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Dictyostelium myosin II displays remarkable dynamism within the cell, continually undergoing polymerization and depolymerization processes. Under low-ion conditions, it assumes a folded structure like muscle myosins and forms thick filaments through polymerization. In our study, we presented intermediate structures observed during the early stages of polymerization of purified myosin via negative staining electron microscopy, immediately crosslinked with glutaraldehyde at the onset of polymerization. We identified folded monomers, dimers, and tetramers in the process. Our findings suggest that Dictyostelium myosin II follows a polymerization pathway in vitro akin to muscle myosin, with folded monomers forming folded parallel and antiparallel dimers that subsequently associate to create folded tetramers. These folded tetramers eventually unfold and associate with other tetramers to produce long filaments. Furthermore, our research revealed that ATP influences filament size, reducing it regardless of the status of RLC phosphorylation while significantly increasing the critical polymerization concentrations from 0.2 to 9 nM. In addition, we demonstrate the morphology of fully matured Dictyostelium myosin II filaments.

Abstract Due to rapid degradation of the newly filled municipal solid waste (MSW), the local temperature of the waste layer increases greatly. The mechanical parameters related to waste degradation and the deformation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in the waste body will be affected by the elevated temperature. To predict the temperature distribution in the anaerobic landfill, a one-dimensional heat transfer model is established in this study. This model considers the stratification of the saturated and unsaturated zones, and the layering of new and old waste. Furthermore, a single peak model for heat production is applied as the source term of heat production. The stratification of the unsaturated and saturated zones is considered by distinguishing the difference in heat conductivity and specific heat capacity. The layering of the new and old waste layers is considered by distinguishing the difference in the length of time that waste has been degraded to produce heat. Based on the numerical calculation method, the temperature distribution in a landfill with layered new and old MSW is well simulated. The position where the maximum temperature occurs and the variation in the temperature at the edge of new and old waste are elucidated. The sensitivity analysis shows that the influence of the density on the temperature distribution is more significant. Besides, the stratification of saturated–unsaturated waste should also be considered in landfills.

Spin‐orbit coupling refers to the relativistic interaction between the spin and orbital motions of electrons. This interaction leads to numerous intriguing phenomena, including spin‐orbit torques, spin–momentum locking, topological spin textures, etc., that have recently gained prominence in the field of spin‐orbitronics. In particular, the emerging ferroelectric control is recognized and validated as an effective means to enhance energy efficiency across a broad spectrum of spin‐orbitronic devices. Here, cutting‐edge research on ferroelectric control of spin‐orbitronics (FECSO) by means of spontaneous polarization, reversible ferroelectric switching, and multiferroic coupling, are comprehensively reviewed. Two fascinating topics are mainly discussed: topological spin texture and spin‐charge interconversion. The classification of control mechanisms for different interactions in FECSO is summarized first. Then, from the perspective of material classification, the ferroelectric‐controlled spin‐orbit coupling with tunable topological spin texture in oxide systems, magnetic metal multilayers, and 2D van der Waals materials is reviewed. Subsequently, the ferroelectric‐tunable spin‐charge interconversion on heavy metal layers, oxide interfaces, and ferroelectric Rashba semiconductors is highlighted. In the end, the challenges and forthcoming prospects of FECSO are discussed. This work may provide pertinent and forward‐thinking guidance to accelerate the ongoing advancement of this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesWe sought to evaluate the prognostic value of blood routine parameters and biochemical parameters, especially inflammation-related biomarkers, and establish an inflammation-related prognostic model in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Material/methodsPatients diagnosed as IPF at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and aged 40 years and older were consecutively enrolled from June 2000 to March 2015, and finally, a total of 377 patients were enrolled in the derivation cohort. The follow-up ended in December 2016. We used Cox proportional hazard model to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and establish the prognostic model. The discrimination and calibration of the prognostic model were evaluated in an independent validation cohort enrolled from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January 2015 and December 2019.ResultsMultivariate analysis revealed that patients with elevated monocyte-to-red blood cell count ratio (MRR) and monocyte counts showed increased risk of mortality. The clinical-physiological-biomarker (CPB) index and CPB stage we established in this study were a significant predictor, and the C-index for CPB index and CPB stage in the validation cohort was 0.635 (95% CI: 0.558–0.712) and 0.619 (95% CI: 0.544–0.694), respectively. Patients in CPB stage III had the poorest survival.ConclusionWe developed and validated a new inflammation-related prognostic model (CPB index and CPB stage) which was integration of age, gender, FVC (%, predicted), DLCO (%, predicted), Charlson Comorbidity Index, and blood monocyte counts. This prediction model exhibited strong ability in predicting mortality in Chinese patients with IPF.

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) overexpression significantly inhibits lipid deposition during yak intramuscular preadipocyte (YIMA) differentiation; however, the regulatory mechanism remains unknown. We elucidated the role of SIRT1 in YIMA differentiation using lentivirus-mediated downregulation technology and conducted mRNA-seq and ChIP-seq assays using H3K9ac antibodies after SIRT1 overexpression in order to reveal SIRT1 targets during YIMA adipogenesis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed in order to identify the functional annotation of common genes. In addition, a potential target of SIRT1 was selected to verify its effects on the differentiation and proliferation of YIMAs. SIRT1 interfered with lipid deposition and promoted YIMA differentiation. In total, 143,518 specific peaks were identified after SIRT1 overexpression, where genes associated with downregulation peaks were enriched in transcription, gene expression, lipid-related processes, and classical lipid-related pathways. The H3K9ac signal in the whole genome promoter region (2 kb upstream and downstream of the transcription start site (TSS)) was weakened, and the peaks were distributed across all gene functional regions. Genes that lost signals in their TSS region or gene body region were enriched in both biological processes and pathways associated with lipogenesis. The ChIP-seq results revealed 714 common differential genes in mRNA-seq, which were enriched in “MAPK signaling”, “lipid and atherosclerosis”, “mTOR signaling”, and “FoxO signaling” pathways. A total of 445 genes were downregulated in both their H3K9ac signals and mRNA expression, and one of their most significantly enriched pathways was FoxO signaling. Nine genes (FBP2, FPGT, HSD17B11, KCNJ15, MAP3K20, SLC5A3, TRIM23, ZCCHC10, and ZMYM1) lost the H3K9ac signal in their TSS regions and had low mRNA expression, and three genes (KCNJ15, TGM3, and TRIM54) had low expression but lost their H3K9ac signal in the gene body region. The interference of TRIM23 significantly inhibited fat deposition during preadipocyte differentiation and promoted cell proliferation by increasing S-phase cell numbers. The present study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat content deposition and the epigenetic role of SIRT1 in adipocyte differentiation.

Complex oxide heterointerfaces provide a spacious arena for creating emergent phenomena that are unattainable in the constituent bulk counterparts. Herein, The BaTiO3/La1‐xSrxMnO3 [BTO/LSMO (x)] superlattice (SL) as a model system to investigate the intimately coupled interfacial effects and their resultant phenomena is focused on. The experimental and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the induced magnetism on Ti originates from both the charge transfer process between Mn and Ti at the titanate/manganite heterointerfaces and the cation intermixing, both contributing comparably to the overall magnetic effect. Upon changing x, the orbital reconstruction of the Mn 3d electrons, tailored by the strain state of the LSMO (x) layers, efficiently modifies the magnetic exchange coupling between Mn–Ti and Mn–Mn at the interfaces, which are proved to account for the modulations of the macroscopic magnetism of the SLs. This work demonstrates the significance of interfacial reconstructions for magnetism, paving a new pathway to manipulate the magnetic properties of artificial oxide heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]