Microplastic-Induced Alterations in Soil Aggregate-Associated Carbon Stabilization Pathways: Evidence from δC Signature Analysis.

Microplastics (MPs) are known to affect soil carbon stability in a numerous ways. However, the mechanisms by which they alter the carbon stability within soil aggregates remain unclear . Herein, a one-year field experiment was conducted in an arid agricultural region employing stable isotope techniques to evaluate the soil organic carbon flow in the presence of both persistent (PE, PVC) and biodegradable (PLA, PHA) MPs.

All-Optical Single-Longitudinal-Mode Forward Brillouin Microwave Oscillator with an Unbalanced Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer.

An all-optical single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) forward Brillouin microwave oscillator (FB-MO) with an unbalanced Fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (UF-MZI) for microwave photonics (MWP) generation is proposed and experimentally investigated. UF-MZI consists of an optical coupler (OC), a polarization controller (PC), and two asymmetric length arms with 5 km and 500 m single-mode fibers (SMFs), which implements two unbalanced length feedback rings that are connected to one another. One long-length ring with a forward Brillouin gain cooperates with the other short-length ring to maintain a spectral Vernier effect and improve the effective free spectral range (FSR).

Meta-analysis of studies testing the association between air pollution and live birth rates in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology.

Amidst a proliferation of research on air pollutants and negative pregnancy outcomes, uncertainty lingers regarding their impact on live birth rates in women receiving assisted reproductive technology (ART). This meta-analysis aims to clarify this vital issue. We searched EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, targeting articles published prior to 2023 August 2.

Association of lymphocyte subsets percentage with prognosis for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients receiving PD-L1 inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have demonstrated significant survival benefits in treating recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M-NPC). While baseline peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets have been identified as prognostic biomarkers in various cancers treated with ICIs, their relevance in R/M-NPC has not been extensively studied.

Methods: This post hoc analysis used data from 153 R/M-NPC patients treated with PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in the phase 2 trial KL167-2-05-CTP.

Isolation and characterization of phosphoglycerate kinase and creatine kinase from bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis): Potential sources for antitumor agents.

Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) has garnered significant attention due to its potential health benefits, yet its bioactive protein components remain largely unexplored. In this study, two proteins S3 and Z1 were isolated from Aristichthys nobilis using ammonium sulfate precipitation and serial column chromatography guided by their in vitro antitumor activity. Both proteins were found to be homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with a purity exceeding 95% as confirmed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).

Autocollimation-Based Roll Angle Sensor Using a Modified Right-Angle Prism for Large Range Measurements.

An autocollimator is a popular angle measuring apparatus which lacks the capability to measure the roll angle. This paper proposes a novel roll angle sensor with a large measuring range that is based on the autocollimation principle. A modified right-angle prism (MRP) functions as a reflector to admit a collimated beam and return two outgoing beams to the sensor head.

Development and optimization of a high-throughput LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of Exatecan and its Cathepsin B-sensitive prodrug, and ARV-825 in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic study.

For most cancers, the combination of chemotherapy drugs is a promising approach. The combination of DNA damage agent Exatecan and proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) agent ARV-825, which is a selective bromodomain-containing protein 4 degrader, can further improve efficacy through the DNA damage-repair mechanism. The Cathepsin B-sensitive prodrug with high albumin affinity of Exatecan (C14-VC-PAB-Exa) was introduced and co-encapsulated with ARV-825 into the nano-drug delivery system for improving the physicochemical properties of the two drugs.

Dynamic BO bonds-induced viscoelasticity and surface adhesion regulation for constructing konjac glucomannan-based soft actuators with superior mobility and capturability.

In all soft actuators, achieving both outstanding mobility and capturability is crucial; however, these properties are usually mutually exclusive due to the lack of an effective mechanism for controlling the viscoelasticity of the switching polymer matrix while maintaining a moderate surface adhesion. In this study, we propose a dynamic bond cross-linking strategy to successfully develop a magnetically responsive soft hydrogel (MRSH) with exceptional mobility (117.56 mm/s) and capturability.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor for PD-L1 Inhibitor Treatment in Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be treated as a simple indicator of patients' immune status by representing the state of the systemic inflammatory response. Immunotherapy now is the accepted second-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). However, the significance of NLR in patients with R/M NPC undergoing treatment with PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1) inhibitors is still uncertain.

Molten salt-mediated electrosynthesis of MoS nanosheet-supported Rh nanoclusters for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

We report the synthesis of MoS nanosheet-supported Rh nanoclusters a facile yet efficient molten salt electrolysis method followed by wet chemical reduction for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In-depth study reveals that the uniform Rh nanoclusters on MoS nanosheets can shorten the electronic transport path, and effectively promote the hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics.

Anatomical Measurements of the Thoracic Splanchnic Nerve and Clinical Applications.

Objective: To describe in detail the characteristics of the travels and relationship of splanchnic nerves, and to provide an anatomical basis for splanchnic nerve block.

Methods: 1) For 20 thoracic splanchnic nerve anatomies, the relationship between the intersection of the greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) and lesser splanchnic nerve (LSN) and the T12 vertebrae was examined. 2) 6 patients with cancer pain in the epigram, unresponsive to conservative treatment, underwent splanchnic nerve radiofrequency ablation.

Detection of fusion events by RNA sequencing in FFPE versus freshly frozen colorectal cancer tissue samples.

Gene fusion events result in chimeric proteins that are frequently found in human cancers. Specific targeted therapies are available for several types of cancer fusions including receptor tyrosine kinase gene moieties. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) can directly be used for detection of gene rearrangements in a single test, along with multiple additional biomarkers.

Spatial and temporal changes of breast-conserving surgery rates and its influential factors among Chinese patients with breast cancer from 2013 to 2019: a registry-based study.

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal changes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rates and influential factors of BCS in Guangdong Province, China.

Design, Setting And Participants: This registry-based cohort study analysed the data of patients of all age groups, from the medical record cover page, which was mandatorily collected for inpatients by the Health Administrative Department of Guangdong Province, China. Patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, who underwent breast surgery between 2013 and 2019, were included.

Narrow Linewidth All-Optical Microwave Oscillator Based on Torsional Radial Acoustic Modes of Single-Mode Fiber.

A Hz level narrow linewidth all-optical microwave oscillator based on the torsional radial acoustic modes (TR) of a single-mode fiber (SMF) is proposed and validated. The all-optical microwave oscillator consists of a 20 km SMF main ring cavity and a 5 km SMF sub ring cavity. The main ring cavity provides forward stimulated Brillouin scattering gain and utilizes a nonlinear polarization rotation effect to achieve TR mode locking.

Engineering active sites on N, S co-doped carbon matrix-encapsulated Ni-modified CoS nanoparticles enabling efficient urea electrooxidation.

Interface engineering and electronic modulation enable precise tuning of the electronic structure, thereby maximizing the efficacy of active sites and significantly enhancing the activity and stability of the electrocatalyst. Herein, a hybrid material composed of Ni-modified CoS nanoparticles ((Co, Ni)S) encapsulated within an N, S co-doped carbon matrix (SNC) and anchored onto S-doped carbonized wood fibers (SCWF) is synthesized using a straightforward simultaneous carbonization and sulfidation approach. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the highly electronegative Ni element promotes electron cloud migration from Co to Ni, shifting the d-band center of Co closer to the Fermi level.

Metastatic sites of baseline as predictors in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carinoma treated with PD-L1 inhibitor: a secondary analysis of multicenter, single-arm, phase II study (KL-A167).

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show optimal treatment effects on recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma(R/M NPC). Nonetheless, whether metastatic sites impact ICIs efficacy remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of R/M NPC patients treated with KL-A167, a programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1) inhibitor, based on a multicenter, single-arm, phase II study from China between 2019 and 2021 years, which represents the first and most comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of a PD-L1 inhibitor in patients who have been previously treated.

Immune-related adverse events as prognostic biomarkers in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving PD-L1 inhibitor: A post-hoc analysis of the multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 study.

Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been associated with better therapeutic outcomes in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) across various cancers. This study investigates the association between irAEs and ICI outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC).

Methods: A post hoc analysis was performed on 153 patients with R/M NPC who received anti-PD-L1 inhibitors between February 26, 2019, and January 13, 2021.

Tailoring Robust 2D Nanochannels by Radical Polymerization for Efficient Molecular Sieving.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanochannels have demonstrated outstanding performance for sieving specific molecules or ions, owing to their uniform molecular channel sizes and interlayer physical/chemical properties. However, controllably tuning nanochannel spaces with specific sizes and simultaneously achieving high mechanical strength remain the main challenges. In this work, the inter-sheet gallery d-spacing of graphene oxide (GO) membrane is successfully tailored with high mechanical strength via a general radical-induced polymerization strategy.

Elucidating the impact of mulching film on organic carbon mineralization from the perspective of aggregate level.

Plastic films mulching, a management strategy designed to boost agricultural productivity, significantly impacts soil fertility and the turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC). Aggregates in the soil play a crucial role in this SOC cycling. Yet, the effect of mulching on the changes in organic carbon components and the mineralization at the aggregate scale is still not well understood.

Harnessing the Systemic Immunoinflammatory Index as a Potential Predictive Tool for Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Undergoing PD-L1 Inhibitor.

Purpose: Immunotherapy has become the primary option for recurrent and metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (R/M NPC) after failure of chemotherapy, but without good prognostic indicators. Our study aimed to assess the potential of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in predicting the effectiveness of PD-L1 inhibitor therapy for R/M NPC.

Patients And Methods: The study cohort comprises of a prospective Phase 2 clinical trial population undergoing PD-L1 inhibitor for R/M NPC at 42 hospitals in China between 2019 and 2021.

Impact of ultra-high pressure on the microstructure, emulsification, and physicochemical properties of rice starch.

Ultra-high pressure (UHP) treatment is considered a non-thermo physical treatment technology with a "clean label". Starch is an ideal stabilizer for food-grade Pickering emulsions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultra-high pressure (UHP) modification of rice starch on its structure, water/oil absorption, and emulsification properties under different pressure treatments (100-500 MPa), the results showed that the morphology of the starch granules and crystalline structure did not change significantly at lower pressures.

Drizzle microphysical property and vertical air motions retrieval using Doppler lidar and radar measurements.

The microphysical changes in cloud formation and development are closely related to the vertical air motions. It is difficult to simultaneously detect microphysical parameters of drizzle and vertical air motions. This study proposes a method for the drizzle microphysical property and vertical air motions retrieval using Doppler lidar and radar measurements.