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Background The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), based on peripheral platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, has been proven to be a promising prognostic indicator in various diseases. Hip fracture is a common injury among the older adults, and has become a global public health problem with high mortality and disability rates. However, the relationship between SII and the prognosis of hip fracture is not yet well-known. The aim of the this study was to explore the predictive value of SII in older adults with hip fracture undergoing surgery. Methods This was a prospective cohort study performed from January 2014 to December 2018 at a orthopaedic center, China. The SII was calculated as platelet×neutrophil/lymphocyte counts. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between SII and all-cause mortality. Results A total of 290 older adults with hip fracture were included, and the mean (SD) age was 77.6 (8.6) years, and 189 (65.2%) were female. The median (IQR) SII was 759.4 (519.0–1128.7) × 109/L. After a median follow-up time of 33.4 months, 13 (4.5%), 26 (9.0%) and 54 (18.6%) patients died within the 30-day, 1-year and last follow-up, respectively. Multivariable Cox analysis revealed that each increase of 100 units of SII was associated with a 8% increased hazard of death at 1-year follow-up (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.17, p = 0.033), and 9% increased hazard of death at last follow-up (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03–1.15, p = 0.003). Conclusions SII is associated with poor all-cause mortality in older adults with hip fracture undergoing surgery, and deserves further investigation and application in clinical practice.

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Dolichospermum flos-aquae (formerly Anabaena flos-aquae) is a diazotrophic cyanobacterium causing harmful blooms worldwide, which is partly attributed to its capacity to compete for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Preventing the blooms by reducing P alone or both N and P has caused debate. To test the effects alone and together on the growth of cyanobacteria, we performed culture experiments in different eutrophication scenarios. N fixation in terms of heterocyst density, nitrogenase activity and nifH expression increased significantly in P-replete cultures, suggesting that P enrichment facilitates N fixation. Correspondingly, the expression of genes involved in P uptake, e.g., those involved in P-transport ( pstS) and the hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters ( phoD), was upregulated in P-deficient cultures. Interestingly, N addition enhanced not only the expression of these genes but also polyphosphate formation and alkaline phosphatase activity in P-deficient cultures relative to the P-replete cultures, as evidenced by qualitative (enzyme-labeled fluorescence) and quantitative (fluorogenic spectrophotometry) measurements. Furthermore, after N addition, cell activity and growth increased in the P-deficient cultures, underscoring the risk of N enrichment in P-limited systems. The eco-physiological responses shown here help further our understanding of the mechanism of N and P colimitation and underscore the importance of dual N and P reduction in controlling cyanobacterial blooms.

Algae biomass has recently attracted the attention of the green energy industry as a raw material for biofuels production. Their high-water content has led to the choice of hydrothermal liquefaction as a suitable way to convert them into biooil. From algae species to bio-oil as fuel, many steps are required, including the selection of algae species and process parameters (including catalysts), the liquefaction process, product separation, recovery of crude bio-oil, and subsequent upgrading (if the goal is to use the bio-oil as transportation fuel). This review gives some biochemical, elemental, and inorganic compositions of algae. The reaction mechanism of hydrothermal liquefaction is briefly described, with an emphasis on the influence of process parameters on the yield and quality of the crude bio-oil. The use of organic solvents as reaction media or for recovery of crude bio-oil from product mixtures is discussed. The research work on the catalytic hydrothermal upgrading of algae liquefied crude bio-oil in recent years is reviewed, and some conclusions are put forward. According to recent reports, there is a section devoted to the techno-economic analysis of the hydrothermal liquefaction process. Finally, the challenges that future research and new development strategies may face are proposed.

The toxicity of amyloid-beta (Aβ) is strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), which has a high incidence in the elderly worldwide. Recent evidence showed that alteration in the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) plays a key role in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. However, the activation of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDARs has distinct consequences for plasticity, gene regulation, neuronal death, and Aβ production. This review focuses on the dysregulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDARs induced by Aβ. On one hand, Aβ downregulates the synaptic NMDAR response by promoting NMDAR endocytosis, leading to either neurotoxicity or neuroprotection. On the other hand, Aβ enhances the activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs by decreasing neuronal glutamate uptake and inducing glutamate spillover, subsequently causing neurotoxicity. In addition, selective enhancement of synaptic activity by low doses of NMDA, or reduction of extrasynaptic activity by memantine, a non-competitive NMDAR antagonist, halts Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Therefore, future neuroprotective drugs for AD should aim at both the enhancement of synaptic activity and the disruption of extrasynaptic NMDAR-dependent death signaling.

Purpose The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been extensively studied in various diseases. However, the relationship between PLR and hip fracture remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PLR would be an independent prognostic factor in elderly hip fracture patients. Methods Between January 2014 and December 2018, a retrospective cohort study was conducted in a orthopaedic centre, China. A total of 460 hip fracture patients were included. PLR was calculated as the ratio of platelet to lymphocyte counts and divided into high PLR group (≥ 189) and low PLR group (< 189) by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The relationship between PLR and one year all-cause mortality rate was assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Further subgroup analysis stratified by different clinical and biological characteristics was performed to make the results more accurate. Results After a median follow-up of 32.0 months (range, 12.0-75.4), 92 patients (mortality rate: 20.0%) died within one year. PLR was significantly higher in dead patients compared with alive patients (p < 0.05), and high PLR group also had a high mortality rate (32.21% vs. 14.15%, p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, high PLR remained an independent predictor for one year all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-2.41, p = 0.041). Moreover, advanced age (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08), male (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06-2.45), CCI ≥ 2 (HR 2.83, 95% CI 1.64-4.89), conservative treatment (HR 5.94, 95% CI 3.71-9.73), low haemoglobin level (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04), and low albumin level (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13) were independent risk factors for survival. Furthermore, subgroup analysis results were consistent with the main findings in most stratified groups. Conclusion This study highlights that high PLR (≥ 189) is associated with increased one year all-cause mortality in elderly hip fracture patients. As PLR is a simple indicator that can be calculated from the blood routine test, it can be easily performed in usual clinical practice.

Among the various problems the world is facing, two problems are addressed in this paper. On the one hand, biomass, the fourth largest and most important renewable energy option that can provide different forms of energy, is criticized because it competes, sometimes, with the food chain. On the other hand, the amount of municipal sewage sludge has continued to increase over the years, and its disposal remains a crucial point of discussion between urban planners, wastewater managers, and leaders of environmental protection. To address this problem, researchers are directing their focus toward alternatives to conventional biomass resources, such as organic wastes and residues. Thus, municipal sewage sludge is a likely candidate for energy and high-value added material production. Regarding this issue, one of the main methods proposed by researchers is the pyrolysis process. The aim of this paper is to review the research conducted on sewage sludge conversion through the pyrolysis process. After characterizing municipal sewage sludge, we present a summary of the sewage sludge pyrolysis process. Then, the effects of some of the most influential parameters are examined. The last main part of this work is dedicated to the nitrogen transformation pathway during this process.