Clinical significance of platelet mononuclear cell aggregates in patients with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)has increased owing to the enhanced awareness among medical profes-sionals and the continuous development of modern medical technologies,while early diagnosis of ARDS still lacks specific biomarkers.One of the main patho-genic mechanisms of sepsis-associated ARDS involves the actions of various pathological injuries and inflammatory factors,such as platelet and white blood cells activation,leading to an increase of surface adhesion molecules.These adhesion molecules further form platelet-white blood cell aggregates,including platelet-mononuclear cell aggregates(PMAs).PMAs has been identified as one of the markers of platelet activation,here we hypothesize that PMAs might play a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of this complication.METHODS We selected 72 hospitalized patients diagnosed with sepsis as the study population between March 2019 and March 2022.Among them,30 patients with sepsis and ARDS formed the study group,while 42 sepsis patients without ARDS comprised the control group.After diagnosis,venous blood samples were imme-diately collected from all patients.Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the expression of PMAs,platelet neutrophil aggregates(PNAs),and platelet aggregates(PLyAs)in the serum.Additionally,the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE)II score was calculated for each patient,and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to assess diagnostic value.RESULTS The study found that the levels of PNAs and PLyAs in the serum of the study group were higher than those in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).However,the expression of PMAs in the serum of the study group was significantly upregulated(P<0.05)and positively correlated with the APACHE II score(r=0.671,P<0.05).When using PMAs as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve value was 0.957,indicating a high diagnostic value(P<0.05).Furthermore,the optimal cutoff value was 8.418%,with a diagnostic sensitivity of 0.819 and specificity of 0.947.CONCLUSION In summary,the serum levels of PMAs significantly increase in patients with sepsis and ARDS.Therefore,serum PMAs have the potential to become a new biomarker for clinically diagnosing sepsis complicated by ARDS.

Mechanical Behavior Based on Aggregates Microstructure of Ultra-high Performance Concrete

We developed ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC)incorporating mullite sand and brown corundum sand(BCS),and the quartz sand UHPC was utilized to prepare for comparison.The properties of compressive strength,elastic modulus,ultrasonic pulse velocity,flexural strength,and toughness were investigated.Scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation were also conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms affecting macroscopic performance.Due to the superior interface bonding properties between mullite sand and matrix,the compressive strength and flexural toughness of UHPC have been significantly improved.Mullite sand and BCS aggregates have higher stiffness than quartz sand,contributing to the excellent elastic modulus exhibited by UHPC.The stiffness and volume of aggregates have a more significant impact on the elastic modulus of UHPC than interface performance,and the latter contributes more to the strength of UHPC.This study will provide a reference for developing UHPC with superior elastic modulus for structural engineering.

Hybrid anionic block copolymerization:From organocatalysis-streamlined crossover to internally microphase-separated aggregates

Polyolefin-b-poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)represents the most widely investigated amphiphilic block copolymers.So far,one-pot continuous synthesis of such hybrid block copolymers has only been fulfilled by anionic polymerization through sequen-tial addition of vinyl monomers and ethylene oxide(EO).It still remains challenging to achieve altogether high block efficiency,high polymerization efficiency,and high molar mass for PEO.Here,we report a one-pot hybrid block copolymerization approach to polyisoprene/polystyrene(PI/PS)-b-PEO,in which PI/PS are formed by sBuLi-initiated anionic vinyl-addition polymerization,then in situ employed as macroinitiators for the anionic ring-opening polymerization(ROP)of EO aided by an organic Lewis pair.The cooperative(dual-ion-complexing)catalytic effect of organobase and triethylborane is proven,for thefirst time,effective for lithium alkoxide initiator system,allowing to achieve at room temperature high ROP activity(complete EO conversion and PEO of 3–64 kg/mol reached in 1–6 h),narrow molar mass distribution,controlled block lengths and composition.Density functional the-ory calculation shows that phosphazene bases are particularly effective,compared with N-heterocyclic bases,for complexing with Li+and enhancing the nucleophilic-ity of oxyanion.The rate of ROP is also affected by Li+-induced aggregation of the chain-end ion pairs,which though can be offset by adequate catalyst loadings.The versatility of this approach is further demonstrated in the one-pot synthesis of tri-/tetrablock ter-/quaterpolymers constituted by PI,PS,PEO,and poly(propylene oxide).Of great interest,PS-b-PI-b-PEO triblock terpolymer with a specific com-position is found to form internally microphase-separated micellar aggregates when dispersed in water.

Straw mulching alters the composition and loss of dissolved organic matter in farmland surface runoff by inhibiting the fragmentation of soil small macroaggregates

Straw mulching is a widespread practice for reducing the soil carbon loss caused by erosion.However,the effects of straw mulching on dissolved organic matter(DOM)runoff loss from black soil are not well studied.How straw mulching affects the composition and loss of runoff DOM by changing soil aggregates remains largely unclear.Here,a straw mulching treatment was compared to a no mulching treatment(as a control)on sloping farmland with black soil erosion in Northeast China.We divided the soil into large macroaggregates(>2 mm),small macroaggregates(0.25-2 mm),and microaggregates(<0.25 mm).After five rain events,the effects of straw mulching on the concentration(characterized by dissolved organic carbon(DoC)and composition(analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy)of runoff and soil aggregate DOM were studied.The results showed that straw mulching reduced the runoff amount by 54.7%.Therefore,although straw mulching increased the average DOc concentration in runoff,it reduced the total runoff DOM loss by 48.3%.The composition of runoff DOM is similar to that of soil,as both contain humic-like acid and protein-like components.With straw mulching treatment,the protein-like components in small macroaggregates accumulated and the protein-like components in runoff declined with rain events.Fluorescence spectroscopy technology may help in understanding the hydrological paths of rain events by capturing the dynamic changes of runoff and soil DOM characteristics.A variation partitioning analysis(VPA)indicated that the DOM concentration and composition of microaggregates explained 68.2%of the change in runoff DOM from no mulching plots,while the change in runoff DOM from straw mulching plots was dominated by small macroaggregates at a rate of 55.1%.Taken together,our results demonstrated that straw mulching reduces the fragmentation of small macroaggregates and the loss of microaggregates,thus effecting DOM compositions in soil and reducing the DOM loss in runoff.These results provide a theoretical basis for reducing carbon loss in sloping farmland.

Unveiling the exceptional evolution of solute aggregates: From micro to trace, solution to interface

Existential state of solutes substantially affects the efficiency and direction of vari-ous chemical and biological processes,about which current consensus is still limited at macro and micro levels.At the trace level,solutes assume a pivotal role across a spectrum of criticalfields.However,their existential states,especially at inter-faces,remain largely elusive.Herein,an exceptional evolution of solute molecules is unveiled from micro to trace,solution to interface,with the aid of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy,extinction,DLS and theoretical simulations.Given predom-inant existence of monomers within the solution,these aggregates dominate the interfacial behavior of solute molecules.Moreover,a universal,aggregate-controlled mechanism is demonstrated that aggregates triggered by cosolvent,which can dra-matically promote efficiency of catalytic reactions.The results provide novel insights into the interaction mechanisms between reactants and catalysts,potentially offering fresh perspectives for the manipulation of multiphase catalysis and related biological processes.

Smart multi-functional aggregates reoxygenate tumor microenvironment through a two-pronged strategy to revitalize cancer immunotherapy

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have emerged as standard treatments for advanced solid tumors;however,challenges such as a low overall response rate and systemic side effects impede their implementation.Hypoxia drives the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment,which is a leading reason for the failure of immunotherapies.Despite some reported strategies to alleviate hypoxia,their individual limitations constrain further improvements.Herein,a novel two-pronged strategy is pre-sented to efficiently address hypoxia by simultaneously adopting atovaquone(ATO,inhibiting oxygen consumption)and oxyhemoglobin(HbO2,directly supplement-ing oxygen)within a multifunctional aggregate termed NPs-aPD-1/HbO2/ATO.In addition to eliminating hypoxia with these two components,this smart aggre-gate also includes albumin and an ROS-responsive cross-linker as a controlled release scaffold,along with PD-1 antibody(aPD-1)for immunotherapy.Intriguingly,NPs-aPD-1/HbO2/ATO demonstrates exceptional tumor targeting in vivo,exhibit-ing≈4.2 fold higher accumulation in tumors than in the liver.Consequently,this aggregate not only effectively mitigates hypoxia and significantly assists aPD-1 immunotherapy but also simultaneously resolves the targeting and systemic toxicity issues associated with individual administration of each component.This study pro-poses substantial implications for drug-targeted delivery,addressing tumor hypoxia and advancing immunotherapy,providing valuable insights for advancing cancer treatment strategies.

Polycrystalline ZSM-5 Aggregates Induced by Seed and Catalytic Performance in Methanol to Hydrocarbon

Synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite typically utilizes small molecule polyamines or quaternary ammonium salts as organic structure guiding agent(OSDA).By contrast,the OSDA-free hydrothermal synthesis system eliminates the use of organic templates and the subsequent calcination procedure.This not only reduces the cost of synthesis,but also prevents environmental pollution from the combustion of organic templates,representing an eco-friendly approach.Despite this,literature suggests that even so-called template-free synthesis systems often involve trace amount of organic substances like alcohol.In the present work,a calcined commercial ZSM-5 zeolite was served as seed,with sodium aluminate as aluminum source and silica sol as silicon source,ensuring an entirely template-free synthesis system.Polycrystalline ZSM-5 aggregates consisted of rod-like nanocrystals were successfully prepared in the completely OSDA-free system.Effects of the Si/Al ratio in ZSM-5 seed,dosage and crystallization conditions such as crystallization temperature and crystallization time on ZSM-5 synthesis were investigated.The results show that a highly crystallinity ZSM-5 aggregate consisting of primary nano-sized crystals less than 100 nm is produced from a gel precursor with 5.6%(in mass)seed after hydrothermal treatment for 48 h.Furthermore,the Si/Al ratio in ZSM-5 seed has little effect on the topological structure and pore structure of the synthesized samples.However,the seeds with a low Si/Al ratio facilitate faster crystallization of zeolite and enhance the acidity,especially the strong acid centers,of the catalyst.The catalytic performance of the synthesized polycrystalline ZSM-5 was evaluated during dehydration of methanol and compared with a commercial reference ZSM-5r.The results exhibit that as compared with the reference catalyst,the fabricated sample has a longer catalytic lifetime(16 h vs 8 h)attributed to its hierarchical pores derived from the loosely packed primary nanoparticles.Additionally,the prepared polycrystalline catalyst also exhibits a higher aromatics selectivity(28.1%-29.8%vs 26.5%).

High-efficiency Carbonation Modification Methods of Recycled Coarse Aggregates

To solve the problem of only surface carbonation and realize high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,the method of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate with nano materials pre-soaking was first put forward.The carbonation effect of modified recycled coarse aggregate with three different carbonation methods was evaluated,and water absorption,apparent density and crush index of modified recycled coarse aggregate were measured.Combined with XRD,SEM,and MIP microscopic analysis,the high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism of modified recycled coarse aggregate was revealed.The experimental results show that,compared with the non-carbonated recycled coarse aggregate,the physical and microscopic properties of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate are improved.The method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking can realize the high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,for modified recycled coarse aggregate with the method,water absorption is reduced by 23.03%,porosity is reduced by 44.06%,and the average pore diameter is 21.82 nm.The high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism show that the pre-socked nano-SiO_(2) is bound to the hydration product Ca(OH)_(2) of the old mortar with nano-scale C-S-H,which can improve the CO_(2) absorption rate,accelerate the carbonation reaction,generate more stable CaCO_(3) and nano-scale silica gel,and bond to the dense three-dimensional network structure to realize the bidirectional enhancement of nano-materials and pressurized carbonation.It is concluded that the method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking is a novel high-efficiency carbonation modification of recycled coarse aggregate.

"Three-in-One" Ecological Development and Efficient Utilization Model of Aggregates

Green mining and the formation of an effective and efficient development model have become key issues that aggregates enterprises around the world need to solve urgently.On the basis of analyzing the development status of aggregates industry in Xiluodu area,the paper studied the main problems faced in the construction of green aggregates mines at present,and proposed a"three-in-one"ecological,intelligent and efficient green mine construction model for"ecological development","green logistics"and"solid waste recycling"of aggregates.The study has certain theoretical value and practical significance for the construction of green aggregates mine in Xiluodu area.

Lysine aggregates-based nanostructured antimicrobial peptides for cariogenic biofilm microenvironment-activated caries treatment

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent and costly biofilm-induced oral diseases that causes the deterioration of the mineralized tooth tissue.Traditional antimicro-bial agents like antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides(AMPs)struggle to effectively eradicate bacteria in biofilms without eliciting resistance.Herein,we demonstrate the construction of FeOOH@Fe-Lysine@Au nanostructured AMPs(nAMPs)dis-tinguished by their AMP-like antibacterial activity and self-producing reactive oxygen species(ROS)capacity for caries treatment.On the one hand,FeOOH@Fe-Lysine@Au nAMPs can catalyze glucose oxidation to generate ROS within the cariogenic biofilm microenvironment,resulting in the disintegration of the extra-cellular polymeric substance matrix and the exposure of bacteria.On the other hand,FeOOH@Fe-Lysine@Au nAMPs can attach to bacterial surfaces via electrostatic attractions,proceeding to damage membranes,disrupt metabolic pathways,and inhibit protein synthesis through the aggregated lysine and the generated ROS.Based on this antibacterial mechanism,FeOOH@Fe-Lysine@Au nAMPs can effectively eradicate Streptococcus mutans and its associated biofilm,significantly impeding the progression of dental caries.Given the straightforward and cost-efficient prepa-ration of FeOOH@Fe-Lysine@Au nAMPs compared to AMPs that require specific sequences,and their minimal adverse impacts on gingival/palatal tissues,major organs,and oral/gut microbiomes,our research may promote the development of novel therapeutic agents in dental health maintenance.

TAX1BP1 and FIP200 orchestrate non-canonical autophagy of p62 aggregates for mouse neural stem cell maintenance

Autophagy plays a pivotal role in diverse biological processes,including the maintenance and differentiation of neural stem cells(NSCs).Interestingly,while complete deletion of Fip200 severely impairs NSC maintenance and differentiation,inhibiting canonical autophagy via deletion of core genes,such as Atg5,Atg16l1,and Atg7,or blockade of canonical interactions between FIP200 and ATG13(designated as FIP200-4A mutant or FIP200 KI)does not produce comparable detrimental effects.This highlights the likely critical involvement of the non-canonical functions of FIP200,the mechanisms of which have remained elusive.Here,utilizing genetic mouse models,we demonstrated that FIP200 mediates non-canonical autophagic degradation of p62/sequestome1,primarily via TAX1BP1 in NSCs.Conditional deletion of Tax1bp1 in fip200hGFAP conditional knock-in(cKI)mice led to NSC deficiency,resembling the fip200hGFAP conditional knockout(cKO)mouse phenotype.Notably,reintroducing wild-type TAX1BP1 not only restored the maintenance of NSCs derived from tax1bp1-knockout fip200hGFAP cKI mice but also led to a marked reduction in p62 aggregate accumulation.Conversely,a TAX1BP1 mutant incapable of binding to FIP200 or NBR1/p62 failed to achieve this restoration.Furthermore,conditional deletion of Tax1bp1 in fip200hGFAP cKO mice exacerbated NSC deficiency and p62 aggregate accumulation compared to fip200hGFAP cKO mice.Collectively,these findings illustrate the essential role of the FIP200-TAX1BP1 axis in mediating the non-canonical autophagic degradation of p62 aggregates towards NSC maintenance and function,presenting novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Ultrasound combined blood-brain barrier targeting brain delivery of four-in-one molecular aggregates for the enhancement of anesthetic efficacy and toxicity reduction via propofol-etomidate synergistically inhibition GABA receptor

To enhance the anesthetic efficacy and reduce toxic side effects,a strategy is proposed involving the utilization of general anesthetics of Propofol(Pro)and Eto-midate(Eto)to synergistic inhibition GABA receptors simultaneously.Four-in-one molecular aggregates were prepared to implement this strategy,which comprised of Pro and Eto with the bridging molecule monoglyceride monooleate(GMO)and sur-factant F127 through intermolecular forces.The blood-brain barrier(BBB)targeted lactoferrin(LF)is affixed to their surface,obtaining thefinal molecular aggregates.By employing lactoferrin enrich aggregates to the BBB,followed by ultrasound combine microbubbles to open the BBB,a remarkable 4.5-fold enhancement in brain drug delivery was achieved.The molecular aggregates group maintained sta-ble parameters of heart rate,diastolic blood pressure,and systolic blood pressure.A notable increase of more than twice therapeutic index(TI)value was observed,implying their higher anesthesia efficiency and reduced toxicity.Electroencephalo-gram(EEG)experiments demonstrate a significant elevation in the proportion of θ waves from 28%to 80%for aggregates,accompanied by a nearlyfivefold reduc-tion in the proportion ofθwaves,meaning a significant improvement in synergistic anesthesia effectiveness(interaction index 0.289)with lower drug dosage.Further-more,mouse immunofluorescence brain slice experiments suggest Pro and Eto enter the GABA receptor simultaneously,resulting in synergistic inhibition of GABA receptors.

Calcium carbonate promotes the formation and stability of soil macroaggregates in mining areas of China

We studied changes in the concentrations of aggregate-cementing agents after different reclamation times and with different fertilization regimes,as well as the formation mechanism of aggregates in reclaimed soil,to provide a theoretical basis for rapid reclamation of soil fertility in the subsidence area of coal mines in Shanxi Province,China.In this study,soil samples of 0–20 cm depth were collected from four fertilization treatments of a longterm experiment started in 2008:no fertilizer (CK),inorganic fertilizer (NPK),chicken manure compost (M),and50%inorganic fertilizer plus 50%chicken manure compost (MNPK).The concentrations of cementing agents and changes in soil aggregate size distribution and stability were analysed.The results showed that the formation of>2 mm aggregates,the aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD),and the proportion of>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WR_(0.25)) increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of reclamation.The concentration of organic cementing agents tended to increase with reclamation time,whereas free iron oxide (Fed) and free aluminium oxide(Ald) concentrations initially increased but then decreased.In general,the MNPK treatment signi?cantly increased the concentrations of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3),and CaCO_(3) increased by 60.4%at 11 years after reclamation.Additionally,CaCO_(3) had the greatest effect on the stability of aggregates,promoting the formation of>0.25 mm aggregates and accounting for 54.4%of the variance in the proportion and stability of the aggregates.It was concluded that long-term reclamation is bene?cial for improving soil structure.The MNPK treatment was the most effective measure for increasing maize grain yield and concentration of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3).

Substitution of Aggregates in Concrete and Mortar with Coltan Mining Waste: Mechanical, Environmental, and Economic Impact Case Study

The mining process involves drilling and excavation, resulting in the production of waste rock and tailings. The waste materials are then removed and stored in designated areas. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical strength and the environmental and economic impact of using Coltan Mining Waste (CMW) as a substitute for aggregates in concrete and mortar production. To achieve this, the CMW needs to be characterised. The Dreux Gorisse method was primarily used to produce concrete with a strength of 20 MPa at 28 days. The mortars, on the other hand, were formulated according to the NF P 18-452 standard. The environmental impact of using CMW as substitutes for natural aggregates in the production of concrete and mortar was analysed using SimaPro software. The results showed that mortars and concrete made with CMW have comparable compressive strengths to the reference mortar and concrete;reduce the negative impact on ecosystem quality, human health, resources, and climate change. It has also been shown that the substitution of aggregates by CMW reduces the cost of concrete and mortar as a function of the distance from the aggregate footprint.

The effects of co-utilizing green manure and rice straw on soil aggregates and soil carbon stability in a paddy soil in southern China

The co-utilization of green manure (GM) and rice straw (RS) in paddy fields has been widely applied as an effective practice in southern China.However,its effects on soil aggregate and soil organic carbon (SOC) stability remain unclear.In the present study,the effect of GM,RS,and co-utilization of GM and RS on particle size distribution of soil aggregates and SOC density fractions were measured in a field experiment.The experiment included six treatments,i.e.,winter fallow (WF) without RS return (Ctrl),WF with 50%RS return (1/2RS),WF with 100%RS return (RS),GM without RS return (GM),GM with 50%RS return (GM1/2RS) and GM with 100%RS return (GMRS).The results showed that the proportion of small macro-aggregates (0.25–2 mm) and the mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates in the GMRS treatment was greater (by 18.9 and 3.41%,respectively) than in the RS treatment,while the proportion of silt+clay particles (<0.053 mm) was lower (by 14.4%).The concentration of SOC in microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm)and silt+clay particles was higher in the GMRS treatment than in GM and RS treatments individually.The concentration and proportion of free light organic carbon (fLOC) in aggregates of various particle sizes and bulk soil was greater in the GMRS treatment than the RS treatment,whereas the concentration and proportion of mineral-associated organic carbon in small macroaggregates,microaggregates,and bulk was lower in the GMRS treatment than in the RS treatment.The proportion of intra-aggregate particulate organic carbon (iPOC) was greater in the GMRS treatment than in GM treatment.The GMRS treatment had strong positive effects on iPOC in small macroaggregates,suggesting that SOC was transferred from fLOC to iPOC.In conclusion,co-utilizing green manure and rice straw cultivated the SOC pool by increasing the concentration of fLOC and improved soil carbon stability by promoting the sequestration of organic carbon in iPOC as a form of physical protection.

Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

A novel approach to Parkinson's disease treatment with a potentially dual-acting therapeutic agent that targetsα-synuclein aggregation and neuron death

Parkinson's disease(PD),a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder,is chara cterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the aggregation ofα-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies.While the current standards of therapy have been successful in providing some symptom relief,they fail to address the underlying pathophysiology of PD and as a result,they have no effect on disease progression.

Fragmentation process of soil aggregates under concentrated water flow in red soil hilly region with different land use patterns

The hilly area of red soil in the central subtropical region of China has a long history of severe soil erosion due to its abundance of water,heat,and intense agricultural and forestry activities.The Sandshale red soil area is hot and rainy,the local land utilization rate and replanting index are high,and the soil easily weathers and erodes,resulting in infertile and sandy soils,extensive soil erosion and large erosion,with far-reaching impacts.In this study,the stability of soil aggregates was studied by the wet sieving method and Le Bissonais(LB)method in six land use patterns in the Sandshale red soil area,including natural forest(NF),Pinus massoniana(PM),Eucalyptus urophylla×E.grandis(EU),orchard(OR),wasteland(WL)and arable land(AL).The transport damage characteristics of the soil aggregates under concentrated water flow were analyzed by using the soil aggregates to simulate the soil surface roughness in the field using a steel scouring flume with a variable slope.The results showed that:(1)the total soil porosity of the natural forest was the highest,with 56.51%in A layer,which was 4.99%higher than the B layer,and the organic matter content ranged from 10.69 to 29.94 g.kg-1 and was highest in NF and lowest in AL;(2)the maximum mean weight diameter(MWD)obtained by the wet sieving method was 4.81 mm for natural forest,and the MWD was the lowest in OR and AL at 2.45-2.77mm.The MWD measured by the LB method was also highest in NF and lowest in AL.The contents of Fed and Ald have a strong correlation with the stability parameters of soil aggregates;(3)the Wr/Wi results for the six land use patterns were NF>PM>EU>WL>OR>AL;the NF had the strongest soil aggregate stability,followed by WL,PM and EU,and AL and OR had the weakest;the stability of soil aggregates gradually weakened as the soil depth increased.Comprehensive analysis shows that forest land has high soil stability and obvious advantages in soil erosion resistance.Strengthening the construction of artificial forests can be an important means to reduce soil erosion in red soil hilly region.

RBC aggregation,deformation and adhesion to endothelium:Role of nitric oxide derived from L-Arginine and sodium nitroprusside

Red blood cells(RBCs)are the most abundant human blood cells.RBC aggregation and deformation strongly determine blood viscosity which impacts hemorheology and microcirculation.In turn,RBC properties depend on di®erent endogenous and exogenous factors.One such factor is nitric oxide(NO),which is mainly produced by endothelial cells(EC)from L-arginine amino acid in the circulatory system.Since the mechanisms of the RBC-endothelium interplay are not clear up to date and considering its possible clinical importance,the aims of this study are to investigate in vitro:(1)The effect of L-arginine induced NO on RBC aggregation and adhesion to endothelium;(2)the NO e®ect on RBC aggregation and deformation induced by L-arginine and sodium nitroprusside without the presence of endothelium in the samples.The RBC aggregation and adhesion to a monolayer of EC were studied using optical tweezers(OT).The RBC deformability and aggregation without endothelium in the samples were studied using the flow chamber method and Myrenne aggregometer.We confirmed that NO increases deformability and decreases aggregation of RBCs.We showed that the soluble guanylate cyclase pathway appears to be the only NO signaling pathway involved.In the samples with the endothelium,the "bell-shaped"dependence of RBC aggregation force on L-arginine concentration was observed,which improves our knowledge about the process of NO production by endothelium.Additionally,data related to L-arginine accumulation by endothelium were obtained:Necessity of the presence of extracellular L-arginine stated by other authors was put under question.In our study,NO decreased the RBC-endothelium adhesion,however,the tendency appeared to be weak and was not confirmed in another set of experiments.To our knowledge,this is the first attempt to measure the forces of RBC adhesion to endothelium monolayer with OT.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Different Ecological Cultivation Modes on the Water Stability of Soil Aggregates in Rubber Based Agroforestry Systems

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) have been commercially cultivated for a century and a half in Asia, particularly in China, and they constitute a common element of plantation ecosystems in tropical regions. Soil health is fundamental to the sustainable development of rubber plantations. The objective of the study is to explore the influence of different complex ecological cultivation modes on the stability of soil aggregates in rubber based agroforestry systems. In this study, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantations, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantations and monoculture rubber plantations were selected, and the particle size distribution of soil aggregates and their water stability characteristics were analyzed. The soil depth of 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm was collected for four cultivation modes. Soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 20 cm. soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 5 mm, 2 - 5 mm, 1 - 2 mm, 0.5 - 1 mm, 0.25 - 0.5 mm, and 0.053 - 0.25 mm according to the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates were determined by the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates under different ecological cultivation modes were analyzed. The results showed that under different ecological cultivation modes in the shallow soil layer (0 - 20 cm), the rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation promoted the development of dominant soil aggregates towards larger size classes, whereas the situation is the opposite for rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation. In soil layer (20 - 40 cm), the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation developed the dominant radial level of soil aggregates to the diameter level of large aggregates. Rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation, three indicators, including the water-stable aggregate content R0.25 (>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates), mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), were all lower than those in the rubber monoculture mode. However, in the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation, the water-stable aggregate content R0.25, mean weight diameter, and geometric mean diameter were higher than in the rubber monoculture mode, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.