Remifentanil vs. dexmedetomidine for cardiac surgery patients with noninvasive ventilation intolerance: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal sedative regime for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) intolerance remains uncertain. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of remifentanil (REM) compared to dexmedetomidine (DEX) in cardiac surgery patients with moderate-to-severe intolerance to NIV. METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study, adult cardiac surgery patients with moderate-to-severe intolerance to NIV were enrolled and randomly assigned to be treated with either REM or DEX for sedation. The status of NIV intolerance was evaluated using a four-point NIV intolerance score at different timepoints within a 72-h period. The primary outcome was the mitigation rate of NIV intolerance following sedation. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients were enrolled, with 89 assigned to the REM group and 90 to the DEX group. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups, including NIV intolerance score [3, interquartile range (IQR) 3-3 vs. 3, IQR 3-4, p = 0.180]. The chi-squared test showed that mitigation rate, defined as the proportion of patients who were relieved from their initial intolerance status, was not significant at most timepoints, except for the 15-min timepoint (42% vs. 20%, p = 0.002). However, after considering the time factor, generalized estimating equations showed that the difference was statistically significant, and REM outperformed DEX (odds ratio = 3.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.35-8.12, p = 0.009). Adverse effects, which were not reported in the REM group, were encountered by nine patients in the DEX group, with three instances of bradycardia and six cases of severe hypotension. Secondary outcomes, including NIV failure (5.6% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.564), tracheostomy (1.12% vs. 0%, p = 0.313), ICU LOS (7.7 days, IQR 5.8-12 days vs. 7.0 days, IQR 5-10.6 days, p = 0.219), and in-hospital mortality (1.12% vs. 2.22%, p = 0.567), demonstrated comparability between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study demonstrated no significant difference between REM and DEX in the percentage of patients who achieved mitigation among cardiac surgery patients with moderate-to-severe NIV intolerance. However, after considering the time factor, REM was significantly superior to DEX. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04734418), registered on January 22, 2021. URL of the trial registry record: https://register. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000AM4S&selectaction=Edit&uid=U00038YX&ts=3&cx=eqn1z0 .

Rhizosphere microbial community construction during the latitudinal spread of the invader Chromolaena odorata.

The colonization of alien plants in new habitats is typically facilitated by microorganisms present in the soil environment. However, the diversity and structure of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities in the latitudinal spread of alien plants remain unclear. In this study, the rhizosphere and bulk soil of Chromolaena odorata were collected from five latitudes in Pu' er city, Yunnan Province, followed by amplicon sequencing of the soil archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities. Alpha and beta diversity results revealed that the richness indices and the structures of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities significantly differed along the latitudinal gradient. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the bacterial Shannon index, as well as in the structures of the bacterial and fungal communities between the rhizosphere and bulk soils. Due to the small spatial scale, trends of latitudinal variation in the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities were not pronounced. Total potassium, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, available potassium and total nitrogen were the important driving factors affecting the soil microbial community structure. Compared with those in bulk soil, co-occurrence networks in rhizosphere microbial networks presented lower complexity but greater modularity and positive connections. Among the main functional fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizae and soil saprotrophs were more abundant in the bulk soil. The significant differences in the soil microbes between rhizosphere and bulk soils further underscore the impact of C. odorata invasion on soil environments. The significant differences in the soil microbiota along latitudinal gradients, along with specific driving factors, demonstrate distinct nutrient preferences among archaea, bacteria, and fungi and indicate complex microbial responses to soil nutrient elements following the invasion of C. odorata.

Novel goose parvovirus VP1 targets IRF7 protein to block the type I interferon upstream signaling pathway.

Outbreaks of short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS), caused by a novel goose parvovirus (NGPV), have occurred in China since 2015. The NGPV, a single-stranded DNA virus, is thought to be vertically transmitted. However, the mechanism of NGPV immune evasion remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of NGPV infection on the Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway in duck embryonic fibroblast (DEF) cells. Our findings demonstrate that NGPV infection stimulates the mRNA expression of cGAS but results in weak IFN-ß induction. NGPV impedes the expression of IFN-ß and downstream interferon-stimulated genes, thereby reducing the secretion of IFN-ß induced by interferon-stimulating DNA (ISD) and poly (I: C). RNA-seq results show that NGPV infection downregulates interferon mRNA expression while enhancing the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors. Additionally, the results of viral protein over-expression indicate that VP1 exhibits a remarkable ability to inhibit IFN-ß expression compared to other viral proteins. Results indicated that only the intact VP1 protein could inhibit the expression of IFN-ß, while the truncated proteins VP1U and VP2 do not possess such characteristics. The immunoprecipitation experiment showed that both VP1 and VP2 could interact with IRF7 protein, while VP1U does not. In summary, our findings indicate that NGPV infection impairs the host's innate immune response by potentially modulating the expression and secretion of interferons and interferon-stimulating factors via IRF7 molecules, which are regulated by the VP1 protein.

Age-related changes in the mitochondrial, synthesis of steroids, and cellular homeostasis of the chicken ovary.

In poultry reproduction, the decline of ovarian function due to aging is related to dysfunction of mitochondria exacerbated by a reduction in antioxidant capacity, ultimately leading to follicle atresia and decreased egg production. However, the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in the chicken ovary in aging have remained to be understood. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of aging on mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis. We collect ovarian tissue, small white follicles (SWF), large white follicles (LWF), and small yellow follicles (SYF) from three different laying periods of hens. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that mitochondrial damage occurred in ovarian tissue during the late laying period (LP), characterized by structural swelling, scattered mitochondrial cristae, and an increase in the vacuoles. At the same time, with age, the synthesis of steroid hormones in the ovaries and follicular tissues is reduced. The levels of autophagy and cell apoptosis in ovarian tissues were both increased in the LP. In addition, aging adversely impacts mitochondrial function, leading to a decrease in mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) functions. This study will expand the knowledge about regressing ovarian aging in hens and increasing egg production in older layers for poultry production.

PANX1-mediated ATP release confers FAM3A's suppression effects on hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important signal molecule. In previous studies, intensive research had revealed the crucial roles of family with sequence similarity 3 member A (FAM3A) in controlling hepatic glucolipid metabolism, islet ß cell function, adipocyte differentiation, blood pressure, and other biological and pathophysiological processes. Although mitochondrial protein FAM3A plays crucial roles in the regulation of glucolipid metabolism via stimulating ATP release to activate P2 receptor pathways, its mechanism in promoting ATP release in hepatocytes remains unrevealed. METHODS: db/db, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed, and global pannexin 1 (PANX1) knockout mice, as well as liver sections of individuals, were used in this study. Adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses were utilized for in vivo gene overexpression or inhibition. To evaluate the metabolic status in mice, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), pyruvate tolerance test (PTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were conducted. Protein-protein interactions were determined by coimmunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry (MS) assays. RESULTS: In livers of individuals and mice with steatosis, the expression of ATP-permeable channel PANX1 was increased (P < 0.01). Hepatic PANX1 overexpression ameliorated the dysregulated glucolipid metabolism in obese mice. Mice with hepatic PANX1 knockdown or global PANX1 knockout exhibited disturbed glucolipid metabolism. Restoration of hepatic PANX1 rescued the metabolic disorders of PANX1-deficient mice (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, ATP release is mediated by the PANX1-activated protein kinase B-forkhead box protein O1 (Akt-FOXO1) pathway to inhibit gluconeogenesis via P2Y receptors in hepatocytes. PANX1-mediated ATP release also activated calmodulin (CaM) (P < 0.01), which interacted with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) to inhibit its activity, thereby deactivating the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP1) and repressing fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression and lipid synthesis (P < 0.05). FAM3A stimulated the expression of PANX1 via heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in hepatocytes (P < 0.05). Notably, FAM3A overexpression failed to promote ATP release, inhibit the expression of gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes, and suppress gluconeogenesis and lipid deposition in PANX1-deficient hepatocytes and livers. CONCLUSIONS: PANX1-mediated release of ATP plays a crucial role in maintaining hepatic glucolipid homeostasis, and it confers FAM3A's suppressive effects on hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

The Identification and Gene Mapping of Spotted Leaf Mutant spl43 in Rice.

Our study investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying the spotted leaf phenotype in rice, focusing on the spl43 mutant. This mutant is characterized by persistent reddish-brown leaf spots from the seedling stage to maturity, leading to extensive leaf necrosis. Using map-based cloning, we localized the responsible locus to a 330 Kb region on chromosome 2. We identified LOC_Os02g56000, named OsRPT5A, as the causative gene. A point mutation in OsRPT5A, substituting valine for glutamic acid, was identified as the critical factor for the phenotype. Functional complementation and the generation of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout lines in the IR64 background confirmed the central role of OsRPT5A in controlling this trait. The qPCR results from different parts of the rice plant revealed that OsRPT5A is constitutively expressed across various tissues, with its subcellular localization unaffected by the mutation. Notably, we observed an abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in spl43 mutants by examining the physiological indexes of leaves, suggesting a disruption in the ROS system. Complementation studies indicated OsRPT5A's involvement in ROS homeostasis and catalase activity regulation. Moreover, the spl43 mutant exhibited enhanced resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), highlighting OsRPT5A's role in rice pathogen resistance mechanisms. Overall, our results suggest that OsRPT5A plays a critical role in regulating ROS homeostasis and enhancing pathogen resistance in rice.

AKI-Pro score for predicting progression to severe acute kidney injury or death in patients with early acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: No reliable clinical tools exist to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) progression. We aim to explore a scoring system for predicting the composite outcome of progression to severe AKI or death within seven days among early AKI patients after cardiac surgery. METHODS: In this study, we used two independent cohorts, and patients who experienced mild/moderate AKI within 48 h after cardiac surgery were enrolled. Eventually, 3188 patients from the MIMIC-IV database were used as the derivation cohort, while 499 patients from the Zhongshan cohort were used as external validation. The primary outcome was defined by the composite outcome of progression to severe AKI or death within seven days after enrollment. The variables identified by LASSO regression analysis were entered into logistic regression models and were used to construct the risk score. RESULTS: The composite outcome accounted for 3.7% (n = 119) and 7.6% (n = 38) of the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Six predictors were assembled into a risk score (AKI-Pro score), including female, baseline eGFR, aortic surgery, modified furosemide responsiveness index (mFRI), SOFA, and AKI stage. And we stratified the risk score into four groups: low, moderate, high, and very high risk. The risk score displayed satisfied predictive discrimination and calibration in the derivation and validation cohort. The AKI-Pro score discriminated the composite outcome better than CRATE score, Cleveland score, AKICS score, Simplified renal index, and SRI risk score (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The AKI-Pro score is a new clinical tool that could assist clinicians to identify early AKI patients at high risk for AKI progression or death.

[Transdermal diffusion research on functional substances of Jingu Zhitong Gel].

This study systematically explored the transdermal diffusion law of functional substances of Jingu Zhitong Gel(JGZTG). The transdermal diffusion research methods of JGZTG were investigated by single factor trial with the automated transdermal(dry-heat) sampling system. High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) content determination method was established to determine the contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, cinnamic acid, hydroxy-ε-xanthoxylin, hydroxy-α-xanthoxylin, and hydroxy-ß-xanthoxylin in the transdermal diffusion solution of JGZTG. The transdermal diffusion law of the components within 16 h was investigated. The results showed that the optimal transdermal diffusion method of JGZTG was as follows: Rat skin was used as the transdermal barrier; normal saline was used as the receiving medium; the dosage of JGZTG was 0.3 g, and the receiving solution was extracted by ethyl acetate. The results of transdermal diffusion showed that the release of ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, and senkyunolide I increased significantly at 0-8 h and slowed down at 8-16 h. The drug release was a synergic process of diffusion and dissolution, in which ferulic acid and cinnamic acid followed Higuchi and Ritger-Peppas equations, and liguolactone I followed Higuchi equation. The transdermal diffusion curves of hydroxy-ε-zanthoxylin, hydroxy-α-zanthoxylin, and hydroxy-ß-zanthoxylin showed continuous release within 16 h, and the drug release was skeleton dissolution. The diffusion law followed zero-order equation, first-order equation, and Ritger-Peppas equation. In clonclusion, it is a controlled release of ferulic acid, ligustrone I, cinnamic acid, hydroxy-ε-pyrroxylin, hydroxy-α-pyrroxylin, and hydroxy-ß-pyrroxylin in JGZTG, which can maintain stable blood drug concentration with 16 h, and the cumulative transmittance of each component with 12 h can reach 80% of cumulative transmittance with 24 h, which is in line with the clinical drug use law of bis in die.

Skin mottling score assesses peripheral tissue hypoperfusion in critically ill patients following cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Skin mottling is a common manifestation of peripheral tissue hypoperfusion, and its severity can be described using the skin mottling score (SMS). This study aims to evaluate the value of the SMS in detecting peripheral tissue hypoperfusion in critically ill patients following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Critically ill patients following cardiac surgery with risk factors for tissue hypoperfusion were enrolled (n = 373). Among these overall patients, we further defined a hypotension population (n = 178) and a shock population (n = 51). Hemodynamic and perfusion parameters were recorded. The primary outcome was peripheral hypoperfusion, defined as significant prolonged capillary refill time (CRT, > 3.0 s). The characteristics and hospital mortality of patients with and without skin mottling were compared. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) were used to assess the accuracy of SMS in detecting peripheral hypoperfusion. Besides, the relationships between SMS and conventional hemodynamic and perfusion parameters were investigated, and the factors most associated with the presence of skin mottling were identified. RESULTS: Of the 373-case overall population, 13 (3.5%) patients exhibited skin mottling, with SMS ranging from 1 to 5 (5, 1, 2, 2, and 3 cases, respectively). Patients with mottling had lower mean arterial pressure, higher vasopressor dose, less urine output (UO), higher CRT, lactate levels and hospital mortality (84.6% vs. 12.2%, p < 0.001). The occurrences of skin mottling were higher in hypotension population and shock population, reaching 5.6% and 15.7%, respectively. The AUROC for SMS to identify peripheral hypoperfusion was 0.64, 0.68, and 0.81 in the overall, hypotension, and shock populations, respectively. The optimal SMS threshold was 1, which corresponded to specificities of 98, 97 and 91 and sensitivities of 29, 38 and 67 in the three populations (overall, hypotension and shock). The correlation of UO, lactate, CRT and vasopressor dose with SMS was significant, among them, UO and CRT were identified as two major factors associated with the presence of skin mottling. CONCLUSION: In critically ill patients following cardiac surgery, SMS is a very specific yet less sensitive parameter for detecting peripheral tissue hypoperfusion.

Effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on function and quality of life in sepsis patients.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis, as a non-limiting host infection disease, can be accompanied by serious complications such as organ failure, which seriously threatens patient quality of life. AIM: To investigate the effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with sepsis who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the observation group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 40) according to the random number table method. The observation group was treated with early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and the control group was treated with a conventional treatment regimen. Cardiac function indexes (central venous pressure, cardiac troponin I, B-type brain natriuretic peptide), lung function indicators (diaphragmatic mobility, changes in central venous oxygen saturation, oxygenation index), and quality of life (Quality of Life Evaluation Scale) were compared between the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the central venous pressure, diaphragm mobility, central venous oxygen saturation, oxygenation index, and Quality of Life Evaluation Scale scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The observation group was less than that of the control group for other parameters, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation can effectively enhance cardiac and pulmonary function and improve the quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis.

Graded-Band-Gap Zinc-Tin Oxide Thin-Film Transistors with a Vertically Stacked Structure for Wavelength-Selective Photodetection.

Filter-free wavelength-selective photodetectors have garnered significant attention due to the growing demand for smart sensors, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Everything, and so forth. However, the challenges associated with large-scale preparation and compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology limit their wide-ranging applications. In this work, we address the challenges by constructing vertically stacked graded-band-gap zinc-tin oxide (ZTO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) specifically designed for wavelength-selective photodetection. The ZTO thin films with various band gaps are fabricated via atomic layer deposition (ALD) by varying the ALD cycle ratios of zinc oxide (ZnO) and SnO2. The ZTO film with a small Sn ratio exhibits a decreased band gap, and the resultant TFT shows a degraded performance, which can be attributed to the Sn4+ dopant introducing a series of deep-state energy levels in the ZnO band gap. As the ratio of Sn increases further, the band gap of the ZTO also increases, and the mobility of the ZTO TFT increases up to 30 cm2/V s, with a positive shift of the threshold voltage. The photodetectors employing ZTO thin films with distinct band gaps show different spectral responsivities. Then, vertically stacked ZTO (S-ZTO) thin films, with gradient band gaps increasing from the bottom to the top, have been successfully deposited using consecutive ALD technology. The S-ZTO TFT shows decent performance with a mobility of 18.4 cm2/V s, a threshold voltage of 0.5 V, an on-off current ratio higher than 107, and excellent stability under ambient conditions. The resultant S-ZTO TFT also exhibits obviously distinct photoresponses to light at different wavelength ranges. Furthermore, a device array of S-ZTO TFTs demonstrates color imaging by precisely reconstructing patterned illuminations with different wavelengths. Therefore, this work provides CMOS-compatible and structure-compact wavelength-selective photodetectors for advanced and integrable optoelectronic applications.

Drp1 regulated PINK1-dependent mitophagy protected duck follicular granulosa cells from acute heat stress injury.

The mitochondrial quality control system is crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis during environmental stress. Granulosa cells are the main cells secreting steroid hormones, and mitochondria are the key organelles for steroid hormone synthesis. The impact of the mitochondrial quality control system on granulosa cells' steroid hormone synthesis and survival under heat stress is still unclear. Here, we showed that acute heat stress induces mitochondrial damage and significantly increases the number of mitophagy-like vesicles in the cytoplasm of duck ovary granulosa cells at the ultra-structural level. Meanwhile, we also found heat stress significantly increased mitochondrial fission and mitophagy-related protein expression levels both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, by confocal fluorescence analysis, we discovered that LC3 was distributed spot-like manner near the nucleus in the heat treatment group, and the LC3 spots and lysosomes were colocalized with Mito-Tracker in the heat treatment group. We further detected the mitophagy-related protein in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively. Results showed that the PINK1 protein was significantly increased both in cytoplasm and mitochondria, while the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio increase only occurred in mitochondrial. In addition, the autophagy protein induced by acute heat treatment was effectively inhibited by the mitophagy inhibitor CysA. Finally, we demonstrated that the alteration of cellular mitophagy by siRNA interference with Drp1 and PINK1 inhibited the steroid synthesis of granulosa cells and increased cell apoptosis. Study provides strong evidence that the Drp1 regulated PINK1-dependent mitophagy pathway protects follicular granulosa cells from acute heat stress-induced injury.

DNA methylation of promoter region inhibits galectin-1 expression in BMSCs of aged mice.

Senile osteoporosis increases fracture risks. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are sensitive to aging. Deep insights into BMSCs aging are vital to elucidate the mechanisms underlying age-related bone loss. Recent advances showed that osteoporosis is associated with aberrant DNA methylation of many susceptible genes. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) has been proposed as a mediator of BMSCs functions. In our previous study, we showed that Gal-1 was downregulated in aged BMSCs and global deletion of Gal-1 in mice caused bone loss via impaired osteogenesis potential of BMSCs. Gal-1 promoter is featured by CpG islands. However, there are no reports concerning the DNA methylation status in Gal-1 promoter during osteoporosis. In the current study, we sought to investigate the role of DNA methylation in Gal-1 downregulation in aged BMSCs. The potential for anti-bone loss therapy based on modulating DNA methylation is explored. Our results showed that Dnmt3b-mediated Gal-1 promoter DNA hypermethylation plays an important role in Gal-1 downregulation in aged BMSCs, which inhibited ß-catenin binding on Gal-1 promoter. Bone loss of aged mice was alleviated in response to in vivo deletion of Dnmt3b from BMSCs. Finally, when bone marrow of young wild-type (WT) mice or young Dnmt3bPrx1-Cre mice was transplanted into aged WT mice, Gal-1 level in serum and trabecular bone mass were elevated in recipient aged WT mice. Our study will benefit for deeper insights into the regulation mechanisms of Gal-1 expression in BMSCs during osteoporosis development, and for the discovery of new therapeutic targets for osteoporosis via modulating DNA methylation status.NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is Dnmt3b-mediated DNA methylation in Gal-1 promoter in aged bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC). DNA methylation causes Gal-1 downregulation and osteogenesis attenuation of aged BMSC. DNA methylation blocks ß-catenin binding on Gal-1 promoter. Bone loss of aged mice is alleviated by in vivo deletion of Dnmt3b from BMSC.

Heat enhances the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide on duck granulosa cell proliferation and steroid biosynthesis in vitro.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces the reproductive performance of laying ducks, especially during the hot summer months. To study the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the effects of different LPS concentrations and heat on duck granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and steroid biosynthesis in vitro. We investigated GC proliferation, secretion, and activation of the MAPK pathway. The cell cycle results showed that LPS treatment alone did not significantly affect cell proliferation, whereas the mRNA expression levels of IGF2, IGFBP2, and CyclinD1 were downregulated and p27kip1 was significantly upregulated after 2000 ng/mL LPS treatment when compared to untreated cells. In steroid hormone synthesis, although LPS increased the expression of most steroid biosynthesis genes, it inhibited the expression of CYP11A1 at high LPS concentrations. High temperatures enhanced the inhibitory effect of LPS on the expression of proliferation-promoting genes. Heat significantly reduced CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 expression. In addition, the phosphorylation of P38 was significantly upregulated by high temperatures combined with LPS, whereas the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK was downregulated. The relative protein expression of Bax/BCL-2 was upregulated at high temperatures in combination with LPS. Heat treatment enhanced the inhibitory effects of LPS on the proliferation and hormone biosynthesis of duck GCs in vitro.

MsNRAMP2 Enhances Tolerance to Iron Excess Stress in Nicotiana tabacum and MsMYB Binds to Its Promoter.

Iron(Fe) is a trace metal element necessary for plant growth, but excess iron is harmful to plants. Natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs) are important for divalent metal transport in plants. In this study, we isolated the MsNRAMP2 (MN_547960) gene from alfalfa, the perennial legume forage. The expression of MsNRAMP2 is specifically induced by iron excess. Overexpression of MsNRAMP2 conferred transgenic tobacco tolerance to iron excess, while it conferred yeast sensitivity to excess iron. Together with the MsNRAMP2 gene, MsMYB (MN_547959) expression is induced by excess iron. Y1H indicated that the MsMYB protein could bind to the "CTGTTG" cis element of the MsNRAMP2 promoter. The results indicated that MsNRAMP2 has a function in iron transport and its expression might be regulated by MsMYB. The excess iron tolerance ability enhancement of MsNRAMP2 may be involved in iron transport, sequestration, or redistribution.

High Performance On-Chip Energy Storage Capacitors with Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer-Deposited Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/Al-Doped Hf0.25Zr0.75O2 Nanofilms as Dielectrics.

Concurrently achieving high energy storage density (ESD) and efficiency has always been a big challenge for electrostatic energy storage capacitors. In this study, we successfully fabricate high-performance energy storage capacitors by using antiferroelectric (AFE) Al-doped Hf0.25Zr0.75O2 (HfZrO:Al) dielectrics together with an ultrathin (1 nm) Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 underlying layer. By optimizing the Al concentration in the AFE layer with the help of accurate controllability of the atomic layer deposition technique, an ultrahigh ESD of 81.4 J cm-3 and a perfect energy storage efficiency (ESE) of 82.9% are simultaneously achieved for the first time in the case of the Al/(Hf + Zr) ratio of 1/16. Meanwhile, both the ESD and ESE exhibit excellent electric field cycling endurance within 109 cycles under 5~5.5 MV cm-1, and robust thermal stability up to 200 °C. Thus, the fabricated capacitor is very promising for on-chip energy storage applications due to favorable integratability with the standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process.

Complete chloroplast genome features and phylogenetic analysis of Abies ernestii var. salouenensis (Bordères and Gaussen) W. C. Cheng and L. K. Fu from southwest China.

Abies ernestii var. salouenensis (Bordères & Gaussen) W. C. Cheng & L. K. Fu is endemic to southwest China, including the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and the northwestern Yunnan Province. The taxonomic relationships between A. ernestii var. salouenensis and two other closely related fir species (A. chensiensis Tiegh. and A. ernestii Rehd.) still need to be determined. Here, we report for the first time the whole chloroplast genome of A. ernestii var. salouenensis. Its genome is 121,759 bp long and is characterized by a circular structure with 68 peptide-encoding genes, 16 tRNAs, six ORFs, and four rRNAs. We also identified 70 microsatellite repeat sequences and 14 tandem repeat sequences in the chloroplast genome of A. ernestii var. salouenensis. Comparative genome analysis indicated considerable variation in ycf1 and ycf2. Phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of A. ernestii var. salouenensis, A. chensiensis Tiegh., and A. ernestii Rehd. The relationships among them should be surveyed using more samples at the species level. This study will facilitate taxonomic studies and the development of suitable chloroplast markers for fir species.

The immunomodulation role of Th17 and Treg in renal transplantation.

Kidney transplantation (KT) is an ultimate treatment of end-stage chronic kidney disease, which can meet a lot of complications induced by immune system. With under-controlled immunosuppression, the patient will obtain a good prognosis. Otherwise, allograft disfunction will cause severe organ failure and even immune collapse. Acute or chronic allograft dysfunction after KT is related to Th17, Treg, and Th17/Treg to a certain extent. Elevated Th17 levels may lead to acute rejection or chronic allograft dysfunction. Treg mainly plays a protective role on allografts by regulating immune response. The imbalance of the two may further aggravate the balance of immune response and damage the allograft. Controlling Th17 level, improving Treg function and level, and adjusting Th17/Treg ratio may have positive effects on longer allograft survival and better prognosis of receptors.