Lung cancer is the most common cancer in China. Previous studies have indicated that lung cancer incidence exhibits remarkable spatial heterogeneity, and lung cancer is related to outdoor air ...pollution. However, the non-linear spatial association between outdoor air pollution and lung cancer incidence in China remains unclear.
In this study, the relationships between the lung cancer incidence of males and females from 207 counties in China in 2013 with annual concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO
, NO
, CO and O
were analysed. GeoDetector q statistic was used for examining the non-linear spatial association between outdoor air pollution and incidence of lung cancer.
An apparent spatial and population gender heterogeneity was found in the spatial association between outdoor air pollution and lung cancer incidence. Among the six selected pollutants, SO
has the greatest influence on lung cancer (q = 0.154 in females) in north China. In the south, each selected pollutant has a significant impact on males or females, and the mean q value in the south is 0.181, which is bigger than that in the north (q = 0.154). In addition, the pollutants have evident non-linear interaction effects on lung cancer. In north China, the interaction between SO
and PM2.5 is the dominant interaction, with q values of 0.207 in males and 0.334 in females. In the south, the dominant interactive factors are between SO
and O
in males and between SO
and CO in females, with q values of 0.45, 0.232 respectively. Smoking is a substantial contributor to lung cancer among men, either in South or North China, with q value of 0.143 and 0.129 respectively, and the interaction between smoking and air pollutants increases this risk.
This study implies that the influence of SO
and PM2.5 on lung cancer should be focused on in north China, and in the south, the impact of O
and CO as well as their interaction with SO
need to be paid more attention. Smoking, particularly in men, remains a significant risk factor for lung cancer in both North and South China.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The authors provide an epidemiologic analysis of the first 425 confirmed cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. This analysis provides estimates of the epidemic doubling time ...and the basic reproductive number and shows clear evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
Post-hospital falls constitute a significant health concern for older adults who have been recently discharged from the hospital.
To systematically summarise existing evidence on the incidence and ...risk factors for post-hospital falls among older adults.
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Six electronic databases were searched to identify cohort studies investigating the incidence and risk factors for post-hospital falls in older adults. The incidence and risk factors for post-hospital falls were extracted. The meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled incidences and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The meta-regression and subgroup meta-analysis were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity in incidence proportions across the eligible studies. A qualitative synthesis was performed for the post-hospital falls risk factors.
Eighteen studies from eight countries (n = 9,080,568) were included. The pooled incidence proportion of any and recurrent post-hospital falls was 14% (95% CI: 13%-15%) and 10% (95% CI: 5%-14%), respectively. Follow-up period, study quality, study country, setting, percentage of female subjects, percentage of subjects with previous falls and the primary data collection method for falls significantly contributed to the 64.8% of the heterogeneity in incidence proportions. Twenty-six risk factors for post-hospital falls were identified in the eligible studies, where biological factors were the most commonly identified factors. The highest risks were reported for previous falls, previous fractures, delirium and neurological diseases.
The findings of this study suggested future post-hospital falls prevention should prioritise the needs of older adults with the dominant risk factors. Further investigations into the period-specific incidence and socioeconomic and environmental risk factors for post-hospital falls are also required.
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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the dominant type of lung cancer. Molecular targeting has highly improved the treatment efficacy of lung cancer, but new challenges have emerged, ...such as gefitinib-resistance and cancer recurrence. Therefore, new chemotherapeutic agents and treatment strategies are urgently needed. Shikonin is the main active component of a Chinese medicinal plant ‘Zi Cao’, which has been shown to exhibit powerful anti-cancer activity in certain types of cancer; however, its activity in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer has never been addressed. In this study, we used a high-throughput screening assay for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and discovered that Shikonin is a potent inhibitor of EGFR. The cytotoxicity of Shikonin and its anti-cancer mechanism in NSCLC was deeply explored. Shikonin exhibited selective cytotoxicity among two NSCLC cell lines (H1975 and H1650) and one normal lung fibroblast cell line (CCD-19LU). Shikonin significantly increased the activity of caspases and poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP), which are indicators of apoptosis, and the intensity of ROS by greater than 10-fold. NAC, an inhibitor of ROS, completely blocked apoptosis, caspase and PARP activation induced by Shikonin. Shikonin remarkably suppressed the phosphorylation of EGFR and led to EGFR degradation. The enhancement of ROS generation in H1650 and H1975 gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells leads to impairment of growth and induction of apoptosis, whereas modulation of EGFR degradation and its downstream signalling pathways by Shikonin contributes to its anti-tumour properties in H1975 gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells (with T790M and L858R activating mutations). Shikonin-induced cell apoptosis is closely associated with ROS elevation in the cells. These findings indicate that Shikonin can be an effective small molecule treating gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a master regulator of adipogenesis. Our previous study revealed that chicken PPARγ has 3 alternative promoters named as P1, P2, and P3, and ...the DNA methylation of promoter P3 was negatively associated with PPARγ mRNA expression in abdominal adipose tissue (AAT). However, the methylation status of promoters P1 and P2 is unclear. Here we assessed promoter P1 methylation status in AAT of Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). The results showed that promoter P1 methylation differed in AAT between the lean and fat lines of NEAUHLF at 7 wk of age (p < 0.05), and AAT expression of PPARγ transcript 1 (PPARγ1), which was derived from the promoter P1, was greatly higher in fat line than in lean line at 2 and 7 wk of age. The results of the correlation analysis showed that P1 methylation was positively correlated with PPARγ1 expression at 7 wk of age (Pearson's r = 0.356, p = 0.0242), suggesting P1 methylation promotes PPARγ1 expression. To explore the underlying molecular mechanism of P1 methylation on PPARγ1 expression, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, pyrosequencing, and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) were performed. The results showed that transcription factor NRF1 repressed the promoter activity of the unmethylated P1, but not the methylated P1. Of all the 4 CpGs (CpG48, CpG49, CpG50, and CpG51), which reside within or nearby the NRF1 binding sites of the P1, only CpG49 methylation in AAT was remarkably higher in the fat line than in lean line at 7 wk of age (3.18 to 0.57, p < 0.05), and CpG49 methylation was positively correlated with PPARγ1 expression (Pearson's r = 0.3716, p = 0.0432). Furthermore, EMSA showed that CpG49 methylation reduced the binding of NRF1 to the P1. Taken together, our findings illustrate that P1 methylation promotes PPARγ1 expression at least in part by preventing NRF1 from binding to the promoter P1.
LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 was synthesized by sol–gel using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as dispersant and ethylene glycol (EG) as size-controlled additive. Crystal structure, particle morphology and ...electrochemical performance of the resulting product (PVP–LNMO) as cathode of lithium ion battery were investigated with XRD, SEM, CV, EIS, and charge/discharge test, with a comparison of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) synthesized under the same conditions but without using PVP and EG. It is found that PVP–LNMO is composed of dispersed LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 nanoparticles with uniform size, and exhibits far better rate capability and cyclic stability than LNMO. The particles of the latter are in micro size due to the aggregation of smaller primary particles. PVP–LNMO delivers a reversible discharge capacity of 96 mAh g−1 at 20C rate with a capacity retention of 93% at 5C rate after 500 cycles, while only 40 mAh g−1 and 53% for LNMO, respectively. The nanoparticles provide shorter distance for electron and lithium ion transport and larger surface area for electron exchange on the electrode/electrolyte interface, resulting in the far better rate capability of PVP–LNMO than LNMO, while the room among nanoparticles in PVP–LNMO releases the stress of Jahn–Teller distortion that causes destruction of LNMO microparticles, resulting in the excellent cyclic stability.
•LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 nanoparticles are synthesized with synergistic effect of PVP and EG.•The LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 nanoparticles exhibit excellent rate capability and cyclic stability.•Charging protocol of CC followed by CV step helps understand the excellent performance.
We report observations of intense energy transfer developed within a flux pileup region (FPR) inside a plasma jet in the Earth's midtail. Strong electromagnetic turbulences, with k⊥≫k∥ ${k}_{\perp ...}\gg {k}_{{\Vert} }$ (k⊥ ${k}_{\perp }$ and k∥ ${k}_{{\Vert} }$ are wave numbers perpendicular and parallel to background magnetic field respectively), are observed together with intermittent sub‐ion‐scale structures, generating intense fluctuating electric fields and currents inside the FPR. The highly anisotropic turbulence is carried by kinetic Alfvénic waves with k⊥ρi∼2 ${k}_{\perp }{\rho }_{i}\sim 2$ (ρi ${\rho }_{i}$ is ion gyroradius), which are weakly damped due to electron Landau resonance and cause electron heating with a ratio close to 4 eV/s. Concurrent with the ion‐scale turbulences and structures, strong energy conversion occurs inside the FPR (stronger than that at the jet front), with magnetic field energy being dissipated into particle energy, leading to efficient electron acceleration. These results highlight the crucial role played by turbulent FPRs in energy transfer in the magnetosphere.
Plain Language Summary
Plasma jets, traditionally termed as bursty bulk flows (BBFs) in the magnetotail, are responsible for energy transfer and transport in geospace. The jet‐driven energy transfer has been suggested to happen primarily at jet leading boundaries—dipolarization fronts (DFs) which are characterized by sharp enhancement of northward component of magnetic field at ion scale. Energy transfer behind the DFs has attracted few interests, because no intense currents and electric fields are typically anticipated inside flux pileup region (FPR) where magnetic field are typically strong and homogenous. In this study, different from such traditional perspective, we report observations of intense energy transfer developed within a turbulent FPR, using high‐cadence measurements from NASA's MMS mission. We show that ion‐scale turbulence and structures can develop inside the FPR, leading to efficient electron heating and acceleration therein. These results help better understand energy transport chain driven by BBFs in geospace.
Key Points
Kinetic Alfvénic wave turbulence and intermittent structures are observed inside flux pileup region (FPR) within a plasma jet
Intense energy transfer occurs inside the FPR, with magnetic field energy being dissipated into particle energy
Electrons experience efficient acceleration and heating driven by various processes developed within the turbulent decaying FPR
Statistically based experimental designs were applied to optimizing process parameters for hydrogen production from glucose by
Clostridium sp. Fanp2 which was isolated from effluent sludge of ...anaerobic hydrogen-producing bioreactor. The important factors influencing hydrogen production, which identified by initial screening method of Plackett–Burman, were glucose, phosphate buffer and vitamin solution. The path of steepest ascent was undertaken to approach the optimal region of the three significant factors. Box–Behnken design and response surface analysis were adopted to further investigate the mutual interaction between the variables and identify optimal values that bring maximum hydrogen production. Experimental results showed that glucose, vitamin solution and phosphate buffer concentration all had an individual significant influence on the specific hydrogen production potential (
P
s). Simultaneously, glucose and vitamin solution, glucose and phosphate buffer were interdependent. The optimal conditions for the maximal
P
s were: glucose 23.75
g/l, phosphate buffer 0.159
M and vitamin solution 13.3
ml/l. Using this statistical optimization method, the hydrogen production from glucose was increased from 2248.5 to 4165.9
ml H
2/l.
A previously unknown symbiotic fungus DT06 has been isolated from the single‐celled blue–green alga Chroococcus sp. The sequences of ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS2 regions of DT06 have a high similarity ...with that of Simplicillium (98%), which is closely related to Simplicillium lanosoniveum based on further phylogenetic analysis. However, DT06 produces unusual exocellular crystals with its conidium size twice that of S. lanosoniveum. Hence, DT06 is proposed to be a varietas of S. lanosoniveum and named as S. lanosoniveum var. Tianjinienss. Dong. (Type specimen was deposited at China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center, Number: CGMCC4460.). The striking character of DT06 is its massive production of a unique extracellular polysaccharide, which is composed of glucose and galactose and linked by 1–4 and 1–6 glycoside bonds according to UV, IR and NMR analysis. Therefore, DT06 may represent a new source of bioactive products, and also, its unusual symbiotic partnership with blue–green algae provides a model for investigating the interaction between photoautotrophic and heterotrophic micro‐organisms in aquatic ecosystems. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A novel fungus (Simplicillium) symbiotic with a single‐celled blue–green alga Chroococcus sp. and its major primary metabolite have been isolated and identified. These findings broaden the scope of symbiotic fungi and provide a unique extracellular polysaccharide with potential applications in food industry.
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