Combined DFT and XPS Investigation of Cysteine Adsorption on the Pyrite (1 0 0) Surface

The adsorption of cysteine on the pyrite (1 0 0) surface was evaluated by using first-principles-based density functional theory (DFT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The frontier orbitals analyses indicate that the interaction of cysteine and pyrite mainly occurs between HOMO of cysteine and LUMO of pyrite. The adsorption energy calculation shows that the configuration of the -OH of -COOH adsorbed on the Fe site is the thermodynamically preferred adsorption configuration, and it is the strongest ionic bond according to the Mulliken bond populations. As for Fe site mode, the electrons are found transferred from cysteine to Fe of pyrite (1 0 0) surface, while there is little or no electron transfer for S site mode. Projected density of states (PDOS) is analyzed further in order to clarify the interaction mechanism between cysteine and the pyrite (1 0 0) surface. After that, the presence of cysteine adsorption on the pyrite (1 0 0) surface is indicated by the qualitative results of the XPS spectra. This study provides an alternative way to enhance the knowledge of microbe–mineral interactions and find a route to improve the rate of bioleaching

Seasonal Shift of Storm Surges in the Yangtze Estuary, China

This study explores storm floods in the Yangtze Estuary to investigate how extreme sea levels and storm surges change in the context of global warming. Previous studies focused on the long-term variations in amplitude or frequency of storm surges, with limited research conducted on the timing of extreme storm surge events. Based on the methods of non-stationary extreme value theory, we explored the last 33-year tidal levels at Xuliujing Station and found that the annual extreme water level has exhibited a slight downward trend, which is directly attributed to the decrease in mean sea level resulting from reduced upstream river flow. The storm surge season of the Yangtze Estuary experienced a significant lag in the period 2005–2018, which is not restricted to the Yangtze Estuary but is rather a large-scale climate characteristic of a broad oceanic region. The reason for this shift is the sustained increase in the intensity of the western Pacific subtropical high in the last 15 years, leading to the appearance of low-pressure channels in the East China Sea in September and October and thus causing more typhoons to enter the East China Sea during the later period of the storm surge season

RY10-4 Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Hepatocellular Cancer HepG2 Cells by Inducing Apoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of RY10-4, a small molecular that was designed and synthesized based on the structure of protoapigenone. A previous screening study showed that RY10-4 possessed anti-proliferative effects against HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, the full range of RY10-4 anti-cancer effects on liver tumors and the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. Herein, employing flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, we demonstrate that RY10-4 can induce cell cycle arrest, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In HepG2 cell xenograft tumor model, RY10-4 significantly inhibited the growth of tumors and induced apoptosis in tumor cells, with little side effects. Moreover, RY10-4 caused the suppression of STAT3 activation, which may be involved the apoptosis induction. In addition, RY10-4 inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B and HuH-7 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, our results suggest that RY10-4 has a great potential to develop as chemotherapeutic agent for liver cancer

DataSheet1_Minoxidil delivered via a stem cell membrane delivery controlled release system promotes hair growth in C57BL/6J mice.docx

Objective: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell membrane-loaded minoxidil (MXD) nanoparticles (STCM-MXD-NPs) were prepared to investigate their effects on hair growth in C57BL/6J mice.Methods: STCM-MXD-NPs were obtained by freeze-thawing and differential centrifugation, and their effects on hair growth were evaluated using C57BL/6J mice. The mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Protein expression levels of marker of proliferation Ki-67 (MKI67) and β-catenin (CTNNB) in skin tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results: STCM-MXD-NPs improved MXD solubility. They released the drug slowly, increasing its transdermal properties, accumulation in the skin, and content in the hair bulb tissues with a better efficacy than that of ordinary MXD. Moreover, STCM-MXD-NPs significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of VEGF and IGF-1 and promoted the protein expression of MKI67 and CTNNB in mouse skin tissues, promoting mouse hair growth.Conclusion: Stem cell membrane-loaded MXD nanoparticles with slow-release properties increased MXD accumulation in the skin by improving its transdermal properties, increasing VEGF, IGF-1, MKI67, and CTNNB expression levels and promoting hair growth in C57BL/6J mice.</p

Analysis of influencing factors of self-care self-efficacy among patients with digestive tract tumors (消化道肿瘤患者自我管理效能感的影响因素分析)

Objective To investigate the status quo of self-care self-efficacy among patients with digestive tract cancer, and to explore its influencing factors, in order to provide a basis for making self-management programs for patients with digestive tract cancer. Methods A total of 443 patients with digestive tract tumors admitted to three Grade-A hospitals in Hubei Province from October 2021 to September 2022 were selected as subjects. Convenience sampling method was used to investigate the Chinese version of Strategies Used by People to Promote Health(SUPPH), Social Support Rate Scale(SSRS) and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire(MCMQ). Results The SUPPH score was (75. 91±15. 64). Gender, place of residence, family per capita monthly income, children, social support and coping style were the main factors affecting the self-management efficacy of patients with digestive tract tumors (P＜0. 05). Conclusion The self-management efficacy of patients with digestive tract tumors is at a medium to low level. Higher level of social support is associated with stronger self-management efficacy of patients. Positive coping style is helpful to improve the self-management efficacy of patients. (目的 了解消化道肿瘤患者自我管理效能感水平现状, 探索其影响因素, 以期为消化道肿瘤患者针对性制定自我管理项目内容提供依据。方法 选取2021年10月—2022年9月湖北省三家三甲医院收治的443例消化道肿瘤患者作为研究对象, 采用便利抽样法, 使用中文版癌症自我管理效能感(SUPPH)、社会支持量表(SSRS)和医学应对方式问卷(MCMQ)进行调查。结果 患者的SUPPH得分为(75. 91±15. 64)分; 性别、居住地、家庭人均月收入、子女情况、社会支持及应对方式是影响消化道肿瘤患者自我管理效能感的主要因素(P<0. 05)。结论 消化道肿瘤患者自我管理效能感处于中低水平。患者的社会支持水平越高, 其自我管理效能感越强, 积极应对方式有助于提升其自我管理效能感。

Emergence and spread of MT28 ptxP3 allele macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis from 2021 to 2022 in China

Objectives: To reveal the clinical and molecular characteristics of Bordetella pertussis (BP) prevalent in Shanghai, China. Methods: A total of 9430 children with suspected pertussis from 2021 to 2022 were included, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected for polymerase chain reaction detection, culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and 23S rRNA gene A2047G detection. BP strains were typed using multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis and virulence genotyping. Results: Of 9430 cases, 5.1% and 1.6% were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and culture, respectively. Infants (aged 6-10 years (10.8∼21.7%). Macrolide-resistant BP (MRBP) accounted for 89.3%, and all carried the A2047G mutation. There were six multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis types (MTs), including MT28 (62.0%), MT195 (20%), MT27 (10.0%), MT104 (4.7%), MT55 (2.7%), and MT32 (0.7%). BP strains with pertussis toxin (ptx)P3/(pertactin) prn2/ptxC2/ptxA1/(fimbrial proteins) fim2-1/fim3-1, including MT27, MT28, and MT32, accounted for 72.7%, among which MT27 and MT32 were macrolide-sensitive BP, whereas most (94.6∼100%) of MT28 were MRBP. Strains harboring ptxP1/prn1/ptxC1/ptxA1/fim2-1/fim3-1, including MT55, MT104, and MT195, belonged to macrolide-sensitive BP. Conclusion: The emergence and spread of MT28 ptxP3-MRBP was first reported in China, highlighting the importance of continuous surveillance of ptxP3-MRBP to prevent its potential circulation