Clinical Application Value of Combined Detection of CG and TBA in Differential Diagnosis of Hepatobiliary System Diseases

Objective: To understand the clinical value of combined detection of cholyglycine CG and TBA in differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases. Methods: Serum samples from 50 healthy people were collected as healthy control group. According to the latest disease diagnosis and treatment plan, 58 cases of HBV asymptomatic carrier group, 17 cases of viral hepatitis group, 49 cases of cirrhosis group, 50 cases of primary liver cancer group and 50 cases of other hepatobiliary diseases groups were collected respectively. The concentration levels of cholyglycine and total bile acid in each group were detected, and the differences among each group were compared. Results: By statistical analysis, serum CG concentration in viral hepatitis group, cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary diseases group was significantly higher than that in asymptomatic HEPATITIS B carriers and healthy control group, the differences were statistically significant (p 0.05). There was no significant difference in CG concentration among viral hepatitis group, liver cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary diseases group (p > 0.05). The serum TBA levels of asymptomatic carriers, viral hepatitis group, cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary system diseases group were significantly higher than those of healthy control group, the difference was statistically significant, p 0.05. Conclusion: Serum CG expression can not only detect liver lesions, but also distinguish different liver lesions. The positive rate of CG combined with TBA detection in patients with hepatobiliary diseases is significantly higher than that of single CG index detection. CG combined with TBA detection can significantly improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases, which is worthy of popularization and application.

Microstructuring Conductive Electrospun Mats for Enhanced Electro‑active Biofilm Growth and High‑Performance Bioelectrocatalysis

Electrospun materials have attracted considerable attention in microbial fuel cells(MFC)owing to their porous structures,which facilitate the growth of electro-active biofilms(EABs).However,the impact of fiber diameter-controlled porous architectures on EAB growth and MFC performance has not been extensively studied.Herein,a highly conductive polypyrrole-modified electrospun polyacrylonitrile(PAN)mat was prepared as an electrode material for Shewanella putrefaciens CN32-based MFCs.The dominant pore size of the corresponding mat increases from 1 to around 20μm as the fiber diameter increases from 720 to 3770 nm.This variation affects the adhesion and growth behaviors of electrochemically active bacteria on the mat-based electrodes.The electrodes with poresranging from 2 to 10μm allow bacterial penetration into the interior,leading to significant biofilm loading and effective bioelectrocatalysis.However,the tight lamination of the electrospun fibers restricts bacterial growth in the deep interior space.We developed a friction-induced triboelectric expanding approach to rendering the mats with layered structures to overcome this limitation.The inter-layer spaces of the expanded conductive mat can facilitate bacterial loading from both sides of each layer and serve as channels to accelerate the catalysis of organic substances.Therefore,the expanded conductive mat with appropriate pore sizes delivers superior bioelectrocatalytic performance in MFCs and dye degradation.Based on the findings,a mechanism for the porous structure-controlled EAB formation and bioelectrocatalytic performance was proposed.This work may provide helpful guidance and insights for designing microfiber-based electrodes for microbial fuel cells.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora accelerates the increase in microbial nitrogen fixation over nitrogen removal in coastal wetlands of China

Salt marsh plants play a vital role in mediating nitrogen(N)biogeochemical cycle in estuarine and coastal ecosystems.However,the effects of invasive Spartina alterniflora on N fixation and removal,as well as how these two processes balance to determine the N budget,remain unclear.Here,simultaneous quantifications of N fixation and removal via^(15)N tracing experiment with native Phragmites australis,invasive S.alterniflora,and bare flats as well as corresponding functional gene abundance by qPCR were carried out to explore the response of N dynamics to S.alterniflora invasion.Our results showed that N fixation and removal rates ranged from 0.77±0.08 to 16.12±1.13 nmol/(g·h)and from 1.42±0.14 to 16.35±1.10 nmol/(g·h),respectively,and invasive S.alterniflora generally facilitated the two processes rates.Based on the difference between N removal and fixation rates,net N_(2)fluxes were estimated in the range of-0.39±0.14 to 8.24±2.23 nmol/(g·h).Estimated net N_(2)fluxes in S.alterniflora stands were lower than those in bare flats and P.australis stands,indicating that the increase in N removal caused by S.alterniflora invasion may be more than offset by N fixation process.Random forest analysis revealed that functional microorganisms were the most important factor associated with the corresponding N transformation process.Overall,our results highlight the importance of N fixation in evaluating N budget of estuarine and coastal wetlands,providing valuable insights into the ecological effect of S.alterniflora invasion.

In situ nitrogen removal processes in intertidal wetlands of the Yangtze Estuary

Estuarine and intertidal wetlands are important sites for nitrogen transformation and elimination.However,the factors controlling nitrogen removal processes remain largely uncertain in the highly dynamic environments.In this study,continuous-flow experiment combined with 15 N isotope pairing technique was used to investigate in situ rates of denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation(anammox)and their coupling with nitrification in intertidal wetlands of the Yangtze Estuary.The measured rates varied from below the detection limit to 152.39μmol N/(m^2·hr)for denitrification and from below the detection limit to 43.06μmol N/(m^2·hr)for anammox.The coupling links of nitrogen removal processes with nitrification were mainly dependent on nitrate,organic carbon,sulfide,dissolved oxygen and ferric iron in the estuarine and intertidal wetlands.Additionally,it was estimated that the actual nitrogen removal processes annually removed approximately 5%of the terrigenous inorganic nitrogen discharged into the Yangtze Estuary.This study gives new insights into nitrogen transformation and fate in the estuarine and intertidal wetlands.

Marine aquaculture regulates dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes in a typical semi-enclosed bay of southeastern China

Marine aquaculture in semi-enclosed bays can significantly influence nutrient cycling in coastal ecosystems.However,the impact of marine aquaculture on the dynamics of dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes(DNRPs)and the fate of reactive nitrogen remain poorly understood.In this study,the rates of DNRPs and the abundances of related functional genes were investigated in aquaculture and non-aquaculture areas.The results showed that marine aquaculture significantly increased the denitrification(DNF)and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium(DNRA)rates and decreased the rate of anaerobic ammonium oxidation(ANA),as compared with non-aquaculture sites.DNF was the dominant pathway contributing to the total nitrate reduction,and its contribution to the total nitrate reduction significantly increased from 66.72%at non-aquaculture sites to 78.50%at aquaculture sites.Marine aquaculture can significantly affect the physicochemical characteristics of sediment and the abundances of related functional genes,leading to variations in the nitrate reduction rates.Although nitrate removal rates increased in the marine aquaculture area,ammonification rates and the nitrogen retention index in the aquaculture areas were 2.19 and 1.24 times,respectively,higher than those at non-aquaculture sites.Net reactive nitrogen retention exceeded nitrogen removal in the aquaculture area,and the retained reactive nitrogen could diffuse with the tidal current to the entire bay,thereby aggravating N pollution in the entire study area.These results show that marine aquaculture is the dominant source of nitrogen pollution in semi-enclosed bays.This study can provide insights into nitrogen pollution control in semi-enclosed bays with well-developed marine aquaculture.

Technology and management innovation of the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) demonstration project — HPR1000

1 Project overview As a result of 60 years of independent innovation of China’s nuclear industry,Hualong One nuclear reactor(hereafter referred to as HPR1000,see Fig.1)is developed based on 30 years of experience in nuclear power research,design,manufacturing,construction and operation with the world’s advanced nuclear power concept and feedback from previous nuclear accidents.With more than 100 scientific research projects completed,HPR1000 has finally become a success as a 1000 MW Gen III nuclear power technology with completely independent intellectual property rights.It has met or exceeded requirements of international Gen III nuclear power users in terms of safety,economy and performance indicators,making China jump into the ranks of advanced countries of nuclear power technology.