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As a technology for water landscape performance that considers landscape, ecological, and social effects, nature-based solutions play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of integrated ecosystem services on the micro-scale. This study conducted a systematic investigation into the landscape performance of the "Clear as a Drain" composite sponge facility at Handan Garden Expo Park. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) In terms of ecological restoration support services, the "Clear as a Drain" artificial wetland exhibited diverse habitat types, a rich variety of plant species specific to the site's region, and high plant diversity indices for shrubs (1.776) and herbaceous aquatic plants (3.352). Reclaimed water reused in the artificial terraced wetland promoted plant growth and diversity while contributing to site self-rehabilitation; plants also significantly contributed to carbon fixation, oxygen release, and carbon emission reduction. (2) Regarding ecological restoration regulation services, the artificial wetland effectively purified reclaimed water with substantial improvements observed in incoming water quality during spring, summer, and autumn—particularly notable purification effects were observed during the summer months. Pollutant reduction rates for COD, BOD5 ammonia nitrogen, TP, and TN reached 75.8%, 72.1%, 93.8%, 96.7%, and 90.3%, respectively; different independent subsystems within the wetland demonstrated distinct advantages in pollutant removal; park plants displayed strong air purification capabilities; annual energy savings from park plants could fully cover daily energy consumption for nearby residents. This case could serve as guidance for scientific management and design parameter optimization of other composite sponge facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component characterized by autoantibody production and a type I interferon signature. Here we report a missense variant (g.74779296G>A; p.Arg90His) in NCF1, encoding the p47phox subunit of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2), as the putative underlying causal variant that drives a strong SLE-associated signal detected by the Immunochip in the GTF2IRD1-GTF2I region at 7q11.23 with a complex genomic structure. We show that the p.Arg90His substitution, which is reported to cause reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, predisposes to SLE (odds ratio (OR) = 3.47 in Asians (Pmeta = 3.1 × 10-104), OR = 2.61 in European Americans, OR = 2.02 in African Americans) and other autoimmune diseases, including primary Sjögren's syndrome (OR = 2.45 in Chinese, OR = 2.35 in European Americans) and rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.65 in Koreans). Additionally, decreased and increased copy numbers of NCF1 predispose to and protect against SLE, respectively. Our data highlight the pathogenic role of reduced NOX2-derived ROS levels in autoimmune diseases.

Matching the terrestrial laser scan point clouds with the unmanned aerial oblique photography point clouds of high-rise irregular buildings can make them complementary. The challenge lies in the different sources and qualities, besides arbitrary angular deviations of the two types of point clouds. We propose a registration method based on point and line features, which automatically recognises the features of these point clouds using normal vectors and 3D-Harris, and solves the registration parameters through rigorous adjustment. The registration model, process and method are introduced. Finally, through the analysis of real case examples, it was found that the registration result of this method was better than the traditional Iterative Closest Point (ICP) in the analysed cases, the proposed registration method not only exhibits good automation but also has the ability to ignore various differences in heterogeneous point clouds, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of registration for such point clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic, uncertainty persists among caregivers regarding the vaccination of pediatric liver transplant recipients (PLTRs). This study evaluates the immunogenicity and safety of COVID‐19 vaccination in this vulnerable population. A cohort of 30 PLTRs underwent sequential vaccinations with an inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine followed by an Ad5‐nCoV booster. We collected and analyzed blood samples pre‐vaccination and four weeks post‐vaccination to quantify antibody and IGRA (IFN‐γ Release Assay) levels. We also documented any adverse reactions occurring within seven days post‐vaccination and monitored participants for infections over six months post‐vaccination, culminating in a comprehensive statistical analysis. The Ad5‐nCoV booster substantially elevated IgG (T1: 18.01, 20%; T2: 66.61, 55%) and nAb (T1: 119.29, 8%; T2: 3799.75, 80%) levels, as well as T‐cell responses, in comparison to the initial dose. The first dose was associated with some common adverse reactions, such as injection site pain (13.3%) and fever (16.6%), but a low rate of systemic reactions (16.0%). There was no significant difference in Omicron infection rates or RTPCR conversion times between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Notably, following Omicron infection, vaccinated individuals exhibited significantly higher SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG and nAb titers (average IgG: 231.21 vs. 62.09 S/CO, p = 0.0003; nAb: 5246.11 vs. 2592.07 IU/mL, p = 0.0002). The use of inactivated vaccines followed by an Ad5‐nCoV booster in PLTRs is generally safe and elicits a robust humoral response, albeit with limited T‐cell responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The diminished expression of microRNA‐146a (miR‐146a) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) contributes to the aberrant activation of the interferon pathway. Despite its significance, the underlying mechanism driving this reduced expression remains elusive. Considering the integral role of enhancers in steering gene expression, our study seeks to pinpoint the SLE‐affected enhancers responsible for modulating miR‐146a expression. Additionally, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which these enhancers influence the contribution of miR‐146a to the activation of the interferon pathway. Methods: Circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing and epigenomic profiles were applied to identify candidate enhancers of miR‐146a. CRISPR activation was performed to screen functional enhancers. Differential analysis of chromatin accessibility was used to identify SLE‐dysregulated enhancers, and the mechanism underlying enhancer dysfunction was investigated by analyzing transcription factor binding. The therapeutic value of a lupus‐related enhancer was further evaluated by targeting it in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with SLE through a CRISPR activation approach. Results: We identified shared and cell‐specific enhancers of miR‐146a in distinct immune cells. An enhancer 32.5 kb downstream of miR‐146a possesses less accessibility in SLE, and its chromatin openness was negatively correlated with SLE disease activity. Moreover, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, a down‐regulated transcription factor in patients with SLE, binds to the 32.5‐kb enhancer and induces the epigenomic change of this locus. Furthermore, CRISPR‐based activation of this enhancer in SLE PBMCs could inhibit the activity of interferon pathway. Conclusion: Our work defines a promising target for SLE intervention. We adopted integrative approaches to define cell‐specific and functional enhancers of the SLE critical gene and investigated the mechanism underlying its dysregulation mediated by a lupus‐related enhancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of newborns to the maternal vaginal microbiota is interrupted with cesarean birthing. Babies delivered by cesarean section (C-section) acquire a microbiota that differs from that of vaginally delivered infants, and C-section delivery has been associated with increased risk for immune and metabolic disorders. Here we conducted a pilot study in which infants delivered by C-section were exposed to maternal vaginal fluids at birth. Similarly to vaginally delivered babies, the gut, oral and skin bacterial communities of these newborns during the first 30 d of life was enriched in vaginal bacteria--which were underrepresented in unexposed C-section-delivered infants--and the microbiome similarity to those of vaginally delivered infants was greater in oral and skin samples than in anal samples. Although the long-term health consequences of restoring the microbiota of C-section-delivered infants remain unclear, our results demonstrate that vaginal microbes can be partially restored at birth in C-section-delivered babies.

Microaspiration is a common phenomenon in healthy subjects, but its frequency is increased in chronic inflammatory airway diseases, and its role in inflammatory and immune phenotypes is unclear. We have previously demonstrated that acellular bronchoalveolar lavage samples from half of the healthy people examined are enriched with oral taxa (here called pneumotypeSPT) and this finding is associated with increased numbers of lymphocytes and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage. Here, we have characterized the inflammatory phenotype using a multi-omic approach. By evaluating both upper airway and acellular bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 49 subjects from three cohorts without known pulmonary disease, we observed that pneumotypeSPT was associated with a distinct metabolic profile, enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines, a pro-inflammatory phenotype characterized by elevated Th-17 lymphocytes and, conversely, a blunted alveolar macrophage TLR4 response. The cellular immune responses observed in the lower airways of humans with pneumotypeSPT indicate a role for the aspiration-derived microbiota in regulating the basal inflammatory status at the pulmonary mucosal surface.