Chlorite and bromate alter the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: Co-regulation of oxidative stress and energy supply

The widespread use of disinfectants during the global response to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic has increased the co-occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although DBPs pose major threats to public health globally, there is limited knowledge regarding their biological effects on ARGs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two inorganic DBPs (chlorite and bromate) on the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid among Escherichia coli strains at environmentally relevant concentrations. Interestingly, the frequency of conjugative transfer was initially inhibited when the exposure time to chlorite or bromate was less than 24 h. However, this inhibition transformed into promotion when the exposure time was extended to 36 h. Short exposures to chlorite or bromate were shown to impede the electron transport chain, resulting in an ATP shortage and subsequently inhibiting conjugative transfer. Consequently, this stimulates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the SOS response. Upon prolonged exposure, the resurgent energy supply promoted conjugative transfer. These findings offer novel and valuable insights into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic DBPs on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the management of DBPs.

Understanding the Mechanochemistry of Mechano-Radicals in Self-Growth Materials by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy

Recent research on mechano-radicals has provided valuable insights into self-growth and adaptive responsive materials. Typically, mechanophores must remain inert in the absence of force but respond quickly to external tension before other linkages within the polymer network. Azo compounds exhibit promising combinations of mechanical stability and force-triggered reactivity, making them widely used as mechano-radicals in force-responsive materials. However, the activation conditions and behavior of azo compounds have yet to be quantitatively explored. In this study, we investigated the mechanical strength of three azo compounds using single-molecule force spectroscopy. Our results revealed that these compounds exhibit rupture forces ranging from ~500 to 1000 pN, at a loading rate of 3×104 pN s-1. Importantly, these mechanophores demonstrate distinct kinetic properties. Their unique mechanical attributes enable azo bond scission and free radical generation before causing major polymer backbone damage of entire material during polymer network deformation. This fundamental understanding of mechanophores holds significant promise for the development of self-growth materials and their related applications.

Cylindrospermopsin enhances the conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated multi-antibiotic resistance genes through glutathione biosynthesis inhibition

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a cyanobacterial toxin, has been detected in the global water environment. However, information concerning the potential environmental risk of CYN is limited, since the majority of previous studies have mainly focused on the adverse health effects of CYN through contaminated drinking water. The present study reported that CYN at environmentally relevant levels (0.1-100 μg/L) can significantly enhance the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid in Escherichia coli genera, wherein application of 10 μg/L of CYN led to maximum fold change of ∼6.5- fold at 16 h of exposure. Meanwhile, evaluation of underlying mechanisms revealed that environmental concentration of CYN exposure could increase oxidative stress in the bacterial cells, resulting in ROS overproduction. In turn, this led to an upregulation of antioxidant enzyme-related genes to avoid ROS attack. Further, inhibition of the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) was also detected, which led to the rapid depletion of GSH in cells and thus triggered the SOS response and promoted the conjugative transfer process. Increase in cell membrane permeability, upregulation of expression of genes related to pilus generation, ATP synthesis, and RP4 gene expression were also observed. These results highlight the potential impact on the spread of antimicrobial resistance in water environments.

Picosecond Spin Current Generation from Vicinal Metal-Antiferromagnetic Insulator Interfaces

We report the picosecond spin current generation from the interface between a heavy metal and a vicinal antiferromagnet insulator Cr_{2}O_{3} by laser pulses at room temperature and zero magnetic field. It is converted into a detectable terahertz emission in the heavy metal via the inverse spin Hall effect. The vicinal interfaces are apparently the source of the picosecond spin current, as evidenced by the proportional terahertz signals to the vicinal angle. We attribute the origin of the spin current to the transient magnetic moment generated by an interfacial nonlinear magnetic-dipole difference-frequency generation. We propose a model based on the in-plane inversion symmetry breaking to quantitatively explain the terahertz intensity with respect to the angles of the laser polarization and the film azimuth. Our work opens new opportunities in antiferromagnetic and ultrafast spintronics by considering symmetry breaking.

Natural Fat Nanoemulsions for Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography Neuroimaging and Tumor Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging mainly uses backscattered light to visualize the structural and functional information on biological tissues. In particular, OCT angiography can not only map the capillary networks but also capture the blood flow in the tissue microenvironment, making it a good candidate for neuroimaging and tumor imaging in vivo and in real time. To further improve the detection accuracy of cancer or brain disorders, it is essential to develop a natural and nontoxic contrast agent for enhanced OCT imaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. In this study, a superior biocompatible and highly scattering NIR-II fat nanoemulsion was constructed to improve OCT imaging contrast and depth for monitoring the vascular network changes of the cerebral cortex or tumor. In vivo experimental results demonstrated that a natural fat nanoemulsion can serve as an excellent probe for enhanced OCT neuroimaging and tumor imaging.

Research on collaborative edge network service migration strategy based on crowd clustering

The innovative application of Crowd Intelligent Devices (CIDS) in edge networks has garnered attention due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence and computer technology. This application offers users more reliable and low-latency computing services through computation offloading technology. However, the dynamic nature of network terminals and the limited coverage of edge servers pose challenges, such as data loss and service interruption. Furthermore, the high-speed mobility of intelligent terminals in the dynamic edge network environment further complicates the design of computation offloading and service migration strategies. To address these challenges, this paper explores the computation offloading model of cluster intelligence collaboration in a heterogeneous network environment. This model involves multiple intelligences collaborating to provide computation offloading services for terminals. To accommodate various roles, a switching strategy of split-cluster group collaboration is introduced, assigning the cluster head, the alternate cluster head, and the ordinary user are assigned to a group with different functions. Additionally, the paper formulates the optimal offloading strategy for group smart terminals as a Markov decision process, taking into account factors such as user mobility, service delay, service accuracy, and migration cost. To implement this strategy, the paper utilizes the deep reinforcement learning-based CCSMS algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed edge network service migration strategy, rooted in groupwise cluster collaboration, effectively mitigates interruption delay and enhances service migration efficiency.

Supercharged precision killers: Genetically engineered biomimetic drugs of screened metalloantibiotics against Acinetobacter baumanni

To eliminate multidrug-resistant bacteria of Acinetobacter baumannii, we screened 1100 Food and Drug Administration-approved small molecule drugs and accessed the broxyquinoline (Bq) efficacy in combination with various metal ions. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that the prepared Zn(Bq)2 complex showed ultralow minimum inhibitory concentration of ~0.21 micrograms per milliliter with no resistance after 30 passages. We then constructed the nano zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) as a drug carrier of Zn(Bq)2 and also incorporated the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) to trace and boost the antibacterial effect. To further ensure the stable and targeted delivery, we genetically engineered outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) with the ability to selectively target A. baumannii. By coating the ZnBq/Ce6@ZIF-8 core with these OMV, the resulted drug (ZnBq/Ce6@ZIF-8@OMV) exhibited exceptional killing efficacy (>99.9999999%) of A. baumannii. In addition, in vitro and in vivo tests were also respectively carried out to inspect the remarkable efficacy of this previously unknown nanodrug in eradicating A. baumannii infections, including biofilms and meningitis.

Rapid Self-Assembly Mini-Livers Protect Mice Against Severe Hepatectomy-Induced Liver Failure

The construction of bioartificial livers, such as liver organoids, offers significant promise for disease modeling, drug development, and regenerative medicine. However, existing methods for generating liver organoids have limitations, including lengthy and complex processes (taking 6-8 weeks or longer), safety concerns associated with pluripotency, limited functionality of pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes, and small, highly variable sizes (typically ≈50-500 µm in diameter). Prolonged culture also leads to the formation of necrotic cores, further restricting size and function. In this study, a straightforward and time-efficient approach is developed for creating rapid self-assembly mini-livers (RSALs) within 12 h. Additionally, primary hepatocytes are significantly expanded in vitro for use as seeding cells. RSALs exhibit consistent larger sizes (5.5 mm in diameter), improved cell viability (99%), and enhanced liver functionality. Notably, RSALs are functionally vascularized within 2 weeks post-transplantation into the mesentery of mice. These authentic hepatocyte-based RSALs effectively protect mice from 90%-hepatectomy-induced liver failure, demonstrating the potential of bioartificial liver-based therapy.

The Combination of Membrane Disruption and FtsZ Targeting by a Chemotherapeutic Hydrogel Synergistically Combats Pathogens Infections

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a significant challenge to global health. Due to a shortage of antibiotics, alternative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Unfortunately, colistin, the last-resort antibiotic, has unavoidable nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, and its single killing mechanism is prone to drug resistance. To address this challenge, a promising combinatorial approach that includes colistin, a membrane-disrupting antimicrobial agent, and chelerythrine (CHE), a FtsZ protein inhibitor is proposed. This approach significantly reduces antibiotic dose and development of resistance, leading to almost complete inactivation of MDR pathogens in vitro. To address solubility issues and ensure transport, the antimicrobial hydrogel system LNP-CHE-CST@hydrogel, which induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis-like cell death by targeting the FtsZ protein, is used. In an in vivo mouse skin infection model, the combination therapy effectively eliminated MDR bacteria within 24 h, as monitored by fluorescence tracking. The findings demonstrate a promising approach for developing multifunctional hydrogels to combat MDR bacterial infections.

Association of urinary chlorpyrifos, paraquat, and cyproconazole levels with the severity of fatty liver based on MRI

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to detect the urinary levels of chlorpyrifos, paraquat, and cyproconazole in residents living in Fuyang City and to analyze the correlation between these urinary pesticides levels and the severity of fatty liver disease (FLD).

METHODS

All participants' fat fraction (FF) values were recorded by MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging). First-morning urine samples were collected from 53 participants from Fuyang Peoples'Hospital. The levels of three urinary pesticides were measured using β-glucuronidase hydrolysis followed by a. The results were analyzed by using Pearson correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis to reveal the correlation between three urinary pesticides and the severity of fatty liver.

RESULTS

53 individuals were divided into 3 groups based on the results from MRI, with 20 cases in the normal control group, 16 cases in the mild fatty liver group, and 17 cases in the moderate and severe fatty liver group. Urinary chlorpyrifos level was increased along with the increase of the severity of fatty liver. Urinary paraquat level was significantly higher both in the low-grade fatty liver group and moderate & serve grade fatty liver group compared with the control group. No significant differences in urinary cyproconazole levels were observed among the three groups. Furthermore, urinary chlorpyrifos and paraquat levels were positively correlated with FF value. And chlorpyrifos was the risk factor that may be involved in the development of FLD and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis showed that chlorpyrifos and paraquat may serve as potential predictors of FLD.

CONCLUSION

The present findings indicate urinary chlorpyrifos and paraquat were positively correlated with the severity of fatty liver. Moreover, urinary chlorpyrifos and paraquat have the potential to be considered as the predictors for development of FLD. Thus, this study may provide a new perspective from the environmental factors for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of FLD.

Azobenzene as a photoswitchable mechanophore

Azobenzene has been widely explored as a photoresponsive element in materials science. Although some studies have investigated the force-induced isomerization of azobenzene, the effect of force on the rupture of azobenzene has not been explored. Here we show that the light-induced structural change of azobenzene can also alter its rupture forces, making it an ideal light-responsive mechanophore. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy and ultrasonication, we found that cis and trans para-azobenzene isomers possess contrasting mechanical properties. Dynamic force spectroscopy experiments and quantum-chemical calculations in which azobenzene regioisomers were pulled from different directions revealed that the distinct rupture forces of the two isomers are due to the pulling direction rather than the energetic difference between the two isomers. These mechanical features of azobenzene can be used to rationally control the macroscopic fracture behaviours of polymer networks by photoillumination. The use of light-induced conformational changes to alter the mechanical response of mechanophores provides an attractive way to engineer polymer networks of light-regulatable mechanical properties.

Tough Hydrogels with Different Toughening Mechanisms and Applications

Load-bearing biological tissues, such as cartilage and muscles, exhibit several crucial properties, including high elasticity, strength, and recoverability. These characteristics enable these tissues to endure significant mechanical stresses and swiftly recover after deformation, contributing to their exceptional durability and functionality. In contrast, while hydrogels are highly biocompatible and hold promise as synthetic biomaterials, their inherent network structure often limits their ability to simultaneously possess a diverse range of superior mechanical properties. As a result, the applications of hydrogels are significantly constrained. This article delves into the design mechanisms and mechanical properties of various tough hydrogels and investigates their applications in tissue engineering, flexible electronics, and other fields. The objective is to provide insights into the fabrication and application of hydrogels with combined high strength, stretchability, toughness, and fast recovery as well as their future development directions and challenges.

Multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 inhibits the nitrogen removal capacity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and comammox in activated sludge

In wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), ammonia oxidation is primarily carried out by three types of ammonia oxidation microorganisms (AOMs): ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and comammox (CMX). Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose an important public health concern, have been identified at every stage of wastewater treatment. However, few studies have focused on the impact of ARGs on ammonia removal performance. Therefore, our study sought to investigate the effect of the representative multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 on the functional microorganisms involved in ammonia oxidation. Using an inhibitor-based method, we first evaluated the contributions of AOA, AOB, and CMX to ammonia oxidation in activated sludge, which were determined to be 13.7%, 41.1%, and 39.1%, respectively. The inhibitory effects of C2H2, C8H14, and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) were then validated by qPCR. After adding donor strains to the sludge, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging analysis demonstrated the co-localization of RP4 plasmids and all three AOMs, thus confirming the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the RP4 plasmid among these microorganisms. Significant inhibitory effects of the RP4 plasmid on the ammonia nitrogen consumption of AOA, AOB, and CMX were also observed, with inhibition rates of 39.7%, 36.2%, and 49.7%, respectively. Moreover, amoA expression in AOB and CMX was variably inhibited by the RP4 plasmid, whereas AOA amoA expression was not inhibited. These results demonstrate the adverse environmental effects of the RP4 plasmid and provide indirect evidence supporting plasmid-mediated conjugation transfer from bacteria to archaea.

The adsorption and release mechanism of different aged microplastics toward Hg(II) via batch experiment and the deep learning method

Aged microplastics are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment, which inevitably accumulate metals, and then alter their migration. Whereas, the synergistic behavior and effect of microplastics and Hg(II) were rarely reported. In this context, the adsorptive behavior of Hg(II) by pristine/aged microplastics involving polystyrene, polyethylene, polylactic acid, and tire microplastics were investigated via kinetic (pseudo-first and second-order dynamics, the internal diffusion model), Langmuir, and Freundlich isothermal models; the adsorption and desorption behavior was also explored under different conditions. Microplastics aged by ozone exhibited a rougher surface attached with abundant oxygen-containing groups to enhance hydrophilicity and negative surface charge, those promoted adsorption capacity of 4-20 times increment compared with the pristine microplastics. The process (except for aged tire microplastics) was dominated by a monolayer chemical reaction, which was significantly impacted by pH, salinity, fulvic acid, and co-existing ions. Furthermore, the adsorbed Hg(II) could be effectively eluted in 0.04% HCl, simulated gastric liquids, and seawater with a maximum desorption amount of 23.26 mg/g. An artificial neural network model was used to predict the performance of microplastics in complex media and accurately capture the main influencing factors and their contributions. This finding revealed that aged microplastics had the affinity to trap Hg(II) from freshwater, whereafter it released the Hg(II) once transported into the acidic medium, the organism's gastrointestinal system, or the estuary area. These indicated that aged microplastics could be the sink or the source of Hg(II) depending on the surrounding environment, meaning that aged microplastics could be the vital carrier to Hg(II).

Identification of immunological characteristics and cuproptosis-related molecular clusters in primary Sjögren's syndrome

BACKGROUND

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of the exocrine glands. The typical clinical symptoms of pSS include dryness of the mouth (xerostomia) and eyes (xerophthalmia), fatigue, and joint pain. Cuproptosis is a recently identified mode of programmed cell death that leads to the progression of multiple diseases, and the precise etiology and pathophysiology of pSS remain unknown. Consequently, the aim of our study was to explore cuproptosis-related molecular clusters and identify key genes in pSS.

METHOD

Gene expression profiles of the peripheral blood in the GSE84844 dataset were downloaded to identify the expression characteristics of cuproptosis regulators and immune cell infiltration. Subsequently, further exploration was conducted on the clusters involving cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and the corresponding immune cell infiltration, and the WGCNA algorithm was applied to explore the cluster-specific differentially expressed genes. Finally, the best machine prediction model was selected for candidate hub cuproptosis-associated genes and the accuracy of predictive efficiency was verified by the salivary gland in an external dataset (GSE143153) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULT

Through a comparison of patients with pSS and controls, 7 CRGs and 4 types of immune cells were identified. Immune cell infiltration revealed significant immune heterogeneity in three cuproptosis-related molecular clusters in pSS. The random forest machine model showed the best discriminatory performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 1.000) and built a predictive model based on 5 genes, which demonstrated satisfactory performance (AUC = 0.70) in the GSE143153 dataset. Based on serum samples, EED (AUC = 0.557), CBL (AUC = 0.635), and NFU1 (AUC = 0.655) showed lower expression levels in patients with pSS (p = 0.037, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we systematically analyzed the association between pSS and cuproptosis, established a predictive model that screened for high-risk genes linked to the advancement of pSS, and explored the pathogenic mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies for pSS, targeting EED, CBL and NFU1.

Visualizing the bibliometrics of biochar research for remediation of arsenic pollution

Arsenic-contamination of soil and water has always been a topic of considerable concern, and the potential of biochar for remediation of arsenic contamination has been widely recognized due to its advantages, including abundant sources, simple preparation, large surface area, significant pore size, and rich functional groups. To gain insights into the development trends in this field and provide suggestions for future research directions, scientometric analysis was conducted on articles sourced from the Web of Science core collection database by using the CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. In total, 637 bibliographic records, retrieved using the keywords "biochar" and "arsenic" were analyzed based on publication distribution over the years, contributing countries, keywords, authors, cited authors, publishing journals, and highly cited articles. Further, progress maps were generated from these data sets to assess the current research landscape. Results revealed a steady increase in annual publications since 2009, and China has the most publications. Notably, Daniel C. W. Tsang stood out as a representative author. The journal "Science of the Total Environment" published the most articles related to biochar and arsenic. "Adsorption" is the most frequently occurring keyword. The investigations of the impact and mechanism of biochar and modified biochar on inorganic arsenic removal from water and immobilization in soil have been identified as current research focal points. In order to realize the efficient and safe use of biochar, the future necessitates the implementation of advanced technology to conduct further comprehensive research. This study highlights the ongoing advancements in the research field on biochar and arsenic. Valuable insights are provided for future researchers and policymakers to guide their significant efforts toward addressing the issue of soil and water contamination caused by arsenic and exploring the potential of biochar for effective remediation strategies.

Structure-based molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations study for the identification of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) activity has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Bioinformatics-driven approaches have emerged as crucial tools in drug discovery. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are effective tools in drug discovery, as they reduce the time and cost associated with experimental screening. In this study, we employed structure-assisted in-silico methods, including molecular docking and MD simulations, to identify SRT2183, a small molecule that may potentially inhibit the activity of DPP4 enzyme. The interaction between the small molecule "SRT2183" and DPP4 exhibited a binding affinity of -9.9 Kcal/Mol, leading to the formation of hydrogen bonds with the amino acid residues MET348, SER376, and THR351 of DPP4. The MD simulations over a period of 100 ns indicated stable protein-ligand interactions, with no significant conformational rearrangements observed within the simulated timeframe. In conclusion, our results suggest that the small molecule SRT2183 may have the potential to inhibit the DPP4 enzyme and pave the way for the therapeutics of T2DM.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Design of a Haversian system-like gradient porous scaffold based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for promoting bone regeneration

INTRODUCTION

The bone ingrowth depth in the porous scaffolds is greatly affected by the structural design, notably the pore size, pore geometry, and the pore distribution. To enhance the bone regeneration capability of scaffolds, the bionic design can be regarded as a potential solution.

OBJECTIVES

We proposed a Haversian system-like gradient structure based on the triply periodic minimal surface architectures with pore size varying from the edge to the center. And its effects in promoting bone regeneration were evaluated in the study.

METHODS

The gradient scaffold was designed using the triply periodic minimal surface architectures. The mechanical properties were analyzed by the finite element simulation and confirmed using the universal machine. The fluid characteristics were calculated by the computational fluid dynamics analysis. The bone regeneration process was simulated using a in silico computational model containing the main biological, physical, and chemical variation during the bone growth process. Finally, the in vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to verify the actual osteogenic effect.

RESULTS

Compared to the uniform scaffold, the biomimetic gradient scaffold demonstrated better performance in stress conduction and reduced stress shielding effects. The fluid features were appropriate for cell migration and flow diffusion, and the permeability was in the same order of magnitude with the natural bone. The bone ingrowth simulation exhibited improved angiogenesis and bone regeneration. Higher expression of the osteogenesis-related genes, higher alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased mineralization could be observed on the gradient scaffold in the in vitro study. The 12-week in vivo study proved that the gradient scaffold had deeper bone inserting depth and a more stable bone-scaffold interface.

CONCLUSION

The Haversian system-like gradient structure can effectively promote the bone regeneration. This structural design can be used as a new solution for the clinical application of prosthesis design.

The occurrence, ecological risk, and control of disinfection by-products from intensified wastewater disinfection during the COVID-19 pandemic

Increased disinfection of wastewater to preserve its microbiological quality during the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have inevitably led to increased production of toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). However, there is limited information on such DBPs (i.e., trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, nitrosamines, and haloacetonitriles). This review focused on the upsurge of chlorine-based disinfectants (such as chlorine, chloramine and chlorine dioxide) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the global response to COVID-19. The formation and distribution of DBPs in wastewater were then analyzed to understand the impacts of these large-scale usage of disinfectants in WWTPs. In addition, potential ecological risks associated with DBPs derived from wastewater disinfection and its receiving water bodies were summarized. Finally, various approaches for mitigating DBP levels in wastewater and suggestions for further research into the environmental risks of increased wastewater disinfection were provided. Overall, this study presented a comprehensive overview of the formation, distribution, potential ecological risks, and mitigating approaches of DBPs derived from wastewater disinfection that will facilitate appropriate wastewater disinfection techniques selection, potential ecological risk assessment, and removal approaches and regulations consideration.

Development of a cell-free toehold switch for hepatitis A virus type I on-site detection

Picornavirus hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common cause of hepatitis worldwide. It is spread primarily through contaminated food and water or person-to-person contact. HAV I has been identified as the most common type of human HAV infection. Here, we have developed a cell-free toehold switch sensor for HAV I detection. We screened 10 suitable toehold switch sequences using NUPACK software, and the VP1 gene was used as the target gene. The optimal toehold switch sequence was selected by in vivo expression. The best toehold switch concentration was further found to be 20 nM in a cell-free system. 5 nM trigger RNA activated the toehold switch to generate visible green fluorescence. The minimum detection concentration decreased to 1 pM once combined with NASBA. HAV I trigger RNA could be detected accurately with excellent specificity. In addition, the cell-free toehold switch sensor was verified in HAV I entities. The successful construction of the cell-free toehold switch sensor provided a convenient, rapid, and accurate method for HAV I on-site detection, especially in developing countries, without the involvement of expensive facilities and additional professional operators.

Opinion cascade under perception bias in social networks

Opinion cascades, initiated by active opinions, offer a valuable avenue for exploring the dynamics of consensus and disagreement formation. Nevertheless, the impact of biased perceptions on opinion cascade, arising from the balance between global information and locally accessible information within network neighborhoods, whether intentionally or unintentionally, has received limited attention. In this study, we introduce a threshold model to simulate the opinion cascade process within social networks. Our findings reveal that consensus emerges only when the collective stubbornness of the population falls below a critical threshold. Additionally, as stubbornness decreases, we observe a higher prevalence of first-order and second-order phase transitions between consensus and disagreement. The emergence of disagreement can be attributed to the formation of echo chambers, which are tightly knit communities where agents' biased perceptions of active opinions are lower than their stubbornness, thus hindering the erosion of active opinions. This research establishes a valuable framework for investigating the relationship between perception bias and opinion formation, providing insights into addressing disagreement in the presence of biased information.

Physicochemical and functional property of the Maillard reaction products of soy protein isolate with L-arabinose/D-galactose

BACKGROUND

Soy protein isolate (SPI) is widely used in the food industry because of its nutritional and functional properties. During food processing and storage, the interaction with co-existing sugars can cause changes in the structural and functional properties of SPI. In this study, SPI-l-arabinose conjugate (SPI:Ara) and SPI-d-galactose conjugate (SPI:Gal) were prepared using Maillard reaction (MR), and the effects of five-carbon/six-carbon sugars on the structural information and function of SPI were compared.

RESULTS

MR unfolded and stretched the SPI, changing its ordered conformation into disorder. Lysine and arginine of SPI were bonded with the carbonyl group of sugar. The MR between SPI and l-arabinose has a higher degree of glycosylation compared to d-galactose. MR of SPI enhanced its solubility, emulsifying property and foaming property. Compared with SPI:Ara, SPI:Gal exhibited better aforementioned properties. The functionalities of amphiphilic SPI were enhanced by MR, SPI:Gal possessed better hypoglycemic effect, fat binding capacity and bile acid binding ability than SPI:Ara. MR endowed SPI with enhanced biological activities, SPI:Ara showed higher antioxidant activities, and SPI:Gal exhibited stronger antibacterial activities.

CONCLUSION

Our work revealed that l-arabinose/d-galactose exhibited different effects on the structural information of SPI, and further affected its physicochemical and functional property. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bivalent Gadolinium Ions Forming Injectable Hydrogels for Simultaneous In Situ Vaccination Therapy and Imaging of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Doxorubicin (DOX) is the classic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) first-line treatment drug, while dose-dependent myelosuppression and cardiotoxicity limit its application in clinic. This research intends to apply DOX, which is also an inducer of immunogenic cell death as a part for "in situ vaccination" and conjointly uses PD-1 inhibitors to enhance antitumor efficacy. In order to achieve the sustained vaccination effect and real-time monitoring of distribution in vivo, the in situ forming and injectable hydrogel platform with the function of visualization is established for local delivery. The hydrogel platform is synthesized by hyaluronic acid-dopamine coordinated with gadolinium ions (Gd2+ ). Gd2+ provides the ability of magnetic resonance imaging, meanwhile further cross-linking the hydrogel network. Experiments show excellent ability of sustained release and imaging tracking for the hydrogel platform. In mouse STS models, the "in situ vaccination" hydrogels show the best effect of inhibiting tumor growth. Further analysis of tumor tissues show that "in situ vaccination" group can increase T cell infiltration, promote M1-type macrophage polarization and block elevated PD-1/PD-L1 pathway caused by DOX. These results are expected to prove the potential for synthesized hydrogels to achieve a universal platform for "in situ vaccination" strategies on STS treatments.

Comparison of spatiotemporal burial and contamination of heavy metals in core sediments of two plateau lakes with contrasting environments: implication for anthropogenic-driven processes

Investigating the impacts of climatic factors and human activities on sedimentary records of heavy metal (HM) contamination in lakes is essential for decision-making in global environmental monitoring and assessment. Spatiotemporal distributions of grain size (GS) and HM (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) concentrations have been conducted in core sediments that are collected from two adjacent plateau fault-bound lakes in southwest China with contrasting environments, i.e., deep oligotrophic Lake Fuxian (FX) and shallow hypertrophic Lake Xingyun (XY). Results showed that the average value of d50 in FX (4.61 μm) was lower than that in XY (8.35 μm), but the average concentrations of HMs (except Cr and Mn) in XY were higher than those in FX. Heavy metal burial rates (HMBR) were mainly controlled by sediment accumulation rates (SARs) rather than HM concentrations. The correlation coefficients between GS and HM concentrations became strong as the increasing water depths were associated with a stable sedimentary environment. Time-integrated enrichment factors (EF) and source identification of HMs between FX and XY represented that Cr, Ni, and Cu originated from natural sources but Mn, Zn, As, and Pb from anthropogenic sources, respectively. Regardless of FX and XY, the transition times of HMs from natural to anthropogenic sources occurred in the mid-1960s. Comparison of qualification impacts of climatic factors and human-induced factors on increased anthropogenic HMBR by the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) implied that socio-economic activities, such as population density (PD) and gross domestic product (GDP), provided higher contributors to increased anthropogenic HMBR in XY (0.23/0.71) than FX (0.11/0.18). The comparative results of this study provided new insights into environmental monitoring and management of HM contamination for adjacent lakes with contrasting environments.

The Impact of Food Processing on the Structure and Hypoglycemic Effect of Oat β-glucan

The impact of food processing including baking, steaming and bread making, on the structure and hypoglycemic effect of oat β-glucan was studied. The structural analysis revealed the β-D-glucopyranosyl units of β-glucan was unchanged in aforementioned processing. The baking processing endowed β-glucan with increased molecular weight (Mw) and viscosity, which enhanced the capacity of β-glucan to delay starch digestion in vitro, such as the rapidly-digestible starch content decreased, the slowly-digestible and resistant starch content increased, and the glycemic index (GI) value decreased. Meanwhile, the inhibitory activity of β-glucan against α-glucosidase and α-amylase was enhanced by baking processing. By contrast, during steaming and bread making processing, β-glucan showed decreased Mw and viscosity, which accelerated starch digestion in vitro and reduced the inhibitory activity of β-glucan against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Apart from that, baking processing promoted the physiological and antioxidant properties of β-glucan, but the properties decreased during steaming and bread making processing. The results suggest that oat raw materials can be treated with dry heat and high temperature, avoiding moist heat and fermentation treatments to maximize the hypoglycemic effect of β-glucan.

Alleviation of Hepatic Steatosis by 4-azidophlorizin via the Degradation of Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate Synthase by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway in Vivo and in Vitro

There are no known approved pharmacotherapies for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the clinical setting. Although studies have provided substantial evidence that geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NAFLD corresponding drug screening is rare. A GGPPS-targeted inhibitor is identified using a structure-based virtual small molecule screening method. The interaction of 4-AZ and GGPPS is detected by microscale thermophoresis. 4-AZ degradation of GGPPS by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is detected by western blotting. The anti-steatotic effect of 4-AZ in vivo is detected by CT. Lipid-related gene detection is detected by real-time PCR both in primary hepatocytes and mice. The compound inhibits the accumulation of lipids in primary hepatocytes and decreases lipogenic gene expression through GGPPS. Pharmacological studies show that 4-AZ can attenuate hepatic steatosis and improve liver injury in high-fat diet-induced mice. This data provides a novel application of 4-AZ NAFLD therapy, proving that the inhibition of GGPPS is a novel strategy for the treatment of NAFLD.

Effect of Oat β-Glucan on the Structure and Properties of Soybean Protein Isolate During Maillard Reaction

Maillard reaction (MR) with oat β-glucan changed the structure of soybean protein isolate (SPI), further leading to the enhancement of its functional properties. SPI was unfolded by MR, and the SPI conjugates with high molecular weight were identified. The water solubility of SPI was improved by cross-linking with hydrophilic β-glucan, while the hydrophobicity also increased along with the unfolding of the SPI. Cross-linking with β-glucan elevated the viscosity of SPI, thus enhancing viscosity-related physiological activities, including bile acid binding ability, fat binding capacity, and hypoglycemic activity, and the functional properties increased as the βG content involved in MR increased.

Multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 increases NO and N2O yields via the electron transport system in Nitrosomonas europaea ammonia oxidation

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have recently become an important public health problem and therefore several studies have characterized ARG composition and distribution. However, few studies have assessed their impact on important functional microorganisms in the environment. Therefore, our study sought to investigate the mechanisms through which multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 affected the ammonia oxidation capacity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, which play a key role in the nitrogen cycle. The ammonia oxidation capacity of N. europaea ATCC25978 (RP4) was significantly inhibited, and NO and N2O were produced instead of nitrite. Our findings demonstrated that the decrease in electrons from NH2OH decreased the ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) activity, leading to a decrease in ammonia consumption. In the ammonia oxidation process, N. europaea ATCC25978 (RP4) exhibited ATP and NADH accumulation. The corresponding mechanism was the overactivation of Complex Ⅰ, ATPase, and the TCA cycle by the RP4 plasmid. The genes encoding TCA cycle enzymes related to energy generation, including gltA, icd, sucD, and NE0773, were upregulated in N. europaea ATCC25978 (RP4). These results demonstrate the ecological risks of ARGs, including the inhibition of the ammonia oxidation process and an increased production of greenhouse gases such as NO and N2O.

On-orbit demonstration of inter-satellite free-space optical stable communication enabled by integrated optical amplification of HPA and LNA

Satellite free-space optical (FSO) communication is very promising in improving the bandwidth and capacity of space information networks in the future. However, the inter-satellite transmission distance of over 1000 km leads to unstable optical beam pointing, acquisition, and tracking and then generates optical power jitter by a large margin before detection-demodulation. Therefore, it is difficult to realize high-stability and long-time FSO communication between satellites due to the generated bit error rate (BER) by jitter. In this paper, we report an autonomously self-designed and high-integration laser communication payload (LCP) and on-orbit-demonstrated inter-satellite 145 min, zero-BER FSO stable communication with a line rate of 2.8 Gbps. Moreover, based on the inter-satellite laser communication link, a video phone was clearly implemented for more than 10 min, and authentic user data transmitted 459,149 packets, achieving results of zero-packet loss. Summarily, this on-orbit experiment demonstrated an excellent performance of the LCP owing to the distinctive design of integrating a high-power amplifier and low-noise amplifier optical amplification function. Our space mission was successfully completed, and the on-orbit demonstration results may offer a significant reference for the field of satellite laser communication and space information networks.

Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol)

Nonspecific interactions play a significant role in physiological activities, surface chemical modification, and artificial adhesives. However, nonspecificity sometimes causes sticky problems, including surface fouling, decreased target specificity, and artifacts in single-molecule measurements. Adjusting the liquid pH, using protein-blocking additives, adding nonionic surfactants, or increasing the salt concentration are common methods to minimize nonspecific binding to achieve high-quality data. Here, we report that grafting heteromorphic polyethylene glycol (Y-shape PEG) with two inert terminates could noticeably decrease nonspecific binding. As a proof-of-concept, we performed single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence staining imaging experiments to verify the feasibility of Y-shape PEG in blocking nonspecific interactions. Our results indicate that Y-shape PEG could serve as a prominent and efficient candidate to minimize nonspecificity for scientific and biomedical applications.

Spatial-temporal variability of methane fluxes in lakes varying in latitude, area, and depth

Many previous studies have found spatial and seasonal variabilities in CH4 fluxes, which could significantly affect lake-wide CH4 budgets. However, the ways in which the spatial and seasonal patterns of CH4 fluxes vary among lakes on a global scale is largely unknown. We compiled literature on CH4 flux data from global lakes and analyzed the spatial and seasonal variabilities for lakes varying in latitude, maximum depth, and area. Spatially, we found a significant linear relationship between the ratio of littoral to profundal fluxes and lake morphology (more related to area than depth), while globally, half of the lakes would have within 5% error of CH4 emission estimation under single-zone sampling. Seasonally, mid-latitude lakes showed higher CH4 fluxes in the summer and autumn, indicating the influence of temperature and autumn overturn, and the latter being largely related to maximum depth. Globally, due to abundant shallow lakes in the mid-latitude zone, approximately 99% of lakes had higher fluxes in the summer, while 75% of lakes showed errors in CH4 emission estimation within 20% when only the summer flux was investigated. In the high-latitude lakes, CH4 evasion during the spring ice-off period was significantly correlated with lake maximum depth, while lake area was also important when analyzing the CH4 diffusive flux. Our study yields preliminary conclusions about spatial and seasonal patterns of CH4 flux in different lake types, which are fundamental to building an effective sampling strategy and to determining an accurate CH4 budget from global lakes.

CO electroreduction on single-atom copper

Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or carbon monoxide (CO) toward C₂₊ hydrocarbons such as ethylene, ethanol, acetate and propanol represents a promising approach toward carbon-negative electrosynthesis of chemicals. Fundamental understanding of the carbon─carbon (C-C) coupling mechanisms in these electrocatalytic processes is the key to the design and development of electrochemical systems at high energy and carbon conversion efficiencies. Here, we report the investigation of CO electreduction on single-atom copper (Cu) electrocatalysts. Atomically dispersed Cu is coordinated on a carbon nitride substrate to form high-density copper─nitrogen moieties. Chemisorption, electrocatalytic, and computational studies are combined to probe the catalytic mechanisms. Unlike the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism known for copper metal surfaces, the confinement of CO adsorption on the single-copper-atom sites enables an Eley-Rideal type of C-C coupling between adsorbed (*CO) and gaseous [CO(g)] carbon moxide molecules. The isolated Cu sites also selectively stabilize the key reaction intermediates determining the bifurcation of reaction pathways toward different C₂₊ products.

Significant Improvement of Adsorption for Phosphate Removal by Lanthanum-Loaded Biochar

Due to eutrophication, removing phosphate ions from wastewater has received a lot of attention. In order to improve the phosphorus adsorption capacity of the material, this study used biomass pyrolysis to create a series of biochars modified with metal chloride ions. In accordance with adsorption tests, lanthanum-loaded biochar (LCBC) had a significant phosphorus adsorption capacity of approximately 666.67 mg/g, which was 30 times greater than that of pristine biochar. Adsorption kinetic analysis revealed that the LCBC's adsorption process could be fitted to the pseudo-secondary kinetic equation, indicating that chemical processes were primarily responsible for controlling the adsorption process. Zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the main adsorption mechanism of LCBC for phosphate removal was electrostatic attraction of protonated H+ with negatively charged mono-hydrogen phosphate and dihydrogen phosphate ions and complexation reaction of the C=O on the carboxyl group and P=O on the phosphate group with the oxygen on the phosphate group and hydroxyl group. According to regeneration performance results, LCBC performed relatively better than as-prepared adsorbents, and the phosphate removal rate was approximately 75.1% after the fifth regeneration cycle. The study provided a potential approach for creating and preparing an adsorbent with high adsorption for phosphate removal.

Strain Rate Sensitivity and Constitutive Law of Closed-Cell PVC Foams under Shock

The mechanisms of the strain rate dependence of closed-cell PVC foams under shock were numerically studied based on a cell-based model combined with the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method in this paper. The strain rate effect of the base material and the entrapped gas effect were focused. The results show that the strain rate effect of the base material has a significant influence on the stress magnitude in the regions before and after the shock front, and the entrapped gas mainly affects the velocity field. Both the strain rate effect of the base material and the entrapped gas have a notable influence on the strain distribution. Taking PVC foam with a relative density of 0.07 as an example, the strain rate effect of the base material will increase the impact stress by 45% and reduce the impact strain by 0.04. The entrapped gas will reduce the impact strain by 0.18, and its effect on the impact stress can be ignored. Finally, two constitutive laws considering the strain rate effect and entrapped gas effect were proposed and compared for the PVC foam under shock with one based on the Hugoniot relationship and the other based on the D-RPH model.

Cartilage-like protein hydrogels engineered via entanglement

Load-bearing tissues, such as muscle and cartilage, exhibit high elasticity, high toughness and fast recovery, but have different stiffness (with cartilage being significantly stiffer than muscle)^1-8. Muscle achieves its toughness through finely controlled forced domain unfolding-refolding in the muscle protein titin, whereas articular cartilage achieves its high stiffness and toughness through an entangled network comprising collagen and proteoglycans. Advancements in protein mechanics and engineering have made it possible to engineer titin-mimetic elastomeric proteins and soft protein biomaterials thereof to mimic the passive elasticity of muscle^9-11. However, it is more challenging to engineer highly stiff and tough protein biomaterials to mimic stiff tissues such as cartilage, or develop stiff synthetic matrices for cartilage stem and progenitor cell differentiation¹². Here we report the use of chain entanglements to significantly stiffen protein-based hydrogels without compromising their toughness. By introducing chain entanglements¹³ into the hydrogel network made of folded elastomeric proteins, we are able to engineer highly stiff and tough protein hydrogels, which seamlessly combine mutually incompatible mechanical properties, including high stiffness, high toughness, fast recovery and ultrahigh compressive strength, effectively converting soft protein biomaterials into stiff and tough materials exhibiting mechanical properties close to those of cartilage. Our study provides a general route towards engineering protein-based, stiff and tough biomaterials, which will find applications in biomedical engineering, such as osteochondral defect repair, and material sciences and engineering.

Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Hydrogels for Highly Flexible Bionic Photosensors

Soft biological tissues perform various functions. Sensory nerves bring sensations of light, voice, touch, pain, or temperature variation to the central nervous system. Animal senses have inspired tremendous sensors for biomedical applications. Following the same principle as photosensitive nerves, we design flexible ionic hydrogels to achieve a biologic photosensor. The photosensor allows responding to near-infrared light, which is converted into a sensory electric signal that can communicate with nerve cells. Furthermore, with adjustable thermal and/or electrical signal outputs, it provides abundant tools for biological regulation. The tunable photosensitive performances, high flexibility, and low cost endow the photosensor with widespread applications ranging from neural prosthetics to human-machine interfacing systems.

Strong, tough, rapid-recovery, and fatigue-resistant hydrogels made of picot peptide fibres

Hydrogels are promising soft materials as tissue engineering scaffolds, stretchable sensors, and soft robotics. Yet, it remains challenging to develop synthetic hydrogels with mechanical stability and durability similar to those of the connective tissues. Many of the necessary mechanical properties, such as high strength, high toughness, rapid recovery, and high fatigue resistance, generally cannot be established together using conventional polymer networks. Here we present a type of hydrogels comprising hierarchical structures of picot fibres made of copper-bound self-assembling peptide strands with zipped flexible hidden length. The redundant hidden lengths allow the fibres to be extended to dissipate mechanical load without reducing network connectivity, making the hydrogels robust against damage. The hydrogels possess high strength, good toughness, high fatigue threshold, and rapid recovery, comparable to or even outperforming those of articular cartilage. Our study highlights the unique possibility of tailoring hydrogel network structures at the molecular level to improve their mechanical performance.

Estimation of underwater acoustic direction-of-arrival using the probe beam deflection technique

This paper proposes a method of estimating the underwater acoustic direction-of-arrival using several laser beams impinging on a propagating underwater acoustic wave. The deflection of the laser beam caused by the spatial variation of the optical refractive index, which is further due to the modulation of the acoustic wave, reflects the information of direction-of-arrival and is sensed by the position sensitive detector (PSD). The sensing of the minute displacement on the PSD, in fact, introduces an extra dimension in the depth direction, which is a significant advantage over the conventional piezoelectric sensing regime. The employment of the extra sensing dimension can overcome several shortcomings, represented by spatial aliasing and phase ambiguity, existing in the current direction-of-arrival estimating methods. In addition, the ringing phenomenon of the piezoelectric effect is greatly reduced in the proposed laser-based sensing regime. By the flexibility of placing the laser beams, a prototype of the hydrophone is designed and manufactured, and a series of testing is performed. The results show that, benefiting from the probe beam deflection technique and combining the rough estimate and fine calculation, the resolution of the underwater acoustic direction-of-arrival can be improved to better than 0.016°, which can support and reform many underwater applications such as underwater acoustic communication, underwater detection, and ocean monitoring.

A Novel Hydrogel-Based 3D In Vitro Tumor Panel of 30 PDX Models Incorporates Tumor, Stromal and Immune Cell Compartments of the TME for the Screening of Oncology and Immuno-Therapies

Human-relevant systems that mimic the 3D tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly the complex mechanisms of immuno-modulation in the tumor stroma, in a reproducible and scalable format are of high interest for the drug discovery industry. Here, we describe a novel 3D in vitro tumor panel comprising 30 distinct PDX models covering a range of histotypes and molecular subtypes and cocultured with fibroblasts and PBMCs in planar (flat) extracellular matrix hydrogels to reflect the three compartments of the TME-tumor, stroma, and immune cells. The panel was constructed in a 96-well plate format and assayed tumor size, tumor killing, and T-cell infiltration using high-content image analysis after 4 days of treatment. We screened the panel first against the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin to demonstrate feasibility and robustness, and subsequently assayed immuno-oncology agents Solitomab (CD3/EpCAM bispecific T-cell engager) and the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) Atezolizumab (anti-PDL1), Nivolumab (anti-PD1) and Ipilimumab (anti-CTLA4). Solitomab displayed a strong response across many PDX models in terms of tumor reduction and killing, allowing for its subsequent use as a positive control for ICIs. Interestingly, Atezolizumab and Nivolumab demonstrated a mild response compared to Ipilimumab in a subset of models from the panel. We later determined that PBMC spatial proximity in the assay setup was important for the PD1 inhibitor, hypothesizing that both duration and concentration of antigen exposure may be critical. The described 30-model panel represents a significant advancement toward screening in vitro models of the tumor microenvironment that include tumor, fibroblast, and immune cell populations in an extracellular matrix hydrogel, with robust and standardized high content image analysis in a planar hydrogel. The platform is aimed at rapidly screening various combinations and novel agents and forming a critical conduit to the clinic, thus accelerating drug discovery for the next generation of therapeutics.

Boosting the Piezoelectric Sensitivity of Amino Acid Crystals by Mechanical Annealing for the Engineering of Fully Degradable Force Sensors

Biodegradable piezoelectric force sensors can be used as implantable medical devices for monitoring physiological pressures of impaired organs or providing essential stimuli for drug delivery and tissue regeneration without the need of additional invasive removal surgery or battery power. However, traditional piezoelectric materials, such as inorganic ceramics and organic polymers, show unsatisfactory degradability, and cytotoxicity. Amino acid crystals are biocompatible and exhibit outstanding piezoelectric properties, but their small crystal size makes it difficult to align the crystals for practical applications. Here, a mechanical-annealing strategy is reported for engineering all-organic biodegradable piezoelectric force sensors using natural amino acid crystals as piezoelectric materials. It is shown that the piezoelectric constant of the mechanical-annealed crystals can reach 12 times that of the single crystal powders. Moreover, mechanical annealing results in flat and smooth surfaces, thus improving the contact of the crystal films with the electrodes and leading to high output voltages of the devices. The packaged force sensors can be used to monitor dynamic motions, including muscle contraction and lung respiration, in vivo for 4 weeks and then gradually degrade without causing obvious inflammation or systemic toxicity. This work provides a way to engineer all-organic and biodegradable force sensors for potential clinical applications.

The rhythmic coupling of Egr-1 and Cidea regulates age-related metabolic dysfunction in the liver of male mice

The liver lipid metabolism of older individuals canbecome impaired and the circadian rhythm of genes involved in lipid metabolism is also disturbed. Although the link between metabolism and circadian rhythms is already recognized, how these processes are decoupled in liver during aging is still largely unknown. Here, we show that the circadian rhythm for the transcription factor Egr-1 expression is shifted forward with age in male mice. Egr-1 deletion accelerates liver age-related metabolic dysfunction, which associates with increased triglyceride accumulation, disruption of the opposite rhythmic coupling of Egr-1 and Cidea (Cell Death Inducing DFFA Like Effector A) at the transcriptional level and large lipid droplet formation. Importantly, adjustment of the central clock with light via a 4-hour forward shift in 6-month-old mice, leads to recovery the rhythm shift of Egr-1 during aging and largely ameliorated liver metabolic dysfunction. All our collected data suggest that liver Egr-1 might integrate the central and peripheral rhythms and regulate metabolic homeostasis in the liver.

Intensified sensitivity and adaptability of zooplankton Bosminidae in subtropical shallow freshwater lakes with increasing trophic level

The deterioration in lake water environments, especially increasing lake eutrophication, is prevalent all over the world, which has seriously affected the balance and stability of the internal ecosystem of lakes. In this study, modern water and sediment samples were collected from three subtropical freshwater lakes with significant differences in nutrient levels to analyze the concentration of the zooplankton Cladocera Bosminidae and its relationship with lakes’ ecological changes. The results show that the deterioration in lake water environments caused by increasing eutrophication limits the survival of most zooplankton. However, the Bosminidae shows a positive adaptability to eutrophication and high sensitivity to the changes in the lake environment. In addition, the lake eutrophication process caused by the intensification of human activities enhances the survival advantage of Bosminidae with more food sources, which is more conducive to its rapid reproduction.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors among non-melanoma skin cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Background

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a common malignant tumor that can lead to disability and a high recurrence rate, thus affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. However, the HRQoL and its associated factors among Chinese patients with NMSC remain unknown. Considering HRQoL is a comprehensive indicator to assess an individual's health and well-being, as well as to provide a basis for future treatment decisions and care interventions, we investigated Chinese NMSC patients to assess the status of HRQoL, and to explore the associated factors of HRQoL.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the largest dermatology hospital in China from November 2017 to February 2022. Participants were over 18 years, diagnosed with NMSC by pathological examination, and able to provide informed consent. A consecutive sampling technique was used and 202 eligible patients with NMSC were surveyed. Dermatology Life Quality Index, general information questionnaire, Athens Insomnia Scale, and Self-rating Anxiety Scale were used to measure their HRQoL and relevant information. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric test and Spearman's correlation analyses were used to compare the differences and assess the relationships between participants' demographic and clinical factors, sleep, anxiety, and HRQoL. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with HRQoL.

Results

A total of 176 NMSC patients (mean age 66 years, including 83 males and 93 females) were included. The median score of HRQoL was 3 [1, 7], and 116 (65.9%) NMSC patients' HRQoL was negatively affected. The score of the symptom and feeling domain was the highest 2 [1, 3], NMSC patients with squamous cell carcinoma and extramammary Paget disease had a significantly lower HRQoL than patients with basal cell carcinoma (P<0.05). Primary skin diseases, long-term history of mechanical stimulation, poor sleep, and anxiety were the associated factors of the HRQoL, comprising 43.5% of the total variance.

Conclusions

Most patients with NMSC live with poor HRQoL in China. It is necessary to provide timely assessment and develop targeted strategies to improve NMSC patients' HRQoL, such as multiple forms of health education, psychological care for the target population, and effective measures to improve patients' sleep.

Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits pheromone-responsive-plasmid-mediated conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in Enterococcus faecalis

The rapid spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) poses a great challenge to human health and ecological and environmental safety. Therefore, it is important to control the spread of ARGs. In this study, we observed that the addition of 5 μg/mL docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduced the conjugative transfer of pCF10 plasmid by more than 95% in E. faecalis. DHA disturbed the pheromone transport by inhibiting the mRNA levels of the prgZ gene, causing the iCF10 pheromone to accumulate in the donor bacteria and bond to the PrgX receptor to form an inhibitory phase, which resulted in the down-regulation of the expression of genes related to conjugative transfer, inhibiting biofilm formation, reducing bacterial adhesion and thus inhibiting conjugative transfer. Collectively, DHA exhibited an admirable inhibitory effect on the transfer of ARGs in E. faecalis. This study provided a technical option to control the transfer of ARGs.

Effect of GO on the Structure and Properties of PEG/Biochar Phase Change Composites

In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely used in waste heat utilization, buildings, and solar and wind energy, but with a huge limitation from the low thermal conductivity, photothermal conversion efficiency, and low latent heat. Organic PCMs are eyecatching because of its high latent heat storage capability and reliability, but they still suffer from a lack of photothermal conversion and sharp stability. Here, we prepared sharp-stable PCMs by establishing a carbon material frame system consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and biochar. In particular, surfactants (CTAB, KH-560 and KH-570) were employed to improve the dispersity of GO in PEG. The differential scanning calorimetry results shows that the latent heat of PEG modified by CTAB grafted GO (PGO-CTAB) was the highest (191.36 J/g) and increased by 18.31% compared to that of pure PEG (161.74 J/g). After encapsulation of PGO-CTAB in biochar, the obtained composite PCM with the amount of biochar and PGO-CTAB in weight ratio 4:6 (PGO-CTAB/CS6(6)) possesses relatively high latent heat 106.51 J/g with good leak resistance and thermal stability, and with obviously enhanced thermal conductivity (0.337 W/(m·K)) and photothermal conversion efficiency (77.43%), which were higher than that of PEG6000 (0.325 W/(m·K), 44.63%). The enhancement mechanism of heat transfer and photothermal conversion on the composite PCM is discussed.

Disruption of protein geranylgeranylation in the cerebellum causes cerebellar hypoplasia and ataxia via blocking granule cell progenitor proliferation

The prenylation of proteins is involved in a variety of biological functions. However, it remains unknown whether it plays an important role in the morphogenesis of the cerebellum. To address this question, we generated a mouse model, in which the geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (Ggps1) gene is inactivated in neural progenitor cells in the developing cerebellum. We report that conditional knockout (cKO) of Ggps1 leads to severe ataxia and deficient locomotion. To identify the underlying mechanisms, we completed a series of cellular and molecular experiments. First, our morphological analysis revealed significantly decreased population of granule cell progenitors (GCPs) and impaired proliferation of GCPs in the developing cerebellum of Ggps1 cKO mice. Second, our molecular analysis showed increased expression of p21, an important cell cycle regulator in Ggps1 cKO mice. Together, this study highlights a critical role of Ggpps-dependent protein prenylation in the proliferation of cerebellar GCPs during cerebellar development.

Stiffness-Transformable Nanoplatforms Responsive to the Tumor Microenvironment for Enhanced Tumor Therapeutic Efficacy

Herein, we report, for the first time, a unique stiffness-transformable manganese oxide hybridized mesoporous organosilica nanoplatform (MMON) for enhancing tumor therapeutic efficacy. The prepared MMONs had a quasi-spherical morphology and were completely transformed into soft bowl-like nanocapsules in the simulated tumor microenvironment through the breakage of Mn-O bonds, which decreased their Young's modulus from 165.7 to 84.5 MPa. Due to their unique stiffness transformation properties, the MMONs had reduced macrophage internalization, improved tumor cell uptake, and enhanced penetration of multicellular spheroids. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that the MMONs displayed a 3.79- and 2.90-fold decrease in non-specific liver distribution and a 2.87- and 1.83-fold increase in tumor accumulation compared to their soft and stiff counterparts, respectively. Furthermore, chlorin e6 (Ce6) modified MMONs had significantly improved photodynamic therapeutic effect.

Total parenteral nutrition impairs glucose metabolism by modifying the gut microbiome

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) can lead to complications, such as glucose metabolism disorders. While TPN is associated with impairments in intestinal function, the gut barrier and mucosal immunity, the relationship between the gut microbiome and TPN-related glucose metabolism disorders remains to be explored. In a cohort of 256 participants with type 2 intestinal failure, we show that parenteral nutrition providing >80% of total energy induces insulin resistance and a higher risk of complications. Using various male mouse models, we demonstrate that changes in Lactobacillaceae and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels underlie these complications. Lactobacillaceae and IAA levels decrease in TPN-treated mice and participants, while their abundances in the latter are negatively correlated with insulin resistance and serum lipopolysaccharide levels. Furthermore, IAA activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and increases glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion through upregulation of Gcg expression and increased stem cell differentiation towards L cells. Finally, liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, completely prevents TPN-induced glucose metabolism disorders in mice. Thus, TPN induces glucose metabolism disorders by altering the gut microbiota and its metabolites.

Synergistic effects of climate warming and atmospheric nutrient deposition on the alpine lake ecosystem in the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau during the Anthropocene

Alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are highly sensitive to global change and have been recognized as the sentinel of climate warming. However, anthropogenic impacts in populated area are migrating to these remote areas via transporting particulate nutrients by atmospheric deposition. Whether warming and nutrient deposition would impose additive or synergistic effects on the lake ecosystem remains largely unknown. Here, we present multi-proxy (sediment pigment and geochemistry) records during the past two centuries at the Cuoqia Lake in the southeast Tibetan Plateau. We found that the lake exhibited rapid ecological changes since 1980 AD characterized by an increase in primary productivity due to algal proliferation, with more rapid growth of green algae and diatoms. These findings are in concert with many other lakes (e.g., Moon Lake and Shade Co) in the same area, suggesting a consistent pattern of ecosystem evolution at the region scale. Statistical analyses suggested that nutrient deposition and climate warming were strongly associated with the variations in primary productivity and algae composition, exerting both individual and interactive effects. In addition, scenario analyses with a well-established process-based ecosystem model further revealed that the two factors not only individually, but also synergistically promoted the algal proliferation and community succession. Such synergy is evident in that the effect of lake warming would be more pronounced under higher nutrient deposition scenario, which is potentially due to higher temperature-driven mineralization in warmer conditions, and higher efficiency of nutrient utilization under enhanced light availability attributing to declining ice thickness and duration in cold seasons. Overall, our study proposes the existence and quantifies the synergistic impacts of climate warming and anthropogenic activities in driving the ecological changes in remote alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. The lake ecological consequences driven by individual factor would be worsen by such synergy, so that we cannot predict the lake ecosystem trajectory in the future based on each factor separately, and more efforts than previously expected would be needed for the lake restoration and management.