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Both E. multilocularis and host-derived exosomes are involved in the pathogenic process of alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Exosomes secrete miRNAs that have regulatory roles in host-pathogen interactions in multiple ways. In the present study, we collected and purified supernatants of E. multilocularis cultures, as well as human plasma exosomes. High-throughput sequencing showed the identities of 45 exosomal miRNAs in E. multilocularis. The lengths of these miRNAs ranged from 19 to 25 nucleotides (nt), with the majority (n = 18) measuring 22 nt. Notably, emu-let-7-5p emerged as the most abundant among these miRNAs, with a detected count of 33,097 and also length of 22 nt. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) showed that the concentration of exosomes in the plasma of AE patients was lower compared to that in the healthy individuals. This result suggested that the concentration of plasma exosomes was able to distinguish AE patients from healthy individuals. Using qRT-PCR to assess the relative expression of 10 miRNAs of E. multilocularis , we showed that the expression of miR-184-3p was downregulated significantly in the exosomes of plasma from AE patients compared to that in the control group. In summary, this study indicates that AE induces a reduction in the concentration of human plasma exosomes, as well as downregulating miR-184-3p in infected individuals. [Display omitted] • High-throughput sequencing identified 45 exosomal miRNAs in E. multilocularis. • Exosome levels are lower in Alveolar echinococcosis patients than in healthy controls. • Alveolar echinococcosis reduces miR-184-3p expression in human plasma exosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is a promising metal-free photocatalyst; however, its high carrier recombination rate and insufficient redox capacity limit its degradation effect on antibiotics. In order to overcome these shortcomings, the photocatalytic activity is improved by regulating the spin polarization state, constructing the internal electric field, and applying the external piezoelectric field. In this paper, the chlorine-doped and nitrogen-deficient porous carbon nitride composite carbon quantum dots (N v -Cl/UPCN@CQD) has been synthesized successfully. The doping position of chlorine and spin polarization properties are verified by DFT calculation. The key intermediates *O 2 − and *OOH for the synthesis of reactive oxygen species were detected by in-situ infrared testing, which promotes the production of •O 2 − and H 2 O 2. The degradation rate constant of N v -Cl/UPCN@CQD for removal of tetracycline is 8.45 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4. The active oxygen production and degradation efficiency of piezoelectric photocatalysis under the synergistic effect of intense stirring and vis-light irradiation are much higher than those of photocatalysis and piezoelectric catalysis, and the conversion of H 2 O 2 to •OH is promoted by piezoelectric field. This paper provides a reliable way to improve the performance of piezoelectric photocatalysts by adjusting their energy band, electronic structure and piezoelectric force. • A metal-free piezoelectric photocatalyst was constructed to realize electron transfer efficiently under the control of electric field and internal magnetic field. • The electron spin polarization caused by element doping and defect can effectively inhibit carrier recombination, and the locations of doping and defect are verified by experiments and calculations. • The effect of piezoelectric field on the production of reactive oxygen species was described, and a reasonable conversion method of ROS was proposed based on in-situ testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of evidence exists on whether air pollution exposure may affect ovarian reserve, especially for Chinese women. To explore the association between exposure to various air pollutants and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a predictor of ovarian reserve, over different exposure windows in Shandong Province, China. We enrolled 18,878 women who had AMH measurements in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University during 2010–2019. Daily average concentrations of ambient particulate matter with diameters ≤1 μm/2.5 μm/10 μm (PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and ozone (O 3) were developed at a spatial resolution of 0.01° × 0.01°, and assigned to the residential addresses. Three exposure windows were considered, i.e., the process from primary to small antral follicle stage (W1), from primary to secondary follicle stage (W2), and from secondary to small antral follicle stage (W3). The air pollution-AMH association was fitted using the multivariable linear mixed effect model with adjustment for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were performed by age group, overweight status, residential region, and educational level. The level of AMH changed by −8.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): −12.1%, −5.3%), −2.1% (95% CI: −3.5%, −0.6%), −1.9% (95% CI: −3.3%, −0.5%), and −4.5% (95% CI: −7.1%, −1.9%) per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 , respectively, during W1. The effect estimates were significant during W2 for PM 1 , PM 2.5 and NO 2 while minimal association was observed in W3. Greater vulnerability for certain air pollutants were observed for women who lived in inland areas and were less educated. We found that ovarian reserve was negatively associated with air pollution exposure for women, particularly from the primary to secondary follicle stage. The effect estimate increased by the reduction in the diameter of PMs, which also varied across population sub-groups. • Exposure to elevated air pollutants was associated with ovarian reserve impairment. • The crucial exposure period is from the primary to secondary follicle stage. • The effect estimates increased by the reduction in the size of particulate matter. • Greater vulnerability for pollutants for women lived in inland area and less educated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pyrite ore as the only additive is used for sulfation reaction of LiCoO 2. • The mechanism of the sulfation reaction of LiCoO 2 was obtained. • Lithium deintercalation has been verified through density functional theory calculations. • High purity Li 2 CO 3 could be produced from the lithium sulfate leaching solution. Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is of great importance for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This study introduced pyrite ore (FeS 2) as an alternative additive to achieve the selective recovery of Li 2 CO 3 from spent LiCoO 2 (LCO) batteries. The mechanism study revealed that the sulfation reaction followed two pathways. During the initial stage (550 °C–800 °C), the decomposition and oxidation of FeS 2 and the subsequent gas–solid reaction between the resulting SO 2 and layered LCO play crucial roles. The sulfation of lithium occurred prior to cobalt, resulting in the disruption of layered structure of LCO and the transformation into tetragonal spinel. In the second stage (over 800 °C), the dominated reactions were the decomposition of orthorhombic cobalt sulfate and its combination with rhombohedral Fe 2 O 3 to form CoFe 2 O 4. The deintercalation of Li from LCO by the substitution of Fe and conversion of Co(III)/Fe(II) into Co 3 O 4 /CoFe 2 O 4 were further confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. This fundamental understanding of the sulfation reaction facilitated the future development of lithium extraction methods that utilized additives to substantially reduce energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unconscious temporal cue induces temporal expectation effect. • A new research paradigm for combining temporal cue aging distributions with non-aging distributions. • The unconscious temporal expectation effect can be overridden by conscious temporal cues. • Attention and consciousness can be separated in time dimension. The debate over the independence of attention and consciousness is ongoing. Prior studies have established that invisible spatial cues can direct attention. However, our exploration extends beyond spatial dimensions to temporal information as a potent guide for attention. A intriguing question arises: Can unconscious temporal cues trigger attentional orienting? To investigate, we employed a modified reaction-time task in Experiments 1 and 2, using Gabor stimuli or human facial stimuli as temporal cues rendered invisible through continuous flash suppression. We aimed to uncover temporal expectation effects (TE effects) without conscious awareness. Moreover, Experiments 3 and 4 probed the boundaries of this unconscious processing, assessing whether conscious temporal cues could modulate TE effects. Our results confirm that invisible temporal cues can induce TE effects, and these effects can be overridden by conscious temporal cues. This dissociation between temporal attention and consciousness provide a new perspective on our understanding of their relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies that is difficult to treat due to late diagnosis and chemo-resistance. In the present study, we developed and validated a cell based split nanoLuc biosensor to monitor the Apaf1-Apaf1 interactions in response to apoptosis-inducing drugs such as cisplatin. We showed that the activity of split nanoLuc is reconstituted only in response to apoptotic inducer, cisplatin and in a dose-dependent manner. Apaf1 mutants which were unable to oligomerize failed to recover nanoLuc activity while constitutively active variant increased the nanoLuc activity. Generation of Apaf1 knockout HepG2 and treatment with cisplatin showed dramatic reduction in cell death suggesting that cisplatin mainly targets liver cancer cells through apoptosis. As the natural products are potent sources of compounds for adjuvant therapy, we screened a collection of natural products and identified lentinan as an inducer of apoptosome formation, a key step for induction of apoptosis. Lentinan is a polysaccharide with antitumor, pro-apoptotic properties that functions with poorly understood mechanisms. Lentinan was shown to have cytotoxic effects with the IC 50 of 650 μM. Sub-lethal lentinan concentration doubled the nanoLuc activity when co-treated with cisplatin. We also showed that lentinan hugely reduced the dose of cisplatin to induce certain amount of death and that lentinan co-treatment with cisplatin enhanced the Apaf1 transcription in HepG2 cells while lentinan or cisplatin alone failed to alter the transcription. In addition, lentinan and cisplatin co-treatment induced mitochondrial depolarization. This suggested that lentinan combinatorial therapy with cisplatin engaged a different signalling pathway to kill the liver cancer cells and that adjuvant therapy with lentinan can reduce the dose of cisplatin and thus reduce the possibility of chemo-resistance. • Establishing a split nanoLuc reporters to monitor Apaf1 interactions real time and in cellulo. • Assay validation by using the Apaf1 variants unable to oligomerize and constitutively active Apaf1 mutant. • Lentinan at sublethal concentrations synergizes the effect of cisplatin in induction of apoptosome formation. • Co-treatment with cisplatin and lentinan hugely depolarized the mitochondria in liver cancer cells. • Lentinan can reduce the cisplatin dose for treatment of patients and thus diminishes the chemoresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]