Urban ecosystem services, ecological security patterns and ecological resilience in coastal cities: The impact of land reclamation in Macao SAR.

Land reclamation from the sea is a common practice to create territorial space and accommodate urbanisation in coastal cities. However, previous studies did not adequately examine the changes in ecosystem service values, the spatial transformation of the ecological network and the ecological resilience at an urban scale in the context of land reclamation. This study uses Macao SAR, a fully urbanised city with two-thirds of its land reclaimed from the sea, as a case study.

Integrated analysis of biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic response mechanisms in Ussuri catfish (Pseudobagrus ussuriensis) under acute heat stress.

Fish metabolism, growth, development, and physiological conditions are highly sensitive to fluctuations in water temperature. The Ussuri catfish (Pseudobagrus ussuriensis) is an important native economic species in China. However, research on heat stress in P.

SLC25A21 correlates with the prognosis of adult acute myeloid leukemia through inhibiting the growth of leukemia cells via downregulating CXCL8.

In recent years, targeting mitochondrial apoptosis has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The SLC25 family of mitochondrial carriers plays a critical role in maintaining mitochondrial function and regulating apoptosis. However, the role of SLC25A21, an oxodicarboxylate carrier, in AML progression and its potential as a prognostic biomarker remain underexplored.

Regulation of multilayer long crystalline MoS by NiO-modified AlO for improved hydrodesulfurization of COS.

Activated alumina-based composite oxide support is a commonly used support in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, which not only retains the performance advantages of each component in the composite oxide support, but also significantly improves the defects of a single activated alumina support, such as the strong metal-support force of interaction. In this study, NiO-AlO composite support was prepared by introducing NiO-modified AlO, and MoS/NiO-AlO catalysts were prepared for the hydrodesulfurization of COS by liquid phase reduction method. In the COS hydrogenation reaction, the MoS/NiO-AlO catalyst achieved complete conversion of COS at 220 °C and showed more than 99.

Serum Galectin-9 mirrors immune-evasive microenvironment and predicts early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The precise role of Galectin-9, an immune checkpoint protein involved in immune responses, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. Importantly, the prognostic value of serum Galectin-9 has not been clarified, and its association with infiltrating immune characteristics was unclear.

Methods: The association between serum Galectin-9 concentration and HCC recurrence was analyzed in two cohorts of HCC patients (training 133; validation 97) who received curative resection during 2018 and 2019.

Simulation analysis of 35 MeV high-power electron accelerator driven white neutron source target.

The white neutron source driven by an electron accelerator utilizes a pulsed electron beam to bombard a target, producing neutrons through photoneutron reactions. The white neutron source of photoneutron reaction has advantages such as compact structure, low cost, capability of generating ultra-short pulse, and wide applications in the resonance energy region, effectively complementing reactor neutron sources and spallation neutron sources. The development of high-current, high-power electron accelerator-driven white neutron sources is of significant importance for neutron science research and nuclear technology applications.

Influence of surface engineering on the transport properties of lead sulfide nanomaterials.

Lead Sulfide (PbS) has garnered attention as a promising thermoelectric (TE) material due to its natural abundance and cost-effectiveness. However, its practical application is hindered by inherently high lattice thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. In this study, we address these challenges by surface functionalization of PbS nanocrystals using CuS molecular complexes-based ligand displacement.

Modeling and optimization of culture media for recombinant vaccine antigen HpaA.

Introduction: () infection represents a significant global health concern, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains resulting from conventional antibiotic treatments. Consequently, the development of vaccines with both preventive and therapeutic properties has become crucial in addressing infections. The adhesin protein HpaA has demonstrated strong immunogenicity across various adjuvants and dosage forms, positioning it as a key candidate antigen for recombinant subunit vaccines against .

The association of RBP4 with chronic kidney diseases in southern Chinese population.

Background: Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), as a novel adipokine, has been proven to be highly related to insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperuricemia and other metabolic diseases, which are all risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is a lack of sufficient studies to explore the relationship between RBP4 and CKD, and no reports have described the predictive value of RBP4 for CKD. This study was designed to clarify the relationship between RBP4 and CKD and its potential predictive value.

Dust mite antigens endow dendritic cells with the capacity to induce a Th2 response by regulating their methylation profiles.

Background: It is well-known that Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential in the development of airway Th2 polarization and airway allergy (AA). The underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. The objective of this study is to examine the role of methyltransferase-like protein-5 (Mettl5), a methyltransferase involved in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, in altering DC's properties to facilitate the development of Th2 polarization and AA.

Effects of Combined Exposure to 17α-Methyltestosterone and Polystyrene Microplastics on Lipid Metabolism and the Nervous System in Danio rerio.

Polystyrene (PS) microplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants that are harmful to aquatic organisms upon degradation. The synthetic androgen 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) is an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the combined histological and molecular effects of MT and PS exposure on the liver and brain tissues of Danio rerio with focus on lipid metabolism and neural function disruption.

Environmental Low-Dose Radiation Activates Th1 Immunity through the Mitochondria-STING Pathway.

The presence of low-dose radiation (LDR) in the environment has become more prevalent. However, the effect of LDR exposure on the immune system remains elusive. Here, we interestingly found that LDR specifically elevated the percentage of CD4IFNγ Th1 splenocytes, both in vitro and in vivo, without affecting the percentage of CD8IFNγ Tc1 cells and regulatory T cells.

Preparation of Rare Dehydrated Protopanaxadiol Ginsenosides from Leaves by Confined Microwave-Driven Transformation.

Rare dehydrated ginsenosides barely exist in natural ginseng plants. Herein, the confined microwave technique was utilized to transform the main ginsenosides of leaves (PNL) into dehydrated ginsenosides. The main microwave-treated products of dried PNL are dehydrated ginsenoside Rk1, Rg5, notoginsenoside SFt3, and SFt4.

Clinical Study on the Treatment of Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients Using Ultrasound-Guided Electroacupuncture.

This study aimed to compare the effects of electroacupuncture on traditional acupoints and muscle belly of different target muscles against upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients with hemiplegia. A total of thirty-nine stroke patients with subacute hemiplegia were randomly divided into the control group ( = 19) and observation group ( = 20). The control group was treated with physical therapy and normal electroacupuncture, while the observation group was treated with physical therapy and ultrasound-guided electroacupuncture on the muscle belly.

PD-L2 act as an independent immune checkpoint in colorectal cancer beyond PD-L1.

Introduction: Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), holds promise as a therapeutic strategy in colorectal cancer (CRC) by harnessing the patient's immune system to target malignant cells. Particularly, the PD-1/PD-L1 axis is widely recognized for its critical role in tumor microenvironment immunosuppression. Antibodies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 have shown sustained efficacy against various cancers, including CRC.

As air relative humidity increases, infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 decreases within water droplets.

Water droplets containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for coronavirus 2019 transmission, were introduced into a controlled-temperature and -humidity chamber. The SARS-CoV-2 virus with green fluorescent protein tag in droplets was used to infect Caco-2 cells, with viability assessed through flow cytometry and microscopic counting. Whereas temperature fluctuations within typical indoor ranges (20°C-30°C) had minimal impact, we observed a notable decrease in infection rate as the surrounding air's relative humidity increased.

Retrospective cohort study on the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-coated balloon in the treatment of diabetic subpatellar artery disease.

Paclitaxel can inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and reduce the risk of vascular restenosis after balloon dilation. Our study investigated the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) treatment for diabetic subpatellar artery disease. In this study, 140 patients with diabetic subknee arterial disease treated in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the study objects, and were divided into the control group (conventional balloon interventionization angioplasty) and the observation group (PCB interventionization angioplasty), with 70 cases in each group according to the differences in previous balloon interventionization.

Abnormal-Sound Diagnosis for Kaplan Hydroelectric Generating Units Based on Continuous Wavelet Transform and Transfer Learning.

To realize abnormal-sound diagnosis in hydroelectric generating units, this study proposes a method based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and Transfer Learning (TL). A denoising algorithm utilizing spectral noise-gate technology is proposed to enhance fault characteristics in hydroelectric units. Subsequently, Continuous Wavelet Transform is applied to obtain frequency components, and the results are converted into a series of pseudo-color images to highlight information differences.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Phosphino-Aryloxide Rare Earth Complexes.

A series of homoleptic rare earth (RE) complexes bearing phosphino-aryloxide ligands (, ) has been prepared. The complexes have been characterised using multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. Structural characterisation highlighted the different RE-P interactions as a result of differing Lewis acidity and ionic size across the series, hinting at the possibility of FLP-type activity.

Power Production and Degradation of Pesticide Wastewater Through Microbial Fuel Cells with the Modified Activated Carbon Air Cathode by Hollow-Carbon and Carbon-Encapsulated Structures.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can degrade pesticide wastewater and recovery energy simultaneously, and the activated carbon (AC) air cathode has great prospects for practical application. However, insufficient active sites and the limitation of multi-step electron transfer for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) requires that AC should be modified by highly efficient electrocatalysts. Herein, busing the confinement effect of carbon-encapsulated metal and hollow carbon, we designed a unique ORR catalyst of Fe-FeO-NC through utilizing the 2D leaf-like nanoplates of Zn-ZIF-L to load Prussian blue (PB) particles.

Peroxiredoxin 4 Ameliorates T-2 Toxin-Induced Growth Retardation in GH3 Cells by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

T-2 toxin, a highly toxic type A trichothecene, is a secondary fungal metabolite produced by various Fusarium species. The consumption of food and feed contaminated with T-2 toxin is a major factor contributing to growth retardation, posing significant risks to both human and animal health. However, the specific targets and mechanisms that mitigate T-2 toxin-induced growth retardation remain unclear.

Elemental Sulfur/Selenium-Mediated Metal-Free Phosphinothioation and Phosphinoselenoation of Vinylsulfonium Salts with P-H Bonds.

An efficient and facile method has been developed for the construction of novel P-S-C and P-Se-C bonds by facilitating the three-component cross-coupling reaction of P-H bonds with elemental sulfur/selenium and vinylsulfonium salts, utilizing sodium bicarbonate as a base. This approach eliminates the need for the use of toxic and odorous active sulfur/selenium reagents and noble metals, thereby offering a new pathway for synthesizing -phosphinothioates and -phosphinoselenoates via the organic conversion of inorganic sources. The reaction has showcased remarkable versatility in terms of substrate applicability, particularly for organophosphorus compounds containing P-H bonds and vinylsulfonium salt derivatives.

Recent Advances of Metal Complexes in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Chemotherapy has long been used in the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), driving the development of anticancer chemotherapy drugs. Platinum complexes have attracted significant attention and have led to the creation of a series of platinum-based drugs used in diverse cancer treatments, including HCC. However, the clinical use of platinum drugs faces critical challenges due to drug resistance and side effects.

The Immunosuppressive Functions of Eosinophils Are Compromised in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis, Particularly Concerning Rab27a Expression.

Background: Eosinophils have been acknowledged to be involved in the induction of numerous inflammatory disorders. There is still a lack of knowledge about whether eosinophils play a role in immune regulation. The aim of this study is to uncover the immune regulatory functions of eosinophils.

Enhancing Field-Like Efficiency Via Interface Engineering with Sub-Atomic Layer Ta Insertion.

The prevailing research emphasis has been on reducing the critical switching current density (J) by enhancing the damping-like efficiency (β). However, recent studies have shown that the field-like efficiency (β) can also play a major role in reducing J. In this study, the central inversion asymmetry of Pt-Co is significantly enhanced through interface engineering at the sub-atomic layer of Ta, thereby inducing substantial alterations in the β associated with the interface.