By using nanometer‐sized RuO2 to “metalize” tiny pores and even “repair” incomplete electronically conducting (carbon) networks in porous carbon‐containing LiFePO4 (see figure), the kinetics and rate ...capability of the composite are significantly improved. The key lies in the bonding properties of RuO2, which enables good contact to both the oxidic storage material as well as the carbon structures used as current collector.
Previously we showed that pure struvite could be recovered from wastewater at neutral pH. This omits the need for adding alkalinity to the process. However, at a neutral pH value the reaction is ...relatively slow making it practically not a good system from an engineering point of view. In this study, electrochemical deposition was evaluated as a means to improve the formation of pure struvite at a neutral pH value. An electrolytic cell with an inert Pt (or graphite) anode and a nickel cathode was set up for the experiment. The generation of OH
− via electrochemical reduction of dissolved oxygen slightly increased the interfacial pH near the cathode, resulting in rapid formation of the precipitates. The structure, morphology, composition and thermal properties of the harvested precipitate were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microscopic analysis, infrared (IR) spectra, energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), element analysis (EA) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). All the analyses support formation of pure struvite in the precipitate.
Ketosis is one of the most prevalent and complex metabolic disorders in high-producing dairy cows and usually detected through analyses of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood. Our main ...objectives were to evaluate genetic parameters for blood BHB predicted based on Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectra from 5 to 305 d in milk, and estimate the genetic relationships of blood BHB with 7 reproduction traits and 6 longevity traits in Holstein cattle. Predicted blood BHB records of 11,609 Holstein cows (after quality control) were collected from 2016 to 2019 and used to derive 4 traits based on parity number, including predicted blood BHB in all parities (BHBp), parity 1 (BHB1), parity 2 (BHB2), and parity 3+ (BHB3). Single- and multitrait repeatability models were used for estimating genetic parameters for the 4 BHB traits. Random regression test-day models implemented via Bayesian inference were used to evaluate the daily genetic feature of BHB variability. In addition, genetic correlations were calculated for the 4 BHB traits with reproduction and longevity traits. The heritability estimates of BHBp, BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3 ranged from 0.100 ± 0.026 (± standard error) to 0.131 ± 0.023. The BHB in parities 1 to 3+ were highly genetically correlated and ranged from 0.788 (BHB1 and BHB2) to 0.911 (BHB1 and BHB3). The daily heritability of BHBp ranged from 0.069 to 0.195, higher for the early and lower for the later lactation periods. A similar trend was observed for BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3. There are low direct genetic correlations between BHBp and selected reproductive performance and longevity traits, which ranged from −0.168 ± 0.019 (BHBp and production life) to 0.157 ± 0.019 (BHBp and age at first calving) for the early lactation stage (5 to 65 d). These direct genetic correlations indicate that cows with higher BHBp (greater likelihood of having ketosis) in blood usually have shorter production life (−0.168 ± 0.019). Cows with higher fertility and postpartum recovery, such as younger age at first calving (0.157 ± 0.019) and shorter interval from calving to first insemination in heifer (0.111 ± 0.006), usually have lower BHB concentration in the blood. Furthermore, the direct genetic correlations change across parity and lactation stage. In general, our results suggest that selection for lower predicted BHB in early lactation could be an efficient strategy for reducing the incidence of ketosis as well as indirectly improving reproductive and longevity performance in Holstein cattle.
Invasive growth and apoptosis resistance of breast cancer cells are associated with metastasis and disease relapse. Here we identified that the lysine-specific demethylase KDM3A played a dual role in ...breast cancer cell invasion and apoptosis by demethylating histone and the non-histone protein p53, respectively. While inducing pro-invasive genes by erasing repressive histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, KDM3A promotes chemoresistance by demethylating p53. KDM3A suppressed pro-apoptotic functions of p53 by erasing p53-K372me1, as this methylation is crucial for the stability of chromatin-bound p53. Unexpectedly, depletion of KDM3A was capable of reactivating mutated p53 to induce the expression of pro-apoptotic genes in breast cancer with mutant p53. Moreover, KDM3A knockdown also potently inhibited tumorigenic potentials of breast cancer stem-like cells and rendered them sensitive to apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. Taken together, our results suggest that KDM3A might be a potential therapeutic target for human breast cancer treatment and prevention.
Spatial proteomics has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of biology, physiology and medicine. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) ...is a powerful tool in the spatial proteomics field, enabling direct detection and registration of protein abundance and distribution across tissues. MALDI-MSI preserves spatial distribution and histology allowing unbiased analysis of complex, heterogeneous tissues. However, MALDI-MSI faces the challenge of simultaneous peptide quantification and identification. To overcome this, we develop and validate HIT-MAP (High-resolution Informatics Toolbox in MALDI-MSI Proteomics), an open-source bioinformatics workflow using peptide mass fingerprint analysis and a dual scoring system to computationally assign peptide and protein annotations to high mass resolution MSI datasets and generate customisable spatial distribution maps. HIT-MAP will be a valuable resource for the spatial proteomics community for analysing newly generated and retrospective datasets, enabling robust peptide and protein annotation and visualisation in a wide array of normal and disease contexts.
We evaluated the effects of glucocorticoids on bone mineral density (BMD), and prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by meta-analysis. Until June 26, 2019, we conducted ...a systematic literature search in EMBASE, Web of science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library to obtain BMD and the prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture in glucocorticoid-treated subjects with RA. The BMD of the treatment and control groups were analyzed by meta-analysis (Stata. version 15), and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. We identified 15 observational studies, including 46,711 RA subjects and 857 healthy controls. The BMD of the lumbar spine (− 0.038 g/cm
2
; CI, − 0.052, − 0.024) and femoral neck (− 0.017 g/cm
2
; − 0.030, − 0.003) in RA treated with glucocorticoids were significantly lower than those in RA controls. Compared with healthy control group, the BMD of the lumbar spine (− 0.094 g/cm
2
; − 0.126, − 0.061) and femoral neck (− 0.097 g/cm
2
, − 0.109, − 0.085) of RA treated with glucocorticoids decreased more significantly. The prevalence of osteoporosis in whole body, spine, and femur was 38.6% (0.305, 0.466), 32.9% (0.277, 0.381), and 21.7% (0.106, 0.328), respectively. And the prevalence of vertebral fracture was 13.0% (0.058, 0.203). Glucocorticoids may lead to a decline in skeletal health in subjects with RA, especially in vertebral and femoral BMD, compared with normal people or RA without glucocorticoid therapy. Meanwhile, osteoporosis and fractures were also common. Therapeutic measures should be targeted at individuals, which needs further study. Through meta-analysis, we found that glucocorticoids have some negative effects on the bone health of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, when using glucocorticoids to treat rheumatoid arthritis, we should take strategic measures to prevent the decline of bone quality.
Highlights • The levels of retinal GABA, GABAA and GABAC receptors are up-regulated in myopia. • EA inhibits the up-regulation of retinal GABA, GABAA and GABAC receptors in myopia. • The effect of EA ...at Hegu and Taiyang acupoints shows a positional specificity.
Malawi has a high fertility rate which is also characterized by a relatively high prevalence of unmet need for contraception. However, little is known about the influence of individual- and ...community- level characteristics on unmet need in Malawi. This study examined the individual- and community- level factors associated with unmet need for family planning (FP) among Malawian women.
Data from the 2015-16 Malawi demographic and health survey were used to analyze 15, 931 women. The association between individual- and community- level factors and unmet need was assessed using multilevel binary logistic regression models.
The prevalence of total unmet need was 21.0%. Women aged ≥35 years were more likely to have total unmet need adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.35 compared with those aged 15-24 years. Women who were married aOR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.35-0.48, and those employed aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.71-0.85 were associated with less likelihood of having total unmet need compared with unmarried, and unemployed women, respectively. At community-level, women from communities with a high percentage of women from rich households aOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.67-0.96, and those from communities with a middle and high percentage of educated women aOR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.96 and aOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.70-0.93, respectively were less likely to have total unmet need for FP compared with those from communities with low percentages of rich and educated women, respectively. The proportional change in variance showed that about 36.0% of total variations in the odds of unmet need across the communities were explained by both individual- and community-level factors. Moreover, the intraclass correlation showed that about 3.0% of the total variation remained unexplained even after controlling for both individual- and community-level factors.
Both individual- and community- level factors influenced unmet need for FP in Malawi. Public health practitioners should conduct community profiling and consider individual and community factors when designing FP programs.
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