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Background: Global per capita meat consumption continues to rise, especially pork. Meat quality is influenced by the content of intramuscular fat (IMF) as a key factor. The longissimus dorsi muscle of Dahe pigs (DHM, IMF: 7.98% ± 1.96%) and Dahe black pigs (DHBM, IMF: 3.30% ± 0.64%) was studied to explore cellular heterogeneity and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with IMF deposition using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). The lipid composition was then analyzed using non-targeted lipidomics. Results: A total of seven cell subpopulations were identified, including myocytes, fibroblast/fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), satellite cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, pericytes, and adipocytes. Among them, FAPs and adipocytes were more focused because they could be associated with lipid deposition. 1623 DEGs in the FAPs subpopulation of DHBM were up-regulated compared with DHM, while 1535 were down-regulated. These DEGs enriched in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway. 109 DEGs were up-regulated and 806 were down-regulated in the adipocyte subpopulation of DHBM compared with DHM, which were mainly enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway and fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis. The expression level of PPARG, ABP4, LEP, and ACSL1 genes in DHM was higher than that in DHBM. Lipidomics reveals porcine lipid composition characteristics of muscle tissue. A total of 41 lipid classes and 2699 lipid species were identified in DHM and DHBM groups. The top ten relative peak areas of lipid classes in DHM and DHBM were triglyceride (TG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), diglyceride (DG), cardiolipin (CL), ceramides (Cer), Simple Glc series (Hex1Cer), sphingomyelin (phSM), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The relative peak areas of 35 lipid species in DHM were lower than DHBM, and 28 lipid species that were higher. There was a significant increase in the TG fatty acyl chains C6:0, C17:0, and C11:4, and a significant decrease in C16:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C22:4 in DHBM (p < 0.05). Conclusions: C16:0 FA may downregulate the expression level of PPARG gene, which leads to the downregulation of fat metabolism-related genes such as ACSL, PLIN2, and FABP4 in DHBM compared with DHM. This may be the reason that the lipid deposition ability of Dahe pigs is stronger than that of Dahe black pigs, which need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become an important therapeutic strategy because it is highly controllable, effective, and does not cause drug resistance. Moreover, precise delivery of photosensitizers to tumor lesions can greatly reduce the amount of drug administered and optimize therapeutic outcomes. As alternatives to protein antibodies, peptides have been applied as useful targeting ligands for targeted biomedical imaging, drug delivery and PDT. In addition, other functionalities of peptides such as stimuli responsiveness, self-assembly, and therapeutic activity can be integrated with photosensitizers to yield versatile peptide-based nanosystems for PDT. In this article, we start with a brief introduction to PDT and peptide-based nanosystems, followed by more detailed descriptions about the structure, property, and architecture of peptides as background information. Finally, the most recent advances in peptide-based nanosystems for PDT are emphasized and summarized according to the functionalities of peptide in the system to reveal the design and development principle in different therapeutic circumstances. We hope this review could provide useful insights and valuable reference for the development of peptide-based nanosystems for PDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue ZnTeSe-based quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) often suffer from poor hole injection, which significantly limits their performance. Herein, we introduced dual dipole layers consisting of (2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11 hexaazatriphenyl hexacarbonitrile) (HAT-CN) between the hole injection layer of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) and hole transport layer of (polyvinylcarbazole) (PVK) to enhance the performance of blue ZnTeSe-based QLEDs. The introduction of the HAT-CN layer created dual dipole layers, which reduce the hole injection barrier between PEDOT: PSS and PVK, decrease the hole defect density, increase the hole current, and improve the effective radiation recombination of charge carriers. The QLEDs with the HAT-CN layer exhibited higher external quantum efficiency compared to those without the HAT-CN layer, increasing from 4.2% to 10.1%. Moreover, the T50 lifetime almost doubled at a high luminance of 2000 cd m−2. This work shows that introducing the HAT-CN layer to create dual dipole layers using the full solution method is an effective strategy for preparing high-performance ZnTeSe-based blue QLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) in skeletal muscle is often accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Boosting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) using nicotinamide riboside (NR) can effectively decrease oxidative stress and increase mitochondrial function. However, whether NR can ameliorate IR in skeletal muscle is still inconclusive. We fed male C57BL/6J mice with an HFD (60% fat) ± 400 mg/kg·bw NR for 24 weeks. C2C12 myotube cells were treated with 0.25 mM palmitic acid (PA) ± 0.5 mM NR for 24 h. Indicators for IR and mitochondrial dysfunction were analyzed. NR treatment alleviated IR in HFD-fed mice with regard to improved glucose tolerance and a remarkable decrease in the levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR index. NR-treated HFD-fed mice also showed improved metabolic status regarding a significant reduction in body weight and lipid contents in serum and the liver. NR activated AMPK in the skeletal muscle of HFD-fed mice and PA-treated C2C12 myotube cells and upregulated the expression of mitochondria-related transcriptional factors and coactivators, thereby improving mitochondrial function and alleviating oxidative stress. Upon inhibiting AMPK using Compound C, NR lost its ability in enhancing mitochondrial function and protection against IR induced by PA. In summary, improving mitochondrial function through the activation of AMPK pathway in skeletal muscle may play an important role in the amelioration of IR using NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co-CNCs presented a nanocubes structures with abundant graphitic C/N. • Co-N-C catalyst was successfully confined into carbon nanocubes. • Spatial confinement facilitated its stability and catalyst activity in SMX removal. • •OH and SO 3 •- were the major reactive species in Co-CNC-850/CaSO 3 system. • Biotoxicity of SMX to wheat seed and zebrafish was greatly reduced after degradation. Encapsulating free radical species with super-short lifetime and organic pollutants inside the chemical theoretical diffusion length scale by spatial confinement could offer a strategy with great promise to resolve the mass transfer restrictions in heterogeneous Fenton-like systems. Herein, we reported the spatial confinement of Co, N co-doped carbon (Co-N-C) catalyst in carbon nanocuboids (Co-CNCs), via encapsulation of Co-N-C catalyst into CNCs, for activating CaSO 3 to efficiently degrade sulfamethoxazole. The detailed characterizations confirmed ZIF-9 was successfully transformed into N-doped carbon nanocuboids at 850 °C calcination. Co-N-C catalyst was successfully confined into carbon nanocuboids, is beneficial to prevent the aggregation of Co nanoparticles, thereby facilitating its stability and catalyst activity in sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal via CaSO 3 activation. Compared with other sulfites (including Na 2 SO 3 and NaHSO 3), CaSO 3 (82%) presented much higher degradation efficiency than those of NaSO 3 (18%) and NaHSO 3 (41%) in SMX removal, emphasizing the critical role of CaSO 3 in water decontamination. Because CaSO 3 could discharge SO 3 2- persistently and slowly, preventing from the consumption of the formed SO 4 •- at a high concentration of aqueous SO 3 2-. Quenching test and mechanism study had verified that •OH and SO 4 •- (SO 3 •-) were the major reactive species in Co-CNC-850/CaSO 3 system. In addition, Zebrafish toxicology assays and seed germination experiments had revealed the biotoxicity of SMX to zebrafish and wheat seeds was significantly reduced after degradation via Co-CNC-850/CaSO 3 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal rivers are key biochemical reaction channels along the land-ocean aquatic continuum, receiving carbon from wastewater and agricultural drains, which can considerably affect CO 2 emissions. We developed a two-dimensional hydrodynamic and ecological model coupled with an inorganic carbon module along the Tan River in southern China. The simulations of and observations regarding discharge, temperature, total organic carbon (TOC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), and other common water quality variables were generally in good agreement. Based on the validated model, we employed statistical and scenario analyses to evaluate the carbon distribution, TOC and TIC budgets, and the imbalances induced by climatic and anthropogenic changes, providing insights into their potential greenhouse effect. The Tan River was consistently supersaturated with CO 2 with an annual mean air-water CO 2 emission flux (FCO 2) of 226.1 ± 84.9 mmol m−2 d−1, and significant temporal and spatial variations of FCO 2 , TOC, and TIC were observed. Urban small streams tended to emit additional CO 2 during wet seasons, and rural tributaries usually had an increase in TOC concentrations during the dry season. FCO 2 was significantly positively correlated with air temperature and negatively correlated with total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and TOC. The annual riverine input of carbon to the urban river network was 17.37 Gg C yr−1, with 59.82% of TOC, and carbon output was 15.31 Gg C yr−1, with 66.87% of TOC. The retention rates for TOC and total carbon were 50.7% and 11.8% in the urban branch, respectively. Furthermore, warming and wastewater treatment could prevent urban river networks and downstream rivers from becoming carbon sources. Therefore, our findings suggest that riverine management strategies change the global CO 2 release from tidal rivers and estuarine systems under climate change. • The ecological model is efficient to quantitatively estimate carbon dynamics in a tidal river. • Organic carbon is gathered from rural tributaries and then rapid consumed into CO 2 along urban river networks. • Global warming and wastewater treatment decrease CO 2 emissions. • Water replenishment increases CO 2 emissions from downstream rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimal Mn dissolution was achieved with surface Mn4+-rich phase-modified truncated octahedral spinel LiMn 2 O 4 with exposed {111} planes, which was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal reaction, followed by high temperature calcination in an oxygen atmosphere. The calcination atmosphere had a significant influence on the formation of the surface Mn4+-rich phase-modified layer; LiMn 2 O 4 without a surface Mn4+-rich phase was obtained by calcination in an air atmosphere. Benefiting from the unique structure, the as-prepared LiMn 2 O 4 exhibited an excellent rate capability and prolonged cycle stability, delivering a discharge capacity of 101 mAh g−1 and capacity retention rates of about 94% and 88% after 500 and 1000 cycles at 1C, respectively, compared to a discharge capacity of 86 mAh g−1 and a capacity retention rate of about 86% after 500 cycles at 1C for the LiMn 2 O 4 prepared in an air atmosphere. The synergistic effect of the unique truncated octahedral morphology of spinel LiMn 2 O 4 with {111} exposed planes and the modification of the surface Mn-rich phase endowed the composite with excellent electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemiluminescence (CL) is an effective way for designing sulfite (SO 3 2-) sensors. However, the practical application of these sensors was hampered so far due to the poor selectivity or stability of the probes (e.g., KMnO 4 and Ce4+). In this work, the Ce(IV)-MOF was fabricated through a simple and time-saving hydrothermal synthetic method. The special structure of Ce(IV)-MOF endowed it with high selectivity and stability in the CL reaction. Based on chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) from the luminescent intermediate of the CL system to dyes (Nile blue, and rhodamine B), a simple, stable and sensitive CL sensing platform for SO 3 2- was successfully established. The proposed CL sensing platform with the outstanding CL efficiency hold great potential for detecting SO 3 2- in complex samples. This study not only broadened the application of MOF in CL field, but also provided a new clue for the design of stable CL system and CRET process. [Display omitted] • Ce(IV)-MOF was first proposed as a reaction reagent in a CL system. • The special structure of Ce(IV)-MOF was endowed it with high selectivity and stability in the CL reaction. • Based on Ce(IV)-MOF, a simple and sensitive CRET sensing platform for SO 3 2- was successfully designed. • SO 3 2- in PM 2.5 was analyzed and the sensing performance could keep stable for 15 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemiluminescence (CL) is an effective way for designing sulfite (SO 3 2-) sensors. However, the practical application of these sensors was hampered so far due to the poor selectivity or stability of the probes (e.g., KMnO 4 and Ce4+). In this work, the Ce(IV)-MOF was fabricated through a simple and time-saving hydrothermal synthetic method. The special structure of Ce(IV)-MOF endowed it with high selectivity and stability in the CL reaction. Based on chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) from the luminescent intermediate of the CL system to dyes (Nile blue, and rhodamine B), a simple, stable and sensitive CL sensing platform for SO 3 2- was successfully established. The proposed CL sensing platform with the outstanding CL efficiency hold great potential for detecting SO 3 2- in complex samples. This study not only broadened the application of MOF in CL field, but also provided a new clue for the design of stable CL system and CRET process. [Display omitted] • Ce(IV)-MOF was first proposed as a reaction reagent in a CL system. • The special structure of Ce(IV)-MOF was endowed it with high selectivity and stability in the CL reaction. • Based on Ce(IV)-MOF, a simple and sensitive CRET sensing platform for SO 3 2- was successfully designed. • SO 3 2- in PM 2.5 was analyzed and the sensing performance could keep stable for 15 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-spherical Cu@CuS yolk-shell structures are successfully obtained using CuO cube templates in a process combining rapid surface sulfidation followed by disproportionation of the CuO core upon treatment with a hydrochloric acid solution. By employing the above method, Cu@CuS yolk-shell structures with different morphologies, including octahedral, truncated octahedral, and cuboctahedral shapes, can be synthesized. The void space within the hollow structures provides a unique confined space, where the metallic copper present in the core of a shell can be protected from agglomeration and oxidation. Furthermore, the presence of metal copper in these hollow structures contributes to improvement in the photocatalytic properties of these materials. The application of these Cu@CuS structures indeed shows clearly improved photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous polyether ether ketone (p-PEEK) was fabricated by firstly preparing titanium/PEEK composite (Ti/PEEK) (die casting) and then removing titanium wire (acid etching). The pores in p-PEEK can provide channels for bone cells ingrowth and body fluid transmission. The pore size and porosity of p-PEEK can be tailored by adjusting the diameter and volume fraction of titanium wire that was used in the preparation process. The average cell wall thicknesses of p-PEEK with porosities of 30 ± 1.5%, 40 ± 2.0% and 50 ± 2.5% were 326.4 μm, 297.6 μm and 255.4 μm, respectively. The compressive yield strengths and the elastic moduli of p-PEEK with porosities ranged of 30%–50% were 28–16 MPa and 5.5–3.0 GPa, respectively. The elastic modulus of p-PEEK reached the floor level of cortical bone (3.0–30.0 GPa). The relationship of the relative elastic moduli to the relative densities of p-PEEK conformed to the Gibson-Ashby model. This porous PEEK is expected to be a candidate for hard tissue implant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to fabrication of porous titanium by using the molybdenum wire as space holder was developed, in which titanium liquid was cast into the entangled molybdenum wires in a vacuum environment, and followed by etching off the space holder material in an aqua regia solution. This infiltration casting and acid corrosion method fabricated the porous titanium with different porosities with a pore diameter of 0.4 mm. The porous titanium with the porosity of 32–47% exhibited the Young's modulus in the range of 23–62 GPa and the yielding strength in the range of 76–192 MPa. The adhesion and spreadability of the bovine osteoblast cells on the porous titanium were also evaluated in vitro. The porous titanium with 47% porosity has great potential for implant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnesium reinforced with continuous 304 stainless steel wire (304/Mg) was fabricated using an infiltration casting process. The 304/Mg has a novel internal structure. The compressive properties and damping properties of 304/Mg were tested. The stress-strain curve of 304/Mg was similar to that of metal rubber. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of 304/Mg were 42.8% and 55.6% higher than those of pure Mg, respectively. The energy absorption capability of 304/Mg was 2.5 times as high as that of pure Mg. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests indicated that the damping capacity of pure Mg was higher than that of 304/Mg at low strain amplitude. Two internal friction peaks (P1 and P2) presented in the temperature-dependent damping curve. The P1 peak of 304/Mg shifted to lower temperature and P2 peak shifted to higher temperature compared to those of pure Mg. The preparation method of 304/Mg composite can be a reference to improve the damping capacity and strength of Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of HIV infection. The APOBEC3G (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide 3G) protein is a component of innate antiviral immunity that inhibits HIV-1 replication. In the present study, a total of 483 HIV-1 seropositive men and 493 HIV-1 seronegative men were selected to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the APOBEC3G gene and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression among MSM residing in northern China. Genotyping of four SNPs (rs5757465, rs3736685, rs8177832, and rs2899313) of the APOBEC3G was performed using the SNPscan™ Kit, while the rs2294367 polymorphism was genotyped using the SNaPshot multiplex system. Our results disclosed no association between the SNPs of APOBEC3G and susceptibility to HIV-1, or effects of these polymorphisms on the CD4 T cell count or clinical phase of disease. A meta-analysis of 1624 men with HIV-1 infection and 1523 controls suggested that the association between rs8177832 and susceptibility was not significant. However, we observed a trend towards association with HIV-1 infection for haplotype TTACA ( p = 0.082). The potential role of variants of APOBEC3G in HIV-1/AIDS warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to develop a biocompatible bone repair material that has the advantage of preventing postoperative infections. Finally, the porous magnesium (p-Mg) loaded with gentamicin sulphate (GS-loaded Mg-G) was fabricated. The GS release behavior of the GS-loaded Mg-G in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was investigated. The effective release time of GS reached to 14 days. In addition, the effects of porosity and pore diameter of p-Mg on the GS release behavior of the GS-loaded Mg-G were studied. In the initial burst release stage, the GS release rate of the GS-loaded Mg-G increased with the increasing porosity or the increasing pore diameter of p-Mg. The GS-loaded Mg-G with larger original pore diameter has higher burst release of GS. Moreover, the in vitro antibacterial test of the GS-loaded Mg-G indicated that this biomaterial has obvious antibacterial effect. This study can provide information for p-Mg loaded with drug(s) as functional bone repair materials with drug-delivery capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous magnesium with novel pore structure was characterized in terms of damping capacities, compressive properties and energy absorption capabilities. The results indicated that the novel porous structure significantly affected the damping capacity of the porous magnesium materials. At constant porosity, the loss factor increased as the pore diameter decreased at room temperature; while at constant pore diameter, the loss factor increased as the porosity increased. The damping measurement of p-Mg with increasing temperature has also been carried out. The loss factor increased with increasing temperature, but little dependence was observed for the frequency. The porosity and pore diameter of p-Mg significantly affected the damping capacity-temperature relation. Two visible internal friction peaks were presented in pure Mg and p-Mg. The positions of internal friction peaks were dependent on porosity and pore diameter of p-Mg. The porous magnesium exhibited very good specific strength and high energy absorption capabilities per mass, which could be very promising damping materials for the engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant progress has been made toward overcoming fundamental challenges in developing a silicon (Si) anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, much less work has been reported on design and failure analysis of these batteries for practical applications. In this work, we analyzed the main factors that affect the performance of a Si anode and the energy density of pouch cells using micron-sized, nanoporous Si coated by pitch-derived carbon (p-Si/C). The volumetric energy density of the Si anode depends heavily on these factors, such as the loading of p-Si/C in the anode, the calendering density of the anode, the first-cycle coulombic efficiency, and the capacity density of the anode. The effects of other factors on the cycling performance were also revealed by postmortem analysis of cycled anodes. We found that a stable p-Si/C electrode structure is critical to avoid the disintegration of the anode structural integrity and lithium plating and enable long-term cycling. Moreover, prelithiation of Si anodes increases energy density, while the degree of prelithiation is another factor to balance with the cycle life of Si-based full cells. We propose pathways and strategies for adoption of micron-sized p-Si/C anodes in LIBs for their practical applications. • Factors affecting the performance of Si-based full cells have been investigated. • Corrosion of the Si surface largely contributes to capacity loss at early stage. • Destruction of Si anode is the main reason for the capacity loss at the late stages. • Prelithiation of Si anodes is found to worsen cycling stability if not optimized. • Pathways and strategies for adoption of Si anodes have been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human α-lactalbumin (HLA) has very high nutritional value and important physiological functions during the neonatal period. The peptides derived from HLA provide diverse health benefits including antimicrobial, antiviral, immune-modulating, and antihypertensive effects. Thus, it is worth investigating the effects on offspring development of increasing HLA in milk. In this study, we found that recombinant human α-lactalbumin (rHLA) exhibits efficient inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity in an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion system. Using a BAC clone containing the complete HLA gene as a candidate vector, we generated two lines of transgenic cloned sows via somatic cell nuclear transfer that over-expressed rHLA. The average concentrations of rHLA in milk from the two lines of transgenic cloned sows were 2.24 ± 0.71 mg/ml and 2.67 ± 1.29 mg/ml. The feeding experiments revealed that rHLA represses dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity in vivo . Furthermore, the piglets reared by rHLA transgenic cloned sows exhibit better performance in gain of body weight and intestine growth than the control piglets reared by non-transgenic sows. Therefore, these findings indicate that rHLA could serve as a natural precursor for a DPP-IV inhibitor, and the transgenic technology that produced the over-expression of rHLA could be a useful method for pig breeders to improve lactation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous titanium with entangled wire structure was enhanced by filling gelatin into the porous structure to form a titanium-gelatin (Ti-G) composite. The density of the composites was 1.6–2.5 g/cm 3 , similar to that of bone. The strength and elastic modulus of the composites reached 12.9–39.4 MPa and 2.5–7.4 GPa, respectively, which were comparable to that of the cortical bone. Gelatin in Ti-G composite acted as the carrier of gentamicin sulphate (GS). Antibacterial efficacy of GS-loaded Ti-G against Staphylococcus aureus strain was tested. The lack of growth of Staphylococcus aureus strains was found in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium containing GS-loaded Ti-G. GS release behavior from the GS-loaded Ti-G composites in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was investigated. The effective GS release times from Ti30-G and Ti50-G were 120 h and 168 h, respectively. The gelatin in Ti-G was just degraded 3.2% at the immersion time of 168 h and 9.0% at 336 h. The degradation rate of gelatin was much slower than release rate of GS, indicated that the GS release from gelatin was less affected by the gelatin degradation. These Ti-G composites loaded with drug(s) are expected to be good candidates as functional bone repair materials with drug-delivery capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation behavior of the porous titanium with entangled structure filled with biodegradable magnesium (p-Ti/Mg) in Hanks' solution was investigated. It was found that the p-Ti/Mg composite had higher strength than pure magnesium and porous titanium with entangled structure (p-Ti). Although the magnesium in p-Ti/Mg was completely dissolved in Hanks' solution after immersion for 104 h, the rest of the sample still maintained strength of about 86 MPa. Moreover, the produced porousness (due to magnesium-degradation) could provide channels for the ingrowth and transportation of bone cells. However, the high corrosion rate of p-Ti/Mg is still a problem when used as a candidate biomedical material, which needs further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cataluminescence (CTL) was regarded as a simple and efficient sensing method and had made great contributions in gas sensing. Herein, a novel CTL sensor based on Ce(IV)-MOF was designed for detection of H 2 S. The sensor shows outstanding selectivity, high sensitivity and excellent stability in CTL towards H 2 S due to the large surface area and excellent stability of Ce(IV)-MOF. A good linear curve (R2 =0.997) between CTL intensity and H 2 S in the range of 1.04–21.0 μg/mL was obtained with the detection limit of 0.035 μg/mL. Besides, the investigation of the CTL mechanism provides more theoretical support for catalytic reaction. This work broadened the application field of MOF and provided a new clue for the development of catalytic materials in CTL. • Cataluminescence gas sensor with outstanding selectivity, high sensitivity and excellent stability towards H 2 S. • The CTL sensor has excellent thermal stability, porous structure, large surface area and high catalytic activity. • The catalytic oxidization and luminescence mechanism of H 2 S on Ce(Ⅳ)-MOF was investigated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel 3D Au/(BiO)2CO3 (Au/BOC) heterostructures with size-controlled Au nanoparticles (NPs) (2–10 nm) were first synthesized and used in photocatalytic removal of ppb-level NO for air cleaning. The photocatalytic performance of Au/BOC heterostructures was enhanced by fine-tuning the content of Au and the size of Au NPs. A new photocatalysis mechanism of surface scattering and reflecting (SSR) coupled with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was proposed to understand the enhanced photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of graded porous titanium–magnesium (Ti–Mg) composite, i.e., about 1–1.5 mm thick porous Ti layer is wrapped over the internal dense Ti–Mg composite, has been successfully fabricated by infiltration casting and acid etching. The outer porous Ti layer maintains its initial entangled structure, which can be easily adjusted to the ideal porosity and the porous structure. The thickness of the porous layer can be controlled by etching time. When the outer porous layer accounted for 41.6–42.4% of the total volume of the cylindrical sample, the compressive strength and the Young’s modulus of the as-prepared graded porous composite are 110 MPa and 5 GPa, respectively, being comparable to that of natural bone. The outer porous layer provides good osteoconduction ability, and the internal dense Ti–Mg composite contributes to the monolithic strength and stiffness. Such biomechanical properties suggest its potentials for load-bearing bio-applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the present study were to establish a porcine neural stem cell (NSC) line and to determine if these NSCs could be used to produce cloned pigs. NSCs were isolated from the brains of three embryonic day 30 fetal pigs and were induced to differentiatein vitro. NSCs and the differentiated cells were harvested for analysis of markers by immunostaining and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The NSCs at passage 10 were used for nuclear transfer, and the cloned embryos at the two-cell stage were transferred into the oviducts of surrogate mothers. The results showed that three NSC lines (2 male and 1 female) were successfully established. All NSCs at passage 17 continued to express nestin and Sox2. NSCs could differentiate into neurons (TUBB3+), astrocytes (GFAP+), and oligodendrocytes (O4+). After NSC nuclear transfer, 2020 two-cell stage embryos formed. After embryo transfer, 6 of 10 surrogates were pregnant, and 40 piglets (18 males and 22 females) were born. Twenty-two of these piglets reached sexual maturity and were found to be fertile. The other piglets died within 45 days post-partum. In conclusion, 3 porcine NSC lines capable of self-renewal and differentiation were established, and the cloned embryos derived from these cells could develop to term. Thus, NSCs could be efficient alternative nuclear donors for pig cloning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We generated transgenic pig expressing PRRSV-specific siRNA. [•] Stability of siRNA expression was proved in two generations. [•] Type I interferon was not elicited by the expression of siRNA in vivo. [•] We proved that transgenic pigs showed substantially decreased virus load in serum after PRRSV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lysozyme is often used as a feed additive and acts as an antimicrobial protein that enhances immune function and defends against pathogenic bacteria in pigs. In this study, we genetically added recombinant human lysozyme (rhLZ) to sow milk by somatic cell nuclear transfer and investigated whether the presence of recombinant human lysozyme can influence intestinal microbiota and mophology in sucking pigs. We generated transgenic cloned pigs and the first-generation hybrids (F1) produced high levels of rhLZ in milk. The average concentration of rhLZ was 116.34±24.46 mg/L in the milk of F1 sows, which was 1500-fold higher than that of the native pig lysozyme. In vitro, it was demonstrated that rhLZ in milk of transgenic pigs had enzyme levels at 92,272±26,413 U/mL. In a feeding experiment, a total of 40 newborn piglets were nursed by four transgenic sows and four sibling non-transgenic sows (F1), with five piglets per gilt. The piglets were allowed to nurse for 21 days and the sow milk was the only source of nutrition for the piglets. All piglets were slaughtered on postnatal day 22. Six types of bacteria were cultured and analyzed to detect the impact of rhLZ on gut microbiota. The number of Escherichia coli in the duodenum of piglets reared by transgenic sows was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and their villus height to crypt depth ratio in the intestine were increased due to the significant decrease of crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p<0.001). Together, we successfully generated rhLZ transgenic cloned pigs and elevated lysozyme level in nuring piglets. The results of the feeding experiments demonstrated that rhLZ-enhanced milk can inhibit the growth of E. coli in the duodenum and positively influence intestinal morphology without adversely affecting weight gain or piglet growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Complex morphology of α-Al dendrite has appeared under an axial high magnetic field. [•] Twinning and slipping of dendrites occur under the magnetic field. [•] A unidirectional TEMF produces on tilted dendrites under the magnetic field. [•] TEMF may induce the occurrence of twinning and slipping and complex morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The N-doped (BiO)2CO3 microspheres were fabricated by hydrothermal method. [•] Dicyandiamide played dual roles in the formation of hierarchical microspheres. [•] The morphology of N-doped (BiO)2CO3 can be tuned by reaction temperature. [•] A novel growth mechanism of N-doped (BiO)2CO3 microspheres was proposed. [•] The N-doped (BiO)2CO3 exhibited excellent visible light activity for NO removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The flower-like, pinon-like and faceted nanoplates (BiO)2CO3 micro/nanostructures were fabricated by a one-pot template-free method based on hydrothermal treatment of the aqueous mixture of bismuth citrate and sodium carbonate. The morphology of (BiO)2CO3 can be simply controlled by the reaction temperature. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra, and photoluminescence spectra were applied to analyze the microstructures and properties of the samples. The flower-like and pinon-like (BiO)2CO3 superstructures were hierarchically self-assembled by nanoplates and showed increased light absorption owing to the multiple light reflection between the nanoplates. The thickness of nanoplates was increased with the increasing reaction temperatures due to the preferred growth along the (110) plane. The (BiO)2CO3 with various micro/nanostructures showed morphology-dependent photocatalytic activity toward removal of aqueous RhB. The as-prepared flower-like (BiO)2CO3 microspheres exhibited highest photocatalytic activity due to the large surface area, increased light absorption, enhanced charge carriers separation, and special architectures of hierarchical nanoplates microspheres, exceeding that of the P25. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present work, a new rhodamine B Schiff base 3′,6′-bis(diethylamino)-2-(2-oxoethylideneamino)-spiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanithen]-3-one (RHO) was designed and easily prepared as a Hg2+ fluorescent and colorimetric probe, which could selectively and sensitively detect Hg2+ in 7:3 (v/v) ethanol–water solution by showing enhanced fluorescence emission. Meanwhile distinct color change from colorless to pink also provided “naked eye” detection of Hg2+ owing to the ring opening of spirolactam of the rhodamine derivative. Other ions including alkali and alkaline earth metal ions (K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+), and some transition metal ions (Ni2+, Co2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ag+, Pb2+, Cr3+, and Fe3+) could hardly induce any interference. For further use in practical applications in optical ion sensing devices, we immobilized the probe onto silica spheres to explore its functionality in inorganic and organic hybrid materials. As a result, excellent discrimination of Hg2+ from other cations could also be obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An in situ quenching electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor sensitized with the aptamer recognition-induced multi-DNA release was designed for pathogenic bacterial detection. Benefitting from the high binding ability of the aptamer to targets and large enrichment capacity of magnetic bead separation, the proposed sensing system not only exhibited outstanding identification to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) among various bacteria, but also released abundant signal transduction DNAs. One S. aureus initiated the dissociation of four kinds of DNA sequences, achieving a one-to-multiple amplification effect. These multi-DNA strands were further hybridized with capture DNA, which were assembled to an electrode modified with Ru(bpy) 3 2+-conjugated silica nanoparticles (RuSi NPs). Then, glucose oxidase (GOD) was introduced via the functional conjugation of GOD-multi-DNA, leading to the presence of H 2 O 2 by in situ catalysis of GOD on glucose. Relying on the ECL quenching of H 2 O 2 in the Ru(bpy) 3 2+ system, S. aureus was quantified with a linear range from 10 to 107 CFU/mL. In addition, the negative results of non-target bacteria and good recovery efficiency in real samples revealed the system's remarkable selectivity and potential application in infectious food tests. • An in situ quenching ECL biosensor was designed for S. aureus detection. • The aptamer recognition-induced multi-DNA release achieved a one-to-multiple amplification. • The in situ generating quencher effectively reduced the interference of external conditions. • This sensor could be built in the arbitrary fields of target assays through replacing the aptamer sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding the spatial pattern of soil organic carbon (SOC) is of great importance because of global environmental concerns. Soil erosion and its subsequent redistribution contribute significantly to the redistribution of SOC in agricultural ecosystems. This study investigated the relationships between 137Cs and SOC over an agricultural landscape, and SOC redistribution was conducted for an agricultural catchment of the black soil region in Northeast China. The spatial patterns of 137Cs and SOC were greatly affected by the established shelterbelts and the developed ephemeral gullies. 137Cs were significantly correlated with SOC when 137Cs were >2000 Bq m−2, while no relation was observed between them when 137Cs were <2000 Bq m−2. Factors other than soil erosion such as vegetative productivity, mineralization of SOC, landscape position and management induced their spatial difference of 137Cs and SOC. Using 137Cs technique to directly study SOC dynamics must be cautious in the black soils. The net SOC loss rate across the entire catchment during 1954–2010 was 92.8 kg ha−1 yr−1, with around 42% of the eroded SOC being redeposited within the catchment. Such information can help guide shelterbelt establishment or other land management to reduce SOC loss in the agricultural ecosystems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to their physiology and organ size, pigs have significant potential as human disease models and as organ transplantation donors. Genetic modification of pigs could provide benefits for both agriculture and human medicine. In this study, five fetal pig fibroblast cell lines from two species (Wuzhishan and Landrace pigs) were transfected using double-marked human lysozyme (HLY) plasmids (pBC1-HLY-GFP-NEO) by a liposome-mediated method. The ratio of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing cells was >95% in sw7, sw8, slw3 and slw6 cell lines, but only 49.3% in slw9 cells. Cells from the four highly transgenic lines were used as nuclear donors to construct embryos, which were then cultured after fusion and activation by electric stimulation. The rate of cleavage was 76.7%, 48h after activation. After 7days, 18.5% of cleaved eggs had developed to the blastocyst stage and 93.3% of blastocysts were GFP-positive. These results indicate that transgenic fetal pig fibroblast cell lines could be obtained by a liposome-mediated method, though the transfection efficiency varied between cell lines. Reconstructed embryos derived from transgenic cells could successfully develop into blastocysts, most of which were GFP-positive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cloning pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has wide applications in basic research, human medicine and agricultural production. To improve cloning efficiency, the effect of two basic maturation media, NCSU-23 and TCM199, was compared, and TCM199 was selected for the following experiments with leptin. We systematically studied the effects of leptin supplementation on oocytes in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) and SCNT embryos and in vivo development of SCNT embryos after embryo transfer (ET). The results showed that supplementation of 100 or 200ng/ml leptin into the maturation medium did not greatly affect nuclear maturation of oocytes, or cleavage rates of PA and SCNT (P >0.05). Blastocyst rates of PA and SCNT embryos were significantly improved when 100 or 200ng/ml leptin was added to maturation medium, and the number of cells in PA blastocysts was also improved (P <0.05). The number of cells in blastocyst of SCNT was improved, when 100ng/ml leptin was added (P <0.05). Furthermore, supplementation of 100 or 200ng/ml leptin to the IVM medium may improve pregnancy rate and the delivery rate in pig cloning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) based on nanomaterials (Eu/CeO 2). • A SO 3 2− sensing platform with high sensitivity and selectivity based on the CRET system was constructed. • The sensing platform was successfully applied to detect SO 3 2− in PM 2.5 samples. Chemiluminescence (CL) was a recognized excellent analytical method for SO 3 2−. Designing a CL sensing platform not only with selectivity but also with high sensitivity is of great significance for the SO 3 2− detection in complex samples. Herein, a novel chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) strategy was designed by doping europium (Eu) into CeO 2 NPs. On the interface of Eu/CeO 2 , SO 3 2− was oxidized to generate the high-energy intermediate SO 2 * and the energy released was absorbed by Eu/CeO 2 nanoparticles to realize CRET. The energy donor (SO 2 * generated by the reaction of Eu/CeO 2 nanoparticles and HSO 3 -) and the receptor (Eu/CeO 2 nanoparticles) are assembled together which simplifies system and improves the energy efficiency. The CRET system with rapid response (1 s) and high sensitivity (0.007 μM) was successfully exploited for the selective detection of SO 3 2− even in PM 2.5 samples. The study provides a new clue to design simple CL sensors with high selectivity and high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of nonprecious metals to replace precious metals in the catalytic hydrolysis of hydrogen storage materials causes wide attention. Herein, nonprecious bimetallic nanoparticles loaded on N-doped graphene quantum dots (Co-Ni/N-GQDs) have been synthesized and applied in the hydrolysis of NH3BH3 for the first time. It is demonstrated that Co-Ni/N-GQDs exhibit the obvious bimetallic synergies in the hydrolysis of NH3BH3, and the total turnover frequency (TOF) value reaches 19.94 mol H2 ⋅ mol Cat − 1 ⋅ min − 1 via the optimized design. This work first explored the catalytic performance for the nonprecious bimetallic nanoparticles loaded on N-GQDs in the hydrolysis of NH3BH3, greatly facilitating the development of both nonprecious metals and N-GQDs in the hydrogen evolution. Nonprecious bimetallic nanoparticles loaded on N-doped graphene quantum dots (Co-Ni/N-GQDs) were developed in the hydrolysis of NH3BH3 for the first time. It is demonstrated that Co-Ni/N-GQDs exhibit excellent catalytic performances in the hydrolysis of NH3BH3, and the total turnover frequency (TOF) value can reach 19.94 molH2⋅molCat–1⋅min–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A NH 4 F-assisted synthesis strategy is proposed, for the first time, achieving near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield in pure blue ZnSeTe QDs. • The mechanism of the NH 4 F treatment on the photoluminescence properties of ZnSeTe QDs is systematically investigated and understood. • By using these ZnSeTe QDs as the emitting layer, an external quantum efficiency of 16.3% for an inverted structure QLED and 17.2% for a standard structure QLED was achieved. ZnSeTe quantum dots (QDs) show promise in advancing high-performance pure blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) for high-definition displays, owing to their exceptional luminescent properties and environmental characteristics. However, the current most efficient synthesis method involves a challenging and hazardous step: injecting water-based hydrofluoric acid treatment under high-temperature conditions. Herein, a novel approach utilizing inorganic fluoride NH 4 F as a molecular additive is introduced to simplify the synthesis of highly efficient ZnSeTe/ZnSe/ZnS blue QDs. The resulting QDs exhibit tunable photoluminescence (PL) wavelengths in the pure blue region with near-unit PL quantum yield (QY). Notably, the use of NH 4 F passivates the ZnSeTe cores, enhancing stability and facilitating high-quality coating of the subsequent shell layer, ultimately reducing nonradiative recombination rates and improving PL QY. To evaluate the practical application of these blue ZnSeTe/ZnSe/ZnS QDs, we utilized them as an emitting layer to fabricate QLEDs with two typical structures. The results demonstrated that the external quantum efficiency of the standard QLED and inverted QLED can reach 17.2% and 16.3%, respectively, showing comparable performance to QLEDs with QDs prepared through classical HF addition synthesis steps. This environmentally friendly synthesis strategy for pure blue ZnSeTe QDs with high PL QY through NH 4 F assistance is expected to offer insights for synthesizing other environmentally friendly QDs, thus facilitating the development of eco-friendly QLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For ultra-low permeability and highly heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs, fluid channeling along the high permeability layer leads to a rapid decrease of reservoir pressure coupled with very low sweep efficiency. As an effective conformance control technology, advanced polymer injection can enhance oil production from ultra-low permeability heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs, not only through conformance control but also through increasing reservoir energy. In order to simulate the reservoir energy storage capacity during the polymer injection stage as well as accurately control the energy release rate during the production stage, a novel experimental setup is assessed in this study. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is used as the polymer conformance control solution. Artificial heterogeneous sandstone cores are used to perform a series of polymer conformance control followed by production under the natural energy of the model reservoir. The effect of polymer injection volume and its concentration on polymer retention and plugging ability are investigated. Without polymer injection, the initial volume of produced liquid is large, however rapidly declines leading to a poor overall oil recovery. This trend accurately captures field performance. Upon advanced polymer injection, although the initial volume of produced liquid relatively decreased, the decline in the rate of liquid production decreases. The reservoir pressure in the later stages of production could still be maintained at a relatively higher level. Subsequently, the production period is prolonged, leading to a significant increase in oil recovery. The increase in the polymer injection volume or polymer concentration delayed polymer evolution from the reservoir, suggesting enhanced polymer plugging ability. Optimal polymer volume of 0.3–0.6 PV at its optimal concentration of 3000 mg/L corresponding to highest oil recovery is attained at the reservoir conditions. In this study, advanced polymer injection is proved to be a feasible technology to significantly improve the sweep efficiency in ultra-low permeability heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs. By controlling the appropriate polymer injection volume and its concentration, the highest recovery of a certain reservoir can be reached. For the oilfield engineers, by virtue of its ability to faithfully capture field trends, the proposed experimental setup may offer a reliable method to determine the optimal polymer injection volume and concentration for given reservoir conditions and characteristics. • Novel experimental setup is designed to capture production trends of an oilfield. • Advanced polymer injection enhances oil production from a heterogeneous reservoir. • Polymer injection volume and concentration dictate its retention and plugging ability. • Reducing the initial production volume inhibit the reservoir energy decline rate. • Reducing the liquid production decline rate leads to more overall oil production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypochlorite (ClO−) as an important component of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has a close connection to lots of physiological activities, such as signal transmission, maintaining the stability of internal environment, etc. Thus, there is an important meaning to accurately identify and detect ClO− with fast response time on biological research. In the study, we designed and synthesized three fluorescent probes with different recognizing moieties for ClO− detecting. The three probes can detect ClO− selectively with a short response time. Among them, the ratiometric probe A-DM possesses large emission cross-shift as well as large two-photon absorption cross-section which is beneficial for accurately imaging ClO− in living cells. As expected, A-DM exhibited ratiometric and fast response toward ClO− with high selectivity and sensitivity. Moreover, A-DM was successfully applied to detect exogenous and endogenous ClO− in living cells. Image 1 • A novel ratiomrtric two-photon probe A-DM with large emission cross-shift and large two-photon absorption cross-section. • The probe A-DM exhibits short response time to ClO- and has high selectivity and sensitivity towards ClO-. • DM was applied to image exogenous and endogenous ClO- generation in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon based nanocomposites (graphene nanoplate-polyimide (GNP-PI) and carbon nanotube-polyimide (CNT-PI)) are synthesized. • Inkjet printing technique is applied to fabricate the carbon based nanocomposites thin film strain sensors. • Percolation thresholds are determined by investigating volumetric conductivity as a function of filler concentration. • Piezoresistive sensitivities and temperature coefficients of the strain sensors are characterized and compared in experiment. • The results demonstrate that GNP-PI nanocomposite strain sensors exhibit higher strain sensitivity than CNT-PI counterpart. Carbon-nanotube (CNT) and graphene-nanoplate (GNP) are two popular fillers to fabricate carbon-based nanocomposite devices. In this study, CNT-polyimide (PI) and GNP-PI nanocomposite thin film piezoresistive strain sensors were fabricated on flexible polyimide substrates and their electromechanical properties were characterized. The percolation thresholds were first determined for the two nanocomposites by investigating the volumetric conductivity as a function of filler concentration. Inkjet printing technique was employed to produce the nanocomposite devices with filler concentrations around the percolation threshold. The interdigital electrodes pre-deposited on the substrate were used for the electrical measurement of the devices. The piezoresistive sensitivity of the nanocomposite strain sensors was characterized by uniaxial tensile tests. The optimal compositions of 1.8 wt% CNT-PI and 1.4wt% GNP-PI nanocomposites were suggested for maximum gauge factors of 3.5 and 26, respectively. The temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) for the fabricated nanocomposite thin film strain sensors were also characterized. The results demonstrate that GNP-PI nanocomposite strain sensors exhibit higher strain sensitivity than the CNT-PI counterpart. Temperature compensation is therefore necessary in practical applications of these nanocomposite strain sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying reliable prognostic markers is crucial for the effective management of hypertension. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a potential inflammatory marker linked to cardiovascular outcomes. This study aims to investigate the association of NLR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with hypertension. Methods: This study analyzed data from 3067 hypertensive adults in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2009 to 2014. Mortality details were obtained from the National Death Index (NDI). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was deployed to visualize the association of the NLR with mortality risk. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess the independent association of NLR with mortality risk. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to access the predictive ability of NLR for survival. Mediation analysis was used to explore the indirect impact of NLR on mortality mediated through eGFR. Results: Over a median 92.0-months follow-up, 538 deaths occurred, including 114 cardiovascular deaths. RCS analysis revealed a positive association between NLR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Participants were stratified into higher (> 3.5) and lower (≤ 3.5) NLR groups. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that individuals with higher NLR had a significantly increased risk of all-cause (HR 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52–2.52, p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.54–3.51, p < 0.0001). Stratified and interaction analysis confirmed the stability of the core results. Notably, eGFR partially mediated the association between NLR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by a 5.4% and 4.7% proportion, respectively. Additionally, the areas under the curve (AUC) of the 3-, 5- and 10- year survival was 0.68, 0.65 and 0.64 for all-cause mortality and 0.68, 0.70 and 0.69 for cardiovascular mortality, respectively. Conclusion: Elevated NLR independently confers an increased risk for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to report the incidence, prevalence, and disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs) of periodontal diseases during the period 1990–2019. Methods: Data on periodontal diseases were retrieved from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) 2019. The estimated annual percentage changes were calculated to evaluate the changing trend of age‐standardized incidence, prevalence, and DALY rates related to periodontal diseases. Results: Globally, there were 1,087,367,744.0 cases with 91,518,820.6 new incidence and 7,090,390.3 DALYs of periodontal diseases in 2019, almost twice as many as in 1990. Moreover, the pace of increase in age‐standardized incidence, age‐standardized prevalence, and age‐standardized DALY rates had accelerated during the 1990–2019 time period, with EAPC of 0.29 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.35), 0.34 (95% CI, 0.26 to 0.43), and 0.35 (95% CI, 0.27 to 0.44) separately. The corresponding age‐standardized percentage changes were more pronounced in females, Southeast Asia, and low‐middle SDI regions. Western Sub‐Saharan Africa was the high‐risk area of standardized periodontal diseases burden in 2019, among which Gambia was the country with the heaviest burden. Conclusion: The globally incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of periodontal diseases are substantially increased from 1990 to 2019, which highlights the importance and urgency of periodontal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is one of the most important animal pathogens in the world. FMDV naturally infects swine, cattle, and other cloven-hoofed animals. FMD is not adequately controlled by vaccination. An alternative strategy is to develop swine that are genetically resistant to infection. Here, we generated FMDV-specific shRNA transgenic cells targeting either nonstructural protein 2B or polymerase 3D of FMDV. The shRNA-positive transgenic cells displayed significantly lower viral production than that of the control cells after infection with FMDV (P < 0.05). Twenty-three transgenic cloned swine (TGCS) and nine non-transgenic cloned swine (Non-TGCS) were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In the FMDV challenge study, one TGCS was completely protected, no clinical signs, no viremia and no viral RNA in the tissues, no non-structural antibody response, another one TGCS swine recovered after showing clinical signs for two days, whereas all of the normal control swine (NS) and Non-TGCS developed typical clinical signs, viremia and viral RNA was determined in the tissues, the non-structural antibody was determined, and one Non-TGCS swine died. The viral RNA load in the blood and tissues of the TGCS was reduced in both challenge doses. These results indicated that the TGCS displayed resistance to the FMDV infection. Immune cells, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD21+, and CD172+ cells, and the production of IFN-γ were analyzed, there were no significant differences observed between the TGCS and NS or Non-TGCS, suggesting that the FMDV resistance may be mainly derived from the RNAi-based antiviral pathway. Our work provides a foundation for a breeding approach to preventing infectious disease in swine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular polarity is an essential feature of cell physiological state and abnormal polarity changes of various organelles are related to many diseases. Thus, monitoring of polarity changes of multiple subcellular in living cells contributes to understanding different physiological and pathological processes more accurately. However, most of the previous reports on polarity probes mainly monitored the polarity of a single organelle. Therefore, we designed and synthesized two unique polarity-sensitive fluorescent probes LDs-TPFP and Lyso-TPFP , which can be selectively located in lipid droplets (LDs) and lysosomes respectively, to obtain more subcellular information in living cells. Thanks to the strong intramolecular-charge-transfer (ICT) characteristics of probes, the fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength would change with the polarity of the surroundings of cells. Moreover, LDs-TPFP and Lyso-TPFP exhibits large Stokes shift and excellent biocompatibility. Through fluorescence imaging, the probes can effectively distinguish normal cells from cancer cells. In addition, the results of two-photon confocal fluorescence imaging indicated that LDs and lysosomes have discrepant polarity change behaviors under different physiological conditions. Image 1 • LDs-TPFP and Lyso-TPFP exhibit excellent solvatochromism and sensitive to polarity. • LDs-TPFP and Lyso-TPFP can be employed to distinguish cancer and normal cells. • Two probes are applicable in monitoring polarity changes in LDs and lysosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heilongjiang Province located in northeast China is a multi-ethnic region with people who have lived in cold conditions for several generations. Fatty acids are important to people with cold resistance. CPT1A encodes a protein that imports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for fatty-acid oxidation. FADS is an essential enzyme for the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Results: In the present study, we investigated the distributions of three cold resistance-related SNPs (rs80356779 G > A in CPT1A, rs7115739 T > G in FADS3 and rs174570 C > T in FADS2) from six populations that included 1093 individuals who have lived in Heilongjiang Province for at least three generations. The frequencies of rs174570 and rs7115739 were different in our six north minorities compared to the Chinese Dai in Xishuangbanna (CDX) in southern China. All the SNPs in Hezhen were significantly different from other five studied populations. In addition, the genetic distribution of rs174570 in Daur was significantly different from Manchu and Korea, and the frequency of rs7115739 in Ewenki was significantly different from the other populations. The results also showed that the frequencies of the three SNPs in the six minorities were different from those of Greenlandic Inuit and Siberian population. Conclusions: Our results showed the distributions of the three cold resistance-related SNPs from six populations that included 1093 individuals in northern China. Distributions of the allele frequencies for the cold resistance-related SNPs in northern China were statistically different from those in southern China. These data help to establish the DNA genome database for the six populations and fully preserve existing minority genetic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that diabetes is a risk factor for thyroid nodules. However, the relationship between complications of type 2 diabetes and the risk of thyroid nodules remains unclear. This present study aims to investigate the association between thyroid nodules and complications of type 2 diabetes. This retrospective study collected 4696 adult inpatients with type 2 diabetes between January 2021 and December 2021. The complications examined in this paper included diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, eye disorder, and peripheral vascular disease. A total of 4696 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in the study, of whom 19.6% had thyroid nodules. Among all the complications, eye disorder had the highest incidence of thyroid nodules (incidence rate, 29.4%; 95% CI, 26.23%–32.51%). The prevalence of thyroid nodules was lower among patients without complications (incidence rate, 14.1%; 95% CI, 12.48% −15.67%) compared to patients who had complications (incidence rate, 23.1%; 95% CI, 21.59%–24.68%) (p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that peripheral neuropathy (adjusted OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4–1.9), eye disorder (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5–2.2), and peripheral vascular disease (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6–2.1) were all significantly associated with an increased risk of thyroid nodules. However, no significant correlation was found between diabetic nephropathy and the risk of thyroid nodules. One of the key findings of this study is that type 2 diabetes without complications is negatively correlated with the risk of thyroid nodules, while several complications are associated with a significantly increased risk of thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone methylation is an important epigenetic modification that affects various biological processes, including the inflammatory response. In this study, we found that infection with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) leads to an increase in H3K27me3 in BV2 microglial cell line, primary mouse microglia and mouse brain. Inhibition of H3K27me3 modification through EZH2 knockdown and treatment with EZH2 inhibitor significantly reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during JEV infection, which suggests that H3K27me3 modification plays a crucial role in the neuroinflammatory response caused by JEV infection. The chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-sequencing) assay revealed an increase in H3K27me3 modification of E3 ubiquitin ligases Rnf19a following JEV infection, which leads to downregulation of Rnf19a expression. Furthermore, the results showed that Rnf19a negatively regulates the neuroinflammatory response induced by JEV. This is achieved through the degradation of RIG-I by mediating its ubiquitination. In conclusion, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which JEV triggers extensive neuroinflammation from an epigenetic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In 2017–2018, 26.27 million US adults had IDH under the 2017 ACC/AHA diagnostic blood pressure thresholds, of whom only 35% were aware of their condition and 18.3% received treatment. • IDH prevalence has decreased in the United States from 2001 to 2018, whereas significantly increased in both awareness and treatment. • IDH awareness and treatment should be raised among women, younger, Mexican American, and individuals with normal weight. Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet its clinical epidemiology remains poorly understood due to insufficient recognition. This study aims to describe the trend in the prevalence, awareness, and treatment of IDH in the United States from 2001 to 2018. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in nine consecutive two-year cycles from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018, comprising a sample of 48,742 adults aged over 18 years. IDH was defined as a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80 mm Hg with a systolic BP < 130 mm Hg by the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. In the nationally representative dataset, 8.9% of participants had IDH in 2017–2018, a decreased of 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.6% to -5.0%, P <0.0002) since 2001–2002. IDH prevalence was highest among Mexican American (10.5%), individuals aged 40–59 (12.3%), increased with body mass index (BMI) (11.2% among those BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2), and tended to be higher in men (12.3%). A multiple regression analysis showed that men, white race/ethnicity, young and middle-aged people (aged 18–59), and increasing BMI were independently associated with increased risks of IDH. Among IDH patients, there was a modest increase in awareness (P <0.0002), from 22.4% (95%CI, 18.4% to 27.1%) in 2001–2002 to 35.0% (95%CI, 28.2% to 42.5%) in 2017–2018, with the largest percentage increases among non-Hispanic white and men. IDH treatment increased by 7.6% (95%CI, 3.1% to 12.1%) between 2001–2002 and 2017–2018, with the greatest increases occurring in Mexican American and men. IDH prevalence is decreasing from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018 in the United States. Despite the significantly increased in both awareness and treatment, they remain below 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KIN17, which is known as a DNA and RNA binding protein, is highly expressed in numerous types of human cancers and was discovered to participate in several vital cell behaviors, including DNA replication, damage repair, regulation of cell cycle and RNA processing. Furthermore, KIN17 is associated with cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle regulation by regulating pathways including the p38 MAPK, NF-κB-Snail and TGF-β/Smad2 signaling pathways. In addition, knockdown of KIN17 was found to enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the expression of KIN17 between cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. Both the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that KIN17 is aberrantly high expressed in various tumor tissues and is also associated with poor prognosis in patients with various tumor types. Taken together, KIN17 has key roles in tumorigenesis and cancer development. Investigating the relationship between KIN17 and neoplasms will provide a vital theoretical basis for KIN17 to serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cancer patients and as a potential target for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered DNA methylation in the form of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) patterns is correlated with disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. Therefore, accurate analysis of 5-mC is of great significance for the diagnosis of diseases. Here, an efficient enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor was designed for the quantitative analysis of DNA 5-mC based on a cascaded energy level aligned co-sensitization strategy coupling with the bridged DNA nanoprobe (BDN). Firstly, Au nanoparticle/graphite phase carbon nitride/titanium dioxide (AuNPs/g-C 3 N 4 @TiO 2) nanocomposite was synthesized through in situ growth of AuNPs on g-C 3 N 4 @TiO 2 surface as a matrix to provide a stable background signal. Next, BDN with a high mass transfer rate synthesized from a pair of DNA tetrahedral as nanomechanical handles was used as a capture probe to bind to the target sequence. The polydopamine nanosphere was applied to load with CdTe QDs (PDANS-CdTe QDs) as a photocurrent label of 5-mC antibodies. When the 5-mC existed, a large number of PDANS-Ab-CdTe QDs were introduced to the electrode surface, the formed CdTe QDs/AuNPs/g-C 3 N 4 @TiO 2 co-sensitive structure could effectively enhance the electron transfer capability and photocurrent response rate due to the effective cascade energy level arrangement, leading to a significantly enhanced photocurrent signal. The proposed PEC biosensor manifested a wide range from 10−17 M to 10−7 M and a detection limit of 2.2 aM. Meanwhile, the excellent performance indicated the practicability of the designed strategy, thus being capable of the clinical diagnosis of 5-mC. [Display omitted] • An ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor for the detection of DNA 5-mC. • Applying bridged DNA nanoprobe to improve the detection performance. • Bioconjugates served as target recognition elements and signal amplification labels. • The biosensing system can be used for the diagnosis of methylation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]