Estimation of carbon sequestration potential and air quality impacts of biochar production from straw in China.

Aiming to optimize straw resource utilization and to reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions in China, the environmental benefits of biochar production using straw and utilization need to be assessed. Two biochar production scenarios were studied: centralized production scenario (CPS) utilizing an industrialized production method with advanced air pollution control devices, and decentralized production scenario (DPS) based on a distributed production method of biochar at the village level, compared to an open-burning scenario (OBS). The potential GHG emission reductions under DPS, including the benefit of soil biochar application, were evaluated as 680 Tg CO-eq yr, which was lower than the reductions under CPS (780 Tg CO-eq yr).

Dioscin protects against chronic prostatitis through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

This study aimed to elucidate the effects and potential mechanisms of dioscin on chronic prostatitis (CP) and . CP models were constructed and and treated with different concentrations of dioscin. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to investigate the morphology of the prostate tissues.

Reevaluating the Drivers of Fertilizer-Induced NO Emission: Insights from Interpretable Machine Learning.

Direct nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from fertilizer application are the largest anthropogenic source of global NO, but the factors influencing these emissions remain debated. Here, we compile 1134 observations of fertilizer-induced NO emission factor (EF) from 229 publications, covering various regions and crops globally. We then employ an interpretable machine learning model to investigate the driving factors of fertilizer-induced NO emissions.

A Protein Complex of Liver Origin Activates a Pro-inflammatory Program That Drives Hepatic and Intestinal Injury in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: There is limited information on how the liver-to-gut axis contributes to alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD). We previously identified that high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) undergoes oxidation in hepatocytes and demonstrated elevated serum levels of oxidized HMGB1 ([O] HMGB1) in alcoholic patients. Since interleukin-1 beta (IL-1B) increases in AALD, we hypothesized hepatocyte-derived [O] HMGB1 could interact with IL-1B to activate a pro-inflammatory program that, besides being detrimental to the liver, drives intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Ablation of secreted phosphoprotein-1 in hepatocytes increases fatty acid oxidation and ameliorates alcohol-associated liver disease.

Background: Previously, we demonstrated that Spp1 mice exhibit a greater susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver injury than wild-type (WT) mice. Notably, alcohol triggers the expression of osteopontin (encoded by SPP1) in hepatocytes. However, the specific role of hepatocyte-derived SPP1 in either mitigating or exacerbating alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) has yet to be elucidated.

A probe into the acid deposition mitigation path in China over the last four decades and beyond.

China currently has the highest acid deposition globally, yet research on its status, impacts, causes and controls is lacking. Here, we compiled data and calculated critical loads regarding acid deposition. The results showed that the abatement measures in China have achieved a sharp decline in the emissions of acidifying pollutants and a continuous recovery of precipitation pH, despite the drastic growth in the economy and energy consumption.

A deep-learning-based framework for identifying and localizing multiple abnormalities and assessing cardiomegaly in chest X-ray.

Accurate identification and localization of multiple abnormalities are crucial steps in the interpretation of chest X-rays (CXRs); however, the lack of a large CXR dataset with bounding boxes severely constrains accurate localization research based on deep learning. We created a large CXR dataset named CXR-AL14, containing 165,988 CXRs and 253,844 bounding boxes. On the basis of this dataset, a deep-learning-based framework was developed to identify and localize 14 common abnormalities and calculate the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) simultaneously.

A review on polysaccharide biosynthesis in Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) is an edible parasitic fungus with medicinal properties. Its bioactive polysaccharides are structurally diverse and exhibit various metabolic and biological activities, including antitumor, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and anti-atherosclerotic effects.

HOXC6: A promising biomarker linked to an immunoevasive microenvironment in colorectal cancer based on TCGA analysis and cohort validation.

plays an essential part of the carcinogenesis of solid tumors, but its functional relevance within the immune contexture in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still uncertain. We intended to investigate the predictive value of expression for survival outcomes and its correlation with immune contexture in CRC patients by utilizing the Cancer Genome Atlas database (n = 619). Validation was performed in cohorts from Zhongshan Hospital (n = 200) and Shanghai Cancer Center (n = 300).

Laminaria japonica polysaccharide alleviates type 2 diabetes by regulating the microbiota-gut-liver axis: A multi-omics mechanistic analysis.

The hypoglycemic effects of low-molecular-weight Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJO) were investigated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice, focusing on its effect on the microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome. The findings demonstrated that LJO significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, insulin levels, and inflammatory factors. Additionally, LJO induced changes in gut microbiota composition and increased the concentrations of cecal short-chain fatty acids.

Overexpression of HMGB1 in hepatocytes accelerates PTEN inactivation-induced liver cancer.

Background: Liver cancer is increasing due to the rise in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease, but its role in MASH-associated liver cancer is unknown. We hypothesized that an increase in hepatocyte-derived HMGB1 in a mouse model of inactivation of PTEN that causes MASH could promote MASH-induced tumorigenesis.

Redox-sensitive high-mobility group box-1 isoforms contribute to liver fibrosis progression and resolution in mice.

Background & Aims: High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) significantly increases and undergoes post-translational modifications (PTMs) in response to liver injury. Since oxidative stress plays a major role in liver fibrosis and induces PTMs in proteins, we hypothesized that redox-sensitive HMGB1 isoforms contribute to liver fibrosis progression and resolution.

Methods: We used ESI-LC-MS (electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) to study PTMs of HMGB1 during fibrosis progression and resolution.

Carbon Sequestration Potential of Biomass Production along Highways in China.

In response to climate change, China is making great efforts to increase the green area for carbon sequestration. Road verges, as marginal land with favorable conditions for plant growth and ease of transportation, can be used for biomass production, but the biomass production and carbon sequestration potential have not been assessed. Here, we mapped the biomass production potential of road verges in China by combining a biomass model and Geographic Information System and then evaluated the effect of road runoff and CO fertilization on the production according to the runoff coefficient and vehicle emission inventory.

ethanol extract ameliorates symptoms of hyperglycemia by regulating gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes mellitus mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is typically accompanied by sudden weight loss, dyslipidemia-related indicators, decreased insulin sensitivity, and altered gut microbial communities. possesses many biological activities, such as antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and hypotensive activities. However, only a few studies have attempted to elucidate the regulatory effects of ethanol extract (FTE) on intestinal microbial communities and its potential relationships with T2DM.

High-resolution maps of critical loads for sulfur and nitrogen in China.

The critical load concept is an important scientific guideline for acid deposition control. It was not only a crucial scientific basis to determine the emission reduction targets in Europe, but also used in China's air pollution control, especially the designation of two control zones. Currently, critical loads of sulfur and nitrogen are still exceeded in Europe, America, and East Asia (mainly in China), and need to be continuously updated to meet the demands of further emission reductions.

Protein-rich yeast extract (®fermgard) has potential antioxidant and anti-aging activities.

There existed a deficiency in the research on the nutritional activities of microbial (yeast) active substances in antioxidant and anti-aging activities, although the research objects were concentrated in animals and plants in recent years. In this study, the anti-oxidant and anti-aging activities of protein-rich yeast extract (®fermgard) (YE) were investigated through Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans).

Matrisome gene-based subclassification of patients with liver fibrosis identifies clinical and molecular heterogeneities.

Background Aims: Excessive deposition and crosslinking of extracellular matrix increases liver density and stiffness, promotes fibrogenesis, and increases resistance to fibrinolysis. An emerging therapeutic opportunity in liver fibrosis is to target the composition of the extracellular matrix or block pathogenic communication with surrounding cells. However, the type and extent of extracellular changes triggering liver fibrosis depend on the underlying etiology.

Macrophage-derived Osteopontin (SPP1) Protects From Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by steatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning degeneration, and fibrosis, all of which increase the risk of progression to end-stage liver disease. Osteopontin (OPN, SPP1) plays an important role in macrophage (MF) biology, but whether MF-derived OPN affects NASH progression is unknown.

Methods: We analyzed publicly available transcriptomic datasets from patients with NASH, and used mice with conditional overexpression or ablation of Spp1 in myeloid cells and liver MFs, and fed them a high-fat, fructose, and cholesterol diet mimicking the Western diet, to induce NASH.

Deficiency of neutrophil high-mobility group box-1 in liver transplant recipients exacerbates early allograft injury in mice.

Background And Aims: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is a severe event leading to graft failure after liver transplant (LT). Extracellular high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a damage-associated molecular pattern that contributes to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the contribution of intracellular HMGB1 to LT graft injury remains elusive.

Hepatocellular carcinomas, exhibiting intratumor fibrosis, express cancer-specific extracellular matrix remodeling and WNT/TGFB signatures, associated with poor outcome.

Background And Aims: HCC, the third leading cause of cancer-related death, arises in the context of liver fibrosis. Although HCC is generally poorly fibrogenic, some tumors harbor focal intratumor extracellular matrix (ECM) deposits called "fibrous nests." To date, the molecular composition and clinical relevance of these ECM deposits have not been fully defined.

polysaccharides exhibit hypoglycemic activity and modulate the gut microbiota in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

polysaccharides (OsPs) are natural biologically active compounds, and our previous work showed that they can inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase , showing potential hypoglycemic activity. However, the effects of OsPs on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unknown. Thus, the anti-diabetic activity of OsPs was evaluated in the present study in diabetic mice.