Exploring the potential common denominator pathogenesis of system lupus erythematosus with COVID-19 based on comprehensive bioinformatics analysis

ObjectiveEvidences show that there may be a link between SLE and COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to screen out the diagnostic biomarkers of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with COVID-19 and explore the possible related mechanisms by the bioinformatics approach.MethodsSLE and COVID-19 datasets were extracted separately from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The limma package in R was used to obtain the differential genes (DEGs). The protein interaction network information (PPI) and core functional modules were constructed in the STRING database using Cytoscape software. The hub genes were identified by the Cytohubba plugin, and TF-gene together with TF-miRNA regulatory networks were constructed via utilizing the Networkanalyst platform. Subsequently, we generated subject operating characteristic curves (ROC) to verify the diagnostic capabilities of these hub genes to predict the risk of SLE with COVID-19 infection. Finally, a single-sample gene set enrichment (ssGSEA) algorithm was used to analyze immune cell infiltration.ResultsA total of 6 common hub genes (CDC6, PLCG1, KIF15, LCK, CDC25C, and RASGRP1) were identified with high diagnostic validity. These gene functional enrichments were mainly involved in cell cycle, and inflammation-related pathways. Compared to the healthy controls, abnormal infiltration of immune cells was found in SLE and COVID-19, and the proportion of immune cells linked to the 6 hub genes.ConclusionOur research logically identified 6 candidate hub genes that could predict SLE complicated with COVID-19. This work provides a foothold for further study of potential pathogenesis in SLE and COVID-19

Association between abnormal plasma metabolism and brain atrophy in alcohol-dependent patients

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to characterize the plasma metabolic profiles of brain atrophy and alcohol dependence (s) and to identify the underlying pathogenesis of brain atrophy related to alcohol dependence.MethodsWe acquired the plasma samples of alcohol-dependent patients and performed non-targeted metabolomic profiling analysis to identify alterations of key metabolites in the plasma of BA-ADPs. Machine learning algorithms and bioinformatic analysis were also used to identify predictive biomarkers and investigate their possible roles in brain atrophy related to alcohol dependence.ResultsA total of 26 plasma metabolites were significantly altered in the BA-ADPs group when compared with a group featuring alcohol-dependent patients without brain atrophy (NBA-ADPs). Nine of these differential metabolites were further identified as potential biomarkers for BA-ADPs. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that these potential biomarkers exhibited good sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing BA-ADPs from NBA-ADPs. Moreover, metabolic pathway analysis suggested that glycerophospholipid metabolism may be highly involved in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced brain atrophy.ConclusionThis plasma metabolomic study provides a valuable resource for enhancing our understanding of alcohol-induced brain atrophy and offers potential targets for therapeutic intervention

Effects of Different Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Rates on Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesel–Diesel Blended Fuel Based on an Improved Chemical Mechanism

This paper studies the effects of different exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rates (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) on the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of a biodiesel–diesel (20% biodiesel + 80% diesel) blended fuel engine. This paper mainly analyzes the effects on engine cylinder temperature, cylinder pressure, brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), NOx emissions, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, and soot emissions. Firstly, a 3D-CFD model was established by using CONVERGE software, combined with an improved chemical kinetic mechanism including 98 species and 314 reactions, and the accuracy of the simulation model was verified by experimental results. Secondly, the effects of different EGR rates on the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of biodiesel–diesel blended fuel were studied. The results showed that with the increase in the EGR rate, the cylinder pressure and cylinder temperature in the cylinder decreased. When the EGR rate was 15%, the maximum cylinder temperature decreased by 4.33%. In addition, BSFC increased and BTE decreased. Moreover, with the increase in the EGR rate, NOx decreased significantly, and the higher the EGR rate, the more obvious the reduction in NOx emissions. When the EGR rate was 15%, NOx was reduced by 78.89%. However, with the increase in the EGR rate, the emissions of soot, HC, and CO increased. The optimal EGR rate for the engine is 10%

Review of Particle Filters for Internal Combustion Engines

Diesel engines have gradually become one of the main forces in the human transportation industry because of their high efficiency, good durability, and stable operation. However, compared with gasoline vehicles, the high emission of diesel vehicles forces manufacturers to introduce new pollutant control technologies. Although the particulate matter emissions of gasoline vehicles are lower than that of diesel vehicles, with the popularity of gasoline vehicles and the continuous rise of power, the impact of these particles on the environment cannot be ignored. Therefore, diesel particulate filters and gasoline particulate filters have been invented to collect the fine particles in the exhaust gas to protect the environment and meet increasingly stringent emission regulations. This paper summarizes the research progress on diesel particulate filters and gasoline particulate filters at present and comprehensively introduces the diesel particulate filter and gasoline particulate filter from the mechanism, composition, and operation processes. Additionally, the laws and regulations of various countries and the impact of gas waste particulates on the human body are described. In addition, the mechanisms of the diesel particulate filter, gasoline particulate filter, and regeneration were studied. Finally, the prospects and future directions for the development of particle filters for internal combustion engines are presented

Synthetic Access to Secondary Propargylamines via a Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Deamination/Alkynylation Cascade

A novel and selective cascade reaction of primary amines and alkynes for the synthesis of the corresponding secondary propargylamines is described. This protocol proceeds with a CuBr2/TBHP system through a process of oxidative deamination of primary amines to imine and alkynylation, featuring a wide scope of substrates with good functional-group tolerance and operational simplicity. Additionally, the use of two different primary amines could also work smoothly using this protocol.status: publishe

Comparing the diagnostic efficacy of [18F]FDG PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/MRI for detecting bone metastases in breast cancer: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the comparative diagnostic efficacy of [18F]FDG PET/CT and [18F] FDG PET/MRI in detecting bone metastases in breast cancer patients

Growth Kinetic Processes of AlN Molecules on the Al-Polar Surface of AlN

National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program); National Nature Science Foundation [60827004, 90921002, 60776066]; Science & Technology program of Fujian and Xiamen of ChinaWe studied growth kinetic processes of AlN molecules on the Al-polar surface of AlN using ab initio and Monte Carlo simulations. Molecular processes were presented and analyzed during the nucleation, ripening, and coalescence stages. The results show that the nucleus number decreases as temperature rises due to the increasing diffusion of the molecules. By analyzing the growth time dependence of average cluster size, interface-limited Ostwald ripening is found to be the main ripening mechanism when the temperature is lower than 1773 K. As cluster-corner crossing diffusion is limited, the growth is fractal-like extension, and the coalescence is achieved through adhesion of clusters, leading to a generally continuous morphology with some vacancies and closure failures, which is in good agreement with our experimental results. Moreover, coverage/temperature kinetic phase diagrams under different deposition rates are presented (from 0.025 to 0.1 ML/s). Our finding suggests that a temperature higher than 1800 K is crucial for growth of an ideal atomic-scale Al-polar AlN surface

One-Pot Synthesis of Amphiphilic Biopolymers from Oxidized Alginate and Self-Assembly as a Carrier for Sustained Release of Hydrophobic Drugs

In this paper, we developed an organic solvent-free, eco-friendly, simple and efficient one-pot approach for the preparation of amphiphilic conjugates (Ugi-OSAOcT) by grafting octylamine (OCA) to oxidized sodium alginate (OSA). The optimum reaction parameters that were obtained based on the degree of substitution (DS) of Ugi-OSAOcT were a reaction time of 12 h, a reaction temperature of 25 °C and a molar ratio of 1:2.4:3:3.3 (OSA:OCA:HAc:TOSMIC), respectively. The chemical structure and composition were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analyser (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and elemental analysis (EA). It was found that the Ugi-OSAOcT conjugates with a CMC value in the range of 0.30–0.085 mg/mL could self-assemble into stable and spherical micelles with a particle size of 135.7 ± 2.4–196.5 ± 3.8 nm and negative surface potentials of −32.8 ± 0.4–−38.2 ± 0.8 mV. Furthermore, ibuprofen (IBU), which served as a model poorly water-soluble drug, was successfully incorporated into the Ugi-OSAOcT micelles by dialysis method. The drug loading capacity (%DL) and encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of the IBU-loaded Ugi-OSAOcT micelles (IBU/Ugi-OSAOcT = 3:10) reached as much as 10.9 ± 0.4–14.6 ± 0.3% and 40.8 ± 1.6–57.2 ± 1.3%, respectively. The in vitro release study demonstrated that the IBU-loaded micelles had a sustained and pH-responsive drug release behavior. In addition, the DS of the hydrophobic segment on an OSA backbone was demonstrated to have an important effect on IBU loading and drug release behavior. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the Ugi-OSAOcT conjugates exhibited no significant cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells up to 1000 µg/mL. Therefore, the amphiphilic Ugi-OSAOcT conjugates synthesized by the green method exhibited great potential to load hydrophobic drugs, acting as a promising nanocarrier capable of responding to pH for sustained release of hydrophobic drugs