ATG10-dependent autophagy is required for DDX10 to regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis and stemness in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a highly prevalent gastrointestinal neoplasm, presenting significant prevalence and lethality rate. DEAD/H box RNA helicase 10 (DDX10) has been proposed as a potential oncogene in CRC, the specific action mechanism by which DDX10 modulates the aggressive biological cellular events in CRC remains implicitly elucidated, however. During this study, DDX10 expression was detected via RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was estimated via EDU staining. TUNEL staining and Western blotting appraised cell apoptosis. Cell stemness was evaluated by sphere formation assay, RT-qPCR, Western blotting as well as immunofluorescence staining. Relevant assay kit examined aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining also detected autophagy. DDX10 was hyper-expressed in CRC cells. Down-regulation of DDX10 hampered cell proliferation, aggravated the apoptosis while eliminated the ability to form spheroid cells in CRC. In addition, DDX10 deletion improved ATG10 expression and therefore activated autophagy in CRC cells. Consequently, ATG10 depletion or treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) partially compensated the influences of DDX10 silencing on the proliferation, apoptosis and stemness of CRC cells. Accordingly, DDX10 deficiency may aggravate autophagy mediated by ATG10 to impede cell proliferation, stemness and facilitate cell apoptosis, hence blocking the progression of CRC.

Comparative SEM Study of Sensilla and Tyloid Structures in the Antennae of Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

This study investigates the distribution, morphology, and potential functions of antennal sensilla in various wasp species, including Dolichovespula flora, D. intermedia, Vespula structor, Vl. vulgaris, Provespa barthelemyi, Vespa bicolor, V. ducalis, V. mocsaryana, and V. velutina var. nigothorax. The study thoroughly analyzes the antennal structure of these species, representing all four genera of the yellow-jacket and hornet subfamily Vespinae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the study identifies a total of nineteen types of sensilla, including sensilla trichodea (ST-I, ST-II, ST-III), sensilla campaniform (SCF-I, SCF-II, SCF-III), pit organs (SCO-I, SCO-II, and SA), sensilla placodea (SP-I, SP-II), sensilla chaetica (SCH-I, SCH-II), sensilla basiconica (SB-I, SB-II), sensilla agmon (SAG-I, SAG-II), and sensilla coelocapitular (SCA). Additionally, tyloids were observed in the males of seven species, except for Vl. structor and Vl. vulgaris. The study provides insights into these sensilla types' morphology, abundance, and distribution. It discusses the variations in sensilla morphology among different species and the presence of gender-specific sensilla. This study provides new data about the morphology and distribution patterns of sensilla and tyloid.

Investigating the Influence of Varied Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Wavelengths on Phototactic Behavior and Opsin Genes in Vespinae.

The phototactic behavior of insects is commonly used to manage pest populations in practical production. However, this elusive behavior is not yet fully understood. Investigating whether the opsin genes play a crucial role in phototaxis is an intriguing topic. Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are a common group of social wasps that are closely associated with human activities. Efficiently controlling wasp populations while maintaining ecological balance is a pressing global challenge that still has to be resolved. This research aims to explore the phototactic behavior and key opsin genes associated with Vespinae. We found significant differences in the photophilic rates of Vespula germanica and Vespa analis under 14 different light conditions, indicating that their phototactic behavior is rhythmic. The results also showed that the two species exhibited varying photophilic rates under different wavelengths of light, suggesting that light wavelength significantly affects their phototactic behavior. Additionally, the opsin genes of the most aggressive hornet, Vespa basalis, have been sequenced. There are only two opsin genes, one for UV light and the other for blue light, and Vespa basalis lacks long-wavelength visual proteins. However, they exhibit peak phototaxis for long-wavelength light and instead have the lowest phototaxis for UV light. This suggests that the visual protein genes have a complex regulatory mechanism for phototactic behavior in Vespinae. Additionally, visual protein sequences have a high degree of homology among Hymenoptera. Despite the hypotheses put forward by some scholars regarding phototaxis, a clear and complete explanation of insect phototaxis is still lacking to date. Our findings provide a strong theoretical basis for further investigation of visual expression patterns and phototactic mechanisms in Vespinae.

Black rice diet alleviates colorectal cancer development through modulating tryptophan metabolism and activating AHR pathway.

Consumption of dietary fiber and anthocyanin has been linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study scrutinizes the potential antitumorigenic attributes of a black rice diet (BRD), abundantly rich in dietary fiber and anthocyanin. Our results demonstrate notable antitumorigenic effects in mice on BRD, indicated by a reduction in both the size and number of intestinal tumors and a consequent extension in life span, compared to control diet-fed counterparts. Furthermore, fecal transplants from BRD-fed mice to germ-free mice led to a decrease in colonic cell proliferation, coupled with maintained integrity of the intestinal barrier. The BRD was associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition, specifically an augmentation in probiotic strains Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus. Noteworthy changes in gut metabolites were also documented, including the upregulation of indole-3-lactic acid and indole. These metabolites have been identified to stimulate the intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and colorectal tumorigenesis. In summary, these findings propose that a BRD may modulate the progression of intestinal tumors by fostering protective gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. The study accentuates the potential health advantages of whole-grain foods, emphasizing the potential utility of black rice in promoting health.

Suicide among lymphoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Higher suicide rates were observed in patients diagnosed with lymphoma. In this study, we accurately identified patients with high-risk lymphoma for suicide by constructing a nomogram with a view to effective interventions and reducing the risk of suicide. METHODS: 235,806 patients diagnosed with lymphoma between 2000 and 2020 were picked from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and randomly divided into training (N = 165,064) and validation set (N = 70,742). A combination of the Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox proportional hazards regression identified the predictors that constructed the nomogram. To assess the discrimination, calibration, clinical applicability, and generalization of this nomogram, we implemented receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and internal validation. The robustness of the results was assessed by the competing risks regression model. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis, gender, ethnicity, marital status, stage, surgery, radiotherapy, and annual household income were key predictors of suicide in lymphoma patients. A nomogram was created to visualize the risk of suicide after a lymphoma diagnosis. The c-index for the training set was 0.773, and the validation set was 0.777. The calibration curve for the nomogram fitted well with the diagonal and the clinical decision curve indicated its clinical benefit. LIMITATION: The effects of unmeasured and unnoticed biases and confounders were difficult to eliminate due to retrospective studies. CONCLUSION: A convenient and reliable model has been constructed that will help to individualize and accurately quantify the risk of suicide in patients diagnosed with lymphoma.

Effects of different modalities of transcranial magnetic stimulation on post-stroke cognitive impairment: a network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate, using a network meta-analysis, the effects of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modalities on improving cognitive function after stroke. METHODS: Computer searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embass, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were conducted to collect randomized controlled clinical studies on the use of TMS to improve cognitive function in stroke patients, published from the time of database construction to November 2023. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies and 2123 patients were included, comprising five interventions: high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS), low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS), intermittent theta rhythm stimulation (iTBS), sham stimulation (SS), and conventional rehabilitation therapy (CRT). A reticulated meta-analysis showed that the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, Mini-Mental State Examination scores (MMSE), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores were: HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > iTBS > SS > CRT; the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the event-related potential P300. amplitude scores were HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > iTBS > CRT > SS; the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the P300 latency scores were: iTBS > HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > SS > CRT. Subgroup analyses of secondary outcome indicators showed that HF-rTMS significantly improved Rivermead Behavior Memory Test scores and Functional Independence Measurement-Cognitive scores. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency TMS stimulation has a better overall effect on improving cognitive functions and activities of daily living, such as attention and memory in stroke patients.

Ultrathin, Mechanically Robust Quasi-Solid Composite Electrolyte for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Herein, we present the preparation and properties of an ultrathin, mechanically robust, quasi-solid composite electrolyte (SEO-QSCE) for solid-state lithium metal battery (SLB) from a well-defined polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SEO), Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12 nanofiller, and fluoroethylene carbonate plasticizer. Compared with the ordered lamellar microphase separation of SEO, the SEO-QSCE displays bicontinuous phases, consisting of a Li+ ion conductive poly(ethylene oxide) domain and a mechanically robust framework of the polystyrene domain. Therefore, the 12 µm-thick SEO-QSCE membrane exhibits an exceptional ionic conductivity of 1.3 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 30 °C, along with a remarkable tensile strength of 5.1 MPa and an elastic modulus of 2.7 GPa. The high mechanical robustness and the self-generated LiF-rich SEI enable the SEO-QSCE to have an extraordinary lithium dendrite prohibition effect. The SLB of Li|SEO-QSCE|LiFePO4 reveals superior cycling performances at 30 °C for over 600 cycles, maintaining an initial discharge capacity of 145 mAh g-1 and a remarkable capacity retention of 81% (117 mAh g-1) after 400 cycles at 0.5 C. The high-voltage SLB of Li|SEO-QSCE|LiNi0.5Co0.3Mn0.2O2 displays good cycling stability for over 150 cycles at 30 °C. Moreover, the exceptional robustness of SEO-QSCE enables the high-voltage solid-state pouch cell of Li|SEO-QSCE|LiNi0.5Co0.3Mn0.2O2 with high flexibility and excellent safety features. The current investigation delivers a promising and innovative approach for preparing quasi-solid electrolytes with features of ultrathin design, mechanical robustness, and exceptional electrochemical performance for high-voltage SLBs.

Effect of different modalities of transcranial magnetic stimulation on Parkinson's patients cognitive impairment and long-term effectiveness: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: This study used network Meta-analysis to compare the effects of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modalities on the effectiveness and long-term validity of improving cognitive function in Parkinson's patients. Methods: Computer searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embass, CNKI and Wanfang Data were conducted to collect randomized controlled clinical studies on TMS to improve cognitive function in Parkinson's patients published from the time of library construction to December 2023. Results: A total of 22 studies and 1,473 patients were included, comprising 5 interventions: high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS), low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS), intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), sham stimulation and conventional rehabilitation therapy (CRT). Network Meta-analysis showed that the ranking results of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of MoCA scores were: HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > iTBS > sham > CRT, the ranking results of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of MMSE scores were: HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > sham > CRT. The effect of TMS on improving Parkinsonian cognitive function lasted for 1 month compared to the no-stimulation group. Conclusion: TMS has some long-term sustained effects on improving cognitive function in Parkinson's patients. HF-rTMS is more effective in improving cognitive function in Parkinson's patients.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42023463958.

Insight into Multiple Intermolecular Coordination of Composite Solid Electrolytes via Cryo-Electron Microscopy for High-Voltage All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Polymer/ceramic-based composite solid electrolytes (CSE) are promising candidates for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (SLBs), benefiting from the combined mechanical robustness of polymeric electrolytes and the high ionic conductivity of ceramic electrolytes. However, the interfacial instability and poorly understood interphases of CSE hinder their application in high-voltage SLBs. Herein, a simple but effective CSE that stabilizes high-voltage SLBs by forming multiple intermolecular coordination interactions between polyester and ceramic electrolytes is discovered. The multiple coordination between the carbonyl groups in poly(ε-caprolactone) and the fluorosulfonyl groups in anions with Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12 nanoparticles is directly visualized by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and further confirmed by theoretical calculation. Importantly, the multiple coordination in CSE not only prevents the continuous decomposition of polymer skeleton by shielding the vulnerable carbonyl sites but also establishes stable inorganic-rich interphases through preferential decomposition of anions. The stable CSE and its inorganic-rich interphases enable Li||Li symmetric cells with an exceptional lifespan of over 4800 h without dendritic shorting at 0.1 mA cm-2. Moreover, the high-voltage SLB with LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode displays excellent cycling stability over 1100 cycles at a 1C charge/discharge rate. This work reveals the underlying mechanism behind the excellent stability of coordinating composite electrolytes and interfaces in high-voltage SLBs.

Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Flightin Gene in Vespa basalis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

Flight is a complex physiological process requiring precise coordination of muscular contraction. A key protein in insect flight is flightin, which plays an integral role in the flight muscles. This research sought to evaluate the flight competence of the social wasp V. basalis by characterizing the molecular components involved. Our study focused on Vespa basalis, one of the most dangerous hornet species, utilizing PCR to obtain a partial cDNA sequence of the flightin protein. We then employed phylogenetic and sequence analysis to gain insights into this protein in flight-related adaptations. The cDNA has an 1189-base pair sequence including an open reading frame (453 bp) encoding 150 amino acids. Analyzing the deduced amino acid sequence using an online tool revealed a molecular weight of 18.05 kDa, an isoelectric point of 5.84, four functional site patterns, and no transmembrane topology. We constructed a phylogenetic tree of flightin based on 38 species. Our analysis indicated that V. basalis is most closely related to V. mandarinia; this alignment is consistent with their similar aggressive behavior, but their evolutionary relationship, based on mitochondrial sequences, presents a contrast. These initial findings on the flightin gene in V. basalis lay the groundwork for future functional studies to elucidate its specific role in flight adaptations and explore its potential as a target for pest management strategies.

Swimming Performance in Large Yellow Croaker: Effects of Group Size, Test Protocol, and Recovery Time On Critical Swimming Speed.

Swimming is critical for fish survival, and little attention has been paid to the swimming performance of large yellow croaker, the largest farmed marine fish in China. To address this gap, we conducted a study to measure the critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of 1050 croaker in a designed swim test flume. Our findings shed light on the effects of group size, Ucrit test protocol, and recovery time on swimming performance. The water flow in the swim flume increased steadily and linearly. The linear fit equation was y = 2.89x + 1.79 with an R2 of 0.99. With the help of the swim flume, we found that group size, and the Ucrit test protocol had a significant effect on the Ucrit values, except for the recovery time: The Ucrit values obtained in the ramp-Ucrit test averaged 28.32 ± 6.11 cm.s-1, which was significantly lower than that obtained in the traditional Ucrit test of 32.75 ± 7.60 cm.s-1; The Ucrit value of a group size of 50 fish was 33.51 ± 5.96 cm.s-1, which was significantly higher than that of a group of 200 fish (28.49 ± 6.37 cm.s-1). These results provide insights into the swimming performance of large yellow croaker and can be used to standardize the swimming test protocols.

Isolation of a marine-derived yeast with potential applications in industrial nitrite utilizing.

The nitrite efficient utilization microorganism Wickerhamomyces anomalus RZWP01 was identified. Using nitrite and ammonium as the sole nitrogen source, the nitrogen removal rate of W. anomalus RZWP01 was 97.4% and 87.1%, respectively. W. anomalus RZWP01 grew well in the nitrite medium with glucose or xylose as the only carbon source. However, the W. anomalus RZWP01 cannot live on the nitrite medium with lactose, citric acid, and methanol as the only carbon source. The maximal cell concentration occurred in the nitrite medium with glucose as the only carbon source at a C/N ratio of 20 for 48 h, reaching 8.92 × 108 cell mL-1. W. anomalus RZWP01 was the first reported yeast that can efficiently utilize nitrite. The isolation and identification of W. anomalus RZWP01 enriched the microbial resources of nitrite-degrading microorganisms and provided functional microorganisms for the water treatment of sustainable aquaculture.

Beyond LiF: Tailoring Li2O-Dominated Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries.

The components and structures of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) are critical for stable cycling of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). LiF has been widely studied as the dominant component of SEI, but Li2O, which has a much lower diffusion barrier for Li+, has rarely been investigated as the dominant component of SEI. The effect of Li2O-dominated SEI on electrochemical performance still remains elusive. Herein, an ultrastrong coordinated cosolvation diluent, 2,3-difluoroethoxybenzene (DFEB), is designed to modulate solvation structure and tailor Li2O-dominated SEI for stable LMBs. In the DFEB-based LHCE (DFEB-LHCE), DFEB intensively participates in the first solvation shell and synergizes with FSI- to tailor an Li2O-dominated inorganic-rich SEI which is different from the LiF-dominated SEI formed in conventional LHCE. Benefiting from this special SEI architecture, a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.58% in Li||Cu half cells, stable voltage profiles, and dense and uniform lithium deposition, as well as effective inhibition of Li dendrite formation in the symmetrical cell, are achieved. More importantly, the DFEB-LHCE can be matched with various cathodes such as LFP, NCM811, and S cathodes, and the Li||LFP full cell using DFEB-LHCE possesses 85% capacity retention after 650 stable cycles with 99.9% CE. Especially the 1.5 Ah practical lithium metal pouch cell achieves an excellent capacity retention of 89% after 250 cycles with a superb average CE of 99.93%. This work unravels the superiority of the Li2O-dominated SEI and the feasibility of tailoring SEI components through modulation of solvation structures.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for reducing pain susceptibility and increasing social engagement in patients with chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in improving social engagement and pain susceptibility in patients with chronic low back pain (≥6 months duration). METHODS: From the initial to January 2023, 5 databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were performed by 2 independent researchers throughout, Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated for different indicators, and the combined experimental and control groups were calculated using random-effects models or fixed-effects models effect sizes, and forest plots were drawn to present the results. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies containing 2527 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain, all of whom had pain lasting longer than 6 months, were included, and after treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was superior to other treatments in improving social participation [SMD = -0.30, 95%CI (-0.60, -0.01), Z = 2.02, P = .04]. There was no significant difference from other treatments in improving patient depression [SMD = -0.07, 95%CI (-0.19, 0.05), Z = 1.11, P = .27] and anxiety [SMD = -0.07, 95%CI (-0.30, 0.16), Z = 0.52, P = .57]. Three papers describe the superiority of CBT over other treatments in improving sleep quality, but the metrics could not be combined due to too little literature. CONCLUSION: CBT can improve patients' social participation and pain susceptibility to some extent, but it does not show advantages for managing negative emotions (depression, anxiety). Due to the limited number and low quality of included literature, the above findings still need to be validated by conducting a large sample of high-quality RCTs.

Manganese Dioxide/Gold-based Active Tumor Targeting Nanoprobes for Enhancing Photodynamic and Low-Temperature-Photothermal Combination Therapy in Lung Cancer.

Tumor drug resistance caused by the tumor microenvironment is an extremely difficult problem for researchers to solve. Nanoplatforms that integrate diagnosis and treatment have great advantages in tumor treatment, but the design and synthesis of simple and efficient nanoplatforms still face tremendous challenges. In this study, a novel Mn/Au@ir820/GA-CD133 nanoprobe was developed. The manganese dioxide/gold particles were prepared by coprecipitation/assembly, chemically coupled with CD133 antibody, and finally loaded with the photosensitive drug IR820 and the heat shock protein inhibitor Ganetespib. The nanoprobe demonstrated good tumor-targeting ability, increased the level of singlet oxygen produced from laser irradiation by effectively alleviating tumor hypoxia, and decreased the threshold of heat tolerance by downregulating the expression of HSP90 in tumor tissues. This nanoprobe successfully inhibited the growth and progression of tumor tissues in a tumor-bearing mouse model by improving the effectiveness of photodynamic and low-temperature photothermal combination therapy.

Inflammatory Markers Showed Significant Incremental Value for Predicting Post-Hepatectomy Liver Failure in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a complication with the potential risk of mortality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The systemic inflammatory response (SIR) has been demonstrated to be associated with a bad prognosis of liver cirrhosis and tumors. This study aims to evaluate the incremental prognostic value of inflammatory markers in predicting PHLF in patients with HCC. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and variables were retrospectively collected in 2824 patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent radical hepatectomy from the First Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army. A recently published prognostic model for PHLF was used as the reference model. The increase in AUC (ΔAUC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and the continuous version of the net reclassification improvement (NRI) were applied for quantifying the incremental value of adding the inflammatory markers to the reference model. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The reference PHLF model showed acceptable prediction performance in the current cohort, with an AUC of 0.7492 (95%CI, 0.7191-0.7794). The calculated ΔAUC associated with procalcitonin (PCT) was the only one that was statistically significant (p < 0.05), with a value of 0.0044, and demonstrated the largest magnitude of the increase in AUC. The continuous NRI value associated with the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) was 35.79%, second only to GPS (46.07%). However, the inflammatory markers of the new models with statistically significant IDI only included WBC count, lymphocyte count, and SII. IDI associated with SII, meanwhile, was the maximum (0.0076), which was consistent with the performance of using the ΔAUC (0.0044) to assess the incremental value of each inflammatory variable. CONCLUSIONS: Among a wide range of inflammatory markers, only PCT and SII have potential incremental prognostic value for predicting PHLF in patients with radical resectable HCC.

Male-Biased Gut Microbiome and Metabolites Aggravate Colorectal Cancer Development.

Men demonstrate higher incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) than women. This study aims to explain the potential causes of such sexual dimorphism in CRC from the perspective of sex-biased gut microbiota and metabolites. The results show that sexual dimorphism in colorectal tumorigenesis is observed in both ApcMin/ + mice and azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice with male mice have significantly larger and more tumors, accompanied by more impaired gut barrier function. Moreover, pseudo-germ mice receiving fecal samples from male mice or patients show more severe intestinal barrier damage and higher level of inflammation. A significant change in gut microbiota composition is found with increased pathogenic bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and deplets probiotic Parabacteroides goldsteinii in both male mice and pseudo-germ mice receiving fecal sample from male mice. Sex-biased gut metabolites in pseudo-germ mice receiving fecal sample from CRC patients or CRC mice contribute to sex dimorphism in CRC tumorigenesis through glycerophospholipids metabolism pathway. Sexual dimorphism in tumorigenesis of CRC mouse models. In conclusion, the sex-biased gut microbiome and metabolites contribute to sexual dimorphism in CRC. Modulating sex-biased gut microbiota and metabolites could be a potential sex-targeting therapeutic strategy of CRC.

Polymer-in-Salt Electrolyte from Poly(caprolactone)-graft-polyrotaxane for Ni-Rich Lithium Metal Batteries at Room Temperature.

Solid-state lithium batteries with solid polymer electrolytes have recently attracted extensive attention due to their promising potential in high energy density and safety. However, the principal issues plaguing the solid polymer electrolytes are their restricted ionic conductivities at ambient temperature and the limited tolerance to the widely used high-voltage cathodes (such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, NCM811), thus limiting their practical applications seriously. In this regard, a superior polymer-in-salt solid electrolyte from poly(caprolactone)-graft-polyrotaxane (PGPE) is developed for high-voltage lithium batteries operated at room temperature. The PGPE displays remarkable electrochemical properties at room temperature, with an exceptional ionic conductivity of 4.89 × 10-4 S cm-1 and a lithium-ion transference number of approximately 0.64, stemming from the rapid segmental motions of PCL sidechains by the enhanced dynamics of the cyclic molecules along the axial polymer chain of polyrotaxane. More importantly, the PGPE demonstrates a high electrochemical oxidation voltage of ∼4.7 V, suggesting the excellent electrochemical stability of PGPE against the NCM811-based cathode. Owing to the dense LiF-rich CEI self-generated on the NCM811 particles in the cathode, the transition metal ion diffusion is successfully constrained and the PGPE is well protected from continuous decomposition. The PGPE also shows superior interfacial stability between the metallic Li and the electrolyte. As a result, the all-solid-state NCM811|PGPE|Li cell exhibits superior discharge capacity (196 mAh g-1) and extraordinary long-term cycling stability (74% capacity retention at 150 cycles) at 30 °C.

New native Bacillus thuringiensis strains induce high insecticidal action against Culex pipiens pallens larvae and adults.

Mosquitoes of many species are key disease vectors, killing millions of people each year. Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide formulations are largely recognized as among the most effective, ecologically safe, and long-lasting methods of managing insect pests. New B. thuringiensis strains with high mosquito control effectiveness were isolated, identified, genetically defined, and physiologically characterized. Eight B. thuringiensis strains were identified and shown to carry endotoxin-producing genes. Using a scanning electron microscope, results revealed typical crystal forms of various shapes in B. thuringiensis strains. Fourteen cry and cyt genes were found in the strains examined. Although the genome of the B. thuringiensis A4 strain had twelve cry and cyt genes, not all of them were expressed, and only a few protein profiles were observed. The larvicidal activity of the eight B. thuringiensis strains was found to be positive (LC50: 1.4-28.5 g/ml and LC95: 15.3-130.3 g/ml). Bioassays in a laboratory environment demonstrated that preparations containing B. thuringiensis spores and crystals were particularly active to mosquito larvae and adults. These new findings show that the novel preparation containing B. thuringiensis A4 spores and crystals mixture might be used to control larval and adult mosquitoes in a sustainable and ecologically friendly manner.

Music-based interventions in the feeding environment on the gut microbiota of mice.

Gut microbiota is established to be associated with the diversity of gastrointestinal conditions, but information on the variation associated with music and gut microbes is limited. Current study revealed the impacts of music intervention during feeding on the growth performance and gut microbes of mice by using clinical symptoms and 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. The results showed that feeding mice with music had a significant increase in body weight after the 25th day. The Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most dominant phylum in the gut microbiota. Also, the relative abundance of the dominant bacteria was variable after musical intervention. In contrast to the control group, a significant decrease in alpha diversity analysis of gut bacterial microorganisms and Metastats analysis showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of 5 genera and one phylum after the music intervention. Moreover, the musical intervention during feeding caused modifications in the gut microbial composition of mice, as evidenced by an increase in the level of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, while decreases the richness of pathogenic bacteria, e.g. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Muribaculaceae, etc. In summary, music intervention increased body weight and enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria by reducing the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in gut microbiota of mice.