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Dermal adipocyte lineage cells are highly plastic and can undergo reversible differentiation and dedifferentiation in response to various stimuli. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of developing or wounded mouse skin, we classify dermal fibroblasts (dFBs) into distinct non-adipogenic and adipogenic cell states. Cell differentiation trajectory analyses identify IL-1-NF-κB and WNT-β-catenin as top signaling pathways that positively and negatively associate with adipogenesis, respectively. Upon wounding, activation of adipocyte progenitors and wound-induced adipogenesis are mediated in part by neutrophils through the IL-1R-NF-κB-CREB signaling axis. In contrast, WNT activation, by WNT ligand and/or ablation of Gsk3, inhibits the adipogenic potential of dFBs but promotes lipolysis and dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes, contributing to myofibroblast formation. Finally, sustained WNT activation and inhibition of adipogenesis is seen in human keloids. These data reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the plasticity of dermal adipocyte lineage cells, defining potential therapeutic targets for defective wound healing and scar formation.

Glucosylsucroses are potentially useful as additives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. Although enzymatic synthesis of glucosylsucroses is the most efficient method for their production, the key enzyme that produces them has remained unknown. Here, we report that glucosylsucrose synthase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus (TeGSS) catalyzes the synthesis of glucosylsucrose using sucrose and UDP-glucose as substrates. These saccharides are homologous to glucosylsucroses produced by Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 (referred to as protein alr1000). When the ratio of UDP-glucose to sucrose is relatively high, TeGSS from cyanobacteria can hydrolyze excess UDP-glucose to UDP and glucose, indicating that sucrose provides a feedback mechanism for the control of glucosylsucrose synthesis. In the present study, we solved the crystal structure of TeGSS bound to UDP and sucrose. Our structure shows that the catalytic site contains a circular region that may allow glucosylsucroses with a right-hand helical structure to enter the catalytic site. Because active site residues Tyr18 and Arg179 are proximal to UDP and sucrose, we mutate these residues (i.e., Y18F and R179A) and show that they exhibit very low activity, supporting their role as catalytic groups. Overall, our study provides insight into the catalytic mechanism of TeGSS.

The control of flowering time plays an important role in the growth and development of potato tubers. The CCT (CO, COL and TOC1) gene family is involved in the flowering process of plants. In this study, a total of 32 StCCT family genes were identified and further classified into five subfamilies, including COL (17 members), PRR (4 members), ZIM (3 members), ASML2 (6 members) and TCR1 (2 members), based on their phylogenetic relationship. An analysis of the gene structure, motif compositions and conserved domain provided support for this classification. The StCCT genes were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes of the potato plant. In total, six gene duplication events were observed, which played a crucial role in the expansion of the StCCT family genes in the potato. The expression profiles exhibited diverse expression patterns of the StCCT genes in six tissues (leaf, shoot, root, tuber, stolon, and flower), StCCT32 is only expressed in flowers, while StCCT19 and StCCT8 are highly expressed in flowers and tubers, respectively. The StCCT genes exhibit different expression patterns in response to IAA and TIBA treatments at different concentrations across three tissues (leaf, stem, and tuber). After IAA and TIBA treatments, it was found that the expression level of StCCT7 was low in leaves and stems but significantly increased in tubers. Collectively, this study provided valuable information for the further study of potato formation and development and provided candidate genes for molecular breeding in the potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale spinning of high-performance SiO2 porous nanofibers remains a pivotal challenge in facilitating their utilization for flexible thermal insulation purposes. Herein, massive spinning of SiO2 porous nanofibers was achieved through the solution blow spinning (SBS) process utilizing microemulsion polysiloxane solutions. Using MK siloxane polymer as the Si source, a solution characterized by high purity and excellent uniformity was obtained. Multicomponent spinnable microemulsion precursor was prepared by incorporating paraffin as the sacrificial phase, Span 80 and Tween 80 as surfactants, and polyvinylpyrrolidone as the spinning aid. Through optimization of the spinnable solution composition and SBS process parameters, high-speed spinning of paraffin/MK precursor nanofibers was accomplished with a rate of 20 mL·h–1. Subsequent high-temperature pyrolysis facilitated the conversion of organic paraffin/MK nanofibers into SiO2 nanofibers with controllable pores structure. Porous SiO2 nanofiber sponges fabricated using the microemulsion SBS technique exhibit distinctive lightweight and thermal insulation properties [0.037 W·(m·K)−1]. These properties promise to facilitate massive spinning of high-performance inorganic fiber sponges for applications in high-temperature thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient production of porous carbon nanofibers (PCNFs) is indispensable for applications in adsorption, thermal insulation, catalysis, batteries, etc. Herein, rapid fabrication of PCNFs with flexible and efficient adsorption properties was achieved through polymer blend blow spinning at a rate of 10–30 mL·h–1. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as the organic precursor to prepare PCNFs, with varying mass fractions of poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres employed as pore-forming agents. Following high-temperature carbonization, the diameter of PCNFs was adjusted within a range of 0.2–1.2 μm, resulting in a high specific surface area of 34.63 m2 g–1 and a pore distribution of 3–20 nm. PCNFs demonstrated exceptional mechanical resilience, withstanding cyclic compression strains of up to 60% and achieving a peak compression stress of 12.2 kPa. Additionally, PCNFs exhibited a significant adsorption capacity for oils and benzene, coupled with superior thermal insulation performance and an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.022 W·(m·K)−1. PCNFs can also be used as sensors and demonstrated unmatched sensitivity to minute pressure variations ranging from 0 to 1 N. The polymer blend blow spinning technique showcased operational simplicity and remarkable versatility across various materials. This excellent functional expandability demonstrated that the strategy held significant potential for the large-scale production of multifunctional PCNFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wicking effect constitutes a pivotal determinant in facilitating the ingress and transference of liquid water within yarns and fabrics. Its significance looms prominently in the context of subsequent product processing, particularly concerning the immersion and interface bonding of textile matrix composites. The twist exerts profound influence over the fiber disposition and density within yarns, as well as the yarn and the wicking pathways for liquid water. We use a mathematical model grounded in the three-dimensional helical capillary permeation mechanism, inherently linked to the twist factor. This model operates under the assumption that the yarn's fibers exhibit uniform diameters and arrangements. Leveraging the macroscopic force equilibrium method, a function of liquid capillary rise with wicking time was deduced. and the dynamic progression of liquid water ascent within the yarn was simulated using the COMSOL platform. Subsequently, a series of wicking experiments were executed on polyester filament yarns, each characterized by varying twist levels. The results revealed that the experimental data coincided well with the theoretical prediction, thus affirming the model's accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-based photothermal materials for seawater desalination usage have garnered significant attention owing to their outstanding properties. However, traditional monolayer fabrics are prone to possess inherent inefficiencies such as high thermal dissipation and salt crystallization within the evaporation zone, especially reducing the evaporation efficiency during the long-term seawater desalination. Herein, a novel three-layered three-dimensional (3D) spacer carbon/polyester cotton spacer woven fabric (SWF) evaporator is designed. This SWF material was delineated into three distinct layers: an upper evaporate layer, a foundational water absorption layer, and a central water dedicated to water transition, thermal insulation, and salt crystallization. The rational three-layered 3D architecture guarantees the swift aqueous transition within SWF evaporator, simultaneously curtailing thermal losses from the top layer. The evaporation rate of 3D SWF, with 6 mm interval space, registered at 1.6721 kg · m−2·h−1 under a solar intensity of 1 kW · m−2. Furthermore, under conditions with a solar power of 1 kW · m−2 and a wind velocity of 2 m · s−1, the evaporation efficiency of liquid water from SWF, with a central layer height of 12 mm, culminated at 3.9742 kg · m−2·h−1, which validated its adeptness for the seawater desalination applications. The results of our research are helping to provide for efficient and stable methods of wastewater treatment, desalination, and drinking water collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]