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• Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of macrolides and tetracyclines against Chlamydia trachomatis were comparable in the treatment success and treatment failure groups. • The occurrence of gene mutations in 23S rRNA and tet (M) acquisition are better associated with clinical treatment outcomes of C. trachomatis infection than MICs. • The A2057G, C2452A, and T2611C gene mutations of 23S rRNA were detected in C. trachomatis clinical isolates with azithromycin treatment. • The detection of resistance genes may be a preferable assay for the prediction of treatment results compared with in vitro drug susceptibility tests. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between treatment outcomes of patients with urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and drug resistance genes. The clinical data of 92 patients diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infections were collected. Of these patients, 28 received regular treatment with azithromycin and 64 received minocycline. All patients underwent three monthly follow-ups after the completion of treatment. The microdilution method was used for the in vitro susceptibility tests. The acquisition of 23S rRNA mutations and presence of the tet (M) gene were detected by gene amplification and sequencing. The MICs of azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline were comparable for isolates from the treatment failure and treatment success groups. Higher detection rates of 23S rRNA gene mutations and tet (M) were found in the treatment failure group (57.14% and 71.43%, respectively) than in the treatment success group (14.29% and 30.23%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The A2057G, C2452A, and T2611C gene mutations of 23S rRNA were detected in eight clinical isolates from the azithromycin treatment failure group, while the T2611C gene mutation was detected in one clinical strain from the treatment success group. The detection of resistance genes could better explain the high treatment failure rate than the MIC results in patients with urogenital C. trachomatis infections, highlighting the need for genetic antimicrobial resistance testing in infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figuratively speaking, (C 6 H 5) 4 P+ and(C 6 H 5) 4 B- are assembled together like picture puzzles, achieving tight binding of P and B sources at the molecular level. After pyrolysis, the P/B co-doped carbon nanosheets obtained by bottom-up strategy exhibits superb ORR electrocatalytic performances due to the controllable nanosheet structure and abundant heteroatomic active sites. [Display omitted] • A bottom-up puzzle strategy is proposed to fabricate P/B co-doped nanocarbon. • Diverse nanosheets are achieved by using different P onium salts. • Self-assembly mechanism of P/B sources and further evolution are elucidated. • 4P-BC with ample P/B-induced active sites exhibits superb ORR activities. • This strategy provides a novel avenue for the design of metal-free electrocatalysts. Preparing metal-free and non-N-doped carbon-based electrocatalysts via pyrolysis encounters a significant challenge of low controllability for microstructure modulation and limited electrocatalytic activity. Herein, a bottom-up puzzle strategy is proposed to fabricate a series of phosphorus and boron co-doped carbon (P-BC) nanosheets. These P-BC nanosheets manifest diverse morphologies and distinct heteroatom doping levels, achieved through the innovative utilization of four similar P onium salts featuring varying benzene ring arrangements, coupled with a fixed B onium salt. Among them, the flat 4P-BC nanosheets with abundant P/B heteroatoms exhibit the optimal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance (E 1/2 = 0.79 V, j L = 5.77 mA cm−2), and the assembled zinc-air battery displays a large power density (163 mW cm−2) and excellent long-term durability (450 cycles), which is attributed to the high specific surface area, enhanced defects or disorder, and ample P/B-doping induced active sites for electrochemical reaction. The assembly mechanism of functional units in solution and their intricate evolution at high temperature are elucidated for various P-BC nanosheets. This work elaborates the influence of precursors functional units on the resulting microstructure attributes and active sites properties, providing a novel avenue for the rational design and optimization of metal-free and heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxygen evolution catalysts can effectively reduce the high overpotentials of oxidation evolution reaction. Here, we demonstrate that metallic Ag can improve the electrocatalytic performance of Fe-Co-S/N-doped carbon composites, which was prepared by a calcination route. Ag was loaded on the composite by a simple dipping method. With appropriate amount of Ag loading, the over potential to achieve current density of 10 mA cm−2 can make a decrease of 37 mV in 1 M KOH, while the Tafel slope almost doesn't change. It is demonstrated that loading of Ag not only improves the activity of catalytic site, but also cause a higher electrochemically-active surface area. The optimized OER catalyst was then covered on a hematite photoanode. The appropriate loading mass of the catalyst on hematite photoanode was investigated. It was found that the catalyst can improve the photocurrent density of 7 times enhancement at potential of 1.23 V vs RHE. This study demonstrates a surface decoration route to improve the catalytic activity, which would also be extended to other highly efficient catalysts for OER. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Ag was loaded on the Fe-Co-S/N-doped carbon composites by a simple dipping method. • Appropriate Ag loading will decrease the over potential at 10 mA cm−2 by 37 mV. • Loading of Ag can improve the activity of catalytic sites and enhance the electrochemically-active surface area. • Covered on α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode, the optimized catalyst can increase the photocurrent density by 7 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making full use of renewable energy is one of the efficient tools to reduce energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in buildings. This study investigated the performance of a solar-air source heat pump system for a building in the high-cold and high-altitude area of China. A simulation model was established and verified by the measurement results. The annual cost, unit heat cost and annual average solar energy guarantee rate cost were selected as the optimization objectives. The Hooke-Jeeves algorithm was used to optimize the collector area, collector angle, water tank volume, heat pump heating capacity, and heat pump start-stop temperature difference. The energy-saving, environmental and economic benefits were also studied. The results show that the schemes obtained with different optimization objectives were significantly improved compared to the existing design scheme, and the indoor thermal comfort was maintained. Considering the performance of the system and the situation in the high-cold and high-altitude area, the optimization scheme for the annual average solar energy guarantee rate cost was more suitable for the building. • A solar-air source heat pump system in the high-cold and high-altitude area of China was studied. • Three objectives were involved to optimize the design and operating parameters of the system. • The energy-saving, environmental and economic benefits of optimization schemes were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A pre-catalyst based on Fe/Co tripolyphosphate was developed for oxygen evolution. • The optimized catalyst shows a lower overpotential of 254 mV for 10 mA cm−2. • Phosphorus species in the pre-catalyst are lost during the catalysis process. • The pre-catalyst evolves into small-sized oxyhydroxide particles during catalysis process. Compounds of transition metal tripolyphosphate are a kind of stable complexes due to the strong coordination interaction between transition metal ions and the tripolyphosphate groups. Herein Fe/Co tripolyphosphate was loaded on carbon nanotube surface through a simple wet-impregnation method. This strategy enables the effective loading of Fe/Co tripolyphosphate on carbon nanotube surface with tunable Fe/Co molar ratios. The obtained composite can be in situ activated during electrochemical test process. When employed as OER catalyst, it shows a lower overpotential (254 mV for 10 mA cm−2) and faster kinetics (Tafel slope of 36.3 mV dec−1). It was found that the Fe/Co tripolyphosphate on carbon nanotubes was transferred into small-sized oxyhydroxide particles embedded in amorphous matrix acting as catalytic active species. This study provides a low-cost, simple but effective way for the synthesis of favorable pre-catalysts for oxygen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of highly active and stable non-noble metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is indispensable for metal-air batteries. Herein, an altered nanoemulsion assembly approach is developed to synthesize fine Co 2 P dispersed in N, P doped carbon nanospheres (Co 2 P/NP-C) as prominent ORR electrocatalyst for zinc-air batteries (ZABs). A high half-wave potential of 0.81 V vs. RHE and a limiting current density of 4.54 mA cm−2 is exhibited for Co 2 P/NP-C, which are comparable with those of commercial Pt/C, indicating excellent ORR electrocatalytic activity. Moreover, a big peak power density of 152.4 mW cm−2 and a high gravimetric energy density of 1286.0 Wh kg Zn −1 are delivered for the assembled primary ZAB using Co 2 P/NP-C as cathode catalyst with a high open circuit voltage of 1.448 V. The excellent performance should be attributed to the in-situ formed Co 2 P nanoparticles and N, P heteroatoms in nanospherical carbon matrix with high accessible surface area, which both provide sufficient catalytic active sites and ensure efficient mass/charge transport in ORR process. [Display omitted] • An altered nanoemulsion assembly strategy was used to prepare Co 2 P/NP-C nanospheres. • Co 2 P nanocrystallites and N, P heteroatoms were in-situ formed in carbon matrix. • High activity and stability for catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction were achieved. • The as-assembled zinc-air battery showed high power density and specific capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) possess high intrinsic catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER); however, the low electronic conductivity hinders their further development as high-performance electrocatalysts. To address this problem, NiFe LDH is synthesized and exfoliated into positively charged nanosheets, followed by assembling with negatively charged carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Under the effect of electrostatic interaction, NiFe LDH and CNTs layers are alternately stacked to form an intercalating heterostructure of NiFe LDH/CNTs. This unique configuration provides both sufficient active sites and efficient charge/electron transport channels for OER electrocatalysis. By tuning the relative amounts of NiFe LDH and CNTs, the optimized composite only needs a low overpotential of 234 mV (vs. RHE) to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, showing better OER activity than that of RuO 2. The excellent performance should be attributed to the synergy between active NiFe LDH and conductive CNTs, as well as the intercalated structure with high accessible surface area. [Display omitted] • NiFe LDH is synthesized and exfoliated into positively charged nanosheets. • NiFe LDH and CNTs are alternately stacked through electrostatic assembly. • The intercalated heterostructure has high conductivity and sufficient active sites. • High activity and stability for OER electrocatalysis are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A coadsorption-pyrolysis method was used to prepare CoO/Co-N-C on mesoporous carbon. • Ultrafine CoO and Co-N-C lamellae were the electrocatalytically active species. • Mesoporous carbon as the substrate enabled efficient mass and charge transport. • Co/Co-N-C/MC had excellent activity and stability for the oxygen reduction reaction. • A zinc-air battery with high peak power density and specific capacity was fabricated. Designing and synthesizing high-efficiency non-precious metal electrocatalysts are of great significance for electrochemical reduction of oxygen. A simple coadsorption-pyrolysis method is developed to synthesize ultra-small CoO nanoparticles and Co-N-C lamellae supported on ordered mesoporous carbon (MC). The optimized CoO/Co-N-C/MC electrocatalyst has good catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with a half-wave potential of 0.78 V vs. RHE and a limiting current density of 5.01 mA cm−2. The high ORR activity, together with the superior stability compared with Pt/C, make it a good choice as cathode catalyst in zinc-air batteries (ZABs). The as-assembled ZAB has a high open circuit voltage of 1.397 V and a specific capacity of 842 mAh g Zn −1 at 10 mA cm−2. The good performance is attributed to the abundant ultrafine CoO particles and Co-N-C lamellae as catalytic active sites, as well as the mesoporous substrate for efficient mass/charge transport. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A high-performance Cu 2 S/Cu pre-catalytic electrode was presented. • The loaded Cu 2 S particles in situ transferred into CuO nanowires in OER process. • The Cu 2 S/Cu pre-catalytic electrode shows 373 mV of overpotential for 50 mA cm−2. • Great stability with 60 h oxygen evolution operation was demonstrated. Synthesizing low-cost and efficient materials to catalyze oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is urgently needed but remains challenging so far. In this study, Cu 2 S nanoparticles were prepared on Cu foam, forming a high-efficiency Cu 2 S/Cu foam robust pre-electrocatalysts. The Cu 2 S/Cu foam, as a new precatalyst for OER, presents an excellent efficiency with 373 mV of overpotential for 50 mA cm−2, which is superior to RuO 2 (400 mV). The Cu 2 S/Cu foam pre-electrocatalyst also demonstrates an impressive durability with a current retention of 86% after catalyzing OER for 60 h with a current density 60 mA cm−2. Moreover, the structure, morphology and phase transformation of the pre-electrocatalyst during the OER operation were revealed. It was found that the Cu 2 S nanoparticles will evolve into sulfate ions embedded CuO nanowires that catalyze oxygen evolution reaction. It is believed that the evolution of Cu 2 S nanoparticles to sulfate ions embedded CuO involve the oxidation reaction under the high overpotential and the disproportionate reaction of Cu(I) species. The result suggests that hybridized cuprous sulfide/copper materials are attractive noble-metal-free pre-catalysts for water splitting. Our study may offer a new way to develop metal sulfide catalysts for high-performance water oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) with high theoretical capacity has attracted much attention as anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the tendency of Si particles to easily expand leads to the rapid attenuation of capacity, which greatly limits their practical applications. In this work, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) doped Si/CNTs carbon nanofibers (Si/CNTs/CNFs) composites has been fabricated and explored as electrode material for LIBs. N, P doped Si/CNTs/CNFs composites possess unique fiber network structure with suitable space, which can effective buffer volume expand during charge-discharge process. By evaluating lithium storage performances of N, P doped Si/CNTs/CNFs composites as Li-ion battery electrodes, excellent rate performance with a capacity of 529 mA h g−1 (at 5.0 A g−1) and remarkable cycling performance of 1142 m Ah g−1 after the 100 cycles (at 0.2 A g−1) are obtained. Such outstanding performances can be attributed to the unique fiber network structure and the doping of N and P, which provides a new avenue for the studies of high-performance Si based anode materials of LIBs. • Self-supporting N, P doped Si/CNTs/CNFs composites with fiber network. • This unique structure can effectively restrain the volume expansion and accelerate the transport of Li+. • Doping N and P elements also provide more electrochemical active sites. • N, P doped Si/CNTs carbon nanofibers deliver excellent lithium storage performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature carbonization typically used in the preparation of advanced electrocatalysts poses significant challenges in preserving abundant functional groups essential for reactant adsorption and component stabilization. To address this, a solvothermal synthesis followed by non-carbonization annealing approach is proposed to fabricate a series of cobalt-based organic-inorganic hybrids derived from cobalt-based glycerate nanospheres (GNs). Notably, annealing in phosphorous and inert atmospheres preserves the solid nanospherical structure, whereas treatment in sulfur-rich environments results in the formation of hollowed nanospheres. Among these hybrids, phosphorized solid cobalt GNs (Co-P-GNs) exhibit the highest catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), achieving a low overpotential of 152 mV at 10 mA cm -2 . Meanwhile, sulfurized hollow cobalt-iron GNs (Co-Fe-S-HGNs) demonstrate good performance in catalyzing oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with a low overpotential of 273 mV at 10 mA cm -2 . Both catalysts exhibit robust stability and maintain 100 % Faradaic efficiency during operation in electrolyzers for water splitting. The high performance not only stems from the well-dispersed phosphide and sulfide crystallites, offering ample catalytic active sites; but also benefits from the partially thermolyzed organic matrix enriched with heteroatoms and functional groups, which facilitates ion adsorption to initiate the reactions and tightly clenches loaded components to stabilize the active species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To solve large volume change and low conductivity of Bi 2 S 3 -based anodes, a coordination regulation strategy is proposed to prepare Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles dispersed in carbon fiber (Bi 2 S 3 @CNF) composites. It has been discovered that introducing trimesic acid as a ligand can significantly improve the loading and dispersion of Bi 3+ in polyacrylonitrile fibers. The results exhibit that Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles of 200-300 nm are uniformly anchored on the superficial surface layer of CNFs, and Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles of about 20 nm are evenly dispersed in the interior of CNFs. Assessed as sodium-ion batteries' anode material, the discharge capacity of the Bi 2 S 3 @CNF anode in the second cycle is 669.3 mAh g -1 at 0.1 A g -1 and still retains 620.2 mAh g -1 after 100 cycles, with the capacity retention rate of 92.7%. Even at 0.5 A g -1 , the specific capacity of the second cycle is 432.99 mAh g -1 , which still keeps 400.9 mAh g -1 after 800 cycles, with a retention rate of 92.5%. The excellent cycle stability is mainly attributed to the uniform distribution of small Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles in CNFs providing abundant active sites, preventing side reactions, relieving volume expansion, improving the electrical conductivity, and accelerating the electrochemical reaction kinetics.

Background: Psoriasis is characterized by accelerated proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. IL-27 is relevant to psoriasis pathogenesis. We previously found that IL-27 stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes. However, the mRNAs involved in the process have not been fully studied. This study aims to identify potential pathways and hub genes associated with proliferation in keratinocytes with IL-27 intervention by bioinformatics analysis., Methods: The mRNA expression profiles from HaCaT cells with or without IL-27 treated were analyzed by bioinformatics tools. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen gene clusters and hub genes associated with proliferation. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to identify the function of the mRNAs. The GEO database and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to verify the expression levels of hub genes in psoriatic skin lesions and IL-27-treated psoriasiform keratinocytes, respectively., Results: We found 1257 differentially expressed genes and screened 2 crucial gene clusters. GO analysis revealed that Cluster 1 was mainly enriched in "Mitotic sister chromatid segregation" and "Spindle". Cluster 2 was mainly enriched in the "Pyruvate metabolic process" and "Oxidoreductase complex". KEGG analysis showed that Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 were mainly enriched in "Cell cycle" and "Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis", respectively. We then identified 6 hub genes enriched in the two pathways, including CCNB1, PTTG1, CDC20, PLK1, PKM , and LDHA . GSEA complemented the role of the mitochondrial "Oxidative phosphorylation" pathway. Moreover, we found that 6 hub genes were upregulated in psoriasis skin lesions and IL-27 elevated the hub genes expression in M5-induced psoriasiform keratinocytes., Conclusion: IL-27 possibly promotes glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and cell cycle progression in keratinocytes. Additionally, we identified CCNB1, PTTG1, CDC20, PLK1, PKM , and LDHA as hub genes that may be involved in the mechanism of IL-27 facilitating keratinocyte proliferation in psoriasis., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Wu et al.)

Rechargeable lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density. However, their practical applications are hindered by lithium dendrite growth and various intricate issues associated with the cathodes. These challenges can be mitigated by using organosulfur-based mediators (OSMs), which offer the advantages of abundance, tailorable structures, and unique functional adaptability. These features enable the rational design of targeted functionalities, enhance the interfacial stability of the lithium anode and cathode, and accelerate the redox kinetics of electrodes via alternative reaction pathways, thereby effectively improving the performance of LMBs. Unlike the extensively explored field of organosulfur cathode materials, OSMs have garnered little attention. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in OSMs for various LMB systems, including lithium-sulfur, lithium-selenium, lithium-oxygen, lithium-intercalation cathode batteries, and other LMB systems. It briefly elucidates the operating principles of these LMB systems, the regulatory mechanisms of the corresponding OSMs, and the fundamentals of OSMs activity. Ultimately, strategic optimizations are proposed for designing novel OSMs, advanced mechanism investigation, expanded applications, and the development of safe battery systems, thereby providing directions to narrow the gap between rational modulation of organosulfur compounds and their practical implementation in batteries., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Microalgae-based biotechnology holds significant potential for addressing dual challenges of phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater; however, the removal mechanism and metabolic adaptation of microalgae to dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) are still unclear. This study investigated the removal mechanisms and metabolomic responses of the Chlorella pyrenoidosa to different DOP forms, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), and β-glycerophosphate (β-GP). The results showed C. pyrenoidosa could efficiently take up above 96% DOP through direct transport and post-hydrolysis pathways. The uptake of inorganic phosphorus (IP) followed pseudo first order kinetic model, while DOP followed pseudo second order kinetic model. Metabolite profiling revealed substantial alterations in central carbon metabolism depending on the DOP source. G-6-P upregulated glycolytic and TCA cycle intermediates, reflecting enhanced carbohydrates, amino acids and nucleotides biosynthesis. In contrast, ATP down-regulated carbohydrate and purine metabolism, inhibiting sustainable growth of microalgae. This study offers theoretical support for phosphorus-containing wastewater treatment using microalgae., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma (NC) is a rare, highly aggressive neoplasm, usually accompanying with NUTM1 (NUT midline carcinoma family member 1) gene fusions. Primary thyroid NC is clinically rare and to date there is no established treatment guideline available for NC. We report a case of histopathologically confirmed thyroid NC and provide reference for diagnosis and treatment., Case Description: We presented a 32-year-old female admitted to hospital with "painful neck swelling and progressive dysphagia". Preoperative ultrasound-guided core needle aspiration biopsy suggested a poorly differentiated tumor. Considering the tumor was totally unresected on computed tomography (CT) scan, a partial thyroidectomy was performed to obtain sufficient tissue for a clear diagnosis. Histopathological specimens showed features of sudden keratosis. Strong immunoreactivity with NUT was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and thus confirmed the diagnosis of NC. CK5/6, P40 and P63 were partially positive exclusively in keratosis area. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and RNA sequencing results revealed a NSD3-NUTM1 fusion. The patient was treated with a combined regimen of radiotherapy of 70 Gy, chemotherapy with paclitaxel (albumin-bound), immunotherapy with nivolumab, targeted therapy with anlotinib and BET inhibitor NHWD-870, but the patient died 7 months after diagnosis., Conclusions: Thyroid NC is a rare and distinct pathological subset of NUT carcinoma with a higher rate of NSD3-NUTM1 fusion. In the clinical diagnosis process, we recommended performing NUT IHC for poorly differentiated thyroid tumors. Gene rearrangement detection is also helpful for diagnosis and treatment. At present, surgery and radiation are still first choices for NC, and advances in targeted immunotherapy such as bromodomain and end motif inhibitors (BETi) may bring better treatment options to patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://gs.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/gs-24-77/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: The association between obesity and depression may partly depend on the contextual metabolic health. The effect of change in metabolic health status over time on subsequent depression risk remains unclear. We aimed to assess the prospective association between metabolic health and its change over time and the risk of depression across body mass index (BMI) categories., Methods: Based on a nationally representative cohort, we included participants enrolled at the wave 2 (2004-2005) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and with follow-up for depression at wave 8 (2016-2017). Participants were cross-classified by BMI categories and metabolic health (defined by the absence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia) at baseline or its change over time (during waves 3-6). Logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of depression at follow-up stratified by BMI category and metabolic health status with adjustment for potential confounders., Results: The risk of depression was increased for participants with metabolically healthy obesity compared with healthy nonobese participants, and the risk was highest for those with metabolically unhealthy obesity (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.18-2.20). Particularly hypertension and diabetes contribute most to the increased risk. The majority of metabolically healthy participants converted to unhealthy metabolic phenotype (50.1% of those with obesity over 8 years), which was associated with an increased risk of depression. Participants who maintained metabolically healthy obesity were still at higher risk (1.99, 1.33-2.72), with the highest risk observed for those with stable unhealthy metabolic phenotypes., Conclusions: Obesity remains a risk factor for depression, independent of whether other metabolic risk factors are present or whether participants convert to unhealthy metabolic phenotypes over time. Long-term maintenance of metabolic health and healthy body weight may be beneficial for the population mental well-being.

Introduction: T cells play a critical role in inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Majie cataplasm (MJC) on asthma and to propose a possible mechanism involved in this process., Methods: Airway inflammation, infiltration of inflammatory cells, levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ, levels of Th2, Treg, Th17, and Th1 cells, and the expressions of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), Foxp3, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt), and T-bet were detected., Result: MJC treatment reduced lung airway resistance and inflammatory infiltration in lung tissues. MJC treatment also reduced the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the blood, BALF, and lungs were suppressed by MJC, and IFN-γ and IL-10 were increased. Furthermore, MJC suppressed the percentage of Th2 and Th17 and increased the percentage of Th1 and Treg in spleen cells. In addition, MJC can inhibit asthma by increasing expressions of IFN-γ, IL-10, T-bet, and Foxp3, as well as decreasing expressions of IL-4, IL-17, GATA-3, and RORγt., Conclusion: MJC may improve airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation by regulating Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 balance in ovalbumin-induced rats. And MJC may be a new source of anti-asthma drugs., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

RNA-guided protease activity was recently discovered in the type III-E CRISPR-Cas systems (Craspase), providing a novel platform for engineering a protein probe instead of the commonly used nucleic acid probe in nucleic acid detection assays. Here, by adapting a fluorescence readout technique using the affinity- and fluorescent protein dual-tagged Csx30 protein substrate, we have established an assay monitoring Csx30 cleavage by target ssRNA-activated Craspase. Four Craspase-based nucleic acid detection systems for genes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), norovirus, and the influenza virus (IFV) were reconstituted with demonstrated specificity. The assay could reliably detect target ssRNAs at concentrations down to 25 pM, which could be further improved approximately 15 000-fold (ca. 2 fM) by incorporating a recombinase polymerase isothermal preamplification step. Importantly, the species-specific substrate cleavage specificity of Craspase enabled multiplexed diagnosis, as demonstrated by the reconstituted composite systems for simultaneous detection of two genes from the same virus (SARS-CoV-2, spike and nsp12) or two types of viruses (SARS-CoV-2 and IFV). The assay could be further expanded by diversifying the fluorescent tags in the substrate and including Craspase systems from various species, thus potentially providing an easily adaptable platform for clinical diagnosis., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The crucial role of plasmid-encoded protein Pgp3 in Chlamydia pathogenesis has been demonstrated in various animal models. Previous studies have revealed that the Pgp3-deficient C. muridarum mutant fails to induce hydrosalpinx after vaginal inoculation in mice. Structural analysis of C. trachomatis Pgp3 trimer has indicated that Trp234 may play a critical role in trimeric crystal packing interactions and that Tyr197 is involved at predominant cation-binding sites. In this study, we constructed C. muridarum transformants harboring Pgp3, Trp234, or Tyr197 point mutations (Pgp3W234A and Pgp3Y197A). C3H/HeJ mice infected with Pgp3W234A mutant failed to induce severe hydrosalpinx in the oviduct tissue, which largely phenocopied the full-length Pgp3-deficient C. muridarum . The Pgp3Y197A variant induced an intermediate severity of pathology. The attenuated pathogenicity caused by the Pgp3W234A mutant may be due to its decreased survival in the lower genital tracts of mice, reduced ascension to the oviduct, and milder induction of inflammatory cell infiltration in the oviduct tissue. Thus, our results point to an important amino acid residue involved in Pgp3 virulence, providing a potential therapeutic target for chlamydial infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Huang, Wu, Sun and Liu.)

Background: Invasive fungal otitis media is clinically rare. The clinical features are often atypical in the early stages of the disease, and delayed treatment results in poor outcomes., Methods: In this study, we report 2 patients with invasive fungal otitis media with diabetes. The early diagnosis was confirmed by comprehensive methods such as laboratory tests and imaging examinations, and the condition was significantly improved by antifungal drugs and surgical treatment., Results: By reviewing the literature, we found that invasive fungal infections confined to the middle ear and mastoid were rarely reported, and the diagnosis and treatment were still controversial., Conclusion: In this article, we summarized and evaluated the different diagnoses and treatment methods so as to better diagnose and improve the cure rate in the early stage of invasive fungal infection of the middle ear.

The development of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells with an alkaline electrolyte was highly limited by the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Here, with a pyrolysis-reduction route, a new RuNi-based electrocatalyst was prepared, which presents an ultrathin nanowire-like structure. In alkaline media, this catalyst shows an excellent catalytic performance with an exchange current density of 1.10 mA cm -2 disk for hydrogen oxidation. The exchange current density and mass activity of this catalyst are much higher than those of its single-metal counterparts and even the commercial Pt/C catalyst containing 20% Pt. Such a remarkable catalytic activity can be explained by the interaction between Ru and Ni; the incorporation of Ni may induce an electronic effect on the optimization of the Ru-H ad strength and provide a functional surface that can absorb OH species, thus boosting the catalytic activity. These findings may cast a new light on the exploration of low-cost but high-efficiency catalysts for fuel cells.

Development of effective electrocatalysts toward hydrogen oxidation with a low content of noble metals has attracted the attention of the catalytic community. In this work, a novel catalyst composed of nitrogen-doped carbon acting as the substrate and Ir nanoclusters as active species was prepared, which was then employed as an effective catalyst for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in an alkaline electrolyte. In 0.1 M KOH, the optimized catalyst provides an exchange current density of 0.144 mA cm Ir -2 for HOR that outperforms the catalytic activity of the commercial Pt/C catalyst with a Pt content of 20 wt %. The substrate induces highly active Ir sites that markedly boosted the electrocatalytic activity for HOR. The nitrogen-doped carbon substrate increases the stability of Ir nanoclusters and decreases the absorption energy of hydrogen on Ir sites; at the same time, the higher electrostatic potential around the adsorbed hydrogen on Ir/N-doped carbon also enables them to be easily attracted by OH - species, both of which enhanced the catalytic activity. The excellent catalytic activity and the understanding shown here will give some hints for the development of HOR catalysts used in alkaline electrolytes.

Preparing advanced electrocatalysts via solid-phase reactions encounters the challenge of low controllability for multiconstituent hybridization and microstructure modulation. Herein, a hydrothermal-mimicking solid-phase system is established to fabricate novel Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 5 C 2 /Fe-N-C composites consisting of Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 5 C 2 nanoparticles and Fe,N-doped carbon species with varying morphologies. The evolution mechanism featuring a competitive growth of different carbon sources in a closed hypoxic space is elucidated for a series of Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 5 C 2 /Fe-N-C composites. The size and dispersity of Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 5 C 2 nanoparticles, the graphitization degree of the carbonaceous matrix, and their diverse hybridization states lead to disparate electrocatalytic behaviors for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Among them, microspherical Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 5 C 2 /Fe-N-C-3 exhibits an optimal ORR performance and the as-assembled zinc-air battery shows all-round superiority to the Pt/C counterpart. This work presents a mild solid-phase fabrication technique for obtaining a variety of nanocomposites with effective control over composition hybridization and microstructural modulation, which is significantly important for the design and optimization of advanced electrocatalysts.

We have previously shown that circRNAs in host cells are involved in the process of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. In this study we aimed to identify significantly altered circRNAs/lncRNAs/mRNAs in Chlamydia muridarum infected cells and investigate their biological functions in the interaction between Chlamydia muridarum and host cells. For this purpose, circRNA, lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles were screened and identified in HeLa cells with or without Chlamydia muridarum infection by microarray. Bioinformatics analyses including Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis were then carried out and the circRNA-miRNA ceRNA network was constructed. The differentially expressed circRNAs and lncRNAs were selected for validation by RT-qPCR. The results shown that a total of 834 circRNAs, 2149 lncRNAs and 1283 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG showed that the dysregulated genes involved nuclear-transcribed mRNA catabolic process, protein binding, RNA catabolic process and translation, the MAPK signaling pathway, apoptosis, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway and Notch signaling pathway may play important roles in Chlamydia infection. Our study provides a systematic outlook on the potential function of non-coding RNAs in the molecular basis of Chlamydia infection., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

FeCo-based materials are promising candidates as efficient, affordable, and sustainable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a composite based on FeSe 2 @CoSe 2 particles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was successfully prepared as an OER catalyst. In the catalyst, the CoSe 2 phase was located on the FeSe 2 surface, forming a large number of exposed heterointerfaces with acidic iron sites because of strong charge interaction between CoSe 2 and FeSe 2 . It is believed that the exposed heterointerfaces act as catalytic active sites for OER via a two-site mechanism, manifesting an overpotential as low as 260 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm -2 in 1 M KOH and excellent stability for at least 6 h, which is superior to those of CoSe 2 /rGO, FeSe 2 /rGO, as well as most of the FeNi- and FeCo-based electrocatalysts reported in recent literatures. It was demonstrated that the most optimal composite electrocatalysts release more Fe species into the electrolyte during the OER process, whereas the releasing of Co species is negligible. When the FeSe 2 @CoSe 2 /rGO catalysts were loaded on a α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode, the photocurrent density was increased by three times. These results may open up a promising avenue into the design and engineering of highly active and durable catalysts for water oxidation.

Chlamydia has a unique intracellular developmental cycle, which has hindered the single protein function study of Chlamydia. Recently developed transformation system of Chlamydia has greatly advanced the chlamydial protein's function research and was used to find that a chlamydial plasmid-encoded Pgp5 protein can down-regulate plasmid-dependent genes. It is assumed, that chlamydial genomic MinD protein has a similar function to Pgp5. However, it is unknown whether MinD protein regulates the same plasmid-dependent genes. We replaced pgp5 gene in the shuttle vector pGFP::CM with minD gene of C. trachomatis (CT0582) or C. muridarum (TC0871). The recombinant plasmid was transformed into plasmid-free organisms-CMUT3 and qRT-PCR was used to detect the transcription level of plasmid-encoded and -dependent genes in these pgp5 deficient organisms. As a readout, GlgA, one of the plasmid-regulated gene products was detected by immunofluorescence assay. After recombination, transformation and plaque purification, the stable transformants CT0582R and TC0871R were generated. In these transformants, the plasmid-dependent genes were up-regulated, alike in the pgp5 premature stop mutant and pgp5 replacement with mCherry mutant. GlgA protein level was also increased in all pgp5 mutants, including CT0582R and TC0871R. Thus, our study showed that genomic MinD protein had different function than Pgp5, which was useful for further understanding the chlamydiae.

The cryptic plasmid is essential for Chlamydia muridarum dissemination from the genital tract to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Following intravaginal inoculation, a C. muridarum strain deficient in plasmid-encoded pGP3 or pGP4 but not pGP5, pGP7, or pGP8 failed to spread to the mouse gastrointestinal tract, although mice infected with these strains developed productive genital tract infections. pGP3- or pGP4-deficient strains also failed to colonize the gastrointestinal tract when delivered intragastrically. pGP4 regulates pGP3, while pGP3 does not affect pGP4 expression, indicating that pGP3 is critical for C. muridarum colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. Mutants deficient in GlgA, a chromosome-encoded protein regulated by pGP4, also consistently colonized the mouse gastrointestinal tract. Interestingly, C. muridarum colonization of the gastrointestinal tract positively correlated with pathogenicity in the upper genital tract. pGP3-deficient C. muridarum strains did not induce hydrosalpinx or spread to the GI tract even when delivered to the oviduct by intrabursal inoculation. Thus, the current study not only has revealed that pGP3 is a novel chlamydial colonization factor in the gastrointestinal tract but also has laid a foundation for investigating the significance of gastrointestinal Chlamydia ., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.)

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis causes the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Although highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are used to routinely diagnose chlamydial infection, C. trachomatis isolation by cell culture is still preferred for legal cases and epidemiological studies because of its high specificity; however, the sensitivity of traditional two-passage diagnostic cultures is significantly lower than that of NAATs. Therefore, we sought to analyze if additional in vitro passaging of clinical samples would improve detection sensitivity of C. trachomatis., Methods: Clinical swabs (n = 428) were collected from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, grown in McCoy cells for up to five passages, and analyzed for the presence of inclusions by iodine staining. Results were confirmed by routine PCR-based methods., Results: Viable C. trachomatis organisms were detected in 91 (21.26%) swabs with the traditional two-passage protocol, which increased to 145 (33.88%) and 149 (34.81%) following three and four passages, respectively. Thus, the standard protocol yielded a false-negative rate of nearly 39%. Subsequent PCR-based diagnostics revealed a concordance rate of 80.98% between these two methods without any false negatives., Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of a three-passage Chlamydia culture procedure to increase the detection sensitivity of this method., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Cancer development and chronic diseases are associated with the overexpression of sialoglycans terminated to the surface proteins and lipids of cancer cells compared with normal cells. The isolation and detection of sialoglycopeptides from complex peptides mixture still remain challenges due to their low abundance, low ionization, and losses of sialic acid residues and water molecule during analytical processes. In this study, kapok fiber, a natural fiber derived from the kapok tree (Bombax ceiba L.), has shown excellent capability to specifically and efficiently enrich sialoglycopeptides, without losses of sialic acid residues and water molecule from sialoglycans. The main components on the surface of kapok fiber are syringyl and guaiacyl lignins which play an important role in isolating sialoglycopeptides from complex peptide mixtures.

Transformation of Chlamydia trachomatis should greatly advance the chlamydial research. However, significant progress has been hindered by the failure of C. trachomatis to induce clinically relevant pathology in animal models. Chlamydia muridarum, which naturally infects mice, can induce hydrosalpinx in mice, a tubal pathology also seen in women infected with C. trachomatis. We have developed a C. muridarum transformation system and confirmed Pgp1, -2, -6, and -8 as plasmid maintenance factors, Pgp3, -5, and -7 as dispensable for in vitro growth, and Pgp4 as a positive regulator of genes that are dependent on plasmid for expression. More importantly, we have discovered that Pgp5 can negatively regulate the same plasmid-dependent genes. Deletion of Pgp5 led to a significant increase in expression of the plasmid-dependent genes, suggesting that Pgp5 can suppress the expression of these genes. Replacement of pgp5 with a mCherry gene, or premature termination of pgp5 translation, also increased expression of the plasmid-dependent genes, indicating that Pgp5 protein but not its DNA sequence is required for the inhibitory effect. Replacing C. muridarum pgp5 with a C. trachomatis pgp5 still inhibited the plasmid-dependent gene expression, indicating that the negative regulation of plasmid-dependent genes is a common feature of all Pgp5 regardless of its origin. Nevertheless, C. muridarum Pgp5 is more potent than C. trachomatis Pgp5 in suppressing gene expression. Thus, we have uncovered a novel function of Pgp5 and developed a C. muridarum transformation system for further mapping chlamydial pathogenic and protective determinants in animal models.

Free-standing Ni(OH)2 platelet-like nanostructures with average width of 124 nm and thickness of 19 nm were successfully prepared through a simple one-pot polymer assisted process. The preparation involves the assistance of poly (sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and is easy to perform. The influence of pH value on the structure of the Ni(OH)2 product was investigated and it was found that pH value plays an important role for the formation of free-standing Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets. A possible formation mechanism is proposed. In addition, from the obtained Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets, a NiO sensor was fabricated and tested, which exhibits a 5 ppm sensing sensitivity to ethanol and propanol., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Resistance switching characteristics of natural sericin protein film is demonstrated for nonvolatile memory application for the first time. Excellent memory characteristics with a resistance OFF/ON ratio larger than 10(6) have been obtained and a multilevel memory based on sericin has been achieved. The environmentally friendly high performance biomaterial based memory devices may hold a place in the future of electronic device development., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Hierarchically porous CuO architectures were successfully fabricated via copper basic carbonate precursor obtained with a facile hydrothermal route. The shape of the precursor is preserved after its conversion to porous CuO architectures by calcination. The obtained CuO are systemically characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N(2) adsorption-desorption analysis. The results reveal that hierarchical CuO microspheres are monoclinic structure and are assembled by porous single-crystal sub-microplatelets. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N(2) adsorption-desorption analysis indicates that the obtained CuO has a surface area of 12.0 m(2)/g with pore size of around 30 nm. The gas sensing performance of the as-prepared hierarchical CuO microspheres were investigated towards a series of typical organic solvents and fuels. They exhibit higher sensing response than that of commercial CuO powder. Their sensing properties can be further improved by loading of Ag nanoparticles on them, suggesting their potential applications in gas sensors.

Periodic nanoring arrays are prepared by self-assembled poly styrene-block-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymer under rapid solvent-annealing. The dimension of the nanorings can be modified by controlling the solvent-annealing time.

A facile and robust route for the pre-synthesized Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs) exclusively assembled on both sides of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets with tunable density forming two-dimensional NPs composite membranes is developed in solution. The assembly is driven by electrostatic attraction, and the nanocomposite sheets display considerable mechanical robustness, such as it can sustain supersonic and solvothermal treatments without NPs falling off, also, can freely float in solution and curl into a tube. The obtained two-dimensional composite grain membranes exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature but responds astutely to an external magnetic field. In addition, these magnetic composite membranes show an enhanced absorption capability for microwaves. The grain sheets are attractive for biomedical, sensors, environmental applications and electric-magnetic devices benefited from large surfaces, high magnetization moment, and superparamagnetic properties. The effective integration of oxide nanocrystals on RGO sheets provides a new way to design semiconductor-carbon nanocomposites for nanodevices or catalytic applications.

Well-ordered Ag nanoparticle arrays with high particle density were fabricated by photochemical reduction of domain-selective Ag(+)-loading on hydrophobic polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) self-assembled diblock copolymer templates.