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The genus Impatiens exhibits some varied floral features with a dichogamous reproductive system, in which pollination biology plays a key role in speciation and adaptive evolution. China is one of the centers of Impatiens species, including a large number of endemic and sympatric distributions, but there are few data on their pollination biology. Comparative pollination biology of two Chinese endemic and sympatric species, Impatiens corchorifolia and I. cyathiflora, were investigated, including flowering phenology, floral features, pollinators, behavior of pollinators, and as well as breeding systems. The results were as follows: (1) Morphology of spur was varied in two species, which played a key role in different floral syndromes. The spurs in I. corchorifolia and I. cyathiflora could produced a similar nectar sugar content, (45.48 ± 2.28)% and (46.12 ± 1.48)%, respectively. They could share two pollinators, Apis cerana and Vespa. However, the short spur in I. corchorifolia produced less amount of (4.57 ± 1.43) μL nectar while the long spur in I. cyathiflora yielded more nectar content of (10.15 ± 3.28) μL. And then, the latter also could be pollinated by the other insects including one species of Macroglossum and two species of Bombus. (2) The behavior of the common pollinators shared in I. corchorifolia and I. cyathiflora were obviously distinguished by their staggered flower visits and differential sizes of flower channels for visitors with inconsistent positions of pollens carried. (3) Breeding system experiments showed that species possessed obvious hybridization barriers and obvious cross-pollination. Thus, significant differences in spur morphology lead to distinct pollination syndrome differentiation and different pollinator behavior. Both species prefer cross-pollination to self-fertiliation, which greatly depend on the effective pollinators. Reproductive isolation could be maintained by different flower visiting behavior of shared pollinators, differences in floral morphology, and heterozygous discordance. It provides new evidence for a better understanding the relationships between pollination syndrome, pollinators behavior, and cross-breeding stystem in Impatiens.

The taxonomy of Paphiopedilum Pfitz. has been disputed and needs more data for clarification. Floral morphology and anther development in P. purpuratum were observed using microscope and paraffin section. The results were as follows: (1) It was supported that P. purpuratum should be placed in Paphiopedilum subgenus Paphiopedilum sect. Barbata by some floral features, including a single flower, sepal white with veins, petal spotted with blackish-maroon, pouch of a lip auriculate on both sides, and a staminode lunate. (2) At the early stage, anther primordium developed into a pair of laterally juxtaposed thecae. An incomplete sterile septa was differentiated in the center of each theca, giving rise to two arc-shaped microsporangia. When anther split, the sterile septum was discomposed and degenerated resulting in a mass of sticky pollens from two pollen sacs were fused into a unit. (3) The developed anther wall consisted of an epidermis, an endothecium, a middle layer, and a tapetum, conforming to the monocotyledonous type. Both tapetum and the inner tapetum cells contained 2 nuclei. At the stage of 2-celled grains, degeneration occurred in the epidermis and tapetum layers, while the endothecium became thickened fibrously. (4) Microspore mother cells underwent a simultaneous cytokinesis resulting in microspore tetrads with varied arrangements of tetrahedral, isobilateral, and decussate types, and the meiotic activity of microspore mother cells in the same theca was obviously asynchronous and different meiosis phases could be observed. (5) Microspores produced 2-celled pollens via a mitosis, which could be retained in pollen tetrads or released as monad. Based on the data available, some key features are selected for taxonomy and conservation biology of Paphiopedilum in Cypripedioideae, including the differentiation of incomplete sterile septum, the monocotyledonous type of anther wall, the binucleated tapetum, differentiation of the inner tapetum, simultaneous cytokinesis, the sticky pollens, and so on. This study provides new information for taxonomy and conservation biology of Paphiopedilum, as well as of Cypripedioideae.

There are few data on the rare and endangered orchids of Renanthera Lour. Floral morphology and embryological features of anther development in R. imschootiana were investigated, and the taxonomic significance of R. imschootiana was analyzed by comparing with existing data. The results were as follows: (1) Flowers were characterized by such taxonomic features as tri-lobed labium with an unconspicous spur, cylindrical column, purple anther cap with yellow stripes, and a pair of deeply cleft pollinia connected by a well-developed stipe and a viscidium. (2) Anther primordium was differentiated into two lateral thecae containing two densely dyed microsporangia, and then, a sterile septum was formed longitudinally and unequally which divided each microsporangium into two jointly sub-microsporangium. The septum became absorbed during microsporogenesis and collapsed when anther ripened, resulting in a pair of deeply cleft pollinia. (3) The developed anther wall comprised 5-6 layers, including an epidermis, 2-3 endothecium, a middle layer, and a tapetum, which conformed to the massive type. Tapetal cell was uni-nucleated and glandular. (4) Microspore mother cells underwent a simultaneous cytokinesis during meiosis resulting in the tetrahedral or isobilateral microspore tetrads. Finally, each microspore retained in tetrads and produced 2-celled pollen via mitosis. Pollen tetrads were compactly arranged, leading to a hard cleft pollinia in each thecae. No pollen abortion was observed during anther development. The results provide new reference for taxonomy and conservation of Renanthera.

The genus Habenaria exhibits a highly diversity in floral morphology and has complex taxonomy problems. In order to select key taxonomic features of this genus, floral structure and gynostemium ultrastructure of H. dentata and H. glaucifolia were investigated using the stereo microscope and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The results were as follows: (1) There were significant differences in floral features between species, especially in the presence or the absence of lateral lobes of petal, morphology of 3-lobed lip, and the length ratio of the spur to the ovary. (2) The ultrastructures of gynostemium were obviously different between the two species, which were shown in shapes of staminode, outer epidermal cells of anther wall, and stigma branch. (3) Exine sculptures of massula were distinguished in two species, the reticulate type in H. dentata, and the baculate → reticulate type in H. glaucifolia. It was suggested that some floral features were selected as potentially valuable for species delimitation, including the presence or absence of lateral petal lobes, variations in spur morphology, the length ratio of the spur to the ovary, and the types of pollen exine sculpture. Additional data on floral features and ultrastructures of gynostemium were reported as supplement for understanding of H. glaucifolia. Notably, it was not confirmed that H. glaucifolia should be treated as an independent genus from Habenaria.

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) is critically involved in maintaining episomes during latent infection and promoting tumorigenesis. The development of an epitope‐specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) for EBNA1 holds great promise due to its high affinity and specificity, offering a new and innovative approach for the treatment of EBV‐related diseases. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we employed a structure‐based design strategy to create three unique immunogens specifically targeting the DNA binding state of the EBNA1 DBD. By immunizing mice, we successfully generated a mAb, named 5E2‐12, which selectively targets the DNA binding interface of EBNA1. The 5E2‐12 mAb effectively disrupts the interaction between EBNA1 and DNA binding, resulting in reduced proliferation of EBV‐positive cells and inhibition of xenograft tumor growth in both cellular assays and mouse tumor models. These findings open up new avenues for the development of innovative biological macromolecular drugs that specifically target EBNA1 and provide potential for clinical therapy options for early‐stage EBV‐positive tumors. The epitope‐specific mAb approach demonstrates novelty and innovation in tackling EBV‐related diseases and may have broad implications for precision medicine strategies in the field of viral‐associated cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details several piezoelectric energy recovery interface circuits that have been widely studied at home and abroad to rectify the AC power generated by piezoelectric energy harvesting devices into DC power for direct utilization or storage, and divides the energy recovery circuits into single-stage, bipolar, and three-stage interface circuits according to the purpose and number of interfaces. According to the different interface circuits, the development history of each interface is introduced in detail, and a preliminary outlook on the piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit is provided for further improvement by related researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of pyrazine‐interior‐embodied metal–organic framework‐74 composites (py‐MOF‐74) were successfully synthesized by a post‐synthetic vapor modification method. Here, pyrazine molecules occupy the cavity to block the wide pores of MOF‐74, which accentuates the difference in adsorption of a pair of gases on MOFs and consequently reinforces the adsorption selectivity. Different from the "physical confinement" of occupants, the pyrazine molecule with dual "para‐nitrogen" atoms donates one N atom to bond with the open metal ion of MOF‐74 for stability and the other N atom for potential CO2 trapping. Typically, py‐MOF‐74c with the highest pyrazine insertion ratio displays selectivity greatly superior to that of MOF‐74 in equimolar CO2/CH4 (598 vs. 35) and in simulated CO2/N2 flue gas (471 vs. 49). Py‐MOF‐74 entities are long‐lived adsorbents, and their CO2 capacity can be maintained even after storage for 1 year in air. Py‐MOF‐74 also showed a sharp molecular sieve property in fixed‐bed cycle adsorption tests, which implies its great potential in real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capture of high‐boiling‐point furfural from diluted aqueous solution is a critical but challenging step in sustainable bio‐refinery processes, but conventional separation methods such as distillation and liquid‐liquid extraction requires prohibitive energy consumption. We report control over the microenvironment of hydrated MIL‐53 and isoreticular variants with diversified functional terephthalic acid linkers for the purpose of preferential binding of furfural through delicate host‐guest interactions. Methyl‐bounded MIL‐53 with improved binding energy in the hydrated form results in highly efficient capture ratio (ca. 98 %) in the extremely low concentration of furfural solution (0.5–3 wt %) and 100 % furfural specificity over xylose. The distinct hydrogen bonding sites and multiple Van de Wall interactions for furfural adsorption was testified by computational modeling. Furthermore, the recovery ratio of furfural reaches ca. 93 % in desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: The long noncoding RNA DUXAP8 is a pivotal regulator in cancer pathogenesis, but the molecular mechanism underlying the role of DUXAP8 in colon cancer progression is underexplored., Methods: In addition to bioinformatic analyses, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to assess DUXAP8, microRNA-378a-3p, FOXQ1 expression in colon cancer tissues, and clinical data were analyzed to determine the correlation between DUXAP8 expression and colon cancer patient outcomes. Nuclear/cytoplasmic RNA fractionation was utilized to analyze the subcellular distribution of DUXAP8. Dual-luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to confirm the binding of DUXAP8/FOXQ1 and microRNA-378a-3p. After cell transfection, qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the modulatory relationship of DUXAP8/microRNA-378a-3p/FOXQ1. Cell Counting Kit-8, MTT, scratch healing, and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the impact of DUXAP8/microRNA-378a-3p/FOXQ1 expression on colon cancer cell functions., Results: The results revealed that the expression of DUXAP8 and FOXQ1 was upregulated in colon cancer tissues, while the expression of microRNA-378a-3p was down-regulated. The increased DUXAP8 expression was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Dual-luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that DUXAP8 was a sponge for microRNA-378a-3p and targeted the ability of microRNA-378a-3p to regulate FOXQ1. In addition, functional experiment results revealed that overexpressed DUXAP8 facilitated the growth and migratory ability of colon cancer cells. DUXAP8 also reversed the tumor-suppressive effect of microRNA-378a-3p. However, silencing FOXQ1 could reverse the cancer-promoting effects of high DUXAP8 expression., Conclusions: DUXAP8 expression was significantly increased in colon cancer, which was associated with lymph node metastasis and unfavorable outcomes in colon cancer patients. DUXAP8 may hasten malignant progression of colon cancer cells through its effects on microRNA-378a-3p/FOXQ1.

Dewatering of aqueous azeotropes is crucial and pervasive in raw chemical refineries and solvent recovery in the chemical industry but is recognized as one of the most energy-intensive processes. Pervaporation using crystalline molecular sieve membranes provides an energy-efficient solution, but stress loads stemming from thermal and mechanical risks of pervaporation are most likely to cause membrane cracks, which greatly reduces reliability of membranes in real-world applications. Here, we propose adaptive healing of stress-induced dynamic cracks (AHSDC) in the membrane in a risk-responding manner before separation by using in situ-formed nanoparticles in the same chemical environment. These nanoparticles naturally filled in fissure gaps once cracks formed in the membrane, forming adaptive healing zones. Without loss of dewatering capacity, the separation durability of the membrane after AHSDC was improved by at least two orders of magnitude. The membrane also exhibited tolerance to industrial-grade azeotropes that epitomize industrial multisource nature and complexity.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Kangfuxin Liquid (a traditional Chinese medicine) gauze and Vaseline gauze in wound healing after necrotizing fasciitis surgery., Method: The study was conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College between February 2020 and February 2022. A total of 54 patients diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis were randomly assigned to the Vaseline gauze group as the control group, and the Kangfuxin Liquid gauze group as the experimental group. Various aspects of treatment efficacy, wound healing conditions, healing indicators, pain scores, inflammation markers, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups., Results: The total effective rate in the experimental group (100.00%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (77.78%), with a statistically significant difference The experimental group showed lower scores for secretion, granulation tissue morphology, redness, and swelling compared to the control group, with statistical significance. Additionally, the experimental group exhibited faster slough separation, new epidermis formation, and overall wound healing compared to the control group, with statistical significance. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores on postoperative days 3, 7, 9, and 14 were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) between the two groups. However, after treatment, both groups exhibited a decrease in inflammatory markers, and the experimental group had significantly lower levels of IL-17, IL-6, and TNF-α compared to the control group). Furthermore, the incidence of adverse reactions in the experimental group (3.70%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (22.22%)., Conclusion: The utilization of Kangfuxin Liquid gauze in wound healing after necrotizing fasciitis surgery effectively promotes wound healing, provides precise therapeutic effects, significantly reduces patient pain, improves inflammation, and exhibits minimal adverse reactions, thus demonstrating high safety. Therefore, the application of Kangfuxin Liquid gauze in this clinical context is highly recommended.

Hydrogen/carbon dioxide (H 2 /CO 2 ) separation for sustainable energy is in desperate need of reliable membranes at high temperatures. Molecular sieve membranes take their nanopores to differentiate sizes between H 2 and CO 2 but have compromised at a marked loss of selectivity at high temperatures owing to diffusion activation of CO 2 . We used molecule gatekeepers that were locked in the cavities of the metal-organic framework membrane to meet this challenge. Ab initio calculations and in situ characterizations demonstrate that the molecule gatekeepers make a notable move at high temperatures to dynamically reshape the sieving apertures as being extremely tight for CO 2 and restitute with cool conditions. The H 2 /CO 2 selectivity was improved by an order of magnitude at 513 kelvin (K) relative to that at the ambient temperature.

Metal-organic framework membranes are frequently used in gas separations, but rare in pervaporation for liquid chemical upgrading, especially for separating water from polyols, due to lack of highly compact and robust micro-architecture. Here, we report hetero-lattice intergrown membranes in which amino-MIL-101 (Cr) particles embedded into the micro-gaps of MIL-53 (Al) rod arrays after secondary growth. By means of high-resolution TEM and two-dimensional topologic simulation, the connection between these two distinct MOF lattices at the molecular-level and their crystallographic geometry harmony is identified, which leads to a close-knit structure at the crystal boundaries of membranes. Typically, the membrane shows a separation factor as high as 13 000 for a 90/10 ethanediol/water solution in pervaporation, yields polymer-grade ethanediol, and saves ca. 32 % of energy consumption vs. vacuum distillation. It has a highly robust micro-architecture, with great tolerance to high pressure, durability against ultrasonic therapy and long-term separation stability over 600 h., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)