Theoretical Basis Research Articles

Condensable Particulate Matter Removal and Its Mechanism by Phase Change Technology During Wet Desulfurization Process

Limestone-gypsum wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) played a key role in SOx removal and clean emissions. However, it would also affect the condensable particulate matter (CPM) removal and compositions. The effects of the WFGD system on the removal of CPM and the contents of soluble ions in CPM were investigated in a spray desulfurization tower at varied conditions. The results indicate that the emission concentration of CPM decreased from 7.5 mg/Nm3 to 3.7 mg/Nm3 following the introduction of cold water spray and hot alkali droplet spray systems. This resulted in a CPM reduction rate of approximately 51%, reducing the percentage of CPM in total particulate matter and solving the problem of substandard particulate matter emission concentrations in some coal-fired power plants. The concentrations of NO3−, SO42−, and Cl− among the soluble ions decreased by 41–66.6%. As the liquid−to−gas ratio of the cold water spray and hot alkali droplet spray increased, CPM came into contact with more spray, which accelerated dissolution and chemical reactions. Consequently, the CPM emission concentration decreased by 17.4–19%. The liquid−to−gas ratio has a great effect on the ion concentrations of NO3−, SO42−, Cl− and NH4+, with a decrease of 28–66%. The temperatures of the cold water spray and the hot alkali droplet spray primarily affect the ionic concentrations of SO42− and Ca2+, leading to a decrease of 32.3–51%. When the SO2 concentration increased from 0 mg/Nm3 to 1500 mg/Nm3, large amounts of SO2 reacted with the desulfurization slurry to form new CPM and its precursors, the CPM emission concentration increased by 57–68.4%. This study addresses the issue of high Concentration of CPM emissions from coal-fired power plants in a straightforward and efficient manner, which is significant for enhancing the air quality and reducing hazy weather conditions. Also, it provides a theoretical basis and technical foundation for the efficient removal of CPM from actual coal-fired flue gas.

Investigating adsorption properties of CO2 and CH4 in subbituminous coals from Mamu and Nsukka formations: a molecular simulation approach

AbstractThe study aimed to investigate the adsorption properties of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in subbituminous coals from the Mamu and Nsukka formations, focusing on the CO2-Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM) method. Proximate, ultimate, and FT-IR analyses determined the quality, age, and functional categories of these coals, confirming their subbituminous nature. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, a unique amorphous subbituminous coal model was developed to study adsorption phenomena. Isosteric heat and adsorption isotherms for pure CO2 and CH4 were analyzed, alongside Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations to assess CO2 adsorption selectivity in a binary CO2 and CH4 mixture. Results showed that CO2 required more isosteric heat than CH4 in single-component scenarios and demonstrated stronger electrostatic interactions with heteroatom groups in the coal model, explaining its higher adsorption preference. In binary adsorption experiments, CO2 exhibited a higher affinity under specific conditions, particularly influenced by pressure variations. At lower pressures, CO2 selectivity decreased rapidly with increasing temperature, while at higher pressures, the influence of temperature diminished. These findings have established a theoretical and practical basis for optimizing CO2-ECBM extraction in Nigeria, highlighting the preferential adsorption of CO2 over CH4 in subbituminous coals from the Mamu and Nsukka formations under varying pressure and temperature conditions. Implementing CO2-ECBM extraction and storage in Nigeria could boost economic viability and help achieve net-zero goals, using insights from this study to guide policy development. Graphical Abstract

Optimization of the cooperative electronic commerce model for sustainable development in the context of ecological environment conservation

AbstractThis study aims to explore how to optimize the cooperative electronic commerce model in a sustainable ecological environment to meet the needs of consumers while maximizing social and economic benefits. The empirical research method is adopted, which mainly includes a literature review, case analysis, and questionnaire. Firstly, through a literature review, this study introduces and analyses the concept of sustainable ecological environment and the development and optimization direction of cooperative electronic commerce model in detail, providing a theoretical basis and thought guidance for subsequent research. Secondly, this study selects several representative cooperative electronic commerce platforms for case analysis. It explores their operation mode, product characteristics, service quality, and social benefits to summarize the experience and lessons of optimizing cooperative electronic commerce model. Finally, a questionnaire is designed to sample the consumers of cooperative electronic commerce. By analysing the results of questionnaire, the following conclusions are drawn. (1) 54.3% of respondents said they had used the cooperative electronic commerce model, with agricultural products purchasing (23.5%) and community service (18.9%) using it more frequently. (2) The cognition level of sustainable development was high overall, with 62.6% believing that it was essential for the future. (3) A multiple linear regression model explored the relationship between using the cooperative electronic commerce model and sustainable development cognition. The results reveal that adopting cooperative electronic commerce model has a significant positive impact on the cognition of sustainable development, which indicates that the promotion and use of this model can promote cognition and practice of sustainable development.

Configuration Design and Size Optimization of a High-Precision Novel Parallel Pointing Mechanism Based on Interference Separation

AbstractPointing mechanism is widely used in aerospace field, and its pointing accuracy and stability have high requirements. The pointing mechanism will be affected by external interference when it works. In order to eliminate the impact of interference forces on the output accuracy of the mechanism, firstly, this paper proposes a design method for high-precision pointing mechanisms based on interference separation, aiming at the high-precision pointing requirements of pointing mechanisms. Based on the screw theory, a synthesis method for inner compensation mechanisms has been proposed. And a new type of double-layer parallel mechanism has been designed to compensate for interference forces. Then, the kinematics and dynamics of the mechanism are carried out. An evaluation index for compensating external interference forces is proposed. The interference compensation analysis is conducted for the pointing mechanism. The correctness of the proposed interference force compensation coefficient is verified. Finally, in order to find the optimal solution for the workspace and interference force compensation coefficient of the pointing mechanism, multi-objective optimization design of the structural parameters of the mechanism was carried out based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm. This provides a theoretical basis for the prototype design of the subsequent double-layer parallel mechanism. This double-layer parallel mechanism combines the advantages of large load-bearing capacity, large workspace, and high output accuracy. It can be better applied in the aerospace field where high-precision pointing and force interference compensation are integrated.

Effect of the uncertainty of autocorrelation estimation on trend analysis

Autocorrelation is ubiquitous in real-life time series. For trend analysis, positive autocorrelation mainly increases the statistical uncertainty of the detected trend. The theoretical framework has been established to quantify how the autocorrelation can impact trend analysis if its characteristic is known precisely. However, if the autocorrelation is also uncertain like that estimated in real-life data, then the consequences are yet unclear. The situation is further complicated by the concurrence of both short- and long-range correlation (SLRC), e.g., in air temperature. In this study, we use an appropriate minimal model with one short-range autoregressive parameter and one long-range fractional parameter to account for such SLRC, and then accordingly propose a framework to integrate the effect of the uncertainty of autocorrelation estimation into trend analysis, on the basis of the detrended fluctuation analysis and Akaike weights. This framework can also obtain a joint probability density function of the estimated autoregressive and fractional parameters for measuring their uncertainty, identifying their combined optimal estimates, uncovering their strong interdependence, and determining their two-dimensional confidence region. The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed framework are verified by a numerical experiment and a case study of daily air temperature anomalies at the Potsdam station. This study can provide a solid theoretical basis to underpin our understanding of the autocorrelation effect on trend analysis in theory and applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Comparative and Spatial Transcriptome Analysis of Rhododendron decorum Franch. During the Flowering Period and Revelation of the Plant Defense Mechanism

Background: Rhododendron is a globally distributed and extensive genus, comprising over 1000 species. In the southwestern mountains of China, there exists a remarkable diversity of Rhododendron, with Yunnan Province alone harboring more than 600 species. R. decorum Franch. has long been utilized by local communities for its medicinal and edible properties. However, the transcriptional regulation function, medicinal properties, and edibility characteristics of R. decorum Franch. currently lack a solid theoretical basis. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from leaves, corollas and androecium/gynoecium of R. decorum Franch. in Heqing county, followed by the construction of cDNA libraries and the de novo assembly of transcriptomes. Results: A total of 63,050 unigenes were extracted from the flowers and leaf organs of R. decorum Franch. Among these unigenes, 43,517 were predicted to be coding sequences, with 32,690 being effectively annotated. Differential gene expression enrichment was observed among different organs within their respective transcriptomes; notably floral organs exhibited significant defense against plant diseases along with signal transduction functions. Furthermore, during the flower harvesting period, all floral organs exhibited gene enrichment pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, the stamen and pistil displayed flavonoid metabolism pathways, suggesting their potential applications as functional food or medicine. Conclusions: Our results shed light on plant–pathogen defense mechanisms and the molecular bias of flavonoids biosynthesis on flower organs during the flowering period, which might help to understand the consumption of R. decorum Franch. corollas by the Bai nationality of Heqing county.

Causal association of obesity-related anthropometric traits with myopia and the mediating role of educational attainment: a Mendelian randomization study

AIM: To study the causal relationship between obesity-related anthropometric traits and myopia and the mediating role of educational attainment (EA). METHODS: Univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) was performed to evaluate the causal association between body mass index (BMI), height, waist-hip ratio (WHR, adjusted for BMI), and mean spherical equivalent (MSE). BMI was divided into fat and fat-free mass and included in multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) to explore the roles of different BMI components in the causal relationship between BMI and MSE. A mediation analysis based on two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) was carried out. Specifically, UVMR was conducted to estimate the causal effect of BMI on EA. The direct effect of EA on MSE was estimated from MVMR. The mediation effect of EA in the BMI-EA-MSE model was calculated by the product of coefficients method. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL)-MR, reverse MR, and Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSC) were performed to assess the robustness. RESULTS: Genetically predicted higher BMI had a positive total effect on MSE (βIVW=0.26 D, 95%CI=0.14 to 0.37 D, P<0.001), whereas there was no significant association between height, WHR, and MSE. Fat mass was found to play a significant role in the effect of body mass on MSE (βIVW=0.50 D, 95%CI=0.21 to 0.78 D, P=0.001), but there was no significant association between fat-free mass and MSE. The causal effect of BMI on EA was -0.14 (95%CI=-0.16 to -0.11, P<0.001), and the direct effect of EA on MSE was -0.63 D (95%CI=-0.81 to -0.44 D, P<0.001). The mediating effect of EA in the BMI-EA-MSE model was 0.09 D (95%CI=0.06 to 0.12 D), with a mediation proportion of 33% (95%CI=22.1% to 44.6%). No reverse causal associations were detected except for BMI on EA. The results of eQTL-MR and LDSC were consistent with each MR analysis. CONCLUSION: Genetically predicted higher BMI decreases the degree of myopia with a 33% mediation proportion by EA, and fat mass provides a dominant protective role in body mass-myopia. As a supplement to previous observational studies, it provides strong evidence for the relationship between anthropometric traits and refractive errors and offers a theoretical basis for future measures to prevent and control myopia.

HUMANIZAÇÃO NA ASSISTÊNCIA DE ENFERMAGEM DOS SERVIÇOS DE SAÚDE

This article will address the strategies adopted by nursing for the humanization of health services, understanding the importance of nursing professionals who are on the front line in patient care, the advancement of good care combined with humanization in health was observed. Therefore, this present work will describe the concept of humanization, and will also address the National Humanization Policy that was launched in 2003 by the Ministry of Health with the aim of producing changes in care and care for the patient through empathy, good communication and the relationship between the caregiver and the one being assisted. The objective of this research is to present the strategies used by nursing in the process of welcoming and humanization. The methodology of this research chosen was the bibliographic review, involving some steps, contributing to a good analysis, establishing the theoretical basis, the theme, the role of the nurse in the humanization of health services. In view of this, an analysis of articles published since 2015 was carried out to obtain information related to the research theme, so 20 articles were analyzed, but only 15 were chosen because the others had irrelevant information. However, it is necessary to share the importance of humanizing health, as there are still cases of poor care and poorly qualified professionals in several health establishments.

Effects of Red Vinasse on Physicochemical Qualities of Blue Round Scad (Decapterus maruadsi) During Storage, and Shelf Life Prediction

A fish processed with red vinasse is a type of Fujian cuisine with regional characteristics. In order to monitor the effect of red vinasse on storage quality and shelf life of blue round scad (Decapterus maruadsi) during storage, the changes in fat content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), pH value, texture, and sensory quality were studied at different storage temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C). By analyzing the correlation between changes in sensory qualities and physical and chemical indexes, a first-order kinetic model and the Arrhenius equation were used to build a shelf-life prediction model for blue round scad during storage. The results showed that processing with red vinasse can significantly reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) production and the decrease in PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p < 0.05) during storage. Based on partial least squares regression (PLSR), the storage temperature and time have a significant impact on the PUFA composition in blue round scad, which changed less when the samples were stored at 4 °C and 25 °C, and they had better nutritional composition of fatty acids at lower temperatures. Among the PUFAs, DHA (C22:6n-3) and EPA (C20:5n-3) had higher relative contents and significantly decreased during storage (p < 0.05). Additionally, the processing with red vinasse can slow down the increase in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value and pH of blue round scad, maintain the appropriate hardness, elasticity, cohesion and chewability, and improve the overall sensory quality of the fish. In addition, according to the results of model prediction based on TBARS value, the storage shelf life of blue round scad with red vinasse added was 55 d, 2.7 d and 28 h at 4 °C, 25 °C and 37 °C, respectively. The accuracy of the forecast model was high, and the relative errors of the measured values and predicted values were less than 10%. Thus, it not only provided a theoretical basis for the processing and application of red vinasse to Chinese traditional food, but also provided innovative ideas for the safe storage and high-value utilization of blue round scad.

PinX1 plays multifaceted roles in human cancers: a review and perspectives.

Pin2/TRF1 interacting protein X1 (PinX1), a telomerase inhibitor, is located at human chromosome 8p23. This region is important for telomere length maintenance and chromosome stability, both of which are essential for regulating human ageing and associated diseases. We investigated the research progress of PinX1 in human cancers. In cancers, the expression levels of PinX1 mRNA and protein vary according to cancer cell types, and PinX1 plays a critical role in the regulation of cancer development and progression. Additionally, a review of the literature indicates that PinX1 is involved in mitosis and affects the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation-induced DNA damage. Therefore, PinX1 has therapeutic potential for cancer, and understanding the function of PinX1 in the regulation of cancers is crucial for improving treatment. In this review, we discuss the expression level of PinX1 in a variety of cancers and how it affects the implicated pathways. Additionally, we outline the function of PinX1 in cancer cells and provide a theoretical basis for PinX1-related cancer therapy. PinX1 has promising prospects in future cancer therapeutics. This review may provide theoretical support for researchers in this field.

Effect of Dietary Concentrate-to-Forage Ratios During the Cold Season on Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality, Rumen Fermentation and Gut Microbiota of Tibetan Sheep

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary concentrate-to-forage ratios on slaughter performance, meat quality, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota and fecal microbiota in Tibetan sheep. A total of sixty male Tibetan sheep were equally allocated into three dietary groups based on concentrate-to-forage ratios, i.e., 30:70 (C30), 50:50 (C50), and 70:30 (C70). Compared with the C30 group, sheep fed the C70 diet resulted in a higher (p < 0.05) slaughter live weight (SLW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage (DP), eye muscle area, average daily gain (ADG), and ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration and propionate molar proportion and lower (p < 0.05) shear force and cooking loss of meat, and ruminal acetate molar proportion and acetate:propionate ratio. Sheep in the C50 group exhibited a higher (p < 0.05) SLW, HCW, ADG, and ruminal propionate molar proportion and lower (p < 0.05) shear force and cooking loss of meat, and ruminal acetate molar proportion and acetate: propionate ratio compared with the C30 group. In rumen fluid, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio was lower (p = 0.031) in the C30 group, and that of Ruminococcus was higher (p = 0.003) in the C70 group compared with the C50 group. In feces, genus Monoglobus and UCG_002 were the most abundant in the C30 group (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of Prevotella was significantly higher in the C70 group than in other groups (p = 0.013). Correlation analysis revealed possible links between slaughter performance and meat quality and altered microbiota composition in the rumen and feces of Tibetan sheep. Overall, feeding a C70 diet resulted in superior carcass characteristics and meat quality in Tibetan sheep, thus laying a theoretical basis for the application of short-term remote feeding during the cold season.

Small Farmers’ Agricultural Practices and Adaptation Strategies to Perceived Soil Changes in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy

Farmers have a pivotal responsibility in soil conservation: they can either preserve or deplete it through their choices. The responsibility of agriculture increases when practised in delicate ecosystems, such as lagoonal ones. The Venetian Lagoon islands, which are increasingly subjected to natural and anthropic subsidence, occasional flooding events (acqua alta), and eustatic sea level rise, are constantly exposed to erosive processes that challenge farmers to play with their adaptive capability. This research was carried out on the islands of Sant’Erasmo and Vignole, the most representative of island agriculture in the Venetian Lagoon: they almost exclusively rely on agriculture, which is non-existent in the other islands. This empirical research aimed to explore farmers’ agricultural practices, perceptions of soil changes, and how they adapt to them. It was fundamental for this study that the field research involved direct human contact with farmers (through semi-structured interviews) for data collection and using qualitative methods for data analysis, integrating scientific and non-scientific forms of knowledge and actors. The final purpose was to demonstrate the sustainability (valued on the potential depletion or regeneration capability) of agricultural practices and adaptation strategies on a theoretical basis. Despite their polycultural landscape (maintained by low-input farming systems), escaped from the predominant landscape oversimplification, Sant’Erasmo and Vignole are also subjected to unsustainable agricultural practices, including heavy mechanisation and synthetic inputs. Coupled with natural soil salinity that is exacerbated by increasing drought periods, these practices can contribute to soil degradation and increased salinity. The reported adaptation strategies, such as zeroed, reduced, or more conscious use of machines, were guided by the need to reduce the negative impact of soil changes on productivity. Our research revealed some of them as sustainable and others as unsustainable (such as increasing irrigation to contrast soil salinity). Participatory action research is needed to support farmers in designing effective sustainable agricultural practices and adaptation strategies.

The Essence of Commercial Bank, principles and functions

The paper describes the relevance of the topic, sets the goal and objectives, specifies the theoretical and methodological foundations, specifies that the banking system guides the country's payments and settlements system, defines the essence, principles and functions of a commercial bank. The banking system is a wide range of diverse services, starting from traditional savings-loan and settlement-cash operations, ending with modern monetary credit and financial instruments. The bank is an intermediary link that attracts the temporarily free resources of economic subjects and supplies them to those subjects of the economy who experience a temporary shortage of these resources. The bank assumes the risk of non-return of resources. The effective operation of the payment system in any country requires the improvement of settlement operations and their technologies. Banks are the centers through which the majority of settlement and payment transactions are carried out. Settlements and payments of an individual or a legal entity, as well as of the entire economy, are carried out through banks. The theoretical and methodological basis of the work is - the researches of Georgian and foreign scientists on the regulation of the banking sector, the analytical works of various authors, the information-statistical and analytical materials of the National Bank of Georgia. Key words: Banking system, active bank transactions, passive operations.

Single-cell data revealed the regulatory mechanism of TNK cell heterogeneity in liver metastasis from gastric cancer.

The present work set out to classify cell subpopulations related to liver metastasis from gastric cancer (GC) and the mechanisms of their interactions with other immune cell subpopulations. GC is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity and liver metastasis. Exploring the mechanism of liver metastasis of GC from the perspective of heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) might help improve the efficacy of GC treatment. Based on the cellular subpopulation characteristics of GC with liver metastasis, the regulatory mechanisms contributing to GC progression were analyzed, with special focuses on the roles of signaling pathways, transcription factors (TFs) and ligand-receptor pairs. The GSE163558 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to collect single-cell transcriptomic data of GC patients and their metastasis groups for cell clustering and relevant analyses. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GC and GC liver metastasis groups were screened and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. SCENIC analysis was used to mine TFs that affected cellular subpopulations during liver metastasis from GC. The relative expression levels of TFs in GC were determined using qRT-PCR. Transwell and wound healing assays were utilized to verify the regulation of the TFs on the migration and invasion of GC cells. Interaction network between the cellular subpopulations was developed applying CellChat. Single-cell clustering was performed to group six major cell subpopulations, namely, Myeloid cells, B cells, Mast cells, Epithelial cells, Fibroblasts, and TNK cells, among which the number of TNK cells was significantly increased in the GC liver metastasis group. Differentially enriched pathways of TNK cells between GC and GC liver metastasis groups mainly included IL-17 and Pi3k-Akt signaling pathways. TNK cell subsets could be further categorized into CD8 T cells, Exhausted T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, and Treg cells, with the GC liver metastasis group showing significantly more CD8 T cells and NKT cells. FOS and JUNB were the TFs of TNK cell marker genes that contributed to liver metastasis from GC and the invasion and migration of GC cell lines. Significant differences in immune cell communication ligand-receptor pairs existed between the GC and GC liver metastasis groups. This study revealed the critical role of TNK cell subsets in GC with liver metastasis applying single-cell transcriptomics analysis. The findings provided an important theoretical basis for developing novel therapies to inhibit liver metastasis from GC.

Plasma metabolomic characteristics of atrial fibrillation patients with spontaneous echo contrast.

The spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) indicates a prethrombic state that ultimately progresses into thrombus formation. A comprehensive understanding of specific plasma metabolomics characteristics may protect AF patients from thrombus, particularly in the early stage. Through the investigation of metabolic pathways, we endeavor to uncover the metabolomic characteristics associated with SEC states, and to examine the differential metabolites by which may exert their influence on thrombotic states. Patients with AF were enrolled, and the participants were divided into three groups based on the results of the echocardiogram: non-SEC, low-SEC and high-SEC group. Samples were collected and subjected to non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The analytical process included data quality control, metabolite difference analysis, component analysis, Kegg cluster analysis, etc. RESULTS: Our metabolic phenotype revealed a clear differential metabolic pattern between the SEC and non-SEC. Specifically, we identified 35 and 142 significantly differential metabolites in venous and atrial plasma, respectively, suggesting that SEC may be involved in pervasive metabolic dysregulation and that the degree of metabolic dysregulation in atrial plasma is more severe than that in venous blood. Patients with SEC have a significantly different metabolic pattern compared to those without SEC. Our work promoted the understanding of mechanism of the occurrence and development of SEC, facilitated the screening of the target metabolites for its therapeutic intervention, and provided evidence for the prevention and treatment of SEC or thrombosis in AF. Our work also provided new directions for subsequent research in related fields. In conclusion, our study not only provides a theoretical basis for understanding the occurrence and development of SEC in AF, but also provides recommendations for the daily diet of AF patients with SEC, such as a balanced intake of essential amino acids, avoiding excessive intake of benzoic acid, and intake of appropriate inositol. Not applicable.

Discussion on the treatment of diabetic kidney disease based on the "gut-fat-kidney" axis.

Diabetic kidney disease is the main cause of end-stage renal disease, and its prevention and treatment are still a major clinical problem. The human intestine has a complex flora of hundreds of millions of microorganisms, and intestinal microorganisms, and their derivatives are closely related to renal inflammatory response, immune response, and material metabolism. Brown adipose tissue is the main part of adaptive thermogenesis. Recent studies have shown that activating brown fat by regulating intestinal flora has good curative effects in diabetic kidney disease-related diseases. As an emerging medical concept, the "gut-fat-kidney" axis has received increasing attention in diabetic kidney disease and related diseases. However, the specific mechanism involved needs further study. A new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease is presented in this article, based on the "gut-fat-kidney" axis.

Saponins as potential novel NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors for inflammatory disorders.

Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) is a downstream protein from the pattern recognition receptor family that forms the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome releases caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, contributing to inflammatory responses associated with diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Recent studies suggest that specific saponin monomers and extracts from traditional Chinese medicines can inhibit inflammatory responses and related pathways, including the production of inflammatory factors. MCC950 is one of the most influential and specific NLRP3 inhibitors. Comparative molecular docking studies have identified 22 of the 37 saponin components as more robust binders to NLRP3 than MCC950. Dioscin, polyphyllin H, and saikosaponin-a have the highest binding affinities and potential NLRP3 inhibitors, offering a theoretical basis for developing novel anti-inflammatory therapies.

Insights into the Acute Stress of Glutaraldehyde Disinfectant on Short-Term Wet Anaerobic Digestion System of Pig Manure: Dose Response, Performance Variation, and Microbial Community Structure

The outbreak of epidemics such as African swine fever has intensified the use of disinfectants in pig farms, resulting in an increasing residual concentration of disinfectants in environmental media; however, the high-frequency excessive use of disinfectants that damage pig farm manure anaerobic fermentation systems and their mechanisms has not attracted enough attention. Especially, the complex effects of residual disinfectants on anaerobic fermentation systems for pig manure remain poorly understood, thus impeding the application of disinfectants in practical anaerobic fermentation systems. Herein, we explored the effects of glutaraldehyde disinfectant on methane production, effluent physicochemical indices, and microbial communities in a fully automated methanogenic potential test system (AMPTSII). The results show that adding glutaraldehyde led to remarkable alterations in methane production, chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile solids (VS), and polysaccharide and phosphorus concentrations. During the anaerobic process, the production of methane displayed a notable decrease of 5.0–98% in all glutaraldehyde treatments, and the trend was especially apparent for treatments containing high levels of glutaraldehyde. Comparisons of the effluent quality showed that in the presence of 0.002–0.04% glutaraldehyde, the COD and total phosphorus (TP) increased by 12–310% and 15–27%, respectively. Moreover, the addition of 0.01–0.08% glutaraldehyde decreased the ammonium (NH4+-N) concentration and VS degradation rate by 7.7–15% and 4.9–26.2%. Furthermore, microbiological analysis showed that the glutaraldehyde treatments had adverse effects on the microbial community. Notably, certain functional bacteria were restrained, as highlighted by the decreases in relative abundance and microbial diversity by 1.3–17% and 0.06–21%, respectively. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational use of disinfectants in anaerobic fermentation systems.

Clinical analysis of 1,038 cases of odontogenic jawbone cysts.

This study aims to analyse the clinical characteristics of different types of odontogenic jawbone cysts (OJCs) and to provide a theoretical basis for prevention and clinical treatment. Data from 1,038 patients with OJCs were collected, and relevant information, such as sex, age, clinical symptoms and signs, imaging data, number of lesions, lesion location, pathological diagnosis, clinical treatment and prognosis, was statistically analysed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of OJCs in 2022, the highest incidence rate was observed for radicular cysts (RCs), accounting for 58.96% of the total number of cases, followed by dentigerous cysts (DCs), accounting for approximately 23.22% of cases. lateral periodontal cysts (LPCs) and calcifying odontogenic cysts (COCs) comprised the lowest number of cases. The age distribution of patients was between 4 and 89 years, and the high incidence age group was youth and middle age, accounting for 66.67% of the total number of cases. The male-to-female ratio of patients was 1.51:1, and there was a statistically significant difference between the sexes(p < 0.05).In terms of the site of incidence, odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) were prevalent in the mandibular molar region. In addition, mandibular ramus, inflammatory collateral cysts (ICCs) and dentigerous cysts (DCs) were more common in the mandibular third molar, and radicular cysts (RCs) and calcifying odontogenic cysts (COCs) were prevalent in the maxillary anterior region. On imaging, 955 (92.0%) lesions were solitary, and 83 (8.0%) were multiple. The treatment included four types of surgery, including simple curettage, marsupialization, marsupialization followed by secondary curettage, and partial resection of the jaw, and a total of 921 patients were followed up, with a recurrence rate of 2.82%. OJCs are more common in males than in females, and a statistically significant difference is observed in the most prevalent types of cysts occurring at different ages and in various regions of the jawbone (p < 0.05). Early diagnosis should be made with the help of X-rays, age, location, and clinical symptoms. In addition, appropriate treatment methods should be selected, and long-term follow-up observation is needed.

People, personalisation, prominence: A framework for analysing the PSM shift to digital portals and interrogating universality across contexts

In the context of enhanced platformisation, Public Service Media (PSM) are once again forced to rethink the ways in which they achieve core public values. To this end, PSM have been prioritising the development of their own video-on-demand portals. To contribute to ongoing research, we propose a theoretical framework that can be applied by future PSM work, based on the operationalisation of platformisation in PSM policy documents and strategy. We identify the shared priorities across ten media organisations in seven media markets: Belgium—Flanders and Wallonia-Brussels, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Poland, and the UK. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of 61 documents, outlining the PSM remit and how they report and present themselves to governments, collaborators, and audiences, contextualised by ongoing national and regional debates. Findings confirm that the framework of people, personalisation, and prominence can serve as a useful theoretical basis for understanding and interrogating universality across contexts.