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The type I interferon (IFN) pathway is a key component of innate immune response upon invasion of foreign pathogens. It is also under precise control to prevent excessive upregulation and undesired inflammation cascade. In the present study, we report that Riok3, an atypical kinase, negatively regulates retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) sensing-induced type I IFN signaling. Riok3 deficiency selectively inhibits RNA viral replication in vitro, resulting from an upregulated type I IFN pathway. Mice with myeloid-specific Riok3 knockout also show a more robust induction of type I IFN upon RNA virus infection and are more resistant to RNA virus-induced pathogenesis. Mechanistically, Riok3 recruits and interacts with the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM40, leading to the degradation of RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA5) via K48- and K27-linked ubiquitination. Collectively, our data reveal the mechanism that Riok3 employs to be a negative regulator of antiviral innate immunity.

As an advanced composite reinforcement, multi-layer woven fabrics are widely used in industries. However, for most nonprofessional engineers and researchers, the complexity of the spatial architecture of multi-layer woven structure (MLWS) makes it difficult to understand and apply. In order to fully utilize the advantage of the designability of MLWS, a digitalization expression is used to define the design variable of MLWS by 8 parameters. This expression has wide universality and practicability, which can parametrize all kinds of MLWSs, and characterize full-scale complex preforms. Based on this expression, a general method and process for constructing novel and complex MLWS architectures are also proposed and developed. Furthermore, a method to generate the preform jacquard pattern for the electronic jacquard system is also developed to demonstrate the application in manufacturing. This digitalization expression can be considered as the key point to connect the material design and automatic manufacturing, which can improve the design technology of multi-layer woven composite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With regard to retired LiFePO4 batteries, resource treatment has become a matter of public concern. The currently used wet recycling process causes secondary environmental pollution and has the difficulty of full-component recovery. Therefore, a green and efficient recovery process for the realization of full-component recovery of LiFePO4 black powder is proposed in this work. In this closed-loop process with liquid flow circulation, no waste liquid and gas emission is generated, and the purity of recycled Li2CO3 can reach up to 99.4%. Moreover, battery-grade FePO4 can be obtained after simple treatment, solving the problem of lithium tailings and slag in the traditional wet recycling process. The performances of recycled Li2CO3 and FePO4 are similar to commercialization products according to electrochemical tests. More importantly, the resynthesized LiFePO4 cathode displays high-capacity retention of 97.5% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C, indicating the superiority of our strategy. Furthermore, the pouch cell with 5.2 A h presents outstanding performance, and high-capacity retentions of 96% and 95.2% can be observed after 500 cycles at 0.5 C and 1 C, respectively. The aforementioned results indicate the attractive prospects of this green and efficient lithium extraction and full-component recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the effects of different concentrated sulfuric acid etching durations on the shear bond strength between polyether-ketone-ketone (PEKK) and dentin, providing a scientific basis for the clinical bonding procedures of PEKK prosthesis. Methods Forty-four PEKK specimens were prepared and randomly divided into four groups: group A was the control group, which was only polished with abrasive papers, group B, group C and group D were experimental groups, which were etched by 98% concentrated sulfuric acid for 5 s, 30 s and 60 s, respectively. In addition, one sample was randomly selected from each group, and the profile was prepared by a slow cutting machine. The surface morphology of the profile was observed under SEM. After the four groups of specimens and dentin were bonded by resin, they were soaked in distilled water at 37 ℃ for 24 h. After the shear bonding strengths were measured, the fracture interfaces of the specimens were examined by the scanning electron microscopy and stereomicroscopy, and failure models of bonding were analyzed. Results After acid etching treatments, the cross-sectional images in group B presented uniform spongy shapes, while the cross-sectional images in group C and group D showed destructive pore structures. The shear bond strengths of group B (16.84 ± 1.84) MPa, group C (12.33 ± 1.22) MPa and group D (6.44 ± 1.18) MPa were higher than that of group A (3.99 ± 1.06) MPa (P < 0.05). The highest shear bond strength was observed in group B (16.84 ± 1.84) MPa. Conclusion The surface treatment of 98% sulfuric acid etching for 5 s manifested the best bond strength between PEKK and dentin.

Widespread prevalence of multidrug and pandrug-resistant bacteria has prompted substantial concern over the global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Environmental compartments can behave as genetic reservoirs and hotspots, wherein resistance genes can accumulate and be laterally transferred to clinically relevant pathogens. In this work, we explore the ARG copy quantities in three environmental media distributed across four cities in California and demonstrate that there exist city-to-city disparities in soil and drinking water ARGs. Statistically significant differences in ARGs were identified in soil, where differences in blaSHV gene copies were the most striking; the highest copy numbers were observed in Bakersfield (6.0 × 10-2 copies/16S-rRNA gene copies and 2.6 × 106 copies/g of soil), followed by San Diego (1.8 × 10-3 copies/16S-rRNA gene copies and 3.0 × 104 copies/g of soil), Fresno (1.8 × 10-5 copies/16S-rRNA gene copies and 8.5 × 102 copies/g of soil), and Los Angeles (5.8 × 10-6 copies/16S-rRNA gene copies and 5.6 × 102 copies/g of soil). In addition, ARG copy numbers in the air, water, and soil of each city are contextualized in relation to globally reported quantities and illustrate that individual genes are not necessarily predictors for the environmental resistome as a whole.

Aqueous supercapacitors have occupied a significant position among various types of stationary energy storage equipment, while their widespread application is hindered by the relatively low energy density. Herein, N/F co-doped carbon materials activated by manganese clusters (NCM) are constructed by the straightforward experimental routine. Benefiting from the elevated conductivity structure at the microscopic level, the optimized NCM-0.5 electrodes exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance of 653 F g−1 at 0.4 A g−1 and exceptional cycling stability (97.39% capacity retention even after 40,000 cycles at the scanning rate of 100 mV s−1) in a neutral 5 M LiCl electrolyte. Moreover, we assembled an asymmetric device pairing with a VOx anode (NCM-0.5//VOx), which delivered a durable life span of 95% capacity retention over 30,000 cycles and an impressive energy density of 77.9 Wh kg−1. This study provides inspiration for transition metal element doping engineering in high-energy storage equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]