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Abstract Shuozhou is a typical coal mining city, and the Pingshuo Antaibao open-pit coal mine in its area is one of the largest open-pit coal mines in China. The mining of coal resources is an important part of ensuring national energy security, and at the same time, it inevitably has a certain impact on the ecology, such as coal dust generated by open-pit mining will affect air quality, soil, water and vegetation. It is of great significance to explore the temporal and spatial variation of ecological environment quality in coal mining cities for ecological protection and sustainable social and economic development. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, this paper combines the index-based coal dust index (ICDI) and Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) models to construct an improved RSEI (IRSEI) that can reflect coal mining cities. This paper explores the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics and spatial correlation of ecological environment quality in Shuozhou from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that the average value of IRSEI in Shuozhou was between 0.262 and 0.418, and the overall change showed an upward trend. The growth areas of ecological environment quality are mainly located in the eastern and southwestern areas with good vegetation growth, and these regions have vigorously implemented the Northern Shelter Forest Project, afforestation and greening projects, implemented the forest resource management and protection responsibility system, promoted the construction of ecological civilization, and significantly improved the ecological environment. While the declining areas are mainly located in the central and southern regions where mining activities and human activities are more intensive. The IRSEI in the study area showed a significant spatial positive correlation, and the agglomeration types of the spatial pattern were mainly high-high and low-low agglomeration types, with the high-high agglomeration types mainly distributed in the eastern and southwestern regions, and the low-low agglomeration types distributed in the northern and south-central regions of the study area. The trend of low and low agglomeration has decreased, which further proves that the ecological restoration measures taken by the government, such as returning farmland to forests, integrating protection and restoration of mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands, controlling soil erosion, and stage wise reclamation of coal mining subsidence areas, have improved the ecological environment quality of Shuozhou. This study provides a reference for understanding the spatiotemporal changes of the ecological environment of coal mining cities, and is conducive to formulating appropriate ecological protection strategies.

Abstract Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is primarily driven by allogeneic donor T cells associated with an altered composition of the host gut microbiome and its metabolites. The severity of aGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is not solely determined by the host and donor characteristics; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we decoded the immune cell atlas of 12 patients who underwent allo-HSCT: six with aGVHD and six with non-aGVHD. We performed a fecal microbiota (16SrRNA sequencing) analysis to investigate the fecal bacterial composition of 82 patients: 30 with aGVHD and 52 with non-aGVHD. Fecal samples from these patients were analyzed for bile acid metabolism. Through multi-omic analysis, we identified a feedback loop involving “immune cell-gut microbes-bile acid metabolites” contributing to heightened immune responses in patients with aGVHD. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and disruption of bile acid metabolism contributed to an exaggerated interleukin-1 mediated immune response. Our findings suggest that resistin and defensins are crucial in mitigating against aGVHD. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-omic atlas incorporating immune cells, gut microbes, and bile acid metabolites was developed in this study and used to propose novel, non-immunosuppressive approaches to prevent aGVHD. Graphical abstract

Abstract 1D grain boundaries in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are ideal for investigating the collective electron behavior in confined systems. However, clear identification of atomic structures at the grain boundaries, as well as precise characterization of the electronic ground states, have largely been elusive. Here, direct evidence for the confined electronic states and the charge density modulations at mirror twin boundaries (MTBs) of monolayer NbSe2, a representative charge‐density‐wave (CDW) metal, is provided. The scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements, accompanied by the first‐principles calculations, reveal that there are two types of MTBs in monolayer NbSe2, both of which exhibit band bending effect and 1D boundary states. Moreover, the intrinsic CDW signatures of monolayer NbSe2 are dramatically suppressed as approaching an isolated MTB but can be either enhanced or suppressed in the MTB‐constituted confined wedges. Such a phenomenon can be well explained by the MTB‐CDW interference interactions. The results reveal the underlying physics of the confined electrons at MTBs of CDW metals, paving the way for the grain boundary engineering of the functionality.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune hematopoietic disease mediated by autoreactive T cells leading to bone marrow failure. However, the precise role of autoreactive T cells in the development of AA is not fully understood, hindering the advancement of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. In this study, we conducted a single-cell transcriptome analysis of CD8+ T cells, conventional CD4+ T (CD4+ Tconv) cells, and Treg cells, to elucidate the potential disruption of T cell homeostasis in patients with AA. We identified changes in CD4+ Tconv cells, including loss of homeostasis in naïve and memory cells and increased differentiation potential in T helper type 1 (TH1), T helper type 2 (TH2), and T helper type 17 (TH17) cells. Additionally, we identified naïve and memory CD8+ T cells that were enforced into an effector state. CD127 is an ideal surface marker for assessing the immune state of CD8+ T cells，as identified by flow cytometry. Abnormal expression of TNFSF8 has been observed in AA and other autoimmune diseases. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that TNFRSF8 (CD30), a receptor for TNFSF8, was predominantly present in human Treg cells. Importantly, patients with AA have a decreased CD30+ Treg subset. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed, that the CD30+ Treg cells are characterized by high proliferation and a remarkable immunosuppressive phenotype. Taken, together, we propose that abnormal TNFSF8/TNFRSF8 signaling is involved in dysfunctional T cell immunity by increasing the destruction of CD30+ Treg cells.

Objective: This is a comprehensive overview of long-term cancer survival in Zhejiang Province, China. Hybrid analysis, a combination of cohort and period analysis, has been proposed to derive up-to-date cancer survival estimates. Using this approach, we aimed to timely and accurately analyze the 5-year relative survival (RS) and net survival (NS) in cancer registries of Zhejiang Province, China. Methods: A total of 255,725 new cancer cases diagnosed during 2013–2017 were included in 14 cancer registries in Zhejiang Province, China, with a follow-up on vital status until the end of 2019. The hybrid analysis was used to calculate the 5-year RS and 5-year NS during 2018–2019 for overall and stratifications by sex, cancer type, region, and age at diagnosis. Results: During 2018–2019, the age-standardized 5-year RS and NS for overall cancer in Zhejiang was 47.5% and 48.6%, respectively. The age-standardized 5-year RS for cancers of women (55.4%) was higher than that of men (40.0%), and the rate of urban areas (49.7%) was higher than that of rural areas (43.1%). The 5-year RS declined along with age, from 84.4% for ages 74 years. Our results of the RS and NS showed the similar trend and no significant difference. The top five cancers with top age-standardized 5-year RS were thyroid cancer (96.0%), breast cancer (84.3%), testicular cancer (79.9%), prostate cancer (77.2%), and bladder cancer (70.6%), and the five cancers with the lowest age-standardized 5-year RS were pancreatic cancer (6.0%), liver cancer (15.6%), gallbladder cancer (17.1%), esophageal cancer (22.7%), and leukemia (31.0%). Conclusions: We reported the most up-to-date 5-year cancer RS and NS in Zhejiang Province, China for the first time, and found that the 5-year survival for cancer patients in Zhejiang during 2018–2019 was relatively high. The population-based cancer registries are recognized as key policy tools that can be used to evaluate both the impact of cancer prevention strategies and the effectiveness of health systems.

Abstract Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are in a quantum disordered state that is highly entangled and has fractional excitations. As a highly sought-after state of matter, QSLs were predicted to host spinon excitations and to arise in frustrated spin systems with large quantum fluctuations. Here we report on the experimental observation and theoretical modeling of QSL signatures in monolayer 1T-NbSe2, which is a newly emerging two-dimensional material that exhibits both charge-density-wave (CDW) and correlated insulating behaviors. By using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we confirm the presence of spin fluctuations in monolayer 1T-NbSe2 by observing the Kondo resonance as monolayer 1T-NbSe2 interacts with metallic monolayer 1H-NbSe2. Subsequent STM/STS imaging of monolayer 1T-NbSe2 at the Hubbard band energy further reveals a long-wavelength charge modulation, in agreement with the spinon modulation expected for QSLs. By depositing manganese-phthalocyanine (MnPc) molecules with spin S = 3/2 onto monolayer 1T-NbSe2, new STS resonance peaks emerge at the Hubbard band edges of monolayer 1T-NbSe2. This observation is consistent with the spinon Kondo effect induced by a S = 3/2 magnetic impurity embedded in a QSL. Taken together, these experimental observations indicate that monolayer 1T-NbSe2 is a new promising QSL material.

In the context of the global implementation of the emission peak and carbon-neutral strategic goal, guiding residents’ low-carbon behavior is of great significance for the realization of the dual carbon goal. However, existing studies have paid less attention to the low-carbon behavior of college students. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this paper constructs a theoretical model of influencing factors of college students’ low-carbon behavior. Combined with 612 questionnaires from Chinese colleges and universities, this study uses a structural equation model and multi-group analysis method to explore the motivation of college students’ low-carbon behavior and guiding education strategies. The results show that low-carbon attitude, subjective norms, low-carbon values, and perceived behavior control have significant positive effects on low low-carbon behavior intention of college students, and influence their low-carbon behavior through low-carbon behavior intention. Further research found that gender and growth environment (urban vs. rural) presented heterogeneity in different influence paths, and the perceived cost had a significant negative moderating effect during the transition from low-carbon intention to low-carbon behavior. These research findings provide a theoretical basis and policy inspiration for explaining and guiding the low-carbon behavior of college students.

ObjectiveObesity is defined as excess body fat and is a current health epidemic associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The ClC-3 chloride channel/antiporter, encoded by the Clcn3, is associated with some diseases, like carcinoma, nervous system diseases, and metabolic diseases. To verify the relationship between the Clcn3 and weight including metabolic changes, searching for a new target for metabolic therapy of obesity, we designed the experiment.MethodsThe mice were divided into 4 different groups: Clcn3+/+ mice + high-fat diet (HFD), Clcn3−/− mice + HFD, Clcn3+/+ mice + normal diet (ND), Clcn3−/− mice + ND, and fed for 16 weeks. After the glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test, peripheral blood and adipose tissues were collected. Moreover, we performed transcriptome sequencing for the epididymal white adipose tissue from Clcn3+/+ and Clcn3−/− mice with the high-fat diet. Western blotting verified the changes in protein levels of relevant metabolic genes.ResultsWe found that the Clcn3−/− mice had lower body weight and visceral fat, refining glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced mice, but had no effect in normal diet mice. RNA-seq and Western blotting indicated that Clcn3 deficiency may inhibit obesity through the AMPK-UCP1 axis.ConclusionModulation of Clcn3 may provide an appealing therapeutic target for obesity and associated metabolic syndrome.

This is an essay in the field of mineral processing engineering. Humic acid is an important part of Zhaotong lignite. In order to extract humic acid efficiently, the optimum flotation conditions of Zhaotong lignite were explored by using the process of direct flotation and reverse flotation. Orthogonal experiments were designed by using the method of oxygen decomposition and alkali solution-acid separation to extract humic acid from flotation cleaned coal, and the optimal conditions of humic acid extraction were explored. The results show that the positive flotation collector consumption is large, and under the condition of surface modification of Span 80, the flotation cleaned coal yield is the highest of 26.64% and ash content is the lowest of 20.08%; the optimum conditions of reverse flotation are laurylamine 5 kg/t, dextrin 3 kg/t and foaming agent 260 g/t, and the optimum flotation indexes are as follows: flotation cleaned coal yield 84.35% and ash 20.52%, flotation tailcoal yield 15.65% and ash 36.75%, and flotation perfection index 12.08; the optimum extraction conditions of oxygen decomposition are as follows: H2O2 concentration 0.7 mol/L, H2O2 activation time 35 min, NaOH concentration 0.3 mol/L, NaOH soaking time 30 min, and the extraction rate of humic acid 37.14%; the optimal extraction conditions of alkali-soluble acid chromatography are as follows: concentration of hydrochloric acid 10%, activation time of hydrochloric acid 30 min, NaOH concentration 0.7 moL/L, NaOH soaking time 30 min, and the extraction yield 43.80%. Reverse flotation can obtain higher yield of high ash flotation clean coal than normal flotation, and the extraction rate is higher when the humic acid of Zhaotong lignite is extracted by alkali solution-acid separation method.

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and influencing factors of chronic diseases and chronic multimorbidity among Uygur rural adult residents in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Xinjiang). MethodsUsing typical sampling, we recruited 14 851 Uygur rural residents aged ≥ 18 years in Xinjiang and conducted face-to-face interview with a self-designed questionnaire, physical examination, and laboratory tests among the residents during August – September 2016. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze influencing factors of chronic diseases and chronic multimorbidity among the residents. ResultsOf the 12 792 eligible participants, 8 937 (69.9%) were identified as having chronic diseases and 5 770 (45.1%) having chronic multimorbidity. The three diseases most frequently identified among the participants were metabolic syndrome (identified in 33.1% of the participants), dyslipidemia (30.8%), and hypertension (29.9%); the observed top three multimorbidities of two chronic conditions were dyslipidemia and hypertension (observed in 12.2% of the participants), metabolic syndrome and fatty liver (9.7%), and dyslipidemia and fatty liver (8.8%); and the observed top three multimorbidities of three chronic conditions were metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia and fatty liver (6.8%), metabolic syndrome, hypertension and fatty liver (6.0%), and metabolic syndrome, hypertension and musculoskeletal disorder (4.4%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed following risk factors for chronic diseases and chronic multimorbidity: aged 40 years or older, being married or divorced or widowed, with family history of chronic diseases, being obesity or overweight, and having central obesity; while, having the education of primary school and above was a protective factor against chronic diseases and chronic multimorbidity. ConclusionThe prevalence of chronic diseases and chronic multimorbidity were high and mainly influenced by age, education, marital status, family history of chronic disease, obesity or overweight, and central obesity among Uygur rural adults in Xinjiang.

Deep-sea minerals are regarded as the most economically viable and promising mineral resource. Vertical hydraulic lifting represents one of the most promising methods for deep-sea mining lifting systems. To mitigate the potential for clogging due to the aggregation of particles in vertical pipe transport during deep-sea mining operations, this paper employs numerical simulations utilizing the computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model to investigate the swirling flow transportation of mineral particles. The characteristics of the swirling flow field and the motion law of double-size particles at different swirling ratios are investigated. The findings demonstrate that, in comparison to axial transport within the pipeline, the particle movement observed in swirling flow transport exhibits an upward spiral trajectory. This phenomenon facilitates the orderly movement of particles, thereby enhancing the fluidization of particles within the pipeline. An increase in the swirling ratio (SR) has a considerable impact on the velocity within the pipe. The tangential velocity distribution undergoes a gradual transition from centrosymmetric to non-centrosymmetric as the distance from the inlet increases. An increase in the SR results in an enhanced aggregation of particles at the wall, accompanied by a notable rise in the local particle concentration. The value of SR = 0.3 represents a critical threshold. When SR exceeds this value, the distribution of particles in the cross-section reaches a relatively stable state, rendering it challenging to further alter the distribution and concentration of particles, even if the SR is augmented. Furthermore, the maximum local particle concentration in the vicinity of the wall tends to be stable. These results provide valuable insights into vertical pipe swirling flow transport for deep-sea mining.

Abstract Broadband spectral photoresponse has shown bright prospects for various optoelectronic devices, while fulfilling high photoactivity beyond the material bandgap is a great challenge. Here, we present a molecular pyroelectric, N-isopropylbenzylaminium trifluoroacetate (N-IBATFA), of which the broadband photo-pyroelectric effects allow for self-driven wide spectral photodetection. As a simple organic binary salt, N-IBATFA possesses a large polarization (~9.5 μC cm−2), high pyroelectric coefficient (~6.9 μC cm−2 K−1) and figures-of-merits (F V = 187.9 × 10−2 cm2 μC−1; F D = 881.5 × 10−5 Pa−0.5) comparable to the state-of-art pyroelectric materials. Particularly, such intriguing attributes endow broadband photo-pyroelectric effect, namely, transient currents covering ultraviolet (UV, 266 nm) to near-infrared (NIR, 1950 nm) spectral regime, which breaks the restriction of its optical absorption and thus allows wide UV-NIR spectral photodetection. Our finding highlights the potential of molecular system as high-performance candidates toward self-powered wide spectral photodetection.

Abstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a disease with increasing incidence worldwide that leads to deformity and death. In OSCC, fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) is an oncogene involved in the tumorigenesis process. However, the functions and potential mechanisms of FSCN1 in the OSCC tumorigenesis process have not been reported thus far. Methods We used qRT‒PCR to detect the expression of FSCN1 in 40 paired OSCC tumor tissues (tumor) and neighboring noncancerous tissues. The role of FSCN1 was also assessed in vitro through colony formation, CCK-8, and transwell assays. Moreover, glucose consumption was detected. Western blotting was used to confirm the interaction of FSCN1, IRF4 and AKT. Results FSCN1 was remarkably overexpressed in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared to corresponding controls. In addition, colony formation, CCK-8, and transwell assays revealed a notable reduction in OSCC growth and invasion when FSCN1 was silenced. FSCN1 silencing remarkably suppressed OSCC glycolysis. Mechanistic studies showed that FSCN1 achieves its function partially by activating interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) and the AKT pathway in OSCC. Conclusion In conclusion, our study investigated the functions and mechanisms of the FSCN1/IRF4/AKT pathway in OSCC progression. In OSCC, FSCN1 is likely to be a biomarker and therapeutic target.

While dysbiosis within the intestinal ecosystem has been associated with functional constipation (FC), the mechanisms underlying the interactions between FC and the microbiome remain poorly elucidated. Recent investigations suggested that host microRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate bacterial growth and influence the composition of the gut microbiome. To explore the connection between gut microbiota and fecal miRNAs in FC patients, we initially employed 16S rRNA sequencing to assess the gut microbial landscape in 30 FC patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The α-diversity within the FC group exhibited some alterations, and the β-diversity significantly differed, signifying distinctive variations in gut microbiota composition between FC patients and HCs. Subsequently, we identified 44 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in feces from FC patients and HCs. Through correlation analysis between DE miRNAs and FC-associated microbiota, we detected an interaction involving nine DE miRNAs (miR-205-5p, miR-493-5p, miR-215-5p, miR-184, miR-378c, miR-335-5p, miR-514a-3p, miR-141-3p, and miR-34c-5p) with seven bacterial genera (Oscillibacter, Escherichia.Shigella, UCG.002, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Lachnospiraceae_UCG.010, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group and Megamonas), as evidenced by a co-occurrence network. Further, a comprehensive panel of seven diagnostic biomarkers (Oscillibacter, Escherichia.Shigella, UCG.002, miR-205-5p, miR-493-5p, miR-215-5p, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group) demonstrated robust discriminatory capacity in predicting FC status when integrated into a random forest model (AUC = 0.832, 95% CI: 65.73–98.88). Microbiomes correlating with DE miRNAs exhibited enrichment in distinct predicted metabolic categories. Moreover, miRNAs correlated with FC-associated bacteria were found to be enriched in signaling pathways linked to colonic contractility, including Axon guidance, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and Hippo signaling pathway. Our study offers a comprehensive insight into the global relationship between microbiota and fecal miRNAs in the context of FC, presenting potential targets for further experimental validation and therapeutic interventions.

Abstract The cell cycle arrest markers tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) have been identified as potential biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill adults in intensive care units and cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI). However, the clinical impact on all-cause AKI remains unclear. Here, we report a meta-analysis performed to evaluate the predictive value of this biomarker for all-cause AKI. The PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched up to April 1, 2022. We used the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnosis Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) to assess the quality. We extracted useful information from these studies and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Twenty studies with 3625 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The estimated sensitivity of urinary [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7] in the diagnosis of all-cause AKI was 0.79 (95% CI 0.72, 0.84), and the specificity was 0.70 (95% CI 0.62, 0.76). The value of urine [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7] in the early diagnosis of AKI was assessed using a random effects model. The pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 2.6 (95% CI 2.1, 3.3), 0.31 (95% CI 0.23, 0.40), and 8 (95% CI 6, 13), respectively. The AUROC was 0.81 (95% CI 0.78–0.84). No significant publication bias was observed in eligible studies. Subgroup analysis indicated that the diagnostic value was related to the severity of AKI, time measurement, and clinical setting. This study shows that urinary [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7] is a reliable effective predictive test for all cause-AKI. However, whether and how urinary [TIMP-2] × [IGFBP7] can be used in clinical diagnosis still requires further research and clinical trials.

BackgroundEpilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. A mechanism of cell death regulation, known as ferroptosis, which involves iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has been implicated in various diseases, including epilepsy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between ferroptosis and epilepsy through bioinformatics analysis. By identifying key genes, pathways, and potential therapeutic targets, we aimed to shed light on the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.Materials and methodsWe conducted a comprehensive analysis by screening gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ferroptosis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to gain insights into the biological processes and pathways involved. Moreover, we constructed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network to identify hub genes, which was further validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. To explore the relationship between immune infiltration and genes, we employed the CIBERSORT algorithm. Furthermore, we visualized four distinct interaction networks—mRNA–miRNA, mRNA–transcription factor, mRNA–drug, and mRNA–compound—to investigate potential regulatory mechanisms.ResultsIn this study, we identified a total of 33 differentially expressed genes (FDEGs) associated with epilepsy and presented them using a Venn diagram. Enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in the pathways related to reactive oxygen species, secondary lysosomes, and ubiquitin protein ligase binding. Furthermore, GSVA enrichment analysis highlighted significant differences between epilepsy and control groups in terms of the generation of precursor metabolites and energy, chaperone complex, and antioxidant activity in Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Furthermore, during the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, we observed differential expression in pathways associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between the two groups. To identify hub genes, we constructed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network using 30 FDEGs and utilized algorithms. This analysis led to the identification of three hub genes, namely, HIF1A, TLR4, and CASP8. The application of the CIBERSORT algorithm allowed us to explore the immune infiltration patterns between epilepsy and control groups. We found that CD4-naïve T cells, gamma delta T cells, M1 macrophages, and neutrophils exhibited higher expression in the control group than in the epilepsy group.ConclusionThis study identified three FDEGs and analyzed the immune cells in epilepsy. These findings pave the way for future research and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for epilepsy.

Microplastics (MPs) can enrich pollutants after being released into the environment, and the contaminants-loaded MPs are usually ingested by organisms, resulting in a potential dual biotoxic effect. In this paper, the adsorption behavior of Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on Polyamide 6 (PA6) MPs was systematically investigated and simulated by the kinetic and isotherm models. The effect of environmental conditions (pH, salinity) on the adsorption process was studied, and the desorption behavior of SMX-loaded PA6 MPs was focused on simulating the seawater, ultrapure water, gastric and intestinal fluids. We found that lower pH and solubilization of SMX by gastrointestinal components (bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium taurocholate (NaT), and pepsin) can reduce the electrostatic interaction between the surface charge of PA6 MPs and SMX. The result will lead to an increase in the desorption capacity of SMX-loaded PA6 MPs in gastrointestinal fluids and therefore will provide a reasonable mechanism for the desorption of SMX-loaded PA6 MPs in the gastrointestinal fluids. This study will provide a theoretical reference for studying the desorption behavior of SMX-loaded PA6 MPs under gastrointestinal conditions.

In this study, we construct an error estimate for a fully discrete finite element scheme that satisfies the criteria of unconditional energy stability, as suggested in [1]. Our theoretical findings, in more detail, demonstrate that this system has second-order accuracy in both space and time. Additionally, we offer a powerful space and time adaptable approach for solving the Cahn-Hilliard problem numerically based on the posterior error estimation. The major goal of this technique is to successfully lower the calculated cost by controlling the mesh size using a Superconvergent Cluster Recovery (SCR) approach in accordance with the error estimation. To demonstrate the effectiveness and stability of the suggested SCR-based algorithm, numerical results are provided.

The Omicron variants spread rapidly worldwide after being initially detected in South Africa in November 2021. It showed increased transmissibility and immune evasion with far more amino acid mutations in the spike (S) protein than the previously circulating variants of concern (VOCs). Notably, on 15 July 2022, we monitored the first VOC / Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 in China from an imported case. Moreover, nowadays, this subvariant still is predominant in India. It has nine additional mutations in the S protein compared to BA.2, three of which (W152R, G446S, and R493Q reversion) might contribute to higher transmissibility and immune escape. This subvariant could cause wider spread and pose a threat to the global situation. Our timely reporting and continuous genomic analysis are essential to fully elucidate the characteristics of the subvariant BA.2.75 in the future.

Abstract Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) can host exotic phenomena such as correlated insulating and charge‐density‐wave (CDW) phases. Such properties are strongly dependent on the precise atomic arrangements. Strain, as an effective tuning parameter in atomic arrangements, has been widely used for tailoring material's structures and related properties, yet to date, a convincing demonstration of strain‐induced dedicate phase transition at nanometer scale in monolayer TMDs has been lacking. Here, a strain engineering technique is developed to controllably introduce out‐of‐plane atomic deformations in monolayer CDW material 1T‐NbSe2. The scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS) measurements, accompanied by first‐principles calculations, demonstrate that the CDW phase of 1T‐NbSe2 can survive under both tensile and compressive strains even up to 5%. Moreover, significant strain‐induced phase transitions are observed, i.e., tensile (compressive) strains can drive 1T‐NbSe2 from an intrinsic‐correlated insulator into a band insulator (metal). Furthermore, experimental evidence of the multiple electronic phase coexistence at the nanoscale is provided. The results shed new lights on the strain engineering of correlated insulator and useful for design and development of strain‐related nanodevices.

Summary: Lysosome motility is critical for the cellular function. However, Rab7-related transport elements showed genetic differences between vertebrates and invertebrates, making the mechanism of lysosomal motility mysterious. We suggested that Rab7 interacted with RILP as a feature of highly evolved organisms since they could interact with each other in Spodoptera frugiperda but not in Drosophila melanogaster. The N-terminus of Sf-RILP was identified to be necessary for their interaction, and Glu61 was supposed to be the key point for the stability of the interaction. A GC-rich domain on the C-terminal parts of Sf-RILP hampered the expression of Sf-RILP and its interaction with Sf-Rab7. Although the corresponding vital amino acids in the mammalian model at the C-terminus of Sf-RILP turned to be neutral, the C-terminus would also help with the homologous interactions between RILP fragments in insects. The significantly different interactions in invertebrates shed light on the biodiversity and complexity of lysosomal motility.

Influenza A viruses evolve at a high rate of nucleotide substitution, thereby requiring continuous monitoring to determine the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs. In the current study, we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 253 influenza A/H3N2 strains from Yunnan Province, China, during 2017–2022. The hemagglutinin (HA) segments of Yunnan A/H3N2 strains isolated during 2017–2018 harbored a high genetic diversity due to heterogeneous distribution across branches. The mutation regularity of the predominant antigenic epitopes of HA segments in Yunnan was inconsistent in different years. Some important functional mutations in gene segments associated with viral adaptation and drug tolerance were revealed. The rapid genomic evolution of Yunnan A/H3N2 strains from 2017 to 2022 mainly concentrated on segments, i.e., matrix protein 2 (M2), non-structural protein 1 (NS1), neuraminidase (NA), NS2, and HA, with a high overall non-synonymous/synonymous substitution ratio (dN/dS). Our results highlighted a decline in vaccine efficacy against the A/H3N2 circulating strains, particularly against the Yunnan 2021–2022 A/H3N2 strains. These findings aid our understanding of evolutionary characteristics and epidemiological monitoring of the A/H3N2 viruses and provide in-depth insights into the protective efficacy of influenza vaccines.

Atomically precise boundaries of two-dimensional crystals can play host to novel electronic properties. Here, the authors identify distinct one dimensional electronic states corresponding to different atomically sharp edge terminations of monolayer 1H-NbSe2 and, as a result, the intrinsic charge density wave in the material is reconstructed into a stripe ordering near the crystal edge.

BackgroundLow-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening is effective in reducing lung cancer mortality in smokers; however, the evidence in nonsmokers is scarce. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the participant rate and effectiveness of one-off LDCT screening for lung cancer among smokers and nonsmokers. MethodsA population-based prospective cohort study was performed to enroll participants aged between 40 and 74 years from 2013 to 2019 from 4 cities in Zhejiang Province, China. Participants who were evaluated as having a high risk of lung cancer from an established risk score model were recommended to undergo LDCT screening. Follow-up outcomes were retrieved on June 30, 2020. The uptake rate of LDCT screening for evaluated high-risk participants and the detection rate of early-stage lung cancer (stage 0-I) were calculated. The lung cancer incidence, lung cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality were compared between the screened and nonscreened groups. ResultsAt baseline, 62.56% (18,818/30,079) of smokers and 6% (5483/91,455) of nonsmokers were identified as high risk (P

Single-layer NbSe2 has a charge density wave with two degenerate domains, related by mirror reflection. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy, the authors observe the time-dependent movement of domain walls, and demonstrate reversible switching between the two domain types using a voltage pulse from the microscope tip.

Abstract Bacterial keratitis can lead to intraocular infection and even blindness without prompt and potent treatments. Currently, clinical abuse of antibiotics encouraged the evolution of resistant bacteria. Conventional antibiotic eye drops based keratitis treatment has been heavily restricted due to the lack of bactericidal efficiency and easy induction of bacterial resistance. Hence, developing an effective treatment strategy for bacterial keratitis is of great significance. In this work, we investigated ε‐poly‐l‐lysine (EPL)‐modified polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles (EPL@PDA NPs)‐mediated antibacterial photothermal therapy (aPTT), to cope with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)‐induced keratitis. The surface modification of cationic peptide EPL enables EPL@PDA NPs to specifically target negatively charged MRSA and induces local hyperthermia to kill the bacteria under low ambient temperature. Under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation, the sterilization efficiency of EPL@PDA NPs suspension for MRSA in vitro was up to 99.96%. The EPL@PDA‐mediated aPTT presented potent antibacterial efficacy in treating MRSA‐induced keratitis with little corneal epithelial cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. In conclusion, the bacterial‐targeting aPTT platform in this work provides a prospective method for the management of MRSA‐induced refractory bacterial keratitis.

Environmental regulation and green technology innovation are the important driving forces to realize the peak of carbon and carbon neutralization strategy. However, whether environmental regulation can promote or inhibit green technology innovation, the existing literature research has not yet formed a consistent conclusion, and there is no literature to conduct a unified analysis of the relationship between the two. Based on 39 independent research papers published from 2006 to 2020, this paper integrates and analyzes the relationship between environmental regulation and enterprise green technology innovation and its corresponding dimensions in the context of China. The results show that there is a significant positive correlation between environmental regulation and enterprise green technology innovation overall. There is a significant positive correlation between command-control environmental regulation, tax-based environmental regulation, enterprise green product innovation, green process innovation, and green R&D investment, but there are differences in intensity. At the same time, this study also found that the types of environmental regulation, industry characteristics, and economic regions moderate the relationship between environmental regulation and enterprise green technology innovation. These findings further clarify the differences of understanding on the relationship between environmental regulation and green innovation of enterprises, provide a new perspective for the inconsistency of existing relevant research conclusions, and provide new supporting evidence for the Porter hypothesis, which has important implications for the government to optimize environmental regulation policies to promote the development of green economy.

Recent studies have shown that the use of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) may be a promising strategy for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) with different administration routes and dosages on SCI rats. Following T10-spinal cord contusion in Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 60), three different dosages of hUC-MSCs were intrathecally injected into rats (SCI-ITH) after 24 h. Intravenous injection of hUC-MSCs (SCI-i.v.) and methylprednisolone reagent (SCI-PC) were used as positive controls (N = 10/group). A SCI control group without treatment and a sham operation group were injected with Multiple Electrolyte Injection solution. The locomotor function was assessed by Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) rating score, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histopathology, and immunofluorescence. ELISA was conducted to further analyze the nerve injury and inflammation in the rat SCI model. Following SCI, BBB scores were significantly lower in the SCI groups compared with the sham operation group, but all the treated groups showed the recovery of hind-limb motor function, and rats receiving the high-dose intrathecal injection of hUC-MSCs (SCI-ITH-H) showed improved outcomes compared with rats in hUC-MSCs i.v. and positive control groups. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed significant edema and spinal cord lesion in the SCI groups, and significant recovery was observed in the medium and high-dose hUC-MSCs ITH groups. Histopathological staining showed that the necrotic area in spinal cord tissue was significantly reduced in the hUC-MSCs ITH-H group, and the immunofluorescence staining confirmed the neuroprotection effect of hUC-MSCs infused on SCI rats. The increase of inflammatory cytokines was repressed in hUC-MSCs ITH-H group. Our results confirmed that hUC-MSC administered via intrathecal injection has dose-dependent neuroprotection effect in SCI rats.

In insects, the emergence of mating behavior requires the interplay among sex-determination hierarchy mechanisms that regulate sex-specific differentiation, perception and integration of different sensory cues, and precisely patterned behavioral outputs. Biogenic amines, including octopamine (OA), dopamine (DA), tyramine (TA), serotonin and histamine, have been identified and proposed as putative neurotransmitters, neurohormones and/or neuromodulators in the central nervous system of insects to influence multiple physiologies and behaviors. The current study provides the physiological roles and pharmacology of these biogenic amines in the mating performance of Bactrocera dorsalis. Silencing gene expressions coding for biosynthetic enzymes of DA and serotonin in male flies could decrease mating rates, while OA, TA and histamine had no such effects on mating. Furthermore, injection of DA or the DA receptor antagonist chlorpromazine could affect mating rate, as well as injection of serotonin. Pharmacological treatments with other biogenic amines or their receptor antagonists in male flies have no roles in regulating mating performance. We conclude that DA and its receptors are involved in regulating male mating behaviors in B. dorsalis, while changes in serotonin levels in male flies could also affect mating rates. In the current study, the modulatory effects of these biogenic amines on mating performance were investigated, and these results will be helpful in providing a new strategy for controlling B. dorsalis.

We propose herein a novel microfluidic approach for the simultaneous active pumping and mixing of analytes in a straight microchannel via the AC field-effect control of induced-charge electro-osmosis (ICEO) around metal–dielectric solid Janus cylinders of inherent inhomogeneous electrical polarizability immersed in an electrolyte solution. We coin the term “Janus AC flow field-effect transistor (Janus AC-FFET)” to describe this interesting physical phenomenon. The proposed technique utilizes a simple device geometry, in which one or a series of Janus microcylinders are arranged in parallel along the centerline of the channel’s bottom surface, embedding a pair of 3D sidewall driving electrodes. By combining symmetry breaking in both surface polarizability and the AC powering scheme, it is possible, on demand, to adjust the degree of asymmetry of the ICEO flow profile in two orthogonal directions, which includes the horizontal pump and transversal rotating motion. A comprehensive mathematical model was developed under the Debye–Hückel limit to elucidate the physical mechanism underlying the field-effect-reconfigurable diffuse-charge dynamics on both the dielectric and the metal-phase surfaces of the Janus micropillar. For innovation in applied science, an advanced microdevice design integrating an array of discrete Janus cylinders subjected to two oppositely polarized gate terminals is recommended for constructing an active microfluidic pump and mixer, even without external moving parts. Supported by a simulation analysis, our physical demonstration of Janus AC-FFET provides a brand-new approach to muti-directional electro-convective manipulation in modern microfluidic systems.

Porous carbon nanofibers are commonly used for adsorption processes owing to their high specific surface area and rich pore structure. However, the poor mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based porous carbon nanofibers have limited their applications. Herein, we introduced solid waste-derived oxidized coal liquefaction residue (OCLR) into PAN-based nanofibers to obtain activated reinforced porous carbon nanofibers (ARCNF) with enhanced mechanical properties and regeneration for efficient adsorption of organic dyes in wastewater. This study examined the effects of contact time, concentration, temperature, pH, and salinity on the adsorption capacity. The adsorption processes of the dyes in ARCNF are appropriately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity for malachite green (MG) on ARCNF is 2712.84 mg g−1 according to the fitted parameters of the Langmuir model. Adsorption thermodynamics indicated that the adsorptions of the five dyes are spontaneous and endothermic processes. In addition, ARCNF have good regenerative performance, and the adsorption capacity of MG is still higher than 76% after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles. Our prepared ARCNF can efficiently adsorb organic dyes in wastewater, reducing the pollution to the environment and providing a new idea for solid waste recycling and water treatment.

The dissipation of energy in the form of heat causes a huge energy loss across the globe. Thermal insulation materials which reduce heat loss can alleviate the energy crisis. Among many thermal insulation materials, silica aerogels (SAs) have attracted extensive attention due to their high surface area, low density and low thermal conductivity. However, the applications of SAs are restricted by their mechanical fragility. In this paper, a series of different ratios of silica–chitosan composite aerogels (SCAs) were prepared by mixing sodium silicate aqueous solution and chitosan solution followed by freeze drying. The surface morphology of SAs, CAs and SCAs was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specific surface area, pore volume and pore size of the composite aerogels were studied by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The thermal conductivities, chemical structures, thermal stabilities and hydrophobicities of SAs, CAs and SCAs were tested and analyzed. In addition, the adsorption properties of SCAs were measured using different organic solvents. The results reveal that when the proportion of sodium silicate aqueous solution and chitosan solution is 1:1, the obtained SCA−1/1 has the best performance, with a low thermal conductivity of 0.0369 W/m·K, a large specific surface area of 374.7 m2/g, and good thermal stability. In addition, the prepared SCAs also have good hydrophobicity and absorption properties, with adsorption capacities of 6.7–9.4 g/g, which show great application potential in the fields of insulation and adsorption.

BackgroundWith the development of medical technology and the innovation of various surgical options, the survival time of children with nephroblastoma is significantly prolonged. However, postoperative pain and stress response have been plagued by children with nephroblastoma during the postoperative treatment. At present, there is still a lack of effective care programs.MethodsWe accessed our institutional database to retrospectively screen clinical data from all children with nephroblastoma who were surgically treated in our hospital between July 2020 and July 2021. Some children received routine care, while others received Orem-based self-care theory and active pain assessment.ResultsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 150 children with nephroblastoma who underwent surgical treatment were included in this study. On the third day after surgery, the scores of pain control effect and satisfaction degree of pain education in the study group were higher than those in the control group, and the physical and daily life influence, emotion influence, and pain experienced in the study group were lower than those in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (p 0.05). After nursing, the C-SUPPH and ESCA scores of the two groups were higher than those before nursing, and the C-SUPPH and ESCA scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group (p 0.05). The levels of ACTH, Cor, and ANP in the two groups were lower than those before nursing and 3 d and 7 d after nursing, and the index levels after 7 d of nursing were lower than those after 3 d of nursing. After nursing, the levels of ACTH, Cor, and ANP in the study group at each time point were lower than those in the control group (p 0.05). After nursing, the SAS and SDS scores of both groups were lower than those before nursing, and the SAS and SDS scores of the study group were lower than those of the control group (p 0.05). After nursing, the PSQI scores of the two groups were lower than those before nursing, and the PSQI scores of the study were lower than those of the control group (p

The relationship between Mott state and charge density wave state in two dimensional materials remains unclear. Here, Liu et al. reveal spatial distribution of a Mott-Hubbard band in monolayer 1T-NbSe2 forming a new periodic pattern in addition to the well-known CDW pattern.

Abstract Background The emergence of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was reported in Wenshan City, southwestern China in 2017. The study describes the epidemiological and virological features of the outbreak and discusses the origin of the infection. Methods Poultry exposure and timelines of key events for each patient were collected. Samples derived from the patients, their close contacts, and environments were tested for influenza A(H7N9) virus by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were also conducted. Results Five patients were reported in the outbreak. An epidemiological investigation showed that all patients had been exposed at live poultry markets. The A(H7N9) isolates from these patients had low pathogenicity in avian species. Both epidemiological investigations of chicken sources and phylogenetic analysis of viral gene sequences indicated that the source of infection was from Guangxi Province, which lies 100 km to the east of Wenshan City. Conclusions In the study, a sudden emergence of human cases of H7N9 was documented in urban area of Wenshan City. Chickens were an important carrier in the H7N9 virus spreading from Guangxi to Wenshan. Hygienic management of live poultry markets and virological screening of chickens transported across regions should be reinforced to limit the spread of H7N9 virus.

Abstract Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) by manual preparation has been applied to treat diseases for thousands of years. However, this method still endures safety risks and challenges the psychological endurance and acceptance of doctors, patients and donors. Population evidence showed the washed microbiota preparation with microfiltration based on an automatic purification system followed by repeated centrifugation plus suspension for three times significantly reduced FMT-related adverse events. This washing preparation makes delivering a precise dose of the enriched microbiota feasible, instead of using the weight of stool. Intraperitoneal injection in mice with the fecal microbiota supernatant obtained after repeated centrifugation plus suspension for three times induced less toxic reaction than that by the first centrifugation following the microfiltration. The toxic reactions that include death, the change in the level of peripheral white blood cells, and the proliferation of germinal center in secondary lymphoid follicles in spleen were noted. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (NGS) indicated the increasing types and amount of viruses could be washed out during the washing process. Metabolomics analysis indicated metabolites with pro-inflammatory effects in the fecal microbiota supernatant such as leukotriene B4, corticosterone, and prostaglandin G2 could be removed by repeated washing. Near-infrared absorption spectroscopy could be served as a rapid detection method to control the quality of the washing-process. In conclusion, this study for the first time provides evidence linking clinical findings and animal experiments to support that washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) is safer, more precise and more quality-controllable than the crude FMT by manual.

Olfaction plays an essential role in various insect behaviors, including habitat selection, access to food, avoidance of predators, inter-species communication, aggregation, and reproduction. The olfactory process involves integrating multiple signals from external conditions and internal physiological states, including living environments, age, physiological conditions, and circadian rhythms. As microorganisms and insects form tight interactions, the behaviors of insects are constantly challenged by versatile microorganisms via olfactory cues. To better understand the microbial influences on insect behaviors via olfactory cues, this paper summarizes three different ways in which microorganisms modulate insect behaviors. Here, we deciphered three interesting aspects of microorganisms-contributed olfaction: (1) How do volatiles emitted by microorganisms affect the behaviors of insects? (2) How do microorganisms reshape the behaviors of insects by inducing changes in the synthesis of host volatiles? (3) How do symbiotic microorganisms act on insects by modulating behaviors?

To limit the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the government of China has been monitoring infected travelers and minimizing cold-chain contamination. However, other factors might contribute to recurring outbreaks. We analyze the role of undocumented migrants as potential transmitters of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in China.

Abstract Background Massive techniques have been evaluated for developing different pest control methods to minimize fertilizer and pesticide inputs. As “push-pull” strategy utilizes generally non-toxic chemicals to manipulate behaviors of insects, such strategy is considered to be environmentally friendly. “Push-pull” strategy has been extraordinarily effective in controlling stem borers, and the identification of new “pushing” or “pull” components against stem borers could be significantly helpful. Results In this study, the results of field trapping assay and behavioral assay showed the larvae of C.auricilius, one kind of stem borers, could be deterred by rice plant under tilling stage, its main host crop. The profiles of volatiles were compared between rice plants under two different developmental stages, and α-pinene was identified as a key differential component. The repelling activity of α-pinene against C.auricilius was confirmed by Y-tube olfactometer. For illuminating the olfactory recognition mechanism, transcriptome analysis was carried out, and 13 chemosensory proteins (CSPs) were identified in larvae and 19 CSPs were identified in adult of C.auriciliu, which was reported for the first time in this insect. Among these identified CSPs, 4 CSPs were significantly regulated by α-pinene treatment, and CSP8 showed good binding affinity with α-pinene in vitro. Conclusions Overall, C.auricilius could be repelled by rice plant at tilling stage, and our results highlighted α-pinene as a key component in inducing repelling activity at this specific stage and confirmed the roles of some candidate chemosensory elements in this chemo-sensing process. The results in this study could provide valuable information for chemosensory mechanism of C.auricilius and for identification of “push” agent against rice stem borers.

In the present study, we observed a 58% decrease in the fecundity of Drosophila melanogaster, after treatment with the cyromazine. To further elucidate the effects of cyromazine on reproduction, we counted the number of both germline stem cells (GSCs) and cystoblasts (CBs) in the ovary of a 3-day-old adult female. The results showed a significant decrease in the number of GSCs and CBs as compared to the control group. The mode of action of cyromazine is believed to be through the ecdysone signaling pathway. To further support this postulate, we observed the expression of key genes involved in the ecdysone signaling pathway and also determined the ecdysone titer from cyromazine-treated ovaries. Results indicated a significant decrease in the expression of ecdysone signaling-related genes as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the titer of the ecdysone hormone was also markedly reduced (90%) in cyromazine-treated adult ovaries, suggesting that ecdysone signaling was directly related to the decrease in the number of GSCs and CBs. However, further studies are required to understand the mechanism by which cyromazine affects the GSCs and CBs in female adult ovaries.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus and has reemerged in recent years with epidemic potential. ZIKV infection may result in severe syndromes such as neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Therefore, ZIKV has become a global public health threat and currently there is no approved specific drug for its treatment. Animal venoms are important resources of novel drugs. Cathelicidin-BF (BF-30) is a defensive peptide identified from Bungarus fasciatus snake venom and has been shown to be an excellent template for applicable peptide design. In this study, we found that ZY13, one of the peptidic analogs of BF-30, inhibits ZIKV infection in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that ZY13 can directly inactivate ZIKV and reduce the production of infectious virions. Further studies also indicated that administration of ZY13 strengthen the host antiviral immunity via AXL-SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling protein) pathway. Additionally, the results of mouse experiment suggest that ZY13 efficiently restrict ZIKV infection and improve the growth defects of ZIKV-infected mouse pups. Together, our findings not only demonstrate that ZY13 might be a candidate for anti-ZIKV drug, but also indicated the importance of animal venom peptides as templates for antivirals development.

Summary: While it is appreciated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as second messengers in both homeostastic and stress response signaling pathways, potential roles for ROS during early vertebrate development have remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that fertilization in Xenopus embryos triggers a rapid increase in ROS levels, which oscillate with each cell division. Furthermore, we show that the fertilization-induced Ca2+ wave is necessary and sufficient to induce ROS production in activated or fertilized eggs. Using chemical inhibitors, we identified mitochondria as the major source of fertilization-induced ROS production. Inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production in early embryos results in cell-cycle arrest, in part, via ROS-dependent regulation of Cdc25C activity. This study reveals a role for oscillating ROS levels in early cell cycle regulation in Xenopus embryos. : Han et al. show that the fertilization-triggered calcium wave induces reactive oxygen species production from mitochondria, which oscillate with each cell division in Xenopus embryos. Moreover, they demonstrate that inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production disrupts cell cycle progression. Keywords: mitochondria, reactive oxygen species, ROS, Xenopus, Cdc25C, cell cycle, fertilization, Ca2+ wave, HyPer, respiratory burst

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23418-z

Rat embryonic stem cells (ESCs) offer the potential for sophisticated genome engineering in this valuable biomedical model species. However, germline transmission has been rare following conventional homologous recombination and clonal selection. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target genomic mutations and insertions. We first evaluated utility for directed mutagenesis and recovered clones with biallelic deletions in Lef1. Mutant cells exhibited reduced sensitivity to glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibition during self-renewal. We then generated a non-disruptive knockin of dsRed at the Sox10 locus. Two clones produced germline chimeras. Comparative expression of dsRed and SOX10 validated the fidelity of the reporter. To illustrate utility, live imaging of dsRed in neonatal brain slices was employed to visualize oligodendrocyte lineage cells for patch-clamp recording. Overall, these results show that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology in germline-competent rat ESCs is enabling for in vitro studies and for generating genetically modified rats.

Abstract The association between air pollution and childhood respiratory disease is inconsistent. In the present study, we investigated a short-term effect of ambient air pollutants and daily childhood lower respiratory diseases (CLRD). Daily air pollutants, weather data, and CLRD data were collected from January 2014 to April 2015 (452 days) in Nanjing, China. Time-series regression and generalized additive models were used to assess the effects of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, and CO) on CLRD. We observed that an interquartile range (IQR) increase in concentrations of PM10, NO2, and SO2 significantly increased the daily CLRD with 6 days cumulative effects (difference of estimates: 2.8%, 95% CI: 0.6–5.0%; 4.1%, 1.2–7.0%; 5.6%, 2.6–8.6%, respectively). However, no significant association was found in IQR concentrations of PM2.5, O3, and CO. Specifically, elevated PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 significantly increased the numbers of CLRD in cool season (3.6%, 1.5–5.7%; 2.4%, 0.3–4.5%; 4.9%, 2.9–7.0%; 6.3%, 3.7–9.0%, respectively). Additionally, the effect estimates of PM10, NO2, and SO2 in female and age >27 months were more pronounced than in male and age ≤27 months. This study suggested that short-term exposure to ambient PM10, NO2, and SO2 were associated with the increased CLRD numbers.

Conventional generation of stem cells from human blastocysts produces a developmentally advanced, or primed, stage of pluripotency. In vitro resetting to a more naive phenotype has been reported. However, whether the reset culture conditions of selective kinase inhibition can enable capture of naive epiblast cells directly from the embryo has not been determined. Here, we show that in these specific conditions individual inner cell mass cells grow into colonies that may then be expanded over multiple passages while retaining a diploid karyotype and naive properties. The cells express hallmark naive pluripotency factors and additionally display features of mitochondrial respiration, global gene expression, and genome-wide hypomethylation distinct from primed cells. They transition through primed pluripotency into somatic lineage differentiation. Collectively these attributes suggest classification as human naive embryonic stem cells. Human counterparts of canonical mouse embryonic stem cells would argue for conservation in the phased progression of pluripotency in mammals.

The possibility to generate cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells in vitro has enormous significance for basic research, disease modeling, drug development and heart repair. The concept of heart muscle reconstruction has been studied and optimized in the rat model using rat primary cardiovascular cells or xenogeneic pluripotent stem cell derived-cardiomyocytes for years. However, the lack of rat pluripotent stem cells (rPSCs) and their cardiovascular derivatives prevented the establishment of an authentic clinically relevant syngeneic or allogeneic rat heart regeneration model. In this study, we comparatively explored the potential of recently available rat embryonic stem cells (rESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (riPSCs) as a source for cardiomyocytes (CMs). We developed feeder cell-free culture conditions facilitating the expansion of undifferentiated rPSCs and initiated cardiac differentiation by embryoid body (EB)-formation in agarose microwell arrays, which substituted the robust but labor-intensive hanging drop (HD) method. Ascorbic acid was identified as an efficient enhancer of cardiac differentiation in both rPSC types by significantly increasing the number of beating EBs (3.6 ± 1.6-fold for rESCs and 17.6 ± 3.2-fold for riPSCs). These optimizations resulted in a differentiation efficiency of up to 20% cTnTpos rPSC-derived CMs. CMs showed spontaneous contractions, expressed cardiac markers and had typical morphological features. Electrophysiology of riPSC-CMs revealed different cardiac subtypes and physiological responses to cardio-active drugs. In conclusion, we describe rPSCs as a robust source of CMs, which is a prerequisite for detailed preclinical studies of myocardial reconstruction in a physiologically and immunologically relevant small animal model.