Susceptibility and exposure risk to airborne aerosols in intra-urban microclimate: Evidence from subway system of mega-cities.

The health of intra-urban population in modern megacities relies largely on the biosafety within the microclimate of subway system, which can be vulnerable to epidemical challenges brought by virus-laden bioaerosols under varying factors. The literature has yet to address the association between the exposure risks to infectious pathogens and the dynamic changes of boundary conditions in this densely populated microclimate. This study aims at characterizing the bioaerosol dispersion, evaluating the exposure risks under various train arrival scenarios and hazard releasing positions in a real-world double-decker subway station.

Aggravated exposure risks of children to multipath transmitted pathogens in indoor environments.

Considering the significance of multipath transmissions of respiratory pathogens in the post-epidemic era, surprisingly little is acknowledged regarding the susceptibility, short-term aerodynamics, and exposure risk of children in indoor environments. Here, experimental and computational investigations were conducted to evaluate the exposure risks associated with respiratory pathogens. The dominant effect of recirculation structure originating from indoor ventilation, including air supply modes and air change rate, on aerosol dispersion was quantitatively proved.

Study on the flow mechanism and frequency characteristics of rales in lower respiratory tract.

The frequency characteristics of lung sounds have great significance for noninvasive diagnosis of respiratory diseases. The rales in the lower respiratory tract region that can provide rich information about symptoms of respiratory diseases are not clear. In this paper, a three-dimensional idealized bifurcated lower respiratory tract geometric model, which contains 3 to 13 generation (G-G) bronchi is constructed, where , and then the large eddy simulation and volume of fluid are used to study the fluid flow characteristics.

Reducing airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by an upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system in a hospital isolation environment.

Upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology can potentially inhibit the transmission of airborne disease pathogens. There is a lack of quantitative evaluation of the performance of the upper-room UVGI for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) airborne transmission under the combined effects of ventilation and UV irradiation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the performance of the upper-room UVGI system for reducing SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission in a hospital isolation environment.

Huangqi decoction ameliorates kidney injury in db/db mice by regulating the BMP/Smad signaling pathway.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of Huangqi decoction (HQD) on Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in diabetic db/db mice.

Methods: Eight-week-old male diabetic db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups: Model (1% CMC), HQD-L (0.12 g/kg), HQD-M (0.

PAK1 Is Involved in the Spindle Assembly during the First Meiotic Division in Porcine Oocytes.

P21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), as a member of the PAK family, has been implicated in various functions during somatic mitosis; however, less is known about its role during oocyte meiosis. Herein, we highlight the indispensable role of PAK1 in regulating spindle assembly and cell cycle progression during the first meiotic division of porcine oocytes. First, we found that the activated PAK1 expressed dynamically, and its subcellular localization was tightly associated with the spindle dynamics during meiosis in porcine oocytes.

Distribution of droplets/droplet nuclei from coughing and breathing of patients with different postures in a hospital isolation ward.

Suspected and confirmed cases of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are diagnosed and treated in specific hospital isolation wards, posing a challenge to preventing cross-infection between patients and healthcare workers. In this study, the Euler-Lagrange method was used to simulate the evaporation and dispersion of droplets with full-size distribution produced by fluctuating coughing and breathing activities in an isolation ward. The effects of supply air temperature and relative humidity, ventilation rates and patient postures on droplet distribution were investigated.

Inhibition of Pro-Survival Autophagy Induced by Rare-Earth Nanocomposites for Promoting Photothermal Therapy of Visualized Tumors.

Manipulation of autophagic processes has emerged as a promising strategy for synergizing nanoagent-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT). Most of the current studies focus on improving PTT efficacy by inhibiting pro-survival autophagy induced by the heat generated from the photothermal process. However, autophagy induced by the nanoagents is usually ignored, which may weaken the effect of autophagy-mediated efficacy improvement in PTT if induced autophagy is pro-death.

Identification of a cross-neutralizing antibody that targets the receptor binding site of H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses.

Influenza A viruses pose a significant threat globally each year, underscoring the need for a vaccine- or antiviral-based broad-protection strategy. Here, we describe a chimeric monoclonal antibody, C12H5, that offers neutralization against seasonal and pandemic H1N1 viruses, and cross-protection against some H5N1 viruses. Notably, C12H5 mAb offers broad neutralizing activity against H1N1 and H5N1 viruses by controlling virus entry and egress, and offers protection against H1N1 and H5N1 viral challenge in vivo.

Effects of Ran-GTP/importin β inhibition on the meiotic division of porcine oocytes.

The Ran-GTP/importin β pathway has been implicated in a diverse array of mitotic functions in somatic mitosis; however, the possible meiotic roles of Ran-GTP/importin β in mammalian oocyte meiosis are still not fully understood. In the present study, importazole (IPZ), a small molecule inhibitor of the interaction between Ran and importin β was used to explore the potential meiotic roles of Ran-GTP/importin β in porcine oocytes undergoing meiosis. After IPZ treatment, the extrusion rate of the first polar body (PB1) was significantly decreased, and a higher proportion of the oocytes were arrested at the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) stage.

Seasonal dynamics of airborne culturable fungi and its year-round diversity monitoring in Dahuting Han Dynasty Tomb of China.

Dahuting Han Dynasty Tomb, famous for its magnificent and realistic murals in China, was selected for a year-long study as the research target in relation to microbiological degradation of cultural heritage. This dissertation has investigated the predominant genera of the airborne fungal microbial community in Dahuting and analyzed the seasonal distribution characteristics and temporal-spatial particle size distribution of the fungi in a tomb environment. The combination of culture-dependent and high-throughput sequencing methods was utilized for counting the collected fungi and identifying the strains.

TPX2 deficiency leads to spindle abnormity and meiotic impairment in porcine oocytes.

The targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) is a spindle assembly factor, that can stimulate microtubule formation and promote spindle completion during mitosis. However, the role of TPX2 in mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation is still not fully understood. This study was conducted to address the dynamic distribution and potential roles of TPX2 in microtubule nucleation during meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes by microinjecting specific siRNAs.

Laboratory investigation of pollutant emissions and PM toxicity of underground coal fires.

Widespread underground coal fires (UCFs) release large amounts of pollutants, thus leading to air pollution and health impacts. However, this topic has not been widely investigated, especially regarding the potential health hazards. We quantified the pollutant emissions and analyzed the physicochemical properties of UCF PM in a laboratory study of coal smoldering under a simulated UCF background.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Ameliorates FB-Induced Meiotic Defects in Porcine Oocytes.

Fumonisin B (FB), as the most prevalent and toxic fumonisin, poses a health threat to humans and animals. The cytotoxicity of FB is closely related to oxidative stress and apoptosis. The purpose of this study is to explore whether Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP), a natural antioxidant, could alleviate the meiotic maturation defects of oocytes caused by FB exposure.

Resveratrol Hinders Postovulatory Aging by Modulating Oxidative Stress in Porcine Oocytes.

Postovulatory aging of the mammalian oocytes causes deterioration of oocytes through several factors including oxidative stress. Keeping that in mind, we aimed to investigate the potential of a well-known antioxidant, resveratrol (RV), to evaluate the adverse effects of postovulatory aging in porcine oocytes. After in vitro maturation (IVM), a group of (25-30) oocytes (in three replicates) were exposed to 0, 1, 2, and 4 μmol/L of RV, respectively.

Involvement of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in mitochondrial functional disruption under oxidative stress in vitrified porcine oocytes.

Vitrification is an effective technique for fertility preservation, but is known to lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in porcine oocytes. Mitophagy is induced to rebalance mitochondrial function, a process in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a role. In this study, vitrified-warmed porcine oocytes were incubated for 4 h with the oxidant AAPH or antioxidant α-tocopherol to alter ROS levels.

Exposure to chlorpyrifos leads to spindle disorganization and mitochondrial dysfunction of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), as one of the most extensively applied organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in agricultural and domestic settings, causes a potential threat to human and animal health. Various reproductive toxicities of CPF have been reported, however, little information is available on whether CPF exposure could exert toxic effects on mammalian oocytes. Herein, the effects of CPF on the meiotic maturation and developmental capability of porcine oocytes were investigated, and the possible toxic mechanisms of CPF were also explored.

Mitophagy is involved in the mitochondrial dysfunction of vitrified porcine oocytes.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a crucial factor aggravating oocyte viability after vitrification-warming. To clarify the role of mitophagy in mitochondrial extinction of vitrified porcine oocytes, mitochondrial function, ultrastructural characteristics, mitochondria-lysosomes colocalization, and mitophagic proteins were detected with or without chloroquine (CQ) treatment. The results showed that vitrification caused mitochondrial dysfunction, including increasing reactive oxygen species production, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial DNA copy number.

The Dual Function of KDM5C in Both Gene Transcriptional Activation and Repression Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Tumorigenesis.

Emerging evidence suggested that epigenetic regulators can exhibit both activator and repressor activities in gene transcriptional regulation and disease development, such as cancer. However, how these dual activities are regulated and coordinated in specific cellular contexts remains elusive. Here, it is reported that KDM5C, a repressive histone demethylase, unexpectedly activates estrogen receptor alpha (ER)-target genes, and meanwhile suppresses type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) to promote ER-positive breast cancer cell growth and tumorigenesis.

Fumonisin B exposure adversely affects porcine oocyte maturation in vitro by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Fumonisin B (FB), as the most toxic fumonisin, is a common Fusarium mycotoxin contaminant of feed stuff and food, posing a potential health hazard to animals and humans. FB has been reported to cause hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity and embryotoxicity; however, little information is available on whether FB has toxic effects on mammalian oocytes. Herein, we adopted porcine oocytes as models to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of FB on mammalian oocytes during in vitro maturation.

Evidence of Translocation of Oral Zn Doped Magnetite Nanoparticles Across the Small Intestinal Wall of Mice and Deposition in Spleen: Unique Advantage in Biomedical Applications.

Nanomaterials have been widely applied in oral drug delivery. A number of indirect evidences suggest that nanoparticles can pass across gastrointestinal walls to enter the blood circulation system. However, there is still no direct evidence to prove that the intact nanoparticles can pass across gastrointestinal walls and the nanoparticles can retain their original structure after translocation across gastrointestinal walls.

Adsorption of proteins on oral Zn doped iron oxide nanoparticles in mouse stomach and : triggering nanoparticle aggregation.

Oral route is one of the most important portals of nanoparticle entry to the body. However, in vivo protein corona formed in the gastrointestinal tract has not been studied owing to the difficulty for the recovery of nanoparticles from the in vivo environment. In this study, by using the magnetic property of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) and Zn2+ doped iron oxide nanoparticles (Zn0.

Full-scale experimental and numerical study of bioaerosol characteristics against cross-infection in a two-bed hospital ward.

The transmission and deposition of pathogenic bioaerosols and the subsequent contamination of the air and surfaces is well recognized as a potential route of hospital cross-infection. A full-scale experiment using and computational fluid dynamics were utilized to model the bioaerosol characteristics in a two-bed hospital ward with a constant air change rate (12 ACH). The results indicated that the bioaerosol removal efficiency of unilateral downward ventilation was 50% higher than that of bilateral downward ventilation.