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Enhancing the regeneration of cartilage defects remains challenging owing to limited innate self-healing as well as acute inflammation arising from the overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in post-traumatic microenvironments. Recently, stem cell-derived exosomes (Exos) have been developed as potential cell-free therapy for cartilage regeneration. Although this approach promotes chondrogenesis, it neglects the emerging inflammatory microenvironment. In this study, a smart bilayer-hydrogel dual-loaded with sodium diclofenac (DC), an anti-inflammatory drug, and Exos from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells was developed to mitigate initial-stage inflammation and promote late-stage stem-cell recruitment and chondrogenic differentiation. First, the upper-hydrogel composed of phenylboronic-acid-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol degrades in response to elevated levels of ROS to release DC, which mitigates oxidative stress, thus reprogramming macrophages to the pro-healing state. Subsequently, Exos are slowly released from the lower-hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid into an optimal microenvironment for the stimulation of chondrogenesis. Both in vitro and in vivo assays confirmed that the dual-loaded bilayer-hydrogel reduced post-traumatic inflammation and enhanced cartilage regeneration by effectively scavenging ROS and reprogramming macrophages. The proposed platform provides multi-staged therapy, which allows for the optimal harnessing of Exos as a therapeutic for cartilage regeneration.

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is an aging-related degenerative joint disorder marked by joint discomfort and rigidity. Senescent chondrocytes release pro-inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix-degrading proteins, creating an inflammatory microenvironment that hinders chondrogenesis and accelerates matrix degradation. Targeting of senescent chondrocytes may be a promising approach for the treatment of OA. Herein, we describe the engineering of an injectable peptide-hydrogel conjugating a stem cell–homing peptide PFSSTKT for carrying plasmid DNA-laden nanoparticles and Tanshinon IIA (pPNP + TIIA@PFS) that was designed to attenuate OA progression by improving the senescent microenvironment and fostering cartilage regeneration. Results Specifically, pPNP + TIIA@PFS elevates the concentration of the anti-aging protein Klotho and blocks the transmission of senescence signals to adjacent healthy chondrocytes, significantly mitigating chondrocyte senescence and enhancing cartilage integrity. Additionally, pPNP + TIIA@PFS recruit bone mesenchymal stem cells and directs their subsequent differentiation into chondrocytes, achieving satisfactory chondrogenesis. In surgically induced OA model rats, the application of pPNP + TIIA@PFS results in reduced osteophyte formation and attenuation of articular cartilage degeneration. Conclusions Overall, this study introduces a novel approach for the alleviation of OA progression, offering a foundation for potential clinical translation in OA therapy.

Abstract To assess the efficacy of stent grafts (SGs) in managing central venous obstruction disease (CVOD) in hemodialysis (HD) patients with arteriovenous (AV) access, and to identify predictive factors influencing the SG treatment outcomes. HD subjects with CVOD who underwent SGs placement at our center between August 2018 and June 2022 were enrolled. Survival curve analysis using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was employed to identify predictive factors associated with outcomes. A total of 59 SG implantation procedures for CVOD were analyzed, comprising 30 cases of stenosis and 29 cases of occlusion. The access circuit primary patency (ACPP) at 6, 12, and 24 months post-SG placement were 80.9%, 53.8%, and 31.4%, respectively, while, the target lesion primary patency (TLPP) were 91.3%, 67.6%, and 44.5%, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed higher TLPP in the stenosis group compared to the occlusion group, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.165). The TLPP was significantly improved by SG placement in those who had antecedent balloon dilations (P

Abstract Inflammatory responses play a central role in coordinating biomaterial‐mediated tissue regeneration. However, precise modulation of dynamic variations in microenvironmental inflammation post‐implantation remains challenging. In this study, the traditional β‐tricalcium phosphate‐based scaffold is remodeled via ultrathin MXene‐Ti3C2 decoration and Zn2+/Sr2+ ion‐substitution, endowing the scaffold with excellent reactive oxygen species‐scavenging ability, near‐infrared responsivity, and enhanced mechanical properties. The induction of mild hyperthermia around the implant via periodic near‐infrared irradiation facilitates spatiotemporal regulation of inflammatory cytokines secreted by a spectrum of macrophage phenotypes. The process initially amplifies the pro‐inflammatory response, then accelerates M1‐to‐M2 macrophage polarization transition, yielding a satisfactory pattern of osteo‐immunomodulation during the natural bone healing process. Later, sustained release of Zn2+/Sr2+ ions with gradual degradation of the 3D scaffold maintains the favorable reparative M2‐dominated immunological microenvironment that supports new bone mineralization. Precise temporal immunoregulation of the bone healing process by the intelligent 3D scaffold enhances bone regeneration in a rat cranial defect model. This strategy paves the way for the application of β‐tricalcium phosphate‐based materials to guide the dynamic inflammatory and bone tissue responses toward a favorable outcome, making clinical treatment more predictable and durable. The findings also demonstrate that near‐infrared irradiation‐derived mild hyperthermia is a promising method of immunomodulation.

BackgroundThe standardized extract of milk thistle seeds, known as silibinin, has been utilized in herbal medicine for over two centuries, with the aim of safeguarding the liver against the deleterious effects of various toxic substances. However, the role of silibinin in Particulate Matter (PM2.5)-induced intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation remains unclear. This study seeks to investigate the impact of silibinin on PM2.5-induced intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms.MethodsA model of intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation was established in male C57BL/6J mice through intratracheal instillation of PM2.5, followed by assessment of liver weight, body weight, liver index, and measurements of intrahepatic triglycerides and cholesterol after treatment with silibinin capsules. Hep G2 cells were exposed to PM2.5 suspension to create an intracellular triglyceride accumulation model, and after treatment with silibinin, cell viability, intracellular triglycerides and cholesterol, fluorescence staining for Nile Red (lipid droplets), and DCFH-DA (Reactive Oxygen Species, ROS), as well as proteomics, real-time PCR, and mitochondrial function assays, were performed to investigate the mechanisms involved in reducing triglycerides.ResultsPM2.5 exposure leads to triglyceride accumulation, increased ROS production, elevated expression of inflammatory factors, decreased expression of antioxidant factors, and increased expression of downstream genes of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Silibinin can partially or fully reverse these factors, thereby protecting cells and animal livers from PM2.5-induced damage. In vitro studies show that silibinin exerts its protective effects by preserving oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondrial complexes I and II, particularly significantly enhancing the function of mitochondrial complex II. Succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial complex II) is a direct target of silibinin, but silibinin A and B exhibit different affinities for different subunits of complex II.ConclusionSilibinin improved the accumulation of intrahepatic triglycerides induced by PM2.5, and this was, at least in part, explained by an enhancement of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondrial Complexes I and II.

Abstract MoS2 as a typical layered transition metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) has attracted considerable attention to work as sodium host materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, it suffers from low semiconducting behavior and high Na+ diffusion barriers. Herein, intercalation of N‐doped amorphous carbon (NAC) into each interlayer of the tiny MoS2 nanosheets embedded on rGO conductive network is achieved, resulting in formation of rGO@MoS2/NAC hierarchy with interoverlapped MoS2/NAC superlattices for high‐performance SIBs. Attributed to intercalation of NAC, the resulting MoS2/NAC superlattices with wide MoS2 interlayer of 1.02 nm facilitates rapid Na+ insertion/extraction and accelerates reaction kinetics. Theoretical calculations uncover that the MoS2/NAC superlattices are beneficial for enhanced electron transport, decreased Na+ diffusion barrier and improved Na+ adsorption energy. The rGO@MoS2/NAC anode presents significantly improved high‐rate capabilities of 228, 207, and 166 mAh g−1 at 20, 30, and 50 A g−1, respectively, compared with two control samples of pristine MoS2 and MoS2/NAC counterparts. Excellent long‐term cyclability over 10 000 cycles with extremely low capacity decay is demonstrated at high current densities of 20 and 50 A g−1. Sodium‐ion full cells based on the rGO@MoS2/NAC anode are also demonstrated, yielding decent cycling stability of 200 cycles at 5C. Our work provides a novel interlayer strategy to regulate electron/Na+ transport for fast‐charging SIBs.

Abstract Background The global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led medical universities in China to conduct online teaching. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a blended learning approach that combines online teaching and virtual reality technology in dental education and to evaluate the acceptance of the blended learning approach among dental teachers and students. Methods The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was followed in this study. A total of 157 students’ perspectives on online and virtual reality technology education and 54 teachers’ opinions on online teaching were collected via questionnaires. Additionally, 101 students in the 2015-year group received the traditional teaching method (TT group), while 97 students in the 2017-year group received blended learning combining online teaching and virtual reality technology (BL group). The graduation examination results of students in the two groups were compared. Results The questionnaire results showed that most students were satisfied with the online course and the virtual simulation platform teaching, while teachers held conservative and neutral attitudes toward online teaching. Although the theoretical score of the BL group on the final exam was greater than that of the TT group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.805). The skill operation score of the BL group on the final exam was significantly lower than that of the TT group (P = 0.004). The overall score of the BL group was lower than that of the TT group (P = 0.018), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.112). Conclusions The blended learning approach combining online teaching and virtual reality technology plays a positive role in students’ learning and is useful and effective in dental education.

Extracting entity relations from unstructured Chinese electronic medical records is an important task in medical information extraction. However, Chinese electronic medical records mostly have document-level volumes, and existing models are either unable to handle long text sequences or exhibit poor performance. This paper proposes a neural network based on feature augmentation and cascade binary tagging framework. First, we utilize a pre-trained model to tokenize the original text and obtain word embedding vectors. Second, the word vectors are fed into the feature augmentation network and fused with the original features and position features. Finally, the cascade binary tagging decoder generates the results. In the current work, we built a Chinese document-level electronic medical record dataset named VSCMeD, which contains 595 real electronic medical records from vascular surgery patients. The experimental results show that the model achieves a precision of 87.82% and recall of 88.47%. It is also verified on another Chinese medical dataset CMeIE-V2 that the model achieves a precision of 54.51% and recall of 48.63%.

Abstract Introduction Oral histopathology is a bridge course connecting oral basic medicine and clinical dentistry. However, the application of outcomes-based education via flipped classroom (FC) in oral histopathology has not been well explored. This study has assessed the efficacy of outcomes-based education via FC in undergraduate oral histopathology module learning in Nanjing Medical University of China. Materials and methods A total of 214 third-year students were enrolled and assigned to the FC group of the batch 2022-23 (n = 110) and the traditional classroom (TC) group of the batch 2021-22 (n = 104) to participate the oral histopathology sessions respectively in the study. The FC group were required to preview the online course materials pre-class, followed by in-class quizz, in-class interactive group discussion, and slides microscopic observation. The outcomes-based formative and summative assessments for FC were designed. The TC group attended traditional laboratory class for the same glass slides microscopic observation. In addition, a questionnaire was performed to investigate the satisfaction of learning. Along with this, the performances of FC group in written theory tests and oral histopathology slide tests were compared with TC group. Results Students in the FC group gained significantly final higher scores of the course than those in the TC group (score: 83.79 ± 11 vs. 76.73 ± 10.93, P

Abstract Layered double hydroxides are promising candidates for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. Unfortunately, their catalytic kinetics and long-term stabilities are far from satisfactory compared to those of rare metals. Here, we investigate the durability of nickel-iron layered double hydroxides and show that ablation of the lamellar structure due to metal dissolution is the cause of the decreased stability. Inspired by the amino acid residues in photosystem II, we report a strategy using trimesic acid anchors to prepare the subsize nickel-iron layered double hydroxides with kinetics, activity and stability superior to those of commercial catalysts. Fundamental investigations through operando spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that the superaerophobic surface facilitates prompt release of the generated O2 bubbles, and protects the structure of the catalyst. Coupling between the metals and coordinated carboxylates via C‒O‒Fe bonding prevents dissolution of the metal species, which stabilizes the electronic structure by static coordination. In addition, the uncoordinated carboxylates formed by dynamic evolution during oxygen evolution reaction serve as proton ferries to accelerate the oxygen evolution reaction kinetics. This work offers a promising way to achieve breakthroughs in oxygen evolution reaction stability and dynamic performance by introducing functional ligands with static and dynamic compatibilities.

Abstract Chemotherapy represents a major type of clinical treatment against colorectal cancer (CRC). Aberrant drug efflux mediated by transporters acts as a key approach for tumor cells to acquire chemotherapy resistance. Increasing evidence implies that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in both tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism through which TAMs regulate drug efflux remains elusive. Here, we discovered that TAMs endow CRC cells with resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment via a cell-cell interaction-mediated MRP1-dependent drug efflux process. Mechanistically, TAM-secreted C-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) and CCL22, via membrane receptor CCR4, activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in CRC tumor cells. Specifically, phosphorylation of AKT inactivated IP3R and induced calcium aggregation in the ER, resulting in the activation of ATF6 and upregulation of GRP78. Accordingly, excessive GRP78 can interact with MRP1 and promote its translocation to the cell membrane, causing TAM-induced 5-FU efflux. Taken together, our results demonstrated that TAMs promote CRC chemotherapy resistance via elevating the expression of GRP78 to promote the membrane translocation of MRP1 and drug efflux, providing direct proof for TAM-induced drug resistance.

The holly Ilex dabieshanensis K. Yao & M. B. Deng, a tree endemic to the Dabieshan Mountains region in China, is a commonly used landscaping plant. Like other crops, its growth is affected by salt stress. The molecular mechanism underlying salt tolerance in holly is still unclear. In this study, we used NaCl treatment and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at different times to identify the salt stress response genes of holly. A total of 4775 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of the DEGs obtained at different salt treatment times (3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h), as compared to control (ck, 0 h), showed that plant hormone signal transduction and carotenoid biosynthesis were highly enriched. The mechanism by which holly responds to salt stress involves many plant hormones, among which the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and its signal transduction may play an important role. In addition, ion homeostasis, osmotic metabolism, accumulation of antioxidant enzymes and nonenzymatic antioxidant compounds, and transcription factors jointly regulate the physiological balance in holly, providing important guarantees for its growth and development under conditions of salt stress. These results lay the foundation for studying the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in holly and for the selection of salt-tolerant varieties.

Fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic scleroderma (SSc), are commonly associated with high morbidity and mortality, thereby representing a significant unmet medical need. Interleukin 11 (IL11)-mediated cell activation has been identified as a central mechanism for promoting fibrosis downstream of TGFβ. IL11 signaling has recently been reported to promote fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, thus leading to various pro-fibrotic phenotypic changes. We confirmed increased mRNA expression of IL11 and IL11Rα in fibrotic diseases by OMICs approaches and in situ hybridization. However, the vital role of IL11 as a driver for fibrosis was not recapitulated. While induction of IL11 secretion was observed downstream of TGFβ signaling in human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells, the cellular responses induced by IL11 was quantitatively and qualitatively inferior to that of TGFβ at the transcriptional and translational levels. IL11 blocking antibodies inhibited IL11Rα-proximal STAT3 activation but failed to block TGFβ-induced profibrotic signals. In summary, our results challenge the concept of IL11 blockade as a strategy for providing transformative treatment for fibrosis.

Abstract Introduction Clinical practice of dentistry entails the use of indirect vision using a dental mirror. The Mirrosistant is a device that helps dental students become proficient with use of indirect vision mirror operation. This study aimed to explore the role of the Mirrosistant on students’ performance with the virtual simulation dental training system. Materials and methods A total of 72 dental students were equally assigned to the Control group and the Experimental group. Subsequently, Mirrosistant was used to conduct a series of mirror training exercises in the Experimental group. The training consisted of tracing the edge and filling in the blank of the prescribed shape, as well as preparing the specified figure on raw eggs using indirect vision via Mirrosistant. Next, both groups were examined using the SIMODONT system, a virtual reality dental trainer, for mirror operation. In addition, a five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to assess student feedback by using Mirrosistant. Results The mirror operation examination conducted by the SIMODONT system revealed that mirror training using Mirrosistant had statistically improved students’ performances (score: 80.42 ± 6.43 vs. 69.89 ± 15.98, P = 0.0005) and shorten their performance time of mirror operation (time of seconds: 243.28 ± 132.83 vs. 328.53 ± 111.89, P = 0.0013). Furthermore, the questionnaire survey indicated that the participants had positive attitudes toward the mirror training using Mirrosistant. Most students believed that the mirror training device could improve their perceptions of direction and distance, as well as their sensations of dental operation and dental fulcrum. Conclusion Mirror training using Mirrosistant can enhance dental students’ mirror perceptual and operational skills on virtual simulation dental training system.

Shut-in after fracturing is generally adopted for wells in shale oil reservoirs, and imbibition occurring in matrix nanopores has been proven as an effective way to improve recovery. In this research, a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to investigate the effects of wettability and pressure on nanopore imbibition during shut-in for a typical shale reservoir, Jimsar. The results indicate that the microscopic advancement mechanism of the imbibition front is the competitive adsorption between “interfacial water molecules” at the imbibition front and “adsorbed oil molecules” on the pore wall. The essence of spontaneous imbibition involves the adsorption and aggregation of water molecules onto the hydroxyl groups on the pore wall. The flow characteristics of shale oil suggest that the overall push of the injected water to the oil phase is the main reason for the displacement of adsorbed oil molecules. Thus, shale oil, especially the heavy hydrocarbon component in the adsorbed layer, tends to slip on the walls. However, the weak slip ability of heavy components on the wall surface is an important reason that restricts the displacement efficiency of shale oil during spontaneous imbibition. The effectiveness of spontaneous imbibition is strongly dependent on the hydrophilicity of the matrix pore’s wall. The better hydrophilicity of the matrix pore wall facilitates higher levels of adsorption and accumulation of water molecules on the pore wall and requires less time for “interfacial water molecules” to compete with adsorbed oil molecules. During the forced imbibition process, the pressure difference acts on both the bulk oil and the boundary adsorption oil, but mainly on the bulk oil, which leads to the occurrence of wetting hysteresis. Meanwhile, shale oil still existing in the pore always maintains a good, stratified adsorption structure. Because of the wetting hysteresis phenomenon, as the pressure difference increases, the imbibition effect gradually increases, but the actual capillary pressure gradually decreases and there is a loss in the imbibition velocity relative to the theoretical value. Simultaneously, the decline in hydrophilicity further weakens the synergistic effect on the imbibition of the pressure difference because of the more pronounced wetting hysteresis. Thus, selecting an appropriate well pressure enables cost savings and maximizes the utilization of the formation’s natural power for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

In July 2018, a virus (JXLC1806-2) was isolated from Culicoides biting midges collected in Lichuan County, Jiangxi Province, China. The virus isolate showed significant cytopathic effects within 48 hours after inoculation with mammalian cells (BHK-21). JXLC1806-2 virus could form plaques in BHK-21 cells, and the virus titer was 1×105.6 pfu/mL. After inoculation with the virus, suckling mice developed disease and died. The nucleotide and amino sequence analysis showed that the JXLC1806-2 virus genome was composed of S, M and L segments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the S, M and L genes of JXLC1806-2 virus belonged to the Tete serogroup, Orthobunyavirus, but formed an independent evolutionary branch from the other members of the Tete serogroup. The results showed that the JXLC1806-2 virus, which was named as Lichuan virus, is a new member of Tete serogroup, and this is the first time that a Tete serogroup virus has been isolated in China.

At present, the clinical treatment of osteomyelitis and osteomyelitis-induced bone defects is challenging, easy to recur, drug toxic side effects, secondary or multiple surgeries, etc. The design of biodegradable composite biomaterials to improve antibiotics in the local precise anti-infection at the same time to complete the repair of bone defects is the current research hot spot. Herein, a composite hydrogel with a double bond at the end (FA-MA) was prepared by affinity addition reaction between fish collagen (FA) and methacrylic anhydride (MA) under photoinitiator initiation conditions, then, FA-MA was amino-activated by EDC/NHC, and vancomycin was attached to FA-MA via amide bonding to prepare FA-MA-Van hydrogels, and finally, the composite hydrogel microspheres were prepared by microfluidic technology. The structure of the hydrogel was confirmed by SEM (elemental analysis), optical microscopy, FTIR, and XPS to confirm the successful preparation. The composite hydrogel microspheres showed the better antimicrobial effect of hydrogel microspheres by bacterial coated plate experiments and SEM morphology results, with the antimicrobial class reaching 99.8%. The results of immunofluorescence staining and X-ray experiments showed that the hydrogel microspheres had a better effect on promoting bone repair. This engineered design of hydrogel microspheres provides clinical significance for treating osteomyelitis at a later stage.

Over the past decades, cities worldwide have experienced a sharp decline in urban ecological quality (UEQ) due to rapid urbanization accompanied. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of UEQ and its associated multi-scale impacts of natural and human factors on UEQ changes were still unknown. Thus, based on the Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index, Random Forest regression, and Geographical Detector, taking the downtown area of Xi’an City, China, as an example, we revealed the spatiotemporal dynamics of UEQ from 2000 to 2019 and quantified the impacts of 19 natural and human factors on UEQ changes at 30 scales. Results showed that 1) from 2000 to 2019, the UEQ in the downtown area of Xi'an experienced a sharp decrease at first, and then gradually recovered. But the recovered UEQ was much lower than the lost UEQ, indicating the big loss of UEQ. 2) The identified driving factors had significant impacts on local UEQ within 1300 m. 3) Elevation, temperature, precipitation, slope, and GDP were more important than other factors in impacting UEQ changes. 4) Natural conditions and climate change had the greatest impact on the regional UEQ, followed by social changes and urban built environment. Altogether, our results revealed the complex impacts of natural-anthropogenic factors on UEQ changes, including impact scale, impact strength, and impact interaction, thus can assist local government in optimizing urban planning and improving livable cities.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the differences between elderly patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or influenza A H1N1 virus infections. Methods: We contrasted two absolute groups of patients (age ≥60 years) infected with either COVID-19 (n = 222) or influenza A H1N1 virus infections (n = 96). Propensity score matching was used to reduce the imbalance between the two matched groups. The clinical features, imaging presentations, therapies, and prognosis data were compared between the two groups. Results: The patients with influenza showed higher proportions of cough, expectoration, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Higher counts of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and creatine kinase and lower counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, blood urea nitrogen, and C-reactive protein were found in the patients with COVID-19. Regarding the imaging characteristics, bilateral pneumonia was the most abnormal pattern in the two groups of patients. The incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome or death was lower among the patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of patients with COVID-19 are more concealed than those of patients with influenza. Fewer symptoms of sputum production, fatigue, and shortness of breath, combined with lower counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein are the possible predictive factors of COVID-19 among elderly patients.

Taxodium “Zhongshanshan” are a group of intraspecific Taxodium hybrids with superparental dominance and high ecological and economic value in southern China. Identifying the parentage of hybrids, especially the male parent, is critically important for genetic studies. However, the large nuclear genomes of members of the genus Taxodium pose a major challenge for the development of molecular markers. Here, we developed novel molecular markers by conducting a comparative analysis of the chloroplast genomes of four artificial Taxodium hybrids and their parents. The lengths of the whole chloroplast genome ranged from 131,942 to 132,128 bp, and the total guanine (GC) content of the chloroplast genomes ranged from 34.6% to 35.81%. A total of 120 unique genes were identified, including 83 protein-coding genes, 33 transfer RNAs, and four ribosomal RNAs. There were 69‐71 simple sequence repeats were detected in the four hybrids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these hybrids clustered with their paternal parents. Similar findings were obtained by analysis of the GC content of protein-coding genes. Molecular markers were developed using the highly variable regions of the chloroplast genomes, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays revealed that these markers were effective for identifying the male parents of these hybrids. Our findings indicate for the first time that the chloroplast genomes of Taxodium are paternally inherited. Generally, these molecular markers could facilitate breeding and genetic studies of Taxodium.

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is studied on a Pt3Sn surface using the density functional theory (DFT). An MSR network is mapped out, including several reaction pathways. The main pathway proposed is CH3OH + OH → CH3O → CH2O → CH2O + OH → CH2OOH → CHOOH → COOH → COOH + OH → CO2 + H2O. The adsorption strengths of CH3OH, CH2O, CHOOH, H2O and CO2 are relatively weak, while other intermediates are strongly adsorbed on Pt3Sn(111). H2O decomposition to OH is the rate-determining step on Pt3Sn(111). The promotion effect of the OH group is remarkable on the conversions of CH3OH, CH2O and trans-COOH. In particular, the activation barriers of the O–H bond cleavage (e.g., CH3OH → CH3O and trans-COOH → CO2) decrease substantially by ~1 eV because of the involvement of OH. Compared with the case of MSR on Pt(111), the generation of OH from H2O decomposition is more competitive on Pt3Sn(111), and the presence of abundant OH facilitates the combination of CO with OH to generate COOH, which accounts for the improved CO tolerance of the PtSn alloy over pure Pt.

Abstract For electrochemical CO2 reduction to HCOOH, an ongoing challenge is to design energy efficient electrocatalysts that can deliver a high HCOOH current density (J HCOOH) at a low overpotential. Indium oxide is good HCOOH production catalyst but with low conductivity. In this work, we report a unique corn design of In2O3-x @C nanocatalyst, wherein In2O3-x nanocube as the fine grains dispersed uniformly on the carbon nanorod cob, resulting in the enhanced conductivity. Excellent performance is achieved with 84% Faradaic efficiency (FE) and 11 mA cm−2 J HCOOH at a low potential of − 0.4 V versus RHE. At the current density of 100 mA cm−2, the applied potential remained stable for more than 120 h with the FE above 90%. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the abundant oxygen vacancy in In2O3-x has exposed more In3+ sites with activated electroactivity, which facilitates the formation of HCOO* intermediate. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy also confirms In3+ as the active site and the key intermediate of HCOO* during the process of CO 2 reduction to HCOOH.

Abstract An advanced electrocatalyst to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of multistep redox reactions and suppress the severe shuttle effects is desirable in Li‐S batteries (LSBs). Phase engineering can provide a fascinating way to modulate electronic structures and boost catalytic activity of electrocatalysts. In this study, few‐layered 1T‐MoSe2 nanosheets grown on carbon cloth (1T‐MoSe2/CC) are synthesized and employed as a multifunctional interlayer as well as a catalytic 3D current collector in LSBs to promote both physiochemical confinement and catalytic conversion toward lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that 1T‐MoSe2 has metallic properties beneficial for rapid electronic transport and exhibits a superior catalytic activity to reduce the Gibbs free energy barriers toward LiPS conversion. Significant improvements in chemisorption toward LiPSs, diffusion coefficients of Li ions, and Li2S deposition/decomposition reaction kinetics are realized by the 1T‐MoSe2/CC film. Consequently, the Al@S/AB@1T‐MoSe2/CC LSB, where 1T‐MoSe2/CC is used an interlayer, presents high rate capability of 1253 (1C), 1052 (2C) and 882 (4C) mAh g−1 and excellent long‐term cycling stability at a high rate (2000 cycles at 4C) with a low capacity fading rate (0.017% per cycle). Moreover, with a sandwiched cathode of 1T‐MoSe2/CC@S/AB@1T‐MoSe2/CC, where 1T‐MoSe2/CC works as both a catalytic 3D current collector and a multifunctional interlayer, the LSB at high S loading of 5.7 mg cm−2 and low electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 7.8 μL mg−1 exhibits a high initial areal capacity of 5.43 mAh cm−2 and remarkable rate‐cycling performance (200 cycles).

Heavy metal pollution poses a serious threat to public health due to lacking of effective treatment methods. In order to develop new biological materials for adsorption of heavy metal ions, the natural low-methoxyl pectin (termed LAHP) was extracted from dried heads of sunflower in this study. The adsorption capacity of LAHP for Pb2+ in aqueous solution was studied and the conditions for the adsorptions were optimized. LAHP was extracted by oxalic acid solution at 80 oC and precipitated by ethanol with the yield of 14.68%±0.76%. The composition analysis showed that LAHP met the requirements of national quality standard for pectin as a food additive. The structure analysis showed that LAHP was natural low-methoxyl pectin, which was mainly composed of galacturonic acid (GalA, 86.34%) with a low degree of methyl esterification (23.93%±1.57%) and high molecular weight (257 kDa). The adsorption capacity of Pb2+ by LAHP was affected by the amount of pectin, pH of solution, temperature and interference ions. The optimal conditions for the adsorption of Pb2+ were determined as follows: pectin dosage was 30 mg/L (concentration of Pb2+ was 11.0 mg/L), pH of solution was 8.0, and the temperature was 30 ℃. The maximum adsorption capacity of LAHP for Pb2+ was 44.57±2.50 mg/g, and would be reduced to some extent affected by divalent metal ions. Therefore, the low-methoxyl pectin from sunflower heads would be a kind of natural heavy metal adsorbent, which had a wide application prospect.

The carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technique is widely applied in order to solve energy shortages and global warming, in which CO2 storage plays an important part. Herein, the CO2 storage in reservoir pores with a dead-end is investigated using a molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicate that, when a CO2 molecule flows through a reservoir pore towards its dead-end, it is readily captured inside said dead-end. When the pressure difference of the CO2 injection increases, the transport speed of the CO2 becomes faster, and the storage efficiency increases. The rate constants for the absorption of the carbon dioxide at 5 MPa, 10 MPa, and 15 MPa are 0.47 m/s, 2.1 m/s, and 3.1 m/s. With the same main channel, a narrower dead-end with less oil molecules would cause a smaller spatial potential resistance, which would lead to a faster CO2 replacement and storage process. The 3 nm main channel with a 1.5 nm dead-end model had the highest absorption rate of 5.3 m/s out of the three sets of models with different dead-ends. When the dead-end’s width was constant, the rate constants for the absorption of carbon dioxide in the 6 nm main channel with a 1.5 nm dead-end model was 1.8 m/s, which was higher than that of the 3 nm–1.5 nm model. This study investigates the mechanism of CO2 storage in reservoir pores with a dead-end at the molecular level and provides a scientific basis for the practical application of CO2 storage.

Most semi-circular bend (SCB) tests on concrete have been conducted with a pre-crack with a straight-through tip, thereby undermining the determination of the tensile fracture toughness (KIc). Therefore, the present study involved mixed-mode (tensile–shearing) fracture propagation in concrete semi-circular chevron-notched disks (i.e., with a sharp notch tip) using SCB tests and the FRANC2D numerical simulation software. The inclined notch angle (β) was varied from 0° to 70° while the other settings remained fixed, and the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the notch was measured constantly. The stress distribution was analyzed using finite-element simulations, and the experimental results showed that this testing method was robust. The maximum failure load and the fracture propagation angle increased with β, and wing fracture was observed. With FRANC2D simulating these SCB tests successfully, it was found that the tensile stress concentration around the notch tip moved toward the upper face of the notch, and the compressive stress concentration formed on the notch tip. The tensile mode was generated as the CMOD kept increasing for β = 0–30°, whereas the mixed mode became more evident as the CMOD kept decreasing for β = 45–70°. The fracture process zone was found for β = 0–30° but not for β = 45–70°. This mixed-mode fracture is predicted better by the criterion of extended maximum tangential strain than by other criteria, and there is a linear relationship between CMOD and KIc, as examined previously for pavement and concrete materials.

Breast cancer is considered the most prevalent malignancy due to its high incidence rate, recurrence, and metastasis in women that makes it one of the deadliest cancers. The current study aimed to predict the genes associated with the recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer and to validate their effect on MDA-MB-231 cells. Through the bioinformatics analysis, the transcription factor 7 cofactor (MLLT11) as the target gene was obtained. MLLT11-specific siRNA was synthesized and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. The results demonstrated that the siRNA significantly reduced the MLLT11 mRNA levels. Moreover, cell migration and invasion, as well as the protein levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP9, were significantly lower in the groups treated with siRNA while the apoptosis was augmented. Collectively, MLLT11 siRNA elicited ameliorative properties on breast cancer cells, possibly via the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objectives We examined the relationship between statin use during hospitalisation and mortality in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).Design Retrospective propensity-matched cohort study.Setting Patients with ICH (≥18 years old) admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) from 2001 to 2012 registered in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database.Participants 1043 patients with ICH (≥18 years) were evaluated for the relationship between statin use during hospitalisation and mortality.Interventions Statin use.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. We used multivariable Cox regression analyses to calculate the adjusted HR with 95% CI and used propensity score analysis and an inverse probability weighting (IPW) model to ensure the robustness of our findings.Results We included 1043 patients with ICH (362 and 681 were statins and non-statin users, respectively) between 2001 and 2012. The overall 90-day mortality was 29.8% (311/1043); it was 33.3% (227/681) and 23.2% (84/362) for non-statin and statin users, respectively. After adjusted for potential confounders, we found that statin use was associated with 29% lower of 90-day mortality (HR=0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.97, p

IntroductionA number of evidences have proved that “Nostoc commune” Vauch can improve human immunity and prevent diseases, however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. The biological activity of the main protein component of “Nostoc commune” Vauch extracellular matrix– a water-stress protein (WSP) still needs to be elucidated.MethodsIn our study, we validated the role of WSP in gastric cancer metastasis at the cellular level, the organoid level and in mouse models, and also studied the role of EGFRVIII and downstream signaling molecules after WSP treatment.ResultsWe found that WSP can significantly inhibit the metastasis of gastric cancer cells. Interestingly, we found that the anti-metastasis ability of WSP on gastric cancer was related to membrane protein receptor EGFRVIII, which was realized by inhibiting the downstream EGFRVIII signaling pathway. In terms of mechanism, WSP can inhibit the downstream EGFRVIII signaling pathway Akt-PI3K and further inhibit the secretion of cancer-related metastasis proteins such as MMP2 and MMP9, thus, significantly affecting the metastasis of gastric cancer cells.DiscussionGiven the anticancer properties of WSP, drug developers and manufacturers can further develop protein drugs for cancer patients using protein engineering techniques based on the properties of WSP.

Abstract Background In angiosperms, phenotypic variation of floral organs is often considered as the traditional basis for the evolutionary relationship of different taxonomic groups above the species level. However, little is known about that at or below the species level. Here, we experimentally tested the phenotypic variation of Malus floral organs using combined methods of intraspecific uniformity test, interspecific distinctness analysis, principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and Q-type cluster analysis. The ancestor-inclined distribution characteristic analysis of Malus species and cultivars floral attributes was also carried out, so as to explore its taxonomic significance. Results 15/44 phenotypic traits (e.g., flower shape, flower type, flower diameter, ...) were highly consistent, distinguishable, and independent and could be used as the basis for Malus germplasm taxonomy. The studied 142 taxa were divided into two groups (A, B) and five sub-groups (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3), with significantly variable floral phenotypic attributes between groups and within sub-groups. Malus natural species were relatively clustered in the same section (series) while homologous cultivars showed evidence of ancestor-inclined distribution characteristics. However, no significant correlation between the evolutionary order of sections (Sect. Docyniopsis → Sect. Chloromeles → Sect. Sorbomalus → Sect. Eumalus) and group/sub-groups (B3 → B2 → B1 → A). Conclusions Phenotypic variation of floral organs could better explore the genetic relationship between Malus taxa. The findings improved our cognition of floral phenotypic variation taxonomic significance under the species level.

Breast cancer (BC) remains the most prevalent malignancy due to its incidence rate, recurrence, and metastasis in women. Conventional strategies of cancer detection– mammography and tissue biopsy lack the capacity to detect the complete cancer genomic landscape. Besides, they often give false- positive or negative results. The presence of this and other disadvantages such as invasiveness, high-cost, and side effects necessitates developing new strategies to overcome the BC burden. Liquid biopsy (LB) has been brought to the fore owing to its early detection, screening, prognosis, simplicity of the technique, and efficient monitoring. Remarkably, microRNAs (miRNAs)– gene expression regulators seem to play a major role as biomarkers detected in the samples of LB. Particularly, miR-21 and miR-155 among other possible candidates seem to serve as favorable biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of BC. Hence, this review will assess the potential utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and will highlight certain promising candidates for the LB approach in the diagnosis and management of BC that may optimize the patient outcome.

Peritoneal fibrosis is a devastating complication in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, with no definite therapy yet available. Salvia miltiorrhiza and its major active component Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) have demonstrated a beneficial effect in myriad diseases. However, their effect on peritoneal fibrosis is unknown. In murine models of peritoneal dialysis, daily Sal A treatment substantially improved the peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) elicited peritoneal fibrosis, marked by thickening of the submesothelial compact zone, accumulation of extracellular matrix and increased expression of vimentin and PAI-1, concomitant with attenuation of GSK3β hyperactivity. This coincided with diminished nitrotyrosine in peritoneal tissues and increased Nrf2 nuclear translocation, entailing a lessened oxidative injury and reinforced Nrf2 antioxidant response. Meanwhile, inflammatory infiltration and maladaptive angiogenesis in peritoneal tissues provoked by PDF injury were also mitigated by Sal A, associated with a suppressed NFκB activation. Mechanistically, ectopic expression of the constitutively active GSK3β blunted the NFκB-suppressing and Nrf2-activating efficacy of Sal A in peritoneal mesothelial cells exposed to hypertonic dextrose, suggesting that GSK3β inhibition mediates the protective effect of Sal A. Collectively, our findings may open the avenue for developing a novel therapy based on Sal A for preventing peritoneal fibrosis in peritoneal dialysis.

H7N9 viruses quickly spread between mammalian hosts and carry the risk of human-to-human transmission, as shown by the 2013 outbreak. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung failure, and acute pneumonia are major lung diseases in H7N9 patients. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising choice for treating virus-induced pneumonia, and was used to treat H7N9-induced ARDS in 2013. The transplant of MSCs into patients with H7N9-induced ARDS was conducted at a single center through an open-label clinical trial. Based on the principles of voluntariness and informed consent, 44 patients with H7N9-induced ARDS were included as a control group, while 17 patients with H7N9-induced ARDS acted as an experimental group with allogeneic menstrual-blood-derived MSCs. It was notable that MSC transplantation significantly lowered the mortality of the experimental group, compared with the control group (17.6% died in the experimental group while 54.5% died in the control group). Furthermore, MSC transplantation did not result in harmful effects in the bodies of four of the patients who were part of the five-year follow-up period. Collectively, these results suggest that MSCs significantly improve the survival rate of H7N9-induced ARDS and provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of H7N9-induced ARDS in both preclinical research and clinical studies. Because H7N9 and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) share similar complications (e.g., ARDS and lung failure) and corresponding multi-organ dysfunction, MSC-based therapy could be a possible alternative for treating COVID-19.

We isolated 17 viral strains capable of causing cytopathic effects in mammalian cells and death in neonatal mice from sand flies in China. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these strains belonged to the genus Phlebovirus. These findings highlight the need to control this potentially emerging virus to help safeguard public health.

Ilex dabieshanensis is not only an important ornamental plant, but can also be used to produce Kuding tea, owing to its lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory medicinal properties. The genetic transformation of I. dabieshanensis is currently difficult, which restricts functional gene studies and molecular breeding research on this species. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful tool for determining gene functions in plants. The present study reports the first application of VIGS mediated by a tobacco rattle virus (TRV) vector in I. dabieshanensis. We tested the efficiency of the VIGS system to silence Mg-chelatase H subunit (ChlH) gene through agroinfiltration. The agroinfiltrated leaves of I. dabieshanensis exhibited a typical yellow-leaf phenotype of ChlH gene silencing at 21 days post infiltration. Endogenous ChlH expression levels in the leaves of yellow-leaf phenotype plants were all significantly lower than that in the leaves of mock-infected and control plants. Overall, our results indicated that the TRV-based VIGS system can efficiently silence genes in I. dabieshanensis, and this system will contribute to efficient functional genomics research in I. dabieshanensis.

Ilex dabieshanensis (K. Yao and M. B. Deng) is not only an important economic tree species, but also has the characteristics of evergreens in all seasons, as well as strong cold resistance. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of holly’s response to cold stress, we used transcriptome analysis to identify the main signaling pathways and key genes involved in cold stress. The result showed that 5750 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under different cold treatment times compared with the control (cold—0 h). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of DEGs showed that seven phytohormone signal transduction were the most highly enriched, including abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), cytokinin (CK), auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA), jasmonate (JA), and brassinosteroids (BR). In addition, proline metabolism, arginine metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, and anthocyanin biosynthesis were also implicated in response to cold stress. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the genes in two modules were significantly up-regulated after 12 h and 24 h treatments, suggesting these two module genes may participate in the cold stress. The gene ontology (GO) results of the two module genes showed that calcium, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide might act as signaling molecules to regulate cold tolerance in holly. By calculating the connectivity and function prediction of genes in the two modules, five genes (evm.TU.CHR2.244, evm.TU.CHR1.1507, evm.TU.CHR1.1821, evm.TU.CHR2.89, and evm.TU.CHR2.210) were identified as the key hub genes of I. dabieshanensis response to cold stress. These results provided candidate genes and clues for further studies on the molecular genetic mechanism of cold stress in holly.

Because of the growing demand for energy, oil extraction under complicated geological conditions is increasing. Herein, oil displacement by CO2 in wedge-shaped pores was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that, for both single and double wedge-shaped models, pore Ⅱ (pore size from 3 to 8 nm) exhibited a better CO2 flooding ability than pore Ⅰ (pore size from 8 to 3 nm). Compared with slit-shaped pores (3 and 8 nm), the overall oil displacement efficiency followed the sequence of 8 nm > double pore Ⅱ > single pore Ⅱ > 3 nm > double pore Ⅰ > single pore Ⅰ, which confirmed that the exits of the wedge-shaped pores had determinant effects on CO2 enhanced oil recovery over their entrances. “Oil/CO2 inter-pore migration” and “siphoning” phenomena occurred in wedge-shaped double pores by comparing the volumes of oil/CO2 and the center of mass. The results of the interaction and radial distribution function analyses indicate that the wide inlet and outlet had a larger CO2–oil contact surface, better phase miscibility, higher interaction, and faster displacement. These findings clarify the CO2 flooding mechanisms in wedge-shaped pores and provide a scientific basis for the practical applications of CO2 flooding.

We determined the longitudinal persistence of ceftiofur-resistant Escherichia coli from a chicken breeding farm in China. A total of 150 samples were collected from 5 breeding periods in a flock of layer hens, and the prevalence of ceftiofur-resistant E. coli fluctuated across the 5 chicken breeding stages: eggs, 3.33%; growing period, 100%; early laying period, 36.7%; peak laying period, 66.7% and late laying period, 80%. The most prevalent ceftiofur resistance genes were blaCTX-M-55, blaCMY and blaNDM, and ST101 was the most prevalent and persistent sequence type across the breeding periods. Our results indicated that this breeder flock was heavily contaminated by ST101 ceftiofur-resistant E. coli and that its presence should be intensively monitored on chicken farms.

In Yangquan County, the sandfly-transmitted virus (Wuxiang virus) was first isolated from sandflies in 2018. However, relationships between the abundance and seasonal fluctuations of local sandflies and sandfly-transmitted viruses are unknown. Herein, we report that sandfly specimens were collected in three villages in Yangquan County, from June to August, 2019. A total of 8363 sandflies were collected (June, 7927; July, 428; August, 8). Eighteen virus strains (June, 18; July, 0; August, 0) were isolated in pools of Phlebotomus chinensis. The genome sequence of the newly isolated virus strain was highly similar to that of the Wuxiang virus (WUXV), isolated from sandflies in Yangquan County in 2018. Our results suggested that the sandfly-transmitted viruses, and the local sandfly population, are stable in Yangquan County, and that June is the peak period for the virus carried by sandflies in this area.

Soil salinization is one of the major abiotic stresses that adversely affect the yield and quality of crops such as wheat, a leading cereal crop worldwide. Excavating the salt-tolerant genes and exploring the salt tolerance mechanism can help breeding salt-tolerant wheat varieties. Thus, it is essential to identify salt-tolerant wheat germplasm resources. In this study, we carried out a salt stress experiment using Qing Mai 6 (QM6), a salt-tolerant wheat variety, and sequenced the miRNAs and mRNAs. The differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in salt stress conditions were compared with the control. As results, a total of eight salt-tolerance-related miRNAs and their corresponding 11 target mRNAs were identified. Further analysis revealed that QM6 enhances salt tolerance through increasing the expression level of genes related to stress resistance, antioxidation, nutrient absorption, and lipid metabolism balance, and the expression of these genes was regulated by the identified miRNAs. The resulting data provides a theoretical basis for future research studies on miRNAs and novel genes related to salt tolerance in wheat in order to develop genetically improved salt-tolerant wheat varieties.

Abstract Structural design of advanced cathodes is a promising strategy to suppress the shuttle effect for lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs). In this work, the carbon cloth covered with CoS2 nanoparticles (CC‐CoS2) is prepared to function as both three‐dimensional (3D) current collector and physicochemical barrier to retard migration of soluble lithium polysulfides. On the one hand, the CC‐CoS2 film works as a robust 3D current collector and host with high conductivity, high sulfur loading, and high capability of capturing polysulfides. On the other hand, the 3D porous CC‐CoS2 film serves as a multifunctional interlayer that exhibits efficient physical blocking, strong chemisorption, and fast catalytic redox reaction kinetics toward soluble polysulfides. Consequently, the Al@S/AB@CC‐CoS2 cell with a sulfur loading of 1.2 mg cm−2 exhibits a high rate capability (≈823 mAh g−1 at 4 C) and delivers excellent capacity retention (a decay of ≈0.021% per cycle for 1000 cycles at 4 C). Moreover, the sandwiched cathode of CC‐CoS2@S/AB@CC‐CoS2 is designed for high sulfur loading LSBs. The CC‐CoS2@S/AB@CC‐CoS2 cells with sulfur loadings of 4.2 and 6.1 mg cm−2 deliver high reversible capacities of 1106 and 885 mAh g−1, respectively, after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. The outstanding electrochemical performance is attributed to the sandwiched structure with active catalytic component.

Abstract: Human germinal center (GC)–associated lymphoma (HGAL) is an adaptor protein expressed in GC B cells. HGAL regulates cell motility and B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, processes that are central for the successful completion of the GC reaction. Herein, we demonstrate phosphorylation of HGAL by Syk and Lyn kinases at tyrosines Y80, Y86, Y106Y107, Y128, and Y148. The HGAL YEN motif (amino acids 107-109) is similar to the phosphopeptide motif pYXN used as a binding site to the growth factor receptor–bound protein 2 (Grb2). We demonstrate by biochemical and molecular methodologies that HGAL directly interacts with Grb2. Concordantly, microscopy studies demonstrate HGAL-Grb2 colocalization in the membrane central supramolecular activation clusters (cSMAC) following BCR activation. Mutation of the HGAL putative binding site to Grb2 abrogates the interaction between these proteins. Further, this HGAL mutant localizes exclusively in the peripheral SMAC and decreases the rate and intensity of BCR accumulation in the cSMAC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Grb2, HGAL, and Syk interact in the same complex, but Grb2 does not modulate the effects of HGAL on Syk kinase activity. Overall, the interplay between the HGAL and Grb2 regulates the magnitude of BCR signaling and synapse formation.

Ilex × attenuata ‘Fosteri’ is an important ornamental plant widely distributed in mid-southern China and south-eastern United States. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of I. attenuata by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. The full length of cp genome was 157,833 bp with 37.63% overall GC content, which contained two inverted repeats (IR) of 26,093 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 87,188 bp and 18,459 bp, respectively. The cp genome contained 135 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes and 39 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic tree showed that the close relationship of three species of Ilex (I. attenuata, I. viridis and I. szechwanensis) in the Aquifoliaceae family.

Ilex rotunda is a traditional Chinese medicine plant. In this study, we characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of I. rotunda to investigate its phylogenetic relationship. The cp genome of I. rotunda was 157,743 bp in length with 37.62% overall GC content, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,060bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,432 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRS) of 26,121 bp. The cp genome contained 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole cp genome sequences showed that I. rotunda is closely related to I. pubescens and I. polyneura.

The family Rhabdoviridae contain important human and mammalian pathogens that are vectored by different arthropod species. The ground supernatants of mosquitoes were used to inoculate in BHK-21 and C6/36 cells for virus isolation. Then, the viral complete genome sequence was obtained and used for phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we observed a cytopathic effect (CPE) in mosquito cells (C6/36) and rod-like virion after inoculating a pool of Armigeres subalbatus samples collected in Shanxi Province, China, in 2019 (SX1916). Meta-transcriptomics sequencing revealed the presence of two distinctive rhabdoviruses with similar abundance levels, namely, Shanxi Armigeres subalbatus rhabdovirus (SXARV) and Shanxi Arboretum virus (SXABTV). Despite the fact that the SXARV genome (9590 nt) was much shorter than that of SXABTV (11,480 nt), both belonged to the Almendravirus group within Rhabdoviridae whose genomes encoded five proteins (N, P, M, G, and L) and a small hydrophobin (U1) and the difference in lengths is mainly caused by a substantially shorter N protein encoded by SXARV. On the phylogenetic tree, SXABTV was closely related (90.7% amino acid identity at L protein) with the Arboretum virus isolated from Psorophora albigenu mosquitoes in Peru in 2014, whereas SXARV was distantly related to Rio Chico virus (63.3% amino acid identity), a genetic distance large enough to be defined as a new species within Rhabdoviridae. Collectively, we report a simultaneous isolation of two related rhabdoviruses from Armigeres subalbatus that marked the circulation of almendraviruses in Shanxi, China.

The development of high-performance CO2 capture and separation adsorbents is critical to alleviate the deteriorating environmental issues. Herein, N atom-doped layered graphene (N-MGN) was introduced to form triazine and pyridine as potential CO2 capture and separation adsorbents via regulation of interlayer spacings. Structural analyses showed that accessible surface area of the N-MGN is 2521.72 m2 g−1, the porosity increased from 9.43% to 84.86%. At ultra-low pressure, N-MGN_6.8 have exhibited a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 10.59 mmol/g at 298 K and 0.4 bar. At high pressure, the absolute adsorption capacities of CO2 in N-MGN_17.0 (40.16 mmol g−1) at 7.0 MPa and 298 K are much larger than that of N-doping slit pore. At 298 K and 1.0 bar, the highest selectivity of CO2 over N2 reached up to ~133 in N-MGN_6.8. The research shows that N doping can effectively improve the adsorption and separation capacity of CO2 and N2 in layered graphene, and the interlayer spacing has an important influence on the adsorption capacity of CO2/N2. The adsorption heat and relative concentration curves further confirmed that the layered graphene with an interlayer spacing of 6.8 Å has the best adsorption and separation ability of CO2 and N2 under low pressure. Under high pressure, the layered graphene with the interlayer spacing of 17.0 Å has the best adsorption and separation ability of CO2 and N2.