Molecular Mechanisms of Humic Acid in Inhibiting Silica Scaling during Membrane Distillation.

Membrane distillation (MD) efficiently desalinizes and treats high-salinity water as well as addresses the challenges in handling concentrated brines and wastewater. However, silica scaling impeded the effectiveness of MD for treating hypersaline water and wastewater. Herein, the effects of humic acid (HA) on silica scaling behavior during MD are systematically investigated.

Effect of Reaction Interface Structure on the Morphology and Performance of Thin-Film Composite Membrane.

Thin-film composite (TFC) membrane has been extensively utilized and investigated for its excellent properties. Herein, we have constructed an active layer (AL) containing cave-like structures utilizing large meniscus interface. Furthermore, the impact of interface structure on the growth process, morphology, and effective surface area of AL has been fully explored with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS).

Dynamic Methane Emissions from China's Fossil-Fuel and Food Systems: Socioeconomic Drivers and Policy Optimization Strategies.

In response to the 2023 "Action Plan for Methane Emission Control" in China, which mandates precise methane (CH) emission accounting, we developed a dynamic model to estimate CH emissions from fossil-fuel and food systems in China for the period 1990-2020. We also analyzed their socioeconomic drivers through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model. Our analysis revealed an accelerated emission increase (850.

Simultaneous Copper and EDTA Ligands Recovery from Electroless Effluent with Metallic Copper and Formaldehyde.

The traditional treatment of toxic and refractory copper(II)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelate (Cu(II)-EDTA) in electroless effluents often generates hazardous waste and secondary nitrogen-containing pollutants without maximizing the resource recovery. This study demonstrates a facile strategy to simultaneously recover Cu and EDTA ligands from Cu(II)-EDTA electroless effluent with commercially available metallic Cu and formaldehyde. In this strategy, metallic Cu is used to activate formaldehyde, a prevalent yet often overlooked cocontaminant in Cu(II)-EDTA effluents, to produce highly reductive hydrogen radical (H), which in situ decomplex Cu(II)-EDTA, reduces the central Cu(II) into metallic Cu, and release EDTA ligand.

HIV OctaScanner: A Machine Learning Approach to Unveil Proteolytic Cleavage Dynamics in HIV-1 Protease Substrates.

The rise of resistance to antiretroviral drugs due to mutations in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) protease is a major obstacle to effective treatment. These mutations alter the drug-binding pocket of the protease and reduce the drug efficacy by disrupting interactions with inhibitors. Traditional methods, such as biochemical assays and structural biology, are crucial for studying enzyme function but are time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Aminobenzoic Acid Covalently Modified Polyoxotungstates Based on {XW} Clusters with Proton Conductivity Property.

Three cases of aminobenzoic acid hybrid polyoxotungstates, Na(HO)[(HPWO) (OCCHNH)]·7HO (), K(HO)[(AsWO)(OCCHNH)]·4HO (), and [(HN(CH)]Na(HO)[(SbWO) (OCCHNH)]·7HO (), were successfully synthesized. This is the first report of the successful assembly of the hexanuclear {XW} (X = HP, As, or Sb) clusters and organic carboxylic acid (para aminobenzoic acid) ligands. All three hybrids feature a common {XW} unit composed of a six-membered {WO} octahedral ring capped by one {XO} trigonal pyramid.

Controlled reconstruction of metal-organic frameworks coordination environment tuning as oxygen evolution electrocatalysts.

During the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts undergo structural reorganization, a phenomenon that is still not fully comprehended. Additionally, designing MOFs that undergo structural reconstruction to produce highly active OER catalysts continues to pose significant challenges. Herein, a bimetallic MOF (CoNi-MOF) with carboxylate oxygen and pyridine nitrogen coordination has been synthesized and its reconstruction behavior has been analyzed.

Quantitative Analysis of Hepatitis D Virus Using gRNA-Sensitive Semiconducting Polymer Dots.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) significantly influences the progression of liver diseases. Through clinical observations and database analyses, it has been established that patients coinfected with HDV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) experience accelerated progression toward cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver failure compared to those infected solely with HBV. A higher viral load correlates with increased replicative activity, enhanced infectivity, and more severe disease manifestations.

Comprehensive analyses reveal the promising value of gasdermins as prognostic biomarkers and immunotherapeutic targets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: In several studies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), the regulation of tumorigenesis and therapeutic sensitivity by pyroptosis has been observed. However, a systematic analysis of gasdermin family members (GSDMs, including GSDMA/B/C/D/E and PJVK), which are deterministic executors of pyroptosis, has not yet been reported in HNSC.

Methods: We performed comprehensive analyses of the expression profile, prognostic value, regulatory network, and immune infiltration modulation of GSDMs in HNSC on the basis of a computational approach and bioinformatic analysis of publicly available datasets.

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio as an independent predictor of long-term mortality in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients: A propensity score-matched study: UACR and Long-term Mortality in ASCVD.

Background And Aims: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of mortality, and while the association between the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and cardiovascular risk is recognized, the specific impact of UACR on the long-term survival of ASCVD patients remains not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of UACR on the long-term risk of all-cause mortality in patients with ASCVD.

Methods: This study included ASCVD patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018.

Comparison of chemical constituents in species and their antimicrobial activity for extending the shelf life of foods.

Food spoilage causes significant economic losses and endangers human health. Developing novel antimicrobial agents and preservatives is urgently needed for anti-foodborne diseases and improving food storage. Zhen Zhu Cai () species are well-known edible plants among the East Asian populace that clear heat and anti-aging.

The Role of Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature and Immune Infiltration in Juvenile Dermatomyositis.

Objective: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a complex autoimmune disease, and its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Building upon previous research on the immunological and inflammatory aspects of JDM, this study aims to investigate the role of pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of JDM using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach.

Methods: Two microarray datasets (GSE3307 and GSE11971) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and a list of 62 pyroptosis-related genes was compiled.

Small mammals and associated infections in China: a systematic review and spatial modelling analysis.

Background: As natural reservoirs of diverse pathogens, small mammals are considered a key interface for guarding public health due to their wide geographic distribution, high density and frequent interaction with humans.

Methods: All formally recorded natural occurrences of small mammals (Order: Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, Lagomorpha, and Scandentia) and their associated microbial infections in China were searched in the English and Chinese literature spanning from 1950 to 2021 and geolocated. Machine learning models were applied to determine ecological drivers for the distributions of 45 major small mammal species and two common rodent-borne diseases (RBDs), and model-predicted potential risk locations were mapped.

Identification of novel ferroptosis-related biomarkers associated with the oxidative stress pathways in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Ferroptosis is a cell death process that depends on iron and reactive oxygen species. It significantly contributes to cardiovascular diseases. However, its exact role in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is still unclear.

Diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis via iliac bone marrow aspirate analysis.

HIV infection frequently affects multiple systems, with hematological manifestations being the most prevalent. In some cases, cryptococcosis serves as the initial manifestation and a cause of infection involving HIV-positive patients. This case report describes a patient with thrombocytopenia who incidentally discovered infiltrating the bone marrow upon bone marrow smear examination, highlighting that examining bone marrow is essential in diagnosing pancytopenia resulting from opportunistic fungal infections like cryptococcosis, especially in individuals with compromised immune systems.

Medicinal plants for the management of post-COVID-19 fatigue: A literature review on the role and mechanisms.

Background: COVID-19 infection has a lasting impact on human health, which is known as post-COVID-19 conditions. Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported post-COVID-19 conditions. Management of fatigue in the post-COVID-19 era is necessary and emerging.

Type III pleuropulmonary blastoma: A case report.

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm occurring in infants. The disease is intimately linked to mutations in the Dcr-1 homolog and ribonuclease type III (DICER1) genes. Imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing PPB, yet distinguishing PPB from other pulmonary masses proves challenging.

Efficacy evaluation of prophylactic cranial irradiation for limited stage small‑cell lung cancer in the magnetic resonance imaging era: A meta‑analysis.

The role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) remains controversial in the era of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PCI in the treatment of LS-SCLC in the era of MRI. The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched from the time of database creation until May 24, 2023, to identify clinical studies that evaluated the effectiveness of PCI in patients with LS-SCLC in the MRI era.

Diagnostic challenge presented by extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma expressing CD20, CD30 and CD15: A case report.

The atypical expression of immune phenotypes in lymphoma is often associated with a poor prognosis and presents diagnostic challenges. The present study reports on a rare extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. In addition to typical morphology and immunohistochemical characteristics, these tumors strongly express CD20 and CD30 and partially express CD15, which is associated with aggressive clinical behavior.

Comparison of postoperative analgesia between dezocine plus flurbiprofen axetil and sufentanil in patients with CRC undergoing tumor resection: A prospective, observational study.

Flurbiprofen axetil is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for analgesia. Its combination with dezocine has previously shown a superior postoperative analgesic effect compared with that of opioids. The present study compared the analgesic effect between dezocine plus flurbiprofen axetil (DFA) and sufentanil in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) following resection of the tumor.

inhibits glycolysis and promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via β‑catenin signaling.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Glycolysis serves a crucial role in the development of CRC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of lectin galactoside-binding soluble 4 () in the regulation of glycolysis and its therapeutic potential in CRC.

Adiponectin facilitates the cell cycle, inhibits cell apoptosis and induces temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma via the Akt/mTOR pathway.

Adiponectin (ADN) regulates DNA synthesis, cell apoptosis and cell cycle to participate in the pathology and progression of glioblastoma. The present study aimed to further explore the effect of ADN on temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in glioblastoma and the underlying mechanism of action. Glioblastoma cell lines (U251 and U87-MG cells) were treated with ADN and TMZ at different concentrations; subsequently, 3.

Hyalinizing trabecular tumor of the thyroid: A case report.

A hyalinizing trabecular tumor (HTT), characterized by a trabecular growth pattern and notable hyalinization within the trabeculae, occurs at a rate of ~1%. As patients with HTT may be asymptomatic, accurate diagnosis is a challenge. Due to its resemblance to other tumors, such as papillary thyroid carcinoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma, a precise diagnosis necessitates both pathological and molecular examinations.

High‑intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation boosts the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced cancers with liver metastases: A single‑center retrospective cohort study.

High-intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation (HIFU) is a novel non-invasive technique in the treatment of liver metastases (LIM) that allows focal destruction and is not affected by dose limits. This retrospective study aimed to explore the efficacy of HIFU in improving survival and the safety of the method in newly diagnosed patients with cancer with LIM who received first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Between January 2018 and December 2023, data from 438 newly diagnosed patients with cancer and LIM who were treated at Mianyang Central Hospital (Mianyang, China) were reviewed.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis: A meta‑analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with coexisting portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is associated with poor patient outcomes. The efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with HCC with PVTT remain a subject of debate. In the present study, a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library, was conducted to identify studies evaluating the outcomes of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with HCC and PVTT.