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ABSTRACT The ordered mesoporous ZnO was successfully synthesized using the template method in this article, and Bi ions were etched into ZnO to form two-dimensional nanoflower structures of Bi12ZnO20 with NA3SSA as a guiding agent. The crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer(EDS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS). Under illumination conditions, the obtained materials exhibited excellent bactericidal ability against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as effective inhibition against fungi. Among them, the bactericidal effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the most rapid, achieving a sterilization rate of 100% within 30 min of light irradiation. Even after three cycles of antibacterial activity testing, the Bi12ZnO20 material still demonstrated good photocatalytic performance. The nanoflower-shaped materials provide an enhanced fluid adsorption capacity and more active centers for photocatalytic reactions while also improving light absorption capacity, photogenerated electron-hole separation efficiency, and electron transport efficiency. The cytotoxicity assessment of Bi12ZnO20 revealed no significant toxic effects. Therefore, this study presents a nanoflower-shaped material with highly efficient photocatalytic antibacterial properties for applications in production and daily life; it holds significant importance in eliminating harmful bacteria and plays a crucial role in environmental protection.IMPORTANCEThe flower-shaped photocatalytic material Bi12ZnO20, consisting of nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized in this study. Rigorous antibacterial experiments were conducted on various fungi using the material, yielding excellent results. Furthermore, the application of this material for antibacterial treatment of livestock and poultry manure sewage in real-life scenarios demonstrated remarkable efficacy.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that seriously impacts men’s quality of life and mental health. Earlier studies have indicated that homocysteine (HCY) levels might be linked to the risk of ED, although these studies are limited by small sample sizes and insufficient correction for confounding factors. This study uses data from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate the relationship between HCY levels and ED risk in U.S. adult males. The analysis involved using a weighted generalized linear model to assess main effects and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to explore nonlinear relationships. Results showed that the association between HCY and ED was not statistically significant after adjusting for covariates. However, interaction analyses between age and the HCY-ED relationship showed that as age increases, the impact of HCY on ED strengthens. Based on this, subgroup analysis by age was carried out, revealing that in people aged 50 and above, HCY levels were significantly positively correlated with ED, especially when HCY levels exceeded 9.22 μmol/L, significantly increasing the risk of ED. Sensitivity analysis further confirmed the robustness of these findings. This study indicates that controlling HCY levels, especially in middle-aged and older men, might help prevent and treat ED, providing a foundation for future preventive strategies.

BackgroundObservational studies have suggested at a possible link between keratoconus (KC) and various mental disorders, but the exact direction of causation in these associations remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential causal link between KC and three prominent mental conditions: Anxiety, Depression, and Schizophrenia.MethodsUsing instrumental variables identified from Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of European individuals, we conducted bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to explore potential causal relationships between KC and the three major mental disorders. We primarily employed the Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) method to evaluate causality. In addition, we performed four supplementary MR methods (MR-Egger, Weighted Median, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode). Furthermore, we conducted various sensitivity analyses to assess heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and result stability.ResultsOur findings did not reveal any concrete evidence of a causal link between KC and the three major mental disorders, namely anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia [anxiety: odds ratio (OR)=0.997, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.988–1.008, p = 0.621; depression: OR=1.008, 95% CI=0.999–1.017, p = 0.084; schizophrenia: OR=1.002, 95% CI= 0.984–1.020, p = 0.840]. Similarly, the three major mental disorders were not caustically associated with KC [anxiety: OR=1.014, 95% CI=0.635–1.620, p = 0.953; depression: OR=1.109, 95% CI= 0.749–1.643, p = 0.604; schizophrenia: OR= 0.969, 95% CI= 0.884–1.062, p = 0.497]. The sensitivity analyses indicated that the results remained robust, with no signs of pleiotropy or heterogeneity.ConclusionsOur study does not support a genetically determined significant causal connection between KC and the three major mental disorders. The increased occurrence of mental disorders observed in KC patients in observational reports likely arises from factors that can be modified. Further research is warranted to unveil the underlying mechanisms behind the associations observed in observational studies.

Recently, the influence of subsurface dams on solute transport in coastal aquifers has become a hot research topic. Although many studies have been conducted, the combined effects of subsurface dam and tides on variable-density solute transport remain unclear, and this study aimed to fill this research gap. In the current study, a numerical model representing a 2-D cross-shore coastal aquifer was established. The model simulated cases with and without a subsurface dam, and sensitivity analysis cases with different height and location of the subsurface dam and solute concentration. The results show that a subsurface dam blocks a portion of the solute plume, which can only be discharged by dilution at the edges, thereby altering its discharge pattern and reducing their discharge rate. The addition of a subsurface dam may either prolong or shorten the residence time of solute,depending on the location rather than the height of the subsurface dam. In particular, a more landward subsurface dam would significantly increase the residence time; sensitivity analysis demonstrates that both the landward shift and the height increase of the subsurface dam contribute to a heightened ratio of dynamic mass distribution for the solute plume within the freshwater and saltwater zones of the aquifer, with maximum changes in mass distribution ratios of 87.22% and 300%, respectively. Also, these factors cause the solute to migrate both seaward and landward, respectively, across the primary outflow regions of the aquifer-ocean interface. Results from this study may provide theoretical guidance for the optimal design and environmental impact assessment of subsurface dams.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism through which Yishen Tongluo decoction (YSTL) repairs DNA damage caused by benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) in mouse spermatocytes (GC-2). The GC-2 cells were divided randomly into the control group, BPDE group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose YSTL groups of YSTL decoction. A comet assay was used to detect the DNA fragment index (DFI) of cells in each group. Based on the DFI results, whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted, followed by trend analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and ceRNA network analysis. Compared with the control group, the BPDE group reported a significant increase in the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) ( p < .05). Compared with the BPDE group, the low-, high- and medium-dose YSTL groups had a significantly reduced DFI ( p < .05). Whole-transcriptome sequencing revealed seven differentially expressed circRNAs, 203 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 3,662 differentially expressed mRNAs between the control group and the BPDE group. There was a total of 12 differentially expressed circRNAs, 204 miRNAs, and 2150 mRNAs between the BPDE group and the traditional Chinese medicine group. The pathways involved include DNA repair pathway, nucleotide excision repair pathway, base excision repair pathway, etc. The ceRNA network reported that Hmga2 was the core protein involved, novel_cir_000117 and mmu-miR-466c-3p were located upstream of Hmga2, and they were regulatory factors associated with Hmga2. Finally, we conclude that YSTL decoction may repair sperm DNA damage caused by BPDE through the novel_cir_000117-mmu-miR-466c-3p-Hmga2 pathway.

AbstractContext Plastics can break down into millions of microplastic (MPs, < 5 mm) particles in the soil and ocean. These MPs can then affect the function of the reproductive system. There is currently no effective solution to this problem aside from traditional Chinese medicine. We have previously used Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL) to treat sperm DNA damage caused by some toxic substances.Objective To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics by YSTL.Materials and methods An animal model of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP)-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice PS-MPs at 1 mg/d and treated with YSTL at 11.89, 23.78 and 47.56 g/kg, respectively, for 60 days. The Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of YSTL identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting.Results The DFI of the PS group (20.66%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.23%). The medium and high doses of the YSTL group (12.8% and 11.31%) exhibited a significant repairing effect. The most enriched pathway was PI3K/Akt. TBL1X, SPARC, hnRNP0, Map7D1, Eps8 and Mrpl27 were screened and SPARC was validated.Discussion and conclusions The precise mechanism by which YSTL inhibits PD-MPs DNA damage may be associated with the PI3K/Akt pathway and SPARC. It provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by MPs.

The repair mechanism for corneal epithelial cell injuries encompasses migration, proliferation, and differentiation of corneal epithelial cells, and extracellular matrix remodeling of the stromal structural integrity. Furthermore, it involves the consequential impact of corneal limbal stem cells (LSCs). In recent years, as our comprehension of the mediating mechanisms underlying corneal epithelial injury repair has advanced, it has become increasingly apparent that growth factors play a pivotal role in this intricate process. These growth factors actively contribute to the restoration of corneal epithelial injuries by orchestrating responses and facilitating specific interactions at targeted sites. This article systematically summarizes the role of growth factors in corneal epithelial cell injury repair by searching relevant literature in recent years, and explores the limitations of current literature search, providing a certain scientific basis for subsequent basic research and clinical applications.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with a low steel fiber volume fraction offers lower material costs than UHPC with typical steel fiber volume fractions, and has the potential to mitigate the ductility degradation of rebar-reinforced UHPC (R-UHPC). This study explores the reinforcement effect on the tensile behavior of UHPC with a low fiber volume fraction with the aim of facilitating more cost-efficient UHPC applications. The axial tensile behavior of 30 UHPC specimens with low fiber volume fractions at different reinforcement ratios was tested through direct tensile tests. The findings indicate that adopting UHPC with a low fiber volume fraction can significantly mitigate the ductility deterioration of rebar-reinforced UHPC (R-UHPC), and both increasing the reinforcement ratio and decreasing the fiber volume fraction contribute to the improvement in ductility. The failure modes of R-UHPC are determined by the ratio of reinforcement ratio and fiber volume fraction, rather than a single parameter, which also means that R-UHPC with different parameters may correspond to different methods to predict tensile load-bearing capacity. For UHPC with a fiber volume fraction low to 0.5%, incorporating steel rebars gives superior multi-crack cracking behavior and excellent capacity to restrict the maximum crack width. Increasing the fiber volume fraction from 0.5% to 1.0% at the same reinforcement ratio will yield little benefit other than an increase in tensile load-bearing capacity.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the local application of silver nitrate (LASN) as an adjuvant treatment before deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) for fungal keratitis responding poorly to medical treatment.MethodsA total of 12 patients (12 eyes) with fungal keratitis responding poorly to medical treatment (for at least 2 weeks) were included. LASN was performed using 2% silver nitrate, the ulcer was cleaned and debrided, and then, the silver nitrate cotton stick was applied to the surface of the ulcer for a few seconds. The effect of LASN was recorded. The number of hyphae before and after treatment was determined by confocal microscope. After the condition of the ulcer improved, DLKP was performed. Fungal recurrence, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), loose sutures, and endothelial cell density (ECD) were recorded in detail.ResultsClinical resolution of corneal infiltration and edema was observed, and the ulcer boundary became clear in all 12 patients after 7–9 days of LASN. Confocal microscopy showed that the number of hyphae was significantly reduced. Ocular pain peaked on days 1 and 2 after treatment, and 9 patients (75%, day 1) and 1 patient (8.3%, day 2) required oral pain medication. During the follow-up period after DLKP, no fungal recurrence and loose sutures were observed. After the operation, the BCVA of all patients improved. The mean corneal ECD was 2,166.83 ± 119.75 cells/mm2.ConclusionThe LASN was safe and effective and can be well tolerated by patients. Eye pain can be relieved quickly. LASN as an adjuvant treatment before DLKP might be a promising therapeutic strategy.

Urban morphology has been empirically demonstrated to be self-organized and can be quantified by fractal dimension. However, the spatial variation rule of fractal features at the sub-zone scale has yet to be uncovered, as well as the relationship between fractal dimension values and road network or land-use patterns. In this study, the urban area is partitioned into 158 grid units, with subsequent calculations conducted to determine the fractal dimensions (using 2D box-counting and 3D voxel-counting methods), road network characteristics, and land-use patterns within each individual unit. The pattern of how architectures fill into the 2D or 3D embedding space at the grid level is revealed. Moreover, the spatial relationship between the road network, land-use, and their impacts on the local architectural layout is elucidated by employing MGWR, a model that incorporates the principles of fitting localized spatial regression. The results are as follows: (1) urban morphology follows fractal laws at a sub-zone scale, both in a 2D plane and 3D volume; (2) the filling degree of architecture is high in the urban center but low in the periphery areas; (3) the selected variables fit well with the regression models; (4) there is spatial heterogeneity regarding the influence of each factor. The research findings provide valuable insights into the theoretical relationship between urban morphology and the composite structure of road networks and land use. This facilitates identifying crucial areas and priority directions for urban renewal construction, as well as optimizing architectural design to improve efficiency and functionality.

Context Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a known persistent organic pollutant, can increase the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI).Objective To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of DEHP-induced sperm DNA damage in mice by Wuwei Fuzheng Yijing (WFY) formula.Materials and methods The potential targets of WFY and sperm DNA fragment (SDF) were obtained from the TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, OMIM and GeneCards. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, GO and KEGG pathway analyses of WFY-SDF were constructed. An animal model of DEHP-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice DEHP at 1 g/kg/d and treated with WFY at 8.92, 17.84 and 35.67 g/kg, respectively, for 60 d. Sperm DFI of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of WFY identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting.Results Network pharmacology pathway analysis indicated that PI3K/Akt was the potential target of WFY on SDF. The DFI of the DEHP group (25.48%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.02%). The high-dose WFY group (19.05%) exhibited the most significant repairing effect. The related pathways were PI3K/Akt and metabolic. Aass, Aldh1a7, GSTA3, betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase (Bhmt), Mug2 and Svs1 were screened and Bhmt was validated.Discussion and conclusions WFY can repair sperm DNA damage caused by DEHP, and the mechanism may be related to PI3K/Akt and metabolic pathways, and Bhmt. This provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by pollutants.

Objective. To investigate the clinical characteristics and pathogenic genetic mutations of a Chinese family with anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis and congenital posterior polar cataract. Methods. Through family investigation, the family members were examined via slit lamp anterior segment imaging and screened for eye and other diseases by eye B-ultrasound. Genetic test was performed on the blood samples of the fourth family generation (23 people) via whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) and Sanger sequencing. Results. Among the 36 members in four family generations, there were 11 living cases with different degrees of ocular abnormalities, such as cataracts, leukoplakia, and small cornea. All patients who received the genetic test had the heterozygous frameshift mutation c.640_656dup (p.G220Pfs∗95) on exon 4 of the PITX3 gene. This mutation was cosegregated with the clinical phenotypes in the family and thus might be one of the genetic factors that cause the corresponding ocular abnormalities in this family. Conclusion. The congenital posterior polar cataract with or without anterior interstitial dysplasia (ASMD) of this family was inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, and the frameshift mutation (c.640_656dup) in the PITX3 gene was the cause of ocular abnormalities observed in this family. This study is of great significance for guiding prenatal diagnosis and disease treatment.

TK1 is overexpressed in numerous cancers and is associated with to a poor prognosis. However, the relationship between methylation status of TK1 and Immune Infiltrates in Prostate Cancer (PCa) is unknown. The goal of this study was to use comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to elucidate the involvement relationship between methylation status of TK1 and Immune Infiltrates in PCa. TK1 mRNA expression and methylation data in PCa were investigated via GEPIA, TIMER, and UALCAN coupled with MEXPRESS data resources. We employed the LinkedOmics data resource to determine the signaling cascades linked to TK1 expression. Single-cell analysis was performed using the CancerSEA data resource. GeneMANIA and CancerSEA were used to analyze the correlation between TK1 and TK1 coexpressed genes. In addition, TIMER and TISIDB were adopted to assess tumor-invading immune cells and immunomodulators. CTD was utilized to detect the drugs acting on TK1. This study found that TK1 was overexpressed in PCa, and its contents were linked to tumor stage and prognosis. Genes co-expressed with TK1 were enriched in cascades involved in the ribosome, cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, DNA replication, oocyte meiosis, and the proteasome. The expression of TK1 along with its methylation status was found to be linked to tumor-invading immune cells, as well as PCa immunomodulators. We also examined the prospect of employing TK1 as a possible target for PCa therapy. This work provides the clinical value of TK1 hypermethylation in PCa and highlights new insights into its novel immunomodulatory functions.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a cytokine that plays an important role in immune regulation, especially in the activation and differentiation of immune cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern-recognition receptors that sense structural motifs related to pathogens and alert immune cells to the invasion. Both IFN-γ and TLR agonists have been used as immunoadjuvants to augment the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases or psychoactive compounds. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential of IFN-γ and TLR agonists being applied simultaneously to boost dendritic cell activation and the subsequent antigen presentation. In brief, murine dendritic cells were treated with IFN-γ and/or the TLR agonists, polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), or resiquimod (R848). Next, the dendritic cells were stained for an activation marker, a cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86), and the percentage of CD86-positive cells was measured by flow cytometry. From the cytometric analysis, IFN-γ efficiently stimulated a considerable number of the dendritic cells, while the TLR agonists by themselves could merely activate a few compared to the control. The combination of IFN-γ with poly I:C or R848 triggered a higher amount of dendritic cell activation than IFN-γ alone. For instance, 10 ng/mL IFN-γ with 100 µg/mL poly I:C achieved 59.1% cell activation, which was significantly higher than the 33.4% CD86-positive cells obtained by 10 ng/mL IFN-γ. These results suggested that IFN-γ and TLR agonists could be applied as complementary systems to promote dendritic cell activation and antigen presentation. There might be a synergy between the two classes of molecules, but further investigation is warranted to ascertain the interaction of their promotive activities.

Due to the problematic degradation properties of plastics, the decomposition of plastic results in the formation of numerous microplastics (MPs), less than 5 mm in diameter. These MPs enter the soil and the ocean, eventually passing through the air, water, or food chain back to the human body and harming human health. In the last 80 years, male semen analysis parameters have shown a significant decline for unknown reasons, speculated to be caused by pollutants. No studies examined the relationship between human MP exposure and male infertility. In this article, we reviewed the relevant animal experimental research literature in recent years and calculated that the minimum human equivalent dose of MPs leading to abnormal male semen quality is 0.016 mg/kg/d. The literature comparison found that MP exposure in Japan and South Korea was close to this value. These results suggest that MPs can affect male semen quality and that MPs may significantly impact male fertility.

Abstract In this paper, a new switched capacitor‐based multilevel inverter structure is suggested. The proposed topology can generate seven‐level output voltage waveform using ten power electronic switches and two floating capacitors. This structure has the ability to boost the input DC voltage, up to 1.5 times. Although this topology can generate an output waveform with large number of levels, it does not increase the voltage stress on the power electronic switches. There is no need for capacitor voltage balancing in this structure since the capacitors are balanced through charging and discharging modes of operation. In addition, the suggested switched capacitor inverter reduces the number of input dc power supplies and uses a single dc source such as a photovoltaic (PV) panel. Since the proposed inverter is an neutral point clamp based multilevel inverter topology, the leakage current is minimized and as a result the overall efficiency of the proposed system is increased. The operation modes and steady‐state analysis of the proposed structure are explained in detail. In order to validate the feasibility of the proposed topology, some experimental results are presented in the grid connected mode of operation.

An innovative brush plating process for preparing coatings on the inner wall of metal pipes is proposed, which aims to solve the limitations of current electroplating technology and improve the performance of the inner walls of metal pipes. While optimizing the process, the effect of working voltage on the microhardness, thickness, surface morphology, corrosion resistance, and elastoplasticity of the Ni coating on the inner wall of the tube was studied under the new process. The results indicate this technique can produce high-quality coatings on the inner wall of pipes in a simple and efficient manner. As the working voltage increases, the surface quality and comprehensive performance of the coating show an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend. At 12 V, the coating exhibits the highest surface density and uniformity, the lowest surface roughness, the best corrosion resistance, and the maximum microhardness of 575.8 HV, with a corrosion current density of 1.040 × 10−5 A·cm−2, a corrosion rate of 0.122 mm·a−1, the maximum elastic recovery ratio he/hmax of 0.36, and the best deformation resistance. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in improving the durability and functionality of metal pipes and its potential for various industrial applications.

The volume change and shear strength behaviour of tailings slurry with the changes in gravimetric moisture content is important to effectively utilise the storage volume and analysis of dam failure potential. Consolidation testing of tailings from a slurry-like to soil-like state is a critical task, and conventional consolidation apparatus does not have the capability of doing such testing, as the tailings slurries contain high water content. Settling tests conducted on slurries having a 25% solids concentration showed very low efficiency; final sediment was still slurry-like. An intrinsic point was identified based on pore water pressure dissipation during consolidation tests in a slurry consolidometer that can define two states of the tailings i.e. slurry-like and soil-like. In the slurry-like state, the volume change was greater for Slurry 2 than Slurry 1, while the inverse was observed in the soil-like state. The evolution of peak vane shear strength with the changes in moisture content was almost similar for both samples and obeyed the power function. Regression models have been developed and validated to predict the shear strength of materials at any gravimetric moisture content or void ratio.

The analysis of urban spatial form is the basic research of urban development. Traditional fractal research often focuses on the urban spatial layout, which cannot visually express the specific form, change characteristics and development trend of urban architectural spaces.The urban architectural form is simplified and the basic architectural form templates are extracted, and then, the correlations between architecture form and fractal dimension are built. The results of the case study show that the architectural layout of Zhengzhou City exhibits obvious fractal characteristics, and the combination of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional fractal dimensions is helpful for comprehensively revealing the architectural layout information. Moreover, the fractal dimension of buildings shows that the gradient from the inner to outer ring decreases, similar to the 'annual growth rings' of trees. Obvious differences exist in the fractal dimensions of urban buildings in different directions, reflecting the urban expansion direction. This study promotes the visualization of fractal theory and the expression of fractal theory in spatial gradient, providing theoretical and data reference for urban spatial form optimization.

The analysis of urban spatial form is the basic research of urban development. Traditional fractal research often focuses on the urban spatial layout, which cannot visually express the specific form, change characteristics and development trend of urban architectural spaces.The urban architectural form is simplified and the basic architectural form templates are extracted, and then, the correlations between architecture form and fractal dimension are built. The results of the case study show that the architectural layout of Zhengzhou City exhibits obvious fractal characteristics, and the combination of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional fractal dimensions is helpful for comprehensively revealing the architectural layout information. Moreover, the fractal dimension of buildings shows that the gradient from the inner to outer ring decreases, similar to the ‘annual growth rings’ of trees. Obvious differences exist in the fractal dimensions of urban buildings in different directions, reflecting the urban expansion direction. This study promotes the visualization of fractal theory and the expression of fractal theory in spatial gradient, providing theoretical and data reference for urban spatial form optimization.

The primary aim of this paper was to identifying the geographical origin of tobacco leaves based on stable isotopic and mineral elemental fingerprint. We collected eighty-one tobacco leaf samples from Argentina, Brazil, Zimbabwe, the U.S., Zambia, and China. And nine mineral element contents and four strontium and lead isotope ratios of the tobacco leaves were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). After variance and stepwise discriminant analysis, the discriminant functions of the tobacco leaf’s geographical origin were established. The results indicate that: (1) the contents of six mineral elements including Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb, together with four strontium and lead isotope ratios containing 87Sr/86Sr, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb, were significantly different among six countries. (2) Different countries presented some characteristic mineral elemental and isotopic fingerprint. The even contents of mineral elements from Zambian tobacco leaf were much lower than the other countries, among which four elements consisting of Zn, Cr, As, and Cd were not detected. The three average lead isotope ratios including 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb from Zimbabwe tobacco leaves were far higher than the other countries, and the range of which was unoverlapped. (3) The effective identification of the geographical origin of tobacco leaf was accomplished by Fisher stepwise discriminant analysis and the characteristic tracing elements consisted of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, 87Sr/86Sr, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb. Based on the established discriminant functions, the original and cross-validation accuracy towards different geographical origins of tobacco leaves were 98.8% and 95.1%, respectively. The study shows that the strontium and lead isotopic with mineral elemental fingerprints is a potential effective method to identify the geographical origin of tobacco leaves from different countries.

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often used in the management of acid and base burns of the eyes. However, oxygen is rarely supplied locally through goggles or face mask in ophthalmology. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate how oxygen delivery affects eye recovery after injury. We used a rabbit model with corneal epithelial injury to examine the effects of local oxygen supply via goggles or face mask on the recovery of cornea. A total of 75 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, A, B, and C, with 25 rabbits in each group. Then, on each rabbit eye (150 eyes in total), a circle of corneal epithelium with 5 mm in diameter was scraped off from the center of the cornea with a corneal epithelial scraper. Group A was given oxygen goggles every day (the oxygen flow rate was 3 L/min, once a day, 2 hours each time); group B was given nasal inhalation of oxygen every day (the oxygen flow rate was 3 L/min, once a day, 2 hours each time); and group C did not receive any treatment and was healed naturally. We found that the group A, which received oxygen supply via goggles, showed the best eye recovery. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cornea with local oxygen supply via goggles or face mask exhibited intact capillary structure and obvious desmosome/hemidesmosome connections between cells. Moreover, the protein and RNA levels of hypoxia-related genes were lower in group A and B, suggesting that the hypoxia factor is a sensitive and early regulator in the low oxygen environment.

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene complex, one of the most diverse gene complexes found in the human genome, largely dictates how our immune systems recognize pathogens. Specifically, HLA genetic variability has been linked to vaccine effectiveness in humans and it has likely played some role in the shortcomings of the numerous human vaccines that have failed clinical trials. This variability is largely impossible to evaluate in animal models, however, as their immune systems generally 1) lack the diversity of the HLA complex and/or 2) express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) receptors that differ in specificity when compared to human MHC. In order to effectively engage the majority of human MHC receptors during vaccine design, here, we describe the use of HLA population frequency data from the USA and MHC epitope prediction software to facilitate the in silico mining of universal helper T cell epitopes and the subsequent design of a universal human immunogen using these predictions. This research highlights a novel approach to using in silico prediction software and data processing to direct vaccine development efforts.

Salt pans are commonly found in coastal marshes and play a vital role in the marsh plant zonation. However, the correlation between these hypersaline zones and the marsh hydrological conditions have barely been characterized. This study numerically investigates the effects of evaporation rate, tidal amplitude, and marsh platform slope on salt pan formation, and found that salt pans can hardly grow in the intertidal zone due to regular tidal flushing, while tend to form in the lower supratidal zone, where evaporation is sustained. The accumulated salts create an upward salinity gradient that trigger downward unstable flow. The decreases of potential evaporation rate, tidal amplitude and/or marsh platform slope strengthen the hydraulic connection between the marsh surface and the underlying watertable, the key to sustaining evaporation, and therefore result in thickener and wider salt pans. These findings offer a deeper insight into the marsh eco-hydrology and guidance for their degradation prevention.

Urban spatial form is a significant reference to getting to know cities and running the cities. The fractal theory is an effective means to quantify urban spatial form. Taking the buildings in the outer ring of Zhengzhou City as the research object, the basic architectural models are built by extracting their forms. The research site is subdivided into 199 regions. The distribution of architectural forms in Zhengzhou is analyzed by fractal theory and spatial autocorrelation from the perspective of two-dimensional(2D) and three-dimensional(3D). The results indicate that the architectural layout of Zhengzhou has distinct fractal characteristics; Both global spatial autocorrelation and local spatial autocorrelation show significant positive correlations; There are obvious spatial differences in architectural space forms in different regions. The refined grid analysis strengthens the understanding of the urban spatial structure and development rules in more detail. The study promotes the refinement and visualization of fractal theory effectively and improves the depth of urban spatial form cognition.

Single-axis rotation modulation (SRM) still accumulates errors in the roll axis direction, which leads to the navigation accuracy not meeting the requirements of guided missiles. Compound rotation modulation (CRM) superimposes one-dimensional rotation on the basis of SRM, so that the error of the projectile in the direction of the roll axis is also modulated. However, the error suppression effect of CRM is not only affected by the error of the IMU itself, but also related to the modulation angular velocity. In order to improve the accuracy of rotary semi-strapdown inertial navigation system (RSSINS), this paper proposes an optimal rotation angular velocity determination method. Firstly, the residual error in CRM scheme is analyzed; then, the relationship between the incomplete modulation error and the modulation angular velocity in CRM is discussed; finally, a method for determining the optimal modulation angular velocity is proposed (K-value method). The analysis of the results shows that the navigation accuracy of the guided projectile is effectively improved with the rotation scheme set at the modulation angular velocity determined by the K-value method.

For the alignment problem of strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) under the complex environment of unknown latitude, angular oscillation interference, and line interference, the ant colony simulated annealing algorithm of gravity vector optimization is proposed to obtain the gravity apparent motion vector optimization equation, and the polynomial fitting method is proposed to simultaneously perform latitude estimation and self-alignment in combination with the alignment principle of SINS. Simulations and experiments show that the proposed method has more robust anti-interference capability than the traditional interference-based alignment method, the latitude estimation accuracy is improved by six times, the self-alignment yaw angle error RMSE value after obtaining the latitude is within 0.7°, and the roll angle and pitch angle error values are within 0.1°.

Purpose. To investigate the impact of different oxygen supply methods on corneal epithelial wound healing and acetylcholine level during wound healing. Methods. We randomly divided 75 rabbits into three groups: A, B, and C, with 25 rabbits in each group. The central corneal epithelium was removed from all eyes of the rabbits using a 5 mm trephine. Group A rabbits were given low flow oxygen (3 L/min; concentration: 33%) for 2 h per day through goggles. Group B rabbits were given low flow oxygen (3 L/min; concentration: 33%) for 2 h per day via oxygen masks for inhalation. Group C rabbits healed naturally. The area of healed corneal epithelium and acetylcholine content in corneal epithelium were determined at 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h after injury. Results. At 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h after injury, the healing area of corneal epithelium in the three groups was in the order group A > group B > group C (P group B > group C (P 24 h > 36 h (P

The thermal environment of village public space affects the comfort of people ' s outdoor activities, and then affects the willingness of residents to outdoor activities, which has an important impact on the villagers' quality of life. Previously published studies of thermal comfort mostly focused on the evaluation of thermal comfort index, few studies on the application of thermal comfort planning. The study was carried out in Maling Village, Changdai Town, Mengjin County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, China. Square, street, green space were chosen as three typical public spaces where thermal comfort indexes were measured by questionnaire survey and field measurement during summer. Subsequently, the village's microclimate environment was simulated with ArcGIS 10.6 and ENVI-met. The results indicate that during the summer, the influences of temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity on the subjective comfort conditions of the outdoor environment gradually decreased. The spatial form of village has an important influence on thermal comfort. Finally, based on the results, this study put forward the thermal comfort process and planning scheme of the village outdoor space.

Today, vaccinologists have come to understand that the hallmark of any protective immune response is the antigen. However, it is not the whole antigen that dictates the immune response, but rather the various parts comprising the whole that are capable of influencing immunogenicity. Protein-based antigens hold particular importance within this structural approach to understanding immunity because, though different molecules can serve as antigens, only proteins are capable of inducing both cellular and humoral immunity. This fact, coupled with the versatility and customizability of proteins when considering vaccine design applications, makes protein-based vaccines (PBVs) one of today's most promising technologies for artificially inducing immunity. In this review, we follow the development of PBV technologies through time and discuss the antigen-specific receptors that are most critical to any immune response: pattern recognition receptors, B cell receptors, and T cell receptors. Knowledge of these receptors and their ligands has become exceptionally valuable in the field of vaccinology, where today it is possible to make drastic modifications to PBV structure, from primary to quaternary, in order to promote recognition of target epitopes, potentiate vaccine immunogenicity, and prevent antigen-associated complications. Additionally, these modifications have made it possible to control immune responses by modulating stability and targeting PBV to key immune cells. Consequently, careful consideration should be given to protein structure when designing PBVs in the future in order to potentiate PBV efficacy.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is the most significant infectious disease currently affecting the swine industry worldwide. Several inactivated and modified live vaccines (MLV) have been developed to curb PRRSV infections. However, the efficacy and safety of these vaccines are unsatisfactory, and hence, there is a strong demand for the development of new PRRS universal vaccines. Virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines are gaining increasing acceptance compared to subunit vaccines, as they present the antigens in a more veritable conformation and are readily recognized by the immune system. Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) has been successfully used as a carrier for more than 100 viral sequences. In this study, hybrid HBcAg VLPs were generated by fusion of the conserved protective epitopes of PRRSV and expressed in E. coli. An optimized purification protocol was developed to obtain hybrid HBcAg VLP protein from the inclusion bodies. This hybrid HBcAg VLP protein self-assembled to 23-nm VLPs that were shown to block virus infection of susceptible cells when tested on MARC 145 cells. Together with the safety of non-infectious and non-replicable VLPs and the low cost of production through E. coli fermentation, this hybrid VLP could be a promising vaccine candidate for PRRS.

The study is a retrospective analysis of 51 patients (76 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who admitted to our hospital from 2008 to 2010 to analyze the efficacy of trabeculectomy in combination with 5-fluorouracil- (5-FU-) soaked amniotic membranes for the treatment of POAG patients. Among them, 30 patients (41 eyes) were treated with trabeculectomy in combination with 5-FU-soaked amniotic membrane and 21 patients (35 eyes) were treated with trabeculectomy in combination with MMC. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures (IOP), cup/disc ratio, visual acuity and postoperative macular OCT, complications, treatment, and number of corneal endothelial cells were measured, recorded, and analyzed. At the end of 2 years of follow-up, IOP of 36 (87.8%) eyes of patients in the 5-FU group and IOP of 28 (80%) eyes of patients in the MMC group were ≤21 mmHg and patients in the 5-FU group had more stable IOP than patients in the MMC group. During the two years of follow-up, the visual acuity of 22 (53.7%) eyes in the 5-FU group remained unchanged or even improved. Trabeculectomy in combination with 5-FU-soaked biological amniotic membranes can be a surgical option for POAG patients.

Background : To observe the impact of application of bio-amniotic membrane immersed in 5-fluorouracil solution in trabeculectomy on the retina in a rabbit model. Materials and Methods : Healthy white New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups with 20 in each group. Bio-amniotic membranes of 4 × 5 mm immersed in either physiological saline/water for 10 min, or 25 mg/mL 5-fluorouracil solution for 5 and 10 min, respectively, were applied on rabbit eyes during trabeculectomy. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of postoperation, five rabbits from each group were examined with electroretinogram (ERG). After being examined for eye pressure and bleb morphology, rabbits were sacrificed by air embolism and their retinas were collected and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, 5-fluorouracil amount in bio-amniotic membranes was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Each bio-amniotic membrane could absorb 59.004 μg and 75.828 μg 5-fluorouracil after being immersed in 5-fluorouracil solution for 5 and 10 min, respectively. Application of these bio-amniotic membranes in trabeculectomy could promote the formation of well-functioning bleb and maintain intraocular pressure, although it had no effect on retina structures as examined with ERG and TEM. Conclusion: Application of 5-FU soaked bio-amniotic membrane in rabbit eye trabeculectomy is effective and safe.

Phagocytosis is critical to the clearance of apoptotic cells, cellular debris and deleterious metabolic products for tissue homeostasis. Phagocytosis ligands directly recognizing deleterious cargos are the key to defining the functional roles of phagocytes, but are traditionally identified on a case-by-case basis with technical challenges. As a result, extrinsic regulation of phagocytosis is poorly defined. Here we demonstrate that microglial phagocytosis ligands can be systematically identified by a new approach of functional screening. One of the identified ligands is reticulocalbin-1 (Rcn1), which was originally reported as a Ca2+-binding protein with a strict expression in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our results showed that Rcn1 can be secreted from healthy cells and that secreted Rcn1 selectively bound to the surface of apoptotic neurons, but not healthy neurons. Independent characterization revealed that Rcn1 stimulated microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic but not healthy neurons. Ingested apoptotic cells were targeted to phagosomes and co-localized with phagosome marker Rab7. These data suggest that Rcn1 is a genuine phagocytosis ligand. The new approach described in this study will enable systematic identification of microglial phagocytosis ligands with broad applicability to many other phagocytes.

A critical limiting factor of chemotherapy is the unacceptably high toxicity. The use of nanoparticle based drug carriers has significantly reduced the side effects and facilitated the delivery of drugs. Source of the remaining side effect includes (1) the broad final in vivo distribution of the administrated nanoparticles, and (2) strong basal drug release from nanoparticles before they could reach the tumor. Despite the advances in pH-triggered release, undesirable basal drug release has been a constant challenge under in vivo conditions. In this study, functionalized single walled carbon nanohorn supported immunoliposomes were assembled for paclitaxel delivery. The immunoliposomes were formulated with polyethylene glycol, thermal stable and pH sensitive phospholipids. Each nanohorn was found to be encapsulated within one immunoliposome. Results showed a highly pH dependent release of paclitaxel in the presence of serum at body temperature with minimal basal release under physiological conditions. Upon acidification, paclitaxel was released at a steady rate over 30 days with a cumulative release of 90% of the loaded drug. The drug release results proved our hypothesized double controlled release mechanism from the nanoparticles. Other results showed the nanoparticles have doubled loading capacity compared to that of traditional liposomes and higher affinity to breast cancer cells overexpressing Her2 receptors. Internalized nanoparticles were found in lysosomes.

A two-way coupling algorithm for wave-current interaction is developed and implemented into a nearshore circulation model to investigate the effects of fully wave-current interaction on irregular wave transformation over an elliptic shoal. The wave field is simulated by a spectral wave model WABED, and the wave-induced current is solved by a quasi-three-dimensional model WINCM. The surface roller effects are represented in the formulation of surface stress, and the roller characteristics are solved by a roller evolution model. The proposed two-way coupling algorithm can describe both the generation of wave-induced current and the current-induced wave transformation, which is more physically reasonable than the one-way approaches. The model test with a laboratory experiment shows that wave-induced currents have an important influence on the wave transformation, for example, the wave energy defocusing due to the strong jet-like current along the centerline of the shoal. It is revealed that the accuracy of simulated wave field can be significantly improved by taking into account the two-way wave-current interaction.