Hemothorax induced by cardiac perforation resulting from two active screw-in leads: A case report

We describe the case of a 77-year-old female who underwent dual-chamber permanent pacemaker implantation using two active screw-in leads for complete atrioventricular block. The two active screw-in leads perforated the atrial and ventricular walls causing cardiac tamponade and a left hemothorax associated with ventricular perforation. An emergency sternotomy was performed to facilitate drainage and hemostasis. Although hemothorax due to pacing lead perforation is very rare, such a possibility should always be considered.

MiR-107-3p/Atp6v0e1 contributes to protective effects of two selenium-containing peptides,TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ on lead-induced neurotoxicity

Two selenium(Se)-containing peptides from Se-enriched rice,TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ,possess neuroprotective potency against lead(Pb2+)-induced cytotoxicity.However,the crosstalk between mRNA and microRNAs(miRNA)involved in the neuroprotection mechanism remains to be elucidated.In this study,RNA-sequencing and miRNA-sequencing were used to independently identify differentially expressed mRNAs and small RNAs profiles in Pb^(2+)-treated primary fetal rat cortical neurons and then the correlated miRNA-mRNA target pairs were obtained.It was found that 34 mRNAs related to oxidative phosphorylation could be reversed by pretreatment of TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ.The protective effect of TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ was mediated by upregulation of miR-107-3p,which downregulates the ATPase H+transporting V0 subunit e1(Atp6v0e1)mRNA level.A zebrafish model was applied to verify the relevance between the targeted mRNA and miRNA by real-time quantitative PCR.The results indicated that miR-107-3p was a potential therapeutic target to achieve neuroprotection of Se-containing peptides via stimulation of Atp6v0e1.

A short overview of the lead iodide residue impact and regulation strategies in perovskite solar cells

Lead iodide(PbI2) is a vital raw material for preparing perovskite solar cells(PSCs),and it not only takes part in forming the light absorption layer but also remains in the grain boundary as a passivator.In other words,the PbI2 content in the precursor and as formed film will affect the efficiency and stability of the PSCs.With moderate residual PbI2,it passivates the bulk/surface defects of perovskite,reduces the interfacial recombination,promotes the perovskite stability,minimizes the device hysteresis,and so on.Deficient PbI2 residue will reduce the interfacial passivation effect and device performance.In addition to facilitating the non-radiative recombination,over PbI2 residue can also lead to electronic insulation in the grain boundary and deteriorate the device performance.However,the impact and regulation of PbI2 residue on the device performance and stability is still not fully understood.Herein,a comprehensive and detailed review is presented by discussing the PbI2 residue impact and its regulation strategies(i.e., elimination,facilitation and conversion of the residue PbI2) to manipulate the PbI2 content,distribution and forms.Finally,we also show future outlooks in this field,with an aim to help further the progression of high-efficiency and stable PSCs.

Epicatechin attenuates lead(Pb)-induced cognitive impairment in mice:regulation on Nrf2 signaling pathway,and interference on the interaction between Pb with albumin

Epicatechin(EC)was used in this study to antagonize the cognitive dysfunction caused by lead(Pb)exposure in mice.Eight-week-old male Kunming mice were treated with PbCl_(2)(20 mg/kg)and/or EC(50 mg/kg)by gavage administration for 4 weeks.Morris water maze test showed that EC could improve memory dysfunction induced by Pb.EC antagonized Ca^(2+)overload,activated Nrf2 signaling pathway and reduced the accumulation of Pb in the brain and serum,which suggested that EC might alter Pb distribution in mice.In vitro,spectroscopic analysis,potentiometric titration and docking studies were applied to inquiry into the interaction between bovine serum albumin(BSA)and Pb^(2+)in presence or absence of EC.EC was proved to chelate Pb^(2+)and reduced the interaction between BSA and Pb^(2+).In summary,EC might protect Pb-induced cognitive impairment by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway,and suppressing Pb accumulation via interference on the binding of Pb to albumin.

Leading Pattern of Spring Drought Variability over East Asia and Associated Drivers

Drought events have become more frequent and intense over East Asia in recent decades,leading to huge socioeconomic impacts.Although the droughts have been studied extensively by cases or for individual regions,their leading variability and associated causes remain unclear.Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI)and ERA5 reanalysis product from 1979 to 2020,this study evealuates the severity of spring droughts in East Asia and investigates their variations and associated drivers.The results indicate that North China and Mongolia have experienced remarkable trends toward dryness during spring in recent decades,while southwestern China has witnessed an opposite trend toward wetness.The first Empirical Orthogonal Function mode of SPEI variability reveals a similar seesawing pattern,with more severe dryness in northwestern China,Mongolia,North China,South Korea,and Japan but increased wetness in Southwestern China and southeast Asia.Further investigation reveals that the anomalously dry(wet)surface in North(Southwestern)China is significantly associated with anomalously high(low)temperature,less(more)precipitation,and reduced(increased)soil moisture during the previous winter and early spring,regulated by an anomalous anticyclone(cyclone)and thus reduced(increased)water vapor convergence.The spring dry-wet pattern in East Asia is also linked to cold sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern Pacific.The findings of this study have important implications for improving the prediction of spring drought events in East Asia.

Seasonal Characteristics of Forecasting Uncertainties in Surface PM_(2.5)Concentration Associated with Forecast Lead Time over the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Forecasting uncertainties among meteorological fields have long been recognized as the main limitation on the accuracy and predictability of air quality forecasts.However,the particular impact of meteorological forecasting uncertainties on air quality forecasts specific to different seasons is still not well known.In this study,a series of forecasts with different forecast lead times for January,April,July,and October of 2018 are conducted over the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region and the impacts of meteorological forecasting uncertainties on surface PM_(2.5)concentration forecasts with each lead time are investigated.With increased lead time,the forecasted PM_(2.5)concentrations significantly change and demonstrate obvious seasonal variations.In general,the forecasting uncertainties in monthly mean surface PM_(2.5)concentrations in the BTH region due to lead time are the largest(80%)in spring,followed by autumn(~50%),summer(~40%),and winter(20%).In winter,the forecasting uncertainties in total surface PM_(2.5)mass due to lead time are mainly due to the uncertainties in PBL heights and hence the PBL mixing of anthropogenic primary particles.In spring,the forecasting uncertainties are mainly from the impacts of lead time on lower-tropospheric northwesterly winds,thereby further enhancing the condensation production of anthropogenic secondary particles by the long-range transport of natural dust.In summer,the forecasting uncertainties result mainly from the decrease in dry and wet deposition rates,which are associated with the reduction of near-surface wind speed and precipitation rate.In autumn,the forecasting uncertainties arise mainly from the change in the transport of remote natural dust and anthropogenic particles,which is associated with changes in the large-scale circulation.

Exploring the Path of Party Building Leading League Construction in Colleges and Universities under the Pattern of Great Ideological and Political Education

In accordance with the pattern of"great ideology and politics",the Party and youth League organizations assume the role of vanguard in the organization of colleges and universities.Simultaneously,they serve as a pivotal force in ideological and political education.In order to construct a comprehensive ideological and political framework encompassing the entire educational process,it is of paramount importance to identify an efficacious methodology for Party building leading League construction.This paper employs a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the pivotal role of Party building leading League construction in facilitating ideological and political education.It also illuminates the practical challenges encountered in the implementation of Party building leading League construction initiatives within colleges and universities.The article proposes a specific path for Party building leading League construction in colleges and universities based on three key aspects:cohesion of the consensus of Party building leading League building,establishment of the institutional system of Party building leading League construction,and creation of the model brand of Party building leading League construction.The aim is to promote in-depth development of Party building in colleges and universities and enhance the quality and effect of ideological and political education.

Analysis of Oxygen Consumption in Lead and Zinc Metallurgy

This article analyzes the role of oxygen in lead zinc metallurgy,including shortening the metallurgical process,promoting energy conservation and environmental protection,improving metallurgical strength,enhancing raw material adaptability,and enhancing comprehensive recovery efficiency.This article introduces different lead zinc metallurgical processes and their oxygen consumption characteristics,including oxygen enriched side blowing lead smelting,oxygen bottom blowing lead smelting,oxygen enriched top blowing lead smelting,flash smelting lead,oxygen pressure leaching zinc smelting,and atmospheric pressure oxygen leaching zinc smelting.It is pointed out that oxygen enhanced metallurgy is the direction for the transformation and upgrading of lead zinc metallurgy.

Numerical Study on the Duct Noise Control of Single-Stage Axial Flow Fan with Wave Leading Edge Stator Blade Configurations

This study focuses on a single-stage axial flow fan, investigating the effect of three kinds of wave leading edge stator blades on its noise reduction. The DDES method and the duct acoustic analogy theory based on the penetrable data surface were used for noise prediction. The results showed that the three kinds of wave leading edge blades were effective in reducing the rotor-stator interaction tonal noise and also have a certain inhibitory effect on broadband noise. The A10W15 stator blade can effectively reduce broadband noise in the frequency range of 2200 - 4200 Hz. When the amplitude is increased to 20, the noise reduction effect is further enhanced. However, when the amplitude is increased to 30, the broadband noise reduction effect is no longer significant. Further research shows that the wave leading edge stator blades can significantly change the pressure fluctuation distribution on the leading edge and suction surface, which control the modal energy distribution. Finally, this paper analyzed multiple factors affecting the broadband noise reduction, such as the noise source cut-off and cut-on effect and correlation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the laws of the influence of wave leading edge blades on the duct noise of real fan, and to reveal its noise control mechanism. .

Dynamical Predictability of Leading Interannual Variability Modes of the Asian-Australian Monsoon in Climate Models

The dynamical prediction of the Asian-Australian monsoon(AAM)has been an important and long-standing issue in climate science.In this study,the predictability of the first two leading modes of the AAM is studied using retrospective prediction datasets from the seasonal forecasting models in four operational centers worldwide.Results show that the model predictability of the leading AAM modes is sensitive to how they are defined in different seasonal sequences,especially for the second mode.The first AAM mode,from various seasonal sequences,coincides with the El Niño phase transition in the eastern-central Pacific.The second mode,initialized from boreal summer and autumn,leads El Niño by about one year but can exist during the decay phase of El Niño when initialized from boreal winter and spring.Our findings hint that ENSO,as an early signal,is conducive to better performance of model predictions in capturing the spatiotemporal variations of the leading AAM modes.Still,the persistence barrier of ENSO in spring leads to poor forecasting skills of spatial features.The multimodel ensemble(MME)mean shows some advantage in capturing the spatiotemporal variations of the AAM modes but does not provide a significant improvement in predicting its temporal features compared to the best individual models in predicting its temporal features.The BCC_CSM1.1M shows promising skill in predicting the two AAM indices associated with two leading AAM modes.The predictability demonstrated in this study is potentially useful for AAM prediction in operational and climate services.

Levels of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Cobalt (Co) in Cow Milk from Selected Areas of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

Milk is one of the very important nutrients of human diet. The presence of toxic elements in milk may threaten the public health. This study reports the levels of Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co) and Lead (Pb) in raw cow’s milk collected from different areas of Zanzibar Island during March - May 2016. The samples of raw milk were analyzed by Thermo Scientific-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for quantitative determination of the metals in the matrix. The concentration of Co in this study ranged from ND at Mwanakwerekwe (MK1 and MK2) to a maximum of 0.004 mg/L at Mshelishelini (MS5) and Fuoni (F5) sites with mean concentration of 0.020 ± 0.003 mg/L for all sites. Concentration of Pb ranged between 0.05 - 0.51 mg/L at Fuoni (F7) and Mwanakwerekwe (MK1) respectively, with mean concentration of 0.263 ± 0.031 mg/L for all sites. However, Cd was only detected in one sample collected at Fuoni (F3) with a concentration of 0.001 mg/L. The results revealed that cow’s milk is contaminated with toxic metals, particularly Pb which exceeded the WHO maximum permissible level of 0.02 mg/L. The study furthermore sheds light on possible consequences to public health. It is recommended that, stakeholders especially in Zanzibar such as Zanzibar Food and Drug Authorities (ZFDA) and Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) as well as researchers, use the findings of this study for policy making, future study plans, formulation of technical strategies to control milk contamination, risk assessment and develop new alternative methods to measure milk contamination even at a low detection limit for the sake of the consumers’ welfare before posing any serious effects to their health.

Accumulation of silicon in shoots is required for reducing lead uptake in rice

Silicon(Si) treatment has been shown to reduce the toxicity and accumulation of lead(Pb) in many plants,including rice.The mechanisms responsible for this effect are poorly understood.We investigated the effects of Si treatment on Pb toxicity and accumulation in two rice mutants(lsi1 and lsi2) defective in Si uptake and in their wild types.Si did not alleviate Pb-induced inhibition of root elongation in shortterm experiments,but reduced Pb accumulation in wild types,but not in mutants,in long-term experiments.Pre-treatment with Si reduced Pb concentration in xylem sap and Pb accumulation in wild types but not in mutants.In split-root experiments,Si treatment reduced Pb accumulation but did not alter Pb localization in roots.Si treatment suppressed the expression of many genes encoding proteins that may participate in Pb uptake and transport in the wild type,but not in the lsi1 mutant.These results indicate that Si accumulation in shoots is required to reduce Pb uptake in rice and that the effect is achieved via Siinduced suppression of genes encoding proteins involved in Pb uptake and/or transport.

Exogenous addition of nitrate nitrogen regulates the uptake and translocation of lead (Pb) by Iris lacteal Pall. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz.

Since Pb is a non-biodegradable inorganic pollutant and a non-essential metal,its long-term presence in soil poses a great threat to the environment.Iris lactea Pall.var.chinensis(Fisch.)Koidz.,a perennial dense bush herb with high resistance of Pb and wide adaptability,was used in pot experiments to study the effects of exogenous nitrate N(NO_(3)^(–)-N)on the absorption and transportation of Pb and plant growth under different Pb concentrations.Then,the mechanism of NO_(3)^(-)-N affecting Pb and nutrient uptake and transport was explored.The concentration of Pb in the experiment ranged from 0 to 1600 mg/kg,and the added concentration of NO_(3)^(-)-N was 0.0–0.3 g/kg.The results showed that I.lactea was highly tolerant to Pb,and the shoot fraction was more sensitive to varied Pb concentrations in the soil than the root fraction.This protective function became more pronounced under the condition of raised Pb concentration in the soil.When the concentration of Pb in the soil reached 800 mg/kg,the highest Pb content of I.lactea was found under the condition of 0.1 g/kg of NO–3-N addition.When Pb concentration in the soil increased to 1600 mg/kg,the increase in NO_(3)^(-)-N addition promoted Pb uptake by the root.To ensure the well growth of I.lactea and the effect of remediation of Pb-contaminated soil,the recommended concentration of NO–3-N in the soil is 0.1 g/kg.This result provides a theoretical basis for exogenous N regulation of phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil.

Low-cost biodegradable lead sequestration film for perovskite solar cells

Despite the high efficiency that has been achieved for the perovskite solar cells(PSCs),the hazardous lead leakage from the perovskite absorber layer is one of the crucial barriers still hindering its penetration into the commercial market for a large-scale installation.Herein,we report a novel low-cost and biodegradable lead sequestration layer with high compatibility for up-scalable encapsulation of PSCs.Through a precisely designed cross-linking reaction of chemical agents,the as-made biodegradable chitosan composite film shows enhanced mechanical strength,chemical stability,and lead adsorption capacity.The designed encapsulation strategy reduces over 99.99% lead leakage to <2 ppb under varied simulations of weather conditions(hail,rain,or flood),which meet the safe level of drinking water set by the US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).Moreover,the PSC efficiency is improved from 21.91% to22.82% due to the improved light absorption from the printed biodegradable lead absorption film.Finally,we present a prototype process of accumulation and recycling of lead compounds in PSCs derbies via the biodegradation process.Based on the low-cost biodegradable lead sequestration film,this environmental-friendly encapsulation strategy could address the lead leakage issue for further commercialization of PSCs.

Inadvertent Lead Malposition in the Left Ventricle during Permanent Ventricular Pacing about One Case

Inadvertent Lead Malposition in Left Ventricle is a rare and underdiagnosed incident, which may occur during implantation of cardiac electronic devices and may remain asymptomatic. We reported the case of a 71-year-old man who was implanted with a ventricular single-chamber pacemaker for a slow atrial fibrillation with syncope and whose routine transthoracic echocardiography 23 months after implantation displayed a malposition of the pacemaker lead into the Left Ventricle through a patent foramen oval. The patient was asymptomatic. The electrocardiogram showed right bundle branch block QRS-paced morphology with a positive QRS pattern in V1, a median paced QRS axis on the frontal plane at -120°, a Precordial transition on V5. At the lateral Chest X-ray the lead curved backwards to the spine. Given the age of this old patient who already received oral anticoagulant for Atrial Fibrillation and the Lead malposition discovered 23 months after pacemaker’s implantation, we decided to maintain the lead in LV and continue anticoagulation.

Preparation and promising optoelectronic applications of lead halide perovskite patterned structures:A review

Lead halide perovskites have received considerable attention from researchers over the past several years due to their superior optical and optoelectronic properties,because of which they can be a versatile platform for fundamental science research and applications.Patterned structures based on lead halide perovskites have much more novel properties compared with their more commonly seen bulk-,micro-,and nano-crystals,such as improvement in antireflection,light-scattering effects,and light absorption,as a result of their adjustability of spatial distributions.However,there are many challenges yet to be resolved in this field,such as insufficient patterned resolution,imperfect crystal quality,complicated preparation process,and so on.To pave the way to solve these problems,we provide a systematic presentation of current methods for fabricating lead halide perovskite patterned structures,including thermal imprint,use of etching films,two-step vapor-phase growth,template-confined solution growth,and seed-assisted growth.Furthermore,the advantages and disadvantages of these methods are elaborated in detail.In addition,thanks to the extraordinary properties of lead halide perovskite patterned structures,a variety of potential applications in optics and optoelectronics of these structures are described.Lastly,we put forward existing challenges and prospects in this exciting field.

Exposure to lead and dietary furan intake aggravates hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis toxicity in chronic experimental rats

Lead(Pb) and furan are toxic agents, and persistent exposure may impair human and animal reproductive function. We therefore explored the effects of Pb and furan on male rat hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal reproductive status, oxidative stress, inflammation, and genomic integrity. We found that co-exposure to Pb and furan reduced the activities of testicular function enzymes, endogenous antioxidant levels, total sulfhydryl group,and glutathione. Sperm abnormality, biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and p53 expression were increased in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with furan and Pb. Typical rat gonad histoarchitecture features were also damaged. Conclusively, co-exposure to Pb and furan induced male reproductive function derangement by decreasing the antioxidant defences in rats, increasing abnormalities in spermatozoa morphology, and reducing reproductive hormone in circulation. These pathophysiological alterations, if persistent, might provide a permissive environment for potentiating reproductive dysfunction and infertility.

Impacts of Increasing Model Resolutions and Shortening Forecast Lead Times on QPFs in South China During the Rainy Season

This study investigated the impacts of increasing model resolutions and shortening forecast lead times on the quantitative precipitation forecast(QPF)for heavy-rainfall events over south China during the rainy seasons in 2013-2020.The control experiment,where the analysis-forecast cycles run with model resolutions of about 3 km,was compared to a lower-resolution experiment with model resolutions of about 9 km,and a longer-term experiment activated 12 hours earlier.Rainfall forecasting in the presummer rainy season was significantly improved by improving model resolutions,with more improvements in cases with stronger synoptic-scale forcings.This is partially attributed to the improved initial conditions(ICs)and subsequent forecasts for low-level jets(LLJs).Forecasts of heavy rainfall induced by landfalling tropical cyclones(TCs)benefited from increasing model resolutions in the first 6 hours.Forecast improvements in rainfall due to shortening forecast lead times were more significant at earlier(1-6 h)and later(7-12 h)lead times for cases with stronger and weaker synoptic-scale forcings,respectively,due to the area-and case-dependent improvements in ICs for nonprecipitation variables.Specifically,significant improvements mainly presented over the northern South China Sea for low-level onshore wind of weak-forcing cases but over south China for LLJs of strong-forcing cases during the presummer rainy season,and over south China for all the nonprecipitation variables above the surface during the TC season.However,some disadvantages of higher-resolution and shorter-term forecasts in QPFs highlight the importance of developing ensemble forecasting with proper IC perturbations,which include the complementary advantages of lower-resolution and longer-term forecasts.

Multi-site anchoring of single-molecule for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells with lead shielding

The emergence of perovskite solar cells(PSCs) has greatly promoted the progress of photovoltaic technologies.The rapid development of PSCs has been driven by the advances in optimizing perovskite films and their adjacent interfaces.However,the polycrystalline perovskite layers in most highly efficient PSCs still contain various defects that greatly limit photovoltaic performance and stability of the devices.Herein,we introduce a multifunctional additive ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonic sodium(EDTMPS) with multiple anchor points into the precursor of perovskite to improve the efficiency and stability of PSCs and provide in-situ protection of lead leakage.The addition of EDTMPS acts as a crystal growth controller and passivation agent for perovskite films,thereby slowing down the crystallization rate of the film and obtaining high-quality perovskite films.Our study also provides an insight into how the modifier modulate the interfacial energy level arrangement as well as affect transfer of charge carriers and their recombination under photoinduced excitation.As a result,the power conversion efficiency(PCE) of single subcell with a working area of 0.255 cm^(2) increases significantly from 20.03% to 23.37%.Moreover,we obtained a PCE of 19.16% for the 25 cm^(2) module.Importantly,the unencapsulated EDTMP-modified PSCs exhibit better operational and thermal stability,as well as in-situ absorption of leaked lead ions.

Graphene oxide/hydrotalcite modified polyethersulfone nanohybrid membrane for the treatment of lead ion from battery industrial effluent

In the present study, polyethersulfone based nanohybrid membranes were effectively fabricated by incorporating graphene oxide(GO) and hydrotalcite(HT) nanosheets into the membrane structure. HT was prepared to overcome the irreversible agglomeration behavior of GO at a high concentration which affects the performance of the membranes. In particular, the shedding of HT in formamide provides a two-dimensional nanosheet with a higher positive charge density to prevent the restacking of GO nanosheets. Here, exfoliated GO and HT with different combinations(1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) were infused in the membrane matrix to treat lead-acid battery effluent effectively. Finally, the hybrid membranes were characterized for hydrophilicity, mechanical strength and pure water flux. In combination with the superior properties of GO and HT, the prepared hybrid membranes can be used as effectively to improve the separation and permeation performance. The phase inversion process eliminated the leaching of nanoparticles from the membrane matrix. The reusability of the hybrid membrane was achieved using0.1 mol·L^(-1)NaOH solution and reused without significant reduction in lead removal efficiency. The cost analysis of the membrane was also estimated from the lab study. Therefore, the present study suggested the selective and sustainable treatment of lead from a real-life effluent.