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The methyltransferase complex (MTC) deposits N6-adenosine (m6A) onto RNA, whereas the microprocessor produces microRNA. Whether and how these two distinct complexes cross-regulate each other has been poorly studied. Here we report that the MTC subunit B tends to form insoluble condensates with poor activity, with its level monitored by the 20S proteasome. Conversely, the microprocessor component SERRATE (SE) forms liquid-like condensates, which in turn promote the solubility and stability of the MTC subunit B, leading to increased MTC activity. Consistently, the hypomorphic lines expressing SE variants, defective in MTC interaction or liquid-like phase behaviour, exhibit reduced m6A levels. Reciprocally, MTC can recruit the microprocessor to the MIRNAloci, prompting co-transcriptional cleavage of primary miRNA substrates. Additionally, primary miRNA substrates carrying m6A modifications at their single-stranded basal regions are enriched by m6A readers, which retain the microprocessor in the nucleoplasm for continuing processing. This reveals an unappreciated mechanism of phase separation in RNA modification and processing through MTC and microprocessor coordination.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an inflammatory response closely related to the immune system, but the relationship between inflammation and IBD remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and IBD. Using publicly available genetic data, we explored the relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and IBD risk. Inverse-variance weighting was the primary analytical method. To test the robustness of the results, we used the weighted median-based, MR-Egger, simple mode, and mode-based methods. Finally, we performed a reverse MR analysis to assess the possibility of reverse causality. We identified suggestive associations between 2 immune cell traits and IBD risk (P = 4.18 × 10–5for human leukocyte antigen-DR on CD14+ monocytes, OR: 0.902; 95% CI: 0.859–0.947; for CD39+ CD4+ T cells, P = 6.24 × 10–5; OR: 1.042; 95% CI: 1.021–1.063). Sensitivity analysis results of these immune cell traits were consistent. In reverse MR analysis, we found no statistically significant association between IBD and these 2 cell traits. Our study demonstrates the close connection between immune cells and IBD using MR, providing guidance for future clinical and basic research.

Microblog has become a popular social media because of its short text and timely release, and its impact on society has gradually increased. In order to study the behaviour of microblog users, this paper introduced two algorithms for microblog network community division, which were community discovery algorithm based on density peak clustering and community discovery algorithm based on similarity. Then the two algorithms were simulated using MATLAB software. The data used in the experiment included the artificial network generated by LFR tool and the following information data of different users collected by taking the API interface of the microblog of a student from Computer School of Jining Normal University as the starting point by crawlers. The results demonstrated that the normalised mutual information (NMI) and the density of the community structure obtained by the two algorithms decreased, and the conductivity increased with the expansion of the scale of microblog network, and the community structure obtained by the similarity-based algorithm had higher NMI and density and lower conductivity under the same scale of micrblog network. In conclusion, the similarity-based algorithm can divide microblog network better.

Propensity score methods are popular and effective statistical techniques for reducing selection bias in observational data to increase the validity of causal inference based on observational studies in behavioral and social science research. Some methodologists and statisticians have raised concerns about the rationale and applicability of propensity score methods. In this review, we addressed these concerns by reviewing the development history and the assumptions of propensity score methods, followed by the fundamental techniques of and available software packages for propensity score methods. We especially discussed the issues in and debates about the use of propensity score methods. This review provides beneficial information about propensity score methods from the historical point of view and helps researchers to select appropriate propensity score methods for their observational studies.

Multicolor carbon dots (CDs) possess tremendous potential applications, especially in optoelectronic devices. However, further applications of multicolor light-emitting diode (LED) have been constrained due to the very limited researches concerning the wavelength control mechanism of multicolor CDs. In this work, through theoretical calculation and experimental verification, the regulatory effects of sp2conjugated domain on the fluorescence wavelength of CDs were explored. Through the regulation of the structure size and the introduction of amide bonds, four kinds of structures were designed in density functional theory (DFT) calculation to explore the influence of sp2conjugated domain on the fluorescence wavelength of CDs. Using thiourea and p-phenylenediamine as the precursors and regulating the reaction solvents, multicolor CDs with blue, green, and red fluorescence emission were prepared to experimentally verify the emission mechanism. It was confirmed that the increasing structure size and the introduction of amide bond would induce an increasing size of the sp2conjugated domain, leading to the red shift of the CDs fluorescence wavelength. Furtherly, in order to suppress the self-quenching performance, the CDs@polyvinylpyrrolidone (CDs@PVP) fluorescent film possessing bright solid-state fluorescence was constructed for a better application in light-emitting diodes. The approach provided an effective strategy to realize the programmed regulation on the fluorescence wavelength of CDs, offering us wide potential applications of CDs in the photoelectric device fields.

This study cross-validated the psychometric properties of the 10-item Community Service Self-Efficacy Scale (CSSES) for evaluation of service-learning programs. Three independent samples consisting of undergraduate students and high school students were used to study the validity of the scale. An exploratory factor analysis on the scale yielded strong construct validity with a clear one-factor structure. The results from a confirmatory factor analysis indicated an excellent one-factor model fit. The internal consistency (>.89) and positive discrimination power of the scale also indicated that CSSES is a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for evaluation of service-learning programs or research in this area for increasing community service engagement of both high school and college students.

Several approaches have been used to encourage the differentiation of cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells. However, the differentiation efficiency is low, and appropriate culture protocols are needed to produce adequate numbers of cardiomyocytes for therapeutic cell transplantation. This study investigated the effects of serum on cardiomyocyte differentiation in suspension culture medium during embryoid body (EB) formation by human embryonic stem cells. The addition of ascorbic acid, dimethylsulfoxide and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine during days 5–7 at the EB-forming stage resulted in an increase in the numbers of rhythmically contracting clusters of derived cardiomyocytes. Treatment with 0.1 mmol L−1ascorbic acid alone, or more notably in combination with 10 μmol L−15-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, induced the formation of beating cells within EBs. Most of the beating clusters had spontaneous contraction rates similar to those found in human adults, and their contractile activity lasted for up to 194 days.

AbstractThe genus SpulerinaVari is studied based on the specimens collected from China. Of the eight species treated three species are described as new, namely S. bifaria, sp. nov., S. elegans, sp. nov. and S. quadrata, sp. nov.; and three species namely, S. virgulataKumata & Kuroko, S. CastaneaeKumata & Kuroko and S. corticicolaKumat are new records from China. Photographs of adults and illustrations of genitalia are provided. A key to the Chinese species also included.

AbstractThe species of GibbovalvaKumata & Kuroko from China are reviewed. Five species are reported, including one new species, G. singularis, sp. nov. Two species are reported from China for the first time: G. civica(Meyrick) and G. kobusiKumata & Kuroko. Photographs of the adults and figures of the genital structures are provided, along with a key to all the described species.

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med2018;378:126–136)A previous randomized controlled trial involving women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared fresh-embryo transfer with elective freezing of all embryos followed by frozen-embryo transfer. The data showed that frozen-embryo transfer had a higher live-birth rate in these women compared with fresh-embryo transfer. Whether frozen-embryo transfer also increases live-birth rates among ovulatory women with infertility without PCOS is uncertain.