Exploring breast cancer associated-gene panel for next-generation sequencing and identifying new, pathogenic variants in breast cancer from western China.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. It is crucial to develop a cost-effective BC genetic panel for detection and diagnosis. In this study, tissue samples from 52 BC patients and peripheral blood samples from 18 healthy volunteers were collected in western China, followed by gDNA extraction.

Coupling of biocarriers and dynamic membrane for an enhanced volatile fatty acids production from sludge anaerobic fermentation.

Efficiently and economically recovering volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from sludge anaerobic fermentation (AF) poses a significant challenge. This study discovered a synergistic enhancement effect on VFAs production and membrane fouling control by combining polyethylene (PE) biocarriers and dynamic membrane technology (DM) in an anaerobic bioreactor. The reduced sludge particle size and enhanced hydrolysis efficiency led to a VFAs yield of 1200 mg/L, which is 2.

Combining radio frequency heating and alkaline treatment for enhancement of sludge disintegration and volatile fatty acids production from anaerobic fermentation.

Sludge pretreatment plays a crucial role in solubilizing particulate matters to release organic matter for subsequent anaerobic fermentation (AF). This study innovatively combines radio frequency (RF) heating and alkaline treatment, and finds that the combined pretreatment achieved a sludge disintegration rate of 35.11 %, which is 15.

Association between RC/HDL-C ratio and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States.

Background: The occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. The link between serum remnant cholesterol (RC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and NAFLD remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to clarify the relationship between the RC/HDL-C ratio and the NAFLD.

Preparation of biochar from anaerobic digested sludge for enhancement of sludge dewatering.

Effective dewatering is vital for both sludge treatment and resource recovery. This study focuses on converting post-anaerobic digested sludge into biochar to enhance sludge dewatering. The sludge-derived biochar is further modified with polyacrylamide (PAM-ADBC) and applied with sulfuric acid-modified montmorillonite (HMTS) for better performance.

Improving the ferroelectric properties of Lu doped HfZrOthin films by capping a CeOlayer.

Lu doped HfZrO(HZO) ferroelectric films were prepared on Pt/TiN/SiO/Si substrate by chemical solution deposition method, and an interfacial engineering strategy for improving the ferroelectric property was explored by capping the Lu doped HZO films with a cerium oxide layer. Compared with the Lu doped HZO film without the CeOcoating layer, the Lu doped HZO film with the CeOcoating layer has a larger remanent polarization (2= 34.72C cm) and presents weaker wake-up behavior, which result from the higher orthogonal phase ratio and the lower oxygen vacancy of the CeOcoated Lu doped HZO film.

Modulating Ca influx into adrenal chromaffin cells with short-duration nanosecond electric pulses.

Isolated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells exposed to single 2-, 4-, or 5-ns pulses undergo a rapid, transient rise in intracellular Ca mediated by Ca entry via voltage-gated Ca channels (VGCCs), mimicking the activation of these cells in vivo by acetylcholine. However, pulse durations 150 ns or longer elicit larger amplitude and longer-lived Ca responses due to Ca influx via both VGCCs and a yet to be identified plasma membrane pathway(s). To further our understanding of the differential effects of ultrashort versus longer pulse durations on Ca influx, chromaffin cells were loaded with calcium green-1 and exposed to single 3-, 5-, 11-, 25-, or 50-ns pulses applied at their respective Ca activation threshold electric fields.

Separation of nutrients from SCFAs with a dynamic membrane in a sludge anaerobic fermenter.

The complexity and high cost to separate and recover short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), ammonium ions, and phosphates in the sludge fermentation liquid hinder the application of sludge anaerobic fermentation. In this study, an interesting phenomenon was found in a sludge anaerobic fermenter with a dynamic membrane (DM) which could not only enhance SCFAs production but also retain most SCFAs in fermenter. The separation factor of DM for NH-N/SCFAs and PO/SCFAs throughout the DM development were about 40 and 80, respectively.

Applying machine learning to anaerobic fermentation of waste sludge using two targeted modeling strategies.

Anaerobic fermentation is an effective method to harvest volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from waste activated sludge (WAS). Accurately predicting and optimizing VFAs production is crucial for anaerobic fermentation engineering. In this study, we developed machine learning models using two innovative strategies to precisely predict the daily yield of VFAs in a laboratory anaerobic fermenter.

A Tibetan group from Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China, is rich in genetic polymorphisms at 36 autosomal STR loci and shares a complex genetic structure with other Chinese populations.

The Tibetan people are ancient and populous, constituting the seventh-largest of the fifty-five ethnic minority groups in China. The Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (NTQAP), situated on the border of northwest and southwest China, has its distinct group relationships. Short tandem repeat (STR) is extremely polymorphic and extensively used in the application of forensic medicine and population genetics.

Study on core competencies of midwives in China.

The aim of this study is to investigate the core competencies of midwives in China. Combination of qualitative research and quantitative research. A total of 100 midwives in 3 tertiary (Grade 3) hospitals in Shijiazhuang were investigated by using the Midwife Core Competency Scale, and simultaneously followed by semi-structured interviews with 12 midwives.

Novel, pathogenic insertion variant of GSDME associates with autosomal dominant hearing loss in a large Chinese pedigree.

Nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is a genetically diverse, highly heterogeneous condition characterised by deafness, and Gasdermin E (GSDME) variants have been identified as directly inducing autosomal dominant NSHL. While many NSHL cases associated with GSDME involve the skipping of exon 8, there is another, less understood pathogenic insertion variant specifically found in Chinese pedigrees that causes deafness, known as autosomal dominant 5 (DFNA5) hearing loss. In this study, we recruited a large Chinese pedigree, conducted whole-exome and Sanger sequencing to serve as a comprehensive clinical examination, and extracted genomic DNA samples for co-segregation analysis of the members.

Improved net energy recovery in a sludge anaerobic digestion process by coupling an electrochemical system: electrode material and its impact on suspended microbial community.

Despite its great potential to recover energy from waste sludge, anaerobic digestion (AD) still needs to solve issues such as slow hydrolysis and H inhibition. This study investigated the effects of coupling microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with AD on the CH yield. Results and analysis show that the CH yield was significantly improved in MEC-AD reactors by two factors, i.

Immunomodulatory and Antiviral Therapy Improved Functional Cure Rate in CHB Patients with High HBsAg Level Experienced NA.

Background And Aims: A functional cure, or hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, is difficult to achieve in patients with hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B. The HBV vaccine and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have been reported to help reduce HBsAg levels and promote HBsAg loss. In this prospective randomized trial, we evaluated HBsAg loss in patients receiving pegylated interferon-α2b (PEGIFN-α2b) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), with and without GM-CSF and HBV vaccination.

Genetic Polymorphism and Population Genetic Structure Analysis of 21 Autosomal STR Loci for a Han-Chinese Population from Luzhou of Southwest China.

The Han nationality is an ancient and populous people, and different places in China may have their distinct group relationships. Luzhou area, as a crossroads of several provinces in Southwest China, lacks autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) research and population genetics research. In this study, 21 autosomal STR loci were evaluated in 1959 Han-Chinese individuals from Luzhou area.

Novel, heterozygous, de novo pathogenic variant (c.4963delA: p.Thr1656Glnfs*42) of the NF1 gene in a Chinese family with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) presents an autosomal dominant, haploinsufficient, and multisystemic disorder with patches of skin café-au-lait spots, lisch nodules in the iris, even tumors in the peripheral nervous system or fibromatous skin. In this study, a Chinese young woman who suffered from NF1 disease with first-trimester spontaneous abortion was recruited. Analysis for whole exome sequencing (WES), Sanger sequencing, short tandem repeat (STR), and co-segregation was carried out.

Thermographic evaluation of acupoints in lower limb region of individuals with osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study protocol.

Purpose: Acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but the selection of acupoints is indeterminate and lacks biological basis. The skin temperature of acupoints can reflect the state of local tissue and may be a potential factor for guiding acupoint selection. This study aims to compare the skin temperature of acupoints between KOA patients and the healthy population.

Comprehensive analysis, immune, and cordycepin regulation for SOX9 expression in pan-cancers and the matched healthy tissues.

SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) (OMIM 608160) is a transcription factor. The expression of SOX9 in pan-cancers and the regulation by small molecules in cancer cell lines are unclear. In the current study, we comprehensively analyzed the expression of SOX9 in normal tissues, tumor tissues and their matched healthy tissues in pan-cancers.

Structural evolutionary analysis of the embodied net carbon transfer network of Belt and Road trade: from the regional and sectoral perspectives.

The countries along the "Belt and Road" (B&R) have close cooperative connections economically and in trade, and these connections lead to a large amount of embodied carbon emissions and have formed a complex network of net carbon transfers. Considering 63 countries and 26 sectors, this study uses the Eora multiregional input-output (MRIO) model to construct the embodied carbon transfer networks in 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. Additionally, it applies the social network approach to analyze the structural characteristics and evolution of carbon flow networks in the countries and regions along the B&R.

Exploration on the role of different iron species in the remediation of As and Cd co-contamination by sewage sludge biochar.

Numerous studies have explored the adsorption of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) by iron (Fe)-modified biochar, but few studies have examined in-depth the similarities and differences in the adsorption behavior of different iron types on Cd and As. In this study, sewage sludge biochar (BC) was co-pyrolyzed with self-made Fe minerals (magnetite, hematite, ferrihydrite, goethite, and schwertmannite) to treat Cd and As co-contaminated water. The adsorption of Cd and As on the Fe-modified biochar was further analyzed by adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and adsorption thermodynamics combined with a series of characterization experiments.

Novel, heterozygous, pathogenic variant (c.4272delA: p.I1426Ffs*2) for the NF1 gene in a large Chinese family with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant with haploinsufficient, and multisystemic disorder including patches of skin Café-au-lait spots, Lisch nodules in the iris, and tumors in the peripheral nervous systems or fibromatous skin.

Methods: Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted from a large Chinese pedigree suffering from NF1 disease with three spontaneous abortions or death for proband. Analysis for whole exome sequencing (WES), Sanger sequencing, and co-segregation was carried out.

Spatial distribution of heavy metals in rice grains and human health risk assessment in Hunan Province, China.

Rice is the main food in China, and its pollution by heavy metals has attracted widespread attention. In this study, rice grain samples were collected from 14 prefecture-level cities in Hunan Province, China. The contents of 9 heavy metals (i.

Transport of ZIF-8 in porous media under the influence of surfactant type and nanoparticle concentration.

Knowledge of the fate and transport of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in porous media is essential to understanding their environmental impacts. However, to date, the transport mechanisms of MOFs are not fully revealed. Meanwhile, surfactants can promote MOFs dispersion by forming a stable suspension.