A novel iridium(III) complex-based ratiometric luminescence probe for monitoring hydrogen sulfide in living cells and zebrafish

Hydrogen sulfide exhibits crucial functions in many biological and physiological processes. The abnormal levels of H2S have been revealed to be associated with numerous human diseases. The majority of existing fluorescent probes toward H2S may still need to be improved in terms of single output signal, water solubility, biotoxicity and photostability. The construction of a ratiometric fluorescent probe based on metal complex is one effective strategy for avoiding the mentioned problems for precisely detecting H2S. Herein, we report an iridium(III) complex-based ratiometric luminescence probe (Ir-PNBD), which is designed by coupling the 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazoles (NBD) to one of the bipyridine ligands of Ir (III) complex luminophore through a piperazition moiety. Ir-PNBD owns high selectivity and sensitivity toward H2S, and an excellent ability to target mitochondria. Moreover, Ir-PNBD was further successfully utilized to visualize exogenous and endogenous H2S in HeLa cells and zebrafish. Our work offers new opportunities to gain deeper insights into the construction of transition metal complex-based ratiometric luminescent probes and expands their applications in biomedical imaging and disease diagnosis.

A strategy to enhance the water solubility of luminescent β-diketonate-Europium(III) complexes for time-gated luminescence bioassays

Luminescent β-diketonate-europium(III) complexes have been found a wide range of applications in time-gated luminescence (TGL) bioassays, but their poor water solubility is a main problem that limits their effective uses. In this work we propose a simple and general strategy to enhance the water solubility of luminescent β-diketonate-europium(III) complexes that permits facile synthesis and purification. By introducing the fluorinated carboxylic acid group into the structures of β-diketone ligands, two highly water-soluble and luminescent Eu3+ complexes, PBBHD-Eu3+ and CPBBHD-Eu3+, were designed and synthesized. An excellent solubility exceeding 20 mg/mL for PBBHD-Eu3+ was found in a pure aqueous buffer, while it also displayed strong and long-lived luminescence (quantum yield φ = 26%, lifetime τ = 0.49 ms). After the carboxyl groups of PBBHD-Eu3+ were activated, the PBBHD-Eu3+-labeled streptavidin-bovine serum albumin (SA-BSA) conjugate was prepared, and successfully used for the immunoassay of human α-fetoprotein (AFP) and the imaging of an environmental pathogen Giardia lamblia under TGL mode, which demonstrated the practicability of PBBHD-Eu3+ for highly sensitive TGL bioassays. The carboxyl groups of PBBHD can also be easily derivatized with other reactive chemical groups, which enables PBBHD-Eu3+ to meet diverse requirements of biolabeling technique, to provide new opportunities for developing functional europium(III) complex biolabels serving for TGL bioassays.

BadLabel: A Robust Perspective on Evaluating and Enhancing Label-Noise Learning

Label-noise learning (LNL) aims to increase the model's generalization given training data with noisy labels. To facilitate practical LNL algorithms, researchers have proposed different label noise types, ranging from class-conditional to instance-dependent noises. In this paper, we introduce a novel label noise type called BadLabel, which can significantly degrade the performance of existing LNL algorithms by a large margin. BadLabel is crafted based on the label-flipping attack against standard classification, where specific samples are selected and their labels are flipped to other labels so that the loss values of clean and noisy labels become indistinguishable. To address the challenge posed by BadLabel, we further propose a robust LNL method that perturbs the labels in an adversarial manner at each epoch to make the loss values of clean and noisy labels again distinguishable. Once we select a small set of (mostly) clean labeled data, we can apply the techniques of semi-supervised learning to train the model accurately. Empirically, our experimental results demonstrate that existing LNL algorithms are vulnerable to the newly introduced BadLabel noise type, while our proposed robust LNL method can effectively improve the generalization performance of the model under various types of label noise. The new dataset of noisy labels and the source codes of robust LNL algorithms are available at https://github.com/zjfheart/BadLabels.

Cerebral Hemodynamics Underlying Artery-to-Artery Embolism in Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Artery-to-artery embolism (AAE) is a common stroke mechanism in intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), associated with a considerable risk of recurrent stroke. We aimed to investigate cerebral hemodynamic features associated with AAE in symptomatic ICAD. Patients with anterior-circulation, symptomatic ICAD confirmed in CT angiography (CTA) were recruited. We classified probable stroke mechanisms as isolated parent artery atherosclerosis occluding penetrating artery, AAE, hypoperfusion, and mixed mechanisms, largely based on infarct topography. CTA-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were built to simulate blood flow across culprit ICAD lesions. Translesional pressure ratio (PR = Pressurepost-stenotic/Pressurepre-stenotic) and wall shear stress ratio (WSSR = WSSstenotic-throat/WSSpre-stenotic) were calculated, to reflect the relative, translesional changes of the two hemodynamic metrics. Low PR (PR ≤ median) and high WSSR (WSSR ≥ 4th quartile) respectively indicated large translesional pressure and elevated WSS upon the lesion. Among 99 symptomatic ICAD patients, 44 had AAE as a probable stroke mechanism, 13 with AAE alone and 31 with coexisting hypoperfusion. High WSSR was independently associated with AAE (adjusted OR = 3.90; P = 0.022) in multivariate logistic regression. There was significant WSSR-PR interaction on the presence of AAE (P for interaction = 0.013): high WSSR was more likely to associate with AAE in those with low PR (P = 0.075), but not in those with normal PR (P = 0.959). Excessively elevated WSS in ICAD might increase the risk of AAE. Such association was more prominent in those with large translesional pressure gradient. Hypoperfusion, commonly coexisting with AAE, might be a therapeutic indicator for secondary stroke prevention in symptomatic ICAD with AAE.

Multifunctionality of angiosperm floral bracts: a review

Floral bracts (bracteoles, cataphylls) are leaf-like organs that subtend flowers or inflorescences but are of non-floral origin; they occur in a wide diversity of species, representing multiple independent origins, and exhibit great variation in form and function. Although much attention has been paid to bracts over the past 150 years, our understanding of their adaptive significance remains remarkably incomplete. This is because most studies of bract function and evolution focus on only one or a few selective factors. It is widely recognised that bracts experience selection mediated by pollinators, particularly for enhancing pollinator attraction through strong visual, olfactory, or echo-acoustic contrast with the background and through signalling the presence of pollinator rewards, either honestly (providing rewards for pollinators), or deceptively (attraction without reward or even trapping pollinators). However, studies in recent decades have demonstrated that bract evolution is also affected by agents other than pollinators. Bracts can protect flowers, fruits, or seeds from herbivores by displaying warning signals, camouflaging conspicuous reproductive organs, or by providing physical barriers or toxic chemicals. Reviews of published studies show that bracts can also promote seed dispersal and ameliorate the effects of abiotic stressors, such as low temperature, strong ultraviolet radiation, heavy rain, drought, and/or mechanical abrasion, on reproductive organs or for the plants' pollinators. In addition, green bracts and greening of colourful bracts after pollination promote photosynthetic activity, providing substantial carbon (photosynthates) for fruit or seed development, especially late in a plant's life cycle or season, when leaves have started to senesce. A further layer of complexity derives from the fact that the agents of selection driving the evolution of bracts vary between species and even between different developmental stages within a species, and selection by one agent can be reinforced or opposed by other agents. In summary, our survey of the literature reveals that bracts are multifunctional and subject to multiple agents of selection. To understand fully the functional and evolutionary significance of bracts, it is necessary to consider multiple selection agents throughout the life of the plant, using integrative approaches to data collection and analysis.

Novel inflammatory and insulin resistance indices provide a clue in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

This study investigated the correlation of newly identified inflammatory and insulin resistance indices with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and explored their potential to differentiate CAA from hypertensive arteriopathy (HA). We retrospectively analyzed 514 consecutive patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD)-related haemorrhage, comparing the differences in novel inflammatory and insulin resistance indices between patients with CAA and HA. Univariate regression, LASSO and multivariate regression were used to screen variables and construct a classification diagnosis nomogram. Additionally, these biomarkers were explored in patients with mixed haemorrhagic CSVD. Inflammatory indices were higher in CAA patients, whereas insulin resistance indices were higher in HA patients. Further analysis identified neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.30, P < 0.001), and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG, OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.83, P = 0.005) as independent factors for CAA. Therefore, we constructed a CAA prediction nomogram without haemorrhagic imaging markers. The nomogram yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.811 (95% CI 0.764-0.865) in the training set and 0.830 (95% CI 0.718-0.887) in the test set, indicating an ability to identify high-risk CAA patients. These results show that CSVD patients can be phenotyped using novel inflammatory and insulin resistance indices, potentially allowing identification of high-risk CAA patients without haemorrhagic imaging markers.

A bimodal time-gated luminescence-magnetic resonance imaging nanoprobe based on a europium(III) complex anchored on BSA-coated MnO2 nanosheets for highly selective detection of H2O2

A novel nanocomposite, [Eu(BTD)3(DPBT)]-BSA@MnO2, is reported to serve as an effective nanoprobe for bimodal time-gated luminescence (TGL) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of H2O2in vitro and in vivo. The nanoprobe was fabricated by immobilizing visible-light-excitable Eu3+ complexes in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated lamellar MnO2 nanosheets. The TGL of the Eu3+ complex was effectively quenched by the MnO2 nanosheets. Upon exposure to H2O2, the MnO2 nanosheets underwent reduction to Mn2+, which simultaneously triggered rapid, selective and sensitive "turn-on" responses toward H2O2 in both TGL and MR detection modes. The presence of a protective "corona" formed by BSA enables the nanoprobe to withstand high concentrations of glutathione (GSH), a strong reducing agent of MnO2 nanosheets. This capability allows the nanoprobe to be utilized for detecting H2O2 in living biosamples. The combined utilization of TGL and MR detection modes enables the nanoprobe to image H2O2 across a wide range of resolutions, from the subcellular level to the whole body, without any depth limitations. The results obtained from these modes can be cross-validated, enhancing the accuracy of the detection. The capability of the nanoprobe was validated by TGL imaging of endogenous and exogenous H2O2 in live HeLa cells, as well as bimodal TGL-MR imaging of H2O2 in tumor-bearing mice. The research achievements suggest that the integration of luminescent lanthanide complexes with protein-coated MnO2 nanosheets offers a promising bimodal TGL-MR sensing platform for H2O2in vitro and in vivo.

Lipidomic Comparisons of Whole Cream Buttermilk Whey and Cheese Whey Cream Buttermilk of Caprine Milk

Buttermilk is a potential material for the production of a milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and can be mainly classified into two types: whole cream buttermilk and cheese whey cream buttermilk (WCB). Due to the high casein micelle content of whole cream buttermilk, the removal of casein micelles to improve the purity of MFGM materials is always required. This study investigated the effects of rennet and acid coagulation on the lipid profile of buttermilk rennet-coagulated whey (BRW) and buttermilk acid-coagulated whey (BAW) and compared them with WCB. BRW has significantly higher phospholipids (PLs) and ganglioside contents than BAW and WCB. The abundance of arachidonic acid (ARA)- and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-structured PLs was higher in WCB, while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-structured PLs were higher in BRW, indicating that BRW and WCB intake might have a greater effect on improving cardiovascular conditions and neurodevelopment. WCB and BRW had a higher abundance of plasmanyl PL and plasmalogen PL, respectively. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) (28:1), LPE (20:5), and PC (26:0) are characteristic lipids among BRW, BAW, and WCB, and they can be used to distinguish MFGM-enriched whey from different sources.

CO2-Based Stable Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks for CO2 Utilization

The transformation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into functional materials has garnered considerable worldwide interest. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a distinctive class of materials, have made great contributions to CO2 capture and conversion. However, facile conversion of CO2 to stable porous MOFs for CO2 utilization remains unexplored. Herein, we present a facile methodology of using CO2 to synthesize stable zirconium-based MOFs. Two zirconium-based MOFs CO2-Zr-DEP and CO2-Zr-DEDP with face-centered cubic topology were obtained via a sequential desilylation-carboxylation-coordination reaction. The MOFs exhibit excellent crystallinity, as verified through powder X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses. They also have notable porosity with high surface area (SBET up to 3688 m2 g-1) and good CO2 adsorption capacity (up to 12.5 wt %). The resulting MOFs have abundant alkyne functional moieties, confirmed through 13C cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Leveraging the catalytic prowess of Ag(I) in diverse CO2-involved reactions, we incorporated Ag(I) into zirconium-based MOFs, capitalizing on their interactions with carbon-carbon π-bonds of alkynes, thereby forming a heterogeneous catalyst. This catalyst demonstrates outstanding efficiency in catalyzing the conversion of CO2 and propargylic alcohols into cyclic carbonates, achieving >99% yield at room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions. Thus, this work provides a dual CO2 utilization strategy, encompassing the synthesis of CO2-based MOFs (20-24 wt % from CO2) and their subsequent application in CO2 capture and conversion processes. This approach significantly enhances overall CO2 utilization.

[Hg Content Characteristics and Safe Planting Zoning of Paddy Soil and Rice in Guizhou Province]

Guizhou Province ranks first in terms of Hg reserves and production in the country, and rice is its largest grain crop. In order to study the characteristics and pollution causes of soil-rice Hg content at the provincial level in Guizhou and to carry out safe planting zoning, 1 564 pairs of soil-rice samples, 470 natural soil samples, and 203 individual paddy soil samples were collected to test their Hg content and basic physical and chemical properties of the soil. The results showed that:① Paddy soil was mainly neutral and acidic, the paddy soil ω (Hg) range was 0.005-93.06 mg·kg-1, and the geometric mean was 0.864 mg·kg-1. The Hg content of paddy soil in Guizhou Province was significantly higher than that in natural soil (0.16 mg·kg-1,P < 0.05). Compared with the filtered value and control value, the soil samples exceeded the standard by 63.25% and 14.71%, respectively. Among them, the soil Hg pollution in Danzhai County of Qiandongnan Prefecture, Wuchuan County of Zunyi City, Zhenfeng County of Qianxinan Prefecture, and Wanshan District of Tongren City was more prominent. ② Rice ω(Hg) ranged from 0.000 5 to 0.52 mg·kg-1, and the geometric mean was 0.010 mg·kg-1, the percentage of rice Hg content exceeding the standard was 25.87%, and the exceeding points were mainly distributed in Suiyang County of Zunyi City, Zhenfeng County of Qianxinan Prefecture, Xixiu District of Anshun City, Bijiang District of Tongren City, and other industrial and mining activity-intensive areas. ③ The majority of the study area was in the priority protection category (74.75%); the safe use category accounted for (24.62%); and the strictly controlled category (0.93%) was scattered in Danzhai County at the border between Qiannan Prefecture and Qiandongnan Prefecture, Zhenfeng County in Qianxinan Prefecture, and Wanshan District in Tongren. It is not recommended to plant rice, which can be used as feed for reproduction.

Mitophagy Regulates the Circadian Rhythms by Degrading NR1D1 in Simulated Microgravity and Isolation Environments

Long-term spaceflight is known to induce disruptions in circadian rhythms, which are driven by a central pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we developed a rat model that simulated microgravity and isolation environments through tail suspension and isolation (TSI). We found that the TSI environment imposed circadian disruptions to the core body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor-activity rhythms of rats, especially in the amplitude of these rhythms. In TSI model rats' SCNs, the core circadian gene NR1D1 showed higher protein but not mRNA levels along with decreased BMAL1 levels, which indicated that NR1D1 could be regulated through post-translational regulation. The autophagosome marker LC3 could directly bind to NR1D1 via the LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs and induce the degradation of NR1D1 in a mitophagy-dependent manner. Defects in mitophagy led to the reversal of NR1D1 degradation, thereby suppressing the expression of BMAL1. Mitophagy deficiency and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in the SCN of TSI models. Urolithin A (UA), a mitophagy activator, demonstrated an ability to enhance the amplitude of core body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor-activity rhythms by prompting mitophagy induction to degrade NR1D1. Cumulatively, our results demonstrate that mitophagy exerts circadian control by regulating NR1D1 degradation, revealing mitophagy as a potential target for long-term spaceflight as well as diseases with SCN circadian disruption.

Atrial Cardiomyopathy Predicts the Functional Outcome and Mortality in Stroke Patients

AIM

Atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by atrial dysfunction. This study aims to assess the prognostic significance of ACM in patients with noncardioembolic stroke (NCS).

METHODS

Patients with NCS within seven days of onset were prospectively enrolled between January 2019 and December 2020. ACM was defined as either an N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) ＞250 pg/ml or a P-terminal force in precordial lead V1 (PTFV1) ≥ 5000µV·ms. A poor functional outcome was determined as a score of 3-6 on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) within a 2-year follow-up period. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between ACM and the long-term prognosis of patients with NCS.

RESULTS

A total of 1,346 patients were enrolled, of whom 299 (22.2%) patients were diagnosed with ACM. A total of 207(15.4%) patients experienced a poor functional outcome, and 58 (4.3%) patients died. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that ACM was significantly associated with a poor functional outcome in NCS patients [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-2.87; p＜0.001]. Additionally, a multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that an NT-pro BNP ＞250 pg/ml was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.51; 95% CI: 1.42-4.43; p=0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

ACM may serve as a novel predictor of a poor long-term functional outcome in patients with NCS. Elevated NT-pro BNP levels (＞250 pg/ml) were found to be associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality. These findings warrant further validation in multicenter studies.

Ultrafast Multifunctional Photodetector Based on the NiAl2O4/4H-SiC Heterojunction

Solar-blind photodetectors based on wide bandgap semiconductors have recently attracted a lot of interest. Nickel-containing spinel phase oxides, such as NiAl2O4, are stable p-type semiconductors. This paper describes a multifunctional solar-blind photodetector based on a NiAl2O4/4H-SiC heterojunction that utilizes photovoltaic effects. The position sensitivity reaches a value of 1589.7 mV/mm under 405 nm laser illumination, while the relaxation times of vertical photovoltaic (VPV) effect and lateral photovoltaic (LPV) effect under 266 nm laser illumination are only 0.32 and 0.42 μs, respectively. This junction was used to create a space optical communication system with sunlight having little effect on its optoelectronic properties. The ultrafast photovoltaic relaxation time makes NiAl2O4/4H-SiC a promising candidate for self-powered high-performance solar-blind detectors.

Chirality-Induced Crystallization and Defect Passivation of Perovskites: Toward High-Performance Solar Cells

As an additive for perovskites, in addition to functional groups, the steric configuration of molecules is worthy of consideration because it influences perovskite crystallization, thus determining whether defect passivation is effective without any side effects. In this work, the chiral molecules l- and d-pyroglutamic acid (l-PA and d-PA) were chosen as additives for perovskite passivators to reveal the reasons for the differences in passivation between amino acids with different steric configurations. Functional groups, such as the C═O groups and N-H groups of l-PA and d-PA, can passivate the perovskite defects. However, l-PA exhibited a more distorted steric configuration, while d-PA was more planar, leading to differences in the distances between the two C═O groups. Taking the Pb-Pb bond length as a reference, the shorter distance between the two C═O groups of l-PA distorts the perovskite lattice structure, which results in poor device stability. Conversely, the similar distance between the two C═O groups of d-PA promoted the preferred orientational growth of the perovskite. Finally, the d-PA-doped device accomplished an excellent efficiency of 24.11% with an improved open-circuit voltage of 1.17 V. Furthermore, the efficiency of the unencapsulated d-PA-doped device was maintained at 93% in N2 for more than 3000 h and 74% after 500 h of operation at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination.

The EIN3 transcription factor GmEIL1 improves soybean resistance to Phytophthora sojae

Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean (Glycine max), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora sojae, is an extremely destructive disease worldwide. In this study, we identified GmEIL1, which encodes an ethylene-insensitive3 (EIN3) transcription factor. GmEIL1 was significantly induced following P. sojae infection of soybean plants. Compared to wild-type soybean plants, transgenic soybean plants overexpressing GmEIL1 showed enhanced resistance to P. sojae and GmEIL1-silenced RNA-interference lines showed more severe symptoms when infected with P. sojae. We screened for target genes of GmEIL1 and confirmed that GmEIL1 bound directly to the GmERF113 promoter and regulated GmERF113 expression. Moreover, GmEIL1 positively regulated the expression of the pathogenesis-related gene GmPR1. The GmEIL1-regulated defence response to P. sojae involved both ethylene biosynthesis and the ethylene signalling pathway. These findings suggest that the GmEIL1-GmERF113 module plays an important role in P. sojae resistance via the ethylene signalling pathway.

Vitamin D and ischemic stroke - Association, mechanisms, and therapeutics

Confronting the rising tide of ischemic stroke and its associated mortality and morbidity with ageing, prevention and acute management of ischemic stroke is of paramount importance. Mounting observational studies have established a non-linear association of vitamin D status with cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic stroke. Paradoxically, current clinical trials fail to demonstrate the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D supplementation. We aim to update recent clinical and experimental findings on the role of vitamin D in the disease course of ischemic stroke, from its onset, progression, recovery, to recurrence, and the established and alternative possible pathophysiological mechanisms. This review justifies the necessities to address stroke etiological subtypes and focus on vitamin D-deficient subjects for investigating the potential of vitamin D supplementation as a preventive and therapeutic approach for ischemic stroke. Well-powered clinical trials are warranted to determine the efficacy, safety, timing, target individuals, optimal dosages, and target 25OHD concentrations of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Aneurinibacillus uraniidurans sp. nov., a uranium-resistant bacterium isolated from uranium-contaminated soil

A novel Gram-positive strain, B1T, was isolated from uranium-contaminated soil. The strain was aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming, and motile. The strain was able to grow at 20-45 °C, at pH 6.0-9.0, and in the presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl. The complete genome size of the novel strain was 3 853 322 bp. The genomic DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain B1T has the highest similarity to Aneurinibacillus soli CB4T (96. 71 %). However, the novel strain showed an average nucleotide identity value of 89.02 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 37.40 % with strain CB4T based on the genome sequences. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The predominate respiratory quinone was MK7. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid were identified as the major polar lipids. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses showed that strain B1T represents a novel species of the genus Aneurinibacillus, for which the name Aneurinibacillus uraniidurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1T (=GDMCC 1.4080T=JCM 36228T). Experiments have shown that strain B1T demonstrates uranium tolerance.

2D Graphene Oxide Membrane Nanoreactors for Rapid Directional Flow Ring-Opening Reactions with Dominant Same-Configuration Products

Nanoconfinement within enzymes can increase reaction rate and improve selectivity under mild conditions. However, it remains a great challenge to achieve chemical reactions imitating enzymes with directional molecular motion, short reaction time, ≈100% conversion, and chiral conversion in artificial nanoconfined systems. Here, directional flow ring-opening reactions of styrene oxide and alcohols are demonstrated with ≈100% conversion in <120 s at 22 °C using graphene oxide membrane nanoreactors. Dominant products have the same configuration as chiral styrene oxide in confined reactions, which is dramatically opposed to bulk reactions. The unique chiral conversion mechanism is caused by spatial confinement, limiting the inversion of benzylic chiral carbon. Moreover, the enantiomeric excess of same-configuration products increased with higher alkyl charge in confined reactions. This work provides a new route to achieve rapid flow ring-opening reactions with specific chiral conversion within 2D nanoconfined channels, and insights into the impact of nanoconfinement on ring-opening reaction mechanisms.

Range-Intensity-Profile-Guided Gated Light Ranging and Imaging Based on a Convolutional Neural Network

Three-dimensional (3D) range-gated imaging can obtain high spatial resolution intensity images as well as pixel-wise depth information. Several algorithms have been developed to recover depth from gated images such as the range-intensity correlation algorithm and deep-learning-based algorithm. The traditional range-intensity correlation algorithm requires specific range-intensity profiles, which are hard to generate, while the existing deep-learning-based algorithm requires large number of real-scene training data. In this work, we propose a method of range-intensity-profile-guided gated light ranging and imaging to recover depth from gated images based on a convolutional neural network. In this method, the range-intensity profile (RIP) of a given gated light ranging and imaging system is obtained to generate synthetic training data from Grand Theft Auto V for our range-intensity ratio and semantic network (RIRS-net). The RIRS-net is mainly trained on synthetic data and fine-tuned with RIP data. The network learns both semantic depth cues and range-intensity depth cues in the synthetic data, and learns accurate range-intensity depth cues in the RIP data. In the evaluation experiments on both a real-scene and synthetic test dataset, our method shows a better result compared to other algorithms.

Abrasive Wear Properties of Wear-Resistant Coating on Bucket Teeth Assessed Using a Dry Sand Rubber Wheel Tester

Ni60-WC coatings with different WC contents on the bucket tooth substrates were pre- pared using laser cladding technology. Their abrasive wear properties were assessed using the dry sand rubber wheel test system. The substrate and the hard-facing layer were tested for comparison. The results showed that the hardness of the Ni60-WC coatings increased with the increase in WC content. The wear resistance of the bucket tooth substrate was greatly improved by hard-facing and laser cladding Ni60-WC coatings. The wear rate of the hard-facing layer was reduced to 1/6 of that of the tooth substrate. The wear rate of the laser cladding coatings with 20-40 wt.% WC was similar to that of the hard-facing layer. It is worth mentioning that the wear rate of the coatings with 60-80 wt.% WC was only 1/4 of that of the hard-facing layer. Micro-cutting with surface plastic deformation was the main wear mechanism of the substrate to form narrow and deep furrows. The wear mechanism of the hard-facing layer was mainly plastic deformation with a wide groove, and the surface cracks promoted the removal of the material. The removal of the binder phase caused by micro-cutting was the main wear mechanism of the laser cladding Ni60-WC coatings. However, the hard phase of WC hinders micro-cutting and plastic deformation, which improves the wear resistance of the coating.

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke attributable to extreme low temperatures, 1990-2019: A global analysis

BACKGROUND

Extreme ambient temperatures have been linked to increased risks of stroke morbidity and mortality. However, global estimates of the burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures are not well-defined.

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the global burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures and its spatiotemporal trend from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS

Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we obtained global, regional, and national data on deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized rate of DALYs (ASDR) of stroke attributed to extreme low temperatures, further stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

RESULTS

Globally, in 2019, an estimated 474,000 stroke deaths with the corresponding ASMR (6.2 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 4.6-7.9)) and ASDR (103.9 (95% UI: 77.0-134.5)) per 100,000 population, were attributable to extreme low temperatures. The most significant burden was observed in Central Asia, followed by Eastern Europe and East Asia. From 1990 to 2019, the global burden of stroke and its subtypes (ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) attributable to extreme low temperatures exhibited a decrease in both ASMR and ASDR. Significant decreases in stroke burden occurred in the high-SDI regions, high-income Asia Pacific, and subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. Moreover, the ASMR and ASDR increased with age and were higher in males than females.

CONCLUSION

The global stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures remains high despite a decreasing trend over the past three decades. The stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures was more notable for Central Asia, older people, and the male sex.

Analysis of landfill leachate promoting efficient application of weathered coal anaerobic fermentation

This research aimed to develop a new method for clean utilization and treatment of landfill leachate and solid waste weathered coal. Landfill leachate and weathered coal were adopted for combined anaerobic fermentation for methane production. The characteristics of microbial community, mechanism of biological methane production, and utilization characteristics of fermentation broth and solid residue for co-fermentation were analyzed through metagenomics, soluble organic matter detection and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The obtained results revealed that combined anaerobic fermentation increased methane production by 80.1%. Syntrophomonas, Salipiger, Methanosaeta and Methanothrix were highly correlated. Gene abundances of 2-oxoacid ferredoxin oxidoreductase and enolase were increased in methane conversion pathway mainly by acetic acid. Pyruvate-ferroredoxin oxidoreductase, 2-oxoglutarate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase acetate synthase intensified electron transfer pathways among microorganisms. Fulvic acid, tyrosine and tryptophan contents were high in fermentation broth. Volatile decomposition temperature, ignition point and residual char combustion temperature of residual coal were decreased and combustion was more stable. The obtained results showed that the co-fermentation of landfill leachate and weathered coal improved biological methane gas production, degraded weathered coal and improved combustion performance, which provided a new idea for weathered coal clean utilization.

Turn-On Fluorescent Probe for BSA Detection Constructed by Supramolecular Assembly

The fluorescent probe method has attracted significant research attention due to its high sensitivity and reproducibility in detecting bovine serum albumin (BSA). In this study, we constructed a fluorescent probe for BSA detection by assembling an amphiphilic organic fluorescent molecule, termed 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole (HBT-11), with BSA. In an aqueous solution, HBT-11 exhibited a weak fluorescence emission at 501 nm. However, the addition of BSA substantially enhanced the fluorescence emission at 501 nm, indicating that the assembly was driven by electrostatic interactions between HBT-11 and BSA. HBT-11, serving as a fluorescent probe for BSA detection, demonstrated a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 3.92 nmol L-1, excellent photostability, high selectivity, and robust anti-interference capability. Notably, we successfully applied HBT-11 for detecting BSA in fetal bovine serum and selectively imaging BSA in HeLa cells.

Type I Interferon Signalling and Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials

Type I interferon (IFN-I) signalling is intricately involved in the pathogenesis of multiple infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and neurological diseases. Acute ischemic stroke provokes overactivation of IFN-I signalling within the injured brain, particularly in microglia. Following cerebral ischemia, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from injured neural cells elicit marked proinflammatory episodes within minutes. Among these, self-nucleic acids, including nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), have been recognized as a critical alarm signal to fan the flames of neuroinflammation, predominantly via inducing IFN-I signalling activation in microglia. The concept of interferon-responsive microglia (IRM), marked by upregulation of a plethora of IFN-stimulated genes, has been emergingly elucidated in ischemic mouse brains, particularly in aged ones. Among the pattern recognition receptors responsible for IFN-I induction, cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays integral roles in potentiating microglia-driven neuroinflammation and secondary brain injury after cerebral ischemia. Here, we aim to provide an up-to-date review on the multifaceted roles of IFN-I signalling, the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to and resulting from aberrant IFN-I signalling activation after cerebral ischemia, and the therapeutic potentials. A thorough exploration of these above points will inform our quest for IFN-based therapies as effective immunomodulatory therapeutics to complement the limited repertoire of thrombolytic agents, thereby facilitating the translation from bench to bedside.

Effects of UV-B radiation on pollen germination and tube growth: A global meta-analysis

Despite widespread recognition of pollen's potential sensitivity to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation (280-315 nm), there remains ongoing debate surrounding the extent and mechanisms of this effect. In this study, using published data on pollen germination and tube growth including 377 pair-wise comparisons from 77 species in 30 families, we present the first global quantification of the effects of UV-B radiation on pollen germination and tube growth, along with its underlying mechanisms. Our results showed a substantial reduction in both pollen germination and tube growth in response to UV-B radiation, affecting 90.9 % and 84.2 % of species, respectively. Notably, these reductions exhibited phylogenetic constraints, highlighting the role of evolutionary history in shaping the sensitivity of pollen germination and tube growth to UV-B radiation. A negative correlation between elevation and the sensitivity of pollen tube growth was detected, suggesting that pollens from plants at higher elevations exhibit greater resistance to UV-B radiation. Our investigation also revealed that the effects of UV-B radiation on pollen germination and tube growth were influenced by a range of abiotic and biotic factors. Nevertheless, the intensity and duration of UV-B radiation exposure exhibited the highest explanatory power for the effects on both pollen germination and tube growth. This suggests that the responses of pollens to UV-B radiation are profoundly influenced by its dose, a critical consideration within the context of global change. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into the diverse responses of pollen germination and tube growth to UV-B radiation, highlighting the environment and species-dependent nature of pollen's susceptibility to UV-B radiation, with substantial implications for our understanding of the ecological and agricultural consequences of ongoing changes in UV-B radiation.

[Provincial-scale Soil As Migration and Transformation and Rice Safe Planting Zoning: A Case Study of Guizhou Province]

To explore the distribution characteristics of paddy soil and rice AS content, as well as the health risks of rice consumption, and to evaluate the safe planting ability of rice, 209 paddy soil samples and 1 567 groups of paddy soil-rice samples were collected, their As content and basic soil physical and chemical properties were determined, and the single-factor pollution index method was used to evaluate the pollution degree of the samples. The results showed that:① the soil of paddy fields in Guizhou Province was mainly neutral, and its fertilizer retention capacity and organic matter content were above the medium level, and the soil was relatively fertile. The range of ω(As) in paddy soil was 0.042-91.75 mg·kg-1, the geometric mean was 10.03 mg·kg-1, and the cumulative effect of paddy soil As was lower than that of natural soil As (P<0.05) by independent sample T. Compared with the screening value (0.2 mg·kg-1) of the Soil Pollution Risk Management and Control Standard for Agricultural Land (GB 15618-2018), the excess rate of soil samples was 15.37%. ② The ω (As) range of rice grain samples was 0.001-0.937 mg·kg-1, the geometric average value was 0.108 mg·kg-1, 10.21% of the rice grain samples exceeded the limit value of "Limit of Contaminants in Food (trial)" (GB 2762-2022), and the locations where the exceedances are mainly found are in the central and northern parts of Qiannan Prefecture, as well as around industrial and mining activity zones in the southern counties and districts of Zunyi. ③ As ingested through rice posed non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk for adults and children, and the impact on children was greater than that of adults. There is no strict control area for safe rice planting in Guizhou Province, and rice can be safely planted.

Clinical features and associated factors of coexisting intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a cross-sectional study

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is generally considered to be closely related to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), leading to a poor prognosis. However, the coexistence of ICH in general CSVD patients and related factors remain underreported. In our cross-sectional study, we screened 414 CSVD patients from a database at the Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (September 2018 to April 2022). Imaging biomarkers of CSVD and coexisting ICH lesion were assessed. Factors associated with coexisting ICH in CSVD were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. ICH was observed in 59 patients (14.3%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that previous history of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (OR 5.189, 95%CI 2.572-10.467, P < 0.001), high-grade perivascular space in the basal ganglia (n > 10) (OR 2.051, 95%CI 1.044-4.027, P = 0.037) and low adjusted calcium-phosphorus product (OR 0.728 per 1 [mmol/L]2 increase, 95%CI 0.531-0.998, P = 0.049) were associated with coexisting ICH in CSVD patients. The considerable proportion of coexisting ICH and revelation of associated factors in general CSVD patients alert physicians of the potential risk of the reoccurrence of ICH, and might have a significant impact on therapeutic strategies.

Wood-inspired metamaterial catalyst for robust and high-throughput water purification

Continuous industrialization and other human activities have led to severe water quality deterioration by harmful pollutants. Achieving robust and high-throughput water purification is challenging due to the coupling between mechanical strength, mass transportation and catalytic efficiency. Here, a structure-function integrated system is developed by Douglas fir wood-inspired metamaterial catalysts featuring overlapping microlattices with bimodal pores to decouple the mechanical, transport and catalytic performances. The metamaterial catalyst is prepared by metal 3D printing (316 L stainless steel, mainly Fe) and electrochemically decorated with Co to further boost catalytic functionality. Combining the flexibility of 3D printing and theoretical simulation, the metamaterial catalyst demonstrates a wide range of mechanical-transport-catalysis capabilities while a 70% overlap rate has 3X more strength and surface area per unit volume, and 4X normalized reaction kinetics than those of traditional microlattices. This work demonstrates the rational and harmonious integration of structural and functional design in robust and high throughput water purification, and can inspire the development of various flow catalysts, flow batteries, and functional 3D-printed materials.

Experimental studies on the characteristics of chisel picks in coal cutting for bucket wheel excavators

Chisel pick is a basic and important rock cutting tool, and the performance of chisel pick directly affects rock mining. In this paper, a rock cutting device was developed for chisel picks cutting experiments. The influence of the depth of cutting, width of chisel pick, rake angle, back clearance angle and tip fillet radius on the cutting performance such as cutting force, normal force, and specific energy has been comprehensively studied. In addition to the general conclusions, the experimental results show that the back clearance angle has an influence range on the cutting, and the ratio of the normal force to the cutting force decreases with the increase of the rake angle; the tip fillet radius greatly improve the mean cutting force and specific energy. The experimental results will provide data support for the design of chisel picks on rock excavation machinery and a more reasonable chisel pick cutting rock mechanics model.

Zinc Aluminum Oxide Encapsulation Layers for Perovskite Solar Cells Deposited Using Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition

An atmospheric-pressure spatial atomic layer deposition system is used to rapidly deposit 60 nm zinc-aluminum oxide (Zn-AlOx ) thin-film-encapsulation layers directly on perovskite solar cells at 130 °C without damaging the temperature-sensitive perovskite and organic materials. Varying the Zn/Al ratio has a significant impact on the structural properties of the films and their moisture barrier performance. The Zn-AlOx films have higher refractive indexes, lower concentrations of OH─ groups, and lower water-vapor transmission rates (WVTR) than AlOx films without zinc. However, as the Zn/Al ratio increases beyond 0.21, excess Zn atoms segregate, leading to an increase in the number of available hydroxyl groups on the surface of the deposited film and a slight increase in the WVTR. The stability of the p-i-n formamidinium methylammonium lead iodide solar cells under standard ISOS-D-3 testing conditions (65 °C and 85% relative humidity) is significantly enhanced by the thin encapsulation layers. The layers with a Zn/Al ratio of 0.21 result in a seven-fold increase the time required for the cells to degrade to 80% of their original efficiency.

Tuning the Catalytic Selectivity Toward C2+ Oxygenate Products by Manipulating Cu Oxidation States in CO Electroreduction

Enhancing the reaction selectivity for multicarbon products (C2+) is an important goal for the electrochemical CO(2) reduction (ECO(2)R) process. Cuprous compounds have demonstrated promising C2+ selectivity in the ECO(2)R process, but further investigation is necessary to thoroughly elucidate their catalytic behavior toward C2+ oxygenate production. In this study, copper nitride-based materials with varying reduction rates were employed as precatalysts. Consequently, a relationship between the selectivity toward C2+ oxygenates and the Cu oxidation state during the ECOR process is established. Results of theoretical and experimental analyses reveal that the Cu0/Cu+ interface plays a key role in enhancing *CO adsorption while lowering the formation energy of *CH2CO, thereby promoting acetate production. This work highlights the significance of the Cu0/Cu+ interface in the regulation of C2+ oxygenate production and paves the way for the development of highly selective catalysts in the future.

Neuronal activity in the anterior paraventricular nucleus of thalamus positively correlated with sweetener consumption in mice

Although the brain can discriminate between various sweet substances, the underlying neural mechanisms of this complex behavior remain elusive. This study examines the role of the anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (aPVT) in governing sweet preference in mice. We fed the mice six different diets with equal sweetness for six weeks: control diet (CD), high sucrose diet (HSD), high stevioside diet (HSSD), high xylitol diet (HXD), high glycyrrhizin diet (HGD), and high mogroside diet (HMD). The mice exhibited a marked preference specifically for the HSD and HSSD. Following consumption of these diets, c-Fos expression levels in the aPVT were significantly higher in these two groups compared to the others. Utilizing fiber photometry calcium imaging, we observed rapid activation of aPVT neurons in response to sucrose and stevioside intake, but not to xylitol or water. Our findings suggest that aPVT activity aligns with sweet preference in mice, and notably, stevioside is the sole plant-based sweetener that elicits an aPVT response comparable to that of sucrose.

Fauna Associated with American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Nests in Coastal South Carolina, USA

Crocodilians are considered to be "ecosystem engineers" because their modification of habitats provides opportunities for feeding, drinking, breeding, and other vital life activities to a wide variety of other animals. One such habitat modification is the construction of nest mounds during the breeding season by most crocodilian species, including American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). While many reports exist describing wildlife associated with alligator nests, no studies have quantified faunal associates and their corresponding behaviors while visiting nests. To address this data gap, we used automated game cameras to monitor wildlife and their behaviors at alligator nests during the egg incubation period (June-September) in coastal South Carolina, USA (2016-2021). We documented a total of 81 species (79 vertebrates and 2 invertebrates) at 78 alligator nests representing six taxonomic groups, including 48 birds (59.2%), 9 mammals (11.1%), 19 reptiles (23.4%), 3 amphibians (3.7%), 1 malacostracan (1.2%), and 1 insect (1.2%). Collectively, faunal associates primarily used alligator nests for feeding/foraging (51.8%), traveling (29.3%), and loafing (19.9%) and to a much lesser extent basking, burrowing/shelter, breeding, and nesting. However, trends in alligator nest use varied among faunal associate groups (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.), subgroups (e.g., passerines, raptors, wading birds, and waterfowl), and species. Several novel behaviors by some nest associates were also noted during the study, including the first observations of Virginia oppossum (Didelphis virginiana) opening and predating nests, bobcat (Lynx rufus) consuming alligator hatchlings, and Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) feeding on the contents of a recently predated alligator egg. The results of this study indicate that a diverse assemblage of vertebrates (and some invertebrates) use alligator nest sites in coastal South Carolina for a variety of life activities during the egg incubation period, and the proportion of the behaviors exhibited varies among animal groups and species. This study provides a first step for investigations regarding the net impacts of alligator nest-faunal associate interactions and ultimately the greater ecological role of alligators and other crocodilians.

Icariin Regulates EMT and Stem Cell-Like Character in Breast Cancer through Modulating lncRNA NEAT1/TGFβ/SMAD2 Signaling Pathway

Metastases and drug resistance are the major risk factors associated with breast cancer (BC), which is the most common type of tumor affecting females. Icariin (ICA) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound that possesses significant anticancer properties. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in a wide variety of biological and pathological processes and have been shown to modulate the effectiveness of certain drugs in cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential effect of ICA on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness articulation in BC cells, as well as the possible relationship between its inhibitory action on EMT and stemness with the NEAT1/transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/SMAD2 pathway. The effect of ICA on the proliferation (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony assays), EMT (Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and wound healing), and stemness (mammosphere formation assays, Western blotting) of BC cells were examined. According to the findings, ICA suppressed the proliferation, EMT, and stem cell-like in MDA-MB-231 cells, and exerted its inhibitory impact by downregulating the TGFβ/SMAD2 signaling pathway. ICA could significantly downregulate the expression of lncRNA NEAT1, and silencing NEAT1 enhanced the effect of ICA in suppressing EMT and expression of different stem cell markers. In addition, silencing NEAT1 was found to attenuate the TGFβ/SMAD2 signaling pathway, thereby improving the inhibitory impact of ICA on stemness and EMT in BC cells. In conclusion, ICA can potentially inhibit the metastasis of BC via affecting the NEAT1/TGFβ/SMAD2 pathway, which provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the mechanisms involved in potential application of ICA for BC therapy.

Efficient Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cell with a Cesium Acetate Pre-buried PEDOT:PSS Hole Transport Layer

The strong Lewis acid tin halide leads to an excessively fast crystallization rate, resulting in more defects in the film and degraded device performance. In this work, a cesium acetate (CsAc) pre-buried poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transport layer acts as nucleation points during the crystallization of tin-based perovskite, which can induce preferential orientation growth of crystals and increase the grain size to improve the quality of crystallization. The addition of CsAc not only can increase the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS but also can improve the wettability of the perovskite precursor solution to enhance the interface contact between the hole transport layer and perovskite layer. Because of the incorporation of CsAc in PEDOT:PSS, the average short-circuit current density increases from 23.80 to 27.60 mA cm-2. Furthermore, a power conversion efficiency of 10.99% is achieved for a tin-based perovskite solar cell with CsAc-doped PEDOT:PSS as the hole transport layer.

Buprofezin delayed the molting of Pardosa pseudoannulata, a predatory enemy for insect pests, by suppressing chitin synthase 1 expression

Spiders, the major predatory enemies of insect pests in fields, are vulnerable to insecticides. In this study, we observed that the recommended dose of buprofezin delayed the molting of the pond wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata, although it had no lethal effect on the spiders. Since buprofezin is an insect chitin biosynthesis inhibitor, we identified two chitin synthase genes (PpCHS1 and PpCHS2) in P. pseudoannulata. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed that PpCHS1 was most highly expressed in cuticle. In contrast, PpCHS2 showed highest mRNA levels in the midgut and fat body. RNAi knockdown of PpCHS1 significantly delayed the molting of 12-days old spiderlings, whereas no significant effect on the molting was observed in the PpCHS2-silencing spiderlings. The expression of PpCHS1 was significantly suppressed in the spiderlings treated with buprofezin, but rescued by exogenous ecdysteroid ponasterone A (PA). Consistent with this result, the molting delay caused by buprofezin was also rescued by PA. The results revealed that buprofezin delayed the molting of spiders by suppressing PpCHS1 expression, which will benefit the protection of P. pseudoannulate and related spider species.

Elucidating the mechanisms underlying astrocyte-microglia crosstalk in hippocampal neuroinflammation induced by acute diquat exposure

The transition from paraquat (PQ) to diquat (DQ), both organic dication herbicides, in China has led to significant increases in the number of acute DQ poisoning cases. Case studies have shown that acute DQ poisoning resulted in injury to the central nervous system (CNS), but the mechanism underlying the injury remains to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate how DQ influenced purinergic signaling between astrocytes and microglia and whether extracellular ATP (eATP) was involved in promoting neuroinflammation induced by acute DQ toxicity through the activation of the P2X4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. We constructed a rat model of acute DQ toxicity to observe the pathological changes in hippocampal tissues after DQ exposure and measure the expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampal tissue. We also established an in vitro co-culture model of C6 astrocytes and BV-2 microglia using transwell chambers, measured the amount of eATP secreted into C6 astrocytes after DQ treatment, and assessed the inflammatory response and changes in the P2X4/NLRP3 signaling pathway in BV-2 microglia. The results showed that the neurons in the hippocampal tissue of rats exhibited loose arrangement, nuclear consolidation, and necrosis after DQ exposure, and IL-1β and TNF-α levels were signification higher in the hippocampal tissue after DQ exposure. DQ exposure to the co-cultured cells induced an increase in ATP secretion from C6 astrocytes as well as a significant increase of P2X4, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 expression in BV-2 microglia. In contrast, pretreatment of C6 astrocytes with apyrase (an ATP hydrolase) resulted in a significant decrease of P2X4, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 expression in BV-2 microglia. Furthermore, inhibition of P2X4 expression in BV-2 microglia by transfection with si-P2X4 effectively reversed the increase of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in BV-2 microglia induced by DQ when co-cultured with C6 astrocytes. These results indicate that astrocytes can activate the P2X4/NLRP3 signaling pathway in microglia through the DQ-induced extracellular release of ATP to promote neuroinflammation in rat hippocampal tissue.

Heteroatoms-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nanosheets with Dual Diffusion Pathways for Highly Efficient Potassium Ion Storage

The high potassization/depotassization energy barriers and lack of efficient ion diffusion pathways are two serious obstacles for carbon-based materials to achieve satisfactory potassium ion storage performance. Herein, a facile and controllable one-step exfoliation-doping-etching strategy is proposed to construct heteroatoms (N, O, and S)-doped mesoporous few-layer carbon nanosheets (NOS-C). The mixed molten salts of KCl/K2 SO4 are innovatively used as the exfoliators, dopants, and etching agents, which enable NOS-C with expanded interlayer spacing and uniformly distributed mesopores with the adjusted electronic structure of surrounding carbon atoms, contributing efficient dual (vertical and horizontal) K-ion diffusion pathways, low potassization/depotassization energy barriers and abundant active sites. Thus, the NOS anodes achieve a high reversible capacity of 516.8 mAh g-1 at 0.05 A g-1 , superior rate capability of 202.8 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 and excellent long-term cyclic stability, and their practical application potential is demonstrated by the assembled potassium-ion full batteries. Moreover, a surface-interlayer synergetic K+ storage mechanism is revealed by a combined theoretical and experimental approach including in situ EIS, in situ Raman, ex situ XPS, and SEM analysis. The proposed K+ storage mechanism and unique structural engineering provide a new pathway for potassium-ion storage devices and even beyond.

Time-gated luminescent probes for lysosomal singlet oxygen: Synthesis, characterizations and bioimaging applications

BACKGROUD

Single oxygen (1O2), the molecular oxygen at its excited state, plays a crucial role in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of some diseases owing to its strong oxidizing property to destroy malignant cells. Although the fluorescent probe technique has proven its powerful application abilities for detection of 1O2 in biological systems, most of the reported fluorescent probes suffered from the interference of background autofluorescence of biological samples. It is clear that the real-time and in situ, background-free fluorescent detection of 1O2 generated in live cells, especially in some organelles, is of great significance for understanding the action mechanism of PDT drugs.

RESULTS

By introducing a lysosome-anchoring motif, a morpholine moiety, into a 1O2-specifically-reactive terpyridine polyacid ligand, [4'-(9-anthryl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine-6,6″-diyl] bis(methylenenitrilo) tetrakis (acetic acid) (ATTA), and chelating with lanthanide ions (Eu3+ or Tb3+), two lanthanide complex-based "turn-on" luminescent probes that can be used for the background-free time-gated luminescent (TGL) detection of lysosomal 1O2, Lyso-ATTA-Eu3+ and Lyso-ATTA-Tb3+, have been developed. The probes exhibit fast luminescence responses (within 2.5 min) towards 1O2 with high selectivity and sensitivity (<0.75 μM) in a wide pH range (4-11). And the excellent lysosome-localization performance of the probes allowed them to be used for the monitoring of endogenous 1O2 in lysosomes, which enabled the variability of lysosomal-1O2 concentrations induced by different photosensitizers to be successfully discriminated. Furthermore, by doping Lyso-ATTA-Eu3+ into the polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel, the smart luminescent sensor film, PEG-Lyso-ATTA-Eu3+, was prepared, and successfully used for the detection of the on-site 1O2 production during the PDT process of psoriatic disease in model mice.

SIGNIFICANT

Two lysosome-targetable background-free TGL probes for 1O2 were firstly reported. The developed smart luminescent sensor film could be a powerful tool for the clinical monitoring of PDT on skin diseases without using sophisticated and expensive instruments.

Proteomic Comparisons of Caprine Milk Whole Cream Buttermilk Whey and Cheese Whey Cream Buttermilk

Buttermilk, a potential material used to produce milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), is obtained as a byproduct of butter making from milk whole cream and cheese whey cream. This study investigated the effects of rennet and acid coagulation on the protein profiles of buttermilk rennet-coagulated whey (BRW) and buttermilk acid-coagulated whey (BAW). They were compared to those of whey cream buttermilk (WCB). Rennet coagulation was more efficient in removing casein, while retaining more IgG and lactoferrin than acid coagulation. BRW had more MFGM than BAW. Butyrophilin, xanthine dehydrogenase, and mucin1 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in BRW, while fatty acid-binding protein 3 was enriched in BAW. KEGG analysis showed that complement and coagulation cascades had the greatest differences, and the abundance of proteins involved in this signaling pathway in BRW and BAW was higher, suggesting their potential anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activity. BAW had higher apolipoprotein A4 and transcobalamin 2, which are essential carriers for transporting long-chain fatty acids and vitamin B12 from the intestine to the blood. Therefore, BAW intake might improve lipids and vitamin B12 absorption. This study can help deepen the understanding of protein composition of MFGM-enriched whey and facilitate the production of MFGM proteins for infants and old-aged populations.

[Response of Cadmium in Soil-rice to Different Conditioners Based on Field Trials]

A plot experiment was carried out to assess the applicability of soil conditioners on Cd-polluted acidic paddy fields. The effects of five soil conditioners[Tianxiang 1 Hao (TX1), limestone (Li), silicon fertilizer, Nuodikang (NDK), and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (CaMg-P)] on Cd accumulation and transport between contaminated soil and rice plants and rice yield on the land were analyzed. The results showed that compared with that under the control, other tested methods increased soil pH by 0.41-0.68 units and decreased available Cd content in the soil by 11.2%-39.7%. The difference between Li- and NDK-treated soil available Cd reached a significant level (P < 0.05). ② Compared with that in the blank control, the application of soil conditioner could significantly reduce the total amount of Cd in rice, and the Cd content in roots, other leaves, rachises, chaffs, and brown rice were significantly lower than those in the CK treatment (P < 0.05). The Cd translation factor between various sites was shown as TFroots-other nodes > TFroots-first nodes > TFroots-rachises > TFroots-chaffs ≈ TFroots-flag leaves > TFroots-brown rice. The Cd content of brown rice met the national safety standard (0.2 mg·kg-1), in which the TX1, Li, and CaMg-P treatments showed significant Cd reduction effects, and ω(Cd) was 0.097, 0.094, and 0.134 mg·kg-1, respectively. ③ The application of soil conditioner could increase the yield by 9.9%-35.8%, and the yield of the CaMg-P and TX1 treatments was significantly higher than that of other treatments (P < 0.05). ④ Correlation analysis showed that the Cd content in brown rice was significantly positively correlated with available Cd content in soil, available Fe content in soil, and available phosphorus but negatively correlated with soil pH. In summary, TX1 and CaMg-P are recommended to be applied in farmland lightly polluted by the heavy metal Cd to ensure the safety of agricultural products.

In Situ Raman Study of Surface Reconstruction of FeOOH/Ni3 S2 Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts

Construction of heterojunctions is an effective strategy to enhanced electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the structural evolution of the active phases and synergistic mechanism still lack in-depth understanding. Here, an FeOOH/Ni3 S2 heterostructure supported on nickel foam (NF) through a two-step hydrothermal-chemical etching method is reported. In situ Raman spectroscopy study of the surface reconstruction behaviors of FeOOH/Ni3 S2 /NF indicates that Ni3 S2 can be rapidly converted to NiOOH, accompanied by the phase transition from α-FeOOH to β-FeOOH during the OER process. Importantly, a deep analysis of Ni─O bond reveals that the phase transition of FeOOH can regulate the lattice disorder of NiOOH for improved catalytic activity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirm that NiOOH/FeOOH heterostructure possess strengthened adsorption for O-containing intermediates, as well as lower energy barrier toward the OER. As a result, FeOOH/Ni3 S2 /NF exhibits promising OER activity and stability in alkaline conditions, requiring an overpotential of 268 mV @ 100 mA cm-2 and long-term stability over 200 h at a current density of 200 mA cm-2 . This work provides a new perspective for understanding the synergistic mechanism of heterogeneous electrocatalysts during the OER process.

Unveiling the sp2 ─sp3 C─C Polar Bond Induced Electromagnetic Responding Behaviors by a 2D N-doped Carbon Nanosheet Absorber

The infertile electromagnetic (EM) attenuating behavior of carbon material makes the improvement of its performance remain a significant challenge. Herein, a facile and low-cost strategy radically distinct from the prevalent approaches by constructing polar covalent bonds between sp2 -hybridized and sp3 -hybridized carbon atoms to introduce strong dipolar polarization is proposed. Through customizing and selectively engineering the N moieties conjugated with carbon rings, the microstructure of the as-synthesized 2D nanosheet is gradually converted with the partial transition from sp3 carbons to sp2 carbons, where the electric dipoles between them are also tuned. Supported by the DFT calculations, a progressively enhanced sp2 ─sp3 C─C dipolar polarization is caused by this controllable structure evolution, which is demonstrated to contribute dominantly to the total dielectric loss. By virtue of this unduplicated loss behavior, a remarkable effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) beyond -10 dB of 8.28 GHz (2.33 mm) and an ultrawide EAB beyond -5 dB of 13.72 GHz (4.93 mm) are delivered, which upgrade the EM performance of carbon material to a higher level. This study not only demonstrates the huge perspective of sp2 ─sp3 -hybridized carbon in EM elimination but also gives pioneering insights into the carbon-carbon polarization mechanism for guiding the development of advanced EM absorption materials.

Antagonistic MADS-box transcription factors SEEDSTICK and SEPALLATA3 form a transcriptional regulatory network that regulates seed oil accumulation

Transcriptional regulation is essential for balancing multiple metabolic pathways that influence oil accumulation in seeds. Thus far, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern seed oil accumulation remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the transcriptional regulatory network composed of MADS-box transcription factors SEEDSTICK (STK) and SEPALLATA3 (SEP3), which bridges several key genes to regulate oil accumulation in seeds. We found that STK, highly expressed in the developing embryo, positively regulates seed oil accumulation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Furthermore, we discovered that SEP3 physically interacts with STK in vivo and in vitro. Seed oil content is increased by the SEP3 mutation, while it is decreased by SEP3 overexpression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and transient dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that STK positively regulates seed oil accumulation by directly repressing the expression of MYB5, SEP3, and SEED FATTY ACID REDUCER 4 (SFAR4). Moreover, genetic and molecular analyses demonstrated that STK and SEP3 antagonistically regulate seed oil production and that SEP3 weakens the binding ability of STK to MYB5, SEP3, and SFAR4. Additionally, we demonstrated that TRANSPARENT TESTA 8 (TT8) and ACYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE 3 (AAD3) are direct targets of MYB5 during seed oil accumulation in Arabidopsis. Together, our findings provide the transcriptional regulatory network antagonistically orchestrated by STK and SEP3, which fine tunes oil accumulation in seeds.

Study on the Role and Mechanism of SLC3A2 in Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization and Bladder Cancer Cells Growth

Background: Solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) is highly expressed in various types of cancers, including bladder cancer (BLCA). However, the role and mechanism of SLC3A2 in the onset and progression of BLCA are still unclear. Methods: The interfering plasmid for SLC3A2 was constructed and transfected into BLCA cells. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities were assessed to evaluate the impact of SLC3A2 silencing on BLCA cell growth. M1 and M2 macrophage polarization markers were detected to evaluate macrophage polarization. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and Fe2+, as well as the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, were measured to assess the occurrence of ferroptosis. Ferroptosis inhibitors were used to verify the mechanism. Results: The experimental results showed that SLC3A2 was highly expressed in BLCA cell lines. The proliferation, invasion, and migration of BLCA cells were reduced after interfering with SLC3A2. Interference with SLC3A2 led to increase the expression of M1 macrophage markers and decreased the expression of M2 macrophage markers in M0 macrophages co-cultured with tumor cells. Additionally, interference with SLC3A2 led to increased levels of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and Fe2+, downregulated the expression of solute carrier family 7 member11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), while upregulated the expression of acyl-coA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) in BLCA cells. However, the impact of SLC3A2 interference on cell proliferation and macrophage polarization was impeded by ferroptosis inhibitors. Conclusion: Interference with SLC3A2 inhibited the growth of BLCA cells and the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages by promoting ferroptosis in BLCA cells.

Identification and Characterization of a Predominant Hydrophobin in the Edible Mushroom Grifola frondosa

Hydrophobins (HFBs) are a group of small, secreted amphipathic proteins of fungi with multiple physiological functions and potential commercial applications. In this study, HFB genes of the edible mushroom, Grifola frondosa, were systematically identified and characterized, and their transcriptional profiles during fungal development were determined. In total, 19 typical class I HFB genes were discovered and bioinformatically analyzed. Gene expression profile examination showed that Gf.hyd9954 was particularly highly upregulated during primordia formation, suggesting its major role as the predominant HFB in the lifecycle of G. frondosa. The wettability alteration profile and the surface modification ability of recombinant rGf.hyd9954 were greater than for the Grifola HFB HGFII-his. rGf.hyd9954 was also demonstrated to form the typical class I HFB characteristic-rodlet bundles. In addition, rGf.hyd9954 was shown to possess nanoparticle characteristics and emulsification activities. This research sheds light on the regulation of fungal development and its association with the expression of HFB genes.

Hypertension, socioeconomic status and depressive and anxiety disorders: a cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older Chinese women

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of hypertension with depressive and anxiety disorders in middle-aged and older Chinese women, and to further assess whether the association was influenced by socioeconomic status (SES).

DESIGN

Nationwide cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Six provinces of the eastern, central and western regions of China.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 40-70 years were included by a multistage stratified random cluster sampling in 2018 (N=9900).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Depressive and anxiety disorders were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the OR and 95% CI for hypertension and the odds of depressive and anxiety disorders.

RESULTS

18.5% of participants reported having hypertension; 20.9% and 15.3% of women experienced depressive and anxiety disorders, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, women diagnosed with hypertension were more likely to have depressive (OR=1.27, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.45) and anxiety disorders (OR=1.48, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.71) than those without hypertension. Stratified analyses demonstrated that hypertension was significantly associated with higher odds of depressive disorders in women living in rural areas (OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.59), with lower levels of education (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.46) and with average monthly household income <¥3000 (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.59), while hypertension was significantly correlated with increased odds of anxiety disorders in women living in urban (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.79) and rural areas (OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.84), with lower levels of education (OR=1.47, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.70), and with average monthly household income <¥3000 (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.75) and ≥¥3000 (OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension was associated with increased odds of depressive and anxiety disorders among middle-aged and older women, especially in those with low SES. Effective strategies and actions for identification and management of hypertension and depressive and anxiety disorders are needed.

FRET Luminescent Probe for the Ratiometric Imaging of Peroxynitrite in Rat Brain Models of Epilepsy-Based on Organic Dye-Conjugated Iridium(III) Complex

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures globally, imposing a substantial burden on patients and their families. The pathological role of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal hyperexcitability, is critical in epilepsy. However, the development of reliable, in situ, and real-time optical imaging tools to detect ONOO- in the brain encounters some challenges related to the depth of tissue penetration, background interference, optical bleaching, and spectral overlapping. To address these limitations, we present Ir-CBM, a new one-photon and two-photon excitable and long-lived ratiometric luminescent probe designed specifically for precise detection of ONOO- in epilepsy-based on the Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism by combining an iridium(III) complex with an organic fluorophore. Ir-CBM possesses the advantages of rapid response, one-/two-photon excitation, and ratiometric luminescent imaging for monitoring the cellular levels of ONOO- and evaluating the effects of different therapeutic drugs on ONOO- in the brain of an epilepsy model rat. The development and utilization of Ir-CBM offer valuable insights into the design of ratiometric luminescent probes. Furthermore, Ir-CBM serves as a rapid imaging and screening tool for antiepileptic drugs, thereby accelerating the exploration of novel antiepileptic drug screening and improving preventive and therapeutic strategies in epilepsy research.

The prevalence and clustering of metabolic syndrome risk components in Chinese population: a cross-sectional study

Objective

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is diagnosed upon the manifestation of ≥ 3 out of 5 specific components. The present study evaluated the epidemiological characteristics of the MetS components and their clustering condition among Chinese adults.

Methods

68383 participants aged 18-80 years from TIDE were scored on a six-point (0-5) MetS severity score (MSSS), which quantified their cumulative amount of MetS risk components. We evaluated the epidemiological characteristics of these components and their clustering conditions. Additionally, we examined the relation of age with the prevalence of different MSSSs or specific MetS components using restricted cubic splines.

Results

Among 68383 participants, 26113 men and 24582 women had abnormal MetS components. There were significant differences in most epidemiological characteristics between the 6 MSSS groups. The top three prevalence of abnormal metabolic components were high systolic blood pressure (SBP) (9.41%, n=6568), high waist circumference (WC) (8.13%, n=6120), and the cooccurrence of high SBP and high WC (6.33%, n=4622). Participants were more likely to have all five MetS components when HDL-C was low. Restricted cubic splines showed that when the MSSS ≥3, the MetS prevalence of male peaked and that of the female population increased most rapidly at 40-60 age group.

Conclusion

The 40-60 age group can be regarded as the high-risk period of MetS, and elderly women have a higher risk of multiple metabolic disorders than men. The top three clustering of abnormal metabolic components were high SBP, high WC, and their combination. Multiple components aggregation was more likely to occur when HDL-C decreased.