the types and preparation methods of ISEs, while also pointing out the opportunities and challenges facing ISEs. Further development of low-cost preparation methods, improved ion transport efficiency, and enhanced stability and safety of ISEs are needed to achieve continued progress in solid-state battery technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota, known as the second human genome, plays a vital role in modulating drug metabolism, significantly impacting therapeutic outcomes and adverse effects. Emerging research has elucidated that the microbiota mediates a range of modifications of drugs, leading to their activation, inactivation, or even toxication. In diverse individuals, variations in the gut microbiota can result in differences in microbe–drug interactions, underscoring the importance of personalized approaches in pharmacotherapy. However, previous studies on drug metabolism in the gut microbiota have been hampered by technical limitations. Nowadays, advances in biotechnological tools, such as microbially derived metabolism screening and microbial gene editing, have provided a deeper insight into the mechanism of drug metabolism by gut microbiota, moving us toward personalized therapeutic interventions. Given this situation, our review summarizes recent advances in the study of gut-microbiota-mediated drug metabolism and showcases techniques and models developed to navigate the challenges posed by the microbial involvement in drug action. Therefore, we not only aim at understanding the complex interaction between the gut microbiota and drugs and outline the development of research techniques and models, but we also summarize the specific applications of new techniques and models in researching gut-microbiota-mediated drug metabolism, with the expectation of providing new insights on how to study drug metabolism by gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effort toward reproduction is often thought to negatively influence health and survival. Reproduction has been shown to influence metabolism, but the pathways and mechanisms have yet to be thoroughly elucidated. In the current experiments, our aim was to dissect the role of young and old ovarian tissues in the response to oxidative stress, through changes in liver oxidative stress response proteins. Liver proteins were analyzed in control mice at 4, 13, and 27 months of age and compared to 23-month-old mice which received young ovarian tissue transplants (intact or follicle-depleted) at 13 months of age. In control mice, of the 29 oxidative stress response proteins measured, 31% of the proteins decreased, 52% increased, and 17% were unchanged from 13 to 27 months. The greatest changes were seen during the period of reproductive failure, from 4 to 13 months of age. In transplanted mice, far more proteins were decreased from 13 to 23 months (93% in follicle-containing young ovary recipients; 62% in follicle-depleted young ovary recipients). Neither transplant group reflected changes seen in control mice between 13 and 27 months. Estradiol levels in transplant recipient mice were not increased compared with age-matched control mice. The current results suggest the presence of a germ cell- and estradiol-independent ovarian influence on aging-associated changes in the response to oxidative stress, which is manifest differently in reproductive-aged adults and post-reproductive-aged mice. The results presented here separate chronological and ovarian aging and the influence of estradiol in the response to aging-associated oxidative stress and support a novel, estradiol-independent role for the ovary in female health and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the issues of slippage and dislodging caused by insufficient grout compactness in railway bridge spherical steel bearings, a novel kind of anti-separation spherical steel bearing is presented. Firstly, a comparative test model was meticulously designed and constructed for the bearing-stone assembly, encompassing both the traditional spherical steel bearing and the innovative anti-separation spherical steel bearing. Next, mechanical performance testing and finite element simulation analysis were completed. Finally, an empirical equation for the vertical load-strain fitting of the bearing was established. The results demonstrate that, under the maximum vertical static load, the convex spherical crown anti-separation design of the new anti-dislodging bearing is not sensitive to the bearing performance of the bearing-bedding stone combination. All indexes also meet the specifications. Under the action of cyclic load, the error of each parameter between finite element analysis and test results is less than 7%, which shows that the new anti- separation spherical bearing has higher bearing capacity and better fatigue resistance; the fitted value of the established bearing vertical load-strain calculation formula is in agreement with the test value by more than 0.95, which can predict whether the new anti-separation bearing fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cytokeratin 19-positive cancer stem cells (CK19 + CSCs) and their tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have not been fully explored yet in the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Experimental design: Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on the viable cells obtained from 11 treatment-naïve HBV-associated HCC patients, including 8 CK19 + patients, to elucidate their transcriptomic landscape, CK19 + CSC heterogeneity, and immune microenvironment. Two in-house primary HCC cohorts (96 cases-related HBV and 89 cases with recurrence), TCGA external cohort, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to validate the results. Results: A total of 64,581 single cells derived from the human HCC and adjacent normal tissues were sequenced, and 11 cell types were identified. The result showed that CK19 + CSCs were phenotypically and transcriptionally heterogeneous, co-expressed multiple hepatics CSC markers, and were positively correlated with worse prognosis. Moreover, the SPP1 + TAMs (TAM_SPP1) with strong M2-like features and worse prognosis were specifically enriched in the CK19 + HCC and promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by activating angiogenesis. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) derived from TAM_SPP1, as the hub gene of CK19 + HCC, was activated by the VEGFA signal. Conclusions: This study revealed the heterogeneity and stemness characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and specific immunosuppressive TAM_SPP1 in CK19 + HCC. The VEGFA signal can activate TAM_SPP1-derived MMP9 to promote the invasion and metastasis of CK19 + HCC tumors. This might provide novel insights into the clinical treatment of HCC patients. Lay summary: Cytokeratin 19-positive hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor therapeutic progress. Understanding the characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and their immune microenvironment better might facilitate the development of effective targeted and immunotherapy. This study identified the heterogeneity and characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and explored their unique immunosuppressive SPP1+TAM niche. The results suggested that the VEGFA signal activates TAM_SPP1-derived MMP9 to promote the invasion and metastasis of CK19 + HCC tumors. The study might have an important therapeutic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of bacterial additives on immune response, intestinal microbiota, and survival of the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated. Bacillus licheniformis BCR 4–3 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus IPNGS16 cultures were spray-dried. Inulin, probiotics, and postbiotics of Bacillus (SPB) and postbiotics of Vibrio (PVp) were added to the commercial feed. An experiment with three treatments in triplicate was performed during 19 days. The growth was not affected by the additives but survival of animals was significantly higher as compared to control group. The expression of SOD, crustin, and penaeidin4 in PVp-treated animals was significantly higher compared to the control but lysozyme expression did not change. The phyla, families, and genera that predominated in the white shrimp intestine were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrionaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Vibrio, Ruegeria, and Phaeobacter. The Vibrio genus decreased significantly in SPB and PVp treatments, compared to the control. The control, SPB, and PVp shared 294 OTUs. No changes were observed in the alpha and beta diversity. The metabolic activity of Vibrio and Roseobacter was higher in the control compared to SPB and PVp, whereas for Phaeobacter and Ruegeria, it decreased. Feed additives increase survival and modulated the immune response and gut microbiota of the white shrimp, so they can be used in commercial farms to increase production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This thorough review explores the pioneering applications of graphene oxide (GO) in tackling emerging environmental pollutants, highlighting its distinct role in environmental remediation. Setting itself apart, this review meticulously synthesizes cutting-edge research, focusing on GO's practical applications in eliminating emerging contaminants from water. It is worth highlighting that there is a limited number of reviews focused on this particular subject, making this work outstanding. It provides specific instances of successful contaminant removal, identifies knowledge gaps, and proposes future directions. Serving as a vital resource for researchers and practitioners, it offers practical insights into applying GO in contaminant remediation, especially in challenging environments. The review critically analyzes crucial gaps in current research, including understanding the long-term environmental effects of GO, its interactions with diverse pollutants, and effective large-scale implementation. This review not only expands our knowledge, but also guides future research endeavors. Furthermore, it outlines clear pathways for future studies, advocating for in-depth ecological research, advanced contaminant interaction analyses, and innovative large-scale implementation strategies. This work establishes a strong foundation, defining the unique novelty of GO applications in environmental remediation and shaping the future discourse in this essential field of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation is the second most common solid organ transplant and the best option for liver failure. Of course, patient survival after transplantation depends on many risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial and non-linear effects of continuous risk factors on patient survival after liver transplantation. This retrospective cohort study (n = 3148) used data on liver transplantation in Iran (2004–2019). A generalized additive model with spatial effects and non-linear effects of age and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score variables by penalized spline was used. The majority of patients were male (63.3%), with a mean (SD) age of 42.65 (13.31) and a mean (SD) MELD score of 24.43 (6.72). The 1, 5, and 10-year survival rates were 88.2%, 84.6%, and 82.5% respectively. The non-linear effect showed a steeper slope of the age effect on the hazard of death after the age of 50 (p < 0.05), and the MELD score had a direct but non-linear relationship with the hazard of death (p < 0.05). In the spatial pattern, the provinces with a greater distance from the transplant center had significantly fewer old patients than other provinces. Also, more distant provinces with an older transplant age had higher post-transplant mortality rates. Our study showed that it is better to take age and MELD score into account in postoperative care. The spatial pattern of mortality risk reflects inequalities in access to transplantation and public health services after transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum depression is a serious disease with a high incidence and severe impact on pregnant women and infants, but its mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that GABA receptors, especially extrasynaptic receptors, are closely associated with postpartum depression. There are many different structures of GABA receptors, so different types of receptors have different functions, even though they transmit information primarily through GABA. In this review, we focus on the function of GABA receptors, especially extrasynaptic GABA receptors, and their association with postpartum depression. We have shown that the extrasynaptic GABA receptor has a significant impact on the activity and function of neurons through tonic inhibition. The extrasynaptic receptor and its ligands undergo drastic changes during pregnancy and childbirth. Abnormal changes or the body's inability to adjust and recover may be an important cause of postpartum depression. Finally, by reviewing the mechanisms of several novel antidepressants, we suggest that extrasynaptic receptors may be potential targets for the treatment of postpartum depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard roof's 3D breaking characteristics is vital for mining pressure control. However, the research concerning a longwall face that employs an innovative roof-cutting technology via a chainsaw arm machine (RCTCAM) is scant. To address this gap, this paper thoroughly analyzes RCTCAM's core equipment and roof-cutting procedures. Firstly, the thin elastic plate theory and the superposition principle were applied to establish the first and periodic break mechanical models of hard roofs using the RCTCAM. These mechanical models elucidated the distribution laws of the first and third principal bending moments in a hard roof. Following this, based on tensile failure criteria and crack expansion criteria, the study uncovered that the hard roof's first break transitioned from an 'O–X' shape to a 'U–Y' shape, while its periodic break morphed from a 'C–ン' shape to an 'L–ノ' shape. This transformation led to a unique phenomenon. The rotation of arc-shaped triangular plates formed during the 'O–X' and 'C–ン' -shaped breaks resulted in severe damage to a gob-side roadway. However, a longwall face employing the RCTCAM did not produce such plates, effectively avoiding the associated damage. By implementing the RCTCAM in Workface 8311 of the Yanya Mine in China, the stress peaks of the coal pillars were reduced on average by 22.8%, and the deformation of the roadway decreased by 27.8%. These findings underline the success of the RCTCAM in achieving pressure relief for a gob-side roadway. Highlights: It was given that the theoretical calculation method for deflection, bending moment, and stress of a hard roof with the RCTCAM under the first and periodic breaks. When with the RCTCAM, hard roof's first break exhibits a transition from an 'O-X' shape to an 'U-Y' shape, while its periodic break changes from a 'C-ン' shape to an 'L-ノ' shape. Due to rotation of arc-shaped triangular plates formed in the 'O-X' and 'C-ン'-shaped breaks, a gob-side roadway bear severe damage. However, a longwall face with the RCTCAM has no such plates, thus avoiding damage. With the RCTCAM in Workface 8311 of the Yanya Mine, China, the stress peaks of a gob-side roadway's coal pillars dropped averagely by 22.8%, indicating that the RCTCAM achieve pressure relief for a gob-side roadway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically propose a scheme to generate distant bipartite entanglement between various subsystems in coupled magnomechanical systems where both the microwave cavities are coupled through single photon hopping coupling strength Γ. Each cavity contains a magnon mode and phonon mode and this gives six excitation modes in our model Hamiltonian which are cavity-1 photons, cavity-2 photons, magnon and phonon in cavity-1, and magnon and phonon in cavity-2. We found that significant bipartite entanglement exists between indirectly coupled subsystems in coupled microwave cavities for an appropriate set of parameters regime. Moreover, we also obtain suitable cavity and magnon detuning parameters for a significant distant bipartite entanglement in different bipartitions. In addition, it can be seen that a single photon hopping parameter significantly affects both the degree as well as the transfer of quantum entanglement between various bipartitions. Hence, our present study related to coupled microwave cavity magnomechanical configuration will open new perspectives in coherent control of various quantum correlations including quantum state transfer among macroscopic quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, the photoacoustic spectrum (PAS) analysis technology cannot face the need for SF6 gas-decomposition products due to the high noise level, big shock and low accuracy. In this manuscript, we present a portable sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas-decomposition PAS gas analysis system based on mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (MI-QCL). Because the narrow linewidth, high speed tunable and stability wavelength of MI-QCL, our PAS gas analysis system has a good performance. A platform for MI-QCL PAS system is set up in our work. The accuracy of quantitative detection for sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO) in SF6 gas background mixture gas is 0.5, 0.1 and 0.1 ppm, respectively. Experiment results demonstrate the MI-QCL PAS system not only has a high detection accuracy, but also has a small system volume. This work gives a novel solution method for PAS system miniaturization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation (EKAPR) is a potential technology much affected by the metal species and accessibility to plant roots. In this study, Pb-contaminated red soil was remediated with Sedum plumbizincicola to investigate the changes in soil pH, available nutrients, dissociation and redistribution of Pb under a long-term periodic reversal direct-current electric field. This approach could effectively activate soil P, K, organic matter (OM) and Pb, without significant soil acidification; the effect was positively correlated with applied voltage. Soil Pb can be continuously dissociated, migrated, and tended to accumulate in the middle region. The maximum Pb removal rate in the anodic section of the EKAPR system was 21.4%, and the aggregation rate in middle regions was 14.4%, higher than the available Pb content of the original soil. The Pb desorption in aqueous solution increased significantly with increasing voltage, irrespective of the solution pH. At a voltage of 20 V, the Pb cumulative desorption content reached 91.1 mg kg−1 (pH = 7), which was 2.7 times than that without electric field (33.2 mg kg−1). Compared to original soil (2.80 mg kg−1) and the control (14.54 mg kg−1), the available Pb in the anode section of EKAPR system (20.66 mg kg−1) increased by 637.9% and 42.1%, respectively. These results indicated that except for the indirect influence of soil pH changes, electrodynamics can directly promote the bioavailability and dissociation of Pb at the soil–water interface. This finding provides a new perspective for further studies on the mechanism of Pb speciation evolution and accumulation changes using EKAPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS2 can be used as an excellent electrode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, the electrochemical performance of MoS2 is not ideal due to its large volume changes during electrochemical processes, leading to its poor cyclic stability. Here, we report a simple and reliable hydrothermal carbonization method to prepare high-performance energy storage materials. Herein, using wheat straw as a carbon source and ammonium iron sulfate hexahydrate (AFSH) as a regulator, porous wheat straw carbon (PWSC) materials were prepared by hydrothermal and high-temperature carbonization treatment. Using the obtained porous carbon as a carbon matrix, a triblock copolymer F127 was selected to control the morphology of MoS2, and a porous wheat straw carbon and flower-like MoS2 composite (PWSC@MoS2) was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The effects of the amount of structural modifier on the overall electrochemical properties of the composites were investigated. It was finally determined that the composite (PWSC@ MoS2-2) at the optimal structural modifier ratio of 1:2 showed high lithium storage capacity (1435 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C), excellent cycling stability, and superior rate performance. Therefore, this efficient and environmentally friendly method of preparing PWSC@MoS2 composites from wheat straw can realize the secondary utilization of biomass waste and is a new choice of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the flourishing development of the photovoltaic industry, the waste of silicon slime generated by photovoltaic cutting has been a serious environmental problem, along with silicon resource waste. In this paper, the waste silicon slime produced by the photovoltaic industry was used as raw materials. Porous silicon particles were synthesized with the magnesium thermal reduction method, combined with hydrofluoric acid etching. The porous silicon can be applied to be the anode material of lithium-ion batteries. The synergistic effect of magnesium thermal reduction and acid etching on the preparation of porous silicon materials was studied. A lower heating rate of 5 °C/min will result in less heat accumulation, which can avoid the formation of large-sized Si/MgO composite particles and obtain a well-dispersed morphology. After a current density of 100 mA·g−1, the reversible capacity of porous silicon anode is 751.1 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Compared with commercial nano silicon, its cycle stability and cycle performance have been improved, which provides a new approach for green reutilization of waste silicon slime in the photovoltaic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemokines play a vital role in tumor progression, metastasis and prognosis; however, the profile and clinical significance of gamma interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and its receptor (CXCR3) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been well evaluated. Methods: Liquid-phase chip technology was used to detect the serum IP-10 in 85 patients with HBV-related HCC, 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 50 liver cirrhosis subjects (CS); simultaneously, the CXCR3 and Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were determined. Additionally, their mRNA or protein expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), liver tumor and paracancerous tissues were quantified using qRT-PCR or ELISA. Moreover, the IP-10 and CXCR3 expression was verified by the online data from Gene Expression Omnibus. Furthermore, the relationships of serum IP-10, CXCR3 and AFP levels with their overall survival rate were also analyzed. Results: The levels of IP-10 and CXCR3 in HCC group were significantly higher than those in CHB and CS groups, and their mRNA of PBMC is significantly positive correlation with those in their liver tissues or HBV DNA load (P < 0.0001), respectively. The serum IP-10 and CXCR3 in HCC were significantly correlated with tumor differentiation, metastases staging and distant metastasis (P < 0.05), but not related to gender, age and tumor size (P > 0.05, except IP-10 based on age). Conclusions: The serum IP-10 (142.6 pg/mL) and CXCR3 (241.2 pg/mL) could be differential diagnostic surrogates that distinguish HCC from CS, and the lower IP-10 level may be conducive to the postoperative survival of HCC patients. Moreover, the IP-10 and CXCR3 would be related to anti-tumor immunity in HCC patients and be a potential target for treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion-regulating molecule 1 (ADRM1) has been implicated in tumor development, yet its specific role in bladder cancer (BC) remains undefined. This study aimed to elucidate the function of ADRM1 in BC through a combination of bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). Utilizing R version 3.6.3 and relevant packages, we analyzed online database data. Validation was conducted through IHC data, approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Approval No. K20220830). In both paired and unpaired comparisons, ADRM1 expression was significantly elevated in BC tissues compared to adjacent tissues, as evidenced by the results of TCGA dataset and IHC data. Patients with high ADRM1 expression had statistically worse overall survival than those with low ADRM1 expression in TCGA dataset, GSE32548 dataset, GSE32894 dataset, and IHC data. Functional analysis unveiled enrichment in immune-related pathways, and a robust positive correlation emerged between ADRM1 expression and pivotal immune checkpoints, including CD274, PDCD1, and PDCD1LG2. In tumor microenvironment, samples with the high ADRM1 expression contained statistical higher proportion of CD8 + T cells and Macrophage infiltration. Meanwhile, these high ADRM1-expressing samples displayed elevated tumor mutation burden scores and stemness indices, implying potential benefits from immunotherapy. Patients with low ADRM1 expression were sensitive to cisplatin, docetaxel, vinblastine, mitomycin C, and methotrexate. According to the findings from bioinformatics and IHC analyses, ADRM1 demonstrates prognostic significance for BC patients and holds predictive potential for both immunotherapy and chemotherapy responses. This underscores its role as a biomarker and therapeutic target in BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of nations and regions have printed concrete structures thanks to the application of 3D printing technology in the field of civil engineering. However, the houses built with printed concrete are mostly printed concrete wall structures with composite load-bearing walls and cast-in-place frames. This structure solely takes into account the performance of the structure under vertical loads, which does not address its ability to withstand horizontal loads. In this paper, wall specimens were designed and tested under horizontal reciprocal loads in order to investigate the structural performance of this cast-in-place border-frame printed concrete wall structure under horizontal loads. Four factors are examined in order to determine how well the cast-in-place frame printed concrete wall structure performs when subjected to horizontal loads: column longitudinal reinforcement strain, hysteresis curve, skeleton curve, and energy dissipation capacity. According to the test results, the addition of the wall increased the bearing capacity and accumulated energy dissipation of the specimen, but the increase in stiffness also caused the structural ductility to decrease. As a result, cracks were more likely to generate at the wall–column joints, so the stiffness matching between the printed concrete wall and the cast-in-place side frame needed to be further coordinated to obtain a higher ductility. It turns out that the wall sections have little impact on the seismic performance of the members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver biopsy is crucial to know if the tumor is benign or malignant. This paper has reviewed the literature clinically shedding lights on the present biopsy procedure, requirements, and potential challenges. This study has emphasized the role of navigation during liver biopsy. It has discussed the various imaging modalities used for biopsy. The potential limitations of imaging modalities have been discussed in detail. It is found that liver biopsy could be effective when fusion imaging is used instead of a single imaging modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Various approaches have been reported for the resection of the nervous and lymphatic tissues around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer. We developed a new procedure for circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA to minimize local recurrence. Methods: We included 24 patients who underwent PD with circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA (circumferential dissection) and 94 patients who underwent classical mesopancreatic dissection (classical dissection) between 2019 and 2021. The technical details of this new method are described in the figures and videos, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of this technique were compared with those of classical dissection. Results: The median follow-up durations in the circumferential and classical dissection groups were 39 and 36 months, respectively. The patients' characteristics, including tumor resectability, preoperative and adjuvant chemotherapy rates, postoperative complication rates, and tumor stage, were similar between the two groups. No differences were observed in recurrence-free survival and overall survival between the two groups; however, the classical dissection group tended to have more local recurrences than the circumferential dissection group (8.3% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.168). Although no case of nodular-type recurrence after circumferential dissection was observed, 61.1% of local recurrences after classical dissection were of the nodular-type, and 36.4% were located on the left side of the SMA. Conclusions: Performing circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA during PD can be conducted safely with minimal risks of local recurrence and may enhance the completeness of local resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping W into Li can greatly enhance the activity of Li-ion battery. However, the structures and properties of W-doped Li clusters remain elusive. In this study, we combined the global-minimum optimization and the density-functional theory calculations to systematically explore the lowest-energy structures of WLin (n = 2–12) bimetallic clusters and found it evolves from a triangle structure to a polyhedron pyramid structure, and finally to an endohedral cluster with W atom inside. In particular, W@Li12 is identified as a superatom. The cluster exhibits an icosahedral structure with 18 valence electrons, which has a notable HOMO–LUMO gap of 1.56 eV. The ab initio molecular dynamics simulations confirm the thermal stability of this cluster. Furthermore, the infrared spectrum has two vibration peaks, corresponding to the bending vibration and stretching vibration of the tungsten–lithium bond, respectively. The UV–Vis spectrum has two absorption peaks at the excitation energy of 2–4 eV, revealing the characteristics of the orbital electron transition. This study paves the way for the study of Li–W alloy to understand its mechanism in Li-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Much attention has been paid to anthropogenic activities in the metropolitan zone and associated with their organic pollutants i.e. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) discharge. This work aims to explore the impact factors, sources, and cancer risks of soil PAHs from the northern Taihu Basin, China, providing worthwhile information for soil remediation and health risk management. Materials and methods: In this study, soil samples were collected from 43 residential areas in the northern Taihu Basin of the Yangtze River Delta. Determination of 16 PAHs performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The primary sources of PAHs were discriminated by a positive matrix decomposition (PMF) model and the contributions were quantitatively evaluated. The health risk of PAHs was assessed by the increased lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model. Results and discussion: Results showed that the PAH concentration ranged from 87.15 − 947.02 ng g−1, and the compounds were mainly composed of 4–6-ring monomers, accounting for 84.11%. The soil erosion-derived input of PAHs from land to water was determined to be 15.27 kg yr−1. Source identification of PAHs by the PMF model revealed a 50.96% contribution of vehicle emission, 34.07% of coke and coal combustion, and 14.97% of the petroleum-derived source. The correlation analysis indicated that the distance from the nearest trunk road was the key factor influencing PAHs value in soils, followed by coal/coke consumption and the age of the residential area. The changes in TOC and TN contents greatly affected the adsorption of PAHs. The ILCR value was in a range of (1.09–34.00) × 10−6. Conclusions: The highest concentrations of PAHs in soils were found in the oldest urban district. PAHs in sediments are caused by soil erosion attributing approximately 10% of the total sediments in the northern Taihu Basin. Vehicle emissions were the dominant sources. The total ILCR value ranged from 10–6 to 10–4, reflecting that potential risks would occur occasionally for residents exposed to soil PAHs, with higher cancer risk for adults, and food ingestion was the dominant exposure pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The reliability of electrical assets is greatly influenced by the quality of their insulations. Key power installations such as power cables are manufactured with polymer-based materials as part of their insulation system. However, accelerated ageing of equipment insulations due to manifestation of defect(s), and partial discharges (PDs) can offset the operation of these systems or even lead to breakdowns. In this study, a non-deterministic model to simulate the phenomenon of repetitive discharges in a spherical air-filled cavity within a practical power cable has been investigated. In addition, the work contributes to the understanding of PD behaviour and field distribution under different ageing conditions considering changes in cavity surface conductivity. First, a section of the practical XLPE cable containing the cavity is developed in 2D using COMSOL software, and a finite element analysis (FEA) of the electric field distribution within the cable insulation is performed. The magnitude of the cavity local field, that is enough to ignite a PD, is investigated. Alongside the COMSOL model, the activity of sustained internal PD is simulated in MATLAB by introducing a random sample generating factor and adjusting the model's parameters to obtain something close to the practical results. Furthermore, the impact of continuous PD in the power cable under different cavity dimensions and surface conductivity is likewise investigated, and a phase resolved PD (PRPD) pattern is established. The result shows that the magnitude and number of PDs per cycle increase as the cavity size and its surface conductivity increase. Finally, when the cavity surface conductivity rises, the amplitude of the electric field generated by the surface charge distribution and the number of PDs per cycle approach their maximum values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of chloride ion erosion, corrosion of steel bars in coastal or deicing salt environments deteriorates reinforced concrete’s (RC) structural performance. At present, there were few studies involving both chloride ion erosion and shear walls with flange, which made it difficult to evaluate the performance of corroded shear wall structures in coastal environments. Consequently, seven high-rise RC shear walls with flange were tested by electrochemical chloride erosion (ECE) and low cyclic loading in this paper, and the influences of key parameters such as corrosion degree, axial compression ratio and reinforcement ratio of longitudinal reinforcement on the hysteretic characteristics of corroded shear walls with flange were investigated. This article assesses the seismic behavior of specimens by analyzing corrosion morphology and damage processes of concrete and rebars. In addition, scrutiny is placed on failure modes, bearing capability, deformability, and energy-dissipating capacity. Subsequently, according to the failure characteristics and test data, a numerical modeling analysis method based on fiber elements was proposed and validated to obtain the seismic response prediction of corroded shear walls with flange. Finally, based on the built numerical model, the effects of other parameters on the seismic property of corroded shear walls with flange were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understory vegetation is a vital part of urban forests and provides a habitat for the sustainability of plant and animal biodiversity. Understory vegetation in urban forests is highly sensitive to anthropogenic stress and thus more prone to plant invasions. However, the influencing factors and invasion mechanisms of nonnative species (nonnatives) in the understory layers of urban forests remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the understory community structure and composition in 75 plots across 16 urban forests in Shanghai, China. We employed the random forest model, structural equation models and phylogenetic methods to explore the factors contributing to invasion success and impact of nonnatives, and also examined the phylogenetic distance and trait difference between native and nonnatives. We found that 19.4% of the species were nonnatives and Erigeron philadelphicus Willd. was the most frequent species, occurring in 33.5% of the plots. Socio-economic variables (gross domestic product, population, and distance from the city center), the understory cover of native species, and overstory canopy cover were the primary factors driving the invasion success and impact of nonnatives. The variation of the nearest phylogenetic distance between native and nonnative species indicated that both anthropogenic stress and light availability affect understory invasion success, but with different mechanisms. Specifically, an increase in light availability reduces the competition for light and provides invasion opportunities for nonnatives that are phylogenetically close to natives, while more habitat types created by human activities provide more invasion opportunities for species with distant phylogenetic relationships with the native species. We believe that these findings have important implications in the management and control of understory invasions in urban forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogeological conditions in the Ordos Basin differ greatly between east and west, so also do the water inrush patterns and prevention methods during mining. Taking the example of the Huating mining area in the southwest of the Ordos Basin, the physical and mechanical characteristics of the overburden under the glutenite aquifer are analyzed through rock-mechanics, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and acoustic-emission tests. From in situ observations and similarity simulation tests, the overburden failure characteristics and evolution law are researched. The research results show that the overburden strata under the glutenite aquifer contain medium-hard rock. The clay mineral content is relatively high in the mudstone, which have good water-resisting properties. The strength increases with confining pressure, and the sandstone is significantly stronger than the mudstone. The glutenite aquifer is weakly cemented, in which tensile–compressive deformation occurs during mining. Tensile deformation increases the pores and fractures, thereby giving rise to ample water storage space. The heights of the fractured and caved zones are 12.84–13.26 and 5.34–5.56 times the mining height, respectively. There are three zones where the thickness of the overburden strata under the glutenite aquifer is less than that of the waterproof rock pillar. The glutenite aquifer in the northern area I should be drained before mining to reduce water catchment during mining, while either height-limited mining or pre-mining water drainage can be used in areas II and III. Coal can be mined normally in the medium water-rich area and underneath the Black River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunotherapy has achieved a leap from the laboratory to the clinic, especially for therapeutic applications based on programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) that target tumour immune escape and growth. At present, 13 PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been approved as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, inherent limitations of mAbs, including poor bioavailability and immunogenicity, have led researchers to pursue alternatives and develop small-molecule inhibitors with low molecular weight. Biphenyl derivatives are small-molecule inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 with advantages of oral bioavailability, high tumour penetration and better pharmacokinetic properties. In this work, we review progress and structure-activity relationship analysis of biphenyl derivatives as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The conclusions could contribute to the design of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor candidates for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 30 sediment samples were collected from the lower reaches of the Shichuanhe River in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, to test the distribution of heavy metal elements in this area and for an analysis of the pollution levels of this area, hope to provide guidance on agricultural production activities in this region. The results show that the heavy metal elements in this area are mainly concentrated at the Qinghe River and Shichuanhe River confluences. Furthermore, the element contents are higher than that of the background levels of the continental crust (UCC) and close to the background levels of the soil from Shaanxi Province; the two most enriched elements are Cd and As, with contents of 0.79 and 22.7 mg·kg−1, respectively, and their contents are 3.8 and 1.72 times higher than that of the background values. Herein, the heavy metal pollution assessment methods applied indicated that Cd and As are the two most abundant pollutant elements in the area's soils. As has a peak geo-accumulation index value of 3, and the pollution level is high, while Cd exhibits high potential ecological risks due to its high toxicity (potential risk index of 143) and an active fraction of more than 64%. In addition, a principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis study showed that there are two sources of the heavy metals in this area. The Zn, As, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cr are mainly from natural sources, and the Cd likely comes from a discharge of untreated agricultural wastewater in the region. The Cd which poses a high potential risk and mainly results from human activities, needs to be further monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological scientists have established 'Biodiversity Informatics' to map the global diversity of biological organisms by using cutting-edge bioinformatics tools. This review depicts an overview of microbial diversity's status worldwide and discusses microbial biodiversity in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The study shows how the 'Biodiversity Informatics' could help scientists to map the variety of microbial species recorded in terrestrial and marine habitats. The status of microbial biodiversity globally is also discussed. Besides, it also illustrates how biologists could utilize databases to explore not only microbial biodiversity but also various species of fauna and flora. We have represented microbial biodiversity informatics and its growth, tools and technologies, data management, digital taxonomy for biodiversity informatics to categorize microbial species. Moreover, molecular biodiversity informatics and current progress of biodiversity informatics have also been discussed. Finally, we have also depicted the policy and managerial implications and research gaps in this direction. Our article will lead to the novel path, which will show the interdisciplinary approaches of biodiversity informatics with the support of metagenomics and genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnesium aluminum bimetallic organic framework derivative (MgAl-DHBDC/LDH composite) was prepared by etching MgAl bimetallic MOF template and used to remove U(VI) in aqueous solution. Compared to MgAl-DHBDC, the stability, dispersibility and removal ratio of U(VI) with MgAl-DHBDC/LDH were improved significantly over a wide pH range. The adsorption of uranium by MgAl-DHBDC/LDH was mainly multilayer physical adsorption, and the adsorption process was a spontaneous endothermic process. Moreover, the removal ratio of U(VI) by the MgAl-DHBDC/LDH composite remained above 90% after 4 cycles, indicating good regeneration performance. The MgAl-DHBDC/LDH composite shows great potential in the remediation of radionuclide uranium wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients nowadays seek medical reduction of the upper trapezius muscle to achieve aesthetic pleasing necklines. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), a neurotoxin that reduces the force of muscle contraction, is widely used for shoulder contouring. However, detailed metrical data are lacking to guide clinical injection. Methods: Forty healthy young women were enrolled. All subjects were seated for point marking and measuring of trapezius muscle (TM) anatomical data. At marked locations, the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue, the thickness of the TM, the TM's anterior border, and the depth from the skin surface to the middle of TM were measured using a real-time ultrasound scanner. In addition, photos were taken to assess the shoulder area proportion and shoulder angle. Results: The shoulder area size among participants was 90 ± 15.2 cm2, the average area proportion was 0.55 ± 0.1, and the shoulder angle was 23.12° ± 2.9°. Ultrasonography data reveal that the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue, the thickness of the TM, and the depth from the skin surface to the middle of TM all thickened from the anterior line to the posterior line (P < 0.001). The length of the TM extending forward was 1.47 ± 0.4 cm (range 0.51–1.31 cm). To better evaluate the appearance of the trapezius muscle, we constructed a grading system correlated to shoulder angle. Conclusion: In this study, ultrasonography and photos were applied to assess the TM's anatomical features. Trapezius hypertrophy was described on a scale from 0 to 2 based on the shoulder angle. The findings of the present study provide a practical clinical guidance for precise and efficient BoNT-A administration. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]