Exploring COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Making: Insights from 'One-Shot Wonders' and 'Booster Enthusiasts'.

Within the USA, the uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccines is suboptimal despite health authority recommendations. This study used qualitative methods to examine factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine decision making and the effects of anxiety and depression on these decisions within the CHASING COVID Cohort (C3). Between October and December 2023, we conducted 25 interviews with participants from 16 different US states, 14 of whom endorsed recent symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Using grounded theory methodology for coding and thematic analysis, we categorized participants into "One-Shot Wonders" and "Booster Enthusiasts". Our findings indicate that the US COVID-19 vaccination environment has shifted from active promotion to a notable absence of COVID-19 discussions, leading to reduced worry about infection and severe illness, diminished perception of the benefits of the vaccine on personal and community levels, and fewer cues to action. Initially influential factors like family, personal experiences, and physician recommendations lost impact over time. Although the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety and vaccination was not prominent, one case highlighted a direct relationship. The study emphasizes the importance of timely and accurate public health messaging adaptable to individuals' needs and misconceptions, highlighting the need for dynamic communication strategies in future initiatives with rapidly changing landscapes.

Identification and Expression Analysis of Sulfate Transporter Genes Family and Function Analysis of GmSULTR3;1a from Soybean.

Sulfate transporters (SULTRs) are essential for the transport and absorption of sulfate in plants and serve as critical transport proteins within the sulfur metabolism pathway, significantly influencing plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. A bioinformatics analysis of SULTR genes in soybean was performed, resulting in the identification and classification of twenty-eight putative GmSULTRs into four distinct groups. In this study, the characteristics of the 28 GmSULTR genes, including those involved in collinearity, gene structure, protein motifs, cis-elements, tissue expression patterns, and the response to abiotic stress and plant hormone treatments, were systematically analyzed. This study focused on conducting a preliminary functional analysis of the GmSULTR3;1a gene, wherein a high expression level of GmSULTR3;1a in the roots, stems, and leaves was induced by a sulfur deficiency and GmSULTR3;1a improved the salt tolerance. A further functional characterization revealed that GmSULTR3;1a-overexpressing soybean hairy roots had higher SO42-, GSH, and methionine (Met) contents compared with the wild-type (WT) plant. These results demonstrate that the overexpression of GmSULTR3;1a may promote the sulfur assimilation metabolism and increase the content of sulfur-containing amino acids in plants.

Physiological presentation and risk factors of long COVID in the UK using smartphones and wearable devices: a longitudinal, citizen science, case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of long COVID as a COVID-19 sequela was largely syndromic in characterisation. Digital health technologies such as wearable devices open the possibility to study this condition with passive, objective data in addition to self-reported symptoms. We aimed to quantify the prevalence and severity of symptoms across collected mobile health metrics over 12 weeks following COVID-19 diagnosis and to identify risk factors for the development of post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID). METHODS: The Covid Collab study was a longitudinal, self-enrolled, community, case-control study. We recruited participants from the UK through a smartphone app, media publications, and promotion within the Fitbit app between Aug 28, 2020, and May 31, 2021. Adults (aged ≥18 years) who reported a COVID-19 diagnosis with a positive antigen or PCR test before Feb 1, 2022, were eligible for inclusion. We compared a cohort of 1200 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 with a cohort of 3600 sex-matched and age-matched controls without a COVID-19 diagnosis. Participants could provide information on COVID-19 symptoms and mental health through self-reported questionnaires (active data) and commercial wearable fitness devices (passive data). Data were compared between cohorts at three periods following diagnosis: acute COVID-19 (0-4 weeks), ongoing COVID-19 (4-12 weeks), and post-COVID-19 (12-16 weeks). We assessed sociodemographic and mobile health risk factors for the development of long COVID (defined as either a persistent change in a physiological signal or self-reported symptoms for ≥12 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis). FINDINGS: By Aug 1, 2022, 17 667 participants had enrolled into the study, of whom 1200 (6·8%) cases and 3600 (20·4%) controls were included in the analyses. Compared with baseline (65 beats per min), resting heart rate increased significantly during the acute (0·47 beats per min; odds ratio [OR] 1·06 [95% CI 1·03-1·09]; p<0·0001), ongoing (0·99 beats per min; 1·11 [1·08-1·14]; p<0·0001), and post-COVID-19 (0·52 beats per min; 1·04 [1·02-1·07]; p=0·0017) phases. An increased level of historical activity in the period from 24 months to 6 months preceding COVID-19 diagnosis was protective against long COVID (coefficient -0·017 [95% CI -0·030 to -0·003]; p=0·015). Depressive symptoms were persistently elevated following COVID-19 (OR 1·03 [95% CI 1·01-1·06]; p=0·0033) and were a potential risk factor for developing long COVID (1·14 [1·07-1·22]; p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: Mobile health technologies and commercial wearable devices might prove to be a useful resource for tracking recovery from COVID-19 and the prevalence of its long-term sequelae, as well as representing an abundant source of historical data. Mental wellbeing can be impacted negatively for an extended period following COVID-19. FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, UK Research and Innovation, and Medical Research Council.

Enhancing slow sand filtration for safe drinking water production: interdisciplinary insights into Schmutzdecke characteristics and filtration performance in mini-scale filters.

The demand for safe drinking water is constantly challenged by increasing biohazards. One widely used solution is implementing indoor-operated slow sand filtration (SSF) as one of the final barriers in water production. SSF has gained popularity due to its low energy consumption and efficient removal of biohazards, especially microorganisms, without using chemicals. SSF involves both physical-chemical and biological removal, particularly in the "Schmutzdecke", which is a biofilm-like layer on the sand bed surface. To achieve the optimal performance of SSF, a systematic understanding of the influence of SSF operating parameters on the Schmutzdecke development and filter filtration performance is required. Our study focused on three operational parameters, i.e., sand material, sand size, and the addition of an inoculum (suspension of matured Schmutzdecke), on the mini-scale filters. The effects of these parameters on the Schmutzdecke development and SSF removal performance were studied by biochemical analyses and 16S amplicon sequencing, together with spiking experiments with Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the mini-scale filters. Our results indicate that the mini-scale filters successfully developed Schmutzdeckes and generated bacterial breakthrough curves efficiently. The sand size and material were found to have an impact on Schmutzdecke's development. The addition of inoculum to new filters did not induce significant changes in the microbial community composition of the Schmutzdecke, but we observed positive effects of faster Schmutzdecke development and better removal performance in some inoculated filters. Our study highlights the value of mini-scale filters for SSF studies, which provide insights into Schmutzdecke microbial ecology and bacterial removal with significantly reduced requirements of materials and effort as compared to larger-scale filters. We found that operational parameters have a greater impact on the Schmutzdecke biochemical characteristics and removal performances than on the microbial community composition. This suggests that Schmutzdecke characteristics may provide more reliable predictors of SSF removal performance, which could help to improve safe drinking water production.

Effects of different energy levels in low-protein diet on liver lipid metabolism in the late-phase laying hens through the gut-liver axis.

BACKGROUND: The energy/protein imbalance in a low-protein diet induces lipid metabolism disorders in late-phase laying hens. Reducing energy levels in the low-protein diet to adjust the energy-to-protein ratio may improve fat deposition, but this also decreases the laying performance of hens. This study investigated the mechanism by which different energy levels in the low-protein diet influences liver lipid metabolism in late-phase laying hens through the enterohepatic axis to guide feed optimization and nutrition strategies. A total of 288 laying hens were randomly allocated to the normal-energy and normal-protein diet group (positive control: CK) or 1 of 3 groups: low-energy and low-protein diet (LL), normal-energy and low-protein diet (NL), and high-energy and low-protein diet (HL) groups. The energy-to-protein ratios of the CK, LL, NL, and HL diets were 0.67, 0.74, 0.77, and 0.80, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the CK group, egg quality deteriorated with increasing energy intake in late-phase laying hens fed low-protein diet. Hens fed LL, NL, and HL diets had significantly higher triglyceride, total cholesterol, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase levels, but significantly lower hepatic lipase levels compared with the CK group. Liver transcriptome sequencing revealed that genes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation (ACOX1, HADHA, EHHADH, and ACAA1) were downregulated, whereas genes related to fatty acid synthesis (SCD, FASN, and ACACA) were upregulated in LL group compared with the CK group. Comparison of the cecal microbiome showed that in hens fed an LL diet, Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio were enriched, whereas riboflavin metabolism was suppressed. Cecal metabolites that were most significantly affected by the LL diet included several vitamins, such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantethine (vitamin B5 derivative), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and 4-pyridoxic acid. CONCLUSION: A lipid metabolism disorder due to deficiencies of vitamin B2 and pantethine originating from the metabolism of the cecal microbiome may be the underlying reason for fat accumulation in the liver of late-phase laying hens fed an LL diet. Based on the present study, we propose that targeting vitamin B2 and pantethine (vitamin B5 derivative) might be an effective strategy for improving lipid metabolism in late-phase laying hens fed a low-protein diet.

GmANKTM21 Positively Regulates Drought Tolerance and Enhanced Stomatal Response through the MAPK Signaling Pathway in Soybean.

Drought stress is one of the significant abiotic stresses that limit soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) growth and production. Ankyrin repeat (ANK) proteins, being highly conserved, occupy a pivotal role in diverse biological processes. ANK genes were classified into nine subfamilies according to conserved domains in the soybean genome. However, the function of ANK-TM subfamily proteins (Ankyrin repeat proteins with a transmembrane domain) in the abiotic-stress response to soybean remains poorly understood. In this study, we first demonstrated the subcellular localization of GmANKTM21 in the cell membrane and nucleus. Drought stress-induced mRNA levels of GmANKTM21, which encodes proteins belonging to the ANK-TM subfamily, Transgenic 35S:GmANKTM21 soybean improved drought tolerance at the germination and seedling stages, with higher stomatal closure in soybean, lower water loss, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and less reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with the wild-type soybean (Dongnong50). RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and RT-qPCR analysis of differentially expressed transcripts in overexpression of GmANKTM21 further identified potential downstream genes, including GmSPK2, GmSPK4, and GmCYP707A1, which showed higher expression in transgenic soybean, than those in wild-type soybean and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that MAPK signaling pathways were mostly enriched in GmANKTM21 overexpressing soybean plants under drought stress conditions. Therefore, we demonstrate that GmANKTM21 plays an important role in tolerance to drought stress in soybeans.

Development and evaluation of machine learning models for predicting large-for-gestational-age newborns in women exposed to radiation prior to pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: The correlation between radiation exposure before pregnancy and abnormal birth weight has been previously proven. However, for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) babies in women exposed to radiation before becoming pregnant, there is no prediction model yet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were collected from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in China. A sum of 455 neonates (42 SGA births and 423 non-LGA births) were included. A training set (n = 319) and a test set (n = 136) were created from the dataset at random. To develop prediction models for LGA neonates, conventional logistic regression (LR) method and six machine learning methods were used in this study. Recursive feature elimination approach was performed by choosing 10 features which made a big contribution to the prediction models. And the Shapley Additive Explanation model was applied to interpret the most important characteristics that affected forecast outputs. RESULTS: The random forest (RF) model had the highest average area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting LGA in the test set (0.843, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.714-0.974). Except for the logistic regression model (AUC: 0.603, 95%CI: 0.440-0.767), other models' AUCs displayed well. Thereinto, the RF algorithm's final prediction model using 10 characteristics achieved an average AUC of 0.821 (95% CI: 0.693-0.949). CONCLUSION: The prediction model based on machine learning might be a promising tool for the prenatal prediction of LGA births in women with radiation exposure before pregnancy.

Plants recruit insecticidal bacteria to defend against herbivore attacks.

Pest feeding affects the rhizobacteria community. The rhizomicrobiota activates salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling pathways to help plants deal with pest infestation. However, whether plants can recruit special pesticidal microorganisms to deal with attack from herbivores is unclear. A system composed of peanuts and first-instar larvae of Holotrichia parallela were used to analyze whether peanuts truly enrich the insecticidal bacteria after feeding by larvae, and whether inoculation of the enriched bacteria promotes the resistance of plants to herbivore. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene amplicons was used to demonstrate that infestation of the subterranean pest H. parallela quickly changed the rhizosphere bacterial community structure within 24 h, and the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, especially Enterobacter, was manifestly enriched. Root feeding induced rhizobacteria to form a more complex co-occurrence network than the control. Rhizosphere bacteria were isolated, and 4 isolates with high toxicity against H. parallela larvae were obtained by random forest analysis. In a back-inoculation experiment using a split-root system, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled Enterobacter sp. IPPBiotE33 was observed to be enriched in uneaten peanut roots. Additionally, supplementation with IPPBiotE33 alleviated the adverse effects of H. parallela on peanuts. Our findings indicated that herbivore infestation could induce plants to assemble bacteria with specific larvicidal activity to address threats.

The antinociceptive and anti-alpha-glucosidase effects of glucosides from Hemiphragma heterophyllum Wall.

Hemiphragma heterophyllum Wall. is commonly used in traditional Yi herbal medicine for treating bellyache and toothache. In the current study, an unreported monoterpene glucoside, (S)-thymoquinol O-(6-O-oleuropeoyl)-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1), together with 11 known glucosides were obtained from the whole herb of H. heterophyllum. Their structures were determined based on a detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and acid hydrolysis and methanolysis reactions. Bioassay results showed that compounds 1 and 10 at 40 mg/kg exhibited significant antinociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing model, with inhibitions of 59.80% and 64.07%, respectively. Moreover, five of the isolates showed moderate anti-α-glucosidase activities with IC50 values ranging from 5.67 to 46.16 µM.

The correlation between gut microbiome and atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology and therapeutic perspectives.

Regulation of gut microbiota and its impact on human health is the theme of intensive research. The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) are continuously escalating as the global population ages and chronic disease survival rates increase; however, the mechanisms are not entirely clarified. It is gaining awareness that alterations in the assembly, structure, and dynamics of gut microbiota are intimately engaged in the AF progression. Owing to advancements in next-generation sequencing technologies and computational strategies, researchers can explore novel linkages with the genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes through parallel meta-omics approaches, rendering a panoramic view of the culture-independent microbial investigation. In this review, we summarized the evidence for a bidirectional correlation between AF and the gut microbiome. Furthermore, we proposed the concept of "gut-immune-heart" axis and addressed the direct and indirect causal roots between the gut microbiome and AF. The intricate relationship was unveiled to generate innovative microbiota-based preventive and therapeutic interventions, which shed light on a definite direction for future experiments.

Covalent Organic Frameworks: Reversible 3D Coalesce via Interlocked Skeleton-Pore Actions and Impacts on π Electronic Structures.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) create extended two-dimensional (2D) skeletons and aligned one-dimensional (1D) channels, constituting a class of novel π architectures with predesignable structural ordering. A distinct feature is that stacks of π building units in skeletons shape the pore walls, onto which a diversity of different units can be assembled to form various pore interfaces, opening a great potential to trigger a strong structural correlation between the skeleton and the pore. However, such a possibility has not yet been explored. Herein, we report reversible three-dimensional (3D) coalescence and interlocked actions between the skeleton and pore in COFs by controlling hydrogen-bonding networks in the pores. Introducing carboxylic acid units to the pore walls develops COFs that can confine water molecular networks, which are locked by the surface carboxylic acid units on the pore walls via multipoint, multichain, and multidirectional hydrogen-bonding interactions. As a result, the skeleton undergoes an interlocked action with pores to shrink over the x-y plane and to stack closer along the z direction upon water uptake. Remarkably, this interlocked action between the skeleton and pore is reversibly driven by water adsorption and desorption and triggers profound effects on π electronic structures and functions, including band gap, light absorption, and emission.

Magnetic resonance imaging of knees: a novel approach to predict recombinant human growth hormone therapy response in short-stature children in late puberty.

BACKGROUND: There is no appropriate tool to predict recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) response before therapy initiation in short-stature children in late puberty. The current study aimed to explore the associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stages of the knee growth plates and rhGH response in short-stature children in late puberty. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, short-stature children in late puberty were treated with rhGH and followed up for 6 months. We proposed a novel knee MRI staging system according to the growth plate states of distal femurs or proximal tibias and divided the participants into three groups: unclosed growth plate group, marginally closed growth plate group, and nearly closed growth plate group. The primary outcomes were height gain and growth velocity (GV), which were assessed three months later. RESULTS: Fifty participants were enrolled, including 23 boys and 27 girls. GV and height gain after 6 months of rhGH therapy decreased successively in the three groups with an increased degree of growth plate fusion, especially when grouped by proximal tibias (GV1-3 mon from 9.38 to 6.08 to 4.56 cm/year, GV4-6 mon from 6.75 to 4.92 to 3.25 cm/year, and height gain from 4.03 to 2.75 to 1.95 cm, all P < 0.001). Moreover, the MRI stages of growth plates independently served as a significant variable for GV and height gain after therapy, especially when grouped by proximal tibias (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The MRI staging method is expected to be an effective tool for predicting rhGH response before therapy initiation in short-stature children in late puberty.

Enterobacter Strain IPPBiotE33 Displays a Synergistic Effect with Bacillus thuringiensis Bt185.

The discovery and isolation of new non-Bt insecticidal bacteria and genes are significant for the development of new biopesticides against coleopteran pests. In this study, we evaluated the insecticidal activity of non-Bt insecticidal bacteria, PPBiotE33, IPPBiotC41, IPPBiotA42 and IPPBiotC43, isolated from the peanut rhizosphere. All these strains showed insecticidal activity against first- and third-instar larvae of Holotrichia parallela, Holotrichia oblita, Anomala corpulenta and Potosia brevitarsis. IPPBiotE33 showed the highest toxicity among the four strains and exhibited virulence against Colaphellus bowringi. The genome of IPPBiotE33 was sequenced, and a new protein, 03673, with growth inhibition effects on C. bowringi was obtained. In addition, IPPBiotE33 had a synergistic effect with Bacillus thuringiensis Bt185 against H. parallela in bioassays and back-inoculation experiments with peanut seedlings. IPPBiotE33 induced a decrease in hemocytes and an increase in phenol oxidase activity in H. parallela hemolymph, known as the immunosuppressive effect, which mediated synergistic activity with Bt185. This study increased our knowledge of the new insecticidal strain IPPBiotE33 and shed new light on the research on new insecticidal coaction mechanisms and new blended pesticides.

Shedding light on the total and active core microbiomes in slow sand filters for drinking water production.

Slow sand filters (SSF) are widely used in the production of drinking water as a last barrier in the removal of pathogens. This removal mainly depends on the 'Schmutzdecke', a biofilm-like layer on the surface of the sand bed. Most previous studies focused on the total community as revealed by DNA analysis rather than on the active community, which may lead to an incorrect understanding of the SSF ecology. In the current study, we determined and compared the DNA- (total) and RNA-displayed (active) communities in the Schmutzdecke layer from 10 full-scale slow sand filters and further explored the SSF core microbiome in terms of both presence (DNA) and activity (RNA). Discrepancies were observed between the total and the active community, although there was a consistent grouping in the PCoA analysis. The DNA-displayed community may be somewhat inflated, while the RNA-displayed community could reveal low abundance (or rare) but active community members. The overall results imply that both DNA (presence) and RNA (activity) data should be considered to prevent the underestimation of organisms of functional importance but lower abundance. Microbial communities of studied mature Schmutzdecke were shaped by the influent water. Nevertheless, a core microbiome was shared by the mature Schmutzdeckes from independent filters, representing the dominant and consistent microbial community composition in slow sand filters. In the DNA samples, a total of 33 VSC families ('very strict core', with a relative abundance >0.1% and 100% prevalence) were observed across all filters. Among the RNA samples, there were 18 VSC families, including 16 families that overlapped with the DNA VSC families and 2 unique RNA VSC families. The core microbial community structure was influenced by the operational parameters, including the Schmutzdecke age and the sand size, and was less influenced by water flow. In addition, indicator organisms ('biomarkers') for the Schmutzdecke age, which show the longest duration that SSF can maintain a good operation, were observed in our study. The abundant presence of bacteria belonging to bacteriap25 and Caldilineaceae was associated with older Schmutzdeckes, revealing longer periods of stable operation performance of the filter, while the high abundance of bacteria belonging to Bdellovibrionaceae and Bryobacteraceae related to short periods of stable operation performance.

Triterpenoid saponins from Psammosilene tunicoides and their antinociceptive activities.

Herein, five undescribed oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, namely, psammosaponins A-E, along with nine known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Psammosilene tunicoides. Moreover, part of the ethanolic extract of P. tunicoides was acid-hydrolyzed and three aglycones were isolated from the resulting hydrolysate. The structures of all compounds were established through extensive analysis involving 1D and 2D NMR experiments, HRESIMS measurements, chemical derivatization, and comparison of spectroscopic data with the values reported in the literature. In all, 10 of the isolated saponins and the three aglycones were evaluated in the acetic acid-induced writhing model for their antinociceptive activity. At a dose of 40 mg/kg, these compounds exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the mouse writhing response, with inhibitions ranging from 31.9% to 79.3%. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of the isolates were discussed. Among the isolates, quillaic acid 3-O-glucuronide and 16α-hydroxygypsogenic acid showed better antinociceptive activity with inhibitions of 79.3% and 73.7%, respectively. Both isolates also exhibited antinociceptive activities in hot plate and formalin tests on mice. Their antinociceptive mechanism was explored in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These isolates could significantly inhibit the production of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 and downregulate the expression levels of inducible NO synthase, COX-1, and COX-2.

The investigation of the ultrafast excited state deactivation mechanisms for coumarin 307 in different solvents.

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) processes of coumarin 307 (C307) in different solvents were investigated by performing steady-state/time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic and steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopic characterizations in combination with time-dependent density functional theoretical calculation (TDDFT). The study unveiled the remarkable influence of solvent polarity and the strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between the solutes and solvents on the relaxation dynamics of the electronic excited state. Significantly, the emergence of the TICT state was observed in polar solvents, specifically dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxidemethanol (DMSO), owing to their inherent polarity as well as the enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, even in a weak polar solvent such as methanol (MeOH), the TICT state was also observed due to the intensified hydrogen bonding effects. Conversely, nonpolar solvents, exemplified by 1,4-dioxane (Diox), resulted in the stabilization of the ICT state due to the augmented N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding interactions. The experimental findings were corroborated by the computational calculations, thus ensuring the reliability of the conclusions drawn. Furthermore, schematic diagrams were presented to illustrate the mechanisms underlying the excited-state deactivation. Overall, this investigation contributes valuable mechanistic insights and provides a comprehensive understanding of the photochemical and photophysical properties exhibited by coumarin dyes.

High resolution electronic spectroscopy of uranium mononitride, UN.

The isoelectronic molecules UN and UO+ are known to have Ω = 3.5 and Ω = 4.5 ground states, respectively (where Ω is the unsigned projection of the electronic angular momentum along the internuclear axis). A ligand field theory model has been proposed to account for the difference [Matthew and Morse, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 184303 (2013)]. The ground state of UO+ arises from the U3+(5f3(4I4.5))O2- configuration. Owing to the higher nominal charge of the N3- ligand, the U3+ ion in UN is stabilized by promoting one of the 5f electrons to the more polarizable 7s orbital, reducing the repulsive interaction with the ligand and rendering U3+(5f27s(4H3.5))N3- the lowest energy configuration. In the present work, we have advanced the characterization of the UN ground state through studies of two electronic transitions, [18.35]4.5-X(1)3.5 and [18.63]4.5-X(1)3.5, using sub-Doppler laser excitation techniques with fluorescence detection. Spectra were recorded under field-free conditions and in the presence of static electric or magnetic fields. The ground state electric dipole moment [µ = 4.30(2) D] and magnetic ge-factor [2.160(9)] were determined from these data. These values were both consistent with the 5f27s configurational assignment. Dispersed fluorescence measurements were used to determine vibrational constants for the ground and first electronically excited states. Electric dipole moments and magnetic ge-factors are also reported for the higher-energy electronically excited states.

BMP2 induces osteogenic differentiation through ACKR3 in mesenchymal stem cells.

In recent years, bone loss related diseases have attracted more and more attention, such as osteoporosis and osteonecrosis of the femoral head exhibited symptoms of osteopenia or insufficient bone mass in a certain stage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be induced to differentiate into osteoblasts under certain conditions can provide a new solution bone disease. Herein, we deciphered the possible mechanism by which BMP2 drives the transduction of MSCs to the osteoblast lineage through ACKR3/p38/MAPK signaling. The levels of ACKR3 in femoral tissues of samples from humans with different ages and sexes were measured firstly and found that ACKR3 protein levels increase with age. In vitro cellular assays showed that ACKR3 inhibits BMP2-induced osteo-differentiation and promotes adipo-differentiation of MSCs, whereas siACKR3 exhibited the opposite effects. In vitro embryo femur culture experiment showed that inhibition of ACKR3 enhanced BMP2-induced trabecular bone formation in C57BL6/J mouse. In terms of molecular mechanisms, we found that p38/MAPK signaling might play the key role. ACKR3 agonist TC14012 suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 and STAT3 in BMP2 induced MSCs differentiation. Our findings suggested that ACKR3 might be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of bone-associated diseases and bone-tissue engineering.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Copper Chaperone for Superoxide Dismutase (CCS) Gene Family in Response to Abiotic Stress in Soybean.

Copper Chaperone For Superoxide Dismutase (CCS) genes encode copper chaperone for Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and dramatically affect the activity of SOD through regulating copper delivery from target to SOD. SOD is the effective component of the antioxidant defense system in plant cells to reduce oxidative damage by eliminating Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced during abiotic stress. CCS might play an important role in abiotic stress to eliminate the damage caused by ROS, however, little is known about CCS in soybean in abiotic stress regulation. In this study, 31 GmCCS gene family members were identified from soybean genome. These genes were classified into 4 subfamilies in the phylogenetic tree. Characteristics of 31 GmCCS genes including gene structure, chromosomal location, collinearity, conserved domain, protein motif, cis-elements, and tissue expression profiling were systematically analyzed. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression of 31 GmCCS under abiotic stress, and the results showed that 5 GmCCS genes(GmCCS5, GmCCS7, GmCCS8, GmCCS11 and GmCCS24) were significantly induced by some kind of abiotic stress. The functions of these GmCCS genes in abiotic stress were tested using yeast expression system and soybean hairy roots. The results showed that GmCCS7/GmCCS24 participated in drought stress regulation. Soybean hairy roots expressing GmCCS7/GmCCS24 showed improved drought stress tolerance, with increased SOD and other antioxidant enzyme activities. The results of this study provide reference value in-depth study CCS gene family, and important gene resources for the genetic improvement of soybean drought stress tolerance.

Effect of Glutamine on the Growth Performance, Oxidative Stress, and Nrf2/p38 MAPK Expression in the Livers of Heat-Stressed Broilers.

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of glutamine (Gln) on the growth performance, oxidative stress, Nrf2, and p38 MAPK pathway in the livers of heat-stressed broilers. In total, 300 broilers were divided into five groups, including a normal temperature (NT, without dietary Gln) group and four cyclic high temperature groups (HT, GHT1, GHT2, and GHT3) fed with 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% Gln, respectively. High temperature conditions increased (p < 0.05) liver malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration, but decreased (p < 0.05), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH) levels in broilers. Nrf2 and p38 MAPK protein and mRNA expression levels were lower (p < 0.05) in the NT group than that in the HT group. However, dietary 1.5% Gln decreased (p < 0.05) liver MDA concentration, but increased (p < 0.05) BWG, FI, liver SOD, T-AOC, GSH-Px, GST, and GSH levels in heat-stressed broilers. Nrf2 and p38 MAPK protein and mRNA expression levels were higher (p < 0.05) in the GHT3 group than that in the HT group. In summary, Gln improved oxidative damage through the activation of Nrf2 and p38 MAPK expression in the livers of heat-stressed broilers.