Sodium-based plasmonic waveguides with high confinement factors and ultra-low gain thresholds.

The noble metal-based hybrid plasmon mode features low loss and strong field localization, making it widely applicable in the field of nanophotonic devices. However, due to the high loss of noble metals, the gain threshold is unacceptably high, usually larger than 0.1 µm-1. Here we present a hybrid plasmonic waveguide consisting of a SiO2 layer coated Na nanowire and a hexagonal semiconductor nanowire. Based on the high performance of the proposed waveguide, the Purcell factor exceeding 120 and a confinement factor above 90% are achieved, leading to an ultra-low gain threshold of 0.02117 µm-1. In addition, the proposed waveguide exhibits an extremely low cross talk, making it highly suitable for applications in compact photonic integrated devices. The proposed waveguide may contribute to the development of low-threshold nano-lasers and promote other applications in nanophotonics.

Unravelling the molecular regulation network of carbon metabolism and lipid metabolism during seed development in Akebia trifoliata via integrated multi-omics analysis.

Akebia trifoliata is a medicinal plant with high oil content and broad pharmacological effects. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of key metabolic pathways during seed development, we conducted an integrated multi-omics analysis, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, exploring the dynamic changes in carbon and lipid metabolism. Metabolomics analysis revealded that glucose and sucrose levels decreased, while glycolytic intermediate phosphoenolpyruvate and fatty acids increased with seed development, indicating a shift in carbon flux towards fatty acid synthesis. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses showed that 70 days after flowering, the expression levels of genes and proteins associated with carbon and fatty acid metabolism were upregulated, suggesting an increased energy demand. Additionally, LEC2, LEC1, WRI1, FUS3, and ABI3 were identified as vital regulators of lipid synthesis. By constructing a multi-omics co-expression network, we identified hub genes such as aroE, GAPDH, KCS, TPS, and hub proteins like PGM, PDH, ENO, PFK, PK, ACCase, SAD, PLC, and OGDH that play critical regulatory roles in seed lipid synthesis. This study provides new ideas for the molecular basis of lipid synthesis in Akebia trifoliata seeds and can facilitate future research on the genetic improvement through molecular-assisted breeding.

Directional Electron Transfer in Enzymatic Nano-Bio Hybrids for Selective Photobiocatalytic Conversion of Nitrate.

Semi-artificial photosynthetic system (SAPS) that combines enzymes or cellular organisms with light-absorbing semiconductors, has emerged as an attractive approach for nitrogen conversion, yet faces the challenge of reaction pathway regulation. Herein, we find that photoelectrons can transfer from the -C≡N groups at the edge of cyano-rich carbon nitride (g-C3N4-CN) to nitrate reductase (NarGH), while the direct electron transfer to nitrite reductase (cd1NiR) is inhibited due to the physiological distance limit of active sites (> 14 Å). By means of the directional electron transfer between g-C3N4-CN and extracted biological enzymes, the product of the denitrification reaction was switched from inert N2 to usable nitrite with an unprecedented selectivity of up to 95.3%. The converted nitrite could be further utilized by anammox microbiota and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) microorganisms, doubling the efficiency of total nitrogen removal (96.5 ± 2.3 %) for biological nitrogen removal and ammonia generation (12.6 mg NH4+-N L-1 h-1), respectively. Thus, our work paves an appealing way for the sustainable treatment and utilization of nitrate for ammonia fuel production by strategically regulating the electron transfer pathway across the biotic-abiotic interface.

Improved interfacial compatibility between unsaturated polyester resin and rice straw fibers after non-washing treatment with Ca(OH)2.

The agricultural industry produces a substantial volume of rice straw (RS) annually, highlighting the importance of recycling RS for sustainable materials. However, the poor interfacial compatibility between RS and polymers often leads to drawbacks in their composites, such as water-swelling and limited tensile strength. Here, we propose a novel approach using Ca(OH)2 that offers several distinct advantages: enhancement of interfacial compatibility, elimination of the need for water washing, and formation of calcified hybrid particles on fiber surfaces by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. The non-washing calcified rice straw (NCRS) fibers were used to fabricate composites with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), resulting in NCRS/UPR composites exhibiting significant enhancements in water resistance and mechanical properties compared to RS/UPR composites. The NCRS/UPR composites achieved a water absorption rate below 25 %, thickness swelling rate below 10 %, and tensile strength of 19.9 MPa. This work comprehensively explored the mechanism underlying these achievements through experimental studies. Findings suggest that CaCO3 particles involving with released lignin act as an interfacial bridge between RS fiber surface and UPR, resulting in significantly improved properties. This approach demonstrates promising prospects as a simple and eco-friendly methodology for manufacturing RS-based composite materials.

Biodegradation of organic micropollutants by anoxic denitrification: Roles of extracellular polymeric substance adsorption, enzyme catalysis, and reactive oxygen species oxidation.

The control of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water environments have received significant attention. Denitrification was reported to exhibit good efficiency to remove OMPs, and the mechanisms involved in are too intricate to be well illustrated. In this study, we selected nitrobenzene [NB] and bisphenol A [BPA] as model pollutants and aimed to unravel the mechanisms of Paracoccus Denitrificans in the removal of OMPs, with a specific emphasis on aerobic behavior during denitrification processes. We demonstrated the formation of extracellular superoxide radicals, i.e., extracellular •O2-, using a chemiluminescence probe and found that extracellular polymeric substance adsorption, extracellular •O2-, and microbial assimilation contributed approximately 40 %, 10 %, and 50 % to OMPs removal, respectively. Transcriptome analysis further revealed the high expression and enrichment of several pathways, such as drug metabolism-other enzymes, of which a typical aerobic enzyme of polyphenol oxidase [PPO] participates in the degradation of NB and BPA. Importantly, all the immediate products showed a significant decrease in toxicity during the aerobic activity-related OMPs degradation process based on the proposed degradation pathways. This study demonstrates the formation of extracellular •O2- and the mechanisms of extracellular •O2-- and PPO-mediated OMPs biodegradation, and offers new insights into OMPs control in widely-used denitrification treatment processes.

Energy Recovery from Hexavalent Chromium Reduction for In Situ Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production.

Recovering chemical energy embedded in pollutants is significant in achieving carbon-neutral industrial wastewater treatment. Considering that industrial wastewater is usually treated in a decentralized manner, in situ utilization of chemical energy to achieve waste-to-treasure should be given priority. Herein, the chemical energy released by the electroreduction of Cr(VI) was used to enhance on-site H2O2 generation in a stacked flow-through electrochemical system. The driving force of water flow efficiently coupled O2 evolution with 2-e O2 reduction to facilitate H2O2 generation by transporting anode-produced O2 to the cathode. Meanwhile, the chemical energy released by Cr(VI) promoted O2 evolution and impeded H2 evolution by regulating the electrode potentials, accounting for the enhanced H2O2 generation. The system could completely reduce 10-100 ppm of Cr(VI), reaching the maximum H2O2 concentration of 2.41 mM. In particular, the H2O2 concentrations in the Cr(VI)-containing electrolyte were 10.6-88.1% higher than those in the Cr(VI) free electrolyte at 1.8-2.5 V. A 24-day continuous experiment demonstrated the high efficiency and stability of the system, achieving a 100% reduction efficiency for 100 ppm of Cr(VI) and producing ∼1.5 mM H2O2 at 1.8 V. This study presents a feasible strategy for Cr(VI) detoxification and synchronous on-site H2O2 generation, providing a new perspective for innovative Cr(VI) wastewater treatment toward resource utilization.

Grifola frondosa polysaccharide's therapeutic potential in oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis.

Grifola frondosa polysaccharide (GFP) is a consumable fungus recognized for its potential health advantages. The present study aimed to investigate the development and potential etiologies of ulcerative colitis (UC) utilizing oxazolone (OXZ) as an inducer in mice, along with assessing the therapeutic effects of GFP at varying doses in UC mice, with sulfasalazine (SASP) serving as the positive control. The obtained results indicated that OXZ intervention in mice induced numerous physical manifestations of UC, including increased disease activity index (DAI), decreased goblet cell division, enhanced fibrosis, reduced expression of Claudin1 and Zona encludens protein1 (ZO-1), decreased proliferative activity of colonic mucosal epithelial cells, disturbed oxidation balance, and alterations in intestinal flora. Nonetheless, GFP intervention significantly ameliorated or even resolved these abnormal indicators to a considerable extent. Consequently, this study suggests that GFP might serve as a prebiotic to regulate intestinal flora, mitigate enterotoxin production, restore oxidative balance, thereby reducing the generation of inflammatory mediators, restoring the intestinal barrier, and ultimately improving OXZ-induced UC in mice. GFP demonstrates promising potential as a candidate drug for colitis treatment and as a dietary supplement for alleviating intestinal inflammatory issues.

Selective O2-to-H2O2 Electrosynthesis by a High-Performance, Single-Pass Electrofiltration System Using Ibuprofen-Laden CNT Membranes.

Producing H2O2 through a selective, two-electron (2e) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is challenging, especially when it serves as an advanced oxidation process (AOP) for cost-effective water decontamination. Herein, we attain a 2e-selectivity H2O2 production using a carbon nanotube electrified membrane with ibuprofen (IBU) molecules laden (IBU@CNT-EM) in an ultrafast, single-pass electrofiltration process. The IBU@CNT-EM can generate H2O2 at a rate of 25.62 mol gCNT-1 h-1 L-1 in the permeate with a residence time of 1.81 s. We demonstrated that an interwoven, hydrophilic-hydrophobic membrane nanostructure offers an excellent air-to-water transport platform for ORR acceleration. The electron transfer number of the ORR for IBU@CNT at neutral pH was confirmed as 2.71, elucidating a near-2e selectivity to H2O2. Density functional theory (DFT) studies validated an exceptional charge distribution of the IBU@CNT for the O2 adsorption. The adsorption energies of the O2 and *OOH intermediates are proportional to the H2O2 selectivity (64.39%), higher than that of the CNT (37.81%). With the simple and durable production of H2O2 by IBU@CNT-EM electrofiltration, the permeate can actuate Fenton oxidation to efficiently decompose emerging pollutants and inactivate bacteria. Our study introduces a new paradigm for developing high-performance H2O2-production membranes for water treatment by reusing environmental functional materials.

Mdka produced by the activated HSCs drives bipotential progenitor cell redifferentiation during zebrafish biliary-mediated liver regeneration.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After extensive hepatocyte loss or impaired hepatocyte proliferation, liver regeneration occurs through trans-differentiation of biliary epithelial cells (BECs), which involves dedifferentiation of biliary epithelial cells into bipotential progenitor cells (BP-PCs) and subsequent redifferentiation of BP-PCs into nascent hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells. Despite several studies on the redifferentiation process of BP-PCs into nascent hepatocytes, the contributions of nonparenchymal cells in this process remain poorly understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Using the zebrafish severe liver injury model, we observed specific expression of midkine a (Mdka) in the activated HSCs through single-cell analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Genetic mutation, pharmacological inhibition, whole-mount in situ hybridizations, and antibody staining demonstrated an essential role of mdka in the redifferentiation of BP-PCs during liver regeneration. Notably, we identified Nucleolin (Ncl), the potential receptor for Mdka, specifically expressed in BP-PCs, and its mutant recapitulated the mdka mutant phenotypes with impaired BP-PC redifferentiation. Mechanistically, the Mdka-Ncl axis drove Erk1 activation in BP-PCs during liver regeneration. Furthermore, overexpression of activated Erk1 partially rescued the defective liver regeneration in the mdka mutant. CONCLUSIONS: The activated HSCs produce Mdka to drive the redifferentiation process of BP-PCs through activating Erk1 during the biliary-mediated liver regeneration, implying previously unappreciated contributions of nonparenchymal cells to this regeneration process.

WRN Nuclease-Mediated EcDNA Clearance Enhances Antitumor Therapy in Conjunction with Trehalose Dimycolate/Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Current research on tumor fibrosis has focused on cancer-associated fibroblasts, which may exert dual functions of tumor promotion and inhibition. Little attention has been paid to whether tumor cells themselves can undergo fibrotic transformation and whether they can inhibit parenchymal cells similar to pulmonary fibrosis, thus achieving the goal of inhibiting the malignant progression of tumors. To explore the significance of inducing tumor fibrosis for cancer treatment. This study utilizes mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) loaded with Trehalose dimycolate (TDM) to induce tumor cell fibrosis through the dual effects of TDM-induced inflammatory granuloma and MSN-induced foreign body granuloma. The results show that TDM/MSN (TM) can effectively induce tumor fibrosis, manifested specifically by collagen internalization, and suppression of proliferation and invasion capabilities, suggesting the potential role of tumor fibrosis therapy. However, further investigation reveals that extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) mediates resistance to fibrosis induction. To comprehensively enhance the efficacy, WRN exonuclease is conjugated to TM to form new nanoparticles (TMW) capable of effectively eliminating ecDNA, globally promoting tumor cell fibroblast-like transformation, and validated in a PDX model to inhibit cancer progression. Therefore, TMW, through inducing tumor cell fibrosis to inhibit its malignant progression, holds great potential as a clinical treatment strategy.

Assessing global drinking water potential from electricity-free solar water evaporation device.

Universal and equitable access to affordable safely managed drinking water (SMDW) is a significant challenge and is highlighted by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals-6.1. However, SMDW coverage by 2030 is estimated to reach only 81% of the global population. Solar water evaporation (SWE) represents one potential method to ensure decentralized water purification, but its potential for addressing the global SMDW challenge remains unclear. We use a condensation-enhanced strategy and develop a physics-guided machine learning model for assessing the global potential of SWE technology to meet SMDW demand for unserved populations without external electricity input. We find that a condensation-enhanced SWE device (1 m2) can supply enough drinking water (2.5 L day-1) to 95.8% of the population lacking SMDW. SWE can help fulfill universal SMDW coverage by 2030 with an annual cost of 10.4 billion U.S. dollars, saving 66.7% of the current investment and fulfilling the SDG-6.1 goal.

Demulsification with simultaneous water purification by coupling filtration and enhanced oil droplet coalescence at anode interface in an electrochemical reactor.

With the increasing demand of recycling disposal of industrial wastewater, oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion has been paid much attention in recent years owing to its high oil content. However, due to the presence of surfactant and salt, the emulsion was usually stable with complex physicochemical interfacial properties leading to increased processing difficulty. Herein, a novel flow-through electrode-based demulsification reactor (FEDR) was well designed for the treatment of saline O/W emulsion. In contrast to 53.7% for electrical demulsification only and 80.3% for filtration only, the COD removal efficiency increased to 92.8% under FEDR system. Moreover, the pore size of electrode and the applied voltage were two key factors that governed the FEDR demulsification performance. By observing the morphology of oil droplets deposited layer after different operation conditions and the behavior of oil droplets at the electrode surface under different voltage conditions, the mechanism was proposed that the oil droplets first accumulated on the surface of flow-through electrode by sieving effect, subsequently the gathered oil droplets could further coalesce with the promoting effect of the anode, leading to a high-performing demulsification. This study offers an attractive option of using flow-through electrode to accomplish the oil recovery with simultaneous water purification.

Association of early-term birth and breastfeeding practices with nutritional outcomes in singleton term infants: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has explored the associations of gestational age (GA) and breastfeeding practices with growth and nutrition in term infants. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 7299 singleton term infants from well-child visits in Shandong, China, between March 2021 and November 2022. Data on GA, gender, ethnicity, birth weight, parental heights, gestational diabetes and hypertension, age at visit, breastfeeding practices (point-in-time data at visit for infants < 6 months and retrospective data at 6 months for infants ≥ 6 months), complementary foods introduction, infant length and weight, were collected. 7270 infants were included in the analysis after excluding outliers with Z-scores of length (LAZ), weight or weight for length (WLZ) <-4 or > 4. Linear regression models adjused for covariates explored the impact of GA and breastfeeding practices on LAZ and WLZ, while logistic regression models evaluated their effect on the likelihood of moderate and severe stunting (MSS, LAZ<-2), moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MSAM, WLZ<-2) and overweight/obesity (WLZ > 2). Sensitivity analysis was conducted on normal birth weight infants (2.5-4.0 kg). RESULTS: Infants born early-term and exclusively breastfed accounted for 31.1% and 66.4% of the sample, respectively. Early-term birth related to higher WLZ (< 6 months: ß = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16, 0.29; ≥6 months: ß = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.20) and an increased risk of overweight/obesity throughout infancy (< 6 months: OR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.08, 1.84; ≥6 months: OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.03, 1.79). Before 6 months, early-term birth correlated with lower LAZ (ß=-0.16, 95% CI: -0.21, -0.11) and an increased risk of MSS (OR: 1.01, 95%CI 1.00, 1.02); Compared to exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive formula-feeding and mixed feeding linked to lower WLZ (ß=-0.15, 95%CI -0.30, 0.00 and ß=-0.12, 95%CI -0.19, -0.05, respectively) and increased risks of MSAM (OR: 5.57, 95%CI 1.95, 15.88 and OR: 3.19, 95%CI 1.64, 6.19, respectively). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the health risks of early-term birth and the protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding in singleton term infants, underscoring the avoidance of nonmedically indicated delivery before 39 weeks and promoting exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months.

In Situ Visual Observation of Surface Energy-Controlled Heterogeneous Nucleation of Metal Nanocrystals.

Electrochemical growth of metal nanocrystals is pivotal for material synthesis, processing, and resource recovery. Understanding the heterogeneous interface between electrolyte and electrode is crucial for nanocrystal nucleation, but the influence of this interaction is still poorly understood. This study employs advanced in situ measurements to investigate the heterogeneous nucleation of metals on solid surfaces. By observing the copper nanocrystal electrodeposition, an interphase interaction-induced nucleation mechanism highly dependent on substrate surface energy is uncovered. It shows that a high-energy (HE) electrode tended to form a polycrystalline structure, while a low-energy (LE) electrode induced a monocrystalline structure. Raman and electrochemical characterizations confirmed that HE interface enhances the interphase interaction, reducing the nucleation barrier for the sturdy nanostructures. This leads to a 30.92-52.21% reduction in the crystal layer thickness and a 19.18-31.78% increase in the charge transfer capability, promoting the formation of a uniform and compact film. The structural compactness of the early nucleated crystals enhances the deposit stability for long-duration electrodeposition. This research not only inspires comprehension of physicochemical processes correlated with heterogeneous nucleation, but also paves a new avenue for high-quality synthesis and efficient recovery of metallic nanomaterials.

EGR3 Inhibits Tumor Progression by Inducing Schwann Cell-Like Differentiation.

The mechanism and function of the expression of Schwann characteristics by nevus cells in the mature zone of the dermis are unknown. Early growth response 3 (EGR3) induces Schwann cell-like differentiation of melanoma cells by simulating the process of nevus maturation, which leads to a strong phenotypic transformation of the cells, including the formation of long protrusions and a decrease in cell motility, proliferation, and melanin production. Meanwhile, EGR3 regulates the levels of myelin protein zero (MPZ) and collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) through SRY-box transcription factor 10 (SOX10)-dependent and independent mechanisms, by binding to non-strictly conserved motifs, respectively. Schwann cell-like differentiation demonstrates significant benefits in both in vivo and clinical studies. Finally, a CD86-P2A-EGR3 recombinant mRNA vaccine is developed which leads to tumor control through forced cell differentiation and enhanced immune infiltration. Together, these data support further development of the recombinant mRNA as a treatment for cancer.

Spatiotemporal distribution and transport flux of organophosphate esters in the sediment of the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River Basin is an important area for organophosphate esters (OPEs) consumption and emission. Studies proved high OPE detection in Yangtze River water, but there is limited information about the spatiotemporal distribution and transport flux of OPEs in sediment. The present study investigated 16 OPEs in sediment from upstream to mid-downstream of the Yangtze River. The mean concentration of OPEs was 84.30 ng/g, and alkyl-OPEs was the primary component. Great specific surface area and high content of organic carbon significantly increased OPE concentration in Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) by physical adsorption and chemical bonds (p < 0.05), making TGR the most contaminated area in mainstream. No significant differences in OPE constituents were found in seasonal distribution. Four potential sources of OPEs were identified by principal component analysis and self-organizing maps, and traffic emissions were the dominant source for OPEs. The hazard quotient model results indicated that aryl-OPEs showed moderate risks in the mainstream of Yangtze River, alkyl-OPEs and Cl-OPEs showed low risks. TGR was a significant sink of OPEs in Yangtze River and buried 7.41 tons of OPEs in 2020, a total of 14.87 tons of OPE were transported into the sea by sediment.