Search

Abstract Background NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2) has been identified as an important mediator for tumor progression in multiple malignancies. Nevertheless, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods Bioinformatic analysis was performed to assess the expression and prognosis of NUAK2 in patients with LUAD. The NUAK2 expression was measured in multiple LUAD cell lines, and the loss-of-function experiment was conducted. Cell proliferation ability was assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Spheroid formation, alkaline phosphatase (AP) staining, tube formation and SA-β-gal staining assays were performed to examine stemness, angiogenesis and senescence. Lipid peroxidase was assessed by TBARS production and lipid ROS. Western blot was used to detect critical proteins. In addition, A549 cells were treated with ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) for a rescue assay. Finally, A549 cells were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of mice to establish LUAD-bearing mouse model, and the tumor weight and size were detected. Results NUAK2 was upregulated in patients with LUAD and LUAD cell lines. NUAK2 depletion inhibited cell viability, colonies, tumor spheres and decreased Oct4 and Nanog expression, confirming NUAK2 depletion inhibited proliferation and stemness of A549 cells. Meanwhile, NUAK2 depletion blocked angiogenesis via reducing formed tubes and VEGFR1/2 expression, and promoted senescence of A549 cells by elevating SA-β-gal-positive cells and p16, p21 and p53 expression. Moreover, NUAK2 depletion elevated lipid ROS, TBARS production and Fe2+ level, demonstrating that NUAK2 depletion could trigger ferroptosis in A549 cells. Furthermore, the rescue experiments revealed that the impacts of NUAK2 depletion on malignant behaviors in A549 cells were partly weakened by additional Fer-1 treatment. Finally, in vivo experiments demonstrated that NUAK2 knockdown greatly inhibited tumor growth in LUAD-bearing mice. Conclusion In summary, NUAK2 depletion impeded oncogenic phenotypes of A549 cells partly via triggering ferroptosis, suggesting NUAK2 as a novel target for treating LUAD.

To investigate the quality characteristics of different varieties of blueberry, the quality differences on appearance, physicochemical properties, and sugar and acid composition were analyzed. At the same time, correlation analysis was employed to analyze the correlation of different indexes and principal component analysis was employed to evaluate the quality characteristics of 9 varieties of blueberry. The results showed that different varieties of blueberry exhibited rich diversity in appearance, physicochemical properties, and sugar and acid composition. There was a high correlation between multiple indicators such as glucose and fructose (r=0.93), FRAP and DPPH (r=0.755). PCA results indicated that citric acid, pH, b*, total phenol, DPPH, flavonoid and juice yield were key indicators for evaluating the quality of blueberry, and the quality characteristics of 'Canlan', 'Laigexi' and 'Shuangfeng' were excellent fruit shape index (>0.73), good solid to acid ratio of 6.12~9.57 and suitable for fresh consumption. The quality characteristics of 'Baerdewen', 'Duke' and 'Weisan' included the high in sugar, acid and antioxidant capacity, suitable for juice and wine and other products development. The flavonoid contents of 'Weisan' and 'Duke' were 1.95 and 1.62 mg/g, and the total phenol contents were 1.34 and 1.38 mg/g, respectively. The quality characteristics of 'Weisan' and 'Duke' were high content of total phenol and flavonoid, suitable for functional product development. The results above will serve an important reference to screen blueberry varieties for different purposes.

Abstract Objective To compare the diagnostic power among various machine learning algorithms utilizing multi-sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics in detecting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Additionally, this research aimed to create and validate the optimal diagnostic model. Methods In this retrospective analysis, 526 patients were included, comprising 178 individuals with ACL tears and 348 with a normal ACL. Radiomics features were derived from multi-sequence MRI scans, encompassing T1-weighted imaging and proton density (PD)-weighted imaging. The process of selecting the most reliable radiomics features involved using interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) testing, t tests, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) technique. After the feature selection process, five machine learning classifiers were created. These classifiers comprised logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and multilayer perceptron (MLP). A thorough performance evaluation was carried out, utilizing diverse metrics like the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), specificity, accuracy, sensitivity positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The classifier exhibiting the best performance was chosen. Subsequently, three models were developed: the PD model, the T1 model, and the combined model, all based on the optimal classifier. The diagnostic performance of these models was assessed by employing AUC values, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Results Out of 2032 features, 48 features were selected. The SVM-based multi-sequence radiomics outperformed all others, achieving AUC values of 0.973 and 0.927, sensitivities of 0.933 and 0.857, and specificities of 0.930 and 0.829, in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Conclusion The multi-sequence MRI radiomics model, which is based on machine learning, exhibits exceptional performance in diagnosing ACL tears. It provides valuable insights crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of knee joint injuries, serving as an accurate and objective supplementary diagnostic tool for clinical practitioners.

Abstract Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has demonstrated its potential to enhance the light energy utilization ratio of perovskite solar cells by interacting with metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and perovskite layers. However, comprehensive investigations into how MOF design and synthesis impact FRET in perovskite systems are scarce. In this work, nanoscale HIAM‐type Zr‐MOF (HIAM‐4023, HIAM‐4024, and HIAM‐4025) is meticulously tailored to evaluate FRET's existence and its influence on the perovskite photoactive layer. Through precise adjustments of amino groups and acceptor units in the organic linker, HIAM‐MOFs are synthesized with the same topology, but distinct photoluminescence (PL) emission properties. Significant FRET is observed between HIAM‐4023/HIAM‐4024 and the perovskite, confirmed by spectral overlap, fluorescence lifetime decay, and calculated distances between HIAM‐4023/HIAM‐4024 and the perovskite. Conversely, the spectral overlap between the PL emission of HIAM‐4025 and the perovskite's absorption spectrum is relatively minimal, impeding the energy transfer from HIAM‐4025 to the perovskite. Therefore, the HIAM‐4023/HIAM‐4024‐assisted perovskite devices exhibit enhanced EQE via FRET processes, whereas the HIAM‐4025 demonstrates comparable EQE to the pristine. Ultimately, the HIAM‐4023‐assisted perovskite device achieves an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.22% compared with pristine devices (PCE of 22.06%) and remarkable long‐term stability under ambient conditions and continuous light illumination.

Abstract Objective A thorough examination of the available approaches is crucial to comprehensively understand the variance among the alignment strategies employed in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this study, we assessed the functional outcomes during the perioperative and postoperative periods of TKA in patients using generic instruments with varus knee to compare the mechanical alignment (MA) and kinematic alignment (KA) procedures. Methods A total of 127 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College who had undergone unilateral TKA between November 2019 and April 2021 were included. The patients with varus knee deformity were categorized into two groups [type I (n = 64) and type IV (n = 63)] based on the modified coronal plane alignment of the knee (mCPAK) classification. The type I and IV groups were further subdivided into MA (n = 30 and n = 32) and KA subgroups (n = 34 and n = 21), respectively. The clinical information collected included sex, surgical side, age, body mass index, and perioperative data [including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification]. All patients were monitored for 12 months post-surgery to evaluate the recovery of knee joint function. During this period, the Knee Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR) and the active range of motion (AROM) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were compared at different time points, i.e., before the operation and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post-operation. Additionally, the patients’ subjective experiences were assessed at 6 and 12 months post-surgery using Forgotten Joint Score Knee (FJS-12 Knee), while complications were recorded throughout the monitoring period. Results No significant variances were observed in ASA classification, operation duration, blood loss volume during surgery, and hospital stay length between the patients who underwent KA TKA and those who received MA TKA (P > 0.05). During the initial 6 weeks post-operation, the KA group exhibited a significantly reduced average VAS pain score (P 0.05). Furthermore, the KA group had significantly higher scores on the KOOS JR at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year following the surgery (P 0.05). The KA cohort also exhibited a significant increase in FJS-12 Knee at 1 year following the operation (P 0.05). Thus, compared to the MA method, the KA procedure provided pain relief and improved active motion range within 6 weeks after the surgery in patients undergoing TKA. Further, the KOOS JR exhibited significant increases at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year while the FJS-12 Knee demonstrated a significant increase at 1 year after the KA TKA procedure. Conclusion Therefore, our study results suggest that the KA approach can be considered in patients using generic instruments with varus alignment of the knee, particularly those with mCPAK type I and IV varus knees, to help improve patient satisfaction.

The Pichia kluyveri, a proliferation commonly found in Sichuan pickles (SCPs), can accelerate the growth and reproduction of spoilage bacteria, causing off-odor development and decay. Although D-limonene, a common natural preservative, effectively restricts P. kluyveri, its inhibitory mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate this molecular mechanism by investigating the impact on basic P. kluyveri metabolism. The findings revealed that D-limonene inhibited P. kluyveri growth and disrupted the transcription of the genes responsible for encoding the enzymes involved in cell wall and membrane synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathway. The results indicated that these events disrupted crucial metabolism such as cell wall and membrane integrity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance. These insights provided a comprehensive understanding of the inhibitory effect of D-limonene on the growth and reproduction of P. kluyveri while highlighting its potential application in the SCP industry.

The continuous research interest in organic–inorganic hybrid materials can be attributed to the synergistic or complementary interactions between their organic and inorganic components, which, in turn, opens up a wide array of potential applications [...]

Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) is a hermaphroditic fish with male prematurity, which is also an economically important mariculture species in coastal areas of China. Although the production yield has been increasing in recent years, artificial breeding of this species remains imperfect due to the lack understanding of its sex differentiation mechanism. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic sequencing to screen for sex-related genes in different stage of the testis, ovotestis, ovary, hypothalamus, and pituitary tissues of yellowfin seabream. During gonad development (from intersex to mature stage), Gnrh3, Kiss2, and Dbh were expressed in the hypothalamus and Lhb and Fshb were expressed in the pituitary. Sex-related genes such as Hsd11b1, Foxl2l, Amh, and Gsdf were among the top 10 downregulated genes in the intersex testis compared with the mature testis. The expression of Hsd11b, Wnt, and Sox families genes differed significantly in the sex change process among functional mature gonads. In addition, treatment with estradiol resulted in feminizing of the ovotestis. Inhibition of androgens or estrogens promoted ovarian or testicular steps of ovotestis development. In summary, we systematically evaluated gene expression profiles during yellowfin seabream gonad development from intersex to functional male or female. Our results confirmed that regulation by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and the promotion of sex steroid hormones acted on this process, and they provide a reference for further studies of the involvement of the HPG axis in sex change and of sex induction methods in yellowfin seabream.

Due to the important role of forests in carbon neutrality, it is a big task in accurately calculating and predicting forest carbon storage and carbon sink capacity in recent years. However, considering the factors on the capacity of forest carbon sequestration, ecologists and foresters consider different models to evaluate the forest carbon sink ability at different scales, with foresters focusing more on forest growth models, while ecologists adding more climate and environmental factors, which may result in inconsistent results in carbon storage. Therefore, constructing an integrated model by combining the forestry and ecology models is essential for accurately quantifying and characterizing the forest carbon sink potential at the regional scale. Here, we proposed a new forest carbon sink potential index (FCSPI), which is defined as fractional deficiency of the current forest carbon to its maximum level, based on forest permanent plots, climate, and edaphic data to evaluate the forest sink potential ability from stand level to zonal scale across the northern subtropical zone in Hubei province, China, which coupled the stand growth model and climate-productivity model. The results at stand level showed that the R2 and RMSE of FCSPI were 0.78 and 0.072 respectively, which indicated that the FCSPI is an intuitive, highly practical, straightforward, easy, and rapid to implement methodology for forest carbon sequestration assessment. Moreover, FCSPI can conveniently extended from stand scale to zonal scale based on the site quality index for carbon sink (SIC) and stand age variables, which were derived from the opened climate, edaphic, and topographic data. The results of wall-to-wall FCSPI across the subtropical forest in Hubei province reveal the current and future carbon potential sequestration, which can help managers to focus on forest management for climate-smart actions and planning in forest ecosystem services framework.

The remarkable optoelectronic properties of organometal halide perovskite solar cells have captivated significant attention in the energy sector. Nevertheless, the instability of 3D perovskites, despite their extensive study and attainment of high-power conversion efficiency, remains a substantial obstacle in advancing PSCs for practical applications and eventual commercialization. To tackle this issue, researchers have devised mixed-dimensional perovskite structures combining 1D and 3D components. This innovative approach entails incorporating stable 1D perovskites into 3D perovskite matrices, yielding a significant improvement in long-term stability against various challenges, including moisture, continuous illumination, and thermal stress. Notably, the incorporation of 1D perovskite yields a multitude of advantages. Firstly, it efficiently passivates defects, thereby improving the overall device quality. Secondly, it retards ion migration, a pivotal factor in degradation, thus further bolstering stability. Lastly, the inclusion of 1D perovskite facilitates charge transport, ultimately resulting in an elevated device efficiency. In this succinct review, we thoroughly encapsulate the recent progress in PSCs utilizing 1D/3D mixed-dimensional architectures. These advancements encompass both stacked bilayer configurations of 1D/3D structures and mixed monolayer structures of 1D/3D. Additionally, we tackle critical challenges that must be surmounted and offer insights into the prospects for further advancements in this domain.

Abstract Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been investigated recently in perovskite photovoltaics owing to their potential to boost optoelectronic performance and device stability. However, the impact of variations in the MOF side chain on perovskite characteristics and the mechanism of MOF/perovskite film formation remains unclear. In this study, three nanoscale thiol‐functionalized UiO‐66‐type Zr‐based MOFs (UiO‐66‐(SH)2, UiO‐66‐MSA, and UiO‐66‐DMSA) are systematically employed and examined in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Among these MOFs, UiO‐66‐(SH)2, with its rigid organic ligands, exhibited a strong interaction with perovskite materials with more efficient suppression of perovskite vacancy defects. More importantly, A detailed and in‐depth discussion is provided on the formation mechanism of UiO‐66‐(SH)2‐assisted perovskite film upon in situ GIWAXS performed during the annealing process. The incorporation of UiO‐66‐(SH)2 additives substantially facilitates the conversion of PbI2 into the perovskite phase, prolongs the duration of stage I, and induces a delayed phase transformation pathway. Consequently, the UiO‐66‐(SH)2‐assisted device demonstrates reduced defect density and superior optoelectronic properties with optimized power conversion efficiency of 24.09% and enhanced long‐term stability under ambient environment and continuous light illumination conditions. This study acts as a helpful design guide for desired MOF/perovskite structures, enabling further advancements in MOF/perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Controlled immune response, enhanced osteogenesis, and antibacterial effect are essential for successful implanted biomaterials in the long-term. However, the previous research only considers one of the above-mentioned materials’ properties, and the potential synergetic effects are still unknown. Inspired by the mussel adhesion-mediated ions-coordinated strategy, a multifunctional coating integrated with bioactive Sr2+ and antibacterial Cu2+ was fabricated the multifunctional PEEK implants (PEEK-PDA-Sr/Cu). Compared to the uncoating PEEK, the PEEK implants with a multifunctional coating can regulate the M1 subtypes of macrophages to M2 subtypes due to the presence of Sr2+, which further promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Even under the bacterial infection environment, the PEEK implants with a multifunctional coating can still enhance the osseointegration of bone implants due to the antibacterial properties of Cu2+. Taken together, PEEK implants with a multifunctional coating can provide an osteogenic immune microenvironment with enhanced osteogenesis and antibacterial property, which is essential for successful implantation in the long-term.

The discovery of antibiotics and pesticides has greatly contributed to the social and economic development of human society but, due to the long-term irrational application, it has led to drug-resistant microorganisms, environmental damage, and other hazards, so the selection of alternative natural, safe, and non-hazardous bioactive substances is an effective solution for this problem. D-limonene is a bioactive compound widely present in various plant essential oils, exhibiting excellent broad-spectrum bioactivity and promising prospects for development and clinical application. This review provides a detailed overview of the biological activities of D-limonene, emphasizing its antimicrobial, anthelmintic, insecticidal, and medicinal potential. While nanoencapsulation technology shows promise in improving the physicochemical properties of D-limonene and enhancing its practical applications, it is also crucial to comprehensively evaluate the potential side effects of D-limonene before use.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and aggressive form of cancer that poses significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have gained attention due to their influential role in immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the intricate interactions between Treg cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for unraveling the mechanisms underlying ESCC progression and for developing effective prognostic models and immunotherapeutic strategies.Methods: A combination of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq analysis was utilized to explore the role of Treg cells within the TME of ESCC. The accuracy and applicability of the prognostic model were assessed through multi-dimensional evaluations, encompassing an examination of the model’s performance across various dimensions, such as the mutation landscape, clinical relevance, enrichment analysis, and potential implications for immunotherapy strategies.Results: The pivotal role of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling pathway within the ESCC TME was investigated, with a focus on its impact on Treg cells and other subpopulations. Through comprehensive integration of bulk sequencing data, a Treg-associated signature (TAS) was constructed, revealing that ESCC patients with elevated TAS (referred to as high-TAS individuals) experienced significantly improved prognoses. Heightened immune infiltration and increased expression of immune checkpoint markers were observed in high-TAS specimens. The model’s validity was established through the IMvigor210 dataset, demonstrating its robustness in predicting prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. Heightened therapeutic benefits were observed in immune-based interventions for high-TAS ESCC patients. Noteworthy differences in pathway enrichment patterns emerged between high and low-TAS cohorts, highlighting potential avenues for therapeutic exploration. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of key model genes was substantiated by analyzing clinical samples from ten paired tumor and adjacent tissues, revealing differential expression levels.Conclusion: The study established a TAS that enables accurate prediction of patient prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This achievement holds significant implications for the clinical management of ESCC, offering valuable insights for informed therapeutic interventions.

Abstract Metal halide perovskites can be readily synthesized, they exhibit tunable physical properties and excellent performance, and they are heavily studied optoelectronic materials. Compared to the typical three-dimensional perovskites, morphological-level one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures enable charge transport and photon propagation with low exciton binding energies and long charge-carrier diffusion lengths, while molecular-level 1D nanostructures exhibit good compositional and structural flexibilities, highly tunable bandgaps, strong quantum confinement effects, and excellent ambient stabilities. The 1D natures of these emerging halide perovskites enhance the performance of optoelectronic devices. Herein, we highlight recent progress realized in the syntheses and characterizations of both morphological- and molecular-level 1D halide perovskites with tunable structures, compositions, and properties, as well as their photovoltaic, light-emission, and photodetection applications. In addition, current challenges, future prospects, and promising research directions are discussed to provide guidance in advancing the field of 1D perovskites.

Abstract Mixed‐dimensional engineering of perovskite material has been demonstrated as a facile and promising strategy to improve both photovoltaic performance and long‐term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we report an in‐plane preferred orientation of 1D perovskite induced by an ionic liquid (IL) of 1‐(3‐cyanopropyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (CPMIMCl) for the first time via sequential deposition approach, leading to a mixed dimensional perovskite thin films. The generated one‐dimensional (1D) CPMIMPbI3 with in‐plane orientation resides at the grain boundaries of three‐dimensional (3D) perovskite can be appreciably observed from the morphology level, leading to creation of high‐quality films with large grain size with more efficient defect passivation. Moreover, the dispersion of IL in the bulk phase of perovskite material allows for the formation of 1D perovskite for multiple level passivation to inhibit non‐radiative recombination and optimize carrier transport. This IL engineering strategy not only yields a mixed‐dimensional perovskite heterostructure with in‐plane orientation 1D perovskite nano‐rods but also significantly improves the opto‐electronic property with suppressed trap states. As a result, the CPMIMCl‐treated PSCs show an enhanced photovoltaic performance with a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 24.13%. More importantly, benefiting from the hydrophobicity of formed 1D perovskite and defects suppression, the corresponding PSC demonstrates an excellent long‐term stability and maintain 97.1% of its pristine PCE at 25°C under 50% RH condition over 1000 h. This research provides an innovative perspective for employing the low dimensional engineering to optimize the performance and stability of photovoltaic devices.

BackgroundExtensive research has established the significant correlations between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and various stages of cancer development, including initiation, angiogenesis, progression, and resistance to therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of CAFs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and develop a risk signature to predict the prognosis of patients with LUAD.MethodsWe obtained single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data from the public database. The Seurat R package was used to process the scRNA-seq data and identify CAF clusters based on several biomarkers. CAF-related prognostic genes were further identified using univariate Cox regression analysis. To reduce the number of genes, Lasso regression was performed, and a risk signature was established. A novel nomogram that incorporated the risk signature and clinicopathological features was developed to predict the clinical applicability of the model. Additionally, we conducted immune landscape and immunotherapy responsiveness analyses. Finally, we performed in vitro experiments to verify the functions of EXO1 in LUAD.ResultsWe identified 5 CAF clusters in LUAD using scRNA-seq data, of which 3 clusters were significantly associated with prognosis in LUAD. A total of 492 genes were found to be significantly linked to CAF clusters from 1731 DEGs and were used to construct a risk signature. Moreover, our immune landscape exploration revealed that the risk signature was significantly related to immune scores, and its ability to predict responsiveness to immunotherapy was confirmed. Furthermore, a novel nomogram incorporating the risk signature and clinicopathological features showed excellent clinical applicability. Finally, we verified the functions of EXP1 in LUAD through in vitro experiments.ConclusionsThe risk signature has proven to be an excellent predictor of LUAD prognosis, stratifying patients more appropriately and precisely predicting immunotherapy responsiveness. The comprehensive characterization of LUAD based on the CAF signature can predict the response of LUAD to immunotherapy, thus offering fresh perspectives into the management of LUAD patients. Our study ultimately confirms the role of EXP1 in facilitating the invasion and growth of tumor cells in LUAD. Nevertheless, further validation can be achieved by conducting in vivo experiments.

BackgroundCurrent paradigms of anti-tumor therapies are not qualified to evacuate the malignancy ascribing to cancer stroma’s functions in accelerating tumor relapse and therapeutic resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been identified significantly correlated with tumor progression and therapy resistance. Thus, we aimed to probe into the CAFs characteristics in esophageal squamous cancer (ESCC) and construct a risk signature based on CAFs to predict the prognosis of ESCC patients.MethodsThe GEO database provided the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. The GEO and TCGA databases were used to obtain bulk RNA-seq data and microarray data of ESCC, respectively. CAF clusters were identified from the scRNA-seq data using the Seurat R package. CAF-related prognostic genes were subsequently identified using univariate Cox regression analysis. A risk signature based on CAF-related prognostic genes was constructed using Lasso regression. Then, a nomogram model based on clinicopathological characteristics and the risk signature was developed. Consensus clustering was conducted to explore the heterogeneity of ESCC. Finally, PCR was utilized to validate the functions that hub genes play on ESCC.ResultsSix CAF clusters were identified in ESCC based on scRNA-seq data, three of which had prognostic associations. A total of 642 genes were found to be significantly correlated with CAF clusters from a pool of 17080 DEGs, and 9 genes were selected to generate a risk signature, which were mainly involved in 10 pathways such as NRF1, MYC, and TGF-Beta. The risk signature was significantly correlated with stromal and immune scores, as well as some immune cells. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the risk signature was an independent prognostic factor for ESCC, and its potential in predicting immunotherapeutic outcomes was confirmed. A novel nomogram integrating the CAF-based risk signature and clinical stage was developed, which exhibited favorable predictability and reliability for ESCC prognosis prediction. The consensus clustering analysis further confirmed the heterogeneity of ESCC.ConclusionThe prognosis of ESCC can be effectively predicted by CAF-based risk signatures, and a comprehensive characterization of the CAF signature of ESCC may aid in interpreting the response of ESCC to immunotherapy and offer new strategies for cancer treatment.

BackgroundGlutamine metabolism (GM) is known to play a critical role in cancer development, including in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), although the exact contribution of GM to LUAD remains incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to discover new targets for the treatment of LUAD patients by using machine learning algorithms to establish prognostic models based on GM-related genes (GMRGs).MethodsWe used the AUCell and WGCNA algorithms, along with single-cell and bulk RNA-seq data, to identify the most prominent GMRGs associated with LUAD. Multiple machine learning algorithms were employed to develop risk models with optimal predictive performance. We validated our models using multiple external datasets and investigated disparities in the tumor microenvironment (TME), mutation landscape, enriched pathways, and response to immunotherapy across various risk groups. Additionally, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm the role of LGALS3 in LUAD.ResultsWe identified 173 GMRGs strongly associated with GM activity and selected the Random Survival Forest (RSF) and Supervised Principal Components (SuperPC) methods to develop a prognostic model. Our model’s performance was validated using multiple external datasets. Our analysis revealed that the low-risk group had higher immune cell infiltration and increased expression of immune checkpoints, indicating that this group may be more receptive to immunotherapy. Moreover, our experimental results confirmed that LGALS3 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of LUAD cells.ConclusionOur study established a prognostic model based on GMRGs that can predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy and provide novel approaches for the treatment of LUAD. Our findings also suggest that LGALS3 may be a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are monolayer cells located in the inner layer of the blood vessel. Endothelial function is crucial in maintaining local and systemic homeostasis and is precisely regulated by sophisticated signaling pathways and epigenetic regulation. Endothelial dysfunctions are the main factors for the pathophysiological process of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, hypertension, and stroke. In these pathologic processes, histone deacetylases (HDACs) involve in epigenetic regulation by removing acetyl groups from lysine residues of histones and regulating downstream gene expression. Among all HDACs, Class IIa HDACs (HDAC4, 5, 7, 9) contain only an N-terminal regulatory domain, exert limited HDAC activity, and present tissue-specific gene regulation. Here, we discuss and summarize the current understanding of this distinct subfamily of HDACs in endothelial cell functions (such as angiogenesis and immune response) with their molecular underpinnings. Furthermore, we also present new thoughts for further investigation of HDAC inhibitors as a potential treatment in several vascular diseases.

Ionic liquids (ILs) have found widespread use in controlling the crystallization process of perovskites, optimizing the morphology and enhancing the device performance, especially in the one-step method. However, research regarding the effects of ionic liquids on perovskite devices prepared using the two-step method remains relatively scarce. Here, an IL 1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate (HMIMBF4) is selected as an additive in the perovskite precursor solution for the fabrication of PSCs using the two-step method. Our study involves a systematic exploration of the precise effects of ILs on the morphology of perovskite thin films, defect density, and photovoltaic performance. IL HMIMBF4 is convincingly shown to possess a robust chemical affinity with perovskite components, thereby establishing a basis for the inhibition of ion migration. Concurrently, ILs play a pivotal role in governing the morphology of perovskite while also facilitating the conversion of lead iodide into the perovskite structure. Benefiting from the regulation of the perovskite morphology and defect states by IL HMIMBF4, the devices with an efficiency exceeding 23% is ultimately achieved. Our research provides a comprehensive comprehension and contributes to advancing the utilization of ILs in two-step photovoltaic devices.

Solution‐processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are widely and dramatically developed with certificated record efficiency up to 25.7%, which have been regarded as the most promising candidates for next‐generation photovoltaic devices. However, the current decent devices are dominantly fabricated based on traditional toxic organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide, which inevitably leads to environmental damage and potential safety accidents. As green and nontoxic molten salts at room temperature, ionic liquids (ILs) as promising alternatives for traditional toxic organic solvents have attracted intensive research interest worldwide in the field of perovskite photovoltaics with encouraging development. Herein, especially concentrating on ILs solvent engineering rather than additive or post‐treatment, discussion and summarization upon the recent progress on perovskite photovoltaics including both 3D and 2D‐based PSCs is systematically carried out. An in‐depth understanding regarding the interactions between IL molecules and perovskite precursor materials is thoroughly explored and summarized. Moreover, the detailed influence of ILs as solvent(s) on the aspects of perovskite material crystallization regulation, surface defect passivation, and performance improvement of resultant device is comprehensively overviewed and discussed. Finally, prospects of the application of ILs in the PSCs through solvent engineering are provided for further developments.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) superfamily is an ancient gene family composed of different genes encoding membrane receptors involved in ligand binding and endocytosis. These receptors typically consist of class A ligand-binding repeats (LBRs), epidermal growth factor precursor-like (EGF) domain, class b YWXD motifs, transmembrane (TM) domain, and cytoplasmic (CP) domain. Low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 13 (Lrp13), a vitellogenin receptor with a unique domain structure, belonging to the LDLR superfamily, would play an important role in vitellogenesis in teleosts. In this study, the full-length cDNA of Ec-lrp13 was isolated from the ovary of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), an economically important aquaculture species in China. The open reading frame (ORF) of Ec-lrp13 is 3831 bp in length, encoding 1276 amino acids. The Ec-Lrp13 includes several typical domains of the LDLR superfamily and contains the specific structure of the Lrp13 protein. Ec-lrp13 is predominantly expressed in ovary. During ovarian development, Ec-lrp13 was highly expressed in stage II and III ovaries but its mRNA level was significantly decreased in stage IV ovary. In situ hybridization (ISH) analysis revealed that Ec-lrp13 mRNA signals were obviously observed in the ooplasm of PG and EPV oocytes, but decreased in the LPV oocytes, and weakly found in the VG oocytes. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection showed that Ec-Lrp13 protein signals were only observed in the LPV and VG oocytes. Our data provides preliminary evidence that Lrp13 may be involved in the Vtg uptake during ovarian development of orange-spotted grouper.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, as one of the main pathogens of marine vibriosis, has brought huge losses to aquaculture. However, the interaction mechanism between V. parahaemolyticus and Epinephelus coioides remains unclear. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive multi-omics analysis of the immune response of grouper spleen to V. parahaemolyticus. Herein, E. coioides was artificially injected with V. parahaemolyticus, and it was found that the mortality was 16.7% in the early stage of infection, and accompanied by obvious histopathological lesions in the spleen. Furthermore, 1586 differentially expressed genes were screened by mRNA-seq. KEGG analysis showed that genes were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways, Acute-phase immune response, Apoptosis, Complement system and Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. As for miRNA-seq analysis, a total of 55 significantly different miRNAs were identified. Further functional annotation analysis indicated that the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in three important pathways (Phosphatidylinositol signaling system, Lysosome and Focal adhesions). Through mRNA-miRNA integrated analysis, 1427 significant miRNA–mRNA pairs were obtained and “p53 signaling pathway”, “Intestinal immune network for IgA production” were considered as two crucial pathways. Finally, miR-144-y, miR-497-x, novel-m0459-5p, miR-7133-y, miR-378-y, novel-m0440-5p and novel-m0084-3p may be as key miRNAs to regulate immune signaling pathways via the miRNA-mRNA interaction network. The above results suggest that the mRNA-miRNA integrated analysis not only sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between host and V. parahaemolyticus but also provides valuable and new insights into resistance to vibrio infection.

The estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), a group of nuclear receptors, are the first orphan receptor to be identified. In this study, six errs (errα, errβ, errγ, errγA, errγB, errδ) were first cloned from the gonads of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). Gene cloning results showed the open reading frames (ORF) of both errα, errβ, errγ, errγA, errγB, errδ were 1302 bp, 1434 bp, 1323 bp, 1566 bp and 1308 bp, coding a 432, 476, 439, 520, 434 and 337 amino acid (AA) peptide, respectively. Tissue distribution analysis showed that errα was relatively highly expressed in heart and muscle both in male and female and errγA was highly expressed in brain, stomach and muscle while the errγB was extremely highly expressed in heart and liver both in male and female. The errβ expressed relatively highly in medulla oblongata and gonad of male and female and kidney of male, while errγ expressed relatively highly in stomach of male and female. Gonad expression pattern revealed that errα, errγ, errγA and errγB were all detected from 5 to 180 day after hatching (dah) in both males and females, and errδ began to express after 60 dah. Moreover, errγ, errγA and errγB were highly expressed in 5–10 dah while errα and errδ were mainly expressed in 60–180 dah. Furthermore, luciferase assay showed that errγ could response to estrogen stimulation by modulating estrogen-signaling pathway in mandarin fish.

The Jumonji family (Jmj family) is a large family of proteins that contain the JmjC domain. Various members of this family are lysine (K)-specific demethylases, which remove methylation from the lysines of histones, and thus, are known as Jmj-KDMs. In this study, all Jmj-KDMs were identified in the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides and compared with those from Homo sapiens, Danio rerio, Takifugu rubripes, Oreochromis niloticus, and Xenopus tropicalis. The comparison revealed the teleost-specific loss of jmjd1a and the teleost-specific expansion of kdm5b, jmjd3, jmjd2a, and kdm6a in E. coioides. Analysis of the temporal expression pattern of Jmj-KDM genes in E. coioides enabled their division into different types according to their sex-related expression patterns. The kdm6 subfamily genes kdm6aa and jmjd3 (kdm6bb), which are also teleost specific, were selected for further analysis. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed the significantly higher expression of kdm6bb in bisexual-phase gonads and testes compared with ovary. Histological expression pattern analysis based on in situ hybridization (ISH) showed the high expression of kdm6aa in primary-growth stage oocytes, cortical-alveolus stage oocytes and granulosa cells, whereas kdm6aa and jmjd3 were highly expressed in Sertoli cells and spermatogonium. These results suggest that Jmj-KDMs, especially the kdm6 subfamily genes kdm6aa and jmjd3, are involved in sex-related processes in E. coioides.

The accurate identification of forest tree species is important for forest resource management and investigation. Using single remote sensing data for tree species identification cannot quantify both vertical and horizontal structural characteristics of tree species, so the classification accuracy is limited. Therefore, this study explores the application value of combining airborne high-resolution multispectral imagery and LiDAR data to classify tree species in study areas of different altitudes. Three study areas with different altitudes in Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forest Area were selected. Based on the object-oriented method for image segmentation, multi-source remote sensing feature extraction was performed. The recursive feature elimination algorithm was used to filter out the feature variables that were optimal for classifying tree species in each altitude study area. Four machine learning algorithms, SVM, KNN, RF, and XGBoost, were combined to classify tree species at each altitude and evaluate the accuracy. The results show that the diversity of tree layers decreased with the altitude in the different study areas. The texture features and height features extracted from LiDAR data responded better to the forest community structure in the different study areas. Coniferous species showed better classification than broad-leaved species within the same study areas. The XGBoost classification algorithm showed the highest accuracy of 87.63% (kappa coefficient of 0.85), 88.24% (kappa coefficient of 0.86), and 84.03% (kappa coefficient of 0.81) for the three altitude study areas, respectively. The combination of multi-source remote sensing numbers with the feature filtering algorithm and the XGBoost algorithm enabled accurate forest tree species classification.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, as a vibriosis, causes huge losses to the aquaculture industry, food poisoning in humans and activates macrophages to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Chloroquine (CQ), as an anti-inflammatory property, this study aimed to investigate the effect of CQ on inflammatory response to V. parahaemolyticus in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The result showed that V. parahaemolyticus induced the production of T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD40 and MHC II), and increased the production and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs). Meanwhile, the stimulated macrophages elevated cellular stress-released reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide synthase to trigger an antimicrobial response, and effectively reduced the accumulation of acetylated low-density lipoprotein and neutral lipids. Finally, we found that chloroquine (CQ) was involved in inhibiting inflammatory cytokine expression in response to V. parahaemolyticus. These results suggested that CQ potentially attenuated the inflammatory cytokine expression in Gram-negative bacterium-activated macrophages.

G Protein-coupled receptor 3 (Gpr3) plays a critical role in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest in mammals. To ascertain the function of Gpr3 in oocyte maturation in fish, the Gpr3 cDNA was cloned from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The open reading frame of cloned sequence was 993 bp in length, encoding 330 amino acids. Gpr3 was primarily expressed in brain regions and ovary. During oocyte maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), Gpr3 expression levels were dramatically elevated in follicular cell layers. Functional analysis showed that Gpr3 could constitutively active the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, and hCG treatment activated Gpr3 promoter activities in cultured eukaryotic cells expressing luteinizing hormone receptors (LHRs). Finally, the role of Gpr3 in oocyte maturation was studied. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), an agonist of Gpr3, had no effect on oocyte maturation in vivo, suggesting that Gpr3 may be not involved in oocyte maturation in orange-spotted grouper.

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is one of the most important commercial fish in aquaculture in the world. As females grow faster than males, the cultivation of all-female mandarin fish has great economic value and commercial prospects. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of the early gonad development and sex reversal of mandarin fish. In this study, histological methods and transcriptome sequencing techniques were used to study the early gonadal development and gene expression pattern of genetically female (XX) mandarin fish during MT-induced masculinization. The histological results showed that the labile period of sex differentiation of XX mandarin fish was before 36 dpf and MT treatment before this period could induce complete sex reversal. The transcriptome results showed that the expression levels of a few female-related genes were down-regulated by MT during the morphological differentiation stage to cytological differentiation stage of XX gonad, such as cyp19a1a, foxl2, foxl3, hsd17b1, figla, gdf9, bmp15 and β-catenin, suggesting that the changes of these genes may determine the direction of sex differentiation in mandarin fish. In addition, MT also activated the expression of some male-related genes, such as dmrt1, hsd17b3, hsd11b2, cyp11a1, cyp11b, amh, amhr2, sox9 and gsdf. Some of these genes were activated during spermatogenesis stage, suggesting that the up-regulation of these male-related genes may be the result of sex differentiation rather than the cause. The qRT-PCR results of eight randomly selected differentially expressed genes were basically consistent with the transcriptome results, which proved that the transcriptome data were reliable. These results indicated that the expression of genes related to estrogen synthesis in early development stage may play a decisive role in the direction of sex differentiation in mandarin fish.

Abstract Background Spermatogenesis is an intricate process regulated by a finely organized network. The orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish, but the regulatory mechanism of its spermatogenesis is not well-understood. In the present study, transcriptome sequencing of the male germ cells isolated from orange-spotted grouper was performed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying spermatogenesis. Results In this study, the orange-spotted grouper was induced to change sex from female to male by 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) implantation. During the spermatogenesis, male germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa) were isolated by laser capture microdissection. Transcriptomic analysis for the isolated cells was performed. A total of 244,984,338 clean reads were generated from four cDNA libraries. Real-time PCR results of 13 genes related to sex differentiation and hormone metabolism indicated that transcriptome data are reliable. RNA-seq data showed that the female-related genes and genes involved in hormone metabolism were highly expressed in spermatogonia and spermatozoa, suggesting that these genes participate in the spermatogenesis. Interestingly, the expression of zbtb family genes showed significantly changes in the RNA-seq data, and their expression patterns were further examined during spermatogenesis. The analysis of cellular localization of Eczbtb40 and the co-localization of Eczbtb40 and Eccyp17a1 in different gonadal stages suggested that Eczbtb40 might interact with Eccyp17a1 during spermatogenesis. Conclusions Our study, for the first time, investigated the transcriptome of the male germ cells from orange-spotted grouper, and identified functional genes, GO terms, and KEGG pathways involved in spermatogenesis. Furthermore, Eczbtb40 was first characterized and its role during spermatogenesis was predicted. These data will contribute to future studies on the molecular mechanism of spermatogenesis in teleosts.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) raises the issue of how hypoxia destroys normal physiological function and host immunity against pathogens. However, there are few or no comprehensive omics studies on this effect. From an evolutionary perspective, animals living in complex and changeable marine environments might develop signaling pathways to address bacterial threats under hypoxia. In this study, the ancient genomic model animal Takifugu obscurus and widespread Vibrio parahaemolyticus were utilized to study the effect. T. obscurus was challenged by V. parahaemolyticus or (and) exposed to hypoxia. The effects of hypoxia and infection were identified, and a theoretical model of the host critical signaling pathway in response to hypoxia and infection was defined by methods of comparative metabolomics and proteomics on the entire liver. The changing trends of some differential metabolites and proteins under hypoxia, infection or double stressors were consistent. The model includes transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling pathways, and the consistent changing trends indicated that the host liver tended toward cell proliferation. Hypoxia and infection caused tissue damage and fibrosis in the portal area of the liver, which may be related to TGF-β1 signal transduction. We propose that LRG (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein) is widely involved in the transition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in response to hypoxia and pathogenic infection in vertebrates as a conserved molecule.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent one of the most promising emerging photovoltaic technologies due to their high power conversion efficiency. However, despite the huge progress made not only in terms of the efficiency achieved, but also fundamental understanding of the relevant physics of the devices and issues which affect their efficiency and stability, there are still unresolved problems and obstacles on the path toward commercialization of this promising technology. In this roadmap, we aim to provide a concise and up to date summary of outstanding issues and challenges, and the progress made toward addressing these issues. While the format of this article is not meant to be a comprehensive review of the topic, it provides a collection of the viewpoints of the experts in the field, which covers a broad range of topics related to PSC commercialization, including those relevant for manufacturing (scaling up, different types of devices), operation and stability (various factors), and environmental issues (in particular the use of lead). We hope that the article will provide a useful resource for researchers in the field and that it will facilitate discussions and move forward toward addressing the outstanding challenges in this fast-developing field.

Dmrt gene family plays a very critical role in sex determination and differentiation in animals. In this study, dmrt1, dmrt2 and dmrt3 were first cloned from the gonads of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). The complete open reading frame sequences of dmrt1, dmrt2 and dmrt3 were 891, 1581 and 1419 bp, encoding 296, 526 and 473 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignments revealed that dmrt proteins were highly conserved in teleosts, especially in DNA-binding domain. Tissue distribution analysis showed that dmrt1 expressed mainly in testis, dmrt2 expressed in ovary and dmrt3 expressed in heart, muscle and gonad. Gonad expression pattern revealed dmrt1 mainly expressed in testis after 15 day after hatching, while dmrt2 mainly expressed after 60 dah. After 17α-methyltestosterone treatment, expression levels of dmrt1 and dmrt3 increased significantly, while dmrt2 expression was repressed. Furthermore, luciferase assay showed dmrt1 could activate gsdf-promotor and inhibit cyp19a1a-promotor alone in vitro. These results suggest that the dmrt1 play a most important role in testis differentiation/development and dmrt2 is critical in ovary development in mandarin fish.

Steroid hormones are essential for the normal reproductive activity in females and males, such as early sex differentiation, gonad development and sex reversal, which works by binding with the steroid receptors. In the present study, the full-length of estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ1 and ERβ2) and androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ) cDNAs were isolated from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that ERα and ERβ2 expressed mainly in the liver of females and males, and ERβ1 mostly distributed in ovary and testis. Additionally, the high expressions of ARα and ARβ in both females and males were detected in gonads and livers respectively. During the early sex differentiation stage, the expressions of ERs and ARs in female were higher than in male during 5–30 day after hatching (dah), and reached the peak level at 30 dah. In males, the expressions of ERβ1, ERβ2, and ARβ increased largely during 30 dah to 60 dah, and revealed significantly higher levels than in females during 60–180 dah. In female, the expression of ERβ2 in ovary increased sharply at 180 dah. Moreover, the result of gonadal histology revealed that the spermatocytes were observed at 45 dah and the spermatozoon could be found largely at 60 dah in males and oil droplets appeared for the first time in the oocytes at 180 dah. The expression levels of three ERs and ARβ were up-regulated and the ARα was down-regulated during female to male sex reversal induced by 17α-methyltestosterone (MT). Furthermore, after MT treatment for 30 and 35 days, the expressions of ERβ1, ERβ2 and ARβ were significantly up-regulated. These results suggest that ERβ1, ERβ2 and ARβ may play critical roles in spermatogenesis and masculinization, while ERβ2 and ERβ1 may be essential for vitellogenesis and ovary development in female.

Mixed-dimensional perovskite engineering has been demonstrated as a simple and useful approach to achieving highly efficient and more-durable perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which have attracted increasing research interests worldwide. In this work, 1D/3D mixed-dimensional perovskite has been successfully obtained by introducing DMAI via a two-step deposition method. The additive DMA+ can facilitate the crystalline growth and form 1D DMAPbI3 at grain boundaries of 3D perovskite, leading to improved morphology, longer charge carrier lifetime, and remarkably reduced bulk trap density for perovskite films. Meanwhile, the presence of low-dimension perovskite is able to prevent the intrusion of moisture, resulting in enhanced long-term stability. As a result, the PSCs incorporated with 1D DMAPbI3 exhibited a first-class power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.43% and maintained 85% of their initial efficiency after storage under ambient conditions with ~45% RH for 1000 h.

Abstract Low‐dimensional hybrid metal halides are emerging as a highly promising class of single‐component white‐emitting materials for their unique broadband emission from self‐trapped excitons (STEs). Despite substantial progress in the development of these metal halides, many challenges remain to be addressed to obtain a better fundamental understanding of the structure–property relationship and realize the full potentials of this class of materials. Here, via pressure regulation, a near 100% photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of broadband emission is achieved in a corrugated 1D hybrid metal halide C5N2H16Pb2Br6, which possesses a highly distorted structure with an initial PLQY of 10%. Compression reduces the overlap between STE states and ground state, leading to a suppressed phonon‐assisted non‐radiative decay. The PL evolution is systematically demonstrated to be controlled by the pressure‐regulated exciton–phonon coupling which can be quantified using Huang–Rhys factor S. Detailed studies of the S‐PLQY relation for a series of 1D hybrid metal halides (C5N2H16Pb2Br6, C4N2H14PbBr4, C6N2H16PbBr4, and (C6N2H16)3Pb2Br10) reveal a quantitative structure–property relationship that regulating S factor toward 28 leads to the maximum emission.

During their breeding season, estrogen induces vitellogenin (VTG) production in the liver of teleost fish through estrogen receptors (ERs) that support oocyte vitellogenesis. There are at least three ER subtypes in teleost fish, but their roles in mediating E2-induced VTG expression have yet to be ascertained. In this study, we investigated the expression of vtgs and ers in the liver of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Their expression levels were significantly increased in the breeding season and were upregulated by an estradiol (E2) injection in female fish, except for the expression of erβ1. The upregulation of vtgs, erα and erβ2 by E2 was also observed in primary hepatocytes, but these stimulatory effects could be abolished by ER antagonist ICI182780 treatment. Subsequent studies showed that ERβ antagonist Cyclofenil downregulated the E2-induced expression of vtg, erα, and erβ2, while the ERβ agonist DPN simulated their expression. Knockdown of erβ2 by siRNA further confirmed that ERβ2 mediated the E2-induced expression of vtgs and erα. To reveal the mechanism of ERβ2 in the regulation of erα expression, the erα promoter was cloned, and its activity was examined in cells. E2 treatment simulated the activity of the erα promoter in the presence of ERβ2. Deletions and site-directed mutations showed that the E2 up-regulated transcriptional activity of erα occurs through a classical half-estrogen response element- (ERE) dependent pathway. This study reveals the roles of ER subtypes in VTG expression in orange-spotted grouper and provides a possible explanation for the rapid and efficient VTG production in this species during the breeding season.

The tomato hind, Cephalopholis sonnerati, is a bottom-dwelling coral reef fish, which is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. C. sonnerati also features complex social structures and behaviour mechanisms. Here, we present a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly for C. sonnerati that was derived using PacBio sequencing and Hi-C technologies. A 1043.66 Mb genome with an N50 length of 2.49 Mb was assembled, produced containing 795 contigs assembled into 24 chromosomes. Overall, 97.2% of the complete BUSCOs were identified in the genome. A total of 26,130 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 94.26% were functionally annotated. Evolutionary analysis revealed that C. sonnerati diverged from its common ancestor with E. lanceolatus and E. akaara approximately 41.7 million years ago. In addition, comparative genome analyses indicated that the expanded gene families were highly enriched in the sensory system. Finally, we found the tissue-specific expression of 8108 genes. We found that these tissue-specific genes were highly enriched in the brain. In brief, the high-quality, chromosome-level reference genome will provide a valuable genome resource for studies of the genetic conservation, resistance breeding, and evolution of C. sonnerati.

The continuous and extensive pinewood nematode disease has seriously threatened the sustainable development of forestry in China. At present, many studies have used high-resolution remote sensing images combined with a deep semantic segmentation algorithm to identify standing dead trees in the red attack period. However, due to the complex background, closely distributed detection scenes, and unbalanced training samples, it is difficult to detect standing dead trees (SDTs) in a variety of complex scenes by using conventional segmentation models. In order to further solve the above problems and improve the recognition accuracy, we proposed a new detection method called multi-scale spatial supervision convolutional network (MSSCN) to identify SDTs in a wide range of complex scenes based on airborne remote sensing imagery. In the method, a Gaussian kernel approach was used to generate a confidence map from SDTs marked as points for training samples, and a multi-scale spatial attention block was added into fully convolutional neural networks to reduce the loss of spatial information. Further, an augmentation strategy called copy–pasting was used to overcome the lack of efficient samples in this research area. Validation at four different forest areas belonging to two forest types and two diseased outbreak intensities showed that (1) the copy–pasting method helps to augment training samples and can improve the detecting accuracy with a suitable oversampling rate, and the best oversampling rate should be carefully determined by the input training samples and image data. (2) Based on the two-dimensional spatial Gaussian kernel distribution function and the multi-scale spatial attention structure, the MSSCN model can effectively find the dead tree extent in a confidence map, and by following this with maximum location searching we can easily locate the individual dead trees. The averaged precision, recall, and F1-score across different forest types and disease-outbreak-intensity areas can achieve 0.94, 0.84, and 0.89, respectively, which is the best performance among FCN8s and U-Net. (3) In terms of forest type and outbreak intensity, the MSSCN performs best in pure pine forest type and low-outbreak-intensity areas. Compared with FCN8s and U-Net, the MSSCN can achieve the best recall accuracy in all forest types and outbreak-intensity areas. Meanwhile, the precision metric is also maintained at a high level, which means that the proposed method provides a trade-off between the precision and recall in detection accuracy.

Two-step fabricated perovskite solar cells have attracted considerable attention because of their good reproducibility and controllable crystallization during production. Optimizing the quality of perovskite films plays a decisive role in realizing superb performance via a two-step method. Many breakthroughs have been achieved to obtain high-quality film from the perspective of manipulating crystallization kinetics in the two-step preparation process, which promotes the rapid development of perovskite photovoltaics. Therefore, focusing on the crystallization process in the two-step preparation process can provide a reliable basis for optimizing the performance of two-step devices. In this review, recent progress on regulating the crystallization process for two-step PSCs is systematically reviewed. Firstly, a specific description and discussion are provided on the crystallization process of perovskite in different two-step methods, including spin-coating, immersion and evaporation. Next, to obtain high-quality perovskite film via these two-step methods, current strategies of additive engineering, composition engineering, and solvent engineering for regulating the crystallization process for two-step perovskite are classified and investigated. Lastly, the challenges which hindering the performance of the two-step perovskite photovoltaics and an outlook toward further developments are proposed.

Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), as the promising materials for the blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), own huge advantages as ultra-high color purity, flexibility and whole-spectrum tunability. Through dimensional and compositional engineering, PQD-LEDs have shown superiority in deep-blue light emission. However, compared with the fast development of red and green PeLEDs, the electroluminescent performance of PQD-LEDs has faced more obstacles. In this review, we aim to explore and state the uniqueness and the possible solutions for the bottleneck problems of the PQD-LEDs.

Perovskite-based light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) have emerged as a promising alternative owning to the excellent optoelectronic properties including narrow emission linewidths, high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), tunable emission wavelength, and high color purity. Over the past several years, significant progress has been obtained for green, red, and near-infrared PLEDs with a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of over 20%. However, the development of blue PLEDs has been limited by several technical issues including poor film quality, inefficient device structure, higher trap density, and so on. To overcome these drawbacks with improved PLQY and EQE, we summarize and analyze the recent advances towards the development of three dimensional (3D), two dimensional (2D) and quasi-2D perovskites film employing composition and/or dimensional engineering. Moreover, the utilization of perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) is also considered as a feasible strategy for the realization of high-performance blue PLEDs. We systematically evaluate the performance of sky-blue, pure-blue and deep blue PLEDs based on different perovskite materials. Finally, future prospective are proposed to promote the development of efficient blue PLEDs.

Flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) have shown great potential in the field of wearable power supply and integration with architectures in the future due to their advantages of high flexibility, light weight, portability, and compatibility with irregular electronic products. As a promising photovoltaic technology compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing process, FPSCs have made significant progress in the past several years through composition engineering, interface modification, optimization of fabrication process, and exploitation of new charge transport materials. As a result, the light-to-electricity power conversion efficiency of FPSCs has exceeded 20% recently. In this mini review, the latest developments of FPSCs are systematically summarized and discussed, including the flexible substrates and electrodes, as well as the fabrication of high-quality perovskite films. Finally, a prospect on the massive manufacturing of FPSCs as well as the challenge is also discussed.

Sex-specific markers are extremely important for unisexual breeding and understanding of sex determination mechanisms. Spotted mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri) and big eye mandarin fish (Siniperca kneri) are economically important freshwater fish in China. Here, for the first time, we successfully identified three male-specific markers in the two species. Through genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of three males, three females, one male mixed pool and one female mixed pool of spotted mandarin fish, we screened 27 potential male-specific sequences. After PCR validation, three male-specific markers were further identified. Moreover, these markers could also be used to identify genetic sex of spotted mandarin fish from different populations with 100 % accuracy. In addition, these markers were also successfully used in the identification of genetic sex of big eye mandarin fish. Notably, the sequences of male-specific markers were highly similar in the two species and the corresponding sequence of one marker was highly similar to partial genome sequence of amhy gene in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). In all, the verified male-specific markers suggested XY sex determination system existed in spotted mandarin fish and big eye mandarin fish and would play an important role in future work of sex control breeding.

Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (β-HSDs) are a group of steroidogenic enzymes that are involved in steroid biosynthesis and metabolism, and play a crucial role in mammalian physiology and development, including sex determination and differentiation. In the present study, a genome-wide analysis identified the numbers of β-hsd genes in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) (19), human (Homo sapiens) (22), mouse (Mus musculus) (24), chicken (Gallus gallus) (16), xenopus (Xenopus tropicalis) (24), coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) (17), spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) (14), zebrafish (Danio rerio) (19), fugu (Takifugu rubripes) (19), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (19), medaka (Oryzias latipes) (19), stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) (17) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (27) samples. A comparative analysis revealed that the number of β-hsd genes in teleost fish was no greater than in tetrapods due to gene loss followed by a teleost-specific whole-genome duplication event. Based on transcriptome data from grouper brain and gonad samples during sex reversal, six β-hsd genes had relatively high expression levels in the brain, indicating that these genes may be required for neurogenesis or the maintenance of specific biological processes in the brain. In the gonad, two and eight β-hsd genes were up- and downregulated, respectively, indicating their important roles in sex reversal. Our results demonstrated that β-hsd genes may be involved in the sex reversal of grouper by regulating the synthesis and metabolism of sex steroid hormones.

In this study, we injected cortisol into the protogynous orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) to investigate the role of this hormone in sex change. Following injection, we evaluated gonadal changes, serum levels of steroid hormones, and sex-related gene expression during the processes of cortisol-induced sex change and cortisol withdrawal in the orange-spotted grouper. Cortisol treatment caused the degeneration of oocytes and induced sex change in a dose-dependent manner. Over the long-term, we observed a significant increase in serum 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) levels in all cortisol-treated groups, although levels of 17β-estradiol did not change significantly. Consistent with the elevation of serum 11-KT levels, the expression of genes related to testicular development was also significantly up-regulated in the cortisol-treated groups. Based on our results, we propose that cortisol may trigger masculinization by inducing the synthesis of 11-KT and by directly activating the expression of sex-related genes. Furthermore, we found that cortisol-induced sex change was not permanent and could be reversed after the withdrawal of cortisol treatment.

Organic–inorganic metal halide hybrids have emerged as new generation functional materials with exceptional structure and property tunability for a variety of applications. Besides the most investigated ABX3 metal halide perovskites, a variety of hybrids consisting of a wide range of organic cations and metal halide anions have been developed and studied recently. Here, we provide an overview of these new materials possessing various crystallographic structures, including double perovskites, low dimensional hybrids, and other perovskite-related materials. We discuss their syntheses, functional properties, and optoelectronic applications. Challenges and opportunities are then laid out for these hybrid materials beyond perovskites.

Spermatogenesis is a process of self-renewal and differentiation in spermatogonial stem cells. During this process, germ cells and somatic cells interact intricately to ensure long-term fertility and accurate genome propagation. Spermatogenesis has been intensely investigated in mammals but remains poorly understood with regard to teleosts. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of ~9500 testicular cells from the male, orange-spotted grouper. In the adult testis, we divided the cells into nine clusters and defined ten cell types, as compared with human testis data, including cell populations with characteristics of male germ cells and somatic cells, each of which expressed specific marker genes. We also identified and profiled the expression patterns of four marker genes (calr, eef1a, s100a1, vasa) in both the ovary and adult testis. Our data provide a blueprint of male germ cells and supporting somatic cells. Moreover, the cell markers are candidates that could be used for further cell identification.

Lead-free perovskites have received remarkable attention because of their nontoxicity, low-cost fabrication, and spectacular properties including controlled bandgap, long diffusion length of charge carrier, large absorption coefficient, and high photoluminescence quantum yield. Compared with the widely investigated polycrystals, single crystals have advantages of lower trap densities, longer diffusion length of carrier, and extended absorption spectrum due to the lack of grain boundaries, which facilitates their potential in different fields including photodetectors, solar cells, X-ray detectors, light-emitting diodes, and so on. Therefore, numerous research focusing on the novel properties, preparation methods, and remarkable progress in applications of lead-free perovskite single crystals (LFPSCs) has been extensively studied. In this review, the current advancements of LFPSCs are briefly summarized, including the synthesis approaches, compositional and interfacial engineering, and stability of several representative systems of LFPSCs as well as the reported practical applications. Finally, the critical challenges which limit the performance of LFPSCs, and their inspiring prospects for further developments are also discussed.