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Interdisciplinary experiments within chemistry are very important for the improvements in the overall quality of the education received by students. In this work, we describe an interdisciplinary experiment that was successfully completed by undergraduate students. This training integrates multiple disciplines including natural product medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and instrumental analysis. The experiment involved the extraction of crude berberine hydrochloride (BBH) from "Coptidis rhizoma," recrystallization for purification, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of purified BBH using the "Brick-L" miniature mass spectrometer (mini-MS). The use of mini-MS analysis is the highlight of this work. Mini-MS offers an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate MS analysis into regular undergraduate teaching due to its small size, low power consumption, and portability. The modular design of the mini-MS instrument used in this work allows instructors to disassemble the instrument on-site in the laboratory to show and introduce the actual structure and components inside the instrument to students. Students not only gain hands-on experience with technology but also have the opportunity to see some of the "inner workings" rather than simply treating the mass spectrometer as "a black box". This greatly helped students understand the construction and analysis principles of MS and motivated students to learn about scientific instruments. This comprehensive experiment can help undergraduate students to improve their overall ability and get in touch with the frontiers of analytical chemistry. This teaching practice can also provide a viable case for comprehensive chemistry experiments in other related disciplines.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/TiO2/colloidal photonic crystal (CPC) films with photocatalytic properties are presented, where TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced into the PVA gel network. Such PVA/TiO2/CPC films possess three-dimensional periodic structures that are supported with a PVA/TiO2 composite gel. The unique structural color of CPCs can indicate the process of material preparation, adsorption, and desorption. The shift of diffraction peaks of CPCs can be more accurately determined using fiber-optic spectroscopy. The effect of the PVA/TiO2/CPC catalyst films showed better properties as the degradation of methylene blue (MB) by the PVA/TiO2/CPC film catalyst in 4 h was 77~90%, while the degradation of MB by the PVA/TiO2 film was 33% in 4 h, indicating that the photonic crystal structure was 2.3~2.7 times more effective than that of the bulk structure.

Rationally controlling the morphology and microstructure of the zeolite crystals could play a significant role in optimizing their physicochemical properties and catalytic performances for application in various zeolite-based heterogeneous catalysis processes. Among different controlling strategies, the utilization of zeolite growth modifiers (ZGMs), which are molecules capable of altering the anisotropic rates of crystal growth, is becoming a promising approach to modulate the morphology and microstructural characteristics of zeolite crystals. In this mini-review, we attempt to provide an organized overview of the recent progress in the usage of several easily available polymer-based growth modifiers in the synthesis of some commonly used microporous zeolites and to reveal their roles in controlling the morphology and various physicochemical properties of zeolite crystals during hydrothermal synthesis processes. This review is expected to provide some guidance for deeply understanding the modulation mechanisms of polymer-based zeolite growth modifiers and for appropriately utilizing such a modulation strategy to achieve precise control of the morphology and microstructure of zeolite crystals that display optimal performance in the target catalytic reactions.

Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV) and Aeromonas hydrophila (Ah) are the causative agents of haemorrhagic disease in grass carp. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms and immune responses at the miRNA, mRNA, and protein levels in grass carp kidney cells (CIK) infected by Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV, NV) and Aeromonas hydrophilus (Bacteria, NB) to gain insight into their pathogenesis. Within 48 h of infection with Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV), 99 differentially expressed microRNA (DEMs), 2132 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 627 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by sequencing; a total of 92 DEMs, 3162 DEGs, and 712 DEPs were identified within 48 h of infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. It is worth noting that most of the DEGs in the NV group were primarily involved in cellular processes, while most of the DEGs in the NB group were associated with metabolic pathways based on KEGG enrichment analysis. This study revealed that the mechanism of a grass carp haemorrhage caused by GCRV infection differs from that caused by the Aeromonas hydrophila infection. An important miRNA–mRNA–protein regulatory network was established based on comprehensive transcriptome and proteome analysis. Furthermore, 14 DEGs and 6 DEMs were randomly selected for the verification of RNA/small RNA-seq data by RT-qPCR. Our study not only contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of grass carp CIK cells infected with GCRV and Aeromonas hydrophila, but also serves as a significant reference value for other aquatic animal haemorrhagic diseases.

The deformation of tunnel support structures during tunnel construction is influenced by geological factors, geometrical factors, support factors, and construction factors. Accurate prediction of tunnel support structure deformation is crucial for engineering safety and optimizing support parameters. Traditional methods for tunnel deformation prediction have often relied on numerical simulations and model experiments, which may not always meet the time-sensitive requirements. In this study, we propose a fusion deep neural network (FDNN) model that combines multiple algorithms with a complementary tunnel information encoding method. The FDNN model utilizes Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to extract features related to tunnel structural deformation. FDNN model is used to predict deformations in the Capital Ring Expressway, and the predictions align well with monitoring results. To demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model, we use four different performance evaluation metrics to analyze the predictive performance of FDNN, DNN, XGBoost, Decision Tree Regression (DTR), and Random Forest Regression (RFR) methods. The results indicate that FDNN exhibits high precision and robustness. To assess the impact of different data types on the predictive results, we use tunnel geometry data as the base and combine geological, support, and construction data. The analysis reveals that models trained on datasets comprising all four data types perform the best. Geological parameters have the most significant impact on the predictive performance of all models. The findings of this research guide predicting tunnel construction parameters, particularly in the dynamic design of support parameters.

Hierarchical Beta zeolites with interconnected intracrystalline mesopores and high structural stability are highly attractive for catalytic applications involving bulky reactants. Here, by introducing a suitable amount of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride into the initial synthesis system, micron-sized Beta zeolite crystals with abundant hierarchical porosity (Beta-H) were hydrothermally synthesized. The sample named Beta-H_1 exhibited very high catalytic activity and durability for the Friedel–Crafts acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride. A 92% conversion rate of acetic anhydride could be achieved after 1 h of reaction in a fixed bed reactor, and 71% conversion still remained after 10 h, much better than the rate for conventional Beta zeolite (which decreased rapidly from 85% to 37% within 10 h). The enhanced catalytic performance of Beta-H zeolites could be mainly attributed to the relatively lower strong acid density and the faster transport rate of the hierarchical zeolites. In addition, Beta-H showed high structural stability and could be easily regenerated via high-temperature calcination without obvious loss in catalytic activity, demonstrating its great potential for catalytic applications in the industrially important Friedel–Crafts acylation process.

The genome-wide long hairpin RNA interference (lhRNAi) library is an important resource for plant gene function research. Molecularly characterizing lhRNAi mutant lines is crucial for identifying candidate genes associated with corresponding phenotypes. In this study, a dwarf and sterile line named P198 was screened from the Brassica napus (B. napus) RNAi library. Three different methods confirmed that eight copies of T-DNA are present in the P198 genome. However, only four insertion positions were identified in three chromosomes using fusion primer and nested integrated polymerase chain reaction. Therefore, the T-DNA insertion sites and copy number were further investigated using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing, and it was found that at least seven copies of T-DNA were inserted into three insertion sites. Based on the obtained T-DNA insertion sites and hairpin RNA (hpRNA) cassette sequences, three candidate genes related to the P198 phenotype were identified. Furthermore, the potential differentially expressed genes and pathways involved in the dwarfism and sterility phenotype of P198 were investigated by RNA-seq. These results demonstrate the advantage of applying ONT sequencing to investigate the molecular characteristics of transgenic lines and expand our understanding of the complex molecular mechanism of dwarfism and male sterility in B. napus.

Summary: Traditional techniques for pollutant removal (e.g., static absorption and membrane nanofiltration) are either time consuming or energy intensive with limited permeances. Here, we demonstrate a protocol to fabricate polyamide (PA)-based regenerable adsorption-based membranes (PArab) for ultrafast removal of antibiotics. This protocol describes how to determine the distribution of nanocoatings through the membrane. We also detail the antibiotics removal performance and the regeneration tests.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wang et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

The ecosystem service value (ESV) gradient-evolution pattern of a river basin’s land and water-intertwined zones has a variety of ecosystem service values, such as biodiversity conservation, water conservation, water purification, etc. The study of the ecosystem service value (ESV) gradient-evolution pattern of a river basin’s land and water-intertwined zones will provide a scientific basis for the construction and protection of the ecological security pattern of the river basins. In this study, we combined the unit area equivalent factor method and geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to classify and analyze the gradient change pattern of ESV upstream, downstream, and along the river of the Guangdong mainstream section of the Xijiang River in China, and the conclusions are as follows: (1) The corresponding ESV share of each land use type was in the following order: water bodies > broad-leaved forest > artificial wetland > scrub > paddy field > coniferous forest > natural wetland > grassland. The level of each type of ESV does not depend entirely on the size of the area but is determined by the ecosystem service functions it can provide and the level of ESV per unit area; (2) the relationship between land use types along both sides of the river in the Guangdong section of the Xijiang River Basin shows a tendency to shift from water ecosystems to terrestrial ecosystems, and the ESV gradually decreases with the increase in distance from the water. (3) The upstream to the downstream area showed a trend of changing from terrestrial ecosystems to aquatic ecosystems, such as broad-leaved forests, scrublands, water bodies, artificial wetlands, etc., and the mean land ESV showed a general trend of undulating change and decline with the reduction in the distance from the downstream area. (4) Natural factors, such as the topography and geomorphology of the basin and the socio-economic factors of power consumption, influence the spatial distribution characteristics of the ESV in the region; among them, socio-economic factors, such as total power consumption, industrial exhaust gas emissions, industrial wastewater emissions, etc., in the economically developed areas of the Xijiang River Basin are the determinants of the changes in ESV, which are generated by human living and production activities, and these indirectly affect the magnitude of the ESV by influencing the factors of temperature and gas.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the world’s most crucial food crops, as it currently supports more than half of the world’s population. However, the presence of sheath blight (SB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani has become a significant issue for rice agriculture. This disease is responsible for causing severe yield losses each year and is a threat to global food security. The breeding of SB-resistant rice varieties requires a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved and the exploration of immune genes in rice. To this end, we conducted a screening of rice cultivars for resistance to SB and compared the transcriptome based on RNA-seq between the most tolerant and susceptible cultivars. Our study revealed significant transcriptomic differences between the tolerant cultivar ZhengDao 22 (ZD) and the most susceptible cultivar XinZhi No.1 (XZ) in response to R. solani invasion. Specifically, the tolerant cultivar showed 7066 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while the susceptible cultivar showed only 60 DEGs. In further analysis, we observed clear differences in gene category between up- and down-regulated expression of genes (uDEGs and dDEGs) based on Gene Ontology (GO) classes in response to infection in the tolerant cultivar ZD, and then identified uDEGs related to cell surface pattern recognition receptors, the Ca2+ ion signaling pathway, and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade that play a positive role against R. solani. In addition, DEGs of the jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling pathways were mainly positively regulated, whereas DEGs of the auxin signaling pathway were mainly negatively regulated. Transcription factors were involved in the immune response as either positive or negative regulators of the response to this pathogen. Furthermore, our results showed that chloroplasts play a crucial role and that reduced photosynthetic capacity is a critical feature of this response. The results of this research have important implications for better characterization of the molecular mechanism of SB resistance and for the development of resistant cultivars through molecular breeding methods.

In this work, multi-frequency ultrasound (working modes for the single-, dual- and tri-frequency in simultaneous ways) was applied to extract bioactive compounds from purple eggplant peels. The single-factor experiments were performed by varying six independent variables. A six-level-five-factor uniform design (UD) was further employed to evaluate the interaction effects between different factors. It was found that extraction temperature and extraction time significantly affected the total phenolic content (TPC), whereas the total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA) was mainly influenced by ethanol concentration, extraction temperature and solid-liquid ratio. Based on partial least-squares (PLS) regression analysis, the optimal conditions for TPC extraction were: 53.6 % ethanol concentration, 0.336 mm particle size, 44.5 °C extraction temperature, 35.2 min extraction time, 1:43 g/mL solid-liquid ratio, and similar optimal conditions were also obtained for TMA. Furthermore, the TPC and TMA extraction were investigated by ultrasound in different frequencies and power levels. Compared with single-frequency (40 kHz) and dual-frequency ultrasound (25 + 40 kHz), the extraction yield of TPC and TMA with tri-frequency ultrasound (25 + 40 + 70 kHz) increased by 23.65 % and 18.76 % respectively, which suggested the use of multi-frequency ultrasound, especially tri-frequency ultrasound, is an efficient strategy to improve the TPC and TMA extracts in purple eggplant peels.

BnSIP1-1 is the first identified SIP1 (6b Interacting Protein1) subfamily gene of the trihelix transcription factor family from Brassica napus (B. napus). We previously used a reverse genetic method to reveal its abiotic stress response function in endowing plants resistance to drought and salinity, as well as ABA (Abscisic acid). However, the molecular mechanisms of BnSIP1-1 are unclear. In this study, the global transcriptome files of BnSIP1-1-overexpressing transgenic and wildtype B. napus seedlings under ABA treatment were constructed using RNA-seq. A total of 1823 and 5512 DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) were identified in OE vs. WT and OE_ABA vs. WT_ABA comparison groups, which included 751 and 2567 up-regulated DEGs, and 1072 and 2945 down-regulated DEGs, separately. The impact of overexpressed BnSIP1-1 on plants was amplified by ABA, indicating BnSIP1-1 was an ABA-conditioned responsive gene. More interestingly, we found the reasons for BnSIP1-1 increasing plants’ insensitivity to ABA were not by regulating ABA synthesis and catabolism, but by manipulating ABA transportation, ABA signal perception and transduction, inositol phosphate metabolism, as well as endomembrane trafficking, indirectly suggesting this gene may play roles upstream of the core ABA response pathway. Our results provided new insights into improving the knowledge about the function of BnSIP1-1 and the ABA signaling mechanism in B. napus.

The UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) gene is an essential regulatory factor of class B genes and plays a vital role in the process of inflorescence primordial and flower primordial development. The role of UFO genes in soybean was investigated to better understand the development of floral organs through gene cloning, expression analysis, and gene knockout. There are two copies of UFO genes in soybean and in situ hybridization, which have demonstrated similar expression patterns of the GmUFO1 and GmUFO2 genes in the flower primordium. The phenotypic observation of GmUFO1 knockout mutant lines (Gmufo1) showed an obvious alteration in the floral organ number and shape and mosaic organ formation. By contrast, GmUFO2 knockout mutant lines (Gmufo2) showed no obvious difference in the floral organs. However, the GmUFO1 and GmUFO2 double knockout lines (Gmufo1ufo2) showed more mosaic organs than the Gmufo1 lines, in addition to the alteration in the organ number and shape. Gene expression analysis also showed differences in the expression of major ABC function genes in the knockout lines. Based on the phenotypic and expression analysis, our results suggest the major role of GmUFO1 in the regulation of flower organ formation in soybeans and that GmUFO2 does not have any direct effect but might have an interaction role with GmUFO1 in the regulation of flower development. In conclusion, the present study identified UFO genes in soybean and improved our understanding of floral development, which could be useful for flower designs in hybrid soybean breeding.

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a topic of great interest due to its efficient hydrogen production properties, which can address the increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy sources. On the other hand, molybdenum carbide (MoC) has been widely studied due to its noble metal-like surface electronic properties. In the HER process, it is crucial to regulate the Mo−H bonding energy effectively and increase the electron transfer rate on the MoC catalyst surface in a rational manner. In this study, we introduce highly electronegative nitrogen and non-noble transition metal atoms (Cu or Co) into the molybdenum carbide crystal lattice (N−M−MoC, M: Cu, or Co), which leads to a dual—doping effect. This effect results in the rearrangement of the electronic configuration on the catalyst surface and the enrichment of electrons around Mo atom, leading to an optimization in the Mo−H bonding energy. Moreover, the unique two-dimensional nano-sheet structure of the N−M−MoC materials further promotes the electron transfer and exposure of active sites. Benefiting from the above, the HER performance of the N−M−MoC is significantly improved. Among them, N−Cu−MoC exhibits the lowest overpotential (η10 = 158 mV) and highest stability (about 30 h) in alkaline solutions.

SWI/SNF related, matrix associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 4 (SMARCA4, also known as BRG1), an ATPase subunit of the switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex, plays an important regulatory role in many cytogenetic and cytological processes during cancer development. However, the biological function and mechanism of SMARCA4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of SMARCA4 in OSCC and its potential mechanism. Using a tissue microarray, SMARCA4 expression was found to be highly upregulated in OSCC tissues. In addition, SMARCA4 upregulate expression led to increased migration and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth and invasion in vivo. These events were associated with the promotion of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that SMARCA4 is a target gene of microRNA miR-199a-5p. Further mechanistic studies showed that the miR-199a-5p regulated SMARCA4 can promote the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells through EMT. These findings indicate that the miR-199a-5p- SMARCA4 axis plays a role in tumorigenesis by promoting OSCC cell invasion and metastasis through EMT regulation. Our findings provide insights into the role of SMARCA4 in OSCC and the mechanism involved, which may have important implications for therapeutic purposes.

We aimed to investigate the extent to which the initial state generated by unexpected loads, such as explosions and impacts on the remaining structure, affects the dynamic response of the structure. The study used the orthogonal test method to obtain orthogonal table L25 (53) by combining five levels of each of the three factors of column removal time and initial velocity, and the initial displacement of the remaining structure under three failure scenarios of the corner, side, and internal columns at the ground floor of the reinforced concrete frame structure. The degree of influence of different factors on the structural dynamic response, and the result of the unifactorial impact of initial velocity and initial displacement of the remaining structure on the structural dynamic response in the case of failure of the bottom side columns, were obtained by the polar difference method. The results show that the analysis using the orthogonal test polar difference method revealed that the initial displacement has a more significant influence on the dynamic response of the structure, forming the main influencing factor. At the same time, the failure time and initial velocity have a smaller influence on the dynamic response of the structure as secondary influencing factors. In the case of unifactorial influence, the initial upward displacement and initial upward velocity are detrimental to the structure, leading to progressive collapse. In contrast, the initial downward velocity and initial downward displacement are favorable.

The reliability of the machining process is a vital indicator in the manufacturing process of mechanical parts, and directly related to the machining quality of mechanical products. In order to effectively utilize machining process information and machining quality inspection data to evaluate the reliability of the machining process, this paper extends the relevant concepts of information theory to the field of mechanical manufacturing error analysis and establishes a reliability analysis model of the machining process. The model introduces information entropy into the analysis of machining process reliability by defining vertex entropy to measure the uncertainty of the machining quality of each process, and thus realizing the determination of critical processes using a fully quantitative method. Meanwhile, the transfer coefficient defined by mutual information is used to measure the transfer of machining error between two processes. Through combining vertex entropy and the transfer coefficient, the quantitative analysis of machining process reliability is achieved. The model proposed in this paper addresses the issue that the subjective factors of researchers in other related studies have an impact on the analysis results. Finally, the correctness of the proposed model is verified using Monte Carlo simulations.

All-nitride Josephson junctions are being actively explored for applications in superconducting quantum chips because of their unique advantages including their antioxidant chemical stability and high crystal quality. However, the theoretical research on their microstructure mechanism that determines transport properties is still absent, especially on the defects. In this paper, we apply the first principles and non-equilibrium Green’s function to calculate the electrical transport characteristics of the yellow preset model. It is first revealed that the N-vacancy defects play a crucial role in determining the conductivity of the NbN-based Josephson junctions, and demonstrate the importance for the uniformity of vacancy distribution. It is found that the uniform number of vacancies can effectively increase the conductance of Josephson junction, but the position distribution of vacancies has little effect on the conductance. The work clarifies the effect of the N-vacancy defects on the conductivity of the NbN-based Josephson junctions, which offers useful guidance for understanding the microscope mechanism of the NbN-based Josephson junction, thus showing a great prospect in the improvement of the yield of superconducting quantum chips in the future.

Doxorubicin (DOX) can induce myocardial energy metabolism disorder and further worsen heart failure. “Energy protection” is proposed as a new cardiac protection strategy. Previous studies have found that Di’ao Xinxuekang (DXXK) can improve doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis. However, there are very few studies associating DXXK and energy protection. This study aims to explore the “energy protection” effect of DXXK on cardiotoxicity induced by DOX. A DOX-induced cardiotoxicity model established in rats and H9c2 cells are used to analyze the therapeutic effects of DXXK on serum indexes, cardiac function indexes and cardiac histopathology. The metabonomic methods were used to explore the potential mechanism of DXXK in treating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. In addition, we also observed the mitochondrial- and autophagy-related indicators of myocardial cells and the mRNA expression level of the core target regulating energy-metabolism-related pathways. Our results indicated that DXXK can improve cardiac function, reduce myocardial enzymes and alleviate the histological damage of heart tissue caused by DOX. In addition, DXXK can improve mitochondrial damage induced by DOX and inhibit excessive autophagy. Metabonomics analysis showed that DOX can significantly affects the pathways related to energy metabolism of myocardial cells, which are involved in the therapeutic mechanism of DXXK. In conclusion, DXXK can treat DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through the AMPK-mediated energy protection pathway.

Heavy metals are nondegradable in the natural environment and harmful to the ecological system and human beings, causing an increased environmental pollution problem. It is required to remove heavy metals from wastewater urgently. Up until now, various methods have been involved in the heavy metal removals, such as chemical precipitation, chemical reduction, electrochemical, membrane separation, ion exchange, biological, and adsorption methods. Among them, adsorption by graphene–based materials has attracted much more attentions for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater systems in recent years, arising due to their large specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, high removal efficiency, and good recyclability. Therefore, it is quite important to review the heavy metal removal with the graphene–based material. In this review, we have summarized the physicochemical property and preparation methods of graphene and their adsorption property to heavy metals. The influencing parameters for the removal of heavy metals by graphene–based materials have been discussed. In addition, the modification of graphene–based materials to enhance their adsorption capability for heavy metal removal is also reviewed. The heavy metal removal by modified graphene–based materials in the tobacco industry has been especially described in detail. Finally, the future trend for graphene–based materials in the field of heavy metal wastewater treatment is proposed. This knowledge will have great impacts on the field and facilitate the researchers to seek the new functionalization method for graphene–based materials with high adsorption capacity to heavy metals in the tobacco industry in the future.

In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have received increasing attention and have been reported to be associated with various genetic abnormalities. However, the functions of many lncRNAs, including those of long exonic noncoding RNAs (lencRNAs), have not yet been elucidated. Here, we used a novel tethering luciferase assay to analyze the transcriptional regulatory functions of five lencRNAs that are upregulated in cancer. We found that the lencRNA PRKDC-210 interacts with MED12, a component of the CDK8 complex, to regulate the transcription of several genes. The transcriptional activation ability of PRKDC-210 was abolished in siRNA-treated CDK8-depleted cells. We also confirmed the enrichment of PRKDC-210 on RNA polymerase II. RNA-seq analysis of cells in which PRKDC-210 or PRKDC mRNA was knocked down using antisense oligonucleotides revealed that PRKDC-210 can affect the expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism. Finally, we used a ChIRP assay to examine PRKDC-210-enriched sites in the genome. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the lencRNA PRKDC-210 promotes transcription through the CDK8 complex pathway at the transcription initiation site. We propose that PRKDC-210 can affect the transcription of adjacent genes after its transcription and splicing.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible deterioration of the airway wall. Cigarette smoking is the major trigger, and in vitro studies showed that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induced mitophagy in airway epithelial cells via oxidative stress, but this mechanism was not studied in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). Primary ASMCs isolated from COPD patients or non-disease donors were investigated for CSE-induced remodeling and mitochondria structure. Proteins were assessed by Western blots for remodeling: collagen type-I, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin; autophagy: beclin-1, protein62 (p62), light chain (LC)3A/B; mitochondria activity: mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase II & -IV (MTCO2, MTCO4), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α); lysosomes: early endosome antigen 1, lysosome activated membrane protein 1; and cell signaling: extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2). Lysotracker and Mitotracker were used to monitor mitochondria morphology and organelle co-localization. Compared with controls, untreated COPD ASMCs showed lower collagen type-I and α-SMA expressions, but increased fibronectin levels. CSE further downregulated collagen type-I and α-SMA expression, but upregulated fibronectin. CSE decreased PGC-1α, MTCO2, and MTCO4, but increased beclin-1, p62, and LC3. CSE upregulated mitophagy and lysosomes activity via ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In vitro, cigarette smoke induced the deterioration of ASMCs, which might explain the tissue loss and structural remodeling in COPD bronchi. The results suggest that preventing exceeded mitophagy in ASMCs might present a novel therapeutic target for COPD.

NAC transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. Previously, we preliminarily identified that the transcription factor AeNAC83 gene was significantly up-regulated under salt stress in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Herein, we cloned the nuclear-localized AeNAC83 from okra and identified its possible role in salt stress response and plant growth. The down-regulation of AeNAC83 caused by virus-induced gene silencing enhanced plant sensitivity to salt stress and increased the biomass accumulation of okra seedlings. Meanwhile, AeNAC83-overexpression Arabidopsis lines improved salt tolerance and exhibited many altered phenotypes, including small rosette, short primary roots, and promoted crown roots and root hairs. RNA-seq showed numerous genes at the transcriptional level that changed significantly in the AeNAC83-overexpression transgenic and the wild Arabidopsis with or without NaCl treatment, respectively. The expression of most phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes was largely induced by salt stress. While genes encoding key proteins involved in photosynthesis were almost declined dramatically in AeNAC83-overexpression transgenic plants, and NaCl treatment further resulted in the down-regulation of these genes. Furthermore, DEGs encoding various plant hormone signal pathways were also identified. These results indicate that AeNAC83 is involved in resistance to salt stress and plant growth.

Auxin plays an important role in regulating plant development, and Auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) is a type of auxin-responsive gene and plays an important role in auxin signaling; to date, although 29 Aux/IAA proteins have been reported in Abrabidopsis thaliana, only parts of the Aux/IAA family gene functions have been identified. We previously reported that a bud sport of ‘Longfeng’ (LF) apple (Malus domestica), named ‘Grand longfeng’ (GLF), which showed a larger fruit size than LF, has lower expression of MdAux/IAA2. In this study, we identified the function of the MdAux/IAA2 gene in apple fruit size difference using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Overexpression of MdAux/IAA2 decreased the apple flesh callus increment and caused a smaller globular cell size. In addition, overexpression of MdAux/IAA2 in GLF fruit resulted in the reduction of apple fruit size, weight, and cell size, while silencing MdAux/IAA2 in LF apple fruit resulted in an increase in apple fruit weight and cell size. We suggest that the high auxin content depressed the expression of MdAux/IAA2, and that the downregulated expression of MdAux/IAA2 led to the formation of GLF. Our study suggests a mechanism for fruit size regulation in plants and we will explore the transcription factors functioning in this process in the future.

In recent years, many natural foods and herbs rich in phytochemicals have been proposed as health supplements for patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Theaflavins (TFs) are a polyphenol hydroxyl substance with the structure of diphenol ketone, and they have the potential to prevent and treat a wide range of MetS. However, the stability and bioavailability of TFs are poor. TFs have the marvelous ability to alleviate MetS through antiobesity and lipid-lowering (AMPK-FoxO3A-MnSOD, PPAR, AMPK, PI3K/Akt), hypoglycemic (IRS-1/Akt/GLUT4, Ca2+/CaMKK2-AMPK, SGLT1), and uric-acid-lowering (XO, GLUT9, OAT) effects, and the modulation of the gut microbiota (increasing beneficial gut microbiota such as Akkermansia and Prevotella). This paper summarizes and updates the bioavailability of TFs, and the available signaling pathways and molecular evidence on the functionalities of TFs against metabolic abnormalities in vitro and in vivo, representing a promising opportunity to prevent MetS in the future with the utilization of TFs.

A method of load calculation in a tunnel was adopted in consideration of the state of covering depth. Due to the macropore characteristics of loess soil, the existing demarcation regulations of deep and shallow tunnels are inappropriate for large-section and shallow loess in highway tunnels. To determine the load of large-section loess tunnel and provide a proper reference for structural design, the theoretical basis for distinguishing depth of deep and shallow tunnels, as well as the characteristics of common calculation methods for surrounding rock load on depth, were analyzed. Through statistical analysis and significance analysis, the significance of the variation of surrounding rock pressure with cover depth was studied. Correlation analysis was carried out on significant results to fit the relationship between cover depth and surrounding rock pressure. The results showed that the surrounding rock pressure varied linearly with the cover depth, and the surrounding rock pressure was about 0.3 times the initial pressure in deep tunnels. The surrounding rock pressure of shallow tunnels did not change significantly with the cover depth, and the surrounding rock pressure was loose pressure. A method based on statistics was proposed to distinguish the cover depth threshold (CDT) of deep and shallow tunnels.

The exfoliation of bulk two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) into few-layered nanosheets has attracted much attention recently. In this work, an environmental-friendly route has been developed for layered-MOF (MAMS-1) delamination using deep eutectic solvent (DES), which is more sustainable and efficient alternative than conventional organic solvents for MOF nanosheet preparation. Under sonication condition, DES as solvents, the highest exfoliation rate of MAMS-1 is up to 70% with two host layers via poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) surfactant-assisted method. The presence of tert-butyl exteriors and the atomically thickness endow the MOF nanosheets stable suspension for at least one month. Due to the 2D structure and excellent stability, MAMS-1 nanosheet (MAMS-1-NS) was chosen as a good candidate to encapsulate Eu3+ cations. The obtained Eu3+@MAMS-1-NS acts as a multi-responsive luminescent sensor through fluorescence quenching, and can specifically recognize Fe3+ (LOD = 0.40 μM, KSV = 1.05 × 105 M−l), Hg2+ (LOD = 0.038 μM, KSV = 5.78 × 106 M−l), Cr2O72− (LOD = 0.33 μM, KSV = 1.55 × 105 M−l) and MnO4− (LOD = 0.088 μM, KSV = 4.49 × 105 M−l). Compared with bulk Eu3+@MAMS-1, the sensitivity of Eu3+@MAMS-1-NS is greatly improved owing to its ultrathin nanosheet morphology and highly accessible active sites on the surface.

Inspired by the superhydrophobic properties of some plants and animals with special structures, such as self-cleaning, water repellent, and drag reduction, the research on the basic theory and practical applications of superhydrophobic surfaces is increasing. In this paper, the characteristics of superhydrophobic surfaces and the preparation methods of superhydrophobic surfaces are briefly reviewed. The mechanisms of drag reduction on superhydrophobic surfaces and the effects of parameters such as flow rate, fluid viscosity, wettability, and surface morphology on drag reduction are discussed, as well as the applications of superhydrophobic surfaces in boiling heat transfer and condensation heat transfer. Finally, the limitations of adapting superhydrophobic surfaces to industrial applications are discussed. The possibility of applying superhydrophobic surfaces to highly viscous fluids for heat transfer to reduce flow resistance and improve heat transfer efficiency is introduced as a topic for further research in the future.

To solve the mismatch between the comprehensive mechanical properties of the spinal fusion cage and body, a fusion cage inner hole design method based on controllable TPMS-P to characterize the inner hole structure is proposed to solve the related problems. Firstly, the method of TPMS-P parameterization was used to construct the bionic porous structure model, which was designed as the linear gradual internal porous structure model. Then, we optimized the topology of the obtained porous structure implants to achieve precise control of the overall comprehensive mechanical properties of the fusion cage structure and obtain an optimized model that matched the mechanical properties of the fusion cage. To verify whether the method met the requirements, its simulation model was established. The porous structure was fabricated by selective laser processing, and its properties were tested and analyzed. The results show that its yield strength is 79.83 MPa, which match well with spinal bone tissue.

Radiation-induced abscopal effect (RIAE) outside of radiation field is becoming more attractive. However, the underlying mechanisms are still obscure. This work investigated the deleterious effect of thoracic irradiation (Th-IR) on distant bone marrow and associated signaling factors by irradiating the right thorax of mice with fractionated doses (8 Gy × 3). It was found that this localized Th-IR increased apoptosis of bone marrow cells and micronucleus formation of bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes after irradiation. Tandem mass tagging (TMT) analysis and ELISA assay showed that the concentrations of TNF-α and serum amyloid A (SAA) in the mice were significantly increased after Th-IR. An immunohistochemistry assay revealed a robust increase in SAA expression in the liver rather than in the lungs after Th-IR. In vitro experiments demonstrated that TNF-α induced SAA expression in mouse hepatoma Hepa1–6 cells, and these two signaling factors induced DNA damage in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). On the other hand, injection with TNF-α inhibitor before Th-IR reduced the secretion of SAA and attenuated the abscopal damage in bone marrow. ROS scavenger NAC could also mitigated Th-IR/SAA-induced bone marrow damage in mice. Our findings indicated that Th-IR triggered TNF-α release from lung, which further promoted SAA secretion from liver in a manner of cascade reaction. Consequently, these signaling factors resulted in induction of abscopal damage on bone marrow of mice.

Cystinosis is a rare, incurable, autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CTNS gene. This gene encodes the lysosomal cystine transporter cystinosin, leading to lysosomal cystine accumulation in all cells of the body, with kidneys being the first affected organs. The current treatment with cysteamine decreases cystine accumulation, but does not reverse the proximal tubular dysfunction, glomerular injury or loss of renal function. In our previous study, we have developed a zebrafish model of cystinosis through a nonsense mutation in the CTNS gene and have shown that zebrafish larvae recapitulate the kidney phenotype described in humans. In the current study, we characterized the adult cystinosis zebrafish model and evaluated the long-term effects of the disease on kidney and extra renal organs through biochemical, histological, fertility and locomotor activity studies. We found that the adult cystinosis zebrafish presents cystine accumulation in various organs, altered kidney morphology, impaired skin pigmentation, decreased fertility, altered locomotor activity and ocular anomalies. Overall, our data indicate that the adult cystinosis zebrafish model reproduces several human phenotypes of cystinosis and may be useful for studying pathophysiology and long-term effects of novel therapies.

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors are ubiquitously distributed in eukaryotes and play significant roles in stress response. However, the functional verifications of NACs in Picea (P.) wilsonii remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we identified the NAC transcription factor PwNAC11 as a mediator of drought stress, which was significantly upregulated in P. wilsonii under drought and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that both the full length and C-terminal of PwNAC11 had transcriptional activation activity and PwNAC11 protein cannot form a homodimer by itself. Subcellular observation demonstrated that PwNAC11 protein was located in nucleus. The overexpression of PwNAC11 in Arabidopsis obviously improved the tolerance to drought stress but delayed flowering time under nonstress conditions. The steady-state level of antioxidant enzymes’ activities and light energy conversion efficiency were significantly increased in PwNAC11 transgenic lines under dehydration compared to wild plants. PwNAC11 transgenic lines showed hypersensitivity to ABA and PwNAC11 activated the expression of the downstream gene ERD1 by binding to ABA-responsive elements (ABREs) instead of drought-responsive elements (DREs). Genetic evidence demonstrated that PwNAC11 physically interacted with an ABA-induced protein—ABRE Binding Factor3 (ABF3)—and promoted the activation of ERD1 promoter, which implied an ABA-dependent signaling cascade controlled by PwNAC11. In addition, qRT-PCR and yeast assays showed that an ABA-independent gene—DREB2A—was also probably involved in PwNAC11-mediated drought stress response. Taken together, our results provide the evidence that PwNAC11 plays a dominant role in plants positively responding to early drought stress and ABF3 and DREB2A synergistically regulate the expression of ERD1.

With the successful completion of genomic sequencing for Brassica napus, identification of novel genes, determination of functions performed by genes, and exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying important agronomic traits were challenged. Mutagenesis-based functional genomics techniques including chemical, physical, and insertional mutagenesis have been used successfully in the functional characterization of genes. However, these techniques had their disadvantages and inherent limitations for allopolyploid Brassica napus, which contained a large number of homologous and redundant genes. Long intron-spliced hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) constructs which contained inverted repeats of the target gene separated by an intron, had been shown to be very effective in triggering RNAi in plants. In the present study, the genome-wide long ihpRNA library of B. napus was constructed with the rolling circle amplification (RCA)-mediated technology. Using the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene as a target control, it was shown that the RCA-mediated long ihpRNA construct was significantly effective in triggering gene silence in B. napus. Subsequently, the resultant long ihpRNA library was transformed into B. napus to produce corresponding RNAi mutants. Among the obtained transgenic ihpRNA population of B. napus, five ihpRNA lines with observable mutant phenotypes were acquired including alterations in the floral model and the stamen development. The target genes could be quickly identified using specific primers. These results showed that the RCA-mediated ihpRNA construction method was effective for the genome-wide long ihpRNA library of B. napus, therefore providing a platform for study of functional genomics in allopolyploid B. napus.