Associations of Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition With Incident Diseases of the Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas: A UK Biobank Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: To investigate whether increased intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) heightens the risk of diseases of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the UK Biobank. IPFD was quantified using MRI and a deep learning-based framework called nnUNet.

A solid-state synthetic strategy toward nickel-based bimetallic interstitial compounds (MNiC, M = Zn, In, Ga).

Bimetallic interstitial compounds with unique geometric properties have attracted increasing attention in energy-related fields and diverse chemical transformations. Current synthesis of these compounds generally involves at least one wet-chemistry step with the use of various solvents to prepare the bimetallic precursors, and no universal protocols for different compositions are yet available. Herein, a novel synthetic strategy toward a platform of nickel-based bimetallic interstitial compounds with the formula MNiC, M = Zn, In, and Ga, was developed based on a straightforward solid-state transformation, , simply annealing the hydroxides of the respective metals in the presence of different carbon precursors (cyanamide, dicyandiamide, melamine, and urea) in a hydrogen stream.

A COVID-19 DNA Vaccine Candidate Elicits Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants including the Currently Circulating Omicron BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1 and XBB.

Waves of breakthrough infections by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants currently pose a global challenge to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We previously reported a pVAX1-based DNA vaccine candidate, pAD1002, that encodes a receptor-binding domain (RBD) chimera of SARS-CoV-1 and Omicron BA.1.

Electrochemically Oxidative Activation Inducing Ultrahigh Rate Capability of Vanadium Oxynitride/Carbon Cathode for Zinc-Ion Batteries.

As a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) still lack cathode materials with large capacity and high rate capability. Herein, a spherical carbon-confined nanovanadium oxynitride with a polycrystalline feature (VNO/C) was synthesized by the solvothermal reaction and following nitridation treatment. As a cathode material for ZIBs, it is interesting that the electrochemical performance of the VNO/C cathode is greatly improved after the first charging process electrochemically oxidative activation.

Adjustment of W-O-Zr Boundaries Boosts Efficient Nitrilation of Dimethyl Adipate with Ammonia on WO/ZrO Catalysts.

In this study, a tungstated zirconia (WO/ZrO) catalyst was developed for the continuous synthesis of adiponitrile (ADN) by gas-phase nitrilation of dimethyl adipate (DMA) with NH. The highest TOF could be reached on WO/ZrO bearing ∼1D WO species (highly dispersed and discontinuous status) at the surface, which, however, delivered the poorest selectivity toward nitrilation (S). In comparison, both efficient and selective transformation of DMA to ADN was achieved by fabricating WO/ZrO with continuously distributed oligomeric WO species (∼2D) at the surface, either by varying the dosage of the W-reagent in the preparation of WO(m)/ZrO or by doping a proper amount of the Mn element into WO(5.

COVID-19 vaccination boosts the potency and breadth of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 among recovered patients in Wuhan.

The immunity of patients who recover from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be long lasting but persist at a lower level. Thus, recovered patients still need to be vaccinated to prevent reinfection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or its mutated variants. Here, we report that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine can stimulate immunity in recovered patients to maintain high levels of anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and anti-nucleocapsid protein (NP) antibody titers within 9 months, and high neutralizing activity against the prototype, Delta, and Omicron strains was observed.

Efficient water splitting over a hybrid photocatalyst with (002) active facets and heterostructure.

A series of P-CdS@P-MWO (M = Ni, Mn, Co, Zn, Fe, Cu) hybrid photocatalysts was constructed using different transition metal polyoxometalates [SiWM(HO)O] as precursors a pyrolysis-phosphidation strategy. Under visible light irradiation ( = 420 nm), P-CdS@P-NiWO shows a good H evolution rate of 418.4 μmol g h and an AQE of 29.

Potent Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Efficacy of COVID-19 Hyperimmune Globulin from Vaccine-Immunized Plasma.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global public health threat. Hence, more effective and specific antivirals are urgently needed. Here, COVID-19 hyperimmune globulin (COVID-HIG), a passive immunotherapy, is prepared from the plasma of healthy donors vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine).

An International, Multicenter, Observational Study of Cerebral Oxygenation during Infant and Neonatal Anesthesia.

Background: General anesthesia during infancy is associated with neurocognitive abnormalities. Potential mechanisms include anesthetic neurotoxicity, surgical disease, and cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. This study aimed to determine the incidence of low cerebral oxygenation and associated factors during general anesthesia in infants.

Binding of FUN14 Domain Containing 1 With Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor in Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membranes Maintains Mitochondrial Dynamics and Function in Hearts in Vivo.

Background: FUN14 domain containing 1 (FUNDC1) is a highly conserved outer mitochondrial membrane protein. The aim of this study is to examine whether FUNDC1 modulates the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), mitochondrial morphology, and function in cardiomyocytes and intact hearts.

Methods: The impacts of FUNDC1 on MAMs formation and cardiac functions were studied in mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes, in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific gene knockout ( ), and in the cardiac tissues of the patients with heart failure.

[EFFECTS OF ANTERIOR SINGLE SEGMENT FIXATION ON SPINAL STABILITY IN TREATMENT OF THORACOLUMBAR BURST FRACTURE OF Denis TYPE B WITH PEDICLE INJURY].

Objective: To investigate the effects of anterior single segment fixation on the spinal biomechanical stabilization in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture of Denis type B with pedicle injury.

Methods: Six fresh human cadaveric spine specimens (T11-L3) were harvested as normal control (group A). Then the L1 Denis type B fracture model was created by the hemi-corpectomy method.

Germline Mutations in Predisposition Genes in Pediatric Cancer.

Background: The prevalence and spectrum of predisposing mutations among children and adolescents with cancer are largely unknown. Knowledge of such mutations may improve the understanding of tumorigenesis, direct patient care, and enable genetic counseling of patients and families.

Methods: In 1120 patients younger than 20 years of age, we sequenced the whole genomes (in 595 patients), whole exomes (in 456), or both (in 69).

Populus euphratica APYRASE2 Enhances Cold Tolerance by Modulating Vesicular Trafficking and Extracellular ATP in Arabidopsis Plants.

Apyrase and extracellular ATP play crucial roles in mediating plant growth and defense responses. In the cold-tolerant poplar, Populus euphratica, low temperatures up-regulate APYRASE2 (PeAPY2) expression in callus cells. We investigated the biochemical characteristics of PeAPY2 and its role in cold tolerance.

Ultra-stable small diameter hybrid transition metal dichalcogenide nanotubes X-M-Y (X, Y = S, Se, Te; M = Mo, W, Nb, Ta): a computational study.

Similar to graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), the two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) can be rolled into one-dimensional (1D) nanotubes. While, owing to their three-atom-thick structure, the large energy penalty greatly hinders the synthesis of small diameter TMD nanotubes. Here we propose the synthesis of hybrid TMD nanotubes with different chalcogens on each side (X-TM-Y) by self-assembly rolling up.

Integrative Comparison of the Role of the PHOSPHATE RESPONSE1 Subfamily in Phosphate Signaling and Homeostasis in Rice.

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient for all living cells, is indispensable for agricultural production. Although Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PHOSPHATE RESPONSE1 (PHR1) and its orthologs in other species have been shown to function in transcriptional regulation of phosphate (Pi) signaling and Pi homeostasis, an integrative comparison of PHR1-related proteins in rice (Oryza sativa) has not previously been reported. Here, we identified functional redundancy among three PHR1 orthologs in rice (OsPHR1, OsPHR2, and OsPHR3) using phylogenetic and mutation analysis.

Noninvasive evaluation of liver fibrosis using real-time tissue elastography and transient elastography (FibroScan).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess liver fibrosis with real-time tissue elastography and to compare the results with those of transient elastographic (FibroScan; Echosens, Paris, France) measurements by using liver biopsy as the reference standard.

Methods: Real-time tissue elastography and percutaneous liver biopsy were performed in 166 patients with chronic hepatitis B (estimation group). The relationship between the parameters obtained via real-time tissue elastography and the hepatic fibrosis stage was evaluated by a stepwise multiple linear regression, and the regression equation was used to calculate the liver fibrosis index.

Nanoparticle-mediated expression of a Wnt pathway inhibitor ameliorates ocular neovascularization.

Objective: The deficiency of very low-density lipoprotein receptor resulted in Wnt signaling activation and neovascularization in the retina. The present study sought to determine whether the very low-density lipoprotein receptor extracellular domain (VLN) is responsible for the inhibition of Wnt signaling in ocular tissues.

Approach And Results: A plasmid expressing the soluble VLN was encapsulated with poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) to form VLN nanoparticles (VLN-NP).

[Illumination's effect on the growth and nitrate reductase activity of typical red-tide algae in the East China Sea].

Two typical red-tide algae, Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were selected as studied objects. The nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and the growth of the two algae under different illuminations through incubation experiment were studied. The illumination condition was consistent with in situ.

[Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of typical organochlorine pesticides in the atmosphere of Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou, northwest China].

Air samples were seasonally collected in Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou, Gansu province, using polyurethane foam (PUF) based passive air samplers for a year and determined hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs). Atmospheric concentrations of sigma HCHs (alpha-HCH +beta-HCH +gamma-HCH +delta-HCH) and sigma DDTs (p,p'-DDT + o,p'-DDT + p,p'-DDE + p,p'-DDD) were 86.22 pg x m(-3) and 34.

[Residual levels in air, soil and soil-air exchange of organochlorine pesticides in Hami region of Xinjiang and its potential ecological risk].

The concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in soil and air of urban/rural/forestry centre locations in the Hami region of Xinjiang were monitored for a year by passive atmospheric sampling in order to study the residual levels and air-soil exchange and evaluate ecological risk. The study results showed that the annual average concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in the air of Hami were 107.1 pg x m(-3) and 43.

[Phytoplankton assemblages and their relation to environmental factors by multivariate statistic analysis in Bohai Bay].

A detailed field survey of hydrological, chemical and biological resources was conducted in the Bohai Bay in spring and summer 2007. The distributions of phytoplankton and their relations to environmental factors were investigated with multivariate analysis techniques. Totally 17 and 23 taxa were identified in spring and summer, respectively.

[Forest soil organic carbon density and its distribution characteristics along an altitudinal gradient in Lushan Mountains of China].

To understand the spatial distribution characteristics of organic carbon in northern subtropical forest soils along an altitudinal gradient in Lushan Mountains of China, six and five sampling plots with a 200-m interval of elevation and covered by different vegetation types were installed on the southern and northern slopes, respectively in July-August in 2010 to collect soil profiles, with the soil thickness, bulk density, organic carbon content, and organic carbon density of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm, and >40 cm layers measured. The soil organic carbon density was significantly affected by altitude and slope. On northern slope, soil organic carbon content increased with increasing altitude, and had significant negative correlations with soil bulk density and pH value.

[Determination of trace elements Be, Cd, as and Pb in air of residential areas by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry coupled with ultrasonic leaching].

In the present paper, the method for determining the trace elements Be, Cd, As and Pb in air of residential areas by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was established. Ultrasonic leaching procedures were applied to extract the trace elements from the filter membrane of the atmospheric particulates. The operating condition of the instrument was optimized.