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In recent years, exploring interactions between sunlight, semiconducting minerals and microorganisms in nature has attracted great attention. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the interaction between minerals and microorganisms in the plain areas of the Yellow River Basin under sunlight. In this study, the mineral composition and microbial community of red soil from the Ningxia Plain, China were analyzed. X–ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that red soil contained semiconducting minerals such as birnessite, hematite and goethite. 16S rRNA analysis found that electroactive microorganisms such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota were enriched in in–situ microbial community of red soil. Afterwards, electrochemical tests such as linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and I–t curves, indicated that red soil exhibited good semiconducting properties under light irradiation. Finally, a dual chamber system and electrochemical techniques were used to explore the electron transfer relationship between red soil and microorganisms. The open circuit voltage (350 mV) and maximum power density (1242.72 mW/m2) of red soil cathode system were significantly improved compared to blank graphite electrode, indicating that red soil could serve as electron acceptors for microbial extracellular respiration. Red soil electrode in live bacteria exhibited the highest photocurrent density (0.29 μA/cm2) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct) (223 Ω) under light conditions, indicating that red soil accelerated the rapid transfer of electrons, reduced polarization loss, and enhanced extracellular electron transfer (EET) process under light conditions. This study demonstrated that the participation of semiconducting minerals in microbial EET processes under sunlight in the Ningxia Plain, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology holds significant promise for the production of clean energy and treatment of pollutants. Nevertheless, challenges such as low power generation efficiency and the high cost of electrode materials have impeded its widespread adoption. The porous microstructure of biochar and the exceptional photocatalytic properties of rutile endow it with promising catalytic potential. In this investigation, we synthesized a novel Rutile–Biochar (Rut-Bio) composite material using biochar as a carrier and natural rutile, and explored its effectiveness as a cathode catalyst to enhance the power generation efficiency of MFCs, as well as its application in remediating heavy metal pollution. Furthermore, the impact of visible light conditions on its performance enhancement was explored. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis validated the successful fabrication of rutile composites loaded with biochar. The maximum current density and power density achieved by the MFCs were 153.9 mA/m2 and 10.44 mW/m2, respectively, representing a substantial increase of 113.5% and 225% compared to the control group. In addition, biochar-supported rutile MFCs showed excellent degradation performance of heavy metal pollutants under light conditions. Within 7 h, the Cr6+ degradation rate reached 95%. In contrast to the blank control group, the removal efficiency of pollutants exhibited increases of 630.8%. The cyclic degradation experiments also showcased the remarkable stability of the system over multiple cycles. This study successfully integrated natural rutile and biochar to fabricate highly efficient cathode photocatalyst composites, which not only enhanced the power generation performance of MFCs but also presented an environmentally sustainable and economically viable method for addressing heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of science and technology and the growth of industry have led to an escalating discharge of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater containing dyes. This surge in volume not only incurs higher costs but also exacerbates environmental burdens. However, the benefits of green and reusable catalytic reduction materials within dye processes are still uncertain. Herein, this study utilized the eco-friendly deep eutectic solvent method (DESM) and the chlorite-alkali method (CAM) to prepare a cellulose-composed wood aerogel derived from natural wood for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction. The life cycle assessment of wood aerogel preparative process showed that the wood aerogel prepared by the one-step DESM method had fewer environmental impacts. The CAM method was used innovatively to make uniform the chemical functional groups of different wood species and various wood maturities. Subsequently, palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were anchored in the skeleton structure of the wood aerogel with the native chemical groups used as a reducing agent to replace external reducing agents, which reduced secondary pollution and prevented the agglomeration of nanoparticles. Results showed that the catalytic reduction efficiency of 4-NP can reach 99.8%, which shows promises for applications in wastewater treatment containing dyes. Moreover, investigation of the advantages of preparation methods of wood aerogel has important implications for helping researchers and producers choose suitable preparation strategies according to demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipeline robot, as a new type of equipment for pipeline operations such as pigging and detection, will play an increasingly important role in the operation and maintenance of oil and gas pipeline networks. The tracking and positioning technology during its operation process is one of the essential topics to improve the operating performance of pipeline robots and eliminate potential pipeline accidents. This paper presents the overall design of the wireless tracking and positioning system for pipeline robots based on extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic method using the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Starting from the classical electromagnetic theory, a mathematical model for the distribution of ELF electromagnetic field in buried metal pipeline environment is established. According to the characteristics of ELF electromagnetic wave transceiver and the model based on classical theory, the equivalent magnetic dipole transmission model is deduced. Based on the equivalent model, the attenuation characteristics of the ELF electromagnetic wave in the external space of the pipeline are analyzed by numerical simulation. The influence of the geometrical dimensions, environmental and working parameters, and other factors on the electromagnetic field intensity outside the pipeline is given at the same time. Finally, the distribution of ELF electromagnetic field in pipeline environment is discussed for horizontal-laying pipeline and inclined-laying pipeline, and the tracking method of pipeline robot is proposed on this basis. The proposed scheme is practical and effective, and it is suitable for real-time tracking and positioning of robot working in the pipelines whose slope is no more than 60 degrees with known or unknown distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for improved indoor air quality has grown with improvements in the standards of living worldwide. While wood is widely used to construct furniture since it is a renewable resource and aesthetically pleasing, it is also flammable, which limits its applications. Although there have been extensive research efforts in reducing the flammability of wood products, current approaches often have adverse effects on the environment. In this work, a novel organo‐inorganic coordination system is proposed to prepare a fire‐retardant and smoke suppression wooden "air purifier" using a vacuum impregnation method. The "air purifier" is composed of tourmaline particles/KH550 (TPs/KH550) and delignified wood. The added TPs give the final composites capable to purify air (1000 psc cm−3 negative oxygen ions [NOIs]). Compared with pristine wood (PW), total heat release (THR), peak heat release rate (HRR), and smoke production rate (SPR) of the wooden "air purifier" are reduced by 47.88%, 11.73%, and 82.81%, respectively, highlighting that the composites have good fire‐retardancy and smoke suppression performances. Life cycle assessment (LCA) results indicate the composites have minimal environmental impact (EI) in 15 categories. This green, eco‐friendly wooden "air purifier" with fire‐retardant and smoke suppression properties has a great potential application in furniture and buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent wood for smart glass can decrease indoor energy consumption, while simultaneously offering a comfortable indoor temperature and facilitating effective light harvesting. However, high transparency and ultraviolet (UV)‐blocking ability are mutually exclusive in wood‐based materials due to the presence of lignin. Herein, a Turing pattern‐inspired highly transparent wood (TP‐TW) is fabricated via infiltrating the thermal management materials doped‐epoxy (TMM‐epoxy) into the delignified wood with a Turing pattern. Afterward, the Turing pattern possesses outstanding optical properties (high visible transmittance of ≈76% and low UV transmittance of ≈15%). Moreover, TP‐TW can reduce adverse effects caused by indoor temperature fluctuation and outdoor sunlight, demonstrating high latent heat (25.30 J g−1) and low near‐infrared transmittance. Compared with glass, TP‐TW exhibits a low thermal conductivity of 0.21 W m−1 K−1 and excellent shock‐resistant characteristics. Taken together, these results indicate that TP‐TW is an attractive material for smart glass applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background RNA editing and alternative splicing play an important role in expanding protein diversity and this is well illustrated in studies of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Results Here, we compare the RNA editing and alternative splicing of the nAChR alpha6 subunit genes from different insects spanning ~300 million years of evolution– Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae, Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum and Apis mellifera. The conserved and species-specific A-to-I RNA editing occurred across all species except A. gambiae, which displayed extraordinarily short flanking intronic sequences. Interestingly, some A-to-I editing sites were a genomically encoded G in other species. A combination of the experimental data and computational analysis of orthologous alpha6 genes from different species indicated that RNA editing and alternative splicing predated at least the radiation of insect orders spanning ~300 million years of evolution; however, they might have been lost in some species during subsequent evolution. The occurrence of alternative splicing was found to be regulated in distinct modes and, in some cases, even correlated with RNA editing. Conclusion On the basis of comparative analysis of orthologous nAChR alpha6 genes from different insects spanning ~300 million years of evolution, we have documented the existence, evolutionary conservation and divergence, and also regulation of RNA editing and alternative splicing. Phylogenetic analysis of RNA editing and alternative splicing, which can create a multitude of functionally distinct protein isoforms, might have a crucial role in the evolution of complex organisms beyond nucleotide and protein sequences.

With the development of population expansion, education sector is growing drastically. These schools have more and more students and teachers; they will consume tremendous quantities of energy units. It so much energy been consumed that more waste been emitted can cause environmental pollution; this paper discuss how energy be saved through the use of The Smart Power-saving Monitor-controller system. In this system one method of dynamic and stationary human detection have been invented by us, the method can accurately detect dynamic and stationary human in room, in this way low-cost saving-energy controller can be made. The Smart Power-saving Monitor-controller system can real-time monitoring the consumption of the electrical energy and manage energy in schools. For example, when people are in the indoor, air conditioners operating mode, but when no one is in the room, the equipment is shut down automatically; The purpose of the system is mostly to facilitate the saving of the energy by taking energy efficiency measures like appropriate timing of the appliance usage. This system has highest saving effects of 30% in Shandong Jianzhu University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) guide PIWI proteins to suppress transposons in the cytoplasm and nucleus of animal germ cells, but how silencing in the two compartments is coordinated is not known. Here we demonstrate that endonucleolytic slicing of a transcript by the cytosolic mouse PIWI protein MILI acts as a trigger to initiate its further 5′→3′ processing into non-overlapping fragments. These fragments accumulate as new piRNAs within both cytosolic MILI and the nuclear MIWI2. We also identify Exonuclease domain-containing 1 (EXD1) as a partner of the MIWI2 piRNA biogenesis factor TDRD12. EXD1 homodimers are inactive as a nuclease but function as an RNA adaptor within a PET (PIWI-EXD1-Tdrd12) complex. Loss of Exd1 reduces sequences generated by MILI slicing, impacts biogenesis of MIWI2 piRNAs, and de-represses LINE1 retrotransposons. Thus, piRNA biogenesis triggered by PIWI slicing, and promoted by EXD1, ensures that the same guides instruct PIWI proteins in the nucleus and cytoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional SnO2/TiO2 heterostructures were successfully synthesized through the hydrothermal assembly of the single-crystalline SnO2 nanocubes onto the TiO2 electrospun nanofibers. The as-synthesized heterostructures with controllable coverage density of SnO2 nanocubes were then coated onto the ceramic-based interdigital electrodes to produce the humidity nanosensors for the investigation of their humidity sensing characteristics. The results showed that the optimal nanosensor with ∼20 at% SnO2-based heterostructure exhibited good humidity sensitivity, fast response–recovery behavior, low humidity hysteresis, and good reproducibility. In particular, the response and recovery times of this optimal nanosensor could reach ∼2.4 s and ∼30.2 s, respectively, which were considerably shorter than the corresponding values of TiO2 nanofiber-based humidity nanosensors. The improved sensitivity characteristics for the SnO2/TiO2 heterostructures can be attributed to the interfacial electron transfer between SnO2 nanocubes and TiO2 nanofibers, which leads to an appropriate height of the potential barrier on the surface of the heterostructures for water adsorption and desorption. Our proposed humidity sensing mechanism would provide opportunities to guide the design and fabrication of other high-performance humidity sensors based on semiconductor heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells rely on phospho-signaling pathways to gain unlimited proliferation potential. Here, we use domain-focused CRISPR screening and identify the nuclear phosphatase SCP4 as a dependency in AML, yet this enzyme is dispensable in normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. Using CRISPR exon scanning and gene complementation assays, we show that the catalytic function of SCP4 is essential in AML. Through mass spectrometry analysis of affinity-purified complexes, we identify the kinase paralogs STK35 and PDIK1L as binding partners and substrates of the SCP4 phosphatase domain. We show that STK35 and PDIK1L function catalytically and redundantly in the same pathway as SCP4 to maintain AML proliferation and to support amino acid biosynthesis and transport. We provide evidence that SCP4 regulates STK35/PDIK1L through two distinct mechanisms: catalytic removal of inhibitory phosphorylation and by promoting kinase stability. Our findings reveal a phosphatase-kinase signaling complex that supports the pathogenesis of AML. [Display omitted] • Phosphatase-domain-focused CRISPR screening applied to cancer cell lines • SCP4 phosphatase is an acquired catalytic dependency in AML • STK35/PDIK1L kinases bind to the catalytically active SCP4 • SCP4 removes inhibitory phosphorylation from the STK35/PDIK1L activation loop Polyanskaya et al. use unbiased genetic screening and biochemical strategies and find a phospho-signaling complex composed of a phosphatase SCP4 and the kinases STK35/PDIK1L. The catalytic activities of these proteins are critical in acute myeloid leukemia cells but dispensable in normal blood cells [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Small RNAs called PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) act as an immune system to suppress transposable elements in the animal gonads. A poorly understood adaptive pathway links cytoplasmic slicing of target RNA by the PIWI protein MILI to loading of target-derived piRNAs into nuclear MIWI2. Here we demonstrate that MILI slicing generates a 16-nt by-product that is discarded and a pre-piRNA intermediate that is used for phased piRNA production. The ATPase activity of Mouse Vasa Homolog (MVH) is essential for processing the intermediate into piRNAs, ensuring transposon silencing and male fertility. The ATPase activity controls dissociation of an MVH complex containing PIWI proteins, piRNAs, and slicer products, allowing safe handover of the intermediate. In contrast, ATPase activity of TDRD9 is dispensable for piRNA biogenesis but is essential for transposon silencing and male fertility. Our work implicates distinct RNA helicases in specific steps along the nuclear piRNA pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Germline-specific Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) protect animal genomes against transposons and are essential for fertility. piRNAs targeting active transposons are amplified by the ping-pong cycle, which couples Piwi endonucleolytic slicing of target RNAs to biogenesis of new piRNAs. Here, we describe the identification of a transient Amplifier complex that mediates biogenesis of secondary piRNAs in insect cells. Amplifier is nucleated by the DEAD box RNA helicase Vasa and contains the two Piwi proteins participating in the ping-pong loop, the Tudor protein Qin/Kumo and antisense piRNA guides. These components assemble on the surface of Vasa’s helicase domain, which functions as an RNA clamp to anchor Amplifier onto transposon transcripts. We show that ATP-dependent RNP remodeling by Vasa facilitates transfer of 5′ sliced piRNA precursors between ping-pong partners, and loss of this activity causes sterility in Drosophila. Our results reveal the molecular basis for the small RNA amplification that confers adaptive immunity against transposons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Epigenetic silencing of transposons by Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) constitutes an RNA-based genome defense mechanism. Piwi endonuclease action amplifies the piRNA pool by generating new piRNAs from target transcripts by a poorly understood mechanism. Here, we identified mouse Fkbp6 as a factor in this biogenesis pathway delivering piRNAs to the Piwi protein Miwi2. Mice lacking Fkbp6 derepress LINE1 (L1) retrotransposon and display reduced DNA methylation due to deficient nuclear accumulation of Miwi2. Like other cochaperones, Fkbp6 associates with the molecular chaperone Hsp90 via its tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain. Inhibition of the ATP-dependent Hsp90 activity in an insect cell culture model results in the accumulation of short antisense RNAs in Piwi complexes. We identify these to be byproducts of piRNA amplification that accumulate only in nuage-localized Piwi proteins. We propose that the chaperone machinery normally ejects these inhibitory RNAs, allowing turnover of Piwi complexes for their continued participation in piRNA amplification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of small non-coding RNAs with important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Little study has been performed on identifying miRNAs in Bombyx mori (silkworm). Here, 41 conserved miRNAs were identified by a computational homology search approach and some of them were selected and confirmed experimentally. Some characteristics such as position-specific nucleotide distribution, evolutionary conservation and clustered organization have been described. Through general method of miRNA target identification, we also find that at least 4 miRNAs (miR-33/-190/-276/-7) target fibroin L chain transcripts, suggesting that miRNAs might play an important role in the regulation of silk protein production. In order to validate this, 3′-UTR of fibroin L chain mRNA was cloned and several expression vectors were constructed. Assays of semi-RT-PCR, histochemical and biochemical assays after agroinfiltration indicated that miRNAs can repress reporter gene (GUS) expression with sequence complement. Clearly, agroinfiltration proved a highly efficient method to identify the function of miRNAs inhibiting their targets mRNA in heterologous system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An enhanced requirement for nutrients is a hallmark property of cancer cells. Here, we optimized an in vivo genetic screening strategy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which led to the identification of the myo-inositol transporter SLC5A3 as a dependency in this disease. We demonstrate that SLC5A3 is essential to support a myo-inositol auxotrophy in AML. The commonality among SLC5A3-dependent AML lines is the transcriptional silencing of ISYNA1 , which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for myo-inositol biosynthesis, inositol-3-phosphate synthase 1. We use gain- and loss-of-function experiments to reveal a synthetic lethal genetic interaction between ISYNA1 and SLC5A3 in AML, which function redundantly to sustain intracellular myo-inositol. Transcriptional silencing and DNA hypermethylation of ISYNA1 occur in a recurrent manner in human AML patient samples, in association with IDH1/IDH2 and CEBPA mutations. Our findings reveal myo-inositol as a nutrient dependency in AML caused by the aberrant silencing of a biosynthetic enzyme. SIGNIFICANCE: We show how epigenetic silencing can provoke a nutrient dependency in AML by exploiting a synthetic lethality relationship between biosynthesis and transport of myo-inositol. Blocking the function of this solute carrier may have therapeutic potential in an epigenetically defined subset of AML. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 275 ., (©2021 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Hundreds of genes become aberrantly silenced in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with most of these epigenetic changes being of unknown functional consequence. Here, we demonstrate how gene silencing can lead to an acquired dependency on the DNA repair machinery in AML. We make this observation by profiling the essentiality of the ubiquitination machinery in cancer cell lines using domain-focused CRISPR screening, which revealed Fanconi anemia (FA) proteins UBE2T and FANCL as unique dependencies in AML. We demonstrate that these dependencies are due to a synthetic lethal interaction between FA proteins and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which function in parallel pathways to counteract the genotoxicity of endogenous aldehydes. We show DNA hypermethylation and silencing of ALDH2 occur in a recurrent manner in human AML, which is sufficient to confer FA pathway dependency. Our study suggests that targeting of the ubiquitination reaction catalyzed by FA proteins can eliminate ALDH2-deficient AML. SIGNIFICANCE: Aberrant gene silencing is an epigenetic hallmark of human cancer, but the functional consequences of this process are largely unknown. In this study, we show how an epigenetic alteration leads to an actionable dependency on a DNA repair pathway through the disabling of genetic redundancy. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2113 ., (©2021 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urologic malignancy. Although the relationship between clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and obesity has been well-established by several large-scale retrospective studies, the molecular mechanisms and genetic characteristics behind this correlation remains unclear. In the current study, several bioinformatics tools were used to identify the key genes in ccRCC related to obesity., Methods: Microarray data comparing ccRCC with normal renal tissues in patients with and without obesity were downloaded from the GEO database for screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were verified with expression level and survival analysis using several online bioinformatics tools., Results: In the current study, the differential expression of five genes correlated with both ccRCC and obesity; IGHA1 and IGKC as oncogenes, and MAOA , MUC20 and TRPM3 as tumor suppressor genes. These genes were verified by comparing the relationship between the expression levels and survival outcomes from open-source data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset., Conclusions: In conclusion, the five genes differentially expressed in ccRCC and obesity are related to disease progression and prognosis, and therefore could provide prognostic value for patients with ccRCC., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tau-20-891). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.)

Lineage-defining transcription factors (TFs) are compelling targets for leukemia therapy, yet they are among the most challenging proteins to modulate directly with small molecules. We previously used CRISPR screening to identify a salt-inducible kinase 3 (SIK3) requirement for the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines that overexpress the lineage TF myocyte enhancer factor (MEF2C). In this context, SIK3 maintains MEF2C function by directly phosphorylating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), a repressive cofactor of MEF2C. In this study, we evaluated whether inhibition of SIK3 with the tool compound YKL-05-099 can suppress MEF2C function and attenuate disease progression in animal models of AML. Genetic targeting of SIK3 or MEF2C selectively suppressed the growth of transformed hematopoietic cells under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Similar phenotypes were obtained when cells were exposed to YKL-05-099, which caused cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in MEF2C-expressing AML cell lines. An epigenomic analysis revealed that YKL-05-099 rapidly suppressed MEF2C function by altering the phosphorylation state and nuclear localization of HDAC4. Using a gatekeeper allele of SIK3, we found that the antiproliferative effects of YKL-05-099 occurred through on-target inhibition of SIK3 kinase activity. Based on these findings, we treated 2 different mouse models of MLL-AF9 AML with YKL-05-099, which attenuated disease progression in vivo and extended animal survival at well-tolerated doses. These findings validate SIK3 as a therapeutic target in MEF2C-addicted AML and provide a rationale for developing druglike inhibitors of SIK3 for definitive preclinical investigation and for studies in human patients., (© 2020 by The American Society of Hematology.)