Search

Wildfires inject large amounts of black carbon (BC) particles into the atmosphere, which can reach the lowermost stratosphere (LMS) and cause strong radiative forcing. During a 14-month period of observations on board a passenger aircraft flying between Europe and North America, we found frequent and widespread biomass burning (BB) plumes, influencing 16 of 160 flight hours in the LMS. The average BC mass concentrations in these plumes (∼140 ng·m-3, standard temperature and pressure) were over 20 times higher than the background concentration (∼6 ng·m-3) with more than 100-fold enhanced peak values (up to ∼720 ng·m-3). In the LMS, nearly all BC particles were covered with a thick coating. The average mass equivalent diameter of the BC particle cores was ∼120 nm with a mean coating thickness of ∼150 nm in the BB plume and ∼90 nm with a coating of ∼125 nm in the background. In a BB plume that was encountered twice, we also found a high diameter growth rate of ∼1 nm·h-1 due to the BC particle coatings. The observed high concentrations and thick coatings of BC particles demonstrate that wildfires can induce strong local heating in the LMS and may have a significant influence on the regional radiative forcing of climate.

Wide-bandgap 2D materials for UV photodetectors have many advantages, such as flexibility and efficiency. For this reason, the quest for novel 2D semiconductor materials is the primary focus of ongoing research endeavors. In this study, the electronic and optical characteristics of Janus Al2M2ClBr (M = O, S) monolayers have been meticulously examined by density functional theory (DFT). It was confirmed that these monolayers exhibit structural robustness for indirect bandgap Al2O2ClBr or direct bandgap Al2S2ClBr. Moreover, they demonstrate a low effective mass for the photogenerated electrons and holes. The bandgap is notably modulated by strain engineering, whereas the impact of the electric field is minimal. Notably, strong light absorption within the 8 to 12 eV range has been confirmed, with absorption coefficients surpassing 105 cm−1 for Janus Al2M2ClBr (M = O, S) monolayers. The optical properties can be finely tuned by strain engineering, although the influence of an electric field on these properties is insignificant. Considering the combination of optical and electrical characteristics, Janus Al2M2ClBr (M = O, S) monolayers are promising for UV photodetector applications. As a result, this study provides invaluable theoretical insights into the development of UV photodetectors utilizing Janus monolayers and is poised to significantly enrich the expansion of Janus monolayer materials in the foreseeable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, and the presence of germline breast cancer gene mutation (gBRCAm) is associated with a poor prognosis. Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a BC subtype, characterized by the absence of hormone and growth factor receptor expression, making therapeutic decisions difficult. Defects in the DNA damage response pathway due to mutation in breast cancer genes (BRCA 1/2) lead to homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). However, in HRD conditions, poly (adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins repair DNA damage and lead to tumor cell survival. Biological understanding of HRD leads to the development of PARP inhibitors (PARPi), which trap PARP proteins and cause genomic instability and tumor cell lysis. HRD assessment can be an important biomarker in identifying gBRCAm patients with BC who could benefit from PARPi therapy. HRD can be identified by homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene‐based assays, genomic‐scarring assays and mutational signatures, transcription and protein expression profiles, and functional assays. However, gold standard methodologies that are robust and reliable to assess HRD are not available currently. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop accurate biomarkers identifying HRD tumors to guide targeted therapies such as PARPi in patients with BC. HRD assessment has shown fruitful outcomes in chemotherapy studies and preliminary evidence on PARPi intervention as monotherapy and combination therapy in HRD‐stratified patients. Furthermore, ongoing trials are exploring the potential of PARPi in BC and clinically complex TNBC settings, where HRD testing is used as an adjunct to stratify patients based on BRCA mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung diseases are one of the leading causes of global mortality. Advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation have enabled the creation of bronchiolar and alveolar lung organoids, advancing research on lung conditions. Traditional Matrigel encapsulation, reliant on the spontaneous assembly and propagation of cells with limited external intervention, often results in variability and low reproducibility. The absence of hyaluronic acid (HA) in Matrigel, a key lung extracellular matrix component, limits bronchiolar and alveolar cell differentiation, reducing the efficacy and reproducibility of iPSC‐derived organoid generation. To address this, a novel hybrid hydrogel combining HA and 23% Matrigel, inspired by the natural lung environment, is developed. This hydrogel offers improved biochemical support and viscoelastic properties, significantly accelerating organoid development. Within eight days, the hydrogel produces uniformly sized organoids containing both bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells. Increased levels of active mechanosensors and transducers, including PIEZO1, Integrin, and Myosin, suggest that the hydrogel's altered viscoelasticity triggers a mechanotransduction cascade. This bioinspired hydrogel provides a robust, fast model for biomedical research, facilitating rapid drug screening, respiratory disease treatment studies, and surfactant trafficking investigations. Furthermore, it enables the exploration of underlying biomechanical mechanisms to enhance the controllability of organoid generation and maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Hypersensitive response‐programmed cell death (HR‐PCD) regulated by Ca2+ signal is considered the major regulator of resistance against Puccinia triticina (Pt.) infection in wheat. In this study, the bread wheat variety Thatcher and its near‐isogenic line with the leaf rust resistance locus Lr26 were infected with the Pt. race 260 to obtain the compatible and incompatible combinations, respectively. The expression of translationally controlled tumor protein (TaTCTP) was upregulated upon infection with Pt., through a Ca2+‐dependent mechanism in the incompatible combination. The knockdown of TaTCTP markedly increased the area of dying cell and the number of Pt. haustorial mother cells (HMCs) at the infection sites, whereas plants overexpressing the gene exhibited enhanced resistance. The interaction between TaTCTP and calcineurin B‐like protein‐interacting protein kinase 23 (TaCIPK23) was also investigated, and the interaction was found occurred in the endoplasmic reticulum. TaCIPK23 phosphorylated TaTCTP in vitro. The expression of a phospho‐mimic TaTCTP mutant in Nicotiana benthamiana promoted HR‐like cell death. Silencing TaCIPK23 or TaCIPK23/TaTCTP co‐silencing resulted in the same results as silencing TaTCTP. This suggested that TaTCTP is a novel phosphorylation target of TaCIPK23, and both participate in the resistance of wheat to Pt. in the same pathway. Significance Statement: Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina infection causes losses to agriculture worldwide. Calcium signaling and its mediated hypersensitive response are critical for leaf rust resistance in wheat. By demonstrating the phosphorylation of TaTCTP by TaCIPK23 and their contribution to the leaf rust resistance phenotype in wheat, this study reveals the mechanism by which calcium mediates biotic stress resistance and provides valuable insights for future crop improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Glucan derived from cereals is a crucial dietary fiber primarily found in pastes, sub-pastes, and endosperm of cereals, which has a positive impact on human health. The integration of cereal β-glucan in the food industry is widespread due to its proven effectiveness in preventing diabetes, reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, modulating intestinal microbiota, and enhancing immune cell function. This comprehensive review thoroughly examines the extraction, isolation, purification, structure, and biological properties of cereal β-glucans. Furthermore, the article explores the utilization of cereal β-glucans in dairy, bakery, and meat products. It provides a comprehensive overview of current research in this field, addressing both challenges and solutions, while laying the theoretical foundations for future advancements in incorporating cereal β-glucan-based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of a semiconductor heterostructure plays a crucial role in achieving high-performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications, such as photodetectors and water splitting due to the diverse functions of the heterointerface in light absorption, corrosion protection, and carrier transportation. Herein, we propose an approach by fully attaching Bi2S3 nanoparticles onto Bi2MoO6 nanorods to fabricate a photoanode for efficient self-powered PEC photodetection and water splitting. This photoanode exhibits remarkable responsivity (11.50 mA/W), rapid response time (200 μs), excellent photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (32.02%), and long-term stability (30,000 s) even without an external bias voltage. These enhancements can be attributed to effective charge separation, unique nanostructural morphology, and an enhanced light capture ability. Leveraging these advantages, the Bi2S3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructure demonstrates an exceptionally high, stable, and bias-free PEC hydrogen evolution rate of 418.95 μmol/cm2/h, surpassing that of both pure Bi2S3 and Bi2MoO6 by factors of 249.38 and 55.38, respectively. Furthermore, compared to previously reported Bi2MoO6-related heterostructures, the Bi2S3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructure exhibits superior PEC catalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicago truncatula is a key model plant for studying legume plants, particularly alfalfa (Medicago sativa), due to its well-defined genetic background. Plant-specific GASA (Gibberellic Acid Stimulated Arabidopsis) genes play various roles in plant growth and development, abiotic stress, and hormone responses. However, limited information is available on GASA research in Medicago. In this study, 26 MtGASAs were identified and analyzed for its structure, evolution, and expressions. Sequence alignments and phylogeny revealed that 26 MtGASAs containing conserved GASA domains were classified into three clades. The chromosomal locations and gene synteny revealed segmental and tandem repetition evolution. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicates that family members likely influence various hormone signaling pathways and stress-related mechanisms. Moreover, the RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that 26 MtGASAs were extensively involved in abiotic stresses and hormone responses. Notably, seven MtGASA genes (MtGASA1, 10, 12, 17, 23, 25 and 26) were all dramatically activated by NaCl and Mannitol treatments, and four MtGASAs (MtGASA7, 10, 23 and 24) were significant activated by GA3, PBZ, ABA, and MeJA treatments. Collectively, this study is the first to identify and describe GASA genes in Medicago on a genome-wide scale. The results establish a basis for functional characterization, showing that these proteins are essential in responding to various abiotic stresses and hormonal signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper disinfection treatment is the basic guarantee for safe utilisation of sewage. However, the commonly used disinfection methods are not suitable for nutrients containing reclaimed water. In this work, the microwave disinfection method assisted by a microwave-absorbing material in recycled water samples was investigated. Magnetic corn stalk biochar (MCSB), the microwave absorbing material, was prepared by high temperature carbonisation of corn stalk particles impregnated with ferrous sulfate. Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms were selected as target microorganisms to investigate the disinfection efficiency of MCSB assisted microwave radiation (MW/MCSB). The addition of microwave absorbing materials significantly improves the disinfection effect of water samples. Compared with the microwave radiation (MW) without MCSB, the bactericidal rate by using 107 CFU/L E. coli suspension increased from 63.5% to 100% at 480 W for 30 s after adding 4 g/L MCSB. Besides, the effects of MCSB dosage, microwave power, microwave radiation time, and initial bacterial concentration on disinfection efficiency were explored. Moreover, the bactericidal efficiency for actual sewage samples was also demonstrated by treating the effluent from septic tank sewage. The residual fecal coliforms in treated water samples met China's farmland irrigation water standard (GB 5084-2021). The result indicates that the proposed method of microwave disinfection strengthened by MCSB has a promising application prospect for reclaimed water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the bending formability of Q960 structural steel plate, the internal structure of the steel plate was enhanced by pulse current assisted method. The bending resilience difference of Q960 structural steel plate was measured when it is subjected to pulse current. The alloy was subjected to different pulse current densities for bending test, and the change of microstructure morphology was observed. Results show that the deviation coefficients of neutral layer are above 0.5 after 90°V bending test. When the current density increases, the specimen changes from elastic deformation to plastic deformation, and the temperature of the specimen increases continuously. When electrically assisted treatment is applied to the sample, the bending rebound Angle decreases with the increase of current density. When the current density reaches 2.5 A/mm~2, no rebound phenomenon can be observed. Few twin crystals will appear with gradual increase of the current density in the bending process. A large number of equiaxed crystal structures are formed on the outer side, showing the characteristics of slip plastic deformation, resulting in a slightly asymmetric tension and compression state. With a grain size of 13 μm or so, the microstructure of the base plane slips due to electroplastic action, which realizes the plastic transformation of the material without twin coordination. The research is of great significance to improve the mechanical properties of building structural steel, especially for high-rise buildings.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in atmospheric particulate matter pose a threat to human health because of their high carcinogenicity. In the atmosphere, BaP is mainly degraded through a multiphase reaction with ozone, but the fate and atmospheric transport of BaP are poorly characterized. Earlier modeling studies used reaction rate coefficients determined in laboratory experiments at room temperature, which may overestimate/underestimate degradation rates when applied under atmospheric conditions. Moreover, the effects of diffusion on the particle bulk are not well constrained, leading to large discrepancies between model results and observations. We show how regional and global distributions and transport of BaP can be explained by a new kinetic scheme that provides a realistic description of the temperature and humidity dependence of phase state, diffusivity, and reactivity of BaP-containing particles. Low temperature and humidity can substantially increase the lifetime of BaP and enhance its atmospheric dispersion through both the planetary boundary layer and the free troposphere. The new scheme greatly improves the performance of multiscale models, leading to better agreement with observed BaP concentrations in both source regions and remote regions (Arctic), which cannot be achieved by less-elaborate degradation schemes (deviations by multiple orders of magnitude). Our results highlight the importance of considering temperature and humidity effects on both the phase state of aerosol particles and the chemical reactivity of particulate air pollutants.