Sulfur recycle in biogas production: Novel Higee desulfurization process using natural amino acid salts.

In this work, a desulfurization method using natural amino acid salts (AAS), which can be green prepared by biological fermentation, is proposed to remove HS from raw biogas. Biogas purification and fertilizer production can be simultaneously achieved to close sulfur recycle. The reaction kinetic characteristics of HS absorption with three kinds of AAS, including potassium β-alaninate (PA), potassium sarcosinate (PS) and potassium l-prolinate (PP) are first studied.

Surrounding Needling and Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy Treatment: Synergistic Effects for Repigmentation in Chronic, Stable Nonsegmental Vitiligo.

Context: Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy is the standard treatment for chronic stable vitiligo, but its efficacy, when used alone, is often unsatisfactory.

Objective: The study evaluated the efficacy of surrounding needling with acupuncture needles in combination with NBUVB phototherapy for lesions on different body parts of patients with chronic stable vitiligo.

Design: The research team designed a 12-week, randomized, open-label, prospective, intra-individual, comparative clinical trial.

The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to psychological distress among community samples and university students. Some coping behaviors and cognitive appraisals allow individuals to experience positive psychological growth amid such a crisis (Folkman et al. 1986).

Oleic acid reduces steroidogenesis by changing the lipid type stored in lipid droplets of ovarian granulosa cells.

Background: Oleic acid is an abundant free fatty acid present in livestock that are in a negative energy-balance state, and it may have detrimental effects on female reproduction and fertility. Oleic acid induces lipid accumulation in bovine granulosa cells, which leads to a foam cell-like morphology and reduced steroidogenesis. However, why oleic acid increases lipid accumulation but decreases steroidogenesis remains unclear.

XMU-MP-1 protects heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice through modulating Mst1/AMPK pathway.

Up to now, there are few therapeutic approaches available to protect heart from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present work was designed to examine the protection of XMU-MP-1, an inhibitor of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1), against myocardial I/R injury in mice and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The wild-type and Mst1 (-/-) mice were exposed to I/R injury and treated with XMU-MP-1 immediately after reperfusion.

KRT13 promotes stemness and drives metastasis in breast cancer through a plakoglobin/c-Myc signaling pathway.

Background: Keratins (KRTs) are intermediate filament proteins that interact with multiple regulatory proteins to initiate signaling cascades. Keratin 13 (KRT13) plays an important role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism by which KRT13 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis.

Optimized Artificial Neural Network for Evaluation: C4 Alkylation Process Catalyzed by Concentrated Sulfuric Acid.

In this work, an artificial neural network was first achieved and optimized for evaluating product distribution and studying the octane number of the sulfuric acid-catalyzed C4 alkylation process in the stirred tank and rotating packed bed. The feedstock compositions, operating conditions, and reactor types were considered as input parameters into the artificial neural network model. Algorithm, transfer function, and framework were investigated to select the optimal artificial neural network model.

NR1D1 targeting CYP19A1 inhibits estrogen synthesis in ovarian granulosa cells.

The circadian system performs an important role in mammalian reproduction with significant effects on hormone secretion. Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1) functions as a transcriptional repressor in the circadian system and affects granulosa cells (GCs), but how it regulates estrogen synthesis has not been clarified. We investigated the effect of NR1D1 on estrogen synthesis and found that NR1D1 was highly expressed in GCs, mainly in cell nuclei.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Novel Signature for Immunotherapy Response and Tumor Microenvironment Regulation Patterns in Urothelial Cancer.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is mainly composed of tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and stromal components. It plays an essential role in the prognosis and therapeutic response of patients. Nonetheless, the TME landscape of urothelial cancer (UC) has not been fully elucidated.

Local impedance for the optimization of radiofrequency lesion delivery: A review of bench and clinical data.

Introduction: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a cornerstone of treatment for many cardiac arrhythmias. Progression in three-dimensional mapping and contact-force sensing technologies have improved our capability to achieve success, but challenges still remain.

Methods: In this article, we discuss the importance of overall circuit impedance in radiofrequency lesion formation.

Rapid prediction method of α-Glycosidase inhibitory activity of Coreopsis tinctoria extract from different habitats by near infrared spectroscopy.

α-Glucosidase is one of the main enzymes causing elevated blood glucose, and Coreopsis tinctoria extract can be used as a natural inhibitor of α-Glucosidase. Therefore, a new method was proposed for predicting the inhibitory activity on α-Glucosidase of Coreopsis tinctoria extract based on near infrared spectroscopy. The absorbance of the inhibitory system was measured by ultraviolet spectroscopy, which was used to study the inhibitory activity on a-glucosidase of Coreopsis tinctoria extract.

Discovery of Camellia sinensis catechins as SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitors through molecular docking, intra and extra cellular assays.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies suggest that major Camellia sinensis (tea) catechins can inhibit 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro), inspiring us to study 3CLpro inhibition of the recently discovered catechins from tea by our group.

Methods: Autodock was used to dock 3CLpro and 16 tea catechins. Further, a 3CLpro activity detection system was used to test their intra and extra cellular 3CLpro inhibitory activity.

Prenatal diagnosis of auriculocondylar syndrome with a novel missense variant of GNAI3: a case report.

Background: Auriculocondylar syndrome (ACS) is a rare disorder characterized by micrognathia, mandibular condyle hypoplasia, and auricular abnormalities. Only 6 pathogenic variants of GNAI3 have been identified associated with ACS so far. Here, we report a case of prenatal genetic diagnosis of ACS carrying a novel GNAI3 variant.

Fluid resuscitation based on pulse contour cardiac output monitoring is associated with improved prognosis in adult severe burn patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: A monitoring method is needed to further guide fluid resuscitation in severe burn injury. This study was performed to investigate the effects of pulse contour cardiac output (PCCO) monitoring on the prognosis of adult severe burns patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study enrolling patients from January 2015 to December 2020, who were divided into a control group receiving conventional monitoring and a study group receiving PCCO monitoring.

An Interannual Comparative Study on Ecosystem Carbon Exchange Characteristics in the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, a Dominant Subtropical Evergreen Forest Ecosystem.

Compared with other forest systems, research interest in the potential for a stronger ecosystem carbon sequestration of evergreen forests throughout subtropical China has greatly increased. The eddy covariance technique is widely employed to determine accurate forest-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO) flux, which is subsequently used to determine forest ecosystem carbon exchange characteristics. The Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, a subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, is a suitable study area due to its warm and humid climate (compared with other regions within the same latitude), consequently playing a role in the carbon cycle in the region.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, but Not Other Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Is Associated With Worse Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. However, the prevalence of GI symptoms and their association with outcomes remain controversial in COVID-19 patients. All COVID-19 patients consecutively admitted to the Wuhan Huoshenshan hospital from February 2020 to April 2020 were collected.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure suppressed the community diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizers and mitigated NO emissions in an alkaline soil.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) pollution has become an increasing issue worldwide, but little is known about its effects on ammonia-oxidizers and nitrous oxide (NO) in the soil environment. Here, a 50-day soil microcosm experiment was conducted using low and high doses bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to estimate the effect of DEHP exposure on soil NO emissions and the nitrifying community in calcareous soil. The results showed that DEHP exposure at 10 and 100 mg kg doses significantly reduced NO by 67.

Angiographic features of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: a new imaging classification system, BRAND, to guide embolisation.

Aim: To introduce a new classification system for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) based on the BRanches, ANgles and Diameter of the feeding artery (BRAND), which is intended provide a better understanding of the vascular structure of PAVMs and facilitate the selection of therapeutic strategies for embolisation.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients with PAVMs from 2005 to 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. According to angiographic morphology, classified the PAVMs using the BRAND classification.

Implementation of a cloud-based electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) platform in patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Patient reported outcomes (PROs) have been associated with improved symptom management and quality of life in patients with cancer. However, the implementation of PROs in an academic clinical practice has not been thoroughly described. Here we report on the execution, feasibility and healthcare utilization outcomes of an electronic PRO (ePRO) application for cancer patients at an academic medical center.