Publications by authors named "Heng Xu"

In this study, enhanced membrane coagulation (EMC) sludge was subjected to various alkaline (pH 7.2, 10, and 11), temperature (35 °C and 55 °C), and duration (0.5 h and 1 day) pretreatment conditions before being inoculated into biogas reactors operated for 176 days.

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Objectives: This study reported the development of the Job-Related Uncertainty Stress Scale for Platform Workers (JUSSPW) and examined its reliability and validity.

Methods: The research was conducted in two phases. In Study 1, item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted on data from 343 platform riders (male:321; female:22; mean age:27.

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Background: There are growing global concerns about informal waste pickers and their health issues. This cross-sectional study drew on the structural violence theory to examine the mental health situation of informal waste pickers in Hong Kong and identified the determinants of depression and anxiety in them ranging from individual to societal and governmental levels.

Method: The data from the largest territory-wide study of informal waste pickers in 2023 was analysed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) using T cells that target neoantigens shows promise in cancer treatment, but isolating these specific T cells is challenging.
  • A new method has been proposed to prepare neoantigen-reactive T cells (NRTs) using a vaccine made from tumor lysates and dendritic cells, which generates an immune response in lung cancer models.
  • This approach allows for effective NRT preparation and enhances their ability to infiltrate tumors when combined with DC vaccines, potentially improving the overall efficacy of personalized immunotherapies.
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Cadmium (Cd) pollution in Chinese herbal medicines poses a serious risk to medication safety. Regulating Cd uptake, transport, and accumulation in plants through ion-ion interactions offers a novel, environmentally sustainable, and practical approach to address this issue. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of coexisting divalent cations zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) on Cd uptake by Ligusticum sinense cv.

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Genetic interactions play crucial roles in cell-essential functions. Intrinsic genetic defects in tumors typically involve gain-of- and loss-of-function mutations in tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and oncogenes, respectively, providing potential antitumor vulnerabilities. Moreover, tumor cells with TSG deficiencies exhibit heightened sensitivity to the inhibition of compensatory pathways.

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The Cp*Rh-catalyzed C-H arylation of indoles with arylsilanes is developed. This C-H activation transformation allows for the Rh-catalyzed indole C arylation to overcome the limitations of requiring strong directing group assistance and high-temperature conditions, achieving a room-temperature transformation driven by a weak directing group. Cp*Rh/MeOH catalytic media are considered a key factor enabling this transformation to occur under mild conditions, and experimental studies and theoretical calculations were performed to rationalize the reaction mechanisms and the influence of methanol as a solvent in promoting the reaction.

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Although microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective, its efficiency is constrained by challenges such as low bacterial activity and heavy metal stress. This study explored the enhancement of mineralization efficiency by incorporating zinc (Zn) into the cultivation system of carbonate-mineralized bacteria. All Zn salts at a concentration of 30 μmol/L significantly enhanced the density and heavy metal resistance of bacterial cells, while also promoting CO hydration efficiency.

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This study aimed to design a rizatriptan (RIZ) transdermal patch by combining of high-polarity hydroxyl pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) AAOH-45 with an ion-pair strategy and investigate the molecular mechanism of high content hydroxyl PSA to enhance drug-PSA miscibility. RIZ free base, ion-pair complexes and PSAs containing hydroxyl group were prepared and characterized. Formulation factors including counter-ions, PSAs, drug-loading and others were optimized through single-factor studies and evaluated through pharmacokinetic studies and skin irritation tests.

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In this study, a sustained-release paliperidone (PAL) patch was developed using a combination of ion-pair strategy and percutaneous permeation enhancers (PPEs). The ion-pair strategy was used to improve drug-adhesive miscibility and control drug release. PPEs were used to break SC barrier function to facilitate drug skin permeation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Nearly half of individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) continue to face neurological issues, potentially linked to stress exposure.
  • A study using a mouse model found that acute and chronic stress worsened recovery from mTBI by increasing cell death mechanisms like ferroptosis, which is driven by iron overload in the brain.
  • The use of iron chelators showed promise in reversing some of the detrimental effects of stress on neuronal health and may be a potential treatment strategy for mTBI patients affected by stress.
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  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, and immunogenic cell death (ICD) studies in HCC are still limited.
  • This research analyzed RNA sequencing data to identify immunogenic cell death-related genes (ICDRGs) in HCC, focusing on genes that have prognostic value.
  • The study found that high expression of HSP90AA1 is linked to poor survival outcomes in HCC and contributes to tumor cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy.
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Background: Spine grape (Vitis davidii) is a promising source of high-quality anthocyanins, with vast potential for application in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, their availability is limited by resource constraints. Plant cell culture has emerged as a valuable approach for anthocyanin production and serves as an ideal model to investigate the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis.

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  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is linked to problems with vascular endothelial cells, and the role of platelet factor 4 (PF4) in this condition was previously unclear.
  • Researchers created a nanomedicine using liposome-encapsulated PF4 (Lipo-PF4) and found it significantly reduced TAAD formation compared to PF4 alone.
  • The study concluded that Lipo-PF4 helps enhance endothelial cell function and inhibits TAAD progression by interacting with specific signaling pathways, suggesting it could be a future treatment option for TAAD.
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  • Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread chronic skin condition, but the link between metabolites and its development hasn't been fully understood yet.
  • * This study investigates the genetic connections between metabolites and AD, focusing on how amino acid metabolites like N6-methyllysine influence the disease through the inflammatory protein S100A12.
  • * Results showed that S100A12 is associated with various immune cells in AD-affected skin and is a key mediator between certain metabolites and the onset of AD.
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  • Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) helps clean up soils contaminated with cadmium (Cd), but using too much urea can be expensive and hurt tiny soil creatures.
  • This study found that adding certain materials like biochar and activated carbon can help special bacteria grow faster, which makes them better at removing Cd.
  • The best results showed that using these materials can keep the Cd removal rate really high, even after using them many times, making MICP better for farming without harming the soil.
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To promote the formation of granular sludge with high polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) synthesis ability, an anaerobic dynamic feeding process (AnDF) was proposed. This process combines the feast-famine mode with an anaerobic plug flow feeding process and involving variations in cycle length and settling time. The effects of lactic acid (LA) content (0 %, 20 %, and 40 % COD) on sludge granulation and PHAs production were investigated using three AnDF reactors (R1, R2, and R3).

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Biomineralization techniques have been utilized to remediate heavy metals (HMs) contaminated environments. However, the effect of microbial-induced phosphate precipitation (MIPP) on HMs behavior in vanadium tailing slags has not been revealed. This study is the first to report the influence of MIPP on multiple HMs including Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the slags with and without soil mixing.

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The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral phthalides has garnered considerable interest. However, the construction of phthalides with a chiral quaternary carbon stereocenter still remains challenging. In this study, we developed a new strategy toward catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral 3,3-disubstituted phthalides via a dirhodium(II)/phosphine-catalyzed carbonyl addition cascade, yielding phthalides with up to 97% ee values.

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Small molecule drug conjugates are an emerging targeted therapy for cancer treatment. Building upon the overexpressed prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in prostate cancer, we herein report the design and synthesis of a novel PSMA-PI3K small molecule drug conjugate 1. Conjugate 1 demonstrates potent inhibition against PI3K with an IC value of 0.

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Abnormal homocysteine (Hcy) levels in human serum have been associated with serious or vital diseases, making the reliable and easy detection of Hcy important to clinical analysis and biological study. In this work, five phosphorescent Ir(C^N)(N^N) complexes (Ir) having aldehyde group were synthesized as probes (C^N and N^N denoted ligands). A discussion was conducted on their molecular structure, electronic structure, photophysical parameters, and Hcy sensing ability, revealing the correlations between their molecular structures and performances.

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Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology was widely applied to immobilize heavy metals, but its long-term stability is tough to maintain, particularly under acid attack. This study successfully converted Pseudochrobactrum sp. DL-1 induced vaterite (a rare crystalline phase of CaCO) to hydroxyapatite (HAP) at 30 ℃.

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Background: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy is under intensive investigation for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study assesses the efficacy and immune response of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nICT) in ESCC.

Methods: In this phase II trial (ChiCTR2100045722), locally advanced ESCC patients receiving nICT were enrolled.

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This study presents a bidirectional flow tidal bioreactor designed to enhance H-driven CO biomethanation. The bioreactor alternated biofilms between immersion in nutrient solution and exposure to H/CO, creating alternating dry and wet states. This tidal operation minimized liquid film thickness during dry periods and ensured uniform nutrient distribution during wet periods.

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Visible-infrared person re-identification (VIPR) plays an important role in intelligent transportation systems. Modal discrepancies between visible and infrared images seriously confuse person appearance discrimination, e.g.

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