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The generalized aggregation ∑i=1nWiϕ(Xi,ai) arises in many research fields including applied probability, actuarial science, and reliability theory, where ϕ is a bivariate kernel function and a is a parameter vector. One of its remarkable features is that both X and W are dependent in many practical situations. Therefore, studying the stochastic properties of generalized aggregations under various dependence structures is an interesting and meaningful problem. In this paper, by using left tail weakly stochastic arrangement increasing, right tail weakly stochastic arrangement increasing, and comonotonicity to characterize the dependent structures among X or W, we establish the increasing convex ordering and the expectation ordering of generalized aggregations to investigate the effects of the arrangement and heterogeneity among ai's. Numerical examples and three practical applications are presented to illustrate our results as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cefquinome (CFQ), which is a fourth-generation cephalosporin approved for veterinary use only, has been widely used for treating porcine or bovine respiratory infection, bovine mastitis and other diseases. However, the antibacterial effect of CFQ is based on the duration of drug concentration remaining in excess of the minimum inhibitory concentration in serum or tissues, thereby inevitably leading to CFQ residues with high levels in animal-sourced food. In this paper, four CFQ-specific ssDNA aptamers were selected via a magnetic bead-based systematic evolution of ligands by the exponential enrichment (SELEX) method. Aptamer W1 with the lowest dissociation constant (Kd) value of 40.13 ± 22.11 nM was chosen for establishing a fluorescence aptasensor based on magnetic separation and release of molecular beacons for detection of CFQ residues. This aptasensor exhibited a high sensitivity toward CFQ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.09 ng mL−1 (linear range from 0.5 to 150 ng mL−1). Moreover, the present aptasensor also showed high selectivity against ampicillin and CFQ's structural analogs (i.e., cefpirome sulfate and cefixime). Finally, this aptasensor was used to detect CFQ in real spiked milk. The recovery rate of CFQ from spiked milk samples ranged from 96.6% to 103.2%. These results indicated that the developed aptasensor is a promising, highly sensitive and specific method for CFQ residue detection in animal-sourced food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant, exquisitely preserved specimens of the enigmatic tubular microfossil Megathrix longus are reported from the early Cambrian Yanjiahe Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area. Studies of their morphology and taphonomy reveal that the inner cross-wall of Megathrix longus is topographically flat, the trichome terminus is blunt and closed, and incomplete cross-walls are regularly intercalated between complete ones. The deformation of trichomes, as well as the corrugation of their cross-walls, are postmortem features caused by compaction, rather than biological features as previously interpreted. Statistical analysis indicates that chamber division is accomplished by the closure of incomplete cross-walls. This process, which contributed to trichome growth, is extremely similar to that of modern Oscillatoriaceae. Trichome fragmentation was also observed in a series of specimens, which closely resembles that of cyanobacteria, particularly the Oscillatoriaceae. The termini of Megathrix longus suggest that it was planktonic. In general, Megathrix longus bears a close affinity to the extant Oscillatoriaceae (Cyanophyta). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of conventional localized nuclear magnetic resonance correlated spectroscopy are restrained by long acquisition times and poor performance under inhomogeneous magnetic fields. Here, a method that combines the spatiotemporal encoding technique with the localization technique and implements the encoding and decoding in unison with suitable asymmetrical gradients is proposed to obtain high-resolution localized correlated spectra under inhomogeneous fields in greatly reduced times. Experiments on phantom solutions prove its insensitivity to linear field inhomogeneities along three orthogonal axes. Moreover, this method is applied to adipose study of marrow tissue with resolution improvements. The proposed method may offer promising perspectives for fast analyses of biological tissues. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sb-containing catalysts (SbZrOx (SbZr), SbCeOx (SbCe), SbCeZrOx (SbCeZr)) were prepared by citric acid method and investigated for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR). SbCeZr outperformed SbZr and SbCe and exhibited the highest activity with 80% NO conversion in the temperature window of 202–422 °C. Meanwhile, it also had good thermal stability and resistance against H2O and SO2. Various characterization methods, such as XRD, XPS, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), were applied to understand their different behavior in NOx removal. The presence of Sb in the metal oxides led to the difference in acid distribution and redox property, which closely related with the NH3 adsorption and NO oxidation. Brønsted acid and Lewis acid were evenly distributed on SbCe, while Brønsted acid dominated on SbCeZr. Compared with Brønsted acid, Lewis acid was slightly active in NH3-SCR. The competition between NH3 adsorption and NO oxidation was dependent on SbOx and metal oxides, which were found on SbCe while not on SbCeZr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsically disordered protein, Tau, is abundant in neurons and contributes to the regulation of the microtubule (MT) and actin network, while its intracellular abnormal aggregation is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease. Here, using in-cell Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we investigated the conformations of two different isoforms of Tau, Tau40 and k19, in mammalian cells. Combined with immunofluorescence imaging and western blot analyses, we found that the isotope-enriched Tau, which was delivered into the cultured mammalian cells by electroporation, is partially colocalized with MT and actin filaments (F-actin). We acquired the NMR spectrum of Tau in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293T) cells, and compared it with the NMR spectra of Tau added with MT, F-actin, and a variety of crowding agents, respectively. We found that the NMR spectrum of Tau in complex with MT best recapitulates the in-cell NMR spectrum of Tau, suggesting that Tau predominantly binds to MT at its MT-binding repeats in HEK-293T cells. Moreover, we found that disease-associated phosphorylation of Tau was immediately eliminated once phosphorylated Tau was delivered into HEK-293T cells, implying a potential cellular protection mechanism under stressful conditions. Collectively, the results of our study reveal that Tau utilizes its MT-binding repeats to bind MT in mammalian cells and highlight the potential of using in-cell NMR to study protein structures at the residue level in mammalian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger is a "medicine-food homology" natural herb and has a longstanding medicinal background in treating intestinal diseases. Its remarkable bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, flora regulatory, intestinal protective, and anticancer properties, make it a promising natural medicine for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and treatment. The purpose is to review the relevant literature on ginger and pharmacodynamic components for CRC prevention and treatment, summarize the possible mechanisms of ginger from clinical studies and animal and in vitro experiments, to provide theoretical support for the use of ginger preparations in the daily prevention and clinical treatment of CRC. Literatures about ginger and CRC were searched from electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms of ginger and its pharmacodynamic components in the prevention and treatment of CRC, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, flora regulatory, intestinal protective, inhibit CRC cell proliferation, induce CRC cell cycle blockage, promote CRC cell apoptosis, suppress CRC cell invasion and migration, enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. Ginger has potential for daily prevention and clinical treatment of CRC. [Display omitted] • Ginger has traditionally been used for gastrointestinal disorders, including the prevention and treatment of CRC. • The main trend in the clinical application of ginger lies in the prevention of CRC and the reduction of the risk. • The therapeutic effects of ginger on CRC at both animal and cellular levels urgently need to be verified in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rising atmospheric p CO 2 , the greenhouse effect in the natural environment has intensified, leading to ocean acidification and frequently extreme temperature events. Limited research has been conducted on the effects of near-shore temperature fluctuations and ocean acidification on macroalgae. In this study, Neopyropia yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) was cultured under two CO 2 concentrations (LC: 400 μatm and HC: 1000 μatm) and three temperature conditions (10 ℃, 14 ℃, and fluctuation: increased from 10 ℃ to 14 ℃ and then decreased back to 10 ℃ with a fluctuation of 1 ℃ per day). The growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, and soluble carbohydrate of N. yezoensis were measured. The results showed that the relative growth rate, rETR max , contents of chlorophyll a , phycoerythrin, and carotenoid in the thalli increased at 14 ℃ and thermal fluctuation, while the content of soluble carbohydrate were inhibited. Moreover, the effect of p CO 2 on growth was significant only under temperature fluctuation. Even when the temperature dropped to 10 ℃, the physiological responses of N. yezoensis were still promoted by the thermal fluctuation condition. These findings indicate that the yield and quality of N. yezoensis could potentially improve in the future warming scenarios, and changes observed in N. yezoensis could serve as an early indicator for global climate change. • The growth and pigment contents of Neopyropia. yezoensis improved by the increase of temperature and CO 2. • When the temperature dropped, the growth and pigment of thalli were still promoted by the short-term thermal fluctuations. • Thermal fluctuations and CO 2 enrichment synergistically accelerate biomass yield of N. yezoensis under the greenhouse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-catalytic and in-situ catalytic co-pyrolysis of Huadian oil shale (OS) and microalgal powder (MP) were performed using a modified aluminum retort. By comparing the product yields and compositions for non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolyses, the catalytic effect of several additives, including MgO, CaO, ZrO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , zeolite Y, and zeolite ZSM-5, was investigated. This study focused on the deoxygenation performance of the pyrolytic oil. The oil yield increased with increasing MP addition in non-catalytic co-pyrolysis trials. At the OS/MP blending ratio of 3/1, the oil yield was 12.42 wt %, and the oxygen content and H/C ratio of oil were 11.54 wt % and 1.571, respectively. Both CaO and Al 2 O 3 significantly decreased the oxygen content of the oil to <7 wt % with less oil loss (<1 wt %). CaO catalysis facilitated the dehydrogenation of free radicals to release H 2 , thereby increasing alkene formation and decreasing the H/C ratio of the oil to 1.441. Al 2 O 3 catalysis increased the H/C ratio to 1.656 and improved the oil quality. ZSM-5 preferentially catalyzed the reaction between n -alkenes and nitrogenates to yield nitriles, and the catalytic performance for deoxygenation was negligible. Hence, Al 2 O 3 was selected as the most suitable additive for the co-pyrolysis of OS and MP. • CaO and Al 2 O 3 decrease the oxygen content of the oil with less oil loss. • CaO facilitates the dehydrogenation of free radicals to release H 2. • Al 2 O 3 increases the H/C ratio of the oil and improved the oil quality. • ZSM-5 catalyzes the reaction between n-alkenes and nitrogenates to yield nitriles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we reported that α-synuclein (α-syn) clusters synaptic vesicles (SV) Diao et al., 2013, and neutral phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) can mediate this clustering Lai et al., 2023. Meanwhile, post-translational modifications (PTMs) of α-syn such as acetylation and phosphorylation play important yet distinct roles in regulating α-syn conformation, membrane binding, and amyloid aggregation. However, how PTMs regulate α-syn function in presynaptic terminals remains unclear. Here, based on our previous findings, we further demonstrate that N-terminal acetylation, which occurs under physiological conditions and is irreversible in mammalian cells, significantly enhances the functional activity of α-syn in clustering SVs. Mechanistic studies reveal that this enhancement is caused by the N-acetylation-promoted insertion of α-syn's N-terminus and increased intermolecular interactions on the LPC-containing membrane. N-acetylation in our work is shown to fine-tune the interaction between α-syn and LPC, mediating α-syn's role in synaptic vesicle clustering., Competing Interests: CW, CZ, HX, JQ, ZL, JG, SZ, DL, YZ, JB, JD, CL No competing interests declared, (© 2024, Wang, Zhao et al.)

SLC25A3 encodes mitochondrial phosphate carrier (PiC), which is involved in inorganic phosphate transport. Clinical reports have found that most patients with homozygous or complex heterozygous mutations in SLC25A3 exhibit lactic acidosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and premature death. However, the potential molecular mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) carrying SLC25A3-knockout (KO) or missense mutations (c.C544T, c.A547G, c.C349T) to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of SLC25A3-related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and evaluate potential therapeutic interventions. These SLC25A3-KO or missense mutation hiPSC-CMs recapitulated the disease phenotype associated with myocardial hypertrophy, including diastolic dysfunction, Ca 2+ homeostasis imbalance, and mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction. Further studies suggested the potential link between the accumulation of glycolytic byproducts and Ca 2+ homeostasis imbalance in SLC25A3-KO hiPSC-CMs. Finally, we explored the prospective therapeutic implications of mitochondrial transplantation in rescuing SLC25A3-related HCM., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aging is a complex process associated with nearly all diseases. Understanding the molecular changes underlying aging and identifying therapeutic targets for aging-related diseases are crucial for increasing healthspan. Although many studies have explored linear changes during aging, the prevalence of aging-related diseases and mortality risk accelerates after specific time points, indicating the importance of studying nonlinear molecular changes. In this study, we performed comprehensive multi-omics profiling on a longitudinal human cohort of 108 participants, aged between 25 years and 75 years. The participants resided in California, United States, and were tracked for a median period of 1.7 years, with a maximum follow-up duration of 6.8 years. The analysis revealed consistent nonlinear patterns in molecular markers of aging, with substantial dysregulation occurring at two major periods occurring at approximately 44 years and 60 years of chronological age. Distinct molecules and functional pathways associated with these periods were also identified, such as immune regulation and carbohydrate metabolism that shifted during the 60-year transition and cardiovascular disease, lipid and alcohol metabolism changes at the 40-year transition. Overall, this research demonstrates that functions and risks of aging-related diseases change nonlinearly across the human lifespan and provides insights into the molecular and biological pathways involved in these changes., Competing Interests: Competing interests M.P.S. is a co-founder of Personalis, SensOmics, Qbio, January AI, Filtricine, Protos and NiMo and is on the scientific advisory boards of Personalis, SensOmics, Qbio, January AI, Filtricine, Protos, NiMo and Genapsys. D.H. has a financial interest in PrognomIQ and Seer. All other authors have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Here, we present a protocol for isolating functionally intact glutamatergic synaptic vesicles from whole-mouse brain tissue and using them in a single-vesicle assay to examine their association and fusion with plasma membrane mimic vesicles. This is a Protocol Extension, building on our previous protocol, which used a purely synthetic system comprised of reconstituted proteins in liposomes. We also describe the generation of a peptide based on the vesicular glutamate transporter, which is essential in the isolation process of glutamatergic synaptic vesicles. This method uses easily accessible reagents to generate fusion-competent glutamatergic synaptic vesicles through immunoisolation. The generation of the vGlut peptide can be accomplished in 6 d, while the isolation of the synaptic vesicles by using the peptide can be accomplished in 2 d, with an additional day to fluorescently label the synaptic vesicles for use in a single-vesicle hybrid fusion assay. The single-vesicle fusion assay can be accomplished in 1 d and can unambiguously delineate synaptic vesicle association, dissociation, Ca 2+ -independent and Ca 2+ -dependent fusion modalities. This assay grants control of the synaptic vesicle environment while retaining the complexity of the synaptic vesicles themselves. This protocol can be adapted to studies of other types of synaptic vesicles or, more generally, different secretory or transport vesicles. The workflow described here requires expertise in biochemistry techniques, in particular, protein purification and fluorescence imaging. We assume that the laboratory has protein-purification equipment, including chromatography systems., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

Most synapses in the brain transmit information by the presynaptic release of vesicular glutamate, driving postsynaptic depolarization through AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs). The nanometer-scale topography of synaptic AMPARs regulates response amplitude by controlling the number of receptors activated by synaptic vesicle fusion. The mechanisms controlling AMPAR topography and their interactions with postsynaptic scaffolding proteins are unclear, as is the spatial relationship between AMPARs and synaptic vesicles. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography to map the molecular topography of AMPARs and visualize their in-situ structure. Clustered AMPARs form structured complexes with postsynaptic scaffolding proteins resolved by sub-tomogram averaging. Sub-synaptic topography mapping reveals the presence of AMPAR nanoclusters with exclusion zones beneath synaptic vesicles. Our molecular-resolution maps visualize the predominant information transfer path in the nervous system., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Authors declare that they have no competing interests.

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation is closely associated with Parkinson's disease neuropathology. Physiologically, α-Syn promotes synaptic vesicle (SV) clustering and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly. However, the underlying structural and molecular mechanisms are uncertain and it is not known whether this function affects the pathological aggregation of α-Syn. Here we show that the juxtamembrane region of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2)-a component of the SNARE complex that resides on SVs-directly interacts with the carboxy-terminal region of α-Syn through charged residues to regulate α-Syn's function in clustering SVs and promoting SNARE complex assembly by inducing a multi-component condensed phase of SVs, α-Syn and other components. Moreover, VAMP2 binding protects α-Syn against forming aggregation-prone oligomers and fibrils in these condensates. Our results suggest a molecular mechanism that maintains α-Syn's function and prevents its pathological amyloid aggregation, the failure of which may lead to Parkinson's disease., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: To investigate differential associations of traditional and novel adiposity indices with visual impairment (VI) in the middle-aged and older Chinese population., Methods and Analysis: Based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 7750 Chinese older adults aged over 45 were included at baseline 2011, and 4133 participants who accomplished all three interviews from 2011 to 2015 were adapted for longitudinal analyses. We enrolled six adiposity indices, including the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI) and conicity index (ConI). Visual status and other covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, medical supports and lifestyle-related factors. Cross-sectional correlations were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. For longitudinal analysis, generalised linear models with generalised estimating equations were used to determine the association between time-varying adiposity and visual status., Results: Higher levels of WHtR/WWI/ABSI/BRI/ConI were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of VI, whereas a higher BMI was associated with a decreased prevalence of VI. Only WWI was significantly related to the prevalence of VI after adjustment for multiple confounders in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (all p values <0.05). The multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) of VI associated with the highest (vs lowest) quintile of WWI was 1.900 (1.407 to 2.565)., Conclusion: WWI is a reliable alternative adiposity index that exhibits a dose-response association with the prevalence of VI in the Chinese population. The WWI-VI correlation may eliminate the obesity paradox in the ophthalmic epidemiological area and indicate the detrimental impact of changes in body composition on VI., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: To investigate the associations between the most popular social media platform WeChat usage and cognitive performance among the middle-aged and older Chinese population using data from a nationally representative survey., Methods: In total, 17,472 participants (≥ 45 years old) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, Wave 4, 2018) were analyzed. Cognitive performance including episodic memory and executive function was assessed using Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Other confounding variables included socio-economic characteristics, medical status, and lifestyle-related information. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association between cognitive performance and WeChat usage by introducing covariates hierarchically. Subgroup analyses of age and gender were conducted to estimate the robustness of the primary findings., Results: After adjusting for multiple confounders across all linear models, WeChat usage is significantly associated with executive function, episodic memory, and global cognitive performance (all p values<0.05). Such results remained robust in subgroup analyses, stratified by age and gender, and also verified according to longitudinal analyses. Compared to 'Chat-only' users who only used WeChat for online interpersonal communication, further usage of WeChat functions such as using 'Moments' appeared to be significantly associated with better cognitive performance, especially for episodic memory., Conclusion: Social media usage is significantly and positively associated with better cognitive performance among the middle-aged and older Chinese population. Along with point-to-point messaging, using 'Moments' and extended social media platform functions may correlate to better cognitive performance., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Synaptic vesicles are organelles with a precisely defined protein and lipid composition 1,2 , yet the molecular mechanisms for the biogenesis of synaptic vesicles are mainly unknown. Here we discovered a well-defined interface between the synaptic vesicle V-ATPase and synaptophysin by in situ cryo-electron tomography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy of functional synaptic vesicles isolated from mouse brains 3 . The synaptic vesicle V-ATPase is an ATP-dependent proton pump that establishes the proton gradient across the synaptic vesicle, which in turn drives the uptake of neurotransmitters 4,5 . Synaptophysin 6 and its paralogues synaptoporin 7 and synaptogyrin 8 belong to a family of abundant synaptic vesicle proteins whose function is still unclear. We performed structural and functional studies of synaptophysin-knockout mice, confirming the identity of synaptophysin as an interaction partner with the V-ATPase. Although there is little change in the conformation of the V-ATPase upon interaction with synaptophysin, the presence of synaptophysin in synaptic vesicles profoundly affects the copy number of V-ATPases. This effect on the topography of synaptic vesicles suggests that synaptophysin assists in their biogenesis. In support of this model, we observed that synaptophysin-knockout mice exhibit severe seizure susceptibility, suggesting an imbalance of neurotransmitter release as a physiological consequence of the absence of synaptophysin., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The sciatic nerve is the largest sensorimotor nerve within the peripheral nervous system (PNS), possessing the ability to produce endogenous neurotrophins. Compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) are regarded as a physiological/pathological indicator to identify nerve activity in signal transduction of the PNS. Astragaloside (AST), a small-molecule saponin purified from Astragalus membranaceus, is widely used to treat chronic disease. Nonetheless, the regulatory effects of AST on the sciatic nerve remain unknown. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of AST on CNAPs of frog sciatic nerves. Here, AST depressed the conduction velocity and amplitude of CNAPs. Importantly, the AST-induced responses could be blocked by a Ca 2+ -free medium, or by applying all Ca 2+ channel antagonists (CdCl 2 /LaCl 3 ) or L-type Ca 2+ channel blockers (nifedipine/diltiazem), but not the T-type and P-type Ca 2+ channel antagonist (NiCl 2 ). Altogether, these findings suggested that AST may attenuate the CNAPs of frog sciatic nerves in vitro via the L-type Ca 2+ -channel dependent mechanisms.

Tracking and imaging immune cells in vivo non-invasively would offer insights into the immune responses induced by vaccination. Here we report a cancer vaccine consisting of polymer-coated NaErF 4 /NaYF 4 core-shell down-conversion nanoparticles emitting luminescence in the near-infrared spectral window IIb (1,500-1,700 nm in wavelength) and with surface-conjugated antigen (ovalbumin) and electrostatically complexed adjuvant (class-B cytosine-phosphate-guanine). Whole-body wide-field imaging of the subcutaneously injected vaccine in tumour-bearing mice revealed rapid migration of the nanoparticles to lymph nodes through lymphatic vessels, with two doses of the vaccine leading to the complete eradication of pre-existing tumours and to the prophylactic inhibition of tumour growth. The abundance of antigen-specific CD8 + T lymphocytes in the tumour microenvironment correlated with vaccine efficacy, as we show via continuous-wave imaging and lifetime imaging of two intravenously injected near-infrared-emitting probes (CD8 + -T-cell-targeted NaYbF 4 /NaYF 4 nanoparticles and H-2K b /ovalbumin 257-264 tetramer/PbS/CdS quantum dots) excited at different wavelengths, and by volumetrically visualizing the three nanoparticles via light-sheet microscopy with structured illumination. Nanoparticle-based vaccines and imaging probes emitting infrared light may facilitate the design and optimization of immunotherapies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Synaptic vesicle docking and priming are dynamic processes. At the molecular level, SNAREs (soluble NSF attachment protein receptors), synaptotagmins, and other factors are critical for Ca 2+ -triggered vesicle exocytosis, while disassembly factors, including NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) and α-SNAP (soluble NSF attachment protein), disassemble and recycle SNAREs and antagonize fusion under some conditions. Here, we introduce a hybrid fusion assay that uses synaptic vesicles isolated from mouse brains and synthetic plasma membrane mimics. We included Munc18, Munc13, complexin, NSF, α-SNAP, and an ATP-regeneration system and maintained them continuously-as in the neuron-to investigate how these opposing processes yield fusogenic synaptic vesicles. In this setting, synaptic vesicle association is reversible, and the ATP-regeneration system produces the most synchronous Ca 2+ -triggered fusion, suggesting that disassembly factors perform quality control at the early stages of synaptic vesicle association to establish a highly fusogenic state. We uncovered a functional role for Munc13 ancillary to the MUN domain that alleviates an α-SNAP-dependent inhibition of Ca 2+ -triggered fusion., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) in Lewy bodies is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic mutations in lipid metabolism are causative for a subset of patients with Parkinsonism. The role of α-syn's lipid interactions in its function and aggregation is recognized, yet the specific lipids involved and how lipid metabolism issues trigger α-syn aggregation and neurodegeneration remain unclear. Here, we found that α-syn shows a preference for binding to lysophospholipids (LPLs), particularly targeting lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) without relying on electrostatic interactions. LPC is capable of maintaining α-syn in a compact conformation, significantly reducing its propensity to aggregate both in vitro and within cellular environments. Conversely, a reduction in the production of cellular LPLs is associated with an increase in α-syn accumulation. Our work underscores the critical role of LPLs in preserving the natural conformation of α-syn to inhibit improper aggregation, and establishes a potential connection between lipid metabolic dysfunction and α-syn aggregation in PD., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)

All-hydrogel supercapacitors are emerging as promising power sources for next-generation wearable electronics due to their intrinsic mechanical flexibility, eco-friendliness, and enhanced safety. However, the insufficient interfacial adhesion between the electrode and electrolyte and the frozen hydrogel matrices at subzero temperatures largely limit the practical applications of all-hydrogel supercapacitors. Here, an all-hydrogel supercapacitor is reported with robust interfacial contact and anti-freezing property, fabricated by in situ polymerizing hydrogel electrolyte onto hydrogel electrodes. The robust interfacial adhesion is developed by the synergistic effect of a tough hydrogel matrix and topological entanglements. Meanwhile, the incorporation of zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ) in the hydrogel electrolyte prevents the freezing of water solvents and endows the all-hydrogel supercapacitor with mechanical flexibility and fatigue resistance across a wide temperature range of 20 °C to -60 °C. Such all-hydrogel supercapacitor demonstrates satisfactory low-temperature electrochemical performance, delivering a high energy density of 11 mWh cm -2 and excellent cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 90% over 10000 cycles at -40 °C. Notably, the fabricated all-hydrogel supercapacitor can endure dynamic deformations and operate well under 2000 tension cycles even at -40 °C, without experiencing delamination and electrochemical failure. This work offers a promising strategy for flexible energy storage devices with low-temperature adaptability., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)