Organic Mass Research Articles

A Middle Pleistocene Glaciation Record from Lacustrine Sediments in the Western Tibetan Plateau and Discussion on Climate Change

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau is an important area for studying global climate change, but the answers to many scientific problems remain unknown. Here, we present new information from the lacustrine sedimentary record in the western Tibetan Plateau, related to the third most‐recent glaciations. Continuous sediment data, including sporopollen, particle size, total organic carbon, mass susceptibility, CaCO3, CaSO4, BaSO4 contents and chronological data, were reconstructed and revealed that climate and environmental conditions obviously and distinctly changed between 600 and 700 thousand years ago. In comparison, the data obtained from the Guliya ice core in this area also corresponds to the global glacial climatic characteristics recorded in basin sediments in the eastern and southeastern regions of the plateau and to the information obtained from ice cores in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. In this study, we conclude that the main reason for the glaciations and new tectonic movement must be a geomagnetic polarity reversal 774 thousand years ago (from Matuyama to Brunhes). Indeed, the results of this study suggest that the described reversal event might have influenced the current global climate pattern and will continue to impact climatic changes in the future.

Effect of Rhodiola rosea Rhizome and Punica granatum Fruit Peel on the Metabolic Processes and Physiological Activity of Rats Fed with Excessively Fat Diet.

Rhodiola rosea (golden root) and Punica granatum (pomegranate), as well as a number of other species of medicinal plants, exert an array of biological effects: adaptogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. However, there are not enough contemporary studies of their influence on metabolic processes, especially in cases of imbalanced diet. Lipid dysregulation is the main reason for many diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. Recently, a growing amount of evidence has suggested the positive effects of certain natural nutrients on lipid metabolism. The work aims to define the general effect of golden root rhizome and pomegranate peel on physiological activity and metabolic processes in model animals fed with excessively fat diet. This study is relevant for the development of drugs and food additives for treatment and prophylaxis of metabolism disorders. In a 30-day experiment, we determined the effect of golden root (Rhodiola rosea L.) rhizome and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel on the physiological activity and metabolic processes of 24 laboratory rats consuming a high-fat diet. The physical activity was evaluated according to the mass gain of animals and change in the relative mass of the internal organs, and also the functional conditions of the central nervous system, as demonstrated by the indicators of the locomotor activity and emotional status, determined in the open field test. The influence on the metabolic processes was revealed by biochemical and clinical blood analyses. Body mass of rats fed with golden root (R. rosea) reached 125.8 % of the initial body mass; when fed on pomegranate (P. granatum), it reached 123.9 %; and the control group reached only 111.5 % of the initial body mass. The rhizomes of R. rosea in the diet of male rats during the month of the experiment did not cause significant changes in the relative organ mass, and the pomegranate peel fruits led to a decrease in the thymus relative mass, as well as liver and brain. R. rosea rhizomes in the rats' diet led to an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase, and also to a decrease in the concentration of urea and urea nitrogen. Diet supplemented with R. rosea also contributed to a strong decrease in plasma concentrations of bilirubin and triglycerides (up to 57.0 % compared with the concentration in the control group). The rhizomes of R. rosea contributed to an unreliable decrease in the atherogenicity index. The pomegranate peel also greatly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and reduced plasma triglyceride concentrations. In addition, in rats consuming the peel of P. granatum, blood glucose concentration decreased. Under the influence of P. granatum, a strong increase in the atherogenic index of plasma (up to 518.6 % of the control) was observed because of a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoproteins (up to 57.1 %) and a simultaneous elevation of the concentration of low-density lipoproteins (up to 158.3 % of the control). Open field test between groups remained without significant changes. The results indicate that the rhizome of R. rosea and peel of P. granatum are safe as food additives to high-fat diet and did not cause pathological changes and side effects, and at the same time significantly influence the metabolic processes (lipid and carbohydrate). Our study theoretically substantiates the use of R. rosea rhizome and P. granatum peel for the production of nutraceutical and pharmacological products for the correction of metabolic disorders of people and animals. Doses and periods of their application require further research.

Prospects for the use of prostaglandin 11-deoxymisoprostol in obstetrics and gynecology: For medical abortion and the induction and initiation of labor (experimental work)

BACKGROUND: According to WHO (2015), abortion complications account for 8% of maternal deaths. These statistics have prompted the search for new ways to safely terminate early pregnancy. In 2010, at the World Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Lisbon, medical abortion was called a world revolution. Due to the introduction of medical abortion, maternal mortality after abortion decreased by 20,000 persons in 2012. Medical abortion using prostaglandin preparations, which can be used to solve this problem, is safer than surgical abortion, since curettage of the uterine cavity can cause inflammation, mechanical trauma, and infertility. In the Russian Federation, a prostaglandin preparation (misoprostol 200 mcg) has been certified for medical termination of pregnancy. However, this drug is expensive, as it is manufactured through complex chemical synthesis. At the Ufa Institute of Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences (UIC, RAS), due to a directed search for uterotonics among 11-deoxyprostaglandins of the E- and F-groups, a promising analog of prostaglandin E1 with a higher uterotonic activity than misoprostol was revealed. The agent is 11-deoxymisoprostol (11-DMP), which is several times cheaper and more accessible for synthesis.
 AIM: This study aimed to compare the pharmacological properties of misoprostol and 11-deoxymisoprostol.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on non-linear white rats weighing 190210 g. The animals were fed with a standard diet for the entire experimental period. Animals were monitored and assessed on a daily basis. Animals were divided into six experimental groups, using their body weight as the main criterion for randomization (deviation of body weight values within the group was no more than 10%), with 20 animals in each experimental group. The drug was administered intragastrically at a dose of 10 mg/kg.
 To assess the immunotoxic properties, we studied the indicators of nonspecific and specific humoral immunity and cellular immunity in rats and assessed its effect on the mass of lymphoid organs and their cellularity. The allergenic properties of 11-DMP were evaluated using the methods of anaphylactic shock, indirect reaction of mast cell degranulation, reaction of immune complexes, and conjunctival test.
 RESULTS: After administration of 11-DMP, a decrease in the rate of weight gain, changes in behavior, and death of animals were not observed in any of the studied groups of males or females. The fertility index did not differ significantly in all experimental groups.
 The average number of fetuses per female, the sex ratio of rat pups, and the death rate of newborn rat pups did not change in the broods of all experimental groups.
 The study of the allergenic effect of the drug revealed that 11-DMP does not have allergenic properties, as shown by the reactions of mast cell degranulation, immune complexes, and the conjunctival test.
 CONCLUSIONS: When studying the pharmacological properties, it was revealed that 11-DMP compared with misoprostol has higher uterotonic properties; the therapeutic margin is 2 times greater, the toxicity is 2 times lower, and it is more stable and has a more accessible route of chemical synthesis.

Influence of Different Mining Damage Types on Soil Erodibility in Coal Mining Areas of Northern Shaanxi in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River in China

The middle reaches of the Yellow River basin are not only rich in coal resources in China, but are also a typical experimental field for studying the law and mechanism of soil erosion caused by coal mining in the area. Grasping the differences in soil’s physical and chemical properties caused by different types of mining damage and then analyzing the differences in soil erosion is conducive to achieving ecological environmental protection and high-quality development in coal mining areas, thus improving soil and water conservation efficiency and saving costs. In this study, we took the typical loess subsidence slope of Ningtiaota mine field in the northern Shaanxi coal mining area as the research object, collected the soil samples at different slope positions, and measured the soil mechanical composition and organic matter mass fraction using an MS2000 laser particle size analyzer and a total organic carbon analyzer, respectively. Based on the EPIC model, the soil erodibility K value was further calculated, the spatial variation characteristics of the soil’s mechanical composition and organic matter mass fraction were analyzed, and the soil erosion effect under different mining damage types was interpreted. The results are as follows: ① The subsidence of loess slope and the development of mining ground fissures will reduce the clay mass fraction and increase the sand mass fraction in the shallow soil on the slope. The clay mass fraction of the whole slope will decrease by 4.50–30.30%, and the soil sand mass fraction will increase by 6.83–23.67%. The shallow soil at the top and middle of the slope has obvious sandy characteristics, and the amount of sandy soil in the crack area of the same slope is obviously higher than that in the non-crack area. Slope position is the main reason to control the shallow soil sand on the slope of loess subsidence in the northern Shaanxi coal mining area. ② The subsidence of loess slope and the development of mining ground fissures will lead to a decrease in organic matter mass fraction in shallow soil in different amounts. The decrease in organic matter mass fraction in the whole slope is 12.68–35.46%, and the decrease in organic matter mass fraction in shallow soil at the top and middle of the slope is significant, and the loss of organic matter in the crack area of the same slope is obviously higher than that in the non-crack area. The greater the width of the mining ground fissures and the smaller the horizontal distance from ground fissures, the more organic matter mass fraction in shallow soil will decrease. Mining ground fissures are the main factors when it comes to controlling the loss of organic matter in the shallow soil on the loess subsidence slope in northern Shaanxi coal mining area. ③ The negative correlation coefficients of shallow soil erodibility K value with the soil clay mass fraction and organic matter mass fraction all exceeded 0.6, a significant level, and there is a high degree of consistency in the change characteristics of the slope scale. The subsidence of the loess slope and the development of the mining ground fissures will have the effect of improving the erodibility of shallow soil in all parts of the slope. The erodibility of shallow soil at the top and middle of the slope increases significantly, and the erodibility of shallow soil in the crack area of the same slope is obviously higher than that in the non-crack area. The larger the width of the mining ground fissures and the smaller the horizontal distance from the ground fissures, the higher the erodibility of the surrounding shallow soil. After calculation, it was found that the maximum boundary of the mining ground fissures developed on the loess subsidence slope in northern Shaanxi coal mining area to improve the erodibility of the surrounding shallow soil was 115 cm, and the main action range was concentrated within 90 cm. These research results can provide a scientific basis for accurate prevention and control of the soil erosion effect of mining subsidence in loess coal mining in the area of northern Shaanxi, thus saving costs.

Multisystem ALK-positive histiocytosis: a multi-case study and literature review

BackgroundAnaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis, a novel rare histiocytic proliferation, was first described in 2008; it occurs in early infancy with liver and hematopoietic involvement. The spectrum was subsequently broadened to include localized diseases in older children and young adults. However, its full clinicopathological features and molecular lineage have not been fully elucidated.ResultsHere, we report four cases of multisystem ALK-positive histiocytosis without hematopoietic involvement. Clinically, three patients were adults aged between 32 and 51 years. Two patients’, whose main manifestations were intracranial mass and numerous micronodules in the thoracoabdominal cavity organs and skin papules respectively, had a partial response to ALK inhibitors after surgery. One patient presented with mediastinal neoplasm without surgical treatment, and progressive disease occurred after two years of ALK inhibitor therapy. The fourth patient was a 17-month-old male with a large intracranial mass and presented with a poor response to ALK inhibitor and chemoradiotherapy; he died eight months after surgery. Pathologically, the histiocytes were large, with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, and mixed with variable numbers of foamy cells and Touton giant cells. Interstitial fibrosis was also observed. Histiocytes were positive for macrophage markers (CD68 and CD163) and ALK. KIF5B-ALK fusions were detected in two cases, EML4-ALK in one, and both DCTN1-ALK and VRK2-ALK fusions were detected in one case.ConclusionsWe observed that ALK inhibitors present robust and durable responses in adult patients but a poor response in young children with central nervous system involvement. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment regimen and long-term prognosis requires further observation. Moreover, every unusual histiocytic proliferative lesion, especially unresectable and multisystem involvement, should be routinely tested for ALK immunohistochemical staining to identify this rare disease.

Combining ultrafiltration and diffusive gradients in thin films techniques for speciation/fractionation of Cu and Zn in cytosol of liver of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

This work aims to evaluate the size and lability of Cu and Zn bound to proteins in the cytosol of fish liver of Oreochromis niloticus by employing solid-phase extraction (SPE), diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), and ultrafiltration (UF). SPE was carried out using Chelex-100. DGT containing Chelex-100 as binding agent was employed. Analyte concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. Total Cu and Zn concentrations in cytosol (1g of fish liver in 5ml of Tris-HCl) ranged from 39.6 to 44.3ng ml-1 and 1498 to 2106ng ml-1, respectively. Data from UF (10-30kDa) suggested that Cu and Zn in cytosol were associated with ∼70% and 95%, respectively, with high-molecular-weight proteins. Cu-metallothionein was not selectively detected (although 28% of Cu was associated with low-molecular-weight proteins). However, information about the specific proteins in the cytosol will require coupling UF with organic mass spectrometry. Data from SPE showed the presence of labile Cu species of ∼17%, while the fraction of labile Zn species was >55%. However, data from DGT suggested a fraction of labile Cu species only of 7% and a labile Zn fraction of 5%. This data, as compared with previous data from literature, suggests that the DGT technique gave a more plausible estimation of the labile pool of Zn and Cu in cytosol. The combination of results from UF and DGT is capable of contributing to the knowledge about the labile and low-molecular pool of Cu and Zn.

Characteristics of plant trait network and its influencing factors in impounded lakes and channel rivers of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China.

Trait-based approaches have been widely used to evaluate the effects of variable environments on submerged macrophytes communities. However, little research focused on the response of submerged macrophytes to variable environmental factors in impounded lakes and channel rivers of water transfer project, especially from a whole plant trait network (PTN) perspective. Here, we conducted a field survey designed to clarify the characteristic of PTN topology among impounded lakes and channel rivers of the East Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project (ERSNWTP) and to unravel the effects of determining factors on the PTN topology structure. Overall, our results showed that leaf-related traits and organ mass allocation traits were the hub traits of PTNs in impounded lakes and channel rivers of the ERSNWTP, which traits with high variability were more likely to be the hub traits. Moreover, PTNs showed different structures among impounded lakes and channel rivers, and PTNs topologies were related to the mean functional variation coefficients of lakes and channel rivers. Specially, higher mean functional variation coefficients represented tight PTN, and lower mean functional variation coefficients indicated loose PTN. The PTN structure was significantly affected by water total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen. Edge density increased, while average path length decreased with increasing total phosphorus. Edge density and average clustering coefficient showed significant decreases with increasing dissolved oxygen, while average path length and modularity exhibited significant increases with increasing dissolved oxygen. This study explores the changing patterns and determinants of trait networks along environmental gradients to improve our understanding of ecological rules regulating trait correlations.

Sustainable chromatographic purification of milbemectin: Application of high-speed countercurrent chromatography coupled with off-line atmospheric pressure solid analysis probe-high resolution mass spectrometry

Isolation of valuable chemicals is an important process in reagent manufacturing for the pharmaceutical and food science industries. This process is traditionally time-consuming, expensive, and consumes vast amounts of organic solvents. Considering green chemistry and sustainability concerns, we sought to develop a sustainable chromatographic purification methodology for obtaining antibiotics by focusing on the reduction of organic solvent waste generation. Milbemectin (mixture of milbemycin A3 and milbemycin A4) was successfully purified using high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and pure fractions (>98% purity, HPLC) could be identified using the organic solvent fee atmospheric pressure solid analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS). The organic solvents required for HSCCC could be redistilled and recycled for continued HSCCC purification, thus reducing the consumption of organic solvent (n-hexane/ethyl acetate) by 80+%. Optimization of the two-phase solvent system (n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water, 9/1/7/3, v/v/v/v) for HSCCC was assisted computationally, thereby reducing solvent waste from an experimental determination. Our proposal application of HSCCC and offline ASAP-MS provides proof of concept for a sustainable, preparative scale, chromatographic purification methodology for obtaining antibiotics in high purity.

Method for the calculation of total dipole moment for organic mass of brown and hard coals

The article considers the study of the patterns of changes in the properties of coals in the metamorphism series and the identification of structural and chemical parameters that allow not only to correctly describe them, but also to use them as an express method of assessment. It is known that physical processes such as adhesion and cohesion play an important role in the processes of coal processing, since the adhesion of dissimilar or homogeneous particles brought into contact is due to intermolecular interaction. Determination of adhesive and cohesive properties of various substances, including solid fossil fuels, is not standardized in hardware. The total dipole moment is one of the indicators characterizing the intermolecular interaction. A method for calculating the total dipole moment based on an additive approach is presented. The calculated values of the total dipole moment of the organic mass of solid fossil fuels in the series “brown coal - hard coal - anthracite” showed a high correlation with the reflectance of vitrinite. As a result of mathematical data processing, equations were obtained for calculating the total dipole moment for brown and hard coals. The application of the equations obtained based on statistical processing of a large database and the calculation according to the proposed method can be used in calculating the parameters of such coal processing processes as briquetting, extraction, flotation, etc.

Non-volatile marine and non-refractory continental sources of particle-phase amine during the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES)

Abstract. Amines were measured by aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy during the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) cruises. Both AMS non-refractory (NR) amine ion fragments comprising the AMS CxHyNz family and FTIR non-volatile (NV) primary (C–NH2) amine groups typically had greater concentrations in continental air masses than in marine air masses. Secondary continental sources of AMS NR amine fragments were identified by consistent correlations with AMS NR nitrate, AMS NR f44 (the contribution of AMS ion signal at m/z 44 (CO2+) to the total AMS NR organic mass (OM) signal), ion chromatography (IC) non-sea-salt potassium (nssK+), and radon for most air masses. FTIR NV amine group mass concentrations for particles with diameters <1µm showed large contributions from a primary marine source that was identified by significant correlations with measurements of wind speed, chlorophyll a (chl a), seawater dimethylsulfide (DMS), AMS NR chloride, and IC sea salt as well as FTIR NV alcohol groups in both marine and continental air masses. FTIR NV amine group mass concentrations in <0.18 and <0.5 µm particle samples in marine air masses likely have a biogenic secondary source associated with strong correlations with FTIR NV acid groups, which are not present for <1 µm particle samples. The average seasonal contribution of AMS NR amine fragments and FTIR NV amine groups ranged from 27±57 % amine from primary marine sources and 73±152 % secondary continental amine during early spring to 53±76 % amine from primary marine sources and 47±68 % secondary continental amine during winter. These results demonstrate that AMS NR and FTIR NV amine measurements are complementary and can be used together to investigate the variety and sources of amines in the marine environment.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with primary lung cancer and mesenchymal tumor of sigmoid colon: a case report and literature review

BackgroundGestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is rare, and it is even rarer for GTN to merge with primary malignant tumors in other organs. Herein is described a rare clinical case of GTN combined with primary lung cancer and mesenchymal tumor of the sigmoid colon, followed with literature review.Case presentationThe patient was hospitalized due to diagnosis of GTN with primary lung cancer. Firstly, two cycles of chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and actinomycin-D(Act-D) was given. Laparoscopic total hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed during the third chemotherapy. During the operation, a 3*2 cm nodule was removed which was protruded from the serous surface of the sigmoid colon, and the nodule was confirmed mesenchymal tumor pathologically, in accord with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. During the treatment of GTN, Icotinib tablets were taken orally to control the progression of lung cancer. After 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy of GTN, she received thoracoscopic lower lobe of right lung lobectomy and the mediastinum lymph nodes removal. She undertook gastroscopy and colonoscopy and the tubular adenoma of the descending colon was removed. At present, the regular follow-up is taken and she remains free of tumors.ConclusionsGTN combined with primary malignant tumors in other organs are extremely rare in clinical practice. When imaging examination reveals a mass in other organs, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of a second primary tumor. It will increase the difficulty of GTN staging and treatment. We emphasis the importance of the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams. Clinicians should choose a reasonable treatment plan according to the priorities of different tumors.

Effects of corticosterone administration on the body condition and blood parameters of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus.

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands and released into the bloodstream in response to stressful situations. In birds, corticosterone (CORT) is the main glucocorticoid released under stress. Throughout their lives, animals in nature are continually exposed to noxious stimuli known as stressful events. Any alteration of homeostatic stability is a stressful situation and this alteration triggers physiological changes to restore homeostasis. Glucocorticoids are one of the components of the complex set of physiological and behavioral responses to stress. In this work, we use CORT supplied in drinking water to evaluate its effect in blood parameters and physiology in house sparrows (Passer domesticus). To accomplish this, P. domesticus were administered three different doses of CORT in drinking water for 72 h. Body mass, organ mass, pectoral muscle mass, leg muscle mass, and blood parameters (CORT, triglycerides, glucose and uric acid, heterophils/lymphocytes ratio, hematocrit, and serum protein profile) were determined before and after CORT treatment. A 15% decrease in body mass with a significant decrease in pectoral mass were observed after the higher CORT treatment, as well as a decrease in the plasma concentration of uric acid. Lastly, we found a reversal of the heterophils/lymphocytes ratio and a decrease in hematocrit. It was possible to establish first data for baseline and CORT-alteration values in serum protein profile for P. domesticus. Baseline and altered values of blood parameters and serum protein profile could be an important tool in field ecology because they provide important data to assess the physiological condition in wild birds.

Comparative productivity of forest and grass ecosystems

Among the land-dominated natural formations, like forests and grasslands, the attention of humanity is drawn at present primarily to the former. It is the forests of temperate and tropical zones that are supposed to play an important role in the regulation of biosphere processes on Earth, including the current climate. This almost completely ignores the importance of herbaceous systems widely represented by steppes and meadows. The overwhelming superiority of forests over grass ecosystems in productivity and phytomass stock is recognized. A comparative analysis of production estimates (t/ha/year) and of organic material stocks (t/ha) in the underground and aboveground parts of herbaceous and forest ecosystems accumulated in the scientific literature has shown that meadows and steppes are not inferior (and often even superior) to forests both in the mass of accumulated organic matter and in annual growth of phytomass. The only difference is that organic production is localized in forest communities mainly in the aboveground part as considerable wood (trunk) mass while it is equally or more shifted underground in herbaceous communities in the form of soil organic matter. The leaf (photosynthesizing) masses of herbaceous and forest communities are close in quantity, respectively, and their synthesis of organic products and carbon exchange with the atmosphere are also similar. The author argues that the steppe and meadow ecosystems do not lag behind forests in organic mass and participation in biosphere processes, thus deserving no less effort for their preservation.

Knock-out of mitochondrial nucleoside diphosphate kinase NME4 reveals surprising tissue-distribution and remodeled cell signaling, suggestive of multiple functions.

The NME protein family (also called nucleoside diphosphate kinases, NDPK or NM23) comprises ten isoforms that are mostly multi-functional and localize to different cellular compartments. Three of them are found in mitochondria: NME3, NME4 and NME6. NME4 binds to the inner membrane, largely facing the intermembrane space, where it locally regenerates GTP and is involved in cardiolipin intermembrane transfer. Loss-of-function mutations in different human cell lines identified NME4 as a metastasis suppressor. However, few is known on NME4 physiology in animals in vivo. Here we characterize a germ line KO mouse model of NME4. While NME4 immunodetection is hampered by the lack of isoform-specific antibodies, comparison of NME levels between wild-type and KO animals allowed a first profiling of NME4 expression in various organs and tissues. Surprisingly, high levels of NME4 were found in uterus, testis, spleen, bladder, and kidney, while NME4 levels in mitochondria-rich organs like liver and heart were low. No compensatory upregulation of mitochondrial NME3 and NME6 was observed. NME4 KO animals occurred to have less mitochondrial mass (as expressed by protein levels, e.g. ATP synthase) in different organs, and a decreased ATP/ADP ratio in liver. Thus, although this organ has few NME4, depletion of these low quantities is sufficient to impact mitochondria. Finally, an unbiased large-scale kinome analysis in liver revealed that lack of NME4 alters cellular signaling cascades. Modified cell signaling was already implicated in the loss of the metastasis suppressor function of NME4. In summary, our data suggest different functions of NME4, with low levels critical for mitochondria and cell signaling in liver and heart, and high levels as in reproductive organs necessary for putative additional functions.

Molecular Understanding of the Enhancement in Organic Aerosol Mass at High Relative Humidity.

The mechanistic pathway by which high relative humidity (RH) affects gas-particle partitioning remains poorly understood, although many studies report increased secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yields at high RH. Here, we use real-time, molecular measurements of both the gas and particle phase to provide a mechanistic understanding of the effect of RH on the partitioning of biogenic oxidized organic molecules (from α-pinene and isoprene) at low temperatures (243 and 263 K) at the CLOUD chamber at CERN. We observe increases in SOA mass of 45 and 85% with increasing RH from 10-20 to 60-80% at 243 and 263 K, respectively, and attribute it to the increased partitioning of semi-volatile compounds. At 263 K, we measure an increase of a factor 2-4 in the concentration of C10H16O2-3, while the particle-phase concentrations of low-volatility species, such as C10H16O6-8, remain almost constant. This results in a substantial shift in the chemical composition and volatility distribution toward less oxygenated and more volatile species at higher RH (e.g., at 263 K, O/C ratio = 0.55 and 0.40, at RH = 10 and 80%, respectively). By modeling particle growth using an aerosol growth model, which accounts for kinetic limitations, we can explain the enhancement in the semi-volatile fraction through the complementary effect of decreased compound activity and increased bulk-phase diffusivity. Our results highlight the importance of particle water content as a diluting agent and a plasticizer for organic aerosol growth.

Marine biogenic emissions of benzene and toluene and their contribution to secondary organic aerosols over the polar oceans

Reactive trace gas emissions from the polar oceans are poorly characterized, even though their effects on atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation are crucial for assessing current and preindustrial aerosol forcing on climate. Here, we present seawater and atmospheric measurements of benzene and toluene, two gases typically associated with pollution, in the remote Southern Ocean and the Arctic marginal ice zone. Their distribution suggests a marine biogenic source. Calculated emission fluxes were 0.023±0.030 (benzene) and 0.039±0.036 (toluene) and 0.023±0.028 (benzene) and 0.034±0.041 (toluene) μmol m-2 day-1 for the Southern Ocean and the Arctic, respectively. Including these average emissions in a chemistry-climate model increased secondary organic aerosol mass concentrations only by 0.1% over the Arctic but by 7.7% over the Southern Ocean, with transient episodes of up to 77.3%. Climate models should consider the hitherto overlooked emissions of benzene and toluene from the polar oceans.

Productivity of agricultural crops under climate change in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Aim. The aim of the study is to analyze climatic parameters, moisture reserves and dynamics of productivity of grain crops (winter wheat and corn) depending on the system of adaptation measures (fertilization, tillage) for the period 1913-2022, to determine their classification features according to fractal properties, to identify trends in further changes in agrocenoses of the Central Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. To achieve the goals and objectives, the following methods were used: analysis of scientific and methodological literature on the research topic, collection of information, comparison, generalization, systematization, as well as the use of modern methods of descriptive statistics. Results. On the territory of the central part of the Forest-Steppe (1913-2022), there were no periods of deviations of hydrothermal climate conditions towards aridization to the point where they acquired a steppe character. The lower boundary of hydrothermal conditions varied around T=+150C, and the upper boundary around T=+300C. A direct correlation (R=+0.81-0.85±0.02) was found between the amount of annual precipitation and the lower and upper limits of hydrothermal climate conditions, and the trend of annual precipitation growth was more rapid than the increase in temperature. Precipitation was a compensating factor, which can be regarded as self-regulation of the Forest-Steppe zone’s resistance to steppeification. In the age cycle, the climate humidity index reached its highest values in the periods 1981-1990 and 1998-2004, and subsequently, by 2020-2022, the humidity index was decreasing in a downward trend to values close to 100%. The humidity of the climate of the warm season and the period of active vegetation reached its maximum value in the period from 1931 to 1950, and from 1980 to 1990 the humidity index decreased rapidly, reaching values less than 90% in 2020-2022, indicating a deterioration in the conditions of crops’ vegetation to excessively harsh compared to previous periods of the age cycle. Conclusions. Climate change that has already occurred and continues to occur in the Central Forest-Steppe affects grain yields: increased winter temperatures and precipitation, prolonged frost-free periods, and increased CO2 concentrations lead to an increase in the area of land suitable for agriculture. In order to ensure sustainable grain production, agricultural producers in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine should use modern grain varieties adapted to new climatic conditions and agroecological tillage technologies (shallow moldboardless loosening with flat-cutters or flat-cutting, mulching, use of organic mass of post-harvest residues as fertilizer in the fields, etc.

Laser debinding of parts produced through material extrusion additive manufacturing

A novel cost effective material extrusion additive manufacturing method for metals and ceramics employs filaments embedded with powdered granules which are shaped, debinded, and sintered sequentially until completion of the part. One well known drawback of the technology lies in the time-consuming debinding process, which often requires handling toxic agents (e.g. acetone, cyclohexane, nitric or oxalic acids), as well as complex heating profiles. Debinding is traditionally done after shaping the part, and little investigation has been made to develop the technology to debind locally, in situ, without the use of toxic consumables. Here, we show that full debinding can be achieved efficiently on the bulk of the printed part through an application of local energy by applying it selectively on the top surface, layer by layer, along the 3D volume of as built green parts. A low intensity infra-red laser is integrated in a custom-built machine to create a hybrid device that combines traditional filament extrusion additive manufacturing with in-situ debinding. The results show that the main binder matrix of a Highly Filled (HF) commercially available stainless steel 316L filament can be removed efficiently along the full volume of the part via laser ablation of the organic mass. Defects, surface roughness and topography deviations can be minimized compared to other traditional thermal debinding methods, further showcasing the capability of building consecutive layers on top of a previously debinded layer. We report improvements in debinding time by a magnitude of 248 % compared to traditional thermal debinding, of 595 % compared to solvent debinding at 45 °C, and 943 % compared to solvent debinding at room temperature. The effect of debinding with the use of lasers in-situ, layer by layer, and the effect in the layer adhesion of fully debinded parts, is investigated through optical and electron microscopy, as well as quantifying the binder mass loss. Debinding in-situ offers new routes to reduce processing times of parts produced through FFF.

Organic Mass Cytometry Discriminating Cycle Stages of Single Cells with Small Molecular Indicators.

Cell cycle is a significant factor toward cellular heterogeneity, so cell cycle discrimination is a precise measurement on the top of single-cell analysis. Single-cell analysis based on organic mass spectrometry has received great attention for its unique ability to profile single-cell metabolome, but the influence of cell cycle on cellular metabolome heterogeneity has been overlooked until now due to the lack of a compatible cell cycle discrimination method. Here, we report a robust protocol based on the combination of three small molecular indicators, consisting of two small molecular labels (Hoechst and docetaxel) and one cellular endogenous compound [phosphocholine (34:1)], to discriminate single cells at different cycle stages in real time by organic mass cytometry. More than 6000 HeLa cells were acquired by an improved organic mass cytometry system to build a cell cycle differentiation model. The model successfully discriminated single HeLa cells, SCC7, and Hep G2 cells, at G0/G1, S, and G2/M stages with larger than 85% sensitivity and larger than 89% specificity. Along with cell cycle discrimination, obvious heterogeneity of amino acids, nucleotides, energy metabolic intermediates, and phospholipids was observed among single cells at different cycle stages by this protocol, further demonstrating the necessity of cell cycle discrimination for cellular metabolome heterogeneity research and the potential of more endogenous small molecular compounds for cell cycle discrimination.

Concordance of Solid Organ Biopsy Diagnoses With Hospital Autopsy and the Contribution of Biopsies to Death.

Biopsies of the liver, lung, and kidney are performed for many indications, including organ dysfunction, mass lesions, and allograft monitoring. The diagnosis depends on the sample, which may or may not be representative of the lesion or pathology in question. Further, biopsies are not without risk of complications. Autopsies are a resource for assessing the accuracy of biopsy diagnoses and evaluating possible complications. Herein, we aimed to compare liver, lung, and kidney biopsy diagnoses with those from autopsies conducted soon after the procedure and to assess the contribution of biopsy to mortality. A 28-year search of our database identified 147 patients who were autopsied after dying within 30 days of a liver, lung, or kidney biopsy. The concordance of the biopsy diagnosis with the autopsy findings was determined. Finally, medical records were reviewed to determine the likelihood that a biopsy contributed to the patient's death. The contribution of the biopsy to death was categorized as "unlikely," "possible," or "probable." Overall concordance between biopsy and autopsy diagnoses was 87% (128/147), including 95% (87/92), 71% (32/45), and 90% (9/10) for liver, lung, and kidney biopsies, respectively. Concordance was lower for biopsies of suspected neoplasms versus non-neoplastic diseases. Lung biopsy concordance was higher for wedge biopsy versus needle or forceps biopsy. A biopsy was determined to at least "possibly" contribute to death in 23 cases (16%). In conclusion, an autopsy is an important tool to validate liver, lung, or kidney biopsy diagnoses. Confirmation of biopsy diagnoses via post-mortem examination may be particularly valuable when patients die soon after the biopsy procedure. Furthermore, an autopsy is especially useful when patients die soon after a biopsy in order to determine what role, if any, the procedure played in their deaths. Though biopsy complications are uncommon, a biopsy may still contribute to or precipitate death in a small number of patients.