| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 2. |
- Wang, Fang, et al.
(author)
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Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective
- 2024
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In: Innovation. - 2666-6758. ; 5
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.
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| 3. |
- Li, Xinxuan, et al.
(author)
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Genetically predicted high IGF-1 levels showed protective effects on COVID-19 susceptibility and hospitalization : a Mendelian randomisation study with data from 60 studies across 25 countries
- 2022
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In: eLIFE. - : eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. - 2050-084X. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Epidemiological studies observed gender differences in COVID-19 outcomes, however, whether sex hormone plays a causal in COVID-19 risk remains unclear. This study aimed to examine associations of sex hormone, sex hormones-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and COVID-19 risk. Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) study was performed to explore the causal associations between testosterone, estrogen, SHBG, IGF-1, and the risk of COVID-19 (susceptibility, hospitalization, and severity) using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary level data from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (N=1,348,701). Random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) MR approach was used as the primary MR method and the weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) test were conducted as sensitivity analyses. Results: Higher genetically predicted IGF-1 levels have nominally significant association with reduced risk of COVID-19 susceptibility and hospitalization. For one standard deviation increase in genetically predicted IGF-1 levels, the odds ratio was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.97, p=0.027) for COVID-19 susceptibility, 0.62 (95% CI: 0.25-0.51, p=0.018) for COVID-19 hospitalization, and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.52-1.38, p=0.513) for COVID-19 severity. There was no evidence that testosterone, estrogen, and SHBG are associated with the risk of COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, and severity in either overall or sex-stratified TSMR analysis. Conclusions: Our study indicated that genetically predicted high IGF-1 levels were associated with decrease the risk of COVID-19 susceptibility and hospitalization, but these associations did not survive the Bonferroni correction of multiple testing. Further studies are needed to validate the findings and explore whether IGF-1 could be a potential intervention target to reduce COVID-19 risk.
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| 4. |
- Li, Youbing, et al.
(author)
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Nanolaminated Ternary Transition Metal Carbide (MAX Phase)-Derived Core-Shell Structure Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Electrolytes
- 2023
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 1948-7185. ; 14:2, s. 481-488
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The development of abundant, cheap, and highly active catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is important for hydrogen production. Nanolaminate ternary transition metal carbides (MAX phases) and their derived two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) have attracted considerable interest for electrocatalyst applications. Herein, four new MAX@MXene core-shell structures (Ta2CoC@ Ta2CTx, Ta2NiC@Ta2CTx, Nb2CoC@Nb2CTx, and Nb2NiC@Nb2CTx), in which the core region is Co/Ni-MAX phases while the edge region is MXenes, have been prepared. Under alkaline electrolyte conditions, the Ta2CoC@Ta2CTx core-shell structure showed an overpotential of 239 mV and excellent stability during the HER with MXenes as the active sites. For the OER, the Ta2CoC@Ta2CTx core- shell structure showed an overpotential of 373 mV and a small Tafel plot (56 mV dec-1), which maintained a bulk crystalline structure and generated Co-based oxyhydroxides that formed by surface reconstruction as active sites. Considering rich chemical compositions and structures of MAX phases, this work provides a new strategy for designing multifunctional electrocatalysts and also paves the way for further development of MAX phase-based materials for clean energy applications.
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| 5. |
- Zhu, Youjian, et al.
(author)
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Reduction of fine particulate matter emissions from cornstalk combustion by calcium phosphates additives
- 2021
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In: Fuel. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-2361 .- 1873-7153. ; 283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The emission of fine particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 1 µm (PM1) is usually high from straw biomass combustion, resulting in great danger to atmospheric environment and public health. In this work, the effect of three calcium phosphate additives on PM1 emission from cornstalk combustion was investigated using a lab-scale reactor. The addition of Ca(H2PO4)2, CaHPO4 and Ca3(PO4)2 reduced PM1 emission by 1.5–50.6%, 22–55.6% and 23–53.7%, respectively. For Ca(H2PO4)2, PM1 reduction rate reached its maximum values of 50.6% at P/K molar ratio equal to 1 and then decreased significantly with further increasing of P/K molar ratio. For both CaHPO4 and Ca3(PO4)2, PM1 reduction rate increased approximately linearly with increasing the amount of additives under the current operating conditions. Analyses of the collected particulate matters and residual ashes indicated that phosphorus was mainly transformed into PM1-10 and residual ash in the form of K-Ca/Mg phosphates and Ca/Mg phosphates, respectively. The PM1 reduction mechanism was proposed based on the characterization results. Finally, economic analysis showed that the addition of Ca3(PO4)2 is a potentially promising method to reduce PM1 emissions during straw biomass combustion.
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