FANCA Promotes DNA Double-Strand Break Repair by Catalyzing Single-Strand Annealing and Strand Exchange.

FANCA is a component of the Fanconi anemia (FA) core complex that activates DNA interstrand crosslink repair by monoubiquitination of FANCD2. Here, we report that purified FANCA protein catalyzes bidirectional single-strand annealing (SA) and strand exchange (SE) at a level comparable to RAD52, while a disease-causing FANCA mutant, F1263Δ, is defective in both activities. FANCG, which directly interacts with FANCA, dramatically stimulates its SA and SE activities. Alternatively, FANCB, which does not directly interact with FANCA, does not stimulate this activity. Importantly, five other patient-derived FANCA mutants also exhibit deficient SA and SE, suggesting that the biochemical activities of FANCA are relevant to the etiology of FA. A cell-based DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair assay demonstrates that FANCA plays a direct role in the single-strand annealing sub-pathway (SSA) of DSB repair by catalyzing SA, and this role is independent of the canonical FA pathway and RAD52.

Outcomes Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraoperative Thoraco-Abdominal Chemotherapy with Diaphragm Resection for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hyperthermic intraoperative thoraco-abdominal chemotherapy (HITAC) and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) patients who underwent diaphragm resection. METHODS: PC patients who underwent CRS with diaphragm resection were selected from a prospectively established database and were divided into hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and HITAC groups. The clinicopathological characteristics, treatment-related variables, perioperative adverse events (AEs), and survival outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of 1168 CRS + HIPEC/HITACs, 102 patients were enrolled-61 HITAC patients and 41 HIPEC patients. In the HITAC and HIPEC groups, the incidence of grade III-V AEs was 29.5% versus 34.1% (p = 0.621). The pleural progression rates were 13.2 versus 18.9% (p = 0.462) and the median overall survival (OS) was 50.5 versus 52.7 months (p = 0.958). Median time to progression (TTP) in thoracic disease was not reached. There was no significant difference in perioperative AEs, TTP, and OS for total patients and the completeness of cytoreduction (CC) score subgroups (p > 0.05). Age ≥ 60 years (hazard ratio [HR] 4.162, p = 0.026) was an independent risk factor influencing pleural progression, and primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM; HR 2.749, p = 0.016) and the presence of two or more serious AEs (SAEs; HR 7.294, p = 0.001) were independent risk factors influencing OS. CONCLUSIONS: HITAC can be performed in carefully selected PC patients who underwent diaphragm resection, with no worsening of the safety profile and a possible benefit for pleural progression. In those patients, age ≥ 60 years is associated with a shorter TTP of thoracic disease, while primary MPM and two or more perioperative SAEs are associated with worse OS.

Chain-mediating effects of kinesiophobia and self-efficacy on pain catastrophizing and physical activity in haemophilia patients.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research on the relationship between pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and physical activity (PA) in people with haemophilia (PWH), and the underlying mechanisms connecting these variables remain unclear. AIM: The study's aim was to clarify the roles of kinesiophobia and self-efficacy in the relationship between pain catastrophizing and PA in PWH. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adult PWH at the Haemophilia Centre of a Tertiary hospital in Beijing, China. The following questionnaires were used to collect data: the general information, the International Physical Activity Short Questionnaire, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia Scale, and the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. RESULTS: The study included a total of 187 PWH, including 154 having haemophilia A and 33 having haemophilia B. The median interquartile range of PA was 594 (198, 1554) MET-min/wk. There were significant differences in PA of patients based on age stage, treatment modality, highest pain score within the last seven days, and presence of haemophilic arthropathy (p < .05). It was showed that pain catastrophizing could directly predict PA (p < .001), accounting for 38.13% of the total effect. Pain catastrophizing also had indirect effects on PA through the mediating factors of kinesiophobia or self-efficacy, and through the chain-mediating effect of kinesiophobia and self-efficacy, accounting for 38.40%, 17.07%, and 6.40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study discovered that PWH have limited PA due to pain catastrophizing. This not only directly affects their activity but also indirectly influences it through kinesiophobia and self-efficacy.

Long-term survival outcomes following cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal metastasis (HCC-PM) has a poor outlook. Traditional treatments have limited effect on survival. The safety and efficacy of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC) have been shown in other peritoneal cancers. This study evaluates the role of CRS + HIPEC in HCC-PM. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of HCC-PM patients treated with CRS + HIPEC at Beijing Shijitan Hospital from March 2017 to December 2023 was conducted, assessing clinical features, severe adverse events (SAEs), and overall survival (OS) rates. RESULTS: The study population comprised 10 HCC-PM patients who underwent CRS + HIPEC. The median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 25, and complete cytoreduction (CC0 ~ 1) was achieved in half of the patients. Three patients experienced SAEs within 30 days postoperatively. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates were recorded as 89.0%, 89.0%, and 21.0% respectively, with a median OS1 of 107.8 months and OS2 of 49.9 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.0 months. CONCLUSION: The application of CRS + HIPEC offers significant benefits to patients with HCC-PM. A selected group of patients may achieve prolonged PFS. Incorporating CRS + HIPEC into the treatment paradigm can thus be considered a strategic therapeutic option for patients with HCC-PM.

Interrelationships among abnormal P-wave axis, metabolic syndrome and its components, and mortality in US adults.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality and is linked to abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters. We aimed to explore the relationships and interactions among MetS and its components, abnormal P-wave axis (aPWA), and mortality rates. METHODS: We analyzed data from 7526 adult participants with sinus rhythm recruited from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. MetS was classified based on the NCEP ATP III-2005 definition. aPWA included all P-wave axis outside 0-75°. The National Death Index was utilized to identify survival status. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) categorized by aPWA, MetS, and their components were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models to investigate all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. RESULTS: Within a median follow-up period of 20.76 years, 4686 deaths were recorded, of which 1414 were attributable to cardiovascular disease. Participants with both MetS and aPWA had higher all-cause (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.29-1.64, interaction P = 0.043) and cardiovascular (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.79, interaction P-value = 0.058) mortality rates than participants without MetS and with a normal P-wave axis. Participants with the greatest number of MetS components and aPWA had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.13-2.55, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with both aPWA and MetS have a higher risk of mortality, and those with a greater number of MetS components and aPWA have a higher risk of all-cause mortality. These findings highlight the significance of integrating ECG characteristics with metabolic health status in clinical assessment.

Minimally invasive transurethral holmium laser surgery for the management of an IUD with bladder migration.

CASE: Intrauterine device (IUD) is used worldwide as an effective contraceptive method, but the migration of IUD is a serious complication. We report the case of IUD migration leading to bladder calculus formation and a minimally invasive transurethral surgical approach was performed for treatment. Holmium laser was used to break up the bladder calculus and cut through the bladder mucosa where the IUD was attached, finally the IUD was removed through the urethra. This minimally invasive procedure is a safe and effective treatment for IUD migration, and similar cases have not been reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: That the secondary bladder calculus were smashed by intense pulse mode of holmium laser, and the bladder tissue around the attached IUD was opened by cutting mode of holmium laser, and finally the IUD was completely removed from urethra, this surgical method is safe and effective, and there is no case report on IUD removal of transurethral cystoscope in the literature.

Efficacy and Safety of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3: a Systematic Review and Meta­analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Therapeutic alternatives for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) are limited. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a potential intervention has drawn heightened interest because of its ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of rTMS in the treatment of SCA3. We systematically searched databases-PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Springer-for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of rTMS in the treatment of SCA3. Major efficacy outcomes were assessed, including International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) scores, Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores, and ICARS subscale scores. Six randomized controlled trials involving 175 patients were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis results indicated statistically significant increases in ICARS (mean difference (MD) = - 3.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 7.46 to - 0.30; p = 0.03) and SARA (MD of - 1.59, 95% CI - 2.99 to - 0.19; p = 0.03) scores. No significant heterogeneity was observed across all outcomes (I2 = 0%). Dynamic function within the ICARS scale markedly improved with rTMS (MD = - 2.19, 95% CI = - 3.82 to - 0.55; p = 0.009). The majority of the included studies exhibited a low risk of bias, and no severe adverse reactions were noted. Our meta-analysis, consisting of six randomized controlled trials with 175 participants, suggests that rTMS exhibits efficacy in alleviating both ataxic symptoms and certain aspects of motor function in SCA3.

Stretchable superhydrophobic fluororubber fabricated by transferring mesh microstructures.

Stretchable flexible superhydrophobic surfaces are in great demand to achieve waterproofing performance in aerospace, electronic industry, and other fields. However, there are still many challenges in developing superhydrophobic surfaces, which maintain their wetting characteristics under high strain conditions with good tensile durability. Here, we propose a simple and efficient method to prepare a stretchable superhydrophobic fluororubber surface composed of hierarchical micro-convexities, which are orderly arranged and interconnected. Its peculiar structure shows excellent superhydrophobicity (155.48 ± 1.97°) and high water sliding angle due to Cassie's impregnating wetting regime. Due to the special structure and high mechanical strength of the surface, it can still maintain its superhydrophobic property after a variety of durability tests, including various stretching tests, sandpaper abrasion, sand impact, and high-temperature treatment. In addition, the surface can still realize the lossless transfer of water droplets even at large stretching strains, which is expected to be applied to microfluidic devices under extreme working conditions.

Association between the insulin resistance marker TyG index and subsequent adverse long-term cardiovascular events in young and middle-aged US adults based on obesity status.

BACKGROUND: A lthough the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been shown to closely correlate with cardiometabolic outcomes and predict cardiovascular events in many groups, it remains unclear whether obese status in young and middle-aged adults is associated with long-term unfavorable cardiovascular events. This warrants further investigation. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning the years 1999-2018, with follow-up for mortality status until December 31, 2019. To categorize participants based on the TyG level, the optimal critical value was determined through restricted cubic spline function analysis, dividing them into high and low TyG groups. The study assessed the relationship between TyG and cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in young and middle-aged adults stratified by obesity status. Kaplan‒Meier and Cox proportional risk models were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: During a follow-up period of 123 months, a high TyG index increased the risk of cardiovascular events by 63% (P = 0.040) and the risk of all-cause mortality by 32% (P = 0.010) in individuals after adjusting for all covariates. High TyG was shown to be linked to cardiovascular events in obese people (Model 3: HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.13-5.12, P = 0.020); however, there was no significant difference in TyG groups for nonobese adults in Model 3 (P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: TyG was independently associated with harmful long-term cardiovascular events in young and middle-aged US populations, with a stronger association observed in those who were obese.

The Polycomb protein RING1B enables estrogen-mediated gene expression by promoting enhancer-promoter interaction and R-loop formation.

Polycomb complexes have traditionally been prescribed roles as transcriptional repressors, though increasing evidence demonstrate they can also activate gene expression. However, the mechanisms underlying positive gene regulation mediated by Polycomb proteins are poorly understood. Here, we show that RING1B, a core component of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1, regulates enhancer-promoter interaction of the bona fide estrogen-activated GREB1 gene. Systematic characterization of RNA:DNA hybrid formation (R-loops), nascent transcription and RNA Pol II activity upon estrogen administration revealed a key role of RING1B in gene activation by regulating R-loop formation and RNA Pol II elongation. We also found that the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and RNA are both necessary for full RING1B recruitment to estrogen-activated genes. Notably, RING1B recruitment was mostly unaffected upon RNA Pol II depletion. Our findings delineate the functional interplay between RING1B, RNA and ERα to safeguard chromatin architecture perturbations required for estrogen-mediated gene regulation and highlight the crosstalk between steroid hormones and Polycomb proteins to regulate oncogenic programs.

Satisfactory immediate spontaneous correction may not mean satisfactory final results for moderate TL/L curves after selective thoracic fusion in AIS patients.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on the chronic spontaneous behavior of the unfused TL/L curve during follow-up. The purpose of the present study was to explore the behavior of the unfused TL/L curve during a long-term follow-up to identify the risk factors for correction loss. METHODS: Sixty-four age-matched female AIS patients undergoing selective thoracic fusion were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether there was correction loss. Risk factors for correction loss of the unfused TL/L curves were analyzed. The relationship and difference between the immediate postoperative thoracic and TL/L Cobb angles were explored. RESULTS: The TL/L Cobb angle was 28.17° before surgery, 8.60° after surgery, and 10.74° at the final follow-up, with a correction loss of 2.14°. Each subgroup contained 32 cases. A smaller postoperative TL/L Cobb angle was the only risk factor that was independently associated with TL/L correction loss. In the LOSS group, there was a significant difference and no correlation between the immediate postoperative TL/L and the thoracic Cobb angle. In the NO-LOSS group, there was a moderate correlation and no difference between them. CONCLUSION: A smaller immediate postoperative TL/L Cobb angle may have been associated with TL/L correction loss during the long-term follow-up. Thus, good immediate postoperative spontaneous correction may not mean a satisfactory outcome at the final follow-up after STF. Mismatch between thoracic and TL/L Cobb angles immediately after surgery may also be related to correction loss of the unfused TL/L curves. Close attention should be paid in case of deterioration.

A retrospective analysis of secondary cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SeCRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed a prospective database. We collected information of 389 patients who were diagnosed with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. All patients underwent SeCRS with or without HIPEC. Overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were used to evaluate the treatment effectiveness. RESULTS: Of the 389 patients collected, 123 underwent primary or interval cytoreductive surgery at initial treatment and SeCRS at recurrence (Group A), 130 underwent primary or interval cytoreductive surgery at initial and SeCRS plus HIPEC at recurrence (Group B), and 136 underwent primary or interval cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC at initial and SeCRS plus HIPEC at recurrence (Group C). The median overall survival for Groups A, B, and C were 49.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47.6-50.5), 56.0 months (95% CI: 54.2-57.7), and 64.4 months (95% CI: 63.1-65.6), respectively. The median PFS for Groups A, B, and C were 13.1 months (95% CI: 12.6-13.5), 15.0 months (95% CI: 14.2-15.7), and 16.8 months (95% CI: 16.1-17.4), respectively. There were no significant difference in incidence and grade of adverse events among groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that SeCRS plus HIPEC followed by chemotherapy resulted in longer overall survival and PFS than only SeCRS followed by chemotherapy in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, especially in patients who were treated with repeat HIPEC.

Joint Client Selection and CPU Frequency Control in Wireless Federated Learning Networks with Power Constraints.

Federated learning (FL) represents a distributed machine learning approach that eliminates the necessity of transmitting privacy-sensitive local training samples. However, within wireless FL networks, resource heterogeneity introduces straggler clients, thereby decelerating the learning process. Additionally, the learning process is further slowed due to the non-independent and identically distributed (non-IID) nature of local training samples. Coupled with resource constraints during the learning process, there arises an imperative need for optimizing client selection and resource allocation strategies to mitigate these challenges. While numerous studies have made strides in this regard, few have considered the joint optimization of client selection and computational power (i.e., CPU frequency) for both clients and the edge server during each global iteration. In this paper, we initially define a cost function encompassing learning latency and non-IID characteristics. Subsequently, we pose a joint client selection and CPU frequency control problem that minimizes the time-averaged cost function subject to long-term power constraints. By utilizing Lyapunov optimization theory, the long-term optimization problem is transformed into a sequence of short-term problems. Finally, an algorithm is proposed to determine the optimal client selection decision and corresponding optimal CPU frequency for both the selected clients and the server. Theoretical analysis provides performance guarantees and our simulation results substantiate that our proposed algorithm outperforms comparative algorithms in terms of test accuracy while maintaining low power consumption.

Ultrafast resonant exciton-plasmon coupling for enhanced emission in lead halide perovskite with metallic Ag nanostructures.

Integrating metal halide perovskites onto plasmonic nanostructures has recently become a trending method of enabling superior emissive performance of perovskite nanophotonic devices. In this work, we present an in-depth study on the spontaneous emission properties of hybrid systems comprising CsPbBr3 nanocrystals and silver nanostructures. Specifically, a 5.7-fold increment of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity and a 1.65-fold enhancement of the PL relaxation rate is attained when the transition energy of CsPbBr3 is spectrally resonant with the oscillational frequency of Ag nanodisks (NDs), which is attributed to the intense exciton-plasmon coupling-induced Purcell effect. Furthermore, a 540-fs ultrafast energy transfer from the CsPbBr3 excitons to Ag plasmons is revealed by femtosecond pump-probe experiments, suggesting the key mechanism responsible for the Purcell-enhanced radiative emission. Our finding offers a unique understanding of the enhanced emissive behavior in the plasmon-coupled perovskite system and paves the way for further applications.

PCL scaffold combined with rat tail collagen type I to reduce keratocyte differentiation and prevent corneal stroma fibrosis after injury.

The cornea is one of the major refractive eye components and could be easily injured. An ineffective healing of corneal stromal wound may cause fibrosis and even loss of vision. Therefore, it is pivotal to prevent corneal fibrosis after injury. In this study, a poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibrous scaffold infused with rat tail collagen type I was fabricated to obtain a 3D composite material. Physical and biological properties of PCL/collagen scaffold were evaluated, the effect of PCL/collagen scaffold on the proliferation and differentiation of limbal stromal stem cells (LSSCs) were detected in vitro, the differentiation of keratocytes as well as the expression and arrangement of extracellular matrix (ECM) influenced by PCL/collagen scaffold were investigated in vivo. RNA-sequencing on normal and injured corneas was carried out to find out the differential enriched pathways and gene expression. We discovered that the PCL/collagen scaffold simulated the stromal structure with properties that were most similar to the native cornea, the PCL/collagen scaffold exhibited good mechanical and biological properties. We also observed that the PCL/collagen scaffold reduced keratocyte differentiation. Injured corneas treated with PCL/collagen scaffold exhibited more regular collagen distribution and less fibroblasts and myofibroblasts distribution. By RNA-sequencing, we observed that in injured group, ECM-related pathway was enriched and several ECM-related genes were up-regulated. This study provides evidence that application of PCL/collagen scaffold could be a new therapeutic strategy for corneal injury.

Comprehensive evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of a gene-deleted variant pseudorabies virus attenuated vaccine.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant infections have caused a substantial economic impact on swine production in the absence of new powerful candidate vaccines. In this study, we developed and evaluated a gene-deleted variant pseudorabies virus (PRV)-attenuated vaccine, PRV GX-ΔTK/IES, in which the genes TK, gI, gE, US9 and US2 were deleted. During a study of innocuousness, all mice inoculated with PRV GX-ΔTK/IES survived, neither clinical signs nor pathological changes were observed, and viral genomes could not be detected in the blood and tissues. All piglets inoculated with high titres of PRV GX-ΔTK/IES remained clinically healthy, and neither fever nor clinical signs were observed. Viral detection results were negative in nasal swab samples, blood and tissue samples. Moreover, none of the cohabitated piglets seroconverted during a trial on horizontal transmission. The immunogenicity was assessed through a vaccination and challenge experiment in piglets. Piglets vaccinated with PRV GX-ΔTK/IES and the commercial vaccine were completely protected from subsequent PRV infection, and the level of immunity and protection induced by PRV GX-ΔTK/IES was better than that provided by the live commercial vaccine. Thus, PRV GX-ΔTK/IES is completely safe for both nontarget and target animals and can be regarded as a novel live gene-deleted PRV vaccine candidate.

Low-Rank and Sparse Matrix Recovery for Hyperspectral Image Reconstruction Using Bayesian Learning.

In order to reduce the amount of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data transmission required through hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS), we propose a structured low-rank and joint-sparse (L&S) data compression and reconstruction method. The proposed method exploits spatial and spectral correlations in HSI data using sparse Bayesian learning and compressive sensing (CS). By utilizing a simultaneously L&S data model, we employ the information of the principal components and Bayesian learning to reconstruct the hyperspectral images. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to LRMR and SS&LR methods in terms of reconstruction accuracy and computational burden under the same signal-to-noise tatio (SNR) and compression ratio.

Crystal structure of a Fanconi anemia-associated nuclease homolog bound to 5' flap DNA: basis of interstrand cross-link repair by FAN1.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by defects in any of 15 FA genes responsible for processing DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs). The ultimate outcome of the FA pathway is resolution of cross-links, which requires structure-selective nucleases. FA-associated nuclease 1 (FAN1) is believed to be recruited to lesions by a monoubiquitinated FANCI-FANCD2 (ID) complex and participates in ICL repair. Here, we determined the crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FAN1 (PaFAN1) lacking the UBZ (ubiquitin-binding zinc) domain in complex with 5' flap DNA. All four domains of the right-hand-shaped PaFAN1 are involved in DNA recognition, with each domain playing a specific role in bending DNA at the nick. The six-helix bundle that binds the junction connects to the catalytic viral replication and repair (VRR) nuclease (VRR nuc) domain, enabling FAN1 to incise the scissile phosphate a few bases distant from the junction. The six-helix bundle also inhibits the cleavage of intact Holliday junctions. PaFAN1 shares several conserved features with other flap structure-selective nucleases despite structural differences. A clamping motion of the domains around the wedge helix, which acts as a pivot, facilitates nucleolytic cleavage. The PaFAN1 structure provides insights into how archaeal Holliday junction resolvases evolved to incise 5' flap substrates and how FAN1 integrates with the FA complex to participate in ICL repair.

Discovery of a Thioxanthone-TfOH Complex as a Photoredox Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Alkenes Using p-Xylene as both Electron and Hydrogen Sources.

Hydrogenation of alkenes is one of the most fundamental transformations in organic synthesis, and widely used in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Although numerous hydrogenation methods have been developed, novel types of catalysis with new mechanisms and new hydrogen sources are still desirable. Thioxanthone (TX) is widely used in energy-transfer photoreactions, but rarely in photoredox processes. Herein we show that a catalytic amount of TfOH as a co-catalyst can tune the properties of TX to make it a photoredox catalyst with highly enhanced oxidative capability in the hydrogenation of carbonylated alkenes with the cheap petroleum industrial product p-xylene serving as the hydrogen source. Deuterium can also be introduced by this method by using D2 O as the D source. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of using p-xylene as a hydrogen source.

Wheat heat tolerance is impaired by heightened deletions in the distal end of 4AL chromosomal arm.

Heat stress (HS) causes substantial damages to worldwide crop production. As a cool season crop, wheat (Triticum aestivum) is sensitive to HS-induced damages. To support the genetic improvement of wheat HS tolerance (HST), we conducted fine mapping of TaHST1, a locus required for maintaining wheat vegetative and reproductive growth under elevated temperatures. TaHST1 was mapped to the distal terminus of 4AL chromosome arm using genetic populations derived from two BC6 F6 breeding lines showing tolerance (E6015-4T) or sensitivity (E6015-3S) to HS. The 4AL region carrying TaHST1 locus was approximately 0.949 Mbp and contained the last 19 high confidence genes of 4AL according to wheat reference genome sequence. Resequencing of E6015-3S and E6015-4T and haplotype analysis of 3087 worldwide wheat accessions revealed heightened deletion polymorphisms in the distal 0.949 Mbp region of 4AL, which was confirmed by the finding of frequent gene losses in this region in eight genome-sequenced hexaploid wheat cultivars. The great majority (86.36%) of the 3087 lines displayed different degrees of nucleotide sequence deletions, with only 13.64% of them resembling E6015-4T in this region. These deletions can impair the presence and/or function of TaHST1 and surrounding genes, thus rendering global wheat germplasm vulnerable to HS or other environmental adversities. Therefore, conscientious and urgent efforts are needed in global wheat breeding programmes to optimize the structure and function of 4AL distal terminus by ensuring the presence of TaHST1 and surrounding genes. The new information reported here will help to accelerate the ongoing global efforts in improving wheat HST.