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CsPbIxBry-based all-inorganic perovskite materials are a potential candidate for stable semitransparent and tandem structured photovoltaic devices. However, poor film (morphological and crystalline...

The drought-adapted shrub guayule (Parthenium argentatum) produces rubber, a natural product of major commercial importance, and two co-products with potential industrial use: terpene resin and the carbohydrate fructan. The rubber content of guayule plants subjected to water stress is higher compared to that of well-irrigated plants, a fact consistently reported in guayule field evaluations. To better understand how drought influences rubber biosynthesis at the molecular level, a comprehensive transcriptome database was built from drought-stressed guayule stem tissues using de novo RNA-seq and genome-guided assembly, followed by annotation and expression analysis. Despite having higher rubber content, most rubber biosynthesis related genes were down-regulated in drought-stressed guayule, compared to well-irrigated plants, suggesting post-transcriptional effects may regulate drought-induced rubber accumulation. On the other hand, terpene resin biosynthesis genes were unevenly affected by water stress, implying unique environmental influences over transcriptional control of different terpene compounds or classes. Finally, drought induced expression of fructan catabolism genes in guayule and significantly suppressed these fructan biosynthesis genes. It appears then, that in guayule cultivation, irrigation levels might be calibrated in such a regime to enable tunable accumulation of rubber, resin and fructan.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising next-generation photovoltaic technology. However, their long-term operation is limited due to thermodynamic instability of hybrid perovskites (loss of organics) and severe migration of constituents (ions and dopants). PSCs have to be free of volatile organics and mobile dopants to become commercially relevant. PSCs based on cesium lead halide inorganic perovskites (CsPbI3−xBrx, x = 0 ~ 3) and a carbon electrode, abbreviated here as C-IPSCs, fulfill these requirements: CsPbI3−xBrx is stable against decomposition to binary halides and the carbon electrode is inherently moisture-resistive and dopant-free. Since the first report of C-IPSCs in 2016, their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) have doubled, recently reaching 14.84% with an astonishing stability of over 2000 h at 80 °C and 80% relative humidity (RH). Here we review recent progress of C-IPSCs and analyze the remaining critical issues in the field. We then offer our perspective to address these challenges through morphology, interface, spectral and material engineering. Finally, we argue that C-IPSCs have potential to overcome the 20% efficiency milestone, making them – in combination with their already impressive stability – the most promising PSC architecture for commercialization.

Up to date, solid-state carbon dots (CDs) with bright red fluorescence have scarcely achieved due to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect and extremely low quantum yield in deep-red to near infrared region. Here, we report a novel fluorine-defects induced solid-state red fluorescence (λem = 676 nm, the absolute fluorescence quantum yields is 4.17%) in fluorine, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped CDs (F,N,S-CDs), which is the first report of such a long wavelength emission of solid-state CDs. As a control, CDs without fluorine-doping (N,S-CDs) show no fluorescence in solid-state, and the fluorescence quantum yield/emission wavelength of N,S-CDs in solution-state are also lower/shorter than that of F,N,S-CDs, which is mainly due to the F-induced defect traps on the surface/edge of F,N,S-CDs. Moreover, the solid-state F,N,S-CDs exhibit an interesting temperature-sensitive behavior in the range of 80–420 K, with the maximum fluorescence intensity at 120 K, unveiling its potential as the temperature-dependent fluorescent sensor and the solid-state light-emitting device adapted to multiple temperatures.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and despite improved treatment strategies, it persists as the second leading cause of death of women globally. Overall prognosis drops drastically once the cancer has metastasized, which is also associated with resistance to therapy. The evolution from a localized breast cancer to metastatic disease is complex and multifactorial. Metabolic reprogramming is a pre-requisite for this transition. In this graphical review, we provide an overview of altered metabolic pathways observed in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and detail how metabolite biomarkers could serve as a novel class of precision medicine tools to improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of mBC.

Oestradiol (E2) is a critical factor for multiple systems' development during the embryonic period. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of oestradiol on intrahepatic bile duct development, which may allow a better understanding of congenital bile duct dysplasia. DLK+ hepatoblasts were extracted from the C57BL/6CrSlc foetal mice and randomly divided into control group, oestradiol groups (1, 10, 100 nM) and oestradiol (10 nM) + DAPT (inhibitor of Notch signalling; 40 µM) group for in vitro experiments. For in vivo analysis, pregnant mice were divided into control group, oestradiol (intraperitoneal injection of 0.6 mg/kg/day) ± DAPT (subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg/day) groups and tamoxifen (gavage administration of 0.4 mg/kg/day) group. The results showed that oestradiol promoted hepatoblast differentiation into cholangiocytes and intrahepatic bile duct development during the embryonic period. Tamoxifen, an antioestrogenic drug, inhibited the above processes. Moreover, oestradiol promoted the expression of Notch signalling pathway‐associated proteins and genes both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, DAPT addition inhibited the oestradiol‐mediated effects. In conclusion, oestradiol can promote hepatoblast differentiation into cholangiocytes and intrahepatic bile duct development of C57BL/6CrSlc mice during embryonic period via the Notch signalling pathway.

AIMS To explore the role of nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-related metabolic disorders. METHODS In this study, the C57BL/6 and db/db mice were exposed to concentrated PM2.5 or filtered air (FA) using Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System (Shanghai-METAS) for 12 weeks. Indices of lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured, respectively. RESULTS The results showed that PM2.5 exposure increased circulatory insulin, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC), and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in both C57BL/6 and db/db mice. The levels of NLRP3-related circulatory inflammatory cytokines including both interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β in serum were increased in the PM2.5-exposed mice and accompanied by the elevation in fasting blood glucose and insulin. The results also showed that exposure to PM2.5 promoted the activation of NLRP3, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), simultaneously accompanied by the increase of IL-18 and IL-1β expression in VAT, but the statistically significant difference only found in the db/db mice, not in C57BL/6 mice. CONCLUSION The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome might be not the main mechanism of PM2.5-related metabolic disorders in wide type mice but it partly mediated the exacerbation of metabolic disorders in diabetic model mice.

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been extensively applied in clinical and coadjuvant treatment of various kinds of tumors. However, the photosensitizer (PS) of PDT still lack of high production of singlet oxygen (1O2), low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility. Herein, we propose a facile method for establishing a new core-shell structured Sn nanocluster@carbon dots (CDs) PS. Firstly, Sn4+@S-CDs complex is synthesized using the sulfur-doped CDs (S-CDs) and SnCl4 as raw materials, and subsequently the new PS (Sn nanocluster@CDs) is obtained after vaporization of Sn4+@S-CDs solution. Remarkably, the obtained Sn nanocluster@CDs show an enhanced fluorescence as well as a higher 1O2 quantum yield (QY) than S-CDs. The high 1O2 QY (58.3%) irradiated by the LED light (400–700 nm, 40 mW/cm2), induce the reduction of 4T1 cancer cells viability by 25%. More intriguingly, no visible damage happens to healthy cells, with little impact on liver tissue due to renal excretion, both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that Sn nanocluster@CDs may become a promising PS, owning a high potential for application in PDT.

Designing efficient and economical dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) free of precious metals is required to replace the platinum counter electrode (Pt CE) for further large-scale development. Here...

A uniform diffusion layer is essential for non-dendritic deposition of lithium in high-density lithium batteries. However, natural pristine solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is always porous and inhomogeneous because of repeated breakdown and repair cycles, whereas ideal materials with excellent mechanical property for artificial SEIs remain a challenge. Herein, a robust and stable interface is achieved by spinning soft polymer associated with few MoO3 into fibers, and thus mechanical property of fibers other than materials determines mechanical performance of the interface which can be optimized by adjusting parameters. Furthermore, lithium deposited underneath the layer is enabled by constructing an optimal resistance to make the membrane serve as an artificial SEI rather than lithium host. As a result, dendrite-free lithium was observed underneath the membrane, and stable interface for long-term cycling was also indicated by EIS measurements. The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) full-cell with coated electrode demonstrated an initial capacity of 155.2 mAh g−1, and 80% of its original capacity was retained after 500 cycles at 2.0 °C without any additive in carbonate-based electrolyte.

Herein, nitrogen and chlorine co-doped carbon dots (N,Cl-CDs) have the potential to be used in plant lighting owing to their blue-white emission. More importantly, N,Cl-CDs possess both blue (400–500 nm) and red (600–700 nm) emission ranges, which meet the optimal requirement of plant lighting without combining other luminescent materials.

Three-substituted 4H-quinolizin-4-ones were obtained via a facile method with good selectivity and high efficiency. On the basis of alkyne substrate control, the mild and cost-efficient reaction ha...

Sensitivity is one of the greatest concerns in explosive materials, and its underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. In this study, 2,6-diamino-3,5- dinitropyrazine -1-oxide (LLM-105) crystals with different morphologies, such as crosswise, needle, plate, block, diamond, and spherical shapes, were prepared using a solution crystallization method, and their crystal characteristics and sensitivity were investigated. It was found that the H50 values (impact sensitivity) of LLM-105 vary within an extremely wide range of 33.8–112.2 cm and are mainly influenced by the particle morphology, crystal integrity, particle surface defects, and roughness, but are mostly independent of intracrystalline defects and particle sizes. The friction sensitivities of all samples are zero and are unaffected by the crystal characteristics. The G50 values (shock sensitivity) are within the range of 0–6.9 mm, increasing with decreasing particle sizes and the apparent crystal density. Notably, LLM-105 crystals with a spherical shape, good integrity, smooth surface, and fewer defects are insensitive to impact and shock impulse. The relationships between the crystal characteristics and the sensitivity of LLM-105 are extremely complex and show some abnormal phenomena, which can be attributed to the crystal packing style and aggregated microstructures of LLM-105.

Carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) are promising fluorescent probes for bioimaging, biomarkers, sensors, etc. Here a type of thermosensitive CPD (ts-CPD) was synthesized via a solvothermal method from ...

Carbon dots (CDs) are relatively new and one of the most propitious nanomaterials ever known to humanity, primarily consisting of a carbonized carbon core with heteroatoms in organic functional groups attached. CDs show various fascinating properties, such as tunable excitation/emission, chemical inertness, photostability, low toxicity, good biocompatibility, ease of handling, and eco-friendliness. Due to the anomalous optical and chemical properties of the CDs, they have a wide range of applications in the fields of bioimaging, biosensing, photocatalysis, optoelectronics, etc. In this Review, we intend to cover the many strides in CDs chemistry, which is an emerging paradigm, in conjunction with the most recent discoveries of CDs with near-infrared fluorescence, phosphorescence, electroluminescence, chirality, and antibacterial activity. Our main emphasis will be on the contemporary evolution in synthetic strategies, optical properties, and biomedical applications of CDs in nanomedicine and nanotheranostics.

Dyslipidemia is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of lipids in plasma. Recently, various studies demonstrate that the increased activity of adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) causes health benefits in energy regulation. Thus, great efforts have been made to develop AMPK activators as a metabolic syndrome treatment. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the AMPK activator C24 on dyslipidemia and the potential mechanisms. We showed that C24 (5–40 μM) dose-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPKα and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and inhibited lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. Using compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, or hepatocytes isolated from liver tissue-specific AMPK knockout AMPKα1α2(fl/fl;Alb-cre) mice (AMPK LKO), we demonstrated that the lipogenesis inhibition of C24 was dependent on hepatic AMPK activation. In rabbits with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-induced dyslipidemia, administration of C24 (20, 40, and 60 mg · kg(−1)· d(−1), ig, for 4 weeks) dose-dependently decreased the content of TG, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma and played a role in protecting against hepatic dysfunction by decreasing lipid accumulation. A lipid-lowering effect was also observed in high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-fed hamsters. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the small molecular AMPK activator C24 alleviates hyperlipidemia and represents a promising compound for the development of a lipid-lowering drug.

Wild black tea varieties with almond odors were found in Guangdong, China. Few previous studies have investigated their metabolic profile during processing. Herein, we assessed the variations in the chemical components including the volatile flavor compounds and nonvolatile flavor components during black tea processing. Benzaldehyde was responsible for the almond odor and could be used as an indicator for identifying black tea varieties with almond odors because of its relative stability. The contents of aromatic compounds with floral, sweet, and honey-like aromas, such as (E)-geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, β-ionone, α-terpineol, and (Z)-geraniol, were higher in the final drying process than they were in the plucking stage. However, the contents of β-linalool and its oxides and methyl salicylate tended to be lower in the dried black teas. PCA showed that 88.41% of the variation between the aromatic compounds and their odor attributes can be explained by PC1 and PC2. The almond flavor samples were differentiated from the control samples according to PCA. The contents of nonvolatile flavor components such as tea polyphenols, amino acids, soluble carbohydrates and caffeine were significantly lower in the dried black teas. The sensory evaluation suggested that XR black teas had strong and lasting almond odors, while DX-8 had floral and medicinal odors.

NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) is a major subtype of NOX and is responsible for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in brain tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are important epigenetic regulators of NOX2. The present study aimed to identify the role of NOX2 miRNA-targets in ischemic stroke (IS). A rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury model and a SH-SY5Y cell hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model were used to simulate IS. Gene expression levels, ROS production and apoptosis in tissue or cells were determined, and bioinformatic analysis was conducted for target prediction of miRNA. In vitro experiments, including function-gain and luciferase activity assays, were also performed to assess the roles of miRNAs. The results indicated that NOX2 was significantly increased in brain tissues subjected to I/R and in SH-SY5Y cells subjected to H/R, while the expression of miR-532-3p (putative target of NOX2) was significantly decreased in brain tissues and plasma. Overexpression of miR-532-3p significantly suppressed NOX2 expression and ROS generation in SH-SY5Y cells subjected to H/R, as well as reduced the relative luciferase activity of cells transfected with a reporter gene plasmid. Collectively, these data indicated that miR-532-3p may be a target of NOX2 and a biomarker for CI/R injury. Thus, the present study may provide a novel target for drug development and IS therapy.

Enzymes have been widely used because of their catalytic properties, and immobilization is a promising technique to improve their catalytic activity and stability. Due to their large specific surface areas, exceptional chemical, mechanical, thermal and cost effective characteristics, nanomaterials should be ideal carriers for the immobilization of enzymes. Enzymes immobilized on nano-carriers are more robust and stable, and can be recycled and reused. This review focuses on the nanomaterial immobilized enzymes and their applications. The introduction addresses the advantages of immobilized enzymes and the features of enzyme immobilization nanocarriers. The next section covers carbonaceous nanomaterials used in enzymes immobilization, with subsections on carbon nanotube, graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide. The third section treats metallic nanomaterials for enzymes immobilization, with subsections on metal (gold), metal oxide (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) and metal hydroxide (layered double hydroxide) nanomaterials. Then, the next section summarizes the applications of nanomaterial immobilized enzymes. A concluding section discusses the challenges and prospects of nanomaterial immobilized enzymes.

Direct seeded rice (DSR) has received much attention because of its time- and labour-saving and low-input demand. However, the long-term cultivation method of seedling-transplantation has led to loss of some low-temperature-tolerant genes expressed at the bud stage. It has made many currently popular rice varieties unsuitable for direct seeding production. Therefore, it is important to identify cold-tolerance genes at the bud stage and to provide genes for subsequent molecular marker assistant breeding. In this study, we used a recombinant inbred line population constructed by cross of Lijiangxintuanheigu (LTH) and Shennong 265 (SN265) and its linkage map containing 2818 markers to detect cold tolerance QTLs at the bud stage. A total of five QTLs were detected on rice chromosomes 1, 3, 9, and 11. All the cold tolerance alleles were from the cold-tolerant parent LTH. The LOD values of these QTLs ranged from 3.05 to 24.01, and the phenotypic variations ranged from 8.0% to 53.5%. Among them, the major QTL qCTB11b was located in a 790 kb interval of 21.24 Mb to 22.03 Mb on the long arm of chromosome 11. Subsequently, the “selective mapping” strategy was used for QTL verification and pyramiding effect analysis. Genetic improvement of cold tolerance at the bud stage would be achieved through pyramiding more QTLs. These results not only promote people’s understanding of the genetic basis for cold tolerance at the bud stage in rice but also provide theoretical basis and technical guidance for genetic improvement of DSR varieties.

A two-dimensional Co(II) complex [Co2(BPDC)2(TMIB)·H2O·DMA]n (1) (TMIB = 1,3,5-tris(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)benzene, H2BPDC = 2-(4-carboxybenzoyl)benzoic acid) has been hydrothermally synthesized and...

A new Cu(II) metal-organic framework, [Cu(BMIOPE)(Br-BDC)] n (1) [Br-H2BDC = 5-bromo-isophthalic acid, BMIOPE = 4,4′-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)diphenyl ether], has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized through IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 possesses a unique two-fold interpenetrating two-dimensional framework with sql topology. The photocatalytic property of complex 1 for oxidative degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue with hydrogen peroxide was examined under UV irradiation.

Lithium metal has been considered to be the most promising anode material for the new generation of energy-storage system. However, challenges still stand in protecting lithium metal from spontaneous reactions with electrolytes and preventing the dendritic propagation, both of which would lead to undesirable decrease in Coulombic efficiency. Polysulfone (PSf) membrane with high rigidity and free-volume cavities of approximately 0.3 nm was employed to provide a stable interface on the surface of anodic electrode. The isotropic channels were constructed by the interconnected and uniformly distributed free volumes in the polymer matrix, and were expected to be swelled by solvent molecules and anions of lithium salt and to allow Li+ ions to pass through onto the electrode surface. As a result, dendrite-free morphology of deposited lithium was observed. The stabilized interface arose from the PSf film was verified by the promoted performances of Cu|Li cells and steady voltage polarization of Li|Li cells. The full cell with PSf coated anode exhibited excellent cyclability (85% capacity retention rate over 400 cycles at 1 C) and an outstanding rate capability (117 mAh g−1 at 5 C). The beneficial performances were further verified by the EIS results. This work provides a new strategic idea to settle the dendritic problems of Li metal anodes.

Background Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common carcinomas in men worldwide. The lack of effective therapies urges the development of novel therapeutic options against PC. Quercetin (Quer) is a flavonoid compound that has been shown to effectively inhibit PC in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms await elucidation. Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 has been reported as an oncogenic target in multiple types of cancers, including PC. Previous data showed that quercetin promoted the apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes by upregulating MALAT1 in rheumatoid arthritis. However, we speculate that mechanisms are different in PC. Materials and Methods Human PC cell line PC-3 and its xenograft tumor were chosen as in vitro and in vivo models for PC. A series of in vitro and in vivo functional experiments were carried out to elucidate the role of MALAT1 in quercetin treatment against PC. Western blot was performed to measure the expression of related proteins to explore underlying molecular mechanisms. Results We showed for the first time that MALAT1 expression was significantly downregulated in quercetin-treated PC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Also, quercetin inhibited the proliferation of PC cells and the growth of xenograft tumors. Moreover, quercetin suppressed EMT process, promoted apoptosis and deactivated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway during the progression of PC. MALAT1 overexpression in PC cells resulted in the resistance against quercetin treatment. Conclusion Our study illustrated, for the first time, that MALAT1 played an important role in quercetin treatment against PC by inhibiting EMT process and promoting apoptosis, providing a new molecular basis for the application of quercetin in PC treatment.

The solubility of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) in 12 pure solvents was measured in the temperature range of 298.15–358.15 K by the static equilibrium method through high-p...

Background Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is identified as a urinary andrological diseases that afflict men due to various discomforts. It is urgent and meaningful to develop the novel and effective treatments as a result of the unclear etiology and dismal therapeutic effect of CP/CPPS. Lycopene exerts a crucial role in numerous chronic inflammatory diseases owing to its potent antioxidant capacity. Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of lycopene on CP/CPPS and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods A CP/CPPS model with complete Freund's adjuvant was established in this study. Afterward, intragastric lycopene or corn oil was administered daily for 4 consecutive weeks. Finally, the cardiac blood and prostate tissue samples were collected from rats to carry out related evaluation and testing. Results It was found in this study that lycopene alleviated changes in prostate histopathology compared with those in the complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced CP/CPPS model rats without lycopene treatment. Furthermore, lycopene was suggested to reduce the levels of chemokines MCP1 and MIP‐1α, down‐regulate the expression levels of cytokines (such as TNFα, IL‐1β, IL‐2, and IL‐6), and up‐regulate those of CAT, GSH‐PX, and T‐SOD, decrease that of malondialdehyde. Moreover, it also inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, NF‐κB, and enhanced phosphorylation of the Nrf2 in the CP/CPPS rat model. Discussion and Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that lycopene exerts potent anti‐ CP/CPPS Seffects through alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which is probably attributed to the interaction of NF‐κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2 signaling pathways in rats. As a natural antioxidant, lycopene may serve as a promising pharmaceutical preparation for treating CP/CPPS.

Objective: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo the phenotypic changes from contractile to synthetic state during vascular remodeling after ischemia. SIRT1 protects against stress-induced vascular remodeling via maintaining VSMC differentiated phenotype. However, the effect of smooth muscle SIRT1 on the functions of endothelial cells (ECs) has not been well clarified. Here, we explored the role of smooth muscle SIRT1 in endothelial angiogenesis after ischemia and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: We performed a femoral artery ligation model using VSMC specific human SIRT1 transgenic (SIRT1-Tg) and knockout (KO) mice. Angiogenesis was assessed in in vivo by quantification of the total number of capillaries, wound healing and matrigel plug assays, and in vitro ECs by tube formation, proliferation and migration assays. The interaction of HIF1α with circRNA was examined by using RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down and in situ hybridization assays. Results: The blood flow recovery was significantly attenuated in SIRT1-Tg mice, and markedly improved in SIRT1-Tg mice treated with SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 and in SIRT1-KO mice. The density of capillaries significantly decreased in the ischemic gastrocnemius of SIRT1-Tg mice compared with SIRT1-KO and WT mice, with reduced expression of VEGFA, which resulted in decreased number of arterioles. We identified that the phenotypic switching of SIRT1-Tg VSMCs was attenuated in response to hypoxia, with high levels of contractile proteins and reduced expression of the synthetic markers and NG2, compared with SIRT1-KO and WT VSMCs. Mechanistically, SIRT1-Tg VSMCs inhibited endothelial angiogenic activity induced by hypoxia via the exosome cZFP609. The cZFP609 was delivered into ECs, and detained HIF1α in the cytoplasm via its interaction with HIF1α, thereby inhibiting VEGFA expression and endothelial angiogenic functions. Meantime, the high cZFP609 expression was observed in the plasma of the patients with atherosclerotic or diabetic lower extremity peripheral artery disease, associated with reduced ankle-brachial index. Knockdown of cZFP609 improved blood flow recovery after hindlimb ischemia in SIRT1-Tg mice. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that SIRT1 may impair the plasticity of VSMCs. cZFP609 mediates VSMCs to reprogram endothelial functions, and serves as a valuable indicator to assess the prognosis and clinical outcomes of ischemic diseases.

The crystal structures and stability of energetic compounds are closely related to the energy, safety and reliability of weapons. Searching for new solid forms of an energetic compound has become an integral part of its development. The studied compound, carbonic dihydrazidinium bis[3-(5-nitroimino-1,2,4-triazolate)] (CBNT), is a recently synthesized high energy and low sensitivity energetic ionic salt with promising applications. Herein, we have investigated the crystal structure evolution and searched for new solid forms of CBNT under different conditions via the solvent induction method. The phase composition of all screened samples was analysed by powder or single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Four new solid forms of CBNT·2H2O (1), H2BNT·2DMSO (2), H2BNT·2H2O (3) and [NH2(CH3)2+]2[BNT2−]·2H2O (4) (BNT2− = bis[3-(5-nitroimino-1,2,4-triazolate)2−]) were obtained from water, DMSO, BL/H2O and DMF/H2O, respectively. Their molecular interactions were analysed by theoretical simulations of the Hirshfeld surface and molecular electrostatic potentials. Furthermore, the energetic properties have been verified through EXPLO5.

In recent years, more and more research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has focused on exploring their practical applications, where the stability is crucial. Besides the metal-ligand coordination bond, the configuration of the ligand also plays an important role in determining the stability of resulting MOFs. In this work, we demonstrate that fixing flexible arms of core-shared ligands can enhance the stability of their Zr(IV)-MOFs. Two groups, four core-shared tetracarboxylate ligands, 3,3',3″,3‴-(pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetrayltetrakis(benzene-4,1-diyl))tetraacrylate (PTSA

In order to study the effect of water and CH4 concentration on gas explosion, a 20L spherical explosive device was used to carry out a water-containing gas explosion experiment, and the explosion simulation was carried out with CHEMKIN-PRO, the mechanism of water on gas explosion was analyzed from the perspective of free radicals and energy. The results showed that the upper limit of gas explosion, maximum explosion pressure and temperature decreased significantly with the increase of water content. The higher the concentration of CH4, the more obvious the inhibitory effect of water on gas explosion pressure, and the optimal explosion concentration of CH4 decreased with the increase of water content. As the water content and CH4 concentration increase, the residual CH4 content increases after the explosion, the O2 content decreases, and the CO content produced increases. When the CH4 concentration is lower than the optimal concentration, water promotes the formation of CO2 to a certain extent; when the CH4 concentration is higher than the optimal explosive concentration, the CO2 content decreases with the increase of water content. Overall, water inhibits methane explosion, the addition of water on the one hand reduces the concentration of active free radicals H, O, OH, on the other hand, it interferes with the generation of gas explosion energy and consumes the kinetic energy of the gas explosion flame shock wave through heat absorption, thus inhibiting the intensity of gas explosion.

Description, Inhibition of LPA1/ROCK enhances IFN-I/III production in multiple cell types against virus infection., Growing evidence indicates the vital role of lipid metabolites in innate immunity. The lipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) concentrations are enhanced in patients upon HCV or SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the function of LPA and its receptors in innate immunity is largely unknown. Here, we found that viral infection promoted the G protein–coupled receptor LPA1 expression, and LPA restrained type I/III interferon production through LPA1. Mechanistically, LPA1 signaling activated ROCK1/2, which phosphorylated IRF3 Ser97 to suppress IRF3 activation. Targeting LPA1 or ROCK in macrophages, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and LPA1 conditional KO mice promoted interferon-induced clearance of multiple viruses. LPA1 was colocalized with the receptor ACE2 in lung and intestine. Together with previous findings that LPA1 and ROCK1/2 promoted vascular leaking or lung fibrosis, we propose that the current available preclinical drugs targeting the LPA1-ROCK module might protect from SARS-CoV-2 or various virus infections in the intestine or lung.

Long-lasting moisture retention is a huge challenge to humectants, and effective methods or additives for promote these functions are limited, especially nano-additives. Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted increasing research interest due to its ultra-small size, excellent optical properties and low toxicity, etc. However, most of researches have been focused on the photoexcited CDs and its subsequent photophysical and chemical processes, such as photoluminescence, photodynamic, photothermal and photocatalytic behavior. The intrinsic chemo-physical properties of the pristine CDs are not fully explored. Here, we report an excellent moisture retention capability of a new carmine cochineal-derived CDs (Car-CDs) for the first time. The relationship between the structure of Car-CDs and its moisture retention capability is revealed. More interestingly, the effective applications of Car-CDs in moisturizing lipstick are demonstrated. This work expands the research and application of CDs into a broad, new area, potentially in skin care. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01029-6.

Background:Lycopene epsilon-cyclase (ε-LCY) is a key enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway (CBP) of higher plants. In previous work, we cloned two Ntε-LCY genes from allotetraploid tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Ntε-LCY2 and Ntε-LCY1, and demonstrated the overall effect of Ntε-LCY genes on carotenoid biosynthesis and stress resistance. However, their genetic and functional characteristics require further research in polyploid plants.Results: Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to obtain Ntε-LCY2 and Ntε-LCY1 mutants in allotetraploid N.tabacum K326. Ntε-LCY2 and Ntε-LCY1 had similar promoter cis-acting elements, including light-responsive elements. The Ntε-LCY genes were expressed in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and young fruit, and their highest expression levels were found in leaves. Ntε-LCY2 and Ntε-LCY1 genes responded differently to normal light and high light stress. Both the Ntε-LCY2 and the Ntε-LCY1 mutants had a more rapid leaf growth rate, especially ntε-lcy2-1. The expression levels of CBP genes were increased in the ntε-lcy mutants, and their total carotenoid content was higher. Under both normal light and high light stress, the ntε-lcy mutants had higher photosynthetic capacities and heat dissipation levels than the wild type, and this was especially true of ntε-lcy2-1. The reactive oxygen species content was lower in leaves of the ntε-lcy mutants.Conclusion: In summary, the expression patterns and biological functions of the Ntε-LCY genes Ntε-LCY1 and Ntε-LCY2 differed in several respects. The mutation of Ntε-LCY2 was associated with a greater increase in the content of chlorophyll and various carotenoid components, and it enhanced the stress resistance of tobacco plants under high light.

Muscle atrophy usually occurs under mechanical unloading, which increases the risk of injury to reduce the functionality of the moving system, while there is still no effective therapy until now. It was found that miR-194 was significantly downregulated in a muscle atrophy model, and its target protein was the myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C). miR-194 could promote muscle differentiation and also inhibit ubiquitin ligases, thus miR-194 could be used as a nucleic acid drug to treat muscle atrophy, whereas miRNA was unstable in vivo, limiting its application as a therapeutic drug. A gelatin nanosphere (GN) delivery system was applied for the first time to load exogenous miRNA here. Exogenous miR-194 was loaded in GNs and injected into the muscle atrophy model. It demonstrated that the muscle fiber cross-sectional area, in situ muscle contractile properties, and myogenic markers were increased significantly after treatment. It proposed miR-194 loaded in GNs as an effective treatment for muscle atrophy by promoting muscle differentiation and inhibiting ubiquitin ligase activity. Moreover, the developed miRNA delivery system, taking advantage of its tunable composition, degradation rate, and capacity to load various drug molecules with high dosage, is considered a promising platform to achieve precise treatment of muscle atrophy-related diseases.

Objective This study aims to explore a three-dimensional planting mode in orchards and provide theoretical basis for the efficient peach-Morchella planting and soil management after Morchella cultivation. Methods Next-generation sequencing was performed to investigate the variations in soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities and fungal composition under peach-Morchella intercropping for one year and two years, by using the soil without peach-Morchella intercropping as the control group. Results Peach-Morchella intercropping decreased the soil bulk density, and significantly increased the maximum field capacity, non-capillary porosity and total porosity, organic matter, available potassium and available zinc, which together improved soil structure and soil fertility. Besides, the intercropping mode obviously enhanced soil enzyme activities and mineral absorption and transformation in peach orchard soils. The intercropping also resulted in a decline of soil fungal diversity, and the 2-year soil samples were of higher abundance of Zygomycota. More importantly, peach-Morchella intercropping elevated the yields of both peach and Morchella, bringing about obviously higher economic benefits. Conclusion Continuous peach-Morchella intercropping improves the soil structure and fertility while decreases soil fungal diversity, which can contribute to greater economic benefits of the peach orchard. Our findings shed new light on the intercropping-fungus-soil relationship, and may facilitate the further development of peach-Morchella intercropping.

As the next generation of digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) platform, Micro-electrode-dot-array (MEDA) has sea-of-micro-electrodes that support fine-grained control of the droplet and constant real-time monitoring of droplet paths. As MEDA biochips are expected to be had a booming market in the near future, their security, especially the protection of intellectual property (IP), has become the focus of the academic community. In this paper, we first propose a logic encryption-based IP protection scheme for MEDA biochips, called MEDASec, which is without modifying the structure. Our scheme aims to hide the droplet mix-split operation in bioassay, making the IP akin to a black-box in the manufacturing process. Besides, increasing computing power has facilitated the threat of brute force attacks on the secret key. In response to the brute force attack, we propose security metrics for the first time, called RRA, to evaluate the ratio of reagents that result from biochemical reactions. Experimental results on multiple bioassays demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed logical encryption strategy against the brute force attack.

Transparent conductive coating (TCO) used as front contact layer in MoO x /n-Si heterojunction solar cells should feature excellent electrical properties, low optical absorption and high work function simultaneously. In this study, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), titanium-doped indium oxide (ITiO) and zinc-doped indium oxide (IZO) deposited as front contact layer at room temperature by sputtering were evaluated. The open-circuit voltage is hardly affected by the work function of TCO film. The IZO front contact with Wf=5.22 eV enables to highest V oc of 606 mV. Meanwhile, high mobility and transmittance also boost the short-circuit current density to 33.04 mA/cm2. A cell efficiency of 12.2% has been achieved by applying IZO front contact and has high potential to obtain better electrical properties by introducing back surface field structure.

During germinal center (GC) reactions, activated B cells undergo clonal expansion and functional maturation to produce high-affinity antibodies and differentiate into plasma and memory cells, accompanied with class-switching recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM). Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is responsible for both CSR and SHM in GC B cells. Transcriptional mechanisms underlying AID regulation and GC B cell reactions are still not well understood. Here, we show that expression of Ascl2 transcription factor is upregulated in GC B cells. Ectopic expression of Ascl2 promotes GC B cell development and enhances antibody production and affinity maturation. Conversely, deletion of Ascl2 in B cells impairs the GC response. Genome-wide analysis reveals that Ascl2 directly regulates GC B cell-related genes, including AID; ectopic expression of AID in Ascl2-deficient B cells rescues their antibody defects. Thus, Ascl2 regulates AID transcription and promotes GC B cell responses.