Organophosphate Esters and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Vehicle Dust: Concentrations, Sources, and Health Risk Assessment.

Background: The primary flame retardants in vehicles, organophosphates (OPEs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), volatilize and accumulate in the enclosed vehicle environment, posing potential health risks. Amidst the rising number of vehicles, the scrutiny of persistent organic pollutants like OPEs and PBDEs in vehicles is increasing. This study investigates occupational and nonoccupational population exposure to specific OPEs (TnBP, TBOEP, TEHP, TCEP, TCiPP, TDCiPP, TPhP, EHDPP) and PBDEs (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, BDE-209) in vehicle dust.

Priorities in tackling noncommunicable diseases among the population aged 60 years and older in China, 1990-2021: A population-based study.

Objective: In China, it is expected that every one in three people will be aged 60 years and above in 2040, surpassing other low- and middle-income countries. The noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden and trends among elderly people must be clarified.

Methods: In this trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021, we reported NCDs per 100,000 people and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), mortality, and incidence at three levels of the GBD 2021 hierarchy by age subgroups and by sex in the older population aged 60 years and above in China during 1990-2021.

The transcription factor TaFDL2-1A functions in auxin metabolism mediated by abscisic acid to regulate shoot growth in wheat.

Genetic strategies can be effective in improving wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) drought stress tolerance, but accumulating evidence suggests that overexpressing drought-resistance genes, especially genes related to the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway, can retard plant growth. We previously characterized the positive roles of the wheat bZIP transcription factor TaFD-Like2-1A (TaFDL2-1A) in drought stress tolerance and ABA biosynthesis and response, whereas a dwarfing shoot exhibited under normal conditions.

Extremely efficient catalytic ozonation of ammonia N to N using Co/Mg(OH) as catalysts.

The development of highly efficient and selective ozonation catalysts is crucial for enhancing the treatment of nitrogen-containing wastewater. In this study, a Co/Mg(OH) nano-hexagonal sheets ozonation catalyst was prepared by one-pot hydrothermal method, and the structural characteristics of this catalyst were comprehensively analyzed. The O/O ratio of this catalyst was 41.

The Role of Astrocyte-Neuron Lactate Shuttle in Neuropathic Orofacial Pain.

Background: Inhibition of astrocytic energy metabolism alleviates neuropathic pain.

Objectives: To explore whether astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) played any role in neuropathic orofacial pain.

Methods: Rats with partial transection of the right infraorbital nerve (p-IONX) or sham operation were intrathecally injected with acetazolamide (a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor), bithionol (a soluble adenylyl cyclase inhibitor), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid [α-CHCA, a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) inhibitor] or vehicle once a day from postoperative day 1-14.

Concentrations, Sources and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chinese Herbal Medicines.

The determination and evaluation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seven Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) were conducted through a rapid and straightforward extraction and purification method, coupled with GC-MS. A sample-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment technique, incorporating isotopic internal standards, was employed for detecting various medicinal parts of CHMs. The assay exhibited linearity within the range of 5 to 500 ng/mL, with linear coefficients (R) for PAHs exceeding 0.

Effects of CPAP treatment on electroencephalographic activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome during deep sleep: Preliminary findings of a cross-sectional study.

To investigate whether electroencephalographic (EEG) activities during non-rapid eye movement sleep stage 3 (N3) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients were changed with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. A cross-sectional study of EEG activity during N3 sleep was conducted in 15 patients with moderate to severe OSAS without and with CPAP treatment compared to 15 normal controls. The amplitude, and absolute and relative power of delta, theta, alpha and beta waves as well as the absolute power ratio of slow to fast EEG waves (i.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Insecticide and dsRNA Codelivery System for Insecticide Resistance Management.

Targeted silencing of resistance-associated genes by specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is an attractive strategy for overcoming insecticide resistance in insect pests. However, silencing target genes of insect pests by feeding on dsRNA transported via plants remains challenging. Herein, a codelivery system of insecticide and dsRNA is designed by encapsulating imidacloprid and ds within zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles to improve the susceptibility of (Stål) to imidacloprid.

Redox and Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Nanoplatform for Enhanced Pesticide Delivery and Pest Control in Rice: Construction, Efficacy, and Potential Mechanisms.

The brown planthopper, (Stål), is a major rice pest in various Asian countries, causing significant negative impacts on rice yield and quality. In this study, we developed a novel nanoplatform (NIT@MON@CuS) for pesticide delivery that responds to redox and near-infrared light stimuli. The nanoplatform consisted of CuS nanoparticles with mesoporous organic silica (MON), loaded with nitenpyram (NIT).

Unintended consequences: Disrupting microbial communities of Nilaparvata lugens with non-target pesticides.

Insects are frequently exposed to a range of insecticides that can alter the structure of the commensal microbiome. However, the effects of exposure to non-target pesticides (including non-target insecticides and fungicides) on insect pest microbiomes are still unclear. In the present study, we exposed Nilaparvata lugens to three target insecticides (nitenpyram, pymetrozine, and avermectin), a non-target insecticide (chlorantraniliprole), and two fungicides (propiconazole and tebuconazole), and observed changes in the microbiome's structure and function.

Robust Janus Superwetting Textile with Large Pore Sizes for Oil-in-Water Emulsion Separation.

Developing advanced oil-water separation technology is significant for environmental conservation. According to the synergetic effects of the size-sieving mechanism, superwetting materials with small pore sizes have been designed to realize high-efficiency separation for oil-water emulsions. However, the separation flux limited by the pore size and the weakness of the superwetting material impede its practical application severely.

The insecticidal activity and mechanism of tebuconazole on Nilaparvata lugens (Stål).

Background: Previous studies have shown that fungicides have insecticidal activity that can potentially be used as an insecticide resistance management strategy in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). However, the mechanism that induces mortality of N. lugens remains elusive.

Mussel-Inspired Robust Peony-like Cu(PO) Composite Switchable Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Bidirectional Efficient Oil/Water Separation.

To alleviate the economic and environmental damage caused by industrial discharges of oily wastewater, materials applied for efficient oil/water separation are receiving significant attention from researchers and engineers. Among others, switchable wettable materials for bidirectional oil/water separation show great potential for practical applications. Inspired by mussels, we utilized a simple immersion method to construct a polydopamine (PDA) coating on a peony-like copper phosphate surface.

Nitrate transport velocity data in the global unsaturated zones.

Nitrate pollution in groundwater, which is an international problem, threatens human health and the environment. It could take decades for nitrate to transport in the groundwater system. When understanding the impacts of this nitrate legacy on water quality, the nitrate transport velocity (v) in the unsaturated zone (USZ) is of great significance.

Durable 3D Porous Superhydrophobic Composites for Versatile Emulsion Separation in Multiple Environments.

Polydopamine as a multifunctional biomimetic polymer with nonselective strong adhesion properties has become a hot research topic in recent years. However, there are a few reports on the durable and effective emulsion separation of polydopamine composites from other materials. Therefore, it is necessary to construct durable polydopamine composites to achieve selective adsorption of materials.

Droplet manipulation on superhydrophobic surfaces based on external stimulation: A review.

Superhydrophobic surfaces are smart surfaces with high water contact angles and low surface energy. When water droplets rest on superhydrophobic surfaces, they often stay at high contact angles, and the lower contact angle hysteresis of the surface makes the water droplets roll extremely easily. In recent years, materials based on response to external stimuli have received extensive attention and research, which has brought a positive impact on the research of superhydrophobic surfaces in droplet manipulation.

Influence of sleep bruxism on QTc interval and QT variability in patients with OSA: A pilot study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increases in QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc interval) and QT variability index (QTVI) and sleep bruxism (SB) is prevalent in OSA patients.

Objectives: To examine whether QTc interval and QT variability were changed during episodes of rhythmic masticatory muscle activities (RMMAs)/SB in SB patients with and without OSA.

Methods: The RR and QTc intervals, and QTVI during RMMAs with or without accompanied limb movements (RMMAs/LMs) in 10 normal controls and 10 SB patients without OSA and during apneic and recovery periods of OSA in 10 SB patients with OSA were analysed.

Fog collection behavior of bionic surface and large fog collector: A review.

Water shortages are currently becoming more and more serious due to complicated factors such as the development of the economy, environmental pollution, and climate deterioration. And it is the best solution to the problems faced by people in today's world to investigate the bionic structure of nature and explore effective methods for fog collection. Herein, we've illustrated the bionic structures of the Namib desert beetle, cactus spines, and spider silk, and we imitate and further modify the respective bionic structures, as well as construct multifunctional bionic structures to improve fog collection.

Insecticide Resistance Monitoring in Field Populations of the Whitebacked Planthopper (Horvath) in China, 2019-2020.

Monitoring is an important component of insecticide resistance management. In this study, resistance monitoring was conducted on 18 field populations in China. The results showed that developed high levels of resistance to chlorpyrifos and buprofezin, and showed low to moderate levels of resistance to imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, clothianidin, sulfoxaflor, isoprocarb and ethofenprox.

Should people with chronic liver diseases be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Hepatic impairment in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may derive from cholangiocyte damage in the beginning, but not from direct infection of hepatocytes. Chronic liver disease patients co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibited overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors and overwhelming cytokine storm. Consensus has been reached that we should encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity.

[Network pharmacological analysis and experimental verification of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium].

To explore the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium based on network pharmacology and inflammatory or pain mouse models. The effective components of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium were screened out by TCMSP database. And their potential corresponding targets were predicted by PharmMapper software.

Mineralogical and chemical properties inversed from 21-lunar-day VNIS observations taken during the Chang'E-4 mission.

We report on the mineralogical and chemical properties of materials investigated by the lunar rover Yutu-2, which landed on the Von Kármán crater in the pre-Nectarian South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. Yutu-2 carried several scientific payloads, including the Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS), which is used for mineral identification, offering insights into lunar evolution. We used 86 valid VNIS data for 21 lunar days, with mineral abundance obtained using the Hapke radiative transfer model and sparse unmixing algorithm and chemical compositions empirically estimated.